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RELIGION AND LEARNING.] Since the revolution, by which all denominations were put on an equal footing, there have been no disputes between different religious sects. They all agree to differ*. The. upper parts of this state are settled chiefly by presbyterians, baptists, and methodists. There are some episcopalians, but the presbyterians and independents are most numerous. The literature of this state is but at a low ebb. Since the peace, however, it has begun to flourish. There are several respectable academies in Charles-town, one at Beaufort, on Port-Royal island, and several others in different parts of the state. Three colleges have lately been incorporated by law, one at Charlestown, one at Winnsborough, in the district of Camden, and the other at Cambridge in the district of Ninety-six. The legislature, in their session in January 1795, appointed a committee to inquire into the practicability of, and to report a plan for, the establishment of schools in the different parts of the state.

CHIEF TOWNS.] The principal towns of South Carolina are, Charles-town, George-town, Columbia, and Camden. Charles-town is by far the most considerable town on the sea-coast for an extent of 600 miles. It is the metropolis of South Carolina, and is admirably situated at the confluence of two navigable rivers, one of which is navigable for ships twenty miles above the town, and for boats and large canoes near forty. The harbour is good in every respect, but that of a bar, which hinders vessels of more than 200 tons burden, loaded, from entering. The fortifications, which were strong, are now demolished; the streets are well cut; the houses are large and well built; some of them are of brick, and others of wood, but all of them handsome and elegant, and rent is extremely high. The streets are wide and straight, intersecting each other at right angles; those running east and west extend about a mile from one river to the other. In 1787, it was computed that there were 1600 houses in this city, and 15,000 inhabitants, including 5400 slaves. In 1791, there were 16,359 inhabitants, of whom 7684 were slaves. This city has often suffered much by fire; the last and most destructive happened in June 1796. The neighbourhood of Charles-town is beautiful beyond description.

Columbia is a small town in Kershaw county, on the east side of the Congaree, just below the confluence of the Saluda and Broad rivers. It is now the seat of government; but the public offices have, in some measure been divided, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the lower counties, and a branch of each retained in Charles-town.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT.] The first English expeditions into Carolina were unfortunate. None of them had success till the year 1663, in the reign of Charles II. At that time several English noblemen, and others of great distinction, obtained a charter from the crown, investing them with the property and jurisdiction of this country. They parcelled out the lands to such as were willing to go over into the new settlement, and to submit to a system of laws, which they employed the famous Locke to compose for them.

They began their first settlement at a point of land towards the southward of their district, between two navigable rivers. Here they laid the foundation of a city called Charles-town, which was designed to be, what it is now, the capital of the province. In time, however, the disputes between the church-of-England men and dissenters caused a total confusion in the colony. This was rendered still more intolerable by the incursions of the Indians; whom they had irritated by their insolence and injustice. In order to prevent the fatal consequences of these

* Dr. Morse.

intestine divisions and foreign wars, an act of parliament was passed, which put this colony under the immediate protection of the crown. The lords proprietors accepted a recompence of about 24,0001. for both the property and jurisdiction; and the constitution of this colony, in those respects in which it differed from the royal colonies, was altered. Earl Grenville, however, thought fit to retain his seventh share, which continued in the possession of his family. For the more convenient administration of affairs. Carolina was divided into two districts, and two governments. This happened in 1728, and from that time, peace being restored in the internal government, as well as with the Cherokees and other Indian tribes, these provinces began to breathe, and their trade advanced with wonderful rapidity.

The government of South Carolina is vested in a governor, senate of thirty-seven, and a house of representatives of one hundred and twentyfour members.

Miles.

Length 600
Breadth 250

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80 and 91 West long.

{30 and 35 North

Square Miles

60,000

BOUNDARIES AND DIVISIONS] BOUNDED by South Carolina and Tennessee on the North and North-east; by the Atlantic Ocean on the East; by Florida, on the South; and by the river Mississippi on the west. Georgia was formerly divided into parishes, and afterwards into three districts, but lately into two districts, viz. Upper and Lower, which are subdivided into 24 counties, as follow:

Districts.

Chief Towns.
Camden............St. Patrick

1

1

1

Counties.

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ISLANDS AND RIVERS.] The whole coast of Georgia is bordered with islands, the principal of which are Skidaway, Wassaw, Ossahaw, St. Catharine's, Sapelo, Frederica, Jekyl, and Cumberland. The chief rivers of Georgia are the Savannah, which separates it from South Carolina, the Ogeechee, Alatamaha, Turtle River, Little Sitilla, Great Sitilla, St. Mary's, and Apalichicola.

CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCE.] The climate of Georgia is extremely temperate: the winters there are very mild and pleasant. Snow is seldom or never seen: nor is vegetation often prevented by severe frosts. The soil and its fertility are various, according to situation and different improvements. The eastern part of the state, between the mountains and the ocean, and the rivers Savannah and St. Mary's, a tract of country more than 120 miles from north to south, and from 50 to 80 east and west, is level, without a hill or stone. At the distance of about 40 or 50 miles from the sea-board or salt-marsh, the lands begin to be more or less uneven, until they gradually rise to mountains. The vast chain of the Alleghany, or Apalachian mountains, which commence with Kaats Kill, near Hudson River, in the state of New York, terminate in Georgia, sixty miles south of its northern boundary. From the foot of this mountain spreads a wide extended plain of the richest soil, and in a latitude and climate well adapted to the cultivation of most of the productions of the south of Europe, and of the East Indies. Rice is at present the staple commodity of the state; tobacco, wheat, and indigo, are the other great articles of produce. Besides these, the country yields cotton, silk, Indian corn, potatoes, oranges, figs, olives, and pomegranates. Most of the tropical fruits would flourish in this state with proper attention. The south-western parts of Georgia, and the parts of East and West Florida which lie adjoining, will probably, says Dr. Morse, become the vineyard of America. The forests consist of oak, hiccory, mulberry, pine, and cedar.

POPULATION AND TRADE.] The number of inhabitants in Georgia according to the census of 1790, amounted to 82,548 of whom 29,264 were slaves. The increase by emigration has been very considerable since.

The chiefarticles of export from Georgia are rice, tobacco, indigo, sago, timber, naval stores, leather, deer-skins, snake-root, myrtle, and beeswax, corn, and live-stock. The planters and farmers raise large stocks of cattle, from 1000 to 1500 head, and some more. The value in sterling money of the exports of Georgia, in 1755, was £15,744.-in 1772, £121,677.-in 1790 value in dollars 491,472; and 1796, 950,158 dollars. In 1790, the tonnage employed in this state was 28,540, and the number of American seamen 11,225. In return for her exports, Georgia receives West India goods, teas, wines, clothing, and dry goods of all kinds: from the northern states, cheese, fish, potatoes, cyder, and shoes. The imports and exports are principally to and from Savannah, which has a fine harbour, and is the place where the principal commer cial business of the state is transacted.

RELIGION AND LEARNING.] The different religious sects in Georgia are presbyterians, episcopalians, baptists, and methodists. They have but few regular ministers among them.

The literature of this state, which is yet in its infancy, is commencing on a plan, which, if properly carried into effect, must be attended with great advantages. A college with ample and liberal endowments has

stitution of an academy in each county of the state to be supported from the same funds, and considered as parts and members of the same institution, under the general superintendance and direction of a president and board of trustees, selected for their literary accomplishments from the different parts of the state, and invested with the customary powers of corporations. This institution is denominated The Univer sity of Georgia. The funds for the support of literary institutions are principally in lands, amounting in the whole to 50,000 acres, a great part of which is of the best quality, and at present very valuable; together with nearly 6,000l. sterling, in bonds, houses, and town lots in Augusta. Other public property, to the amount of 1,000l. in each county, has been set apart for the purposes of building, and furnishing their respective academies.

The Rev. Mr. George Whitfield founded an orphan-house at Savannah, which, after his death, was converted into a college for the education of young men designed chiefly for the ministry. The funds for its support are chiefly in rice plantations and negroes. On the death of the Countess of Huntingdon, to whom Mr. Whitfield bequeathed this property, as trustee, the legislature, in the year 1792, passed a law, vesting it in 13 commissioners, with powers to carry the original intentions of Mr. Whitfield into execution; and in memory of the countess the seminary is styled Huntingdon College.

CHIEF TOWNS.] The principal towns in Georgia, are Savannah, Augusta, and Louisville. Savannah, formerly the capital of the state, is commodiously situated both for inland and foreign trade, seventeen miles from the sea, on a noble river of the same name, which is navigable for boats upwards of 200 miles. Ships of 300 tons burden can lie within six yards of the town, and close to a steep bank, extending near a mile along the river side. The town is regularly built in the form of a parallelogram, and contained, in 1787, 2,300 inhabitants. In the autumu of 1796 more than two-thirds of this town was consumed by fire.

Augusta, till lately the seat of government, is situated in a fertile plain on the south-west bank of the Savannah river, at a bend of the river, where it is near 500 yards broad. In 1787, it contained about 200 houses.

Louisville, now the metropolis of the state, is situated on the river Ogeechee, seventy miles from its mouth. The convention for the revisal of the constitution sat in this town in May 1795, and appointed the records to be removed, and the legislature to meet here in future.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT.] The settlement of Georgia was projected in 1732, when several public-spirited noblemen, and others, from compassion to the poor of these kingdoms, subscribed a considerable sum, which, with 10,000l. from the government, was given to provide necessaries for such poor persons as were willing to transport themselves into this province, and to submit to the regulations imposed on them. In process of time, new sums were raised, and new inhabitants sent over. Before the year 1752, upwards of 1000 persons were settled in this province. It was not, however, to be expected, that the inhabitants of Georgia, removed, as they were, at a great distance from their benefactors, and from the check and controul of those who had a natural influence over them, would submit to the magistrates appointed to govern them. Many of the regulations, too, by which they were bound, were very improper in themselves, and deprived the Georgians of privileges which their neighbours enjoyed, and which, as they increased in

number and opulence, they thought it hard they should be deprived of. From these corrupt sources arose all the bad humours which tore to pieces this constitution of government. Dissentions of all kinds sprang up, and the colony was on the brink of destruction, when, in 1752, the government took it under their immediate care, removed their particular grievances, and placed Georgia on the same footing with the Carolinas.

The government of Georgia is vested in a governor, executive council of twelve, and house of assembly of seventy-two representatives.

Miles.
Length 360
Breadth 105 S

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81 and 91 West longitude.
35 and 36 30' North latitude.

BOUNDARIES AND DIVISIONS.] BOUNDED, North, by Kentucky, and part of Virginia; East, by the Stone, Yellow, Iron, and Bald Mountains, which divide it from North Carolina; South, by South Carolina and Georgia; West, by the Mississippi*.

This extensive territory is divided into three districts; Washington, Hamilton, and Mero; and fourteen counties, as foilow :

Counties.

Counties.

Washington

Davidson

Sullivan

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Washington Greene

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district

Carter

Montgomery

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Blount
Grainger

The population, according to an estimate made in November, 1795, was 77,262.

RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS.] The Tennessee, called also the Cherokee, and, absurdly, the Hogohege river, is the largest branch of the Ohio. It rises in the mountains of Virginia, latitude 37°, and pursues a course of about 1000 miles south and south-west, nearly to latitude 34°, receiving from both sides a number of large tributary streams. It then wheels about to the north in a circuitous course, and mingles with the Ohio, nearly sixty miles from its mouth.

The Cumberland mountains, in its whole extent from the great Kanhaway to the Tennessee, consist of the most stupendous piles of craggy rocks of any mountain in the western country. In several parts of it, for miles, it is inaccessible, even to the Indians on foot. In one place particularly, near the summit of the mountain, there is a most remark- `

* About seven and a half millions of acres of this tract only have been yet purchased

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