ivileges, at least until the treaty of peace should be
signed by the sovereigns of England and France. Artillery and military
stores were to be surrendered; the sick were to be cared for, and
guards were to be posted to protect the convents and churches against
possible outrage.

The general orders for the 18th of September describe, prospectively,
the formal cession of the fortress town--

"The gates to be taken possession of by Colonel Murray
and three companies of Grenadiers, after which the hour
will be appointed when the army should march in. Fifty of
the Royal Artillery, officers in proportion, one
field-piece with a lighted match following them, will
march to the Grand Parade, followed by the Commanding
Officer and his party, sent to take possession of the
town, to whom all the keys of the forts will be
delivered, from which party officers' guards will
immediately be sent to take possession of all ports and
outlets from the town....During this time the Commanding
Officer of Artillery will hoist the Union flag of Great
Britain at the most conspicuous place of the garrison;
the flag-gun will be left on the Grand Parade, fronting
the main guard."

[Illustration: _The Hon. Robert Monckton Major General_
_Sometime Governor of New York under Wolfe at Quebec 1759_.]

Thus passed Quebec into British hands. And the surrender was made none
too soon; for even as the garrison yielded, horsemen dashed up to the
city gates to announce the return of the French army. M. de Levis,
hurrying from Montreal, when the danger of Amherst's advance no
longer threatened, had come upon the retreating army of Vaudreuil soon
after its arrival at Jacques-Cartier. Notwithstanding their appalling
want of discipline, he soon made his presence felt among the
fugitives, and despatching courtiers to De Ramezay to admonish him
against surrender, this worthy successor of Montcalm marched on to the
relief of Quebec. But it was now too late; for when, having made a
junction with Bougainville at Cap Rouge, De Levis drew near the city,
he saw the red flag of Britain floating from the bastion of Cape
Diamond.

On the 19th of September, the day after the capitulation, a fast
frigate left for England, bearing the news of victory, together with
the embalmed body of the gallant general to whom it was due. Though
the event was celebrated there with bonfires and shouts of triumph,
yet the nation's tears