Derby
I am indebted to Mr. P. H. Currey, F.R.I.B.A., of Derby, for the following extract, dated June 20, 1763, from All Saints’ Parish Book, quoted in Simpson’s History of Derby:
‘These men (the prisoners during the Seven Years’ War), were dispersed into many parts of the nation, 300 being sent to this town on parole about July 1759, where they continued until the end of the War in 1763. Their behaviour at first was impudent and insolent, at all times vain and effeminate, and their whole deportment light and unmanly, and we may venture to say from our observation and knowledge of them, that in any future war this nation has nothing to fear from them as an enemy. During their abode here, the road from this place to Nottingham was by act of Parliament repaired, the part from St. Mary’s Bridge (which by reason of the floods was impassable) being greatly raised. Numbers of these people were daily employed, who worked in their bag-wigs, pig-tails, ruffles, etc., etc., a matter which afforded us much merriment. But, to their honour let it be remembered, that scarce one act of fraud or theft was committed by any of them during their stay among us. These men were allowed 6d. a day each by the British Government.’
We read that an Italian prisoner on parole at Derby in 1797 went to Leicester and bought a pair of pistols, thus committing a double breach of his parole by going beyond the limit, and by possessing himself of arms. ‘It is presumed,’ remarks the chronicler, ‘from the remarkable anxiety he showed to procure possession of these offensive weapons, that he has some particular object to accomplish by them—perhaps his liberation.’
It is much more likely that his object was to fight a duel.