July 26th, 1669. The expenses of this first embarkation amounted to twelve thousand pounds sterling. The settlers must have been few in number, and no ways adequate to the undertaking.* The country now called Carolina, on which they settled, was then an immense hunting ground filled with wild animals; overgrown with forests-partly covered with swamps, and roamed over, rather than inhabited, by a great number of savage tribes, subsisting on the chase and often at war with each other.

Governor Sayle first landed at or near Beaufort, early in 1670, but soon moved northwardly and took possession of some high ground on the western banks of Ashley river, near its mouth; and there laid the foundations of old Charlestown. This was also abandoned; and in 1680 Oyster Point, at the confluence of Ashley and Cooper rivers, was fixed upon as the seat of government, and head-quarters of the settlement. Soon after his arrival governor Sayle died, and was succeeded by Joseph West; and he by Sir John Yeamans, who left the colony, and was succeeded by Joseph West on a second appointment. These changes took place in the short space of four years. The people, who had hitherto lived under a species of military government, began about this time to form a Legislature for establishing civil regulations. In the year 1674 the freemen of Carolina, meeting by summons at old Charlestown, elected Representatives for the government of the colony. There was now the Governor, and Upper and Lower House of Assembly; and these three branches took the name of Parliament. Of the laws passed by them nothing is known. The first law which has been found on record in the office of the Secretary of the Province, is dated May 26th, 1682; eight years subsequent to the first meeting of the first Parliament in Carolina. Many were the difficulties with which these settlers had to contend. They were obliged to stand in a constant posture of defence. While one party was employed in raising their little habitations, another was always kept under arms to watch the Indians.

We have the authority of John Archdale, Governor of South Carolina in 1695, that the number of hostile Indians was considerably lessened about the time this settlement took place. In the second page of his description of South Carolina, printed in 1707, in London, he observed, "That in the first settlement of Carolina, the hand of God was eminently seen in thinning the Indians to make room for the English. As for example; in Carolina in which were seated two potent nations, called the Westoes and Savannahs, which contained many thousands, who broke out into an unusual civil war; and thereby reduced themselves into a small number: and the Westoes, the more cruel of the two, were at the last forced quite out of that province; and the Savannahs continued good friends nd useful neighbors to the English. But again it at other times pleased Almighty God to send unusual sicknesses amongst them, as the small pox, &c., to lessen their numbers; so that the English, in comparison to the Spaniards, have but little Indian blood to answer for."

While they gathered oysters with one hand for subsistence, they were obliged to carry guns in the other for self-defence. The only fresh provisions they could procure were fish from the river, or what game they could kill with their guns. They raised their scanty crops not only with the sweat of their brows, but at the risk of their lives. Except a few negroes, whom Sir John Yeamans and his followers brought with them from Barbadoes, there were no laborers but Europeans. Till the trees were felled, and the grounds cleared, domestic animals could afford to the planters no assistance. White men, exposed to the heat of the climate and the terrors of surrounding savages, had alone to encounter the hardships of clearing and cultivating the ground. Provisions, when raised, were exposed to the plundering parties of Indians. One day often robbed the planter of the dear-bought fruits of a whole year's toil. European grains, with which were made the first experiments of planting, proved suitable neither to soil nor climate. Spots of barren and sandy land, which were first and most easily cleared, poorly rewarded the toil of the cultivator. It was difficult for the proprietors to furnish a regular supply of provisions. All the horrors of a famine were anticipated. The people feeling much, and fearing more, threatened to compel the Governor to abandon the settlement.* One sloop was dispatched to Virginia, and another to Barbadoes to bring provisions. Before their return a supply arrived from England, together with some new settlers, which reanimated the expiring hopes of the colonists.

It might have been expected that these adventurers, who were all embarked on the same design, would be animated by one spirit and zealous to maintain harmony and peace among themselves; for they had all the same hardships to encounter, and the same enemies to fear; yet the reverse took place. The most numerous party in the country were dissenters from the established Church of England. A number of cavaliers having received ample grants of lands, brought over their families and effects and also settled in Carolina. The cavaliers were highly favored by the proprietors, and respected as men of honor, loyalty and fidelity. They met with great encouragement, and were generally preferred to offices of trust and authority. The puritans, on the other hand, viewed them with jealous eyes; and having suffered from them in England, could not bear to see the smallest atom of power committed to them in Carolina. Hence the seeds of strife

* A similar measure had been carried into effect by some French settlers, who had located themselves on the coast of Carolina, about 120 years before. Their settlement was abandoned in less than two years after its commencement, and was never renewed.

and division which had been imported into the colony, began not only to spring, but to grow rank. No common dangers nor difficulties could obliterate the prejudices and animosities which the first settlers had contracted in England. The odious terms or distinction which had prevailed in the mother country, were revived and propagated among the people of the infant colony. While one party was attached to the Church of England the other, which had fled from the rigor of ecclesiastical power, was jealous above all things of their religious liberties and could bear no encroachment on them. The same scenes of debate and contention which had taken place in England, for some time before and after the restoration of Charles the Second, were acted over again on the little theatre of Carolina; but without bloodshed or legal persecution.

Another source of difficulty arose to government from the different manners of the colonists. Several of the first emigrants, unaccustomed to rural labors and frugal simplicity, were pampered citizens; whose wants luxury had increased and rendered impatient of fatigue. By such, the sober lives and rigid morals of the puritans were made the objects of ridicule. The puritans on the other hand, exasperated against their scorners, violently opposed their influence among the people. Hence arose difficulties in framing laws—in distributing justice-and in maintaining public order. Governor West was at no small pains to restrain these dissentions; but having a Council composed of cavaliers, was unable to calm the tumult. In spite of his authority the puritans and cavaliers continued to insult and oppose each other. In consequence of their fierce contentions, the colony was distracted with domestic differences, and poorly prepared for defence against external enemies. Disputes between the proprietors and settlers, were also of an early origin.

In most measures for the immediate support of the colony, they for some time cordially concurred; but this was of short duration. The same scenes which for more than 5000 years had taken place in the Old World, began to open in this settlement of the new. Those who govern and those who are governed, think they can never gain too much on each other. The existence of a court and country party, results from the nature of man; and is found more or less in every Government.

The first contest between the proprietors and the settlers, was respecting advances for the encouragement of the settlers. The former for some time gratuitously supplied the latter with provisions, clothes, and farming utensils. The proprietors afterwards annually sent out similar supplies to be exchanged with the colonists for the productions of their labor, or sold

to them at a small advance on the original cost. After expending upwards of £18,000 sterling, in this manner, for the encouragement of the settlement, they wished to hold their hands and to leave the settlers to depend on their own exertions. The difficulties attendant on the first stage of cultivation furnished the inhabitants with apologies for soliciting a continuation of the customary supplies, and a farther extension of time to pay for them. The economy of the proprietors and the necessities of the settlers, could not easily be compromised. The one thought they had already done too much; the other that they had not received enough. To the latter, requesting a supply of cattle to be sent out to them, the proprietors replied, as a reason for their refusal, "That they wished not to encourage graziers but planters."

It is from this epoch that we may date the prosperity of Carolina; because she was then taught a lesson, which it is of the greatest importance for every individual and every state to know, "That she must altogether depend on her own exertions."

Two parties arose; one in support of the prerogative and authority of the proprietors, the other in defence of the rights and liberties of the people. The former contended that the laws received from England respecting government, ought to be implicitly observed. The latter kept in view their local circumstances, and maintained that the free men of the colony were under obligations to observe them only so far as they were consistent with the interests of individuals, and the prosperity of the settlement. In this situation, no governor could long support his power among a number of bold adventurers, who were impatient of every restraint which had the least tendency to obstruct their favorite views. Whenever he attempted to interpose his feeble authority, they insulted his person and complained of his administration till he was removed from office.

In the short space of four years, from 1682 till 1686, there were no less than five Governors; Joseph Morton, Joseph West, Richard Kirle, Robert Quarry and James Colleton. The last named, who was a landgrave, and brother to one of the proprietors, as well as Governor, determined to exert his authority in compelling the people to pay up their arrears of quit-rents; which, though very trifling, were burdensome, as not one acre out of a thousand, for which quit-rents were demanded, had hitherto yielded any profit. For this purpose, Governor Colleton wrote to the proprietors, requesting them to appoint such deputies as he knew to be most favorably disposed towards their government, and would most readily assist him in the execution of his office. Hence the interest of the

proprietors and that of the people, were placed in opposite scales. The more rigorously the Governor exerted his authority, the more turbulent and riotous the people became. The little community was turned into a scene of confusion.

Landgrave Colleton, mortified at the loss of power, was not a little puzzled in determining what step to take. Gentle means, he perceived, would be vain and ineffectual. One expedient was suggested, which he and his council flattered themselves might induce the people, through fear, to return to his standard and support the person who alone had authority to punish mutiny and sedition. This was to proclaim martial law, and try to maintain by force of arms the proprietary jurisdiction. Accordingly, without letting the people into his secret, he caused the militia to be drawn up as if some danger had threatened the country, and publicly proclaimed martial law at their head. His design, when discovered, served only to exasperate. The members of assembly met, and taking this measure under their deliberation, resolved that it was an encroachment upon their liberties, and an unwarrantable exertion of power, at a time when the colony was in no danger. The Governor insisted on the articles of war, and tried to carry the martial law into execution; but the disaffection was too general to admit of such a remedy. In the year 1690, at a meeting of the representatives, a bill was brought in and passed for disabling landgrave James Colleton from holding any office or exercising any authority, civil or military, within the province. So exasperated were they against him that nothing less than banishment could appease them; and therefore they gave notice to him that in a limited time he must depart from the colony.

During these public commotions, Seth Sothell, pretending to be a proprietor by virtue of some regulations lately made in England, usurped the government of the colony. At first, the people seemed disposed to acknowledge his authority; but afterwards, finding him to be void of every principle of honor and honesty, they abandoned him. Such was the insatiable avarice of this usurper, that his popularity was of small duration. Every restraint of common justice and equity was trampled upon by him, and oppression extended her iron rod over the distracted colony. The fair traders from Barbadoes and Bermuda, were seized as pirates, by order of this Governor, and confined until such fees as he was pleased to enact, were paid. Bribes from felons and traitors, were accepted to favor their escape. Plantations were forcibly taken into possession, upon pretences the most frivolous; planters were compelled to give bonds for large sums of money to procure from him liberty to remain in possession of their pro