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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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CHAPTER XXIII.1740-1747.WAR AND POLITICS.Governor <strong>and</strong> Assembly. — Saratogadestroyed. — WilliamJohnson. — Border Ravages. — Upper Ashuelot. — French" Military Movements." — Number Four. — Niverville'sAttack. — Ph<strong>in</strong>eas Stevens. — The French repulsed.Feom the East we turn to the West, forthe prov<strong>in</strong>ce<strong>of</strong> New York passed for the West atthat day.Here a vital question was what would be the attitude<strong>of</strong> the Five Nations <strong>of</strong> the Iroquois towards therivalEuropean colonies, their neighbors. The Treaty <strong>of</strong>Utrecht called them British subjects. What theword "subjects" meant, they themselves hardlyknew. The English told them that it meant children;the French that it meant dogs <strong>and</strong> slaves.Events had tamed the fierce confederates ; <strong>and</strong> now,though, like all savages, unstable as children, theyleaned <strong>in</strong> their soberer moments to a position <strong>of</strong>neutralitybetween their European neighbors, watch<strong>in</strong>gwith jealous eyes aga<strong>in</strong>st the encroachments <strong>of</strong> both.The French would gladly have enlisted them <strong>and</strong>their tomahawks <strong>in</strong> the war; but see<strong>in</strong>g little hope <strong>of</strong>this, were generally content if they could prevent

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