Every letter brought news of murder. Small-pox had broken
out at Detroit. "It is to be wished," says Longueuil, "that it would
spread among our rebels; it would be fully as good as an army.... We are
menaced with a general outbreak, and even Toronto is in danger....
Before long the English on the Miami will gain over all the surrounding
tribes, get possession of Fort Chartres, and cut our communications with
Louisiana."[61]
[Footnote 61: _Depeches de Longueuil; Lettres de Raymond; Benoit de
Saint-Clere a la Jonquiere, Oct. 1751._]
The moving spirit of disaffection was the chief called Old Britain, or
the Demoiselle, and its focus was his town of Pickawillany, on the
Miami. At this place it is said that English traders sometimes mustered
to the number of fifty or more. "It is they," wrote Longueuil, "who are
the instigators of revolt and the source of all our woes."[62] Whereupon
the Colonial Minister reiterated his instructions to drive them off and
plunder them, which he thought would "effectually disgust them," and
bring all trouble to an end.[63]
[Footnote 62: _Longueuil au Ministre, 21 Avril, 1752._]
[Footnote 63: _Le Ministre a la Jonquiere, 1752. Le Ministre a Duquesne,
9 Juillet, 1752._]
La Jonquiere's remedy had been more heroic, for he had ordered Celeron
to attack the English and their red allies alike; and he charged that
officer with arrogance and disobedience because he had not done so.
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