Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/179

 of Frontenac, and the rest of the forces advanced but little beyond Lake George, where they were stopped by the breaking out of the small-pox and scarcity of provisions. Crimination and recrimination followed the bootless errand of the land part of the attempted invasion; and Leisler was so outraged by their failure that he even arrested Winthrop at Albany. News having been brought to Frontenac by an Indian runner from Piscataqua of the meditated attack upon Quebec, the energetic old soldier reached that stronghold just three days before the fleet, under Phipps, made its appearance before the walls. Without pilots or charts, it had been nine weeks making its way up the St. Lawrence. Phipps had calculated on surprising the place, and found it, almost impregnable by nature, already placed in a posture of defence by the vigor and activity of the veteran Frenchman. Chagrined as he was, he determined to put a bold front upon the matter, and accordingly summoned Frontenac to surrender in the name of King William of England, demanding his positive answer within an hour. The British officer who bore the summons was ushered blindfold into the presence of Frontenac and his associates in the council-room of the castle of Quebec. "Read your message," said Frontenac. Having obeyed, the Englishman laid his watch on the table with these words—"It is now ten: I wait your answer for an hour." Enraged at his presumption, the old soldier answered, " I do not acknowledge King William, and I well know that the Prince of Orange is an usurper, who has violated the most sacred rights of blood and religion." The British officer requested that this answer should be put in writing. "I will answer your master at the cannon's mouth," replied the exasperated Frenchman, "that he may learn that a man of my rank is not to be summoned in this manner." Phipps finding that nothing could be accomplished, and that winter was now approaching, abandoned the enterprise with shame and disappointment; after losing several of his ships among the dangerous shoals of the St. Lawrence, he arrived at Boston with his damaged fleet. On his arrival, in December, the treasury was empty, and as the troops threatened a riot, the colonial government found it necessary to meet the emergency by issuing the first paper money ever used in the English colonies. (The total amount issued was about $130,000.) Frontenac wrote home to France in triumph, and to commemorate his brave defence of Canada, the king ordered a medal to be struck with this inscription:"Francia in novo orbe victrix: Kebeca Liberata.—," while a church was built in the lower town, and dedicated to "Notre Dame de la Victoire." Not long after a French fleet restored Acadie to its original possessors.

It would seem as if this desolating struggle were of itself calamity enough for New York and Massachusetts, and yet both these colonies were witnesses of tragic scenes and events, even more deplorable than the sanguinary ravages of combined French and Indian ferocity. The tragic end of Leisler's career we have already narrated, when there was