442 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



? pulse them with spirit; we have a train of 



* artillery, besides that which we took from the 



* enemy ; a still greater proportion of powder, 



* ball, and ammunition, for the operations which 



* I have pjrojected ; we have also provisions 



* enough, by means of the resources which we 



* shall find in the g;ood will of the Canadians, 



* who have the greatest interest in the preserva- 



* tion of their religion and libert}^. The king's 

 *■ troops will even live, if necessary, upon rootsr, 



* v/hcn thev cannot do better, and will not fail 

 '^ to join their endeavors to those of tlije brave 



* Canadians. 



* My intention then is, that you and all your 



* militia, should hold yourselves ready to march 

 ■ with arms, baggage and eight days provisions 



* to our frontiers, when the case shall require ir. 



* I believe Iisiay venture to assure you, that 



* these will be the last dispositions which I shall 



* have occasion to make for the defence of this 



* colony ; being firmly convinced, that, some 



* time in August, at least, we shall have peace, 



* pro^ isions, and, in general, whatever we want. 

 ^ I am, &c. 



* P. S. You will assemble the militia of your 

 ^- company, and read this letter to them. You 

 <^ will- carefully inspect their arms. If any of 



* them are out of order you will give them a 

 'note, and the king's gun smith's will repair 

 ' them immediately."^ 



While the marquis de Vaudrieul was thus 

 struggling between despair, hope, and endeav- 

 or, general Amherst was conceiting and execut- 



* S»:olI«t'« Hist. Eii^lanii, V*l. 3, p. 4I. 



