I agreed to leave it to be decided between the two Crowns as he proposed but in the mean time thought myself obliged to hold and maintain it. I have enclosed copies of the Governour of Canada's letter to me in French and my answer to him in the same language, together with my own translation of both letters, wherein Your of Montreal, as he

[Vol.'I.]

'

PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO.

Lordships will find the whole argument stated on both sides. the French

from the Original Latin, but I think and as strongly in the Latin as in either.

tions of the Treaty

translation

There is no variation between

& English but what was necessary to be made according to the different Translamy argument holds equally in either

Your Lordships know very well how backward the French have been to name Commissaries, and in the mean time if they are permitted they would seize upon everything. But this new house at Oswego will make a stand that will embolden our Five nations, & will not easily be taken without great Cannon, the wall being four foot thick of good large stone, and it is repreme that the French cannot bring large cannon against it, since they have no way but come up from Montreal to the Lake against a Violent stream, all full of Rifts & Falls & Shallows, where they are forced to set up with poles most part of the way in light Canoes, or Battoes, & if they had cannon to carry, it is thought they could not set them along, & by land sented to