Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

82 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
if you find it more convenient, you can convey it to
General Burgoyne, and by using my name he will know
whom it comes from without your mentioning your own
name; and as soon as you can do it with efficacy and success, declare yourself, and you will find assistance you very
very little expect in restoring the province to lawful government. If you do not choose to undertake this, another
will, and if you continue obstinate on the ground you are
now on, you may depend upon it, you will find it suddenly
fail, and burst under you like the springing of a mine.
What I recommend to you is not only prudent, safe, and
necessary; it is right, it is honorable. That you embarked
in the cause of rebellion is true; perhaps you mistook the
popular delusion for the cause of your country, (as many
others did who have returned to their duty,) and you engaged in it warmly: but when you found your error, you
earnestly returned,, you saved the province you had engaged for from devastation and ruin, and you rendered
most essential services to your king and country; for
which I engage my word to you, you will receive pardon,
you will secure your estate, and you will be further amply
rewarded. Your past conduct has been unworthy; your
return will be praiseworthy. What is all this expense of
human life' for? these deluges of human blood? Very
probably only to set afloat some lawless despotic tyrant in
the room of your lawful king, I conceive you must be
surrounded with embarrassments; you may perhaps find
difficulty in getting a letter to me. Possibly the fellow
who carries this to you may be trusted; he thinks indeed
he carries to you a very different letter from this, and I
suppose will be frightened a good deal when he finds the
change that has been put upon him, and that I am in possession of the letter he was intended to carry-yet I have
understood that he has a family here, and will I suppose
wish to return, and knows well enough it is in my power
to procure him pardon and reward; and I imagine he
thinks (as I trust most people do) that I am never forgetful of a man who does anything to oblige me. You will
consider how far you may trust him, how far it is prudent
to do it, and you can sound him, and see whether he wishes
to return, and whether he is likely to answer the purpose;
and if you think proper you may engage to him that I will