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born, who had then assembled a considerable 

 force on the frontiers ; but whose enterprise ex- 

 hausted itself in a few manoeuvres, and a dis- 

 play of strength ill calculated to menace danger, 

 or inspire respect for his professional talent : 

 for finding himself anticipated in all his move- 

 ments, and his designs penetrated, he relin- 

 quished his chance of glory in favour of the 

 more adventurous General Wilkinson, who, in 

 the following campaign, attempted to execute 

 the plan, but fortunately with as little success 

 as had attended his predecessors demonstra- 

 tions. 



The beautiful island of Montreal forms the 

 seigniory of the same name, and also the county 

 of Montreal; it is of a triangular shape, 32 

 miles long by broad, and lies at the con- 

 fluence of the Grand or Ottawa River and the 

 Saint Laurence : the Riviere des Prairies on 

 the north-west side separates it from Isle Jesus. 

 The greatest part of it was granted in 1640 to 

 Messrs. Cherrier and Le Rover; but whether 

 disposed of by them, or forfeited to the crown, 

 does not appear from any official record that 

 has been preserved : it is at present wholly the 

 property of the seminary of St. Sulpice, at 

 Montreal, the superiors of which, in re ndering 

 fealtyand homage on the 3d February, 1781, pro- 

 duced as their titles, 1st. A deed passed before 



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