Page 158 - Transcriptions d'actes notariés - Tome 20 - 1682-1686

The Failure of a Mission

iievereiid Sisler RITA Ita~v, S.C.,
S6. PQIT;C~'J High School, Halijox, A'.$.

The belief of tlie mermritilis~a that culrinies exiated for the henefit
uf the countrier forturiaie entiugh iri possess tliern had resulted in the
European Powers' lack ul interest in and understanding of the coloriial
situatiriri, especially in America. Great Britain's colonies, as i1ie eight-
eeiith century reached its second half, were ~iarticularly annoyed by the
Iarvs limiting their [rade. Wheii, after the conclusiou of the war with
France in 1763, Prime Minisler George Grcriville's goverriment, with
a hig financial problem on its hands, passed the Stamp Act, the spark
for rebellion had been enkindled. Withiri ten rears the rnother country
and her American colonies were at rvar.
The strategic importance [if Cariada to the American cause nas
eviderit from the outeet. Tlie herv Englarid colonies could easily have
beeri isolaied bg a British forcc workirig souih from Quebec and Yloritreal
as tlieir base. Tu uBset this Iiussibility two expeditioiis to Canada were
planned in 1775 by the Americans who had reached coricerted actioii
through a Congress oE delegates from most of the coloriies asscmbled
in Philadelphia. Mon~gumery, a iormer British officer, succceded in
capturing hiontreal in Kovember, 1775, hut the British held Quehec
wiih its furtress un the Saint Lawreuce againat the assault led jointlu
by IIontgomery and Arnold in Dccernbcr.
The remnant of Arnold's army did keep the Briiish in Quebec, but
the Americans were riot cquippcd for the rigorfi of a Canadian winter.
Sick, cold, hurigry arid withuut credit, they, in desperation, seized
suplilies wheri the Canadians would not aceept their paper money. As
tIie year 1776 operied the Amcricaii situarion in Canada was far from
being a favorable orle.

011 Fehruary 14, 1776, the Continerital Congress considered n report
of tlie Comniittee of Corresponderice eoncerning a conferenee the Conimit-
tee had pi,evjousl y heeri ordered to hold with a geritleman reeentiy arrived
froin Canada. TIiis ~enlleman, a natii-e of Canada, had beeri erigaged iii
the .4merican Service since tlie apparance of American forces in Canada.
His puryo..e iii ciimiiig tii thc Coloriies was to give a true picture of ~he
sjtuatiuri aiid to iriforni tlie Ainerican Corigress of the attitude amimg
the Cariadians towards tIieir qiiarrel with iIie motIier cou~itry.'~) Wbcn

Wurilijnpt~n Cliaunçey Ford, ediror. Journuls of the Contiaentat Congrrsr.
1774.1 789 from tlir origiiial records in tlie Librÿry nI Congre33 (Wsshinpion:
Gorernnieni Prinring OBce, 190Q). IV. p. 118.