380 Nations lately become Literary. 



Maryland ; Richard Bland, Arthur Lee, Re- 

 bert Carter Nicholas, and Thomas Jeffer- 

 son, of Virginia; and William Henry Dray-. 

 ton/' of South-Carolina.' Besides these, a num- 

 ber of writers of smaller name embarked in 

 the same cause, and contributed to the mass of 

 inquiries and publications which the period pro- 

 duced. And though the distresses of the times 

 served to derange and almost to destroy some im-r 

 portant literary institutions; yet, during this pe- 

 riod, seeds were sown which were destined soon 

 afterwards to spring up and to bring forth fruit 

 highly honourable to our country. 



The revolutionary war was no sooner terminated 

 "by the peace of 1783, than the friends of literature 

 began to feel more than ever the importance of 

 encouraging institutions for diffusing useful know- 

 ledge among the people. Indeed, before the din 

 of arms ceased to be heard, plans began to be 

 formed, and in some instances to be executed, for 

 the promotion of this object. The inhabitants o( 

 the American States now not only felt indepen- 

 dent, in a political view, but they also began to 

 cherish the wish for greater literary independence 

 than they had heretofore enjoyed. The zeal and 



5 William Henry Drayton, Esq. a native of South-Carolina, was 

 a political writer of considerable eminence. In 1774 he wrote a pamphlet, 

 addressed to the American Congress, under the signature of A Freeman, 

 in which he stated the grievances of America, and drew a bill of Ameri- 

 can Rights. Several other publications appeared from his pen, explain- 

 ing the injured rights of his country, and encouraging his fellow-citizens 

 to vindicate them. He also wrote an History of the American Revolution, 

 brought down to the year 1779, in three large volumes, which he intended 

 to correct and publish, but was prevented by death. He died in Phila- 

 delphia in 1779, while attending his duty in Congress, in the thirty-se- 

 venth year of his age. 



i The author regrets, that it is not in his power to give a more com- 

 plete catalogue of the writers on the American controversy. Many well 

 written pamphlets on both sides of this question, were published anony- 

 mously. This was especially the case with those who wrote in favour of 

 the British claims ; so that out of the large number who belong to the 

 latter class, only Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, and Mr. Gallo= 

 way, ?,re sufficiently known to be particularly mentioned. 



