favor which a great number of the inhabitants of England, and many members of parliament, had hitherto manifested towards the American cause. From offended subjects, should the colonists become dangerous enemies; from oppressed inhabitants, oppressive soldiers ; from citizens alarmed at the shadow of tyranny, the insatiable invaders of a peaceable province? Prudence would also suggest, that the fear of seeing pillaged or destroyed the effects and the merchandise belonging to England, at this time largely accumulated in Canada, and especially in the city of Quebec, could not fail to alienate the minds of all the parties interested. But it was said, on the opposite side, that, since arms had now been taken up, and the first blood already effused, to persist in a strictly defensive war was to allow the enemy a manifest advantage, who had not the same scruples; that, seeing hostilities were commenced, it was essential to prosecute them with all possible vigor; and that certainly a more sensible blow could not be struck at the enemy, than this of assaulting him in his weakest part.

'Does any one imagine,' said the partisans of this system, 'that England is about to perplex herself with this distinction of operations defensive, and operations offensive? Her hand will visit vengeance upon us, wherever it can reach us. With arms alone, and used too with vigor and gallantry, not by timorous counsels, can we hope to avert the impending tempest of perdition. The enterprise proposed offers all the probabilities of success; when we shall have obtained it, those who still hesitate, even those perhaps who blame, will have vanquished all their doubts. In whatever man undertakes, there is always a grain of uncertainty, a particle of danger; but generous minds are not to flinch at this. The ancient adage should not be forgotten, he that acts not when he can, acts not when he would.

'Let us be persuaded, finally, that the eloquent orators of the two houses of parliament, either from love of liberty, as they pretend, or at least from ambition and from the desire to thwart the ministers, will not abstain from defending, and even extolling, our cause, when we shall have done much more than attack the province of Canada.'

The resolution having been carried in favor of the expedition, the Congress were not tardy in taking all the measures proper to secure its success. Three thousand soldiers, partly inhabitants of New England and partly of New York, were selected for the enterprise. They were commanded by the two brigadier-generals, Wooster and Montgomery, under the direction of major-general Schuyler; these three officers enjoyed the public confidence unlimited. As, in order to reach the heart of Canada, it was requisite to traverse lake Champlain, the river Sorel, and the river St. Lawrence, so broad and deep under the walls of Quebec, orders had been given to construct rafts at Ticonderoga and at Crown Point, in order to convey the troops. wherever it might be thought necessary. The country into which it

was purposed to enter not making part of the American Union, and governing itself by its own laws, it could not be hoped that its inhabitants would receive the bills of credit which were current in the colonies; and, on the other hand, the idea was insupportable, that the soldiers should live at discretion, in a country it was desired to gain and conciliate. Consequently, the Congress made an effort to glean together the sum of fifty thousand dollars in specie. It was also prudent, to avoid being taken in rear, to secure the friendship of the Indians that inhabited the banks of the Mohawk, which empties into the Hudson river, a little above Albany. For the same reason, general Schuyler had remained in that city, in order to cultivate a good understanding with those tribes, with whom he possessed a powerful influence. General Montgomery had already repaired to Crown Point, with a part of the army, and was expecting the arrival of the residue. Governor Carleton, who was much on his guard, seeing himself menaced by a superior force, reflected, that if he could defend against the Americans the entrance of the river Sorel, it would be impossible for them to penetrate into Canada. He accordingly caused to be constructed and armed a large brig, with some vessels of less force, and intended to station them at the outlet of the lake into the Sorel; hoping thus, and with reason, to interdict the passage, with effect, to the Americans. General Montgomery was informed of it; and, perceiving all the importance of this project of Carleton, determined to prevent it, by moving rapidly with the few troops he had, towards the Sorel. Upon his arrival there, he proceeded to occupy Ile aux Noix, a little island, situated upon the entrance of the river, near the lake. In the meantime, general Schuyler arrived from Albany, after having left the necessary orders for marching the troops of the expedition to Ile aux Noix. Here the two generals having met, addressed a proclamation to the Canadians, exhorting them to join the Americans, in order to defend their liberties. They declared they entered their ⚫ country not as enemies, but as friends and protectors, coming only to combat against the British garrisons. Then, in order to unite force with demonstrations, they determined to approach fort St. John, which, situated upon the left bank of the Sorel, commands it entirely, and closes the passage towards the river St. Lawrence. The Americans moved, therefore, but without artillery, towards St. John, and landed at a mile and a half distant from the fort, in a marsh, through which they marched in good order, with a view to reconnoitre the place. In their progress, they had to sustain a furious attack on the part of the Indians, who attempted to oppose their fording a river. Having repulsed them, they, in the course of the night, established themselves in sight of the fort, and began to throw up works; but having learned that the fort was in a respectable state of defence, and not hoping to carry it so promptly, they returned, the day following, to Ile aux Noix, where they resolved to wait for reenforcements and

artillery. Meanwhile, to interrupt the communication for the ships of governor Carleton from fort St. John with the lake, they obstructed the channel of the river, here very narrow, with a chevaux-de-frise. : General Schuyler had returned to Albany, in order to terminate the treaty with the Indians, and to accelerate the arrival of succours at Ile aux Noix. But affairs, and a severe malady, detained him in that city; and thus the entire conduct of the Canadian expedition passed into the hands of general Montgomery, an officer endowed with all the capacity desirable. He endeavored, in the first place, to detach the Indians from the party of the English, and to engage them to remain neuter; he succeeded in this point, without much difficulty. Then, after the arrival of his reenforcements and artillery, he undertook the siege of fort St. John. The garrison consisted. in five or six hundred regular soldiers, with two hundred Canadians, under the command of major Preston; but the army of Canada, as well as all the others of the confederation, wanted powder and cannon balls, and therefore the siege made little progress. The defect of discipline among the provincial troops created a difficulty no less alarming. Montgomery opposed it with patience, with promises, with menaces, and especially with his magnanimity and the authority of his person, which was very great among all. Fortune soon offered him the means of remedying the deficiency of ammunition. A little below fort St. John, and upon the same. river, is situated another small fort, called Chambly. The English, believing the enemy could not arrive there, before capturing fort St. John, had neglected to arm it. The American general turned his attention to this quarter. He put in motion a strong detachment, composed of colonists and Canadians, under the command of majors Brown and Livingstone. They appeared unexpectedly before the fort, and took possession of it. The garrison, a mere handful, were made prisonA few pieces of cannon, with an hundred and twenty-four barrels of powder were thus obtained. The colors conquered from the English were solemnly sent to Congress. The Americans, now provided with the necessary munitions, pressed with vigor the siege of St. John. They established a battery, at two and fifty paces from the fort.

ers.

: Several detachments of Americans scoured the country between the river Sorel and that of St. Lawrence. They were received with great demonstrations of joy by the Canadians, who came in throngs to join them, bringing arms, ammunition, and provisions. Their spirit increased with their number. Colonel Allen and major Brown, both officers of real talent, concerted the project of surprising the city of Montreal, the capital of Upper Canada, and situated in an island formed by two branches of the St. Lawrence. Colonel Allen having reached Longueville, found boats, and crossed the river, during the night, below Montreal. Major Brown was to have

passed over at the same time; but, not having been able to effect it, the first division found itself in a critical position. Governor Carleton, who was then at Montreal, having discovered the weakness of colonel Allen, and knowing how to make his profit of occasion, marched out to meet him, with a few hundred men, among English, Canadians, and savages. A fierce action ensued, and the Americans defended themselves with bravery; but, overpowered at length by numbers, having lost many of his men, and abandoned by the others, especially by the Canadians, colonel Allen was forced to surrender. The governor would not observe towards him the laws of war; but caused him to be loaded with irons, and sent him to England.

Flushed with this success, he resolved, by a vigorous effort, to raise the siege of fort St. John. He assembled what regular troops he had, and a considerable number of Canadians and Indians; but still not believing his means sufficient, he departed from Montreal, in order to join colonel Maclean, who, with the Scotch regiment of Royal Highlanders, occupied the mouth of the Sorel, near its confluence with the St. Lawrence. He hoped, with these forces united, to be in a situation to attack general Montgomery, and compel him to raise the siege. But fortune was not favorable to his design. The American general, foreseeing that a man so active as governor Carleton would assuredly not remain idle, had taken care to scour continually, with numerous detachments, the eastern bank of the right branch of the St. Lawrence.

The English, having completed their preparations, entered their boats, to pass the river, and land upon the opposite side, at Longueville. The American colonel Warner, having perceived their design, planted artillery on the bank of the river, and stood ready to repulse the enemy with musketry. He suffered the boats of the governor to approach; and, when they were within reach, poured into them several discharges of grape-shot. The English, surprised at this unexpected reception, retired in the greatest disorder, and relanded upon the other bank of the river, at Montreal. Colonel Maclean, informed of the check at Longueville, fell back upon Quebec, abandoning to the Americans the mouth of the Sorel.

Meanwhile, the siege of fort St. John was pushed with greater ardor. General Montgomery had already approached with his trenches to the foot of the wall, and was preparing to give the assault. But the besieged defended themselves valiantly, and appeared resolved to hold out to the last, notwithstanding their provisions were nearly exhausted. At length, the American general having received the news of the governor's defeat, sent into the place a flag, accompanied by one of the prisoners of colonel Warner. In the letter he addressed to major Preston, informing him of this event, he exhorted him not to persist in an obstinate defence, the only result of which would be an useless effusion of blood. Preston at

first hesitated, and demanded an armistice of some days. But the American could not consent to consume time unprofitably; the season being already much advanced. The Englishman was consequently compelled to surrender, the 3d of November, after a siege of six weeks. He obtained the honors of war, and guaranty of persons and property. The prisoners were conducted, by the wayof Ticonderoga, into the colonies that were deemed the most proper. Thus fell into the power of the Americans the fortress of St. John, which, since the loss of Ticonderoga and of Crown Point, was justly considered as the key of Canada. They found in it seventeen pieces of brass cannon, twenty-two of iron, seven mortars, with a considerable quantity of balls and bombs, and of naval stores; the munitions of war and provisions had been almost entirely consumed. Masters of this important place, the Americans hastened to occupy the mouths of the Sorel, and the point of land which this river forms in its junction with the St. Lawrence. This operation was of the utmost interest, in order to prevent the armed vessels, which the governor had assembled at Montreal, from descending the river, and escaping to Quebec. It was hoped, besides, that the governor himself might have to surrender; he being then at Montreal, an open city, and incapable of any defence. Accordingly, the provincials erected batteries upon this point; and, as the river is here very wide, they constructed, with extreme activity, a number of rafts and floating batteries; and thus not only prevented the governor from descending the river, but even compelled him, by a furious attack, to retire towards Montreal. All this squadron, and the governor in person, had a very narrow escape.

General Montgomery arrived under the walls of Montreal, the day after general Carleton had joined his ships and left it. The inhabitants immediately proposed many articles of capitulation; but the American general refused to accept them, alleging, that, not being in a state of defence, they could not make terms. He summoned them, therefore, to surrender at discretion; but, humane as well as brave, and possessed of all the civil virtues that can honor an individual, he regulated himself for the inhabitants all the conditions they could have wished, promising them, with a writing from his own hand, that he would protect their persons, their property, and their religion. In anticipation of their adhesion to the American Union, he added, that he hoped the civil and religious rights of all the Canadians would be unalterably fixed by the provincial Congress, and that the courts of justice would be organised after the principles of the English constitution. He subscribed, generally, to all the propositions that were compatible with the security of his army, and the success of his ulterior designs. This conduct of general Montgomery was dictated not only by his own character, which was truly noble and generous, but also by his desire to reassure the inhabitants