Page:Letter from Quebeck, in Canada, to M. L'Maine, a French officer.pdf/9

 ( 9 ) rected to ſend proper perſons into the Engliſh provinces, to make a more perfect diſcovery of their ſtrength and weakneſs: thoſe are to deceive the Engliſh (which French Policy has frequently done!) by amuſing them, with being deſerters.

Our grand monarque's will and pleaſure is, that we immediately build ſtrong forts between Crown-Point and Ohio, ſufficient to ſecure fifty thouſand men, and ſo ſituated, that upon any extraordinary occaſion, they may immediately unite and oppoſe the Engliſh, if they ſhould attempt to oppoſe us; but, at preſent, they appear unconcern'd and ſecure: however, their numbers cannot terrify us, when they have no diſcipline or union. Had they as many as Mexico, before the conqueſt, could boaſt of, our regulars, headed by our hero, the preſent governour, would deſtroy as many thouſands as Cortes did of the Mexicans.

I muſt, with ſecret pleaſure to ourſelves, tell you, Sir, that we are pitying, not envying the Engliſh who are peopling Nova Scotia: in thus fatiguing themſelves in clearing land, and expending conſiderable ſums in building,&c. as his moſt Chriſtian majeſty's pleaſure is, to prepare a large ſquadron to deprive them of their labour and poffeffions: then will they cry out" Who would have imagined this "would have befallen us, when no more disturbance has been at home?" When this is effected, the Engliſh may undertake by remonſtrances, to complain of a violation and infringement of Treaties,