f things, the spirit of Britain rose in full
proportion to the occasion; and her colonies, instead of yielding to
despondency, resumed fresh courage, and cheerfully made the preparations
for the coming campaign. Mr. Pitt had, the last autumn, been placed at
the head of a new Administration, which conciliated the contending
interests in Parliament; and while the wisdom of that extraordinary
statesman devised great and judicious plans, his active spirit infused
new life into all, whether at home or abroad, whose province it was to
execute them. In a circular to the Colonial Governors, he assured them
of the determination to send a large force to America, to operate by sea
and land against the French; and called upon them to raise as large
bodies of men as the number of the inhabitants would allow. The northern
colonies were prompt and liberal in furnishing requisite supplies. The
Legislature of Massachusetts voted to furnish 7,000 men; Connecticut,
5,000; New Hampshire, 3,000. These troops were ready to take the field
very early in May, previous to which time Admiral Boscawen had arrived
in Halifax with a formidable fleet, and about 12,000 British troops
under the command of General Amherst. The Earl of Loudoun had returned
to England, and General Abercrombie, on whom the chief command of the
entire forces of the American war had devolved (until the arrival of
Lord Amherst), was now at the head of 50,000 men, the most powerful army
ever seen in America." (Holmes' Annals of America, Vol. II., pp. 79,
80.)]

[Footnote 242: History of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. II., p. 74. Holmes
gives the following account of this brilliant achievement: "On the
proposition of Col. Bradstreet, for an expedition against Fort
Frontenac, relinquishing for the present his designs against Ticonderaga
and Crown Point, Abercrombie sent that able and gallant officer on this
service, with a detachment of 3,000 men, chiefly provincials, and two
mortars. Bradstreet having marched to Oswego, embarked on Lake Ontario,
and on the evening of the 25th of August landed within a mile of the
fort. Within two days his batteries were opened within so short a
distance that almost every shell took effect; and the French commandant,
finding the place untenable, surrendered at discretion. The Indians
having previously deserted, the prisoners were but 110. The captors
found in the fort 60 pieces of cannon, 16 small mortars, a large number
of small arms, a vast quantity