196 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



able fairness and fullness of knowledge some of the various contro- 

 versies which have arisen. Frenchmen of New and of Old France 

 still discuss whether Canada was lost through the fault of the home 

 Government or of the colonists. The dispute has ramified; every 

 incident is discussed ; much ink has been spilt on the question whether 

 it was the Canadian Vaudreuil or the French Montcalm who planned 

 the brilliant enterprise which I have outlined. On the morning of 

 the 14th a body of Canadians and Indians under Vaudreuil's brother 

 Rigaud crossed the river. Was it this movement which determined 

 the surrender or was it comparatively unimportant ? On both these 

 controversies the last word seems to me to have been said by M. 

 Chapais. 



Does nothing remain to do ? Surely there are one or two puzzles 

 to be solved. On the 22nd July the English had heard through their 

 scouts of the camp at Niaouré Bay. 1 The English had on the lake 

 vessels of force which came out of harbor on the 11th of August, 

 but were beaten back by the small French fleet and the shore artillery. 

 Why had these vessels not reconnoitered the camps at Frontenac 

 and at Niaouré Bay and brought word of the preparations ? Why 

 had they not pounded to pieces the light batteaux as they skulked 

 along the coast ? The more we read of the French advance the more 

 we see that Montcalm was extremely apprehensive. In his orders 2 

 he gives the most minute instructions on what is to be done by the 

 batteaux and the land forces should a strange sail appear, and the 

 signals which are to be made by the French fleet whenever they come 

 in touch with their own forces or with the enemy. 3 Reading the siege 



1 22nd July. Mercer at Oswego to Shirley at Albany. Has news from 

 an Indian prisoner of the French concentration at "Cadaraqui," who "design to 

 attack us the next new moon." From the Indian and from scouts has news of the 

 camp at Niaouré. He is doing all he can to put the place in a state of defence, 

 giving out stores and rum, even against orders; taken, though without money, the 

 stores of the traders, etc. "The Snow is launched, a fine vessel, and had we sailors, 

 guns and rigging I'm in great hopes we might command the lake." 



2 His order book is a recent acquisition of the Canadian Archives. 



3 Vaudreuil had at first intended to dismantle the French ships, and to use 

 their crews and guns as part of the land forces, but in his final instructions to Mont- 

 calm, he wisely left the decision to the general on the spot. 



Vaudreuil's orders to Montcalm, 21st July, 1756. 



"Quoique nous ayons donné ordre à M. de Bourlamaque de faire désarmer 

 les barques et les faire mettre sous la protection du canon du fort, leurs canons et 

 leurs équipages pouvant être employés à l'expédition de Chouaguen, néanmoins, si 

 M. le Marquis de Montcalm estime plus utile au bien du service, de les conserver 

 armées nous nous en rapportons entièrement à lui." 



Instructions of Montcalm to M. de l'Hôpital, Lt. Col. of the Reg. of Béarn. 



M. de l'Hôpital est prévenu que la Marquise et la Hurault croiseront, si le vent 

 leur permet pour la sûreté de nos opérations et pour qu'il n'y ait point d'équivoque, 



