CHAPTER III.

Α

THE EVE OF VICTORY

LL the preparations for the momentous event which was to change the destiny of New France were now complete. Wolfe, who it appears had a gloomy foreboding that his own life would terminate on the morrow, was not sanguine of success, although his countenance did not betray his inmost thoughts. He had already disposed of his property by his will made on the sixth of June, and by a codicil added thereto on the twenty ninth of July. There now remained to him the simple task of seeing that a few personal belongings, henceforth to be treasured as precious souvenirs, were delivered into the hands of a faithful friend who would esteem it a privilege to execute his wishes. The friend whom he chose to honour with his last personal request was John Jervis " the companion of his school days at Greenwich, under the tuition of the Reverend Francis Swindon.

To Jervis he gave the miniature of Miss Katherine Lowther, (2) his will and codicil, and some little notes,

(1) See note to portrait of John Jervis, Earl St. Vincent. Vol. III. (2) In the same note reference is made to the delivery of the miniature &c,

which were delivered to Mrs. Wolfe in the month of November, after Jervis returned to England. What confidences were exchanged between Wolfe and Jervis we do not know, but in the midst of his intercourse with his friend on board the "Sutherland", he was recalled to the duties of his profession by the reception of a letter from the Brigadiers who, ignorant of their superior's intentions on the morrow, had requested enlightenment. This letter affords evidence that Wolfe alone was responsible for the plan which he intended to carry out on the morrow, and his answer to the Brigadiers is a proof of his independent spirit to the last.

These letters (1) written a few hours before the battle, after final arrangements for the enterprise had been made, are surely a sufficient answer to the numerous critics who have asserted that Wolfe simply carried out the plan of his Brigadiers.

Wolfe's answer to Monckton contained all the information which the general had to give even to his chief officers, and it also contained a rebuke. With the probable reasons for the independent spirit which Wolfe maintained throughout the campaign, and which was often a cause of surprise to his officers, we have nothing to do beyond saying that we do not consider that his secrecy was any reflection upon the honour or integrity of his Brigadiers.

The condition of the troops at this time was not an enviable one. They had been exposed for nearly three months to the hardships of camp life without the necessary,

(1) These letters have not been published hitherto but they appear in Appendix Vol. VI.