price of a bateau-load was usually about $36, and during this period there were scarcely any arrivals at Kingston, except from this Island. The accounts were almost always kept both in Sterling money and in Halifax Currency; the former rated at 4s. 8d., and the latter at 5s. to the dollar. The Ship Limnaide, the Scow Seneca, and Sloops Caldwell, Mohawk, etc., are mentioned as objects of expense.

The Senior Naval Officer on the Lake at that time, was David Betton; the Assistant Commissary-General, Neil McLean; the Assistant Barrack Master, Thomas Sparham; the Store-keeper, James Clark, with James Clunes, and Wm. McDonnell as assistants, and Master Builder, Richard Wingate. It would be easy indeed, to fish from the Sea of Oblivion scores of names, of high and low degree, down to the humblest laborer, and the chimney-sweep; in fact the accounts of the personage last named, afford a knowledge of the number of Officers, of Men, of Rooms, and of Chimneys, at every pay-day, with as much precision as a muster-roll would give the force present for duty, and the Chimneys still standing are silent witnesses of the accuracy of these accounts.

On a subsequent page, we shall present a further account of the final evacuation of the Island as a place of military defense.

A military class-right for 500 acres, was located at the head of the Island Oct. 2d, 1786, by William Richardson, and in the grant made to Macomb in 1791, the Island was reserved by the State, probably in anticipation of some

public use, as was also a small tract at Tibbet's Point, near Cape Vincent. In the uncertainties that attended the early period of the late war, the availability of the works on Carleton Island for defense was made a subject of official notice by military engineers, in case of possible need.

TITLE TO THE ISLANDS LYING WITHIN THE STATE OF

NEW YORK.

In the original contract between the State and Alexander Macomb, in 1791, the islands above Morristown were included, but owing to the uncertainty of boundaries they were not patented until long afterwards. On the 16th of February, 1823, all the islands within the State between Morristown and the west end of Grindstone island, were granted to Elisha Camp, of Sackets Harbor, being supposed to contain in all, 15,402.9 acres of land. All titles must therefore be traced to this proprietor, within these limits.

At an earlier period, these islands had been claimed by the St. Regis Indians, and were leased by their agents to British subjects, for a long term of years. Under this title some of them were occupied by settlers, acknowledging British authority, at the time when the boundary was settled in 1818. When the title in 1823 passed to a private owner, difficulties arose which threatened to result in serious trouble, and which became known in the local annals as

"The War of Grindstone Island."

A quantity of pine timber had been cut and prepared for rafting, which was claimed by the patentee, as also by

those having custody. Finding it probable that an attempt to serve legal process would be resisted, the Sheriff procured a detachment of Militia from the town of Lyme, under Capt. Seymour Green. The timber had mostly been passed over into British waters, and after some firing, the party in charge of the timber dispersed. One of the Militia men was accidentally killed by his own gun. The question was brought into the courts, and finally settled by arbitration.

PETER PENET.

Whoever looks on the map of Northern New York, will see a tract of land, square in form, with the sides running coincident with the principal cardinal points, and its northwest corner resting upon the St. Lawrence at the mouth of "French Creek." This is "Penet's Square," and hath its little romance of history, every word of which is true.

The Revolution attracted to America many French adventurers, some of whom had much more to gain than to lose, and among these was one Peter Penet, of Nantes, France. He arrived at Providence, R. I., by way of Cape Francois, (W. I.,) in December, 1775, having letters and credentials which at first secured him some attentions; and he obtained from a committee of Congress, a contract in the name of De Plairne, Penet & Co., for supplying a large amount of arms from France. He also made separate propositions to several of the Colonies for powder, arms, and ordnance, in the execution of which he proposed to ship a large amount of tobacco and other produce directly to France. He had various other speculations, all of which

proved visionary, and it soon appeared that he was only a needy adventurer, without capital or character. He succeeded in procuring advances, which were not accounted for, and he may be justly called "The Confidence Man" of the Revolution. After the war he became an Indian trader, and acquired a great ascendency among the Oneidas. When these people were holding a treaty with the State in 1788, for the cession of their lands, it was found expedient to consult with him, and to ask his aid in promoting these measures; and as they were stipulating the reservations to be made for themselves and friends, he "dreamed" that they would give him a tract of land that he should locate somewhere north of Oneida Lake. His dream was fulfiled in the gift of ten miles square, which bears his name, but before the grant was perfected, he fled from the country, and the title passed to a creditor.

While operating upon the credulity of these simple people, he devised a "Plan of Government for the Oneidas," that was to lead them to that perfection to which few civilized communities attain. The national affairs were to be managed by a Grand Council; all differences were to be settled by persons eminently wise and just; a tract of land was to be rented, and the revenues were to pay all public charges, of whatever amount; no lands were ever to be alienated, and no cause of complaint was ever to arise. It was resolved, 'as the highest incentive to virtue, "that as soon as convenient material can be procured, eighteen proper marks of distinction shall be given; three representing the tribe of the Bear; three the tribe of the Wolf; and

three the tribe of the Tortoise. The marks of the chiefs of war are, a green ribbon, striped on the side with red, to be worn on the left side. Nine marks of distinction for the chiefs of the councillors, with the mark of an Eagle on a red ribbon, to go round the neck, and hang between the breasts. Be it remembered that those chiefs, whether warriors or councillors, who wear this badge, must be men of truth, honor and wisdom, to discharge the great trust of national business now put in their hands; and whether at home, or abroad, when these marks are seen, it will be remembered that they are this Great Council, and great respect will, at all times, be shown them."

This scheme of government, comprising twenty articles, contemplated the appointment of Peter Penet, their "true and trusted friend, adopted and chosen Agent forever," as their principal executive agent, and being duly signed by marks (not one being able to read,) this State Paper was published with great formality in the Albany newspapers. It is needless to add, that it had not so much as a beginning of actual realization1.

Some time after Penet had absconded, he made his appearance in San Domingo; and at the time of the negro insurrection there, he invited his countrymen to buy lands on his estates in Northern New York. He exhibited a map with fortified cities, on the north shore of Oneida Lake, and by false representations, induced some to purchase

(1) Notices of Peter Penet and of his Operations among the Oneida Indians, By Franklin B. Hough, Lowville, N. Y., 1866, p. 36, with map.