nd by
the want of vegetables and fresh provisions, that instead of 5,000, the
original number of the garrison, there were not at this time above 3,000
men fit for service. With this small but valiant body he resolved to
meet him in the field; and on the 28th of April marched out to the
Heights of Abraham, where, near Sillery, he attacked the French under M.
de Levi with great impetuosity. He was received with firmness; and after
a fierce encounter, finding himself outflanked and in danger of being
surrounded by superior numbers, he called off his troops and retired
into the city. In this action the loss of the English was near 1,000
men, and that of the French still greater. The French general lost no
time in improving his victory. On the very evening of the battle he
opened trenches before the town; but it was the 11th of May before he
could mount his batteries and bring his guns to bear upon the
fortifications. By that time General Murray, who had been indefatigable,
had completed some outworks, and planted so immense an artillery on its
ramparts, that the fire was very superior to that of the besiegers, and
in a manner silenced their batteries. A British fleet most opportunely
arriving a few days after, M. de Levi immediately raised the siege and
precipitately retired to Montreal." (Holmes' Annals, Vol. II., pp. 98,
99.)]

[Footnote 249: "General Amherst made application to Massachusetts for
the same number of men for the service of the next year as they had
raised the last (1759). _The reduction of Canada was still the object.
This alone was found to be a sufficient stimulus to the Assembly, and
they needed no other arguments from the Governor. The generous
compensations which had been every year made by Parliament not only
alleviated the burden of taxes, which otherwise would have been heavy,
but by the importation of such large sums of specie increased commerce_,
and it was the opinion of some _that the war added to the wealth of the
province_, though the compensation did not amount to one-half the
charges of government.

"The Assembly, at the session in January, 1760, first granted a large
bounty to the men in garrison at Louisburg and Nova Scotia, to encourage
them to continue in the service. A vote was then passed for raising
5,000 men more, upon the same encouragement as those of the last year
had received. Soon after the Governor received letters from Mr. Pitt
making the like requests as had been made by hi