[Extract]

My Lord! After this Town had been closely invested by the Rebels for five Months, and had defeated all their attempts, the Surprise Frigate, Isis, and Sloop Martin came into the Bason the 6th Instant. ー

As soon as that part of the 29th they had on board, with their Marines, in all about two hundred, were landed, they, with the greatest part of the Garrison, by this time much improved, and in high Spirits, marched out of the Ports of St Louis and St John's, to see what those mighty Boasters were about; they were found very busy in their Preparations for a Retreat, a few Shot being exchanged, the Line...marched forward, and the Plains were soon cleared of those Plunderers; all their Artillery, Military Stores, Scaling Ladders, Petards, &c.&c. were abandoned, the Surprise, Martin, and a Province Armed Vessel, went up the River, when they also quitted the Gaspe, and the Armed Schooner Mary; the Rear of the Rebels have halted at Deschambault, and the Surprise, with the other two Vessels, are a little upon this side of the Falls of Richelieu. ー

Thus ended our Siege and Blockade, during which, the mixed Garrison of Soldiers, Sailors, British and Canadian Militia, with the Artificers from Halifax and Newfoundland, shewed great Zeal and Patience under very severe Duty, and uncommon Vigilance, indispensable in a Place liable to be Storm'd, besides great Labor necessary to render such attempts less practicable...

May the 3d about ten at Night a Fireship attempted to run into the Cul du Sac, where the greatest part of our Shipping were laid up, but this also proved abortive, and she burned to the Water's edge without doing us the least Injury; 'tis supposed they intended a general assault, had they succeeded in setting Fire to the Ships and lower Town. ー

I cannot conclude this Letter without doing Justice to Lieutenant Colonel Maclean [Allan McClean], who has been indefatigably Zealous in the King's Service, and to his Regiment, wherein he has collected a number of experienced good officers, who have been very useful; Colonel [John] Hamilton, who Commanded the Battalion of Seamen, his Officers and Men discharged their Duty with great alacrity and Spirit, the same thing must be acknowledged of the Masters, inferior Officers, and Seamen belonging to his Majesty's Transports, and Merchant Men, detained here last Fall; only one Seaman deserted the whole time; the Militias British and Canadian behaved with a steadiness and Resolution, that could hardly have been expected from Men unused to Arms, Judges and other Officers of Government, as well as Merchants, chearfully submitted to every Inconvenience, to preserve the Town; the whole indeed upon the occasion shelved a Spirit and Perseverance, that does them great Honor.