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"the King and the World, who ought to be satisfy'd that I "have done all I can to serve the Country, and do my Duty "in my Station.

The Convention did not think fit to give any Answer to this Letter, but continu'd their Sitting, and doing Business in the same Way they had begun: But Sir Hovendine Walker being Out-of-Humour at some of their Proceedings, he retir'd to his Plantation, and they chose Mr. Richard Allein (who they had before appointed Chief Justice) President of their Council in

his stead.

They order'd the Fortifications of the Town to be repair'd ; which was done in a great Hurry and Haste, under the Inspection of Colonel Rhett, but so slightly, that in a very little time they wanted as much Repairing as ever. This necessary Work cost a great Sum of money; besides which, they voted their Governor 2500l. a Year, and their Chief Justice 8001. current Money of the Province, and transmitted to their Agents in England 1000l. Sterling. To defray all which Expences, they pass'd a Law for laying a Tax on Lands and Negroes, to raise 30.0001. for the Service of the current Year.

The Governor and his Friends refus'd to pay this Tax, the Act not being made by lawful Authority; but they were resolv'd to be obey'd, and forc'd every Body (except Mr. Johnson) to comply, by Distraining on their Negroes, who they took and sold at publick Auction, and apply'd the Money to the paying their Taxes; and thus they were intirely fix'd, both in their Legislative and Executive Capacity, in the full Possession of the Government.

The whole Country was in Arms for above a Fortnight, and several of the Country Companies of the Militia were drawn down to defend the Town; there being an Account, That the Spanish Fleet from the Havana was actually sail'd. But this Expedition of theirs, ended in an Attempt they made on Pro+ vidence; where they were repuls'd by Governor Rogers, and lost most of their Fleet by Storm, in endeavouring to return back to their Port.

The Spaniards Designs being frustrated, and at an end, gave Leisure to the Flambrough Man of War to come from Providence to Carolina, to her Station, when the Commander, Captain Hildesley, was courted by the Contending Governors, who thought himself oblig'd to declare for Mr. Johnson. This, with Mr. Johnson's ordering the Secretary Mr. Hart to keep from them the Publick Records, and the Clergy's refusing to marry without his License, gave them no small Trouble; and which,

with the Perswasion of him and his Friends, had gain'd him (as he was in hopes) a considerable Party; insomuch that he propos'd, with the Assistance of the aforesaid Capt. Hildesly, and Capt. Pearce, Commander of his Majesty's Ship the Phanix, who then happen'd to come into the Harbour, to frighten them into a Compliance of Surrendring to him the Government, by a Shew of their Men before the Town. But they were not so to be terrify'd, they being in a Town regularly fortify'd, and 70 Pieces of Cannon mounted on their Ramparts, and near 500 Men within it. So that Project was frustrated, and cost Mr. Johnson a great deal of Trouble, as well as Expence.

And now Letters came from England, That the Lords Proprietors had sold their Charter to three Quakers, who pretended to Divide the Country into Shares, which were to be StockJobb'd in Exchange-Alley. This again reviv'd and added Fuel to their old Animosities: They now became Outragious, and so Angry, there was no composing them. What had us'd to be said to them by the Friends of the Proprietors, That tho' they were our Fellow-Subjects, yet some of them were Men of the best Quality in England, and on that score ought to have a Deference shewn them, was now no longer an Argument. The Lords Proprietors were now Quakers, and might in time be transferr'd to no Body could know who, perhaps, the meanest of the People. But this Project was put an End to, by an Act of Parliament for Suppressing Bubbles, in the Year 1720.

The Country's Agents procur'd a Hearing before the then Lords of the Regency in Council, His Majesty being in Germany; when their Excellencies were of Opinion, The Lords Proprietors had forfeited their Charter, and order'd the Attorney-General to take out a Scire facias against it. They also appointed General Francis Nicholson, Provisional Governor, with His Majesty's Commission. And this put an End to any farther Attempts on the Part of Mr. Johnson, and was a good Reason, to perswade any of his Friends from Joining with or Assisting him any farther, now that what was done had a sort of a Sanction from the Government of England.

And thus the Government became the King's, to the great Joy of the People of that Province, who, if they have acted (as it cannot be deny'd they have) in a Manner not the most Legal; the Necessities of their Affairs must plead their Excuse. It plainly appears, by their Address to Mr. Johnson, they did it with great Regret towards him, (a) whose Father had formerly

(a) The Country was attack'd by the French and Spaniards in 1706, when he was Governor, and he fortified Charles Town.

done great Services to the Province, and they never had a Governor they lov'd better. And I believe it will be thought, that the Lords Proprietors gave them no small Provocations, but made it almost absolutely Necessary for them to do what they did, since they found there was no other Way of getting rid of their Chief Justice Trott, who had Tyranniz'd over them for many Years; and tho' often complain'd of, they could never get remov'd: Which together with the Right the Lords Proprietors insisted on, of Repealing their Laws, the absolute Necessity they lay under of the more immediate Assistance of the Crown, together with their refusing to part with their Lands; all these concurring, made them resolve to run all Hazards, to have them remedied.

To sum up all therefore, It is most Humbly Hoped, That after the Charge the Crown has been at in Protecting and Supporting the People of Carolina, and which is the only Power that can Protect them, (the End of all Government) that they will not now again be left destitute of that Support, without which they cannot subsist, but must abandon the Country the first War that may happen with the Crown of Spain, or if their Indians should think fit again to Quarrel with them. Their Defending themselves in the last War with the Indians, Maintaining Garisons in several Forts on their Frontiers ever since, and erecting them; repairing their Fortifications at Charles Town which were destroy'd by a Hurricane, and fitting out their Expeditions against the Pyrates, has put them very greatly in Debt, and would make it very difficult for them to defend themselves, if the like Occasions should again present.

They therefore Pray for the Continuance of His MAJESTY'S Government, who, ever since He has been pleas'd to take it upon Him, has Protected their Trade by His Ships of War, and their Country by His Forces, and who is always ready to hear the Complaints of His Subjects, tho' never so remote, and is the Only Power (under GOD) that is able to Defend them.

FINIS.

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OF THE

PROVINCE

OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

DRAWN UP AT

CHARLES TOWN, IN SEPTEMBER, 1731.

Translated from Mr. Purry's Original Treatise, in French, and published in the Gentleman's Magazine, for August, September, and October, 1732.

WASHINGTON CITY:

PRINTED BY PETER FORCE.

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