the steep above, such as not to be ascended without difficulty even when unopposed. Under these circumstances, it was apparent, that a discovery and a vigorous opposition would not only defeat the enterprise, but probably occasion the destruction of a great part of the troops engaged in it.

4. This bold resolution being taken, the admiral moved up the river, several leagues above the place where it was designed to land, and made demonstrations of an intention to debark a body of troops at different places. During the night, a strong detachment was put on board the flat bottomed boats and fell silently down with the tide to the place fixed on for the descent, which was made with equal scerecy and vigour, about a mile above cape Diamond, an hour before daybreak, Wolfe himself being the first man who leaped on shore. The highlanders and light infantry who composed the van, under the particular command of colonel Howe, were intended to secure a four-gun battery, which defended an intrenched path by which the heights were to be ascended; and, dislodging from thence a captain's guard, to cover the landing of the remaining troops.

5. The violence of the current forced them rather below the point of debarkation, and this circumstance increased their difficulties. However, scrambling up the precipice, by the aid of the rugged projections of the rocks, and the branches of trees and plants growing on the cliffs, into which it was every where broken, they gained the heights, and very quickly dispersed the guard, which did not make the resistance to have been expected from the advantages of their situation. The whole army followed up this narrow pass, and having only encountered a scattering fire from some Canadians and Indians, from which very little loss was sustained, they gained the summit by the break of day, where the corps were formed under their respective lead

ers.

6. The intelligence that the English were in possession of the heights of Abraham was soon conveyed to Montcalm. Believing it to be impossible that an enter

prise attended with so much difficulty could have been achieved, that officer supposed it to be only a feint, made with a small detachment, for the purpose of drawing him from his present strong and well chosen position. On being convinced of his errour, he comprehended at once the full force of the advantage which had been gained, and the necessity it imposed on him of changing his plan of operations. Perceiving that a battle was no longer avoidable, and that the fate of Quebec depended on its issue, he prepared for it with promptness and with courage. Leaving his strong camp at Montmorency, he crossed the river St. Charles for the purpose of attacking the English army.

7. This movement was made in the view of Wolfe, who without loss of time formed his order of battle. His right wing was commanded by general Monckton, and his left by general Murray. The right flank was covered by the Louisberg grenadiers, and the rear and left by the light infantry of Howe, who had now returned from the four-gun battery. The reserve consisted of Webb's regiment, drawn up in eight sub-divisions with large intervals between them.-Montcalm had formed his right and left wing about equally of European and colonial troops. His centre consisted of a column of Europeans; and two small field pieces were brought up to play on the English line. In this order he marched to the attack, advancing in his front about one thousand five hundred militia and Indians, who were sheltered by bushes, from whence they kept up on the English an irregular and galling fire.

8. The movement of the French indicating an intention to flank his left, general Wolfe ordered the battalion of Amherst, with the two battalions of royal Americans, to that part of his line, where they were formed en potence under general Townshend, presenting to the enemy a double front. Disregarding the irregular fire of the Canadian militia and Indians, he ordered his troops to reserve themselves for the main body of the enemy, advancing in the rear of those irregulars; but in the mean-time, a field piece which had been brought up, played briskly and with effect on the French col

umn. Montcalm had taken post on the left of the French army, and Wolfe on the right of the English, so that the two generals met each other, at the head of their respective troops, where the battle was most

severe.

9. The French advanced briskly to the charge, and commenced the action with great animation. The English are stated to have reserved their fire until the enemy were within forty yards of them, when they gave it with immense effect. It was kept up for some time with great spirit, when Wolfe advancing at the head of Bragg's and the Louisburg grenadiers with charged bayonets, received a mortal wound, of which he soon afterwards expired. Undismayed by the loss of their general, the English continued their exertions under Monckton, on whom the command now devolved. He also received a ball through his body, which is stated to have passed through his lungs, and general Townshend took command of the British army. About the same time, Montcalm, fighting in the front of his battalions, received a mortal wound; and general Senezergus, the second in command, also fell. The left wing and centre of the French began to give way, and being pressed close with the English bayonet and the highland broadsword, were driven, notwithstanding one attempt to rally and renew the attack, partly into Quebec, and partly over the St. Charles river.

10 On the left and rear of the English, the action was less severe, and the attack much less animated. The light infantry had been placed in the houses, and colonel Howe, the better to support them, had taken post with two companies, still further to the left, behind a copse. As the right of the French attacked the English left, he sallied out from this position against their flanks, and threw them into disorder. In this critical moment, Townshend advanced several platoons of Amherst's regiment against their front, and completely frustrated the intention Montcalm had formed of turning the left flank. Townshend maintained his position, for the purpose of keeping in check the right wing of the French and a body of savages stationed opposite the

light infantry, for the purpose of getting into and falling on their rear.

11. In this state of the action, Townshend was informed that the command had devolved on him. Proceeding instantly to the centre, he found that part of the army thrown into some disorder by the ardour of pursuit, and his immediate efforts were employed in restoring the line. Scarcely was this effected, when monsieur de Bougainville, who had been detached as high as Cape Rouge to prevent a landing above, and who on hearing that the English had gained the plains of Abraham, hastened to the assistance of Montcalm, appeared in the rear at the head of one thousand five hundred men. Fortunately, the right wing of the enemy, as well as their left and centre, was now entirely broken, and had been driven off the field. Two battalions and two pieces of artillery being advanced towards Bougainville, he retired, and Townshend did not think it advisable to risk the important advantages already gained, by a pursuit of this fresh body of troops through a difficult country.

12. In this decisive battle, nearly equal numbers appear to have been engaged. The English, however, possessed this immense advantage-they were all veterans-while not more than half the French army were of the same description. This circumstance would lead to an opinion that some motive, not well explained, must have existed to induce Montcalm to hazard a general action before he was joined by Bougainville. The French regulars, who do not appear to have been well supported by the militia or Indians, were almost entirely cut to pieces. On the part of the English, the loss was by no means so considerable, as the fierceness of the action would indicate. The killed and wounded were less than six hundred men; but among the former, was the commander in chief. This gallant officer, of whom the most exalted expectations had very justly been formed; whose uncommon merit and singular fate have presented a rich theme for panegyric to both the poet and historian, received, in the commencement of the action, a ball in his wrist; but without discovering the

least discomposure, wrapping a handkerchief around his arm, he continued to encourage his troops.

13. Soon afterwards, he received a shot in the groin. This painful wound he also concealed, and was advancing at the head of the grenadiers, when a third bullet pierced his breast. Though expiring, it was with reluctance he permitted himself to be conveyed into the rear, where, careless about himself, he discovered, in the agonies of death, the most anxious solicitude concerning the fate of the day. Being told that the enemy was visibly broken, he reclined his head from extreme faintness, on the arm of an officer standing near him; but was soon aroused with the distant sound of "they fly! they fly!" "Who fly?" exclaimed the dying hero. On being answered "the French," "Then," said he, "I depart content; and almost immediately expired in the arms of victory. "A death more glorious," adds Mr. Belsham, "and attended with circumstances more picturesque and interesting, is no where to be found in the annals of history."

14. With less of good fortune, but not less of heroism, expired the equally gallant Montcalm. The same love of glory, and the same fearlessness of death, which in so remarkable a manner distinguished the British hero, were not less conspicuous in the conduct of his competitor for victory and for fame. He expressed the highest satisfaction on hearing that his wound was mortal; and when told he could survive only a few hours, quickly replied, "So much the better; I shall not then live to see the surrender of Quebec. The first days after the action were employed by general Townshend in fortifying his camp, cutting a road up the precipice, for the conveyance of his heavy artillery to the batteries on the heights, and making the necessary preparations for the siege of Quebec. But before his batteries were opened, the town capitulated, on condition that the inhabitants should, during the war, be protected in the free exercise of their religion, and the full enjoyment of their civil rights, leaving their future destinies to be decided by the general peace.