life of francis marion(弗朗西丝·马利翁传)-第3节
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with this error； the author's remoteness from this event is not continued
with the events mentioned later in the book； to which he was a witness。
Those remarks should be given their proper weight。 A。 L。； 1997。
Of the education of FRANCIS MARION； we have no account； but
from the internal evidence afforded by his original letters； it appears to
have been no more than a plain English one； for the Huguenots seem to
have already so far assimilated themselves to the country as to have
forgotten their French。 It was indeed a rare thing； in this early state of our
country； to receive any more than the rudiments of an English education；
since men were too much employed in the clearing and tilth of barren
lands； to attend much to science。
Such an education seemed to dispose Marion to be modest and
reserved in conversation； to think； if not to read much； and； above all； not
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Life of Marion。
to be communicative。 An early friend of his； the late Captain John Palmer；
has stated； that his first inclination was for a seafaring life； and that at the
age of sixteen he made a voyage to the West Indies。 The vessel in which
he embarked foundered at sea； and the crew； consisting of six persons；
took to an open boat； without water or provisions： but； providentially； a
dog swam to them from the ship； whose blood served them for drink； and
his raw flesh for food； for six days； on the seventh； Francis Marion； and
three of the crew； reached land； but the other two perished at sea。 Things
which appear accidental at the time； often sway the destinies of human life。
Thus it was； that from the effect of this narrow escape； and the entreaties
of a tender mother； Francis Marion was induced to abandon the sea； for an
element； on which he was to become singularly useful。 His mother's
maiden name was Cordes； and she also was of French extraction。 Engaged
in cultivating the soil； we hear no more of Marion for ten years。 Mr。 Henry
Ravenel； of Pineville； now more than 70 years of age； knew him in the
year 1758； he had then lost his father； and； removing with his mother and
brother Gabriel from Georgetown； they settled for one year near Frierson's
lock； on the present Santee canal。 The next year Gabriel removed to Belle
Isle； in St。 Stephen's parish； late the residence of his son； the Hon。 Robert
Marion。 Francis settled himself in St。 John's； at a place called Pond Bluff；
from the circumstance of there being a pond at the bottom of a bluff；
fronting the river low grounds。 This place is situated about four miles
below Eutaw； on the Santee； and he continued to hold it during life。*
Others fix his settling in St。 John's； at a later period： this is of little
consequence； but what is of some； was that in this most useful of all
stations； a tiller of the ground； he was industrious and successful。 In the
same year； 1759； the Cherokee war broke out； and he turned out as a
volunteer； in his brother's troop of provincial cavalry。 In 1761； he served in
the expedition under Col。 Grant； as a lieutenant in Captain Wm。 Moultrie's
company； forming part of a provincial regiment； commanded by Col。
Middleton。 It is believed that he distinguished himself in this expedition；
in a severe conflict between Col。 Grant and the Indians； near Etchoee； an
Indian town； but； if he did so； the particulars have not been handed down
to us； by any official account。 General Moultrie says of him； 〃he was an
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Life of Marion。
active； brave； and hardy soldier； and an excellent partisan officer。〃 We
come now to that part of Marion's life； where； acting in a more
conspicuous situation； things are known of him； with more certainty。 In the
beginning of the year 1775； he was elected one； of what was then called
the provincial congress of South Carolina； from St。 John's。 This was the
public body which agreed to the famous continental association；
recommended by congress； to prevent the importation of goods； wares；
and merchandizes； from Great Britain： they likewise put a stop to all suits
at law； except where debtors refused to renew their obligations； and to give
reasonable security； or when justly suspected of intentions to leave the
province； or to defraud their creditors； and they appointed committees in
the several districts and parishes in the state； which were called
committees of public safety； to carry these acts into effect。 These exercised
high municipal authority； and supported generally by a population
sometimes intemperate； inflicted singular punishments** upon such as
were not only guilty； but even suspected； of infringing the association。 The
provincial congress also； after receiving the news of the battle of
Lexington； determined upon a defensive war； and resolved to raise two
regiments of infantry； and one of cavalry。 Marion was elected a captain in
the second regiment of these two； of which William Moultrie was colonel。
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney； and Thomas Pinckney； since so much
distinguished； were likewise elected captains in this regiment at the same
time。 The first of Captain Marion's appearing in arms against the British；
was in the latter part of this year； when he acted as one of three captains
under Colonel Motte； in taking possession of Fort Johnson； on James
Island。 On this occasion much resistance was expected； but the garrison
abandoned the fort； and escaped to two British vessels； the Tamar and
Cherokee； then lying in Charleston harbour。 In the autumn of the same
year a post was established at Dorchester； where it was thought prudent to
send part of the military stores； and the public records out of Charleston；
and here Captain Marion had the command。 This is only worthy of remark
in the circumstance； that as the climate of this place is remarkably bad in
autumn； it shows that our patriots had already so much enthusiasm in the
cause in which they had embarked； that they refused no station； however
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Life of Marion。
perilous。 As the provincial congress and committees of public safety
exercised all the legislative and judicial powers in the state； as might have
been expected； they soon became too complicated for them； and were
thrown into great confusion。 The criminal code was still left in force； but
there were no judges to exercise that jurisdiction。 The provincial congress；
therefore； without waiting for a convention of the people； framed a
constitution： by this they took the name of the general assembly of South
Carolina； and limited their own continuance until the 21st October； 1776；
and； in every two years after that period； a general election was to take
place for members of the assembly。 The legislative powers were vested in
a president； the assembly； and a legislative council； to be chosen out of
their own body。 All resolutions of the continental and provincial congress；
and all laws then of force； were continued。 They passed a law； that only
two thirds of the rice made in the state should be permitted to be exported；
the other third was to remain in the country for its consumption； and for
exchange for the necessary articles of life： and upon these prices were to
be fixed； it was recommended to the people to cultivate cotton； the breed
of sheep was directed to be improved； and； after a certain day； none were
to be killed for market or home consumption； but the continental congress
soon after； passed a law that no rice should be exported； and it was
submitted to； without a murmur。 A vice…president and privy council of six
members were elected； and among other duties； were to exercise chancery
jurisdiction； and other judges were directed to be chosen by the general
