War, an heroic poem

13 September 1759

Battle of the Plains of Abraham

TO THE

TO THE

fifing of, the Siege of Quebec, by
General Murray.

By GEORGE COCKINGS.

PREFACE-

(xi)

the poem from fwelling to too great a bulk* I
mean thofe places in Africa, the Indies, &c.
placing the time of their reduction, moftly at
the time when the armaments failed from
hence, deftin'd againfr. them ; tho' in reality,
they fell long after, beneath the heavy battle
of thofe tars, and troops, which failed thither,
arm'd with angry Britain's vengeance ! For it was
in lefs compafs than three years, the plans were
form'd, and carried into execution, againft
Louiibourg, the Continent, and Quebec : againfr.
Maloes, Cherburg, and the Gallic fleets; and
all the other expeditions agarnft our enemies
in Africa, &c. So that I fcarceknew how to di-
geft the whole into a regular narration, and
not vary in a point, as to the time of the
events; and therefore I thought proper to
throw in together the attacks and reductions of
Guadaloup, Senegal, Granada, St. Martin's,
Marigalante, Surat, Chandernagore, Calcutta,
and the Nabob twice defeated -, under the
command of Watfon, Pocock, Moore, Clive,
Draper, Marih, Keppel, Mafon, Barrington,
Sayer, &c. &c. &c. Thefe I therefore reckon'd
up in the firfl of the poem, when I men-

tion'd

PREFACE-

(xii)

tion'd Great Britain routing to battle; Her ar-
mament for war, and pouring Her victorious
troops round about on every fide; firtce it was
near about the fame time they fail'd from
England; and I hope as I have mention'd
fuch events happen'd, and under fuch Com-
manders> it will pafs without undergoing a
fevere criticifm. Whilft General Wolfe, Ad-
miral Saunders, &c. are beleaguering, and at-
tacking Quebec; I have likewife mention'd
by way of epifode, what General Amherft,
General Johnfon, &c. &c. &c. atchiev'd on
the Continent ; tho' perhaps, fome of it was
done long before : but I fcarce knew a place,
in which I cou'd infert it more conveniently ;
and I hope the learned Chronologer will let me
efcape, without paffing too harm a cenfure on
that parTage. And if I fliou'd have tranf-
grefs'd the rules of narration, in a feries of
fuch great events, or deviated from the moil
exact niceties, which fome people may ima-
gine a work of this" nature requires, I hope
the generality of my readers, of candour,
fenfe, and learning, will put a favourable

con-

BOOK III.

He frnil'd, o'erjoy'd ! to fee th* old man advance
Amid the carnage, of deceitful France!
With pleafing horror ! view'd the heaps of dead,
Around the worthy Caleaonian fpread !

whom General To vvnfend obferv'd, (after the Generals, Wolfe*
and Monckton, were carried out of the line,) laying about him
with uncommon fury ; and likewife, (tho' he fo often lifted
his fword, he fcarce dealt a blow in vain : but at every ftroke,
he fell'd a Frenchman at his feet ! the account further fays,
that General Townihend mark'd when he retir'd behind the
heaps of flairi, (lain dead by his own hand,) to breathe awhile,
as if glutted with deftruction ! and fatiated with Slaughter ! and
faw him pull off his coat, or jacket, and with an heroic ardour,
glowing anew, (like an active flame, which had juft overcome
all oppofition,) hew his way thro' thick throng'd obftruftirtg
ranks of Frenchmen ! bearing down, or putting to flight, who-
e'er came within the femi-zone, form'd by his tremendous
fword ! after the battle, General Townihend alk'd his name,
age, and place of abode, or country. He anfver'd, his name
was Macpherfon : came from the Highlands of Scotland ; and
his age was feventy-two. The fword he then fought with, had
been in the family about three hundred years : he efteem'd it
almoft as his life ; and feem'd exceedingly alert ! and well
pleas'd! that he had us'd it on that memorable day fo well,
againft the enemies of Caledonia ! General Townihend, in-
fpir'd with noble fentiments of the brave old hero's worth, re-
ported his gallant behaviour to his Majefty ; and feconded it
with the honeft rhetorick of a great foul'd commander, and a
gentleman foldier ! and it is well known, in all the Britifh do-
minions, fuch his Majefty loves ; who not forgetting the mar-
tial fire of his own youth ! (of which Dettingen remains a glo-
rious inftance!) gave him his royal favour, and a cpmmifiion ;
b which he is for the future, intitled to the character of Mal-
colm Macpherfon, Gent. And it is faid, the people of London
were not behind hand, in their gratitude ; but when he pafs'd,
V/ou'd ciy out with a pleafing exclamation ! there goes the gal-
lant Scotchman ! the intrepid Highlander ! who laid the French
in heaps, at the battle of Quebec ! God blefs the brave old boy,
with his broad fword ! &c.

ConccivM