Page:Englishmen in the French Revolution.djvu/247

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

XI.

AFTER THE TERROR.

Swinburne—Malmesbury—Prisoners of war—Anglomania—Sir
Sidney Smith—Wright—Barclay—Mrs. Dayrell.

As the wholesale arrest of British subjects, from which only artisans and schoolchildren were exempt, was grounded on the loss of Toulon, its recovery four months later should seemingly have been followed by their release; but the Revolution did not condescend to logic. There was no general gaol delivery for the English captives till the end of February 1795, and even then the war prevented their return to England unless by special favour, though an American brig, The Two Friends, Captain Gilbert, was allowed to make frequent passages to Dover and back. In August 1795 there was a cartel of exchange, but this applied only to soldiers and sailors. One of these was Captain O'Hara, captured at Toulon, "the most perfect specimen of a soldier and courtier of the last age," says Miss Berry, who but for a misunderstanding would have married him. He died a bachelor, Governor at Gibraltar, in 1802. Captain Henry Swinburne,