IN THE KING'S SERVICE 21 



peace had practically ceased to exist between 

 France and England since June 6th, 1755. 



Resolved to take definite possession of all the 

 territories of North America, and to drive from 

 them for good and all the French and Spanish, 

 England shrank from no sacrifice to achieve this 

 ambitious ideal. The British Fleet was in- 

 creased in the course of the war from 345 to 422 

 vessels, and the Prime Minister, Pitt, sent to the 

 help of the English colonists in America, already 

 strong, more than 35,000 troops. Meanwhile, 

 France watched the great American drama with 

 supreme indifiference. Voltaire could not un- 

 derstand why time was wasted in disputing with 

 England for possession of "a few acres of snow," 

 and d'Argenson declared that he would give all 

 the French colonies in the Indies and America 

 "for a pin's head." 



It is necessary to understand this lamentable 

 state of mind in order to explain how, during the 

 whole of the struggle, the heroic Montcalm, who 

 commanded the weak French army in Canada, 

 only received 326 men as a reinforcement. 



In order to carry out its great naval effort, 

 the British Government had recourse to impress- 

 ment, or the forced levy of seamen. It often 

 happened that young countrymen who had never 

 even been to the seaside were forced to embark 

 in His Majesty's ships. There were therefore 



