George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

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Chapter 16:

Possession taken of Michigan and the country on the Lakes.—Pitts administration continued.

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1760.

had Amherst been more active, the preceding

chap. XVI.} 1760.

campaign would have reduced Canada. His delay and retreat to Crown Point gave De Levi, Montcalm's successor, a last opportunity of concentrating the remaining forces of France at Jacques Cartier for the recovery of Quebec. In that city Saunders had left abundant stores and heavy artillery, with a garrison of seven thousand men, under the command of the brave but shallow Murray. When De Levi found it impossible to surprise the place in mid-winter, he still resolved on undertaking its reduction. George Townshend, now in England, publicly rejected the opinion, ‘that it was able to hold out a considerable siege;’ and Murray, the commander, himself prepared for ‘the last extremity,’ by selecting the Isle of Orleans for his refuge.

As soon as the river opened, De Levi proceeded with an army of less than ten thousand¹men to besiege