[siebert] the AMERICAN LOYALISTS 27 



his death in the woods. But there is no evidence to show that the retir- 

 ing force drew a following of Tories in its wake. 



Scarcely more than a week after Ross's expedition had left Oswego, 

 the surrender of Cornwallis occurred at Yorktown, and his army of 

 more than seven thousand men became prisoners of war. In the gloom 

 of this disaster the Canadians entertained fresh anticipations of an 

 attack on Canada.* A frontier officer wrote to Haldimand that "only 

 powerful alliances or a miracle" could save the country. Scouts and 

 patrols were sent out from Sorel and Yamaska, as well as from the more 

 advanced posts, while recruiting parties were not permitted to terminate 

 their efforts until late in the summer of 1783. f 



Meantime, the need of establishing the loyalists in permanent 

 settlements was becoming more and more urgent. In October, 1778, 

 Haldimand had established a loyalist colony at Machiche, on the north 

 side of Lake St. Peter. In November of the year following, Maclean 

 wrote to Quebec that he was being so plagued with "royalists real and 

 pretended" at Montreal that he wished Governor Haldimand would 

 have them all removed to "Mappish" (Machiche) or Pointe du Lac, 

 which was near by, as they were "doing no good" where they were. J 

 His protest— which was more forcible than elegant in its language — ■ 

 secured prompt attention at the seat of government, and Maclean was 

 accordingly commanded to send a part of his troublesome loyalists to 

 join Captain McAlpin's Royal Americans at St. Ours, on the east side 

 of the St. Lawrence. At first the persons selected for removal raised 

 objection, on the score of their inability to pay for the conveyance of 

 their families. When this objection was met and conveyance was 

 provided, they flatly refused to go "to the number of 36 besides Women 

 and Children," according to Maclean's report. Whether this attempted 

 removal was intended to be a temporary arrangement merely, or the 

 beginning of a permanent settlement of loyalists within the territory bet- 

 ween the St. Lawrence and the New York boundary is a matter of doubt. 



In the fall of 1778, Haldimand had recommended to the English 

 government the purchase of the Seigniory of Sorel with the object of 

 strengthening the post and garrison there, deeming the situation of 

 great advantage. This matter continued to be a subject of correspon- 

 dence between the Governor and Lord George Germaine to the end of 

 March, 1782, when Haldimand received definite instructions from the 

 Lords of the Treasury regarding the purchase, which he was authorized 

 to make.* Several months before this decision was reached, Captain 



*Can. Arch., 1887, 390, ff. 

 tibid., 1888, 728, 729, 730, 618, 619. 

 JHaldimand Papers, B. 129, p. 56; B. 131, p. 41. 

 * Can. Arch., 1885, 324, 330, 278, 281, 291, 315. 



