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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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^54 THE CHAIN OF POSTS. [1727-1736.new post was drawn from the four <strong>in</strong>dependent companiesma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce at the charge <strong>of</strong>theCrown.The establishment <strong>of</strong>Oswego greatly alarmed <strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>censed the French, <strong>and</strong> a council <strong>of</strong> war at Quebecresolved to send two thous<strong>and</strong> men aga<strong>in</strong>st it; butVaudreuil's successor,the Marquis de Beauhamois,learn<strong>in</strong>g that the court was not prepared to provokea war, contented himself with send<strong>in</strong>g a summons tothe comm<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>ficer to ab<strong>and</strong>on <strong>and</strong> demolish theplace with<strong>in</strong> a fortnight.^ To this no attention wasgiven ; <strong>and</strong> as Burnet had foreseen, Oswego becamethe great centre <strong>of</strong> Indian trade, while Niagara, <strong>in</strong>spite <strong>of</strong> its more favorable position, was comparativelyslighted by the western tribes. The chief dangerrose from the obst<strong>in</strong>ate prejudice <strong>of</strong> the Assembly,which, <strong>in</strong> its disputes with the Royal Governor, wouldgive him neither men nor money to defend the newpost.The Canadian authorities, who saw <strong>in</strong> Oswego an<strong>in</strong>trusionon their doma<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> a constant <strong>in</strong>jury <strong>and</strong>menace, could not attack it without br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g on awar, <strong>and</strong> therefore tried to persuade the Five Nationsto destroy it, — an attempt which completely failed.estate to this very day." — Smith, History <strong>of</strong> New York, 267 (ed.1814).1 M^moire de Dupuy, 1728. Dupuy was <strong>in</strong>tendant <strong>of</strong> Canada.The K<strong>in</strong>g approved the conduct <strong>of</strong> Beauhamois <strong>in</strong> not us<strong>in</strong>g force.D€peche du Roy, 14 Mai, 1728.^ When urged by the younger Longueuil to drive <strong>of</strong>f the Englishfrom Oswego, the Indians replied, " Drive them <strong>of</strong>f thyself"(" Chassez-les toi-meme "). Longueuil Jils au M<strong>in</strong>istre, 19 Octobre, 1728.

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