CHAPTER XVII. 1753-1760.

BIGOT.

His Life and Character • Canadian Society • Official Festivities • A Party of Pleasure • Hospitalities of Bigot • Desperate Gambling • Château Bigot • Canadian Ladies • Cadet • La Friponne • Official Rascality • Methods of Peculation • Cruel Frauds on the Acadians • Military Corruption • Péan • Love and Knavery • Varin and his Partners • Vaudreuil and the Peculators • He defends Bigot; praises Cadet and Péan • Canadian Finances • Peril of Bigot • Threats of the Minister • Evidence of Montcalm • Impending Ruin of the Confederates.

vi V2 CHAPTER XVIII. 1757, 1758.

PITT.

Frederic of Prussia • The Coalition against him • His desperate Position • Rossbach • Leuthen • Reverses of England • Weakness of the Ministry • A Change • Pitt and Newcastle • Character of Pitt • Sources of his Power • His Aims • Louis XV • Pompadour • She controls the Court, and directs the War • Gloomy Prospects of England • Disasters • The New Ministry • Inspiring Influence of Pitt • The Tide turns • British Victories • Pitt's Plans for America • Louisbourg, Ticonderoga, Duquesne • New Commanders • Naval Battles.