[Footnote 197:  Correspondence of Shirley, 1754, 1755.]

[Footnote 198:  Shirley to Robinson, 24 Jan. 1755.]

The plans against Crown Point and Beausejour had already found the approval of the Home Government and the energetic support of all the New England colonies.  Preparation for them was in full activity; and it was with great difficulty that Shirley had disengaged himself from these cares to attend the council at Alexandria.  He and Dinwiddie stood in the front of opposition to French designs.  As they both defended the royal prerogative and were strong advocates of taxation by Parliament, they have found scant justice from American writers.  Yet the British colonies owed them a debt of gratitude, and the American States owe it still.

Braddock, laid his instructions before the Council, and Shirley found them entirely to his mind; while the General, on his part, fully approved the schemes of the Governor.  The plan of the campaign was settled.  The French were to be attacked at four points at once.  The two British regiments lately arrived were to advance on Fort Duquesne; two new regiments, known as Shirley’s and Pepperell’s, just raised in the provinces, and taken into the King’s pay, were to reduce Niagara; a body of provincials from New England, New York, and New Jersey was to seize Crown Point; and another body of New England men to capture Beausejour and bring Acadia to complete subjection.  Braddock himself was to lead the expedition against Fort Duquesne.  He asked Shirley, who, though a soldier only in theory, had held the rank of colonel since the last war, to charge himself with that against Niagara; and Shirley eagerly assented.  The movement on Crown Point was intrusted to Colonel William Johnson, by reason of his influence over the Indians and his reputation for energy, capacity, and faithfulness.  Lastly, the Acadian enterprise was assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, a regular officer of merit.

To strike this fourfold blow in time of peace was a scheme worthy of Newcastle and of Cumberland.  The pretext was that the positions to be attacked were all on British soil; that in occupying them the French had been guilty of invasion; and that to expel the invaders would be an act of self-defence.  Yet in regard to two of these positions, the French, if they had no other right, might at least claim one of prescription.  Crown Point had been twenty-four years in their undisturbed possession, while it was three quarters of a century since they first occupied Niagara; and, though New York claimed the ground, no serious attempt had been made to dislodge them.