Whilst we have the Iroquois on our hands, can we be certain of anything ] Solicited by the English, they daily plunder our canoes and openly declare they will continue (to do so) being unwilling that we should carry ammunition to the Savages, their enemies and our allies. The principal affair at present is the security of this Colony which is in evident danger of perishing whether the Iroquois be let alone or we make war without having a decided advantage over them, distant posts

Canadians into banditti.

and however decided ours may be, the people separated as they are will always be in danger. Yet My lord, if you aid us with troops, war will be the least inconvenience, for if we do not wage it, the I do not believe that the next year will pass away without the whole trade being absolutely lost savages, our friends, would revolt against us, and place themselves at the mercy of the Iroquois, more powerful because better armed, than any of them. The whole of the Hurons are waiting only Had I not by the care of Father de Lamberville fortunately avoided the for the moment to do it. war this year, not a single canoe would have come down from the forests without having been captured and plundered in the river of the Outtawas. We should have lost a great number of good ;

men. This, My lord, is a long narrative about the state of the affairs of the country with the Iroquois