I am very sorry to see him exposed, but if I withdraw him this year the storm without doubt will burst sooner on us, for they would be sure ;

;

of our plans by his retiring.

have advices, notwithstanding, that the Five Nations are making a large war party, supposed to be against the Oumiamis and other savages of the Bay des Puans who were attacked this year, one of

their villages

having been destroyed by the Iroquois

;

on receiving notice thereof the hunters of

those tribes pursued the Iroquois party whom they overtook and fought with considerable vigor,

many of the Iroquois, who without doubt pant for revenge. I sent them word, to be on their guard and to have their women and children removed to a distance when they will be required to march to join me I say nothing to you of what they

having recovered several prisoners and killed

have done to the Illinois whom they spare not, having since two years committed vast destruction on them.

Nothing more, My lord, is required to convince you that we cannot hesitate, and that the Colony must be put down as lost if war is not waged next year they destroy on all sides our allies who ;

are on the point of turning their backs on us if we do not declare for them.

The Iroquois plunder

our canoes whereever they find them, and no longer observe appearances. Nevertheless, My lord, in the deranged state of the Colony, war is the most dangerous thing in the world ; nothing can save us but the troops you will send and the redoubts which it is necessary for us to build.