NOTE WITH the assistance of Mr. Salley, the general editor makes the following comments upon the maps reproduced in this volume: The "Generall Mapp of Carolina," used as frontispiece, is reproduced from the somewhat larger map (8 by 6 inches) which appeared in the first volume of Richard Blome's Description of the Island of Jamaica, with the Other Islands and Territories in America, to which the English are Related (London, 1672). It will be observed that it is adorned with the eight coats of arms of the proprietors. Of these Mr. Salley says that they "are almost heraldically correct, but several of the proprietors quartered their family arms with those of other sides of the respective houses, and their seal of the province, containing their eight coats of arms, displays these quarterings." The map extends from Cape Henry in Virginia to some distance down the coast of Georgia, perhaps as far as the Altamaha. The portion of it relating to North Carolina may be compared with the John White map of 1585 or 1586, printed in the volume of this series entitled Early English and French Voyages, page 248. The map as a whole reflects the imperfect knowledge available in London at the time when it was made. It will be seen that the compiler has fallen into marked confusion of mind respecting the position of Charles Town. The first settlement of that name had been located some twenty or thirty miles up the Cape Fear River. The Charles Town founded in 1670 was placed on the west side of Ashley River and before long transferred to the present position between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Blome's map indicates 'Ashly Riv." near his Charles Town but gives the latter a position near Cape Fear and not far from the old site on the Cape Fear River. The proper position of the name Ashley would be against the river lying between "C. Romano" and "R. Grandy" (the North Edisto). Another point deserving attention is that Charles 66 275427 Fort, the short-lived Huguenot establishment, is set on a large island east of "S. Hellen's," the two islands being of about the same size; whereas, as has been explained in one of Mr. Salley's foot-notes, St. Helena is a large island east of Broad River, while Charles Fort was on a small island formed by Broad River, Port Royal River, and Pilot Creek, lying southwesterly from St. Helena. The plan of Charles Town is reproduced, in the same size as the original, from an engraving by James Akin, in the second volume of Ramsay's History of South Carolina (Charleston, 1809). The plan is indicated by Dr. Ramsay as taken "from a survey of Edward Crisp in 1704." The original cannot now be found. It is perhaps identical with a map which Dr. Ramsay describes in his History (II. 262) as having been preserved among the papers of the distinguished family of Prioleau. Some doubt surrounds the origin of the map. Mr. Salley finds a record in South Carolina, of date 1716, reciting a grant that had previously been made to Edward Crisp of London, but finds nothing further to identify him with South Carolina. He signalizes two errors of fact in the "References" which are placed beneath the map. N is marked as Keating L. Smith's Bridge (wharf). There was no Keating L. Smith at that time; the owner was Keating Lewis. W is indicated as the scene of the first rice patch in Carolina; but Mr. Salley considers this to have no historical foundation. In general, however, the plan is correct. It may be compared with one by Herman Moll which constitutes a side map to his Map of the Dominions of the King of Great Britain in America, 1715. In Dr. J. L. E. W. Shecut's Medical and Philosophical Essays (Charleston, 1819), there is a chapter (pp. 1-14) "Of the original Topography of Charleston," which follows the lines of this Ramsay map, with explanations, and identifications of its landmarks with those of the author's time. J. F. J. |