CHAPTEE XXVI. 



1764. 

 BRADSTREET'S ARMY ON THE LAKES. 



The campaign of 1763, a year of disaster to the 

 English colonies, was throughout of a defensive 

 nature, and no important blow had been struck 

 against the enemy. With the opening of the fol- 

 lowing spring, preparations were made to renew 

 the war on a more decisive plan. Before the com- 

 mencement of hostilities, Sir William Johnson and 

 his deputy, George Croghan, severally addressed to 

 the lords of trade memorials, setting forth the char- 

 acter, temper, and resources of the Indian tribes, and 

 suggesting the course of conduct which they judged 

 it expedient to pursue. They represented that, 

 before the conquest of Canada, all the tribes, jeal- 

 ous of French encroachment, had looked to the 

 English to befriend and protect them ; but that 

 now one general feeling of distrust and hatred 

 filled them all. They added that the neglect and 

 injustice of the British government, the outrages 

 of ruffian borderers and debauched traders, and 

 the insolence of English soldiers, had aggravated 

 this feeling, and given double effect to the restless 



