FRENCH OCCUPATION.                          249
River St. John, whence he will proceed to place in your hands the despatch we have the honor to write you, whereunto we annex the extract of an enigmatical letter that Mr. Prevost has received from New York three days ago, written by a man of your acquaintance who has spent a part of the winter of seventeen hundred and fifty-three and seventeen hundred and fifty-four in Canada, and as he has since made use of the same style in the advices he has had to communicate to that Commissary, we have looked together for the meaning this last may contain, which you will find reported in the margin of that extract. In fine, Sir, there is every appearance, and we believe, that your new posts will be vigorously attacked in the spring; the English are desirous of making a diversion and harassing the posts they may be able to reach by the river situated on the East of their Continent, in order to oblige you to diminish the forces you may have destined for the upper part. We lose not an instant to transmit you what knowledge we possess in this regard, and we believe that Mr de Drucour could not confide it to any person more capable than Sieur de la Saussaye of making an expeditious journey; it is moreover, a new occasion of improving the zeal and services of that officer, whom you, yourself, have already employed, if you are satisfied with them.
Perhaps you are ignorant, Sir, that Governor Shirley is at present at New York, and that he has despatched thither the regiment bearing his name. We are, also informed that the Governor of Halifax has furnished six officers of the troops of his garrison to organize and drill the new militia.
As for the rest, everything appears quiet in Acadia, but 'tis true that we have had no news from there since the end of November or beginning of December. Meanwhile Sieur de la Saussaye will call on Father German and Sieur de Boishebert, in order to render you a faithful account of events and of the situation of our posts in regard to our neighbors.
If your operations require any assistance in provisions on our jxirt, 'tis essential, Sir, that you inform us of it very early, for you will perceive yourself how much difficulties will increase to providing from New England, and one Prevost will have precautions to take, in that case, in order to obtain and furnish what you may demand.
A snow, belonging to Quebec, coming from Martinico has wintered here; it will probably furnish us the first opportunity of writing to you, and then we shall have received news from Europe and America, which we'll communicate to you.
We havethe honor to be respectfully, Sir, your mosthumble and most obedient servants.
(Signed),       CHEVALIER DE DRUCOUR and PREVOST.