446 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



of the French troops had devolved by die deattl 

 of Montchlm, was encouraged to hope from the 

 state of the British garrison that Quebec might 

 be reduced by siege before a British fleet could 

 nrrive with succours in the spring. For this 

 purpose he collected all the regular troops, Ca- 

 nadiiais and Indians that he could assemble ; 

 ^nd formed an army of more than twelve thou- 

 sand men. With this force he advanced to 

 lay siege to Quebec in the latter end of A- 

 pril. Murray confiding in the bravery & discip- 

 line of his troops, meant to confound &: disperse 

 them by the boldness & vigor of his measures. 

 On the twenty eighth of April, at half an hour 

 after six in the morning, he thre^v open the 

 gates of Quebec, and marched out with his lit- 

 tle army of three thousand men to give battle 

 to the enemy. A severe conflict took place, and 

 an obstinate battle was kept up for an hour and 

 three quarters.- At length the British were o- 

 verpowered bj numbers, and obliged to quit 

 the field with the loss of a thousand men killed 

 or wounded. The French lost a much greater 

 number, but remained masters of the field of 

 battle. 



Murray retreated with his troops within the 

 "Walls of Quebec ; and neither dismayed by the 

 loss of the battle, or discouraged with the weak- 

 ness of his own situation, made a vigorous de- 

 fence and determined at every risk and hazard 

 to hold out till succours should arrive. The 

 enemy did not omit to avail themselves of the 

 advantage of the battle, and the same evening 

 opened their trenches against the place. For 

 ^several days they camionaded the city widi great 



