Hurons and Miamis plunder the Traders.

at Quebec? Will you have the kindness to give attention to this matter?

"Allow me to inform you that the Hurons and Miamis are going to Michilimackinac, determined to plunder all the French traders who are on their way thither, and thus prevent them from carrying powder and ball to the Outawas.

"Finally, sir, it appears to me that your action in regard to the Outawas is of great importance. Of this you are already well aware, knowing, as you do, our interests, and the manners and customs of this people.

"Your very humble, and

"Very obedient servant,

"LA MOTTE CADILLAC."

CHAPTER XII.

The governor-general orders the principal chiefs of the tribes engaged in the attack on Detroit, to descend to Montreal-They arrive June 17, 1707-Governor-general refuses to see them-Council called the next day—Jean le Blanc's speech-Second council, June 20th, speech of the governor-general-Third council, Jean le Blanc's reply-Fourth council, governor-general again addresses the savages-Demands the death of Le Pesant-Finally refers the affair to M. la Motte Cadillac at Detroit-Last council: Jean le Blanc consents to the demands of the governor-general.

IN accordance with the advice of M. la Motte, the governor-general ordered the principal chiefs of the Outawas to come to Montreal, that he might examine into the affair. Obedient to the command, Jean le Blanc, and a number of other chiefs, made the journey in the spring of 1707. They arrived on the 17th of June, and proceeded immediately to pay their respects to the governor-general. To their great dismay, he refused to see them. The next day, however, a council was called, and Jean la Blanc, the second chief of that powerful nation, the Outawas, made the following speech:

"My father, my father-I am so embarrassed that I know not if I shall have strength to speak to you. Our custom is, as soon as we have debarked, to come and sa

Provocation to the Attack on Detroit.

lute you. We were surprised, yesterday, to learn that you did not wish to receive us.

"My father-You see your children, the Outawas; behold in what state we are to come here below! We have no more of the old people; and of all our chiefs, whom you have seen here at other times, there now remains to us only Le Brochet, who is on his way hither.

"My father, my father, M. de Vaudreuil-I wish you to hear me, and listen to me tranquilly. I have committed one fault, which is very great. I cannot say that I was intoxicated, for I had not the water of life of the English to induce me to do this bad action. But I will tell you, with all truth, what was the cause of my misfortune.

"We had departed, as you already know, our father, to make war upon the Sioux, to avenge the Sacs, our allies. After having passed the fort of the French, as we were near that of the Hurons, a savage came to tell us that our children were dead; that after three days' march of our warriors, the Ouyatanons would come to eat our women and children. Then, my father, we said, 'We will strike the Miamis before they strike us, or we are indeed dead."

"You have known, my father, from Mishonaky, and you ought to have known by your letters, all that has passed in this affair; and especially our great misfor

Interview between Jean le Blanc and M. Bourmont.

tunes, as the 'gray coat' and the soldier have been killed, though without design.

"When they had finished fighting, that is to say, several days after we had attacked the Miamis, I went alone to the fort, to speak to M. Bourmont. I carried a branch of porcelain, and entreated him to be willing to listen well to me. I told him it was to be wished that Onontio M. Vaudreuil, and even the great Onontio, the king, could hear me, as they would listen to my reasons. I demanded of him the coat which you gave me when I came here below, and which I had left in the care of the best of my friends. I demanded of him this coat, my father, in order to make use of it to find the nations clothed in the coats of my father, and to settle all the bad affairs. He would not listen to me. The day following, I returned six times, and each time I took with me a man of the different nations, and presents of necklaces and beavers, in order to be able to speak to him; but he refused to listen to us, as on the preceding day.

"My father, my father-You have known all that has happened, and how all has occurred. I have nothing to fear, because I have a good father; therefore, I conceal nothing from you: I show you all that is in my heart. Here is my body; do with it what you will: put me in the big kettle, if you think proper. But I am not the most guilty; for what I have done, was done as by a

Merits and Services of Talon pleaded.

man without his senses. It is Le Pesant, that bear, who is above upon his bed, who has not been willing to listen to all the reasons which we brought, to prevent him from obliging us to commit this bad act.

"My father-Since I have commenced speaking, I am gaining courage. I beg you to remember that it was my father Talon, my own father, who first came from the upper regions to find the French. He came across the woods to Three Rivers, where he was well received by him who commanded there. The next year he returned, and found there M de Courcelle, who gave him the name of Talon, saying it was necessary to bind the commerce together; and, since the door was open, they must continue to see each other, as it gave him a key to this door, in order to open it when he should think proper, whatever difficulties might occur.

"My father-I keep this key, being one of his children. I make use of it to-day to open your door. It is true that I have almost closed the door against myself, by my bad conduct; but of what use is this key, if it may not serve me in an affair of consequence; and who is permitted to use it, if not I, to whom my father has left it?

"My father—I have left Michilimackinac, to come to see you. I have come by the old way, so much traveled by our ancestors. I found it all filled with impedi