The secretary brought in an account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, the 31st of December; which was read:

An account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, the 31st December, 1775, published by Congress.

The letters from Canada bring an Account of an unsuccessful attempt made to gain possession of Quebec by storm, on the 31 of December last, between the hours of two and seven in the morning.

The General finding his cannon too light to effect a breach, and that the enemy would not hearken to terms of capitulation, formed a design for carrying the town by escalade. In this he was encouraged by the extensiveness of the works and the weakness of the garrison. When every thing was prepared while he was waiting the opportunity of a snow storm to carry the design into execution, several men deserted to the enemy. His plan at first was to have attacked the upper and lower town at the same time, depending principally for success against the upper town. But discovering from the motions of the enemy, that they were apprized of his design, he altered his plan; and having divided his little army into four detachments, ordered two feints to be made against the upper town, one by Col.[James] Livingston, at the head of the Canadians against St. John's gate; the other by Captain [John] Brown, at the head of a small detachment against cape Diamond; reserving to himself and Colonel Arnold the two principal attacks against the lower town.

At five o'clock the hour appointed for the attack, the general, at the head of the New York troops, advanced against the lower town at Aunce de Mere. Being obliged to take a circuit, the signal for the attack was given and the garrison alarmed before he reached the place. However pressing on he passed the first barrier, and was just opening to attempt the second, when by the first fire from the enemy he was unfortunately killed, together with his Aid de camp, Captain John Macpherson, Captain [Jacob] Cheeseman and two or three more. This so dispirited the men that Colonel [Donald] Campbell, on whom the command devolved found himself under the disagreeable necessity of drawing them off.

In the mean while Colonel Arnold, at the head of about 350 of those brave troops, who with unparalleled fatigue had penetrated Canada under his command, and Capt [John] Lamb's company of Artillery, had passed through St. Roques, and approached near a two gun battery without being discovered. This he attacked and though it was well defended for about an hour, carried it with the loss of a number of men. In this attack Colonel Arnold had the misfortune to have his leg splintered by a shot, and was obliged to be carried to the hospital. After gaining the battery his detachment passed on to a second barrier, which they took possession of. By this time the enemy, relieved from the other attacks by our troops being drawn off, directed their whole force against this detachment, and a party sallying from Palace gate attacked them in the rear.

These brave men sustained the force of the whole garrison for three hours, but finding themselves hemmed in, and no hopes of relief, they were obliged to yield to numbers and the advantageous situation the garrison had over them.

No regular return is yet come to hand but by the advices received, we learn, that our loss in killed and wounded amounts to about 60, and 300 taken prisoners, who are treated very humanely. Among the slain are Capt. Kendricks [William Hendricks] and Lieutenant [William] Humphreys, of the rifHemen, and lieutenant [Samuel] Cooper.

After this unfortunate repulse the remainder of the army retired about three miles from the city, where they have posted themselves advantageously and are continuing the blockade, waiting for reinforcements which are now on their march to join them:

Every possible mark of distinction was shewn to the corpse of General Montgomery, who was interred in Quebec on the 2 January.

Published by Order of the Congress. ²