0th the
French ships of war came up the harbour, and on the following day the
British troops were marched into the country, where they were to be
distributed, and kept as prisoners of war till the conclusion of peace.
The seamen still remained in the town. On the 21st, paroles of honour
were granted to the officers of the Navy, who were to go to Europe in
flags of truce with all the seamen and marines. Every exertion was made
to fit out the vessels remaining in the harbour for this purpose, but it
was not till the 2nd of November that they were ready to take their
departure. On the very day we capitulated, Sir Henry Clinton, with a
large fleet of line-of-battle ships and frigates, with seven thousand of
his best troops, set sail from New York. He did not appear off the
Capes of Virginia till the 24th, when, hearing what had occurred, he
returned to New York. It was not, however, till the 26th of January,
1782, that a treaty of peace was signed at Paris, the happy news of
which reached Philadelphia on the 23rd of March. But I am anticipating
events.

Colonel Carlyon was sufficiently recovered two days after the surrender
of York Town to be removed to Mrs Langton's, but several days elapsed
before I was able to follow him, when I obtained permission from the
commodore as well as from the Compte de Grasse, to remain in America
till my health was restored. I had an affectionate parting with
O'Driscoll and with my old follower, Tom Rockets, who were the bearers
of many messages from me to my family.

"Tell them, O'Driscoll," said I, "that though I am a loyal subject of
King George, I see no reason why I should not win the hand, as I believe
I have the heart, of a daughter of America."

"You're right, my dear boy," he answered. "You'll be doing the most
loyal thing in your power, for you'll be winning back a subject who
would otherwise be lost, and gaining many little subjects too, maybe,
old fellow," he added, with a poke in my wounded ribs which almost upset
me.

At length a litter was brought into my room, and I was carried in it on
men's shoulders to the house of my friends. What words of mine can do
justice to the generous kindness and the delicate attention with which I
was treated by all the family, and the marks of tender affection I
received from one who was there to welcome me? When I first looked up,
after I had been placed on the bed prepared for my wounded form,
Madeline stood by my side. My wound