Yet at the review made when I left, there were found only about 1300, so that 450 soldiers are still required to complete them thus it would be necessary that His Majesty should please to order the levy of at least 400 men, and to have them enlisted as quick as possible in order that they may be embarked in the sing to him to fiU

;

first vessels.

The use I propose to make of these 1700 men is to take " the pick" (P elite) of them to the number of 1400 and to adjoin to them the elite of the Militia to the number of 600, so as to carry these

2000 men necessary on this expedition

;

leaving the 300 remaining soldiers to guard the principal

outposts at the head of our Colony in order to prevent the Iroquois seizing and burning them whilst

we should be in the field. I propose embarking these 2000 men, with the supplies necessary for their subsistence in a sufficient

number of canoes and flat Batteaux which we already employed in the two last Campaigns against the Iroquois.

My design is, to lead them by the Richelieu River into Lake Champlain as far as a Carrying Place which is within three leagues of the Albany River that runs to Orange. 1 I shall conceal this expedition, which must be kept very secret, by saying that the King has

commanded me to proceed

at the head of His troops and Militia to the Iroquois Country to dictate Peace to them on the conditions it has pleased