On the fecond of June the Speaker, in Name of the other four Nations, told him, they were glad to fee a Governor again in this Place, that they had learned from their Ancestors, that the firft Ship which arrived in this Country furprized them exceedingly; that they were curious to know what was in its huge Belly. They found Chriftians in it, and among them one Jacques, with whom they made a Chain of Friendship, which has been preferved to this Day. By that Chain it was agreed, that whatever Injury was done to the one, fhould be deemed, by both Sides, as likewife done to the other. Then they mentioned the Confufion that had lately been in the Government of New-York, which had like to have confounded all their Affairs, but hoped all would be reduced to their wonted Order and Quiet. They complained of several of the Brethren leaving Albany in Time of Danger, and praised those by Name who ftaid, and then faid; Our Tree of Peace, which grows in this Place, has of late been much fhaken, we must now fecure and faften its Roots; we muft frequently manure and drefs it, that its Roots may spread far.

They affured the Governor, that they were refolved to profecute the War against the French as long as they lived, and that they would never speak of Peace, but with the common Confent. They abhor those that do otherwife, and defired that the Brethren might not keep a Correspondence with Canada by Letters. You need not (fay they) press us to mind the War, we mind it above all Things; do you but your Parts, lay afide all other Thoughts but that of the War, for it is the only Thing we have at Heart. They gave Bevers at the End of every diftinct Part of their Answer.

On the fourth the Mohawks spoke to the Governor, in Prefence of the other four Nations: They confeffed the Negotiations they had with the

praying

praying Indians, and with the Governor of Canada, and that they had received a Belt from him. Then they reftored one of the Prifoners taken at Schenectady, as the Fruit of that Negotiation. They defired the Governor's Advice, and the Advice of the whole House, what Answer to return to the Governor of Canada; and laftly, defired the Senekas to release the Prifoners they had taken from the praying Iudians.

Colonel Slaughter check'd the Mohawks for entering into a feparate Treaty with the Enemy, and faid he could admit of no Propofals of Peace. He told them, that the Prisoners taken from the praying Indians must not be restored, putting them in mind, that fome of them having been formerly released, foon after returned and murdered feveral People, and burnt feveral Houses.

He affured them of his Affiftance, and then added, You must keep the Enemy in perpetual Alarm. The Mohawks thanked him for his Affurance of Affiftance; but took Notice of his faying, You must keep the Enemy in perpetual Alarm. Why don't you fay, they replied, We will keep the Enemy in perpetual Alarm. In the laft Place, the Mohawks renewed their League with all the English Colonies; adding, Though an angry Dog has endeavoured to bite the Chain in Pieces, we are refolved to keep it firm, both in Peace and in War: We now renew the old Chain, that fo the Tree of Peace and Profperity may flourish, and fpread its Roots through all the Country.

In the laft Place, the four Nations answered the Mohawks.

"Mohawks, our Brethren, in anfwer to your "Proposals from the Governor of Canada, we must "put you in Mind of his Deceit and Treachery; "we need only give one recent Inftance, how he "lately fent to the Senekas to treat of Peace, and

" at the fame Time fell upon Schenectady, and cut "that Place off. We tell you, that the Belt fent "by the French Governor is Poifon; we fpew it "out of our Mouths, we abfolutely reject it, and "are refolved to profecute the War as long as "we live." Then they left the Belt lying on the Ground.

CHAP. VI.

The English attack Montreal, by Land, in Conjunction with the Indians, and Quebeck by Sea.

T was now evident that the Indians could no

Ilonger be amufed with Words, and that, unless

the English entered foon upon Action, the French would carry their Design of making Peace with the Five Nations, and the English be left to carry on the War in America by themselves. Certainly a more proper Opportunity of doing it with Succefs could not be expected, than at prefent, while the French in Canada had neither recovered their Spirits, nor the Strength they had loft, by the terrible Incurfions of the Five Nations. A joint Invafion on Canada was concerted with New-England; they were to attack Quebeck by Sea, while New-York attacked Montreal by Land. The Governor therefore proposed to the Indians to join with him in attacking Canada, for which Purpose he told them, that he defigned to fend a confiderable Force this Summer. They defired Time to confult on it at their general Meeting, which was foon to be held at Onondaga, and to know what Number of Chriftians he defigned to fend, that they might join a fuitable Number of their Men. To this the Governor answered, that he must not communicate the Particulars of his Defign to fo many, because they could not then be kept fecret from the Enemy; as he found by the Discoveries

Difcoveries that were laft Year made to the French by that Means.

It was at laft agreed, that the Mohawks should join with the Chriftians that were to march from New-York directly against Montreal, and that the other four Nations fhould fend a confiderable Party down Cadarackui Lake, and join them before Montreal.

Major Peter Schuyler, the fame whom the Indians call Quider, commanded the Party fent from NewYork, which confifted of three hundred Men, one half Chriftians, the other Mohawks and Scahkook Indians. He fet out from Albany about Midfummer. As he was preparing his Canoes to pafs Corlear's Lake, he was difcovered by the French Indians, who immediately returned to Montreal, to give Information of what they had seen. The Chevalier Clermont was fent out to make further Discoveries : He found the English above Chamblie, and went immediately back with the Intelligence he there gained. In the mean while Mr. de Callieres, Governor of Montreal, did all in his Power to give Major Schuyler a proper Reception, by drawing the Militia and regular Troops together for the Defence of the Place. There happened to be a very confiderable Number of Utawawas trading at that Time at Montreal: Mr. de Colliere, in Order to engage them to join him, made a great Feaft for them, went among them, and, after the Indian Manner, began the War Song, leading up the Dance with his Axe in his Hand, and fhouting and hollowing in the fame wild Manner the Indians do. This done, he carried his whole Force, which confifted of twelve hundred Men, cross the River, and encamped on the fouth Side, at la Prairie de la Magdeleine, together with a great Number of Utawawas, the praying Indians, and other French Indians. The famous Therawaet being now entirely gained by the

Ca

Careffes of the Count de Frontenac, made one of the Number. They encamped round the Fort, which ftood on a steep rifing Ground between two Meadows.

Major Schuyler having left forty of his Men to guard his Canoes, which had carried him cross the Lake, marched on without stopping. He got into a Hollow, which led into the Meadow, without being discovered; and marching under that Cover, he fell fuddenly upon the Militia, who were foon put into Confufion, and many of them, and of the Utawawas, who were pofted with them, were killed. He pursued them as they fled to the Fort, which he attacked brifkly, but was obliged to leave it, by the Approach of the regular Troops who came to relieve it. He received them however bravely, and, after they had loft feveral Officers and many Men, they retired. Major Schuyler finding the Number of the Enemy much greater than was expected, and being informed that a confiderable Party of the Enemy had marched fouthward, he began to apprehend, that this Party was fent to cut off his Retreat, by destroying his Canoes. It was refolved therefore immediately to follow this Party; he overtook them, and they covering themselves behind fome large fallen Trees, he attacked them, and made his Way through them, but with confiderable Lofs.

In this Attack the Mohawks fignalized themfelves, but the Scahkook Indians did not behave themselves well. The Mohawks, upon no Occafion, yielded an Inch of Ground, till the English first gave Way. The French, by their own Accounts, loft, in the feveral Attacks made by Schuyler, two Captains, fix Lieutenants, and five Enfigns, and, in all, three hundred Men, so that their Slain were in Number more than Major Schuyler had with him. The Mohawks fuffered much, having seven

teen