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render it prudent and consistent with the overruling laws of self- 

 preservation." Thus shrinking from the responsibility of the 

 glorious deed, Congress refused to ratify the first deliberate and 

 predetermined assault upon British authority. 



History, in forming its judgment of the character and the 

 services of the men who achieved these perilous and daring ex- 

 ploits, should regard the fact, that they acted under the behests 

 of no legitimate and recognized government, but from the mere 

 impulses of individual enterprise and patriotism ; that their acts 

 constituted outlawry, and that a failure would have entailed up- 

 on them the retributions visited upon treason and rebellion. By 

 a singular coincidence, the Congress that determined to raise an 

 army to assert the civil immunities of the colonies, assembled on 

 the very day that beamed upon the capture of these fortresses. 

 The reduction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, opened to the 

 colonies the gates of Canada. 



The prescience of Allen's mind, and his practical sagacity, 

 comprehended at a glance, the magnitude of the consequences 

 which might result from the measure, and which he saw within 

 the grasp of Congress. In urging with the warmest importunity 

 and with irresistible reasoning, an immediate attack on Canada, 

 he foreshadowed a policy, which then rejected, was afterwards 

 adoj)ted, w^ben the auspicious moment had passed. In a commun- 

 ication to Congress in June 7th, he utters this vigorous and em- 

 phatic language " I would lay my life on it, that with fifteen hun- 

 dred men I would take Montreal.'"' 



Ethan Allen stands out in bold prominence and originality 

 among the extraordinary men, whose high attributes of mind and 

 character were evolved from the crucible of the times. His own 

 age, under the prejudices of controversy, was too prone to regard 

 him as a rude and ferocious adventurer, inflamed by the mere 

 animal impulse of courage, but without the intellectual qualities 

 to guide and elevate their purposes. 



The intellect that could attain and preserve a mastery over the 

 minds and hearts of such a race as the " men of the Green Moun- 

 tains," and wield that " fierce democracy " to his purposes, had 

 no ordinary powers » 



