'was a good deal startled, but I think this 'went gradually off afterwards.' On the return of the detachment, the general learned from Moore the particulars that had occurred, and he expected that the Americans flushed with success would immediately storm the unfinished works, when the garrison were in consternation by the cannonade, and the repulse of the pickets. Measures for defence were immediately adopted: the works were lined with troops and instructions given to the officers on every event. The General gave Moore the command of fifty men, posted in reserve, with orders, • that 'should the enemy rush forward, as soon as they got into the ditch of the fort, he should 'sally out and attack them on the flank with 'charged bayonets.' But the Americans were not so enterprising, for being somewhat disconcerted by the loss which they had sustained, they took up a position out of the reach of the guns of the fort, and remained tranquil.

For some days they were busied in landing

artillery and stores, for a regular siege, and only skirmishing occurred. At length they broke ground, and raised a battery at about twelve hundred yards from the fort: this opened early in the morning, and the new levies, of which the garrison was composed, were much alarmed. The General, hearing this, came forth from his tent, and observing that the officers and men, none of whom had ever seen service before, were stooping their heads at every shot, he reproached them sharply; and calling for his aide-de-camps went to the gate, and commanded it to be thrown open. Then walking erect towards the battery, he examined it with his spyglass: You see,' he said, there is no dan6 ger from the fire of these wretched artillery'men.' After this observation, he returned deliberately, and ordered the gate to be closed. This behaviour of their General inspired the garrison with so much courage, that there was no risk afterwards of their shrinking from their duty.

The approaches of the Bostonians were

much retarded by the skill of General MacLean: yet a train of heavy artillery, and superior numbers, might at last have prevailed. But after a siege of three weeks, Commodore Sir George Collier, apprized of the danger, arrived off Penobscot bay, with a line-of-battle ship, and a few frigates. Before this squadron could be seen from the fort, it was discovered from the topmasts of the American ships; and in the course of the night the besieging army hastily reimbarked. Next morning the American fleet drew up in line, making a show of resistance: on the approach of the British, however, this resolution was relinquished, and an attempt was made to escape up the river. But their ships of war, intermingled with the transports, were closely chased and driven on shore. Some were captured, others set fire to by their own crews, who leaped out and fled into the woods. Yet these disasters did not soon terminate ; for the seamen and soldiers accused each other of cowardice. lives were thus lost,

They fought many others perished by

famine, and the remainder reached Boston in a miserable plight. General MacLean having finished the construction of the fort, left in it a sufficient garrison, and returned to Halifax with the Hamilton regiment. Moore's sentiments on commencing the rudiments of war are thus expressed in a letter to his father:

You may conceive, dear Father, how 'happy this siege has made us, independent ' of the success we met with; as to see a little service was what all along we had 'been wishing for. Your friend, Dunlop,* 'who happened to command the regiment

during the siege, got very deservedly credit for his activity: he exerted himself more 'than anybody there.'

In this first essay of arms, Moore acquired the warm friendship of General Francis MacLean, from whom he was wont to say he had derived much instruction. This expe

rienced officer had a library of the best military books in the French and German

* This excellent officer died a brigadier in the West Indies.

languages, and had studied his profession thoroughly. But merit is often lost from being unknown. In this instance it was recognised too late, for he was about to be employed in a conspicuous station, when his health failed. Previously he had resided long in Portugal, which had rendered his constitution unable to sustain the frigid climate of Nova Scotia. He perished that winter deeply lamented, and never forgotten by friend.

his

young

After this, Halifax being remote from active warfare, became a spiritless quarter to Moore. He, however, was promoted to the rank of captain, and then applied for leave to go to New York, the head-quarters of the commander-in-chief.

Our brother Graham was about this period engaged for the first time in actión, being a midshipman in Lord Byron's fleet, when he fought the Count D'Estaign, near Grenada; and it happened that I had gone to America, as a medical officer, a safer employment. On returning from Virginia, I