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 15th 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 their 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 13, 1775. Mr. Hall appears to have been absent until the 20th of May, when he presented new credentials, dated February 2d, 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 20th of December, 1776, when Mr. Hall presented credentials, dated October 9th, 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 ascendancy 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. |