1775]

TROOPS SURRENDERED AT ST. JOHN'S.

467

Abstract of state of troops who surrendered at Saint John's, 2 November, 1775

CHAPTER IV.

On the day of Carleton's departure, the congress troops crossing from Laprairie had reached Saint Paul's island, a league to the west of Montreal. There they remained waiting for further orders. As the news became known, the sympathizers with congress shewed their feelings openly, abandoned their arms, and said they were tired of the farce of serving the government. *

The inhabitants of the suburbs would not enter the town. The gates were closed, and those devoted to the authority of the crown remained under arms. Mention has been made of one Bindon, who carried the news to Allen that troops were marching against him. He had explained away his conduct by admitting that he had acted without judgment, and had continued in apparent performance of his duty as a member of the volunteer companies. On this day he was on sentry at one of the embrasures, when he permitted two men to pass through the opening to communicate to the congress troops the condition of the city. One was a partner of Price, already named, a strong partisan of the Boston agitation. The 12th of November fell on a Sunday, and, about nine o'clock, as many were proceeding to church, the city was thrown into great agitation by the news that Montgomery's force was observed coming from Saint Paul's island, and making its way to point Saint Charles, where it must shortly arrive. The citizens hastily assembled to determine upon some course of action, and, finally, a committee of twelve was chosen to meet Montgomery and confer with him. There was no hope of any defence of the city. The few troops, who had remained behind, had left the preceding evening with Carleton, and the "Qu'il y avoit assez long temps qu'ils faisoient la grimace." Verreault, I.,

*

p. 79.

1775]

CAPITULATION OF MONTREAL.

469

militia of the northern parishes had been despatched to their homes upon the news of the surrender of Saint John's. Of the inhabitants of the city few were willing to take up arms to defend it. All that could be done was to obtain the best terms possible.

The parties selected went forward to meet Montgomery. They endeavoured to put the best face on the situation, and asked him his purpose in advancing with an armed force. against the place. Montgomery quietly told them that he came as a friend, and that he would give them four hours to consider the conditions on which they would accept his authority. The deputation then called upon him not to approach nearer to the city. Montgomery answered that it was somewhat cold weather, and immediately sent fifty men to occupy the Recollet suburb, and, before four o'clock, his whole force was established there.

There was much feeling among those loyal to Great Britain that they should enter into a capitulation without the least resistance. Even in the desperate circumstances in which Montreal was placed, there were those who were ready to make a last effort to save it from this fate. To such as these, it seemed disgraceful, that a few hundred men should take possession of a city of twelve thousand inhabitants. Several were desirous of resisting the attack, but Montgomery knew what was before him. Many of the inhabitants of the suburbs had seen him at point Saint Charles, and had assured him of their neutrality. There was a strong party in the city prepared in any struggle to side with him, and there were not four hundred persons well disposed to the government; the latter without ammunition or provisions. The terms of capitulation were therefore drawn up and placed in Montgomery's hands: he received them with courtesy, promised to examine them, and that shortly he would communicate his reply.

At seven o'clock Montgomery sent three deputies, one of which was the James Price previously mentioned. Although a citizen of Montreal, and his wife was present in the place,

he endeavoured according to Sanguinet to make the terms as hard as possible. The discussion continued until midnight, when finally the deputies proceeded to the Recollet suburbs and saw Montgomery himself, who gave his decision in writing.

The committee charged with negotiating the articles of capitulation presented them under nine heads; that the citizens, including the religious orders, should enjoy their rights and properties; that both the French and English should be maintained in the free exercise of their religion; that trade in the interior and upper part of the province and beyond the seas should be uninterrupted; that passports on legitimate business should be granted; that the citizens and inhabitants of Montreal should not be called upon to bear arms against the mother country; that the inhabitants of Montreal, and of every part of the province, who had borne arms for the defence of the province, then prisoners, should be released; that the courts of justice should be re-established and the judges elected by the people; that the inhabitants of the city should not be forced to receive the troops; that no habitant of the country parishes, and no Indian should be admitted into the city, until the commandant had taken possession of it, and made provision for its safety.

Montgomery treated the demands somewhat summarily, but not ungenerously. He pointed out that the city, being without artillery, troops and provisions, was not in a position to make any capitulation. The continental army had a generous disdain of all acts of oppression and violence, and had appeared in Canada to establish liberty and safety. The general accordingly pledged his personal honour to the observance of the conditions asked, in the matter of property and the exercise of religion. From the unhappy differences between Great Britain and the colonies, he was unable to engage that trade should be continued with the mother country. As far as he was able, having in view the public interest, he would gladly protect and extend trade, and grant passports for the upper country. He hoped to see a