er of the
people was even more evident from the fact, that the first thing
printed in New England was the Freeman's Oath! the second an almanac;
and the third an edition of the psalms.

[8] It is not a little odd, that Franklin should have been a
member of this Committee, seeing that he was the very man who
urged upon the British Minister, in 1759, the expediency of
reducing Canada, as the most serious blow which could be
inflicted on French power in America.

On the day after the Reverend Mr. Carroll had failed in his part of the
mission, joined Dr. Franklin, and returned to the South, Chase and
Carroll of Carrollton had been busy with the military part of their
embassy. At a council of war held in Montreal, it was resolved to
fortify Jacques Cartier--the Richelieu Rapids, between Quebec and Three
Rivers--and to build six gondolas at Chambly, of a proper size to carry
heavy cannon, and to be under the direction of Arnold. But disasters
thickened around the insurgents. The small pox had broken out among the
troops, and was making deep inroads upon their scanty numbers. To crown
the whole, the worst news was received from the besiegers at Quebec,
for out of 1,900 men, there were not more than 1,000 fit for duty, all
the rest being invalids, chiefly afflicted with the small-pox. On the
5th of May, 1776, a council of war was held at Quebec, and it was
resolved to remove the invalids, artillery, batteaux, and stores higher
up the river; but, on the evening of that day, intelligence was
received in the American camp, that fifteen ships were within forty
leagues of Quebec, hastening up the river; and early next morning, five
of them hove in sight. General Thomas immediately gave orders to embark
the sick and the artillery in the batteaux, whilst the enemy began to
land their troops. About noon, a body of the British, a thousand
strong, formed into two divisions, in columns of six deep, and
supported with a train of six pieces of cannon, attacked the American
sentinels and main guard. The Americans stood for a moment on the
plains, with about 250 men and _one_ field piece only, when the order
for retreat was given, and the encampment was precipitately deserted.
In the confusion, all the cannon of the besiegers fell into the hands
of the British, and about 200 invalids were made prisoners. Following
the course of the river, the broken army of the Americans fled towards
Montreal, and halting for a