The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 175 



men or Indians, had suffered in the attack, they had 

 to blame themselves; they were in evil company, 

 and the assailants could not tell the good from the 

 bad. If any Americans had been there, they would 

 have suffered just the same. In conclusion he 

 warned the French that if their traders continued 

 to furnish the hostile Indians with powder and lead, 

 they would "render themselves very insecure" ; and 

 to the Indians he wrote that, in the event of a war, 

 "you will compell ous to retaliate, which will be a 

 grate pridgedes to your nation." 60 He did not spell 

 well; but his meaning was plain, and his hand was 

 known to be heavy. 



60 Robertson MSS. His letter above referred to, and an 

 other, in his own hand, to the Delawares, of about the same 

 date. 



