arrived here. While they were marching to this place, it seems, by the following extract from the records at Harrisburg, that the French had built a fort at Logstown.

"March 12th, 1754. Evidence sent to the House that Venango and Logstwn, where the French forts are built, are in the province of Pennsylvania.

This is the only intimation we have seen of the French having built a fort at Logstown, before they took possession of this place. There were no French troops there in November, when Washington visited that place.

On the 21st of March, 1754, Governor Dinwiddie said, in a letter to Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania, "I am much misled by our surveyors, if the Forks of the Monongahela be within the bonds of the province of Pennsylvania."

This is the first notice of a controversy between those two States about Pittsburgh, and the country around it, which we have found. Thus the region around us was the bone of double contention. England and France were about to go to war for it, and Pennsylvania and Virginia to commence a controversy about it, which endured for more than twenty years, in the course of which much ill blood and angry feeling were displayed.

It was, perhaps, a fortunate circumstance that considerable doubt excited as to which State the "Fork" belonged. Both States were probably induced to contribute more liberally in the efforts to recover it from the French, from the belief entertained by each, that the country belonged to it. The Virginia troops very reluctantly accompanied Forbes by the Pennsylvania route, and had they known that this country belonged to Pennsylvania they might have declined altogether.

In April, Captain Trent's company was at this place, under Ensign Ward, erecting a fort, Captain Trent himself was still at Cumberland, and Lieut. Fraser at his residence on Turtle creek. On the 17th of April, 1754, Monsieur Contrecœur descended the Allegheny with a considerable force of French and Indians, and summoned Ward to surrender his unfinished work.

Ward afterward reported the number of French to be one thousand, with eighteen pieces of cannon, in about sixty batteaux, and three hundred canoes. This number has been said to be an exaggeration; but when it is recollected that during Washington's stay at Fort Le Boeuf he had the canoes counted, and found that there were at that place on the 13th of December, "fifty birch bark, and one hundred and seventy pine canoes, besides many others that were blocked out, ready to be made," we may readily believe that the number, in April, might reach three hundred. The batteaux could be built there and at Fort Venango, or they might be drawn on sledges from Presquisle. Altogether, we think, the statement of Ward may not have been very wide of the truth.

Resistance, by about forty men, even with the aid of an unfinished stockade, to several hundred French with several pieces of cannon, was, of course, out of the question. Ward had no brother officer to consult with; but Tanacharison, the Half-King of the Six Nations of Indians, a zealous friend of the English, was present, and advised him to inform the French that he was not an officer of rank, nor was he invested with authority to answer their demands, and to request them to await the arrival of the chief commander. He went accordingly with his reply to the French camp, Tanacharison accompanying him; Contrecœur, however, refused to wait, and demanded an immediate surrender, declaring that he would otherwise take possession by force. An immediate capitulation, of course, followed. On the subsequent day, Ensign Ward, with his men, ascended the Monongahela to the mouth of Red Stone creek. A full narrative of the whole affair was given under oath, by Ensign Ward to Governor Dinwiddie, who transmitted it to the British Government. Mr. Sparks, in his edition of the Writings of Washington, states that the original was in the Plantation Office, in England, where he examined it and prepared his account of the matter, which we follow. In his narrative, Ward states that Contrecœur invited him to supper the evening of the capitulation, and treated him very politely. Poor Ward probably had but little appetite, and had his host foreseen all the consequences of the doings of that day, his happiness would, no doubt, have been much clouded.

This affair has always been considered as the commencement of that memorable war which was terminated by the treaty of Paris, by which France renounced all claim to Nova Scotia, and ceded to Great Britain Canada and all the. territory east of the Mississippi, except the Isle of Orleans, and Spain ceded to the same power all Florida. Monsieur Contrecœur proceeded immediately to complete the work begun by Ward, and called it Fort Duquesne, after the then Governor of Canada.

Washington reached Will's creek with three companies, on the 20th of April, and two days after, Ensign Ward arrived with the intelligence of his capture. Washington immediately sent expresses to the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, asking for reinforcements, and then, after a consultation with his brother officers, resolved to advance, and, if possible, to reach the Monongahela, near where Brownsville now stands, and there erect a fortification. On the 9th of May, he was at the Little Meadows, and there received information that Contrecœur had been reinforced with eight hundred men. On the 18th he was encamped on the Youghiogany, near where Smithfield, in Fayette county, now stands. From that point, he, with Lieutenant West, three soldiers, and an Indian, descended the river about thirty miles, hoping to find it navigable, so that he could transport his cannon in canoes, but was disappointed. He had scarcely returned to his troops, when a messenger from his old friend Tana

charison arrived, with information that the French were marching toward him, with a determination to attack him. The same day he received further information that the enemy were at the crossings of the Youghiogany, near where Connelsville now stands, about eighteen miles from his own encampment. He then hurried to the Great Meadows, where he made an intrenchment, and by clearing away the bushes prepared a fine field for an encounter. Next day, M. Gist, his old pilot, who resided near the crossings, arrived with the news that a French detachment of fifty men had been at his place the day before.

on.

That same night (May 27th), about nine o'clock, an express arrived from Tanacharison, who was then encamped with some of his warriors about six miles off, with information that the French were near his encampment. Col. Washington, says Sparks, immediately started with forty men to join the Half-King. The night was dark, the rain fell in torrents, the woods were intricate, the soldiers often lost their way groping in the bushes and clambering over rocks and logs, but at length they arrived at the Indian camp just before sunrise (May 28th). A council with Tanacharison was immediately held, and joint operations against the French were determined Two Indian spies discovered the enemy's position in an obscure place, surrounded by rocks, and a half mile from the road. Washington was to advance on the right, Tanacharison on the left. Thus they approached in single file, until they were discovered by the French who immediately seized their arms and prepared for action. The action commenced by a brisk firing on both sides, which was kept up for a quarter of an hour, when the French ceased to resist. Monsieur Jumonville, the commandant, and ten of his men were killed, and twenty-two were taken prisoners, one of whom was wounded. A Canadian escaped during the action. Washington had one man killed and two wounded. No harm happened the Indians. The prisoners were sent to Governor Dinwiddie.

This affair was misrepresented greatly to the injury of Washington. War had not yet been declared, and it was the policy of each nation to exaggerate the proceedings of the other. Hence it was officially stated by the French Government that Jumonville was waylaid and assasinated, while bearing a peaceful message to Washington. We are confident that no man with an American heart will fail to approve our republication of the following note, giving a triumphant refutation of the calumny, from Sparks' Writings of Washington:

DEATH OF JUMONVILLE.

"The circumstances attending the death of Jumonville have been so remarkably misunderstood and perverted by the French historians, and the character of Washington, in regard to this event, has suffered so much in their hands, that the subject demands a further consideration. The following extracts, from three of the most recent and accredited French writers,

will show in what light this point of history is still viewed by that nation. The first extract is from Flassan, whose history holds a high rank in French literature, and was written with the approbation of Napoleon, if not in consequence of his suggestion.

“M. De Jumonville,' says Flassan, 'setting off with an escort of thirty men, found himself surrounded in the morning by a body of English and savages. The former fired twice in rapid succession, and killed several Frenchmen. Jumonville made a sign, that he was the bearer of a letter from his commandant. The fire ceased, and they gathered around him to hear the letter. He caused the summons to be read, but the reading was not finished when the English reiterated their fire and killed him. The remaining Frenchmen of his escort were immediately made prisoners of war.' "The next extract is from Lacretelle, whose history likewise enjoys a distinguished reputation in his native country:

"An officer by the name of Jumonville, was sent with an escort of thirty men. The English, ranged in a circle around him, listened to the representations which he came to make. Had they premeditated so atrocious a crime? Were they moved by a sudden impulse of hatred and ferocity? This can not now be known; but they disgraced the New World by an outrage never before heard of among civilized people, and which excited the savages to a transport of indignation. They assassinated Jumonville, and immolated eight soldiers, who fell bleeding by the side of their chief. They made prisoners of the rest of the escort.'

"To this passage M. Lacretelle adds the following note:

"It is painful to state, that the detachment of the English who committed this atrocity was commanded by Washington. This officer, who afterward displayed the purest virtues of the warrior, the citizen, and the sage, was then no more than twenty-two years old. He could not restrain the wild and undisciplined troops who marched under his orders.'

"Montaillard, another French historian, who has sketched with great ability and eloquence, in the form of annals, the events of the French Revolution, thus speaks of Washington, after quoting the elegant tribute to his memory by Mallet-Dupan:

"This great man, the only person with whom no other in modern history can be compared, would have enjoyed a renown without reproach, his public career would have been without fault, his glory would have shone with an unsullied lustre, had it not been for the fatal event of the death of Ju-· monville, a young officer sent to him with a summons by the commandant of the French establishments on the Ohio. Washington, then a Major in the forces of the King of England, commanded the post which assassinated Jumonville. He was then twenty-three [twenty-two] years of age. Far from offering any reparation, himself attacked by the brother of Jumonville, and made prisoner with his troops, he received his life and liberty on

the condition of sending back the Frenchman who escaped from the massacre; yet he violated his promise. The French could never efface the remembrance of this deplorable circumstance, whatever veneration the political life of this illustrious citizen might have merited.'

"Many other French historians might be cited, who make the same statements, in almost the same words; and even very recently the writer of a life of Washington in the Biographie Universelle, who aims apparently to be accurate and impartial, and who has done justice for the most part to Washington's character, repeats this story of the assassination of Jumonville, adding, like Lacretelle, as the only extenuating circumstances, the youth of Washington, and the ungovernable ferocity of his soldiers.

"It will be seen, by comparing the above extracts, that they are in substance precisely the same, and must unquestionably have been derived from a common source. Every thing will depend on the degree of credit that is due to this single authority, upon which alone all the accounts of subsequent writers are founded. A supposed fact is not strengthened by the repetition of one historian from another, whatever merit each writer may have on the score of talents and honest intentions. All history is built on evidence, and if this is fallacious, or partial, or dubious, the deductions from it must be equally uncertain and deceptive. Of this obvious position, the present instance affords a remarkable illustration.

"The authority from which all the French historians have drawn their intelligence, is a letter written by M. de Contrecœur to the Marquis Duquesne, at that time Governor of Canada. This letter is dated June 2d, 1754. The following is a literal translation of the part which relates to the subject in question;

"Since the letter, which I had the honor of writing to you on the 30th ultimo, in which I informed you that I expected the return of M. de Jumonville in four days, it has been reported by the savages that his party has been taken, and eight men killed, among whom is M. de Jumonville. A Canadian belonging to the party, named Mouceau, made his escape, who says that they had built cabins in a low bottom, where they lay during a heavy rain. At seven o'clock in the morning, they saw themselves encircled on one side by the English, and by savages on the other. Two discharges of musketry were fired upon them by the English, but none by the savages, M. de Jumonville called to them by an interpreter to desist, as he had something to say to them. The firing ceased. M. de Jumonville caused the summons to be read, which I sent, admonishing them to retire, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose. Whilst this was reading, the said Mouceau saw the French gathered close around M. de Jumonville, in the midst of the English and the savages. At that time, Mouceau escaped through the woods, making his way hither partly by land, and partly in a small canoe on the river Monongahela.