Excerpt from South-Carolina in the Revolutionary War: Being a Reply to Certain Misrepresentations and Mistakes of Recent Writers in Relation to the Course and Conduct of This State

America were, very few of them, distinguished by remarkable endowments. Individually, they were not calculated to com pel consideration in any period, and still less in such stormy times as always wreck the smaller craft of mediocrity. But few of them, either by reason of their achievements or abili ties, can lay claim to the honours of biography; and the misfortunes of still fewer deserve to be regarded, apart from the errors and Offences in which they originated mostly. Many of them, doubtless, were very worthy people; such peo ple as make the average of good citizens in a quiet, peace-lov ing community, and in periods of national repose. Some of them had respectable talents, which would have been valua ble in smooth-sailing times; and a fair proportion of them were probably governed, in their adherence to the crown, by scruples and principles which must always commend them to the respect, if not the sympathies, of all justly-minded per sons. But, saying this, we have said all. We have enume rated the several classes among them, which deserve tolera tion in the opinions of posterity. It is only toleration, indeed, that may be demanded, by even-handed justice, in behalf of the greater number. Praise is out of the question and pity can only be challenged for those who suffered and sorrowed, without having striven, when the struggle would only have elevated the loyalty of the individual, at the expense of all social and human feeling. We do not find, as we cast our eyes, curiously, over the long array of names in this catalogue Of the American Loyalists, that any of them ever attained to any very high distinctions, either in a civil or military capa city. One of them, only, appears to have acquired position in Europe, as a man of science; and but one or two more, prior to the revolution, had done themselves honour by their colo nial services, chiefly upon the frontiers. A few of them, in deed, proved themselves clever and active officers of militia.

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