or their civil right, property and authority over such slave or slaves, but that the slave or slaves, with respect to his or their servitude, shall remain and continue in the same state and condition, that he or they was in before the making of this Act."

In this year, the Rev. Mr. Guy was removed to the Cure of St. Helena, Beaufort, and Thomas Morritt succeeded him in the school. The public advantages resulting from this establishment, were so evident, that the Assembly passed an Act of Incorporation, Dec. 12, 1712, "for founding and erecting a FreeSchool in Charles-Town for the use of the Inhabitants of this Province of South-Carolina." It recites; "whereas it is necessary that a Free-School be erected for the Instruction of the Youth of this Province, in Grammar, and other Arts and Sciences and useful Learning, and also in the Principles of the Christian Religion: and whereas several charitable and well disposed Christians by their Last Wills and Testaments, have given several sums of money for the founding of a Free-School, but no person yet is authorized to take the charge and care of erecting a Free-School, according to the Intent of the Donors, and to receive the said Legacies if tendered, nor to demand the same in case of refusal to pay the same," &c. A Brick building was erected for the School, and an annual salary of £100, current money,* appropriated for the Master. He was required to be "of the religion of the Church of England, and conform to the same, and be capable to teach the learned languages, (that is to say) Latin and Greek Tongues, and to catechise and instruct the

* As money was of various denominations in Carolina, "it may be necessary to state that, Sterling Money of Great Britain was the legal tender of the Province. The value of Foreign coin was raised by the Assembly in 1683, and first gave rise to the Currency of Carolina. In 1708, Queen Ann issued a Proclamation for ascertaining the current rate of coin in the Colonies, whence the appellation Proclamation Money. This fixed their current nominal value at £133.6. 8. for £100 sterling. The other denomination was the Paper Money, called Currency or Carolina Money. This was finally settled at seven for one sterling.

Youth in the Principles of the Christian Religion as professed in the Church of England." Any person giving £20 to this School, had the privilege of sending one person to be taught, free of expense, for five years. Twelve Scholars nominated by the Commissioners, were to be taught free. Other Scholars were to be received on paying to the Master £4 per ann; but 30 shillings of this went to the Usher, if one should be appointed, and likewise a salary of £50 per ann.* &c. &c. The Act likewise made provision for establishing Free-Schools in all the Parishes.+

A similar Act was passed, April 8, 1710, but it had The extensive usenot been carried into operation. fulness of Free-Schools was not clearly perceived, until it was demonstrated by the successful efforts of the Society for Propagating the Gospel.

Among the early Acts of the Provincial Parliament, we find regulations adopted for the proper observance of the Christian Sabbath. The attention of the Ast sembly was called to this subject, and they passed an Act, Dec. 12, 1712, "for the better observation of the Lord's Day."‡

An Act was passed, Dec. 12, 1712, "to put in Force in this Province the several Statutes of the Kingdom of England or South Britain, therein particularly mentioned." In this Act Liberty of Conscience was confirmed. "Provided also, That this Act, or any enumerated Statute or Clause of any Statute in the same contained, shall not be construed or extended to take away or abridge the Liberty of Conscience, or any

*The Salaries of the Masters and Ushers were appointed to be paid in Current Money, but in consequence of its depreciation, they were directed by An Act, April 9, 1734, to be paid in current money, but at four hundred per cent. advance.

In "an Additional Act to an Act, entitled, An Act for establishing County and Precinct Courts,' passed Feb. 23, 1722, the Justices of those courts were authorized to purchase lands, erect a Free School in each County and Precinct, and to assess the expense upon the lands and slaves within their respective jurisdictions. They were to appoint the Masters, who should be "well skilled in the Latin tongue," and be allowed £25 Proc. Money per ann. Ten poor children were to be taught gratis, yearly, if sent by the Justices.

+ See Appendix I. 5.

other Liberty in Matters Ecclesiastical, from any of the Inhabitants of this Province, but that the same may and shall be enjoyed according to the Powers and Privileges granted to the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of this Province, by their Charter from the Crown, and the several Acts of Assembly in this Province now in force relating to the same." Sec. xiii.

The Right Rev. Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, died 7th July, 1713. He was succeeded by the Right Rev. Dr. Robinson, who was translated from the See of Bristol.

The Yamassee Indians occupied the Country from Port-Royal Island to Savannah River. In 1715, they commenced a destructive war against the Province, and were joined by all the tribes from Florida to Cape-Fear River. On the 15th of April they burst upon the settlements like a torrent, and, with their usual treachery and ferocity, destroyed the plantations and massacred the inhabitants.* The Missionaries

They fled

suffered in common with their flocks. before the tomahawk and scalping knife, and left their possessions a prey to the enemy. The Society immediately determined to afford them relief. They wrote to their Agent, Col. Rhett, to give to each of their Missionaries, as a gratuity, half a year's Salary, and to extend the same relief to their Schoolmasters. They likewise directed him to present each Clergyman of the Province, who had suffered in the general calamity, though not in the service of the Society, with a sum not exceeding £30. Col. Rhett, took great pleasure in being the Almoner of the Society's bounty, and immediately paid the Missionaries who applied to him, the sums the Society had bestowed. The Rev. Mr. Le Pierre, and the Rev. Mr. Richbourg, two French Clergymen, who were not employed by the Society, likewise received their

Hewatt's His. So. Ca. i. 212-223. Humphrey's Acc. of Soc. Prop. Gos. 96, Ramsay's So. Ca. i. 158–164.

bounty. This was so seasonable a relief to these gentlemen, that they were induced to remain in the Province, which, otherwise, they had determined to abandon.

The Rev. Mr. Commissary Johnson had been successfully and satisfactorily labouring in his Cure, since his return from England, when a melancholy accident deprived the Church and the Country of his services. In the month of April, 1716, the Hon. Charles Craven, Esq. Governor of the Province, embarked for England. Mr. Johnson, with thirty other gentlemen, went over the Bar to take leave of him. On their return from the Ship, a sudden squall overset their vessel, and Mr. Johnson, being below, lame with the gout, was unfortunately drowned. Some of the passengers and crew were saved by swimming, and others by assistance from the shore. It is remarkable, that the vessel drifted on the same sand bank, on which Mr. Johnson had nearly perished when he first came to Carolina. His body was brought to town, and buried with every mark of respect and sorrow.*

Mr. Thomas Morritt, Master of the Free-School in Charles-Town, went to England to be Ordained, in 1717, and returned in Priest's Orders the following Spring.

As an inducement for Clergymen of education and talents to emigrate to Carolina, the Assembly, Dec. 11th, 1717, made more ample provision for their support. The Rector of St. Philip's, Charles-Town, was to receive an additional Salary of £100, and the Rectors of Country Parishes, an addition of £50 per ann.

The Rev. Alexander Garden, A. M. arrived in Charles-Town, in 1719, and was elected Rector of St. Philip's Parish.

In 1710-11, the Assembly had directed a new brick Church to be built for the accommodation of the in

* Hewatt's His. So. Ca. i. 230.

habitants of Charles-Town. It had not been finished, and had been materially injured by Storms. The old wooden Church was fast falling into ruin, and had become dangerous to the worshippers. The Assembly, therefore, Dec. 9, 1720, passed an Act for completing the Parish Church of St. Philip's.*

The people having abandoned the Proprietary government, and placed themselves under the protection of the King, Francis Nicholson was appointed Provisional Governor, Sept. 26, 1720, until a final arrangement could be made with the Lords Proprietors. The Governor arrived in Charles-Town, May 21, 1721. The following article is copied from his Commission: "And we do by these presents authorize and empower you to collate any person or persons to any Churches, Chapels, or other Ecclesiastical Benefices, within our said Province and Territory's aforesaid, to which we, our heirs or successors, are or shall be entitled to collate as often as any of them shall happen to be void." His Instructions, dated Sept. 27, 1720, contain the following articles relating to Religion and Morals:

"45. You shall also cause an exact account to be kept of all persons born, christened, and buried, and send yearly fair abstracts thereof to his Majesty and his Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

"57. You are to permit a liberty of Conscience to all persons, (except Papists) so they be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same, not giving offence or scandal to the government.

"72. You shall take especial care that God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your government, the Book of Common Prayer as by law established, read each Sunday and Holy-day, and the blessed Sacrament administered, according to the Rites of the Church of England.

* See Appendix I. 6.