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Date: 1750
Source:
The 1750 October Memoir on the English Aggression is a document written by French Canadian governor General, Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière, in response to increasing tensions between French and British forces in North America during the mid-18th century.
The memoir outlines the French perspective on the escalating conflict between the two colonial powers and argues that the British were engaging in aggressive tactics to expand their territory at the expense of the French.
Specifically, the memo accuses the British of encroaching on French territory and engaging in illegal trading practices with Indigenous nations. It also argues that the British were actively working to undermine French influence in the region by inciting Indigenous nations against the French and offering them military support.
The document reflects the French perception of the British as a threat to their territorial and economic interests in North America. It also highlights the complex and often contentious relationships between European colonizers and Indigenous nations in the region.
Today, the October Memoir on the English Aggression is considered an important historical document that provides valuable insight into the political and economic tensions between the French and British colonial powers in North America during the mid-18th century. It is also a reminder of the lasting impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities in the region and the ongoing struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
The restoration of peace has in no wise diverted the English from their constant design to get possession of all the commerce of America. It is only necessary to consider their actual conduct to be convinced of this truth. No doubt Spain has good proof on its side. France's is but too certain, both from the publicly professed plans of the English and from the difficulties their commissaries are daily making in the settlement of the disputes of the two nations in America. England, not content with having already encroached on the lands of France on the side of Hudson Bay, and with pushing its settlements in Acadia on the mainland of New France at the Bay of Fundy, despite the boundaries assigned that country by the Treaty of Utrecht, now plans the invasion of Florida and Louisiana. It is true the English have already encroached on those provinces, but they have not hitherto pushed their claims to the extravagant extent revealed by the map just published at London, on which, under pretence of correcting one of our recent geographers, they extend their boundaries into Spanish Florida in such fashion as to seat themselves on waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. As to Louisiana, they claim to extend their boundaries over all the lands of the Indians friendly to France as far as the Alabamas; they partially recompense Spain for what they took from Florida at the expense of Louisiana. Although this map is not made by express order of the government, it is well known to be by authority. However there is no doubt that the English have no justification for such enterprises which have long been no secret. They wish to be in a position to invade Florida, and by that conquest, along with their possession of the Isle of Providence in the Bahamas, to make themselves masters of the outlet of the Bahama Channel, and as a result of the treasure of Europe. To carry out this plan more easily they seek to put it out of the power of the French of Louisiana to give aid to the Spanish as formerly, and as they will never fail to do in all attempts of the English to work their hurt. In this they can best succeed by seeking to cut the communication of the French of Louisiana with New France and Florida; but is not the common danger resulting to France and Spain a warning to the two powers to concert measures as soon as possible that will insure the failure of this pernicious design? The king on his side is ready to enter into all the measures His Catholic Majesty may think most proper to protect himself from the ambitious projects of a nation with no other aim than to subjugate all the others by seizing on their colonies and their commerce, and which terms that the "balance of Europe."
[31st July, 1868.]
Cite Article : www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents
Source:
Reference: Article by (Staff Historian), 2023
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