: Benjamin Franklin [1785 
royalists was the hope of sharing in these confisca- 
tions. They have played a deep game, staking their 
estates against ours; and they have been unsuccess- 
ful. But it is a surer game, since they had promises 
to rely on from your government, of indemnification 
in case of loss; and I see your Parliament is about to 
fulfil those promises. To this I have no objection, 
because, though still our enemies, they are men; they 
are in necessity; and I think even a hired assassin 
has a right to his pay from his employer. It seems, 
too, more reasonable that the expense of paying 
these should fall upon the government who encour- 
aged the mischief done, rather than upon us who 
suffered it; the confiscated estates making amends 
but for a very small part of that mischief. It is not, 
therefore, clear that our retaining them is chargeable 
with injustice. 
I have hinted above, that the name loyalist was im- 
properly assumed by these people. Royalists they 
may perhaps be called. But the true loyalists were 
the people of America, against whom they acted. 
No people were ever known more truly loyal, and 
universally so, to their sovereigns. The Protestant 
succession in the House of Hanover was their idol. 
Not a Jacobite was to be found from one end of the 
colonies to the other. They were affectionate to the 
people of England, zealous and forward to assist in 
her wars, by voluntary contributions of men and 
money, even beyond their proportion. The king 
and Parliament had frequently acknowledged this by 
public messages, resolutions, and reimbursements. 
But they were equally fond of what they esteemed 
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