Garden, no carolinian is recollected as having studied botany scientifically or otherwise than for horticultu-: ral purposes prior to the revolution; but since that event this delightful science has excited attention which though daily increasing, is far short of what it deserves*. At the head of its present vota

* There are many medicinal plants the virtues of which have not been ascertained, nor can they properly be till they are made the subject of repeated experiments. To the candidates for medical degrees it is submitted whether any subjects for inaugural dissertations can have equal charms, or excite an equal interest as experimental investigations of some of the medicinal vegetables of the country. The virtues of several of these are now in a great measure lost to the community, because unknown or imperfectly ascertained. To persons residing in the country the study of botany would beguile the time which, from want of some useful pursuit, frequently hangs heavy on their hands-To the pious it affords a constant source of love and gratitude to the author of nature, for having done so much to benefit and please his creatures-To persons of taste and refinement, it affords a continual feast-To the studious, by encouraging and rewarding rural excursions, it gives agreeable relaxation and wholesome exercise without wasting any of their time; for by exchanging their retirement and books for the woods and the volume of nature, the improvement of the mind goes on, while the body acquires new vigor; and to all it affords a never failing source of enjoyment and cmployment which smooths the brow of care, and gives a zest to life.

Much has Carolina done for the encouragement of literature. One step more will justify her sons in claiming pre-eminent rank for generously patronising science. A botanical garden at Columbia of about twenty acres would cost but little, and under proper management could not fail to diffuse knowledge among the youth of the country of immense practical use, leading to discoveries that even in a pecuniary point of view, would probably repay with handsome interest the pittance necessary for its support.

ries are Stephen Elliott of Beaufort, Henry Middleton, general Pinckney, and Dr. Macbride of St. Stephens; the latter of whom prosecutes this study with ardor and success in every relation, but most particularly as connected with the practice of physic. It has also been successfully cultivated by Mrs. (general) Pinckney, who has formed an extensive hortus siccus or collection of dried specimens of the botanic riches of Carolina. Miss Maria Drayton of Drayton hall, and Miss Martha Henry Laurens Ramsay of Charlestown, are entitled to a distinguished place among its admirers and students.

THE

LITERARY HISTORY

OF

SOUTH CAROLINA,

From 1670-1808.

.

CHAP. IX.

THE colonists of modern times have many advantages over those of antiquity, for they carry with them the civilization, arts, and refinements of the times in which they lived and the countries from which they migrated. The settlement of Carolina commenced some considerable time after the discovery of printing-the reformation of religion-and the restoration of learning. It was nearly coeval with the institution of the Royal society of London, and began at a time when Addison, Boyle, Boerhaave, Barrow, Fenelon, Hale, Locke, Milton, Newton, Rollin, Sydney, Sydenham, Sloan, Tillotson, Watts, and many other suns of intellect were living and enlightening the world with the beams of knowledge. Though few if any of the early settlers of the province were learned men, yet they brought with them general ideas of european literature. The

subsequent improvements in the old world were soon transmitted to the new, and by the noble art of printing extensively diffused. The opportunities enjoyed by the emigrants to South-Carolina for rapidly rising to consequence, surpassed those which had been at any period within the grasp of the colonies of Asia; or even of Greece or Rome. To prepare the soil for cultivation-to provide shelter and the necessaries of life, must have engrossed the first care of the early settlers; but this was no sooner accomplished than they adopted measures for promoting the moral and literary improvement of themselves and particularly of the rising generation. In the year 1700 a law was passed "for securing the provincial library of Charlestown." This had been previously formed by the liberality of Dr. Bray, the lords proprietors, and the inhabitants of the province; and was, by special act of the legislature, deposited in the hands of the minister of the church of England in Charlestown for the time being to be loaned out to the inhabitants in succession under the direction and care of James Moore, Joseph Morton, Nicholas Trott, Ralph Izard, Job Howe, Thomas Smith, Robert Stevens, Joseph Croskeys, and Robert Fenwicke; who were appointed commissioners for that purpose. Libraries were soon after formed in the different parishes, but chiefly for the use of the rectors and ministers. Most of the books in these parochial libraries were the gift either of Dr. Bray or of the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts; but the assembly took them all under their care, and subjected them to the visitations of

VOL. II

2Z

the commissioners appointed to secure the provin cial library. From this time forward the circulation of books-the establishment of churches-and the settlement of episcopal ministers in the different parishes, were encouraged by legislative acts, private donations, and by the liberality of the english society for propagating the gospel. About a hundred years ago that society considered the carolinians as proper objects of their attention, and contributed in different ways to their literary and religious instruction. Their efforts were seconded by the people and the legislature. The settlers were so few, and so indigent, that they could not have accomplished the object wished for to any proper extent from their own resources, but the bounty of the society encouraged legislative and private exertions, and their combined efforts were rewarded with success. In a few years the episcopal churches near Charlestown were supplied with preachers, and several of them with parochial libraries. Such was the zeal of the assembly for promoting the religious instruction of the infant colony, that they advanced £25 to episcopal clergymen on their arrival in the province; and in case of their election to a benefice their salary was paid by the treasury retrospectively from the day of their landing.

In the years 1710 and 1712 the assembly passedlaws "for founding and erecting a free-school in Charlestown for the use of the inhabitants of SouthCarolina." The preamble of the latter, after setting forth "the necessity that a free-school be erected for the instruction of youth in grammar and other arts and sciences, and also in the principles of the chris