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

His Majesty to grant them without the interference of the English, inasmuch

as the Iroquois are his true subjects ; without letting

any one know our intention of attacking the

English until we have arrived at the point whence I shall send to tell the Iroquois, by some of their Nation, that I am not come to wage war against them but only to reduce the English, who have caused our division, and to re-establish the good friendship that formerly existed between us therefore they had better avoid coming to their aid if they wish not to be treated with the greatest rigor, the said English being unable to protect

them from the force I lead against them, and that I

shall turn against the said Iroquois, if they dare assist

them.

As the Batteaux cannot proceed further than the Carrying Place, my intention is to erect there a small log fort (un petit fort de pieux terrasses) which I shall have built in three days, and to leave

200 men in

it