THE SIEGE OF LOUISBOUEG. 53 



with the French, rapidly took a uew direction. Within twenty years from the peace 

 which gave us New France, came another peace which cost us thirteen provinces. 



Had the French flag continued to float over Quebec for another century, who shall 

 say what would have been the present state of our continent ? Is it not quite possible, in 

 that case, that North America, or the bulk of it, would at this moment consist of a great 

 French empire, extending from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to its source, and from the 

 great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, while the English provinces on the Atlantic, confined to 

 the contracted strip between the AUeghanies and the ocean, would have formed a narrow 

 fringe on the edge of the great French domain, holding their own against powerful 

 neighbours only by the aid of Great Britain, whose empire, would be thus " cabined, 

 cribbed, confined" in the west, while in the meantime it was attaining to colossal 

 dimensions in the east, by colonies in Africa, Asia, Australia and Australasia, and by 

 conquests in India and Burmah. Our own little province, which as long as one hundred 

 and thirty years ago, was occupied by Acadiaus, whose fecundity had already spread 

 their race from Annapolis to Truro, would, of course, have been French, and have formed 

 the southern boundary of New France on the Atlantic. With the aid of British armies 

 and fleets, the crest of the Allegahanies might probably have been retained, as the 

 western boundary of the English provinces. 



If it be true that the first siege of Louisbourg had so powerful an influence in shaping 

 the fortune of North America, then the United States and British America have cause to 

 bless the day when a majority of one in the Massachusetts Assembly first set on foot a 

 policy pregnant with such wonderful results. 



When we think of the number of fortuities which determined the result of the first 

 act in the drama, it is difficult not to recognise the hand of Providence in the whol- 

 series of events which has occurred from that day to this. And in connection with the 

 wonderful character of many of these events, we are constrained to admit that White 

 field's motto was by no means inappropriate. 



