Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/391

 the North American Indians. 379

rather than renounce it: there is no fuch thing among the Indians as defertion in war, becaufe they do not fight like the Swiis for hire, but for wreaths of fwan-feathers. If the Englifli acted on that noble principle, or were encouraged by an able, public-fpirited miniftry, to cherifli it, Britan nia need neither fue, nor pay any of the German princes for protection, or alliances.

The equality among the Indians, and the juft rewards they always con fer on merit, are the great and leading the only motives that warm their hearts with a ftrong and permanent love to their country. Governed by the plain and honeft law of nature, their whole conftitution breathes nothing but liberty : and, when there is that equality of condition, man ners, and privileges, and a conftant familiarity in fociety, as prevails in every Indian nation, and through all our Britifh colonies, there glows fuch a chearfulnefs and warmth of courage in each of their breads, as cannot be defcribed. It were to be wifhed, that our military and na val officers of all ranks, inftead of their ufual harm and imperious beha viour, would act the part of mild and good-natured patrons to thofe under them : kind, perfuafive language has an irrefiftible force, and never fails to overcome the manly and generous heart, and love is ftrong as death. If the governed are convinced that their fuperiors have a real affection for them, they will efleem it their duty and intereft to ferve them and take pleafure in it. The late gallant Lord Howe, General Wolfe, and Ad miral Warren, arc ftill alive in the grateful hearts of the Americans, and alfo of the foldiers and feamen, who fought under them. No fervice was too difficult to oblige them, and they were afhamed to do any thing amifs. If every Britifh officer fet the like example, there would be little occafion for new mutiny acts, and other fuch like penal regulations. We have frequent inftances in America, that merely by the power of affa bility, and good-natured language, the favage Indian, drunk and foaming with rage and madnefs, can be overcome and brought to weep. Lately, fome came among us, inflamed and diftracted foes ; we perfuaded them of our confrant kindly intentions, and they repented, made atonement in re gard to themfelves, and checked the mad conduct of others.

The Indians are not fond of waging war with each other, unlefs prompted by fome of the traders : when left to themfelves, they confider

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