By Letters from Captain [Charles] Douglas, of His Majesty's Ship the Isis, dated Quebec the 8th and 15th of May, received Yesterday by Captain [John] Hamilton, late of the Lizard, who arrived from thence in his Majesty's Sloop the Hunter, it appears that the Isis, which sailed from Portland on the 11th of March, having Succours on Board for the Relief of the Place, made the Island of St. Peter's on the 11th of April; that he had from thence with the greatest Difficulty, made his Way, pressing the Ship, by Force of Sail for Fifty or Sixty Leagues through large Fields of thick Ice; that on the 21st of April, when he got clear of the Ice, he made the island of Anticostie, and the same Evening entered the River St. Lawrence; that on the 30th he anchored in a Snow Storm near the Pilgrim Islands, and from thence, as the Storm cleared up, observed successive Smoaks from Cape to Cape, towards Quebec; and that, after various Obstacles from Fogs, Calms, or contrary Wind, he arrived on the 3d of May near Isle aux Coudres, where he was joined by His Majesty's Ship the Surprise, and Martin Sloop, which sailed on the 20th of March from Plymouth, having likewise Succours on Board. Captain Douglas adds, that having secured here all the French Pilots, and every Hour becoming more and more precious, he gave Orders on the 5th of May to Captain [Robert] Linzee, of the Surprise, to make the best of his Way, and give Notice to Governor Carleton of the approaching Relief. Captain Linzee arrived in View of the Town at six o'Clock the next Morning; and after answering the private Signals from the Garrison, came to an Anchor in the Basin of Quebec, between the Rebel-battery on Point Levi and the Lower Town, where the Isis and Martin came to an Anchor also, very soon after; and the several Detachments they had on Board were immediately landed. Captain Douglas further observes, that the General wisely availing himself of the different Impressions which the Arrival of the Ships had made on the Minds of the Rebels, marched out to give them Battle, but that they as instantly retreated; on which Captain Douglas ordered Captain Linzee and Captain [Henry] Harvey, of the Martin Sloop, with a Province Armed Vessel, to proceed up the River as far as the Rapids, in Hopes to annoy them in their Retreat, which was attended with good Effect, as it hindered the Parties on the opposite Sides of the River from joining in their Flight towards Montreal. He represents their Flight to have been very precipitate, as they left not only their Cannon undischarged, their Ammunition, Scaling Ladders, Intrenching Tools, and Provisions, but even many of them their Muskets.

The Surprise and Martin were farther successful in taking an Armed Schooner belonging to the Rebels, carrying Four 6 Pounders and Six 3 Pounders, but the Men escaped into the Woods, they also recovered His Majesty's Schooner the Gaspe, which in the last Winter, had fallen into the Hands of the Rebels, and had been sunk by them, but was soon weighed and found to be not materially damaged. It also appears, from Captain Douglas's Letters, that on the 8th of May His Majesty's ship Niger arrived with Three Transports, having on Board the 47th Regiment, from Halifax; and that on the 10th, Captain [Skeffington] Lutwidge, of His Majesty's Ship the Triton, arrived with the Lord Howe and Bute Transports, having Troops on Board, together with the British Queen, Agnes and Beaver, Victuallers from England.

Captain Douglas speaks highly in Commendation of the Captains and Officers of the Ships employed to carry Succours, for their Perseverance and Exertion in the many Difficulties they had to encounter in the Passage through the Gulph, and in every other Part of the Service.