THE PRECURSORS OF COOK 



567 



The field was lost, but all was not lost. French honour 

 remained, unstained and shining. The British had won 



Louis ANTOINE DE BOUGAINVILLE. 

 (From Bonnechose, Montcalm et le Canada, Fratifais. Paris, 1881.) 



the West. But the South remained a virgin field for the 

 chivalry of France. " The French nation," wrote Bougain- 

 ville, " is capable of conquering the greatest difficulties, 



