LORD KENYON. 347 



resentment prevents from visiting him*; if 

 these sufferings are but a small portion of what 



* However unconnected it may appear with the subject of 

 this letter, I cannot forbear mentioning the conduct of two 

 of my friends in Carolina., Mr. John Harleston, and his wife, 

 Mrs. Elizabeth Harleston, persons of rank and fortune in that 

 country. I had received many civilities from them during 

 my stay in Charlestown, while it was a British garrison, and 

 had on my part, done them some small service. But small 

 as this was, it sunk deep into their noble natures, and con- 

 stituted a debt, unused as they were to receive obligations, 

 which seemed to them inextinguishable. On my return to 

 Charlestown, with the flag of truce, they insisted upon my 

 staying at their house j but it was during my imprisonment 

 that the energy of their friendship was chiefly conspicuous. 

 No one day of the three months which it lasted passed away, 

 without my receiving from them repeated instances of kind- 

 ness, such as I could have expected only from those, who 

 were bound to me by the closest ties of blood. This conduct 

 would at any time have merited my warmest gratitude 5 but 

 when I consider the circumstances under which it occurred, 

 my feelings altogether unman me. Mr. Harleston's estate 

 had been heavily amerced by the legislature of South Caro- 

 lina j and at that period, when the affairs of the state were 

 regulated by the narrow principles of a petty corporation., 

 nothing could tend more to frustrate his hope, that the fine 

 would be taken off, than his showing attention to any one in 

 my situation. The reins of government also were then so 

 feebly held, that the populace almost daily wreaked their ven- 

 geance upon such as had fallen under their displeasure. One 

 night, during this anarchy, a mob surrounded Mr. Harleston's 

 house, threatening to destroy it on account of his behaviour 

 to me. He was from home $ but his wife, with the spirit and 

 dignity of a Roman matron, went out to the rioters, and told 



