battle of Lake George in the centre, and two pregnant
events in the east, one on either side of Louisbourg--the
expulsion of the Acadians, and the capture by Boscawen
of two French men-of-war with several hundred soldiers
who were to reinforce the army that was soon to be
commanded by Montcalm.

The next year, 1756, saw the formal declaration of war
in Europe, its continued prosecution in America, and the
taking of Oswego, which was the first of Montcalm's four
victories against the overwhelming British. But Louisbourg
still remained untouched.

Not till 1757 was the first attempt made to break this
last sea link with France. There was a very natural
anxiety, among the British on both sides of the Atlantic,
to do conspicuously well against Louisbourg. Fort Necessity,
Braddock's Defeat, and Montcalm's daring capture of
Oswego, coming with cumulative effect, in three successive
campaigns, had created a feeling of bitter disappointment
in America; while the Black Hole of Calcutta; the loss
of Minorca, and, worse still, Byng's failure to bring a
British fleet into decisive action, had wounded the
national pride in England.

But 1757 turned out to be no better than its disconcerting
predecessors. True, England's ally, Frederick the Great,
won consummate victories at Rossbach and at Leuthen. But
that was at the end of a very desperate campaign. True,
also, that Clive won Plassey and took Chandernagore. But