AVERTISSEMENT

aid me in the inquiry, and, a few months after, sent me the welcome news that the custodian of the collection of Sir Thomas Philipps had informed him that the Montcalm letters were in his charge, having been purchased by Sir Thomas, but not catalogued. They proved to be addressed to Bourlamaque, one of Montcalm'’s chief officers, with whom he was on terms of intimacy ; and they are doubly interesting because they are accompanied with injunctions of secrecy, such as brâlez cette lettre, ou, brûlez toutes mes lettres, injunctions which, fortunately for us, Bourlamaque disregarded. The letters are hastily written and are unusually perplexing examples of Montcalm's handwriting, which is not very clear at the best. IT caused the whole to be copied. The copist took great pains, but he was now and then at a loss to decipher some passage more difficult than the rest. Itis. believed, however that every essential part has been successfully transcribed, and that this curious correspondence will form à valuable supplement to the noble collection which Canada owes to the devoted zeal and energy of Abbé Casgrain and the liberality of count Raimond de Nicolay.