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

:1717-1720.] MAGNANIMOUS PROPOSALS. 51ward from the Kennebec along the Atlantic seaboard.The document containing this magnanimous proposalwas preserved in the Chateau St. Louis at Quebectillthe middle of the eighteenth century, when, theboundary dispute having reached a crisis, and commissionersof the two powers having been appointedto settle it, a certified copy of the paper was sent toFrance for their instruction. ^Father Bobd had advised thatFrance should nottrust solely to the justice of her claims, but shouldback right with might, and build forts on the Niagara,the Ohio, the Tennessee, and the Alabama, as wellas at other commanding points,to shut out the Englishfrom the West. Of these positions, Niagarawas the most important, for the possession of itwould close the access to the Upper Lakes, and stopthe western tribes on their way to trade at Albany.The Five Nations and the governor of New Yorkwere jealous of the French designs, which, however,were likely enough to succeed, through the prevailingapathy and divisions in the British colonies." Ifthose not immediately concerned," writes a memberof the New York council, "only stand gazing onwhile the wolff is murthering other parts of the flock,it will come to every one's turn at last."The warningwas well founded, but it was not heeded.Again" It is the policy of the French to attack one colony ata time, and the others are so besotted as to sit still. "^1 Demandes de la France, 1723 (Archives des Affaires ifctrangeres).2 Colonel Heathcote to Governor Hunter, 8 Jidy, 1715. Ibid, toTownshend, 12 July, 1715.