200 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Shirley endeavoured to hurry up supplies from Albany, but 

 delay after delay occurred, especially at the great carrying place 

 at the head of Oneida Lake. On June 28, Captain Broadley writes 

 to headquarters that while on board the Oswego sloop with the Ontario 

 and a small schooner in company he was chased by four French 

 vessels into Oswego, and from other sources we know that the small 

 schooner was captured. He goes on to say, however, "the new 

 sloop will be ready to launch in four days, and the brig in eight days 

 The brig is eight ports on a side and the sloop six." 



On July 2 he writes "that Captain Bradstreet has arrived 

 from Albany with a convoy but no guns for the new vessels. The 

 brig will answer very well, but the Snow will not. Nor are there 

 either guns for her, or sails, or a sailmaker to make them of the brig's 

 sails." 



The running rigging for the new vessels "has in a great measure 

 been made use of for painters for whale boats or battoes, and but one 

 small anchor and two cables here as yet." Bradstreet has sent down 

 to Schenectady for the missing guns and stores; the guns are 6 6-prs., 

 4 10-prs. 14 swivels, and double headed shot. 



7 July. No nails. Superiority of the French vessels. About 

 30 seamen needed. "I think it would be for the good of his Majesty's 

 service to build a small schooner in the place of the one that is taken 

 ... I have great reason to believe from information I have received 

 that many of the stores designed for the use of the navy have been 

 stop'd at the carrying places for the use of the forts built and a-build- 

 ing there." 



15 July. The want of nails "has obliged the smiths to work day 

 and night to supply nails and other iron work for the vessels. The 

 brig and sloop are now rigged and their sails bent, but there is still 

 some carpenters and smiths work to be done on board them." 



"The Snow will be launched in three or four days'', but there is 

 great lack of rigging, though he has endeavoured to improvise some. 



"I shall go to sea with three of the vessels," but have not guns 

 for more. 



What the British fleet did, or rather did not do, during the last 

 days of July and the beginning of August, is set forth in Broadley's 

 own letters. It put to sea, had a series of misfortunes, damaged its 

 most powerful vessel, and returned to harbour. In any case it was 

 inferior to the French, and when a detachment ventured out of harbour 

 on August 11th it was easily beaten back. 



After the fall of Oswego a long and acrimonious discussion ensued 

 between Shirley and Loudon, Shirley pleading vehemently for an 

 investigation, which the easy-going Lord Barrington at the War 



