At length both parties desired peace, and a treaty was set on foot for this purpose. Deputies from the Iroquois proceeded to Montreal, leaving at two days' distance behind them twelve hundred of their countrymen, fit for immediate action. Proud of their commanding situation, they demanded the restoration of the chiefs, unjustly seized, and of all other captives. They allowed the Governor only four days to consider the offer, threatening, if not accepted, immediately to set fire to the buildings and corn fields, and to murder the inhabitants. The deepest consternation prevailed at Montreal, and Denonville found himself under the necessity of accepting these humiliating conditions, and of requesting back from France the chiefs he so basely sent thither. This deep and deserved mortification was a just recompense for his treachery to the Indians.

The state of affairs in Canada became desperate. The peace with the Iroquois was soon ended in another war. The Fort of Niagara had been destroyed. Fort Frontenac was blown up and abandoned by the French, and two ships that were built for the purpose of navigating Lake Ontario, were burned to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Iroquois. War, famine and disease seemed as if combined for the utter destruction of the colony.

In this extremity it was judged necessary to place at the head of affairs an officer possessing energy of character and address in dealing with the natives. These qualities were found united in the Count de Frontenac, who, during his former administration, had made himself both beloved and feared by the Indians.

The Count, in 1689, brought out with him the captive chiefs whom Denonville had so unjustly seized. So fascinating were his manners that he completely gained their favor, Oureonharé, the principal one, remaining ever most strongly attached to him. All the chiefs, indeed, had so great a regard for him that he entertained hopes of conciliating the Iroquois without much difficulty. With this view he sent a deputy of that nation, with four of his captive countrymen, to announce his return and his wish to resume amicable relations. Oureonharé transmitted a message, requesting them to send an embassy to their "Ancient Father," from whom they would experience much tenderness and esteem.~

The Iroquois council sent back the same deputies with six belts, intimating their resolution, which was expressed in lofty and bitter terms. Choosing to consider "Oninthio" one and the same, though they knew that Frontenac was not the offending person, they complained "that his rods of correction had been too sharp and cutting; that the roots of the tree of peace, which he had planted at Fort Frontenac, had been withered by blood, and the ground had been polluted." They demanded atonement for these injuries, and that Oureonharé and his captive companions should be sent back previous, to the liberation of the French prisoners. "Oninthio would then be free," they said, "to plant again the tree of liberty, but not in the same place."

Two circumstances emboldened the Iroquois to take so high a tone at this period. The first was that, in consequence of the revolution in England, the cause of James II was warmly embraced by the French, and the two kingdoms were at open war. On this account the Indians could depend upon the cordial coöperation of the English. The second was that they were engaged in a treaty with the Ottawas for a better market for their furs.

Frontenac, finding his attempts at negotiation fruitless, resolved to act with such vigor as to humble the Iroquois. He therefore collected his allies, and divided them amongst his regular troops, and several English settlements were surprised and pillaged. Schenectady, the frontier town of New York, was attacked by a party of one hundred French and a number of Indians. The fort and every house were pillaged and burned, and all the horrors of Indian warfare let loose upon the inhabitants. The English accounts say that sixty-three men, women and children were massacred in cold blood.

His next care was to send detachments to convey to Montreal the furs which had been stored at Michilimackinac. This they effected, and a large party, who attempted to attack them, was completely defeated. Notwithstanding these successes, the Iroquois maintained the same hostility and haughtiness. The old allies of the French, seeing them resume their former energy, determined to prefer them to the English. The Ottawas owned that they had made some progress in a negotiation with the

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English, but that, as soon as they had heard of the return of their “Ancient Father," they had broken it off. The Hurons denied "having entered into any treaty which could detach them from their beloved Oninthio."

The attention of Frontenac was called in the autumn of this year from the Indians to the English, who had determined to strike a blow which, they hoped, would deprive the French of all their possessions in America. This was a plan of attack on Canada, which was carried out by the English colonists at an expense of £15,000. It was twofold: first, by land and inland navigation on the southern frontier, and, second, by a fleet sent from Boston to attack Quebec.

The squadron, under the command of Sir William Phipps, appeared as far up the river as Tadoussac before the alarm reached Quebec. Frontenac immediately hastened to strengthen the defenses of the place, which consisted of rude embankments of timber and earth, and to put it into as good condition as it was possible for him to do in so short a time.

On the 16th of October the squadron, consisting of thirty-four vessels of different descriptions, advanced as far as Beauport. Sir William Phipps immediately sent a flag of truce on shore to summon the town to surrender. This was gallantly rejected by Frontenac. This officer, who was a man of great pride, lived in the castle of St. Louis, amidst all the splendor with which he could possibly surround himself. Being resolved to astonish the English officer who was sent on shore with the flag of truce, he caused him to be met by a French major, who placed a bandage over his eyes, and conducted him by a very circuitous route to the castle. Every delusion was practiced to make him believe that he was in the midst of a numerous garrison. On arriving at the castle the bandage was removed, and he found himself in the presence of the Governor-General, the Intendant, the Bishop, and a large staff of French officers in full uniform, who were clustered together in the middle of the hall. With the greatest self-possession, the young officer presented to Frontenac a summons to surrender, in the name of William and Mary, King and Queen of England. Frontenac gave a most spirited answer, refusing to

acknowledge any King of England but James II. The Englishman wished to have his answer in writing. Frontenac peremptorily refused, saying, "I am going to answer your master by the cannon's mouth. He shall be taught this is not the manner in which a person of my rank ought to be summoned." The bandage being replaced, the officer was conducted with the same mysteries to his boat, and was no sooner on board the Admiral's vessel than the batteries began to play upon the fleet.

On the 18th fifteen hundred English troops landed near the River St. Charles, but not without sustaining great loss from the constant fire kept up by the French from amongst the rocks and bushes. Four of the largest vessels were anchored opposite the town, and commenced a bombardment, but the fire from the batteries was directed with such effect as to compel them to move up the river beyond Cape Diamond. A sharp skirmish took place on the 19th, and on the 20th an action was fought, in which the French made a gallant stand and compelled the English to retreat to Beauport, leaving their cannon and ammunition. Two days after they reëmbarked and returned to Boston.

Owing to the bad management of Sir William Phipps, this expedition was attended with great loss of life, seven or eight of his vessels being wrecked in the St. Lawrence. The expedition. against Montreal did not take place at the appointed time, owing to a want of concert between the parties, and Frontenac was thus enabled to concentrate all his strength and oppose the plans of the English with vigilance and success.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF FRONTENAC TO ITS OVERTHROW BY THE ENGLISH AT QUEBEC, IN 1759 — THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC - THE FALL OF WOLFE AND MONTCALM CANADA CEDED TO THE ENGLISH.

DURING the year 1691 the Iroquois, with the English and native allies, advanced along the River Sorel or Richelieu to attack Montreal. De Caillières, a very able officer, then held the command of that city. He had assembled nearly eight hundred Indians in addition to his own countrymen, and the assailants, after a very sharp contest, were obliged to retreat. They burned thirty houses and barns, and carried off several prisoners, whom they put to the most cruel torture.

At length, however, De Frontenac, by the unremitting vigor of his measures, secured the defense of the colony so far that in 1692 the inhabitants were enabled to cultivate their lands, and the fur trade was renewed and carried on with considerable advantage.

In the beginning of 1694, the Iroquois made overtures of peace. Two Onondagos arrived at Montreal, and asked the Governor if certain deputies, who were on their way, would be received. Though they were answered in the affirmative, several months elapsed before they appeared. They were well received, and brought several belts with them, one of which expressed the most friendly disposition, and solicited the restoration of the fort at Cataraqui.

On their return home, Oureonharé accompanied them. When he came back, he brought with him several persons of distinction, who had been long held in captivity by the Indians. Though the first belts brought by the deputies were friendly, the others were obscure, and all attempts to obtain an explanation were fruitless. All that was contemplated merely seemed to be "to suspend the hatchet." The Count rejected all the belts except one, declaring