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inhabitants of these provinces, who were friendly to the measures of congress. In this letter, he says, "I hope the general will not take any more of the troops from us; I think he has already weakened us too much: consider the fort and its contents; consider what our neighbours are willing to do; consider also, that this is the best and only immediate communication between GreatBritain and our red brothers. The best friends of Great-Britain are in the back parts of Carolina and Georgia: if the Indians were put in motion, they would suffer, and not the rebels: but this will be delivered to you by colonel Moses Kirkland, who comes express to general Gage; to him I refer you-what he tells you, you may depend on. I think he may be made a powerful instrument in the hands of government, should any thing be done this way, which I think ought immediately to be undertaken: he knows every inch of Carolina, every road and bye-road, every creek and swamp, every person, and has a most extensive influence; is resolute, active and enterprising, and I think ought to receive the earliest encouragement: he has not had a liberal education, but possesses clear, strong and manly sense, and I think he is entirely to be depended on."

These and many other letters to the same purport, were found in Kirkland's possession; all tending to encourage a junction with the Creek and Cherokee Indians, against that part of the inhabitants of Georgia and Carolina, who were

friendly to the measures of congress; but how to discriminate between the latter and those who were attached to the royal cause, puzzled them. Henry Stewart had projected a plan, which was found in Kirkland's possession; but it was wild and deceptive. These arrangements were partially frustrated by the capture of the vessel which was conveying Kirkland to Boston. The letters found in his possession, were forwarded to congress and published. The alarm which this species of warfare excited upon the frontiers, where the Indian customs were well known, can scarcely be imagined. Though this discovery of the British designs and the capture of Kirkland, who was to have had an active share in the execution of them, in a great measure frustrated the plans of the royal servants, yet they were so far carried into effect, that the Cherokees commenced their massacres on the frontiers, at the same time that the British fleet appeared off Charleston, in the month of June. In the execution of this plan, the friends and enemies of the British cause, participated equally in personal sufferings and pecuniary losses. The season for gathering the harvest of their labours, had just commenced; part of it was not yet cut, and the balance remained in the fields. Their houses were burned, and their fences laid open, inviting destruction by such horses, cattle and hogs, as had not been taken off by the Indians. The royal party complained that they had not been sheltered by their political

opinions and feelings, from the universal distresses and calamities, which fell upon every part of the frontier.

The danger, particularly with which Georgia was threatened from every quarter, and the ruinous consequences anticipated from an open and decided part in the contest, prevented the provincial assembly from forming a house until the 20th of January, when Archibald Bulloch, Esquire was chosen president of the executive council, and Edward Langworthy, secretary. Presi dent Ewin of the committee of safety, laid before the house a variety of documents, representing the oppression of the other colonies to the north, and the united zeal with which the British troops had been opposed. Among other papers, was the address of the house of commons to the king, at the opening of parliament, on the 28th of October, 1775. After having represented the seduction of the American colonies from their allegiance under misrepresentations and insidious pretences, by which they had been made the instruments of the ambition and treacherous designs of those dangerous men, who had led them step by step to the standard of rebellion; that they now assumed the powers by sovereign authority, which was exercised in a despotic arbitrary manner over the persons and property of the deluded people. That they took a sincere part in the king's benevolent desire, rather to reclaim than to subdue the American colonies, and regretted that it was not

possible, without the effusion of the blood of their fellow-subjects; but still hoped that the American people would have discernment enough to see the treacherous views of their leaders, and consider the ruinous consequences which would attend, even the success of their plans. They then offered their entire concurrence with the king, that it then became the part of wisdom and clemency, to put a speedy end to these disasters by the most decisive exertions; that they learned with the greatest satisfaction, that the king had increased his naval establishment and greatly augmented his land forces; and that he had adopted the economical plan of drawing as many regiments from outposts as could be spared, to subdue the American colonies, and bring them to a proper sense of their dependance upon the British government : they hoped that this force would soon bring the misled colonies to a correct idea of their error; and closed by thanking him for the authority he had given to his colonial governors, to offer pardon to such as would return to their allegiance; and promising their cordial co-operation in the augmentation of the navy and army, if the objects contemplated should require it. Every exertion of the American advocates in parliament, in opposition to these measures, proved vain and ineffectual.

After the documents which had been laid before the assembly were read; the house entered into a resolution to embark with the other provinces in the common cause, with the utmost zeal,

to resist and be free. Orders were given to sieze governor Wright, and disperse his council. At that time the Syren, Raven, Tamer and Cherokee, British armed ships, were lying at Tybee, in the mouth of Savannah river. A schooner was sunk on Bryan's bank to prevent their getting up to town, and many of the inhabitants removed with their effects into the country. A resolution was passed forbidding any person under any pretext whatsoever, to conduct any vessel of war into the ports or inlets of this province, without permission derived from the assembly, and required the citizens to use their utmost endeavours to bring offenders to exemplary punishment.

On the 18th of January, Joseph Habersham, Esq. who was then a member of the house, raised a party of volunteers, took governor Wright prisoner, paroled him to his house, and placed a sentinel at his door; prohibiting all intercourse with the members of his council, the king's officers, or other persons who were supposed to be inimical to the American cause. The governor became tired of confinement, and with the assistance of John Mulryne, effected his escape from the back part of his house, on the night of the 11th of Feb. ruary. He went down the river about five miles by land to Bonaventure, where Mulryne lived, and where a boat and crew were waiting for him; from thence he passed through Tybee creek and got on board the armed ship Scarborough, from whence he wrote the following letter to James

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