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108

SETTLEMENT OF CHARLESTON.

Netherlands, which having passed into the hands of the English, many of the original colonists chose to seek a new residence. They founded a town on the south-west side of the Ashley river, to which they gave the name of Jamestown. They were subsequently joined by large numbers of their countrymen from Holland; and eventually deserting Jamestown, were dispersed throughout the province.

Disputes now arose between the proprietaries and the colonists, occasioned by the heavy expenses, and deficient returns of the colony. The proprietaries attributed these, in part, to the mismanagement of Yeamans, who retired to Barbadoes, and soon after died. His place was supplied by Joseph West. (1674.)

In 1680, the proprietaries caused the capital of the province to be removed from Old Charleston to Oyster Point, which is formed by the confluence of Cooper and Ashley rivers. Here the present city of Charleston was founded.

West's administration terminated in 1683, when he was succeeded by Morton. The practice of kidnapping Indians, and selling them in the West Indies, which had been introduced by West, was the subject of many disputes between the proprietaries and the colonists, during Morton's administration, whose opposition to it finally occasioned his retirement. Kyrle was next appointed by the proprietaries; but soon after died; and Quarry, his successor, being dismissed for countenancing piracy, Morton was reinstated in 1685.

In 1686, the Spaniards from St. Augustine invaded South Carolina, and laid waste the settlements of Port Royal. Preparations were made for an attack on St. Augustine, which was only prevented by the interference of the proprietaries. About the same time a large accession of emigrants arrived, consisting of Protestant refugees who had been driven from France by the revocation of the edict of Nantz.

Morton was succeeded by James Colleton, in August, 1686. His administration was distinguished by a series of disputes with the legislature, who desired a new constitution, which the proprietaries refused to sanction.

What became a subject of dispute ?-Who retired and died -Who was his successor ?-When was Charleston settled ?-What is said of the Indians -Of kidnapping 1-What was done in 1686 ?-What is said of Morton's administration ?

SOTHEL'S USURPATION.

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[graphic]

Attack of the Spaniards on Charleston in 1706.

When the discontent of the colonists had attained its greatest height, Seth Sothel, who had been banished from Albemarle, suddenly presented himself at Charleston, and usurped the government, banished Colleton, and fined and imprisoned many others of the government party. But his tyranny and rapacity were soon found to be so intolerable, that, on the remonstrance of the proprietaries, he was compelled to vacate his functions, and abandon the province. He went to North Carolina, where he died in 1694.

Colonel Philip Ludwell was now appointed governor. He was anxious to protect the French refugees; and endeavoured to have them naturalised, and admitted to equal rights with the rest of the colonists. This measure was resisted by the bigotry and intolerance of the people; and it was not till many years afterwards, that they obtained the recognition of their natural rights.

Thomas Smith succeeded Ludwell. It was under his administration that the celebrated fundamental constitutions of John Locke were finally abolished, and a system more conformable to the state of the country and the actual wants of the people, was substituted.

In 1694, a ship from Madagascar, on her homeward passage to Britain, happening to touch at Charleston, the captain, in acknowledgment of the civilities of Governor Smith, presented him with a bag of seed rice, which he said he had seen growing in the eastern countries, where

Who usurped the government -How did he behave ?-How was his power terminated? What was attempted by Governor Ludwell?-What was done during Smith's administration?

110

WAR OF THE YEMASSEES.

it was deemed excellent food, and yielded a prodigious increase. The governor divided it among his friends, who agreed to make the experiment; and planting their parcels in different soils, found the result to exceed their most sanguine expectations. From this incident we are to date the first introduction of one of the chief staples of South Carolina.

John Archdale, a Quaker, was appointed governor in 1695. His jurisdiction extended also to North Carolina; and the wisdom and prudence of his administration were universally acknowledged. It terminated in 1696. John Blake was his successor. He was instrumental in conciliating the different religious sects, whose dissensions had been a source of much disturbance. He died in 1700. Under the rule of his immediate successors, Moore and Johnson, the colony was harassed by a succession of Indian wars; involved in a heavy debt by an ill-conducted and fruitless expedition against St. Augustine; and agitated by religious disputes originating in a series of persecuting laws against the dissenters from the church of England.

In 1706, during the administration of Governor Johnson, the Spaniards from St. Augustine made a descent upon Charleston, but were repulsed with a heavy loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners.

Henceforward the proprietary government was involved in constant disputes with the colonists, excepting a short interval during the administration of Charles Craven, until 1729, when the company of proprietaries was dissolved, the chief part of the chartered interests being sold to the crown.

The war of the Yemassees occurred in 1715. It was attended with every circumstance of savage treachery and barbarity. Ninety persons were massacred by the Indians, on the first onset at Pocotaligo, and the neighbouring plantations. Port Royal escaped by a timely warning, most of the inhabitants being conveyed to Charleston by a vessel which was fortunately lying in the harbour.

It was soon found that this was but the opening of the drama. All the southern tribes, from Cape Fear to Florida, were in arms, and seven thousand warriors were speedily arrayed against the Carolinas. Governor Craven

How was the culture of rice introduced into South Carolina ?-What is said of Archdale and his administration ?-Of Blake's ?-Of Moore's? and Johnson's 7-When was the proprietary government abolished ?—— Give an account of the Yemassee war.

ARRIVAL OF OGLETHORPE.

111

mustered 1200 men; marched into the enemy's country; defeated them in a pitched battle and drove them into Florida. Their lands were taken by the colony, and offered to purchasers. A body of 500 Irishmen was speedily settled on them, but being afterwards displaced by the injustice of the proprietaries, the land was again left vacant and the frontier exposed.

For nearly a century after its first settlement, South Carolina, like North Carolina, had nearly all its population confined to the neighbourhood of the sea coast. But subsequently a flood of inhabitants poured into the western woods of the country, from the more northern provinces; and before the revolutionary war commenced, the population amounted to 248,000.

CHAPTER XX.

COLONISATION OF GEORGIA.

GEORGIA was the last of the colonies settled before the declaration of independence. It had been originally included under the first charter for Carolina, but no settlements were made under that charter. The whole tract of country lying between the Savannah and Altamaha remained unoccupied by Europeans till the year 1732. In that year a company was formed in England for transporting into this unsettled wilderness such of the suffering poor in the parent country as might be willing to emigrate for the purpose of gaining a livelihood.

A charter was obtained from George II, incorporating the company under the name of "Trustees for settling and establishing the colony of Georgia.' Large sums of money were subscribed for defraying the expenses of transportation and settlement; and, in November, one hundred and sixteen persons embarked at Gravesend, under the direction of General James Oglethorpe, who arrived early the next year at Charleston. He was cordially received by the inhabitants, who were gratified with the prospect

What was done with the Indian lands?-Give the concluding remarks respecting South Carolina.-Under what charter was Georgia originally included-When was a settlement first made ?-Under what circumstances -Who was the leader of the colonists ?-Where did he first arrive?-How was he received?

112 OGLETHORPE'S TREATY WITH THE INDIANS.

of establishing a barrier between themselves and the Spaniards of Florida.

Having explored the country which he was about to occupy, Oglethorpe fixed upon a high bluff on the Savannah river as a suitable situation for a settlement, and there founded the town of Savannah. Having completed the erection of a fort, his next object was to treat with the Indians for a share of their possessions. He accordingly summoned a congress at Savannah, composed of the chiefs of the Upper and Lower Creeks, and the Yamacraw Indians, represented to them the wealth, power, and intelligence of the English, and the advantages which would accrue to the natives from an alliance with them, and finally offered to purchase so much of their lands as might be required for the use of the new colony.

When this treaty was concluded with the natives, and the colony placed in a state of defence, Oglethorpe returned to England, taking with him the Indian chief Tomochichi, his queen, and several other Indians. On their arrival in London, they were introduced to the king and the nobility, and treated with much distinction. At the end of four months they returned to their country; and by their influence with the Indian tribes, contributed much to the good understanding which subsequently prevailed between them and the colonists.

During the following year, five or six hundred emigrants arrived and took up their abode in the colony. But it was soon found that the paupers of England were not suffi ciently hardy and industrious to form prosperous establishinents in a new country. The trustees offered lands to other emigrants; and, in consequence of this encouragement, more than four hundred persons arrived from Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland, in 1735. The Highlanders built a fort and town at Darien; and the Germans formed an establishment on the Savannah, which they called Ebenezer. In 1736, Oglethorpe arrived with two ships and three hundred emigrants. In the same year the celebrated John Wesley came out to Georgia, and commenced preaching to the colonists and Indians. His benevolent efforts met with much opposition; and he was soon compelled to return to a more congenial sphere of usefulness in England.

What town did he found ?-Where ?-With whom did he hold a conference?-What was done after the conclusion of the treaty, to secure the continued friendship of the Indians 3-What took place in the following year?—In 1735‍?—In 1736?

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