ment soon after the treaty of Aix la Chapelle in 1748. In this station, during the peace, he continually cultivated the art of war, and introduced into his corps the most exact discipline and regularity.

In 1754, a fresh rupture with France seemed inevitable. In addition to the evasive answers given by that Court upon the subject of encroachments made on the banks of the Ohio, they had even erected forts within two hundred and twenty five miles of Philadelphia. War, however, was not formally declared till 1756; and, for a short time, disappointment and disaster attended the British arms, till Mr. Pitt (afterward Earl of Chatham) evinced his superior abilities by employing in the land and sea-service, without any reference to parliamentary interest, men known only to their country by their exertions. Of this number was Colonel Wolfe, who was sent out with the rank of Brigadier General, under Amherst, upon the grand expedition against Louisbourg.* This siege contributed eminently to raise his military reputation. He landed his division amidst the continued fire of the enemy's batteries; and notwithstanding a surf, which overset several of the boats, calmly gave orders to be rowed ashore, in order to cover the debarkation of the remaining divisions. He then with a strong detachment took possession of the Lighthouse Point, where he erected several batteries against the ships and the island-fortification; by which the success of the enterprise was, in a great measure, secured. The regular approaches to the town were conducted by the engineers, under the inspection of General Amherst; but still the in

* The capital of the island of Cape Breton.

defatigable Wolfe with his detached party raised several batteries, which did considerable execution upon the enemy. On the twenty seventh day of July, 1758, Louisbourg surrendered.

From the share, which Wolfe was known to have had in this important conquest, he was appointed by Mr. Pitt to command a still greater expedition the ensuing campaign; and, with this view, received the rank of Major General.

The cabinet had resolved that, as soon as the season of the year would admit, he should sail up the St. Lawrence with 8,000 men, aided by a strong squadron of ships from England, to undertake the siege of Quebec; while General Amherst with another army of 12,000 should reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, cross Lake Champlain, proceed along the Richlieu to the banks of the St. Lawrence, and join him in his arduous enterprise. The time, however, necessarily employed in these previous operations rendered it impossible for the Commander in Chief to comply with the latter part of his instructions.

Wolfe had under him, upon this occasion, Brigadiers Monckton, Townshend, and Murray, officers in the flower of their age. It was, indeed, a singular instance of confidence in youthful valour, that not a single veteran had any principal command in the undertaking. The armament ascended the St. Lawrence without interruption, and about the latter end of June 1759, the troops were disembarked in two divisions upon the isle of Orleans, a little below Quebec.

The General, upon landing, published a mani-` festo, offering protection and indulgence to the inhabitants, if they would remain neuter:' represent

ing to them in the strongest terms the folly of resistance, as the English fleet by their command of the river would intercept all succours from Europe;' and adding, that though the cruelties exercised by the French might justify the most severe reprisals, Britons had too much generosity to follow such examples.'

This humane declaration, however, penned in the most persuasive stile, produced no immediate effect. It was not long before the Canadians, stimulated by their priests, joined the scalping parties of the Indians, and slaughtered some stragglers of the British army with the most horrid barbarity. Wolfe now addressed a polite remonstrance to the Marquis de Montcalm, the French general, desiring him to prevent the recurrence of such enormities, as contrary to the rules of war; and stating that, otherwise, he must retaliate by burning their villages and laying waste their plantations.' This threat he unfortunately found necessary, in order to put a stop to their outrages, to enforce; and it speedily produced the desired effect.

Montcalm, though superior in numbers to the English, chose rather to depend upon the natural strength of the country, than to risk a general engagement in the field. The city of Quebec was skilfully fortified, defended by a numerous garrison, and plentifully supplied with provisions and ammunition. He had reinforced the troops of the colony with five regular battalions formed of select citizens, and had disciplined all the Canadians of the neighbourhood and several tribes of savages. With this army he took post in an advantageous situation along the shore, every accessible part of his camp being guarded by

deep entrenchments. To commence the siege against such advantages, was a measure of extreme danger; but no prospect of danger could restrain the ardor of the hero appointed to conduct it.

The necessary works for the security of the hospital and of the stores on the island of Orleans being completed, the British forces crossed the north channel and encamped on the banks of the Montmorenci, which separated them from the left division of the enemy's camp. The General now wrote to Mr. Pitt, describing his situation, and assigning as a principal reason for his choice of it, that there was a ford below the falls of that river passable for some hours at the ebb of the tide; by means of which, he hoped to find an opportunity of engaging Montcalm upon advantageous terms.

Here however, disappointed of success in one of his preliminary movements, and deprived of all hopes of reinforcement from General Amherst, Wolfe was thrown into a fever and flux, which reduced him extremely low. In this unhappy state he despatched an express to England, drawn up in the stile of a de sponding man, to which perhaps the advantages gained by the Generals in other parts of America not a little contributed: as he might naturally conclude, that the same good news would be expected from himself by a public, who had been accustomed to hear of nothing but his conquests. Yet such was the perspicuity and accuracy of his statement, that it was received with applause, though the measure which it recorded had failed.

As soon as he recovered a little strength, he went on board the Admiral; and these two commanders, reconnoitring the town, concurred in opinion with the

chief engineer, that an attack could not be hazarded with any prospect of success. It was resolved, therefore, to change the plan of operations; and to land the troops by night within a league of Cape Diamond below the town, with the hope of ascending the Heights of Abraham, which rise abruptly from the banks of the river, and thus gaining possession of the plain at the back of the city.

The difficulties attending the execution of this design were so obvious, that none but a General well assured of the affections of his troops would have ventured to propose it. The veterans of ancient Rome had often mutinied upon less hazardous undertakings: Wolfe, however, readily acceded to the project, and enfeebled as he was by distemper, led his troops on in person. The Admiral, for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, moved his squadron higher up the river; but in the night, pursuant to his instructions, fell down again to cover the landing of the troops. About one in the morning of the twelfth of September the first embarkation, consisting of four complete regiments, the light infantry commanded by Colonel Howe, a detachment of Highlanders, and the American grenadiers, gently moved downward in flat-bottomed boats under the conduct of Brigadiers Monckton and Murray. Wolfe himself accompanied them, and was among the first who landed.

Upon their disembarkation, the boats were sent back for the second division, under the superintendence of Brigadier Townshend. In the mean time Colonel Howe, with the light infantry and the Highlanders, clambered up the woody precipices, and dislodged a small party appointed to the defence of a narrow entrenched path, by which alone the other