Discourse Concerning the design'd ESTABLISHMENT Of a New COLONY TO THЕ South of Carolina, IN THE Most delightful Country of the Universe. By Sir ROBERT MOUNTGOMRY, Buronet. LONDON: Printed in the Year 1717. DISCOURSE. T will perhaps afford some Satisfaction to the Gentlemen of Carolina, to know, that my Design arises not from any sudden Motive, but a strong Bent of Genius I inherit from my Ancestors: One of whom was among those Knights of Nova Scotia purposely created near a hundred Years ago, for settling a Scots Colony in America. But the Conquest of that Country by the French prevented his Design, and so it lies on his Posterity to make good his Intentions for the Service of their Country. The Humour however Descended, and ran down with the Blood: For my Father was so far of this Opinion, that, together with Lord Cardross the late Earl of Buchan, and some other Gentlemen, he enter'd into Measures for Establishing a Settlement on Port-Royal River in South-Carolina, and Lord Cardross went thither in Person; but the Spaniards dislodg'd them, and destroy'd the Plantation: Advantage being taken of some Confusions, which arose through the want of full Powers, and distinct Jurisdiction. The charming Descriptions, which on this last Occasion, I met with, of the natural Sweetness, and Beauties, of Carolina, inspir'd me with an early Affection to that Place, in particular. But the Wars intervening, and calling for my Sword, in the more immediate Service of my Country, gave me no Opportunity to put in Practice certain Schemes which occur'd, effectually forming a Settlement there, till just now; when together with some of my Friends, who unite their Endeavours with mine, I am like, by continuance of the Indian Disturbances, to enjoy my own Wish, with the Additional Pleasure of being useful to the Province. Tho' our Design does not altogether depend on the Subscription of Purchasers, herein propos'd, yet our own Stock so encreas'd will be made more effectual, and we shall give at the same Time an Opportunity to many of Sharing in our Benefits, who cou'd not be otherwise concern'd in the Undertaking. If therefore, the Offer, which we make, shall meet with En couragement, 'twill, by Dividing our Burthen, somewhat lighten it; If it fails, 'twill no further Disappoint us, than as it leaves us to do That alone, which might better, be done with the expected Assistance. R. MOUNTGOMRY. Of the Motives, and Foundation of the Undertaking. PLA LANTATIONS of new Countries, says the Great Lord Bacon, are among the Primitive, and most Heroick Works of Man. They are meritorious in a double Sense; Religiously, as they illuminate the Souls of Heathens through the Darkness of their Ignorance, and Politically, as they strengthen the Dominion, which sends out the Colony, and wonderfully more than any other Means enrich the Undertakers. But as such Attempts are Great, so also are they Dangerous. One early Caution easily secures their future Benefits; one little Error in Foundation overthrows the Building. It is to a Defect in setting out, that all our noble Colonies upon the Western Continent have ow'd their Disappointments; To a want of due Precaution in their Forms of Settling, or rather, to their settling without any Form at all: The Planters grasp'd at an undue Extent of Land, exceeding their Capacity to manage, or defend: This scatter'd them to Distances unsafe, and solitary, so that, living in a Wilderness, incapable of mutual Aid, the necessary Artizans found no Encouragement to dwell among them; Their Woods remain'd unclear'd; their Fens undrain'd; The Air by that Means prov'd unhealthy, and the Roads impassable; For want of Towns, and Places of Defence, they suddenly became a Prey to all Invaders even the unformidable Indians took Advantage of the Oversight; and Carolina, is, at present, groaning under a most bloody Persecution, from a wild and despicable Kind of Enemy, who had not dar'd to think of the Attempt, but from an Observation daily made, how open and unguarded they might take the English. From these Examples, and the Neighbourhood of the intended Settlement to Carolina thus distress'd, our future Eden, made early wise by Dangers, which she feels not, would not only fix her Foot upon a firm Foundation, so as to resist a Storm Herself, but she wou'd also spread her Wings to a Capacity of Shadowing Others: A British Colony, shou'd like the Roman, carry with it always something of the Mother's Glory. Excited therefore, by an earnest Inclination to establish such a Settlement, as may, by new Means, yield new Benefits, as well in Wealth, as Safety, and resolving to proceed upon a Scheme entirely different from any hitherto attempted, and which appears "THE underwritten Palatine and Lords Proprietors of the 66 66 River, which Tract of Land the said underwritten Lords do "erect into a distinct Province, with proper Jurisdictions, Priviledges, Prerogatives, and Franchises, Independent of, and "not Subject to the Laws of South Carolina, to be holden of "the said Lords by Sir Robert, his heirs, and Assigns for ever, "under the Name and Title of the Margravate of Azilia; at "and under the yearly Quitrent of one Penny Sterling per "Acre, or its Value in Goods, or Merchandise, as the Land "shall be occupied, taken up, or run out; Payable yearly to the "Lords Proprietors Officers at Charles-Town, but such Pay"ment not to commence, till three Years after Arrival of the "first Ships there, which shall be sent over to begin the Set❝tlement; over and above which Penny per Acre, Sir Robert, "his Heirs, and Assigns, shall also yield, and pay to the Lords "Proprietors, one fourth Part of all Gold, or Silver Oar, be"sides the Quota reserv'd to the Crown out of the said Royal "Minerals: Distinct Courts of Judicature to be erected, and "such Laws enacted within the Margravate, by and with the "Advice, Assent, and Approbation of the Freemen thereof in "Publick Assembly, as shall be most conducive to the Utility "of the said Margravate, and as near as may be conveniently 66 agreeable to the Laws, and Customs of England, but so as "such Laws do not extend to lay Duties or Custom, or other "Obstruction upon the Navigation of either of the said Rivers, "by any Inhabitant of South, or North Carolina, or their free "Commerce and Trade with the Indian Nations, either within, "or to the Southward of the Margravate, Sir Robert consenting "that the same Duty shall be charg'd on Skins within the "Margravate, which at this Time stands charg'd on such Skins "in South Carolina, and appropriated to the Maintenance of |