his Majesty's colonies at New York, to consult what might further be
done for the security of his Majesty's territories against the invasion
of the French, the same impoverishment constrained the General Court to
reply, that the design of securing those territories was what his
Majesty alone was equal to project and execute and the nation to
support, and that unless they could obtain the relief which they were
soliciting of the royal bounty, they should be as far from being able to
remove encroachments as to be unable to defend themselves." (Minot's
History of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. I., pp. 256, 257.)]

[Footnote 239: A thousand of the regulars were sent to New York, where
free quarters for the officers were demanded of the city. Upon its being
objected to by the authorities of the city, as contrary to the laws of
England and the liberties of America, the Viceroy, Loudoun, replied to
the Mayor with an oath, "If you do not billet my officers upon free
quarters this day, I'll order here all the troops in North America under
my command, and billet them myself upon the city." "So," says Bancroft,
"the magistrates got up a subscription, and the officers, who had done
nothing for the country but waste its resources, were supported at free
quarters during the winter."

The same threats were used, with the same results, to the magistrates of
Boston and Philadelphia, to obtain free quarters for the officers.

Bancroft remarks somewhat bitterly: "The arbitrary invasion of private
rights and the sanctity of domestic life by the illegal and usurped
authority of a military chief, was the great result of the campaign. The
frontiers had been left open to the French; but the tempting example had
been given, so dangerous in times of peace, of quartering troops in the
principal towns, at the expense of the inhabitants," (History of United
States, Vol. IV., pp. 240, 241.)]

[Footnote 240: The army consisted of between nine and ten thousand
provincials--seven thousand raised by Massachusetts--and between six and
seven thousand regulars and rangers in the King's pay, where Abercrombie
in person was in command. Lord Howe arrived in Boston from England after
the forces had left the Province, and immediately upon his landing began
his journey, and joined the army before any action took place.

"This body, the greatest which had ever assembled in arms in America
since it was settled by the English, embarked on Lake George the 5th of
July,