Page images
PDF
EPUB

tle-Snakes, the Country being full of them; and that they ought to keep a good Guard against them; however they did not so much as see one of those Serpents, nor of any other sort for 15 Days that they travelled about in the Woods, tho' it was in the Middle of Summer at a time when all Serpents are out of their Holes. It is very seldom that any Person is bitten by these Snakes, or by those of other Kinds, which are much more common, that it would be very difficult to find so much as one Person in all Carolina that has ever had this Misfortune. There are also some Crocodiles in the Rivers, but the People fear them no more, than if they were so many Fishes, since it was never known that they have hurt any Person whatsoever.

Those that may have any Desire to go and settle there may further take notice of 3 or 4 observations:

1st, That South Carolina is not only situated in the same Degree of Heat, Fertility, and Temperature of Air, which is about 33 Degrees Latitude, as Barbary, the Isle of Candia, Syria, Persia, Mogolistan, China, and in general all the best Countries in the Universe; but it is also the only Country of all those the English possess that is situated in that Degree; and there is all the Reason in the World to believe, that if there be now an Opportunity to have Lands there for nothing, this Advantage will not continue long. At least 'tis very certain that those who shall come first, will have the Choice of Land, as also the Proximity of Rivers, much better than those that shall come afterwards.

2dly, That by means of the Wool, Cotton, Flax and Hemp, it will be easy to procure all Linnen necessary, as also good Cloth and Stuffs for Cloathing, without being forced to purchase them at a very dear rate from the Shops, as most of the Planters are at present. And what is still an Article very considerable, there will be no Danger of wanting Provisions in a Country so plentiful, unless some Accidents happen, which cannot be foreseen by human Prudence; we may be assured that Hailstones will not deprive the Inhabitants thereof.

3dly, That Carolina being of all the Neighboring Provinces which the English possess on the Continent of North America, from 29 to 49 Degrees of Latitude, is not only the largest and most productive of Necessaries, but also the most Southward, and nearest to Jamaica, Barbadoes, and all the Islands of the Antilles, which have Occasion for salted Provisions, Bread, Wine, Fruits, Roots, and several other Things, we need not hesitate a Moment to prefer it to all the other Colonies on the North side. And besides the great Advantages which may accrue to the Inhabitants by the Fertility of the Land, and the Temperateness of the Climate, the Situation thereof for Trade

will always draw Ships into its Ports, which there finding at a reasonable price and in good Order, all that the other most distant Provinces can have, will hardly go so far, whilst any thing is to be had in Carolina.

4thly, and lastly, And what is. of the greatest Importance of all is, that there is an entire Liberty of Conscience and Commerce for all that come thither, without paying any thing for it; Justice is duly administred to all; and every body can say that what he possesses lawfully belongs to him in full Propriety. There are no Tenths, Imposts, Tailles, nor Capitation Taxes, nor any of those Burdens which render so many other People unhappy: In a word, you have all the Laws, Liberties, and Priveleges there which are enjoyed in England: Tis the Lower House that has the Disposal of the Money of the Province, and who vote the Taxes necessary for the publick Service, however with the Approbation of the Upper House, and that of his Majesty, represented by the Governor; and when one of the two Houses would have an Act passed, on any Subject whatsoever, after having examined and debated all the Clauses thereof, it is ingrossed and sent to the other House for their Concurrence. But this Act, or rather projected Act, has at that time only the Name of a Bill, that is to say, properly, an Act proposed. Now if this Bill is passed by the other House, it is carried to the Governor, who may either approve or reject it; and 'tis not till the Moment the Governor gives his Consent thereto, that it takes the Form of a Law, and has all the Force thereof; for if either of the Houses or Governor rejects the said Bill, it drops of course. Therefore nothing better proves, that the Constitution of the Government of Carolina, as well as that of England, is founded on the Union between the King and the People, since they make only one and the same Body, of which his Majesty is always the Head; from whence it may be concluded and boldly affirmed that the English are the most free and happy People at this Time in the whole World.

We whose Names are hereunto subscrib'd, do Attest, that all which is contain'd in this Account of South Carolina, is the real Truth, having been Eye-Witnesses of most part of the Particulars therein mentioned. Done at Charles Town the 23d of September, 1731.

JOHN PETER PURRY, of Neufchatel.
JAMES RICHARD, of Geneva.
ABRAHAM MEURON, of St Sulpy in the

County of Neufchatel.

HENRY RAYMOND, of St Sulpy.

Proposals by Mr. PETER PURRY, of Newfchatel, for Encour agement of such Swiss Protestants as should agree to accompany him to Carolina, to settle a New Colony.

There are only two Methods, viz: one for Persons to go as Servants, the other to settle on their own Account.

1. Those who are desirous to go as Servants must be Carpenters, Vine-planters, Husbandmen, or good Labourers. 2. They must be such as are not very Poor, but in a Condiwith them what is sufficient to support their common Necessity.

tion to

carry

3. They must have at least 3 or 4 good Shirts, and a Suit of Cloathes each.

4. They are to have each for their Wages 100 Livres yearly, which make 50 Crowns of the Money of Newfchatel in Swisserland, but their Wages are not to commence till the Day of their arrival in Carolina.

5. Expert Carpenters shall have suitable Encouragement. 6. The time of their Contract shall be 3 Years, reckoning from the Day of their arrival in that Country.

7. They shall be supply'd in part of their Wages with Money to come from Swisserland, till they imbark for Carolina.

8. Their Wages shall be paid them regularly at the end of every Year; for security whereof, they shall have the Fruits of their Labour, and generally all that can be procured for them, whether Moveables or Imoveables.

9. Victuals and Lodging from the Day of their Imbarkation shall not be put to their account, nor their Passage by Sea.

10. They shall have what Money they want advanced during the Term of their Service in part of their Wages to buy Linnen, Clothes, and all other Necessaries.

11. If they happen to fall Sick they shall be lodg'd and nourish'd Gratis, but their Wages shall not go on during their Illness, or that they are not able to Work.

12. They shall serve after Recovery, the time they had lost during their Sickness.

13. What goes to pay Physicians or Surgeons, shall be put to their Accompt.

As to those who go to settle on their own Account, they must have at least 50 Crowns each, because their Passage by Sea, and Victuals, will cost from 20 to 25 Crowns, and the rest of the Money shall go to procure divers things which will be absolutely necessary for the Voyage.

Ir may not be disagreable in this Place to inform our Readers, that Mr. Purry, on his Return to Swisserland, with this Account of CAROLINA, soon prevail'd on many industrious Persons and their Families to the Number of about 400, to go with him. On the 11th of this Month [August, 1732,] they embarked at Calais in France, on Board two English Ships, which arrived off Dover the next Day, and are now sailed on their Voyage. Mr. Bignion their Minister came to London, and received Episcopal Ordination: So that the Reflections which some have cast on the Religion of these People, are unjustly founded.

« PreviousContinue »