Life and Times of Sir Wm, Johnson, i, 386, etc.

1HE INDIAN TRIBES

to his council, and added to the pending conflict a third party in

the aboriginal proprietors who were resolved to defeat

interest

the purposes of their European neighbors in such manner as opportunity should develop.

Strong in all the resources of civil and military centralization, the government of Canada moved with a resolution and celerity that for a time set at defiance the efforts of their slow-footed

and divided adversaries.

By the end of 1753, they had a con nected line of forts, extending from Montreal to what is now called

the

French creek, in Pennsylvania, but to which they gave Riviere aux Boeufs. 1 To this latter fort,

name of the

Virginia sent, in December, Major George Washington, to demand the reason " for invading the British possessions in time of peace," and to warn the trespassers to retire. Civilly was

he treated

;

the answer which he received was not unexpected.

The French commandant knew no law but the orders of his u conform with exactness general ; to those orders he should and resolution." The casus belli which Virginia sought was supplied.

Promptly voting 10,000, Virginia dispatched, in May, a force of one hundred and fifty men, under Washington, to the

invaded territory, instructed " to make prisoners, kill or destroy all who interrupted the Not a moment English settlements." too soon did he reach the field. The French, sweeping down

from Venango, had compelled the English to evacuate the trad ing post which they had established at the Fork, and had occu pied the place with fortifications. Washington hurried to the Great