than he hung his head in filence, and reluctantly entered into a negociation.

In confideration of the gallant defence the garrifon had made, they were to be permitted to march out with all the honours of war, to be allowed covered waggons to transport their baggage to Fort Edward, and a guard to protect them from the fuy of the favages.

The morning after the capitulation was figned, as foon as day broke, the whole garrifon, now confifting of about 2000 men, befides women and children, were drawn up within the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers of the Indians gathered about, and began to plunder. We were at first in hopes that this was their only view, and fuffered them to proceed without oppofition. Indeed it was not in our power to make any, had we been fo inclined; for though we were permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not allowed a fingle round of ammunition. In thefe hopes however we were difappointed; for prefently fome of them began to attack the fick and wounded, when fuch as were not able to crawl into the ranks, notwithstanding they endeavoured to avert the fury of their enemies by their fhrieks or groans, were foon difpatched.

Here we were fully in expectation that the disturbance would have concluded; and our little army began to move; but in a fhort time we faw the front divifion driven back, and difcovered that we were entirely encircled by the favages. • We expected every moment that the guard, which the French, by the articles of capitulation, had agreed to allow us, would have arrived, and put an end to our apprehenfions; but none appeared. The Indians now began to ftrip every one witheut exception, of their arms and cloaths, and thofe who made the leaft refiftance felt the weight of their tomahawks.

I happened to be in the rear divifion, but it was not long before I thared the fate of my companions. Three or four of the favages laid hold of me, and whilft fome held their weapons over my head, the others foon difrobed me of my Coat, waiflcoat, hat, and buckles, omitting not to take from me what money I had in my pocket. As this was tranfa&ted clofe by the paffage that led from the lines on to the plain, near which a French centinel was pofted, I ran to him and claimed his protection; but he only called me an Englifh dog, and thruft me with violence back again into the midft of the Indians.

I now endeavoured to join a body of our troops that were crowded together at fome diftance; but innumerable were the blows that were made at me with different weapons as I palled on; luckily however the favages were fo clofe together, that they could not flrike at me without endangering

each

each other. Notwithstanding which one of them found means to make a thruft at me with a fpear, which grazed my fide, and from another I received a wound, with the fame kind of weapon, in my ankle. A length I gained the fpot where my countrymen flood, and forced my felt into the midft of them. But before I got thus far out of the hands of the Indians, the collar and wristbands of my fhirt were all that remained of it, and my flesh was fcratched and torn in many places by their favage gripes.

By this time the war-hoop was given, and the Indians be gan to murder thofe that were nearest to them without diftinction. It is not in the power of words to give any tolerable idea of the horrid fcene that now enfued; men, women, and children were dispatched in the most wanton and cruel manner, and immediately fcalped. Many of thefe favages drank the blood of their victims, as it flowed warm from the fa tal wound.

2

We now perceived, though too late to avail us, that we were to expect no relief from the French; and that, contrary. to the agreement they had fo lately figned to allow us a fufficient force to protect us from thefe infults, they tacitly per mitted them; for I could plainly perceive the French offcers walking about at fome diftance, difcourfing together, with apparent unconcern. An unprejudiced obferver would, be apt to conclude, that a body of ten thoufand chriftian. troops, moft chriftian troops! had it in their power to prevent the malfacre from becoming fo general. But whatever was the caufe from which it arofe, the confequences, of it were dreadful, and not to be paralleled in modern hiftory.

As the circle in which I ftood inclofed, by this time was much thinned, and death feemed to be approaching with hafty, frides, it was propofed by fome of the most refolute to make one vigorous effort, and endeavour to force our way through the favages, the only probable method of preferving our lives that now remained. This, however defperate, was refolved on, and about twenty of us fprung at once into the midft of them.

In a moment we were all feparated, and what was the fate of my companions I could not learn till fome months after, when I found that only fix or feven of them effected their defign. Intent only on my own hazardous fituation, I endeavoured to make my way through my favage enemies in: the best manner poffible. And I have often been astonished fince, when I have recollected with what compofure I took,: as I did, every neceffary flep for my prefervation. Some I overturned, being at that time young and athletic, and others! I paffed by, dexterously avoiding their weapons.; till at last E 2

two

two very ftout chiefs, as I could diftinguish by their dress, whofe ftrength I could not refift, laid hold of me by each arm, and began to force me through the crowd.

I now refigned myself to my fate, not doubting but that they intended to dispatch me, and then to fatiate their vengeance with my blood, as I found they were hurrying me towards a retired fwamp that lay at fome diftance. But before we had got many yards, an English gentleman of fome diftinction, as I could difcover by his breeches, the only covering he had on, which were of fine fcarlet velvet, rushed close by ns. One of the Indians inftantly relinquifhed his hold, and fpringing on this new object, endeavoured to seize him as his prey; but the gentleman being strong, threw him on the ground, and would probably have got away, had not he who held my other arm, quitted me to afflift his brother. I feized the opportunity, and haftened away to join another party of English troops that were yet unbroken, and stood in a body at fome diftance. But before I had taken many steps, I hastily caft my eye toward the gentleman, and faw the Indian's tomahawk gafh into his back, and heard him utter his laft groan; this added both to my fpeed and defperation.

I had left this fhocking scene but a few yards, when a fine boy about twelve years of age, that had hitherto escaped, came up to me, and begged that I would let him lay hold of me, fo that he might ftand fome chance of getting out of the hands of the favages. I told him that I would give him every affiftance in my power, and to this purpose bid him lay hold; but in a few moments he was torn from my I fide, and by his fhrieks, I judge was foon demolished. could not help forgetting my own cares for a minute, to lament the fate of fo young a fufferer; but it was utterly impoffible for me to take any methods to prevent it.

I now got once more into the midst of friends, but we were unable to afford each other any fuccour. As this was the divifion that had advanced the furtheft from the fort, I thought there might be a poffibility (though but a very bare one) of my forcing a way through the outer ranks of the Indians, and getting to a neighbouring wood, which I perceived at fome diftance. I was ftill encouraged to hope by the almoft miraculous prefervation I had already experienced. Nor were my hopes in vain, or the efforts I made ineffectual. Suffice it to fay that I reached the wood, but by the time I had penetrated a little way into it, my breath was fo exhausted that I threw myfelf into a brake, and lay for fome minutes apparently at the laft gafp. At length I recovered the power of refpiration, but my apprehenfions returned with all their former force, when I faw feveral favages pafs by, probably in pursuit of me, at no very great distance. In this fituation

I knew not whether it was better to proceed, or endeavour to conceal myself where I lay, till night came on: fearing, however, that they would return the fame way, I thought it moft prudent to get farther from the dreadful fcene of my paft diftreffes. Accordingly, ftriking into another part of the wood, I haftened on as faft as the briars and the lofs of one of my fhoes would permit me; and after a flow progrefs of fome hours, gained a hill that overlooked the plain which I had juft left, from whence I could difcern that the bloody ftorm ftill raged with unabated fury.

After paffing three days without fubfiftence, and enduring the feverity of the cold dews for three nights, I at length reached Fort Edward; where with proper care my body foon recovered its wonted ftrength, and my mind, as far as the recollection of the late melancholy events would permit, its ufual compofure. It was computed that fifteen hundred perfons were killed or made prifoners by these favages during this fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off by them and never returned. A few, through favourable accidents, found their way back to their native country after having experienced a long and fevere captivity.

The brave Col. Monro had haftened away, foon after the confufion began, to the French camp to endeavour to procure the guard agreed by the ftipulation; but his application proving ineffectual, he remained there till Gen. Webb fent a party of troops to demand and protect him back to Fort Edward. But these unhappy occurrences, which would probably have been prevented, had he been left to pursue his own plans, together with the lofs of fo many brave fellows, murdered in cold blood, to whofe valour he had been fo late. ly a witness, made fuch an impreffion on his mind, that he did not long furvive. He died in about three months of a broken heart, and with truth might it be faid, that he was an honour to his country.

I cannot omit obferving that very few of thofe different tribes of Indians that fhared in this flaughter, ever lived to return home. The fmall pox, by means of their communication with the Europeans, found its way among them, and made an equal havock to what they themselves had done. The methods they pursued on the first attack of that malignant diforder, to abate the fever attending it, rendered it fatal. Whilft their blood was in a ftate of fermentation, and nature was striving to throw out the peccant matter, they checked her operations by plunging into the water: the confequence was, that they died by hundreds. The few that furvived were transformed by it into hideous objects, and bore with them to the grave deep indented marks of this much

dreaded difeafe.

Monfieur

Monfieur Montcalm fell foon after on the plains of Que bec. That the unprovoked cruelty of this commander was not approved of by the generality of his countrymen, I have fince been convinced of by many proofs. One only however, which I received from a perfon who was witnefs to it, fhall I at prefent give. A Canadian merchant, of fome confideration, having heard of the furrender of the English Fort, celebrated the fortunate event with great rejoicings and hofpitality, according to the cuftom of that country; but no fooner did the news of the maffacre which enfued reach his ears, than he put an immediate ftop to the feftivity, and exclaimed in the fevereft terms against the inhuman permiffion; declaring at the fame time that thofe who had connived at it," lad thereby drawn down on that part of their king's dominions the vengeance of heaven. To this he added, that he much feared the total lofs of them would defervedly be the confequence. How truly this prediction has been verified we all know."

IN

On PRIVATE PRAYER.

N the petitionary part of Prayer, we defire either the beflowing of fome good thing, or the preventing or removing of fome evil: And in the gratulatory part of Prayer, we return the praise of what we received from GOD, to GOD. Tho' the thanksgiving part of Prayer be most neglected, yet the petitionary part is too little regarded, or flightly paffed over. It is Ungodlinefs to go about any bufinefs, or journey, to fix our abode, to ufe any food, or phyfic, without asking GoD's leave and bleffing in prayer. A neglect of this Duty is a branch of Atheism. Is it not a juft caufe of lamentation that fo many fhould be guilty of fuch ungodlinefs? This fin manifefts high contempt of God; it is a demonftration that GOD is not in all their thoughts. "The fool hath faid in. his heart, There is no GOD:" "He calleth not upon GOD."

To live without Prayer, is to be dead while we live. for it is to live without GOD. The families that know not GOD, and thofe that cali not upon his Name, are the fame. What can we do lefs for GOD, than by this homage to own him for our Maker? Or lefs for our own fouls, than to beg our lives of Him, whofe hand of Juftice is lifted up against us. Their fouls and their's only, fhall live, that feek the LORD.. No Malefactors die lefs lamented, than thofe that when caft, will not beg for their lives.

Many, when they have prayed themselves out of affliction,, have no more to fay to GOD, tiH they are again finking in.

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