1807.) 
At the general election in 1754, Mr. 
Townshend was returned for his native 
county, and in 1756, took an active 
part in the formation of a national mi- 
litia, a scheme patronized by the Whigs 
as a constitutional body of armed men, 
officered by gentlemen of property, and 
acting not only as a defence to the 
kingdom in case of rebellion or invasion, 
but also serving as a counterpoise to the 
dangers arising from a standing army. 
The Tories, on “the other hand, cried out 
against this measure, as an outr: age to 
the royal authority, and an useless and 
unnecessary burden to the people. After 
an experience of more than half a cen- 
tury, we are enabled to decide on this 
great question ; and it 1s now evident, that, 
although all the advantages resulting from 
a political balance be now lost, in conse- 
quence of drafts from the militia to the 
cess, added to a variety of still more 
fatal causes, yet, by this grand and bene- 
ficent scheme, we have been hitherto 
prevented from the necessity, although 
we may sometimes have incurred the dis- 
grace, of subsidising Hessians, Waldeck- 
ers, and other German mercenaries, as 
formerly, on the frst rumour of a war or 
an invasion, 
About this period, Mr. Townshend ap- 
pears to have made his peace with the 
court, and also altered his resolution 
as to military service; for he was not 
only restored to his former rank, but on 
the 6th of June, 1756, obtained the com- 
mand of the 64th regiment of foot. 
This change took place in consequence 
of an expected war with France, and 
no sooner did that event actually occur, 
than Colonel Townshend, now advanced 
to the rank of brigadier-veneral, was 
placed under the command of Wolfe, 
then serving in America. The latter 
possessed all the requisites to form a great 
oficer; and had not a premature death 
deprived the nation of his abilities, his 
name would have stood stil! higher in the 
page of history. He had already distin- 
guished himself before Louisbourg, and 
was now destined to undertake the siege 
of the city of Quebec, the capital of 
Canada. The brigadiers Monckton, 
Townshend, and Murray, were ordered 
toserve under him; and the second of 
these officers having repaired to the Trans- 
Atlantic Continent, early in the spring, in 
the fleet from England, entered the river 
St. Lawrence, and debarked in the month 
ef June, on the isle of Orleans. 
The first opportunity to distinguish 
himself occurred ac Montmorenci, where 
4 
Memoirs of the Marquis of Townshend. 361 
brigadier Townshend prevented the 
French troops from annoying the English 
camp, by means of a battery placed on a 
situation to enfilade it. He also covered 
the retreat of a division, after an unsuc- 
cessful attack on a body of the enemy, 
posted at the Falls. 
When the bold but successful attempt 
of landing the army during the night, and 
scaling the heights of Abraham, had been 
resolved on, at his instigation, the com- 
mand of the second embarkation was en- 
trusted to the subject of this memoir, 
At the battle which followed, Brigadier 
General Townshend occupied a conspi- 
cuous position; and while busied ia 
keeping not only the enemy, but their 
allies the savages in awe, he received 
notice that the commander in chief had 
fallen in the moment of victory, apd that 
Monckton, the next officer in point of 
rank, was wounded desperately. On 
this, he instantly repaired to the centre, 
assumed the authority that had thus une 
expectedly devolved upon him, restored 
order, and prepared the necessary meas 
sures to obtain the surrender of Quebec. 
To effect that, a proper disposition was 
made of the forces by sea and land ; 
but such were the salutary con sequences 
of the late action, that a siege had be- 
come unnecessary. Before the intended 
batteries were erected, a flag of truce 
accordingly arrived in the British camp, 
with proposals for a capitulation, which 
after due consideration were acceded to. 
On this important event, by which Eng- 
Jand secured the dominion of North Ame- 
rica, and without an act of political in= 
sanity must have been retained for ages, 
the Brigadier returned home, in the av< 
tumn of 1759, and soon after repaired te 
the Continent, with the rank of Major- 
General, which he obtained in 1761. 
From ‘Germany he went to Portugal, 
where he was invested with the command 
of a body of British imfantry, for the 
protection of that defenceless i ingdom. 
The author of this article has heard him 
describe the extreme ignorance of eur 
allies, in the art of war, and exemplify 
his remarks by anecdotes which would 
have reflected disgrace on the skill and 
activity of the Samoides, or Iroquois, 
In 1762, he was appointed lieutenant- 
general of the crduance, and on the 
demise of his father, in 1764, he suc. 
ceeded to the paternal honours and 
estates. 
Soon after this (August 12, 1767) 
Lord Townshend having been appointed 
viceroy of reland, embarked at Holy- 
head, 
——— 
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Benes 
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