Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/271

 name of Virginia, to her distinguished son, for the services he had rendered to his country. Washington rose to reply; blushed—stammered—trembled could not utter a word. "Sit down, Mr. Washington," said the speaker, with a courteous smile, " your modesty equals your valor; and that surpasses the power of any language I possess."

Great was the exultation of the colonies at this successful termination of the struggle with the French. New York was especially pleased, since its northern and western limits had been so long in dispute ; and now it might lay claim to large increase of its territory. "By the sudden death of Delancey, in July, 1760, the administration of New York had devolved on Cadwallader Golden, who was presently appointed lieutenant-governor. Though now upwards of seventy years of age, Golden continued in that office for six-teen years; and, in consequence of the frequent absence of the governors, was repeatedly at the head of affairs." New England had equal reason with New York, to rejoice, because its frontiers were now freed from the dreadful incursions of the Indians, whose power for further mischief was almost entirely destroyed. Indeed the hostile tribes were nearly annihilated. At the South, the war with the Cherokees still kept the frontiers of Carolina in alarm This formidable tribe, after the reduction of Fort Duquesne, where they had aided Forbes, had become involved in a serious quarrel with the back settlers of Virginia and the Carolinas. The origin of the quarrel is obscure. It is said that the Cherokees seized upon some horses which they found running wild through the woods, but which in reality belonged to Virginian owners, and that the latter, supposing it to be a theft, killed twelve or fourteen of them; an outrage deeply resented by the Indians, w r ho, inflamed by French influence, were led to believe that the English meditated their entire extermination. Governor Littleton refused to listen to a proposal for arranging the dispute, and in October, 1759, marched into the Cherokee territories with fifteen hundred men; but he was glad to retire as soon as possible. Sickness and insubordination speedily put an end to the expedition. Fresh disputes soon after broke out, and the Cherokees prepared to do battle in their defence. An express was sent to General Amherst, who detached twelve hundred men under Colonel Montgomery, to the relief of the Carolinas. Strengthened by their militia, he marched into the Cherokee country, relieved Fort Prince George, at the head of the Savannah, which they had blockaded, and ravaged all the Indian settlements on his way. Finding the Cherokees rather inflamed than intimidated by these proceedings, he advanced to Etchoe, their capital, not far from whence they had posted themselves to oppose