“On the 6th, Lieutenant Duell arrived with fifty-five petty-officers, seamen, and marines, from H.M. ships at Quebec. Employed bending the top-sails, getting the stores on board, and shifting the crew into the ship. At sun-set, the fore magazine being finished, got part of the powder on board, and prepared to quit the wharf. The joiners were employed during the night in fitting the after magazine.
“On the 7th, at daylight, hauled off from the wharf, and by dint of towing, warping, and sweeping during the whole day, against wind and current, we anchored late in the evening a little below the frontier, in company with H.M. brig Linnet. Whilst warping up, the rest of the powder was got into a boat and towed astern, till the after magazine was finished in the evening.
“On the 8th, we weighed in company with the Linnet, and by sailing, towing, sweeping, and warping, we got up to Chagy, where we anchored in the afternoon, and were joined by H.M. cutters Chubb and Finch, and the gun-boats. Quartered the ship’s company, and cleared the decks. Artificers employed in fitting chocks, beds, and coins for the guns; the magazine passages, &c. &c.
“On the 9th, we remained at anchor the whole day, employed in setting up the rigging, scraping the decks, manning and arranging the gun-boats, and exercising great guns. Artificers employed as yesterday. Armourers at the forge all day, fitting carronade locks to the long guns. After dark, we received a subaltern officer and ten men of the 39th regiment, and a Serjeant and ten men of the royal marine artillery, to complete the complement.
“On the 10th, at daylight, weighed and commenced warping up the Lake. At seven, the breeze freshening, we made sail and attempted to work to windward; but the ship being flat-built and drawing but eight feet water, the channel narrow, and the wind blowing hard directly a-head, obliged us to anchor at eleven a.m. having made little or no progress. Employed in the afternoon clearing the decks and preparing for action, exercising great guns, shortening the breechings fore-and-aft, &c. &c. Artificers making shot-lockers, altering beds and coins, and driving in belaying pins. Armourers at the forge fitting the gun-locks.
“On the 11th, the wind having shifted during the night, and now blowing a smart breeze up the Lake, we weighed before daylight, squadron in company, and ran up with the top-sails on the cap. Shortly after daylight, the guns were scaled, as Captain Downie said, to give intimation of our approach to the British array. They were then double-shotted, springs got on both bowers, and the stream-cable was led through the stern-port and bent to the sheet-anchor. Captain Downie then called all the commanding officers of the squadron on board the Confiance, and gave them particular directions as to what object they were to direct the fire of their respective vessels against in the action, ‘to prevent as much as possible,’ he added, ‘the necessity of making signals.’
“Having approached within a league of Cumberland Head, the enemy’s