Note 413 — SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. (continued 4)

Not long after this, Hugh Bryan imagined himself to be a prophet, and sent twenty closely written sheets, filled with his predictions, to the Speaker of the South Carolina House of Assembly. It was, also, rumoured that he was encamped in the wilderness, and was gathering together all sorts of people—especially negroes; and that he had procured firearms, for some secret and dangerous purpose. Warrants were issued for his apprehension; but, before they could be served, he discovered his delusion, confessed his errors, and begged for pardon. The man was not traitorous, but mad. In order to ascertain whether the "invisible spirit," with whom he imagined he had held converse, was an angel or the devil, he nearly drowned himself. A long account of the whole affair was ordered to be printed by the House of Assembly, on March 3, 1742; and was published in the Boston Postboy, of May 3, 1742.