1764, Aug.] EMBASSY OF MORRIS. 185 



that they had not heard their speeches, and knew 

 not whether they were friends or enemies. In 

 another particular, also, Bradstreet gave great 

 offence. From some unexplained impulse or mo- 

 tive, he cut to pieces, with a hatchet, a belt of 

 Avampum which was about to be used in the coun- 

 cil ; and all the Indians present, both friends and 

 enemies, were alike incensed at this rude violation 

 of the ancient pledge of faith, which, in their eyes, 

 was invested with something of a sacred character.^ 



Having settled the affairs of Detroit, Bradstreet 

 despatched Captain Howard, with a strong detach- 

 ment, to take possession of Michillimackinac, which 

 had remained unoccupied since its capture in the 

 preceding summer. Howard effected his object 

 without resistance, and, at the same time, sent par- 

 ties of troops to reoccupy the deserted posts of 

 Green Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Thus, after the 

 interval of more than a year, the flag of England 

 was again displayed among the solitudes of the 

 northern wilderness.^ 



While Bradstreet's army lay encamped on the 

 fields near Detroit, Captain Morris, with a few 

 Iroquois and Canadian attendants, was pursuing 

 his adventurous embassy to the country of the 

 Illinois. Morris, who has left us his portrait, pre- 

 fixed to a little volume of prose and verse, was an 

 officer of Uterary tastes, whose round English face 



1 MS. Remarks on the Conduct of Colonel Bradstreet — found among the 

 Johnson Papers. 



See, also, an extract of a letter from Sandusky, published in several 

 newspapers of the day. 



2 MS. Report of Captain Howard. 



