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deceittulness of the French. The Couledeiates detected the 

 treachery, intercepted the supplies, and defeated their enemies. 

 The Governor of Canada, to repair the evil consequences of 

 these measures, and effect a treaty with the Iroquois, formed 

 the bold but rash and impolitic design of invading their terri- 

 tory ; for this purpose he collected an army of twenty -six hun- 

 dred French and Indians, and, commanding in person, enter- 

 ed their country, destroyed their cornfields and bui nt several of 

 their villages. This act was an open violation of the peace 

 then existing between the English and French, and soon 

 brought upon the latter the vengeance of the Confederates. In- 

 dignant at the treachery, they, with their usual success, made 

 several descents into Canada. The French, unaccustomed to 

 their predatory warfare, could offer but feeble resistance, and 

 thus lost their influence over the far nations ; which, with few- 

 exceptions, made peace with the English. 



In the midst of these successes, and when a little assistance 

 from the English would have proved the total destruction of 

 the French, an event of the greatest importance occurred at 

 New- York, and gave them an opportunity to recover from the 

 chastisements of the Iroquois. Many of the inhabitants had 

 become disaffected to the government, and Leysler, aided by 

 the military, had seized the garrison, and under the cloak of 

 loyalty discharged the duties of governor. He did not meet, 

 however, with that cordial co-operation on the part of the in- 

 habitants which he undoubtedly expected to receive. While 

 some applauded the act and joined his standard, not a few 

 were enraged at his presumption, and considered him in no 

 other light than that of an usurper. The people were thus 

 divided into two distinct parties, who carried their animosity 

 so far that it required all the address of Peter Schuyler to pre- 



That unity of action which had heretofore enabled them to 

 detect and counteract the designs of their enemies, and which 

 is indispensably necessary to the prosperity of every infant co- 

 lony, was destroyed, and the borders of their province were 

 exposed to the ravages of the French. Notwithstanding the 



