The next day [October 11] . . . it was suggested to the latter [Graves] that before the Transports could possibly get to the mouth of the River St Lawrence, Winter would be too far set in, and that Snow Storms would so endanger both Men and Vessels that it was very unlikely they should be able even to enter the River; And that therefore it was utterly improbable they should ever reach Quebec or even make their way back again to Boston, where the Cruizers already found the greatest difficulty in keeping their Stations. The excessive swift descent of the Tide in the River St Lawrence (the Ebb running for nine hours together and often after the rate of ten miles an hour, and the flood making but three hours) very greatly increased the peril and difficulty of the navigation, which were again augmented by the intense obscurity of Fogs, and the violent impetuosity of the N.W. Winds prevailing at, that Season: all combining rendered the art of the Navigator useless; nor could the most skilful Pilot venture much beyond what the Sight would conduct him to. It would be impracticable to anchor, the strongest Cable being incapable of holding a Ship against the rapidity of the Tides, and to keep under Sail would be almost certain destruction; insomuch that Ships had been frequently obliged to quit the River from its inclement Coast and retreat across the Atlantic to Europe. Upon these Considerations the Admiral, whose Earnestness to send Succours had induced him to hold the Cerberus in readiness for that Service, thought it behoved him to take the opinion of Pilots and Seamen, & in particular to consult Captain [Broderick] Hartwell, who had commanded the Neptune under Sir Chas Saund[ers] at the Siege of Quebec, and was judged well acquainted with the River St Lawrence; and the time of the Winters setting in there. They all concurred in opinion: & the very experienced Officer just mentioned declared frankly that as the Transports could not be ready to sail for several days to come, they must arrive too late in the Gulph of St Lawrence to get up; that they would be in the utmost peril of being lost, and that; should nothing fatal happen to them, they would be obliged to run for England: he therefore strenuously advised the Admiral by no means to think of putting the Lives of so many men in such Jeopardy. Captain Macartney, who had wintered at Quebec, agreed with Captain Hartwell; And both urged so much and so strongly against the measure proposed that the Admiral at last adopted their Sentiments, and by Letter to General Howe communicated the same to him.