RELIEF OF QUEBEC.

Colville's squadron arrived in Halifax on 27th October, Cook's
thirty-first birthday, and as soon as the winter was over, and the ships
were cleaned and fitted for sea as well as the limited appliances would
permit, it left for the St. Lawrence, sailing on 22nd April 1760, but was
"so retarded by frozen fogs, seas of compacted ice, and contrary winds,"
that it did not arrive off the Ile de Bic before 16th May. Here they were
met by a sloop with the news that Quebec was in urgent need of help.
General Murray, hearing of the approach of General de Levis, with a
French force, had left the shelter of the forts, and notwithstanding he
was greatly outnumbered, had offered battle in the open. He had at first
chosen a strong position, but hearing from spies that the French were
busy cleaning their arms after being caught in a heavy storm the night
before, he advanced upon them, and owing to the sudden attack and the
superiority of his artillery, at first gained a considerable advantage,
but afterwards the weight of numbers told, and the British were forced to
retire to the town with sadly reduced numbers, and Quebec was again
besieged. On receipt of this news Colville pushed on with his squadron,
and the arrival of the Vanguard and Diamond on the 17th, followed by the
Northumberland and the remainder on the next day, caused the French to
retire.

During the next four months the fleet passed an uneventful time in the
Canadian waters, the flagship being moored in the Basin, and then on the
12th September they received the acceptable news that Montreal and the
rest of the province of New France had surrendered to General Amherst,
and on 10th October the squadron again returned to Halifax to winter
quarters.