CHAP. VIII. engage in defence of the place, the proposed 1741. expedition was laid aside.

Soon after the building of this fort, while mr. Van Dam was governor of New York, the French took possession of Crown Point which they fortified. This important position gave them the entire command of lake Champlain. An encroachment so evidently calculated to favour either the offensive or defensive operations of France in America, was remonstrated against and submitted to.

Hutchinson.

CHAPTER IX.

War with the southern Indians.... Various causes of dissatisfaction given by the proprietors to the assembly of Carolina....Rupture with Spain....Governor endeavours to prepare the militia to repel an invasion....Combination throughout the colony to subvert the proprietary government....Revolution completed....Expedition against Charleston from the Havanna....Peace with Spain ....Many of the proprietors surrender their interest to the crown....The province divided....Georgia settled.... Impolicy of the first regulations.... Intrigues of the Spaniards with the Indians....And with the slaves of South Carolina....Insurrection of the slaves.

THE contests between the lords proprietors 1715. and the settlers of Carolina, and the favourable disposition manifested by queen Anne on receiving the complaints of the dissenters, had turned the attention of the people towards the crown. This year a circumstance occurred which served greatly to increase the wish already entertained in that colony, of substituting the regal for the proprietary government.

the southern

The Yamassees, a powerful tribe of Indians war with on the northeast of the Savanna, instigated, as Indians. was understood, by the Spaniards at St. Augustine, prepared with great secrecy a general combination of all the southern Indians against the province. They fell suddenly on the traders settled among them whom they massacred; and being joined by the Creeks and Appala

CHAP. IX. chians advanced in great force against the 1715. southern frontiers, spreading desolation and

slaughter on their route. The Congarees, Catawbas, and Cherokees engaged also in the war; and it was computed that the whole force of the enemy exceeded six thousand fighting men. The inhabitants were driven from every quarter into Charleston; and there were many who feared that even that post might not be maintained.

Governor Craven proclaimed martial law, and laid an embargo on all ships to prevent either men or provisions from leaving the country. He also obtained an act of assembly empowering him to impress men, to seize arms, ammunition and stores, wherever they were to be found, to arm such trusty negroes as might be serviceable at a juncture so critical, and, generally, to prosecute the war with the utmost vigour. Agents were sent to Virginia and England to solicit assistance, and bills were issued for the payment of the army and their necessary expenses. The muster roll did not exhibit more than twelve hundred men fit to bear arms; but as the town contained several forts into which the inhabitants might retreat for safety, the governor, although the Indians had entered the northern part of the province and approached on that side within fifty miles of Charleston, determined to march out at the head of the militia towards the southern frontier

which was invaded by the strongest body of the CHAP. IX. enemy. He encountered them at a place called 1715. Salt Catchers, and after an obstinate engagement defeated them totally, pursued them into their own country from whence he expelled them and drove them over the Savanna river. They were received in a very friendly manner by the Spaniards in Florida where they settled, and from whence they continued, long afterwards, to make distressing incursions into Carolina.

The governor returned from this victorious campaign to Charleston, where he was received by the inhabitants with every manifestation of joy and exultation.

causes of dis

given by the

assembly of

During this invasion, the legislature had various applied to the proprietors, representing the satisfaction weak state of the province, the dangers which proprietors threatened it, and imploring their paternal aid Carolina. and protection. Fearing lest this application might be unsuccessful, they had also instructed their agent, in case of its failure, to apply directly to the king.

The agent represented the calamitous state of the province to the proprietors, and being dissatisfied with his reception from them, petitioned the house of commons in behalf of the distressed Carolinians. The commons addressed the king, praying his interposition and immediate assistance to the colony. The king referred the matter to the lords commis

CHAP. IX. sioners of trade and plantations, who objected, 1715. that the province of Carolina was one of the proprietary governments; and were of opinion that, if it was to be protected at the expense of the nation, its government ought to be vested in the crown. On the receipt of this opinion, the proprietors had a meeting, at which they avowed their inability to protect the province, and declared that unless his majesty would graciously please to interpose, they could foresee nothing but the utter destruction of his faithful subjects in those parts.

A government unable to afford protection to the people, was but ill adapted to the them situation of the Carolinas.

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The war with the Yamassees, although it terminated honourably and fortunately, brought infinite distress on the province. Agriculture had unavoidably been neglected, the produce of the country was extremely inconsiderable, the merchants were much in debt, and were pressed for remittances they were now totally unable to make. Large emissions of paper money were resorted to for a temporary relief, which produced complaints from the merchants of London, in consequence of which, instructions were given by the proprietors to the governor to reduce the quantity in circulation. These instructions added to the discontents already existing.