with the others.

Did affairs permit, I should have much wished to tell you

my thoughts on many things.

brother will inform you of all when he will have the honor to see you.

My

The On [non] tagues who

have been spoken to, would like much to settle matters this is the reason my brother goes to you, whilst I still keep them disposed to give you satisfaction, in order to avoid if possible an infini;

tude of evils which will overtake Canada, and as I know not whether you desire war without listening to proposals for peace, I wish to understand whether it is not fitter that I withdraw, if possible, rather than give occasion to the Iroquois to say that I deceived them, by propositions for peace.

The

Onontagues and other nations say, that it grieves them to take up arms against you who are their neighbour, and who form almost one country with them. They acknowledge that the Senecas are proud and insolent on account of their great number of warriors, but if you are desirous to maintain peace by some satisfaction which they will induce the

Senecas to make you, it will be very acceptable, so as not to be obliged to come to extremities which will be very disastrous. If war occurs, Sir, all those who have houses apart from fortified places must at once abandon their dwellings, for the grain and the houses will be burned, and many will otherwise be brought away prisoners to be cruelly tormented and insulted. I always think that peace ought to be most precious to you, and that all the advantages that can be held out ought to cause you to shrink from war. A delay in order to arrange everything more at leisure and after having received assistance from France, would extricate you from much embarrassment which will follow from all sides.