Notes 



Note VIL /> ^^^ 

 George Wythe, described by Thomas Jefferson as "the 

 Cato of his country without the avarice of the Roman," 

 was born in 1726, and was early chosen a member of the 

 House of Burgesses where he served until the opening of 

 the Revolution. A leader from the first in the Patriot 

 cause, he was, in August, 1775, appointed a delegate to 

 the Continental Congress from Virginia, and as such 

 signed the Declaration of Independence. He became 

 speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1777, and a 

 little later was made chancellor of the State, which post 

 he held for more than twenty years. For ten years follow- 

 ing 1779 he was also professor of law in William and 

 Mary College, and in 1787 served as a member of the con- 

 vention that framed the Federal Constitution. His death 

 in his eighty-first year was due to poison, administered, 

 it was believed, by his nephew, who was tried for the crime 

 but acquitted. 



Note VHI. f , ^O 



David Douglas was from 1758 to 1774 manager of the 

 American Company, the most important organization of 

 players in the colonies. He also built the first permanent 

 theatres in New York, Philadelphia and Charleston. At 

 the opening of the Revolution he withdrew to Jamaica, 

 where, following his retirement, he held the posts of master 

 in chancery and magistrate. He died in 1786. 



Note IX. /• ^^ 



James Logan, born in Ireland in 1674, was from 1699 

 until his death in 1751 the business agent in Pennsylvania 

 of William Penn and his heirs, and, Benjamin Franklin 



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