These letters might be transmitted to, and might dispose the ministry to decline urging their plan of uniting and governing the colonies; but Mr. Shirley wrote to governor _Wentworth_, of _New-Hampshire_, May 31, 1755—“I may assure your excellency, from every letter I have of late received from Sir Thomas Robinson, I have reason to think that his majesty hath a dependance upon a _common fund’s_ being raised in all his colonies upon this continent, in proportion to their respective abilities, for defraying all articles of expence entered into for their common defence; and that such an one must in the end, be either voluntarily raised, or else assessed in some way or other.” The ministry discovered a disposition to raise a revenue in them, which induced the _Massachusetts_ general court [Nov. 6.] thus to instruct their agent; “It is more especially expected, that you oppose every thing that shall have the remotest tendency to raise a _revenue_ in the plantations, for any public uses or services of government;” he wrote to them the twenty-ninth of May following, “The inclinations I have reason to think still contitinue for _raising a revenue_ out of the molasses trade.” The alarming state of public affairs might divert the ministry from pursuing their inclinations. It had been concluded to take effectual measures for driving the French from the _Ohio_; and for the reduction of _Niagara_, _Crown-Point_, and their forts in _Nova-Scotia_. General _Braddock_ was accordingly sent from Ireland to Virginia, with two regiments of foot; and when arrived, and joined by the rest of the forces destined for that service, found himself at the head of about 2200 men. He had bravery, but wanted other qualifications to render him fit for the service to which he was appointed. His severity prevented his having the love of the regulars; his haughtiness, the love of the Americans; and, what was worse, disgusted the Indians, and led him to despise the country militia, and to slight the advice of the Virginia officers. Colonel _Washington_ earnestly begged of him, when the army was marching for fort _Du Quesne_, to admit of his going before, and scouring the woods with his rangers, which was contemptuously refused. The general had been cautioned by the duke of _Cumberland_, to guard against a surprise; and yet he pushed on heedlessly with the first division, consisting of 1400 men [July 9, 1755.] till he fell into an ambuscade of 400, chiefly Indians, by whom he was defeated and mortally wounded, on the ninth of July. The regulars were put into the greatest panic, and fled in the utmost confusion; the militia had been used to Indian fighting, and were not so terrified. The general had disdainfully turned them into the rear: they continued in a body, unbroken, and served under colonel _Washington_ as a most useful rear-guard; covered the retreat of the regulars, and prevented their being entirely cut off.