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reading. An abbreviated designation has been used to distinguish original notes.

The fac-simile of Governor TROUP's signature, which accompanies the engraved likeness, is taken from a letter written in 1811. Some years later, and down to the period of his death, he usually, if not uniformly, employed only the initial letters of his given name.

To the many friends who have generously aided in the work, this occasion is taken to return sincere thanks; but these are especially due to Major W. J. MCINTOSH, Hon. JOHN C. NICOLL, I. K. TEFFT, Esq., Dr. W. C. DANIELL, J. HAMILTON COUPER, Esq., Col. JAMES HUNTER, G. B. CUMMING, Esq., THOMAS M. FORMAN, Esq., Hon. JOSEPH HENRY LUMPKIN, Governor Brown, R. B. HILTON, Esq., IVERSON L. HARRIS, Esq., Dr. JOHN G. SLAPPEY, STEPHEN F. MILLER, W. S. DANIELL and JOHN S. BRYAN, Esquires. The work itself will show a part of the indebtedness to Major MCINTOSH, Dr. DANIELL, Mr. COUPER and Judge LUMPKIN; Dr. DANIELL having (besides other favors,) furnished about a hundred letters to himself from Governor TROUP, extending from 1825 to 1856; some of which will be found in succeeding pages. The earlier letters from Governor TROUP; were furnished by Mr. TEFFT, whose assistance has been otherwise invaluable, and from whom, as well as Judge NICOLL, important information has been derived. To Mr. HILTON, acknowledg ments are due, for full files of the Georgia Journal from 1823 to 1827; to Gen. G. P. HARRISON and HENRY WILLIAMS, Esq., for valuable documents; to J. R. SNEED, Esq., for access to the files of the Savannah Republican; and to THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, for the free use of its library and papers.

Savannah, 21st October, 1859.

NOTE.-The intelligent reader will not fail to correct small typographical errors. On page 190, fourth line from the bottom, for "after,” read " during"; and on page 299, ninth line from the top, for "yourself," read "yourselves.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Birth-Parentage-His Boyhood-Academic, Collegiate and Legal Education-
Service in the Legislature--Marriage-Death of his first wife, &c., &c.........1-13.

CHAPTER II. Early Career as a public man-Election to Congress-Political Relations-Traits

of Character........
...14-21.

CHAPTER VII. Re-election to Congress, in 1812-Appointed Chairman of Military Committee
in the House-Progress of the War-Speeches on war measures-Capture of Washington
City-Enlistment and Conscription-Letter to Gen. Mitchell-Battle of New Orleans--
Close of the war-Military Peace Establishment-Mr. Troup's Retirement from Congress,
&c......
.133-158.

APPENDIX. Letter to Major Howard, on State interposition and sovereignty-Letter to Major
Moore on amendments of Constitution, &c.-Letter on sub-Treasury--Letters to a gentle-
man in Mobile, on California question, &c.---Letters to Dr. Slappey on same question, &c.

LIFE OF GEORGE M. TROUP.

CHAPTER I.

Birth, Parentage, Education, and First Appearance in Public Life.

By the Charter of the Province, the boundaries of Georgia included all that territory "which lies from the most northern part of a stream, or river there, commonly called the Savannah, all along the seacoast to the southward, to the southern stream of a certain other great water or river, called the Alatamaha, and westwardly from the heads of the said rivers respectively, in direct lines to the South seas; and all that share, circuit and precinct of land, within the said boundaries, with the islands on the sea, lying opposite to the eastern coast of the said lands, within twenty leagues of the same, which are not inhabited already, or settled by any authority derived from the Crown of Great Britain," &c.

By a royal proclamation, dated the seventh day of October, 1763, "all the lands lying between the rivers Alatamaha and St. Mary's," were added to the province of Georgia.

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It is hardly necessary to remark that the term "South seas" conveyed no definite idea of the western boundary of the province, or that the claim under that description never extended, practically, to the west of the Mississippi river. Accordingly, we find that, by the fourth article of the Treaty between the United States and Spain, dated the 27th October, 1795, "it is likewise agreed that the western boundary of the United States which separates them from the Spanish colony of Louisiana, is in the middle of the

The Pacific Ocean was originally called the South Sea.-ED.

channel or bed of the river Mississippi, from the northern boundary of the said States to the completion of the thirtyfirst degree of latitude north of the equator." And by the Constitution of the State of Georgia, adopted the 30th day of May, 1798, the boundaries of the State were set out as follows: "that is to say, the limits, boundaries, jurisdiction and authority, of the State of Georgia, do and did, and of right ought to extend from the sea, or the mouth of the river Savannah, along the northern branch or stream thereof, to the fork or confluence of the rivers now called Tugalo and Keowee, and from thence along the most northern branch or stream of the said river Tugalo, till it intersects the northern boundary line of South Carolina, if the said branch or stream of Tugalo extends so far north, reserving all the islands in the said rivers Savannah and Tugalo to Georgia; but if the head-spring or source of any branch or stream of the said river Tugalo does not extend to the northern boundary line of South Carolina, then a west line to the Mississippi to be drawn from the headspring or source of the said branch or stream of Tugalo river, which extends to the highest northern latitude; thence down the middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude; south by a line drawn due east from the termination of the line last mentioned, in the latitude of thirty-one degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola or Chattahoochee; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with Flint river, thence straight to the head of St. Mary's river, and thence along the middle of St. Mary's river to the Atlantic ocean; and from thence to the mouth or inlet of Savannah river, the place of beginning; including and comprehending all the lands and waters within the said limits, boundaries and jurisdictional rights; and also all the islands within twenty leagues of the seacoast."

At the time of Gov. Troup's birth, 8th September, 1780, all the country west of the present western boundary of Georgia (except a small portion of West Florida,) and

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