The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-08
South Caroline Historical Society.
orrrcrAL REPORT.


The first quarterly meeting Of this So
ciety was held at the Charleston Library.
on Monday, Soth instant.
The business Of the Society consisted
principally in reading the correspondence
which has taken place on the occasion of
It's recent organization. Interesting COM
munications were received from Mr.. J. X.
Tiff of Georgia, DR.. J. G. M. Ramsay,
OF Tennessee, and Mr.. Thomas Gaillard,
OF Alabama, who had been enrolled A.
mong the corresponding members Of the
Society. All these letters exhibit the
warmest sympathy with the Society, and
are calculated to encourage those who
have associated themselves together for
the purpose Of rescuing from oblivion the
early and fast fading records of our past
Mr.. Gaillard's letter was heard with
deep interest. OF an ancient Hugenot
family, it is known that he has devoted
much time to the preparation of the his
tory OF that portion Of the French Refor.
mers who made Carolina their home. His
letter notices the work, and he assigns as
the reason for the delay Of its publication,
his inability, by reason Of his distance
from Carolina, 10 expose the errors which
he has detected in the statements of our
older historians. In his last visit to Car
olina, in lsi7, he found ample and val
liable materials for exposing these errors,
particularly in the Bureau of Wills, in
which are deposited the original Wills, Of
the French emigrants. From documents
found in this Bureau, he is able to estab.
iish the fact, that the Hagenot Church
IN Charleston existed before the year 1887.
This is an earlier date than any writer has
assigned to its existence.
Another error, originating with DR..
Humphrey, he has also been abe to cor
rect 1t is generally supposed that the
Rev. i. G. Richebourg was Hugenot min
lister on the Santec. He has ascertained
that Pierre Robert was the first clergy.
man, and that that congregation never
became part Of the Established Church
ustil f72O, when the Rev. Mr.. Pouderous
was sent there by the Bishop Of London.
This IS an important correction, for the
general opinion is that in conformity with
the provisions Of the Act Of Assembly,
all the country Huguenot churches joined
the Establishment in 1906.
Mr.. Gaillarl states an interesting histo-
nc doubt, viz: whether the Huguenot ali
ems were ever naturalized. Bancroft and
Others have asserted that they were all
enfranchised by the Act of Assembly of
1901. Mr.. Gaillard thinks that that Act
was special in its operation, and that the
great mass Of the Refugees were never
fully enfranchised. This opinion is con-
firmed by the examination Of the subse-
quent Acts Of Assembly. The foregoing
extract Of the substance Of Mr.. Gaillard's
letter, conveys but faint idea of the in
terest excited by the perusal.
A letter from Dr. William II. Simmons,
OF Florida, was read, Whereupon it was
unanimously.
Resoived, That DR.. Simmons be elected
q corresponding member of this Society.
Some interesting manuscripts relating
to the war Of the Revolution, were pre-
sented by DR.. Peter Porcher. They con-
sist Of:
-. j. General Gates orders General Glow
er respecting the provisions taken at the
surrender Of General Burgoyne, dated
Saratoga, October IL, l7T7.
General Glover's letter to Gen. Gates
In elstion to the discharge OF the duty
contained in the preceding, dated Mar
blehead, Nov. 10, 1877.
Q. General. the Baron Reidesel's letter
to General Glover. complaining Of the
treatment experienced from the people of
Massachusetts, dated Springfield, October
81, l777.
4. Letter from General Gates to Gener-
nj Glover, copgratulating him on the news
OF the late victory. (Monmoutb) dated
White Plains, July 2, ITS.
3. General Greene's general orders to
press axes, dc, dated, camp in the Eng
lish neighborhood, Sept. 10, l77s.
0. Letter from Governor Trumbull, to
General Glover, expressing his appreheu.
sions Of an attack on the coast, by the en-
envy. The p. s. Informs him OF the burn
ing Of Bedford and Norwalk, by the Brit
ish deet, dated Lebanon July Is, 1779.
8 "a. Letter from General r. Howe, to
General Glover, urging expedition in the
forwarding Of reinforcements, dated Head
Qaafters, Highlands, June 81, 1890.
8. General b. lincoln to Gen. Glover,
en- relation to a.proposed exchange Of SER
vice on tie part Of the latter, dated Phil
Adelphia, April 10, 1882.
Mr.. Rivers, the corresponding Secretary
being unable fo afiend sent In bia rcnort