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wing. The Imperialists had filed towards the right, and Eugene's presence now became necessary to direct their attack. On taking leave of his colleague, he promised to give notice as soon as his lines were formed, that the battle might begin on both wings at the same instant.

While Marlborough waited for this communication, he ordered the chaplains to perform the usual service at the head of each regiment; and he was observed to join with peculiar fervour in this solemn appeal to the Giver of all victory. After this act of devotion, he showed his usual humanity, in pointing out to the surgeons the proper posts for the care of the wounded. He then rode along the lines, and was gratified to find both officers and men full of the most elevated hopes, and impatient for the signal. As he passed along the front, a ball glanced under his horse and covered him with earth. A momentary feeling of alarm for the safety of their beloved chief thrilled in the bosoms of all who witnessed the danger; but he coolly continued his survey, and finding his dispositions perfect, sat down to take some refreshment while he waited for reports from the Imperialists.

It was mid-day before the news arrived that Eugene, whose march had been impeded by many unlooked-for difficulties, was at length ready. Marlborough instantly mounted his horse, and ordered Lord Cutts to begin the attack on the village of Blenheim, while he himself led the main body across the river.

At one the attack on Blenheim commenced; and for some time was vigorously, though ineffectually maintained but Marlborough perceiving that the village was filled with troops, and not likely to be carried without great loss, ordered Lord Cutts to keep up a feigned attack, while he himself hastened the dispositions for the execution of his grand design, that of forcing the centre of the enemy.

General Churchill, our illustrious commander's brother, had already pushed a part of the infantry across the river; the first line of cavalry now broke into columns, and descended to the fords.

Here

began the hottest part of the conflict; the horse, entangled in the marshy and broken banks of the river, were fiercely charged by the troops stationed by Tallard expressly for the purpose, supported by a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. For a long time the fight was doubtfully maintained; at length they succeeded in making good their ground, and by three o'clock Marlborough was able to send a messenger to Eugene, announcing his success. The Prince had not been so fortunate; his infantry had been exposed to a severe cannonade in the first onset, and his cavalry were three times driven back in utter confusion. Stung by the prospect of defeat, he exposed himself without reserve; and, at length, after a sanguinary struggle, his infantry succeeded in their purpose of turning the enemy's left flank.

The battle now drew to a crisis: Marlborough had finally effected the passage of the river, and at five his dispositions for a general attack were completed. Amidst a tremendous fire of cannon and musketry the troops moved up the ascent; twice they were foiled; but at the third attempt the French horse were completely broken, and abandoned the battalions of foot which had been mingled with them, who were all either cut to pieces or made prisoners. Tallard found that all was lost, unless he could obtain assistance from his left; but Marsin and the Elector found themselves too closely pressed by Eugene to venture to detach any troops in aid of their unhappy colleague. Marlborough saw that the decisive moment of victory was arrived. The trumpets sounded the charge, and the allied horse rushed forward with tremendous force. The hostile cavalry did not await the shock, but after a scattered volley fled in dismay. The rout was complete; numbers were killed and taken in the pursuit, and many perished in the attempt to swim across the Danube. Marshal Tallard surrendered himself, and with him many officers of distinction. They were immediately conducted to the victorious commander, who received them with all the attention due to their character and

misfortune. The other French commander, Marsin, together with the Elector of Bavaria, drew off the wreck of their troops as they could, though considerably harassed in their retreat by both the allied commanders.

The fate of the troops left in the village of Blenheim was yet undecided. They had witnessed the event of the battle without making any attempt to escape, because the officer despatched with the order had been unable to reach the village; their commander had been killed; and though left thus without a chief and without orders, they maintained their post so obstinately, that it became necessary to order a general attack on every accessible point of the village. To spare effusion of blood a capitulation was proposed by the French; General Churchill insisted on an unconditional surrender. They had no alternative; twenty-four battalions and twelve squadrons submitted themselves, and thus closed the mighty struggle of this eventful day.

The total loss of the French army was ascertained to be not less than 40,000 men, including deserters and those who were killed in the retreat. The loss of the allies was also very considerable, being not less than 4,500 killed, and 7,500 wounded.

It would be difficult to appreciate the consequences of this great victory; it checked the ambitious plans which Lewis XIV. had formed for the aggrandizement of France, and dissipated entirely those dreams of universal monarchy in which he had so long indulged. It placed Great Britain in a novel and most commanding station. Centuries had passed since she had asserted herself as became her in the wars by which Europe was distracted: and she now took her place all at once at the highest point in the scale of military renown. The glory she won at Blenheim has never since been tarnished. It is a possession handed down to us from our fathers, and we know its value for who can be so well able to appreciate the high desert of Marlborough, as those who

have witnessed or have shared in the achievements of Wellington?

The behaviour of Marlborough, under this accumulation of success and honour, was above all praise. To give an adequate idea of his conduct in the field, we are glad to avail ourselves of a description which has been bequeathed us by one of the best men that ever lived the excellent Addison; we give it not as the language of poetry or flattery, but as a faithful and most spirited delineation of our British hero :

""Twas then great Marlborough's mighty soul was prov'd,
That in the shock of charging hosts unmov'd,
Amidst confusion, horror, and despair,
Examin'd all the dreadful scenes of war;
In peaceful thought the field of death survey'd,
To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid;
Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage,
And taught the doubtful battle where to rage.
So when an Angel by divine command,
With rising tempests shakes a guilty land,
Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past,
Calm and serene he drives the furious blast;
And pleas'd th' Almighty's orders to perform,
Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm."

J. M. T.

THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home.
Will stand a-tiptoe, when this day is named;
Then, while he strips his sleeve, and shows his scars,
The story shall the good man teach his son."

SHAKSPEARE's King Henry V.

THERE is a patriot pleasure in looking back upon the military achievements of our countrymen, which it is our duty as well as our disposition, to cherish. The memory of those brave men who have bled in the service of their country, animates the hearts of their children; and though the martial spirit to which, under Providence, we owe the preservation of our

national existence, has now happily subsided into the calmer duties of private citizens, yet, in the midst of peace, we must not forget our obligations to those by whom that peace has been secured.

We can scarcely mention any single exploit which has had a greater hold upon the public admiration than the siege of Quebec in 1759. The well-known print of "The Death of General Wolfe," has greatly assisted to preserve the reputation of this victory : and the interest of the subject, added to the great beauty of the engraving, is universally felt and acknowledged.

The war of 1756 arose from the attempts made by the French in Canada, to dipossess the British settlers in that part of North America. Hostilities proceeded, with various success, until the year 1759, when the British Ministry having resolved to make a general attack upon the enemy's possessions in that quarter of the world, the expedition against Quebec, the capital of Canada, was entrusted to Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, and Major-General James Wolfe. Quebec stands on a lofty eminence on the river St. Laurence, strongly fortified, and very difficult of access. It was defended by a numerous garrison; while the Marquis de Montcalm, commanding the French army of 10,000 men lay entrenched below the town, to cover that side from an attack,—the defences of the Upper Town being deemed impregnable.

Wolfe exerted every art to decoy him from his position; but the Marquis was too good an officer to be seduced into a disadvantageous battle. After experiencing much delay and difficulty, during which many men were lost, the season being far advanced, and the health of Wolfe himself rapidly declining, it was resolved to make a desperate attack upon the heights above the Town. Among some family manuscripts, now lying before the writer of this article, are the whole of the secret instructions and correspondence between Sir Charles Saunders and Lord Chatham, then Secretary of State, relative to this expedition; together with the details of the

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