cause, the conciliating temper which was manifested at the close of a contest which had commenced with such appearances of asperity. Massachussetts had made large advances for the prosecution of the war, for which she expected reimbursements from parliament; and she was unwilling at such a juncture, to make impressions unfavourable to the success of her claim.

CHAPTER XIII.

Review of affairs at the close of the campaign of 1757.... Great preparations for the campaign of 1758....Admiral Boscawen and general Amherst arrive at Halifax....Plan of the campaign....Expeditions against Louisbourg....Ticonderoga, and Crown Point...General Abercrombie repulsed under the walls of Ticonderoga....Fort Frontignac taken by colonel Bradstreet....Expedition against fort du Quesne....Preparations for the campaign of 1759....General Amherst succeeds general Abercrombie....Plan of the campaign....Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken....The army of Amherst put into winter quarters at Crown Point.... French repulsed at Oswego....Defeated at Niagara, and that place taken....Expedition against Quebec....Check given the, English army....Battle on the plains of Abraham ....Death of Wolfe and Montcalm....Victory of the English ....Quebec capitulates....Garrisoned by five thousand men, under command of general Murray....Attempt to recover Quebec....Battle near Sillery....Quebec besieged by monsieur de Levi....Siege raised....Montreal capitulates.... War with the southern Indians...Battle near the village of Etchoe ....Grant defeats them and burns the towns of the middle settlements....Treaty with the Cherokees....Negociations between England and France....Altercations with Spain.... Mr. Pitt proposes a declaration of war against that monarchy.... Is over-ruled and resigns his office.... War with Spain, and great success of the English.... Treaty of peace.

THE campaign of 1757 had closed, leaving the affairs of Great Britain in North America, in a more gloomy situation than at any former period. By the acquisition of fort William Henry, the French had obtained complete possession of the lakes Champlain and George, which afford the

easiest admission either into Canada, or from that province into the northern British colonies. By the destruction of Oswego, they had, in like manner, acquired the dominion of those lakes which connect the St. Lawrence with the waters of the Mississippi, and unite Canada to Louisiana. By means of fort du Quesne, on the Ohio, they maintained their ascendency over the Indians, and held undisturbed possession of all the country west of the Alleghany mountains; while the English settlers were driven to the Blue Ridge. Thus the great object of the war in that quarter had been gained, and France held the country for which hostilities had been commenced. With inferior numbers the French had been successful in every campaign, and had uniformly obtained advantages over the English, and gained ground on their colonies. Nor were they less fortunate elsewhere. The flame of war, we have seen kindled in America, had communicated itself to Europe and Asia. In every quarter of the world, where hostilities had been carried on, the British arms had been attended with defeat and disgrace. Those were not wanting" who believed the character of the nation to have changed, and its ancient courage to have been lost. The most gloomy predictions respecting its destinies were uttered, and serious apprehensions seem to have been entertained by many, of its being no longer able to maintain that

a Russel's Modern Europe.

high station it had so long filled among the nations of Europe.

But this inglorious scene was about to be succeeded by one of unrivalled brilliancy. From the point of extreme depression to which their affairs had progressed, the brightest era in British history

was now to commence.

Far from being really broken by misfortune, the spirit of the nation was never higher than at present; and more of indignation than dismay was inspired by the ill success of their arms. The public voice had at length made its way to the throne, and had imperiously forced on the unwilling monarch, a minister who has been justly deemed one of the greatest personages of the age in which he lived.

Mr. Pitt had long been distinguished in the house of commons for the boldness and the splendor of his eloquence. His parliamentary talents, and the independent grandeur of his character, had given him a vast ascendency in that body, and had made him the idol of the nation. In 1756, he had been introduced into the councils of his sovereign, but dissenting essentially from the system adopted for the prosecution of the war, he retained his station for a short time. The public affection followed him out of office, and the national disasters continuing, it was found impracticable to conduct the complicated machine of government without his aid. In the summer of 1757, an administration was formed which conciliated the great contending interests in parlia.

ment, and Mr. Pitt was placed at its head. The controlling superiority of his character gave him in the cabinet, the same ascendency which he had obtained in the house of commons, and he seemed to dictate the measures of the nation. Only a short time was necessary to show, that qualities seldom united in the same person were combined in this extraordinary man. His talents for action seemed even to eclipse those he had displayed in debate; and in directing the vast and complicated movements of a war, extending on both elements over every quarter of the world, he unfolded a vigour of mind, a clearness of judgment, and a decision of character, surpassing the expectations even of those who had been long accustomed to admire the firmness with which he had pursued his political course. His plans, partaking of the proud elevation of his own mind, and the exalted opinion he entertained of his countrymen, were always grand; and the means he employed for their execution, never failed to be adequate to the object. Possessing without limitation the public confidence, he commanded all the resources of the nation, and drew liberally from the public purse; but the money was at all times faithfully and judiciously applied in the public service. Too great in his spirit, too sublime in his views, to become the instrument of faction, when placed at the head of the nation, he regarded only the interest of the nation; and overlooking the country, or the party which had given birth to merit, he searched for merit only, and employed