and perhaps, on so small a contingency may the fate of a campaign
depend, happy for the British army, to whose misfortunes in the
following year his skill and courage so materially contributed, had the
fortune of the chase been different.

Mr. Pellew had a scarcely less narrow escape. He was invited with a
party of officers to spend an afternoon with some young ladies in the
neighbourhood, and they were on the way to keep their engagement, when
Mr. Pellew stopped, and said to his companions, "We are doing a very
foolish thing: I shall turn back, and I advise you all to do the same."
They hesitated, but at length returned with him; and afterwards learnt
that their Delilahs had posted a party of soldiers to make them
prisoners.

At length Sir Guy Carleton, having satisfied himself that Ticonderoga
was too strong to be attacked with his present force at that advanced
season, re-embarked the troops, and returned to Canada. He there exerted
himself through the winter, in making preparations for the ensuing
campaign, and had almost completed them, when the command of the army
was taken from him, and given to officers who had been serving under his
orders. Though his success had surpassed the utmost hopes of his
country, and his great local knowledge and experience claimed the
confidence of the British Government, he was not even consulted on the
expedition they had planned, and of which the very details were so far
settled in the cabinet, that little was left to the unfortunate General
who was to conduct it. He felt like an officer on the occasion, and
resigned the government of Canada; but he acted like an Englishman, and
though he disapproved materially of some parts of the plan, he omitted
no exertion which might contribute to its success.