George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[337] struggle against inexorable destiny. Sustaining hun-

chap. XIV.} 1759. Sept.

ger and cold, vigils and incessant toil, anxious for his soldiers, unmindful of himself, he set, even to the forest-trained red men, an example of self-denial and endurance; and in the midst of corruption made the public good his aim. Struck by a musket-ball, as he fought opposite Monckton, he continued in the engagement, till, in attempting to rally a body of fugitive Canadians in a copse near St. John's gate,¹ he was mortally wounded.

On hearing from the surgeon that death was certain,—‘I am glad of it,’ he cried; “how long shall I survive?” ‘Ten or twelve hours, perhaps less.’ ‘So much the better; I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec.’ To the council of war he showed that in twelve hours all the troops near at hand might be concentrated and renew the attack before the English were intrenched. When De Ramsay, who commanded the garrison, asked his advice about defending the city,—‘To your keeping,’ he replied, ‘I commend the honor of France. As for me, I shall pass the night with God, and prepare myself for death.’ Having written a letter recommending the French prisoners to the generosity of the English, his last hours were given to the hope of endless life, and at five the next morning he expired.

The day of the battle had not passed, when De Vaudreuil, who had no capacity for war, wrote to De Ramsay at Quebec not to wait for an assault, but, as soon as his provisions were exhausted to raise the white flag of surrender.² ‘We have cheerfully ’