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been so pressing＇ have settled what the Boundary between the two Countries is。〃Chignecto being ashes； and the neighboring population gone； Cornwallis and his Four Hundred had to return to Halifax。
It was not till Autumn following； that Chignecto could be solidly got hold of by the Halifax people； nor till a long time after； that La Corne could be dislodged from his stockades； and sent packing。 ＇ Gentleman's Magazine； xx。 539； 295。＇ September； 1750； a new Expedition on Chignecto found the place populous again； Indians； French 〃Peasants〃 （seemingly Soldiers of a sort）； who stood very fiercely behind their defences； and needed a determined on…rush； and 〃volley close into their noses；〃 before disappearing。 This was reckoned the first military bloodshed （if this were really military on the French side）。 And in November following； some small British Cruiser on those Coasts； falling in with a French Brigantine； from Quebec； evidently carrying military stores and solacements for La Corne； seized the same； by force of battle； since not otherwise；three men lost to the British； five to the French；and brought it to Halifax。 〃Lawful and necessary！〃 says the Admiralty Court； 〃Sheer Piracy！〃 shriek the French； matters breaking out into actual flashes of flame； in this manner。
British Commissions； two in number； names not worth mention； have； at last； in this Year 1750； gone to Paris； and are holding manifold conferences with French ditto；to no 〃purpose； any of them。 One reads the dreary tattle of the Duke of Newcastle upon it； in the Years onward： 〃Just going to agree；〃 the Duke hopes； 〃some difficulties； but everybody； French and English； wanting mere justice； and our and their Commissioners being in such a generous spirit； surely they will soon settle it。〃 ＇His Letters； in Coxe's Pelham； ii。 407 （〃September； 1751〃）； &c。＇ They never did or could； and steadily it went on worsening。
That notable private assertion of the French； That Canada and Louisiana mean all America West of the Alleghanies； had not yet oozed out to the English； but it is gradually oozing out； and that England will have to content itself with the moderate Country lying east of that Blue range。 〃Not much above a million of you〃； say the French； 〃and surely there is room enough East of the Alleghanies？ We； with our couple of Colonies； are the real America；counting； it is true； few settlers as yet； but there shall be innumerable； and； in the mean while； there are Army…Detachments； Block…houses； fortified Posts； command of the Rivers； of the Indian Nations； of the water…highways and military keys （to you unintelligible）； and we will make it good！〃
The exact cipher of the French （guessed to be 50；000）； and their precise relative…value as tillers and subduers of the soil； in these Two Colonies of theirs； as against the English Thirteen； would be interesting to know： curious also their little bill； of trouble taken in creating the Continent of America； in discovering it； visiting； surveying； planting； taming； making habitable for man：and what Rhadamanthus would have said of those Two Documents！ Enough； the French have taken some trouble； more or less； especially in sending soldiers out； of late。 The French； to certain thousands； languidly tilling； hunting and adventuring； and very skilful in wheedling the Indian Nations； are actually there； and they； in the silence of Rhadamanthus； decide that merit shall not miss its wages for want of asking。 〃Ours is America West of the Alleghanies；〃 say the French； openly before long。
〃Yours？ Yours； of all people's？〃 answer the English； and begin； with lethargic effort； to awake a little to that stupid Foreign Question； important； though stupid and foreign； or lying far off。 Who really owned all America； probably few Englishmen had ever asked themselves； in their dreamiest humors； nor could they now answer； but； that North America does not belong to the French； can be doubtful to no English creature。 Pitt； Chatham as we now call him； is perhaps the Englishman to whom； of all others； it is least doubtful。 Pitt is in Office at last；in some subaltern capacity； 〃Paymaster of the Forces〃 for some years past； in spite of Majesty's dislike of the outspoken man；and has his eyes bent on America；which is perhaps （little as you would guess it such） the main fact in that confused Controversy just now！
In 1753 （28th August of that Year）； goes message from the Home Government； 〃Stand on your defence； over there！ Repel by force any Foreign encroachments on British Dominions。〃 ＇Holderness； OR Robinson our old friend。＇ And directly on the heel of this； November； 1753； the Virginia Governor；urged； I can believe； by the Ohio Company； who are lying wind…bound so long；despatches Mr。 George Washington to inquire officially of the French Commandant in those parts； 〃What he means； then； by invading the British Territories； while a solid Peace subsists？〃 Mr。 George had a long ride up those desert ranges； and down again on the other side； waters all out； ground in a swash with December rains； no help or direction but from wampums and wigwams： Mr。 George got to Ohio Head （two big Rivers； Monongahela from South； Alleghany from North； coalescing to form a double…big Ohio for the Far West）； and thought to himself； 〃What an admirable three…legged place： might be Chief Post of those regions；nest…egg of a diligent Ohio Company。！〃 Mr。 George； some way down the Ohio River； found a strongish French Fort； log…barracks； 〃200 river…boats； with more building；〃 and a French Commandant； who cannot enter into questions of a diplomatic nature about Peace and War： 〃My orders are； To keep this Fort and Territory against all comers； one must do one's orders； Monsieur： Adieu！〃 And the steadfast Washington had to return； without result；except that of the admirable Three…legged Place for dropping your Nest…egg； in a commanding and defenceful way！
Ohio Company； painfully restrained so long in that operation； took the hint at once。 Despatched； early in 1754； a Party of some Forty or Thirty…three stout fellows； with arms about them； as well as tools； 〃Go build us； straightway； a Stockade in the place indicated； you are warranted to smite down； by shot or otherwise； any gainsayer！〃 And furthermore； directly got on foot； and on the road thither； a 〃regiment of 150 men；〃 Washington as Colonel to it； For perfecting said Stockade； and maintaining it against all comers。
Washington and his Hundred…and…fiftywagonage； provender and a piece or two of cannon； all well attended tovigorously climbed the Mountains； got to the top 27th May； 1754； and there MET the Thirty…three in retreat homewards！ Stockade had been torn out； six weeks ago （17th April last）； by overwhelming French Force； from the Gentleman who said ADIEU； and had the river…boats； last Fall。 And； instead of our Stockade； they are now building a regular French Fort；FORT DUQUESNE； they call it； in honor of their Governor Duquesne：against which； Washington and his regiment； what are they？ Washington； strictly surveying； girds himself up for the retreat； descends diligently homewards again； French and Indians rather harassing his rear。 In…trenches himself； 1st July； at what he calls 〃F