DICKINSON, PHILEMON, was born at the seat of his father, near Dover, in the state of Delaware, on the 5th day of April, 1739, and received his education in Philadelphia, under the celebrated teacher of that day, Dr. Allison. His father died in the year 1760, and for several years after that event, he continued to reside with his widowed mother, at the place of his birth. Having at length purchased a small farm in the neighborhood of Trenton, in New Jersey, he was there found at the commencement of the revolutionary war, and was introduced into public life, as a member of the convention, which formed the constitution of that state. This was soon after followed by his appointment to the command of the militia of New Jersey. His zeal and devotion to the public cause, became immediately conspicuous, and engaged him in an enterprise, which secured to the army a collection of flour at that time very essential to its comfort.

When general Washington's army was hutted near Morristown, and labouring under that fatal malady, the smallpox, a line of posts was formed along the Millstone river, in the direction of Princeton; one of these, established at Somerset court-house, was occupied by general Dickinson, with a few hundred men. Not very distant, and on the opposite bank of the stream, stood a mill, in which a considerable quantity of flour had been collected for the use of the troops. At this time lord Cornwallis lay at New Brunswick, and having received information of this depot, immediately despatched a large foraging party, amounting to about four hundred men, and upwards of forty wagons, drawn by imported horses, of the English draft breed, for the purpose of taking possession of it. The British troops arrived at the mill early in the morning, and having loaded the wagons with the flour, were about to march on their return, when general Dickinson, at the head of an inferior force, which he led through the river, middle deep, attacked them with so much spirit and effect, that they instantly fled, abandoning the whole of their plunder. The light in which this affair was viewed by the com mander in chief, will appear by the following extract of a letter to the president of Congress, dated Morristown, January 220, 1777:

"My last to you was on the 20th instant. Since that, I have the pleasure to inform you, that general Dickinson, with about four hundred militia, has defeated a foraging party of the enemy of an equal number, and has taken forty wagons and upwards of a hundred horses, most of them of the English draft breed, and a number of sheep and cattle, which they had collected. The enemy retreated with so much precipitation, that general Dickinson had only an opportunity of

making nine prisoners. They were observed to carry off a great many dead and wounded in light wagons. This action happened near Somerset court-house, on Millstone river. General Dickinson's behaviour reflects the highest honour on him; for though his troops were all raw, he led them through the river, middle deep, and gave the enemy so severe a charge, that although supported by three field pieces, they gave way, and left their convoy."

Immediately after general Dickinson had resumed his position on the Millstone, he waited on the commander in chief, for the purpose of receiving his orders. He found him exceedingly indisposed, and his spirits much depressed, in consequence of the gloomy aspect of affairs. In the course of a long and confidential conversation between them, general Washington observed, that the continental troops with him, were scarcely sufficient in number to perform the ordinary guard duties, and that out of eleven hundred men, eight hundred were under inoculation for the small-pox. He expressed great solicitude, lest the enemy should become acquainted with his actual situation: the consequence of which might prove fatal to the cause of America. He particularly impressed upon general Dickinson, the necessity of obtaining accurate information of the views and movements of the enemy, and requested his utmost vigilance, and most active exertions to attain this object.

At the close of this interview, general Dickinson returned to his station, where he heard with equal surprise and regret, that an officer of the militia had deserted to the enemy, and had previously obtained from the office of the adjutant general, an actual and correct return of the American army, which he delivered to lord Cornwallis, then in command at New Brunswick, through the medium of colonel Skinner, a loyalist in the service of Great Britain. In consequence of this information, his lordship formed the plan of an attack on the American army.

General Dickinson at once saw the necesssity of endeavouring to remove the impression, made by this act of treachery. Having in his employment a spy, whose want of fidelity he had recently discovered, he resolved to make use of him on this occasion. Fortunately, the man applied a day or two afterwards, for permission to visit New Brunswick. This was at first positively refused, and at the same time, it was intimated to him, as the reason of this refusal, that an important movement was in agitation, in the execution of which the utmost secrecy was necessary. He was farther informed that the indulgence of his request at that moment, would incur the displeasure of the commander in chief. The curiosity

the man being much excited by these hints, general Dickon at length took him into a private room, and observed,

n opportunity was now afforded him of rendering his country a very important service, for which he should be liberaly rewarded. He then stated that the return, which the office who had deserted had in his possession, was a forgery, intended to secure to himself a favourable reception from the enemy: also, that large bodies of troops, both from the east and the south, had recently arrived in the vicinity of Morristown; toat from the last returns, the American army, at its several positions, which might be readily concentrated, amounted to nearly twenty thousand men; and that an attack on the enemy was only delayed, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements, already in great forwardness; adding, that as the capture of the commanding officer at Brunswick was an object of the first importance, it was material te ascertain particularly the situation of his quarters in the town, and also the force and position of the guards, out posts, &c. &c.

The spy giving general Dickinson every assurance, that he would faithfully execute his commission, was permitted to proceed on his visit. On reaching New Brunswick, he communicated, without delay, to lord Cornwallis, all that passed in the conversation between the general and himself, which induced his lordship to relinquish his meditated attack.

"During the fall of 1777, general Dickinson after informing "himself precisely of the force and situation of the enemy on "Staten Island, projected another expedition against that "post, in the hope of being able entirely to cut off Skinner's "brigade of loyal Americans, which was stationed there. "His perfect knowledge of the country enabled him to make "such a disposition, as promised success, and authorized a "hope that his plan would be executed as formed. He col"lected about two thousand men, and requested from general "Putnam, a diversion on the side of King's bridge, in order "to prevent a sudden reinforcement from New York.

"Knowing well that success depended on secrecy, he had "concealed his object, even from his officers, until 8 o'clock "of the night on which it was to be executed; yet by three in "the morning, information of the design was given to ge"neral Skinner, who was thereby put on his guard: and on "the first alarm, he saved himself and his brigade by taking "refuge in some works too strong to be carried by assault. "In the flight, a few prisoners were made, and a few men "killed; after which, general Dickinson brougat off his party "with a loss of only three killed, and ten slightly wounded. "Soon after the British army reached Philadelphia, in the

"autumn of 1777; count Donop crossed the Delaware, with "the intention, as it was believed, of investing Red Bank, a "post on the Jersey side of the river. Immediate measures

"were taken to raise the militia of that state: this was ren"dered particularly difficult at this moment, by an event by "no means common. The time for which the governor was "elected had expired, and no new election had been made. "The late executive, therefore, did not think itself authorised "to take any measures, as an executive; and had not general "Dickinson ventured to order out the militia, by his own au"thority, they could not have been put in motion." Marshal's Life of Washington.

General Dickinson was present at the battle of Monmouth, with all the militia he could assemble. He was also a member of the council of war, held on the night before the action. He there took an opportunity of representing to general Washington, that though the militia might be less efficient in the field than the regular troops, yet they were capable of performing a very important part in guarding the army against an attack that night; by which the whole of the continental troops would have an opportunity of obtaining that repose they so much needed; and if the commander in chief would confide to them that honor, he would pledge himself that the camp should not be surprised. General Dickinson's offer was accepted, and on the following morning, before day-light, information was conveyed to the commander in chief, that the enemy had resumed his line of march.

At the close of the war general Dickinson retired to his seat on the banks of the Delaware.

In December, 1784, congress appointed three commissioners to select a spot for a federal city, on either side of the river Delaware, not more than eight miles above, nor eight miles below its lower falls. The persons chosen were Robert Morris, Esqr. general Schuyler, and general Dickinson.

General Dickinson was a member of the senate of the United States for several years, previously to the removal of congress to Washington. He died in February, 1809.

DRAYTON, WILLIAM, HENRY, an ardent patriot, and a political writer of considerable eminence, was born in South Carolina, in the year 1742. He spent his youth and acquired his education in England. Soon after he came to manhood, he returned to Carolina, and there with inferior opportunities, but superior industry, prosecuted his studies. In it he acquired the greater part of that knowledge for which he was afterwards distinguished. He first began to write for the public about the year 1769. Under the signature of "Freeman" he stated several legal and constitutional objections to an as

sociation, or rather the mode of enforcing an association, for suspending the importation of British manufactures, which was then generally signed by the inhabitants. This involved him in a political controversy, in which he was opposed by Christopher Gadsden and John Mackenzie. In the year

1774, he wrote a pamphlet under the signature of "Freeman,' which was addressed to the American congress. In this he stated the grievances of America, and drew up a bill of American rights. This was well received. It substantially chalked out the line of conduct adopted by congress, then in session. He was elected a member of the provincial congress, which sat in January, 1775; and in the course of that year was advanced to the presidency thereof. In the latter character he issued on the 9th of November, 1775, the first order that was given in South Carolina for firing on the British. The order was addressed to colonel William Moultrie, and directed him "by every military operation to endeavor to oppose the passage of any British naval armament that may attempt to pass fort Johnson." This was before congress had decided on independence, and in the then situation of Carolina, was a bold, decisive measure.

Before the revolution, Mr. Drayton was one of the king's counsellors, and one of his assistant judges for the province. The first of these offices he resigned, and from the last he was dismissed by the officers of his Britannic majesty. On the formation of a popular constitution, he was reinstated in the corresponding offices of the state, and in the last advanced to the rank of chief justice. He published his charge to the grand jury, in April 1776, which breathes all the spirit and energy of the mind, which knows the value of freedom, and is determined to support it.

The following is an extract from the charge

"In short, I think it my duty to declare in the awful seat of justice, and before Almighty God, that in my opinion, the Americans can have no safety but by the Divine favour, their own virtue, and their being so prudent as not to leave it in the power of the British rulers to injure them. Indeed the ruinous and deadly injuries received on our side; and the jealousies entertained, and which, in the nature of things, must daily increase against us, on the other; demonstrate to a mind, in the least given to reflection upon the rise and fall of empires, that true reconcilement never can exist between Great Britain and America, the latter being in subjection to the former. The Almighty created America to be independent of Britain: Let us beware of the impiety of being backward to act as instruments in the Almighty hand, now extended to accomplish his purpose; and by the completion of