Military operations would be impossible then.
In this depressing time Robert drew much courage from Charteris, who had been a prisoner a long time in Quebec, and who understood even more thoroughly than young Lennox the hollowness of the French power in North America.
"It is upheld by a few brave and skillful men and a small but heroic army," he said.

"In effect, New France has been deserted by the Bourbon monarchy.

If it were not for the extraordinary situation of Quebec, adapted so splendidly to purposes of defense, we could crush the Marquis de Montcalm in a short time.

The French regulars are as good as any troops in the world and they will fight to the last, but the Canadian militia is not disciplined well, and is likely to break under a fierce attack.

You know, Lennox, what militiamen always are, no matter to what nation they belong.