partly through their own admirable discipline and coolness, the troops gained the shore unnoticed, and the first companies, forming rapidly on the beach, pushed up the ascent. They were discovered while yet about half way from the summit, and a fire of musketry was opened upon them; but it arrested not their progress for a moment. They sprang forward, holding on by bushes and projecting crags, bayoneted the most determined of those who resisted them, and seizing the four guns, rendered the ascent of their comrades free from danger. That night the heights of Abraham (for so this tract of country is called,) were in possession of the British army, which saw itself, when morning dawned, bivouacked in order of battle, within long cannon-shot of the outworks of Quebec.

Of Wolfe's first and most important success, Montcalm had been early informed, by the arrival, in his camp on the Montmorency River, of, fugitives from the town. He broke up without delay, and marching through the city, attacked, with his skirmishers, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 13th, the picquets of the British army. Immediately the line was formed, and in less than half an hour the battle raged fiercely, from one flank to the other. Wolfe was cheering on his men, whom the disorderly retreat of their own skirmishers had disheartened, when a musket-ball struck his wrist. He wrapped a handkerchief round the wound, and again headed the soldiers, when a second ball took effect in the upper part of the abdomen. Still he exhibited no symptom of pain, but continued to give his orders with perfect coolness, till a third shot pierced his breast, and he fell to the ground. He was immediately conveyed to the rear, where all the medical assistance that could be procured hastened to exert its skill in a fruitless effort to arrest the course of nature.

The reader has, doubtless, seen either West's painting

itself, or one of the many engravings which have been taken from it, of the death of Wolfe. Except that the face of the principal figure bears no resemblance to that of the British general, the composition possesses the high. merit of conveying a very accurate idea of the scene which it was designed to represent. Wolfe lay, as he is there depicted, occasionally lifting his head that he might gaze over the field of strife, or listen to the noise of the firing, till his eyesight began, by degrees, to grow dim; and he leaned backwards for support, upon the grenadier who had carried him out of the battle. He was thus circumstanced, having exhibited for several minutes no other signs of life than an occasional heavy breathing, when a wounded officer that stood by, exclaimed all at once, "See how they run!" "Who run?" cried Wolfe, raising himself on his elbow, and looking with all the eagerness of a spirit unsubdued. "The enemy," replied the officer; "they give way in all directions." "Hasten one of you," said the general, still speaking firmly and calmly; "hasten to colonel Burton, and tell him to move Webb's regiment down to Charles' River with all speed, that the bridge may be secured, and the enemy's retreat cut off." He paused here, evidently overcome by weakness, and then exclaimed feebly, "God be praised, I die happy!" He did die happy; for while the shout of victory still rang in his ears, Wolfe's gallant spirit took its flight to Him who gave it.

The consequences of that victory, both immediate and remote, were in the highest degree glorious to England. Montcalm, like his brave adversary, fell in the battle, and left no man behind capable of supplying his loss. Quebec was accordingly surrendered; and though, in the following season, a vigorous effort was made to wrest the fruits of their valour from the conquerors, it entirely failed. General Amherst, indeed, pushed his successes with so much spirit, that long