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

1745-1747.] CLINTON'S DIFFICULTIES. 207Lancey, with whom he had had an after-dinner dispute,ending in a threat on the part of De Lanceythat he would make the governor's seatuncomfortable.To marked abilities, better education, andmore knowledge of the world than was often foundin the provinces, ready wit, and conspicuous socialposition, the chief justice joined a restless ambitionand the arts of a demagogue.He made good his threat, headed the opposition tothe governor, and proved his most formidableantagonist.If either Clinton or Shirley had had the independentauthority of a Canadian governor, theconduct of the war would have been widely different.Clinton was hampered at every turn. The Assemblyheld him at advantage ;for it was they, and not theKing, who paid his salary, and they could withholdor retrench it when he displeased them. The peoplesympathized with their representatives and backedthem in opposition, — at least, when not under theof imminent danger.A body of provincials, in the pay of the King, hadstressbeen mustered at Albany for the proposed Canadaexpedition; and after that plan was abandoned,Clinton wished to use them for protecting the northernfrontier and capturing that standing menace tothe province. Crown Point. The Assembly, bent oncrossing him at any price, refused to provide fortransporting supplies farther than Albany, As thefurnishing ofprovisions and transportation dependedon that body, they could stop the movement of troops