of the real ones of Pickens, Marion, Sumpter, and Davie, who figured in the southern states during the conflict of the revolution.

Colonel Davie, although younger by several years, possessed talents of a higher order, and was much more accomplished in education and manners, than either of his three competitors for fame. For the comeliness of his person, his martial air, his excellence in horsemanship and his consummate powers of field eloquence, he had scarcely an equal in the armies of his country. But his chief excellence lay in the magnanimity and generosity of his soul, his daring courage, his vigilance and address, and his unrelaxing activity and endurance of toil, If he was less frequently engaged in actual combat than either of his three compeers, it was not because he was inferior to either of them in enterprise or love of battle. His district being more interior, was, at first, less frequently invaded by British detachments. When, however, Lord Cornwallis ultimately advanced into that quarter, his scouts and foraging parties found in Colonel Davie and his brave associates, as formidable an enemy as they had ever encountered.

CHRISTOPHER GADSDEN,

BRIGADIER-GENERAL AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THIS venerable patriot of the revolution was born in Charleston, about the year 1724. He was sent to England by his father, while a youth, where he was educated. At the age of sixteen he returned to Carolina, and finished his education in the counting-house of Mr. Lawrence, of Philadelphia.

General Gadsden had naturally a strong love for independence. He was born a republican. Under a well ordered government he was a good subject, but could not brook the encroachments of any man, or body of men, to entrench on his rights.

"As early as 1766," says Judge Johnson, "there was at least one man in South Carolina who foresaw and foretold the views of the British government, and explicitly urged his adherents to the resolution to resist even to death. General Gadsden, it is well known, always favoured the most decisive and energetic measures. He thought it folly to temporize,

and insisted that cordial reconciliation, on honourable terms, was impossible. When the news of the repeal of the stamp-act arrived, and the whole community was in ecstacy at the event, he, on the contrary, received it with indignation, and privately convening a party of his friends, he harangued them at considerable length on the folly of relaxing their opposition and vigilance, or indulging the fallacious hope that Great-Britain would relinquish her designs or pretensions. He drew their attention to the preamble of the act, and forcibly pressed upon them the absurdity of rejoicing at an act that still asserted and maintained the absolute dominion over them. And then reviewing all the chances of succeeding in a struggle to break the fetters, when again. imposed upon them, he pressed them to prepare their minds for the event. The address was received with silent but profound devotion; and with linked hands, the whole party pledged themselves to resist; a pledge that was faithfully redeemed when the hour of trial arrived."

"In June, 1775, when the Provincial Congress determined to raise troops, Gadsden, though absent on public duty at Philadelphia, was, without his consent or knowledge, elected

colonel of the first regiment. For personal courage he was inferior to no man. In knowledge of the military art, he had several equals, and some superiors; but from the great confidence reposed in his patriotism, and the popularity of his name, he was put at the head of the new military establishment. He left Congress, and repaired to the camp in Carolina, declaring that 'wherever his country placed him, whether in the civil or military department; and if in the latter, whether as corporal or colonel, he would cheerfully serve to the utmost of his ability.""

He

In the next year he was promoted by Congress to the rank of brigadier-general. commanded at Fort-Johnson, when the fort on Sullivan's Island was attacked; and he was prepared to receive the enemy in their progress o Charleston. The repulse of the British prevented his coming into action. Their retreat elieved South Carolina from the pressure of war for two years. In this period, Gadsden resigned his military command, but continued o serve in the assembly and the privy council, and was very active in preparing for and ndeavouring to repel the successive invasions of the state by the British in 1779 and 1780

He was the friend of every vigorous measure, and always ready to undertake the most laborious duties, and to put himself in the front of danger.

When Charleston surrendered by capitulation, he was lieutenant-governor, and paroled as such, and honourably kept his engagement. For the three months which followed, he was undisturbed; but on the defeat of Gates, in August, 1780, the British resolved that he and several others, who discovered no disposition to return to the condition of British subjects, should be sent out of the country. He was accordingly taken in his own house by a file of soldiers, and put on board a vessel in the harbour. He knew not why he was taken up, nor what was intended to be done with him, but supposed it was introductory to a trial for treason or rebellion, as the British gave out that the country was completely conquered.

He was soon joined by twenty-eight compatriots, who were also taken up on the same day.

He drew from his pocket half a dollar, and turning to his associates with a cheerful countenance, assured them that was all the money