does not stagger the best resolutions of the Six Nations, who at present fear more than

they love the French ; that Fortress, or rather Trading house, for it is no better, is in a very defencemen it is and has been without Ammunition, the Assembly refusing to be at the expense, as well as to make provision it is true they have given money to build a wall round the house, for victualling a larger Garrison

less condition, the Garrison consists but of a Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal and 20

;

but the Director of the works, instead of laying the stones in lime and sand, as by the Act he was it is, as it is managed a jobb calculated rather to put money in the them in clay management of the business, than for any real service to the publick Pockets of those who have the tho' it is a thing of the utmost importance, as the loss of it will certainly be followed by the loss of the furr trade, and very probably may by a defection of the Six Nations, the consequence whereof ;

to do, is laying

'

your Lordpp 3 know perfectly well.

GOV. CLARK'S

REPORT

ON THE STATE OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES WITH RESPECT TO THE FRENCH WHO SURROUND THEM.

1743.

[Lond. Doc. XXVII.]

Tho' it has been my duty to consult in a more particular manner the welfare of the Province

*,

which I have had the honour to Govern some years, yet I never took myself to be thereby discharged from carrying my thoughts to things of a more extensive nature, especially to such whereon the peace & happiness of the Plantations, and the Trade of England, if not the very being of His Majesty's Dominion on this Continent depend, I have often reflected on the progress that our natural Enemies the French have made in their settlements on the back of us, Chiefly since the peace of Utrecht, the vast increase of their Indian Trade, the interruption of ours by the power which their