1782. the execution of a scheme, which we have been dreading every night." [The fcheme alluded to was that of betraying the army into the power of the enemy.]

The South Carolina representatives having been elected agreeable to the writs iffued by governor Rutledge, the general affembly met in January, at Jackfonborough, a fmall village on the Edifto. The governor, at the opening of the feffion on the 18th of the month, deliJan. 18. vered a fpeech to both houfes; for which he received the thanks of each in their addreffes. The conftitution of the state established a rotation, which made it necefsary to choose a new governor. The fuffrages of a majority were in favor of the former lieut. gov. Christopher Gadfden efq; who declined the laborious office, but continued to serve both in the affembly and council. He, with many other gentlemen, who had been delivered as exchanged in Virginia and Philadelphia, foon found their way back to South Carolina, and were chofen members of the legislature. The general affembly afterward elected the honorable John Mathews governor'; filled up vacancies in the different departments; and re-established civil government in all its branches. Laws were then paffed for confifcating the eftates, and banishing the perfons of the active decided friends of British government, and for amercing the eftates of others, as a fubftitution for their perfonal fervices, of which their country had been deprived. Mr. Gadfden, notwithftanding the long confinement he had fuffered in the caftle of St. Auguftine, and the immenfe lofs of his property, opposed the firft law, and with equal zeal and judgment contended that found policy required to forget

and

and forgive. Two hundred and thirty-feven persons or 1782.
eftates were comprehended under that law, and forty-
eight under the other. Those whofe fubmiffion to the
British appeared to be neceffary and unavoidable, and
who did not voluntarily aid or abet their government,
were generally overlooked. The execution of thefe
laws induced gen. Leflie, who commanded the royal
forces in Carolina, to fend a part of them to seize the
negroes and other effects belonging to the whig-citizens,
with the avowed intention of applying the fame to the
relief of the fufferers by the faid laws. After a fuccefs- April
ful excurfion, he wrote to gen. Greene on the 4th of 4.
April; and befide urging the motives of humanity,
policy and example, for the fufpenfion of fuch proce-
dures, propofed a meeting of commiffioners on each
fide, whereby to leffen the devaftations of war and fecure
inviolate the property of individuals. Greene immedi-
ately returned for anfwer, "that he had the honor to
command the forces of the United States in the fouthern
department; but had nothing to do with the internal.
police of any ftate." On this Leflie addreffed himself
to gov. Mathews, and enclofed the letter he had ad-
dreffed to Greene. The governor anfwered on the
12th, after delaying a while, that he might have an
opportunity of investigating the truth as to certain mat-
ters advanced in Leflie's letter; and told him-" You
entirely mistake my character when you fuppofe me to
be intimidated by threats, and thereby deterred from
executing the duties of the office with which the state
has honored me. For be affured, Sir, the laws of this
ftate trufted to me muft and fhall be carried into exe-
cution-maugre the confequences." He clofed with
VOL. IV.
faying

S

1782. faying" Your propofition for fufpending the operation of the confiscation act, without offering an equivalent, is inadmiffible. If you have any thing ferious and folid to propofe on this head, I am ready to appoint commiffioners on my part to meet thofe of yours to confer on the bufinefs." Thus ended that affair. It might have ferved the friends to the British government far more effectually, had gen. Leflie adopted vigorous measures for their fupport anfwerable to his proclamation, and for the difperfion of the legislative body.

When the reduction of lord Cornwallis was completed, the Pennsylvania line marched to South Carolina. This increase of force enabled gen. Greene to detach a part of his army to Georgia. Gen. Wayne, who commanded, having previously ordered the Americans at Augufta to join him at Ebenezer, croffed the Savannah in January at Two Sifters ferry, with about 100 dragoons under col. Anthony Walton White. He was foon after reinforced by 300 continental infantry under lieut. col. Pofey. The British commander in Savannah, on hearing of this irruption of the Americans, fent orders to the different posts to burn, as far as they could, all the provifions in the country, and then to retire within their works. The margin of the river Savannah, and the islands in the vicinity of it, were foon covered with fmoke, and prefented to the aftonishing eye a grand but awful fpectacle. What remained of the laft year's crop was fo generally deftroyed, that the American forces have been fince obliged to depend chiefly on South Carolina for their support,

LET

LETTER

IX.

Rotterdam, Sept, 13, 1782.

FRIEND G.

9.

THE 'HE date of my laft letter fcarce admitted of its 1782. being mentioned, that admiral Keppel was created a viscount, and Mr. Dunning baron Afhburton, and afterward made chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster. On the 9th of April, Mr. Fox brought a meffage April from his majefty to inform the house, "That being concerned to find difcontents and jealoufies prevailing among his loyal fubjects in Ireland, on matters of great importance, he earnestly recommended to the house the taking of the fame into their most serious confideration, in order to such a final adjustment as might give mutual fatisfaction to both kingdoms." A like meffage was delivered to the houfe of lords,

Administration proceeding in this weighty business in confort with the parliament of Ireland, a meffage conceived in the fame terms was fent by the duke of Portland, the lord lieutenant, to the commons of that kingdom, on the 26th, immediately after his arrival to take upon him the government. The addrefs to the king in confequence of it, was moved by Mr. Grattan, the great and eloquent leader of the popular party. This addrefs, after a full and explicit affertion of the independent rights of the kingdom of Ireland, proceeded to ftate the causes of those jealoufies and difcontents which

S 2

1782.which had arisen in that country, viz. the act of the fixth of George I; the power of fuppreffing or altering bills in the privy council; and the perpetual mutiny bill. On the ground of this address, Mr. Fox moved in the British house of commons on the 17th of May, "1. That leave be given to bring in a bill for the repeal of the act, 6 George I. cap. v.-2. That it be refolved, that it is neceffary to the mutual happiness of the two countries, that á firm and folid connection should be forthwith established by the confent of both.-3. That an addrefs be prefented to his majesty, that he may be graciously pleased to give directions for promoting the latter refolution.' These motions paffed without any oppofition. In return for this liberal procedure of the British government, in relinquishing established claims without any ftipulation whatever, the parliament of Ireland voted 100,000l. for the raifing of 20,000 Irish feamen to ferve in his majefty's navy. The fum of 50,000l. was alfo voted, " for purchafing an eftate, and erecting a manfion thereon, to be fettled on Henry Grattan efq; and the heirs of his body, as a testimony of their gratitude, for the unequalled benefits conferred by him on that kingdom." On the 11th of June, Mr. Fox brought in a bill for the repeal of the aforementioned act, which paffed without a word of oppofition. By that act," the king's majefty, by and with the advice of the lords fpiritual and temporal and commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, hath had, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of fufficient force and validity to bind the kingdom and people of Ireland; and that the house of lords of Ireland have not, nor of right