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and had the country to themselves as completely as if there had
been no British conquest。 They rarely saw a British official。 If
they asked the British Governor at Annapolis to settle for them
some vexed question of rights or ownership he did so and they did
not even pay a fee。
This is not； however； the whole story。 England's neglect of the
colony was France's opportunity。 Perhaps the French court did not
follow closely what was going on in Acadia。 The successive French
Governors of Canada at Quebec were； however； alert； and their
policy was to incite the Abenaki Indians on the New England
frontier to harass the English settlements； and to keep the
Acadians an active factor in the support of French plans。 The
nature of French intrigue is best seen in the career of Sebastien
Rale。 He was a highly educated Jesuit priest。 It was long a
tradition among the Jesuits to send some of their best men as
missionaries among the Indians。 Rale spent nearly the whole of
his life with the Abenakis at the mission station of Norridgewock
on the Kennebec River。 He knew the language and the customs of
the Indians； attended their councils； and dominated them by his
influence。 He was a model missionary； earnest and scholarly。 But
the Jesuit of that age was prone to be half spiritual zealot；
half political intriguer。 There is no doubt that the Indians had
a genuine fear that the English； with danger from France
apparently removed by the Treaty of Utrecht； would press claims
to lands about the Kennebec River in what is now the State of
Maine； and that they would ignore the claims of the Indians and
drive them out。 The Governor at Quebec helped to arouse the
savages against the arrogant intruders。 English border ruffians
stirred the Indians by their drunken outrages and gave them real
cause for anger。 The savages knew only one way of expressing
political unrest。 They began murdering women and children in
raids on lonely log cabins on the frontier。 The inevitable result
was that in 1721 Massachusetts began a war on them which dragged
on for years。 Rale； inspired from Quebec； was believed to control
the Indians and； indeed； boasted that he did so。 At last the
English struck at the heart of the trouble。 In 1724 some two
hundred determined men made a silent advance through the forest
to the mission village of Norridgewock where Rale lived； and Rale
died fighting the assailants。 In Europe a French Jesuit such as
he would have worked among diplomats and at the luxurious courts
of kings。 In America he worked among savages under the hard
conditions of frontier life。 The methods and the aims in both
cases were the sameby subtle and secret influence so to mold
the actions of men that France should be exalted in power。 In
their high politics the French sometimes overreached themselves。
To seize points of vantage； to intrigue for influence； are not in
themselves creative。 They must be supported by such practical
efforts as will assure an economic reserve adequate in the hour
of testing。 France failed partly because she did not know how to
lay sound industrial foundations which should give substance to
the brilliant planning of her leaders。
To French influence of this kind the English opposed forces that
were the outcome of their national character and institutions。
They were keener traders than the French and had cheaper and
better goods； with the exception perhaps of French gunpowder and
of French brandy； which the Indians preferred to English rum。
Though the English were less alert and less brilliant than the
French； the work that they did was more enduring。 Their
settlements encroached ever more and more upon the forest。 They
found and tilled the good lands； traded and saved and gradually
built up populous communities。 The British colonies had twenty
times the population of Canada。 The tide of their power crept in
slowly but it moved with the relentless force that has
subsequently made nearly the whole of North America English in
speech and modes of thought。
When； in 1744； open war between the two nations came at last in
Europe； each prepared to spring at the other in Americaand
France sprang first。 In Nova Scotia； on the narrow strait which
separates the mainland from the island of Cape Breton； the
British had a weak little fishing settlement called Canseau。
Suddenly in May； 1744； when the British at Canseau had heard
nothing of war； two armed vessels from Louisbourg with six or
seven hundred soldiers and sailors appeared before the poor
little place and demanded its surrender。 To this the eighty
British defenders agreed on the condition that they should be
sent to Boston which； as yet； had not heard of the war。 Meanwhile
they were taken to Louisbourg where they kept their eyes open。
But the French continued in their offensive。 The one vital place
held by the British in Nova Scotia was Annapolis； at that time so
neglected that the sandy ramparts had crumbled into the ditch
supposed to protect them； and cows from the neighboring fields
walked up the slope and looked down into the fort。 It was
Duvivier； the captor of Canseau； who attacked Annapolis。 He had
hoped much for help from the Indians and the Acadians； but；
though both seemed eager； both failed him in action。 Paul
Mascarene； who defended Annapolis； was of Huguenot blood； which
stimulated him to fight the better against the Catholic French。
Boston sent him help； for that little capital was deeply moved；
and so Annapolis did not fall； though it was harassed during the
whole summer of 1744； and New England； in a fever at the new
perils of war； prepared a mighty stroke against the French。
This expedition was to undertake nothing less than the capture of
Louisbourg itself。 The colonial troops had been so often reminded
of their inferiority to regular troops as fighting forces that；
with provincial docility； they had almost come to accept the
estimate。 It was well enough for them to fight irregular French
and Indian bands； but to attack a fortress defended by a French
garrison was something that only a few bold spirits among them
could imagine。 Such a spirit； however； was William Vaughan； a
Maine trader； deeply involved in the fishing industry and
confronted with ruin from hostile Louisbourg。 Shirley； the
Governor of Massachusetts； a man of eager ambition； took up the
proposal and worked out an elaborate plan。 The prisoners who had
been captured at Canseau by the French and interned at Louisbourg
now arrived at Boston and told of bad conditions in the fortress。
In January； 1745； Shirley called a session of the General Court；
the little parliament of Massachusetts； and； having taken the
unusual step of pledging the members to secrecy； he unfolded his
plan。 But it proved too bold for the prudent legislators； and
they voted it down。 Meanwhile New England trade was suffering
from ships which used Louisbourg as a base。 At length public
opinion was aroused and； when Shirley again called the General
Court； a bare majority endorsed his plan。 Soon thereafter New
England was aflame。 Appeals for help were sent to England and； it
is said； even to Jamaica。 Shirley counted on aid from a British
squadron； under Commodore Peter Warren； in American waters； but
at first Warren had no instructions to help such a plan。 This
disappointment did not keep New England from going on alone。 In
the end Warren received instructions to give the necessary
substantial aid； and he established a strict blockade which
played a vital part in the siege of the French fortress。
In this hour of deadly peril Louisbourg was in not quite happy
case。 Some of the French officers； who； would otherwise have
starved on their low pay； were taking part in illicit trade and
were neglecting their duties。 Just after Christmas in 1744； there
had been a mutiny over a petty question of butter and bacon。
Here； as in all French colonies； there were cliques； with the
suspicions and bitterness which they involve。 The Governor
Duchambon； though brave enough； was a man of poor judgment in a
position that required both tact and talent。 The English did not
make the mistake of delaying their preparations。 They were indeed
so prompt that they arrived at Canseau early in April and had to
wait for the ice to break up in Gabarus Bay； near Louisbourg；
where they intended to land。 Here； on April 30； the great fleet
appeared。 A watcher in Louisbourg counted ninety…six ships
standing off shore。 With little opposition from the French the
amazing army landed at Freshwater Cove。
Then began an astonishing siege。 The commander of the New England
forces； William Pepperrell； was a Maine trader； who dealt in a
little of everything； fish； groceries； lumber； ships； land。
Though innocent of military science； he was firm and tactful。 A
British officer with strict military ideas could not； perhaps；
have led that strange army with success。 Pepperrell knew that h