crimes with which they are so soon to ruin their declivity of a hill overlooking the romantic stream

country! That moment of guilty triumph come, avenging everything, they avenge on the mouldering corpse of their illustrious denouncer even the reminiscences of their fear. One of the last acts of their ferocious despotism was to remove it to some secret spot in an obscure cemetery, that the tomb awarded by the nation might be occupied by the bloodthirsty but now quenched Marat.

Such, then, was the death, and such its accessories, of the last of the Mirabeaus-a man who, by his qualities no less than by the singularity of his fortune, is destined to take his place in history by the side of the Demosthenes, the Gracchi, and the other kindred spirits of an antiquity whose gigantic characteristics he so frequently reproduced. Posterity, which will probably recognize in him one of the greatest geniuses of an age fertile in great men, will only enhance its admiration before the doubts thrown out of the enormous chasms in his greatness. As the hazy masses in the lunar face, those unfathomable phenomena suggest but grotesque images to the ignorant, while increasing admiration in others with their very means of knowledge; so probably will this gigantic character, slighted and unconsidered by meaner intellects, elicit each day more from the comprehensions that can grasp it, a deeper scrutiny and augmenting wonder.

From Tait's Magazine. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE OF GENERAL

WOLFE.

of the Dart, which rises in the vicinity, and, after pursuing a meandering course through a district of much natural beauty, falls into the Thames, below London. He was the only son of the veteran General Edward Wolfe, who had distinguished himself under Marlborough, and in the suppression of the Scotch Rebellion of 1715. Destined, in like manner, for the profession of arms, young Wolfe was taken from his studies, part of which had been at the College of Glasgow, and entered the regiment which bore his father's name, at the early age of fifteen. This was in 1741, only four years previous to the last Rebellion. The period at which he thus became a soldier was one of uncommon interest in the national history. It was in the interval between two rebellions, when the north part of the island, but more especially that section included in the Highlands, was comparatively little known and little cared for. Indeed, of the Highlands it may safely be said that the greatest ignorance had, till about the year of Wolfe's birth, prevailed. The edge of the ancient animosity between the people of the northern and the southern divisions of this island, now happily broken and removed, was still keen. The Scottish mind was filled with distrust; it rankled with the remembrance of the treachery which forced on Scotland the then hated Union. The Hanoverian succession was by no means popular in the north; and men's minds fluctuated between the old and the new race of kings.

The Rebellion of 1715, and the prominent part taken in it by the mountain clans, had, however, IN the galaxy of brilliant names which illumi- seriously alarmed the government of that day, and nate our military annals, there are probably few prompted a more close inspection of Scotland and which Britons regard with more honest pride, and her warlike hill-tribes. As already said, little was almost affectionate interest, than that of the young known of the Highlands, beyond what fatal exand gallant Wolfe. This arises, not less from his perience had recently taught, namely, that their consummate genius in the art of war, than from dreary recesses were filled with wild and hardy the nobleness of soul and gentleness of disposition warriors, who held the comparatively peaceful men by which he was distinguished; while the sentiment of the plains in contempt, for cultivating vocations in his favor is deepened, and our feelings stimu-opposed to their own, of clan-strife and war. They lated, by reflecting on the splendor of his great and final achievement, when, on the Heights of Abraham, victory snatched him too soon from his country, and claimed him as her own. Anything, therefore, which tends to illustrate the life and cast of thought of this excellent man, and real hero, cannot fail to prove interesting. A small packet of letters, written by Wolfe to a very intimate friend and brother officer, having been lately discovered amongst the papers of a relative of that friend, in Glasgow, access has been kindly allowed to them, and permission given to make extracts.

But, before approaching these letters, now for the first time made public, and roused from the dust of nearly a century, some remarks on the aspect of the times in which Wolfe lived, and a brief sketch of his own history, seem to be necessary, in order to elucidate the contents of the packet, and that the import may be better understood.

James Wolfe was born on the 2d January, 1727, at Westerham, in Kent. This pretty little town is situated near the west border of the county, on the

were, therefore, ready, on the least signal from their chiefs, to descend with the fury of a mountain tempest on the inhabitants of the Lowlands, and carry devastation around them, with little or no check at the hands of a timid government.

There is a very curious and instructive report to George I., by Wade, the intelligent and able military officer he had sent to reconnoitre the Highlands, and bring back an account of their military strength, resources, and prevalent political sentiment, with such suggestions as seemed to the general best calculated to hold this troublesome frontier in check, and promote the internal improvement of the hill-country. The report bears date 31st January, 1725, shortly before the monarch's death, and ten years after the rebellion of 1715, which, as already said, Wolfe's father had assisted in suppressing. This able report is characterized by the discrimination and calm good sense for which Wade was remarkable. In it he gives an account of the features of the wild region, estimating the fighting men at about 22,000, of whom fully one half were disaffected to

the king, the kind and quality of their arms, mode of warfare, and cattle-thieving propensities. It contains a recommendation to have the clans properly disarmed, their country held with a firm grasp by means of forts, and rendered more accessible to the king's troops by lines of military roads. How curious to read his description of a country and a people, then nearly as dangerous to visit as the American wilds, but which is now the favorite retreat of royalty itself for recreation from the weight of state cares, and the chosen resort of tourists from every clime.

the nettle and foxglove rustle within, as the summer wind plays idly through the ruins. The little military graveyard, too, may still be traced, in which the bones of the brave mouldered into dust, with its small white headstones partially hid under mossy tufts and tangled weeds; but still telling us, in quaintly-shaped letters, that parties of the Buffs, (which afterwards fought at Culloden,) and other regiments, from time to time lay there.

and throwing the deep, elongated shadows of other portions on the pale background. Silence, the most profound, reigns, broken only at intervals by the low moan of the night-wind, and the melancholy cry of the owl, as of some sprite wailing over the past.

The scene is even more impressive when viewed by night, with the beams of an autumnal moon streaming and sparkling on the dusky lake, illumiThe report was acted upon. To Wade was as-nating the ruin in some places with a silvery light, signed the duty of carrying out his own recommendations of disarming the clans, and constructing the roads. The former was a delicate task, which he executed with judicious moderation; so much so, that even Rob Roy wrote him a curious letter, still preserved, praising that moderation, and soliciting his clemency. The military roads were carried into the heart of the Scottish wilderness. Two main lines were formed, and attest, at the distance of more than 100 years, the skill of this excellent officer. He took the ancient Roman Iters for his model, and, in fact, started his roads from their venerable lines, at nearly right angles west and north-west, across the dreary country, towards the preexisting forts on the chain of the great Scottish lakes, now connected by the Caledonian Canal. These roads stretched over 250 miles; and 500 soldiers labored upwards of 11 years in their formation. They were finished in 1737, about the time that Wolfe was a student at Glasgow College.

We can imagine the talented young soldier, surrounded by the grandeur of nature, which must have made a deep impression on his sensitive mind, studying, in this little Highland fortlet, that art which, at no distant day, was to make his name illustrious. How long Wolfe remained at Inversnaid and Dumbarton is uncertain; but we next find him serving under the Duke of Cumberland, at the battle of Culloden, in 1746. Wolfe must have had rapid promotion, for he was by that time a major, (at the age of 20,) and acted as aide-decamp to the worthless General Hawley on that bloody day.

When riding over the

Never was there a greater contrast than between the brutal Cumberland and the amiable young Such was Scotland in his day; and it was in major. The latter, brave as a lion, yet kindly in that country that he wrote the first of the letters his disposition as a young child; the former, the to be quoted from. As already stated, Wolfe counterpart of a tiger in all its cruelty and bloodentered the army in 1741. Soon afterwards (the thirstiness. Wolfe, a prodigy of military skill; precise date is uncertain, but before the battle of Cumberland, indebted to the accident of being a Culloden) this young officer was stationed, as a king's son for a command which tarnished our subaltern, with a body of troops, at the small fort arms at Fontenoy, outraged humanity in Scotland, of Inversnaid, built soon after the Rebellion of and, at a later period, compelled him to retire from 1715, at the mouth of the romantic gorge stretch- the army, a disgrace to his profession, haunted by ing between Loch Lomond and the wild and the ghosts of the murdered old men, the wounded picturesque region round Loch Ketturin and the brave, the helpless women and children ruthlessly Trossachs, to keep the turbulent M'Gregors and cut down by this detestable and well-named "huRob Roy in check. This fortified ravine formed man butcher." A single illustration will show the line of demarkation between the countries of the truth of this contrast. the bold M'Gregors, and of the loyal and once field of battle, after the engagement, the duke numerous clan Buchanan; the upper shores of observed the young colonel of the Frazer RegiLoch Lomond skirting the former, and the lower ment lying wounded. Frazer raised himself on the Buchanan's territory, which last included the his elbow, and looked at Cumberland, who, offendlofty, broad-shouldered Ben, and the group of ed, turned and said, "Wolfe! shoot me that beautiful, green-wooded islets that stud the bosom Highland scoundrel, who thus dares to look upon of the "Queen of Scottish Lakes," affording us with so insolent a stare!" Wolfe, horrified at friendly access to the troops, or "red soldiers," this inhuman order, coolly replied that his comsent up from Dumbarton Castle in boats. mission was at his royal highness' disposal, but The gray ruins of this antique little Inversnaid | that he never would consent to become an execuFort still linger in peaceful repose. The armed tioner. Other officers also refusing, a private men who there kept ward, and the fiery tribes they soldier, at the duke's command, shot the gallant, were intended to overawe, have alike long passed wounded young Frazer before his eyes! away. But there it stands, as their memorial-its old walls, in some places, kindly screened from the wild mountain blast by the mantling ivy, while

In the following year, (1747,) Wolfe distinguished himself very much by his personal bravery at the battle of Lafeldt, in Austrian Flanders. He

was present at every engagement during that war, the United States, and the French possessed Canada. and never without distinction. He also applied There was much bickering between the two counhimself closely, not only to the improvement of tries, in regard to the encroachments by France his own military talents, but to the introduction and on the British territory, more particularly along maintenance of the most exact discipline in the the Ohio. This ended in that war, which, a few corps, then generally too little attended to. This years after, drew Wolfe to his destiny. This will he did without any unnecessary severity. He explain the circumstances under which the second, showed himself, in all his relations, a good, a brave, and some of the other letters, were written by him an intelligent, and high-minded soldier. to his friend.

In 1749, the year after the peace, he was sta- We find from this curious correspondence that, tioned in Glasgow, and, during his stay there, was in 1751, Wolfe had been removed to Banff; and promoted lieutenant-colonel of Kingsley's Regi- he appears to have finally quitted Scotland in, or ment. But the Glasgow of that period was a very prior to, 1754. Some curious matter will be found different town from the city of the present day. in letters Nos. 4, 6, 7, expressive of Wolfe's Its population did not exceed 20,000; and it did views of the Highlands, and the proper way of not stretch further along its now great arterial keeping them in subjection, consequent on his street than the head of Stockwell on the west, and residence in, and observation of, that section of the where the old Saracen's Head Inn yet stands, at kingdom. Without following him in all his the ancient Gallowgate port, on the east. Indeed, movements, it may be said that, when the elder it was in that very year that this fine old hotel, the Pitt came into power, in 1757, he resolved, if first, and for many a day the most celebrated in possible, to remove the stains which various rethe city, and west of Scotland, was erected. There verses had thrown on our arms, by employing were no barracks in Glasgow then; and Wolfe, officers of known skill and enterprise, instead of desirous of retirement to pursue his studies in those imbeciles who had been too often in command Latin and Mathematics, which had been inter- under former administrations, more particularly rupted by his early admission into the army, lodged that of the Duke of Newcastle. Among the first a short way out of town; in the now droll-looking of Pitt's plans was a descent on the French coast old village of Camlachie, then quite a rural spot. at Rochefort. In this affair Wolfe was employed. The house he lived in was pulled down only three But the warlike minister erred, in not sufficiently or four years ago, and stood at the north-west defining his plan of operation, and in dividing and corner of the road leading down to a villa after- frittering the command among no less than seven wards built, and named Crownpoint, after one of officers. The consequences were what might have the celebrated scenes of conflict in North America. been expected. Differences of opinion arose among This residence of Wolfe was a small, quaint-look- the commanders, followed by irresolution and fatal ing, two-story house; and we can fancy the young delays. Wolfe in vain urged instant and vigorous colonel, in this primitive and peaceful abode, at action. In this he was seconded by the gallant the age of twenty-two, acquiring part of his edu- young Howe, a naval officer with whom he had cation through the instrumentality of a Glasgow contracted a close intimacy as a kindred spirit; schoolmaster! This we learn from the first letter but to no purpose. They were overruled by the of the series to be afterwards quoted. Let not other five; and, finally, the enterprise completely people think slightingly of Camlachie village, in failed. The troops returned to England, and connection with Wolfe's name. It is the most Wolfe and Howe were not backward in expressing ancient of the suburbs, and is mentioned in the their indignation at the blundering which led to chartulary of Glasgow prior to the year 1300, the this unsuccessful result. Wolfe's sentiments on days of Sir William Wallace and Robert the this expedition are expressed in the letter No. 9, Bruce. The name is genuine Celtic, and has been written to his friend after coming home. imposed at a very remote time. The etymology is "the crooked water," singularly descriptive of the tortuous burn which intersects the village, and there forms the boundary of the royalty.

Pitt now turned his attention to the French possessions in North America, and determined to strike a blow there. An expedition was accordingly ordered against Louisbourg, the principal While thus stationed in Glasgow, Wolfe was town of Cape Breton. Wolfe was again employed. called upon to the somewhat inglorious duty of The principal command was committed to General suppressing a riot in the town, caused by a party Amherst, a good officer, having under him Wolfe of resurrectionists raising a dead body! It is and three other brigadiers, with a force of 13,000 uncertain how long Wolfe remained at Glasgow; men, and a powerful fleet. The expedition sailed but it would rather appear, from one of the letters, from England early in 1758. The letter No. 11 that he was still there in 1750. By this time the was written immediately before embarking. In friend to whom they were written had embarked, this important affair Wolfe behaved with the with a division of the army, under Cornwallis, for greatest skill and intrepidity. Louisbourg had a the purpose of settling a strong British colony in numerous garrison; and the shore, for more than Nova Scotia, which had been much neglected. seven miles, was defended by a chain of posts, The town of Halifax, fortified with a wooden with intrenchments and batteries. In order to palisade, began to rise in the wilderness. At that distract the enemy's attention a false attack was time Britain still held the splendid region, now resolved on, to mask the real one which was to

were resolved to triumph. The Gallic war-eagle | crowded vessels, and left them idly to consume stood high on his eyrie, holding with firm grasp themselves on the French shore. Fire-rafts, filled

the key of the French possessions in the west, his sharp piercing glance thrown proudly, yet anxiously, over the wild waste, in calm expectation of the coming British lion, so soon to make his fatal spring, and wrest from Gaul the eagle's sacred charge.

with combustibles, and explosive missiles, were next sent, but shared the same fate.

Wolfe now resolved to cross, and reconnoitre. He did so; and, soon afterwards, landed with a strong body of his forces, and encamped on Montcalm's flank, below Quebec, with the deep river Montmorenci, celebrated for its beautiful falls, between them. Here Wolfe lay for a short time, in expectation of receiving some intelligence of, or aid from, Amherst's division; and here he also wrote Mr. Pitt an admirable dispatch, describing his operations, and assigning excellent military reasons for taking up the position in which he then lay. His object was, if possible, to draw out Montcalm from his formidable intrenchments, and give battle in the open field. With this view he made a diversion, by throwing Colonel Carleton across a ford to the French side, and, by a series of skilful feints and manœuvres, tempting the marquis to come forth and attack him. But Montcalm was too wary. He saw the snare, and, knowing the advantageous nature of his own strong position, declined battle, choosing rather to leave Wolfe under every disadvantage. Wolfe now conceived an attack on a particular point of the French intrenchments, which he deemed practicable; and the troops were moved for this purpose,

The fleet which conveyed Wolfe's little army was under Admiral Saunders. It became necessary to ascertain the soundings of the channel between the island of Orleans and Quebec; and here another young man, whose foot was then only about to ascend the steps of Fame's Great Temple, distinguished himself. The difficult and dangerous duty of taking the soundings was intrusted to Cook -afterwards so celebrated as a navigator, destined to explore the vast mysterious oceans of the south and the west, and carry the white man's name and the torch of civilization to the hitherto unknown lands which rear their volcanic peaks, exhibit the wondrous marine architecture of the coral-zoophyte, and shed a delightful tropical fragrance, wafted to the weather-beaten sailor approaching their shores, over the long, broad billows which furrow the blue waste of waters. Cook was then only thirty-one, and acted as master of the Mercury, one of the fleet. He performed the service, for which he had been recommended by Captain Palliaer, in a most masterly manner, and much to Wolfe's satis-under cover of a brisk fire from the Centurion faction, as enabling him the better to mature his plans.

man-of-war; but a party of English grenadiers, who were first across, rushed towards the point of Wolfe disembarked a large portion of his troops attack prematurely, without waiting to be properly on the river-island of Orleans, before noticed; and supported, and were received with such murderous erected batteries to cannonade the town and citadel, volleys that they recoiled, and withdrew with loss, which he did with much effect. Almost the first disconcerting entirely the general's plan. Wolfe, thing, however, that suggested itself to him in laboring under fever, occasioned in some measure commencing hostilities, was characteristic of his by fatigue and prolonged exertion on a frame not generous heart. He wrote a polite note to Mont-naturally robust, called a council of war. calm, inviting him to abandon the cruelties perpe-another dispatch to Mr. Pitt, he stated clearly. trated by the wild Indians in the French service, on those who fell into their power; but this did not meet the favorable response due to humanity.

The marquis, seeing Wolfe's operations on the island, endeavored to prevent them by throwing a strong detachment across the river; but he did not succeed. He carefully revised and strengthened all his own outworks, and added others at every point considered susceptible of assault; while whole nations of savages, in his pay, swarmed around, keenly watching every movement, and scalping all who ventured unguardedly from the English lines. The fleet was placed in imminent danger by a violent storm, which burst from the birth-place of the mighty stream-far up among the great lakes and sought to overwhelm everything within its dismal track. Had the fleet been wrecked, Wolfe must have surrendered. Knowing this, Montcalm, in the midst of the tempest, sent down fire-ships among the thickest of the English fleet; but the gallant tars, defying the

In

He

and in his usual pithy style, the difficulties of the
enterprise, but added, “ I will do my best."
now resolved to attempt a surprise; but the obsta-
cles to this were as a thousand to one, from the
natural and artificial strength of the place, and the
unremitting vigilance of the enemy. Behind the
city, the Plains of Abraham stretch away, and on
this inland side the fortifications were ascertained
to be less formidable. But there were heights to
be surmounted of fully three hundred vertical feet
before the plains could be reached. The general,
after consulting Admiral Saunders, resolved on a
night-escalade of these now celebrated Heights of
Abraham, at a point he thought practicable. Could
the idea possibly have suggested itself to his mind
from recollection of the success of a similar noc-
turnal ascent, in ancient times, of the steep cliffs
on which the Castle of Dumbarton stands-a
stronghold which he himself had held and carefully
examined, while a subaltern officer?

In order to mask this strategy, the Admiral

storm, launched themselves in boats on the angry | sailed up the St. Lawrence a considerable distance, waters, and, boldly grappling with the blazing

machines of destruction, towed them past the

* Vide his own account of himself in letter No. 12.