"They are stern folk, these.

We in Canada, with all your gracious help, have found it hard to hold our own.

Yet these men have had no help, but only hindrance, with cold and disease, and barren lands, and Indian wars, but they have thriven and multiplied until the woods thin away in front of them like ice in the sun, and their church bells are heard where but yesterday the wolves were howling.

They are peaceful folk, and slow to war, but when they have set their hands to it, though they may be slack to begin, they are slacker still to cease.
To put New England into your Majesty's hands, I would ask fifteen thousand of your best troops and twenty ships of the line." Louis sprang impatiently from his chair, and caught up his cane.
"I wish," said he, "that you would imitate these people who seem to you to be so formidable, in their excellent habit of doing things for themselves.

The matter may stand until our council.