#thomas pinckney

[john-laurens]

“More Ardour than Experience: Lafayette's Pursuit of Liberty and His South Carolina Connections” by Molly Silliman; from Carologue Vol. 40, No. 2

You can read the entire Carologue issue as a PDF here

If you've been following my blog's recent focus on Francis Kinloch, you may recognize some familiar names. Benjamin Huger, who welcomed Lafayette at his arrival in South Carolina in 1777, was married to Mary Esther Kinloch, the sister of Francis Kinloch. Francis Kinloch Huger, who later attempted to free Lafayette from imprisonment, was therefore Francis Kinloch's nephew. The article also describes a letter written by Francis Kinloch Huger to his grandmother. The full letter is not available online, but it appears that the recipient was Francis Kinloch Huger's maternal grandmother, Anne Isabella Cleland Kinloch (mother of Mary Esther and Francis Kinloch).

[nordleuchten]

George Washington’s letter to the Holy Roman Emperor

During the long imprisonment of the Marquis de La Fayette, George Washington, then President of the United States of America, did not just stand idly by. He wrote the Prussian King Friedrich William II in 1794 and pleaded for La Fayette’s release. The letter proofed to be too little and too late. The Prussian King had already made a Deal with the Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke (later Emperor) of Austria Franz II (I) to transfer La Fayette and his fellow inmates to a prison in Austria. The conditions in the Austrian prison in Olmütz were not ideal to begin with but they got significantly worse after a failed escape attempt. It was mainly due to this worsening of conditions that prompted Washington to write a second letter, this time to the Holy Roman Emperor. Washington wrote on May 15, 1796:

To the Emperor of Germany.

It will readily occur to your Majesty, that occasions may sometimes exist, on which official considerations would constrain the Chief of a Nation to be silent and passive, in relation even to objects which affect his sensibility, and claim his interposition, as a man. Finding myself precisely in this situation at present, I take the liberty of writing this private letter to Your Majesty; being persuaded that my motives, will also be my apology for it.

In common with the People of this Country, I retain a strong and cordial sense of the Services rendered to them by the Marquis De la Fayette; and my friendship for him has been constant and sincere. It is natural therefore, that I should sympathize with him and his family in their misfortunes, and endeavor to mitigate the calamities wch they experience; among which his present confinement is not the least distressing.

I forbear to enlarge on this delicate subject—Permit me only to submit to your Majesty’s consideration, whether his long Imprisonment—and the confiscation of his Estate—and the Indigence & dispersion of his family—and the painful anxieties incident to all these circumstances, do not form an assemblage of sufferings, which recommend him to the mediation of Humanity? Allow me Sir! on this occasion to be its organ; and to entreat that he may be permitted to come to this country, on such conditions and under such restrictions, as your Majesty may think it expedient to prescribe.

As it is a maxim with me not to ask, what under similar circumstances I would not grant, Your Majesty will do me the justice to believe, that this request appears to me to corrispond with those great principles of Magnanimity & wisdom, which form the basis of sound policy and durable glory. May the Almighty and merciful Sovereign of the Universe keep Your Majesty under his Protection and guidance.

Go: Washington

The letter is quite similar in tone to Washington’s letter to the Prussian King. Washington makes it clear that, regardless of the office of President of the United States, he writes as a private individual. He expresses his concern and friendship for La Fayette and appeals to the Emperors sensibility and humanity. Washington enclosed the letter in a letter he wrote Thomas Pinckney in London to make sure that the letter would be delivered safely. Here is an excerpt of Washington’s letter to Thomas Pinckney on May 22, 1796:

(Private)

Dear Sir

To my letters of the 20th of February and 5th of March, I beg leave to refer you for the disclosure of my sentiments on the subjects then mentioned to you. (…)

In my letter of the 20th of Feby, I expressed, in pretty strong terms, my sensibility on acct of the situation of the Marquis De la Fayette. This is increased by the visible distress of his Son, who is now with me, & grieving for the unhappy fate of his parents. This circumstance, giving a poignancy to my own feelings, on this occasion, has induced me to go a step further than I did on the letter above mentioned; as you will perceive by the enclosed Address (copy of which is also transmitted for your information) to the Emperor of Germany: to be forwarded by you in such a manner, and under such auspices as, in your judgment, shall be deemed best: or to arrest it, if from the evidence before you (derived from former attempts) it shall appear clear, that it would be of no avail to send it.

Anybody wondering what exactly Washington expressed in “pretty strong terms” in that letter? I’ve got you covered. Washington wrote to Thomas Pinckney on February 20, 1796:

Since the re-confinement of Mr de la Fayette (after the attempt made by Doctr Bolman & Mr Huger, both of whom are now in this City, to effect his escape) we have heard nothing further respecting him, than that his confinement is more rigorous than before. We know indeed, that Madam de la Fayette and his two daughters have been at Hamburgh; that it was reported they were coming to America; but that, instead of doing it, they went to Vienna to try the effect of personal solicitation to obtain his releasement. News-paper accounts go farther, and say they were permitted to proceed to Almutz [Olmütz]. But how far the latter information is to be depended upon; and if true, what has, or will be the result, is altogether unknown to me.

I need hardly mention how much my sensibility has been hurt by the treatment this Gentleman has met with; or how anxious I am to see him liberated therefrom; but what course to pursue, as most likely and proper to aid the measure, is not quite so easy to decide on. As President of the United States, there might be a commitment of the Government by any interference of mine—and it is no easy matter in a transaction of this nature for a public character to assume the garb of a private citizen in a case that does not relate to himself. Yet such is my wish to contribute my mite to accomplish this desirable object, that I have no objection to its being made known to the Imperial Ambassador in London (who, if he thinks proper, may communicate to his Court) that this event is an ardent wish of the people of the United States in wch I sincerely add mine. The time, the manner, and even the measure itself, I leave to your discretion; as circumstances—and every matter which concerns this Gentleman are better known on that, than they are on this side the Atlantic.

I shall add no more on this (…)

(I love the passage where Washington wrote “Yet such is my wish to contribute my mite to accomplish this desirable object, that I have no objection to its being made known to the Imperial Ambassador in London (who, if he thinks proper, may communicate to his Court) (…)”. With the right intonation that could sound quite cross.)

[john-laurens]

"rode to Congaree creek with my brother ... I rejoice at Major Pinckney's good fortune, a wish, without env[y]ing him that fate had made such a destiny for me_ But my life, as an American, was wrong from the first, & when I did return & did take some part in the affairs of the country, I wanted that spring that could alone arise from qualities which I was entirely divested of_ & which would have brought my natural talents, improved as they were by a good education, in to proper light_ I wanted faith in the goodness of the cause, and zeal for the promotion of it_ All I could answer for, was, not to be a traitor & desert a cause, that I had in some degree enlisted under_ The young Lion is to dine here today I think Eliza is treading on very dangerous ground with a man of his temper"

-Francis Kinloch to his wife Martha Rutledge Kinloch, only dated as "Sunday"; from a transcript contained within the "Kinloch family history and genealogy research files" held by the South Carolina Historical Society

The transcript also notes that Francis spoke of his son Frederick in the letter, but no transcript of this part of the letter is provided.

As short as this section is, it is pretty revealing of Francis's desires, self-perception, and assessment of others! While no date was given, I narrowed down the likely time frame of the letter given several context clues. Because Francis's son Frederick is mentioned, I knew this letter had to be written after ~1791 when Frederick was born. Thomas Pinckney is also mentioned, and the fact that Francis was congratulating him indicates that some major event likely recently occurred in Pinckney's life. I found that Pinckney was selected as President George Washington's ambassador to the United Kingdom - he was appointed to the position on January 12, 1792. Francis had wanted to serve as an ambassador for England/the United Kingdom prior to joining the Continental Army; the fact that Francis envied Pinckney's "good fortune" makes it likely that Francis was referring to Pinckney's appointment as ambassador. Poor Francis "When am I going to be an ambassador? :( " Kinloch - it was never to be for him.

Francis's description of his shortcomings and attitudes during the Revolutionary War are certainly telling of his reluctant patriot status. It's important to remember here that the recipient of this letter was Francis's wife Martha Rutledge Kinloch. She was the daughter of John Rutledge, president/governor of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, and the niece of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is therefore incredibly funny to me that Francis essentially wrote to his wife, "At least I didn't desert, right?"

At the end of the letter, Francis mentions an Eliza. Initially I had thought he might be referring to his daughter Eliza from his first marriage to Mildred Walker, but the location and time do not fit. Eliza was living in Virginia - while Francis did frequently visit her, he mentioned in the letter that he was at Congaree Creek in South Carolina. Additionally, if the 1792 year is correct, Eliza would have only been 10-11 years old at the time. Francis remarked about a relationship between the named Eliza and a man, and Francis's daughter would have been too young to be courting a man at this time. I remembered that Francis's wife Martha had a sister named Eliza who married Henry (Harry) Laurens Jr. When did Eliza and Harry marry? May 26, 1792! This fits with the 1792 date as discussed above, so Francis was most likely referring to Eliza Rutledge and her impending marriage to Harry Laurens. It is interesting that Francis called Harry a "young Lion" with a temper - it seems that Francis did not care for Harry and did not approve of Harry's marriage to his sister-in-law. Certainly this account of Harry is biased by Francis's feelings, but it does provide some insight into Harry's personality. I mostly know about Harry Laurens from descriptions of his childhood, and I have never pictured him as a loud, angry, or aggressive person (all qualities suggested by Francis's comparison of Harry to a lion). Perhaps Harry did have some of the Laurens family temper as exhibited by his father Henry and his brother John. (I can imagine Francis having war flashbacks to when he was subjected to John's anti-monarchy rage in their letters during 1776.) I wonder if the "young Lion" nickname was something Francis came up with or if it was more widely used by their contemporaries. On a cursory search, I could not find any accounts of Harry Laurens or his father Henry being referred to as a lion, so it seems more likely that it was a description created by Francis. One can only imagine how the dinner with Francis and Harry went!

[southcarolinagoddess]

The Revolutionary War generals of South Carolina, General Francis Marion, General Thomas Pinckney, General (Colonel then) William Washington, General Thomas Sumter, and General Andrew Pickens One of the most awesome images ever!!

[imalegionnaire]

Brig. General Otho H. Williams (upper left corner), Thomas Pinckney - Governor of South Carolina (upper right corner), Brig. General William Moultrie (lower right corner), Brig. General Charles C. Pinckney (lower left corner), John Rutledge - Governor of South Carolina and Member of Congress (center)

detail of Brig. Gen. Otho Holland Williams