Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-26
nlistelIaneols.
LETTER OF FATHER =
MISSIONARY TO THE ADUAKFs.

LETTER OF FATHER -,
MISSIONARY TO THE ADuAKIs.
New Account of these People and of The Algon-
q,lins-French and English War in Canada.
CONTINUED.
As soon as debarked, was eager to pay my
respects to the Marquis de Montcalm, that had
the honor to be acquainted with at Paris. The
honorable sentiments he bears to our missiona-
rics were known to me. lie received me with
an aAability which told the goodness aDd gcner-
osity of his heart. The Abuakis, more from
desire to show their affection and duty, than to
conform to the ceremony, delayed not to present
themselves before their general. The Orator
complimented him briefly, as he had been before
instructed. "My father" said he, " fear not,
they are not culogies come to give thee;
know thy heart; that it disdains them; it is
sufficient to merit them. Truly thou hast rem
dered me service, for was not little embar-
rasscd to express all feel. content myself,
then, by assuring thee that here thy children
are all ready to share thy perils, well assured
that they will not be slow to partake of their
glory" The turn of this compliment would
not seem to come from savage; but no one
would have any doubt who knew the character
of his mind who pronounced it.
| learnt of M. de Montcalm, the brave defence
made, some days previous, bya Canadian officer,
named M. de Saintout. He had been sent as
scout on Lake st. Sacrament, with eleven others,
in single bark canoe. In doubling cape, he
was surprised by two English barges concealed
in ambushcade, which rudely attacked him.
The parties were not equal. A single discharge
properly made on the canoe would have decided
the victory, or taken the lives of the French.
NJ. de Saintout, wise man, reached in haste an
island which formed in the Lake steep rock.
He was briskly pursued by the enemy; but he
soon checked their ardor by a discharge he made
on them with as much prudence as success. The
enemy, though disconnected for few moments,
soon returned to the charge, but were again SO
well received that they disembarked on the shore,
which was within musket shot. The combat re-
commenced with more obstnacy than before, but
always with equal success to u.s. M. de Saint
out, perceiving that the enemy were not disposed
to attack him at his post, and that he was not
able to go to them without danger of sinking
his canoe, contemplated a retreat. lie was u
man of mind, as well as of bravery. lie en-
barkcd in presence of the English, who, not
daring to pursue him, contented themselves by
pouring on him continual fire.
In this rencontre We had but thrce slightly
wounded, of whom NJ de Saintout was one M.
do Grosbois, a cadet of the Colonial troops, was
killed on the spot. The enemy, by their own
confession, had come out thirty seven in number
out of the fort, and but seventeen returned.
Such blows astonish in Europe; but here the
valor of the Canadians has SO often multiplied
them, that we would be astonished not to see
them repeated more than once in the course of
a campaign. The sequel of this letter will fur
nish the proof.
After having taken leave of NJ. de Montcalm,
went to the quarters of the Abuakis. sent
to the Orator of the Assembly to assemble imme-
diatcly his compatriots, and to announce to them
that before going, in a few days, to attack the
English forts, should expect, from their piety,
that they would prepare themselves for this per-
ilous expedition by all proper steps to insure
their success before God At the same time ]
caused it to be known that my tent would BE-
open at all times to all the people, to furnish all
the benefits they might claim of my ministry
My offers were accepted. had the satisfaction
of seeing party approach the confessional ]
prepared some for the reception of the august
sacrament of our affairs They enjoyed this hap
plness on the succeeding Sabbath, the 9th Of
July. omitted nothing to give this act as
much splendor as possible. solclnnly celebra.
ted the mass, during which gave them an cx
hortation, the first have made in Abuakis.
pressed on them the obligations they were unde,
to honor their religion in the presence of all tn,
idolatrous nations, who were either ignorant O,
@ blasphemous, and whose eyes were upon them
r | endeavored to present the motives most calcu
lated to make an impression in striking colors
a neglected not to remind them of the ner;l
inscparable from war, which their courage an,
valor would but serve to multiply If the Of
fects of the discourse could have been decide
3 by the attentive and decorous appearance of tb
hearer, should have had every reason to con
gratulatc myself on my feeble efforts. Thes
Il exercises carried us into the morning, but tn
y savage counts not the moments he gives to RI
~ ligion. He appears with decency and with e,
" gerness in our temples. The liberties which ii
: French allow themselves, and the wearine
~ which are depicted in their countenances are t,
- often the subject of scandal to them. The
I'LL people give promise of one day being perfe
m Christian people.
Such were the occupations to which | deyot
OF myself, with so much pleasure, during our ST
~