speak: but thrice, in spite of every effort, his utterance failed him, save faintly to articulate, "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker!" To relieve him from his embarrassment, Mr. Robertson kindly called out, "Major Washington, Major Washington, sit down; your modesty alone is equal to your merit."

CHAPTER VI.

The French and Indian war begins-Washington goes forth to meet the dangers of his country-aims a blow at Fort Du Quesne-fails gallant defence of Fort Necessity-retires from the service in

disgust-pressed into it again by General Braddock-defeat and

death of Braddock, and dreadful slaughter of his army.

“WELL, what is to come, will come!" said poor when going to the gallows. Even so was as would seem, the time that was to come for to go forth to battle." The truth is, numbers

Paddy,

come,

"kings

of poor tax-ground, and thence uneducated and halfstarved wretches in Britain and France, were become diseased with a mortal cachexy or surcharge of bad humours; such as gambling, swindling, horse stealing, highway robbing, &c. which nothing but the Saturnine pills and steel points of Mars could effectually carry off. Thus in all corrupted governments war is considered as a necessary evil. It was no doubt necessary then.

Such tory, or

relate.

was the remote cause. The proximate hishow the dance begun, we now proceed to

We have just seen that the French, pouring down from the lakes of Canada, thick as autumnal geese, were dashing away on the Ohio, at an alarming rate -multiplying forts—holding talks and strengthening their alliances with the Indians. And we have seen, that Washington, with letters from governor Dinwiddie, had been out among the parlezvous,

conjuring them by every thing venerable in treaties, or valuable in peace, to desist from such unwarrant able measures. But all to no purpose: for the French commandant, smiling at Washington, as a green horn, and at Dinwiddie as an old fool, conti nued his operations as vigorously as though he knew not that the country in question made a part of the British empire.

Swift as the broad-winged packets could fly across the deep, the news was carried to England. Its effect there was like that of a stone rudely hurled against a nest of hornets. Instantly, from centre to circumference, all is rage and bustle-the hive resounds with the maddening insects. Dark tumbling from their cells they spread the hasty wing, and shrill whizzing through the air, they rush to find the foe. Just so in the sea-ruling island, from queens house to ale-house, from king to cockney, all were fierce for fight. Even the red-nosed porters where they met, bending under their burdens, would stop in the streets, to talk of England's wrong: and, as they talked, their fiery snouts were seen to grow more fiery still, and more deformed. Then throwing their packs to the ground, and leaping into the attitude of boxers, with sturdy arms across, and rough black jaws stretched out, they bend forward to the fancied fight! The frog-eating foe, in shirtless ruffles and long lank queue seems to give ground! then rising in their might, with fire-striking eyes they press hard upon him; and coming in, hand and foot, with kick and cuff, and many a hearty curse, they show the giggling crowd, how, damn 'em, they would thump

the French.

The news was brought to Britain's king just as he had dispatched his pudding; and sat, right royally amusing himself with a slice of Gloucester and a nip of ale. From the lips of the king down fell the luckless cheese, alas! not grac'd to comfort the stomach of the Lord's anointed; while, crowned

LE Food tasted

- lle the news, Tam: LÊ Bswering

es fix the floor, 18 us shrunk TV TILE saad before the Viel V geams of terest Starting

In syLived his ale: CTE DE Le a tremendous Var-shet zoon by his TEL DE Das war bounded Del JT DE Case: and, snuffing Mr Le, they raised a YDH These peaceful shores. LET ssed the British WILES V L and unite in one TOS The end: and raised a LA SAMMUNE which she raised Cauca Fry, by right of bums death, which 1.8 1200nzent. Washington a little handful, my the waderness, in quest I 1 are called the Little Cai ar mer one Jumonrss Lei Di altis men taken

ISTES DE CÒrained undoubted in. ane Factors on the Ohio, VIS I & Dosand regulars, and B notwithstanding

megas, be still pressed on CLIS DE METT, and at a place called TALA VS. 2016 a dir, which he called

Te ervoèments were marked BÀ 4. IF I our work, Washington

seizing the hand of the first that was lifting the spade, cried out "Stop, my brave fellow! my hand must heave the first earth that is thrown up in defence of this country!"

Leaving a small garrison behind him, he dashed on for Fort Duquesne, (Fort Pitt,) hoping by the reduction of that important post, to strike terror into the enemy, and defeat their plans. But though this was a bold stroke of generalship, yet it appeared that he had not a force, sufficient to effect it. For in the midst of this day's march, he was met by a party of friendly Indians, who, running up to him, with looks and gestures greatly agitated, cried out: "Fly! fly! don't look behind you! your enemies are upon you, thick as the pigeons in the woods!"

Washington called a council of his officers, who advised an immediate return to Fort Necessity, which they hardly recovered before their sentinels fired an alarm; came running in; and stated that the woods were alive with Frenchmen and Indians! It should have been observed, that the dreadful news of the day before, had produced so shameful a desertion among his troops in the course of the night, that when the enemy attacked, which they did with 1500 men, Washington had but 300 to stand by him. But never did the true Virginia valour shine more gloriously than on this trying occasion-to see 300 young fellows-commanded by a smooth-faced boy -all unaccustomed to the terrors of war-far from home-and from all hope of help-shut up in a dreary wilderness-and surrounded by five times their number of savage foes, yet without sign of fear, preparing for mortal combat! Scarcely since. the days of Leonidas and his three hundred deathless Spartans, had the sun beheld its equal. With hideous whoops and yells, the enemy came on like a host of tigers. The woods and rocks, and tall tree-tops, filled with Indians, were in one continued blaze and crash of fire-arms. Nor were our youthful warriors

con il cast, roaring and Les 1 frnd ire and of leaden Fir une porious hours,

ʼn smoke and flames, cand te memy's whole force, c ten fead ce the spot! #ESSILICE, the French Les ser a flag to IS FL1227, and offerTS is stipulated, Ime hand to heroes, should ROKS f Tir, and carry sers 10 barrage. esmer country, TER the praises serad The Legislature te v Washington and Sas men, about

VET VEZ, notice was Com : American Best sorci bear no e was scat, if wearing ran LC command a American!!! * N Nemon justice, and mi. Wisington threw up * 17 18 zanation, Mount mis Tercer Lawrence.

こ

Ne zemok lie to his favorite ext e tre sword; and WIN zrelocked in times ass began to darken

but inscessful struggle RES SAT ed England:

S LUSTR the Mices alone toc