Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

FRENCH MURDER.

In the beginning of the year 1690, a body of French and Indians, sent out by the Count de Frontenac, and led on by Monsieur de Herville, arrived the village of Schenectady, then on the frontiers of New-York, and massacred all the inhabitants, unless a very few that escaped naked to the woods. The ever faithful Mohawks, as soon as they received the news of this barbarous enterprize, sent out a hundred of their briskest young men, who pursued the French, fell upon their rear, killed a great many of them, and took several prisoners. In the mean time, the old men, or Sachems, hastened to Albany, to condole with the English on this melancholy occasion. Part of their speech was as follows.

Brethren,

"We came from our wigwams with tears in our eyes, to bemoan the bloodshed at Schenectady. The French, on this occasion, have not acted like brave men, but like thieves and robbers. What they have done cannot be called a victory, but only a farther proof that perfidy is in their hearts. Be not therefore discouraged. We give you this belt to wipe away your tears."

Brethren,

"While we bury your dead, basely murdered in cold blood at Schenectady, we know not what may have befallen our own people, who are gone in pursuit of the enemy: the same thing that has happened to you may perhaps have happened to us; and alas! they may be dead also!"

"Great and sudden is the mischief that has fallen upon you, as if it had fallen from heaven upon ourselves. Our forefathers taught us to go with all speed, to lament with our brethren, when any disaster or misfortune happens to those who are leagued in the same chain with us. Take this belt of vigilance, brethren, from us, that you may be more on your guard for the future. We also give you Eye-water, that you may be more sharp-sighted."

"We are now come to the house where we were wont to renew the covenant-chain; but, alas! we find it polluted—polluted with blood. All the five nations have heard of the horrid deed, and we come to wipe away the blood, and make clean the house. So long as a man of us remains, we will not desist till we have drunk deep of revenge. We are of the race of the bear; and a bear, you know, never yields while one drop of blood is left."

"Take heart, then, brethren. This is an affliction which has fallen from heaven, and we must bear it in common. The sun has been cloudy, and, with malign aspect, has shed this disaster upon our heads; but he will again shine forth with pleasing beams. —Courage, then, let we give heart to a dastardly enemy: courage, brethren, courage! courage!"