vowed revenge, and agreed to make retaliation. Twelve hundred of their warriors, animated with the fiercest feelings of the savage heart, set out on a march to Montreal. The inhabi tants, unacquainted with the attack upon the ambassadors, and believing that peace was made with the five nations, were in perfect tranquility, without any preparation for, or any apprehension of danger. While the city was thus serene, and without fear, the storm of vengeance gathered and burst. On the 26th of July 1688, the Indian warriors landed on the south side of the island of Montreal, and immediately began their assault upon every part of the city. Nothing could exceed the destruction which the savages carried with them. They burnt the houses, sacked the plantations, and put to death every man, woman and child, which they could find without the fortifications. One thousand of the French were slain in this massacre; and twenty six were carried into captivity, and burnt at the stake. And so great was the consternation of the French, that the Indians lost but three of their number, while they carried destruction and carnage through the whole island. Not satisfied with the calamities they had already occasioned, in October the Indians made another descent upon the island; again destroyed the lower part of it, killed several of the inhabitants, and took many prisoners.

Ar no time had Canada ever before, met with so heavy a misfortune. The very news carried defeat as well as alarm along with it. On receiving the tidings, the garrison at Lake Ontario set fire to two barks which they had

Just compleated, and abandoned the fort; leav ing a match to twenty eight barrels of powder, disposed with a design to blow up the works. The troops went down the river with such rapidity and fear, that one of their battoes, with her crew, was swallowed up in one of the falls. The confederates were in all the animation and insolence of victory: They seized the fort at Cadaraqui, with all the powder and stores; they sent their scouts every where, to invade the frontiers, and break up the settlements in Canada. The French were involved in every kind of difficulty and danger; their borders were invested, inroads made on their oldest plantations, their new settlements breaking up ; it became difficult and dangerous to cultivate the lands, or to gather in the harvest And to all the miseries and calamities of war, were now added the distresses of famine, to compleat their catalogue of woes. Their Indian friends and allies forsook them, and made peace with the Iroquoise and English. Two only of the Indian tribes adhered to the French in their calamity; and these were too much dispirited, to attempt any thing in their favor; and it was only in the cities of Quebec, Trois Rivieres and Montreal, that the inhabits of the colony' found any safety. The The savages knew not how to approach, or to carry any fortified works; and the French availed themselves of this circumstance, till the affairs of the colony took a different turn.

WHILE the Iroquoise had been carrying on these measures against the French, a war had broke out between the Abenaquies and the VOL. I M 2

English colonies at the eastward, which bore & threatening aspect. It was understood by the English, that there was not any alliance between the Iroquoise and the eastern Indians; but rather, some remains of former hostilities and jealousies And it was hoped that the fierceness of the savage temper and passions, might be managed so as to draw them into a war with the eastern tribes. To effect this purpose, commissioners from the colonies of Massachu setts, Plymouth and Connecticut, had a conference with the five nations at Albany, in September 1689. When urged to engage in the eastern war, the Indians replied that it was not their custom to go to war with any people, from whom they had not received any injury or insult; that they were engaged already in a war with the French, the common enemy; and that they believed the best policy would be for the English colonies first to assist them in subduing the enemy, that was always ready to make war against them both. The speech which their orator made on this occasion, is an amusing specimen of the Indian genius, policy and eloquence. The English commissioners learnt from it, but with surprise, that the Indians well understood their own interest and affairs; and were as much disposed and qualified to avail themselves of policy in the management of war, as the Europeans who had got possession of their country.

CHAPTER X.

WAR. The first wars between the English and French colonies, assisted by the Indians; from the year 1689 to 1750. Effect of the revolution in favor of William and Mary. Plans of the French. Destruction in New Hampshire and Schenectady. First attempt to reduce Canada. Sentiments of the Indians on that occasion. French expedition against the Mohawks. Destruction of Deerfield. Second expedition against Canada. Proceedings of Schuyler. Third attempt to reduce Canada. Proceedings at Oswego and Lake Ontario. Buildings and settlement at fort St. Frederick at Crown Point. Capture of fort Massachusetts. Proposed expedition against Crown Point. Attempt upon the fort at Charlestown.

THE wars which had hitherto taken place in the northern parts of the country, had been chiefly between the natives and the European colonies. The English and the French colonies had made it their practice to assist the Indians with arms, ammunition, cloathing and provisions, when they were going to war, either against each other, or against the opposite colony; but neither of them had as yet adopted the custom, of joining their own troops to the Indians, or sending out parties to aid or assist them in their expeditions.

Col. Dongan, who was governor of Newyork under James II. was expressly commanded by his sovereign, to avoid giving the Indians any

assistance, or the French any molestation. A dupe to his bigotry and to his priests, it seemed to be the great object of the English king, to have the French missionaries succeed in converting the American Indians to the faith and ceremonies of the church of Rome; and that every political movement in the province of Newyork might be directed to favor that event. Dongan was an avowed roman catholic, but had more understanding than to sacrifice the political interests of his colony, to the dangerous design of making the Indians a new sect of believers in the catholic priests. He foresaw the political consequence and effect, avoided the civil politics of his master, opposed the views and measures of the governor of Canada, and gave much assistance to the Indians in their opposition to the French; and the governor of Canada was full of his complaints, that all his measures were opposed and defeated by the governor of Newyork. But this strong and mutual jealousy and opposition between the governors of Newyork and Canada, was much restrained, and kept from any open and avowed hostilities, by the friendship and good understanding, which at that time prevailed, between the kings of England and France.

HAPPILY for the English nation, the folly, bigotry, and arbitrary measures of James II. were carried to such an excess, as to alarm all orders and degrees of men. In the event, they prepared the mind of the nation for a revolution; which terminated in the abdication of James, and in the elevation of William and Mary to the English throne. In his perplexity and dis