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378 CARLETON. destined for the army, in which capacity it was augured, (from his great personal activity, and the early proofs he gave of courage) that he would make a conspicuous figure; and how well the event realised their most sanguine expectations, will speedily be seen While very young he entered into the guards, in which corps he continued until the year 1748, when he was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the 72nd regi- ment. At this period, he had met with no opportunity of giving an example of his merit, but upon the breaking out of the seven years war, his abilities were put to an honourable test. In 1758 he embarked with General Amberst for the siege of Louisburg, and in this his first campaign, he gave such eminent proofs of his skill and bravery, as entitled him to the notice of the commander-in-chief. The follow- ing year he gave still greater proofs of his courage, and good conduct, at the siege of Quebee, under the immortal General Wolfe. He rendered the cause some effectual services during this siege, and his abilities were now so conspicuous, that he was entrusted with the achievement of a post on the western point of the Isle de Orleans, in which he was eminently successful. He now began to be considered as an able officer, and was shortly after dis- patched to dislodge the French from Point-au-Trompe, a distance of twenty miles from Quebee, where the enemy were strongly entrenched; in this expedition he also suc- ceeded, and forced the enemy to make a precipitate retreat. He took a considerable part in this difficult and important siege, and at the celebrated battle fought in the heights of Abraham, when the gallant Wolfe fell in the moment of victory, Carleton displayed a wonderful activity, prudence, and presence of mind in every part of the arduous duty with which he was entrusted. The next oppor- tunity he had for displaying his valour, was at the siege of Belleisle, where he commanded as brigadier-general, with which rank he had been invested on the spot, and it was on this occasion he received his first wound, having exposed himself to great personal danger during the whole