and land. Busy rumors of approaching danger were rife in the
colony, and the gallant Governor issued orders, which were
enthusiastically obeyed, for the people to proceed to the walls and
place the city in a state of defence, to bid defiance to the enemy.

Rolland Michel Barrin, Count de la Galissoniere, was remarkable no
less for his philosophical attainments, that ranked him high among
the savans of the French Academy, than for his political abilities
and foresight as a statesman. He felt strongly the vital interests
involved in the present war, and saw clearly what was the sole
policy necessary for France to adopt in order to preserve her
magnificent dominion in North America. His counsels were neither
liked nor followed by the Court of Versailles, then sinking fast
into the slough of corruption that marked the closing years of the
reign of Louis XV.

Among the people who admired deeds more than words the Count was
honored as a brave and skilful admiral, who had borne the flag of
France triumphantly over the seas, and in the face of her most
powerful enemies--the English and Dutch. His memorable repulse of
Admiral Byng, eight years after the events here recorded,--which led
to the death of that brave and unfortunate officer, who was shot by
sentence of court martial to atone for that repulse,--was a glory to
France, but to the Count brought after it a manly sorrow for the
fate of his opponent, whose death he regarded as a cruel and unjust
act, unworthy of the English nation, usually as generous and
merciful as it is brave and considerate.

The Governor was already well-advanced in years. He had entered
upon the winter of life, that sprinkles the head with snow that