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its indignation, and trusted that the joint commission-
ers for regulating boundaries would restore tranquillity.
The overthrow of the missions completed the ruin of French influence.
The
English themselves had grown skilful in the
Indian warfare; and no war par ties of the red men ever displayed more address or her oism than the brave
John Lovewell and his companions.
His volunteer associates twice returned laden with scalps.
On a third expedition, falling into an am-
bush of a larger party of
Saco Indians, he lost his life in
Fryeburg, near a sheet of water which has taken his name; and the little stream that feeds it is still known to the peaceful husbandman as the
Battle Brook.
At last, the eastern
Indians, despairing of success
instigated, but not supported, by the
French, unable to contend openly with their opponents, and excelled even in their own methods of warfare, concluded a peace, which was solemnly ratified by the
Indian chiefs as far as the
St. John, and was long and faithfully maintained.
Influence by commerce took the place of influence by religion, and English tradinghouses supplanted French missions.
The eastern boundary of
New England was established.
Beyond
New England no armed collisions took place.
The coast between
Kennebec and
Nova Scotia had ever been regarded by the
French as a part of their possessions.
If the treaty of
Utrecht had been silent as to this claim, the stipulations of that treaty respecting the country of the
Iroquois seemed to preclude the idea of French jurisdiction; and yet the whole basin of the
St. Lawrence was still considered as included within the limits of New France.
The wilderness that divided the settlements of the contending claimants could but postpone hostilities.
By the treaty
