to the ground all day, and march only in the night. As they march in their ufual order in files, he that clofes the rear diligently covers his own tracks, and thofe of all who preceded him, with leaves. If any ftream occurs in their rout, they march in it for a confiderable way to foil their purfuers. When they halt to reft and refresh themselves, fcouts are fent out on every fide to reconnoitre the country, and beat up every place where they fufpect an enemy may lie perdue. In this manner they often enter a village, whilft the strength of the nation is employed in hunting, and maffacre all the helplefs old men, women, and children, or make prifoners of as many as they judge they can manage, or have ftrength enough to be useful to their nation. They often cut off fmall parties of men in their huntings; but, when they difcover an army of their enemies, their way is to throw themfelves flat on their faces amongst the withered leaves, the colour of which their bodies are painted to refemble exactly. They generally let a part pafs unmo lefted, and then, rifing a little, they take aim, for they are excellent markfmen, and fetting up a moft tremendous fhout, which they call the war cry, they pour a form of mufquet bullets upon the enemy; for they have long fince laid afide the ufe of arrows; the party attacked returns the fame cry. Every man in hafte covers himself with a tree, and returns the fire of the adverfe party; as foon as they raife them felves from the ground to give the fe cond fire. After firing fome time in this manner, the party which thinks it has the advantage rushes out of its cov r, with fmall axes in their hands, which they dart with great addrefs and dexterity; they redouble their cries, intimidating their enemies with menaces. and encouraging each other with a boastful difplay of their own brave actions. Thus being come hand to hand, the contest is foun decided, and the con querors fatiate their favage fury with the moft fhocking infults and barbarities to the dead, biting their flesh, tearing the fcalps from their heads, and wallowing in their blood like wild beafts. The fate of their prifoners is the moft fevere of all. During the greateft part of their journey homewards they fuffer no injury. But when they arrive at the territories of the conquering state, or at those of their allies, the people from every village meet them, and think they fhew their attachment to their friends by their barbarous treatment of the unhappy prisoners; fo that, when they come to their ftation, they are wounded and bruised in a terrible manner. The conquerors enter the town in triumph. The wat Captain waits upon the Head-men, and in a low voice gives them a circumftantial account of every particular of the expedition, of the damage the enemy has fuffered, and his own loffes in it. This done, the public orator relates the whole to the people. Before they yield to the joy which the victory occafions, they lament the friends which they have loft in the purfuit of it. The parties moft nearly concerned are afflicted apparently with a deep and real forrow. But by one of those ftrange turns of the human mind, fafhioned to any thing by cuftom, as if they were difciplined in their grief, upon the fignal for rejoicing, in a moment all tears are wiped from their eyes, and they rush into an extravagance and phrenzy of joy for their victory. In the mean time the fate of the prifoners remains undecided, untill the old men meet, and determine concerning the distribution. It is ufual to offer a flave to each house that has loft a friend; giving the preference according to the greatnefs of the lofs. The perfon who has taken the captive attends him to the door of the cottage to which he is delivered, and with him gives a belt of wampum, to shew that he has fulfilled the purpose of the ex pedition pedition in fupplying the lofs of a citizen. They view the prefent which is made them for fome time, and according as they think him or her, for it is the fame, proper or improper for the business of the family, or as they take a capricious liking or difpleasure to the countenance of the victim, or in proportion to their natural barbarity, or their refentment for their loffes, they deftine concerning him, to receive him into the family, or fentence him to death. If the latter, they throw away the belt with indignation. Then it is no longer in the power of any one to fave him. The nation is affembled as upon fome great affembley. A fcaffold is raised, and the prifoner tied to the ftake. Inftantly he opens his death fong, and prepares for the enfuing fcene of cruelty with the most undaunt ed courage. On the other fide, they prepare to put it to the utmoft proof, with every torment, which the mind of man, ingenious in mifchief, can invent. They begin at the extremities of his body, and gradually approach the trunk. One plucks out his nails by the roots, one by one; another takes a finger into his mouth, and tears off the flesh with his teeth; a third thrufts the finger, mangled as it is, into the bole of a pipe, made redhot, which he fmoaks like tobacco. Then they pound his toes and fingers to pieces between two ftones; they cut circles about his joints, and gafhes in the fleshy parts of his limbs, which they fear immediately with red-hot irons, cutting and fearing alternately; they pull off this flesh, thus mangled and roafted, bit by bit, devouring it with greediness, and fmearing their faces with the blood, in an enthufiafm of horror and fury. When they have thus torn off the flesh, they twift the bare nerves and tendons about an iron, tearing and fnapping them; whilft others are employed in pulling and extending the limbs themselves, in every way that can increafe the torThis continues often five or fix hours together. Then they fre ment. quently unbind him to give a breathing to their fury, to think what new torments they shall inflict, and to refresh the ftrength of the fufferer, who, wearied not with fuch a variety of unheard of torments, often falls immediately into fo profound a fleep, that they are obliged to apply the fire to awaken him, and renew his fufferings. He is again faftened to the ftake, and again they renew their cruelty: They ftick him all over with fmall matches of a wood that easily takes fire, but burns flowly; they continually run fharp reeds into every part of his body; they drag out his teeth with pincers, and thruft out his eyes; and, laftly, after having burned his flesh from the bones with flow fires; after having fo mangled the body that it is all but one wound; after having mutilated his face in fuch a manner as to carry nothing of human in it; after having peeled the fkin from the head, and pouted a heap of red-hot coals or boiling water on the naked fkull, they once more unbind the wretch, who, blind and ftaggering with pain and weakness, affaulted and pelted upon every fide with clubs and ftones, now up, now down, falling into their fires at every step, runs hither and thither, until fome of the Chiefs, whether out of compaffion, or weary of cruelty, puts an end to his life with a club or a dagger. The body is then put into the kettle, and this barbarous employment is fucceeded by a feaft as barbarous, The women, forgetting the human as well as the female nature, and transformed into fomething worse than furies, act their parts, and even outdo the men, in this fcene of horror. The principal perfons of the country fit round the ftake, fmoaking and looking on, without the leaft emotion. What is most extraordinary, the fufferer himself, in the little intervals of his torments, fmoaks too, appears unconcerned, and converfes with his torturers about indifferent matters. deed, during the whole time of his In execution, execution, there feems a contest between him and them, which fhall exceed, they in inflicting the moft horrid pains, or he in enduring them with a firmness and conftancy almost above human. Not a groan, not a figh, not a diftortion of countenance escapes him; he poffeffes his mind intirely in the midft of his torments; he recounts his own exploits, he informs them what cruelties he has inflicted upon their countrymen, and threatens them with the revenge that will attend his death; and, though his reproaches exafperate them to a perfect madness of rage and fury, he continues his reproaches even of their ignorance in the art of tormenting, pointing out himfelf more exquifite methods, and more fenfible parts of the body to be afflicted. The women have this part of courage, as well as the men; and it is as rare for any Indian to behave otherwife, as it would be for an European to fuffer as an Indian. I do not dwell upon thefe circumflances of cruelty, which fo degrade human nature, out of choice; but, as all, who mention the custom of this people, have infifted upon their behaviour in this refpect very particularly, and as it seems neceffary to give a true idea of their character, I did not chuse to omit it. It ferves to fhew too, in the strongeft light, to what an inconceiveable degree of barbarity the paffions of men, let loofe, will carry them. It will point out to us the advantages of a religion that teaches a compaffion to our enemies, which is neither known nor practifed in other religions; and it will make us more fenfible, than fome appear to be, of the value of commerce, the arts of a civilifed life, and the lights of literature; which, if they have abated the force of fome of the natural virtues, by the luxury which attends them, have taken out likewife the fting of our natural vices, and foftened the ferocity of the human race, without enervating their courage. On the other hand, the conftancy of the fufferers in this terrible fcene; fhews the wonderful power of an early inftitution, and a ferocious thirft of glory, which makes men imitate and exceed what philosophy, or even religion, can effect. The prifoners, who have the happinefs to please those to whom they are offered, a fortune altogether oppofite to that of those who are condemned. They are adopted into the family, they are accepted in the place of the father, fon, or hufband, that is loft; and they have no other mark of their captivity, but that they are not suffered to return to their own nation. To attempt this would be certain death. The principal purpofe of the war is to recruit it in this manner; for which reason, a General who lofes many of his men, though he should conquer, is little better than difgraced at home; because the end of the war was not anfwered. They are therefore extremely careful of their men, and never chufe to attack, but with a very undoubted fuperiority, either in number or fituation. The fcalps, which they value fo much, are the trophies of their bravery; with thefe they adorn their houses, which are efteemed, in proportion as this fort of spoils is more numerous. They have folemn days appointed, upon which the young men gain a new name, or title of honour, from their Headmen; and thefe titles are given according to the qualities of the perfon, and his performances; of which thefe fcalps are the evidence. This is all the reward they receive for the dangers of the war, and the fatigues of many campaigns, fevere almoft beyond credit. They think it abundantly fufficient to have a name given by their Governors; men of merit themselves, and judges of it; a name refpected by their countrymen, and terrible to their enemies. The English colonies are the fairest objects of our attention in America, not only as they comprehend a vaft and delightful variety of climates, fi tuations tuations, natural products, and effects of art; but as they contain, through the dominions of one Potentate, and their inhabitants formed out of the people of one nation, an almost equal variety of manners, religions and ways of living. They have a moft flourishing trade with their mothercountry, and they communicate wide ly with many foreign nations; for, befides the conftant and useful intercourse they hold in Africa, their fhips are feen in the ports of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and even in the Levant; nor are they excluded the American fettlements of France, Spain, Portugal, and Holland. This, with their conftant correfpondence with each other, and with their mother-country, hurries about a lively circulation of trade, of which Great Britain is the heart and fpring, from whence it takes its rife, and to which it all ultimately returns. But how long we shall enjoy thefe poffeffions is a queftion that can only be folved by time. We have a fubtle, enterprifing enemy to contend with; an enemy rapacious, martial, and bloody; committing murders rather than waging war. Though the French colony does not, perhaps, contain 30,000 men capable of bearing arms, yet these are all under the defpotic command and fole direction of their Governor-general; and experience teaches us, that, in spite of our navy, they may be annually reinforced. The ftrength of our colonies, on the other hand, is divided; and the concurrence of all neceffary both for fupplies of men and money. Jealous are they of each other;fome ill-conftituted, others shaken with inteftine divifions; -and, if I may be allowed the expreffion, parfimonious even to prodigality. The Affemblies diffident of their Governors, the Governors defpife the Affemblies, and both mutually mifreprefent each other to the Court of Great Britain. Military measures demand fecrecy and difpatch; but, while VOL. XIII. the colonies remain divided, and nothing can be tranfacted without their univerfal affent, it is impoffible to maintain the one, or procced with the other. Without a general conftitution for warlike operations, we can neither plan nor execute. We have a common intereft, and must have a Common Council, one Head and one purfe. The French fervice is not expofed to these embarraffments; and hence they project without discovery, and we fcarce collect their defigns, till we are attacked and defeated. Hitherto they have profecuted the war with fuperior advantage; and yet the militia of Maffachufets bay, alone undoubtedly exceeds, by fome thousands, all the troops of Canada. Since the commencement of the prefent hoftilities, his Majefty has loft above 3000 loyal fubjects. All the Indians are at the devotion of the French, Ofwego is loft, many thousand farms abondoned, and, perhaps, the interior fettlements will foon be deluged with the innocent blood of all ages and fexes. It is not, furely, beneath the most elevated ftations to indulge the benevolent feelings of humanity; nor to retire a while from the pomp and gaiety that furrounds them, to fhed a pitying tear over families inhumanly deprived of their fubftance, or more inhumanly flaughtered in their beds. What the present or next campaign will produce is known only to the omnipotent Governor of the universe. The colonies are nearly exhaufted, and their funds already anticipated by expenfive unexecuted projects; and whether they will ftill continue their efforts, or refign to a liftless despair, is uncertain, but there is too much reafon for general concern; and we may venture to predict, that, unless some fuccefsful and important blow is ftruck at the power of France, Britain must inevitably lofe her poffeffions in America: An event of the moft tremen dous confequence to us,to the ProGg g teftant teftant religion in general,-to the peace of Europe, and even to the peace and happiness of all mankind. our Hitherto we have wafted ftrength in lopping off branches, when the axe fhould have been laid to the root of the tree, Canada must be demolished, or our colonies are undone. They have still strength fufficient left, with proper affiftance, for a decifive ftruggle; but a lingering confumption will inevitably enervate and destroy them. France has always been, and ever will be throwing fresh troops, annually, into her colony, in defiance of our boafted maritime force; and, should peace enfue, even before their ruin is completed, What will be the ftate of these provinces, upon the next rupture between the two crowns, when the inland country is filled with our enemies! Let us then, as we value our liberty, honour, and religion, exert our whole force for the prefervation of thefe colonies from bloody carnage and total ruin, by extirpating this brood of French favages from the face of the continent. In fo decifive a scheme all the colonies will heartily unite; and, if well concerted, and our unfortified fea-coafts, at the fame time, fufficiently protected, it will doubtlefs fucceed, humble the pride of France- and close the prefent war with a lafting and honourable peace. The Life of Madame de Maintenon, (continued from p. 313.) Adame Scaron perceived that M the became every day more a greeable to the King, and therefore, every day more hated by the Marchionefs de Montefpan; but her happinefs was momentary, her uneafinefs of long continuance. Thus, fubject to continual uneafiness, she was a thoufand times tempted to appeal to the King; but, as her gratitude would never fuffer her to complain of her friend, the fometimes entertained a defign of purchasing an eftate, and, at others, of retiring into a convent. Her anxious follicitude for the Duke du Maine increased in proportion as the time drew near. when he was to be taken out of her hands. The King going one day into his childrens apartment, found Madame Scaron alone with them, fupporting the Duke du Maine, who was ill of a fever, with one hand, with the other rocking Mademoiselle de Nants who lay in a cradle, and the Count de Vexin fleeping upon her knees. The women attendants had all funk under the fatigue, Madame Scaron had watched three nights fucceflively with these fick children, yet still thought she had not done enough. The King fent her immediately one hundred thousand francs. This new benefaction renewed her fcheme for purchasing an estate. The lands of Maintenon were proposed to her, a noble and fine eftate, a magnificent castle in a moft charming country, at the extremity of a large town, and not more than fourteen leagues diftant from Paris, and ten from Verfailles. The fituation tempted her, and a bargain was concluded on the 27th of December 1674, for two hundred and fifty thousand livres. The lands of Maintenon produced only nine or ten thousand livres a year, but Madame Scaron carried thither that spirit of method and œconomy which he had acquired in poverty; the prevailed upon fome Flemith artifts to form there fome manufactures of lace, and fettled Normans upon her lands, whose business was to make linen cloth. By these useful eftablishments the increased the revenues of her eftate to fifteen or fixteen thousand livres. Upon her first taking poffeffion of it, fhe faid Here will I die,' This was the only eftate fhe ever poffeffed in a height of favour, which afforded her the means of purchafing others of immense value. Those few hours of leifure with which the King or the Marchionefs de Montefpan indulged her with, were employed |