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time to be at a distance from the main body. This obliged the French general to hasten his march, so that he returned to Montreal on the 10th of August. The Onondagas suffered little by this formidable expedition, but the loss of their corn and their bark cottages. They lost not a man, except the old sachem who yielded himself a martyr to his country's glory.

The French suffered materially by its consequences, for the planters being taken from their labor, either in this expedition, or in watching and securing their forts and country, a famine ensued throughout the land a circumstance which had often happened in Canada, when the men fit to bear arms, had been called away on such like enterprises. Afterwards, the Five Nations sent several small parties against Canada, and the French and their Indians, in turn hovered around Albany and Schenectady, murdering several families, and carrying off their scalps. Thus the war was continued by small parties of Indians on both sides, harrassing, surprising and scalping the inhabitants of Montreal and Albany. The western Indians this year concluded a peace with the Five Nations, in spite of the French, who used every means to prevent it. The reason they assigned was, because the English sold goods. to them cheaper than the French. A party of the Five Nations were discovered hovering around Corlear's Lake. A captain with a party of men were sent against them, and effected their surprise. He killed several, and took one prisoner, who, at the instance of the French Governor, was publicly burned alive, and upon whom the Indians then trading at Montreal, were invited to feast.

Dekanissora proposes to Col. Peter Schuyler, June 9th, 1697, to use his influence to prevent the people of the Five Nations from settling in Canada, that they are inclined to peace, but if need be, they are ready with their whole force. to prosecute the war against the French.

The Cayugas also made application 28th of September, 1697, through three of their principal captains, for a supply of powder and lead, to defend themselves against the French and

western Indians, and desire the condolence of the English, for the loss of their people slain in battle with Indians of the west. The treaty of Ryswick was signed September 10th, 1697, by which the French and English were to be at peace.

The Governor of New-York, being first informed, sent an express to the Governor of Canada, with the news, that hostilities might cease. The Five Nations learning the fact earlier than they of Canada, took advantage of it, in hunting beaver, near Cadaraqui Fort. The Governor of Canada being informed of this, and believing that the Five Nations thought themselves secure, by the general peace, resolved to take his last revenge of them. For this purpose, he sent a considerable party of Adirondacks to surprise them; which they did, and killed several, but not without loss on their own side. The murder of the distinguished war chief, Kanahjeajah of Onondaga, at this time caused the greatest affliction throughout all the Five Nations. After the peace, a dispute arose between the Governors of New-York and Canada, relative to the disposition of the prisoners, which the Five Nations had in their hands. The French were not willing to include the Five Nations in the peace; but the English had them too much at heart, to suffer them to be injured by the French, and the English Governor assured the French, that were hostilities continued against them, it would be sufficient cause for the English to continue the war. This put a stop to the threatenings of the French, and both sides made complaints to their masters. The two Kings ordered their respective Governors to be assisting each other in making the peace effectual to both nations. The Count Frontenac died while these disputes continued; Mons. De Calieres, who succeeded him, put an end to them, by agreeing to send a deputation to Onondaga, to regulate an exchange of prisoners there. For this purpose, Mons. Joncaire, and the Jesuit Bruyas were sent. When the French commissioners were within a mile of Onondaga Castle, they arranged themselves in order, and marched with the French colors flying, with as much display as possible. The grave old chief, Dekanissora, met them with

out the gate, and complimented them with three strings of wampum. They were received with every demonstration of respect and esteem, and were saluted with a general discharge of firearms, taken to the best cabins, and sumptuously entertained. The commissioners succeeded in negotiating a satisfactory peace; and an agreement was made, to facilitate the exchange of prisoners.

The French commissioners, now being assured of peace with the Five Nations, the inhabitants of Canada, considered it one of the greatest blessings which could be bestowed upon them. Nothing could be more terrible than this last war; the French ate their bread in continual fear. No man was sure, when out of his own house, of ever returning to it again. While laboring in the fields, they were under perpetual apprehension of being killed, or carried off to the Indian country, there to dole out a long and fearful captivity, or to die in lingering torments. In short, all business and trade was often entirely suspended; while fear, despair and misery, blanched the countenances of the wretched inhabitants. On the return of the French commissioners, they brought with them several chiefs of the Five Nations from Onondaga. They were compli mented, and received with every demonstration of respect, by the French, at Montreal; and thus it always is with a brave people, who struggle through every difficulty, until they finally triumph with honor. Notwithstanding the French had many friends among the Five Nations, who were prisoners, yet many had become so attached to their new friends, that nothing could induce them to return; and, some who did return to Canada, again went to the Onondagas, and ended their days among them.

CHAPTER IX.

EARLY HISTORY CONTINUED.

COUNCIL AT ONONDAGA-COUNCIL AT ALBANY, 1700-ENGLISH AGREE TO BUILD A FORT AT ONONDAGA-EARL BELOMONT'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COL. ROMER-COL ROMER'S RETURN and report-VIEWS OF THE FIVE NATIONS-ATTACHMENT TO THE ENGLISH-IROQUOIS JOIN COL. SCHUYLER IN AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FRENCH, 1709-UNSUCCESSFUL-AFFAIRS OF THE FIVE NATIONS, AND THE FRENCH AND WESTERN INDIANS-GOV. HUNTER AND THE FIVE NATIONS-Gov. BURNET-TRADING HOUSE AND FORT AT OSWEGO-EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF CONRAD WEISER-OF THE SEVERAL NATIONS INCORPORATED WITH THE IROQUOIS-OPERATIONS ON THE NORTH WESTERN FRONTIER-EXTRACT FROM SERGEANT DEGARIMO'S ORDERLY BOOK-EXTRACT FROM SIR WILLIAM JOHN SON'S JOURNAL-COL. BRADSTREET AND GEN. SHIRLEY AT OSWEGO, 1775-76— Loss of OSWEGO-FALL OF QUEBEC-PEACE-APPROACH of the REVOLUTION— COURSE PURSUED BY THE INDIAN NATIONS DURING THE REVOLUTION-WAR OF 1812-PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ONONDAGAS.

The Onondagas and Oneidas made a proposition, 3d of February, 1698, to the Governor of New, York, through Dekanissora and Carondowaune, an Oneida sachem, the former being chief speaker.

They informed the Governor and Council, that deputies were on the point of leaving Onondaga, to treat with the French Governor of Canada, who had made them many fine promises. Upon which the board expressed great surprise, and forthwith proposed to send a messenger post to Onondaga, to prevent them from going. Whereupon, John Baptist Van Eps was ordered to make all possible haste to Onondaga, charging said messengers not to depart, or if possibly they had gone, that they should be brought back; desir

ing that a general council of all the sachems of the Five Nations should be held at Onondaga, at which Col. Schuyler and other gentlemen would attend. Johannes Glen, was sent out with John Baptist, and a conference was held with the chiefs at Onondaga.

On the 21st of March, 1699, John Baptist was dispatched to Albany with a message from the Onondagas, stating the overtures of the French, and their promise of the restoration of prisoners. In this they expressed the desires of the French for the security of peace, and Monsieur De Marricour's anxiety to have the ancient councils with the French continued at Onondaga, and to break off with the Governor of New-York, and their desire to send M. De Lamberville and Pére Bruyas to them to speak of peace.

Upon the representations of John Baptist, Captain John Schuyler and Captain John Bleeker, were dispatched by the Governor and Council, with all possible expedition, to inform the chiefs of the Five Nations, that their sending messengers to Canada was very ill received by the Governor of New-York. These gentlemen were charged to use all possible arguments to dissuade them from a repetition of such evil practices; to break up their correspondence with the French; to revive the ancient covenant chain, and renew the Governor's promises of protection; reminding them, that the French were always first to do them harm.

Baptist and Arnont were to be left at Onondaga to watch the motions of the Indians, and prevent their deputies from going to Canada, and from holding any sort of correspondence with the French; persuading them to go to Albany as usual, and promising them, if they desired to be made Christians, the government would provide fit persons to that end, and by all means to prevent the Jesuits from remaining among them.

In a council, held at Onondaga, on the 1st and 2d days of May, at which were present John Baptist Van Eps, and Arnont Viele, interpreters, and Johannis Schuyler, and Johannis Bleeker, with chiefs and head men of the Five Nations. The Earl of Belomont's instructions were submitted for the