A government, similar to those of the other American colonies, succeeded it. This colony had been connected with that of South Carolina, till 1729, when they were separated, and the government of both was asssumed by the King. This continued till the breaking out of the revolution. The present constitution was established in 1776.

CHAPTER XVII. SOUTH CAROLINA.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. This state is bounded N. by North Carolina; E. by the ocean; S. and W. by Georgia. It extends from 32° to 35° 8 N. lat. and from 78° 24' to 83° 30′ W. lon. being 200 miles long and 125 broad, and containing 30,080 square miles.

2. RIVERS. The Great Pedee rises in North Carolina, where it is called the Yadkin, and flows to the sea through the eastern part of this state; it has a sloop navigation of 130 miles. The Santee is formed by the union of the Wateree and Congaree, which rise also in North Carolina. It is navigable about the same distance as the preceding. The Edisto has a boat navigation for 100 miles, and the Savannah washes the whole southwestern limit of the state. All the rivers of South Carolina flow through a level country, and their waters are generally sluggish and shallow.

3. ISLANDS. The southern part of the coast is skirted by a range of islands, separated from the main land by narrow channels, which afford a steamboat navigation. These islands, like the neighboring continent are low and flat, but are covered with forests of live oak, pine and palmettoes. Before the cultivation of cotton, many of them were the haunts of alligators, and their thick woods and rank weeds rendered them impenetrable to man. At present, they are under cultivation, and well inhabited; and as the voyager glides by their shores in a steamboat, he is enchanted with the prospect of their lively verdure, interspersed with thick clumps of palmettoes, and flowering groves of orange trees. The live oak, which is so called on account of its being an evergreen, is a noble tree, with a trunk sometimes 12 feet girth; its long branches are spread horizontally, and festoons of moss hang from them almost sweeping the ground. The laurel is here seen covered with large white blossoms, shaped like a lily, and a foot in circumference. The long sandy beaches, which border these islands toward the sea, are covered with thousands of water fowl.

4. HARBORS. Like those of North Carolina, the harbors of this state are generally bad. That of Charleston is obstructed at the entrance by a dangerous sandbar; that of Georgetown will only admit small craft. The harbor of Beaufort, or Port Royal, is the best in the state, but is little frequented.

5. SHORES. The whole seacoast is low and level, with long sandy beaches, and without any prominent headlands.

6. CLIMATE. The climate is hot, moist and unhealthy. In summer the heat of the day continues with little abatement through the night, and a comfortable sleep is a blessing not always to be enjoyed. Fevers, generated by the influence of a hot air upon a moist soil, are common. The summer continues from 7 to 8 months, or from March to November. In winter, there are often frosts which kill the tender plants, and even the orange trees;

but they seldom continue longer than three or four days, nor penetrate the earth deeper than two inches. In the lower parts of the state there is seldom any snow. In the northwestern part, the land is mountainous, and the climate generally salubrious, with a drier air, and a colder winter.

7. SOIL. In this particular, this state resembles North Carolina. The western part has a lofty and broken surface, but the whole of the state, toward the sea, is flat and swampy. The high land and much of the alluvial territory, are fertile, but there are some parts of a different character, denominated Pine Barrens. These spots however, are the most salubrious in the swampy districts. The hilly portion consists of a comparatively small tract, in the northwestern extremity; all the remainder of the state is alluvial.

8. MINERALS. Veins of gold exist in this state, and it is probable that the metal is abundant; but mines have not yet been extensively worked.

9. FACE OF THE COUNTRY. The coast for 100 miles from the ocean, is covered with forests of pitch pine, with swampy tracts here and there. Beyond this, is a parallel belt of territory, called the Middle Country, consisting of low sand hills, resembling the waves of an agitated sea. This tract occasionally presents an oasis of verdure, or a few straggling pine trees, and sometimes a field of maize or potatoes. The middle country is bounded by another belt of land called the Ridge, where the country rises by a steep and sudden elevation, and afterwards continues gradually to ascend. Beyond, the surface exhibits a beautiful alternation of hill and dale, interspersed with extensive forests, and watered by pleasant streams. There are a few lofty mountains in the western part,

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. DIVISIONS. This state is divided into 29 districts.* The population is 581,458; of whom 315,665 are slaves.

2. CANALS. The Santee Canal connects that river with Cooper river, both running into Charleston harbor; it is 22 miles long, 35 feet broad at the surface, and four feet deep. It has 9 locks, overcoming 68 feet of ascent from Cooper river to the summit level, and four locks, with 35 feet descent to the Santee. The cost of this canal was 650,667 dollars. It was finished in 1802. The Waterce Canals pass around the falls upon that river, above Camden. There are canals upon Broad and Saluda rivers, which, in connexion with the rivers below, and the Santee canal, constitute an inland navigation, 150 miles, from Charleston to Cambridge, in the western part of the

state.

3. RAILROAD. A railroad has been commenced from Charleston to Hamburg, on the Savannah, opposite Augusta, Its length will be 135 miles. 4. CITIES AND TOWNS. Charleston, the commercial metropolis, and formerly the seat of government, is built upon a point of land at the junction of Ashley and Cooper rivers. Its harbor is capacious, but difficult of entrance. The city is regularly built, and though the site is low, the approach to it by water is particularly fine. Many of the streets are very handsome, and most

of the houses are furnished with three piazzas to each story. In the outer parts of the city, the houses are surrounded with gardens, and ornamented by trees and shrubbery. Groves of orange and peach trees in bloom, present here a most inviting appearance to the traveller, who arrives from the north in the early season.

The most remarkable edifices of this city, are the Orphan Asylum, and the Circular Church. In the former, 130 orphan children are maintained from the proceeds of an ample endowment for that purpose. There are several other charitable institutions. The Charleston library contains 14,000 volumes. There is also a college in the city, and an excellent medical institution.

During the winter, this city is much frequented by strangers, from different parts of the country. At this season, it is found a very agreeable residence. In the summer the neighborhood is unhealthy, yet the city is seldom visited by the common epidemics of the south.

The commerce of Charleston consists chiefly in the export of cotton and rice. In 1828, the shipping of the district amounted to 32,445 tons. Population in 1830, 30,289.

There is no other large town in the state. Columbia is the seat of government. It stands on the Congaree, near the centre of the state, and occupies an elevated plain, sloping gently on every side. The plan of the town is regular. It contains a college, and 3,310 inhabitants.

Georgetown, at the head of a bay formed by the junction of the Great Pedee, Waccamaw, and two or three other streams, is 13 miles from the sea, and has considerable commerce. Beaufort, on the island of Port Royal, is a pleasant town, with a healthy situation, and good harbor; but it has little commerce. Camden, on the Wateree, enjoys a portion of the interior trade, but is chiefly remarkable for the battles fought in its neighborhood during the revolution.

5. AGRICULture. Cotton and rice occupy the chief attention of the planters. Some tobacco is raised, and indigo was once an important article of cultivation. Wheat, maize and other grains thrive well, but are so much neglected that supplies are sought in the neighboring states.

6. COMMERCE. The exports of cotton from this state form an important item in our national commerce, and amount to 200,000 or 250,000 bales yearly. The export of rice is also great. The commerce is carried on to a great extent by northern vessels. The shipping of South Carolina amounted in 1828, to 33,688 tons. The imports for 1829 were 1,139,618 dollars; the exports of domestic produce were 8,134,616 dollars; total exports 8,175,586. 7. GOVERNMENT. The legislature is called the General Assembly, and consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen for four years, according to the population and wealth of the districts. The representatives are chosen for two years, according to population. The Governor is chosen by the legislature for two years. The Lt. Governor has no power or duty except on the death or removal of the Governor. The qualifications for voting amount nearly to universal suffrage. The clergy are ineligible to any civil office. This state sends 9 representatives to Congress. The expenses of the state for 1829, were 315,370 dollars. The public debt was 1,670,000 dollars.

8. RELIGION. The Baptists have 131 ministers; the Methodists 54; the Presbyterians 46; the Episcopalians 34. There are other sects in small numbers.

9. EDUCATION. The College of South Carolina, at Columbia, was established in 1801. It has 9 instructers and 111 students. The library has 7,000 volumes. It has one vacation of three months, in summer and

autumn. Commencement is in December. Charleston College, in that city, was founded in 1785. It has 7 instructers and 61 students. Its libraries have 4,000 volumes. It has two vacations in December and April, of about 8 weeks. Commencement is in October. There are annually appropriated for free schools about 37,000 dollars.

10. HISTORY. The first settlement within this state was made at Port Royal, in 1670. The next year, Charleston was founded. North Carolina was originally a part of this colony, and the constitution of Locke was in operation here. In the early times, the state was disturbed by many disagreements among the settlers, who were of different sects in religion. Episcopacy was at one time established by law, and dissenters were excluded from the legislature; but this regulation was annulled by Queen Anne. The separation from North Carolina has been already mentioned. For some time previous to the revolution, the government was administered by officers appointed by the crown. After this, the colonial forms were adhered to, till 1790, when the present constitution was established. This has since been twice amended.

CHAPTER XVIII. GEORGIA.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. This state is bounded N. by North Carolina and Tennessee; E. by S. Carolina and the ocean; S. by Florida; W. by Alabama. It extends from 30° 30' to 35° N. lat. and from 80° 50' to 86° 6' W. lon. being 270 miles in length from N. to S., and 250 broad, and containing 58,200 square miles.

2. MOUNTAINS. The northern part is mountainous. The southern extremity of the Blue Ridge crosses the state from North Carolina to Alabama. Beyond this, is another ridge called the Lookout Mountain.

3. RIVERS. The Savannah, which forms the northeastern boundary, waters about 300 miles of territory; by its windings it is probably double this length. Ships ascend to Savannah 17 miles, and large boats to Augusta, half its course. Above Augusta, are Falls; beyond which is a further boat navigation. The Great Ogeechee joins the sea 20 miles S. of the Savannah, and is about half its length. It is little available for navigation.

The Alatamaha is formed by the junction of the Oconee and Ŏakmulgee, which water the whole centre of the state. The mouth is barred, but small vessels ascend the main stream and Oconee branch 300 miles. The Chatahoochee rises among the mountains in the N. and passing S. into Florida, forms a part of the boundary between Georgia and Alabama. Flint River, one of its branches, is wholly in this state. St Mary's River is a small stream, forming part of the boundary between Georgia and East Florida.

4. ISLANDS. Like the preceding state, Georgia is bordered toward the sea with a range of small islands and marshy tracts, intersected by channels and rivulets, which are navigable for small vessels. These islands consist of a rich grey soil called Hammoc land. In their natural state, they are covered with forests of live oak, pine and hickory; but under cultivation they produce the best cotton in the world, called Sea-island cotton.

5. CLIMATE. There is little difference between the climate of this

state, and that of South Carolina. The northern part is mountainous and healthy. In the swampy districts of the S. fevers are common in the warm season. The islands are the most salubrious spots in this quarter.

6. SOIL. The coast within the islands is a salt marsh, beyond which is a narrow belt of good land, similar to the islands. This is succeeded by the Pine Barrens, which are interspersed with swampy tracts. The borders of the rivers are low and marshy and subject to inundations. These parts are applied to the cultivation of rice. The Pine Barrens extend from 50 to 100 miles from the sea, and are succeeded by a region of sand hills, 30 or 40 miles wide, diversified here and there with a verdant spot, and bounded on the N by the elevated land, which, farther onward, rises into mountains. Here the soil is various, but generally strong and productive. The greater part of the state is alluvial. Okefenoko Swamp lies in the southern part of this state, extending into Florida. It is a sort of marshy lake, about 180 miles in circumference, and during wet seasons has the appearance of an inland sea, with many islands. It abounds with alligators, snakes and all sorts of reptiles.

7. CURIOSITY. In the northwestern extremity of the state, near the Tennessee river, is an eminence called Raccoon Mountain. On one of the precipitous sides of this mountain, is a deep cavern called Nicojack Cave. Its mouth is 50 feet high and 160 feet wide. It has been explored for several miles without coming to the end. The floor is covered with a stream of cool limpid water through its whole extent, and the cavern is accessible only in a canoe. Three miles within, is a cataract, beyond which voyagers have not penetrated. The roof is a solid limestone rock, smooth and flat, and the cave is remarkably uniform in size throughout.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. DIVISIONS. Georgia is divided into 76 counties.* The population exclusive of Indians, is 516,567 of whom 217,470 are slaves.

2. CANAL. The Ogeechee and Alatamaha Canal is designed to extend from Savannah to these two rivers, 66 miles. A portion of it is completed. 3. CITIES AND TOWNS. Savannah, the largest city in the state, is situated on the western bank of the river of that name, 17 miles from the sea, with a good ship navigation for that distance. The site of Savannah is elevated and pleasant. The streets are wide and regular, with spacious squares and many handsome edifices. It contains 10 churches, a theatre,