class of British subjects from voluntarily relinquishing this branch of trade while another class continued it, would operate in preventing Great Britain from entirely suppressing it in the countries adjoining those where the same system is followed by the Americans. This observation applies to those extensive regions which form the frontier countries of the two nations. Along the greater part of that line, the trader who has the largest stock of spirituous liquors will always secure to himself the best share of Indian traffic. If the one government should prevent their own traders from vending spirits to the Indians, and the other should permit theirs to do so, the former will soon find that their commercial rivals will speedily engross the whole trade of the country.-This would be one of the inevitable consequences of those ill-fated lessons taught by the Europeans to their Indian brethren.

With respect to the Americans of the United States, it may be observed, that an Act of Congress was passed in the year 1802, enacting, among other things, "that the President be authorised to take such measures, from time to time, as to him may appear expedient, to prevent, or restrain, the vending, or distributing of spirituous liquors among any of the said Indian tribes," &c. But it could not well be expected that this law, where no express punishment was fixed, nor any specific penalty appointed -- particularly in

such a government as that of the United Stateswould produce the result that was looked for. The experiment totally failed. The licenses, indeed, (granted by the government of the United States to individuals, permitting them an exclusive trade with the Indians,) forbid, under certain penalties, the sale or disposal of spirits; but the provisions contained in these are either secretly evaded or openly disobeyed-a fact fully admitted by the Americans themselves.

Captains Lewis and Clarke, in their Travels to the Source of the Missouri, observe, that the Indian superintendent at St. Louis could not, from the extent of the country, and distance of the traders, discover whether the stipulations in the American licenses were adhered to. "They may, therefore, vend ardent spirits," say these travellers, "compromise the government, or the character of the whites in the estimation of the Indians, or practise any other crimes in relation to these people, without the least fear of detection or punishment."* Major Pike, in his Exploratory Travels through the Western Territories of the United States, also notices various instances where the traders violated the injunctions contained in the licenses with respect to the disposal of spirits to the Indians. Mr. James, like

Lewis and Clarke's Travels to the Source of the Mis'souri, &c. (Appendix to the American edition.)

the officers of the garrison. The Huron chief, in his speech, stated, among other things, that on the subject of brandy the French might do as they pleased, and supply them or not as they thought fit; but that they would have done well had they never furnished them with a drop of it. "It was impos→ sible," says Charlevoix, "to imagine any thing stronger than what was spoken by this Huron orator whilst exposing the disorders occasioned by that destructive beverage, and the mischiefs produced by it among all the Indian nations. The most zealous missionary could not have said more; but he added, that unfortunately they were now so accustomed to receive it that they could no longer dispense with the indulgence."* "The Indians well know," says the same writer, "that drunkenness is their ruin; but when one attempts to persuade them that they ought, of themselves, to request that no more of that destructive poison should be sold to them, they answer you coolly, 'It is you who have taught us; we can now no longer do without it; and should you refuse to supply us, we shall certainly go to the English for it. This liquor, we

know, destroys us; but you are the cause of the

mischief, which is now past all remedy." "

" which

"A disorder," continues Charlevoix, attacks the morals never goes alone. It is either

Charlevoix, Journal Historique, let. 17.

the cause or the effect of several others. The Indians, before they fell into this vice, if we except war, which they have always carried on in a barbarous manner, had nothing to trouble their happiness. Drunkenness has rendered them sordid, and has destroyed all the sweets and comforts of domestic life."*

CHAPTER IX.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

DURING the wars which were formerly carried on. in North America between the English and the French, the native tribes, who respectively attached themselves to the two rival powers, were profusely supplied with spirituous liquors; and the distribution of that article proved to be one of the strongest ties which attached the Indians to their European allies. After the cession of Canada to Great Britain (confirmed by the peace of 1763), when there existed no longer any rivalship between the French and English in that country, it might have been expected that the practice of disposing of spirituous liquors to the Indians would have ceased; but this was far from being the case; and the evil was found to extend itself almost throughout the whole of the Indian country, in North America.

It may be noticed, however, that this fatal propensity does not appear to have originated from motives of selfish enjoyment or gratification to the palate of the Indian. Selfishness, indeed, of any description, is a feeling to which he is almost a total stranger.