[761] The folly, or grasping cupidity, of the Proprietors plainly appears in their action respecting these lands (S. C. Hist. Soc. Coll., i. p. 192), 21 Nov., 1718: “Lots drawn this day for the 119,000 acres of land in South Carolina; that 48,000 acres should be taken up in South Carolina by each Proprietor for the use of himself and heirs, 24,000 of which may be of the Yemassee land if thought fit, ... at a pepper corn rent, etc.”
[762] We should add along with this avowal of loyalty, which was no doubt sincere, the prophetic language of Colonel Rhett, in December, 1719, as mentioned in Chalmers, ii. p. 93: If this “revolt is not cropt in the bud, they will set up for themselves against his majesty.” And in the same strain we understand the extract of a letter (Nov. 14, 1719, in S. C. Hist. Soc. Coll., ii. p. 237), concluding, “I must tell you, sir, if the much greater part of the most substantial people had their choice, they would not choose King George’s government.”
[763] In S. C. Hist. Soc. Coll., ii. p. 119, is an abstract (from state papers, London) of a “draft” for new instructions, that the governor should approve or disapprove of the speaker and clerk, and refuse assent to any law appointing civil officers; and that money bills should be framed by a committee of the council joined with a committee of the “Lower House of Assembly,” as they should in future be called. We are not aware that such instructions were ever sent. Johnson allowed them to appoint their clerk (1731), they pleading custom, and giving instances of the same in other colonies.
[764] Details are given by Hewatt in Carroll’s Hist. Coll., ii. pp. 331 et seq.
[765] Samuel Horsey was made governor in July, 1738, but died before he left England. Glen was appointed in his place in October, 1738. We may state here that the elder William Rhett died 1723, the second James Moore 1724, President Middleton 1737, Nicholas Trott 1740, Alexander Skene 1741. Lieutenant-Governor Bull was father of the later lieutenant-governor of the same name (Ramsay, preface).
[766] We quote from the abstract of his communication in the record office in London. S. C. Hist. Soc. Coll., ii. p. 303.
[767] Estimates of Population in South Carolina. 1672. Joseph Dalton, secretary to Lord Ashley. Whites, 391: men 263, women 69, children under 16 years 59. 1680. T. A. in Carroll’s Coll., 2d, p. 82, about 1,200. 1682. Same, about 2,500. 1699. E. Randolph to Lords of Trade (Sketch of Hist. S. C., p. 443) gives white militia not above 1,500 and four negroes to one white; and 1,100 families, English and French. 1700. Hewatt, Carroll’s Coll., 1st, p. 132, computes whites from 5,000 to 6,000. 1701. Humphreys’ Hist. Account, etc., p. 25, computes whites above 7,000. 1703. By estimate for five years, allowable from statements of the governor and council (Sketch, Hist. S. C., p. 232), we may put the population in 1703 at 8,160. 1708. Governor Johnson and council compute 9,580: freemen 1,360, freewomen 900, white servant men 60, white servant women 60, white free children 1,700, in all 4,080; negro men slaves 1,800, negro women slaves, 1,100, negro children slaves 1,200, in all 4,100; Indian men slaves 500, Indian women slaves 600, Indian children slaves 300, in all 1,400. 1708. Oldmixon, Carroll’s Coll., ii. p. 460, computes total 12,000. 1720. Governor Johnson, whites 6,400; at same date the Revolutionary governor and council report whites 9,000; militiamen not over 2,000. From a sworn statement the taxpayers of the eleven parishes were 1,305, and their slaves 11,828 (see A Chapter in Hist.S. C., p. 56). Chalmers multiplies 1,305 by four, and makes total white and black 17,048; but 9,000 whites and 11,828 blacks give 20,828. 1724. Hewatt, p. 266, computes whites 14,000. In Glen’s Description, etc., in Carroll’s Coll., ii. p. 261, the same number is given; also slaves, mostly negroes, 32,000; total 46,000. 1743. Chalmers’ papers in possession of Mr. George Bancroft, letter of McCulloch, comptroller, computes negroes at 40,000. 1751. Same authority; letter from Glen; also Carroll’s Coll., ii. p. 218; whites 25,000, negro taxables 39,000; say total 64,000. 1756. Same authority; Governor Lyttleton says the militia amounted to 5,500 men. Computing negro increase at 1,000 per annum, we estimate a total of 72,500. 1763. In a Short Description, etc., Carroll’s Coll., ii. p. 478. Whites between 30,000 and 40,000, negroes about 70,000; say total 105,000. 1765. Hewatt, p. 503. Militia between 7,000 and 8,000, from which he computes the whites near 40,000, negroes “not less than” 80,000 or 90,000; say total 123,000. 1770. Chalmers’ MSS.; Lieutenant-Governor Bull gives negroes returned in last tax 75,178; militiamen 10,000; say 125,178. 1770. Wells’ Register says negroes 81,728, and free blacks 159. 1773. Wells’ Register and Almanac for 1774. Whites 65,000, negroes 110,000 (militiamen 13,000); total 175,000. Chalmers’ MSS.; Dr. George Milligan gives for 1775, whites 70,000, negroes 104,000, militiamen 14,000, which makes 174,000. 1790. U. S. Census. Whites 140,178, free blacks 1,801, slaves 107,094; total 249,073.
[768] There is an account of Coxe, by G. D. Scull, in the Penna. Mag. of Hist., vii. 317.
[769] Cf. E. D. Neill’s “Virginia Carolorum” in Penna. Mag. of Hist., Oct., 1885, p. 316.
[770] W. Noel Sainsbury (Antiquary, London, March, 1881, p. 100) refers to documents in the colonial series of State Papers in the Public Record office, showing that a company of French Protestants had been inveigled into a voyage to undertake a settlement under the Heath patent, and reached Virginia; but as transportation was not provided they never went further.