there, and endeavour to force on a general action. In pursuance of this
design, a body of about 3000 men were landed successfully on 9th July,
under the protecting fire of some of the fleet, and a camp was formed,
and the next few days provided employment for the boats of the Pembroke
and other ships in landing men, stores, and artillery. The bombardment of
the town opened on 12th July from the batteries erected at Point Levi and
a portion of the fleet, and continued with little intermission till 13th
September. When fire was opened on the town other ships in the Basin and
guns at the camp at Montmorenci opened on Montcalm's lines at Beauport.
On the 18th two men-of-war, two armed sloops and two transports succeeded
in passing the town without loss, but a third ship, the Diana, ran
aground in trying to avoid collision with a transport, and was attacked
by the enemy's boats, but was brought off by the Pembroke and Richmond.
She was so seriously damaged that she had to be sent to Boston for
repairs and then returned to England. On the 20th Wolfe joined the
up-river squadron in a barge, and in passing the town had his mast
carried away by a shot from the Sillery Battery, but no further damage
was done. He made a short reconnaissance which led to nothing at the
time, but may have had an important influence in the choice of a
landing-place afterwards.

ATTACK ON BEAUPORT.

On his return to his camp at Montmorenci he decided to make an attack on
the left of the French lines from boats and from his camp over a ford
which was available at low tide between the falls of Montmorenci and the
St. Lawrence. This attack was to be supported by the Centurion, moored in
the north channel, and by two armed cats which were to be run aground as
near as possible to some small redoubts, the first object of the attack.
Here it is certain that Wolfe and Cook came into personal contact, for on