America, accessible at all seasons of the year, and of a region possessing a fine climate and fertile lands, which the English themselves conquered from the Dutch." The French King and his ministers approved of the plans submitted to them; and the divisions subsisting among the English colonists, in consequence of the haughty conduct of Governor Andros, as well as the animosities prevailing between the parties who quarrelled about the rival pretensions of James II. and King William III., appeared to render the opportunity a favourable one. Nothing, however, was done towards carrying those plans into execution, because the French Court would not, or could not, spare the necessary men and ships. Moreover, a state of open war between France and England did not exist at that moment,* notwithstanding the undisguised intention of Louis XIV. to support the pretensions of the exiled James II.

De Calliere, who had gone to France to advocate in person the designs which have been described, returned, after his fruitless endeavour, to the colony, with a small reinforcement of men and provisions. The country became more and more afflicted with its troubles, and absolute ruin seemed imminent. The animosity of the English colonists was naturally augmented when they became acquainted with the French designs, and they redoubled their efforts to injure Canada, and to restrain the Iroquois from listening to any terms of accommodation.† In fact, the English,

* War was declared soon afterwards, in May 1689. The expulsion of James from England, and the Revolution which placed William on the throne, occurred in 1688.

The Iroquois were not entirely satisfied with their English allies, on account of their claiming sovereignty over the cantons. These barbarians desired to be independent of both parties, English and French, and were even disposed to come to terms with the latter rather than admit their subjection to the former, being all the time solicited by the French mis

arriving at the same conclusion as the French, namely, that the rival colonies could not exist and thrive in the presence of each other, became earnest in devising projects for making themselves entire masters of the country. When war was declared in Europe, active preparations were commenced by the English colonists for effecting a conquest of the French colony, as complete as had been made about sixty years before, in its infant condition, under its first Governor, Champlain.

Thus afflicted at home, and menaced abroad, the doom of Canada seemed certain, when the reappointment of Frontenac to the governorship infused new life and vigour into the French councils. The gallant but unsuccessful Denonville was recalled to occupy a post at court in his native land. His successor, Frontenac, arrived at Quebec on the 15th October 1689, and entered upon his second administration amidst the universal rejoicings of the inhabitants of that city.

*

sionaries amongst them to make peace. But the neighbourhood of the English colonists, as well as their superior strength and numbers, and the greater advantages derivable from traffic at New York, induced the Iroquois to refuse the overtures of the French.

* Denonville's character was that of a brave and honest man. He had seen much military service. He has been blamed for entering unnecessarily upon hostilities against the Iroquois, whom, by so doing, and by the manner in which their chiefs were seized and sent to serve in the French galleys, he converted from doubtful and troublesome neighbours into open and implacable foes. He also failed to complete the chastisement of the Iroquois when his successes against the Senecas placed that in his power; and is further censured for establishing the outpost at Niagara, which he could not sustain, and which was a standing offence to the Iroquois. Other grave errors are cited against his administration by French writers. On the other hand, his earnest and industrious efforts to promote the welfare of the colony, seem to have been of little account in the face of the overwhelming difficulties in which it was plunged. Denonville's interest in the colony did not cease on his retirement from the governorship.

CHAPTER XX.

FRONTENAC'S ACTIVITY AND MEASURES FOR THE RELIEF OF THE COLONY-FORT FRONTENAC-INDIAN CRUELTIES ON BOTH SIDES -PLANS OF M. DE CALLIERE-FRONTENAC'S EFFORTS TO DETACH AND CONCILIATE THE IROQUOIS — THREE INVASIONS OF THE TERRITORY OF THE ENGLISH COLONISTS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNOR-DETAILS AND RESULTS-EXPEDITION TO MICHILIMAKINAC-CONTINUED ATTACKS OF THE IROQUOIS-FRONTENAC AND THE INDIANS AT MONTREAL-ADVANCE OF A NAVAL FORCE TO ASSAULT QUEBEC—FRONTENAC'S ENERGETIC MEASURES OF DEFENCE-SIGNAL DEFEAT OF THE INVADERS BEFORE QUEBECD'IBERVILLE.

155. As the critical condition of affairs admitted of no delay, Frontenac, three or four days after his arrival, hastened to Montreal, in order to further the measures necessary for the relief of the colony. In spite of his advanced age he displayed a wonderful energy and activity. Having learned that, in addition to the evacuation of Fort Niagara, the late Governor had ordered the demolition of Fort Frontenac, he caused the instant equipment of twenty-five canoes, with provisions and ammunition, which, with an escort of three hundred men, were intended to succour the latter post. Emissaries were sent forward bearing information of the reinforcement, and in the hope that it might not be too late to prevent Denonville's orders from being carried into effect. To Frontenac's great chagrin, M. de Varennes, the commandant of Fort Frontenac, arrived at Lachine with his garrison just as these succours were about to depart. He had destroyed the defences, ammunition, and provisions, to prevent the Iroquois from profiting by

them on the evacuation of the post by the French. The Governor's annoyance was increased by receiving news of the massacre of twenty Frenchmen, who fell a sacrifice to one of the bands of Iroquois then on the island.

Resolving, however, to reoccupy the abandoned fort on Lake Ontario as early as possible, and providing, as well as circumstances permitted, for the immediate safety of Montreal, Frontenac returned to Quebec, to mature and carry into execution his plans for dealing with the Iroquois, and for retaliating upon the English colonists. His projects embraced the twofold purpose of detaching or conciliating the Iroquois, and of organising incursions into the New England settlements.

156. In order to gain over the Iroquois, Frontenac sent messengers to the cantons, inviting them to depute negotiators, and announcing to them the return of the captive warriors from France. He had brought these out with him. On the passage across the Atlantic he had employed his opportunities of exercising personal interest, with such success, that he insinuated himself completely into their good graces. One of their number, Ooureouparé, a chief of the Cayugas, became much attached to Frontenac, and was, subsequently, a useful and influential mediator between him and the people of the cantons.

The Governor considered it the more necessary to come to terms with the Iroquois, as intelligence had reached him from the West, to the effect that the Ottawas and other western tribes were on the point of abandoning the French cause, to enter into alliances with the cantons and the English. But in order to recover prestige amongst the savages generally, both friends and foes, it was indispensable for the French to exhibit some practical proofs of their military prowess, and to show that their late disasters had not extinguished their courage or destroyed their

ability to fight their European adversaries. This object also received the Governor's prompt attention, and was prosecuted in a manner as relentless as had been the recent incursions by the Iroquois into the French territory.

157. As has been already indicated, the case of the colony admitted of no delay in the execution of measures for restoring its fortunes. Accordingly, as soon as the Iroquois bands had withdrawn for the winter to their own quarters in the cantons, the Governor caused three bodies of French Canadians and savages to be equipped at Montreal, Three Rivers, and Quebec, which were destined to leave their respective stations simultaneously, and, by three different routes, to penetrate into the New England territory. In spite of the snow and the rigorous weather-for the time of departure was the very coldest season of the yearand regardless of the distances to be travelled, as well as the scarcity of provisions, more especially among their Indian auxiliaries, each of the three parties started on its murderous adventure about the end of January.

The division from Montreal, consisting of two hundred French Canadians and Indians, made for the Dutch and English settlements on the River Hudson. Passing on snowshoes across the intervening forests, rivers, and lakes, on Saturday the 18th February 1690, they came into the vicinity of Corläer (Schenectady), then occupied by about eighty families, chiefly of Dutch descent. The town was surrounded by a high fence or palisade, having gateways on the north and south sides. The invaders arranged their plans for penetrating through the northern entrance, and for commencing a general assault at two o'clock on the morning of the 19th. But, stimulated by hunger and cold, they commenced the attack full three hours before the appointed time. The inhabitants were buried in sleep, having retired wholly unconscious of the vicinity of their merciless