ly naturalized to the soil, grow there with enchant ing luxuriance; but the principal object of the proprietor has been to make an elegant and concentrated display of the native botanic riches of Carolina, in which he has succeeded to the delight and admiration of all visitants."

Another is in St. Paul's district and was originally formed by William Williamson, but now belongs to John Champneys. It contains twenty-six acres, six of which are in sheets of water and abound in excellent fish; ten acres in pleasure grounds, walks, and banks; the remainder is used for horticultural

and agricultural purposes. The pleasure grounds are planted with every species of flowering trees, shrubs, and flowers that this and the neighboring states can furnish; and also with similar curious productions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Another part contains a great number of fruit trees; especially piccan nut and pear trees, which are ripe in succession from the middle of May to the middle of October.

Though all garden vegetables can be raised earlier in Carolina than in the northern states; yet till very lately cabbages, potatoes, onions, and such like articles were generally imported for domestic consumption. Some are even now imported. Within the last twenty years a spirit of horticulture has increased in the vicinity of Charlestown so as to supply the market with a considerable variety and plenty of vegetables for domestic use; but many of the inhabitants of the country still remain destitute of the comforts which even a moderate attention to gardens could not fail of procuring. Rich in staple

commodities, minor objects are by many comparatively neglected.

A passion for flowers has of late astonishingly increased. Many families in the capital, and several in the country, for some years past have been uncommonly attentive to flower gardens. Those who cannot command convenient spots of ground have their piazzas, balconies, and windows richly adorned with the beauties of nature far beyond any thing that was known in the days of their infancy.

COMMERCIAL HISTORY

OF

SOUTH CAROLINA,

From 1670-1808.

CHAP. VI.

COMMERCE is of noble origin in South-Carolina. Its first merchants were the lords proprietors of the province. Two vessels were very early and constantly employed by them to introduce settlers and every thing necessary either for their support or the cultivation of the earth. These plied between Charlestown on one side, and Virginia, the british West India islands, particularly Barbadoes, and Great-Britain on the other. From the West India islands they imported rum and sugar, and in return carried thither staves and lumber. Sir John Yeamans, who was governor of the province in the second, third, and fourth year after its settlement, owned an estate in Barbadoes, and was very active in promoting this exchange of commodities between the two countries, with both of which he was particularly connected. From Great-Britain the carolinians imported clothing, provisions, plantation tools, and domestic animals. To it they exported furs and peltry. Much

of these were procured from the indians, which gave rise to a brisk trade between them and the settlers in the way of barter. This was the general course of commerce for the first 30 years after the settlement. About that time rice began to be an article of export.

Mercantile profit was not the object of the lords proprietors. To encourage emigration to their province they advanced money to supply the settlers. Their increased number bid fair to increase the demand for the lands of the proprietors so as ultimately to reimburse them for their advances. They pursued this policy till they had reason to complain of much going out and little coming in. The colonists, after a reasonable period of indulgence, were left to their own exertions; and the proprietors discontinued their mercantile intercourse with the settlement.

The trade of the province must have been inconsiderable for at least 15 years, as that period had elapsed before any collector of duties for the port of Charlestown was appointed; and before the first legislative act respecting a pilot was passed. For 50 years, subsequent to the settlement, nothing certain is known either of the population in or the amount of exports from Carolina; but there is reason to believe that rice began to be exported about the beginning of the 18th century. Anderson states that 264,488 barrels were exported to England from 1720 to 1729; and that 429,525 barrels were exported between 1730 and 1739 inclusive. About the latter period the trade of the province was considerable both in imports and exports. The negroes 2 H

VOL. II.

then amounted to about 40,000. They and all other articles of importation must have been paid for chiefly by the rice, naval stores, lumber, peltry, and furs exported from the country. To these first articles of export were added indigo, from 1747-tobacco, from 1782-and cotton, from 1792*. The aggregate value of exports was in such a course of progressive increase, that in the last year of the 18th century it amounted to 10,554,842 dollars, and in the first year of the 19th to 14,304,045 dollars.

For the 106 years of the colonial existence of South-Carolina, all its trade centered in Great-Britain and its dependencies; with the exception of as much rice as under the special indulgence of an act of parliament was exported to the southward of cape Finisterre. This trade was carried on very much to the satisfaction and interest of Carolina. A considerable proportion of it was in the hands of native merchants, but more was carried on by emigrants from Great-Britian and Ireland. Many of these invested their commercial gains in a planting interest, settled and raised up families in the province. Several of them passed through all the grades between clerks, or shopmen, and wealthy merchants or substantial planters, in the interval bebetween their youth and the period of their attaining or soon after their passing the meridian of life. They did not consider Carolina as a place of exile

* These periods mark the years when the exportation of these articles began to be considerable. Small quantities were exported before. In addition to these great articles of export, some minor ones might be added; such as indian corn, cowpease, beef, pork, leather, shingles, staves, &c.