rons, and abfolutely refused to take the miffionaries on board: nevertheless, these two good fathers would not abandon their profelytes, but embarked by themfelves in a canoe, almoft deftitute of provifion. They had not proceeded far in their voyage, when the Onondagas gave a loofe to their brutality. A Huron woman, refufing to gratify the luft of one of their chiefs, he inftantly knocked her on the head ; and this murder ferved as a fignal to the reft, who fell upon the wretched Hurons, maffacred the greater part of them, and treated the remainder as captives; fome of them were even brought to the ftake, and tortured to death, without any cafe affigned. By this time thofe favages had laid a scheme for extirpating the French from Canada, their revenge having been excited by the following incident: A party of the Onneyauts having, in the neighbourhood of Montreal, furprifed and murdered three Frenchmen, Mr. d'Aillebout, who commanded at Quebec fince the departure of Mr. Laufon, demanded fatisfaction for this outrage; and, that his remonftrance might have the more weight, caufed all the Iroquois in the colony to be apprehended. This fep kindled afresh the revenge of the favages, and, after many confultations, they refolved to put the following scheme in execution: They refolved that father Le Moyne, who refided among the Agniers, fhould be defired to go and treat about the ransom and releafe of the prifoners at Quebec; that he should be attended by a numerous escorte, on pretence of doing him honour, and protecting him from the infults of the young men, who were greatly incenfed against the French nation; that different parties of warriors fhould fpread themfelves through the colony; that these parties, as foon as they heard that their countrymen were fet at liberty, fhould pillage and maffacre all the French and their allies, who might fall in their way; and that the fame tragedy fhould be acted at Onondago. Mr. Dupuis, who had fettled in that canton, being informed of this confpiracy, and obferving numerous parties of the Indian warriors take to the fields in the spring, was reduced to the greatest perplexity. He could not pretend to stand upon the defenfive in the heart of a powerful nation: he had no profpect of relief from Quebec: he had no canoes in which he could retreat; nor could he make any, without alarming the fufpicion of the favages among whom he lived. In this emergency, the firft ftep he took, was to fend an exprefs to Mr. d'Aillebout, with an account of the confpiracy: then he fet his people to work in making flight veffels, which were privately conftructed in a large barn belonging to the Jefuits; gave notice to his people to make preparation and provifion for the voyage; and devised a stratagem for eluding the vigilance of the Onondagas in his retreat. A young Frenchman being adopted by one of the Indian chiefs, who loved him with the fame affection le would have entertained for the fon of his own body, told his parent he had dreamed of one of thofe feafts in which the guests must eat up all that is prefented on the table: he intreated him therefore to make fuch a feaft to the whole village, declaring at the fame time, he should certainly die if the leaft morfel fhould be left unfwallowed. The favage, far from suspecting. any fraud in this fcheme, fo conformable to the fuperftition of his own country, affured the youth he would comply with his request, and actually invited the whole village to feaft with him on the ninteenth day of March, the time affigned by the young man, at the defire of Mr. Dupuis, who had fixed the fame æra for his de parture. The feaft, accordingly began in the evening, that the French might have the better opportunity to launch and load their veffels unperceived; and, in order to drown the noife they thould be obliged to make, the adopted fon ordered the drums to beat, and the trumpets to be blown without ceafing, around the hut where the banquet was given. When he was informed that all his countrymen were embarked, he told his adopted father that he pitied the guests, all of whom declared that they had eaten and drank as much as they could contain. He therefore, defired they would repose themfelves, and he would lull them into an agreeable flumber by playing on his guitarre. He accordingly began to thrum this inftrument, and in lefs than a quarter of an hour, there was not one of them awake. Then he foftly withdrew, and embarking with his companions, they im. mediately quitted the inhofpitable shore of the Onondagas. Next morning the favages going, according to cuftom, to bid bid the French good-morrow, found all their doors locked, and were not a little furprised at the univerfal filence that prevailed. They at first imagined the French were at their worship, or affembled to hold a confultation. After having waited feveral hours, they knocked at the doors and heard the dogs bark within the houfes; but not a perfon appeared, At length, in the evening, they broke open the doors, and were confounded at finding the habitations abandoned. Their aftonishment was the greater, as they could not comprehend in what manner the French escaped; and when they did, they could not make use of their canoes to purfue the fugitives, because the rivers were ftill encumbered with ice, which prevented that kind of navigation. [An. 1658.] Mr. Dupuis exerted himfelf with fuch diligence and fuccefs, that notwithstanding contrary winds, which detained him a long time in the lake Ontario, he, in fifteen days, arrived at Montreal, where he found all the colonists 'alarmed to fuch a degree by the furrounding parties of the Iroquois, that they durft not flir abroad upon their usual occafions. In the month of May, father Le Moyne came to the fame place under a guaid of Agniers, who had given their word that they would conduct him fafe to a French fettlement; but, having kept their promise in this particular, they pulled of the mask, and hoftilities recommenced with more fury than ever. In July, the Viscount d'Argenfon Janded from France at Quebec, in quality of governor-general, and was not a little aftonished to find the colony in fuch a wretched condition. The very next day fome Algonquins were butchered by a party of the Iroquois under the very cannon of the fort, and the enemy returned with fuch expedition as to baffle the purfuit of a detachment fent to give them battle. About the fame time, another party of the Agniers approached Trois Rivieres, in hope of furprising that poft; and, in order to enfure fuccefs, fent thither eight deputies, under pretence of an ambaffy, tho' their inftructions were to make their obfervations on the condition of the place. This fcheme, however, proved abortive. Mr. de la Potherie, who commanded in the fort, detained the eight deputies, imprifoned one, and fent the rest to the general, who ordered them to be executed as fpies; an act of vigour which produced such a good effect among the favages, that they did not for fome time after moleft the colony. In the courfe of the following year, Canada was erected into a bishop's fee by the pope, and conferred upon Francis de Laval, afterwards known by the name of the Abbot de Montigny. He arrived at Quebec with a number of spiritual labourers, and intirely changed the ecclefiaftical government of New France. Before this period, there had been no other priests but Jefuits in Canada: but monks of other orders now arrived, and were appointed to benefices by the new prelate, except at Montreal and its depending parifhs, which still remained on the old footing, under the direction of the fathers of the feminary of St. Sulpice. In the year 1662, a feminary was erected at Quebec, in favour of the fathers belonging to the feminary of foreign miffions: an hofpital was founded at Montreal by contributions among the pious fouls of France; aud the formation of a regular town in this island was fignalized by an establishment called the Institution of the daughters of the Congregation; confifting of a certain number of maiden devotees, who undertake the education of poor female orphans. In the mean time, the miffionaries difcovered feveral InIdian natives to the northward and to the westward of the Lake Huron, and even made fome converts among the Efkimaux of Hudson's Bay, who were accounted the most brutal of all the favages. Among the nations discovered to the weftward, far beyond Lake Superior, were the Sioux, a people very little known to the Hurons and Algonquins, and differing from them in many particulars relating to their religion, language, and manner of living. They adored one God, believed in a future state of rewards and punifhments, and afferted the doctrine of the metempfychofis, or tranfmigration of fouls. They punished adultery in the women with mutilation, although polygamy was tolerated among them; were much more mild and tractable than the Iroquois, and never indulged themselves in the barbarity of facrificing their prifoners. They were very numerous and powerful, divided into forty populous townships or caftles. They roved like the ancient Nomades over an im menfe menfe tract of country, and were thought to be defcended from the Chinese Tartars. Certain it is, the extremities of their country to the north-west cannot be far from the South Sea; and European travellers, learning their language, might perhaps penetrate to that fide of the American continent, and make fome discoveries of importance. During the whole year 1660, nothing could be more deplorable than the condition to which the French colonies in Canada were reduced by the incurfions of the Iroquois. They ravaged the whole country from Montreal to Quebeck, burning their habitations, and butchering the people. They defeated feveral detachments of the French and their allies, who were sent against them; and, to the number of feven hundred, blocked up Quebeck in fuch a manner, that no perfon durft appear in the fields at any distance from that capital. In a word, the colony being altogether neglected by their mother-country, feemed I to totter on the brink of deftruction. To To the AUTHORS of the BRITISH MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN, Read, with horror and indignation, a letter in your December Magazine, on the perfidy of men; occafioned, it feems, by the unhappy fate of a young woman, the author happened to fee among the number of lunaticks and ideots admitted into the Dublin Hofpital, erected for the reception of these miserable objects; to which melancholy fituation she had been reduced, by the perfidy of a cruel abandoned wretch; who, under the fpecious cloak of the most folemn promises of marriage, feduced the unwary and credulous maid; robb'd her of her innocence, and, at laft, O fhocking thought! inhumanly deferted her for another, whom the infamous monster married, regardless of his moft folemn vows and proteftations of inviolable fidelity; regardless of the tears and intreaties of an injur'd girl, whofe greatest fault was her paffion for him, and a too eafy belief of his feeming fincerity; deaf to the repeated calls of honour and justice, and, in short, to his eternal infamy be it faid, in oppofition to all the tender and generous emotions of the human heart. What an inconceivable degree of obstinacy is man capable of? How hardened and infenfible to the misfortunes June 1761, of our fellow-creatures, must the heart be S s the the curbing and punishment of vice; but ftill they are vaftly defective in numberlefs inftances; and in none more than in the utter neglect of that fpecies of criminals I have just now mentioned. How remarkably glaring does the defect, I had almeft faid, partiality of the laws appear; when we reflect upon the inflexible feverity they fhew towards a poor wretch, who having perhaps ten or a dozen mouths befides his own to provide for, being thereby reduced to the dreadful alternative of ftealing or starving, is forced, through abfolute want, to rob his more wealthy neighbour of a cow or sheep, for which he must be hang'd; nay, even fometimes, for two fhillings or half a crown, to procure a meal to himfelf and his poor ftarving family and the villain fhall pafs unpunished, who wantonly and barbarously robs a virtuous, though too credulous girl, of the most ineftimable jewel fhe can be poffefs'd of, her innocence; which is of more real worth than all the riches the world can bestow, and ought to be dearer to her than life and yet, I fay, this vile mif : creant, a difgrace to humanity, is fuffered to escape with impunity; nay, and glories in his execrable villainy....This is a crime of fo black a dye, that I have often wondered it should pafs so long unnoticed: It certainly highly merits the moft ferious attention of the legislature: and furely there might be fome method fallen upon, if not intirely to prevent this dreadful evil, at least to render it lefs frequent and lefs terrible in its confequences. But I fhall not pretend to offer any scheme for this purpose: this I leave to abler heads, and shall be happy, and think all the pains I can possibly be at, well rewarded, if, in pointing out the evil, any thing I might chance to fay, could contribute in any degree to awaken the attention of those in power, to so neceffary and glorious an undertaking, whofe province it more properly is to apply the remedy. I am, Gentlemen, Your conftant reader, and humble fervant, G. An Account of the Surrender of Belleifle, by Capitulation, as published by Authority, in a London Gazette Extraordinary. Whiteball, June 14. LAST night major Rooke, and cap tain Barton, arrived from Belleifle, with the following letters from major-general Hodgson, and the hon. commodore Keppel, to the right hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt. Island of Belleifle, June 8, 1761. I have the honour to acquaint you, that the citadel of Palais furrendered yesterday to his majesty's arms. This letter, and the capitulation, I do myfelf the honour to fend you by the bands of major Rooke, who will inform you of every particular relative to the fiege, that you may think fit to lay before his majesty. I have the honour to be, &c. S. HODGSON. Valiant, Belleifle Road, June 8, 1761. SIR, I have the pleafure to inform you of the furrender of the citadel of Palais, and a copy of the articles of capitulation I have the honour to inclofe you. I fhall as fpeedily and conveniently as poffible fend the French garrison to the Main, and keep the fquadron under my orders, in readiness for any commands his majesty may have for it. Major-general Hodgfon, by his conftant approbation of the behaviour of the battalion of marines landed from the ships, and put under his command, gives me the pleafing fatisfaction of acquaintaing you of it, that his majesty may be informed of the goodness and spirited behaviour of that corps. I have fent home captain Barton, who will inform you of any particulars you are defirous of knowing. I am, &c. A. KEPPEL. Capitulation for the Citadel of Belleifle, made June 7, 1761. Preliminary Article.] The chevalier de St. Croix, brigadier in the king's army, and and commandant of the citadel of Belleifle, propofes that the place fhall furrender on the 12th of June, in cafe no fuccours arrive before that time; and that, in the mean while, no works fhould be carried on, on either fide, nor any acts of hoftility, nor any communication between the English befieging, and the French befieged. Refujed. Article 1. The entire garrifon fhall march thro' the breach with the honours of war, drums beating, colours flying, lighted matches, and three pieces of cannon, with 12 rounds each. Each foldier fhall have 15 rounds in his cartouch box, All the officers, ferjeants, foldiers, and inhabitants, are to carry off their baggage: the women to go with their husbands. "Granted. In favour of the gallant defence which the citadel has made, under the orders of the chevalier de St. Croix." Article II. Two covered waggons fhall be provided, and the effects which they carry fhall be depofited in two covered boats, which are not to be vifited. "The covered waggons are refused; but care fhall be taken to transport all the baggage to the continent by the shortest way.' Article III. Veffels fhall be furnished for carrying the French troops by the shortest way into the nearest ports of France, by the first fair wind. Granted. Article IV. The French troops that are to embark, are to be victualled in the fame proportion with the troops of his Britannic majefty; and the fame proportion of tonnage is to be allowed to the officers and foldiers, which the English troops have. Granted. Article V. When the troops shall be embarked, a veffel is to be furnished for the chevalier de St. Croix, brigadier in the king's army, to M. de la Ville, the king's lieutenant, to M. de la Garique, colonel of foot, with Brevet of commandant in the abfence of the chevalier de St. Croix, and to the field-officers, including those of the artillery, and engineers; as alfo for the three pieces of cannon, as well as for the foldiers of the Cour Royale, to be tranfported to Nantz, with their wives, fervants, and the baggage which they have in the citadel, which is not to be vifited. They are to be victualled in the fame proportion with the English officers of the fame rank. "Care shall be taken, that all thofe, who are mentioned in this article, fhall be transported, without loss of time, to Nantz, with their baggage and effects; as well as the three pieces of cannon, granted by the first article." Article VI. After the expiration of the term mentioned in the first article, a gate of the citadel fhall be delivered to the troops of his Britannic majefty; at which there fhall be kept a French guard of equal number, until the king's troops fhall march out to embark, Those guards fhall be ordered to permit no English foldier to enter, nor no French foldier to go out. "A gate fhall be delivered to the troops of his Britannic majefty, the moment the capitulation is figned; and an equal number of French troops fhall occupy the faid gate." Article VII. A veffel fhall be furnished to the commiffaries at war, and to the trea furer, in which they may carry their baggage, with their fecretaries, clerks, and fervants, without being molested or vifited. They fhall be conducted, as well as the other troops, to the nearest port of France. Granted. Article VIII. Meff de Taille, captaingeneral of the Garde Cofte, Lamp, major, two lieutenants of cannoneers of the Garde Cofte, and ninety bombardeers, cannoneers, ferjeants, and fufileers, Garde Coftes of Belleifle, paid by the king, fhall have it in their choice to remain in the ifland, as well as the other inhabitants, without being molefted, either as to their perfons or goods. And if they have a mind to fell their goods, furniture, boats, nets, and in general, any effects which belong to them, within fix months, and to pafs over to the continent, they shall not be hindered; but, on the contrary, they fhall have proper affiftance, and neceffary paffports. "They fhall remain in the ifland under protection of the king of Great-Britain, as the other inhabitants, or fhall be transported to the continent, if they pleafe, with the garrifon." Article IX. M. Sarignon, clerk of the treafury of the French troops, the armourer, the bourgeois cannoneers, the ftore-keepers, and all the workmen be. longing to the engineers, may remain at Belleifle with their families, or go to the continent, with the fame privileges as above-mentioned. "Granted. To remain in the ifland, upon the fame footing with the other inhabitants, or to be transported with the garrifon to the continent, as they fhall think proper." Sf 2 Article |