into
custody, as strongly attached to the royal cause, and known enemies to
the ruling powers. These gentlemen had repeatedly refused to give any
written or verbal acknowledgment of allegiance or submission to the
American Government, or promise of holding no correspondence with its
enemies. Notwithstanding the evident danger their persons were in, they
had even the resolution to refuse confining themselves to their
respective dwellings. The spirit of these gentlemen was unconquerable to
the last, as they still persisted, in defiance of threats, and in spite
of all solicitations and entreaty, immovable in their principles and in
their determination to reject the test that was proposed to them. They
were sent prisoners to Stanton, in Virginia, as soon as it was
apprehended that the British troops would take possession of
Philadelphia."[109]

After the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown, the defenceless
Loyalists were the objects of vengeance as they went further north. The
army of Lord Cornwallis received civil treatment from Washington's
army,[110] and great kindness from the French officers and soldiers.
Lord Mahon observes:

"The followers of the English army, left defenceless at Yorktown, were
exposed to much ill-treatment on the part of the native soldiers,
thirsting, it was said, for vengeance. Abbe Robin[111] saw an English
lady, a colonel's wife, come in tears to implore for herself and for her
children the protection of French generosity against American outrage.
On the other hand, we find the English officers and soldiers, the actual
prisoners of war, bear willing testimony to the kindness they received.
Thus speaks Lord Cornwallis in his letter to Sir Henry Clinton: 'The
treatment in general that we have received from the enemy since our
surrender has been perfectly good and proper. But the kindness and
attention that has been shown us by the French officers in particular,
their delicate sensibility of our situation, their generous and pressing
offer of money, both public and private, to any amount, has really gone
beyond what I can possibly describe, and will, I hope, make an
impression on the breast of every English officer, whenever the fortune
of war should put any of them into our power.'" (Lord Mahon's History of
England, etc., Vol. VII., Chap. lxiv., pp. 181, 182.)

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE ACTS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE ADHERENTS TO
THE CROWN WERE NUMEROUS