rent. To acknowledge himself the subject of a government which he had from principle renounced, was repugnant to his feelings; but, without this, he was cut off from every prospect of a return to his family. In this embarrassing situation, he waited on Dr. Ramsay, with a declaration to the following effect. "If the British would grant me the indulgence which we in the day of our power gave to their adherents, of removing my family and property, I would seek an asylum in the remotest corner of the United States, rather than submit to their government; but, as they allow no other alternative than submission or confinement in the capital, at a distance from my wife and family, at a time when they are in the most pressing need of my presence and support, I must for the present yield to the demands of the conquerors. I request you to bear in mind, that previous to my taking this step, I declare that it is contrary to my inclination, and forced on me by hard necessity. I never will bear arms against my country. My new masters can require no service of me, but what is enjoined by the old militia law of the province, which substitutes a fine in lieu of personal service. This I will pay as the price of my protection. If my conduct should be censured by my countrymen, I beg that you would remember this conversation, and bear witness for me, that I do not mean to desert the cause of America."

In this state of perplexity, Colonel Hayne subscribed a declaration of his allegiance to the king of Great Britain ; but not without expressly objecting to the clause which required him with his arms to support the royal government. The commandant of the garrison, Brigadier General Patterson and James Simpson, Esquire, intendant of the British police, assured him that this would never be required; and added further, that when the regular forces could not defend the country without the aid of its inhabitants, it would be high time for the royal army to quit it. Having submitted to the royal government, he was permitted to return to his family. Notwithstanding what had passed at the time of his submission, he was repeatedly called on to take arms against his countrymen, and finally threatened with close confinement in case of a further refusal. This he considered as a breach of contract, and it being no longer in the power of the British to give him that protection which was to be the compensation of his allegiance, he viewed himself as released from all engagements to their commanders. The inhabitants of his neighborhood, who had also revolted,

petitioned General Pickens to appoint him to the command of their regiment, which was done, and the appointment accepted. Hayne fell into their hands. He was carried to the capital, and confined in the provost prison, for having resumed his arms after accepting British protection. At first he was promised a trial, and had counsel prepared to justify his conduct by the laws of nations and usages of war, but this was finally refused, and he was ordered for execution by Lord Rawdon and Lieutenant Colonel Balfour. The royal Lieutenant Governor Bull, and a great number of inhabitants, both royalists and Americans, interceded for his life. The ladies of Charleston generally signed a petition in his behalf, in which was introduced every delicate sentiment that was likely to operate on the gallantry of officers or the humanity of men. His children accompanied by some near relations, (the mother had died of the smallpox,) were presented on their bended knees as humble suitors for their father's life. Such powerful intercessions were made in his favor, as touched many an unfeeling heart and drew tears from many a hard eye; but Lord Rawdon and Balfour continued firm in their determination.

The Colonel was repeatedly visited by his friends, and conversed on various subjects with a becoming fortitude. He particularly lamented that, on principles of retaliation, his execution would probably be an introduction to the shedding of much innocent blood. He requested those in whom the supreme power was vested, to accommodate the mode of his death to his feelings as an officer; but this was refused. On the last evening of his life he told a friend that he was no more alarmed at the thoughts of death, than at any other occurrence which was necessary and unavoidable.

On receiving his summons, on the morning of August the 4th, to proceed to the place of execution, he delivered to his eldest son, a youth of about thirteen years of age, several papers relative to his case, and said-" Present these papers to Mrs. Edwards, with my request that she should forward them to her brother in Congress. You will next repair to the place of execution, receive my body, and see it decently interred among my forefathers." They took a final leave. The colonel's arms were pinioned, and a guard placed round his person. The procession began from the Exchange in the forenoon. The streets were crowded with thousands of anxious spectators. He walked to the place of execution with such decent firmness, composure and dignity,

as to awaken the compassion of many, and command respect from all. When the city barrier was past and the instrument of his catastrophe appeared in full view, a faithful friend by his side observed to him, that he hoped he would exhibit an example of the manner in which an American can die. He answered with the utmost tranquillity-"I will endeavor to do so." He ascended the cart with a firm step and serene aspect. He inquired of the executioner, who was making an attempt to get up to pull the cap over his eyes, what he wanted. On being informed, the colonel replied "I will save you the trouble," and pulled the cap over himself. He was afterwards asked, whether he wished to say any thing, to which he answered-"I will only take leave of my friends, and be ready." He then affectionately shook hands with three gentlemen, recommending his children to their care, and gave the signal for the cart to

move.

Thus fell Colonel Isaac Hayne in the bloom of life, furnishing that example in death, which extorted a confession from his enemies, that though he did not die in a good cause, he must at least have acted from a persuasion of its being

* The tragical story of Colonel Hayne, is not complete without adding from a recent publication by Alexander Garden, Esq. the following particulars. Irregu larities in the mode of conducting the war, in the highest degree disgraceful to the American cause, had frequently occurred. No man lamented them with greater sincerity than Colonel Hayne, for none more anxiously wished the American character to be free from reproach. Soon, then, as solicited by his neighbors, and the inhabitants generally of the district, to resume a hostile position, to become their leader, and direct their operations against the enemy, he made an honorable and open declaration: "that he could only be induced to comply with their wishes, by obtaining a solemn promise from all who were to serve under him, that an immediate stop should be put to every unnecessary severity; a desideratum the more to be insisted on, as he was resolved that exemplary punishment should be inflicted on every individual who should indulge in pillage, or in committing any act of inhumanity against the foe." A copy of the address made to his soldiers on this occasion was found on him at the period of his captivity; but though it forcibly expressed his abhorrence of crime, and was replete with sentiments that did honor to his humanity, it availed not to soften the rigor of persecution, nor in the slightest degree to mitigate the severity of the punishment denounced against him. When the paper which contained this honorable testimony of generous feeling was presented to Major McKenzie, who sat as president of the tribunal before which Colonel Hayne was arraigned, he, with great expression of sensibility, requested the prisoner" to retain it till he should be brought before the court martial that was to determine his fate," assuring him" that the present court were only directed to inquire, whether or not he acknowledged himself to be the individual who had taken protection." It is unnecessary to add, that this trial was never granted. Lord Rawdon reached the city from the interior country, and at his command, an order for immediate execution was issued. Little did the sympathy that melted every heart to tenderness-little did the pathetic address of the lovely daughters of the soil, calculated to move even the bosom of obduracy, avail. Heedless of the prayers and solicita

The execution of the worthy Colonel Hayne, is universally reprobated as an act of barbarity, justified neither by civil nor military law, and as an unexampled outrage on the principles of morality and christian benevolence; but in the view of the British commanders, the application of their hackneyed term, rebel, sanctions a departure from all laws both human and divine. In August, 1780, Lord Cornwallis in addressing one of his officers, says, I have given orders, that all the inhabitants of this province who had submitted, and who have taken part in its revolt, shall be punished with the greatest rigor-that they shall be imprisoned, and their whole property taken from them or destroyed. I have ordered, in the most positive manner, that every militia man, who had borne arms with us, and afterwards joined the enemy, shall be immediately hanged, and have now, Sir, only to desire that you will take the most vigorous measures to extinguish the rebellion, and that you will obey in the strictest manner, the directions given in this letter." It is on the authority of the order just quoted, that Lord Rawdon and Colonel Balfour justify their cruel execution of Colonel Hayne, and it will be difficult to calculate the number of mis

tions of his afflicted friends and relatives, deaf to the cries of his children, who even with bended knees interceded for mercy, insensible to the dictates of humanity, his resolution was fixed as adamant, and a hero was sacrificed."

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I add the following, taken from the life of general Marion. His son a youth of thirteen was permitted to stay with his father in prison; who, beholding his only parent loaded with irons and condemned to die, was overwhelmed in grief and sorrow. Why," said he, " my son, will you thus break your father's heart with unavailing sorrow? Have I not often told you that we came into this world but to prepare for a better? for that better life, my dear boy, your father is prepared. Instead, then, of weeping, rejoice with me, my son, that my troubles are so near an end. Tomorrow I set out for immortality, you will accompany me to the place of my execution; and when I am dead, take my body and bury it by the side of your mother." The youth here fell on his father's neck, crying: "Oh my father! my father! I will die with you! I will die with you!" Colonel Hayne would have returned the strong embrace of his son ; but alas! his hands were loaded with irons. "Live," said he, "my son, live to honor God by a good life, live to serve your country; and live to take care of your brother and little sisters!" The next morning Colonel Hayne was conducted to the place of execution. His son accompanied him. Soon as they came in sight of the gallows, the father strengthened himself, and said, "now my son, show yourself a man! That tree is the boundary of my life and of all my life's sorrows. Beyond that the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Don't lay too much at heart, our separation, it will be short. 'Twas but lately your dear mother died. Today I die. And you, my son, though but young, must shortly follow us.' ." "Yes, my father," replied the broken hearted youth, "I shall shortly follow you, for indeed I feel that I cannot live long." And so it happened unto him. For on seeing his father in the hands of the executioner, and then struggling in the halter, he stood like one transfixed and motionless with horror. Till then he had wept incessantly; but soon as he saw that sight, the fountain of his tears was staunched, and he never wept more. He died insane; and in his last moments often called on the name of his father in terms that brought tears from the hardest hearts.

erable wretches who have fallen sacrifices to the same relentless spirit; nor are the mandates of Lord Rawdon less sanguinary, as will appear by the following specimen.

Extract of a letter to Colonel Rugely, commanding the British militia, near Camden.

"If attachment to their sovereign will not move the country people to check a crime so disastrous to the service, desertion, it must be my care to urge them to their duty, as good subjects, by using invariable severity against every one who shall show so criminal a neglect of the public interest. If any person meet a soldier, straggling without a written pass beyond the picquets, and shall not do his utmost to secure him, or shall not spread an alarm for this purpose, or if any person shall give shelter to soldiers straggling as above mentioned, or shall serve them as a guide, or shall furnish them with passes, or any other assistance, the persons so offending may assure themselves of rigorous punishment, as by whipping, imprisonment, or by being sent to serve in the West Indies, according as I shall think the degree of criminality may require; for I have ordered that every soldier who passes the picquet, shall submit himself to be examined, by any militia man who has a suspicion of him. If a soldier, therefore, attempts to escape, when ordered by a militia man to stop, he is immediately to be fired on as a deserter. I will give ten guineas for the head of any deserter belonging to the volunteers of Ireland, and five guineas only if he be brought alive."

But the strong measures which they pursued to crush the rebellion has produced a contrary effect, and lighted a flame which rages with tenfold violence, and which will eventually afford an essential aid in the establishment of our Independence.*

*The high merit of many of the whig ladies of Charleston will proudly compare with the most distinguished heroines of Sparta and Rome. The noble example and patriotic enthusiasm which they exhibited, gained for them extensive influence, and they were a scourge to their vile oppressors, even when their cup of affliction was full to an overflow. Many of the most respectable whig inhabitants were sent into exile at St. Augustine, husbands and wives, parents and children were cruelly separated for many months, and future interviews depended altogether on uncertain contingencies, and the capricious rule of their oppressors. The ladies resolutely refused all social intercourse with the British officers, but when American officers were brought there as prisoners, they received from the ladies the most pointed civilities and attention. While under the control of the British, the ladies attired themselves in deep mourning, and when General Greene was successful in his exploits, they were seen with badges and ribbons of green. Even at a time when our affairs in the Carolinas wore the most desperate aspect, and poverty and ruin appeared to be the inevitable fate of every adherent to the cause of American Inde