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On November 13th, the Americans under Montgomery occupied Montreal without a struggle. Carleton escaped to Quebec by stratagem on November 16th. Commander J. B. Bouchette, a half brother of Holland's wife, was per- suaded by Carleton to pilot him down the river through the American vessels on guard at Sore], which perilous venture succeeded.

An attack upon Quebec by way of the Kennebec and the Chaudiere Rivers had been suggested early in the summer of 1775 and was decided upon. On September 19th this secret expedition sailed for the mouth of the Kennebec with General Benedict Arnold in command. After undergoing fearful hardships in the untravelled wilderness of Maine, the vanguard of this army arrived opposite Quebec on November 8th. Carleton had been apprised of their approach by the natives and settlers up the Chaudiere and had withdrawn all the vessels from the south shore of the river.

On the night of November 13th Arnold repeated VVolfe’s exploit by crossing the river and climbing with his army to the Plains of Abraham. On the 19th Carleton arrived from Montreal and on December lst Montgomery joined forces with Arnold at Point-aux-Trembles. They then proceeded to blockade the city and endeavoured to persuade the inhabitants to join them.

The effective force in the besieging army did not exceed 2,000, and the troops penned up inside the City of Quebec were probably about 1,800. The Americans decided upon an assault, assuming at all times that if they could subdue the British forces, the French-Canadians throughout the Province would rise en masse and support the American cause. In the early morning of December 3lst, attempts were made to enter the city through the guarded gates, which resulted in a repulse, Montgomery being killed and Arnold wounded.

In February, 1776, small-pox broke out among the besiegers and many of the American volunteers returned home during the winter and early spring. By the last vessel leaving Quebec for England in November, 1775, Carleton had sent a strong request that reinforcements should be sent out early in the spring, and during the winter the American commander was clamouring for troops, supplies and money, particularly the latter, as the inhabitants were demanding payment for food and forage. Small bodies of American volunteers arrived from time to time, but not sufficient to replace those that returned home and were confined to hospital.

The British fleet arrived on May 6th and the Americans’ siege was at an end, and they began their retreat up the St. Lawrence. On May 15th the 29th and 47th Regiments arrived from Halifax and the pursuit of the Americans began. General Burgoyne arrived in Quebec during the month with seven Irish regiments, one English regiment, and 2,000 Brunswickers. Early in June the Americans were defeated at Three Rivers, and on June 15th Montreal was evacuated, followed by the retreat of the Americans up the Richelieu to Lake Champlain.

General Burgoyne, with an overwhelming force of 10,000 men at his disposal, occupied Crown Point and Ticonderoga during the summer and autumn, and before the close of 1776 the Province of Quebec was completely in the hands of the British. The French-Canadians remained impassive, but were convinced