children who could match and conquer
Britons! Indeed, I don't know which of the two deserves the palm, either
for bravery or vainglory. We are in the habit of laughing at our French
neighbours for boasting, gasconading, and so forth; but for a steady
self-esteem and indomitable confidence in our own courage, greatness,
magnanimity;--who can compare with Britons, except their children across
the Atlantic?

The people round about us took the people's side for the most part
in the struggle, and, truth to say, Sir George Warrington found his
regiment of Westmoreland Defenders but very thinly manned at the
commencement, and woefully diminished in numbers presently, not only
after the news of battle from the north, but in consequence of the
behaviour of my Lord our Governor, whose conduct enraged no one more
than his own immediate partisans, and the loyal adherents of the Crown
throughout the colony. That he would plant the King's standard, and
summon all loyal gentlemen to rally round it, had been a measure agreed
in countless meetings, and applauded over thousands of bumpers. I have a
pretty good memory, and could mention the name of many a gentleman, now
a smug officer of the United States Government, whom I have heard hiccup
out a prayer that he might be allowed to perish under the folds of his
country's flag; or roar a challenge to the bloody traitors absent with
the rebel army. But let bygones be bygones. This, however, is matter of
public history, that his lordship, our Governor, a peer of Scotland, the
Sovereign's representative in his Old Dominion, who so loudly invited
all the lieges to join the King's standard, was the first to put it in
his pocket, and fly to his ships out of reach of danger. He would not
leave them, save as a pirate at midnight to burn and destroy. Meanwhile,
we loyal gentry remained on shore, committed to our cause, and only
subject to greater danger in consequence of the weakness and cruelty of
him who ought to have been our leader. It was the beginning of June, our
orchards and gardens were all blooming with plenty and summer; a week
before I had been over at Williamsburg, exchanging compliments with his
Excellency, devising plans for future movements by which we should be
able to make good head against rebellion, shaking hands heartily at
parting, and vincere aut mori the very last words upon all our lips. Our
little family was gathered at Richmond, talking over, as we did daily,
the prospec