While these disasters were overtaking the French on the Lakes, the English under Wolfe had sailed up the St. Lawrence after clearing the coasts below, and were preparing to attack Quebec. Indeed the news of the capture of Niagara, which came at a very opportune moment, greatly heartened the English and correspondingly depressed the French. The situation was perilous. Fort Frontenac was destroyed, Fort Niagara in the hands of the English, Amherst was advancing, as part of Pitt’s plan, through New York State by way of Oswego, against Montreal, and a strong English force under Wolfe, selected specially for this work by Pitt, was before the capital city of Quebec. The internal affairs of the country were not promising. Montcalm, the general of the French forces, an able military man of good experience, was not supreme, but had to take his orders from Vaudreuil, the governor, a weak and jealous man, fatal failings in a position of authority. And with almost the powers of the governor, was the Intendant, a man called Bigot, to whose looseness in matters of morals and money may be partially ascribed the loss of New France. The defects of the rulers were to be seen in the officials under them, and it was a difficult task that confronted Montcalm. The advance against Quebec was made by water, and up to the battle itself the movements were those of a fleet. The commander of the army was General Wolfe, selected by Pitt, the Prime Minister of England, and to him was given what was then the extraordinary privilege of selecting most of his staff and thus providing for unity of aim and community of interest. Saunders was Admiral of the fleet. At first they lay below the city and tried sundry attacks by land, but without success. Then they made a skilful movement up the river and in a better position to make a direct attack. Quebec is a natural stronghold, and had to depend largely upon this for protection. Large sums of money had been assigned for the greater development and strengthening of the fortifications, but in those days of corruption and thoughtlessness the money had doubtless been squandered. Its great cliffs might have presented a hopeless appearance to the enemy if properly guarded, but Wolfe knew through his capable Intelligence Department, that there was but little ammunition and little food in the garrison. Above all, there was a lack of intelligence and co-operation among the rulers of the French, an evidence of which was the fact that a great fleet could make its way up the dangerous St. Lawrence with practically no opposition.