| Congress to the maintenance of which Much commotion had been excited, [May independence, we solemnly pledge to each 4th,] by a threat of the Captain of the other our mutual co-operation, our lives, our Fowey, that if the party of marines detachfortunes and our sacred honor. Resolved, ed from his ship for the Governor's protec4th, That as we acknowledge the existence tion should be molested, he would fire the and control of no law, nor legal office, civil town. The excitement, however, blew over or military within this county, we do hereby and upon the reception of Lord North's ordain and adopt as a rule of life, all, each conciliatory proposition, commonly called and every of our former laws; wherein nev- "the Olive Branch," Dunmore, by the adertheless the crown of Great Britain never vice of the council, convened the house of can be considered as holding rights, privi- burgesses, and in token of renewed harmoleges, immunities or authority therein. Re- ny, the amiable Lady Dunmore and her famsolved, 5th, That it is further decreed that ily returned from the Fowey, where they had all, each and every officer in this county is taken refuge during these disturbances, to hereby retained in his former command and the palace. The assembly met on Thursday, authority, he acting conformably to these the 1st of June. The Governor, in his adregulations. And that every member pres- dress, presented Lord North's proposition. ent of this delegation shall henceforth be a The council's answer was satisfactory to civil officer, viz: a Justice of the Peace in Dunmore, but before the burgesses could rethe character of a Committee-man to issue ply, a new explosion occurred. Upon Henprocess, hear and determine all matters of ry's approach towards Williamsburg, some controversy according to said adopted laws of the inhabitants, to the great offence of and to preserve peace, union and harmony the graver citizens, had taken possession of in said county; and to use every exertion to some of the few guns remaining in the magspread the love of country and fire of free-azine. On the night of Monday, June 5th, dom throughout America, until a general or- a number of persons having assembled at ganized Government be established in this the magazine to furnish themselves with province." * * There are between the Mecklenburg Declaration and that draughted by Mr. Jefferson, several coincidences of phrase ology, that seem quite sufficient to prove that Mr. Jefferson borrowed several expressions from that document. It is true, that after a long interval he made a disclaimer of all knowledge of the Mecklenburg Declaration. It is, however, easy enough to believe that he may have borrowed those phrases in that period of excitement and after the lapse of many years may have entirely forgotten the document to which he was indebted. The following expressions occurring in the Mecklenburg Declaration, are found likewise in the Declaration of Independence, adopted by Congress, July 4th, 1776 1. Unalienable rights." The words in the Mecklenburg Declaration are, "inherent and unalienable rights." So too in Mr. Jefferson's own original draught, the words used are, "inherent and inalienable rights, the words "inherent and" having been stricken out by the Committee. Mr. Jefferson's MS. shows that he employed the word inalienable, but it is commonly printed "unalienable. 2. "Dissolved the political bonds that have connected." The only difference as to these words is, that Mr. Jefferson has it "bands," instead of “bonds." 3." Free and independent." These words, hardly subjects of plagiarism, were apparently adopted by Mr. Jefferson and by the Committee, from the Resolution declaring the Colonies independent, offered by Richard Henry Lee, June 7th, 1776. Mr. Lee appears to have adopted the words from the Resolutions of instruction of the Convention of Virginia, passed May 15th, 1776. 4. The Mecklenburg Declaration says, "absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown." The Declaration of July 4th says, "are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown." This expression was borrowed by Mr. Lee in his Resolution of June 7th, and adopted from arms, two or three upon entering the door were wounded by spring-guns, placed there by order of the governor. Several barrels of powder were also found buried in the magazine to be used, (it was suspected,) as a mine when occasion should offer. Early on the next morning, June 6th, Lord Dunmore with his family escaped from Williams Mr. Lee's Resolution, by the Committee. Mr. Jefferson's own original draught has it, " renounce all allegiance to the kings of Great Britain," &c. 5. "Are and of right ought to be." These being customary words in parliamentary declaratory acts, are hardly subjects of plagiarism. They appear however to have been adopted from Mr. Lee's Resolution, by the Committee. 6. "Abjure all political connection." The Declaration of July 4th expresses it, "that all political connexion between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Mr. Jefferson's own original draught has it, "we utterly dissolve all political connexion." 7. "We solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." The Declaration of July 4th employs the expression, "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." See 1 Marshall's Washington, note 6. 1 Jefferson's Writings pp. 15 and 21, and fac simile of the MS. Declaration of Independence appended to vol. 4. Jones' Defence of North Carolina. Jone's Memorials of North Carolina. Foote's Sketches of North Carolina, pp. 37 and 38. Hening, vol. I. pp. 8-32-36. Sou. Lit. Mess., vol. 4, pp. 209-210-212-213. Martin's Hist. of North Carolina, vol. 2, pp. 372-376. burg to return no more and took shelter on an account of his expenses, which he should board the Fowey. A correspondence that rely on congress to discharge. He took comnow ensued between him and the assembly mand of the army, near Boston, July 3rd. resulted in no agreement, and the house. On Monday, the 24th of July, 1775, the Measures after declaring that there was reason to ap- convention met at Richmond. prehend a dangerous attack upon the peo- were taken for raising two regiments of regple of the colony and that preparations for ular troops for one year, and to enlist part of A committee of resistance ought to be made and still ex-the militia as minute-men. pressing an anxious desire for harmony with safety was organized to take charge of the the mother country, at length adjourned. executive duties of the colony. The comThe delegates were summoned at the same mittee consisted of eleven gentlemen, Edtime to meet in convention at Richmond. mund Pendleton, George Mason, John Page, [17th of June, 1775.] On the occasion of Richard Bland, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Paul this adjournment, Richard Henry Lee, stand- Carrington, Dudley Digges, William Cabell, ing with two other burgesses in the portico Carter Braxton, James Mercer and John of the capitol, wrote with his pencil on a Tabb. Patrick Henry was elected Colonel pillar these lines: "When shall we three meet again, When the battle's lost and won." * [October 22nd, 1775.] Died suddenly of an apoplexy, at Philadelphia, Peyton Randolph, † aged 52 years. Descended from an of the first regiment and commander of all the forces raised and to be raised for the defence of the colony. William Woodford, who had served meritoriously in the French and Indian war, was appointed to the command of the second regiment. Troops were rapidly [June 25th.] Shortly after Dunmore's recruited. [20th of September.] Col. Henry flight, a party of twenty-four persons remo- selected an encampment in the rear of the ved a quantity of arms from the palace to the College of William & Mary. magazine. The governor had been requested to authorize the removal and had refused. Nightly watches were now established in Williamsburg, and measures were taken to protect the place against surprise. The * [June 26th, 1775] Mr. Jefferson was added to a comneighboring counties contributed men for mittee of congress, appointed to draw up a declaration of this purpose. June 29th, the Magdalen the causes of taking up arms. He prepared a declaration, schooner sailed from York, with lady Dun-but it proving too strong for Mr. Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, he was indulged in preparing a far tamer statement, more and the rest of the governor's family, which was however accepted by Congress. "The disgust for England. The Magdalen was convoyed against its humility was general, and Mr. Dickinson's de to the capes by the Fowey. This ship was light at its passage, was the only circumstance which resoon after relieved by the Mercury, of 24ther observation on it was out of order, he could not refrain guns. The governor's domestics now aban- from rising and expressing his satisfaction, and concluded doned the palace and removed to Porto-Bel- by saying, there is but one word. Mr. President, in the lo, the governor's seat, about six miles from paper, which I disapprove, and that is the word Congress.' Williamsburg. Dunmore took up his station word in the paper, Mr. President, of which I approve, and at Portsmouth. that is the word Congress.'" 1. Writings of Jefferson, p. 9. The progenitor of the Randolphs of Virginia, was conciled them to it. The vote being passed, although fur On which Ben. Harrison rose and said, there is but one [14th of June, 1775.] George Washing-William of Yorkshire, England, who settled at Turkey ton was unanimously elected by congress, Island, on the James river. He was a nephew of Thomas commander-in-chief of the armies of the Randolph, the Poet. William married Mary Isham, of United Colonies. Impressed with a profound Bermuda Hundred. sense of the responsibility of the trust, he accepted it, declining all compensation for his services and avowing an intention to keep • Wirt's Life of Henry, p. 157. + Bland Papers, vol. 1, p. xxiii, where the names of the party may be found; among them were Theodorick Bland, Jr.. Richard Kidder Meade, Benjamin Harrison. Jr., of Berkley, and James Monroe. John Carter Littlepage was active among the patriots at Williamsburg. Several of their sons were inen of distinction: William was a member of the Council and Treasurer of the Colony. Isham was a member of the Goochland, 1740, and Adjutant Richard was a member of the House of Burgesses, 1740, for Henrico, and succeeded his brother as Treasurer. Sir John was Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Attorney General. Peter, son of the 2nd William Randolph, was Clerk of the House of Burgesses and Attorney General. Peyton, brother of John, was Speaker of the House of Burgesses and President of the first Congress held at Philadelphia. Thomas Mann Randolph, great grandson of William, of Dunmore ancient, wealthy and influential family, he destroyed by the inhabitants. was the second son of Sir John Randolph, threatened to burn the town in retaliation. knight, and Susan Beverley, his wife. Pey- Notice of his design being sent to Williamston Randolph being bred to the law was, burg, a party despatched to their assistance, [1756,] appointed King's Attorney for the under Colonel Woodford, obliged the assailcolony of Virginia, and held that office for ants to retreat to their vessels with some loss. many years. [1766.] He was elected speak- Dunmore, [November 7th, 1775,] proclaimed er of the House of Burgesses, and [1773] a martial law, summoned all persons capable member of the committee of correspondence. of bearing arms to his standard, on penalty [March 20th, 1774.] He was unanimously of being proclaimed traitors, and offered parchosen President of the first Convention of don to all servants and slaves who should Virginia, which met at Williamsburg. August join him. His lordship had now the ascen11th of the same year, he was appointed by the Convention one of the delegates to the Congress, which assembled at Philadelphia, [Sept. 4, 1774,] and was unanimously elected President of that august body. dency in the country around Norfolk. The committee of safety despatched Woodford with his regiment, and two hundred minutemen, amounting in all to eight hundred men, to cross the James, at Sandy point, and go in Dunmore in the mean time, joined by a pursuit of Dunmore. Col. Henry had been motley band of loyalists, negroes and recruits desirous to be employed in this service and from St. Augustine, in Florida, collected a it was said, solicited it, but the committee of naval force and carried on a predatory war- safety refused. Henry's chagrin was aggrafare. At length a sloop, in the king's ser- vated by Woodford's declining, while detachvice, commanded by a Captain Squires, hap-ed, to acknowledge his superiority in compening to be wrecked near Hampton, was mand. The committee sustained Woodford Turkey Island, was a member of the Virginia Convention, 1775, from Goochland. Beverley Randolph was member of Assembly, from Cumberland, during the revolution, and member of the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution and of the Virginia Convention that ratified it, Governor of the State of Virginia and Secretary of State of the United States. Robert Randolph, son of Peter; Richard Randolph, grandson of Peter, and David Meade Randolph, sons of the 2nd Richard, were cavalry officers in the war of the Revolution. David Meade Randolph was Marshal of Virginia. John Randolph, of Roanoke, was grandson of the 1st Richard. Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. was member of Congress, of the Virginia Legislature and Governor of the State. Richard Bland, Thomas Jefferson in this insubordination and thus reversed the convention's ordinance and in effect degraded Henry, the officer of their first choice. Envy was at the bottom of these proceedings. New mortifications awaited the man of the people. Woodford approached the earl of Dunmore and found that he had entrenched himself on the north side of the Elizabeth river, at the Great Bridge. Here he had erected a small fort, on an oasis surrounded by a morass, accessible on either Theodorick Bland, Jr., Richard Henry, Arthur and Francis side only by a long causeway. Woodford Lightfoot Lee, William Stith the Historian, and Thomas encamped within cannon-shot of this post, Marshall, father of the Chief Justice, were all descended in a village at the south end of the causeway, from Randolph of Turkey Island. across which he threw up a breast-work. being destitute of artillery, he was unable to attack the fort. After a few days, Dunmore, hearing by a servant lad who had deserted The members of the numerous family of the Randolphs, from Woodford's camp, that his force did not in several instances, adopted the names of their seats for exceed three hundred men, mustered his the purpose of distinction, as Thomas, of Tuckahoe; Isham, whole strength and despatched them in the Jane Bolling, great-grand-daughter of Pocahontas, married Richard Randolph, of Curles. John Randolph, Sr., of Roanoke, 7th child of that marriage, married Frances Bland, and John Randolph, of Roanoke, was one of the children of this union. of Dungeness; Richard, of Curles; John, of Roanoke. But The following were seats of the Randolphs on the James night to the fort, with orders to force the river: Tuckahoe, Chatsworth, Wilton, Varina, Curles, breast-works early next morning, or die in Bremo, Turkey Island. The crest of the arms of the Vir- the attempt. ginia Randolphs is an antelope's head. BIRTH OF THE RAINBOW. Child of the storm! how beautiful thou art! Art thou a habitant of heaven's high dome? THE STUDENT OF PROVIDENCE. BY S. S. BRADFORD. He is the true student who makes Providence his study. The mind takes shape and quality from the objects of its contemplation; "as a man thinketh, so is he." He will continually arrive at truths new, sublime and satisfying, who studies the con From vagrant sunbeams, with whose molten gold stitution and arrangement of things, believing that Thy sky-born hues are beautifully blent? Thou, radiant Iris! when the submerged earth Lay cradled in the waters, didst come forth A messenger of Hope, to the wo-worn And sorrow stricken remnant of a world. Through weary days and nights of sullen gloom They watched the whelming flood, whose turbid waves Did sport with swollen corses. They had seen They rose, those tearful ones, and trembling sought How solemn is the sound, the Patriarch Calls on a God of Mercy and of Love. he and his myriad fellows are building up the purposes of God, as silently, and often as unconsciously, as the swarming insects of the South seas build the coral structures which are to bear up a bustling continent; and these truths will impart their own freshness and vigor to his mind. And though he must feel that his path often winds into obscure defiles, where the overhanging crags and matted foliage fling down their mysterious shadows upon him, still the light comes flashing through many a broad fissure to gladden him into perseverence. To such a student the Bible must be the Great Teacher, for none other can lead him back through primeval times, when history had not yet learned to prattle in its babyhood, and when even its foster-mother Tradition uttered no voice. With this guide he loves to walk among the Sepulchres of Time and commune with the Spectral Past, and read on the great tombstone of History the sad inscriptions which tell him the mournful story of misguided mind, and he loves to compare these inscriptions with his Bible and learn "The ways of God to man." Strange and sublime to him is the study of God's Providence over a revolted world. The scroll seems dark and its letters mystical because of the dimness of his spiritual eyesight, and he needs a teachable spirit and a diligent mind to decypher its sayings; but when quieted with Humility, he can look fixedly out, he sees God's purposes mysteriously gathering to their issues, he traces the landmarks and the limits of that wide, but changeless circle, within whose sweep though men play pranks and sin with stout hearts and Hell stations its vast enginery, he can see that all things tend to the accomplishment of a glorious end. But it is while he is toiling through the specific and minute intricacies of his subject, that these general truths and large glimpses open sublimely upon him; and then he often rises higher, and feels that his study of God's dealings with a single world, though inexhaustible, having depths his line may never fathom, and hazy seas where he can Scarce had the Patriarch closed his pray'r, when lo! find no mooring, is still limited and scanty com With sudden flash, a lustrous bow upsprang, Spanning the cloud-wreathed sky and stamping there Jehovah's seal of pardon and of Peace! C... pared with that universal Providence which holds in its half open book the story of all worlds. Such a time is the still night to the thoughtful student, when he walks out to look upon "the stars of heaven, The deep blue noon of night, lit by an orb, The Bible is to him as the Lydian stone to the Alchymist; it is a test, by which he estimates the value of things and their tendencies. The student of Providence should not be an idle man-When every power of his mind is tasked to its utmost energy, yet forever a new and unoccupied vastness stretches out its inviting arms toward him. He should be a great Fact-gatherer, he should learn how things have gone in the past, and he should infer how they will go in the future. By classification of events past and present, he should gain a basis upon which Reason may build many a solid edifice, whose numerous apartments shall be decorated and peopled with the cheerful images of a quickened fancy. And while his eye fixes tremblingly upon the mystic curtain which Astronomy tells him is but the glimmering light of congregated spheres, and he thinks that their countless numbers form perhaps only the Threshold of the Universe that lies floating in sinless joy far on in those measureless spaces under the Providence of One Being, his soul is bowed with the stupendous and dreadful truth, and he feels like a little child-Then has he the temper of a true student, the subject is unfolded with unwonted nearness to his very spirit. Self and sense are forgotten in this close communing, I must, even though it be at the expense of unity and with awe and quiet simplicity he receives its in my plan, ask you to go and look upon the chart teachings. He cannot and would not speak-which contains past and present Providences, and Thoughts that would be soiled and marred by phy-selecting one from the number, inquire the reasons sical utterance gush over his soul with unutterable for its being there, and regard its probable issues. joy. Then he feels, though he might not be able I speak of that providential arrangement whereby to tell, why the "Sons of inspiration" will bend Progress in scientific discovery, is made to corresover the pages of Providence enraptured forever; pond exactly to the right Progress of man's moral why Gabriel pants to search out its untold myste-nature. ries. Who will doubt that there is such an arrangeWhat a lofty position does the student of Provi- ment? Look at the Evangelized World! Seidence hold! He stands on the mount of God, ence has beautified it with her discoveries. Look with the Bible as his telescope, and tracing back at the Pagan World! The perpetuity of old and the stream of time to its upspringing in Eden, he dragging customs is unbroken. No new invenfollows it down through the Wane of Ages, into tions lighten their labors or unbind a single burden the Future, till he sees its last surge heave itself that their forefathers bore. Innovation is not in upon the shoreless ocean of Eternity-Yes! The their vocabulary, because Progress is not in their Bible! Its simple story opens to him the Early souls. They know nothing of the onward march Past, when Time was young, and girded himself of scientific discovery, because their moral natures for his earthly march, and its Prophecies open to him the Latest Future, when Time is old and shakes his hoary locks over his grave, and he sees and studies throughout the constitution of things and knows that all is for good--And thus he is taught to study fitly the busy Present, which is ever ringing its ceaseless changes in his ear, and amid all its discords, he hears sweet melodies, and among its sickening hues he finds colors that will make a rainbow. He perceives and is content with the doings of Providence. But though the Bible be his teacher, the materials of his study are elsewhere, thickly strewn all around him. He goes out to gather and the Bible teaches him to classify and store up that which he has gathered. All science, philosophy and history are his gleaning fields, and they are more precious to him than to any other man. Others value them because their possession and discreet application afford present profit or fame. He values them as a medium through which he reaches a higher knowledge-a knowledge not earthly, but spiritual and satisfying-the knowledge of "God's ways to man" and while the time-servers around him are dazzled into destruction by every false light, he walks through maze and sinuous path secure.' 66 know no sanctified movement. There is a sympathizing darkness of the outer and the inner nature, and it is because Gospel light and Science's light are only different sunbeams from one sun. The hastiest survey of the world must establish us in the belief that God has permitted discoveries in science, just in proportion to the right development of man's moral nature. The uncouth craft that floated in the Elder days, on the inland rivers of the Celestial Empire, seem to have begotten children literally after their own image, to haunt the same unchanged streams, while in the new world, through rivers that yet run by the untamed wilderness, the steamer dashes from its track the hindering wave and speeds to some colony in the Far, West. The rising sun looks down upon the cow-cart of the Hindoo, dragging wearily through the heavy sand, and the same sun, as he hides himself behind the western hills, sees the steam car, which girding its loins with iron bands, climbs mountains and runs in the valleys, scaring with its shrill voice the untutored child of the woodland. Why the difference? Vice has quenched out the intellectual fire that once burned in the land of the wise-men. Vice has secured the sceptre to Ignorance by the wrong development of moral nature. |