the purses of my friends-and for that, do I now rely upon your zeal and valour. In the cause of our dear country, for the honour of our beautiful France, I know that you would hold your lives a cheap sacrifice. Can I be mistaken? I am your leader-you all know me well. Wherever I order you to go, I will be at your head. If you suffer hardships, I will suffer them with you. If we encounter dangers, I will meet it among the foremost. Does any man refuse to follow me?"

The beginning of this address was received in silent astonishment; but the ardour of the chief soon communicated itself to his followers, who answered to his vehement appeals by shouts of approbation and tumultuous promises and vows of fidelity and zeal.

He now steered for Florida, and first made the mouth of the St. John's. But after returning the salute of the Spanish garrison, by whom his squadron was taken for one of their own nation, he judged it prudent to land about fifteen leagues lower down the coast, without suffering them to be undeceived. Here he was met by a large party of Indians, of that same nation who have since been so conspicuous in our recent history, under the name of the Seminoles. They were headed by Saturiova, a famous chief or Paraousti of the nation, and an ancient friend of

Landonniere and his colony. From them he learnt that the same Spanish troops who had massacred the colonists, were now in garrison at La Caroline, to which place they had given the name of St. Matteo.* Saturiova too, and his tribe, had suffered grievous wrongs and indignities from the Spaniards, and when he learnt the designs of De Gourgues, he pressed him to renew the ancient alliance, and to accept his aid. A large party of Indians, headed by the favorite nephew of the chief, was placed under the command of De Gourgues, and they immediately proceeded on the expedition.

Their route lay about forty miles through the flat sands and pine barrens of the coast, frequently interrupted by tangled morasses and deep streams. The soldiers were drenched by a constant heavy rain during their whole march, and suffered much from hunger, as well as from cold and fatigue; but such was their ardour in the cause, and such

*It is not clear what had become of the fort and forces at St. Augustine. From various circumstances of the narrative, in which all the original historians agree, I am inclined to the opinion of some of them, that the Spaniards had withdrawn from that fort; and that the present city of St. Augustine was not founded until some years after.

their attachment to their commander, that they suffered without a murmur. At the close of the second day they halted, overcome with fatigue. The indefatigable De Gourgues, leaving his men to rest and refresh themselves, went forward with his guide to reconnoitre, and examine with his own eyes, the state of the Spanish fortifications. He succeeded, not without great hazard and hardships, and returning to his men, led them the next day under the Spanish walls. Dividing his little band into two bodies, he placed himself at the head of the first, giving the charge of the other to a confidential officer.

The Spanish force was more than double that of De Gourgues. It was stationed in two forts, besides the citadel or Place of St. Matteo, all which were mounted with numerous and heavy artillery. The two forts were forthwith successively attacked; and although the garrison was not wholly unprepared, yet half surprised and half panic struck, they made but a feeble resistance. Many of them were slain or dispersed in an irregular and tumultuous sortie, and the rest laid down their arms. The victor quietly demolished one of the works, and took possession of the other with his troops and prisoners. The place of St. Matteo itself, had still a garrison of two hundred men, well appointed in arms, amM*

munition, and provisions, and might have defied the whole force of De Gourgues. Having learnt from a prisoner that the Spaniards believed his force to be above two thousand men, and had lost all hope of successful resistance, fearing that delay might undeceive them, and allow them to recover from their panic, he prepared for a general assault, parading his own men and his Indians, so as to give the impression of great and irresistible force. The besieged despairing of being able to resist an assault on all sides, sallied forth in desperation. De Gourgues seized the advantage, cut off their retreat, and the whole detachment was killed or taken prisoners. St. Matteo was now left without defenders, and was taken possession of without farther resistance.

De Gourgues thus completely victorious, after refreshing his troops and providing for the wounded, prepared to execute his stern and long meditated purpose of exemplary punishment. He selected from his prisoners the soldiers who had been engaged in the massacre of his countrymen. After reproaching them with their perfidy and barbarity, he sentenced them to death. They were led to the place where the French prisoners had been murdered, and where the inscription which Menendez had placed, still remained. There he ordered them to be hung;

and in place of the former inscription he left this:-"These men were punished not as Spaniards or Catholics, but as pirates and murderers.”

The gentle and humane, whilst applauding, as they must do, the disinterestedness, the selfdevotion, and the heroism of De Gourgues, may yet shrink, with a natural horror, from the relentless rigour of this closing scene of retribution. But we must bear in mind that this retaliation was not only just as a punishment, but necessary as an example. That great and wise system of public law, which in our days strictly inhibits the exercise of judicial power and of the rights of war, to all who do not act under direct national authority, was not then in force. Had that been the avowed theoretical doctrine, it could not have been carried into effect to any useful end, at a time when most of the sovereigns of Europe were feeble and powerless, and little more than the nominal heads of their respective states. Therefore it was, that Chivalry taught her warlike sons that they were set apart to redress and to punish wrongs. Therefore too, the most enlightened publicists of that age were obliged to allow the rightfulness of Private War in a just cause, whenever and wherever the magistrate was wholly incapable of interfering; as said Grotius, "upon distant seas, vacant islands, and in places