88 LE FEBVRE DE LA BARRE. [1684. 



the foe, while at the same time begging your aid 

 for a poor, unhappy people on the point of falling 

 victims to a nation of barbarians." He says that 

 the total number of men in Canada capable of 

 bearing arms is about two thousand ; that he re- 

 ceived last year a hundred and fifty raw recruits ; 

 and that he wants, in addition, seven or eight hun- 

 dred good soldiers. " Eecall me," he concludes, " if 

 you will not help me, for I cannot bear to see the 

 country perish in my hands." At the same time, 

 he declares his intention to attack the Senecas, 

 with or without help, about the middle of August. 1 

 Here we leave him, for a while, scared, excited, 

 and blustering. 



1 La Barre au Roy, 5 Juin, 1684. 



