CHAPTER XV.

Lieutenant-Governor Delancey-Royal instructions-Course of the assembly-George Washington-Movements of the French-First skirmish-Death of Jumonville-Surrender of Fort Necessity-Congress at Albany-Franklin's plan of union-Rejected by the colonies-Disaffection in New York -Establishment of a college-Liberal grants by the assembly for the defence of the frontiers-General Braddock appointed commander-in-chief-Congress of governors at Alexandria-Plan of campaign-Success in Nova ScotiaRout of Braddock's army-His death-Crown Point expedition-Fort Edward built-Approach of Dieskau-Skirmish with the provincials-Battle of Lake George-Rout of the French-Capture of Dieskau-Honours awarded to Johnson by parliament-Neglect of Lyman-Inactivity of JohnsonFort William Henry built-Niagara expedition-Reverses and disappointments of Shirley-Sickness of troops-Fort Oswego built.

By the unexpected death of Sir Danvers Osborne, the arbitrary measures he was commissioned to enforce failed of their intended effect. Delancey, the new lieutenant-governor, having been so long in the confidence of the assembly, was not disposed to weaken his popularity by insisting upon obedience to instructions which he well knew would never be complied with. Even the council, although a majority of them were opposed to the extreme views of the popular party, were not inclined to acquiesce in the demand for a fixed revenue. Thus supported, both by his friends

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and opponents, Delancey merely urged, as a matter of form, obedience to the royal mandate, and having discharged his duty to his superiors, left the assembly free to act as they thought proper. Under such circumstances their course may readily be conjectured. They respectfully declined making any change in the rule they had adopted respecting annual appropriations, but conceded to the governor and council the authority to disburse the public moneys.

This firm and steadfast opposition to the royal commands might have given rise to serious consequences, had it not been that the attention of the English government was diverted from the question of prerogative by the threatening aspect of affairs upon the frontiers.

The colonies, generally, had received orders to repel the advance of the French; but it fell to Dinwiddie, as governor of Virginia, to take the initiative. Desirous of avoiding hostilities, if possible, he commissioned George Washington, then in his twenty-first year, a native of Virginia, and a surveyor by profession, to cross the mountains with a message to the French commandant, demanding that the French should withdraw from the territory of the Ohio, and release the traders captured at Sandusky. After a dangerous and painful journey of eleven weeks, Washington returned. He had held a friendly conference with Tanacharison, the half-king, and various Indians

assembled at Logstown; had carefuly examined the point of land formed by the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela with the Ohio, with a view to the construction of a fort at that place; and had delivered his message to St. Pierre, the commandant of Fort le Boeuf, at Waterford, a few miles south of Lake Erie. The answer of St. Pierre, and the unguarded conversation of his officers, rendering it certain that the French were determined not to recede from the territory of which they had taken possession, Dinwiddie convened the assembly of Virginia in January, 1754, and obtained from them a grant of ten thousand pounds towards the defence of the frontiers. Forty-one men were despatched to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio. The military force of Virginia was increased to six hundred men, and Washington, commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, was ordered to Alexandria to enlist recruits.

The other colonies being called upon for assistance, the assembly of New York voted, during April, one thousand pounds to Virginia, and despatched two companies of regulars to support the militia of that province; but declined giving any further aid, on the ground that it was doubtful whether the French had actually encroached upon any territory belonging to the colonies. To strengthen their own frontiers, they granted four hundred and fifty pounds for an additional gar

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rison at Oswego, and agreed to become responsible for the repairs of that fort, and to bear their proportion of the expenses which might be incurred in the erection of such new forts as should be found necessary for the common defence.

While these resolutions were under debate, Washington, at the head of one hundred and fifty men, was marching for the forks of the Ohio, to assist in building the fort already commenced at that point. On the 17th of April, three days before he reached Wills' Creek, the French, one thousand strong, descending the Alleghany from Venango, had driven off the workmen at the forks of the Ohio, and were strengthening and completing the works already began there, naming the post of which they had thus taken forcible possession Fort Duquesne.

Washington had no sooner received this alarming intelligence, than he resolved to push forward and fortify himself at the mouth of Redstone Creek, on the Monongahela, until reinforcements should arrive. Moving but slowly by reason of the ruggedness of the way, and the deep fords which had to be crossed, he was met at the crossing of the Youghioghany by a message from Tanacharison, the half-king, warning him of the approach of a French detachment, and their avowed resolution to attack the first English they met. Hastening to Great Meadows, he threw up an intrenchment, and after sending out a small

mounted party on wagon horses to reconnoiter, encamped for the night. On the morning of the 27th, Gist, who had been the companion of Washington on his journey to Fort le Boeuf, and who had opened a plantation on the Youghioghany, brought fresh tidings of the vicinity of the enemy. Late in the evening, an express arriving from Tanacharison, Washington marched with his command, through the rain and darkness, to the Indian camp, and early the following day, accompanied by the half-king and his warriors, proceeded in search of the enemy. Having discovered the place of their concealment, he attacked them by surprise, routed them with the loss of ten killed and took twenty-one prisoners. Among the killed was Jumonville, the commander.

Reinforcements coming up soon after, an independent company was left at Great Meadows to build a stockade, called Fort Necessity, while the Virginians were employed in opening a road to Gist's plantation, and a path to the mouth of the Redstone. In the midst of these labours the French advanced in force, and Washington was compelled to fall back upon Fort Necessity. On the 3d of July the fort was assaulted, and after nine hours fighting a capitulation was agreed upon, by the terms of which the garrison were permitted to retire across the mountains, bearing with them their arms and baggage.