The Virginia Gazette

We hear, that yesterday came to town a Gentleman from Canada, who has brought letters from thence to several Gentlemen in town, signifying, that on the 5th ult. General Montgomery with his army were on the heights of Abraham, that he had taken into pay 2500 Canadians, that his army consisted of near 5000 men, and that he had invested the city of Quebec on every side.

Camp before Quebec, near the General Hospital, Dec. 6.

"Dear Sir,

" I wrote you the 21st ult. which make no doubt you have received. I then gave you some particulars of our march, proceedings, &c. since which General Montgomery has joined us with artillery, and about 3000 men; and yesterday we arrived here from Point Aux Trembles, and are making preparation to attack the enemy, who are in close garrison, but cannot hold out long, as from the best account they are very much divided amongst themselves, and a prodigious panic has seized them all. Carleton, we are told, is determined to hold out to the very last, as his only hope, for he can expect nothing but punishment from the Ministry, whom he has most egregiously deceived, in regard to the inhabitants of this country. All his friends, or rather his courtiers, say, he could not have taken more effectual measures than he has, to ruin the country.

" The 22d ult. he issued a most extraordinary proclamation, strictly ordering all who refuse to take up arms and defend the garrison, to depart the town and district within four days, with their wives and children, under pain of being treated as rebels or spies. In consequence of which, a great number of the principal inhabitants came out with their families, but were obliged to leave all their property behind, except some wearing apparel, and a little household furniture, &c. I enclose you a copy of the proclamation. Among the corps who came with Gen. Montgomery, is your worthy friend Capt. Lamb, whom I had the pleasure of seeing a few days ago at Point aux Trembles. Our men are in high spirits, being now well clothed with the regimentals destined for the 7th and 26th regiments, who were taken prisoners at St. John's. This is a circumstance which I believe the like never before happened to British troops, as two regiments of them to be made prisoners at one time. Providence smiles on us in a most remarkable manner. The Canadians say, "Surely God is with this people, or they could never have done what they have done." They are all astonished at our march through the wilderness, which they say was impossible, and would not believe our coming, until they had ocular demonstration of it. We are at a great loss for intelligence from the army at Cambridge and other quarters, having had no certain accounts of their movements, nor the least syllable of news since we left Newbury. I am astonished a regular communication has not been opened between Montreal and the colonies, hope you will pay a little attention publicly to it, more especially as there are some scoundrels, who, with impunity, open the letters directed to the officers in our army, and I suppose they continue the like infamous practice with the letters which are sent to our friends and acquaintances. The Gen. is now absent sending off an express, by whom I send this. I hope the next time I write you, it will be from Quebec, for if the insulting foe does not surrender shortly, I believe it is the General's intention to carry the town by storm."