500 RICHMOND COUNTY. 



independence of America was already established, and that 

 the mother country would act wisely by immediately re- 

 cognising it. The last speech which the Earl of Chatham 

 made was in reply to the Duke of Richmond, to which the 

 latter rejoined by asking in the most respectful manner the 

 Earl of Chatham to point out the means by which America 

 could be made to renounce her independence, saying, " that 

 if his Lordship could not do it, no man could." The motion of 

 the Duke of Richmond was lost by a great majority. His sense 

 of honour was high. For parliamentary reform he was a warm 

 advocate, and was for many years at the head of a society 

 having parliamentary reform for its object. In 1782 he was 

 appointed Master of Ordnance, and shortly afterwards deco- 

 rated with the Order of the Garter. In 1803 he retired from 

 public life, and died without issue on the 29th of December, 

 1806. The Duke of Richmond was a liberal patron of the 

 arts. His house was filled with the choicest specimens, and 

 artists received from him the most unbounded marks of 

 attention. 



Richmond county is 27 miles long, and 25 wide, containing 

 675 square miles. 



Rivers, Creeks. — The Savannah river separates the 

 county from South Carolina. The creeks are Butler's, 

 McBean, Spirit, Rocky, Rae's, Rock, and Cupboard, emptying 

 into the Savannah. Sandy Run, Boggy Gut, and Headstall, 

 discharge themselves into Brier creek. ^ 



Population, Taxes, Representation. — In 1845 the cen- 

 sus gave this county a population of 14,090 ; of these, 6,860 

 were whites, and 7,230 blacks. The amount of State tax re- 

 turned for 1848, which exceeds that of any county except 

 Chatham, is $16,631 66. Sends two representatives to the 

 Legislature. 



Post Offices. — Augusta, Belair, McBean, Richmond Fac- 

 tory. 



Capital. — Augusta is the capital of the county, and the 

 second city in size in the State. To Gen. Oglethorpe is 

 Augusta indebted for its name, in honour of one of the royal 

 princesses, who was named Augusta. It is situated on the 

 southwest bank of the Savannah river, 92 miles E. N. E. of 



