Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

| Kensingten Palace to this city and
| there suspended in st. Paul's amid
the roar of cannon and shouts OF
the people; aHd,as Walpoie writes
"our bells are worn threadbare
with ringing for victories.
The energy of the great minister
seemed to extend its influence ev-
erywhere. The year 1853 opened
with the conquest of Gorce; next
Guadaloupe fell: then Ticondero-
ga and Niagara, bringing that old
war, in fancy, to our own doors
And az on land. SO was 1t at sea-
! The Toulon squadron was defeated
completely by Admiral Boscawen
off Cape Lagus, while Wolfe, aow
general of the forces of the ST.
Lawrence, was preparing for the
achievement which was to crown
the triumphs of the year with sad
ness, and with glory. The season
was already far advanced. He had
tried in vain to effect a landing be-
low the Montemorcncya, nd to bat
tie with Montcalm who lay en-
trenched at BEAUFORT. All fears or
hopes of aid from the French fleet
were at an end. But Montcalra had
other resources had already
though in vain-tried, by fire.
ships and RATS to annihilate the
British feet. His best hope lay in
the equinox, and early winter be-
yond, with its gales, TO drive gem
eral and admiral both cut OF the
ST. Lawrence and he already flat
tered himself that Quebec and
French America were as good as
for another year.
General Wolfe's fears correspon-
ded only too closely thereto. Fa-
iigue and anxiety preyed on his
dehcate frame. A violent fever
grestrated him for q time; but,
daupted, he returned to his work
and at length the night ofSeptem-
Der IL, 1859, had come, and the
dawn Of his fortunate day.
His force, five thousand men in
all, had been already transported
above Quebec. This he embarked
boats, dropped down the broa;i
river in silence, under the stars !;
and IS he glides swiftly toward
victory and death, little incident
| illaminates for us the stealthy ma
chinations ofthat night with . ten
der, spiritual day. John Robinson,
a young midshipman-long after
we'll known as Professor of Natu-
raj Philosophy in the University
of Edinburgh-was in the same
boat with the general and loved in
after years to recall the incident.
AS they glided down the river with
muffied oars, Wolfe repeated, in u
| ow voice, somestanzas from Grays
"Elegyu then i'm The first blush of
its fame--ending with the prophe-
| tic lines:
''The boast of heraldy, the pomp of power,
| And all that beauty all that wealth eer
gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave
| And, as he closed, he added that
he would rather lie the author of
that poem than victor of the i'm
pending battle.
On the triumph which followed
we need not here dwell. Wolfe's
Cove, Cape Diamond and Plains Of
Abraham, with all their historic
memories, are indellibly imprint
ed on the mind 1t every reader of
history. With the mornings sun
the British flag fioated over the
heigths of ofQuebec. W0lfe's work
was done, and he and Montcalm
lay there peaceful in the brother
hood of death,
For Wolfe it was the close of
a life that might well be envied.--
Tender and true as Nelson himself,
and with noble moral Self-com-
mand, he had fallen in the arms of
victory, the youngest ofthe British
generals since the old heroic days
of Black Prince. He was only in
| his thirty-third year. At home,
the old general, his father, lay dy-
ing-died, indeed, before the news
of mingled pride and sorrow could
reach his ear.
But beside the widowed mourn
er. who survived, there was ano-
ther to weep in that hour of tri-
uElph. His affianced bride was
then vainly watching withIonging
eyes for her young soldiers return.
She was a rich heiress, and he IN
only son. They had everything
that heart could desire; and she
had urged his stay with all the ell
oquence of love. But duty called
him, and, however reluctantly, he
obeyed. The verses have been pre-
served which he addressed, on the
eve of his departure, to the bride
he was never to wed. They will
not compare with Grey's "EIegy,"
but they have an interest of their