The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-23
THE CRITICS COLUMN.
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON RE
CENT PUBLfCA Tf0NS.
New Books Received-'Iifc OF GsperA
Thomas Pinck ncy"-"l he Leit-Oerf.
"yengeauee OF james Nansitisrt'
LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS PINcK-

LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS PINck-
| NEY. BY his grandson. Rev. Charles
Cotesworth Pinckney. president OF mo
South Carolina Historical Society.
| Uou.,h,on Alff,in A Co. $50. For
sale by West. Johnston x Co.
So much OF Colonial history was made
by leading men OF the period that their
J biographies are valuable. as much Tor
historic data as for furnishing pictures
OF tho manners and modes OF the day.
This is especially true as regards tho
life OF General Thomas Pinckney, whose
fun measure OF seventy-eight years
! rounded that era or American history
| which extends from Colonial days through
! the Revolutionary war and the war OK
Tsp. to the initial prosperity OF pur
nation.
IL contains an epitome OF military op-
erations I'm South Carolina during the
first struggle for freedom, and touches
| us,on all the most important OF our early
| diplomatic relations abroad, thus giving
as IL were local color To national poii-
tics.
But 70 begin with the family annals:
The Pinckneys Of South Carolina. as Wen
as those OF New York and Maryland
trace descent from the same Norman
stock that came into England v-th tho
unavoidable william. absorbed English
estates and honor and from thence spread
To the New World.
| The first South Carolina eugfant,
| Thomas piDckncy. came TO Charleston on
a tour Of exploration, and was 50 pleased
with tho province that he returned the
following yoar--ie92 u make 81 his home.
bringing "a his wife. Mary colesworth.
OF their native Durham. lie was "a
gentleman Of independent FORTUNE" who
finally died OF yellow fever, leaving an
| estate and three sons. Charles (edu-
| Gated and married In England became a
! successful and wealthy lawyer IN the pro-
| vince. Speaker OF the HOUSE OF Assem-
bly,. and one Of the Kings Councillors.
| TO the saeaci0us energy OF hts second
| wife, Eliza LUCAS, daughter Of an Eng
/ lfsh officer who was Governor OF An
tigua. South Carolina still owes a debt
of gratitude. Colonel Lucas had sent
his wife and daughters 10 his estate In
! Soath Carolina for their health, and TINS
cirl Of eighteen took entire charge OF the
| plantations. and carried 90 a series OF
| agricultural experiments far 10 advance
| Of her day. IL vas sh> who introduced
, from the West Indies the culture or
indigo. which BECAME the leading ipdustry
| Of the province until surplanted by cot
ton. She imported eggs OF the SILK
worm. and had spun on her plantation
| enough silk TO have three dresses woven
| I'm England. one was presented 20 inc
Princess OF Wales. one 10 Lord Chester
field, and the other-a rich yellow bro
cade-still remains an heirloom IN tho
family. The letters stIll preserved show
her to have been a woman OF culture
and patriotism. as well as OF practical
ability. She lived 10 see her two sons
become the most distinguished citizens
ln war and peace that their state has
ever produced-a record which Few "o-
men have made.
Mr.. Pmckney. having been appointed
| agent for the colony In LordoL removed
| his family thithcr I'm 1858. where they
| remained five years. The two sons.
Charles Colesworth and Thomas-third
| Of the name. born In lE0-wfre aged
| twelve and eight when their father died.
leaving them at Westminster school.
, ! The former took honors I'm Latin tho
| latter, as the first Greek scholar OF the
E ! year. became captain OF tho town boys,
? | at Westminster-the only American who
ever attained that distinction. He kept
no an intimate knowledge OF the Ian
eiage throughout life. and that accom-
plished scholar, Hugh Lcgare. declared
70 Thomas Pinckney 10 be the best helle-
mist we ever had I'm America"
Nineteen years were spent az West
u minister. oxford ana the Temple, In
L Guiding year at Caen, whore he studied
Il mitted TO the Charleston bar. and the
following year h. and his brother were
. assigned 10 military duty. as captains I'm
u the First South Carolina regiment. on
the very day Of tho battle OF Bunker
5 Hill.
The pmckneys. English by race and
. education. seemed from the first 70 have
been fred with national ardor. Hence
6 forth their history Is Identified with that
r. OF their native State and land. As Of
ncars and engineers. they assisted tn the
defence of Fort sullivan. IN tho Florida
campaign. the battle OF stowe, the siege
OF Savannah. and Charleston. Major
Thomas plnckney then went North, ofrer'
; Ing his services to Washington, win
70 whom he remained until General Gates
b marched South. II was IA virginia
I that he first met and formed /e-lone
70 friendship with Lafayette. lie was 81.
q verely wounded at Camden, taken ID
$ Philadelphia az a prisoner or war, eN
L changed after years captivity and wit
q messed tho surrender at YORKTOWN.
4 II is sufficient TO briefly emu
5 rnerate the hOnOrs subsequently
bestowed upon the pariot sol
}, der. Elected Governor 10 succeed
j. Moultrle in l7s7. sent by Washington ir
= 1871 as Minister 10 England. from thence
as special ambassador 10 S9ain where
he negotiated a most acceptable treaty
nominated for Nicc-Prcsident or th'
United States In 1896. sent 10 Congress
8 for two terms in 1896. appointed by Nadi
n son junior majOr-general In tho war o
II 1872, In command OF the southern hal
j. OF the United States. succeeding hi
Il brother General g. r. Pinckney, q
Il president-gcueral Of the Society OF tn
<, / Cincinnati In the United States.
., Having served hls country alike I'm mill
e tary. civil. and Diplomatic positions. Gen
4 eral piuckrry now ro' irod 20 his large -
.. tatcs. 10 hiG rrf'eaitnral experiments