colony made rapid increase in numbers; but, owing to the poverty and idle habits of the settlers, as also to the impolitic regulations of the trustees, the bright anticipations of plenty and comfort which had been entertained were not, for a time, realized.

War with the Spaniards.—In consequence of the claim to territory set up by Spain, hostilities took place between the English settlers and their Spanish neighbors. Owing, however, to the bravery and skill of Oglethorpe, the result was favorable to the English. The trustees governed till 1752, when, wearied with their troublesome charge, they surrendered their charter to the crown, and Georgia became a royal province.

SECTION III.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

Causes of the War.-Although the boundaries between the British and French possessions in America had been, for more than a quarter of a century, a subject of dispute, the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, made in 1748, left them still undefined.

The English, basing their title upon the discoveries made by the Cabots, laid claim to all the territory from Newfoundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The French claimed all the interior portion adjacent to the rivers St. Lawrence and Mississippi and their tributaries, upon the ground that they had explored and occupied it; and, the better to secure this claim, they erected forts at various places through the region.

In consequence of these conflicting claims, a war broke out between England and her colonies, assisted to some extent by the Indians, on the one side, and France and her colonies, largely aided by the Indians, on the other. This is known as "The French and Indian War." It was thus a contest for territory and dominion in America.

Washington's Mission.-The French having seized three British traders, and also built forts on the land of the Ohio Company, an association formed under a royal grant, to trade with the Indians, Governor Dinwiddie, of the Virginia Colony, selected George Washington, then a young man of about twenty-two, to carry a letter to the French Commandant, remonstrating against these aggressive acts. This was the first public service of importance performed by Washington.

He set out on his mission in October,1753, from Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia. His journey of four hundred miles, more than half of it through a

wilderness inhabited by hostile Indians, was perilous and difficult; but he completed it in safety, returning after an absence of eleven weeks, during which he had encountered the severest hardships amid snow, icy floods, and savage enemies. The answer of St. Pierre (pe-are'), the French commandant, was not, however, satisfactory to the governor. He stated that he was acting under the orders of Duquesne (du-kane'), governor of Canada, and refused to quit the territory. The following incidents will give some idea of the kind of perils encountered by Washington during this journey.

Incidents of Washington's Journey.--Lossing.

1. THE horses were so emaciated and jaded, that it was doubtful whether they could ever cross the mountains. The provisions and other luggage were to be transported on their backs; and, to lighten their burden as much as possible, Washington, Gist, and the interpreters determined to proceed on foot, confiding them to the direction of the servants. Washington put on an Indian walking-dress, and continued with them three days, when, finding that there was no probability of their getting home in any reasonable time, that the beasts became less able to travel every day, that the cold increased very fast, and that the roads were becoming much worse by a deep snow, continually freezing, he determined to proceed in advance, the nearest way, through the woods.

2. Leaving the rest of the party, with the luggage, in charge of Van Braum, therefore, with money and directions to provide necessaries from place to place, and orders to go on as rapidly as he could, he tied a heavy watch-coat close about him, and, with gun in hand, and a knapsack containing provisions and his papers on his shoulders, left the cavalcade', accompanied only by Mr. Gist, who was equipped in the same

manner.

3. Abandoning the beaten path, they directed their way through the woods so as to cross the Alleghany near Shannopinstown, two or three miles above the intersection of that river with the Monongahela. Washington's own account of the hardships and dangers which succeeded is modest and subdued, but extremely interesting. The narrative of Mr. Gist is

in this part more ample, but perfectly consistent with that of his leader.

4. “I was unwilling," writes the guide, "that he should undertake such a march, who had never been used to walking before this time; but, as he insisted on it, we set out with our packs, like Indians, and travelled eighteen miles. That night we lodged at an Indian cabin, and the major was much fatigued. It was very cold: all the small streams were frozen, so that we could hardly get water to drink." At two o'clock the next morning, they were again on foot, and pressed forward until they struck the southeast branch of Beaver Creek, at a place called Murderingtown, the scene, probably, of some Indian

massacre.

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5. Here," proceeds Mr. Gist, "we met with an Indian, whom I thought I had seen at Joncaire's, at Venango, when on our journey up to the French fort. This fellow called me by my Indian name, and pretended to be glad to see me. He asked us several questions, as, how came we to travel on foot, when we left Venango, where we parted from our horses, and when they would be there. Major Washington insisted upon travelling on the nearest way to the forks of the Alleghany. We asked the Indian if he could go with us, and show us the nearest way. He seemed very glad, and ready to do so; upon which we set out, and he took the major's pack.

6. "We travelled quite briskly for eight or ten miles, when the major's feet grew very sore, and he very weary, and the Indian steered too much northeastwardly. The major desired to encamp, upon which the Indian asked to carry his gun; but he refused that, and then the Indian grew churlish, and pressed us to keep on, telling us there were Ottawa Indians in these woods, and that they would scalp us if we lay out; but to go to his cabin and we should be safe.

7. "I thought very ill of the fellow, but did not care to let the major know I mistrusted him. But he soon mistrusted him as much as I. The Indian said he could hear a gun from his cabin, and steered us more northwardly. We grew uneasy, and then he said two whoops might be heard from his cabin.