the Snow in ten or twelve days. But we are greatly disappointed in guns for them, for Col. Bradstreet arrived here yesterday with 600 battoes, and with him came only sixteen carriage guns and sixteen swivels, whereas the Brigantine only should mount sixteen carriage guns. However, we shall get some small guns from the Fort the sloop, and directly go and look for Monsieur, who I am afraid will not give us the opportunity of speaking with him, as they have been to Niagara and I suppose have carried provisions sufficient for the garrison.

We are yet much troubled by scalping parties-large bodies lying within six or seven miles of us, and as our garrison is not sufficient to dislodge them, they do us much damage. We are obliged to have large parties to cover the carpenters; others to clear the woods around the garrison- that it would be imprudent to attempt it till we are stronger. For these ten days past we have quitted the Fort on the hill, on the Oswego side, it not being tenable; but as some troops (about 200) are come up with Col. Bradstreet, we expect it to be immediately put in a posture of defence. Provisions we abound in, but now the cry is Men! So believe we shall rest on the defensive this summer and winter. What is the occasion, time may discover; and may the enemies of our country meet their just deserts is my sincere wish.

M. DE VAUDREUIL TO THE MINISTER.

[Paris Doc. XII.]

Montreal, 5 July, 1756.

My lord, English vessels have appeared several times on Lake Ontario; our's occupied with the freight to Niagara, could not chase them. Nevertheless, our two barks returning from Niagara on the 26th of June perceived across the Bay of Quintée some coming towards them. We gave them chase, all our sails set, but the enemy immediately sheered off. He was pursued so close that he was obliged to abandon his sloop, which was his third vessel. We left this to our two barks; our two Corsairs continued in pursuit of the enemy who seeing himself gained on cut his

boat loose and threw a number of other things overboard. In vain we fired our chasers after him he made no response, taken up altogether in pushing himself ahead, and the wind having fallen he gained on our Corsairs by means of the quantity of sail he carried. Having chased him into Chouaguen we tacked to overhaul the sloop our barks had missed. She struck at once. This prize is about 20 tons, armed with 6 patereros, 12 muskets, 6 sailors and 8 soldiers.

On the 25th June, as our two Corsairs were cruising between the Islands of Couis and the Galops, one of them being near the Bay of Niagara,' got intelligence of a schooner returning to Chouaguen. He gave chase and found himself in doubling a point quite close on Chouaguen. The Schooner had time to enter the River, were it not for which she would not have escaped this Corsair.

This, My lord, is what the movements and exploits of our little Navy of Lake Ontario is at present reduced to.

I am with most profound respect, My lord,

Your very humble and very ob' Servant,

VAUDREUIL.

ACTION BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH.

[N. Y. Mercury, July 19.]

Albany, 13 July. 1756.

On Monday Colonel Bradstreet arrived here from Oswego. On the 3d, about 3 o'Clock in the Afternoon, nine Miles on this side that Place, having about 300 Battoemen with him, in their Battoes, he was attacked from the North side of the River by about 700 of the Enemy, of which 200 were Regulars, the Rest Canadians and Indians. Col. Bradstreet, who at that time was near the Front of his Party, proceeded with six Men to a small Island near the Enemy, and ordered a few more to follow him there, to keep back the Enemy from fording the River, till the rest of his Men could land on the South side of it. He had no

1 Incorrectly written for Neaouré, or Hungry Bay, Jefferson Co., at the entrance of which are the Galop Islands. On the opposite or north side are the Islands of Couis, near the bay of Kenti. They are to be seen in Sauthier's Map 1777, 1779.

immediately marched with 250 men, to meet them. He found that the Enemy to the number of about 400 had possessed themselves of a thick Pine Swamp, on which he attacked them in their

1 Incorrectly written for Neaouré, or Hungry Bay, Jefferson Co., at the entrance of which are the Galop Islands. On the opposite or north side are the Islands of Couis, near the bay of Kenti. They are to be seen in Sauthier's Map 1777, 1779.

sooner landed with the Six Men, but he was attacked by Twenty of the Enemy, whom his Party beat back, kept Possession of the Island and were joined by six more Battoemen. They were then attacked by about 40 of the Enemy, who stood their Ground very well, and wounded eight out of the Twelve; yet as our People never fired, without each killing his Man, the Enemy gave Way. The Party on the Island were then increased to about Twenty, besides the Wounded, and were again attacked by 70 of the Enemy, whom our Folks also beat back a third time. This Affair on the Island lasted near an Hour, and had given the Rest of our Battoemen Time to land on the South side of the River and those on the Island perceiving the Enemy were coming to surround them with their whole strength, retired to the South side of the River, and were followed by the Enemy. Our People made a feint Flight until the Chief of the Enemy had forded the River, then faced about, and push'd the Enemy back into the River, where they killed great numbers of them; the Rest took to their Heels; and were so closely pursued, that they left all their Packs, Blankets & Provisions behind, and many of them their Guns. About forty of our People are killed & missing & 24 slightly wounded. The number of the Enemy killed is not Exactly known, as most of them fell in the River, but it must be at least triple the Number of Ours Col. Bradstreet has brought two Prisoners with him.

[From the same, July 26, 1756.]

Since our last, many letters are come to Town from Albany, all confirming the Account we had of the Defeat of the French and Indians by the Battoemen under the Command of Col. Bradstreet and all doing Honour to the active, brave and circumspect Behaviour of that Gentleman, during the whole affair. They also all agree in this, That after the Repulse of the Enemy in their three several Attacks on the Island, it was discovered that the Enemy in great Numbers were passing from the North to the South side of the River, at a Ford about a mile above, on which Col. Bradstreet immediately marched with 250 men, to meet them. He found that the Enemy to the number of about 400 had possessed themselves of a thick Pine Swamp, on which he attacked them in their