acquaintance with the Europeans, it is wrapt up in the darkness of antiquity. It is said that their first residence was in the country about Montreal; and that the superior strength of the Adirondacks, whom the French call Algonquins, drove them into their present possessions, lying on the south side of the Mohawks River, and the great Lake Ontario.* Towards the close of those disputes, which continued for a long series of years, the confederates gained advantages over the Adirondacks, and struck a general terror into all the other Indians. The Hurons on the north side of the Lake Erie, and the Cat Indians on the south side, were totally conquered and dispersed. The French, who settled Canada in 1603, took umbrage at their success, and began a war with them which had well nigh ruined the new colony. In autumn 1665, Mr. Courcelles, the governor, sent out a party against the Mohawks. Through ignorance of the country, and the want of snow-shoes, they were almost perished, when they fell in with Schenectady. And even there the Indians would have sacrificed them to their barbarous rage, had not Corlear, a Dutchman, interposed to protect them. For this seasonable hospitality, the

* Charlevoix, in partiality to the French, limits the country of the Five Nations, on the north, to the 44th degree of latitude; according to which, all the country on the north side of the Lake Ontario, and the river issuing thence to Montreal, together with a considerable tract of land on the south side of that river, belongs to the French. Hennepin, a Recollet friar, has more regard to truth than the Jesuit; for he tells us in effect, that the Iroquois possessed the lands on the north as well as the south side of the lake, and mentions several of their villages in 1679, viz. Tejajahon, Kente, and Ganneousse. The map in his book agrees with the text. Charlevoix is at variance with his geographer; for Mr. Bellin, besides laying down these towns in the map, contained in the fifth volume, writes on the north side of the protraction of Lake Ontario, Les Iroquois du Nord.

French governor invited him to Canada, but he was unfortunately drowned in his passage through the Lake Champlain. It is in honour of this man, who was a favourite of the Indians, that the governors of New-York, in all their treaties are addressed by the name of Corlear. Twenty light companies of foot, and the whole militia of Canada, marched the next spring into the country of the Mohawks; but their success was vastly unequal to the charge and labour of such a tedious march of seven hundred miles, through an uncultivated desert; for the Indians, on their approach, retired into the woods, leaving behind them some old sachems, who preferred death to life, to glut the fury of their enemies. The emptiness of this parade on the one hand, and the Indian fearfulness of fire arms on the other, brought about a peace in 1667, which continued for several years after. In this interval, both the English and French cultivated a trade with the natives, very profitable to both nations. The latter, however, were most politic and vigorous, and filled the Indian country with their missionaries. The Sieur Perrot, the very year in which the peace was concluded, travelled about 1,200 miles westward, making proselytes of the Indians every where to the French interest. Courcelles appears to have been a man of art and industry. He took every measure in his power for the defence of Canada. To prevent the irruptions of the Five Nations, by the way of Lake Champlain, he built several forts, in 1665, between that and the mouth of the river Sorel. In 1672, just before his return to France, under pretence of treating with the Indians more commoVOL. I.-9

diously, but in reality, as Charlevoix expresses it, "to bridle them," he obtained their leave to erect a fort at Cadaraoqui, or Lake Ontario, which Count Frontenac, his successor, completed the following spring, and called after his own name.* The command of it was afterwards given to Mr. de la Salle, who, in 1678, rebuilt it with stone. This enterprising person, the same year, launched a bark of ten tons into the Lake Ontario, and another of sixty tons, the year after, into Lake Erie, about which time he inclosed with palisadoes, a little spot at Niagara.

Though the Duke of York had preferred colonel Thomas Dongan to the government of this province on the 30th of September, 1682, he did not arrive here till the 27th of August, in the following year. He was a man of integrity, moderation, and genteel manners, and though a professed Papist, may be classed among the best of our governors.

The people, who had been formerly ruled at the will of the duke's deputies, began their first participation in the legislative power under Colonel Dongan; for shortly after his arrival, he issued orders to the sheriffs, to summon the freeholders for choosing representatives, to meet him in assembly on the 17th of October, 1683. Nothing could be more agreeable to the people, who, whether Dutch or English, were born the subjects of a free state; nor, indeed, was the change of less advantage to the duke than to the inhabitants. For such a

* In May, 1721, it was a square with four bastions, built of stone, being a quarter of a French league in circumference; before it, are many small islands, and a good harbour, and behind it a morass.-Charlevoix.

general disgust had prevailed, and in particular in Long Island, against the old form which Colonel Nicolls had introduced, as threatened the total subversion of the public tranquillity. Colonel Dongan saw the disaffection of the people at the east end of the island, for he landed there on his first arrival in the country; and to extinguish the fire of discontent, then impatient to burst out, gave them his promise, that no laws or rates for the future should be imposed, but by a general assembly. Doubtless, this alteration was agreeable to the duke's orders, who had been strongly importuned for it,* as well as acceptable to the people, for they sent him soon after an address, expressing the highest sense of gratitude, for so beneficial a change in the government. This is a copy of it, entitled "The humble address of the sheriffs to the most illustrious prince, James, duke of York and Albany :"

"May it please your royal highness,

"We should be very unworthy of the great benefits and advantages we have received under your just and gentle government, in so happy a climate, where every one enjoys his own just rights, liberties, and privileges, if we should still ungratefully continue in a silent neglect of a due acknowledgment of your royal highness, so often.

"We do, therefore, beseech your royal highness to accept our most humble and most hearty thanks, for sending us over the honourable colonel Thomas

* The petition to his royal highness was drawn by the council, the aldermen of New-York, and the justices of the peace at the court of assize, the 29th of June, 1681. I have seen a copy in the hands of Lewis Morris, Esq. It contains many severe reflections upon the tyranny of Sir Edmond Andross.

Dongan, to be lieutenant and governor of this province, of whose integrity, justice, equity, and prudence, we have already had a very sufficient experience at our last general court of assizes. And that your royal highness might accumulate your gracious favours, and oblige not only us but succeeding generations, it has pleased your royal highness to grant us a general assembly, to be held the 17th of this instant October, in your city of New-York; a benevolence of which we have a larger and more grateful sense than can be expressed in this paper. And that it may appear that loyalty has spread as far into these parts of America, we will be always ready to offer up with our hearty prayers, both our lives and fortunes, for the defence of our most gracious sovereign, the king's most sacred majesty, and your royal highness, against all enemies whatsoever.

"New-York, October 9th, 1683."

It would have been impossible for him much longer to have maintained the old model over free subjects, who had just before formed themselves into a colony for the enjoyment of their liberties, and had even already solicited the protection of the colony of Connecticut, from whence the greatest part of them came. Disputes relating to the limits of certain townships at the east end of Long Island, sowed the seeds of enmity against Dongan, so deeply in the hearts of many who were concerned in them, that their representation to Connecticut, at the revolution, contains the bitterest invectives against him.