delphia, says: "We have scarcely a dawn of hope that a reconciliation can take place." Up to that time Congress, indeed, had hopes of an amicable adjustment, and although they had put armies in the field for defense, they had not created a naval force to make war on the sea. But as hope of reconciliation vanished, Congress appointed a committee of three members, called the Committee of Marine, of which Mr. Hewes was the chairman, with a view of establishing a naval service. A little later that committee was increased so as to embrace one member from each colony, but Mr. Hewes remained at its head, and entered at once on the work of establishing a naval force. Virtually he was what has since been known as the secretary of the navy, a post for which he was admirably fitted by his capacity, his experience, his cool judgment and discriminating intelligence. The construction of new ships, their equipment, securing armaments for them and ammunition, and selecting and appointing the officers were all committed to him.

He was also a member of the "secret committee," which had information and matured plans which it was not expedient at once to make public even among the other members of the Congress. Not often participating in debate, he was always engaged in the details of the business committed to him, and in the absence of public funds he drew liberally on the resources of himself and of his firm. Indeed, his firm was the agent of Congress in North Carolina, through which he transacted a vast amount of important commercial business, and his vessels made large importations. In making a selection of officers for the naval service, it apparently fell to his lot to appoint John Paul Jones and to give him a command. In Jones's letters to Mr. Hewes at that time he mentions the favors that Mr. Hewes had done him and his reliance on Mr. Hewes's interest to advance his purposes and his fortunes, and there seems to have been an intimacy and friendship between these two distinguished characters that well illustrates the discernment and discriminating judgment of Mr. Hewes; and it also. appears that Jones was appointed from North Carolina.

Knowing that Great Britain was going to make a great effort at the South in the spring of 1776, in February of that year Mr.

Hewes wrote to North Carolina urging every preparation to meet it. "We must not shrink from it; we ought not to show any symptoms of fear; the nearer it approaches and the greater the sound, the more fortitude and calm, steady firmness we ought to possess. Although the storm thickens, I feel myself quite composed. I have furnished myself with a good musket and bayonet, and when I can no longer be useful in council, I hope I shall be willing to take the field. I think I had rather fall there than be carried off by a lingering illness."

Events now rapidly progressed. Governor Martin's horrid plan of subjugation roused the patriots to fever heat. When the Provincial Congress met, April 4th, all were hot for independence, and on April 12, 1776, while Sir Peter Parker's fleet was in the Cape Fear River threatening to overrun North Carolina, that bold action was taken by the Provincial Congress, the first declaration made by any Provincial Congress or legislature for independence. Shortly afterward, when a resolution in favor of independence was introduced in the Continental Congress, there was much diversity of judgment among the delegates. John Adams says that "Hewes determined the action of Congress." In his representative capacity, and acting under instructions, Hewes had not been an early advocate of declaring independence. In his letter to Thomas Jefferson of June 22, 1819, Adams says: "You know that the unanimity of the States finally depended on the vote of Joseph Hewes, and was finally determined by him; and yet history is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine. Sat verbum sapienti.”

And elsewhere Adams says: "One day, while a member was producing documents to show that the general opinion of all the colonies was for independence, among them North Carolina, Hewes, who had hitherto constantly voted against it, started suddenly upright, and lifting both hands to heaven, cried out, "It is done, and I will abide by it!" Adams adds: "I would give more for a perfect painting of the terror and horror upon the face of the old majority at that critical moment than for the best piece of Raphael."

It was indeed a matter of great concern. Up to that time the Revolutionists, having for their object only the maintenance of their rights as British subjects, had largely the sympathies of most of the people in the several colonies; but with independence declared, and no longer claiming a redress of grievances as subjects of Great Britain, the Revolutionists could not expect the same popular support; and, as a matter of fact, they took up the work of securing the establishment of a new nation, as it were, with at least one-half of the population unfavorable to that design. The change was momentous in its consequences, and it appears that it was made by the vote of Mr. Hewes, and when the Declaration was prepared, he signed it.

He continued at his work in Congress, and in supplying a naval force for Congress, while also largely supplying the needs of North Carolina, and in a measure directing events in North Carolina by recommendations and solicitations until his health broke down, and in September, 1776, he returned home. At that time. his colleagues wrote extolling his labors at Philadelphia, saying: "From the large share of naval and mercantile business which has been allotted to his attention by Congress, his health has been much impaired. From 6 in the morning till 5 and sometimes 6 in the afternoon, without drinking or eating, he would be at work."

In August, 1775, Penn succeeded Caswell, resigned, as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and the Assembly, on April 28, 1777, elected as delegates Dr. Burke, Hooper and Penn. Hooper at once declined, and it was then proposed to re-elect Hewes. But he rejected the proposition, and Harnett was elected. Mr. Hewes, however, was a member of the House of Commons in 1778 and 1779. At that time he was, as he had been before, largely engaged in bringing in supplies from abroad. by his own ships for the use of the Continental troops. Indeed, very large importations were made through North Carolina waters. The established route of transportation to the army was by water to South Quay, on the Nansemond River, and thence by wagon northward; and it was thus that Washington's army

at Valley Forge was relieved of their distress during the terrible winter of their encampment there.

In 1778 Dr. Burke resigned because of animadversions, the delegation elected being Penn, Harnett and John Williams, who was the speaker of the House. Mr. Williams, however, resigned in February, 1779, and the legislature having determined to increase the delegation, Joseph Hewes and William Sharpe were elected other delegates.

Mr. Hewes's health was still impaired, and disease had prostrated his physical powers. He continued to attend the House, however, when able to do so, until the 29th of October, when he left the hall for the last time. After an illness of some ten days, he expired on the 10th of November, 1779. His remains were buried in Christ Churchyard, Philadelphia, followed by the members and officers of Congress, the General Assembly and Council of Pennsylvania, the French Minister, the military and a large concourse of other persons who were anxious to pay their last respects to one whom they esteemed in life and whose memory they delighted to honor. His grave was next to that of Mr. Drayton.

In closing a sketch of his life in the "Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution," the author said: "His name is recorded on the Magna Charta of our liberty-his fame will live until the last vestige of American history shall be blotted from the world."

In his will, executed August 12, 1778, Mr. Hewes directs that his partnership Hewes & Smith, and his partnership Hewes, Allen & Smith, shall be closed up; and he makes bequests to his mother, Providence; his brother, Josiah Hewes of Philadelphia; his brother, Aaron Hewes of New Jersey; his sister, Sarah Allen; and sister, Mary Middleton; and nephew, Nathaniel Allen.

E. W. Sikes.

S. A. Ashe.

T

WHITMEL HILL

HOUGH a resident of Martin County, Whitmel Hill was a native of the county of Bertie. The date of his birth was February 12, 1743. He was a son of John Hill, who married Mrs. Martha Bate, née Whitmel, widow of Henry Lawrence Bate and daughter of Thomas Whitmel, who came to North Carolina from Surrey County, Virginia, in 1713. One of the paternal ancestors of Whitmel Hill was Isaac Hill, who was living in Bertie County prior to 1710.

It was in 1760 that Whitmel Hill graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and shortly thereafter he returned to his native State. For many years, and at the time of his death, he lived at Hill's Ferry, in Martin County, this being near the Halifax boundary. The county of Martin, in which he resided, was erected out of the counties of Halifax and Tyrrell by Chapter 106 of the Laws of 1774, and was named for Josiah Martin, the last of the royal governors.

It was amid the Revolutionary turmoils of 1775 that Whitmel Hill first rose to prominence. He was then thirty-two years of age and in the prime of vigorous manhood. In August of that year a Provincial Congress met at Hillsboro, and he was one of the delegates chosen by the patriots of Martin to represent them in that body. This session continued for several weeks, and on the 9th of September the Congress elected Mr. Hill to the rank of