garrisons. Thus the Virginian and Pennsylvanian traders would be debarred all access to the West, and the tribes of that 杭州桑拿qq联系 region, bereft henceforth of 杭州洗浴中心 English guns, knives, hatchets, and blankets, English gifts and English cajoleries, would be thrown back to complete dependence on the French. 杭州足疗手推 The moral influence, too, of such a movement would be incalculable; for the Indian respects nothing so much as a display of vigor and daring, backed by force. In short, the intended enterprise was a master-stroke, and laid the axe to the very root of disaffection. It is true that, under the treaty, commissioners had been long in session at Paris to settle the question of American boundaries; but there was no likelihood that they would come to agreement; and if France would make good her Western claims, it behooved her, while there was yet time, to prevent her rival from fastening a firm grasp on the countries in dispute.
Yet the Colonial Minister regarded the plan with distrust. “Be on your guard,” he wrote to Duquesne, 杭州男士品茶 “against new undertakings; private 87
V1 interests are generally at 杭州龙凤阁 the bottom of them. It is through these that new posts are established. Keep only such as are indispensable, and suppress the others. The expenses of the colony are enormous; and they have doubled since the peace.” Again, a little later: “Build on the Ohio such forts as are absolutely necessary, but no more. Remember that His Majesty suspects your advisers of interested views.” [66]
[66] Ordres du Roy et Dépêches des Ministres, 1753.
No doubt there was justice in the suspicion. Every military movement, and above all the establishment of every new post, was an opportunity to the official thieves with whom the colony swarmed. Some band of favored knaves grew rich; while a much greater number, excluded from sharing the illicit profits, clamored against the undertaking, and wrote charges of corruption
to Versailles. Thus the Minister was kept tolerably well informed; but was scarcely the less helpless, for with the Atlantic between, the disorders of Canada defied his control. Duquesne was exasperated by the opposition that met him on 杭州最好的水疗会所all hands, and wrote to the Minister: “There are so many rascals in this country that one is forever the butt of their attacks.” [67]
[67] Duquesne au Ministre, 29 Sept. 1754.
It seems that unlawful gain was not the only secret spring of the movement. An officer of repute says that the Intendant, Bigot, enterprising in his pleasures as in his greed, was engaged in an intrigue with the wife of Chevalier Péan; and 88
杭州养生水疗会所 V1 wishing at once to console the husband and to get rid of him, sought for him a high command at a distance from the colony. Therefore while Marin, an able officer,
was made first in rank, Péan was made second. The same writer hints that Duquesne himself was influenced by similar motives in his appointment of leaders. [68]
[68] Pouchot, Mémoire sur la dernière Guerre de l’Amérique septentrionale (ed. 1781), I. 8.
He mustered the colony troops, and ordered out the Canadians. With the former he was but half satisfied; with the latter he was