New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29

blood. Speaking Of one family named Gil,
French missionary, in 1886, computed their
descendants at 952, in whose veins French,
English and Abenald blood was mixed
in every conceivable proportion ii,
concludes the Able one should trace out all the
| English families brought into Canada by the
Abcaks, one would be astonished at the num-
| Der of persons who to-day are indebted to these
savages for the blessing of being Catholics ana
the advantage of being Canadians an adj
vantage" remarks Mr.. Parkman, for which
French Canadians are ungrateful that they
migrate to the United States by myriads.
But it is not possible TO follow each separate
episode in this thrilling series. We must there
fore content ourselves with noting one or two
especially important events, such as the dolngs IN
Acadia and the siege and capture of Louisbourg.
1t was in reprisal for the Decrfcld raid that the
movements were undertaken which eventuated in
the conquest of Acadia. That country was in
habted by peculiarly ignorant and stagnant
race. They were far behind the average Canadian
In civilization. Mr.. Parkman says that at Grand
Pre- probably lie Blanc, the notary, immortalized
by Longfclow, was the only man who could read
or write The Acadians were wholly controlled by
their priests, and the priests were under strict
orders TO hold them to their French allegiance.
dilemma, for they were compelled TO take the
oath of allegiance to the King of England, and
the Treaty of Utrecht made them English subjects ;
but none the less were they required by their
spiritual directors to adhere 10 their French al
legiance The situation was such, however, that
their new masters could not coerce them. The
English Government took no interest in Acadia
and would not garrison it. For years there were
but two or three hundred English or colonial
troops in the fort at Annapolis, and the range OF
the forts guns marked out the real extent of the
English authority.
The Acadians could in fact, have turned out
their conquerors at any time, and it seems by no
means improbable that they would have done so
but for the persistent vigilance and PATRIOTISM OF
Governor Shirley Of Massachusetts,, whose CORE
spondence with the stupid and obstinate Duke OF
Newcastle on the question is given in the appendix
to this work. How easy it would have been 10
reverse the Acadan position may be realized from
the fate of Mobiles expedition and the success II
Ramsay though the Acadians on this occasion
did not take I'D arms against the English Year
after wear. however the situation became more
and more iucongruous The Acadians had been
warned at the time of the conquest, that thcy
must take the oath Of allegiance to England or
leave the country at the end of one year. lh'J
did no; take tine oath, but neither did they leave
Again and again were they threatened, but for
long time their priests would not let them take the
oath. At last tie prohibition was removed
and the majority took the 0ath; put
they were told that this did not ahsolve them
from their French allegiance. Meanwhile the
Canadians were using every effort 10 make theh
rise and though they long wthstood these incite-
ments the English could not but feel that this
a. o,,1 hot
would not become loyal subjects of England they
would have TO he removed from Acadia. The ac-
count of that mournful and pathetic event. which
in 1888, does not come within the scope
of Mr.. Parkman's present work, but we hope
that he may find another opportunity to illuminate
it with his brilliant and lucid style and powers
Of description.
The siege OF Lousoourg has been so often mar
rated that the subject mag be thought tri'c:
but whatever Mr. parkman writes about gains
freshness and new interest and the chapters which
he has given to that event, so important until 1t
was shorn Of consequence by the cN-
igencies of English politics, are among the most
attractive in the book. The author has had the
good fortune TO obtain new account a tae
siege in the shape OF a diary written by
French Habitant de Louisbo1rg." His account
confirms those Of the besiegeB in general way,
and adds many interesting particulars, such as
could only have been known TO one Of the be
seged. Certainly there never was an undertaking
which on it's face appeared more irrational than
the Louisbourg expedition. Leaving Ad-
miral Warren and the ! feet out Of e.
count, there WAS nobody connected with
it who had the least military knowledge The
force employed raw, undisclplincd militia.
The material available wholly inadequate.
The guns with which what supposed TO be
the strongest fortress out Of Europe was II bc
assaulted we're to be fired by men absolutely
ignorant of artillery practice. The commanCcr-lr-
chief was a merchant. Yet in spite Of these ap
fatal drawbacks, the Object of tie eX-
petition was attained, and Louisbourg was taken.
Some of the stories here told Of Suggestions made
for carrying the fortress will give very good
idea Of the kind of intelligence which was then
available in Boston the whole subject One
of them was to the effect that two should
somehow get upon the ramparts at night, one
carrying o lantern and the other wooden mallct.
Then the man with the mallet was TO stoop and
strike heavy blows with it, and his companion
was to place his ear TO the ground and listen.
1t was supposed that if the ramparts had bccI,
mined, hollow sound would be returned from such
places when struck, and that when such a mine
was discovered, all that was necessary would be
to mark it, and then the capture of the fort
would follow without difficulty Such was the
kind of advice freely proncIed to Shirley and
Pcpperel before the setting out Of the
expedition, and during the siege Any
professional soldier, either then now.
must have declared the scheme sheer
madness. And yet it succeeded. France was
by the disaster and the Due DAnville
was dispatched with formidable force to retake
Louisbourg How he only increased the calam-
ity and went back empty-handed, Mr.. Parkman
has eoquently described. 1t was like the Spanish !
Armada upon a small scale, and OF course the
pious Purtans claimed the French discontinue az
miraculous.
The book ends with the account OF the taking
Of Fort Massachusetts by French and Indians, and
nothing more gallant than It's defence by a ser |
geant and score Of men against 700 enemies |
can he found anywhere. At this point the Peace |