as he staked but a single life, was thought such an unfair war, that, instead of honouring his desperate valour, our men, to punish him, cut off his croix de St. Louis before they sent him to the hospital.  Two of our officers, however, signed a certificate of his courage, lest the French should punish him as corrupted—­our enterprises, unless facilitated by corruption, being deemed impossible to have taken place.  Day-break discovered our forces in possession of the eminence.  Montcalm could not credit it when reported to him—­but it was too late to doubt, when nothing but a battle could save the town.  Even then he held our attempt so desperate, that being shown the position of the English, he said, “Oui, je les vois ou ils ne doivent pas etre.”  Forced to quit his intrenchments, he said, “S’il faut done combattre, je vais les ecraser.”  He prepared for engagement, after lining the bushes with detachments of Indians.  Our men according to orders, reserved their fire with a patience and tranquillity equal to the resolution they had exerted in clambering the precipice—­but when they gave it, it took place with such terrible slaughter of the enemy, that half an hour decided the day.  The French fled precipitately, and Montcalm, endeavouring to rally them, was killed on the spot.  General Monckton was wounded early, and obliged to retire.  The fall of Wolfe was noble indeed.  He received a wound in the head, but covered it from his soldiers with his handkerchief.  A second ball struck him in the belly, that too he dissembled.  A third hitting him in the breast, he sunk under the anguish, and was carried behind the ranks.  Yet, as fast as life ebbed out, his whole anxiety centred on the fortune of the day.  He begged to be borne nearer to the action; but his sight being dimmed by the approach of death, he entreated to be told what they who supported him saw; he was answered that the enemy gave ground.  He eagerly repeated the question, heard the enemy was totally routed, cried, “I am satisfied!”—­and expired—­Thackeray’s Life of the Earl of Chatham.

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SYRIAN LOOKING GLASSES.

The Damascus blades are the handsomest and best of all Syria; and it is curious to observe their manner of burnishing them.  This operation is performed before tempering, and they have for this purpose a small piece of wood, in which is fixed an iron, which they run up and down the blade, and thus clear off all inequalities, as a plane does to wood:  they then temper and polish it.  This polish is so highly finished, that when any one wants to arrange his turban, he uses his sword for a looking-glass.  As to its temper it is perfect, and I have nowhere seen swords that cut so excellently.  There are made at Damascus and in the adjoining country mirrors of steel, that magnify objects like burning-glasses.  I have seen some that, when exposed to the sun, have reflected the heat so strongly as to set fire to a plant fifteen or sixteen feet distant!—­Broquiere’s Travels to Jerusalem in 1432.