qui was blown up, and for a time of
course abandoned. Thus, in 1686, French Canada was again virtually
reduced to Montreal, Three Rivers, Quebec, and Tadousac.

It was in 1689 that the Count de Frontenac returned to Canada a second
time, as Viceroy, to succeed the incompetent Denonville. He took out
the captured chiefs, and attempted to conciliate the Iroquois. But the
Indians had been too frequently deceived by his immediate predecessors.
They would have nothing to do with him, unless he restored, without
stipulation, their captured chiefs. De Frontenac complied. He complied
the more readily because he feared an alliance between the Ottawas and
the Iroquois. The Ottawas were quite indifferent to French friendship,
because the gain, in their estimation, was altogether in favor of the
French, whose protectors the Ottawas considered themselves to be. So
far from provocation being now given to the Indians, a policy extremely
opposite was pursued. The English and Dutch of the New England
settlements coveted the Indian trade in furs, and the Indians were more
favorably disposed towards the English and Dutch traders than towards
the French, because from the former a larger consideration was
received. It was De Frontenac's policy to prevent such a union, which
would, as he conceived, have injured the trade of the St. Lawrence, and
have injured the revenue of the Fur Company. De Frontenac induced the
Ottawas to assist him against the English of New England, whom he had
resolved to attack, France and England being then at war. He fitted out
three expeditions, one against New York, a second against New
Hampshire, and a third against the Province of Maine. The party against
New York fell upon Schenectady, in February, 1690. The weather was
exceedingly cold, and the ground deeply covered with snow. It was never
even suspected, that, at such a season, a campaign would be begun. Yet,
at the dead of night, while the inhabitants of Schenectady were asleep,
and not a sentinel was awake to announce the danger, the war-whoop was
raised, every house in the village was simultaneously attacked,
buildings were broken into and set on fire, men and women were dragged
from their beds, and even mothers, with their sleeping infants at their
breasts, were inhumanly murdered. Sixty persons were massacred; thirty
were made prisoners, and such as escaped, almost naked, fled through
the deep snow, many perishing with the extreme cold, and the most
fort