The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly

3Session Beginning October 6, 1757and Ending October 22, 1757Thursday the 6th day of October 1757.[A General Assembly, begun and holden at Charles-Town, on Thursday,the Sixth Day of October in the Thirty First Year of the Reign of our SovereignLord, George the Second, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France& Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c, and in the Year of our Lord 1757.On which Day, being the First Day of the Meeting of this present GeneralAssembly, pursuant to the Writs which had issued for that purpose; andChildermas Croft, Gentleman, Clerk of the Assembly, attending, accordingto his Duty; the following Gentlemen met in the Room in the State-House,appropriated to the Use of the General-Assembly,] 1 Vidt., Benja. Smith, JohnGuerard, Daniel Crawford, Christopher Gadsden, Henry Laurens, JohnMcQueen, Egerton Leigh, Peter Manigault, Robert Pringle, John Rattray,John Murray, & William Drayton, Esqrs.Who not being a Sufficient Number to make an house made Choice ofRobt. Pringle Esqr. to be their Chairman to adjourn the meeting of theHouse pursuant to the directions of the Election Law in that Case made &provided & he by the desire of the Rest of the Gentlemen adjourn’d themeeting of the House till tomorrow Morning Ten of the Clock.Friday the 7th day of October 1757.The following Gentlemen Met, Vizt., Benjamin Smith, Henry Laurens,Christr. Gadsden, Peter Manigault, Chars. Pinckney, Joseph Elliott, WilliamDrayton, Egerton Leigh, Chars. Faucheraud, Elijah Postell, John McQueen,Daniel Horrey, Robert Pringle, Isaac Mazyck, John Guerrard, John Murray,Willm. Roper, Rawlins Lowndes & John Rattray, Esqrs.Mr. Manigault & Mr. Laurens were directed by the rest of the Gentlemen,to wait upon the Governor & acquaint him that there are a Sufficient1This opening passage from the British copy does not appear in the South Carolina manuscript,where the first sentence simply reads, “The following Gentlemen met, according to the Governors Proclamation.”The governor had dissolved the previous General Assembly by proclamation, but both theBritish text and the manuscript election returns (Council Journal, October 6, 1757, SC Archives) indicatethat the house members met pursuant to the writs of election, which were returnable on October 6.