homes and families, to the comfortless quarters of a garrison town, in which they were all paroled, excepting the venerable General Gadsden, who inflexibly disdained the proffered indulgence, and was committed to the fort, in which he remained many months a close prisoner.

This harsh measure, which, without farther explanation, was called one of imperious policy by the officer enforcing it, little corresponded with the overtures for a pacification contemplated experimentally by the government at home. It tended, however, to improve the culture of liberty in the Parson's orange groves, in which these gentlemen were permitted to vegetate, and to increase the number of disaffected, rather than to excite the inhabitants to acts of aggression against the party on account of their principles, as was hoped on the part of the leading royalists. General Rutherford and Colonel Isaacs, of North Carolina, were exiled to Florida at the same time.

This assemblage of republican luminaries, transferred from their natural sphere of action to the capital of East Florida, fortuitously took place at a period when the Governor could no longer defer the meeting of an assembly of royalists, authorized by act of parliament seventeen years before, and now strongly urged by the people.

The immediate conjuncture of circumstances so highly important to the province, about to change its political state, and involving the liberties of its inhabitants, were objects of lively interest to the community, and perplexing to the politician; of this the reader may judge, by referring to the correspondence, and other official documents, that follow.

Extract of a letter from Governor Tonyn to Lord George Germaine, Secretary of State.

It is with peculiar satisfaction that I assure your Lordship, that since the departure of Monsieur d'Estaing, we have, without danger, or the apprehension of it, and unmolested, carried on the internal business of the province, in advancing agriculture, and furnishing naval stores and lumber for the West India market. The season has been remarkably rainy, and the planters have raised sufficient provisions for their own consumption, and for the supply of this town, and increased their stock of negroes, by which means the price of grain has fallen from ten shillings to six shillings a bushel; and was the garrison properly supplied, grain, beef, and every kind of provisions, would be greatly reduced, and we should stand in no need of assistance, as formerly, from the neighbouring colonies. The number of negroes continue to increase. province is exceedingly healthy, which has not been the case in Carolina and Georgia; yet a desire of novelty, more extensive prospect of trade, and the circulation of money with the army, has led some merchants, and others, to return to their former settlements.

The

As an inducement to detain the most useful and industrious part of the community, I have given assurances that his Majesty, through your Lordship's recommendation, is to build a fort immediately at the mouth of the St. Marys, for the protection of trade to the northward; and that a house of assembly shall be called in the course of the winter, to regulate our internal police, and to make a few local laws.

The speedy settlement of the northern part of this province, will induce many valuable families and loyal subjects to remain in this country; whereas, if this is to remain unprotected, we shall be infested by thieves and robbers from that quarter, and the merchant and planter must continue to suffer for want of a good port, as at present the channel of commerce is through Charleston, by which a double freight and insurance is laid upon all exports and imports.

There are above 20,000 barrels of turpentine, and a variety of other stores, now on the planters hands, at St. John's river, for want of a market.

I have, my Lord, maturely weighed the expediency, necessity, advantages and disadvantages, benefit and danger, of convoking a house of representatives; and nothing but the neces-sity of it, (to remove deep-rooted prejudices,) for the benefit of this province, could have induced me to request instructions from your Lordship, relative thereto, how to proceed farther on this point; but these great objects must actuate my conduct, and determine me to take this arduous and dangerous step.

I perceive the cry for a provincial legislature, to remedy local inconveniences, is as loud as ever; and suggestions are thrown out, that without it, people's property is not secure, and that they must live in a country where they can enjoy, in their utmost extent, the advantages of the British constitution, and laws formed with their consent. But mention the expediency, propriety, reasonableness, justice and gratitude of imposing taxes for the expenses of government, they are all silent, or so exceedingly poor as not to be able to pay the east farthing.

Notwithstanding, my Lord, that this is in general the temper of the people, I purpose to issue writs for a general election of representatives, to meet the beginning of the year.

I foresee other inconveniences, arising from several of the principal rebel prisoners being sent here from Charleston, who may poison the minds of the people; although to prevent this, and for their former conduct, they are treated with great contempt, and to have any friendly intercourse with them, is considered as a mark of disrespect to his Majesty, and displeasing to me.

It is my most earnest wish, and chief endeavour, strictly to comply with every instruction I have the honour of receiving from his majesty, communicated to me by your Lordship; but the late date of your Lordship's letters, and other circumstances, often puts it out of my power; and it is with an exultation of joy and gratitude that I render your Lordship my sincere thanks for the favorable light in which your Lordship has viewed my endeavors in his Majesty's service, and recommended to the treasury the payment of my reasonable and necessary expenditures. Your Lordship's letter, in which you inform me that no allowance is made for Indian presents, I only received lately; before which, considerable expenses had been incurred, and usually discharged from that fund, which I am confident your Lordship will discharge. With respect to my future conduct, I beg leave to inform your Lordship, that the Indians have ever been well received here; that they have been of great service, in protecting the province against the repeated incursions of the rebels; that a body of them is settled within a few miles of the set

tlements on St. John's river; and that by withdrawing their usual supplies, which they will impute to our dissatisfaction with them, or to our poverty, they will readily side with the rebels or Spaniards. The murder of one man by them, would soon break up our settlements, and unpeople the province, which is not yet established.

Moreover, the Indian fund answered many other necessary purposes, such as ferry boat expenses. So that, I hope your Lordship will order payment of the necessary expenditures for this year, and recommend to parliament some reasonable provision for the succeeding; especially, as the civil department will be considered, in times of peace, I humbly presume, the most proper for regulating the Indian department.

Extract of a letter from Governor Tonyn to Lord George Germaine, Secretary of State.

St. Augustine, 1780.

Apprehending, my Lord, upon grounds already communicated by me to your Lordship, that the court of Spain intend, ed to invade this province, I have used my utmost efforts to strengthen the fortifications, by repairing both lines of the town, which are now formidable, and adding several new works, the main burden and expense of which, my Lord, has fallen upon the inhabitants, who have for several months had a considerable part of their negroes employed at the King's works.

I have repeatedly represented the defenceless state of the province to his Majesty's commander in chief of the army