which, under the guidance of other ministers, produced the most splendid events.

In America, after the return of lord Loudon to England, the chief command devolved on major general Abercrombie. On the 27th of July, Louisburgh and Cape Breton surrendered to the British under major-general AmA. D. herst; and Fort du Quesne, which the French had 1758 evacuated, was garrisoned under the name of Pittsburgh, in compliment to the minister. The English also concluded a treaty with the Indian nations inhabiting the country between the Apalachian mountains and the lakes; and such was the spirit of enterprise which now animated the cabinet, that the conquest of Canada was projected as the business of a single campaign.

To accomplish this important object, major-general Wolfe, who had already distinguished himself by his military talents, was directed to undertake the siege of Quebec, while general Amherst, after reducing Ticonderoga and Crown Point, was to cross the lake Champlain, and join Wolfe under the walls of the capital of Canada.

The British forces under general Wolfe arrived in the river of St. Lawrence, and encamped near the falls of the Montmorenci. M. de Montcalm, the French commander, though his troops were superior in number to the invaders, had taken every precaution of defence, which the nature of the country afforded. The city of Quebec was tolerably fortified; and Montcalm, having reinforced the troops of the colony, with this army occupied an advantageous situation from the river St. Charles to the falls of the Montmorenci.

On the last day of July, the British general made disposition for an assault, under cover of the fire from the ships in the river; but the English grenadiers, impetuously attacking the enemy's entrenchments in disorder, were repulsed with great loss, and Wolfe was obliged to

retreat.

This mortifying check preyed on the spirits of the gallant Wolfe, who could not brook the most distant prospect of censure or disgrace, and who declared that he would rather die than fail of ultimate success. At length, a new plan of operations was concerted for landing the troops in the night within a league of Cape Diamond, in hopes of ascending the heights of Abraham, which rise abruptly

with a steep ascent from the banks of the river, that they might gain possession of the grounds on the back of the city, where it was but slightly fortified.

;

This plan was put in execution; and the troops were disembarked during the night with secrecy and silence but the precipice still remained to be ascended. With infinite labour and difficulty, the troops reached the summit of the heights of Abraham, and the general drew them up in order of battle as they arrived. When M. de Montcalm understood that the English had gained these heights, he found himself under the necessity of risking an engagement, in order to save the town, and accordingly advanced his men with great intrepidity. A furious contest ensued, and general Wolfe, who stood in the front of the line, early received a shot in the wrist, to which he paid little regard; but, advancing at the head of the grenadiers, another ball pierced his breast, and compelled him to quit the scene of action. As he reclined on the arm of an officer, he was roused by the exclamation, "they run! they run!" "Who run?" said the brave Wolfe, with great eagerness. "The French," replied the officer. "Then,' said he, "I die contented;" and almost immediately expired in the arms of victory.

The French general, M. de Montcalm, was also mortally wounded in the battle, and died soon after; but the advantage remained wholly on the side of the English. Quebec was obliged to surrender, and at length the conquest of all Canada was completed, by the capture of Montreal under general Amherst.

Success indeed attended the British arms in every quarter of the globe. Fort Louis and the isle of Goree, in Africa, submitted to the British; as did also Guadaloupe, in the West Indies. Cherbourg was taken by commodore Howe, and Havre de Grace bombarded by admiral Rodney.

In the Mediterranean, M. de la Clue was defeated by admiral Boscawen, who took four of his ships; and another fleet under M. de Conflans was attacked off Quiberon bay by sir Edward Hawke, when a furious battle ensued, and night alone saved the French from total destruction. In this last engagement, two of the enemy's best ships were sunk, one struck her colours, two were stranded and destroyed, and the Soleil Royal, the flag-ship of the French admiral, was burnt by

A. D.

1757

1

her own crew, to prevent her from falling into the hands of the English.

In Germany the war was carried on with great vigour, and the glory of the British arms raised to the highest pitch; and though the empress of Russia had acceded to the alliance concluded between the courts of Versailles and Vienna, the king of Prussia, aided by his Britannic majesty, continued to make head against the numerous armies of those powers.

A. D.

1760

Such was the general posture of affairs, when George II. died, on the twenty-fifth day of October, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and the thirty-fourth year of his reign. He was at his palace of Kensington and having risen at his usual hour, he observed to his attendants, that as the weather was fine, he would walk out. In a few minutes after, being left alone, he was heard to fall; and, being lifted on the bed, he desired, in a faint voice, that the princess Amelia might be called; but before she could arrive, he expired.

George the Second was in his person rather below the middle size. In his disposition he is said to have been prone to anger, yet soon appeased; in other respects, he was mild and humane. He was personally brave, and fond of war as a soldier. Though his foreign politics cannot be commended, his internal government deserves unqualified praise.

In this reign, the hopes of the Stuart party and family being baffled, and the legitimacy of the Guelphs generally recognised, the constitutional government, as adjusted at the Revolution, began to display its excellencies and faults, and to acquire its full force.

Parliaments were regularly convened, for the despatch of all business connected with the improvement of the laws, and the regulation of the revenue; and the prerogatives of the sovereign, and the rights of the legislature, were duly recognised and balanced.

The king chose his ministers, and these were amenable to parliament; while the latter was kept in good humour by the influence and patronage of the ministers. The office of prime-minister began now to distinguish our councils. The first who merited the name was sir Robert Walpole, a favourite confidential minister of George the First and Second; and the nation under him and his suc◄