fe and betook themselves to the ships, my mother's
property and house were never endangered, nor her family insulted.
We were still at the stage when a reconciliation was fondly thought
possible. "Ah! if all the Tories were like you," a distinguished Whig
has said to me, "we and the people at home should soon come together
again." This, of course, was before the famous Fourth of July, and that
Declaration which rendered reconcilement impossible. Afterwards, when
parties grew more rancorous, motives much less creditable were assigned
for my conduct, and it was said I chose to be a Liberal Tory because
I was a cunning fox, and wished to keep my estate whatever way things
went. And this, I am bound to say, is the opinion regarding my humble
self which has obtained in very high quarters at home, where a profound
regard for my own interest has been supposed not uncommonly to have
occasioned my conduct during the late unhappy troubles.

There were two or three persons in the world (for I had not told my
mother how I was resolved to cede to my brother all my life-interest
in our American property) who knew that I had no mercenary motives in
regard to the conduct I pursued. It was not worth while to undeceive
others; what were life worth, if a man were forced to feel himself a la
piste of all the calumnies uttered against him? And I do not quite know
to this present day, how it happened that my mother, that notorious
Loyalist, was left for several years quite undisturbed in her house at
Castlewood, a stray troop or company of Continentals being occasionally
quartered upon her. I do not know for certain, I say, how this piece of
good fortune happened, though I can give a pretty shrewd guess as to the
cause of it. Madam Fanny, after a campaign before Boston, came back to
Fanny's Mount, leaving her Colonel. My modest Hal, until the conclusion
of the war, would accept no higher rank, believing that in command of
a regiment he could be more useful than in charge of a division. Madam
Fanny, I say, came back, and it was remarkable after her return how
her old asperity towards my mother seemed to be removed, and what an
affection she showed for her and all the property. She was great friends
with the Governor and some of the most influential gentlemen of the new
Assembly:--Madam Esmond was harmless, and for her son's sake, who
was bravely battling for his country, her errors should be lightly
visited:--I know not how it was, but for yea