George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[106]

Chapter 5:

Franklin plans union for the American people.— Pelham's administration continued.

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1753-1754.

New York offered no resistance to the progress

chap. V.} 1753.

of the French in America. From Virginia the Ohio Company, in 1753, opened a road by Will's Creek, into the Western valley; and Gist established a plantation near the Youghiogeny, just beyond Laurel Hill. Eleven families settled in his vicinity; a town and fort were marked out on Shurtee's Creek; but the British government did nothing to win the valley of the Ohio, leaving the feeble company exposed to the wavering jealousy of the red men, and without protection against the impending encroachments of France.

The young men of the Six Nations had been hunting, in April, near the rapids of the St. Lawrence. Suddenly they beheld a large body of French and Indians, equipped for war, marching towards Ontario; and their two fleetest runners hurried through the forest as messengers to the grand council at Onondaga. In eight-and-forty hours the decision of the council was borne by fresh posts to the nearest English station; and on the nineteenth of April, at midnight, the two Indians from Canajoharie, escorted by