e united forces established themselves at Ste. Foye. Both
Montgomery and Arnold had counted upon the co-operation of the French
Canadians; and owing to the success of the army against Montreal, some
of the fickle _habitants_ were persuaded to join the invaders. In
general, however, the French population were not forgetful of the just
treatment they had met at the hands of the British, and if they were
not to be depended upon for a powerful defence, they at least rendered
no assistance to the besiegers. About half of those whom Carleton had
kept within the walls were French, but these, as has been said, were
wholly trustworthy.

The Governor paid no heed to Montgomery's call to surrender. His
envoys were turned away from the gates, and the resolute equanimity of
the town disturbed him. That his temper hardly stood the strain is
evident from the following letter to the Governor:--

"SIR--Notwithstanding the personal ill-treatment I have
received at your hands, and notwithstanding your cruelty
to the unhappy prisoners you have taken, the feelings of
humanity induce me to have recourse to this expedient to
save you from the destruction which hangs over you. Give
me leave, sir, to assure you, I am well acquainted with
your situation. A great extent of works, in their nature
incapable of defence, manned with a motley crew of
sailors, the greatest part our friends, of citizens who
wish to see us within their walls, and a few of the worst
troops who ever styled themselves soldiers. The
impossibility of relief, and the certain prospect of
wanting every necessary of life, should your opponents
confine their operations to a simple blockade, point out
the absurdity of resistance....I am at the head of troops
accustomed to success...and so highly incensed at your
inhumanity, illiberal abuse, and the ungenerous means
employed to prejudice them in the minds of the Canadians,
that it is with difficulty I restrain them till my
batteries are ready....Beware of destroying stores of any
kind, public or private....If you do, by Heavens, there
will be no mercy shown!

"RICHARD MONTGOMERY,
Continental Army, G.C."

If there was one man who knew the impracticability of a "simple
blockade," it was the General in command of the Continental army. No
one stood in greater need of "stores of any kind, public