at his own house.** Governor Rutledge and his council again escaped Tarleton,
by a few minutes, and by taking the road to Charlotte, in North Carolina.
On the 1st of June, Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot
offered to the inhabitants, with some exceptions, "pardon for their past
treasonable offences, and a reinstatement in their rights and immunities
heretofore enjoyed, exempt from taxation, except by their own legislature."
To many, this specious offer appeared to be all that they had been
contending for; and they flocked in from all quarters to gain
such high privileges. These, having signed declarations of allegiance,
received protections as subjects, or were parolled to their plantations
as prisoners of war. But, in the short space of twenty days,
a second proclamation was issued, stating, that it was necessary
for all persons to take an active part in securing his majesty's government,
that all the inhabitants then prisoners on parole, except those taken
at Charleston, and others in confinement, should be freed from their paroles,
and restored to the rights of citizens; and all who neglected
to return to their allegiance should be considered as rebels.

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* The proper name is Stateburgh. But so great is the propensity of Americans
for introducing the S into the already hissing English language,
that it is now written commonly Statesburgh.
** Tarleton despatched his favourite sergeant Hutt, who always charged
by his side, with a sergeant's guard, to perform this deed.
The visit was quite unexpected by Wiley. In going up to his house,
two men were left concealed, behind two large gate posts,
at the entrance of the yard; while Hutt, with the rest,
broke into the house abruptly; he demanded Wiley's shoe buckles,
and while he stooped down to unbuckle them, the wretch Hutt
aimed a stroke with his sword at his head. Wiley, seeing the gleam