OGLETHORPE COUNTY. 469 



ceeded in procuring the passage by the Legislature of an ope- 

 rative law for the sale of the Western Territory of the State. 



When Gov. Matthews read, it was always aloud, and with 

 the confidence which accompanied the consciousness of doing 

 a thing very well. He pronounced fully the I in would, should, 

 and ed at the termination of words, with a long drawhng 

 accent. He spelled coffee thus, Kauphy. When Governor, 

 he dictated his messages to his Secretary, and then sent them 

 to Francis M. Simmons, to put them in grammar. He wrote 

 Congress with a K. His memory was very retentive. 

 Whilst he was a member of Congress an important document 

 which had been read during the session was lost. He was 

 able to repeat its contents verbatim. Whilst Sheriff and 

 Tax Collector of Augusta, Virginia, he knew the name of 

 every man and woman in the district. 



Mr. Adams, when President, nominated Gov. Matthews to 

 the Senate for Governor of the Mississippi Territory, and 

 afterwards withdrew the nomination upon finding the oppo- 

 sition to his appointment very great, on account of the Yazoo 

 Act. When Matthews heard of this, he immediately set out 

 for Philadelphia, where Congress sat, to chastise him. Upon 

 his arrival in Philadelphia, he made directly to the President's 

 house, hitched his horse, and went to the door, his revolution- 

 ary sword at his thigh, his three-cornered hat on his head, and 

 gave a thundering knock at the door. Upon the servant 

 opening the door, he demanded to see the President. He was 

 answered that the President was engaged. He replied to the 

 servant, " that he presumed his business was to carry mes- 

 sages to the President. Now, if you do not immediately in- 

 form him that a gentleman wishes to speak to him, your head 

 will answer the consequences." The servant returned and in- 

 formed the President, that a very strange old fellow wished to 

 see him, and would take no denial. Mr. Adams directed that he 

 should be admitted. Upon Gov. Matthews entering the room 

 where the President was, he said : " I presume you are Mr. 

 Adams, President of the United States." The President bowed. 

 The Governor continued : " My name is Matthews, sometimes 

 called Gov. Matthews ; well known at the battle of German- 

 town, however, as Col. Matthews of the Virginia line. Now, 



