140 COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES. [1759-1760. 



the garrison surrendered. On the eighteenth of 

 September, 1759, the rock-built citadel of Canada 

 passed forever from the hands of its ancient 

 masters. 



The victory on the Plains of Abraham and the 

 downfall of Quebec filled all England with pride 

 and exultation. From north to south, the land 

 blazed with illuminations, and resounded with the 

 ringing of bells, the firing of guns, and the shouts 

 of the multitude. In one village alone all was 

 dark and silent amid the general joy; for here 

 dwelt the widowed mother of Wolfe. The popu- 

 lace, with unwonted delicacy, respected her lonely 

 sorrow, and forbore to obtrude the sound of their 

 rejoicings upon her grief for one who had been 

 through life her pride and solace, and repaid her 

 love with a tender and constant devotion.^ 



Canada, crippled and dismembered by the dis- 

 asters of this year's campaign, lay waiting, as it 

 were, the final sti'oke which was to extinguish her 

 last remains of life, and close the eventful story 

 of French dominion in America. Her limbs and 

 her head were lopped away, but life still fluttered 

 at her heart. Quebec, Niagara, Frontenac, and 

 Crown Point had fallen ; but Montreal and the 

 adjacent country still held out, and thither, with 

 the opening season of 1760, the British command- 

 ers turned all their energies. Three armies were 

 to enter Canada at three several points, and, con- 

 quering as they advanced, converge towards Mon- 



1 Annual Register for 1759, 43. 



