put to the rout, by a lurking enemy which it hardly faw; as even the noble and generous Lion, in palling thro' a thicket, may be ftung and poifon'd to death by a vile infidious ferpent undifcovered, which one of his paws, or only the flapping of his tail, might havedeftroyed in an inftant. Thus it was, that a brave English general there received his mortal wound from a foe, contemptible every where but in his own native woods and fwamps; a general, whofe valor, zeal, and indefatigable induftry in the fervice of his king and country, cannot be too much commended and whofe untimely fall can hardly be too much lamented.

I MUST confefs, tho' to fome it may perhaps feem a weakness, that thefe circumftances preceeding this acquifition, give an heightening to my own joy on account of it; tho' it be in itfelf fo important in many refpects, that it could not, even without thefe, fail to rejoice every well-wither to his Majefty's American colonies.

But having ftopped long enough here, confidering the time allowed us for our journey; let us now haften to the northward, as was propofed. A very material acquifition has been made this prefent campaign, of the fortrefs of Niagara. This was in itfelf a ftrong fort, and defended by a numerous garrifon : Which is not to be wondered at, confidering the importance of it, to the enemy. For being fituated between the two Lakes, Erie and Ontario, it commanded the communication between Canada and Louifiana, the Millilipi, &c., And befides, it was fo fituated as to draw the commerce, and with it the affections, of numerous tribes of favages about thofe lakes ; as alfo

General Braddock.

allo to awe the fix nations, our old friends and allies ; and even to stagger their friendship; which, as might naturally be fupposed, reft, wherever it leads.

ufually follows their inte

This important fortress is

now in our hands; the very confiderable army that had been deftin'd to its relief, and to raife the fiege, being repulfed with great flaughter, and the garrifon made prisoners of war. By which acquifition, the wavering nations of the Mohawks, as they are commonly called, are fecured in their fidelity and friendfhip; many other tribes of the favages have become our useful allies, instead of perfidious enemies; the French forts and fettlements at Prefque Ine and Venango are abandoned; and, in short, the whole extent of country between Lake Ontario and Pittsburgh, is left without a perfon who dares to own himfelf our enemy, unless we look far to the weftward. It may be added, that by this acquifition, if maintained, even tho' Canada had remained intire in the poffeffion of the enemy, would have been effectually cut off, all intercourfe of any confequence between Canada, Detroit, and all the French forts and fettlements to the fouthward of Lake Erie. So that the enemy on that fide, could have maintained their ground only on the Miffifipi, and fome of its remote branches; where, by reafon of the diftance from us, and the difficulty of the navigation, they could neither give us much dif turbance, nor gain much advantage to themselves. And this acquifition, fo important in its nature, it is to be remembered, was made with the lofs of a very fmall number of our troops; tho' not without the lofs of a brave and excellent general; * not indeed, killed by the enemy; but in vulgar phrafe, by an accident; yet fuch an accident as is directed by the providence of God. For if a fparrow does not fall to B 2

Brigadier-General Prideaux.

the

the ground without our Father, much less fuch a worthy commander; of more value, not only than many fparrows, but than many general officers of an higher rank.

FROM the last mentioned fortrefs to the capital whither we are bound, the nearest and directeft courfe is across Ontario to Frontinac, and fo down the river Cataraqui to La Galette, &c. However, as we have not heard of any thing lately done there, to invite us that way, we will take another route; which tho' longer, will be much more agreeable to us.

LET us therefore proceed from Niagara to Lake George; a confiderable distance, and mostly through a wilderness; but where we may now travel with fafety, tho' unarmed; there being no enemy here to do us any harm. We fee the country all our own, to the latter of thefe lakes: At the fouthern part of which, a year or two fince, the enemy under general Montcalm, made themselves mafters of one of our forts and, after the capitulation, and furrender thereof, inhumanly ftripped, butchered and fcalped the troops, to whom they had folemnly plighted their faith. Ac which time the city of Albany itself trembled for fear; and fome there were, who hardly thought the mselves. fecure, even in this metropolis. How different, how much more pleasing a scene, is now prefented to our view, if we caft our eyes on that quarter ? efpecially if we extend our view to the northern part of the last mentioned lake?

WE there fee the main body of the enemy who, it feems, the last year were fo powerful at Ticonderoga, as to repulfe and rout a large army of 15 or 16,000 men, not without confiderable flaugh

ter,

ter; I fay we there fee the main body of the enemy, now retiring precipitately before the conqueror of Louifbourg; even without daring to wait the near approach of his army. Doubtlefs the name of Amherft, tho' with a lefs numerous army than that which the enemy had fo lately defeated at the fame place, taught them a fudden fear, and seasonably suggested to them, that their only fafety was in flight. This almost impregnable fortrefs is now in our hands, and all the country round Lake George; fo that between that and us, no enemy prefumes to fet his foot. The value of this acquifition, fo important in itself, is in fome measure inhanced by reflecting on the expenfive, tho' fruitless attempts, heretofore made to obtain it; by reflecting on the lofs of fo many brave men at that place; and above all, by reflecting on the untimely fall of one of our general officers there, the last year. The memory of Lord Howe will long be refpected and honoured by every British fubject, who has any efteem for valor, military skill, publick fpirit, activity, and unwearied application. His untimely fall, as it were in the firft bloom of manly age, would even now demand a tear, were not this a day of rejoicing.

BUT let us follow our wife and excellent general at the westward, from Lake George to Lake Champlain. We there allo fee the enemy flying before him; and leaving him to take a quiet, and uninterrupted poffeffion of fort Frederic, ufually called Crown Point. A fortrefs which, tho' not very strong in itself, has long been a grievous eye-fore to thefe northern British colonies, and to our allies of the fix nations, and that very justly; fince, by its fituation, it enabled the enemy at any time fuddenly to annoy our frontier fettlements, and afforded them a place of

quick and fafe retreat; and where they could always fupply their good brethren, our favage enemies, with provifions, cloathing, and warlike ftores. This fortrefs we now fee in our hands; or rather, a far better. and ftronger one, lately built there under the direction of general Amherst. In fhort, we fee the whole country thereabouts in our poffeffion, and fecured to us; a communication opened between this lake and our western frontiers; and fettlers invited to come, and take up their habitation where, till very lately, it was not fafe for us to fet our feet. This we owe to general Amherst, under providence: Who, according to our latest advices, was proceeded still farther northward; where we cannot at prefent follow him; but may fafely rely on his prudence and magnanimity, under that divine direction which has thus far atter ded him; and humbly hope, he will take no ftep but what wisdom fhall dictate, and providence fucceed.:

SOME may poffible think it range, that the last mentioned general has made no quicker advances after a flying enemy; but given them time to fortify themselves towards the northern end of the lake. But it may be taken for granted, that he is a thorough mafter of his profeffion; that he wants not zeal in his Majefty's fervice; and that he has fufficient reafons for this part of his conduct. Can any of us prefume to fay, it was even practicable for him to make more hafte, without being in hazard of mak→ ing the worfe fpeed? Or do we know that this delay was not chofen and preferred, upon the foundest maxims of witdom and good policy? I am very far from prefuming to be a judge of thefe matters; and much farther from pretending to penetrate the particular views and defigns of fo fecret and confummate a commander. But might not this delay, fuppofing