a comprehensive enquiry, and their report as to conditions is authoritative. Their conclusion that it is “exaggerated and undiscriminating" to charge Civil War sentiment with sole responsibility for backward conditions must be accepted as final. It is to be regretted tho that the committee did not openly frown on the weak presumption of a half dozen or so institutions in trying to give graduate courses and degrees. The Johns Hopkins alone, south of Mason and Dixon's line is competent to do this. But the best part of this sane report is the hopeful tone and the positive conviction that matters are growing steadily better. (School Review, February, 1903, pp. 107-122. Reprint.)

TRUTH REGARDLESS OF SENTIMENT.-Great credit is due the Confederate Veteran, (Nashville, Tenn.) for its openmindedness in publishing articles to prove that the South furnished more than 600,000 men to her armies. It has been a sad Southern weakness to cling to this figure without demonstrating its correctness, but light is gradually breaking in. In the March Veteran Mr. H. D. Loftis, of North Carolina, from a survey of State statistics concludes "that the South from first to last put over one million men in the field." He also refers to the usual average of one soldier to five inhabitants, giving a million men out of a population of five million whites. It is most encouraging to see such freedom from petty sectionalism. Though no reference is made to him, Mr. T. L. Livermore, of Massachusetts, can feel that the seed he sowed is bearing fruit.

THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY at its annual meeting January 16, 1903, chose Captain W. Gordon McCabe president, in place of Mr. Joseph Bryan who had served continuously for ten years. A loving cup was presented to him "in recognition of his executive ability as president of the society, 1893-1903." The official report showed a member

ship of 758, or a decrease of ten; total receipts of $3,938.00, a surplus of $467.00; and a permanent fund of nearly $4,000. The formal address was delivered by Professor A. B. Hart on "Historical Societies and Historical Research."

THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPIRIT in Alexandria, Va., has been instrumental in saving from destruction what is claimed (Washington Times, March 30, 1903) to be the oldest house in that town, that built by J. C. Carlyle in 1752. It is believed to have been Braddock's headquarters when he met the colonial governors for consultation over his proposed expedition against Fort Duquesne. It has now been obtained by a local society to be kept as a historical site.

THE JACKSON PAPERS have been presented to the Library of Congress by the descendants of Montgomery Blair who was postmaster-general in Lincoln's cabinet. They are a large collection, going back in dates prior to 1800. They will be arranged for public inspection as rapidly as possible.

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CARDS AND HISTORY-not library cards but cards with spots on them are meant. The feminine mind is not perplexed with methods of history, but goes ahead and fuses ways and means to one end. The Habersham Chapter of the D. A. R. for advancing the cause of history, gave a "progressive euchre tournament" lasting two days, February 17, 18. We may in time see mock marriages, horse races and bull fights all adapted to the cause of history.

THE CAPTURE OF ST. MARY'S, GEORGIA, BY ADMIRAL COCKBURN.

A letter from Thomas Harvey Miller of St. Mary's, Ga., to John Blount Miller, of Sumter, S. C.

[Thomas Harvey Miller, author of following letter, was the son of Andrew Miller, a loyal British subject who suffered confiscation of his American estate during the War of the Revolution. The family took refuge in the Bermudas, where Thomas was born in 1779. He married Mary Scott Jackson, of Savannah, and settled as a planter near St. Mary's, Georgia, where he suffered contumelious treatment at the hands of the very nation for which his father had sacrificed so h. He died in 1844, and was the progenitor of many eminent Georgians, among them the late distinguished Andrew J. Miller, of Augusta, and his son, F. H. Miller. The Association is indebted to the kindness of Miss Kate Furman, Sumter, S. C., for this letter.]

Dr John:

ST MARYS 22nd March 1815

yours

Yours of the 23d Dec last came safe to hand abt ten days ago which was the first I had from you since of the 9th Sept. I shall be happy to see you here at any time. I was fortunate in getting my Ginned Cotton to Amelia the Day before the Action took place. Mr. Taylor wrote me that Mother had requested him to send me funds and that more was at my service from him, but being fortunate in disposing of my cotton was not in want of their kind offer.

I will now give you a complete acct. of what has taken place at this unprotected Place which for the last 5 mo. before the Action had Paid into the Treasury upwards of $80,000. On the 8 Jany. the Enemy appeared off Cumberland of which we had notice of. On Tuesday Evening the Command'g Officer at Point Peter called on me to take command of his Picket abt 5 miles from the Fort, & at the same time made a call on the Col. of Militia to send me 20 men as his Picket was but 4. With this small force of 4 men I remained until Wednesday Evening, no Militia having come to me, I was relieved by the New Guard. On Wednesday Morning 19 of their Barges were in Sight abt 7 miles off stand'g down, of which Movements I gave information. They proceeded down on the Cumberland side & Landed at Mrs. Millers on the Island abt way opposite to me & the Fort (the Fort is on a Neck of Land at the extreme Point. I was at the head of the Neck) there they remained until Friday Morning when they Landed at the Picket which fell back on the Road to the Fort. Abt 60 Riflemen & Infantry had marched out to attack them at a certain Defile, which I had pointed out the Day before & had Trees thrown down by the Com'g Officer. The Enemy got there first & halted, our small force came up & and a severe Action took Place, the Enemy must have lost abt 80 in K & wounded. For further Particulars I refer you to Capt. Massias Letter of the 13th Jany which is Published.

On Thursday 12 I was busy packing up all that we could do without & making Camps in the Woods for my Negros & on the 13 was just done Breakfast when I was informed of their Landing & our men gone to meet them. I started to Town for the Purpose to get Men to go to the Fort, but on my arrival there found that Colo. Scott had gone out to the head of the Neck with 90 men, all that he could raise, but the Action was Over before he got way. The People of the Town were much alarmed & called on me to go out &