436 DEATH OF FRONTENAC. [1698. 



haps may be least forgiven him is the barbarity of 

 the warfare that he waged, and the cruelties that he 

 permitted. He had seen too many towns sacked 

 to be much subject to the scruples of modern 

 humanitarianism ; yet he was no whit more ruth- 

 less than his times and his surroundings, and some 

 of his contemporaries find fault with him for not 

 allowing more Indian captives to be tortured. 

 Many surpassed him in cruelty, none equalled him 

 in capacity and vigor. When civilized enemies 

 were once within his power, he treated them, ac- 

 cording to their degree, with a chivalrous courtesy, 

 or a generous kindness. If he was a hot and per- 

 tinacious foe, he was also a fast friend ; and he 

 excited love and hatred in about equal measure. 

 His attitude towards public enemies was always 

 proud and peremptory, yet his courage was 

 guided by so clear a sagacity that he never was 

 forced to recede from the position he had taken. 

 Towards Indians, he was an admirable compound 

 of sternness and conciliation. Of the immensity 

 of his services to the colony there can be no doubt. 

 He found it, under Denonville, in humiliation 

 and terror ; and he left it in honor, and almost in 

 triumph. 



In spite of Father Goyer, greatness must be de- 

 nied him ; but a more remarkable figure, in its 

 bold and salient individuality and sharply marked 

 light and shadow, is nowhere seen in American 

 history. 1 



1 There is no need to exaggerate the services of Frontenac. Noth- 

 ing could be more fallacious than the assertion, often repeated, that in 



