was so disconcerted as to
be unable to articulate a word distinctly. He blushed and faltered for a
moment, when the speaker relieved him from his embarrassment by saying,
"Sit down, Mr. Washington, your modesty equals your valor, and that
surpasses the power of any language that I possess."

Captain Stobo, a hostage in the hands of the French, was detained for
years at Quebec, enduring frequently the hardships of actual
imprisonment, and for a time being under condemnation of death. At
length he was released from this apprehension and from close
confinement, and in May, 1759, in company of several others, effected
his escape. Eluding the enemy by prudence and gallantry, he and his
associates made their way to Louisburg. Here Stobo was gladly welcomed,
and he joined General Wolfe, to whom his information proved serviceable;
and he appears to have been present at the capture of Quebec. Shortly
afterwards he returned to Virginia, (November, 1759.) The assembly
granted him a thousand pounds, requested the governor to promote him,
and presented their thanks to him for his fidelity, fortitude, and
courage, by Mr. R. C. Nicholas, Mr. Richard Bland, and Mr. George
Washington. Stobo returned to England, where his memoirs were published.
In 1760 he was made a captain in Amherst's Regiment, then serving in
America; and he held that position in 1765.

Van Braam, who had been kept prisoner at Montreal, was not released
until the surrender of that city to the British in the ensuing year. He
returned to Williamsburg shortly afterwards. In 1770 he obtained his
share of the Virginia bounty lands; and in 1777 was made major in the
Royal Americans, then in the West Indies.

During this year (1759) Rev. Andrew Burnaby visited Mount Vernon, of
which he remarks: "This place is the property of Colonel Washington, and
truly deserving of its owner. The house is most beautifully situated
upon a very high hill on the banks of the Potomac, and commands a noble
prospect of water, of cliffs, of woods, and plantations. The river is
near two miles broad though two hundred from the mouth; and divides the
dominions of Virginia from Maryland."

Burnaby, in his Travels, describes the condition of the Germans on the
Shenandoah as follows: "I could not but reflect with pleasure on the
situation of these people, and think, if there is such a thing as
happiness in this life, that they enjoy it. Far from the bustle of the
world, they live in the most delig