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was past。 It was time now to defend the main trunk of the tree
and not the outer branches。 The best Canadians should be
incorporated into and trained in the battalions of regulars。 The
militia regiments themselves should be clothed and drilled like
regular soldiers。 Interior posts； such as Detroit； should be held
by the smallest possible number of men。 This counsel enraged
Vaudreuil。 Montcalm； he wrote； was trying to upset everything。
Vaudreuil was certain that the English would not attack Quebec。
There is a melancholy greatness in the last days of Montcalm。 He
was fighting against fearful odds。 With only about three thousand
trained regulars and perhaps four times as many untrained
Canadians and savages； he was confronting Britain's might on sea
and land which was now thrown against New France。 From France
itself Montcalm knew that he had nothing to hope。 In the autumn
of 1758 he sent Bougainville to Versailles。 That brilliant and
loyal helper managed to elude the vigilance of the British fleet；
reached Versailles； and there spent some months in varied and
resourceful attempts to secure aid for Canada。 He saw ministers。
He procured the aid of powerful connections of his own and of his
fellow…officers in Canada。 He went to what was at this time the
fountainhead of authority at the French court； and it was not the
King。 〃The King is nothing；〃 wrote Bougainville； 〃the Marchioness
is all…powerfulprime minister。〃 Bougainville saw the
Marchioness； Madame de Pompadour； and read to her some of
Montcalm's letters。 She showed no surprise and said nothingher
habit； as Bougainville said。 By this time the name of Montcalm
was one to charm with in France。 Bougainville wrote to him 〃I
should have to include all France if I should attempt to give a
list of those who love you and wish to see you Marshal of France。
Even the little children know your name。〃 There had been a time
when the court thought the recall of Montcalm would be wise in
the interests of New France。 Now it was Montcalm's day and the
desire to help him was real。 France； however； could do little。
Ministers were courteous and sympathetic； but as Berryer；
Minister of Marine； said to Bougainville； with the house on fire
in France； they could not take much thought of the stable in
Canada。
This Berryer was an inept person。 He was blindly ignorant of
naval affairs； coarse； obstinate； a placeman who owed his
position to intrigue and favoritism。 His only merit was that he
tried to cut down expenditure； but in regard to the navy this
policy was likely to be fatal。 It is useless； said this guardian
of France's marine； to try to rival Britain on the sea； and the
wise thing to do is to save money by not spending it on ships。
Berryer even sold to private persons stores which he had on hand
for the use of the fleet。 If the house was on fire he did not
intend； it would seem； that much should be left to burn。 The old
Due de Belle…Isle； Minister of War； was of another type； a fine
and efficient soldier。 He explained the situation frankly in a
letter to Montcalm。 Austria was an exigent ally； and Frederick of
Prussia a dangerous foe。 France had to concentrate her strength
in Europe。 The British fleet； he admitted； paralyzed efforts
overseas。 There was no certainty； or even probability； that
troops and supplies sent from France would ever reach Canada。
France； the Duke said guardedly； was not without resources。 She
had a plan to strike a deadly blow against England and； in doing
so； would save Canada without sending overseas a great army。 The
plan was nothing less than the invasion of England and Scotland
with a great force； the enterprise which； nearly half a century
later； Napoleon conceived as his master stroke against the proud
maritime state。 During that winter and spring France was building
a great number of small boats with which to make a sudden descent
and to land an army in England。
If this plan succeeded； all else would succeed。 Montcalm must
just hold on； conduct a defensive campaign and； above all； retain
some part of Canada since； as the Duke said with prophetic
foresight； if the British once held the whole of the country they
would never give it up。 Montcalm himself had laid before the
court a plan of his own。 He estimated that the British would have
six men to his one。 Rather than surrender to them； he would
withdraw to the far interior and take his army by way of the Ohio
to Louisiana。 The design was a wild counsel of despair for he
would be cut off from any base of supplies； but it shows the
risks
he was ready to tale。 In him now the court had complete
confidence。 Vaudreuil was instructed to take no military action
without seeking the counsel of Montcalm。 〃The King；〃 wrote
Belle…Isle to Montcalm； 〃relies upon your zeal； your courage and
your resolution。〃 Some little help was sent。 The British control
of the sea was not complete； since more than twenty French ships
eluded British vigilance； bringing military stores； food （for
Canada was confronted by famine）； four hundred soldiers； and
Bougainville himself； with a list of honors for the leaders in
Canada。 Montcalm was given the rank of Lieutenant…General and；
but for a technical difficulty； would have been made a Marshal of
France。
All this reliance upon Montcalm was galling to Vaudreuil。 This
weak man was entirely in the hands of a corrupt circle who
recognized in the strength and uprightness of Montcalm their
deadly enemy。 An incredible plundering was going on。 Its strength
was in the blindness of Vaudreuil。 The secretary of Vaudreuil；
Grasset de Saint…Sauveur； an ignorant and greedy man； was a
member of the ring and yet had the entire confidence of the
Governor。 The scale of the robberies was enormous。 Bigot； the
Intendant； was stealing millions of francs； Cadet； the head of
the supplies department； was stealing even more。 They were able
men who knew how to show diligence in their official work。 More
than once Montcalm praises the resourcefulness with which Bigot
met his requirements。 But it was all done at a fearful cost to
the State。 Under assumed names the ring sold to the King； of
whose interests they were the guardians； supplies at a profit of
a hundred or a hundred and fifty per cent。 They made vast sums
out of transport。 They drew pay for feeding hundreds of men who
were not in the King's service。 They received money for great
bills of merchandise never delivered and repeated the process
over and over again。 To keep the Indians friendly the King sent
presents of guns； ammunition； and blankets。 These were stolen and
sold。 Even the bodies of Acadians were sold。 They were hired out
for their keep to a contractor who allowed them to die of cold
and hunger。 Hundreds of the poor exiles perished。 The nemesis of
a despotic system is that； however well…intentioned it may be；
its officials are not controlled by an alert public opinion and
yet must be trusted by their master。 France me