ssons
they inculcate to the savages, of the humanity and gentleness they ought
to practise, even in time of war. It is especially ever since about
seventeen years ago, that they do not cease declaiming against those
barbarous and sanguinary methods of proceeding that seem innate to them.
On this principle it is, that in the written maxims of conduct for them,
care has been taken to insert a chapter, which, from the beginning to
the end, places before their eyes the extreme horror they ought to have
of such enormities. Their children particularly are sedulously taught
this whole chapter, whence it comes, that one may daily perceive them
growing more humane, and more disposed to listen, on this head, to the
remonstrances of the missionaries.

[_To this plea of innocence in the French missionaries, as to any
instigation of the savages to hostilities against the English, we shall
oppose the testimony of their own court, in the following words of the
French ministry, in the very same year_, 1751.

"His Majesty (the French king) has already observed, that the savages
have hitherto been in the most _favorable dispositions_; and it even
appears, that the conduct of the general C--n--ll--s, with respect to
them, has only served to exasperate them more and more. It is of the
_greatest importance_, both for the present and future, to keep them up
to that spirit. The _missionaries_ amongst them, are more than any one
at hand to _contribute thereto_, and his majesty has _reason_ to be
_satisfied_ with the _pains_ they take in it. Our governor must excite
these _missionaries_ not to _slacken their endeavours_ on this head. But
he should advise them to _contain_ their _zeal_ within due bounds, so as
not to render themselves _obnoxious_ to the English, unless for very
good purpose, and so as to avoid giving handle for just complaints."

_In this his most Christian Majesty has been faithfully served by these
missionaries, in all points, except that political injunction of not
giving a handle for just complaints, which they overshot in the ardor of
their zeal; since it is undoubted matter of fact, that the missionaries
openly employed all their arts, and all the influence of religion, to
invenom the savages against us. Thence, besides a number of horrid
cruelties, the most treacherous and base murder of captain How, at a
conference, by some savages they set on, who perpetrated it within sight
of the French forces. The publishing, howev