THE TEN THOUSAND AT THE SACRED MOUNT. 219 



Count succeeded in persuading the Indians to call a grand council 

 of their chiefs at the old council-fire in Onondaga, to which he dis- 

 spatched messengers with his proposals. There were present eighty 

 sachems; arid the council was opened by Sadekanaghtie. The 

 French commissioners laboured assiduously to accomplish their pur- 

 pose, and the conference continued several days. But a messenger 

 from Albany informed the chiefs that a separate peace would displease 

 the English, and the proposals were therefore promptly rejected. 

 Shortly afterwards, the Count determined to avenge himself on the 

 Five Nations, for having preferred maintaining inviolable their good 

 faith and honour, to the peace which he had proffered. For this 

 purpose, he assembled all his disposable troops, amounting to four 

 battalions, with the Indians in his service and under his control ; 

 and departed from Montreal on the 9th of July with two small pieces 

 of cannon, two mortars, a supply of grenades, &c. After a weari- 

 some march of twelve days, during which the utmost circumspection 

 was necessary to avoid ambuscades, the Count reached the foot of 

 the Cadarackui lake (now called Ontario), and crossed thence in ca- 

 noes to the estuary of the Ohswega river, which flows from the northern 

 extremity of the Onondaga or Salt Lake ; the Onondaga river flowing 

 into the southern end, near the great salt licks. The expedition 

 cautiously ascended the Ohswega, and crossed the salt lake, keeping 

 strong scouts on the flanks, to prevent any surprise that might be 

 attempted by a crafty enemy. This precautionary measure was the 

 more necessary, inasmuch as the Indians, against whom they were 

 marching, with their wonted chivalry, had given the French notice 

 that they were apprised of their hostile approach. A tree had been 

 discovered by one of the scouts, on the trunk of which the savages 

 had painted a representation of the French army on its march ; and 

 at the foot of the tree, two bundles of rushes had been deposited, 

 serving at once as a note of defiance, and giving the invaders to un- 

 derstand that they would be compelled to encounter as many war- 

 riors as there were rushes in the bundles. These being counted, 

 were found to number fourteen hundred and thirty four. 

 To be concluded in our next. 



THE TEN THOUSAND AT THE SACRED MOUNT. 



WE spoke of Mr. J. Johns in high terms in our last number, the following piece 

 is extracted from another volume of his poetry entitled " Dews of Castalie." 



They had seen Cynaxa's field, 



Where they fought so vainly well 

 For, though back in rout the foemen reeled, 



Yet the princely Cyrus fell ! 



