1759.

PARTING SCENE.

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own aspiring thoughts, and the unwonted society of statesmen,-broke forth into a strain of gasconade and bravado. He drew his sword, he rapped the table with it, he flourished it round the room, he talked of the mighty things which that sword was to achieve. The two Ministers sat aghast at an exhibition so unusual from any man of real sense and real spirit. And when at last Wolfe had taken his leave, and his carriage was heard to roll from the door, Pitt seemed for the moment shaken in the high opinion which his deliberate judgment had formed of Wolfe; he lifted up his eyes and arms, and exclaimed to Lord Temple: "Good God! that I should have entrusted the fate of the country and of the ad"ministration to such hands!"-This story was told by Lord Temple himself to a near and still surviving relative, one of my best and most valued friends.* It confirms Wolfe's own avowal, that he was not seen to advantage in the common occurrences of life, and shows how shyness may at intervals rush, as it were, for refuge, into the opposite extreme; but it should also lead us to view such defects of manner with indulgence, as proving that they may co-exist with the highest ability and the . purest virtue.

The scheme of Pitt for the conquest of Canada comprised three separate expeditions, Quebec being the point of junction and the final object for each. On the left, a body of Provincials under General Prideaux, and of friendly Indians under Sir William Johnson, was to advance against Niagara, reduce that fortress, embark on Lake Ontario, and threaten Montreal. In the centre was

the main army, consisting of 12,000 men, whose command had been taken from General Abercrombie after the last campaign, and entrusted to General Amherst. The instructions of Amherst were, to renew the attack on Ticonderoga, secure the navigation of Lake Champlain, and then push forward along the river Richelieu, to combine his operations with Wolfe. To Wolfe himself a

*The Right Hon. Thomas Grenville, whose clear intellect and benignant kindness were continued till his death, December 17. 1846, in his ninety-first year. The passage as above was inserted, with his consent, in 1844. Lord Temple also told him, that on the evening in question Wolfe ha? partaken most sparingly of wine. (1853.)

force of 8,000 men was committed; he was ordered to embark in the fleet of Admiral Saunders, and to sail up the St. Lawrence as soon as its navigation should be clear of ice, with the view of attempting the siege of Quebec. This plan, as formed by a civilian*, has not escaped censure from some military critics, who enlarge especially on the imprudence of prescribing or expecting co-operation between bodies of troops so widely distant, composed of such various elements, and liable to all the hazard and uncertainty of water-carriage. It was hardly possible that Amherst and Wolfe should arrive before Quebec at the same period of time; and failing their junction it was highly probable that the first who came would be overpowered by Montcalm and his covering army. It is certainly true that the success, however brilliant, of any scheme, is no clear or unerring proof of its prudence and sagacity. The longer we live and the more closely we observe, the larger shall we find the share in all human transactions of what fools call Fortune, and wise men Providence. But, on the other hand, let it never be forgotten how much easier it is to cavil than to act!

In pursuance of these instructions, Generals Prideaux and Johnson advanced to Niagara, and commenced the siege of its fort towards the middle of July. They found the defences strong, and held by a garrison of 600 men. The investment had not long been formed before Prideaux was killed by the bursting of a cohorn, but Johnson, who succeeded to the chief command, displayed in a high degree both bravery and conduct. While still securing his trenches against the garrison, he disposed his troops to engage the enemy, who were approaching to relieve the fort with a body of 1,700 men, composed partly of Europeans, partly of provincials, and partly of savages. They began the attack with a shrill and terrific scream,

the

*In a letter to Pitt, dated November 6. 1759, Mrs. Wolfe, the mother of the General, refers to the conquest of Quebec by her son“which you, Sir, planned, and he executed." (Chatham Correspondence, vol. i. p. 450.)

† Some of these criticisms are drawn out in array by Smollett. (Hist., book iii. ch. xi. sect. 13.)

1759.

TICONDEROGA TAKEN.

155

war-whoop of the Indian tribes, and loud as the neighbouring cataract when nighest *, and on they came with headlong haste and ardour; but they were so well received by our troops in front, and by our Indians in flank, that in less than an hour's time they were completely routed. The pursuit of them was hot and bloody, continuing for five miles, and among the prisoners were the enemy's first and second in command. This action was fought within sight of the garrison, and determined their capitulation the same night, they remaining prisoners of war. To the public, at that time, the taking of Niagara seemed of especial value, as effectually breaking that French communication, so much talked of, and so much dreaded, between Canada and Louisiana. But, on the other hand, Sir William Johnson found it impossible to pursue in this campaign the further designs which had been contemplated for his army beyond Lake Ontario.

In the same month of July General Amherst appeared before Ticonderoga. A resolute resistance was expected; but when the French observed the strength of our troops, and the judgment of our preparations for a siege, they retired in the night, having first in some degree dismantled the works. These it was the first object of General Amherst to repair. He then advanced against the enemy, who had retreated to Crown Point, another fort further up Lake Champlain. As he drew near, however, the enemy abandoned this fort also. They had still about 3,500 men, and several armed boats and sloops, with which they took up a strong position on the Isle aux Noix at the upper end of the Lake. Thus, before the English General could pretend to dislodge them, or to carry the

Grahame's History of the United States, vol. iv. p. 43. In his ardour of description he makes the sound of the cataract equal the Indian yell on the scene of conflict; but his error (and mine in my first editions, where I followed him) is pointed out by Mr. Henry Reed; the Falls being fifteen miles distant from the Fort, and there scarcely ever audible. (1853.)

† See the Annual Register, 1759, p. 34. A pamphlet published in 1757 says of Niagara : "It is by this place alone that the French "are and ever will be able to over-run our colonies in the manner they do."

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war into Canada, he found it necessary to attain a naval superiority. For this object he directed the construction of boats at Ticonderoga, while also employed in strengthening the fortifications at Crown Point. During this whole period he had not been able to maintain any communication with General Wolfe, or to receive the slightest intelligence of his movements, except a few vague hints from the Marquis de Montcalm, in some letters that passed between them relative to the exchange of prisoners. It was not until October that Amherst's little flotilla was completed; he then embarked his troops on Lake Champlain, but was twice driven back by storms. In fact, the favourable season of the year had already passed away. It became necessary, therefore, for the General to postpone his further operations, and to dispose his troops in winter quarters. Slight as appear the occurrences of this campaign, it was honoured with high praise from Pitt in the House of Commons. "If it was in Vegetius," cried he, "all the world would admire; it is in America, and no"body regards it!"*

But both these expeditions are cast into the shade by Wolfe's. He had, according to his instructions, embarked on board the fleet of Admiral Saunders, which after touching at Louisburg and Halifax, steered for the mouth of the St. Lawrence. During the voyage were taken two small store vessels of the enemy; a capture which seemed of slight importance, but which proved of the greatest, for on board these ships were found some excellent charts of the river, which enabled the Admiral to sail up the stream in perfect safety, without encountering any of those obstacles and perils that (in popular apprehension at least) attended its navigation. It was not till the 27th of June, however, that the army was landed on the Isle of Orleans, in front of Quebec. On the very next night the enemy made an attempt to destroy our armament, by sending out from Quebec seven fire-ships. These came burning down the river, assisted by a strong current, and aimed directly upon our fleet; but our Admiral, in expectation of some such design, had made preparations to

*Lord Orford's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 398.

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CITY OF QUEBEC.

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defeat it. All his boats were out, well manned, and well armed, with an officer in each. The fire-ships, on approaching, were instantly boarded; grapplings and chains were affixed to them, after which they were towed, clear of every ship, to shore on the Isle of Orleans, where they burnt to ashes without having done the least damage.

The Isle of Orleans, on which the army had landed, is about twenty miles long and seven broad, highly cultivated, and affording to the soldiers every kind of refreshment after their long and weary navigation.* Wolfe, however, left them little leisure for repose. On the 29th he despatched Brigadier Monckton, with four battalions, across to the right bank of the river, that they might take possession of Point Levis, a headland which looks towards Quebec, and where the enemy had constructed a battery. This object was soon attained, after only two or three slight skirmishes between the advanced parties and the enemy's irregular force. Wolfe himself marched with his main body along the island to its westernmost point, from whence rose, full to view, the harbour and city of Quebec, a sight at once tempting and discouraging. "For no place," says Burke, "seems possessed of greater "benefits of Nature, nor is there any of which Nature seems more to have consulted the defence." † In Wolfe's own words, "there is the strongest country, per66 haps, in the world, to rest the defence of the town and "colony upon."

The city of Quebec is built upon and beneath a ridge of rocks that terminates as a promontory at the spot where the river St. Charles flows from the left bank into the St. Lawrence. This is also the point where the St. Lawrence first in its upward navigation appears to narrow; for while in the previous course of above 100 leagues from its mouth it is nowhere less than from four to five leagues

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* 66 Lorsque Jacques Cartier découvrit cette isle (d'Orléans) il la trouva toute remplie de vignes, et la nomma l'Isle de Bacchus. Ce "navigateur était Breton. Après lui sont venus des Normands, qui ont arraché les vignes, et à Bacchus ont substitué Pomone et Céres." (Charlevoix, Nouvelle France, vol. iii. p. 69.)

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+ Annual Register, 1759, p. 36.

To Lord Holderness, Sept. 9. 1759. Printed in the Chatham' Correspondence.