a few years large companies of industrious Highlanders joined their countrymen in Bladen County. "Their descendants are found in the counties of Cumberland, Bladen, Sampson, Moore, Robeson, Richmond and Anson, all of which were included in Bladen at the time of their emigration, and are a moral, religious people. noted for their industry and economy, perseverance and prosperity, forming a most interesting and important part of the State. Their present descendants are to be found everywhere in the South and West."*

The Harnett House, Wilmington,

As it appears from the bridge over the eastern branch of Cape Fear River.

In 1746, during the administration of Governor Johnston, the seat of government was removed from Newbern to Wilmington, "then considered a new town at the head of ship navigation on Cape Fear River, and named Wilmington in honor of Lord Wilmington, the patron of Governor Johnston." This removal appears to have been occasioned by the cunning management of the governor, to sustain his authority and influence in the assembly, so that he could obtain the payment of the salaries of the government offices, which were not paid as was expected. The province was divided into several counties. The southern counties later settled were more tractable than the northern, who had five representatives each, while the southern counties, then equally populous, had but two. The governor, when several of the northern members were absent, procured the passage of an act placing all the counties on an equal footing, and another for the removal of the seat of government.

Wilmington, during the revolution, was, for a short time, in possession of the British troops. In the winter of 1781, Major Craig took possession and held it until the following autumn. Lord Cornwallis, after his battle with General Greene, at Guilford Court-house, occupied a house, as his headquarters, now stand-. ing in the central part of Wilmington, at the corner of Market and Third streets. He remained here some eighteen days, to recruit his shattered forces and to prepare for future operations. The floors still bear the marks of the ax of the British scullions, who chopped their meat thereon.

The Harnett house, on the Hilton plantation, about one and a half miles north from the central part of Wilmington, was, during the Revolutionary period, the

seat of Cornelius Harnett, an active patriot in the American cause. It is now the summer residence of Dr. James F. McRee. Mr. Harnett, called by some the "Samuel Adams of North Carolina," (except in point of fortune,) was born in England, in April, 1723. He emigrated to America, and was a man of wealth and consideration before circumstances brought him into public life. He was a member of the assembly previous to the Revolution, and was chairman of the most important committees of that body. He was among the earliest in North Carolina in denouncing the stamp-act, and other kindred measures, and from that period until his death was extremely active in public affairs.

In 1775, when Governor Martin resigned or abdicated his office, the provincial council filled the vacancy by appointing Mr. Harnett president, who thus became, in that capacity, the actual governor of North Carolina. In the provincial congress, which assembled in Halifax, he, on the 12th of April, 1776, submitted a report which contained a resolution empowering the delegates of North Carolina in the continental congress to use their influence in favor of a declaration of in dependence. In the spring of 1776, when Sir Henry Clinton, with a British fleet, appeared in Cape Fear River, he offered a general pardon to all who should return to their allegiance, excepting Mr. Harnett and Robert Howe. On the 22d of July, when the declaration of independence arrived at Halifax, Harnett read it to a great concourse of citizens and soldiers. As he concluded, the latter took him upon their shoulders and bore him in triumph through the town. In the autumn he was on the committee for drafting a state constitution and a bill of rights, and to his liberal spirit the people were indebted for the clause in the first document guaranteeing the privilege of enjoying the public offices and emoluments to dissenters and churchmen equally. He was afterward a member of the continental congress, and was one of the signers of the "articles of confederation and perpetual union." When the British held possession of the country around the Cape Fear River, Harnett was made prisoner, and died, while a captive, at the age of 58 years. His remains were buried in the graveyard attached to St. James' church in Wilmington.

BRUNSWICK, fifteen miles below Wilmington, once a flourishing town but now a desolation, was situated upon a sandy plain on the western side of Cape Fear, on New Inlet, in full view of the sea. Wilmington, being more eligibly situated, became its rival, and the place soon went to decay, and but little now remains to denote the former population, except the ruins of St. Philip's church, which was, one hundred years since, probably the finest building of the kind in the province. It is situated within a thick grove of trees, mostly pine, about forty rods from the river bank, and its massive walls, built of large English brick, seem to be but little decayed by time. The roof, floor, etc., have long since perished, and shrubbery grows on the top of the walls. About a quarter of a mile north-east of the church are the remains of the residence of Governor Tryon at the time of the stamp act excitement.

NEWBERN, formerly the capitol of North Carolina, is situated at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, about 120 miles S. E. from Raleigh and 50 miles above Pamlico Sound. It is a place of considerable trade, and its chief articles of export are grain, lumber, turpentine, tar and naval stores. The entrance from the sea is through Ocracoke Inlet. Population about 5,000.

Newbern was first settled by a company of Palatines from Heidelberg, and its vicinity, on the Rhine. They were German Protestants, and: being persecuted in their own country, about 6,000 of them fled to England for a place of refuge. Many of these emigrated to America, among whom was a company under charge of Christopher de Graffenried and Lewis Mitchell. These Palatines arrived in December, 1709, at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent, where they erected temporary shelters until they could be put in possession of their lands. The place on which they encamped was called Newbern, from Berne, in Switzerland, where

Graffenried was born. A short time before the war with the Tuscarora Indians, John Lawson, the surveyor-general of the province, and Graffenried, who had been created a baron and governor of the Palatines, made a voyage in a small boat, up the Neuse, to explore the country. Stopping at an Indian town near the river, they were forcibly detained, brought to a solemn trial before a large assembly, and both condemned to die. Lawson, who had been seen surveying lands on their territory,

was put to death; but Graffenried, from a regard to his rank, his nation, or his innocence, was allowed to escape, though held for some time a prisoner. At this time he secured his people, by a treaty he made with the Indians, from future assaults, but the other inhabitants of Bath county continued in constant danger of their lives.

In 1749 the first printing press was brought into North Carolina from Virginia, by James Davis, and set up at Newbern. This was an important event in the po litical history of the province. Hitherto the laws had been in manuscript, and it was difficult for the people to obtain knowledge even of the most essential enactments. In the course of the year 1751, the printing of the first revisal of the acts of the assembly was accomplished. The first periodical paper, entitled The North Carolina Magazine, or Universal Intelligencer, was first published by Davis in 1764. It was printed at Newbern, on a demi sheet, in quarto pages. It was mostly filled up with long extracts from theological writers, or selections from British magazines.

William Tryon succeeded Governor Dobbs, in 1766, as governor of North Carolina. He was a native of Ireland, educated to the profession of a soldier, and was an officer in the British service. He married Miss Wake, a relative of the Earl of Hillsborough. Haughty in his disposition, he was fond of show, obsequious when wishing favors, and tyrannical when independent. At the time of the stamp-act, fearing the general expression of the people with regard to that measure, he prorogued the assembly, which was to meet in November, to the following March. When the vessels arrived having the stamps on board, Tryon had issued his proclamation directing the stamp distributors to make application for them.

It was about this period that Tryon, to gratify his pride and love of display, made a demand upon the assembly for an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of building a palace at Newbern "suitable for the residence of a royal governor." "To obtain this appropriation, Lady Tryon, and her sister, Esther Wake, both beautiful and accomplished women, used all the blandishments of their charms and society to influence the minds of the burgesses. Lady Tryon gave princely dinners and balls, and the governor finally succeeded in obtaining, not only the first appropriation asked, but another of fifty thousand dollars, to complete the edifice. It was pronounced the most magnificent structure in America.* The pride of the governor and his family was gratified; the people upon whom the expense was laid were highly indignant."

*Lossing's Pict. Field-book of the Revolution. In the engraving annexed-a copy of that in Lossing's admirable work-the center building is the palace, that on the right was

Dr. Morse, in his "American Geography," published in 1789, gives the following description of Newbern and the palace:

"Newbern is the largest town in the State. It stands on a flat, sandy point of land formed by the confluence of the river Neuse on the north, and Trent on the South. Opposite the town the Neuse is about a mile and a half, and the Trent three quarters of a mile, wide. The town contains about 400 houses, all built of wood except the palace, church, the gaol and two dwelling-houses, which are of brick. The palace is a building erected by the province before the Revolution, and was formerly the residence of the governors. "It is large and elegant, two stories high, with two wings for offices a little advanced in front toward the town; these wings are connected with the principal building by a circular arcade. This once handsome and well furnished building is now much out of repair; one of the halls is used for a dancing and the other for a school room, which are the only present uses of this palace. The arms of the king of Great Britain still appear in a pediment in front of the building. The Episcopal Church is a small brick building, with a bell. It is the only house for public worship in the place. A rum distillery has been lately erected in this town. It is the county town of Craven county, and has a court-house and gaol. The court-house is raised on brick arches, so as to render the lower part as a convenient market place; but the principal marketing is done with the people in their canoes and boats at the river-side."

CHARLOTTE, the capital of Mecklenburg county, on Sugar or Sugaw creek, 174 miles W. S. W. from Raleigh, and 110 from Columbia, S. C., is one of the principal places in the western part of the state, containing about 3,000 inhabitants, and a branch of the U. S. Mint. The Charlotte and South Car

olina and the North Carolina railroads connect at this place. A plank road runs from here to Fayetteville, 120 miles distant. At Charlotte there is a gold mine, and more or less of native gold is annually coined at the mint in this town. In 1852 it amounted to about $400,000. The Gold Region of North Carolina is principally in the counties of Rowan, Cabarras and Mecklenburg. the secretary's office, and that on the left the kitchen. These buildings were connected with the palace by a curviform colonade, of five columns each, and covered. The interior of the palace was elegantly furnished. "Upon entering the street door," says Ebenezer Huzzard, in his journal in 1777, "you enter a hall in which are four niches for statues." The chimney-breast of the council chamber was the most elaborate, being ornamented by two Ionic columns below, and four columns, with composite capitols, above, with beautiful entablature, architrave and frieze." The palace was destroyed by fire about fifty years since the two small buildings alone remain. The original drawings of the plan of the building, etc., were obtained by Mr. Lossing from the Rev. Dr. Hawks, of New York, whose ancestor was the architect.

The first gold mine discovered in the United States was the Reed gold mine, in Cabarras county. The first piece of gold was picked up in a meadow creek by Conrad Reed, a boy of twelve years of age, in 1799, on a Sunday, during the absence of his parents at church; it was of the size of a small smoothing-iron. Ignorant of its value, it lay for several years on the house floor of Mr. Reed to place against the door to keep it from shutting. Mr. Reed finally sold it to a jeweler for $3.50, and thought he had got a large price! Afterward another piece was found in the same creek which weighed twenty-eight pounds!

The most famous of the North Carolina gold mines is at Gold Hill, in Rowan county, a village of some 1,200 inhabitants. The main shaft of the mine is more than 400 feet in depth. The ore is principally in veins of quartz bedded in black slate. The works employ about 300 laborers, and are chiefly under the direction of Cornish miners.

Charlotte has a historic interest from its being the place where a convention of patriots assembled in 1775, and by the celebrated "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence," which virtually declared its authors and those they represented free and independent of the British crown. This convention met on the 31st of May, 1775, and passed their various resolutions, which was more than a year previous to the federal declaration at Philadelphia.

Charlotte was the point to which Gates retreated after his defeat near Camden, in August, 1780. Cornwallis, after refreshing his army at Camden, and adopting further measures to keep South Carolina in subjection, moved with his forces toward Charlotte, in order to subdue North Carolina before the American congress could organize another army at the south. He reached Charlotte toward the close of the month, where he expected to be joined by Ferguson and his loyalists. In this he was disappointed, as that officer was soon after killed at the severe battle on King's Mountain and his whole force was broken up and dispersed. Gates, on the approach of Cornwallis, retired with the remains of his army to Salisbury, and afterward to Hillsborough. The loss of Ferguson and his corps caused Cornwallis to retire into South Carolina.

It was at Charlotte that Gen. Greene received the command from Gates of the southern army fifty days after Cornwallis left the place.

About two miles S. W. of the central part of the place an action took place during the revolution, between the British and American troops. The graves of soldiers, designated by rough monuments having legible inscriptions, are still to be seen. The following inscription is from a monument in the Charlotte graveyard:

Sacred to the memory of Maj. Gen. George Graham, who died on the 29th of March, A. D., 1826, in the 68th year of his age. He lived more than half a century in the vicinity of this place, and was a zealous and active defender of his cOUNTRY'S RIGHTS in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, and one of the gallant twelve who dared to attack and actually drove 400 British troops at McIntire's, 7 miles north of Charlotte, on the 3d of Oct., 1780. George Graham filled many high and responsible public trusts, the duties of which he discharged with fidelity. He was the people's friend, not their flatterer, and uniformly enjoyed the unlimited confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.

RALEIGH, the capitol of North Carolina, is situated in a healthy and elevated section of country in Wake county, 125 miles N. by W. from Wilmington, 50 miles N. E. from Fayetteville, and 288 miles from Washington. It is connected with the surrounding country by railroads in various directions. Population is about 5,000. The city, for the most part, is plainly