1764, Sept.] HIS MESSAGE TO THE DELAWARES. 209 



to confer with the English commander. Three of 

 them, after much hesitation, came over to the fort, 

 where, being closely questioned, and found unable 

 to give any good account of their mission, they 

 were detained as spies ; while their companions, 

 greatly disconcerted, fled back to their villages. 

 Bouquet, on his arrival, released one of the three 

 captives, and sent him home with the following 

 message to his people : — 



" I have received an account, from Colonel Brad- 

 street, that your nations had begged for peace, 

 which he had consented to grant, upon assurance 

 that you had recalled all your warriors from our fron- 

 tiers ; and, in consequence of this, I would not have 

 proceeded against your towns, if I had not heard 

 that, in open violation of your engagements, you 

 have since murdered several of our people. 



" I was therefore determined to have attacked 

 you, as a people whose promises can no more be 

 relied on. But I will put it once more in your 

 power to save yourselves and your families from 

 total destruction, by giving us satisfaction for the 

 hostilities committed against us. And, first, you 

 are to leave the path open for my expresses from 

 hence to Detroit ; and as I am now to send two 

 men with despatches to Colonel Bradstreet, who 

 commands on the lakes, I desire to know whether 

 you will send two of your people to bring them 

 safe back with an answer. And if they receive 

 any injury either in going or coming, or if the let- 

 ters are taken from them, I will immediately put 

 the Indians now in my power to death, and will 



VOL. II. 14 



