cted with the calm dignity and impartial justice
which his position required.

Three days before Christmas the bombardment began in
earnest. The non-combatants soon found, to their equal
amazement and delight, that a good many shells did very
little damage if fired about at random. But news intended
to make their flesh creep came in at the same time, and
probably had more effect than the shells on the weak-kneed
members of the community. Seven hundred scaling-ladders,
no quarter if Carleton persisted in holding out, and a
prophecy attributed to Montgomery that he would eat his
Christmas dinner either in Quebec or in Hell--these were
some of the blood-curdling items that came in by petticoat
or arrow post. One of the most active purveyors of all
this bombast was Jerry Duggan, a Canadian 'patriot' barber
now become a Continental major.

But there was a serious side. Deserters and prisoners,
as well as British adherents who had escaped, all began
to tell the same tale, though with many variations.
Montgomery was evidently bent on storming the walls the
first dark night. His own orders showed it.

HEAD QUARTERS, HOLLAND HOUSE.
Near Quebec, 15th Decr. 1755.

The General having in vain offered the most favourable
terms of accommodation to the Governor of Quebec, &
having taken every possible step to prevail on the
inhabitants to desist from seconding him in his wild
scheme of defending the Town--for the speedy reduction
of the only hold possessed by the Ministerial Troops
in this Province--The soldiers, flushed with continual
success, confident of the justice of their cause, &
relying on that Providence which has uniformly protected
them, will advance with alacrity to the attack of
works incapable of being defended by the wretched
Garrison posted behind them, consisting of Sailors
unacquainted with the use of arms, of Citizens incapable
of Soldiers' duty, & of a few miserable Emigrants.
The General is confident that a vigorous & spirited
attack must be attended with success. The Troops shall
have the effects of the Governor, Garrison, & of such
as have been active in misleading the Inhabitants &
distressing the friends of liberty, equally divided
among them, except the 100th share out of the whole,
which shall be at the disposal of the General to be
given to such soldiers as distinguished themselves by
their activity & bravery, to be sold a