MiSTORY OF VERMONT. 333 



their lisual activity and impetuosity, began the 

 business by invading the island of Canseau ; 

 they took the island, burned the houses, de- 

 stroyed the fishery, and made the garrison and 

 inhabitants, their prisoners. 



To savages, the horrors and phnider of war 

 are so agreeable, that when the flame is once 

 kindled, they delight to increase and expand it ; 

 and notwithstanding the long period of peace 

 and friendship, they very readily embraced the 

 opportunity to fall upon the English frontiers. 

 In these incursions, the advantages which the 

 fort and settlement at Crown Point gave to the 

 French and Indians, were soon and severely 

 felt. In the first year of the war, but little 

 damage was done ; but in the course of the 

 next year, scouting and ravaging parties of 

 French and Indians every where appeared, and 

 carried destruction and slaughter around the 

 frontiers of the English colonies. Mr. Shirley j 

 governor of Massachusetts, was at that time the 

 most active and enterprising of any governor 

 in the English colonies. His attention was 

 chiefly taken up in the year 1745, in planning 

 and executing the important and successful ex- 

 pedition against the French settlements in the 

 island of Cape Breton. During that summer, 

 and the next, the Indians in small parties were 

 killing, scalping, and plundering, wherever they 

 could find a defenceless party or family. 



The most advanced fortress at that time in 

 Massachusetts, was a fort at Floosick, since 

 Williamstown. This fort was erected at the 

 breaking out of the war, to cover the western 

 parts of the province from the Indian depreda- 



voL. I. R 2 



