GENERAL JAMES MURRAY.
WILES Wolfe fell on the Heights of Abraham and Quebec sur- rendered, General James Murray was appointed Governor of the city and left to defend it through the winter of 1759.60 till Amherst could advance upon Montreal and complete the con- quest of Canada. Major-General R. H. Mahon, a descendant of Murray's, has written a highly interesting Life of General the lion. James Murray (Murray, 21s. net), in which ho reminds us that Wolfe's untimely death left much to bo done, and in which, moreover, he examines in detail the mysterious occur- rencea leading up to Wolfe's victory. Why did Wolfe suddenly change his mind on September 10th, 1759—three days before the battle—and decide to land just above Quebec instead of landing much further up the river? Why were the British troops almost unopposed at the Anse au Foulon, although it was a good landing-place with a fair road up to the plateau ? Why was the Regiment of Guienne retained in camp when Montealm, the day before the battle, had ordered it to take post on the Heights of Abraham ? Why did the French guards along the river bank let the British expeditionary force pass undisturbed, assuming that the boats were a French convoy ? How did tho British officers on landing know the password which deceived the sentries ? Why did Bougainville, who with a thousand men was stationed a few miles further up the river, fail to march towards Quebec and attack Wolfe's small army in the rear ? General Mahon's main conclusion is that there was treachery on the part of some of Governor Vauclreuil's assistants, though he does not attempt to show how they benefited by such a foul deed. The author does full justice to Murray's courage and determination in holding Quebec through a severe winter against greatly superior forces. Murray fought an
unsuccessful action with the besiegers on the plateau on April 28th, 1760, but, though beaten, he was less discouraged than his adversary and he kept his flag flying till the relief ships appeared two or three weeks later. After the surrender of Montreal Murray acted as Governor for five years, till he was succeeded by Carleton. He seems to have dealt fairly by the Canadians and, partly for that reason, was recalled by the Rockingham Ministry, who were not such wise and high-souled patriots as Burke's eloquence would lead us to believe. Murray's last exploit was to defend Minorca with a small garrison against a large Spanish army in 1780-82, surrendering only when an epidemic of scurvy had stricken all but a hundred of his men. He was tried by court-martial and reprimanded, because his second in command, Sir William Draper—the former opponent of Junius—had quarrelled with him and used his political influence to Murray's detriment. General Mahon is a spirited writer and his book is well worth reading.
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