30th, We anchor’d with the men of war, bombs, &c. off the west-end of Orleans, between it and Point Levi, on the south shore. Here the river alters its course to S.S.W. whereas it runs from east to west, up between the island and the main. About a mile and a half above Point Levi, and opposite to the city of Quebec, the river is not a mile broad.—In the evening a brigade under General Monckton landed at Point Levi, and took post there, with very little loss; but the next day a body of Canadians and Indians incommoded our troops at Point Levi, the ground being woody; but their commander being kill’d, they dispers’d, with little loss on our side. At night the enemy taking the advantage of a fresh westerly wind and ebb-tide, sent down seven large fire stages upon us; but by the bravery of the boats crews, who boarded and towed them off with huzza’s, the whole fleet escaped, though many ships were in great danger. By prisoners we are inform’d, that the greatest part of the Canadian force was drawn to Quebec for the defence of it, and encamped between that city and the falls of Montmorency, about seventeen thousand strong: that their regulars amounted to between three and four thousand; the rest were Canadians and Indians, the greatest part train’d to arms. The banks on the north-shore are high and steep; from the mouth of the river St. Charles, which runs into the country, under the works of the town to the falls of Montmorency, at the distance of six or seven miles, they have a breast-work on the bank, and are entrenching behind it. The west side of the river that falls at Montmorency, is defended in the same manner, quite up to the mountain; and they trust more to these defences than to their town, and are in no manner of apprehension from us.—_Note_, Great part of this intelligence is obvious, as we have a view of five distinct camps, capable of holding many more troops than their accounts mention; and we can observe them very busy in fortifying their posts quite to the falls. We find, that the banks, abreast of Quebec, on the south side, command the greatest part of the city, and that by batteries from thence we may lay it in ashes. From this place we have a fine view of the city and its defence towards the river.