To the storming plan there are fewer objections; and to this we must come at last. If my force be small, Carlelon’s is not great. The extensiveness of his works, which, in case of investment, would favour him, will, in the other case, favour us. Masters of our secret, we may select a particular time and place for attack, and to repel this, the garrison must be prepared at all times and places; a circumstance which will impose upon it incessant watching and labour, by day and by night, which, in its undisciplined state, must breed discontents that may compel Carleton to capitulate, or, perhaps, to make an attempt to drive us off. In this last idea there is a glimmering of hope. Wolfe’s success was a lucky hit, or rather a series of such hits; all sober and scientifick calculation was against him, until Mont-calm, permitting his courage to get the better of his discretion, gave up the advantages of his fortress, and came out to try his strength on the plain. Carleton, who was Wolfe’s Quartermaster-General, understands this well, and, it is to be feared, will not follow the Frenchman’s example.

In all these views you will discover much uncertainty; but of one thing you may be sure, that, unless we do something before the middle of April, the game will be up; because, by that time the river may open and let in supplies and re-enforcements to the garrison, in spite of any thing we can do to prevent it; and again, because my troops are not engaged beyond that term, and will not be prevailed upon to stay a day longer.

In reviewing what I have said, you will find that my list of wants is a long one; men, money, artillery, and clothing accommodated, to the climate. Of ammunition, Carleton took care to leave little behind him at this place. What I wish and expect, is, that all this be made known to Congress, with a full assurance that, if I fail to execute their wishes or commands, it shall not be from any negligence of duty or infirmity of purpose on my part. Vale; cave ne mandata frangas.

By his Excellency GUY CARLETON, Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief in and over the Province of QUEBECK and the Territories depending thereon, in AMERICA, Vice-Admiral of the same, and Major-General of His Majesty’s Forces, commanding the Northern District, &c., &c., &c.,

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas it has been found expedient to raise and embody a Militia within this City, to co-operate with and to assist His Majesty’s Troops in this garrison in the preservation of the City, and of the persons and property of His Majesty’s good and faithful subjects resident therein, against certain rebellious persons who have invaded this Province, a number of whom have lately appeared in arms before the walls of this Town: and whereas information has been given me, that some persons resident here have contumaciously refused to enroll their names in the Militia lists, and to take up arms, in conjunction with their fellow-citizens, for the purpose aforesaid; and that others, who have enrolled their names, and had for some time carried arms in the defence and preservation of the City, have lately laid them down; and also that some persons are busy in endeavouring to draw away and alienate the affections of His Majesty’s good and faithful subjects of this City from His Majesty’s person and Government: for these reasons, and in order to rid the Town of all useless, disloyal, and treacherous persons, I have thought fit to issue this Proclamation. And I do hereby strictly order and enjoin all and every person and persons whatsoever, liable to serve in the Militia, and residing at Quebeck, who have refused or declined to enroll their names in the Militia lists, and to take up arms in conjunction with His Majesty’s good subjects of this City, and who shall still refuse or decline so to do, as well as those who, having once taken up arms, have afterwards laid them down, and will not take them up again, to quit the Town in four days from the date hereof, together with their wives and children, and to withdraw themselves out of the limits of the District of Quebeck, before the 1st day of December next, under pain of being treated as rebels or spies, if thereafter they shall be found within the said limits.

And inasmuch as the persons who, in obedience to this Proclamation, are to quit the Town and District, may have bought up a considerable quantity of the provisions brought in for the subsistence of the inhabitants of the Town; and it would be imprudent to suffer those provisions to be carried out, more especially as the country abounds with necessaries of life: I do hereby further order and enjoin all and every such person and persons to deliver in forthwith to the Honourable George Alsop, Esquire, Commissary, a true inventory or list of their provisions and stores, in order that they may be fairly and justly valued, and the full price paid to the respective proprietors before their departure.

Given under my hand and seal of arms, at the Castle of St. Louis, in the City of Quebeck, this twenty-second day of November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, in the sixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.

GUY CARLETON.

By his Excellency’s command:

H. T. CRAMAHE.

GOD save the King.

November 22, 1775.

PORTSMOUTH (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) COMMITTEE.

Committee-Hall, Portsmouth, November 22, 1775.

Voted, That the Committee of Safety for this Colony, now sitting in this Town, be informed that George Meserve, Esq., has quitted this Town with a design, as they suppose, to go into Boston; and, as he is generally esteemed an enemy to the liberties of America, think some step ought to be taken to prevent the same.

By order of the Committee:

H. WENTWORTH, Chairman.

ADDRESS OF THE GENTLEMEN, ETC., OF THE COUNTIES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY.

Address of the Gentlemen, Heretors, Freeholders, and Clergy of the Counties of Ross and Cromarty, presented to His Majesty by the Right Honourable James Stuart Mackenzie, their Representative in Parliament,

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.