228 ORATIONS AND IMPASSIONED PIECES. 



GENERAL WOLFE TO HIS ARMY, BEFORE QUEBEC.* 



I congratulate you, my brave countrymen and fellow 

 soldiers, on the spirit and success with which you have 

 executed this important part of our enterprise. The 

 formidable heights of Abraham are now surmounted, and 

 the city of Quebec, the object of all our toils, now stands 

 in full view before you. Af perfidious enemy, who have 

 dared to exasperate you by their cruelties, but not to 

 oppose you on equal ground, are now constrained to face 

 you on the open plain, without ramparts or entrenchments 

 to shelter them. 



You know too well the forces that compose their army 

 to dread their superior numbers. AJ few regular troops 

 from old France, weakened by hunger and sickness, who, 

 when fresh, were unable to withstand BRITISH soldiers, 

 are their general's chief dependence. Those numerous 

 companies of Canadians, INSOLENT, MUTINOUS, UNSTEADY, 

 and ILL-DISCIPLINED, have exercised his utmost skill to 

 keep together to this time ; and as soon as their irregular 

 ardour is damped by one firm fire, they will instantly 

 turn their backs, and give you no farther trouble but in 

 the PURSUIT. 



As for those savage tribes of Indians, whose horrid yells 

 in the forests have struck many a bold heart with affright ; 

 terrible as they are, with the tomahawk and scalping 

 knife, to a flying and prostrate foe ; you have experienced 

 how little their ferocity is to be dreaded by resolute men, 

 upon fair and open ground : you can now only consider 

 them as the just objects of a severe revenge, for the un- 

 happy fate of many slaughtered countrymen. 



This day puts it into YOUR power to terminate the 

 fatigues of a siege, which has so long employed your 

 courage and patience. Possessed with a full confidence 



* Firmness of manner, with a considerable degree of ardour, forma 

 the principal characteristic of this address, 

 f This requires a tone of indignation. 

 j Contemptuous, disdainful manner. 



