trial, he was sentenced to be hung! This sentence seized ali classes of people with horror and dismay, A petition, headed by the British Governor Bull, and signed by a number of Royalists, was presented in his behalf, but was totally disregarded. The ladies of Charleston, both whigs and tories, now united in a petition to Lord Rawdon, couched in the most eloquent and moving language, praying that the valuable life of Colonel Hayne might be spared; but this also was treated with neglect. It was next proposed that Colonel Hayne's children, (the mother had recently expired with the small pox,) should in their mourning habiliments, be presented to plead for the life of their only surviving parent. Being introduced into his presence, they fell on their knees, and with clasped hands and weeping eyes, they lisped their father's name and plead most earnestly for his life. Reader! what is your anticipation; do you imagine that Lord Rawdon, pitying their motherless condition, tenderly embraced these afflicted children and restored them to the fond embrace of their father? No!! the unfeeling man was still inexorable; he suffered even these little ones to plead in vain! His son, 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. To-morrow I set out for immortality. You will accompany me to the place of my execution; and, when I am dead, take and bury me 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 confined with irons. "Live," said he, "my son, live to honour God by a good life, live to serve your country; and live to take care of your brother and little sisters!"

He

The colonel was repeatedly visited by his friends, and conversed on various subjects with a becoming fortitude. 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 the feelings of 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 oc currence which was necessary and unavoidable.

noon.

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 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 foreThe 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. 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 to heart our separation from you: it will be but short. It was but lately your dear mother died. To-day 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."

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, recommended his children to their care, and gave the signal for the cart to move.

The son 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 heart.

We have selected the foregoing particulars from "Thacher's Journal," and "Collections, Historical and Miscellaneous," a neat monthly literary Journal, published in Concord, New Hampshire, by Jacob B. Moore. We select what follows, from "Garden's Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War." Irregularities in the mode of conducting the war, in the highest degree disgraceful to the American cause, had fre

66

quently occurred. That these resulted, for the most part, from excessive provocation on the part of the enemy, and lawless excesses encouraged towards the whig inhabitants of the South, cannot be denied, and as acts of retaliation can alone be palliated, even with a shadow of excuse. 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 neighbours, 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 upon, as he was resolved that exemplary punishment should be inflicted on every individual who should indulge in pillage, or commit 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 although it forcibly expressed his abhorrence of crime, and was replete with sentiments that did honour to his humanity, it availed not to soften the rigour of persecution, nor in the slightest degree to mitigate the severity of the punishment denounced against him. When the paper which contained this honourable testimony of generous feeling was presented to Major M'Kenzie, 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 exccution 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 solicitations 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."

In Lee's memoirs we also find the following narrative of the last scene of his life: "Accompanied by a few friends, he marched with unruffled serenity through a weeping crowd

to the place of execution. The sight of the gibbet accasioned a momentary expression of agony and dismay. He paused, but immediately recovering his wonted firmness, moved forward. At this instant, a friend whispered his confidence, that he would exhibit an example of the firmness with which an American could die. "I will endeavour to do so," was the reply of the modest martyr. Never was intention better fulfilled. Neither arrogating superiority, nor betraying weakness, he ascended the cart unsupported and unappalled. Having taken leave of his friends, and commended his infant family to their protection, he drew the cap over his eyes, and illustrated, by his demeanor. that death in the cause of our country, even on a gallows, cannot appal the virtues of the brave."

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 so.

HEATH, WILLIAM, was a native of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and was from his youth a cultivator of the soil, which was his favourite pursuit. He was not conversant with general literature, but being particularly attached to the study of military tactics, he acquired a knowledge of modern warfare in its various branches and duties.

At an early period of the opposition of the colonies to the unjust and oppressive measures of the British ministry, he was an active militia officer, and assiduously engaged in organizing and disciplining the companies of militia and minute In the year 1775, being ranked among the patriots and advocates for liberty, he was by the Provincial Congress, commissioned as a brigadier general.

men.

During the siege of Boston, he was in commission as a general officer. When general Washington contemplated an attack on Boston, general Heath was offered the command of a division, but he declined it.

In August, 1776, he was by Congress promoted to the rank of major general in the continental army, and in the campaign of that year he commanded a division near the enemy's lines at King's bridge and Morrisania. During the year 1777, and till November, 1778, he was the commanding officer of the eastern department, and his head quarters were at Boston. Here devolved on him the very arduous duties of superintendent of the convention troops, captured with general Burgoyne at Saratoga, which were quartered at Cambridge. This station required a character of uncommon firmness and decision, and had General Heath been destitute of these qualities, he would have been subjected to the grossest impositions and indignities, from the haughty generals Burgoyne and

Phillips, and the perverse temper of their soldiery. Thes officers, lofty in spirit, and of high rank and character, now chagrined by a state of captivity, occasioned to general Heath a series of difficulties and vexations. He soon, however, convinced them that he was neither deficient in spirit, nor ignorant of his duty as a military commander. In all his proceedings with these turbulent captives, he supported the authority of congress and the honor and dignity of the command reposed in him; and he received the entire approbation of that honorable body, to whom he was amenable for his conduct. In the most interesting and critical circumstances in which a general could possibly be placed, he uniformly exhibited a prudence, animation, decision and firmness, which have done him honor, and fully justified the confidence reposed in him.

The cordial and most explicit approbation of the army, the inhabitants of this town, the army and navy of our illustrious ally, the government of this state, his Excellency the commander in chief, and of congress, added to the consciousness of his having discharged his trust with fidelity, must in a great measure have alleviated the fatigues incident to his arduous station, and compensated the loss of his health so much impaired by an incessant attention to business. In June, 1779, general Heath was elected by congress a commissioner of the board of war, with a salary of four thousand dollars per annum, and allowed to retain his rank in the army, which he declined, preferring to participate in active operations in the field.

In the summer of 1780, he was directed by the commander in chief to repair to Rhode Island to make arrangements for the reception of the French fleet and army which were expected soon to arrive. In his interview with the Count Rochambeau, and other officers of the French army and navy, he proffered his friendly civilities and contributed all in his power to their comfortable accommodation, which was productive of a mutual and lasting friendship between them. Indefatigable attention to duty in the various stations assigned him, was a prominent trait in his character. In May, 1781, general Heath was directed by the commander in chief to repair to the New England states to represent to their repective executives the distressing condition of our army, and to solicit a speedy supply of provisions and clothing, in which he was successful. As senior major general, he was more than once commander of the right wing of our army, and during the absence of the commander in chief, at the siege of Yorktown, he was entrusted with the command of the main army posted at the highlands and vicinity, to guard the important works on the Hudson. On the 24th of June, 1784, hostilitics having ceased