Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-12
WOLFE.
THE BATTLE OF QUEBE


A period of imbecility, gloom and disaster
marked Britain share 10 the war which follow
ed soou after the truce of Aix-a Chapelle, till
the Great Comnoner was called to the councils
of the nation Forthwith vigor took the place
Of despopdeuey and defeat. Men were inrusted
with the conduct of the war because ofapploved
fitness, and cot from family connections or par
IaneDtary interest; and among the rest, young
Wolfe was selected by Pitt aud sent with Gen.
Amherst to this continent. where Lord Loudon
had been conducting matters to most unsatiS-
factory results. Forthwith all was changed. At
Lousbourg, Cape Breton. Brigader Wolfe Ell
iecleo landing, uDder the eye OF the general
aod Admiral BoscaweD, in the face of powerful
batteries aud with sea 50 violent that many
boats were foundered; aud pushed on the siege
till Louisbourg fell and Cape Breton with it.
The feet to which the Court of Versailles had
coufdcd the defense of Freuch America was
destroyed; the captured standards we're borne
in triumph from Kensington Palace to the city,
and there suspended iD St. Paul s amid the ru r
OF caunon and the shouts Of the people; and as
Walpole writes, ''our bells are worn threadbai Q
with ringing for victories.
The energy OF the great minister seemed to
extend its Influence everywhere. The year 1859
opened with the conquest Of Goree; next
Guadalupe fell; then Ticonderoga and Mia.
CARA, bringing that old war, in fancy, to our
owu doors. Aud as on land, so was it at sea. The
Toulon squadron Was completely defeated by
Admiral Boscawen off Cape Lagos, while Wolfe
pow general of the forces of the ST. Lawrence
was preparing for the achievement which was
to crown the trumphs of the year with sadness
and with glory. The season Was already far
advanced. He had tried in vain to effect land
ing below the Moutmorency, and do battle With
Montcam who lay entrenched al BEAUFORT.
All fears or hopes of aid from the French fleet
were at an end. But MontcaIm bad other re-
sources had aready-though in van-tried,
by FIRE ships and rafts to annihilate the British
feet. His best hope now lay in the equinox,
aud early Winter beyond, with its gales, to
drive general and admiral both out of the ST..
Lawrence and he already hattered himself
that Quebec and French America We're as good
as safe for aDother year.
General W Wotes fears correSpouded only too
closely thereto. Fatigue and anxiety preyed on
his delicate frame. A vicIcut fever Frustrated
him for tme but, undaunted, be returned 10
his work, and at length the night of September
H. 1859, had come, and the dawn of his fortu-
nate day.
His force, FIVE thousand men 10 all, had been
already transported above Quebec. This he em-
barked In boats dropped down the broad river
10 silence, under the stars and as be glides
swiftly toward victory and death, a little incident
ilumloates for us the stealthy Vaccinations of
that night with tender, spiritual day. John
Robinson, a young midshipman- after we'll
knowo as Professor of Natural Philosophy in
the University Of Edinburgh--was in the same
boat with the general, aud loved 10 after years
to recall the incident. As they glided down the
river with m.ttled oars, Wolfe repeating, In
low voice, some staozas from Gray's "Eegy"
then in the first blush of its tame-endlng
With the prophetic lines:
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power.
And all the beauty, all that wealth e er gave
Await alike tn inevitable hour;
The paths Of glory lead but to the grave"
And, as he closed, he added that be would
rather be author Of that poem than victor in
the impending battle.
On the triumph which followed we need not
here dwell. Wolfe's Cove, Cape, Diamond
and the Plains Of Abraham, with all their his
torc memories, are indeliby imprinted ou the
miod of every reader of history. With the
mornings sun the British fag Hoated over the
heights Of Quebec Wofes work was done,
aud he and Montcalm lay there peaceful in the
brotherhood of death.
For Wolfe it vas the close of life that
might be well envied. Tender and true as
Nelson himself, and with uobler moral SELF.
command, he had fallen in the arms of victory,
the youngest OF British generals since the old
heroic days of the Black Prince. He was only
IN his thirty-third year. At home, the old
general, bis father, lay dying died, indeed,
before the news of mingled pride aud sorrow
could reach his ear.
But besides the widowed mourner, who sur
Vlved, there was another to weep in that hour
OF triumph. Hls affianced bride was then yainlv
watching with longing eyes for her young SOL
der return. She was rich heress, and be an
only SOD. They had everything that heart could
desire; and she had urged his stay with
all the eoquence OF love- But duty called him.
and, however reluctantly, he obeyed The verses
have been preserved which he addressed on the
eve of his departure, to the bride he was never
TO wed. They will not compare with Crews
gy, but they have an interest of their own
as where he urges
iwo passions vainly pleading,
MY beating heart divide
Lo there my country bleeding,
And here ny weeping BRIDE
And while thus pleading for tha. ;nsv;tab,e
separation. be reminds her that
mo distant hearts can sunder
Whom mutual truth has joined
thus fresh 10 all the passionate tenderness
and iervcr Of youth was that heart which sac
rlhced love to duty on the field of death. He
gave his bride, as lovers token, at that last
parting, locket containing some of his own
hair. She lived to:become Countess of Boil.
ton; but, to the day of her death, she wore
on her bosom Wolfe's last gift, covered with
Grape.
A lady of New York. Miss Alvord, has Sc
cured pateot tor new coal cart, which is
provided With flexible spout to discharge its
contents directly into the coal hole, and not
upon the sidewalk: Pedestrian, will have oc-
cssiou to praise this ziovcotiop, and housekeep-
ers too, as they are thereby saved the annoy.
aoce OF hiring men to put in their coal, and
they also avoid the dirt on the sidewalk and
the dust indoyrs.
nLD MADEIRA and PALE SHERRY