188 BRADSTREET'S ARMY ON THE LAKES [1764, Aug. 



self, and sent from New Orleans, though purporting 

 to be written by the King of France. It contained, 

 according to Morris, the grossest calumnies that 

 the most ingenious malice could devise to incense 

 the Indians against the English. The old false- 

 hood was not forgotten: "Your French Father," 

 said the writer, 'Ms neither dead nor asleep ; he is 

 already on his way, with sixty great ships, to 

 revenge himself on the English, and drive them 

 out of America." Much excitement followed the 

 reading of the letter, and Morris's situation became 

 more than unpleasant ; but St. Vincent befriended 

 him, and hurried him off to his wigwam to keep 

 him out of harm's way. 



On the next day there was a grand council. 

 Morris made a speech, in which he indiscreetly told 

 the Indians that the King of France had given all 

 the country to the King of England. Luckily, his 

 auditors received the announcement with ridicule 

 rather than anger. The chiefs, however, wished 

 to kill him ; but Pontiac interposed, on the ground 

 that the life of an ambassador should be held 

 sacred. " He made a speech," says Morris, " which 

 does him honor, and shows that he was acquainted 

 with the law of nations." He seemed in a mood 

 more pacific than could have been expected, and 

 said privately to Godefroy : " I will lead the nations 

 to war no more. Let them be at peace if they 

 choose ; but I will never be a friend to the English. 

 I shall be a wanderer in the woods ; and, if they 

 come there to seek me, I will shoot at them while 

 I have an arrow left." Morris thinks that he said 



