oppression, rapacity, and bigotry had ever characterised the ruling
powers in the colony, and now that the hour of trial had come there
could be little hope that the colonists of New France, however loyally
disposed, could do much to help King Louis to retain this much-prized
dependency of the French crown. But what of that? The French king
probably cared as little for the help of his Canadian subjects as he
did for the enmity of the New Englanders. Nearly fifty years had
passed away since the victories of Marlborough, whilst the humiliation
of Dettingen had been eclipsed by the triumph of Fontenoy. England,
moreover, had but just succeeded, with no little difficulty, in putting
down a rebellion at home, and Jacobite disaffection was still rife in
the land--such at least might well be the French view of the English
situation. In America, too, the successes of General Johnson on Lake
Champlain, however substantial, could not efface the recollection of
Braddock's disastrous rout at Fort Duquesne.

There were, nevertheless, some circumstances in the case which led
reflecting men to think that even were the troops of France commanded
by another Marshal Saxe the victory might yet be doubtful. The
exploits of Anson, Hawke, Boscawen, and Warren, both previously to the
peace, and now again immediately on the resumption of hostilities, had
established almost beyond question England's superiority at sea, and
this could scarcely fail to be of incalculable advantage in a contest
which would make it necessary to transport and convey land forces to a
distant theatre of war. There was, moreover, yet another circumstance
that could not be put out of sight, even by those most inclined to rely
on the military prestige of France, acquired in wars of the old
conventional European type. Brought year by year more and more into
contact with the white man, and year by year more debased by an
insatiable thirst for the deadly fire-water, the American Indian had
indeed gradually become less and less formidable to his foes; he was,
however, by no means an enemy to be despised. Many a well-conceived
plan was defeated by the sudden and murderous onslaught of a tribe
whose stealthy approach had eluded all common precautions, and many an
engagement which in civilised war might have had but small results, was
turned into a massacre from which not one escaped to tell the tale.
Even the hardy colonists, whilst they affected to despise the wild a