France was at the moment too
much occupied with the pageants which the lovely Marquise de
Pompadour celebrated at Versailles, not to be in peace and harmony
with all the world; yes, even with her natural enemy, Austria. Count
Kaunitz, her ambassador at Paris, had, by his wise and adroit
conduct, banished the cloud of mistrust which had so long lowered
between these two powers.
This was the state of things at the close of the year 1775. Then was
the general quiet interrupted by the distant echo of a cannon.
Europe was startled, and rose up from her comfortable siesta to
listen and inquire after the cause of this significant thunderbolt.
This roar of cannon, whose echo only had been heard, had its birth
far, far away in America. The cannon, however, had been fired by a
European power--by England, always distinguished for her calculating
selfishness, which she wished the world to consider praiseworthy and
honorable policy. England considered her mercantile interests in
America endangered by France, and she thirsted with desire to have
not only an East India but a West India company. The French colonies
in America had long excited the envy and covetousness of England,
and as a sufficient cause for war had utterly failed, she was bold
enough to take the initiative without excuse!
In the midst of a general peace, and without any declaration of war,
she seized upon a country lying on the borders of the Ohio River,
and belonging to French Canada, made an attack upon some hundred
merchant-ships, which were navigating the Ohio, under the protection
of the ships-of-war, and took them as prizes.
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