The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-02-09

pose, out the plan Jailed because Oh On]ec-
tions raised by Matthews and doubts as to
Coale's abilities.
In the midst of these embarrassments
came the declaration of war, finishing
stroke to the waning fortunes of the Prin-
cipio Company. George Matthews wrote
and advised them to relinquish iron max
ing entirely, representing to them that their
property in this country was very great
their concerns and connections branched out
wide and extensive; they had many intricate
and disputed matters pending; the extent
of their lands was not we'll enough known;
their titles to many of the tracts were rather
clouded, and although the iron works might
be carried on without loss, yet from the
variety of difficulties and Inconvenience
they were naturally subject to, he was APP
prehensive they would never yield profit
in any degree proportionate to the capital
employed, and he deemed the Company S
landed property the object most worthy
their attention, as it grew every day more
valuable. His advice did not meet with
few months they began to realize the fact
| that the colonies we're in earnest, and their
possessions in danger of being lost to them
entirely. After 1776 they had no real con
troll whatever over any of their American
property. Russell continued to operate
the furnaces and FORCES, and supplied bar
iron in large quantities to the American
Government for public purposes, and balls
for the use of the rebel cannon. He writes
to Lancashire furnace December IA, 1915:
"The Purviances have been making in
quiry after you about casting of cannon
and shot, and also Nath. Smith, who is to
be here to-day with some moulds.' 1t is
very doubtful whether they cast any can
non, but in the furnace book is the follow
ing "account of shott made at Lancashire
furnace in the year 1776" from February
2Sth to June 3rd, amounting to 76 bar shot,
$500 grape shot, 2,274 one, two, and three
pound balls, 2,439 four pound, 2,0sS five
and six pound, l, 14S nine pound, SO twelve
pound, and 942 eighteen pound balls.
Russell took the oath of allegiance to the
new government and was no longer Brit
ish subject, but citizen of Maryland
During the following years of war and con.
fusion there is no evidence to show that be
acted otherwise than fairly aud honorably
towards his former associates in the Com
pany. The loss which finally accrued to
them was brought about by powers over
which he had no control. In 1850 the
Maryland General Assembly passed an act
to seize and confscate all British property
within the State, and this was the end of
Principle Company after an existence of
more than sixty years. The act provided
for the payment, out of the proceeds of the
confiscations, of all debts due by the former
owners to citizens of the State, and placed
the remainder subject to the disposal of
the Assembly. Three commissioners were
appointed to take possession of the prop
erty thus appropriated, to preserve it from
waste and destruction, or to occupy and
employ it for the benefit of the republic.
At the same session of the Assembly an
pledgng as security for the certificates all
the confiscated British property including
that of "the persons commonly called by
the name of the Principle Company, ex
cept the part, share, and interest of Thos.
Russell, a subject of this State, and one of
said Company, and it being represented to
this General Assembly that a certain Mr..
Fashington,a subject of the State of Virgin
ia, is entitled to one undivided twelfth part
thereof, and that the said Thomas Russell
is entitled to one undivided eighth part of
the remaining eleven twelfth parts thereof,
the commissioners were ordered to sell the
entire property and to set apart for the
indemnitication of Russell and Washing
ton proportionate amounts of the bonds
received as purchase money at the sale.
In conformity with these instructions all
the possessions of the Principle Company
passed under the auctoneer's hammer, and
the following are among the returns of sales
made by the Intendant of the Revenue:
1871.
Aug IDIOTS on Milestone Point,
70 acres. G 2,7SS
Sept. 12-Lancashire furnace, 1,6S5
acres, 9,125
Sept 12.-Lancashire furnace, 60
negroes, 1876
Sept 2-Lancashire furnace, cat
tie and horses, 354
Sept Is Lots on MILESTONE Point,
Dec a:V 5 Ac1S called Harbour 4''''
Dec co. s lie; negroes and other prop
erty (Kingsbury), 2,32S
Dec. 12.-Tract of land, 231 acres, 1,062
1882.
April 22.-North East forge, to
Thos. Russell, $3.50
July 3O-Tract of land, 40 acres Bill
Aug. 2O.-25 negroes, S7S
Oct. I'll ,633 acres of land A, $50
Aug. 23.-1, 1873 acres of land, G,327
Total, t90,050
Thomas RUSSELL in lieu of part of the
share of the proceeds which was to be
served for him, took the North East works
and land, enumerated as follows:
The forge and other buildings, with
the tract of land called "Vulcan's
Delight, $50 acres, on which the
buildings stand, $500
The tract of land called Geeofari-
son." containing 5743 acres, in gen.
eral uery poor, 2l33
Five hundred acres of leased lands, $50
80 negroes, teams and farming imple-
ments, 1856
Making in the aggregate, 5000
He also purchased on his private account
several other tracts of land, including
"Russell's Union," or about two thousand
acres in all. Here he passed the short re-
mainder of his life, an honored, useful, and
public-spirited citizen. He was engaged
in various schemes which tended to public
welfare as well as private emolument,
among them being the Susquehanna canal,
from the Pennsylvania line to tide water at