the most popular and successful commanders the republic had employed. On the return of peace, he received from his applauding countrymen the fair reward of his exertions, in being elected to several high political stations by the people of Ohio; and, as a representative of that state in congress, he still maintains in honour and respect the name of Harrison.

РАСА.

THE family of Paca has been eminent in Maryland, through several generations; distinguished for making a good use of wealth and influence, and for supporting a prominent and honourable part in public affairs.

WILLIAM PACA, the subject of our present notice, was born at Wye Hall, the paternal mansion, on the Eastern Shore, in the year 1740, and was carefully educated in the customary branches of classical instruction, and in the principles of morality and honour, which belonged to him as a birthright.

After completing his academic course at the Philadelphia college, he was sent, in 1758, to commence the study of the law at Annapolis. Here he prosecuted his reading, preparatory to the exercise of his intended profession, under the superintendence of a gentleman of legal acquirements, who was well qualified to direct the researches of a student, although not at that time an actual practitioner.

Samuel Chase, afterwards so distinguished in the revolution, was studying at Annapolis during the same period; and although differing widely in temperament

and some points of character, these two young men contracted an intimate friendship, which endured, most honourably to both, until they were separated by death.

In the year 1761, both these youths began to appear before the public eye, and stepped at once into reputation and importance.

They both became members of the provincial legislature, where many opportunities were afforded for the display of their abilities, and their minds were trained in the exercise of such controversial powers as they had occasion frequently and beneficially to use, in after life.

Mr. Paca appeared, in the year 1771, as the representative, jointly with Mr. Matthews Hammond, of the citizens of Annapolis, in a public letter of thanks to Mr. Charles Carroll, for his exertions "as an advocate for liberty," in a paper war that had been carried on with great spirit, on the question of the right of the governor to regulate the fees of civil officers by proclamation.

The citizens having chosen those two young men to be their members of the legislature, at the same time appointed them to convey their approbation to the able advocate of the rights of the people, in opposition to the prerogative of the crown; and their letter to Mr. Carroll asserts the doctrine, which was still to be established through years of bloodshed and privation, that the imposition or regulation of a tax, by executive authority, was an act of tyranny not to be endured.

At about the same period Mr. Paca was selected as one of the commissioners to whose taste and supervision,

the plan and erection of the new state-house was to be entrusted. And he assisted in the design of that structure, the most elegant edifice, of the kind, for a long time attempted in America, and even now, bearing a comparison with the most stately that have since been erected.

When the act of parliament which closed the port of Boston was first heard of, a convention of deputies from the patriotic portion of the community in each county of Maryland, assembled for the purpose of consultation. The sentiment of indignation against this act of vindictive tyranny was universal, as was the feeling of sympathy for the injured Bostonians; no definite course could, however, yet be pointed out as the most likely to lead to a redress of the grievance; but a congress of the several colonies having preceded, if not occasioned, the repeal of the stamp act, a few years before, a similar measure at once suggested itself to the minds of all. The committee of correspondence of Massachusetts had written letters, proposing such an assembly to be held at Philadelphia; and the Maryland convention, acceding to the plan, appointed Mr. Paca, along with Mr. Chase and three others, to attend the congress, "to effect one general plan of conduct, operating on the commercial connexion of the colonies with the mother country, for the relief of Boston and the preservation of American liberty."

The proceedings of that illustrious congress are too well known, to require that they should be detailed here. The object in view was conciliation, and a chief

part of the business transacted during the session, was the preparation of the eloquent addresses or memorials to the king, the people of Great Britain, and the people of the colonies. Besides issuing these immortal state papers, the congress adopted the non-importation asso- . ciation, and all the members signed it in the vain hope, that such an evidence of the seriousness of their feelings, and sincerity of their belief that injury had been done to them, would have some effect on the determinations of the ministry, or the disposition of the British nation.

The most remarkable clause in this agreement, or that which now strikes the mind of the reader most forcibly, as illustrative of the honourable feelings which prevailed here, contrasted with the narrow prejudices of the British government, is the one by which the slave trade is to be renounced and discouraged. Thus early did the American people bear emphatic testimony against that inhuman traffic, which the British government not only continued to permit, but in an unaccountable spirit of double cruelty, strenuously endeavoured to force upon the unwilling colonies.

In December of the same year, the same delegates, with the addition of Mr. John Hall and Mr. Thomas Stone, were elected to represent the province of Maryland in the next continental congress, with ample power to agree to all measures which might there be deemed necessary to obtain a redress of American grievances. And the same appointment was renewed in the following summer.