1763, Mat, June.] POLICY OF PONTIAC. 253 



Let me alone. I do not ask you for aid, for it is 

 not in your power to give it. I only ask provisions 

 for myself and men. Yet, if you are inclined to 

 assist me, I shall not refuse you. It would please 

 me, and you yourselves would be sooner rid of 

 your troubles ; for I promise you, that, as soon as 

 the English are driven out, we will go back to our 

 villages, and there await the arrival of our French 

 Father. You have heard what I have to say ; 

 remain at peace, and I will watch that no harm 

 shall be done to you, either by my men or by the 

 other Indians." 



This speech is reported by a writer whose chief 

 characteristic is the scrupulous accuracy with 

 which he has chronicled minute details without 

 interest or importance. He neglects, moreover, no 

 opportunity of casting ignominy and contempt upon 

 the name of Pontiac. His mind is of so dull and 

 commonplace an order as to exclude the supposi- 

 tion that he himself is author of the words which 

 he ascribes to the Ottawa chief, and the speech 

 may probably be taken as a literal translation of 

 the original. 



As soon as the council broke up, Pontiac took 

 measures for bringing the disorders complained of 

 to a close, while, at the same time, he provided 

 sustenance for his warriors ; and, in doing this, he 

 displayed a policy and forecast scarcely paralleled 

 in the history of his race. He first forbade the 

 commission of farther outrage.^ He next visited in 



I Peltier's Account, MS. 



