HISTORY OF VERMONT. 357 



and that a greater naval force sliould be provi- 

 ded on lake Ontario. With his usual spirit of 

 activit}^ Shirley was deeply engaged in his pre- 

 parations, when the weather became uncommon- 

 ly tempestuous and rainy ; and continued thus 

 for thirteen days. His troops became sickly ; 

 and the Indians and others acquainted Vv^ith the 

 climate, pronounced the season too far advan- 

 ced, to admit of such an expedition upon lake 

 Ontario. 



Doubtful as to success against Niagara, and 

 anxious for the safety of Oswego, on Septem- 

 ber the twenty seventh, the general called an^ 

 other council of war. He represented to his of- 

 ficers what further intelligence he had received 

 of the state of the enemy, the quantity of his 

 own provisions, and that the numbers in his 

 camp now amounted to two thousand men* — 

 The council were unanimous in their opinion, 

 that it was not advisable to proceed 'on the ex- 

 pedition to Niagara that fall, but to defer the 

 matter to the next spring : and that in the mean 

 time, the works at Oswego should be repaired 

 and strengthened ; and that a new fort should 

 be ereeted, and compleated as soon as possible. 

 In conformity to the advice of his council the 

 general gave up the prospect of an expedition 

 to Niagara, till the next spring ; and spent the 

 remainder of the season, in repairing and erect- 

 ing forts at Oswego ; and in strengthening the 

 English interest with the Indian nations ; sieve- 

 ral of whom, disgusted with the English meth- 

 ods of Droceedinrr, wci'e become waverine- in 

 their attachment to the English, and very doubt- - 

 ful of their success. It has been customary t« 

 ■VLOL. I U 2 



