<P> The arrival of British ships and reinforcements ended the French offensive and forced them to retreat in the direction of Montreal . The British pursued, capturing parts of the city on 1 September 1760 after encountering only light resistance . The last French army under Lévis was finally forced to surrender on 6 September 1760 when a second British army under Amherst arrived from the south following the Battle of the Thousand Islands, and an attempt at French reinforcement was stopped in the naval Battle of the Restigouche . </P> <P> The British had responded to the French challenge in North America by striking at the heart of New France . Though it had been a long and costly series of campaigns, it proved to be one of the most successful of Pitt's policies . While a modest French presence remained in Illinois and Louisiana the fighting served to end any significant French military threats in North America for good . </P> <P> Following the British victory at Madras, their forces took the offensive . A force under Francis Forde capturing the port of Masulipatam . Although he still had significant forces in India the French commander Lally had expected greater support from his own navy, but he was constantly frustrated by the cautious D'Ache . Fresh British reinforcements arrived, tilting the balance in their favour . The failure of the French navy to secure command of the sea opened their own territory to capture . </P> <P> Pondicherry's capture proved to be a decisive moment in the long - term battle for control in India . After this point French India was confined only to a handful of trading posts stretched along the coast, while Britain moved into the interior extending their control by alliances and conquest eventually creating the British Raj . By the end of 1761, the French were fearful that the British forces in India were preparing to strike at the island of Mauritius, and made no effort to reverse their losses in India . </P>

What did the british colonies hope to gain by going to war with the french