y, by
M. de Bougainville, appointed on the Marquis' staff, as Aid-de-Camp. In
January, a census of those capable of bearing arms in Canada was taken,
when 15,229 were reported as available for service. Montcalm went
energetically to work to preserve the country to France. A council of
war was held at Montreal, and it was decided that a body of troops,
under Montcalm, the Marquis de Levi, and M. de Jennezergus, should be
posted at Quebec; that M. de Bourlemaque should hasten to Ticonderoga,
blow up the works at the approach of the English, retire by the Lake to
Isle-aux-Noix, and there stubbornly resist. With 800 regulars and
militia, the Chevalier de la Corne was directed to hold the rapids
above Montreal, to entrench himself in a strong position, and hold out
to the last. It is, therefore, obvious, that the evacuation of
Ticonderoga was determined upon; and that the retention of Niagara was
not much desired. The intended march upon Quebec, by a large force from
England, caused the greatest uneasiness. Montcalm, hastening to Quebec,
pushed on the defences of the city and its outposts vigorously. The
buoys, and other marks for the safe navigation of the St. Lawrence were
removed. Proclamations, calling upon the people to make a determined
resistance, were issued. The people were reminded that they were about
to contest with a powerful and ruthless enemy of their religion and
their homes. The Church urged the faithful to resist the heretical
invaders.

General Wolfe was in the harbour of Quebec before either Ticonderoga or
Niagara had fallen. Eight thousand men had been embarked at Louisbourg,
under convoy of Admirals Saunders and Holmes. The expedition arrived
without accident off the Island of Orleans, where the troops were
disembarked, on the 25th of June. General Wolfe, three days afterwards,
issued an address to the colonists. He appealed to their fears. General
Amherst was approaching in one direction, Sir W. Johnston in another,
and he (Wolfe) was at their very doors. Succour from France was
unobtainable. To the peasantry he, therefore, offered the sweets of
peace, amid the horrors of war. The French colonists, however, were
ignorant of the English language as of English customs. They saw no
sign of fine feeling towards themselves in so large a fleet and so
considerable an army. Every obstacle that could be placed in the way of
an invading force, the French colonists patriotically placed in the way
of General Wolf