Now comes in the mention of Chicago. De Peyster made a speech to the assembled redskins, which speech he next day turned into rude rhyme at the request of a fair lady whom he calls, in gallant French phrase, "une chère compagne de voyage." The poem is included in the "Miscellanies."[AJ] [AJ] The lady was his wife. The marriage was childless, and General J. Watts de Peyster (1892) says in a private note: "She was _chère_ indeed to de P's lineal heirs, for her cajolery of the Colonel transferred his property from his nephew, protege and namesake. Captain Arent Schuyler de Peyster, to her own people, McMurdo's, or whatever was the name of her nephews." General de Peyster says that he himself got the story from Captain Arent Schuyler de Peyster, the namesake in question, and the discoverer of the "De Peyster Islands," in the Pacific Ocean. The entire versified speech is too long to quote, interesting though it be as an unstudied sketch of things of that time and place. Any one wishing to know more of it can find it in the "Miscellanies," of which a copy should be easily found in any large library. SPEECH TO THE WESTERN INDIANS. Great chiefs, convened at my desire To kindle up this council-fire, Which, with ascending smoke shall burn, Till you from war once more return To lay the axe in earth so deep That nothing shall disturb its sleep. I know you have been told by Clark His riflemen ne'er miss the mark; In vain you hide behind a tree If they your finger-tip can see. The instant they have got their aim Enrolls you on the list of lame. But then, my sons, this boaster's rifles, To those I have in store are trifles: If you but make the tree your mark The ball will twirl beneath the bark. Till it one-half the circle find, Then out and kill the man behind. Clark says, with Louis in alliance He sets your father at defiance; That he, too, hopes, ere long, to gain Assistance from the King of Spain. Suppose, awhile, his threats prove true. My children, what becomes of you? Your sons, your daughters and your wives, Must they be hacked by their big knives? Clark, soon repulsed, will ne'er return, While your war-fire thus clear doth burn. At Fort St. Joseph and the Post, Go, lay in ambush for his host, While I send round Lake Michigan And raise the warriors to a man. Who, on their way to get to you. Shall take a peep at Eschikagou.[AK] Those runagates at Milwackie Must now perforce with you agree. Sly Siggernaak and Naakewoin Must with Langlade their forces join, Or he will send them, _tout au diable_ As he did Baptiste Pointe de Saible.[AL] [AK] A river and fort at the head of Lake Michigan. [AL] A handsome negro, well educated and settled in Chicago, but much in the interest of the French.