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sinking of their canoes and concealing them was evidence of the intention of the Indians to recross the Ohio at the same place.

When Kenton received this intelligence, he despatched a messenger to Bourbon county, to apprize them that the Indians had crossed the river and had taken that direction. He immediately proceeded to collect a number of choice spirits, whom he could depend upon in a case of emergency.

Among the latter was Cornelius Washburn, a man both daring and sagacious. With this party Kenton crossed the Ohio at Limestone, and proceeded down to opposite the mouth of Holt's Creek, where the Indian canoes lay concealed. Here his party lay ambushed for four days before they saw or heard any thing of the Indians.

On the fourth day of their ambuscade, they observed three Indians come down the bank, and Idrive six horses into the river. The horses swam over. The Indians then raised one of the canoes they had sunk, and crossed the Ohio. When the enemy came near the shore, Kenton discovered that of the three men in the canoe, one was a white man. As he thought the latter was probably a prisoner, he ordered his men to fire at the Indians only; they did so, and the two Indians fell. The headway which the canoe had, ran it upon the shore; the white man in the canoe picked up his gun, and as Kenton ran

down to the water's edge to receive him, he snapped his gun at the whites. Kenton then ordered his men to kill him, and he was immediately shot.

About three or four hours afterward two more Indians and another white man came to the river and drove in five horses. The horses swam over, and the Indians, raising another of their canoes, followed across. As soon as the canoe touched the shore, Kenton's party fired upon the Indians and killed them all. The white man who was with them had his ears cut, his nose bored, and all the marks which distinguished the Indians.

Kenton and his men still kept up their ambuscade, knowing there were more Indians and one. canoe behind. Some time during the night the main body of Indians came to the place where their canoes were sunk, and hooted like owls; but not receiving any answer, they began to think all was not right. The two parties who had been killed, the main body expected to find encamped on the other side of the Ohio, but as no answer was given to their hootings, one of the Indians must have swum the Ohio and discovered the ambuscade. Standing on a high hill or knoll in the rear of Kenton, the savage gave three long and loud yells; after which he shouted to his friends on the opposite shore to make their escape.

Not many minutes after he had given them this warning, the Bourbon militia came up. It

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being dark, the Indians broke and run, leaving about thirty horses which they had stolen from the latter neighbourhood. The next morning some attempt was made to pursue the savages; but they had scattered and straggled off in such small parties that the pursuit was soon abandoned.

CHAPTER XIII.

Genet supersedes Ternant as ambassador to the United States -Perplexing position of the government-Washington calls a cabinet council-Proclamation of neutrality resolved upon -High-handed conduct of Genet-His reception by the people-Projects an expedition against the Spanish settlements-Despatches agents to Kentucky to raise volunteersGeorge Rogers Clark commissioned a major-general in the French service-Letter to Governor Shelby from the Secreretary of State-His reply-Democratic societies formedSecond letter to Shelby-His sympathy with the movement -Shelby's letter to the Secretary of State-Reply of Edmund Randolph-Washington issues a proclamation to the people of Kentucky-The recall of Genet solicited-Activity of the democratic associations-Meeting at Lexington-Recall of Genet―The expedition abandoned-Genet marries and settles in New York.

IN the year 1793, the new republic of France being threatened with a sanguinary struggle against the combined monarchical powers of Europe, despatched Citizen Genet to supersede Ternant as ambassador to the United States.

News of the French declaration of war against

England reached New York five days before Genet arrived at Charleston, bringing the same tidings.

While this threatening state of affairs was creating the greatest commotion abroad, the situation of the government of the United States was singularly perplexing. The policy of the government and the interests of the country demanded the exercise of the strictest neutrality; but by the treaty of commerce between France and America, French privateers and prizes were entitled to shelter in the American ports—a shelter not to be extended to the enemies of France. By the treaty of alliance, also, the United States were bound, in express terms, to guaranty the French possessions in America.

The arrival of Genet, especially as he appeared to be armed with unusual powers, was regarded by the government with great anxiety. Nor did the conduct of the new French ambassador at all tend to decrease the feeling. To counteract the first impulse of the American people, who, retaining a grateful remembrance of the assistance which France rendered them in their struggle for liberty, were disposed to espouse the quarrel of their former generous ally, President Washington met the members of his cabinet at Philadelphia, by whom, after an elaborate discussion of the articles of the treaty, it was unanimously agreed, that while a proclamation of neutrality should issue, Genet, as

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minister of the new French republic, should be received and recognised. In the mean while, Genet -who had been welcomed with the greatest enthusiasm by the governor and citizens of South Carolina-commenced fitting out privateers from the port of Charleston. Two vessels, manned mostly with Americans, put to sea under the French flag, and soon made numerous captures of homeward-bound British vessels. Washington and his cabinet, denounced the privateering commissions issued by Genet, as irregular and void; and declared the condemnation of prizes by the French consuls unauthorized by treaty. The French minister, inflated by the popular acclamations with which he had been received, treated the proclamation of neutrality with contempt, and proceeded to organize various military expeditions within the United States, as if the latter was already engaged in war as an ally of France.

The journey of Genet from Charleston to Philadelphia was like a triumphal procession. He was escorted into the latter city by an enthusiastic crowd, feasted the succeeding day by a large body of citizens, and by his own speeches, and the inflammatory harangues of his adherents, sought to involve the United States in the war which the government so strenuously desired to avoid. Having an eye to the seizure of the Spanish possessions in Florida, Genet despatched