[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] " The policy of France, in establishing her military positions upon this continent, is regarded among the most important and interesting particulars of our history; and her long struggle to retain those positions exercised a great influence for a long period upon the condition, disposi-tion and purposes of the people of New-York. It is, I presume, chiefly with a view to obtain-ing authentic evidence concerning this part of our history tiiat you are expected to visit that country. " It would be highly interesting to obtain the originals or copies of the instructions for-warded to the French and English Governors of Canada; to learn the views which possessed them, of a commercial, military or colonizing character; their expectations of the future growth of their settlements bordering upon the colony of New-York; their expenditures and receipts; the nature and extent of their alliance with the Indian tribes; and the history of their expeditions across the St. Lawrence, and of their posts upon Lake Ontario and the Riv. r Niagara, so far as developed by official reports, or memorials from the foreign departments under whose administration these various operations took place. " It will be equally important to obtain in England the copies of those papers relating to the occupation of the Colony, which are said to have been removed to the mother country, GENERAL INTRODUCTION.