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from it, at the call of duty. You were the wise leader, 

 the dutiful son, the truthful man, and I the rash cava- 

 lier, maddened with success, intoxicated by the praise 

 of my fellow-men, bestowed more on my good looks 

 and good dinners, than on my virtues. I am, however, 

 prepared to seal my opinions with my blood, if the 

 enemies of my country wish it, — but enough of this 

 croaking. 



If this should be my last letter, let it contain for my 

 friends a record of what. has occurred to me since that 

 unlucky stroke of fate which has landed me where I 

 am. Let me hope this letter will involve me in less 

 trouble than my epistle of July 28th last, in which I 

 enclosed the plan of Fort Duquesne. Poor Braddock ! 

 that fatal day, which brought him defeat and death, will 

 also, seemingly, bring me to the block. Doubtless he 

 thought my letter and plan safe in his custody, but the 

 savages plucked the damning record from amongst his 

 baggage. Therefore, I am, I am told, to grace a gibbet 

 on the highest pinnacle of Cape .Diamond. My French 

 jailors load me with every opprobrious epithet. I have 

 ceased in their eyes to be a hostage, as such inviolate 

 in person by the law of nations ; and if England has 

 really disavowed the terms of the capitulation of the 

 Fort, was I still to consider myself a hostage for the due 

 execution of these terms ? was I not then an ordinary 

 prisoner of war, as such not precluded from aiding my 

 country by communicating information about the enemy, 

 even should I forfeit my life by so doing ? But 

 enough on this point ; if ever we should meet on this 

 side of Styx, of which, I confess, the chances seem faint 

 at present, we will discuss this knotty point of the 

 usages of war and the duties of a paroled prisoner. 

 There are some incidents personal to myself at the 

 taking of the fort, which I did not impart to you. 

 For surrendering, we had excellent reasons. Those 

 nine hours we stood exposed to the galling fire of the 

 French and their murderous allies, the Indians, will 



