The Count is already advised, by despatches at the departure of last year's ships, of the preparaand principally against the Onnontagues which is the chief nation, where the councils of the other five are held, the most devoted to the English, and the most strenuously opposed to the negociations for peace of preceding years. It became of importance to crush them, and it appeared to many more advantageous to do so during winter inasmuch as it was certain, said they, to find in the Village at least all the women and children who being destroyed or captured would draw down ruin on the warriors or oblige them to surrender tions for a considerable expedition against the Iroquois

to us.

The necessary preparations for this expedition were begun last autumn, but the large amount of snow produced a change of design, the rather as it was impossible to transport the Militia (habitans) from the south shore and the Island of Orleans to the government of Quebec, the river having been absolutely impassible from the sailing of the vessels to the commencement of this year. This it was that caused the adoption of the resolution to proceed by the Mohawk country with whatever troops could be collected capable of travelling on the snow with the militia of Three Rivers and Montreal and Indians, which had always been the plan of Monsieur the Count de

Frontenac who foresaw the difficulty of executing the other project during winter.

But this design also aborted, because we were informed that a Mohawk prisoner who escaped from us, had communicated our intention, and that this Nation, united with the English of Orange, awaited us with resolute determination, which, however, would not