Collection search - A South-West View of St. Johns, Quebec, with Plan

Colour transparency available

Inscribed. Signed. Dated., Inscription: in brown ink, recto l.l. under the plan: River St. John or Chambly; plan keyed : a b c d e f g; b.: A SOUTH WEST VIEW of St JOHN'S / shewing the Fort and the Detach'd Redoubt with the Blockhouse opposite; b.l.: Montgomery's Mortar Battery / Montgomery's Battery for Guns / a. South Redoubt and Commanding Officers Quarters / b. Artillery Storehouse; b.c.: c. Smiths Shop and Quarter Master Gen': Store / d. Boathouses and Barrack Storehouses / e. Navy Storehouses / f. North Redoubt, Magazine & Artillery Storehouses; b.r.: g. Detach'd Redoubt, Officers & Soldiers Barracks./ h. Market Place / Inflexible. / Royal George.; in brown ink, recto l.r.: J: Hunter Lt R R Arty Augt 1779, view keyed : VV (two birds) VV (two birds) V (one bird) h g

The references to Montgomery's batteries relate to the siege of Fort St. Johns by American forces in 1775 (George F.G. Stanley, Canada Invaded: 1775-1776, Toronto, 1973). The Royal George and the Inflexible were prominent in Burgoyne's expedition of 1777 (Thomas Anbury, With Burgoyne from Quebec, ed. by Sidney Jackman, Toronto, 1963, pp. 134-135).

Hunter was possibly working as an engineer at St. Johns in 1779 (Letter from Haldimand to Capt. Marr, Montreal, Aug. 29, 1778: P.A.C., Haldimand Papers, MG 21 G 2, Vol. 62, p. 126 [transcript]). Although Hunter probably took this view in 1779, this particular version of it was likely executed after he obtained his commission in 1781. James Peachey copied this view (Microfiche 2, Cat. No. 15).