of
prisoners was relaxed.

Not long after this correspondence with General Gage, while Montgomery
was employed in the siege of St. John's, Colonel Ethan Allen was
captured in a bold and rash attempt on Montreal. Under the pretext of
his having acted without authority, he was put in irons, and sent to
England as a traitor.

While he was yet in Canada, congress requested the Commander-in-chief
to inquire into the fact. He addressed a letter to Sir William Howe,
requiring explanations on it, and assuring him that General Prescot,
who had been taken in Canada, and was understood to have contributed
to the severities inflicted on Colonel Allen, should receive exactly
the fate of that officer.

General Howe, not holding any authority in Canada, or not choosing to
enter fully into this subject, General Schuyler was directed to make
particular inquiries into the conduct of Prescot; and congress, on
being informed of the inefficacy of the application to General Howe,
ordered that officer into close jail.

CHAPTER III.

Invasion of Canada meditated.... Siege of St. John's....
Capture of fort Chamblee.... Carleton defeated at
Longueisle.... St. John's capitulated.... Montreal
surrenders.... Arnold's expedition.... He arrives before
Quebec.... Retires to Point Aux Trembles.... Montgomery lays
siege to Quebec.... Unsuccessful attack on that place....
Death of Montgomery.... Blockade of Quebec.... General
Thomas takes command of the army.... The blockade raised....
General Sullivan takes the command.... Battle of the Three
Rivers.... Canada evacuated.... General Carleton constructs
a fleet.... Enters lake Champlain.... Defeats the American
flotilla.... Takes possession of Crown Point.... Retires
into winter quarters.

{1775}

During these transactions, events of great interest were passing still
further north.

Serious dissatisfaction prevailed in Canada. The measures of
administration had disquieted the British settlers, without
conciliating the ancient inhabitants. At the same time, the regular
troops had been chiefly ordered to Boston, and the province left
almost entirely undefended. These facts were known in the United
Colonies. It was also known that military stores to an immense amount
had been deposited in Quebec, and that preparations were making to
invade the colonies from that quarter. The possession of that country
was believed to be al