HISTORY OF VERMONT. 281 



unless the Indians which had been sent to th? 

 gallies were returned, the forts at Frontenac and 

 Niagara demolished, and satisfaction given for 

 the damages which had been done to the Sene^ 



eas. 



In this situation of the French affairs, Don- 

 gan hoped to compleat his favorite plan of poli- 

 cy ; to compel both the French and the Indians 

 to apply to him, in all their affairs of peace and 

 war. He had nearly effected his plan with th© 

 Indians ; but the French governors were jealous 

 of his designs, and wished to treat with the In- 

 dians, as a nation independent of the English 

 crown or colonies. It was however in Don- 

 gan's power from the situation of the French 

 colony at that time, to force it into such kind of 

 concessions ; and he was steadily following 

 measures to effect the purpose, when he was 

 ordered by James II. one of the most obstinate 

 and infatuated of all the English kings, to give 

 up the point to the governor of Canada ; and to 

 use his influence with the five nations, to make 

 peace with the French, 



Deprived of the assistance and councils of 

 Dongan, the five nations began to hearken to the 

 French invitations, and a general meeting of the 

 hostile parties was proposed at Montreal. 

 Twelve hundred Indians of the five nations at- 

 tended at this conference, and insisted with much 

 earnestness, on the terms which Dongan had 

 recommended, De Nonville declared himself 

 ready to put an end to the war, if the Mohawks 

 and Senecas as well as the other tribes vAOuld 

 agree that the French should not be hindered in 

 aiupplying fort Frontenac with provisions, Ac- 



