Additional Papers concerning... Quebec. London, 1776. Canadian Freeholder; ... Dialogues between an Englishman and a Frenchman. London, 1777-79. 3 vols.

On the Walker affair, General Murray's recall, and French noblesse in Canada after 1760, consult the Report concerning Canadian Archives for 1888.

The Quebec Act is printed with notes in Documents illustrative of the Canadian Constitution, edited by W. Houston. Toronto, 1891.

Sir H. Cavendish's Debates of the House of Commons on Bill for making more effectual Provision for the Government of Quebec, London, 1839, is a scarce book, but extracts are given in Canadian Constitutional Development, edited by H. E. Egerton and W. L. Grant. London, 1907. The introductory chapter of Christie's History of Lower Canada from 1792 to the Union has extracts from opinions of Thurlow and Wedderburn, which were not found elsewhere till reprinted by Shortt and Doughty, op. cit. The original reports are missing. Generally for this and the following chapters till the Union Kingsford's elaborate History of Canada, in 10 vols., of which more than five are taken up with the English régime, contains a mass of information, not very clearly arranged, and sometimes not altogether accurate in matters of detail.

Histoire du Canada, par F. X. Garneau, Montreal, 1882, vol. iii, Book xi, ch. i, deals with the subject of this chapter. Garneau is eloquent and trustworthy as to facts, but writes with strong anti-English bias.

See also The Mississippi Valley in British Politics, by C. W. Alvord. 2 vols. Cleveland, U.S. A., 1917.

CHAPTER II

THE AMERICAN INVASION AND BOUNDARY

QUESTION

Canada.

BEFORE the Quebec Act could be given a fair trial, and American when Carleton was hardly again in touch with Canadian invasion of affairs after his long stay in England, the crisis occurred which strained to the breaking-point the colonial connexion. The American colonists were naturally anxious that the Canadian people should throw in their lot with the other colonists, and with this object an address was sent in October, 1774, from the General Congress at Philadelphia to the inhabitants of Quebec. Although in its elaborate references to Beccaria and Montesquieu, this document seems hardly suited to the taste of the illiterate French Canadians, it is reported to have created no little impression. It must be remembered that, inasmuch as the English minority were for the most part in sympathy with the Americans, Congress was kept fully informed concerning Canadian affairs. Carleton was in no fool's paradise, but he was helpless to mend matters. As early as 1767 he had urged that Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Fort George on Lake Champlain should be held by adequate forces, but his advice had been disregarded. Thus when Ticonderoga and Crown Point were attacked in May, 1775, they fell an easy prey to Vermont irregulars under Ethan Allen. On hearing the news Carleton at once dispatched all the available troops to St. John's, which stood on the Richelieu above Lake Champlain. The French Canadians, with the exception of the nobility, who both fought for the government and endeavoured to influence their tenants, showed great reluc

tance to take up arms. When Carleton issued a Proclamation requiring the seigniors to enroll their dependants into companies the seigniors readily obeyed, but the habitants refused to budge. They alleged that their obligation to do military service had ceased with the cession of the colony. It appears that not more than a few hundred militia men were enrolled in all the seigniories. But while the Canadians generally refused to support the Government, Desperate some joined the ranks of the enemy. With no British troops position of Carleton available, unable to count upon the Canadian Militia, the Governor's position was indeed desperate. None the less he wrote home cheerfully that the importance of the province would make him obstinate in its defence. Canada was an excellent basis for operations, and reinforcements of some ten thousand men collected there in the spring might be a decisive factor in the issue of events. Meanwhile, not content with leaving Canada defenceless, the home authorities were enjoining Carleton to raise three thousand men to act in support of General Gage, the British Commander-in-Chief; and a little later the number had risen to six thousand. Carleton in his need applied to Gage for two regiments. Gage was willing to send them, but Admiral Graves refused the necessary transport on the ground that the passage from Boston to Quebec was too dangerous to be attempted in October.

The Continental Congress and Canada.

The Continental Congress had been in doubt how to deal with Canada. General Philip Schuyler, one of the delegates from New York, was directed, on June 27, 1775, to repair to Ticonderoga and Crown Point to obtain intelligence of the disposition of the Canadians. If he found it practicable, and that it would not be disagreeable to the Canadians, he was instructed to take possession of St. John's, Montreal, and any other part of the country. It was generally recognized that if the Canadians were averse to the expedition, and unwilling to co-operate, there was little chance of success. Washington wrote to Arnold that in no circumstances were

invasion.

the Canadians to be irritated. At worst they were now American neutral; they might be made hostile. The news from Canada appearing favourable, it was decided to advance against Montreal and Quebec. The invasion was made from two points. The main body under General Montgomery, who took the command upon the illness of Schuyler, advanced up Lake Champlain and the course of the Richelieu river. The second force under Arnold, whose subsequent treachery is familiar, moved up the Kennebec from Connecticut. The Americans had greatly underrated the resisting power of St. John's. The siege by Montgomery's forces lasted from September 8 to November 3, and very probably, but for the surrender of Chambly, Major Preston, who was in command, would have held out till the winter weather caused the abandonment of the siege. Captain Stopford at Chambly omitted to throw his guns and ammunition into the rapids above the fort before surrendering; and on the obtaining by the Americans of these guns and ammunition, further resistance at St. John's became hopeless. The surrender of this fort opened the road to Montreal. There were no British troops there, and the Militia had been sent home. The loyalists felt the disgrace of yielding without resistance, but with numbers of the inhabitants disaffected resistance was out of the question. The Congress troops took possession of Montreal on November 13, Montgomery making it his head quarters till the end of the month. Meanwhile Arnold had advanced from Connecticut along the track made in 1761 by a British officer. Starting from Cambridge on September 11 he ascended the Kennebec and its tributary, the Dead River. Having crossed the highlands, he passed through Lake Megantic and along the Chaudière river, and on November 8 arrived at Point Levi opposite Quebec. Carleton arrived at Quebec on November 19, after running great risks of being taken, and decided to defend it to the last. He immediately removed from the city the

Siege of
Quebec.

sympathizers with the invaders whose views were known. Montgomery's army arrived at Ste. Foy on December 5, when they were joined by Arnold's contingent. The Americans were deficient in artillery, so that it was necessary to take the town by assault; but, considering the weakness of the garrison, this seemed no very difficult task. The night of December 31 was fixed upon for a simultaneous attack by Montgomery's and Arnold's forces. The attack was made, but at the very beginning of the operations Montgomery was shot dead. In spite of their leader, Arnold, being wounded, the second division carried the first barricade at Sault-auMatelot, but on attempting the second found themselves outnumbered, and were compelled to surrender. The complete failure of the combined attack made the Congress troops unwilling to attempt another assault, and from this time the siege resolved itself into a wearisome blockade. Carleton was blamed for his caution in not attempting reprisals, but the forces at his command were wholly insufficient for offensive operations. He knew that time was on his side, and that, with the coming of spring, relief would arrive from England. Early in May the long-expected reinforcements arrived, and the Congress troops under General Wooster, who had succeeded Montgomery, retired in such confusion as to leave behind their cannon, ammunition, Offensive stores, baggage and papers. Even when Carleton had taken by sufficient troops to assume the offensive, he was hindered by the absence of the means of transport. The Americans had either taken or burned the boats at St. John's and Chambly, and Carleton was without the means of descending Lake Champlain. Boats had, therefore, to be hastily built. By the beginning of October this work was finished, and the American fleet was attacked and practically annihilated. Crown Point was occupied by the British, but afterwards. abandoned as the lateness of the season prevented further operations against Ticonderoga. The Secretary of State for

Carleton.