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GENERAL JAMES WOLFE.

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French." A happy smile passed over his face. But even at that moment, and while he was suffering intense agony from his wound, his duty was not forgotten, every detail of the fight and the surrounding country was vividly before this skilled strategist. He was dying in harness, and a soldier's command was almost the last to leave his lips. "Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton, and tell him to march down to the Charles river, to cut off their retreat from the bridge!" Then as he felt that his work was done, and done well, he turned on his side, with the words, "Now, God be praised, I die in peace!" And the true hero breathed his last-his death forever consecrating to the hearts of Canadians the little spot of rough green sward which is still marked by a stone column, bearing the brief inscription: "Here Wolfe died victorious, September 13, 1759."-A victor over the French and over death.

His brave antagonist, Montcalm, did not survive his defeat; he died in a house in Quebec which is still associated with his heroic memory.

By nightfall on the seventeenth, one and twenty British guns, were ready to open their deep voices on the city of Quebec. The gunners behind the strong walls seemed to have lost heart and only a feeble reply was made to the cannonading that opened upon them. Governor Ramezay at length sent out a flag of truce to the British for the purpose of considering terms of surrender. He made efforts to get favorable conditions but Townshend promply informed his messenger that if the city were not delivered into his hands by eleven o'clock on the following day he would capture it at the bayonet point. The city was surrendered by the time stipulated upon and on the afternoon of the eighteenth the grenadiers marched into Quebec.

In the meantime there was great anxiety in England. Wolfe after his repeated failures had sent a despatch which cast gloom over the public and the administration. Pitt himself began to despair, and to think that perhaps he had made a mistake in appointing so young a commander to so important and difficult a task. While England was still brooding over Wolfe's despatch another arrived very different in tone. It contained the news of his triumph and of his death; never was the nation more delirious with joy. Bon-fires were lit in all parts of the kingdom, bells were rung and cannon boomed forth the thankfulness of the people. France, England's ancient enemy, had

suffered defeat, and by the courage and perseverance of the youngest of England's leaders had been driven from the North American Continent. But in the rejoicing there was deep mourning; a great leader of men had been discovered only to be lost, and, at a time when the army sadly needed leaders, his death was bitterly deplored.

New England, too, rejoiced. Her soldiers had fought nobly to drive the French from Canada. Of the significance of the battle of the Plains of Abraham to them, but few of them could then realize. It was this battie that made the Revolutionary war possible. In this campaign and in the campaign against Louisburg many of their best officers and soldiers received their training. As has been said, "the battle of the Plains of Abraham was the true starting point for the independence of the United States."

On the eighteenth of October the British fleet was ready to sail for England, and on that day the ships started on their long journey across the Atlantic. The "Royal William," with flag at half-mast, led the fleet seaward bearing the body of the conqueror of Quebec. On November 16, the vessel arrived at Spithead. The nation honored its heroic dead, and, though Wolfe's body was buried in the family vault in the parish church at Greenwich, a monument was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey.

CHAPTER VIII.

GUY CARLETON.

Suy Carleton a Favorite with Wolfe-Born in Cornwall-At the Siege of Quebec-Promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General-Governor-General of Canada-Visits England in the Interests of the Colony-His Policy with Regard to the Province of Quebec-Quebec Act Passed-This Act Not Satisfying to All Parties-General Carleton Returns to Canada-Canada Threatened with Invasion—Montgomery Invades the West-Arnold Marches Against Quebec - The "Continental " Army Before Quebec Arnold's Demand for Surrender Treated with Derision-Montgomery Victorious in the West-Governor Carleton Escapes from Montreal with Difficulty-The Journey to Quebec-Montgomery Jo ns Arnold-Canadian Winter Hard on the "Continental" Army--Disloyalty Among the French-An Attack Planned-The Death of Montgomery-Arnold's Forces Driven Back With Loss-Congress Determines to Send a Larger Force into Canada-Commissioners Sent to Win Canadians to American Cause-Governor Carleton Remains on the DefensiveReinforcements Reach Quebec in Spring-The British Drive the Americans from Before the City—The Invading Army Retires From Canada—Carleton Gets Control of Lake Champlain for the British-General Burgoyne Appointed to the Supreme Military CommandGovernor Carleton Resigns His Office-Knighted by the King-Appointed to Succeed Clinton as Commander-in-Chief-The Friend of the Loyalists Who Settled in Canada— Created Baron Dorchester-Lord Dorchester Sent to Canada as Governor-Rules with Firmness and Wisdom-Dissatisfaction With the Quebec Act-The Constitutional Act Passed-A Critical Time in Canadian Affairs-Lord Dorchester Leaves Canada-The True Founder of British North America.

G

ENERAL WOLFE by his dogged determination, resolute will and extensive military experience won Canada from the French in 1759. He had with him at the great siege of Quebec a young officer who was afterwards to save Canada for England, and to do much to unite into a compact nation the naturally antagonistic races settled along the St. Lawrence. Guy Carleton had been selected by Wolfe as his quartermaster-general in the expedition against Quebec contrary to the wishes of the king and his ministers. Wolfe made no mistake in the choice; he had in his army no more trustworthy officer than the young man of thirty-four, who was to be the first truly great maker of Canada under the British régime, and who afterwards, as Lord Dorchester, was to lay the foundation of the Canada of to-day.

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