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spirit which made the expedition to Cape Breton a sort of crusade, nerving
the arm of military power, and animating with a more than earth-born
courage and spirit of self-sacrifice.
We must make room for the letter of acknowledgment which Major-
General Wolcott received, after the capture of Louisburg, from the
Assembly of Massachusetts, in these words :
" ' Honourable Sir,
" ' We
" ' Boston, February i^', 1745-6.' "
are very sensible Virtue carries its own Reward, and doubt not of the
Solid and lasting Pleasure you have from your own Consciousness of the good Prin-
ciples which have excited you to, and carried you thro, the many useful and publick
Services you have performed, and by your Example and Address influenced others to
do ; And how little soever the wise and virtuous are aflEected by such remote Consid-
erations as the opinion and Sentiments of others, yet we could not but think that
common Justice and Gratitude required Our Acknowledgements of the large Share
you had in the Reduction of Cape Breton ;
to you our eyes were more particularly
turned, on our first Application to your Government in this Affair, and we happily
found Our Selves hot mistaken, by their generous Assistance in that successful Expe-
dition, more particularly obtained by your Care and Influence ;
for this publick Ser-
vice, and for the just and kind Sentiments you have always had towards this Province
on other Occasions, We now publickly profess our Esteem and Obligations, which
we shall ever be glad at all Opportunities to Acknowledge.
" ' In the Name and by order of the Council,
Josiah Willard, Secr'y.
" ' In the name and by order of the House of Representatives,
" ' The Hon"' Roger Wolcott Esq.' " -
" 'On the 21 of January 1747
Thomas Cushing, Speaker.' "
' " he says in his autobiography, " ' God
took away
the desire of my eyes with a stroke. My wife for a long time had been out of health,
but constantly attended her business, and rose this morning not well, but took care
of and went about the business of the family. About two hours after she was up she
was taken with an apoplexy, and in a short time expired in the 61"' year of her age.
Upon consideration of her life and sudden death my thoughts burst out in the
following reflections :
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