88 THE FRENCH, ENCxLISH, AND INDIANS. [1700-1755 



that tribes so long faithful to the English might 

 soon be won over to the cause of France. 



While the English interests wore so inauspicious 

 an aspect in this quarter, their prospects were not 

 much better among the Iroquois. Since the peace 

 of Utrecht, in 1713, these powerful tribes had so 

 far forgotten their old malevolence against the 

 French, that the latter were enabled to bring all 

 their machinery of conciliation to bear upon them. 

 They turned the opportunity to such good account, 

 as not only to smooth away the asperity of the 

 ancient grudge, but also to rouse in the minds of 

 their former foes a growing jealousy against the 

 English. Several accidental circumstances did 

 much to aggravate this feeling. The Iroquois 

 were in the habit of sending out frequent war- 

 parties against their enemies, the Cherokees and 

 Catawbas, who dwelt near the borders of Carolina 

 and Virginia ; and in these forays the invaders 

 often became so seriously embroiled with the white 

 settlers, that sharp frays took place, and an open 

 war seemed likely to ensue.^ 



It was with great difficulty that the irritation 

 caused by these untoward accidents was allayed ; 

 and even then enough remained in the neglect 

 of governments, the insults of traders, and the 

 haughty bearing of officials, to disgust the proud 

 confederates with their English allies. In the war 

 of 1745, they yielded but cold and doubtful aid; 

 and fears were entertained of their final estrange- 



1 Letter of Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, Jan. 25, 1720. See 

 Colonial Records of Pa. III. 75. 



