In the beginning of November 1775, His Majesty's Ship the Lizard with a Store Ship under her convoy arrived at Quebec, when that Province was invaded by the Rebels, with two different bodies of troops ー One of which, under the command of General Montgomery, after taking possession of Ticonderoga, and making himself Master of all the Vessels and armed craft on the Lake Champlain, entered the Province by that rout ー The other under the orders of General Arnold, made their appearance before Quebec, having taken their rout by Chaudie[re.] Every place of strength was now in their possession, that city excepted, which had no troops in it, and the Governor Sir Guy Carleton was absent, who had hastened to endeavour to save Montreal, upon receiving information of the progress which Genl Montgomery had made ー

It is not easy to form an adequate idea of the deplorable situation of the Town of Quebec at this time. The Governor was absent; the Lieut: Governor a feeble old man was diffident and uncertain what measures to pursue; there were no troops to make any defence; all the Artillery mounted on the Ramparts consisted of seven pieces of cannon; and the Inhabitants were in a state of despondency expecting that the Army under General Arnold, which having crossed the River St Lawrence, occupied the heights of Abraham close to the city, wou'd advance and enter the gates without resistance, for such was the consternation, that the gates were not shut, when the enemy was within a mile of them ー And the apprehensions of the Lieut Governor were such, that he thought it adviseable to send back the Store Ship, least she shou'd fall into the hands of the Rebels ー She took her departure, but fortunately as the events afterwards turned up, was obliged to return, as the River was so much frozen up that it was impossible for her to proceed.

In this very critical Situation, Captain Hamilton, since created a Baronet, and his Officers endeavoured to animate and encourage the Inhabitants to take arms in their own defence, by Offering to lay up the Frigate, and disembark his men to do Garrison duty, and to give them every Assistance in their power, for His Majesty's Service ー At this time, Lieut Col Maclean who had crossed the country arrived in the Town with about 100 Men ー His activity and exertions contributed to give spirits to the people, and rouse them from their despondency, and with so good an effect, that when Captain Hamilton met the principal Inhabitants to know their final determination, they consented to act in their own defence.

Upon this a Proclamation was published, by the Lieutenant Governor and Captain Hamilton, laying an embargo upon all the Shipping in the River; and by way of farther precaution, his boats crews were ordered to unbend the sails and carry them on shore, to prevent such Vessels as might be so disposed, from leaving the place ー

The Officers and Men belonging to His Majesty's Ship the Lizard, the Hunter Sloop, and the Magdalen Schooner were immediately disembarked, which together with those from the Merchants Vessels, were formed into a Battalion of 9 Companies consisting of near 400, officers included ー The Officers took Rank in the Marine Batallion respectively, according to their Rank in the Navy, and Mr Starke being then second Lieutenant of the Lizard, served as a Captain therein, during the Seige . . . They proceeded immediately to put the fortifications in the best possible state of defence; they cleared the ditches and the ramparts, and mounted thereon, with great activity and dispatch, the artillery; and constructed Barriers in some of the Streets, and other works to strengthen the place.

While these preparations were carrying into execution, under the direction of Sir John Hamilton and Lieut Col Maclean, Sir Guy Carleton arrived at Quebec; after having narrowly escaped from being taken a prisoner, by getting into a Canoe, in which he came down the River from Montreal with much hazard, and immediately [as]sumed the command of the Garrison² ー The British and the Canadian Inhabitants were formed into Corps of Militia, which amounted to about 700 Men, which being added to Lt Col Macleane's Corps, and the Marine Battalion, made the whole to consist of about 1200 Men bearing Arms ー