USA > South Carolina > Documentary history of the American revolution: consisting of letters and papers relating to the contest for liberty, chiefly in South Carolina, from originals in the possession of the editor, and other sources, V.1 > Part 1
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Gc 975.7 G35d v.1 1764-76 1686598
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L' 3 1833 02317 2700
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION :
+
CONSISTING OF
2.1
LETTERS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE CONTEST FOR LIBERTT. CHIEFLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM ORIGINALS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE EDITOR, AND OTHER SOURCES.
1764-1776.
+
BY R. W. GIBBES, M.D.,
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE; OF TEE NE FORS. HISTORICAL SOCIETY ; OF THE, GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ; OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, WASHINGTON; OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ANTIQUARIES OF COPENHAGEN; OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA; CP ICH FOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY; 07 THE LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY {7 NEW YORK; OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESTINY OP NEW YORK, &C., S".
NEW-YORK: D. APPLETON & CO 1355.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/documentaryhisto01 gibb
V
PREFACE.
MY first volume of "DOCUMENTARY HISTORY " having been favorably received, I am induced to continue the publication. The present. ix composed chiefly of original papers relating to the early period of the Revolution. Some of these have never before been published, others have been given in "Drayton's Memoirs," a work now out of print. As the originals will be deposited among the Archives of South Carolina, I have republished some which are to be found in Drayton's work, as necessary to the completeness of the narrative of the acts of the day. For the Drayton papers, I am indebted to the kindness of A. R. DRAYTON, Esq., the grandson of William Henry Drayton, whose patriotism, energy, and untiring exertions in the cause of liberty are abundantly set forth in the following pages. Serving in every capacity where active duty was required, he was truly one of the moving spirits of the Revolution. The letter of " Freeman," and the proceedings of the King's Council in relation to it are very interesting.
General Christopher Gadsden's few papers were kindly placed in my hands by General JAMES GADSDEN, and it is a matter of regret that we have so few memorials of that sturdy republican, who, of all the men of 1776 was one of the earliest and most unflinching advocates of the inalienable rights of his fellow-citizens to liberty and independence. . 1 few valuable letters of his will be given in another volume.
The journal of the Rev. Mr. Tennent, kindly placed at my disposal by his grandson, Dr. E. S. TENNENT, of Charleston, completes tha history of the expedition by Drayton and himself into the upper Districts of South Carolina to explain the Revolution.
I have been also favored by W. PERONNEAU FINLEY, Esq., President of the Charleston College, with two manuscript Orderly books of Marion, from which I have made a few selections, and of which othery will be given, An Orderly book of Adjutant Charles Lining, loaned me by the
PREFACE.
Her J. M. PRINGLE, has also furnished interesting particulars. This MIS. volume comprises the same details as one of Marion's.
A. few printed circulars, now very rare, have been reprinted as forming important links in the chain of events in this early history.
In publishing this collection of papers, which I have for twenty-five years been collecting, I do so with the hope of aiding in preserving materials for history, which may otherwise have been lost. They are given for their intrinsic value, and in the order of dates, without reference to special events. I trust they will be received, as they are offered, as a contribution to the history of that glorious Revolution of which every memorial is dear to South Carolina.
ERRATUM.
On p. 10, from MSS. of "Christopher Gadsden," read of "John Drayton." On p. 274, 24th line, after the word "themselves," read " order."
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VII
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE FIRST REMONSTRANCE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AGAINST THE STAMP ACT,
MR. GADSDEN TO NR. GARTH, AGENT OF THE COLONY 7
A LIST OF THOSE PERSONS WHO FIRST MET AT LIBERTY IPEC, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR 1766, AFTER THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENG- LAND, AGAINST THE AMERICAN COLONIES 1.0
A LETTER FROM "FREEMAN" OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE DEPT. TIES OF NORTH AMERICA, ASSEMBLED IN THE HIGH COURT OF CONGRESS AT PHILADELPHIA 11 THE REMONSTRANCE OF THOMAS KNOX GORDON, ESQ., CHIEF JUS- TICE, AND CHARLES MATHEWS COSSLETT, ESQ., ONE OF THE JUSTICES OF HIS MAJESTY'S COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, IN THE PROVINCE AFORESAID 39
THE ANSWER OF WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON TO "THE REMON- STANCE OF THOMAS KNOX GORDON, ESQ., CHIEF JUSTICE, AND CHARLES MATHEWS COSSLEIT, ESQ., ONE OF THE JUSTICES OF HIS MAJESTY'S COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, IN THE PROVINCE AFORESAID," EXHIBITED TO HIS HONOR THE LIEUTENANT- GOVERNOR AGAINST "THE HONORABLE WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, A MEMBER OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL AND ONE OF HIS ASSOCIATE JUDGES,". 41 THE REPLY OF THOMAS KNOX GORDON, ESQ., CHIEF JUSTICE, AND CHARLES MATHEWS COSSLETT, ESQ, ONE OF THE JUSTICES UF HIS MAJESTY'S COURT OF COMMON PLEAS IN THE SAID PROV- INCE, TO THE ANSWER OF WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, ES2., ONE OF THE JUSTICES OF THE SAID COURT,
THE REJOINDER, INTENDED TO LLAVE BEEN DELIVERED BY WIL- LIAM HENRY DRAYTON
ADDRESS OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL TO LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR BULL, REQUSTING THAT MR. DRAXTON DE SUSPENDED AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL
REPLY OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BULL TO THE ADDRESS OF COUNCIL,,
MITT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
₹14%
PROTEST OF MR. DRAYTON AGAINST THE ADDRESS OF COUNCIL, ... 21 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL, SITTING AS
AN UPPER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AGAINST WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON
PROTEST OF MESSRS. JOHN DRAYTON, WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, AND BARNARD ELLIOTT, 73 MIR. DRAYTON TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, INCLOSING THE PA-
PERS RELATIVE TO HIS SUSPENSION FROM THE COUNCIL, ...... : 7 MR. DRAYTON SUSPENDED FROM BEING A MEMBER OF HIS MA- JESTY'S COUNCIL, BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BULL, .... COPIES OF THE LETTER OF ADVICE RESPECTING THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON, AND OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMITTEE TO COMMITTEE, $2
COPIES OF LETTERS AND PAPERS FROM THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH TO THE DIFFERENT GOVERNORS OF PROVINCES, BROUGHT OVER FROM FALMOUTH IN THE SWALLOW PACKET, AND SEIZED IN THE POST OFFICE OF CHARLESTOWN, 91
COPIES OF LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA SEIZED IN THE POST OFFICE AT CHARLESTOWN, 98
J. HABERSHAM TO P. CHIFFELLE, 102
EXTRACT FROM CAPT. F. MARION'S ORDERLY BOOK, 194
W. H. DRAYTON'S AND REV. WM. TENNENT'S COMMISSION TO MAKE A PROGRESS INTO THE BACK COUNTRY TO QUIET THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE 105
COMMITTEE OF INTELLIGENCE, 107
A CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE COMMITTEES IN THE SEVERAL DIS-
TRICTS AND PARISHES OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 107
APPLICATION FROM OUR MEMBERS IN CONGRESS FOR GUN-POW- DER,-JULY 1ST, 1775, -- ADDRESSED TO THE SECRET COMMITTEL, W. II. DRAYTON, A. MIDDLETON, C. C. PINCKNEY, 116
LETTER FROM W. H. DRATTON, 117
LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE OF INTELLIGENCE. 115
ORDERS AND COMMISSION TO CLEMENT LEMPRIERE, ESQ., 719
CAPT. LEMPRIERE'S JOURNAL-SLOOP COMMERCE, 121
THOMAS FLETCHIALL TO PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF SAFETY 123
COL. MOULTRIE TO COL. GADSDEN, 124
AGREEMENT DETWEEN W. H. DRAYTON AND ISAAC CATON FOR GUNPOWDER, 125
COL. THOMPSON TO W. H. DRAYTOM 125
FROM DRAYTON AND TENNENT 123
MR. DRAYTON TO THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY 134
MR. MIDDLETON TO MR. DRAYTON,
X.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
MR. FERGUSON TO MR. GADSDEN 195
FROM THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO OBSTRUCT THE PASSAGES
OVER THE BAR OF CHARLESTON TO THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 199 CAPT. ROBERT CUNNINGHAM'S ANSWER TO HONORABLE WILLIAM. HENRY DRAYTON, 200
MR. FERGUSON TO MR. GADSDEN, 200
MR. MUSGROVE TO MR. DRAYTON
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR FORMING A PLAN OF DEFENCE FOR THE COLONY, .. 203
A RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 206
ANDREW WILLIAMSON TO THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 206
MR. CAMERON TO MR. DRAYTON, 207
COL. RICHARDSON TO THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 203
MAJOR WILLIAMSON TO MR. EDWARD WILKINSON, 209 DECLARATION BY THE AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS. 210
AGREEMENT FOR A CESSATION OF ARMS BETWEEN MAJ. JOSEPH
ROBINSON, COMMANDER OF A BODY OF HIS MAJESTY'S MILITIA NOW UNDER ARMS FOR HIMSELF AND THE TROOPS UNDER HIS COMMAND, OF THE ONE PART, AND MAJOR ANDREW WILLIAM- SON AND MAJOR JAMES MAYSON, COMMANDERS OF THE FORT AT NINETY-SIX FOR THEMSELVES AND THE TROOPS THEREIN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, 214
MAJOR MAYSON TO COL. THOMSON, 215
MAJ. WILLIAMSON TO MR. DRAYTON, GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE, ACTION, AND TREATY AT NIVETY-SIX, 216 COL. RICHARDSON TO MR. DRAYTON,. 219
A REPORT OF THE MILITIA AND VOLUNTEERS ON DUTY IN THE FORTIFIED CAMP AT NINETY-SIX ON SUNDAY THE NINETEENTH NOVEMBER, 1775, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR ANDREW WILLIAMSON, BY ORDER OF THE HONORABLE THE PROVIN- CIAL CONGRESS, 021
COL. THOMSON TO MR. LAURENS, 222
COL. RICHARDSON TO MR. DRAYTON,. 223
LORD WILLIAM CAMPBELL'S CERTIFICATE CONCERNING CAPTAIN FLOYD 224
DECLARATION BY COL. RICHARDSON TO INSURGENTS UNDER CUN. NINGHAM, 524
A FRAGMENT OF A JOURNAL KEPT BY REV. WILLIAM TENNENT. WHO WAS SENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH MR. DRAYTON, BY THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, TO THE UPPER COUNTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO INDUCE THE TORIES THERE TO SIGN AN ASSOCIA- TION NOT TO BEAR ARMS AGAINST, BUT FOR THEIR COUNTRY, 225
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XI.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 239
COL. RICHARDSON TO THE HON. HENRY LAURENS,. 239
COL. RICHARDSON TO MR. LAURENS, 211
COL. RICHARDSON TO MR. LAURENS
EXTRACT FROM THE ORDERLY BOOK OF CHARLES LIVING,. 241
MR. HABERSHAM TO MR. DRAYTON, 216
COL. RICHARDSON TO HON. HENRY LAURENS 210
MIR. RICHARDSON TO THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 2:3
PRISONERS SENT TO CHARLESTOWN BY COL. RICHARDSON, 219
CAPT. SHERMAN TO MR. DRAYTON, 53
MOSES KIRKLAND TO HENRY LAURENS,, 254
A RETURN OF THE POWDER IN THE MAGAZINE,
256
MR. HABERSHAM TO MR. DRAYTON,
MR. HABERSHAM TO MR. DRAYTON,. 255
RECRUITING ARTICLES OF THE SHIP PROSPER COMMANDED BY WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON,. 259
MR. LAURENS TO COL. DRAYTON, 260
A GENERAL RETURN OF THE DIFFERENT DETACHMENTS AT PUR- RYSBURGH, MARCH 10, 1776 ..
GENERAL ORDERS BY COL. STEPHEN BULL,.
COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS
COL. BULL TO MR, LAURENS
COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS 267
COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS,
COT .. THOMSON IO CAPI. GOODWIN 271
MR. LAURENS TO MR. DRAYTON,
A, GENERAL RETURN OF THE DIFFERENT DETACHMENTS ON DUTY
AT SAVANNAH IN GEORGIA, UNDER THE COMMAND OF COL. STEPHEN BULL
COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS
THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES, APRIL 11, 1776, 273
COL. LAURENS TO HON. MR. DRAYTON, 276
MR. PRESIDENT RUTLEDGE TO MR. CHIEF JUSTICE DRAYTON,
COURT OF SESSIONS
MR. DRAYTON'S CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY,
THE PRESENTMENTS OF THE GRAND JURY,
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تفاصيل
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
THE FIRST REMONSTRANCE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AGAINST THE STAMP ACT.
(MS3. of Christopher Gadsden.]
CHARLES TOWN, the 4th day of Sept., 1764. To Charles Garth, Esq., Agent of the Colony of South Carolina :
SIR :- By the direction of the House, we transmit to you a copy of the report made by a Committee who were appointed to draw up a state of the paper currency in use in the province, which was agreed to by the House. And also a copy of the resolution thereupon, which re- commended that you do use your utmost endeavors to procure for this province liberty to emit paper currency to the amount of $40,000 sterling, to be made a tender in law.
You will see by the report that the whole amount of legal currency of the province is only £106,500 currency, equal to about £15.214 sterling. That all the other moneys which have been from time to time issued were only temporary expedients, to serve pressing and emergent occasions, and have been, or will be, at the proper periods ap- pointed by law, sunk and cancelled by a tax on the inhabitants, so that in a very short time the whole paper currency of the province, of all kinds and denominations, will consist only of the said sum of £100.JU currency. That something is absolutely necessary to answer the pur- pose of money, as a medium of trade, is a proposition that at this time of day needs not be insisted upon ; and it follows as naturally that the quantity of such medium should be proportioned to the occasions for it; that the sum of £15,000 sterling is altogether insufficient art in- adequate, must be apparent to every one the least acquainted with the trade and commerce of the province, the exports of which, Counmini- bus annis,) for seven years last past, at the first cost of the several commodities, are of more value than sixteen times that sum ; for, on a moderate computation, the value of our exports exceeds £250,000 sterling per annum. Add to this, that our taxes -- exclusive of what
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
body come to consider this matter they will view it in a more favorable light, and not deprive us of our birthright, and thereby reduce us to the condition of vassals and tributaries. This privilege is due to us as British subjects, born under the same allegiance and form of govern- ment, and entitled to the inestimable rights of the same laws and rus- toms, founded on the reason and common sense of mankind. For doubtless the representatives of the people of any province must best know in what manner supplies may be most conveniently raised by their respective constituents; and, by residing in this province, we are sure we become not less but more useful and beneficial to our mother country, where we do actually contribute all in our power to relieve her from the great load of debt she lies under; and we may, with the greatest. truth, aver, that every commodity produced by the labor of the inhabitants of this province is paid ultimately to her for her manufac- tures, imported and sold here at the advanced prices that the British taxes oblige the makers and venders to set on them; so that any tax raised on our colony must only take so much from the merchant and tradesmen of Great Britain, as it places in the hands of the officers appointed to collect the same; or, perhaps, oblige the people here. through inability to purchase British goods, or looking upon themselves az cast off by their mother country, to employ their slaves in manufac- turing their own wool, of which they have great plenty of little or no value at present.
We are annually subjected, by our own laws, to a considerable tax fur the charges and support of government, which, even in favorable find's, often amounts to more than our whole legal currency, and which, not- withstanding the care and prudent methods of the Legislature in imposing it, falls very heavily on the inhabitants, and is with difficulty paid, being at this time more, in proportion to the value of our estates. real and personal, than the land tax raised in Great Britain.
We are still farther burthened with a very heavy balance of debt, partly the effects of a long and expensive war with the Cherokee Indians, principally by the disgust given them in the Northern colonies, whither our zeal for his majesty's service alone prompted us to prevail with them to go, at the charge of this province, upon the pressing request of the Commander-in-Chief, and partly incurred by raising large studs of money, at the desire and upon the faith of his majesty's ministers. who positively promised that we-as well as the other provinces-should be reimbursed. Now, if that must be deemed a reimbursement, which all the Northern governments have received, and is now, with large interest, to be recovered from them again, in a manner very dispiriting
1
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
to a British subject, we hope we may for once think ourselves particu- larly lucky that we have so little to refund in this respect, having (as you know) only received our proportion of one (the first) grant from Parliament to the American Colonies, and not one farthing since (except the trifling sum mentioned in one of your last favors). Although it might be easily demonstrated that this province (considering the number of her inhabitants) did raise and keep in pay during the late war, as well for the general service of North America as for prosecuting the war with the Indians, a greater number of troops, and at a greater expense than any other government upon the continent, which, particu- larly in the expedition under Col. Grant, were equal in number to almost the fourth part of the men in the province able to bear arms. At present, our charge for troops to the crown is very trifling, only part of three companies of his majesty's forces being stationed in this province.
The laws of trade lay greater restrictions on this province than ou many of her sister colonies. Almost all our commodities are enumera- ted, whereas few or none of theirs are so, notwithstanding ours are such as tend wholly to improve, and by no means to interfere with those of the mother country. Of course our exports must come to market under greater disadvantages ; our trade, especially with regard to shipping, is much more cramped, and our imports much more confined, particularly that of salt-an article of the greater consequence, which most of the other colonies are prepared to import directly from Portugal, but we are not allowed that privilege.
Our situation is dangerous, and at the same time weak, being sur- rounded with several numerous nations of Indians. Nothing shows this plainer than the late frequent insults and murders committed by the Creeks, which the province has been obliged to put up with unresented, and our frontier settlers, we know, are not much to be depended on, as, upon any great alarm, most of them immediately fly to the neighboring provinces, that are better peopled, for safety. Now, as it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of a people, in such a situation that they may be suddenly attacked by savage enemies, that they should not be so exhausted and impoverished by taxes as to be disabled from raising the necessary extraordinary supplies on such critical occasions, as they have already experienced, and know not how soon they muay again experience, but that some resources should be left them against such calamitous times. We, therefore, desire you to represent in the most humble manner the inability of this province to bear any other taxes or impositions than those already laid, or that may be necessarily laid on
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5
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
them by their own laws, according to the exigencies of their affairs. But we would particularly avoid, if possible, the proposed tax on stamps, which we apprehend may be very prejudicial to many innocent people, who may err through ignorance, and more especially as it must greatly enhance the expense attending proceedings at law, which, to our back settlers. that live some at two hundred or three hundred miles' distance from Charles Town, must be very distressing indeed; besides, such additional and unexpected impositions on a people already overburthe ned with taxes and deeply in debt, who have so sickly a climate and such inclement seasons to struggle withal, as necessarily expose them to z much more expensive way of living than they would be liable to in a more healthy and temperate country, in order to keep up their spirits in any degree of fatigue, or even to preserve their lives, must tend to dispirit and ruin them, for how can it be expected they will be forward to exert themselves by raising money on every pressing occasion, when they cannot be sure but while they are doing so to the utmost of their power, that the Parliament may at the same time be laying still greater burthens upon them? What must many think best to be done ju these circumstances and such complicated distress? What! but to leave such a precarious, unfortunate province ; and, if necessity obliges them so to do, we are well assured they can scarce go any where else. where they will be so advantageous to Great Britain as they are here.
From these and many other considerations, we cannot be brought to think that a British Parliament, instead of alleviating, parent-like, the many bardships and difficulties peculiar to her sons settled in this hot and unhealthy climate, will endeavor still to augment them, and that to a degree so as to reduce us almost to despair, by carrying into exern- tion so baneful an expedient as that proposed of laying any internal fax upon the provinces. However, if we should be so unhappy as to find ourselves mistaken, and if, as you give us to understand. no pleas of inability will indeed be heard, we herewith send you a copy of an act of Assembly lately passed in this province, intended to prohibit the impor- tation of negroes for three years from the first of January, 1776. The reason for giving so long a day for its commencement is to take off any just cause of complaint from any persons who may be embarked i that trade, and who are or may be preparing to fit out vessels for th t purpose, that they may have sufficient time given them to order their affairs so as to receive no prejudice. This law is thought so absolutely necessary to the safety and welfare of the province, as well to guard against the danger to be apprehended from too great a disproportion of
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DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
slaves to white inhabitants, as also to give the planters an opportunity of discharging their debts, that we hope no artifice or interested views will be employed to defeat the salutary intentions of it. We, therefore, desire that should any application be made, or endeavors used to pro- cure a repeal of it, that you will oppose to the utmost of your power any such attempt.
We also send you a transcript of the journals of the House from the last date you had them to the time of our prorogation a few days ago. By them you will see how the public business has been obstructed; a tax bill and a revival bill rejected by the council, because the House would not allow of their innovations and alterations, by which means a number of very important and necessary laws have expired, and a long and tiresome sitting rendered fruitless; and the public creditors. who were intended to be amply provided for and compensated with interest for the time they have been kept out of their money entirely disap- pointed.
The experience we have had of your diligent and faithful attention to the several matters heretofore recommended to your care, and the particular satisfaction you have given during your whole agency, leaves us not the least room to doubt of the continuance of your best services to the province, whose interest you so well understand.
We are sorry you should so long continue involved in the general misfortune of the other public creditors, and that the provision which was made for your salary and disbursements in the tax bill should by the late rejection thereof prove to no purpose.
We are, sir, your most obedient servants,
RAWS. LOWNDES, ISAAC MAZYCK, CHRIST. GADSDEN,
DAVID OLIPHANT,
THOS. LYNCH,
THOS. WRIGHT, JAS. PARSONS, THOS. BEE, CHAS. PINCKNEY,
J. RUTLEDGE, EBEN SIMMONS.
7
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
[MISS. of Christopher Gadsden.]
CHARLES TOWN, So. Carolina, Dec. 2nd, 1765. To Charles Garth, Agent of the Colony :
DEAR SIR :- As I am persuaded it will give you pleasure to hear what our Assembly has done in the common cause, in order to promote the important matters agreed upon at the Congress, I will make no further apology for giving you an account thereof.
As Mr. Lynch, Rutledge and myself were informed at New York that our Assembly were to meet the 28th October, we thought it abso- Intely necessary that one of us should set off as speedily as possible, after the breaking up of the Congress, in order to catch our House before their adjournment. This fell to my lot, and accordingly I lef: York with the papers, two days after, in a very small schooner, crowded with passengers, full of these hopes; but, unfortunately, through the over-timorousness of the master, who stretched too far to the eastward, I did not get here till the 13th last month, and in less than forty eight hours after, had the pleasure of seeing my worthy colleagues, MIr. Lynch and Mr. Rutledge, in a short passage by the way of Philadelphia. We found the Assembly (not expecting us so soon) had adjourned to the 25th of last month. As soon as we arrived and could get copies of the Minutes of the Congress made out, we dispatched them as we were desired to Georgia and North Carolina. The 26th, a House was made. and passed the inclosed report, together with the Minutes of the Con- gress, their Declarations of opinion and the engrossed Addresses to the King, Lords and Commons, then laid before them. The Declarations and the Addresses were accordingly read that morning, and then the House adjourned to 4 o'clock, P. M., of the same day, when the whole was agreed to unanimously (excepting by one member) totidem verbis, and the Addresses ordered to be signed by the Speaker; and, as a fine ship, the only one then in harbor that had cleared before the first of November for any part of Great Britain, was ready and obliged to sail the next morning, being a spring ship, the Commissioner of Corres- pondence was immediately ordered to write a letter to the Agent and enclose them, which was done, and the vessel, the Charming Charlese, Capt. Reeves, luckily had an opportunity of getting over the bar the next morning with a very fine wind. The next day the House did us the honor to give us their thanks by the Speaker signifying their appro- bation of our whole conduct in the most ample and obliging manner.
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