274 



determined to send an expedition against Albany. This de- 

 termination originated, no doubt, in the belief that some signal 

 blow upon the settlements of the English, would convince the 

 Indians of their weakness, and thus bring about an armistice. 

 With this belief they planned the expedition, which resulted 

 in the destruction of Schenectady. 



If the Colonists had remained united, there is httle reason 

 to believe that the French would have undertaken an expedi- 

 tion which, in all probability, must have resulted in a total dis- 

 comfiture. Besides, a united effort on the part of the inhabi- 

 tants, was all that was necessary to defeat the enemy, after 

 they had reached the very gates of Schenectady. There can 

 be no doubt, therefore, but that the expedition arose out of the 

 dissensions of the Colonists ; and to Leysler and his partisans 

 must be attributed its fatal consequences. 



