ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

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eloquent appeals reached those who controlled its destinies. He rarely preached political sermons; but so holy did he feel the struggle to be, in which the Colonies were engaged, that often, after the services of the Sabbath were over, he would repair to the court-house, and address the people on their duty to their country. He did not regard this as any desecration of the Sabbath, for though he felt that the services of the sanctuary were consecrated to divine worship, he yet believed that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

His pen was also devoted to the cause of his country, and he left no measure untried to reach the ear and heart of the inhabitants of South Carolina. His enthusiastic patriotism and his great talents made him so prominent that the people, contrary to established usage, elected him member of the Provincial Congress. In 1775, the tories in the back settlements began to assume such an attitude of decided hostility towards the friends of the Revolution that serious consequences were apprehended. To counteract their influence, the Council of Safety appointed Mr. Tennent and Wm. Henry Drayton* a deputation to visit different portions of the State. They at once set out on their mission, and traveling through the back settlements, had private interviews with the people, and held public meetings at which Tennent addressed them in such burning eloquence that the adherents of the royal government trembled for their influence. Public meetings, private conferences, the formation of volunteer companies,

*President of Provincial Congress.

and unceasing efforts to bring in the wavering, and overa we the openly hostile, occupied all his time and energies.

The following extracts from his letters while on this mission will give a slight idea of his labors. In one of them, to Henry Laurens, dated "Bullock's Creek, Aug. 20th, 1774," he says, after speaking of what others, in conjunction with himself, were doing, "I turned my course into the new acquisition, where I am to have a meeting, from day to day, in Col. Neil's regiment. I think I shall fix this district in the right cause. I discovered on my way a scheme to surprise Fort Charlotte, took an affidavit of it, and sent it express to Mr. Drayton-so hope it will be prevented.

*

I have formed one, and am forming, in this district, another troop of volunteer horse rangers, who are good as sworn to the Council of Safety, when they enlist. We are hemming in the dissidents on all sides as much as possible, but their leaders seem determined, if possible, to bring the people to draw blood before they have time to be enlightened. I have forsook my chaise, and ride on horseback, from day to day meeting the people."

In another letter, dated "Long Cane, Sept. 1st," addressed to the Committee of Safety, he says, "I thought it necessary to visit the settlements on this side of Saluda. Met a large congregation yesterday, and found the people divided in their sentiments. Spoke at least two hours to them with good effect. The prevailing party here is for American measures, but they need confirmation. I have, therefore, appointed three

HIS CHARACTER AND DEATH. 119

meetings, at which I expect to see a great number of the disaffected. I shall then cross over into Fletchell's regiment once more, to be at an election appointed at Ford's, on the Emoree, where we expect great opposition, if not violence, from Cunningham's party. Brown will bring them to blood if he can, but I still hope it may be prevented. I consider myself as running great risks, but think it my duty *” He then speaks of the want of ammunition, and adds, "I shall visit Charlotte before I return, and hope to let you hear more particularly on this subject next week."

*

In executing this mission he not only swayed the people by his eloquence, but by his shrewdness and sagacity broke up many dangerous plots and combinations.

Returning to Charleston, he again took his seat in Congress, to which he was successively elected. Says the Rev. Mr. Alison, who preached his funeral sermon: "Both in the Provincial Congress and General Assembly he displayed great erudition, strength of argument, generosity of sentiment, and a most unbounded eloquence. He continued his fervent endeavors to the last, resolutely regardless of the attacks of envy and calumny he met with."

In 1777, his aged father died at Freehold, and the next summer he came north to take his widowed mother to his own home, that he might cheer and solace her declining years. On his return, when about ninety miles from Charleston, on the high hills of Santee, he was seized with a violent nervous fever which carried him rapidly to the grave. Just as the

spirit was leaving the body, he remarked to the clergyman beside him, that his mind was calm and easy, and he was willing to be gone.

Thus passed away, as it were on the very threshold of the great struggle in which his heart was so deeply interested, this young, eloquent, gifted divine and ardent patriot. Had he lived to the good old age of Dr. Wetherspoon, he would, like him, have been not only one of the leading patriots, but one of the great intellectual lights of the country. It is rare that great personal beauty, impressive bearing, genius, eloquence, and piety are united in one man as they were in him. He was one of the few on whom nature seems to delight to lavish her choicest gifts. These were all sanctified and consecrated to God and his country.

CHAPTER XII.

PETER GABRIEL MUHLENBURG.

FIGHTING CLERGYMEN.-MUHLENBURG'S BIRTH AND EDUCATION.-GOES TO ENGLAND.-SETTLES IN VIRGINIA. TAKES A PROMINENT PART IN POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.-BECOMES MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES.-RAISES A REGIMENT, OF WHICH HE IS CHOSEN COLONEL-PREACHES HIS FAREWELL SERMON. ORDERS THE DRUM TO BEAT FOR RECRUITS AT THE CHURCH-DOOR.— MARCHES TO CHARLESTON.-CAMPS AT VALLEY FORGE-FIGHTS BRAVELY AT BRANDYWINE.-AT MONMOUTH.-COMMANDS THE RESERVE AT STONY POINT.MAKES A DESPERATE ASSAUlt at YorktoWN.-IS MADE MAJOR-GENERALHIS POLITICAL CAREER AFTER THE WAR.-DEFENCE OF HIS COURSE IN ABANDONING HIS PROFESSION.

THERE was a class of clergymen in the Revolution who regarded the struggle so sacred that they felt it to be their duty to fight sometimes as well as pray. They did not, however, consider it necessary to abandon their profession to do so. That duty depended on the emergency of the ease. In a perilous crisis, when one idle arm might turn the scale against the patriots, they had no hesitation in stepping into the ranks, and fighting like a common soldier. They saw nothing incongruous in this course, and hence seldom condescended to make an apology for it. Nor did it interfere with their professional duties-for, when the smoke of battle had cleared away, they were found praying with the wounded who had been struck by their side, or offering thanksgivings in front of the battalions for a victory won.

The subject of the following sketch, however, aban