1763, Mat.] THE PLOT DEFEATED. 227 



founded. Some writers will have it, that Gladwyn, 

 rising from his seat, drew the chiefs blanket aside, 

 exposed the hidden gun, and sternly rebuked him 

 for his treachery. But the commandant wished 

 only to prevent the consummation of the plot, 

 without bringing on an open rupture. His own 

 letters affirm that he and his officers remained 

 seated as before. Pontiac, seeing his unruffled 

 brow and his calm eye fixed steadfastly upon him, 

 knew not what to think, and soon sat down in 

 amazement and perplexity. Another pause ensued, 

 and Gladwyn commenced a brief reply. He assured 

 the chiefs that friendship and protection should be 

 extended towards them as long as they continued 

 to deserve it, but threatened ample vengeance 

 for the first act of aggression. The council then 

 broke up ; but, before leaving the room, Pontiac told 

 the officers that he would return in a few days, 

 with his squaws and children, for he wished that 

 they should all shake hands with their fathers the 

 English. To this new piece of treachery Gladwyn 

 deigned no reply. The gates of the fort, which 

 had been closed during the conference, were again 

 flung open, and the baffled savages were suff'ered 

 to depart, rejoiced, no doubt, to breathe once more 

 the free air of the open fields.^ 



1 Carver, Travels, 159 (London, 1778). M'Kenney, Tour to the Lakes, 

 130. Cass, Discourse, 32. Penn. Gaz. Nos. 1807, 1808. Pontiac MS. 

 M'Dougal, MSS. Gouin's Account, MS. Meloche's Account, MS. St. 

 Aubin's Account, MS. 



Extract from a MS. Letter — Major Gladwyn to Sir J. Amherst : 



" Detroit, May 14, 1763. 



"Sir: 



" On the First Instant, Pontiac, the Chief of the Ottawa Nation, came 

 here with about Fifty of his Men (forty, Pontiac MS.), and told me that in 



