HARRIS COUNTY. 319 



Climate. — There is nothing which distinguishes the cli- 

 mate from that of the neighbouring counties. In the mountains 

 the an- is cool and invigorating. The diseases are such as 

 commonly prevail in western Georgia. Among the cases of 

 longevity we have learned the following. There are now 

 living Mr. Arthur Redding, over 80 ; Mr. W. Swann, over 80; 

 Mr. McCraw, 90. 



Antiquities. — There are two or three Indian mounds on 

 Mulberry creek. 



Name. — Charles Harris, Esq., after whom this county 

 was named, was born in England in the year 1772, and 

 received his education in France. He came to Georgia 

 in 1788, and studied law in the office of Samuel Stirk, 

 Esquire, and gradually rose to high distinction in his pro- 

 fession. He was regarded by many as the most profound 

 lawyer in the State. His reasoning powers were great. 

 He neither aimed at ornament nor eloquence. As an evidence 

 of his great reputation as a lawyer, it may be stated tliat he 

 was employed in the city of Washington, in an appeal case of 

 great importance from the Court of Admiralty in Georgia, a 

 large fee of five thousand dollars being given to him. Wm. 

 Pinckney and Wm. Wirt, two lawyers of great celebrity, were 

 associated with him, and such was his modesty, that although 

 his pecuniary resources were very limited, he gave to the 

 above-named gentlemen one thousand dollars each out of his fee. 

 When the case came before the court, Mr. Pinckney rose and 

 said, that Mr. Wirt and himself had concluded that nothing 

 they could say to the court could possibly be necessary, 

 or add any weight to the masterly reasoning given in the 

 brief by the gentleman from Georgia. The brief was then 

 read by Mr. Pinckney, and the decision of the court given in 

 favour of the client of Mr. Harris. 



Mr. Harris was a gentleman of uncommon modesty, and 

 although importuned in the most earnest manner to accept of 

 honours offered to him by his fellow-citizens, with the excep- 

 tion of those of Alderman and Mayor of Savannah, in one or 

 the other of which offices he served for more than twenty 

 years, he could not be prevailed upon to do so. More than 

 once did he refuse the highest offices in the gift of the people 



