to the rendezvous. In its vicinity, he was attacked by a body of Indians while he was crossing a creek. The Indians thought to create a panic by the sound of the war-whoop, succeeded by a vigo rous attack. Clarke made a firm and vigorous defence, and after a contest, which lasted about an hour, the Indians retreated. Four Indians were killed three of Clarke's men were killed, and himself and three others wounded. By these predatory incursions, the frontier settlers were very much harassed and distressed, before colo. nel Jack advanced to their assistance.

Colonel Jack's command on the expedition against the Cherokees, which has been heretofore alluded to, consisted of companies commanded by captains John Twiggs, John Jones, Leonard Marbury, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harris; the three former from Burke and Richmond, and the two latter from Wilkes. The whole number consisted of two hundred men.

He marched to the Cherokee towns on the waters of Tugaloe and Chatahouchie. The crops of corn were destroyed; the towns burned; and a number of cattle and horses were brought off, without the loss of one man. The other armies from the northward, entered the nation at different points, about the same time, which rendered this united expedition completely successful. The losses of the Cherokees and the defeats they had experienced, produced a temporary cessation of hostilities; but the people were greatly distressed

by the loss of their crops. Many families were obliged to abandon the country for want of provision and many that remained, were reduced to the necessity of living upon beef, without either bread or salt.

The unfortunate and ill-fated Indians, who had been led into the war, by the influence of the British agents, discovered their error, when it was too late to provide corn for the support of their families. Numbers of them had been driven into the mountains, where they subsisted upon nuts and roots others were forced by the pressure of hunger, into the settlements to beg for bread. Humbled by defeats and the destruction of their towns and property, they sued for peace, which was granted to them. A treaty was afterward held at Duet's corner in South-Carolina, at which the commissioners from Georgia attended, who concurred in and signed the articles of pacification. This treaty was signed on the 20th of May, 1777.

The haughty rudeness with which Great-Britain rejected the supplications of the colonies, for the redress of their grievances; and the plundering and savage warfare, which had been practised to awe them into submission to the arbitrary will of the king, had already alienated the affections of the colonists. There were but few of those American sages, who had been instrumental in efforts for redress of grievances, that had contemplated the eventual independence of the colo nies: but, that few had circulated the idea of in

dependence and like electricity, it communicated to the heart of every patriotic American, To contend as colonies for redress, for injustice inficted on them by the parent country, was in the nature of a family quarrel, in which neighbouring nations could have no right to interfere; but when the colonies should assume the rank of an independent nation, they would thereby evince a determination to maintain their rank as such, by force of arms, and induce a favourable disposition toward their efforts, by European nations, jealous of the overgrowing power of Great-Britain. To prepare the minds of the people for independence, the talents of the literati were exerted in nume rous essays. Among the multitude of essays which appeared upon the subject, those from the pen of Thomas Paine, stood pre-eminent: they strengthened the friends of independence; they confirmed the wavering, and caused many of the enemies of the measure to doubt. Americans!

cast the mantle of charity over the imperfections of Thomas Paine, and render to his memory, the tribute of your gratitude, for the services which he hath rendered in establishing the independence and happiness of yourselves, as a nation; and which you are bound to transmit as a heritage, to future generations.

The time for independence drew near: while Congress was in conclave, debating upon that subject, Mr. Zubly, a member from Georgia, was charged with treason by Mr. Chase, of Maryland,

by having disclosed the subject of deliberation to governor Wright of Georgia, in a letter. Zubly denied the charge of treason, and demanded the evidences on which he was accused. While Chase was collecting the proofs, Zubly disappeared. Mr. Houstoun, a member from Georgia, was despatched in pursuit of Zubly, with instructions to place the subject in its proper light, in the event, that any bad effects were likely to result from the disclosure; but before the letter reached Georgia, Wright had fled, and sailed for England. Independence was determined on by congress and by a solemn declaration of that august assembly, it was proclaimed on the 4th day of July, 1776: which day will be consecrated by Americans, so long as political virtue, courage, and patriotism, shall be revered. This interesting event was received by his excellency Archibald Bulloch, president of the provincial council at Savannah, on the 10th day of August, by express from the honourable John Hancock, president of congress; by which it appeared that “congress in the name, and by the authority of their constituents, had declared the United States of North-America, were, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, and absolved from all allegiance to the British crown." The provincial council was convened by the president, at the council chamber; where the declaration of independence was proclaimed in due form: from thence the president and council proceeded to the

public square, in front of the house appropriated for the deliberations of the provincial assembly; where the declaration was again publicly read, and received the acclamations of a crowded assemblage of the people: they then proceeded to the liberty pole, in the following order of pro

eession:

The Grenadiers in front.
Provost Marshal.

The Secretary with the Declaration
His excellency the President.
The honourable Council.

The Light Infantry.

The Militia.

The Citizens.

At the liberty pole, they were saluted by the first continental battalion of Georgia, under the command of colonel M'Intosh, with thirteen guns, accompanied by vollies of small arms; from thence they proceeded to the battery, where they were again saluted by the discharge of thir

teen cannon.

A dinner was provided under a grove of cedars, where the civil and military officers, and a number of citizens from the town and country partook of a handsome dinner, and thirteen toasts were given suitable to the occasion.

In the afternoon there was a funeral procession, attended by the grenadiers, light infantry, and militia companies; and the royal government of Great-Britain was interred with the customary