r's
longer stay, he returned to the camp, with intelligence obtained
from his prisoners, that the fort of Niagara was taken, Crown Point
abandoned, and general Amherst employed in making preparations to attack
the corps at the isle aux Nois, commanded by M. Burlemaque. The disaster
at the Falls of Montmorenci made a deep impression on the mind of
general Wolfe, whose spirit was too great to brook the most distant
prospect of censure or disgrace. He knew the character of the English
people--rash, impatient, and capricious; elevated to exultation by
the least gleam of success, dejected even to despondency by the most
inconsiderable frown of adverse fortune; sanguine, even to childish
hyperbole, in applauding those servants of the public who have prospered
in their undertakings; clamorous, to a degree of prosecution, against
those who have miscarried in their endeavours, without any investigation
of merit, without any consideration of circumstances. A keen sense
of these vexatious peculiarities conspiring with the shame of
disappointment, and eager desire of retrieving the laurel that he might
by some be supposed to have lost at the Falls of Montmorenci, and the
despair of finding such an occasion, excited an internal agitation,
which visibly affected his external frame, and disordered his whole
constitution, which was naturally delicate and tender. Among those who
shared his confidence, he was often seen to sigh; he was often heard
to complain; and even in the transports of his chagrin declare, that he
would never return without success, to be exposed, as other unfortunate
commanders had been, to the censure and reproach of an ignorant and
ungrateful populace. This tumult of the mind, added to the fatigues of
the body he had undergone, produced a fever and dysentery, by which for
some time he was totally disabled.

Before he recovered any degree of strength, he desired the general
officers to consult together for the public utility. It was their
opinion, that, the Points of Levi and Orleans being left in a proper
state of defence, the rest of the troops should be conveyed up the
river, with a view to draw the enemy from their present situation, and
bring them if possible to an engagement. This measure, however, was
not adopted, until the general and admiral had reconnoitred the town of
Quebec, with a view to a general assault; and concluded from their own
observations, reinforced by the opinion of the chief engineer, who