384 NEW FRANCE AND NEW ENGLAND. [1697. 



Notice of the proposed expedition had reached 

 Frontenac in the spring ; and he began at once to 

 collect men, canoes, and supplies for the long and 

 arduous march to the rendezvous. He saw clearly 

 the uncertainties of the attempt ; but, in spite of his 

 seventy-seven years, he resolved to command the 

 land force in person. He was ready in June, and 

 waited only to hear from Nesmond. The summer 

 passed ; and it was not till September that a ship 

 reached Quebec with a letter from the marquis, 

 telling him that head winds had detained the fleet 

 till only fifty days' provision remained, and it was 

 too late for action. The enterprise had completely 

 failed, and even at Newfoundland nothing was ac- 



date ; Le Roy a Frontenac, me me date ; Le Roy a Frontenac et Champigny 

 27 Avril, 1697 ; Le Ministre a Nesmond, 28 Avril, 1697 ; Ibid., 15 Juin, 

 1697 ; Frontenac au Ministre, 15 Oct., 1697 ; Carte de Baston, par le S r . 

 Franquelin, 1697. This is the map made for the use of the expedition. 

 A facsimile of it is before me. The conquest of New York had origi- 

 nally formed part of the plan. Lagny au Ministre, 20 Jan., 1695. Even as 

 it was, too much was attempted, and the scheme was fatally complicated 

 by the operations at Newfoundland. Four years before, a projected at- 

 tack on Quebec by a British fleet, under Admiral Wheeler, had come to 

 nought from analogous causes. 



The French spared no pains to gain accurate information as to the 

 strength of the English settlements. Among other reports on this sub- 

 ject there is a curious Me'moire sur Jes Etablissements anglois au dela de 

 Pemaquid, jusqu'a Baston. It was made just after the capture of Pe ma- 

 quid, with a view to farther operations. Saco is described as a small 

 fort a league above the mouth of the river Saco, with four cannon, but 

 fit only to resist Indians. At Wells, it says, all the settlers have sought 

 refuge in four petits forts, of which the largest holds perhaps 20 men, 

 besides women and children. At York, all the people have gathered into 

 one fort, where there are about 40 men. At Portsmouth there is a fort, 

 of slight account, and about a hundred houses. This neighborhood, no 

 doubt including Kittery, can furnish at most about 300 men. At the 

 Isles of Shoals there are some 280 fishermen, who are absent, except on 

 Sundays. In the same manner, estimates are made for every village and 

 district as far as Boston. 



