ABSTRACT
CHAP. LIII. As they approached the peninsula, on which Charlestown is seated, every object became interesting. Ned could not help observing how the benign in uence of peace was already become visible. e Quarter-house,1 which is situated near the neck which connects this peninsula with the interior country, and which during the war had been converted into a forti ed station, now returned to its original destination, and was again a house of public entertainment and rural resort. e charming/ villas which had been profusely scattered through the surrounding natural garden, which had been either consumed by re, or su ered to moulder in neglect, were now everywhere re-erecting their ornamented fronts, whilst the redoubts and the palisadoes2 were in their turn condemned to the consuming element. e cheerful songs of new-born liberty succeeded to the shrill screaming of the fe or the deep thunder of the hollow drum. e pale phantoms of hatred3 and terror were removed from every brow, and in their place sat con - dence and contentment. Even the birds, which the perpetual roar of musquetry and cannon had banished from the groves, were now resuming their native seats, and pouring forth their liquid lays to listening nature. A sympathetic cheerfulness won upon our travellers, who, as they felt the comforts of their situation, and re ected by whose civility and kindness they enjoyed it, were tempted to rejoice in the miscarriage/ of their expedition, which secured to their amiable friends the enjoyment of those unalienable rights which a brave man would rather perish than surrender. At length they arrived safe in town, and were set down at those lodgings which Mrs. Fanshaw had occupied ever since her rst arrival. e good landlady, who was an American, but who lived unmolested while the British were in possession, was rejoiced to see Ned return, whom she had long supposed to have been killed, and o en lamented as an amiable youth whom it was a pity Fate had not spared to his friends; and she manifested her joy in a manner that entitled her to Ned’s gratitude and best opinion. But the richest cordial she could have brought, she now presented, which was a packet from the
commander in chief, containing several letters from Europe, among which were two for Edward, sent at a venture by the two persons dearest to him on earth, Lady Cecilia and his father./ On opening this packet, Captain Fanshaw perceived it was written by the general’s aide-du-camp, to the following purport:
New-York, August 17, 1783. Sir,
I am ordered by the commander in chief to inform you, that in consequence of preliminary articles for a general peace having been signed at Paris, the British forces are ordered home, and that your regiment is already embarked. His excellency desires me to forward to you the enclosed letters, which have lately been sent from Europe under cover to him; particularly requesting to know if there is any account of Mr. Evans, who we understand was surprised when wounded by a marauding party of Indians, and taken prisoner. We deeply lament the fate of this young and gallant o cer, but are still not without hopes of his being yet living, and shall rejoice to/ nd those hopes veri ed. I remain, with respect, Sir, Your obedient servant, CHA. PHILMORE.
