followed by an Utawawa, who desirous of excelling the Frenchman, split a furrow with his knife from the shoulder of the prisoner to his knee, and filled it with gunpowder, and then set fire to it. This gave him exquisite pain, and raised excessive laughter in his tormentors. : When they found his throat so much parched, that he was no longer able to gratify their ears with his howling, they gave him water to drink, to enable him to continue their, pleasure longer. But at last his strength failed, and an Utawawa, fleecing off his scalp, threw burning embers on his head; then they untied him, and bid him run for his life ;; he began to run, tumbling like a drunken man. They shut up the way towards the east and made him run towards the west; the country as they think of departed miserable souls. He had strength left still to throw stones at his tormentors, which provoked them to end his miserable life, by knocking him on the head. After this each one cut off a slice from his body, to conclude the tragedy by a feast."

These scenes are too horrid to relate, did not their relative connection with the rise and progress of these American colonies render such facts absolutely necessary to be r known, that the character of the parties, as well as events! may be correctly understood.

Governor Fletcher used all his efforts to carry into effect the orders of the crown, respecting the several quo-> tas of the colonies; but all to no effect; the colonies resisted the measures as dangerous, and impolitic, to place so much power in the hands of the governor of NewYork.

Count Frontenac, having finished the fort at Cadara qui, convened at Montreal, all the disposable forces of Canada, consisting of regulars, militia and Indians of the fol. lowing nations, viz. Owenagungas, Quatoghies of Loretto,

Adirondacks, or Algonquins, Sokakies, Nipicinirines, the proselyted praying Indians of the Five Nations, and a few Utawawas. With this force he commenced the operations of a campaign against the Five Nations, well supplied with cannon, muskets, military stores, provisions, &c. together with portable boats and canoes, to transport such an army. The Count Frantenac left La Chine to protect the Island of Montreal, and took up his march in the following order, viz.-The Chevalier de Callieres led the van at the head of two battalions of regu lars, with two small field pieces, mortars, grenadoes, and ammunition, with a party of Indians in advance. Next followed the provisions, baggage, &c. then the main body, with the count's household, volunteers, militia, in four battalions, with the engineer, commanded by de Ramezai governor of Trois Rivieres, and Monsieur Vaudrueil at the head of two battalions, brought up the rear. The whole was preceded by the Indian scouts, to discover the enemy; beat up their ambuscade, and clear the way for the army. ; In twelve days the army arrived at Cadaraqui, (180 miles,) and crossed over to Oswego, and from thence directed their march to the country of the Five Nations. The Onondagas, apprised of the approach of this formidable enemy, and of the bombs destined to reduce their castle, sent off their wives and children, set fire to their village, abandoned their castle, and withdrew into the woods. Count Frontenac, at the head of his victorious forces, entered this deserted village in the rear of his artillery, seated in a portable great chair. The village first fell into the hands of the conqueror, without one man, woman or child; next the castle submitted to the victorious chief, defended by one solitary Indian, about one hundred years old, who voluntarily gave himself up to torture, that he might exult and triumph over his enemies in the songs of his death; this he accomplished in the most triumphant VOL. II.

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manner. This death was the only solitary death of all the Onondaga tribe; and no conquest would have graced the train of this mighty conqueror, had not thirty-five Oneidas fallen into his hands, in bravely attempting to defend their castle. When this hero had become satisfied with beating the air, he took up his retreat to return into Canada ;. the confederates rallied from their retreat, and hovered about his rear; cut off small parties, destroyed his boats, and carried their depredations into the neighbourhood of Montreal with such success, that the country became greatly distressed; this, added to the supplies of provisions drawn out to support such an army, spread a general famine throughout Canada, and distressed the whole country. The governor, to revenge these depredations, sent out scalping parties to distress the frontiers of the colonies, who infested the country about Albany, until the peace of Ryswic closed this horrid scene, 1697.

Upon the peace of Ryswick, Richard, Earl of Bellomont, succeeded Gov. Fletcher in the administration, and arrived at New-York, April 2, 1698. The character of this excellent man, as well as of his administration, have been fully noticed in New-England; during his administration in Massachusetts, the dignity as well as integrity with which he filled the chair, and the firmness with which he suppressed the piracies of that day, in the American seas.

Lord Bellomont published his commission to the council immediately upon his arrival, and united his kinsman, John Nansan, in the government as deputy governor, whom he had brought out from England for this purpose. Lord Bellomont dispatched Capt. John Schuyler, and Dellius the Dutch minister, into Canada, to announce the peace, and negociate an exchange of prisoners, and then laid before the council his commission against the pirates. He next laid before the council an affidavit, delivered him by Secretary Vernon, and the East-India Company, alleging

"that Fletcher had permitted the pirates to land their spoils in this province, and that Nicoll had bargained for their protections, and received eight hundred dollars in specie." Nicoll acknowledged the receipt of the money, but plead an act of the legislature, allowing privateers to enter upon giving security. This act of assembly was denied by the counsel for the king; and the council advised the governor to send out Fletcher to England for his trial, and to try Nicoll here; but neither of these were accomplished, although it could have been proved that the pirates were frequently in the sound, and supplied with provisions from Long-Island. These facts have led hundreds of money-diggers, from that time to this, to search such places as have been suspected of containing the gold that Kid and others, buried in the earth.* This affidavit opened the field for the enemies of Fletcher to attach themselves to the earl, and thus his administration became popular.

The old friends of Leisler took courage and united with the new administration; but a majority of the council being true to Fletcher, was supposed to have prevented the earl from seizing him and sending him to England for trial. Fletcher had been removed from office by the earl's appointment; but Nicoll was yet in the council. The governor thought fit to remove him upon the confessions he had made to the charge contained in the affidavit, and obliged him to enter into a recognizance of 2000l. to answer for his conduct in that affair.

On the 18th of May, the governor opened his first assembly with the following speech :

"GENTLEMEN,

"I cannot but observe to you, what a legacy my predecessor has left me, and what difficulties to struggle with; a divided people, an empty purse, a few miserable, naked,

* Counterfeit coin has generally followed soon after the money-diggers have been busy, from time to time.

half-starved soldiers, not half the number the King allowed pay for the fortifications, and even the governor's house, very much out of repair, and in a word the whole government out of frame. It hath been represented to the government in England, that this province has been a noted receptacle of pirates, and the trade of it under no restriction; but the acts of trade violated by the neglect and connivance of those, whose duty it was to have prevented it.

"It would be hard, if I that come among you with an honest mind, and a resolution to be just to your interest, should meet with greater difficulties, in the discharge of his majesty's service, than those that have gone before me. I will take care there shall be no misapplication of the public money. I will pocket none of it myself, nor shall there be any embezzlement by others; but exact accounts shall be given you, when, and as often, as you shall require.

"You cannot but know, what abuses have been formerly in elections of members to serve in the general assembly, which tends to the subversion of your liberties. I do therefore recommend the making of a law to provide against it."

This address was cordially received by the assembly, and as cordially answered; but in all other questions which came before them, they were so divided, that when upon the act to regulate disorderly elections, six members withdrew from the house; and the governor dissolved the assembly June 14th, 1698. His excellency soon after dismissed Pinhorne from the council, and Brook from the office of receiver-general, as well as judge of the court.

His excellency went up to Albany in July, to regulate the exchange of prisoners with the governor of Canada ; but this subject involved the question whether the ex