ediately communicated to the people in an Extraordinary
Gazette. The joy which this excited among the populace rose in
proportion to the despondence which the former had produced: all was
rapture and riot; all was triumph and exultation, mingled with the
praise of the all-accomplished Wolfe, which they exalted even to a
ridiculous degree of hyperbole. The king expressed his satisfaction by
conferring the honour of knighthood upon captain Douglas, whose ship
brought the first tidings of this success; and gratified him and colonel
Hale with considerable presents. A day of solemn thanksgiving was
appointed by proclamation through all the dominions of Great Britain.
The city of London, the universities, and many other corporations of
the kingdom, presented congratulatory addresses to his majesty. The
parliament was no sooner assembled, than the secretary of state, in the
house of commons, expatiated upon the successes of the campaign, the
transcendent merit of the deceased general, the conduct and courage of
the admirals and officers who assisted in the conquest of Quebec. In
consequence of this harangue, and the motion by which it was succeeded,
the house unanimously resolved to present an address, desiring his
majesty would order a monument to be erected in Westminster-abbey to
the memory of major-general Wolfe; at the same time they passed
another resolution, that the thanks of the house should be given to the
surviving generals and admirals employed in the glorious and successful
expedition to Quebec. Testimonies of this kind, while they reflect
honour upon the character of the nation, never fail to animate
individuals to a spirited exertion of their talents in the service of
the public. The people of England were so elevated by the astonishing
success of this campaign, which was also prosperous on the continent
of Europe, that, far from expressing the least sense of the enormous
burdens which they bore, they, with a spirit peculiar to the British
nation, voluntarily raised large contributions to purchase warm jackets,
stockings, shoes, coats, and blankets, for the soldiers who were exposed
to the rigours of an inclement sky in Germany and America. But they
displayed a more noble proof of unrestrained benevolence, extended even
to foes. The French ministry, straitened in their finances, which were
found scarce sufficient to maintain the war, had sacrificed their
duty to their king, and every sentiment of compassion for hi