miles within the settlements at Minnisink, is

about

sixteen

miles

from

river."

Hudson's

Affidavit of James Hoivell, York Manuscripts, LXXXII, 107, etc.

Colonial History, vi, 961.

New

O.P HUDSON'S

acquainting them of come and meet him.

RIPER.

appointment and asking them to Over a thousand sons of the forest

his

accepted the invitation, and, on the 2ist of June, seated them selves before him in council. While ready to do him personal service and honor, they had

many complaints to make

were

deeply entangled by their pledges to the French as well as to their tribal blood in Canada. Johnson listened to them with patience, and, after answering

all their

them a ringing appeal to join him.

inquiries, delivered to

The chtefs listened and

applauded ; drank the rum which had been provided, accepted the presents, and danced the war dance, but that was all. To

march with him to the frontiers they were not prepared, and plead the shortness of the warning, the want of time to call in their scattered people,

the disgraceful termination of the con

test of 1745, their relations with their Canada brethren ;

indeed, there was apparently no end to the reasons which they could not assign to conceal their indifference to the English cause and the divisions which existed among themselves.

From this boasted " bulwark " against the French, turn for t a moment to the conduct of the nations in the French alliance, led by the flower of the

Hudson river tribes.