Page images
PDF
EPUB

nessing the sport. Suddenly the commander was seized; a rush was made for the fort, where hatchets and other weapons had been concealed by treacherous squaws, and in an instant seventeen persons were cut down. The rest were made prisoners. The French traders alone escaped. Pittsburg was besieged, but saved by the timely arrival of aid.

261. Pontiac undertook the capture of Detroit in person. At this spot a flourishing settlement had grown up, consisting chiefly of French families occupied in tilling the ground and trading with the surrounding Indians. To obtain entrance into the fort for himself and his warriors, the Ottawa chief suggested a council for "brightening the chain of friendship". Unsuspicious of treason, Major Gladwin, the commandant, agreed to his proposal. At a given signal the chiefs were to fall on him and his attendants, while a general attack was to be made by their confederates on such of the towns-people as might resist. Fortunately, the night before the intended massacre, an Indian woman brought Gladwin a pair of elk-skin moccasins, which she had made for him. Pleased with their appearance, the major ordered another pair; but the woman was unwilling to deceive him by promising what she supposed could not be performed. Her hesitation attracted attention, and, on being questioned, she disclosed the plot. Accordingly, at the council Gladwin and his men were on their guard. Pontiac saw that his intended treachery was known, and dared not give the signal. He was allowed to depart with an indignant rebuke from the commander; and the next day but one (May 9, 1763), he returned the favor by laying siege to the fort.

For months the garrison suffered. Their provisions ran out, and their sentinels were in constant danger of being cut off by Indian cunning. It is said that the savages boiled and ate some of their victims. No quarter was shown on either side. But the Indians were unused to the

at Mackinaw? What, at Pittsburg?
in person? What is said of Detroit?
What treacherous plot had he laid?
council? What was done May 9, 1768?

261. What place did Pontiac undertake to capture
How did Pontiac obtain entrance into the fort?
How was it defeated? What took place at the
Give an account of the siege. Towards the

1763]

PROPOSALS OF PEACE ACCEPTED.

183

labor involved in a siege, and before the close of the summer Pontiac found his forces diminishing. Jealousies broke out among the different nations, and finally the desertion of all but his own tribe compelled the great emperor of the west to give up the undertaking. He had shown extraordinary ability in the management of the war, and had even estab lished a bank, the first known among the aborigines. His notes, which were always punctually paid, consisted of pieces of bark containing the figure of what he wanted to buy, and the picture of an otter, which he had adopted as his hieroglyphic signature. No chief before him had possessed such influence with the western tribes or succeeded so well in securing their united action.

262. The Indians were now for the most part tired of war, and willingly listened to the proposals of General Bradstreet, who had been sent to the west with 1,100 men, to attack them or treat with them, as might be required. In June, 1764, he made a treaty with twenty-two tribes at Niagara. The following August he reached Detroit, and concluded a peace with all the hostile nations except the Delawares and Shawnees. Pontiac, to avoid signing the treaty, retired to the hunting-grounds of the Illinois. There he attempted to raise another confederacy for the same purpose as before. He was at last stabbed at a council, amid a crowd of chieftains whom he was trying to excite to war, by a Peoria Indian in the interest of the English.

close of the summer, what did Pontiac find? What obliged him to raise the siege? How had it been conducted? Give an account of Pontiac's bank. 262. In 1764, who was sent to the west? For what purpose? How did the Indians feel? What was done at Niagara? What, at Detroit? How did Pontiac avoid signing the treaty? What became of him?

CHAPTER XXXV.

STATE OF SOCIETY IN THE COLONIES.

263. THE English colonies in America were originally confined to the region east of the Alleghanies. At the close of the "French and Indian War”, a few adventurous pioneers pushed across the mountains and commenced settling in the rich valleys of the great western rivers. Educated in the school of hardship and accustomed to rely upon themselves, they were well fitted to struggle with the difficulties encountered in the wilderness, and to make it blossom like the rose. Active, enterprising, and industrious, they were not long in spreading out over the fruitful region whose vast extent and exhaustless resources were even yet hardly appreciated.

The whole population of the thirteen colonies in 1760 is estimated at 1,700,000. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania were the most populous. There were nearly 300,000 negroes in the colonies. They were for the most part slaves, and were distributed about as follows: in New England, 15,000; in the Middle Colonies, 80,000; in the Southern Colonies, 210,000.

264. The most populous cities in America at this time were Boston and Philadelphia, each of which, in 1753, contained not far from 18,000 inhabitants. The population of New York was about 12,000. The first church in the latter city had been erected by the Dutch inside of the fort. Trinity Church was built in 1696 on its present site. The houses were not numbered before the Revolution. The price of articles of food was regulated by law, that of beef being fixed at 4 pence a pound. The great coal mines of America had

268. To what region were the English colonies first confined? What was done at the close of the French and Indian war? What was the character of these pioneers? What is the population of the thirteen colonies estimated to have been in 1760? What states were the most populous? How many negroes were there and how distributed? 264. What were the most populous cities in America at this time? How many inhabitants did they contain in 1753? What was the population of New York? What is said of the churches of New York? What, of the prices of food? What, of the fuel in use?

1770]

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

185

not yet been opened, and wood was the only kind of fuel

in use.

Albany was occupied by the descendants of old Dutch settlers, who were noted for their hospitality. A Swedish traveller tells us that the people had seats on the stoops of their dwellings, which in the evening were filled with young people, and that passers by were "obliged to greet everybody unless they would shock the politeness of this town".

[graphic][ocr errors][merged small]

265. Previous to the Revolution, nine colleges had been established in the colonies, in the following order: Harvard, William and Mary, Yale, Princeton, Columbia (originally called King's), Brown, Rutgers (then Queen's), Dartmouth, Hampden and Sydney. The first medical college was founded at Philadelphia in 1764. The young people of these early times were far from having the educational advantages enjoyed at the present day. There were no public schools, and often in large districts no schools of any kind for the greater part

By whom was Albany occupied? What does a Swedish traveller say about this place! 265. Name, in their order, the colleges established before the Revolution. When and where was the first medical college founded? What is said of the educational advan

of the year. Public libraries were almost unknown. There was a small collection of books in the City Hall of New York, which were lent out to readers at 41 pence a week. In 1754, a subscription was started, which resulted in the establishment of the New York Society Library.

In 1700, there were but four printing-presses in the colonies. The first American newspaper, the Boston News Letter, was issued in 1704. In 1741, Franklin published the first magazine, at Philadelphia. In 1750, there were only seven newspapers in circulation, and no daily was attempted till 42 years afterwards, when the Federal Orrery was commenced at Boston. Few books were published before the Revolution, and these were principally histories, religious treatises, or political essays. No great poem or work of fiction had yet been produced in America.

266. Manufactures at an early period engaged the attention of the colonists, especially at the north. What they needed for their own comfort was readily supplied, and they soon commenced producing different articles for export. Iron, hides, leather, and hats, were sent over to the old world, with considerable profit, till the government, fearing the ef fect of this competition on manufacturing industry at home, discouraged their exportation. This was the case particularly with hats, which the people of New England produced in such quantities, that we are told, if not restrained, they would soon have supplied the world with them.

With equal disregard for the interests of the colonies, the British government had sought to stifle with various restrictions the spirit of commercial enterprise in America. A brisk coast trade, however, was carried on. The fisheries were not neglected; and the bold seamen of New England

tages afforded in these early times? What is said of public libraries? What two are mentioned in New York? In 1700, how many printing-presses were in the colonies? When was the first American newspaper issued? When, the first magazine? When, the first daily paper? What was it called? What is said of books before the RevoluSion? 266. Where did manufactures receive special attention? What articles were manufactured for export? What is said of the hats made in New England? What measures were adopted by the British government? What was the policy of Great Britain with regard to the commerce of the colonies? What progress had been made

« PreviousContinue »