ion was everything; and Hal and
I promised, as soon as ever we met Mr. William, to get from him a
confirmation of this pretty story. What Madam Esmond's feelings and
expressions were when she heard it, I need scarcely here particularise.
"What! my father, the Marquis of Esmond, was a liar, and I am a cheat,
am I?" cries my mother. "He will take my son's property at my death,
will he?" And she was for writing, not only to Lord Castlewood in
England, but to his Majesty himself at St. James's, and was only
prevented by my assurance that Mr. Will's lies were notorious amongst
all his acquaintance, and that we could not expect, in our own case,
that he should be so inconsistent as to tell the truth. We heard of him
presently as one of the loudest amongst the Loyalists in New York, as
Captain, and presently Major of a corps of volunteers who were sending
their addresses to the well-disposed in all the other colonies, and
announcing their perfect readiness to die for the mother country.

We could not lie in a house without a whole window, and closing the
shutters of that unlucky mansion we had hired at Williamsburg, Madam
Esmond left our little capital, and my family returned to Richmond,
which also was deserted by the members of the (dissolved) Assembly.
Captain Hal and his wife returned pretty early to their plantation; and
I, not a little annoyed at the course which events were taking, divided
my time pretty much between my own family and that of our Governor, who
professed himself very eager to have my advice and company. There were
the strongest political differences, but as yet no actual personal
quarrel. Even after the dissolution of our House of Assembly (the
members of which adjourned to a tavern, and there held that famous
meeting where, I believe, the idea of a congress of all the colonies was
first proposed), the gentlemen who were strongest in opposition remained
good friends with his Excellency, partook of his hospitality, and joined
him in excursions of pleasure. The session over, the gentry went home
and had meetings in their respective counties; and the Assemblies in
most of the other provinces having been also abruptly dissolved, it was
agreed everywhere that a general congress should be held. Philadelphia,
as the largest and most important city on our continent, was selected as
the place of meeting; and those celebrated conferences began, which were
but the angry preface of war. We were still at God save the