as representing that colony. After some debate, Mr. Hall arose, and observed, that the present distressed situation of American affairs had rendered this congress indispensable ; -that it was composed of delegates representing whole colonies;-and that, as he merely represented a portion of a colony, he did not insist upon giving his vote as a whole colony, but was contented to hear and assist in the debates, and to give his vote in all cases except when the sentiments of congress were taken by colonies. He concluded by expressing an earnest desire, that the example which had been shown by the parish which he represented, would be speedily followed, and that the representation of Georgia would soon be complete.

On the fifteenth of July, 1775, the convention of Georgia at length acceded to the general confederacy, from reasons specified by their deputies: they stated that their attention had at length been aroused by the alarming and critical situation of affairs upon the continent of America, that they were desirous of uniting with the sister colonies in the great and important cause in which they were engaged, that the conduct of parliament towards the other colonies had been oppressive, and that, although the prejudicial acts had not been extended to them, they could view this only as an omission arising from the apparent insignificance of their colony. The delegates appointed by the convention, were Archibald Bullock, John Houston, the Rev. Dr. Zubly, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Lyman Hall; three of whom attended at the adjourned meeting of congress, September thirteenth,

1775.

4

Mr. Hall appears to have been absent until the twentieth of May, when he presented new credentials, dated February second, 1776, confirming the re-election of Messrs. Houston,

Bullock, and himself, and the addition of George Walton and Button Gwinnett to the delegation. The appointment of Mr. Bullock to the presidency of the provincial council prevented him from proceeding to congress; and Mr. Houston was directed, by a resolution of that body, to return to Georgia on public business, in June, 1776; hence only three members from that state were present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The approach of the enemy having rendered it insecure to continue the session of congress in Philadelphia, that body met, by adjournment, in Baltimore, on the twentieth of December, 1776, when Mr. Hall presented credentials, dated October ninth, of his third re-election: in 1780, he made his final appearance as a national legislator.

But the abandonment of his profession, the devotion of his time, and the deprivation of domestic enjoyment, were not the only sacrifices that were made by Mr. Hall at that eventful period. When the British took possession of Georgia, he was compelled to remove his family to the north, and all his property was confiscated by that government. He returned to Georgia in 1782, before the evacuation of Savannah, and was, in the succeeding year, appointed governor of the state. He afterwards settled in Burke county, retired from public life, and died about the sixtieth year of his age: one of the counties in that state now bears his name. His only son died not long before, and he left a widow in independent circumstances.

He was about six feet high, and finely proportioned: his manners were easy and polite, and his deportment affable and dignified: the force of his enthusiasm was tempered by discretion, and he was firm in all his purposes and principles: the ascendency which he gained, sprung from his

mild, persuasive manner, and calm, unruffled temper. Possessed of a strong, discriminating mind, he had the power of imparting his energy to others, and was peculiarly fitted to flourish in the perplexing and perilous scenes of the revolution.

GEORGE WALTON.

GEORGE WALTON was born in Frederick county, in the province of Virginia, about the year 1740. The disadvantages which he encountered in early life, serve to render his subsequent successes more brilliant and extraordinary: and while they command an extended portion of our admiration, leave us to imagine the probable, expansion of such a mind, had it been nurtured and directed by competent education. He neither was educated at any public school, nor received the benefits of classical knowledge, excepting his acquisitions at a mature age. He was apprenticed to a carpenter, who rigidly required the performance of his daily labour: nor would he allow him the use of a candle to pursue his readings at night. But his zeal for the acquisition of information was not to be checked by this privation. It was his practice to collect light-wood during the day, by the torchlight of which he diligently pursued his studies until the expiration of his apprenticeship, at which period he found himself in possession of an ample share of knowledge, both practical and theoretical. He then removed into the province of Georgia, where he prosecuted the study of the law, under the superintendence of Henry Young, Esq., a gentleman who possessed a distinguished professional, as well as political

character. Having completed his studies, and attained a competent knowledge of the general principles of law, he embarked in his professional duties in the year 1774. His legal preceptor was opposed to the proceedings of the colonista, but the mind of Mr. Walton was too independent to be contaminated by his political opinions. From the commencement of the contest, he was a firm and zealous advocate in the cause of his native country: he never swerved from the principles which were, at this early period, planted in his breast, and always preserved, throughout his political career, the character of an honest, determined, and persevering patriot..

While the British government was in full operation in Georgia; and the governor supported by an executive council of great talents and firmness, the annexed notice, to which were attached the names of Noble W. Jones, Archibald Bullock, John Houston, and George Walton, appeared in a newspaper of Savannah:

"The critical situation to which the British colonies in America are likely to be reduced, from the alarming and arbitrary impositions of the late acts of the British parliament, respecting the town of Boston, as well as the acts at present, that extend to the raising of a perpetual revenue, without the consent of the people or their representatives, is considered as an object extremely important at this critical juncture; and particularly calculated to deprive the American subjects of their constitutional rights and liberties, as a part of the British empire. It is therefore requested, that all persons within the limits of this proyince do attend at the Liberty Pole at Tondee's tavern in Sayannah, on Wednesday the twenty-seventh instant, (July, 1774,) in order that the said matters may be taken under consideration, and such other