of their beloved countryman, whose talents have so long been successfully employed in establishing the freedom of kindred states, to whose person they have still flattered themselves they retained some right, and have ever looked up, as their dernier resort in distress, would restore full confidence of salvation to our citizens, and would render them equal to whatever was not impossible."

In this letter, he signifies his intention of retiring from the office of Governor, in pursuance of a long-declared resolution. A number of the members of the Legislature, sufficient to elect a speaker, did not attend until this day; and three days afterwards his office expired. He states in his memoirs that he resigned, or rather, declined a reelection, "from a belief, that under the pressure of the existing invasion, the public would have more confidence in a military chief, and that the military commander being invested with the civil power also, both might be wielded with more energy, promptitude and effect, for the defence of the state."

La Fayette, unable to contend with the superior force under Cornwallis, marched to the upper country, as soon as the enemy had crossed James River. But Lord Cornwallis, having provided his army with a great number of the best horses in Virginia, relied so much on being able to overtake La Fayette, by the means of rapid movement thus furnished, that he wrote to a friend in England," the boy cannot escape me." Having, however, penetrated into the interior, without coming nearer the American army, he abandoned the pursuit, and turned his attention to minor objects. One of these was the destruction of the military stores deposited at the Point of Fork, fifty miles above Richmond; and another, was an attempt to capture the members of the Legislature, then sitting in Charlottesville, and to seize on the person of the Governor. The two last

objects were confided to Colonel Tarlton, with 250 men; and so rapid were his motions, that, but for an accident, he must have succeeded. A gentleman who was in the neighbourhood of the British army, and who suspected Tarlton's object, was able, by means of a fleet horse, and a nearer road, to give two hours' notice of his approach*. As it was, all the members of the Assembly, except seven, effected their escape, and re-assembled on the 7th of June, at Staunton, about forty miles west of Charlottesville. Tarlton, hearing that there were many gentlemen of the lower country then at the houses of Dr. Walker and Mr. John Walker, which lay near his route, for a moment lost sight of his principal object, and resolved to make them prisoners. He accordingly divided his force, and sent a part to Mr. John Walker's, while he himself stopped at the house of Dr. Walker. Several gentlemen were here made captives.

When Tarlton approached within ten miles of Charlottesville, he detached a party of horse, under Captain McLeod, to Monticello, to seize Mr. Jefferson. But he had, about sunrise, received the intelligence of Tarlton's approach. Several members of the Legislature, including the speakers of both houses, were then his guests, and they hastened to Charlottesville to adjourn the Legislature. Mrs. Jefferson

* Another accident contributed to defeat Colonel Tarlton's purpose. The following facts are stated on the authority of a gentleman who received them from Dr. Walker himself. On Tarlton's arrival at his house, he had ordered breakfast to be prepared for the Colonel and the officers; but the operations of the cook appearing to be unusually tardy, and his guest manifesting great impatience, he went to the kitchen. himself to inquire the cause of the delay; and was there told by the cook that he was then engaged in preparing the third breakfast, the two first having been taken from him by some of Colonel Tarlton's men ; on which the Doctor told his guest, that if he wished for breakfast, he must place a guard of soldiers to protect the cook, which was accordingly done. The time that was thus lost, it appeared, on comparing notes afterwards, saved the delegates from capture.

and her three children hurried off in a carriage to Colonel Edward Carter's, about six miles to the south. Mr. Jefferson followed afterwards on horseback, and had not left his house ten minutes before the British entered it. His property, books, and papers, were all respected, with the exception of the waste which was committed in his cellars, by a few of the men, without the knowledge of the commanding officer. Tarlton entered Charlottesville on the 4th of June, four days after Mr. Jefferson's term of office expired. He, on the next day, rejoined Lord Cornwallis, who had established his head-quarters at Elk Hill, a plantation near the Point of Fork belonging to Mr. Jefferson. Here every sort of wanton mischief was perpetrated. Besides making a free use of the cattle, and carrying off all the horses fit for service, as was to be expected, the throats of the young horses were cut, the growing crops of corn and tobacco were destroyed, those of the preceding year, together with the barns which contained them, and all the fences on the plantation, were burnt. Other plantations shared a similar fate, though not to the same extent. Thirty thousand slaves were taken from Virginia by the British in these invasions, of whom twenty-seven thousand were computed to have died of the small pox, or camp fever. The whole amount of property carried off and destroyed, during the six months preceding Cornwallis's surrender, has been estimated at 3,000,000l. sterling.

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CHAPTER VII.

Public discontents in Virginia. Clamours against Governor Jefferson. He is threatened with impeachment. The charges against him canvassed. His vindication. Writes the notes on Virginia. Character of that work. Is elected to the Legislature. Invites an investigation into his conduct. The Legislature unanimously vote him their thanks. Is appointed an Envoy to negotiate peace. Declines. The death of Mrs. Jefferson. His appointment renewed and accepted. His embarkation prevented by the news of peace. Is elected to Congress. Recommends a common money of account -adopted by Congress. Plan of a standing Executive Committee -its failure. General Washington resigns his command. Abuses of debate in deliberative bodies. Debate on the ratification of the Treaty of Peace-its final ratification. The committees of which he was a member. His report on the foreign relations of the United States. The Cincinnati Association-it becomes an object of jealousy. General Washington consults Mr. Jefferson on this subject. His views. Its dissolution.

1781-1784.

THE depredations of the enemy, vexatious and often ruinous to individuals, produced the ordinary effect of complaint against those who had charge of the public defence, and especially against the Governor. He was held accountable for the national loss and disgrace, which were mainly attributable to the state of the country, and for which the blame, if any was merited, ought to have been shared by all. The Legislature, which met in Staunton, smarting under the mortification of being twice driven from their place of sitting, fell in with the popular clamour, and, under the feelings of the moment, Mr. George Nicholas, a member from Albemarle, proposed the impeachment of Mr. Jefferson, and a day was appointed at the succeeding session for a hearing.

VOL. I.

M

The proceedings on this occasion seems to have been conducted very loosely, and no vote was taken on the question which might indicate the sentiments of the majority, as the hearing was appointed with the concurrence of Mr. Jefferson's friends, to give him an opportunity of repelling the

accusation.

Mr. Jefferson has suggested that this measure in the Legislature was connected with another entertained some time before, which was to appoint a Dictator, during the invasion of Cornwallis; that the project was supported by many of the members; and that they had fixed on Governor Henry as the proper person for that office. This fact has been denied, and there seems to be no other evidence of it than that which is to be found in the recollections of the rumours of the day, or in those traditionary accounts which have a similar foundation; yet, it having been attested by several who were members, and denied by no one who had the same opportunity of knowing the fact, it ought not now to be questioned. It is known that this project had been previously entertained in a moment of disaster and gloom, in the latter end of 1776; that Mr. George Mason went so far as to declare in the house of Delegates, that " it might be necessary to give unlimited power for a limited time;" and that Mr. Henry was believed to be the person whom its supporters then also had in view. His biographer gives countenance to the probability of both these projects, and only denies Mr. Henry's agency in suggesting them.

Supposing this scheme to have been entertained by some individuals, there seems to be no good ground for imputing to Mr. Henry any participation in the attack on Mr. Jefferson; but it is probable that both the impeachment and dictatorship originated in that state of alarm, and consequent desire of change, which the public disasters would naturally produce, and that so favourable an occasion called forth all