260 PONTIAC IN THE WEST. [1764. 



his intrusive petitioners, and it is to be hoped that 

 some sense of honor and humanity enforced the dic- 

 tates of prudence. Accordingly, he cajoled them 

 with flatteries and promises, and from time to time 

 distributed a few presents to stay their importunity, 

 still praying daily that the English might appear 

 and relieve him from his uneasy dilemma.^ 



While Laclede was founding St. Louis, while the 

 discontented settlers of the Illinois were deserting 

 their homes, and while St. Ange was laboring to 

 pacify his Indian neighbors, all the tribes from the 

 Maumee to the Mississippi were in a turmoil of 

 excitement. Pontiac was among them, furious as 

 a wild beast at bay. By the double campaign of 

 1764, his best hopes had been crushed to the earth ; 

 but he stood unshaken amidst the ruin, and still 

 struggled with desperate energy to retrieve his 

 broken cause. On the side of the northern lakes, 

 the movements of Bradstreet had put down the 

 insurrection of the tribes, and wrested back the 

 military posts which cunning and treachery had 

 placed within their grasp. In the south. Bouquet 

 had forced to abject submission the warlike Dela- 

 wares and Shawanoes, the warriors on whose cour- 

 age and obstinacy Pontiac had grounded his strongest 

 confidence. On every hand defeat and disaster were 

 closing around him. One sanctuary alone remained, 

 the country of the Illinois. Here the flag of France 

 still floated on the banks of the Mississippi, and 

 here no English foot had dared to penetrate. He 



1 MS. Letter — St. Ange to D'Abbadie, Sept. 9. 



