back, and gave no signs of life beyond a heavy breathing and an occasional groan.

Meantime the French had given way, and were flying in all directions. A grenadier officer seeing this, called out to those around him, "See! they run!" The words caught the ear of the dying man. He raised himself, like one aroused from

"The

sleep, and asked eagerly, "Who run?"9 enemy, sir," answered the officer; "they give way everywhere." "Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton," said Wolfe: "tell him to march Webbe's (the 48th) regiment with all speed down to the St. Charles river, to cut off the retreat." His voice grew faint as he spoke, and he turned on his side, as if seeking

an easier position.

When he had given this last order, his eyes closed in death.

When the news reached England, triumph and lamentation were strangely intermingled. Astonishment and admiration at the splendid victory, with sorrow for the loss of the gallant victor, filled every breast Throughout all the land were illuminations and public rejoicings, except in the little Kentish village of Westerham, where Wolfe had been born, and where his widowed mother now mourned her only child.

Wolfe's body was embalmed, and borne to the river for conveyance to England. The army escorted it in solemn state to the beach. They mourned their young general's death as sincerely as they had followed him in battle bravely. His remains were landed at Plymouth with the highest honours : minute-guns were fired, flags were hoisted half-mast high, and an escort with arms reversed received the coffin on the shore. They were then conveyed to Greenwich, and buried beside those of his father, who had died but a few months before.

After further successes of the British in other parts of Canada, under Generals Amherst, Haviland, and Sir William Johnson, the French cause became utterly hopeless. On the 8th of September, a British force of 16,000 men assembled before Montreal; and on the same day a capitulation was signed which severed Canada from France for ever.

One of the most momentous political questions that have ever moved the human race was decided in this struggle. When a few English and French

emigrants first landed among the Virginian and Canadian forests it began: when the British flag was hoisted on the citadel of Quebec it was decided. From that day Providence pointed out to the Anglo-Saxon race that to them was henceforth intrusted the destiny of the New World.

1 French dominion in Canada extended from the founding of Quebec by Champlain, in 1608, till the fall of Quebec, in 1759. The first European who set foot on Canada was a Frenchman, Jacques Cartier, who, in 1535, sailed up the St. Lawrence as far as where Montreal now stands.

2 Episode, a digression, or incidental narrative. [Gr. epi, upon; eisodos, a coming in.]

3 Mont' calm, Louis Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm, was born in 1712. He went to Canada as Field-Marshal of the French Army in 1756, and was successful in opposing the English till his death at Quebec in 1759.

WARBURTON.

a little fleet. [Dim. of Sp. flota, a fleet; Old Eng. fleotan, to float; Lat. fuo, to flow.]

666

Elegy in a Country Churchyard," a well-known poem by Thomas Gray. (See p. 184.)

"Qui vive?" (ke-vēv)—Who goes there? The form of demanding the pass-word; which the Highland captain gave correctly, "La France."

Grenadier.-Originally the Grenadier corps was a company of soldiers armed with pouches of hand-grenades, or bomb-shells (established in England in 1685). Afterwards the name was given to the company of tall, powerful men which led each battalion. Lastly, the name has been given to one of the regiments of Guards attached to the Court.

9" Who run?"-Another version of this incident concludes thus: "Who run?" cried Wolfe. The enemy," replied the officer. Then God be praised!" said Wolfe; "I shall die happy." And with these words he ex

Flotil'la, a fleet of small ships; lit.pired.

66

QUESTIONS.-Where does Quebec stand? Where are the Plains of Abraham? What plan did Wolfe form for reaching them? How did the safety of the plan depend upon its daring? At what time did the expedition start? What poem did Wolfe repeat as they floated down? What is the place where he leaped ashore now called? Where were the 78th Highlanders carried? How did their captain deceive the sentry? What did the soldiers who first reached the summit do? By what time had Wolfe his army marshalled on the table-land? How strong was it? How many were in the French army? Who commanded the latter? Which began the attack? What order did Wolfe give which tried the endurance of his men? What was the result of this plan? What order did Wolfe give when the French wavered? What happened to him soon after? What did Montcalm do when the French ranks were broken? What happened to Montcalm? What was Wolfe's last order? How was the news received in England? Where was Wolfe buried?

THE DESERTED VILLAGE.

SWEET Auburn ! loveliest village of the plain,
Where health and plenty cheered the labouring swain;2
Where smiling Spring its earliest visit paid,
And parting Summer's lingering blooms delayed;
Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,

Seats of my youth, when every sport could please;
How often have I loitered o'er thy green,
Where humble happiness endeared each scene!
How often have I paused on every charm ;-
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm,

The never-failing brook, the busy mill,

The decent church that topped the neighbouring hill;
The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,
For talking age and whispering lovers made!
How often have I blessed the coming day,
When toil, remitting, lent its turn to play;
And all the village train, from labour free,
Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree;
While many a pastime3 circled in the shade,
The young contending, as the old surveyed;
And many a gambol frolicked o'er the ground,
And sleights of art and feats of strength went round;
And still, as each repeated pleasure tired,
Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspired :-
The dancing pair, that simply sought renown
By holding out to tire each other down;
The swain, mistrustless of his smutted face,
While secret laughter tittered round the place;
The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love;

:

The matron's glance that would those looks reprove ;-
These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these,
With sweet succession, taught e'en toil to please.

Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close,
Up yonder hill the village murmur rose;
There as I passed, with careless steps and slow,
The mingling notes came softened from below :—
The swain, responsive as the milk-maid sung;
The sober herd, that lowed to meet their young;

LED UP THEIR SPORTS BENEATH THE SPREADING TREE."

The noisy geese, that gabbled o'er the pool;
The playful children, just let loose from school;

The watch-dog's voice, that bayed the whispering wind;
And the loud laugh, that spoke the vacant mind ;-
These all, in sweet confusion, sought the shade,
And filled each pause the nightingale had made.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH."

7 Oliver Goldsmith, born near Longford, in Ireland, in 1728; poet, novelist, essayist; author of The Traveller and The Deserted Village (poems); The Vicar of Wakefield (a novel); The Bee and The Citizen of the World (series of essays); The Good-Natured Man and She Stoops to Conquer (comedies); led a reckless and wandering life; died in London in 1774.