George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

[381] year James Robertson, from the home of the Regula-

Chap. XLVI.} 1770. Nov.

tors in North Carolina, a poor and unlettered forester, of humble birth, but of inborn nobleness of soul, cultivated maize on the Watauga. The frame of the heroic planter was robust; his constitution hardy; he trod the soil as if he were its rightful lord. Intrepid, loving virtue for its own sake, and emulous of honorable fame, he had self-possession, quickness of discernment, and a sound judgment. Wherever he was thrown, on whatever he was engaged, he knew how to use all the means within his reach, whether small or great, to their proper end; seeing at a glance their latent capacities, and devising the simplest and surest way to bring them forth; and so he became the greatest benefactor of the early settlers of Tennessee, confirming to them peace, securing their independence, and leaving a name blessed by the esteem and love and praise of a commonwealth.¹

He was followed to the West, by men from the same Province with himself, where the people had no respite from the insolence of mercenary attorneys and officers, and were subjected to every sort of rapine and extortion.² There the Courts of law offered no redress.³ At the inferior Courts the Justices who themselves were implicated in the pilfering of public money, named the juries. The Sheriff and receivers of taxes were in arrears for near seventy thousand pounds, which they had extorted from the people, and