how much they resented the Conduct of those of the Council, who had join'd with the Lower House of Assembly, in the Com plaint against him, who were, Col. Thomas Broughton, Mr. Alexander Skene, Mr. James Kinlaugh, and Mr. Yonge, (the first of these the Governor's Brother in Law) they left the three first out of the Council; and one of the Proprietors told Mr. Yonge, he had also been left out, but in Respect to my Lord Carteret, who was his Patron and recommended him.

By this the Governor found Mr. Trott was to Rule the Province, tho' he had the Name of it; and therefore he resolv'd for the future to Act by his and the new Council's Advice, that they might be answerable for any ill Effects their future Councils and Transactions might produce. He, according to the Lords Proprietors Orders, call'd his New Council, and qualified such of them as would serve. Several of them refusing, he declar'd the three Acts of Assembly Repeal'd, and by Proclamation dissolv'd the Assembly, and called a new one, to be chosen all at Charles Town, after the old Method. Thus the People were irritated and heated to a violent Degree, and the Basis of all Government being either Love, Fear, or Interest, or perhaps any two, or a Mixture of all the three, but in this, there was neither one nor the other; for they thought they had no reason to love the Proprietors, who not only refused them Justice, but protected and countenanc'd an Evil Minister in an Office which most immediately affected their Lives and Properties, who refused to part with the Uncultivated Lands, either for the Publick or any Private Use, but their own; tho' it is apparent by their Charter, it was granted to them to be disposed of in such a Manner as to encourage His Majesty's Subjects to go over, and settle there, and to extend his Dominions, and they had just before promis'd it in Tracts of 200 Acres to new Comers; on which Promise several Hundreds had come from Ireland, but could not have a Yard of Land to settle on when they came, and this notwithstanding the Country had been put to the Expence of paying some Thousands of Pounds for their Passages to Carolina; so that the Number of Inhabitants could not be increas'd or their Frontiers strengthen'd, neither would they allow them the Free dom they desired, and what was the Practice of other Colonies, in chusing their Representatives, nearest the Methods used in England, which their Laws are to be, by the express Words of the Charter. Another Reason of their not loving the Proprie tors, is the same that made them not fear them, i. e. their Inability to succour and protect them, either from their own Intestine Enemies, the Indians, or from the Spaniards, with whom at that time there was a War; for it is very natural to think,

that if they could not send Forces to assist them, it would be as difficult to correct them; and lastly, they judg'd it plainly their Interest to be under the Crown, who could and would protect them, and also (as they hoped) put them in the same Circumstances with His Majesty's other Colonies in America, who, they found, had proper Assistances from the Crown. As there was therefore neither Fear, nor Love, nor Interest to support this Government, how could it long subsist?

The Lords Proprietors who liv'd in England, altho' most of them Men of Quality, whether they left it to an Under-Officer who they trusted with their Dispatches, and who abus'd his Trust, and did not give them just Accounts of their Affairs, for fear it might affect his Friends in Carolina, Mr. Trott, and Mr. Rhett; or whatever was the Cause, we shall leave it to the World to judge, whether they acted as if they knew or desir'd to be inform'd of the State of their Affairs there; for they gave no manner of Credit to what was told, and desir'd of them, by the whole Body of the People, the Governor, Council, and Assembly; but to shew they were resolv'd to be Despotick and Absolute, they acted just contrary to what they were requested by them, in the most humble manner, to do; and because the Act which was past for the better recovering of their Quit-Rents, also obliged them to part with their Lands at a certain Rate, they disapprov'd of that, being resolv'd to part with no more, tho' at the Hazard of ruining those already settled there. Indeed, my Lord Carteret was not then in England, or I cannot imagine he would have consented to the acting in this manner, neither were some others of their Board then at Age; but as I am inform'd, every thing was left to their Secretary, who sent any Instrument when drawn, by the Post, to such as were out of Town, or carried them to sign, to those that were in Town, which was generally done without any previous Consideration, whether they were fit and convenient to be done or not; and thus a whole Province was to be govern'd by the Caprice of one Man. But to return to our History.

The Governor call'd the Assembly according to his new Instruction, to be chosen at Charles Town; and now Mr. Rhett and Mr. Trott found themselves mistaken, in fancying they could influence the Elections when in Town, so as to have such Members chosen as they liked: for it proved quite the contrary; they could not get so much as a Man chose that they desir'd, the whole People in general were prejudic'd against the Lords Proprietors to such a degree, that it was grown almost dangerous to say any thing in their Favour; and about this time (which added more to their Dislike) the Governor receiv'd Advice, that

the Spaniards from the Havanah design'd to attack the Country. Upon which (the Time of meeting of the New Assembly: being not yet come) he was oblig'd to call his Council and such of the new-elected Members as could be got together, and inform'd them of the Advice he had receiv'd; and he desir'd they would consider of the ill Conditions the Fortifications were in, and the Necessity there was immediately to repair them; which he propos'd to do by Voluntary Subscription, until the Assembly could provide for the doing it: And to shew an Example himself, he subscribed 500l. (to such Extremity the Dissolving the former Assembly reduced the Province.) Those of the Assembly made Answer, They thought the Income of their Duties were sufficient for that Service. The Governor objected, That the Law was Repeal'd by the Proprietors. To which Answer was again made, That the Publick Receiver was order'd to sue any Man that refused to pay as that Law directed; for they did not nor would look on their Repeal as any thing.. Mr. Trott told them, If any Action was brought into his Courts (for so he always call'd them) on that Act, he would give Judgment for the Defendant. At this Meeting hot Arguments arose among them, and they broke up without doing any thing, chusing rather to hazard the Loss of the Country to the Spaniards, than submit to acknowledge a Right in the Proprietors of Repealing their Laws.

The Governor was likewise oblig'd by this Advice he had receiv'd of the Spaniards Intentions, to call the Field-Officers of the Militia together, to give them Orders to review the Regiments, and settle a Rendezvous, in case of the Spaniards attempting to land in any part of the Country. Which Orders they seem'd to receive as usual, and muster'd the Regiments upon the Day prefix'd; but had an Association prepar'd; and when together, got all the People to Sign it almost to a Man; and so the whole Province was at once brought into a Confede racy against the Lords Proprietors, unknown to the Governor. In this Assembly Mr. Skene was elected a Member; who being one of those remov'd from the Council by the Proprietors, went in amongst the rest, full of Resentment against them, and having been for many Years Secretary to the Island of Barba does, was look'd upon as a Man that understood Publick Affairs very well; and several others of the best Understanding had frequently private Meetings, in which they resolv'd to have no more to do with the Proprietors. And they were the more en courag'd to throw off their Authority, by a Vote that had passed in the House of Peers some Years before, That the Lords Pro prietors had forfeited their Charter: And an Address their

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Lordships made to her then Majesty Queen Anne, wherein they desired she would be pleased to order her Attorney-General to Prosecute the same, to assume the Government of the Country to herself. Besides, they had been told by their then Agents, That when Her Majesty was desired to send them Relief in their Indian War, and the Government was expected, if she did so, that my Lord Carteret was so good, as publickly to declare to the then Lords of the Trade, He should be willing (as to his own particular) to give up the Government, rather than they should want that Relief. And the Time seem'd to be now coming, by the Attack threatned by the Spaniards, when they should more than ever want the Assistance of the Crown; and therefore they were resolv'd to remove the former Objection, and put themselves under His Majesty's immédiate Protection.

The first Notice that the Governor had of the Certainty of this and of their being come to a fix'd Resolution, was by a Joint-Letter from Mr. Skene, Col. Logan, and Major Blakeway, in these words:

66.

SIR,

W

1

E doubt not but you have heard of the whole Province entering into an Association to stand by their Rights and Privileges, and to get rid of the Oppres"sion and Arbitrary Dealings of the Lords Proprietors: And "as we always bore you the greatest Deference and Respect "imaginable, we take this Opportunity to let you know, that a "Committee of the Peoples Representatives were last Night "appointed to wait on you this Morning to acquaint you, That "they are come to a Resolution, To have no Regard to the "Lords Officers, nor their Administration; And withal, To beg "that your Honour would hold the Reins of Government for "the King, 'till His Majesty's Pleasure be known.

"The great Value the whole Country express for your Ho"nour's Person, make them desirous of having no body but your Self to Govern them: And as you must be convinc'd "that no Persons can be more passionately desirous of your "Government than our selves, we hope you will not take amiss "any Advice given by faithful and affectionate Friends; and "therefore we take the Liberty to tell you freely, That we are "of Opinion, that your Honour may take the Government upon you, upon the Offer of the People, for the KING; and represent to the Proprietors, That rather than the whole Coun"try should be in Confusion and want a Governing Power, you

"held it for their Lordships; tho' you were oblig'd to comply "with the Province, who were unanimously of Opinion they "would have no Proprietors Government.

"We could wish for a longer and better Opportunity to ex"plain this Affair to you; but it is impossible, for the Gen"tlemen will be with you in two Hours at the farthest. We "heartily wish your Honour the utmost Success, let it go which "way it will; but beg Leave to observe, That your Compliance, "will be not only the greatest Satisfaction imaginable to the "Province in general, but in particular to,

28th Nov. 1719.

Your most Obedient, &c.

Sign'd A. Skene.

Geo. Logan.
William Blakeway.

The Governor being at his Plantation about four Miles off when he receiv'd this Letter, he came immediately to Town, and summon'd such of his Council as he could get together, who were Mr. Izard, Judge Trott, Mr. Hart, Mr. Delaconsiliere, Col. Bull, Mr. Butler, and Mr. Jacob Satur, and acquainted them with what he had heard, and that he had met in the Town Mr. Skene and Mr. Berrisford, who told him, that those who had designed to wait on him as above related, had chang'd their Minds, and were dispers'd and gone to their respective Homes. Upon all which he desir'd the Council's Opinions what was proper to be done; who unanimously advis'd him, That considering they had alter'd their Resolution of waiting on the Governor, no further Notice should be taken of their Proceedings, until such time as they should meet as an Assembly, and the Matter should be reviv'd.

This I have mention'd more particularly, to shew, that if Mr. Johnson did not act in a more vigorous Manner, on the first Notice he had of the Designs of the People, it was owing to the Advice of his Council, who he was resolv'd to be guided by, tho' contrary to his own Opinion, especially by Mr. Trott, in whose Favour the Proprietors had shewn themselves so partial.

Before and after this, the Gentlemen that were chosen to be of the Assembly had many private Meetings in the Country; their Association was form'd, as before mention'd, and almost every body in the whole Province did sign it, except some few who more immediately belong'd to the Proprietors: In it they promis'd and agreed to stand by and support whatsoever should