HISTORY OF VERMONT. 41 



jjers<>ns who appeared to interest themselves in 

 behalf of the governor's measures, was the 

 French noblesse. They only had fully ap- 

 plauded the Quebec bill, and appeared willing 

 to engage in a vvar with the English colonies ; 

 but happily, they were too inconsiderable in 

 their numbers and consequence^ to have much 

 authority or influence among the people. 



Having failed to effect his purposes either 

 by military law, or the popish religion, in con- 

 formity to the ministeriidl plan, the governor of 

 Canada next attempted what could be done by 

 bringing the Indian rage and barbarity into the 

 contest. Colonel Johnson, a son of the late sir 

 William Johnson; had several conferences with 

 the Indians upon this subject ; and in a grand 

 assembly of these savi'ges at Montreal,' he Went 

 so far as to deliver the war belt to -several of 

 their tribes. The Indians returned much the 

 same answer to the proposals, that the Canadians 

 had done ; and notwithstanding the-ir thirst for 

 blood and pillage, refused to be concerned in 

 such a quarrel. To take up the hatchet, to car- 

 ry destruction and slaughter among- a people 

 from whom they had received no ifijury, and 

 with whose concerns and quarrels they -had-rio 

 (.onnection, appeared too immoral arid diuboli.1^4il 

 *o be perpetrated by these bloody barbaHans.* 

 Such an improvement on inhumanity, was re- 

 strved for the deliberate counsel and contri- 

 vance of a British cabinet, in the year 1774. •" 



The American Congress had inteiligehce of 

 these attempts of General Carleton to engage 



• Appendix. No. 1. ■ 

 VOL. II. E 



