CHAP. III.]

THE PEOPLE RISE IN ARMS.

109

cemented, that no partial application could produce the slightest departure from the common cause; that they consider themselves as bound in honor as well as interest, to share their general fate with their sister Colonies, and should hold themselves base deserters of that Union to which they had acceded, were they to agree to any measures distinct and apart from them."

They then pointed to a plan, Lord Chatham's, which they said "though not entirely equal to the terms they had a right to ask, yet differed but in few points from what the General Congress had held out," and that it might have brought about a reconciliation of the difficulties, but that "a change of minister" produced "a total change of measures."

The paper closed in the following strain:

"These, my Lord, are our sentiments, on this important subject, which we offer only as an individual part of the whole empire. Final determination we leave to the General Congress, now sitting, before whom we shall lay the papers your Lordship has communicated to us. For ourselves, we have exhausted every mode of application, which our invention could suggest, as proper and promising. We have decently remonstrated with Parliament-they have added new injuries to the old; we have wearied our King with supplications—he has not deigned to answer us; we have appealed to the native honor and justice of the British nation—their efforts in our favor have hitherto been ineffectual. What then remains to be done? That we commit our injuries to the evenhanded justice of that Being, who doeth no wrong, earnestly beseeching Him to illuminate the councils and prosper the endeavors of those to whom America hath confided her hopes; that through their wise directions we may again see reunited the blessings of liberty, prosperity, and harmony with Great Britain."

In the meantime events had transpired which soon afterwards terminated the official career of the Earl of Dunmore, and with it the royal government in Virginia. On the 5th of June, three men who entered the public magazine were wounded by a spring gun placed there by the orders of the Governor; and on the 7th, a committee of the House, appointed to inspect the magazine, found the locks removed from the serviceable mus kets, and they also discovered the powder which had been placed in mine. These things highly exasperated the multitude, and on a rumor getting abroad that the same officer who had before carried off the powder, was again advancing towards the city with an armed force, they rose in arms. The Governor's assurance that the rumor was unfounded restored

110

CLOSE OF LORD DUNMORE'S CAREER.

[CHAP. III. tranquillity. He, however, left the city in the night with his family, and went on board the Fowey, lying at York, twelve miles distant. He left a message declaring that he had taken this step for his safety, and that thenceforth he should reside and transact business on board of the man of war! An interchange of messages, acrid and criminatory on his part, firm and spirited on the part of the House, was kept up until the 24th of June; when, on his final refusal to receive bills for signature except under the guns of an armed vessel, the House declared it a high breach of privilege, and adjourned to the 12th of October. But a quorum never afterwards attended.'

The further history of the overthrow of the royal government in Virginia belongs not in these pages. We have so much ground to pass over, in the long and varied life of Thomas Jefferson, that we can nowhere go beyond the most passing glimpses into any general history, with the events of which he is not personally or officially pretty directly connected.

2

Let it suffice on the present occasion to say, that we soon find the Earl of Dunmore carrying on a petty but barbarous predatory warfare against the people he has so lately governed; burning towns, declaring martial law, inciting servile insurrection, and finally, when the gang of miscreants he commanded were wasted away by the sword, by tempests, and by pestilential diseases, flying back loaded with disgrace to that country which he, in conjunction with an ignominious band, the Bernards, the Hutchisons, the Gages, the Martins, etc., had first aided in robbing of the affections, and then of the allegiance, of the fairest portion of North America.

1 Girardin's History of Virginia, p. 55.

Wirt describes them as "a motley band of Tories, negroes, etc.," guilty of all kinds of atrocities. Girardin confirms this account.

CHAPTER IV.

1775.

Jefferson enters Congress Journey-Causes of distinguished Reception-J. Adams's Statements J. Adams's Description of his Character as a Member-Address on Causes of taking up Arms-Jefferson's Action in it-His Modesty and Suavity-Public and Private Effects of these The Address adopted-His Portion of it given-Chairman of Committee on Lord North's " Conciliatory Proposition "-Extracts from the ReportCongress adjourns-Virginia Convention Jefferson re-chosen to Congress-AttorneyGeneral John Randolph-Jefferson's First Letter to him-Second Letter to him-Jefferson's and John Adams's wishes for Reconciliation-When Independence was first aimed at J. Adams's Statements Judge Jay's and Mr. Jefferson's Statements-When first openly advocated in Congress-Patriotism vindicated at Expense of Veracity-Wirt's Error in regard to Henry-Not wonderful that Independence was not aimed at sooner -Curious Entry in Jefferson's Account Book-An old Contract-Violin playing-Domestic Memoranda-Jefferson returns to Congress-Proceedings of that Body-Jefferson goes Home-Death of his Mother-Action of Congress in his absence-King's Speech-Parliament-The Prohibitory Act-England employs Mercenaries-Publication of Common Sense "-Thomas Paine and John Adams-Proceedings in Congress -The Colonial Legislatures-Their Movements towards Independence-Decisive Action of Virginia Jefferson's supposed connection with it-He raises Powder Money and Relief Money for Boston-Cause of his long Absence from Congress-Takes his Seat May 15th-R. H. Lee moves the Resolution for Independence-Action of Congress-Reasons urged for Delay-Committee appointed to prepare Declaration Jefferson Chairman instead of R. H. Lee-Marshall's, Lee's, and Tucker's Statement of Reasons-J. Adams pronounces them Erroneous-His Three Statements Examined-Factions in Congress -Virginia Members divided-The "Adamses and Lees" accused of Hostility to Washington-Knox, Hamilton, and Lafayette on the Subject-Extracts from J. Adams's Writings-Adams's Treatment of Harrison and others. Quarrel between the Lees and John Jay J. Adams's, Jay's, and Jefferson's Remarks thereon-Jay's Statement of the Hostility to General Washington-Jefferson not considered an Enemy of Lee's-Proofs of this Mutual Friendship between Jefferson and Washington-Jefferson's Good Will for Harrison-Treated Lee as a Friend-Charles F. Adams's Innuendoes-Jefferson's Friends sustained Lee in Virginia Legislature-Voted for Lee to present the Independence Resolution-Always considered Lee overrated-Afterwards alienated from him, but never an Enemy Jefferson befriended by all Factions-The Reasons-Explanations of proceedings on Choice of Committee-Why this Subject is ripped up-A Division of Talent and Labor in the Revolution-No Supernatural Men engaged in it-Benefits of reducing Myths to Natural Proportions-A Biographer's Duty-How the Revolutionary Leaders would have desired to be treated-Humanity more attractive than MythsCourse that will be pursued toward Jefferson-Some Peculiarities-His Precision of Deportment unfortunate for a Biographer.

MR. JEFFERSON set out from Williamsburg for Philadelphia, to take his seat in Congress, on the 11th of June, 1775. He

112

JEFFERSON ENTERS CONGRESS.

[CHAP. IV. travelled in a pheton, and with two spare horses; and it is curious to trace his slow progress of ten days, in a journey which can now, probably, be accomplished in a less number of hours.1 Once between Fredericksburg and the Potomac, and again between Wilmington and Philadelphia, there are entries in his pocket account book of money paid to guides! This would seem to argue that the public thoroughfares were in rather a primitive state. He reached the Pennsylvania capital on the 20th, and took lodging with " Ben Randolph," a carpenter, who had handsome rooms to let in Chestnut Street. He dined at the City Tavern.

The next day he took his seat in Congress, it being six weeks after the opening of that body. He was the youngest member but one. His reputation as the author of "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" (the proposed instructions to the Virginia delegates in 1774), had preceded him; and he now brought in his hand the answer of Virginia to Lord North's "Conciliatory Proposition," also written by himself. This paper was looked for with intense solicitude, as not only the first legislative expression, but that of the first Colony in population, and, withal, the great leading Southern member of the Confederacy, on a proposition well calculated to receive the approbation of the timid and halting as a compromise between the claims of the Colonies and the mother country. And the Virginia answer signally met the hopes and wishes of the decided Whigs in Congress. This very young member, representing no particular interest-not favored by his locality, the weight of his county, or any other extraneous considerationhad been chosen, over the old statesmen of Virginia, to succeed

His lodging places were King William Court House, Fredericksburg, Port Tobacco, Upper Malborough, Annapolis, Rockhall, and Wilmington. When he crossed the Maryland line, there occurs the following entry in his pocket account-book: "Maryland.—The following articles in Maryland currency, where coins are as

follows:

"NOTE.-The true difference of exchange with Virginia is 100=125."

In Maryland, the accounts are kept in Maryland currency. On reaching the Pennsyl vania line, the difference of exchange is again formally noted, and the accounts conformed to Pennsylvania currency. This was a persistent practice of his life, however often he crossed the boundaries of States or foreign governments. We mention it as a specimen of the inveterate precision and regularity which strikes the eye on every page of his Memoranda of every description.

2 So he says in note A, in Appendix to his Memoir. Who the younger member was we are not informed.

CHAP. IV.]

HIS RECEPTION IN THAT BODY.

113

the President of Congress and the representative of the colonial capital purely on account of his talents and energy; nay, he had been detained in the House of Burgesses by Mr. Randolph, expressly to write and aid in carrying through that important paper, which would undoubtedly have the effect of closing the door to all present, if not all future, arrangement with England. The Southern Colonies were sure to follow the lead of Virginia. Massachusetts required neither leading nor urging, and only to be certain of Southern support, to take her place in the front line, and marshal the other New England Colonies there also. The middle provinces, whatever their inclinations, would not be able to withstand the pressure from the North and the South. When, then, the Virginia Burgesses voted on this question, the temple of Janus was opened for a decisive war. Henceforth,

the only alternatives were a forcible and full redress of grievances, or subjugation.

Among circumstances so well calculated to confer éclat, it would be expected that Mr. Jefferson's entrance into Congress would not be an obscure one. He was received with open arms by the leaders of the party who favored decisive measures, and at once took his place among the most distinguished members of the House.

John Adams writes, in his Autobiography:

"Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen: he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses, which had given him the character of a fine writer." 1

Again, Mr. Adams said in 1822:

"Mr. Jefferson came into Congress in June, 1775, and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent of composition. Writings of his were handed about remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression." "

And, remarking on the manner in which Jefferson sustained these favorable impressions after his arrival, Mr. Adams added:

Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank, explicit, and decisive upon committees and in conversation-not even Samuel Adams was more so that he soon seized upon my heart.":

3

1 Life and Works of John Adams, by his grandson, vol. ii. p. 511. * Letter to Timothy Pickering, in Life and Works, vol. ii. p. 513. VOL 1-8

• Ibid.