Here We Spent About 10 Days
In Refitting; In Which Time We Had A Great Deal Of Diversion
In Fishing And Shooting On Those Rocky Islands.
The Inhabitants
were very courteous and civil, especially the Governor,
to whose good Company and Favour, we were very
Much oblig'd.
There is a Town on one of these Islands, where is good Entertainment
for those that happen to come in, though the Land is but mean,
and Flesh-meat not Plenty. They have good Store of Rabbits, Quails, and Fish;
and you see at the poor Peoples Doors great Heaps of Perriwinkle-shells,
those Fish being a great Part of their Food. On the 1st Day of May,
having a fair Wind at East, we put to Sea, and were on the Ocean
(without speaking to any Vessel, except a Ketch bound from New England
to Barbadoes, laden with Horses, Fish, and Provisions)
'till the latter End of July, when the Winds hung so much Southerly,
that we could not get to our Port, but put into Sandyhook-bay, and went up
to New York, after a pinching Voyage, caus'd by our long Passage.
We found at the Watering-Place, a French Man of War,
who had on Board Men and Necessaries to make a Colony,
and was intended for the Messiasippi River, there to settle.
The Country of New-York is very pleasant in Summer, but in the Winter
very cold, as all the Northern Plantations are. Their chief Commodities
are Provisions, Bread, Beer, Lumber, and Fish in abundance;
all which are very good, and some Skins and Furrs are hence exported.
The City is govern'd by a Mayor, (as in England) is seated on an Island,
and lies very convenient for Trade and Defence, having a regular Fort,
and well mounted with Guns. The Buildings are generally
of a smaller Sort of Flemish Brick, and of the Dutch Fashion,
(excepting some few Houses:) They are all very firm and good Work,
and conveniently plac'd, as is likewise the Town, which gives
a very pleasant Prospect of the neighbouring Islands and Rivers.
A good Part of the Inhabitants are Dutch, in whose Hands
this Colony once was. After a Fortnight's Stay here,
we put out from Sandyhook, and in 14 Days after, arriv'd at Charles-Town,
the Metropolis of South Carolina, which is soituate
in 32, 45 North Latitude, and admits of large Ships to come over their Bar
up to the Town, where is a very commodious Harbour, about 5 Miles distant
from the Inlet, and stands on a Point very convenient for Trade,
being seated between two pleasant and navigable Rivers. The Town has
very regular and fair Streets, in which are good Buildings of Brick and Wood,
and since my coming thence, has had great Additions of beautiful,
large Brick-buildings, besides a strong Fort, and regular Fortifications made
to defend the Town. The Inhabitants, by their wise Management and Industry,
have much improv'd the Country, which is in as thriving Circumstances
at this Time, as any Colony on the Continent of English America,
and is of more Advantage to the Crown of Great Britain, than any of
the other more Northerly Plantations, (Virginia and Maryland excepted.)
This Colony was at first planted by a genteel Sort of People,
that were well acquainted with Trade, and had either Money or Parts,
to make good Use of the Advantages that offer'd, as most of them have done,
by raising themselves to great Estates, and considerable Places of Trust,
and Posts of Honour, in this thriving Settlement. Since the first Planters,
abundance of French and others have gone over, and rais'd themselves
to considerable Fortunes. They are very neat and exact
in Packing and Shipping of their Commodities; which Method has got them
so great a Character Abroad, that they generally come to a good Market
with their Commodities; when oftentimes the Product of other Plantations,
are forc'd to be sold at lower Prizes. They have a considerable Trade
both to Europe, and the West Indies, whereby they become rich,
and are supply'd with all Things necessary for Trade, and genteel Living,
which several other Places fall short of. Their co-habiting in a Town,
has drawn to them ingenious People of most Sciences, whereby they have
Tutors amongst them that educate their Youth a-la-mode.
Their Roads, with great Industry, are made very good and pleasant.
Near the Town is built a fair Parsonage-house, with necessary Offices,
and the Minister has a very considerable Allowance from his Parish.
There is likewise a French Church in Town, of the Reform'd Religion,
and several Meeting-houses for dissenting Congregations, who all enjoy
at this Day an entire Liberty of their Worship; the Constitution
of this Government, allowing all Parties of well-meaning Christians
to enjoy a free Toleration, and possess the same Priviledges,
so long as they appear to behave themselves peaceably and well:
It being the Lords Proprietors Intent, that the Inhabitants of Carolina
should be as free from Oppression, as any in the Universe;
which doubtless they will, if their own Differences amongst themselves
do not occasion the contrary.
They have a well-disciplin'd Militia; their Horse are most Gentlemen,
and well mounted, and the best in America, and may equalize
any in other Parts: Their Officers, both Infantry and Cavalry,
generally appear in scarlet Mountings, and as rich as in most Regiments
belonging to the Crown, which shews the Richness and Grandeur of this Colony.
They are a Fronteer, and prove such troublesome Neighbours to the Spaniards,
that they have once laid their Town of St. Augustine in Ashes,
and drove away their Cattle; besides many Encounters and Engagements,
in which they have defeated them, too tedious to relate here.
What the French got by their Attempt against South Carolina,
will hardly ever be rank'd amongst their Victories; their Admiral Mouville
being glad to leave the Enterprize, and run away, after he had suffer'd
all the Loss and Disgrace he was capable of receiving.
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