The New Hampshire Gazette

COPY of a Letter taken in a Prize by Admiral Darell's Squadron.

Quebec, April 30, 1759.

Dear Brother in Law,

The Letter you favoured me with of the 16th of January, I received with the greatest Pleasure; I am charmed you have got the better of your Sickness, and are in so fair a Way of Recovery: I hope the little Tour you have made to St. Augustine has had the desired Effect: If your Winter has proved melancholy, ours I assure you, has not been gay, we have been reduced to a Quarter of a pound of Bread, per Day, and have often had no meat at all; but the worst is our Misery encreases: Beef which all the last Winter sold for 20 to 22 Sous the pound, at present sells for 45; and the Butchers say, the small Quantity they have will sell for 3 Livres a pound: Fowls and Ducks are above any Price: Corn sells for 40 Livres: Wine 150 Livres a Hogshead: A Cow has commonly sold for 450 Livres. In a Word, every Thing is above Price: 'Tis a most melancholy Circumstance to think what will become of us, it is my opinion if Peace does not immediately take Place or great Succour come to us from France, our Colonies had much better submit to the English than continue in their present Misery. The English threaten us in every Place, Crown Point is no longer looked upon as safe, nay it appears a Resolution is taken to burn and abandon every Thing, and entrench themselves at the Pass of St. John's, as our last Hopes; we are Sending to Crown Point only 3000 Men, that are composed of Berry's and the Queen's, the rest that complete that Number are Canadians, this Body marches to morrow, under the command of Mons. Bourlemont; Mons. Montcalm and Mons. Levy remain with the rest of the Troops here. We have learnt by a Prisoner taken the 6th of last Month at Carillon, that at Albany they daily expected the arrival of 6000 old British Troops, commanded by the General Officer who took Louisbourg, he has the Character of being a Man of great Experience, one whom our General must be cautious of: This Prisoner likewise reports, we shall be attacked here below, notwithstanding no Measures seem to be taken for our Defence: We have as yet no News from France, tho' a flattering Gale this 8 Days from the N. E. gave us Reason to expect it.