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man is made the instrument of averting public calamity, the divine agency ought still to be acknowledged; but this was averted without human power. If philosophers would ascribe this event to blind chance, or fatal necessity, Christians will assuredly ascribe it to the operation of that Being who, in ancient times, caused the stars in their courses to fight against Sisera.*

41. Tumult in Boston.

In the year 1747, a great tumult was raised in the town of Boston. Commodore Knowles, while lying at Nantucket with a number of men of war, losing some of his sailors by desertion, thought it reasonable that Boston should supply him with as many men as he had lost. He therefore sent his boats up to town early in the morning, and surprised not only as many seamen as could be found on board any of the ships, outward bound as well as others, but swept the wharves, taking some ship-carpenters' apprentices, and labouring landmen. This conduct was universally resented as outrageous. A mob was soon collected. As soon as it was dusk, several thousand people assembled in King's-street, below the town-house, where the general court was sitting. Stones and brickbats were thrown into the council chamber through the windows. A judicious speech of the governor from the balcony, greatly disapproving of the impress, promising his utmost endeavours to obtain the discharge of the persons impressed, and gently reprehending the irregular proceedings of the people, had no effect. Equally effectual were the attempts of other gentlemen to persuade them to disperse. The seizure and restraint of the commanders and other officers who were in town were insisted on as the only effectual method to procure the release of the inhabitants on board the ships. The militia of Boston was sum. moned the next day to the aid of the government, but re Holmes' Annals.

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fused to appear. The governor, judging it inexpedient to remain in town another night, withdrew to Castle William. Letters, in the mean time, were continually passing between him and the commodore. The council and house of representatives now passed some vigorous resolutions; and the tumultuous spirit began to subside. The inhabitants assembled in town meeting, while they expressed their sense of the great insult and injury by the impress, condemned the riotous transactions. The militia of the town the next day promptly made their appearance, and conducted the governor with great pomp to his house. The commodore dismissed most, if not all, of the inhabitants who had been impressed; and the squadron sailed, to the joy and repose of the town.*

42. Braddock's Defeat.

The encroachments of the French, and the erection by them of a chain of forts on the back settlements of the colonies, occasioned the British ministry to take measures to possess themselves of these forts, and drive the French from the country.

In the spring of 1755, General Braddock arrived in Virginia, with two regiments, and was soon joined by Colonel Washington, (afterwards General Washington,) with a body of colonial troops; the whole force, two thousand men, took up their march for the French fort on the Ohio. General Braddock, on the 9th July, with twelve hundred of his troops, was within seven miles of Du Quesne, a French fortress, which stood where Pittsburg is now built. Here Colonel Washington, who understood the Indian mode of warfare better than his general, requested him to reconnoitre with his Virginia riflemen. But General Braddock, who held the American officers in contempt, rejected Washington's counsel, and swelling with rage, replied with an oath, "High

Holmes' Annals.

times! high times! when a young buckskin can teach a British General how to fight!" The troops advanced in heavy columns, and passing a narrow defile they fell into an ambush of French and Indians, who opened a deadly fire upon the English and American troops, who were obliged to fire at random, as they could not see their foe.

The slaughter at this crisis was dreadful; particularly among the officers; and Washington was the only one on horseback, who was not either killed or wounded. He had two horses shot under him, and four bullets passed through his coat. Braddock, if deficient in other military virtues, was not destitute of courage. Amidst a shower of bullets he encouraged his men to stand their ground by his countenance and example. But valour and discipline in this mode of warfare were useless the action lasted three hours, and seven hundred men were killed on the spot. Braddock, after having three horses killed under him, received a mortal wound; and his troops fled in extreme dismay and confusion. The Virginians, who were the last to leave the field, formed after the action by the prudent valour of Washington, covered the retreat of the regulars, and saved them from entire destruction.

43. Massacre at Fort William Henry.

In the year 1757, Mons. Montcalm, with a body of 11,000 regular French troops and Canadians, with two thousand Indians, laid siege to Fort William Henry. This fort was defended by a garrison of but 2,300 men, British and Provincials, under the command of Colonel Monro. The garrison made a brave resistance, and would have probably preserved the fort, had they been

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* A noted Indian warrior, who acted a leading part in this bloody action, was often heard to swear, that "Washington was never I had seventeen born to be killed by a bullet! For," continued he, fair fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not bring him to the ground."

properly supported by the British army under General Webb, which was then encamped at Fort Edward. The general, however, sent to Colonel Monro, and informed him that he could not assist him, and ordered him to give up the fort on the best terms he could; which was accordingly done. In consideration of the gallant defence the garrison had made, they were to be permitted to march out with all the honours of war, and with a guard to protect them from the fury of the savages. Soon after the capitulation was signed, the whole garri son, besides women and children, were drawn up within the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers of the Indians gathered about and began to plunder, and soon after some of them began to attack the sick and wounded, when such were not able to crawl into the ranks; and notwithstanding they endeavoured to avert the fury of their enemies, by their shrieks and groans, they were soon murdered.

The brave Col. Monro hastened away, soon after the confusion began, to the French camp, to endeavour to procure the guard agreed by stipulation, but his application proved ineffectual. By this time the war-whoop was given, and the Indians began to murder those who were nearest them without distinction. "It is not in the power of words," says the narrator, who was one of this ill-fated garrison, "to give any tolerable idea of the horrid scene that now ensued: men, women, and children, were despatched in the most wanton and cruel manner, and immediately scalped. Many of the savages drank the blood of their victims as it flowed warm from the fatal wound."

The garrison now perceived, though too late to avail. them, that they were to expect no relief from the French, who, instead of fulfilling their promises to furnish a guard to protect them, seemed tacitly to permit their savage allies to perpetrate these horrid atrocities. A few of the most resolute men, seeing no other probable way of preserving their lives, made a desperate effort, broke their way through the surrounding savages, and escaped.

It was computed that fifteen hundred persons were killed or made prisoners by these savages during this fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off by them, and never returned. A few, through favourable accidents, found their way back to their native country, after having experienced a long and painful captivity.

44. Abercrombie's Defeat.

The French had erected a fort at Ticonderoga, at the point of communication between Lake George, South Bay, and Lake Champlain. To dispossess them of this important place, an army, under General Abercrombie, was sent against it. His force consisted of 16,000 men, of which 6,000 were British regulars, and 10,000 were colonial troops. On the 5th of July, 1758, he embarked his troops on Lake George, on board 125 whale boats and 900 batteaux. The imposing splendour of the military parade on this occasion, is thus described by Dr. Dwight:-"The morning was remarkably bright and beautiful; and the fleet moved with exact regularity to the sound of fine martial music. The ensigns waved and glittered in the sunbeams, and the anticipation of future triumph shone in every eye. Above, beneath, around, the scenery was that of enchantment. Rarely has the sun, since that luminary was lighted up in the heavens, dawned on such a complication of beauty and magnificence."

After disembarking from the batteaux, the army formed in four columns, and began their march through the woods to Ticonderoga. When approaching the fort, a skirmish took place with the enemy, in which Lord Howe, the idol of the army, was killed; on seeing him fall, the troops moved forward, determined to avenge his death, About 300 of the enemy were killed on the spot, and 148 taken. Abercrombie having received information that the garrison consisted of about 6,000 men, and that a reinforcement of 3,000 more were daily ex

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