most pleasing, image of one vast range of mountains, slowly moving up the ascent of another.

As a specimen of the peculiar variegation of light in this region, you may take the following. On Thursday the 30th of September, a little before the setting of the sun, I saw one of the mountains on the East, arrayed in the most brilliant purple, which can be imagined. Nothing could surpass the lustre, which overspread this magnificent object, and which was varied through innumerable tints, and softenings, of that gorgeous colour.

The dim lights, frequently seen in the night upon the shore, sometimes of candles, feebly starring the midnight gloom of the forest, and sometimes of fires, glimmering from fields and mountains, presented a strong contrast to the cheerful splendour of the day.

On the evening of Friday, the 1st of October, while we were returning from Ticonderoga, we were presented with a prospect, superiour to any which I ever beheld. An opening lay before us between the mountains on the West, and those on the East, gilded by the departing sunbeams. The lake, alternately glassy and gently rippled, of a light and exquisite sapphire, gay and brilliant with the tremulous lustre, already mentioned, floating upon its surface, stretched in prospect to a vast distance, through a great variety of larger and smaller apertures. In the chasm, formed by the mountains, lay a multitude of islands, differing in size, shape, and umbrage, and clothed in deeply shaded green. Beyond them, and often partly hidden behind the tall and variously figured trees, with which they were tufted, rose, in the West and South-West, a long range of distant mountains, tinged with a deep misty azure, and crowned with an immense succession of lofty pines. Above the mountains, and above each other, were extended in great numbers, long, streaming clouds, of the happiest forms, and painted with red and orange light, in all their diversities of tincture. Between them the sky was illumined with a vivid, yellow lustre. The tall trees on the Western mountains lifted their heads in the crimson glory; and on this back-ground displayed their diversified forms with a distinctness, and beauty,

never surpassed. On a high, and exactly semi-circular, summit, the trees, ascending far without limbs, united their crowns above; and thus formed a majestic, and extensive, arch in the sky; dark, exactly defined, and exactly corresponding with the arch of the summit below. Between this crown, and the mountain, the vivid orange light, shining through the grove, formed a third arch, equally extended, and elegantly striped with black by the stems of the trees.

Directly over the gap, which I have mentioned, and through which this combination of beauty was presented to us; the moon, far Southward, in her handsomest crescent, sat on the Eastern, and the evening star, on the Western, side of the opening, at exactly equal distances from the bordering mountains; and, shining from a sky, perfectly pure and serene, finished the prospect.

The crimson lustre, however, soon faded. The mountains lost their gilding; and the clouds, changing their fine glow into a dull, leaden-coloured hue, speedily vanished. The lake, though still brilliant, became misty and dim. The splendour of the moon, and of Hesper, increased, and trembled on its surface, until they both retired behind the Western mountains, and just as we reached the shore, left the world to the darkness of night.

To complete the scenery of this lake, the efforts of cultivation are obviously wanting. The hand of the husbandman has already begun to clear these grounds: and will, at no great distance of time, adorn them with all the smiling scenes of agriculture. It does not demand the gift of prophecy to foresee, that the villas of opulence and refinement will, within half a century, add, here, all the elegances of art to the beauty and majesty of nature.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

23

LETTER III.

Battle of Lake George-General Johnson wounded-General Lyman takes the command of the English army, and defeats the French-Vindication of General yman's character-Hendrick, chief of the Mohawks-Baron Dieskau.

Sir,

WHEN I began this journey, I had two principal objects in view. One was to examine the scenery of Lake George; the beauty of which had always been mentioned to me in strong terms of admiration: the other, to explore the grounds, on which the military events of former times had taken place, at its two extremities. The first of these events was the battle, fought at the head of Lake George, September 8th, 1755, between the Provincial troops under the command of Major-General, afterwards Sir William, Johnson, aided by a body of Indians, led by the celebrated Hendrick; and a body of French, Canadians, and Indians, commanded by Monsieur le Baron de Dieskau. This nobleman arrived from France, in company with Monsieur de Vaudreuil, Governour General of Canada, and brought with him from Brest, 3,000 regular troops, destined to act under his command against the British Colonies. Of these six hundred were taken, with the Lys and Alcide men of War, by Admiral Boscawen. A thousand were left at Louisburgh. The remainder were landed at Quebec. The Baron was instructed to reduce Oswego; a fortification on the South side of Lake Ontario, and on the Eastern side of the river Oswego, or Onondaga. This fortress was of considerable importance, from its position in the country of the Iroquois; and enabled the English in a great measure to exclude the French from any very dangerous communication with that people. In obedience to these instructions he proceeded directly to Montreal; and having despatched seven hundred men up the river St. Lawrence, made preparations to follow them. Before his departure, however, intelligence reached that city, that a considerable army was assembling at the head of Lake St. Sacrament, now Lake George, with an intention to reduce fort Frederic, since called Crown

Point, and perhaps to invade Canada. At a council, convened upon this news, Baron Dieskau was vehemently solicited, and with no small difficulty prevailed upon, to direct his course up Lake Champlain. At Fort Frederic he waited some time for the arrival of the English army; but finding no prospect of their approach, determined to go, and seek them. Accordingly, he embarked with 2,000 men in batteaux, and landed at the head of South-bay, in the township of Skeensborough, now Whitehall; about sixteen or eighteen miles from Sandy-hill, and in the route which he took, about twenty-eight or thirty from the head of Lake George. An English prisoner, taken by his scouts, informed him, that Fort Edward, then called Fort Lyman, (from MajorGeneral Lyman, under whose direction this fortress had been erected the preceding summer,) was defenceless; and that the army of General Johnson was in the same state; being without fortifications, and without cannon. Upon this information Dieskau determined immediately to attack the fort. As soon as he formed his determination, he explained to his troops the advantages of the proposed measure, which was certainly worthy of his military character. Had the design succeeded; and in the infant state of the works, it would in all probability have been successful; the army under Johnson would have been cut off from all supplies; and must either have marched immediately back, and fought the enemy, then formidable by success, as well as numbers, and skill, furnished with cannon and other supplies from the fort, and choosing his own ground for action; or they must have surrendered at discretion. The great body of his troops, however, consisting of Canadians and Indians, were ill-fitted to comprehend a measure of this magnitude; and as little disposed to venture upon its execution. Either they had been informed, or they suspected, that the fort was defended by cannon: objects of peculiar dread to both these classes of men. In spite of the exhortations of their commander, they absolutely refused to advance against the fort; but professed their readiness, at the same time, to attack the army under Johnson, entirely destitute, as the Baron had told them, and as he himself believed, of both

cannon and works. In vain did he attempt to overcome their reluctance. There was, therefore, no alternative left, but either to attack Johnson, or to retrace his course to South-bay. Without hesitation he marched his army towards the head of Lake George.

Gen. Johnson's first intimation of the approach of his enemy had been given by a scout, who discovered the French army on their march from South bay towards Fort Edward. Upon the receipt of this intelligence he dispatched several messengers, to advertise Col. Blanchard, who commanded that fortress, of his danger.

On the night of Sunday, September 7, at 12 o'clock, information was brought, that the enemy had advanced four miles on the road from Fort Edward* to Lake George; or half way between the village of Sandy-Hill and Glen's falls. A council of war was held early in the morning, at which it was resolved to send a party to meet them. The number of men, determined upon at first, was mentioned by the General to Hendrick; and his opinion was asked. He replied, "If they are to fight; they are too few. If they are to be killed; they are too many." The number was accordingly increased. Gen. Johnson also proposed to divide them into three parties. Hendrick took three sticks; and, putting them together, said to him; "Put these together, and you can't break them. Take them one by one, and you will break them easily." The hint succeeded; and Hendrick's sticks saved the party, and probably the whole army, from destruction.†

The party detached consisted of twelve hundred; and were commanded by Col. Ephraim Williams, whose character has been already given in these Letters; a brave and skilful officer, greatly beloved by the soldiery, and greatly respected by the country at large. Lieut. Col. Whiting, of New-Haven, was second in command, and brought up the rear. Col. Williams met the enemy at Rocky brook, four miles from Lake George. Dieskau had been informed of his approach by his scouts; and arranged his men in the best possible order to receive them; extending his Then commonly styled the carrying place, and the great carrying place.

+ This fact I had from Joseph Burt, Esq. of Westmoreland, N. Y. who was on the spot.