the use of prohibited articles, and to conform to all the rules and regulations, which had been, or should thereafter be laid down by congress, for the government of the other provinces. A petition was also forwarded to that honorable body,, soliciting that Lyman Hall, Esquire, might be received and admitted as a member.

Doctor Hall announced his arrival at congress on the 13th of May, and desired to be informed, whether he might be permitted to take a seat. It was agreed unanimously, that he should be admitted as a delegate from the parish of St. John, in the colony of Georgia, subject to such regulations as congress should thereafter determine, relative to his voting. During the deliberations of that body, it became necessary to take the opinion of congress by colonies, upon which a question arose, whether the delegate from the parish of St. John, in the colony of Georgia, should be admitted to vote. Doctor Hall replied, that the distressing situation of American affairs, had induced the necessity of the convention of congress, which was composed of delegates representing whole colonies; that as he represented but a small section of a colony, he could not insist on giving a vote, but would be contented in hearing and assisting in the deliberations, and to give his vote in all cases, except when it became necessary to take the opinion of congress by colonies; that he hoped the example which had been set by the parish which he then represented,

would be followed by the others from Georgia, and that the representation would soon be complete.

General Gage had arrived at Boston in May 1774, with a fleet and army, and assumed the government of Massachusetts. War commenced soon after and several battles and skirmishes were fought, in which many were killed and wounded on both sides. When this intelligence reached Savannah, the indignation of the people was roused, and the ferment soon extended to every parish in the province.

The magazine at the eastern extremity of the city of Savannah contained a considerable quantity of ammunition. The magazine was sunk about twelve feet under ground, enclosed with brick, and secured by a door in such way, that governor Wright thought it useless to have it guarded. To gain possession of this valuable prize, which had already become in great demand among the revolutionists in the northern states, was an object no longer to be delayed. A few of the patriots had a meeting at the house of Doctor Jones, and concerted the plan of operation. On the night of the 11th of May, Noble W. Jones, Joseph Habersham, Edward Telfair, William Gibbons, Joseph Clay, John Milledge and some other gentlemen, principally members of the council of safety, and zealous in the American cause, broke open the magazine at a late hour of the night, took out the powder, sent a part of it to

Beaufort in South-Carolina, and concealed the remainder in their cellars and garrets. Governor Wright issued a proclamation, offering a reward of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling for apprehending the offenders and bringing them to punishment; but the secret was not disclosed until the Americans had occasion to use the ammunition in defence of their rights and property.

On the 1st of June, governor Wright and the loyal party at Savannah, ordered preparations to be made for the celebration of the king's birth day. On the night of the 2nd, a number of the inhabitants of the town collected, spiked up all the cannon on the battery and hurled them to the bottom of the bluff. With difficulty a few of the spikes were drawn and drilled out, and the guns re-mounted to perform the usual ceremonies.

On the 21st of June, a notice was given in the Gazette, signed by Noble W. Jones, Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, and George Walton, Esquires, requesting the inhabitants of the town and district of Savannah, to meet at the liberty pole the ensuing day, at ten o'clock, agreeably to a previous notice; for the purpose of choosing a committee to enforce the association with the other colonies in the cause of freedom. It was hoped that the alarming situation of American affairs in general, and of this province in particular would prompt every man to be punctual in his attendance. A council of safety was nominated, of which major William Ewen, was appointed presi

dent, William Le Conte, Joseph Clay, Basil Cooper, Samuel Elbert, William Young, Elisha But. ler, Edward Telfair, John Glenn, George Houstoun, George Walton, Joseph Habersham, Francis H. Harris, John Smith and John Morel, Esquires, members; and Seth John Cuthbert, secretary. This body was instructed to keep up a cor. respondence with congress at Philadelphia, the councils of safety in the other provinces, and the committees in the several parishes in Georgia. After this business was closed, a number of gentlemen dined at Tondee's tavern, where the union flag was hoisted upon the liberty pole, and two pieces of artillery placed under it. After dinner, thirteen patriotic toasts were drunk, each succeeded by a discharge of cannon and martial music.

By one of the resolutions entered into, it was declared, that this province should not afford protection to, nor become an asylum for any person or persons whomsoever, who from their conduct should be considered inimical to the common cause of America; or should have drawn upon themselves the disapprobation or censure of any of the other colonies. Notwithstanding these resolutions, a young man by the name of Hopkins, had the temerity to express himself contumacious< ly of the objects of the meeting, and to superadd illnatured epithets of ridicule, which he applied to the gentlemen who composed the committee of public safety. In consequence of this indiscre tion, he was subjected to the painful obloquy of

being tarred and feathered by a mob, who to com. plete his disgrace and render more conspicuous the popular feelings, hoisted him in a cart, which was illuminated for the occasion, and paraded with a crowded retinue through the principal streets of the town, four or five hours.

A similar circumstance occurred soon after in Augusta, by order of the parish committee of that place. Thomas Brown and William Thompson had expressed their enmity to the American cause, accompanied by toasts at a dinner, ridiculing their procedure. A party pursued them to New-Richmond in South-Carolina. Thompson escaped, but Brown was brought back, and after undergoing a trial before the committee, was sentenced to be tarred and feathered, and publicly exposed in a cart, to be drawn three miles, or until he was willing to confess his error and take an oath that he would thereafter give his aid and assistance to the cause of freedom.

The hostility of the governors of the southern provinces, to the claims of the colonies, rendered it necessary to watch their actions, and to counteract their measures, by every mean that could be devised. To this end, secret committees had been appointed in South Carolina. In one of the mails, proceeding to the northward, one of the committees found a letter addressed by governor Wright to general Gage, requesting the aid of a military force, to enable him to keep in check the rebellious spirit of the people of Georgia, and to