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man; and if such an excellent officer as the late Lord Howe had the use of Broadstreet's uncommon diligence and activity, and unparalled batoe knowledge, it would turn to a good public account. When I went from hence, Lord Ligonier told me that I was to return at the end of the campaign; but I have learned since I came home, that an order is gone to keep me there; and I have this day signified to Mr Pitt that he may dispose of my slight carcase as he pleases, and that I am ready for any undertaking within the reach and compass of my skill and cunning. I am in a very bad condition both with the gravel and rheumatism, but I had much rather die than decline any kind of service that offers; if I followed my own taste, it would lead me into Germany, and if my poor talent was consulted, they should place me to the cavalry, because nature has given me good eyes, and a warmth of temper to follow the first impressions. However, it is not our part to choose, but to obey.

"My opinion is, that I shall join the army in America, where if fortune favours our force and best endeavours, we may hope to triumph.

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I have said more than enough of myself; it is time to turn a little to your affairs; nothing more unjust than the great rank lately thrown away upon little men, and the good servants of the state neglected.

Not content with frequent solicitations in your behalf, I writ a letter just before I embarked, putting my Lord George Sackville in mind of you, and requesting his protection; his great business, or greater partialities, has made him overlook your just pretensions.

"If you come to town in January, I shall be there, and will do you all the service I am able, but Lord Ligonier seems particularly determined not to lay the weight of any one obligation on me; so you may hold my

Fort, Frontenac, on the North, or French side of the St Lawrence, where it issues from Lake Ontario, by Lieut. Colonel Broadstreet, who had been sent against it by General Abercromby, with a detachment of 3,000 provincials. This able officer destroyed the Fort, with 60 pieces of cannon, 16 mortars, an immense depôt of provisions for the French Army; took all the enemy's shipping on the Lake, consisting of 9 vessels, some of them mounting 18 guns, and rejoined Abercromby, all without the loss of a man. Wolfe's compliment to him was well merited."

good inclination in higher value than my power to assist. You have my best wishes, and I am, truly,

"My dear friend, your faithful and obedient servant,

"JAMES WOlfe."

"Salisbury, 1st December, 1758.

"Remember that I am Brigadier in America, and Colonel in Europe.

"Barré was in such favour with General Amherst that he took him to the Continent, and he very well deserves his esteem."

Extracts from Wolfe's letters to his parents.

Glasgow 13th Augt. 1749 (to his mother) Extract.

"This is Sunday, and we are just now come from church. I have observed your instructions so religiously that, rather than want the Word, I got the reputation of a very good Presbyterian by frequenting the Kirk of Scotland, till our Chaplain appeared. I am now come back to the old Faith, and stick close to our Communion. The example is so necessary that I think it is a duty to comply were that the only reason, as in truth it is not. Tomorrow L. G. Sackville, Col. 20th Regt, goes away, and I take upon me the difficult and troublesome employment of a Commander; you can conceive how hard a thing it is to keep the Passions within bounds, when authority and immaturity go together; to endeavour at a character that has every opposition from within, and that the condition of the blood is a sufficient obstacle to. Fancy you see one, that must do justice to both good and bad, reward and punish with an equal unbiass'd hand: one that is to reconcile the severity of Discipline to the dictates of humanity; one that must study the tempers and dispositions of many men, in order to make their situation easy and agreable to them; and should endeavour to oblige all without partiality; a man set up for every body to observe and judge of; and last of all suppose me employed in discouraging vice and recommending the reverse, at the turbulent age of 23, when it is possible I may have as great a propensity that way as any of the men that I converse with!

Inverness Nov. 6, 1751. (to his mother) Extracts.

(His birthday, which gives a melancholy turn to the beginning.)

"There are times when men fret at Trifles, and quarrel with their Tooth-pick; in one of these ill habits, I exclaim against the present condition, and think it the worst of all, but cooly and temperately is plainly the best; where there is most employment and least Vice, there one should wish to be. It is a meanness and a baseness not to endure with patience the little Inconveniencies we are subject to; and to know no happiness but in one spot, and that, in Ease, in Luxury and idleness, seems to deserve our contempt. There are young men amongst us, that have great revenues and high military stations, that repine at 3 months service with their Regiments, if they go 50 miles from home: Soup, and Venaison and Turtle, is their supream delight and joy; an effeminate Race of Coxcombs; the future leaders of our Armies, the defenders and Protectors of a great & free Nation! You bid me avoid Fort William, because you believe it still worse than this place, that will not be my reason for wishing to avoid it, but the change of conversation, the fear of becoming a mere Ruffian, & of imbibing the tyrannical Principles of an absolute Commander or giving way insensibly to the temptations of Power, till I become Proud, Insolent and intolerable, these considerations will make me wish to leave the Regiment before the next Winter, and always (if it could be so) after eight months duty, that by frequenting men above myself I may know my true condition, and by discoursing with the other sex may learn some civility and mildness of carriage, but never pay too high a price for this last improvement-better be a savage of some use, than a gentle amorous Puppy, obnoxious to all the World; one of the wildest of all the wild Clans, is a worthier being than a perfect Philander. I writ to my Father by the last post, to rectify my friend Charles' mistake, who always wishes that I should do, what he thinks best, and go the straight Road to an imaginary Felicity, that has no place but in his fruitful Fancy. The Answer you made, was conformable to my sentiments; I must be very deeply engaged, or have every substantial reasons to determine me to marriage, one nor the other are to be found in the matter touch'd upon-wits might spare their raillery : some time or another I will give you very particular reasons (over and above my senseless passion and the young Ladies misfortune) why a thought of that kind never enters into my head. Least you should

imagine I must tell you that those Reasons are no how prejudicial to the girl. I have a certain turn of mind that favours Matrimony prodigiously (tho' every way else extreamly averse to it at present) and you shall know it. I love Children & think them necessary to us in our latter days; they are fit objects for the mind to rest upon, and give it great entertainment when amusements of other kinds have lost their value. And next to being an honest man and a good citizen, it is meritorious to produce such Characters amongst men; our Endeavours here seldom fail of success, for young People are as capable of receiving good impressions and good sentiments as bad ones, & if their natures incline to evil, custom and education correct it-Two or three manly, courageous upright sons are a present to the World of the highest estimation, and the Father that offers them sees with satisfaction that he is to live in his successors, and that his good qualities will contribute to and illustrate mankind when he is no longer amongst them. Is not this a pleasing sort of reflection?

Lord Berry, Col. 20th Reg. of Foot, professes fairly, & means nothing; in that he resembles his Father and a million of other showy men that are seen in Palaces, & in the Courts of Kings-He desires never to see his Regt. & wishes that no officer would ever leave it-this is selfish and unjust they have a way of trifling with their poor soldiery, that gives many very honest brave men high disgust. I am sensible that it is my duty to be here, & that silences me, otherwise the care of a Regt of Foot is very heavy, exceeding troublesome, & not at all the thing that I delight intho' as I told you before, the occupation in general is a good one, & hits my genius. I dont expect any leave of absence these 18 or 20 months, perhaps I may not ask, tho' according to custom I have several projects in view."

Exeter Feb. 18, 1755. (to his father).

"By my mother's letter, which came to me this morning, I find that your bounty & liberality keeps pace (as it usually does) with my necessities. I shall not abuse your kindness nor receive it unthankfully; & what use I make of it shall be for your honour, & the Kings service; an employment worthy the hand that gives it. I cannot bear the thoughts

of asking these sort of supplies from any foreign Purse, and therefore should have been distress'd without your assistance than can well be described I wouldn't wish that anything should take off my attention from the most important parts of my duty, nor feel myself crampt and tied down by the narrowness of my circumstances at a time when the thoughts should be free & at large. If a man is ill-served, ill-mounted, or ill-arm'd in the field; he is deprived of the necessary aids to his welldoing; and that spirit will guide others but iudifferently which bends. under its own wants. I shall husband your gifts with discretion, and be gratefully mindfull of your goodness. I wish you much health and happiness and am Dear Sir, Your most obedient & affectionate son

JAM. WOLFE."

Exeter 19 Feby. 1755. (to his mother) Extract.

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May I be permitted to say that my Father's apprehensions (& consequently your's) are not well founded; he was on board the fleet in the beginning of the war preceeded by a peace of thirty years, in which the sea officers, as well as our's, had almost forgot their Trade, matters are not so circumstanced now and there are many commanders in the fleet, who are men of high courage and spirit: let me add that things inconveniencies at his time of life, which are not so at mine. I please myself that we are at liberty to do our country good service by going on board the fleet; the sickness that we feel at first will soon be over, and I flatter myself, if occasion be, that we shall spur'em on to their duty. The success of our fleet in the beginning of the War (if there is a war) is of the utmost importance, and we shall have great merit in contributing ever so little towards it-it is not time to think of what is agreable; that service is certainly the best, in which we can be most useful; for my part I am determined never to give myself a moment's concern, about the nature of the duty which his Majesty is pleased to order us upon; & whether it be by Sea or by Land, that we are to act in obedience to his Commands ; I hope we shall conduct ourselves so as to deserve his approbation; it will be sufficient comfort to you two (as far as my person, is concerned) to reflect, that the power which has hitherto preserved me, may if it be his pleasure continue to do so; If not, it is but a few days or a few years

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