1763, June.] BOUQUET AND AMHERST. 35 



proposed to abandon them, and concentrate at Fort 

 Pitt and Presqu' Isle ; a movement which, could it 

 have been executed in time, would have saved both 

 blood and trouble. But Amherst would not consent. 

 " I cannot think," he writes, " of giving them up 

 at this time, if we can keep them, as such a step 

 would give the Indians room to think themselves 

 more formidable than they really are ; and it would 

 be much better we never attempted to take posts 

 in w^hat they call their country, if, upon every alarm, 

 we abandon them. ... It remains at present for 

 us to take every precaution w^e can, by which we 

 may put a stop, as soon as possible, to their com- 

 mitting any farther mischief, and to bring them to 

 a proper subjection ; for, without that^ I never do 

 expect that they will be quiet and orderly, as every 

 act of kindness and generosity to those barbarians 

 is looked upon as proceeding from our fears." 



Bouquet next writes to report that, with the 

 help of the two companies sent him, he has taken 

 steps which he hopes will secure the communica- 

 tion to Fort Pitt and allay the fears of the country 

 people, who are deserting their homes in a panic, 

 though the enemy has not yet appeared east of the 

 mountains. A few days later, on the twenty-third 

 of June, Amherst writes, boiling with indignation. 

 He had heard from Gladwyn of the investment of 

 Detroit, and the murder of Sir Kobert Davers 

 and Lieutenant Robertson. "The villains after 

 this," he says, " had the assurance to come with a 

 Pipe of Peace, desiring admittance into the fort." 

 He then commends the conduct of Gladwyn, but 



