Previous to this, and agreeable to the views of the British ministry, the _Massachusetts_ assembly, who had never been remiss upon the prospect of a French war, raised a body of troops, which were sent to _Nova-Scotia_, to assist lieutenant governor _Lawrence_ in driving the French from their several encroachments within that province. The secrecy and dispatch used in this service, was rewarded with success. The expedition against Niagara was entrusted with governor Shirley; but failed through various causes. Sir _William_ (then colonel) _Johnson_, appointed to go against Crown-Point. The delays, slowness, and deficiency of preparations, prevented the several colonies joining their troops till about August. Meanwhile the active enemy had transported forces from _France_ to _Canada_, marched them down to meet the provincials, and attacked them; but, meeting with a repulse, lost six hundred men, besids having their general, baron _Dieskau_, wounded and made prisoner. The _Massachusetts_ the next year, raised a great armament to go to _Crown-Point_; but lord _Loudon_, on his arrival, did not think it proper that the forces should proceed. Afterward a temporary misunderstanding took place between his lordship and the general court; from his apprehending that they thought a provincial law necessary to enforce a British act of parliament, and were willing to dispute upon that subject. He determined to have no dispute, but that the troops under his command should be quartered agreeable to what he thought the public good required; and wrote to governor _Pownall_ [Nov. 15, 1757.] “I have ordered the messenger to wait but 48 hours in _Boston_; and if, on his return, I find things not settled, I will instantly order into _Boston_ the three battalions from New-York, Long-Island, and Connecticut; and if more are wanted, I have two in the Jerseys at hand, beside three in Pennsylvania.” Notwithstanding this declaration, on December the sixth, the legislature passed an act which led him to conceive that he was under an absolute necessity of settling the point at once, and therefore he ordered the troops to march. The general court finding how matters were going, did not venture upon extremities, but became pliable; so that his lordship wrote, December 26, “As I can now depend upon the assembly’s making the point of quarters easy in all time coming, I have countermanded the march of the troops.” The general court were certainly terrified; and to remove all unfavorable impressions, said, in the close of the address to the governor [Jan. 6, 1758.] “The authority of all acts of parliament which concern the colonies, and extend to them, is ever acknowledged in all the courts of law, and made the rule of all judicial proceedings in the province. There is not a member of the general court, and we know no inhabitant within the bounds of the government, that ever questioned this authority. To prevent any