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 10
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LAMB. CADWALADER, WM. BRAADFORD, THO, PRYOR, ISAAC MALCHER, Committee for the City of Philadelphia.
Chester, 4 o'clock, Wednesday, P. M., received and forwarded by FRANCIS JOHNSTON, ISAAC EYRE, SAM'L. FAIRLAMB.
New Castile, 9 o'clock, Wednesday evening, received, and forwarded. Z. V. LEUVENIGH, STEPHEN SPENCER.
Wednesday night, Christeen Bridge, 12 o'clock, forwarded to Col. Thomas Couch, Esq., who received it this moment, and he to forward it to Tobias Rudulph, Esq., Head of Elk, in Maryland.
. S. PATTERSON
Night and day to be forwarded.
27th April, 1775, half-past 4 o'clock, A. M., received, and forwarded to Patrick Hamilton, Esq., in Charlestown by
TOBIAS RUDULPII, Rad JOSEPH GILPIN.
avresti
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Baltimore, April 27th, 1775, received 10 o'clock, P. M. JOHN BOYD, Clerk of Committee.
A true copy, received in ANNAPOLIS, Friday, April 28th, 1775, half after 9 o'clock, A. M., and forwarded at 10, per Express.
MAT. TILGHMAN, CH. CARROLL, of Carrollton, CHAR. CARROLL, J. HALL, THIS, JOHNSON, jr., SAM'L. CHASE,. Committee of Correspondence for Maryland.
Alexandria, Friday, 8 o'clock, P. M.
We received the enclosed from Annapolis, at 6 o'clock. Please for- ward it to Fredericksburgh. I am for self and the Committee of Cor- respondence, in this place,
Gentlemen, your hum. servt.
WM. RAMSAY.
To the Committee of Correspondence in Dumfries.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed came to hand this morning, about 10 c'elock. In one hour, I hired the bearer to convey it to your place, to the different Committees.
For self, and the Committee of Correspondence in this place, I am, gentlemen, your most obt. hum. servt.
WILLIAM CARR.
Dumfries, April 30, Sunday.
To the Committee of Correspondence at Fredericksburgh. By Express.
Fredericksburg, Sunday evening, half-past 4.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed arrived here, about an hour ago, and is forwarded to your Committee by your very hum. servts.
JS. MERCER, GEO. THORNTON. MANN PAGE, jr., HUGH MERCER, Committee.
King William, May 1st, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed arrived here to-day, and is forwarded to your Committee by your most obt. servt.
. CARTER BRAXTON.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Surry County, May 20, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed arrived here this evening, and is for- warded by your most obt. hum. servt.
ALLEN COCKE. Williamsburg, 2d May, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and I forward it to you by Express, with the request, of the Commitas of Williamsburg that you will be pleased to forward the paper- to the Southward, and disperse the material passages through all your part -.
I am very respectfully, gentlemen, your mo. ob. set.
RO. C. NICHOLAS, Chairman.
Smithfield, May 3d, 1775, 5 o'clock, the morning.
The enclosed arrived here this morning, and is forwarded to your Committee of Correspondence by your humble serts.
ARTH'R. SMITH, NATHANIEL BURNE.
To the Committee of the County of Nancimond, or any of them. An Express from Boston.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and we forward it to you by Express, with the request of the Committee of Nancimond, and you will be pleased to forward them to the Southward. I am, gent., your mo. ob. sert. WILLIS RIDDICK, WILLS COWPER.
Nancimond, May 3d, 1775.
To the Committee of Chowan, North Carolina.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed papers we have just received, and for- ward them by Express to you. To be sent to the southward.
We are, gentlemen, your obt. ser. 1
THE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY OF CHOWAN. May 3d, 1775.
To the Committee of Correspondence for the town of Edenton By
Express.
Edenton, May 4th, 9 o'clock, 17Th.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed is this moment come to haul, and we forward to you by Express, with the request, that you will be pleased to
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forward the papers to the Committee of Craven County immediately, and disperse the material passages, through all your parts.
We are, gentlemen, your obt. humb. servts., THO. JONES, CHAS. BONDFIELD. JNO. GREEN, WILLIAM BENNETT, JNO. HAMILTON, JOS. BLOUNT, Chairman. ROBT. HARDY, ROB. SMITH, S. DICKINSON.
To the Committee of Beaufort County.
Beaufort County, May 6th, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed is this moment come to hand, and we forward to you by Express, with the request, that you will forward the diferent papers to the southward immediately.
We are, gentlemen, your obt. hum. serts. ROGER OSMOND, WM. BROWN.
To the Committee of Craven County.
Bath, 6th May, 1775.
DEAR SIR :- In haste have sent to request you will peruse the enclosed papers ; and that you will do, by opening the packet herewith sent, the moment it comes to your house. Get three or four of your Committee to write a line, and send the whole enclosed to the next southward Com- mittee, with the utmost dispatch. We are, dear sir, with regard, your most humb. servts.,
WM. BROWN, ROGER OSMOND.
To Abner Nash, Esq., or either of the Committee for the County of Craven-per Express.
New Bern, 6th of May, 1775.
GENTLEMEN :- The enclosed arrived here about an hour past, and is forwarded immediately to you; and desire you will keep a copy of
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James Lockwood's letter. And send them on as soon as possible to the Wilmington Committee. We are, gentlemen, your obt. servts., SAM. SMITH, B. COGDELL, JOHN GREEN, WILLIAM TISDALE, THOMAS M'LIN, A. NASH, JOSEPHI LEECH, JOHN FONVIELLE, WML. STANLY, JAMES COOR.
N. B .- We have enclosed our last paper, which gives an account of the first beginning of the battle; which please to send to Wilmington, &c., and send all the bundle of papers forward as soon as possible you can. To the Committee of Onslow County.
Onslow, Sunday morning, 10 o'clock, May 7th.
GENTLEMEN :-- About an hour past, I received .the enclosed papers. Disperse them to your adjoining county. Keep a copy of James Lock- wood's letter. And pray write us, what to do. We are for Onslow. WM. CRAY, SETH WARD, JOS. FRENCII, EDW'D. WARD, ROBERT SNEAD.
Inclosed is the last Gazette for Brunswick.
To the Wilmington and Brunswick Committees.
For Cornelius Harnett, Esq., Col. John Ash, or any one of the Com- mittee for Wilmington. Express.
New River, May 7, 1775. Received, and forwarded by WILL'M. CRAY.
DEAR SIR :- I take the liberty to forward by Express, the enclosed papers, which were received at 3 o'clock this afternoon. If you should be at a loss for a man and horse, the bearer will proceed as far as the Boundary-house. You'll please direct to Mr. Marion, or any other gentleman to forward the packet immediately to the southward, with the greatest possible dispatch. I am with esteeni,
Dear Sir, your most ob. sert. CORAS. HARNETT.
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Wilmington, May 8th, 1775, 4 o'clock, afternoon.
P. S. For Godsake send the man on without the least day ; and write to Mr. Marion to forward it by night, and by day.
To Richard Quince, Esq., Brunswick.
Brunswick, May 8th, 1775, 9 o'clock in the evening. Mr. Isaac Marion,
SIR :- I take the liberty to forward by Express, the enclosed papers, which I have just received from Wilmington. And I must entreat you to forward them to your Committee at George-Town, to be conveyed to Charles-Town, from yours with all speed. Inclosed is the newspaper, giving an account of the beginning of the battle; and a letter of what happened after; pray don't neglect a moment in forwarding.
I am your humb. sert.
RICH'D. QUINCE. To Isaac Marion, Esq., at the Boundary.
DEAR SIR :- Though I know you stand in no need of being pronipted when your country requires your service ; yet, I cannot avoid writing to you, to beg you to forward the papers containing such important news. . And pray order the Express you send, to ride night and day. I am, dear sir, in the greatest haste, your most ob. servt.
R. HOWE.
Sth May, 1775.
Isaac Marion, Esq., Boundary.
Boundary, May 9th, 1775, Little River.
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE :- I have just now received Express from the Committees of the northward Provinces, desiring I would for- ward the enclosed packet to the southern Committees. As yours is the nearest, I request for the good of your country, and the welfare of our lives and liberties, and fortunes, you'll not lose a moment's time ; but dispatch the same to the Committee of Georgetown; to be forwarded to Charles Town. In the mean time, am gent'n.,
Your oblg. hum. ser., &c., ISAAC MARION.
To Danness Hankins. Josias Allson and Samuel Dwight, Esquires, and Messrs. Francis and John Allston, gentlemen of the Committee for Little River.
GENTLEMEN :-- The enclosed papers were just now delivered to me, by an Express from Little River. I make not the least doubt, but
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you will forward them with the utmost dispatch, to the General Com- mittee at Charles Town. I am, gent'n. your very hum. sert.,
BENJA. YOUNG.
Wednesday, 1 o'clock, 10th May, 1775.
To Paul Trapier, Esq., Chairman of the Committee at Georgetown.
GENTLEMEN :- We have received your letter, and shall be careful to execute with all the diligence in our power, whatever you have rreum- mended. We send you by Express, a letter and newspaper, with Hiv- mentous intelligence this instant arrived. We are your humble servants, PAUL TRAPIER, S. WRAGG, P. TRAPIER, jr. ANTHONY BONNEAU.
Half past 6, Wednesday evening.
The Committee of Intelligence in Charles-Town, to the care of the -
Honorable William Henry Drayton, Esq. Per Express.
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.
[Original MSS.]
(CIRCULAR PRIVATE.)
WHITEHALL, March 3d, 1775.
SIR :- It is fit that I should acquaint you, that the Resolution of the House of Commons which accompanies my separate dispatch, passed in the Committee by a majority of two hundred and seventy-four to eighty- eight; and was received and agreed to by the House, without a divi- sion. And indeed, the great majorities which have appeared in both Houses, upon every question that has been proposed for maintaining the supremacy of parliament, is such an evidence of the general sense of the nation upon that subject, as must show how little ground there has been for those assurances, which have been artfully held out to the Americans of support here, in the dangerous conduct they have adopted ; and con- vince them that there neither can, nor will be any the least relaxation, from those measures, which that conduct has made indispensably nece-
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sary, for reducing the Colonies to the constitutional authority of parlia- ment.
I am, sir, your most obt. humble servt. DARTMOUTHI.
His Honor the Lieutenant Governor of
South Carolina, Charlestown.
Resolved, That when the Governor, Council, and Assembly, or Gen- eral Court of any of his Majesty's Provinces, or Colonies in America, shall propose to make provision according to the condition, circum- stances, and situation, of such Province or Colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court, or General Assembly of such Prov- ince or Colony, and disposable by parliament); and, shall engage to make provision, also, for the support of the Civil Government, and the administration of justice in such a Province or Colony; it will be pro- per, if such proposal shall be approved by his Majesty, and the two Houses of Parliament, and for so long as such provision shall be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect to such Province or Colony, to levy any duty, tax, or assessment, except, only, such duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy, or to impose, for the regulation of com- merce ; the net produce of the duties last mentioned, to be carried to the account of such Province or Colony respectively." *
(A DUPLICATE CIRCULAR PRIVATE, SIMILAR TO THE ONE PRECEDING, TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.)
WHITEHALL, 3d March, 1775.
SIR :- I have received your letters of the 19th and 20th of Decem- ber; the latter numbered thirty-five; and have laid them before the King .. But having nothing in command from his Majesty thereupon, I have only to lament, that his Majesty's subjects in Georgia, who have hitherto in general shown so great respect for the mother country, and loyalty to the King, should have at length manifested a disposition to adopt the sentiments, and follow the ill-example of their neighbors. But, I trust, that the measures I have taken for your support, and the
* See proceedings of the Continental Congress respecting this Resolution, in the proceedings of the Congress at the laster part of Chapter XII, for the month of July, 1775.
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zeal and alacrity of the King's officers, and of those gentlemen who you say, stand forth in the maintenance of the public peace, will have the effect to prevent the sons of liberty, as they are called, from committing themselves in any act of violence.
I find by a letter from Mr. Cooper to Mr. Pownall, that the Lords of the Treasury, have had under their consideration the proposition which you transmitted some years ago, in the shape of a bill for better collect- ing his Majesty's quit rents ; they seem, however, to be of opinion, that the provisions of an act of the province of North Carolina, for the same purpose which they have had before them, are better calculated to answer the object in view, than the Bill you recommended ; and princi- pally, because it enacts that no patent. deed, or conveyance of land shall be held valid, unless enrolled in the manner the act directs- whereas, in your Bill, the enrolment is enforced merely by penalty. I therefore think fit, to send you a copy of the North Carolina act ; that by comparing the two together, you may be enabled to frame and pass such a law, as shall correspond with the sentiments of that Board.
I am, sir, your most obt. hum. servt.
--
Sir James Wright, Baronet, Georgia.
DARTMOUTH.
(CIRCULAR PRIVATE.)
WHITEHALL, 3d March, 1775.
SIR :- My separate dispatch of this day's date. enclosing a Resolution of the House of Commons, may be ostensibly of use, in case the General Assembly should think fit to take up the consideration of that resolution. But, it is fit, I should observe to you. that it is not his Majesty's inten- tion, for very obvious reasons, that you should officially communicate it to them. At the same time, as I think it cannot fail to be an object of discussion in the Assembly, I must add, that the King considers that the good effect of it, will, in a great measure depend, upon your ability and address, in a proper explanation of it, to those, whose situation and connexions may enable them to give facility to the measures it points to. And, his Majesty has no doubt, that you will exert every endeavor to induce such a compliance, on the part of the Assembly, as may corres- pond with his Majesty's ideas of their justice, and his earnest wishes to see a happy restoration of the public tranquility.
I am, sir, your most obt. hum. servt.
The Governor of Georgia.
DARTMOUTH.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
CIRCULAR.)
WHITEHALL, March 3d, 1775.
SIR :- You will have seen in the King's answer to the joint address of both Houses of Parliament, on the 7th of February (which address and answer have already been transmitted to you) how much attention his Majesty was graciously pleased to give to the assurance he held out in that address. of the readiness of parliament to afford every just and reasonable indulgence to the Colonies, whenever they should make a proper application on the ground of any real grievance they might have to complain of; and, therefore, I have the less occasion now to enlarge upon the satisfaction it hath given his Majesty, to see that address fol- lowed by the enclosed resolution of the House of Commons; which, whatever may be the effect of it (I trust a happy one) will forever re- main an evidence of their justice and moderation, and manifest the temper which has accompanied their deliberations upon that question ; which has been the source of so much disquiet to his Majesty's subjects in America; and the pretence, for acts of such criminal disorder and disobedience.
His Majesty. ardently wishing to see a reconciliation of the unhappy diferences, which have produced those disorders, by every means through which it may be obtained, without prejudice to the just author- ity of parliament; which his Majesty will never suffer to be violated ; approves the resolution of his faithful Commons ; and commands me to transmit it to you, not doubting that this happy disposition to comply with every just and reasonable wish of the King's subjects in America, will meet with such a return of duty and affection, on their part, as will lead to a happy issue of the present disputes, and to a re-establishment, of the public tranquility on those grounds of equity, justice, and mode- ration, which this resolution holds forth.
The King has the greater satisfaction in this resolution, and the greater confidence in the good effects of it. from having seen, that amidst all the intemperance, into which a people jealous of their liber- ties have been unfortunately misled, they have nevertheless avowed the justice, the equity, and the propriety of subjects of the same State, con- tributing according to their abilities and situation to the public burthens; and I think I am warranted in saying, that this resolution holds no proposition beyond it.
I am unwilling to suppose, that any of the King's subjects, in the Colonies, can have so far forgot the benefits they have received from the parent State, as not to acknowledge, that it is to her support, held forth
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at the ezpense of her blood and treasure, that they principally owe that security, which hath raised them to their present state of opulence and importance. In this situation, therefore, justice requires that they should in return contribute according to their respective abilities, to the common defence; and their own welfare and interest demand that their civil establishment should be supported, with a becoming dignity.
It has therefore been the case, and I am persuaded it is the firm de- termination of parliament, to see that both these ends are answered ; and their wisdom and moderation have suggested the propriety of leaving to each colony, to judge of the ways and means, of making due provision for these purposes ; reserving to themselves the power of approving or disapproving. what shall be offered.
The resolution, neither points out what the civil establishment should be; nor demands any specific sum in aid of the public burthens. In both these respects, it leaves full scope for that justice and liberality, which may be expected from Colonies, that under all their prejudices, have never been wanting in expressions of an affectionate attachment to the mother country ; and a zealous regard for the general welfare of the British empire. And therefore, the King trusts that the provision they will engage to make, for the support of civil government, will be ade- quate to the rank and station of every necessary officer; and. that the sum to be given in contribution, to the common defence, will be offered on such terms, and proposed in such a way, as to increase or diminish according as the public burthens of this kingdom are from time to time augmented or reduced ; in so far, as those burthons consist of taxes and duties, which are not a security for the national debt. By such a mode of distribution the Colonies will have full security that they can never be required to tax themselves, without parliament's taxing the subjects of this kingdom, in a far greater proportion. And, there can be no doubt, that any proposition of this nature, made by the Colonies, and accompanied with such a state of their faculties and abilities as may evince the equity of the proposal, will be received with every possible indulgence; provided, it be at the same time unaccompanied with any declarations, and unmixed with any claims, which will make it impossi- ble for the King, consistent with his own dignity, or for parliament con- sistent with their constitutional rights, to receive it. But, I will not suppose, that any of the Colonies will, after this example of the temper and moderation of parliament, adopt such a conduct; on the contrary, I will cherish the pleasing hope, that the public peace will be restored; and that the Colonies, forgetting all other trivial and groundless com- plaints, which ill-humor hath produced, will enter into the consideration
-------
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of the resolution of the House of Commons, with that calmness and de- liberation, which the importance of it demands; and with that good will and inclination to a reconciliation, which are due to the candor and jus- tice with which parliament has taken up this business, and at once declared to the Colonies, what will be ultimately expected from them.
I have already said, that the King entirely approves the resolution of the House of Commons ; and his Majesty commands me to say, that a compliance therewith, by the General Assembly of Georgia, will be most graciously considered by his Majesty, not only as a testimony of their reverence for parliament, but also as a mark of their duty and attach- ment to their Sovereign who has no object nearer to his heart, than the peace and prosperity of his subjects in every part of his dominions. At the same time, his Majesty considers himself as bound by every tie to exert those means the Constitution has placed in his hands for pre- serving that Constitution entire, and to resist with firmness every attempt to violate the rights of parliament, to distress and obstruct the lawful commerce of his subjects, and to encourage in the Colonies ideas of independence, inconsistent with their connexion with this kingdom.
I am, sir, your most obt. hum. servt.
DARTMOUTH.
Governor of Georgia.
WHITEHALL, 3d May, 1775.
SIR :- I have received your letters numbered from thirty-five to forty- one, and have laid them before the King.
The grounds upon which masters of ships, who were midshipmen and acted as master's mates on board the fleet in the last war, claim each two thousand acres of land, in virtue of the royal proclamation, refers to facts of which I have no official information. Whenever the Lords of the Admiralty shall, upon a proper application to them, by those claim- ants, certify the facts on which they state their claims, I will not fail to receive his Majesty's pleasure upon their case ; in the mean time, the matter must rest upon the opinion, I think very properly adopted by yourself and the Council.
I have already so repeatedly expressed to you my sentiments of the . present disorders in America, and the sense I have of your meritorious conduct, in the prudent and proper measures you have pursued for pre- venting, as far as you are able, the contagion from spreading itself through the province of Georgia, that I have nothing to add on that
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subject, but to express my wishes that the steps I have taken for your support, will encourage the friends of Government to resist the violences that are threatened, and preserve the public peace, in all events.
I am, sir, your most obt. hum. servt.
DARTMOUTH.
Sir James Wright, Baronet.
WHITEHALL, May 3d, 1775.
SIR :- Your letters of the 26th of January and 10th of March, Nos. 27 and 28, the latter of which I received only yesterday, contain matter of very great importance.
The addresses from the four counties of Guilford, Dobbs, Rowan and Surry, breathe a spirit of loyalty to the King, and attachment to the authority of Great Britain, which cannot be too much encouraged; and it will be necessary that you lose no time, in acquainting the inhabitants of those counties, that these testimonies of their duty and affection, have been most graciously received by his Majesty, That his Majesty will not fail to afford them those marks of his royal favor, which such a meritorious conduct appears to deserve ; and, that as soon as the neces- sary forms will admit, his Majesty's clemency towards the insurgents in 1770, will be extended in a proclamation, of general pardon to all except Horman Husbands. In the mean time, it is his Majesty's pleasure, that you do pursue every step that may improve so favorable a symptom in the present state of general frenzy, and perhaps you will not find it difficult, through the channel of some respectable persons in those coun- ties, to procure proper associations of the people in support of the Gov- ernment. Such a measure cannot fail to cast a damp upon the machi- nations of faction, and disconcert any desperate measure, they may have in contemplation.
I hope, we may yet avoid, the fatal necessity of drawing the sword ; but it is prudent to provide, as far as we are able, against every possible mischief; and therefore, you will do well, to consider in time, whether it may not be practicable in such an event, to embody and lead forth. in support of Government, such of the men in those counties, as are able to bear arms. If matters should come to this issue, it is the King's pleasure, that you hold out to gentlemen of interest and leading amongst them assurances of his Majesty's favor in granting them such commis- sions, as shall be suitable to their rank and station ; and every other encouragement and advantage allowed to any other troops in his Ma- 7
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