Chapter 18

           "Why,anything:

           Anhonorablemurderer,ifyouwill;

           FornaughtIdidinhate,butallinhonor."

           Othello.

           Thebloodyandinhumansceneratherincidentallymentionedthandescribedintheprecedingchapter,isconspicuousinthepagesofcolonialhistory,bythemeritedtitleof"TheMassacreofWilliamHenry."ItsofardeepenedthestainwhichapreviousandverysimilareventhadleftuponthereputationoftheFrenchcommander,thatitwasnotentirelyerasedbyhisearlyandgloriousdeath.Itisnowbecomingobscuredbytime;andthousands,whoknowthatMontcalmdiedlikeaheroontheplainsofAbraham,haveyettolearnhowmuchhewasdeficientinthatmoralcouragewithoutwhichnomancanbetrulygreat.Pagesmightbewrittentoprove,fromthisillustriousexample,thedefectsofhumanexcellence;toshowhoweasyitisforgeneroussentiments,highcourtesy,andchivalrouscourage,tolosetheirinfluencebeneaththechillingblightofselfishness,andtoexhibittotheworldamanwhowasgreatinalltheminorattributesofcharacter,butwhowasfoundwantingwhenitbecamenecessarytoprovehowmuchprincipleissuperiortopolicy.Butthetaskwouldexceedourprerogatives;and,ashistory,likelove,issoapttosurroundherheroeswithanatmosphereofimaginarybrightness,itisprobablethatLouisdeSaintVéranwillbeviewedbyposterityonlyasthegallantdefenderofhiscountry,whilehiscruelapathyontheshoresoftheOswegoandoftheHoricanwillbeforgotten.