The said General excuses himself because of the sick and even says that the troops lacked food

;

to which I feel obliged to answer, being certain that he seeks every pretext and has recourse to every

expedient to exculpate himself and perhaps to put the blame on me.

number of sick among the Militia which he took with him to Fort Frontenac, who were in perfect good health on arriving there, but having encamped them for a 'Tis certain that there was a great

fortnight in prairies between the woods and a pond, it

he made them camp

is not surprising that

some fell sick.

Again

La Famine in places that were never inhabited, entirely surrounded by swamps, which contributed still considerably to the sickness in Ms army and had he remained there at

;

longer he would not have saved a man.

This has caused every one to say that he did not care,

had not the least desire to make war ; that he made no use of his long sojourns except Had he seriously wished to make war on the said Iroquois he would not have remained ten to twelve days at Montreal, fourteen or fifteen at Fort Frontenac and as many at La Famine, but would have remained merely a day or two, and would have used the that he

employing them in his negociations.

greatest despatch to fight the Iroquois, and not uselessly consumed all his provisions ; he would have,

indubitably surprised the said Iroquois who did not expect this war, especially as the greater number