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

communication between Canada and Messassippi, (by means of the Lake Cadaraque or Ontario) gives them over all the Indian Nations, living on that, and all the other Lakes, which disembogue into Cadaraqui, & from thence into the River St. Lawrence,

& by what means that communication may be

cut off, & those Indian Nations brought to an absolute dependence on His Majesties Provinces,

who

will thereby be possesst of a very great additional Trade, and (which is principally to be considered)

be for ever secured from the annoyance of the French, and

may without danger or interruptions,

extend their settlements as far back as they please.

The French had lately three, and have now two sailing vessells, each of about 50 or 60 Tons, on On the North East end whereof, near the entrance into the River of St. Lawthe Lake Cadaraqui :

rence, they have a small stone Fort called Frontenac, with a Garrison of about thirty or thirty five