ABSTRACT
England and France were well accustomed to fighting against each other - they had been doing it, off and on, for centuries - and America was not the only reason for the war that broke out between them in 1755, though it was perhaps the greatest one. Early that year General Braddock arrived from England with two regiments of regular soldiers and orders to attack the French forts Duquesne and Niagara. Franklin, as Postmaster-General, had to meet Braddock to discuss communications, and was a little startled when Braddock announced that taking Fort Duquesne would be the job of a few days. The Assembly of Pennsylvania added a gift of food, and in July 1755, Braddock marched off, never to come back. It was a pity he has not listened to Franklin's warning.
