164 THE IROQUOIS INVASION. [1687-88. 



Canada. 1 Suddenly there was a change in the 

 temper of his letters. He wrote to his rival in 

 terms of studied civility ; declared that he wished 

 he could meet him, and consult with him on the 

 best means of advancing the cause of true religion ; 

 begged that he would not refuse him his friend- 

 ship ; and thanked him in warm terms for befriend- 

 ing some French prisoners whom he had saved from 

 the Iroquois, and treated with great kindness. 2 



This change was due to despatches from Ver- 

 sailles, in which Denonville was informed that the 

 matters in dispute would soon be amicably settled 

 by the commissioners ; that he was to keep on good 

 terms with the English commanders, and, what 

 pleased him still more, that the king of England 

 was about to recall Dongan. 3 In fact, James II. 

 had resolved on remodelling his American colonies. 

 New York, New Jersey, and New England had 

 been formed into one government under Sir Ed- 

 mund Andros ; and Dongan was summoned home, 

 where a regiment was given him, with the rank of 

 major-general of artillery. Denonville says that, 

 in his efforts to extend English trade to the Great 



i Denonville a Dongan, 24 Avril, 1688 ; Ibid., 12 Mai, 1688. Whether 

 the charge is true is questionable. Dongan had just written that, if the 

 Iroquois did harm to the French, he was ordered to offer satisfaction, 

 and had already done so. 



2 Denonville a Dongan, 18 Juin, 1688 ; Ibid., 5 Juillet, 1688 ; Ibid., 20 

 Aug., 1688. " Je n'ai done qu'a vous asseurer que toute la Colonie a une 

 tres-parfaite rceonnoissance des bons offices que ces pauvres malheureux 

 ont reou de vous et de vos peuples." 



3 Me'moire pour servir d 'Instruction au Sr. Marquis de Denonville, 8 Mars, 

 1688; Le Roy a Denonville, meme date; Seignelay a Denonville, meme date. 

 Louis XIV. had demanded Dongan's recall. How far this had influenced 

 the action of James II. it is difficult to say. 



