A Half Century of Conflict - Volume I France and England in North America   By: Francis Parkman (1823-1893)

FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN NORTH AMERICA.

PART SIXTH.

BY

FRANCIS PARKMAN.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. 1898.

Copyright, 1892 , By Francis Parkman.

Copyright, 1897 , By Little, Brown, and Company.

University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A.

[Illustration]

PREFACE.

This book, forming Part VI. of the series called France and England in North America, fills the gap between Part V., "Count Frontenac," and Part VII., "Montcalm and Wolfe;" so that the series now forms a continuous history of the efforts of France to occupy and control this continent.

In the present volumes the nature of the subject does not permit an unbroken thread of narrative, and the unity of the book lies in its being throughout, in one form or another, an illustration of the singularly contrasted characters and methods of the rival claimants to North America.

Like the rest of the series, this work is founded on original documents. The statements of secondary writers have been accepted only when found to conform to the evidence of contemporaries, whose writings have been sifted and collated with the greatest care. As extremists on each side have charged me with favoring the other, I hope I have been unfair to neither.

The manuscript material collected for the preparation of the series now complete forms about seventy volumes, most of them folios. These have been given by me from time to time to the Massachusetts Historical Society, in whose library they now are, open to the examination of those interested in the subjects of which they treat. The collection was begun forty five years ago, and its formation has been exceedingly slow, having been retarded by difficulties which seemed insurmountable, and for years were so in fact. Hence the completion of the series has required twice the time that would have sufficed under less unfavorable conditions.

Boston, March 26, 1892.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

1700 1713.

EVE OF WAR.

The Spanish Succession. Influence of Louis XIV. on History. French Schemes of Conquest in America. New York. Unfitness of the Colonies for War. The Five Nations. Doubt and Vacillation. The Western Indians. Trade and Politics 3

CHAPTER II.

1694 1704.

DETROIT.

Michilimackinac. La Mothe Cadillac: his Disputes with the Jesuits. Opposing Views. Plans of Cadillac: his Memorial to the Court; his Opponents. Detroit founded. The New Company. Detroit changes Hands. Strange Act of the Five Nations 17

CHAPTER III.

1703 1713.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.

The Forest of Maine. A Treacherous Peace. A Frontier Village. Wells and its People. Attack upon it. Border Ravages. Beaubassin's War party. The "Woful Decade." A Wedding Feast. A Captive Bridegroom 34

CHAPTER IV.

1704 1740.

DEERFIELD.

Hertel de Rouville. A Frontier Village. Rev. John Williams. The Surprise. Defence of the Stebbins House. Attempted Rescue. The Meadow Fight. The Captives. The Northward March. Mrs. Williams killed. The Minister's Journey. Kindness of Canadians. A Stubborn Heretic. Eunice Williams. Converted Captives. John Sheldon's Mission. Exchange of Prisoners. An English Squaw. The Gill Family 55

CHAPTER V.

1704 1713.

THE TORMENTED FRONTIER.

Border Raids. Haverhill. Attack and Defence. War to the Knife. Motives of the French. Proposed Neutrality. Joseph Dudley. Town and Country 94

CHAPTER VI.

1700 1710.

THE OLD RÉGIME IN ACADIA.

The Fishery Question. Privateers and Pirates. Port Royal. Official Gossip. Abuse of Brouillan. Complaints of De Goutin. Subercase and his Officers. Church and State. Paternal Government 110