Before the Virginians had finished their fort, the French came upon them, drove them out of the country, and erected a regular fort on the very spot where they had been at work. The consent of the Indian warriors had not been gained by the Virginians, or they would have supported the British against the French attack. These proceedings of the French galled the British ministry. The Ohio Company whose schemes were now demolished, was their fondling. They could not submit to have their friends so treated; and therefore no sooner had they the news, than it was resolved to instruct the colonies to oppose the French encroachments by force of arms. The instructions were received at Virginia early in the spring of 1754. The Virginians applied to the other colonies for additional troops. Captain James Mackay, with his independent company, upon the first order marched with the utmost expedition from South Carolina to their assistance. Without waiting for two independent companies from New-York, who were likewise ordered to assist them, the Virginians resolved by themselves with Mackay’s company, to oppose the French encroachments; and sent off that and three hundred men raised by the colony, under the command of late major, but now colonel Washington. An engagement ensued between a party of French from fort _Du Quesne_, whom colonel Washington attacked and defeated, on the twenty-eight of May—which put Mr. _de Villier_ upon marching down against him with 900 men besides Indians, and attacking him on the third of July. Washington made so brave a defence behind a small incomplete intrenchment, called fort _Necessity_, that Villier seeing what desperate men he had to deal with, and desirous of saving his own, offered him an honorable capitulation; but the French officer was careful, in forming the articles, to throw the blame of the war upon the British, and to make it thought that they were the agressors. The lords commissioners for trade and plantations, had also recommended to the several colonies, to appoint commsssioners to meet each other. Their Lordships designed, that there should be a general league of friendship, between all the colonies, and the Indians, in his majesty’s name. The _Massachusetts_ general court not only acceded to the proposal, but both houses desired his excellency, governor _Shirley_ (April 10.) “to pray his majesty, that affairs which relate to the six nations and their allies may be put under some general direction as his majesty shall think proper; that the several governors may _be obliged_ to bear their proportions of defending his majesty’s territories against the encroachments of the French, and the ravages and incursions of the Indians.”