mation. They were finished in 1737, about the|| major. The latter, brave as a lion, yet kindly in time that Wolfe was a student at Glasgow College. his disposition as a young child; the former, the Such was Scotland in his day; and it was in counterpart of a tiger in all its cruelty and bloodthat country that he wrote the first of the letters thirstiness. Wolfe, a prodigy of military skill; to be quoted from. As already stated, Wolfe Cumberland, indebted to the accident of being a entered the army in 1741. Soon afterwards (the king's son for a command which tarnished our arms precise date is uncertain, but before the battle of at Fontenoy, outraged humanity in Scotland, and, Culloden) this young officer was stationed, as a at a later period, compelled him to retire from the subaltern, with a body of troops, at the small fort army, a disgrace to his profession, haunted by the of Inversnaid, built soon after the Rebellion of ghosts of the murdered old men, the wounded brave, 1715, at the mouth of the romantic gorge stretching the helpless women and children ruthlessly cut down between Loch Lomond and the wild and picturesque by this detestable and well-named "human butcher." region round Loch Ketturin and the Trossachs, to A single illustration will show the truth of this conkeep the turbulent M'Gregors and Rob Roy in trast. When riding over the field of battle, after the check. This fortified ravine formed the line of engagement, the Duke observed the young Colonel demarkation between the countries of the bold of the Frazer Regiment lying wounded. Frazer M'Gregors, and of the loyal and once numerous raised himself on his elbow, and looked at Cumberclan Buchanan; the upper shores of Loch Lomond land, who, offended, turned and said, "Wolfe! skirting the former, and the lower the Buchanan's shoot me that Highland scoundrel, who thus dares territory, which last included the lofty, broad- to look upon us with so insolent a stare!" Wolfe, shouldered Ben, and the group of beautiful, green-horrified at this inhuman order, coolly replied that wooded islets that stud the bosom of the "Queen his commission was at his Royal Highness's disof Scottish Lakes," affording friendly access to the posal, but that he never would consent to become troops, or "red soldiers," sent up from Dumbarton an executioner. Other officers also refusing, a Castle in boats. private soldier, at the Duke's command, shot the gallant, wounded young Frazer before his eyes! The grey ruins of this antique little Inversnaid Fort still linger in peaceful repose. The armed men who there kept ward, and the fiery tribes they were intended to overawe, have alike long passed away. But there it stands, as their memorial-its old walls, in some places, kindly screened from the wild mountain blast by the mantling ivy, while the nettle and foxglove rustle within, as the summer wind plays idly through the ruins. The little military graveyard, too, may still be traced, in which the bones of the brave mouldered into dust, with its small, white headstones partially hid under mossy tufts and tangled weeds; but still telling us, in quaintly-shaped letters, that parties of the Buffs (which afterwards fought at Culloden), and other regiments, from time to time lay there. The scene is even more impressive when viewed by night, with the beams of an autumnal moon streaming and sparkling on the dusky lake, illuminating the ruin in some places with a silvery light,|| and throwing the deep, elongated shadows of other portions on the pale background. Silence, the Silence, the most profound, reigns, broken only at intervals by the low moan of the night-wind, and the melancholy cry of the owl, as of some sprite wailing over the past. We can imagine the talented young soldier, surrounded by the grandeur of nature, which must have|| made a deep impression on his sensitive mind, studying, in this little Highland fortlet, that art which, at no distant day, was to make his name illustrious. How long Wolfe remained at Inver snaid and Dumbarton is uncertain; but we next find him serving under the Duke of Cumberland, at the battle of Culloden, in 1746. Wolfe must have had rapid promotion, for he was by that time a Major (at the age of 20), and acted as aide-decamp to the worthless General Hawley on that bloody day. Never was there a greater contrast than between the brutal Cumberland and the amiable young In the following year (1747), Wolfe distinguished himself very much by his personal bravery at the battle of Lafeldt, in Austrian Flanders. He was present at every engagement during that war, and never without distinction. He also applied himself closely, not only to the improvement of his own military talents, but to the introduction and maintenance of the most exact discipline in the corps, then generally too little attended to. he did without any unnecessary severity. He showed himself, in all his relations, a good, a brave, an intelligent, and high-minded soldier. This In 1749, the year after the peace, he was stationed in Glasgow, and, during his stay there, was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of Kingsley's Regiment. But the Glasgow of that period was a very different town from the city of the present day. Its population did not exceed 20,000; and it did not stretch farther along its now great arterial street, than the head of Stockwell on the west, and where the old Saracen's Head Inn yet stands, at the ancient Gallowgate port, on the east. Indeed, it was in that very year that this fine old hotel, the first, and for many a day the most celebrated in the city, and west of Scotland, was erected. There were no barracks in Glasgow then; and Wolfe, desirous of retirement to pursue his studies in Latin and Mathematics, which had been interrupted by his early admission into the army, lodged a short way out of town, in the now droll-looking old village of Camlachie, then quite a rural spot. The house he lived in was pulled down only three or four years ago, and stood at the north-west corner of the road leading down to a villa afterwards built, and named Crownpoint, after one of the celebrated scenes of conflict in North America. This residence of Wolfe was a small, quaint-looking, two-story house; and we can fancy the young Colonel, in this primitive and peaceful abode, at the age of twenty two, acquiring part of his education through the instrumentality of a Glasgow schoolmaster! This | England, and Wolfe and Howe were not baskward in expressing their indignation at the blundering which led to this unsuccessful result. Wolfe's sentiments en this expedition are expressed in the letter No. 9, written to his friend after coming home. Pitt now turned his attention to the French possessions in North America, and determined to strike a blow there. An expedition was accordingly ordered against Louisbourg, the principal town of Cape Breton. Wolfe was again employed. The principal command was committed to General Amherst, a good officer, having under him Wolfe While thusstationed in Glasgow, Wolfe was called and three other brigadiers, with a force of 13,000 upon to the somewhat inglorious duty of suppress-men, and a powerful fleet. The expedition sailed ing a riot in the town, caused by a party of resurrectionists raising a dead body! It is uncertain how long Wolfe remained at Glasgow; but it would rather appear, from one of the letters, that he was still there in 1750. By this time the friend to whom they were written had embarked, with a division of the army, under Cornwallis, for the purpose of settling a strong British colony in Nova Scotia, which had been much neglected. The town of Halifax, fortified with a wooden palisade, began to rise in the wilderness. At that time Britain still held the splendid region, now the United States, and the French possessed Canada. There was much bickering between the two countries, in regard to the encroachments by France on the British territory, more particularly along the Ohio. This ended in that war, which, a few years after, drew Wolfe to his destiny. This will explain the circumstances under which the second, and some of the other let ters, were written by him to his friend. from England early in 1758. The letter No. 11 was written immediately before embarking. In this important affair Wolfe behaved with the greatest skill and intrepidity. Louisbourg had a namerous garrison; and the shore, for more than seven miles, was defended by a chain of posts, with intrenchments and batteries. In order to distract the enemy's attention a false attack was resolved on, to mask the real one which was to be made by Wolfe. His division consisted of the grenadiers and light ininfantry of the army, with Frazer's Highlanders. Before break of day of the 8th June, the troops were embarked in the boats; and, while the false attack was going on under Brigadiers Whitmore and Laurence, Wolfe's division, under cover of the fire of several frigates and sloops, dashed boldly towards the shore, through a tremendous surf, which upset several of the boats, and drowned a number of soldiers. The landing-place was defended by a large body of French troops, intrenched behind a batWe find from this curious correspondence that, in tery of eight guns. They reserved their fire till 1751, Wolfe had been removed to Banff; and he the English came close, when they opened with appears to have finally quitted Scotland in, or prior great execution. But nothing could resist Wolfe's to, 1754. Some curious matter will be found in impetuous attack. He was the first officer to leap letters Nos. 4, 6, 7, expressive of Wolfe's views of on shore, amidst a shower of bullets, and issued his the Highlands, and the proper way of keeping orders with his usual coolness and precision. Headthem in subjection, consequent on his residence in, ding, in person, the light infantry and Highlanders, and observation of, that section of the kingdom. he carried every thing before him at the point of the Without following him in all his movements, it bayonet, pursuing the enemy to the very walls of may be said that, when the elder Pitt came into Louisbourg. The town was invested; and, by a power, in 1757, he resolved, if possible, to remove series of skilful manoeuvres on the part of Wolfe, he the stains which various reverses had thrown on mainly contributed to the final capture of this imour arms, by employing officers of known skill and portant place. His conduct throughout this affair was enterprise, instead of those imbeciles who had been the theme of general admiration, both in the army too often in command under former administrations, and at home, and tended still more to raise him in the more particularly that of the Duke of Newcastle. estimation of Mr. Pitt. That able minister had sig Among the first of Pitt's plans was a descent on nified his wish, when conferring on Wolfe the rank of the French coast at Rochefort. In this affair Brigadier, preparatory to setting out on the LouisWolfe was employed. But the warlike minister bourg expedition, that, immediately after its tererred, in not sufficiently defining his plan of ope- mination, he should return to England, instead of ration, and in dividing and frittering the command remaining with the troops abroad. Wolfe accordamong no less than seven officers. The consequences ingly did so, and the letter No. 12 was written were what might have been expected. Differences after his return. In it, he comments freely on the of opinion arose among the commanders, followed || expedition, and does not appear to have thought at by irresolution and fatal delays. Wolfe in vain || all favourably of the plan of attack; in fact, he says urged instant and vigorous action. In this he was seconded by the gallant young Howe, a naval officer with whom he had contracted a close intimacy as a kindred spirit; but to no purpose. They were over-ruled by the other five; and, finally, the enterprise completely failed. The troops returned to he anticipated a repulse. This letter is the last of the packet, and is the more interesting as being dated only about two months before departing again for America on his final and memorable campaign against Quebec. The object of Pitt's wish to have Wolfe back to by Eugland and France, to lead their veteran troops-a duty heretofore assigned, on the battlefields of Europe, chiefly to those whose plumes surmounted the furrowed brows and whitened locks of age, and whose energies had been severely tested in many a hard-fought campaign. Montealm and Wolfe were, indeed, of kindred minds, and each knew the other's value as a skilful soldier, exerting their military talents in the cause of their native land. England was now made known. He had determined || with victory's brave son. It is both an impressive to give him the principal command in a still more and affecting incident, inscribed on war's dread important expedition which ho had planned. It page, that two young heroes, each far separated was to be on a great scale, and to embrace three from his fatherlaud by the broad, stormy billows distinct objects. The chief part, however, was the of the vast Atlantic, and left to his own skill and capture of Quebec, the key to the French do-resources, should have been selected, respectively, minions in Canada. The plan, in all its parts, was this:-Wolfe, with a large body of troops, and aided by a powerful fleet, was to sail up the St. Lawrence, and besiege Quebec. Amherst, the Commander-in-chief in British America, with 12,000 men, was to attack Ticonderago and Crownpoint (from which we had formerly been repulsed), both situated in a very formidable pass; while General Prideaux was to invest the strong fort near the Falls of Niagara, commanding the approach to the great lakes. These two last officers, after accomplishing the capture of the places assigned to them, were to find their way to Quebec, and assist Wolfe, the strength of whose division was not considered sufficient by itself to effect the capture of a fortress considered the strongest in America. In short, all the principal French posts were to be attacked at once. Accordingly, Wolfe left England on the 17th of February, 1759, after having been promoted to the rank of Major-General. Three young brigadiers of talent accompanied him, not a single veteran officer of note being employed. Suffice it to say, that the two portions of the grand plan, under Amherst and|| Prideaux, were successful, though the latter was killed in the trenches; but difficulties prevented the forces of either from forming a junction with Wolfe. He was, therefore, left alone, with a very inadequate division of troops, not exceeding 8000 men, to undertake the important task assigned to him. Only fancy such an enterprise devolved on a young officer, such as Wolfe was, of 33! But he was not to be daunted, even by the most formid-known lands which rear their volcanic peaks, exable difficulties. These Such was Quebec, and such were the leaders who were to play for the prize. Both were conscious of the magnitude of the stake, and both were resolved to triumph. The Gallic war eagle stood high on his eyrie, holding with firm grasp the key of the French possessions in the west, his sharp piercing glance thrown proudly, yet anxiously, over the wild waste, in calm expectation of the coming British lion, so soon to make his fatal spring, and wrest from Gaul the eagle's sacred charge. The fleet which conveyed Wolfe's little army was under Admiral Saunders. It became necessary to ascertain the soundings of the channel between the island of Orleans and Quebec; and here another young man, whose foot was then only about to ascend the steps of Fame's Great Temple, distinguished himself. The difficult and dangerous duty of taking the soundings was intrusted to Cook-afterwards so celebrated as a navigator, deștined to explore the vast mysterious oceans of the south, and the west, and carry the white man's pame and the torch of civilization to the hitherto un hibit the wondrous marine architecture of the In order, however, to form a better estimate of coral-zoophyte, and shed a delightful tropical fraWolfe's arduous task, it seems necessary to describe grance, wafted to the weather beaten sailor apbriefly the position and aspect of the fortress, des- proaching their shores, over the long, broad billows tined to immortalise England's young General. which furrow the blue waste of waters. Cook was Quebec stands on the summit of steep cliffs, at the then only 31, and acted as master of the Mercury, confluence of two rivers-the great St. Lawrence, one of the fleet. He performed the service, for and the inferior stream of St. Charles. which he had been recommended by Captain Palrivers, associated with gloomy ravines and dismalliaer, in a most masterly manner, and much to rocks, rendered the plateau, on which the French Wolfe's satisfaction, as enabling him the better to capital stood, nearly inaccessible on three sides. mature his plaus. The mighty American river flowed solemnly and impressively along the base. The breadth of the stream is narrowed at this point to little more than a mile. A short way farther down, and nearly in the centre of the river, stands the large and fertile island of Orleans, the westernmost point of which is considerably elevated, and within cannon-range of Quebec. This almost impregnable French fortress (the Gibraltar of America) bristled with cannon, which commanded and swept the subjacent waters; it was skilfully fortified, and flanked by the most formidable intrenchments, while within its massive ramparts lay upwards of ten thousand of the best troops of France, under a young French Marquis whose military renown eminently fitted him to sustain his country's honour, and measure his sword Wolfe disembarked a large portion of his troops on the river-island of Orleans, before noticed; and erected batteries to cannonade the town and citadel, which he did with much effect. Almost the first thing, however, that suggested itself to him in commencing hostilities, was characteristic of his generous heart. He wrote a polite note to Montcalm, inviting him to abandon the cruelties perpetrated by the wild Indians in the French service, on those who fell into their power; but this did not meet the favourable response due to humanity. The Marquis seeing Wolfe's operations on the island, endeavoured to prevent them by throwing a strong detachment across the river; but he did not succeed. He carefully revised and strengthened all his own outworks, and added others at every point considered susceptible of assault; while whole nations || The General, after consulting Admiral Saunders, of savages, in his pay, swarmed around, keenly watch-resolved on a night-escalade of these now celeing every movement, and scalping all who ventured brated Heights of Abraham, at a point he thought unguardedly from the English lines. The fleet was practicable. Could the idea possibly have suggested placed in imminent danger by a violent storm, which itself to his mind from recollection of the success burst from the birth-place of the mighty stream--of a similar nocturnal ascent, in ancient times, of far up among the great lakes-and sought to overwhelm everything within its dismal track. Had the fleet been wrecked, Wolfe must have surrendered. Knowing this, Montcalm, in the midst of the tempest, sent down fire-ships among the thickest of the English fleet; but the gallant tars, defying the storm, launched themselves in boats on the angry waters, and, boldly grappling with the blazing machines of destruction, towed them past the crowded vessels, and left them idly to consume themselves on the French shore. Fire-rafts, filled with combustibles, and explosive missiles, were next sent, but shared the same fate. the steep cliffs on which the Castle of Dumbarton stands a stronghold which he himself had held and carefully examined, while a subaltern officer? In order to mask this strategy, the Admiral sailed up the St. Lawrence a considerable distance, and lay at anchor, as if bent on some other object entirely. A party was sent by Montcalm to watch him. But suddenly, one dark night, the Admiral, swiftly, and in profound silence, glided down the rapid current, spreading out all his boats, filled with troops to be landed under the selected heights. Nothing could exceed the caution, promptitude, and skill with which this was effected. The boats were actually seen and challenged by the French sentinels along shore; but, by the consummate address of an officer acquainted with French usages, the sentries were deceived into the idea that these were boats with secret supplies for the garrison; and thus the whole were allowed to pass quietly and unmolested. The strength of the current and tide carried the boats a little way beyond the point Wolfe had intended; but they were brought-to at a place where a narrow pathway, or track, led up, surmounted by a captain's guard. The English soldiers silently sprang on the slippery ledge at the bottom. Not a word or whisper escaped. All tion; and none disregarded their favourite General's previous earnest admonitions on this point. Among the very first to land was himself. All knew what they were to perform. The foremost to ascend the dizzy heights was a Highland regiment. Wolfe had often before seen the daring of the kilted soldiers. Slinging their muskets across their backs, they ascended the cliffs with all the agility of chamois hunters, using their hands more than their feet; grasping the projecting wild bushes, and clambering up by the angles on the face of the rock, till they finally reached the summit, where they surprised the officers in command of the French pic Wolfe now resolved to cross, and reconnoitre. He did so; and, soon afterwards, landed with a strong body of his forces, and encamped on Montcalm's flank, below Quebec, with the deep river Montmorenci, celebrated for its beautiful falls, between them. Here Wolfe lay for a short time, in expectation of receiving some intelligence of, or aid from, Amherst's division; and here he also wrote Mr. Pitt an admirable dispatch, describing his operations, and assigning excellent military reasons for taking up the position in which he then lay. His object was, if possible, to draw out Montcalm from his formidable intrenchments, and give battle in the open field. With this view he made a diver-knew the value, at this critical moment, of causion, by throwing Colonel Carleton across a ford to the French side, and, by a series of skilful feints and manœuvres, tempting the Marquis to come forth and attack him. But Montcalm was too wary. He saw the snare, and, knowing the advantageous nature of his own strong position, declined battle, choosing rather to leave Wolfe under every disadvantage. Wolfe now conceived an attack on a particular point of the French intrenchments, which he deemed practicable; and the troops were moved for this purpose, under cover of a brisk fire from the Centurion man-of-war; but a party of English grenadiers, who were first across, rushed towards the point of attack prema-quet, and a number of the soldiers; the rest having turely, without waiting to be properly supported, and were received with such murderous volleys that they recoiled, and withdrew with loss, disconcerting entirely the General's plan. Wolfe, labouring under fever, occasioned in some measure by fatigue and prolonged exertion on a frame not naturally robust, called a council of war. In another dis-teau, ready to act; and the key of the position was patch to Mr. Pitt, he stated clearly, and in his usual pithy style, the difficultes of the enterprise, but added, “I will do my best." He now resolved to attempt a surprise; but the obstacles to this were as a thousand to one, from the natural and artificial strength of the place, and the unremitting vigilance of the enemy. Behind the city, the Plains of Abraham stretch away, and on this inland side the fortifications were ascertained to be less formidable. But there were heights to be surmounted of fully 300 vertical feet before the plains could be reached. * Vide his own account of himself in letter No. 12. fled in terror at the unexpected appearance of Scotia's plumes and stalwart sons. The alarm was quickly spread; but crowds of British soldiers, hastily making their way up the now unguarded narrow pathway before noticed, were instantly formed in battle array, by Wolfe, on the broad pla fairly gained. Several pieces of cannon, in charge of the French guard, had been seized, and some English guns were quickly slang by ropes, and hoisted up to the British position. By dawn of the memorable 13th of September, 1759, Wolfe's forces stood ready, for action, on the Heights of Abraham. Montcalm was thunderstruck. He at first refused to believe that the hostile troops could be there; but, convinced of the fatal reality, he now saw no alternative, with an English fleet threatening him on one side, and an army opposite his most vul By a singular coincidence, the brave Montcalm also fell, mortally wounded. With his dying breath he addressed General Townshend, and recom nerable point on the other, than to leave his formidable position, and give battle on the plain. Issuing from the ramparts with the flower of his soldiers, and leaving his field-pieces behind, Mont-mended the French prisoners to "that generous calm quickly advanced to meet Wolfe, lining the bushes, in front of his position, with picked marks men, and crowds of Indians endeavouring, at the same time, to turn the English flank. Heading his old French soldiers, Montcalm came on to a bayonet charge at double quick time; but Wolfe, desiring his troops to remain firm, and reserve their fire till the enemy came to close quarters, placed himself at the head of the English grenadiers, and, by voice and gesture, encouraged them to complete what had been so gloriously begun. By disease and other casualties, his whole effective force was now reduced to scarcely 5000 men, being less than one-half of his opponents. humanity by which the British nation has always been distinguished." His second in command shared the same fate. The effects of this decisive victory were, the capitulation of Quebec; and, soon after, the whole of Canada was ceded to the British crown. When the news reached England, the national feeling was one of mingled exultation and sorrow, at the brilliant results on the one hand, and the loss of the gallant Wolfe on the other. Pitt made a most eloquent appeal to Parliament on the complete success of the campaign, and spoke of the transcendent merits of the fallen General, in language which drew tears from all who heard him. Ile concluded with a motion that an address be presented to his Majesty, praying that he would order a monument to Wolfe's memory in Westminster Abbey. This was unanimously agreed to; and that ancient edifice, the solemn depository of the undying names of the good and the great, had committed to its charge another marble memorial, recording the worth of him who fell in Britain's cause, covered with glory, and whose name is embalmed in imperishable renown and a nation's gratitude. Wolfe's father, the brave old General, died only a few days before the arrival of the news; and the mother of England's young hero had to lament, at one and the same time, in her old age, the double loss of her husband and their only son. A beautiful cenotaph was erected to the conqueror of Quebec, in the ancient and picturesque church of his native town, where he had spent the happy days of his childhood. The shock of battle came. The British poured in volley after volley, at short distance, with murderous effect. But still the conflict raged. Both fought desperately. Wolfe stood conspicuous in the front ranks, giving his orders, and encouraging his men, when a musket-ball hit him in the wrist. Wrapping his handkerchief round the wound, he continued his directions with perfect coolness. He ordered a charge, at the point of the bayonet, on the already wavering French columns, heading it in person, when he received another ball, in the upper || part of the abdomen, as he cheered his soldiers on. Even this more serious wound did not for a moment deprive him of his calm self-possession, and he was gallantly leading the charge, when a third and fatal bullet, probably from the same rifle, struck him in the breast, and he fell. It was with difficulty he allowed a party of his grieved soldiers to carry him to the rear. The others, enraged at the fate of their beloved leader, sprang on the enemy, and carried everything before them. Wolfe was fast dying; A third monument has been erected on the Heights the crimson streams flowed from the three severe of Abraham, to the joint memories of Wolfe and wounds, yet his dimmed eye looked towards the Montcalm, the conqueror and the vanquished; both battle, and his ear listened to the shouts of the the impersonation of military virtue and heroism; combatants, the sharp roll of musketry, and the and each distinguished by those amiable qualities roar of cannon. Extended on the ground, and sur- which eminently fitted them, had they lived, to rounded by a group of hardy warriors, whose iron sheathe their swords in the close embrace of friendvisages were relaxed with profound sorrow, and ship. Finally, the subject of Wolfe's fall, on the down whose weather-beaten cheeks the seldom-shed crimsoned field, has afforded scope for the sculptor tears trickled, as they hung over him who was and the painter, more particularly to the fine about to leave them for ever, he anxiously inquired|| genius of West, in his admirable picture of that the progress of the engagement. An officer sud- never-to-be-forgotten military event.-Fama semdenly called out-" They run. See how they run!" || per vivat. Wolfe, who was in a half-fainting-fit, hearing the exulting shout, eagerly asked-" Who run?" It was answered-" The French; they give way in all directions!" A gleam of satisfaction played for an instant on the dying General's countenance, and he feebly exclaimed-" Then I die content." His last words were an emphatic order for Webb's regiment to move down instantly to the St. Charles River, and secure the bridge there, to cut off the enemy's retreat; after uttering which he expired in the arms of Frazer, his favourite orderly soldier. The next officer in command, Monckton, was dangerously wounded; but the victory was most ably followed up and completed by Townshend, a talented and judicious young Brigadier. This rapid sketch of Wolfe's career may enable the reader now to peruse, with more interest and effect, the little packet of his letters alluded to in the outset. These are twelve in number, and embrace the period between 1749 and 1758, a space of nine years. The letters are written in a small and remarkably neat hand; and the reader will, doubtless, admire the fine sentiment and spirit which they contain, addressed, as they were, to a bosom friend. The first was from Glasgow, or rather from his lodgings in the antique village of Camlachie, already referred to. |