MEMORIAL JEAN PIERRE PURRY IN BEHALF OF THE COLONIZATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. LONDON, 1724. MEMORIAL presented to His Grace My Lord the Duke of Newcastle, Chamberlain of his Majesty King George, &c., and Secretary of State : upon the present condition of CAROLINA, and the Means of its Amelioration : BY JEAN PIERRE PURRY, of Neufchatel, Switzerland. PRIVATELY PRINTED. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. 1880. No. /28 Edition 250 Copies. A. ]. H. Estill, Printer Savannah, Georgia. \ Prefatory Note. ■^ So very rare is the following Tract, that we have deemed it worthy of translatioQ. and of reproduction in the present form. The Memorial from which this trans- lation is made is printed in French. It is the only copy we have ever seen. A reference to its existence may be found in John Drayton's View of South Carolina, (&G., pag-e 214, note, Charleston, 1802. See also Ram- say's History of South Carolina, vol. 1., p. 107, note, Charleston, 1809. A subsequent paper from the same pen, entitled "A Description of the Province of South Carolina, drawn up at Charles- Town in September^ 1731,'-' was translated from the French and published in the Gentleman's Magazine for August, September, and October, 1732. Mr. Peter Force reprinted it in the second volume of his '\Tracts and other Papers relating principally to the Origin, Settlement, and Progress of the Colonies in North America from the discovery of the Country to the year 1776." Mr. Carroll has included it among his Historical Col- lections of South Carolina. See volume 11, pages 121 et seq : — The present forms one of a series of curious special pleas which were industriously circulated and strenu- ously urged in aid of the English Colonies in America. At this remove, and in the light of subsequent events, many ( 4 ) many of the arguments then advanced appear chimeri- cal and illusory. We wonder that they were ever regarded as substantial. That they exerted an influ- ence however, at the time, and tended to direct a cur- rent of European population to these Western shores may not be questioned. Because the student of American history is curious in regard to the agencies which united in peopling this new country, and because the views and expectations of the prime actors, and their suggestions in the pro- motion of that important colonization are deemed wor- thy of special note, it appears proper to gather up and multiply these contributions to the history of the period, many of which have already yielded so completely to that mortality which quickly overtakes pamphlets and fugitive publications that they are now inaccessible to the general reader. Of the author of this Memorial, and of the Colony he subsequently planted on the left bank of the Savan- nah river, the Reverend Mr. Hewitt'^ furnishes us with * An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colo- nies of South Carolina and Georgia. Vol. 11, p. 26. London, MDCCLXXIX. Col. Purry also prepared and circulated in Switzerland the fol- lowing Proj:>o.fa/.s : "There are only two methods, viz: One for Per- sons to go as Servants, the other to settle on their own Account. 1. Those who are desirous to go as Servants must be Carpen- ters, Vine-Planters, Husbandmen, or good Labourers. 2. They must be such as are not very poor, but in a Condition to carry with them what is sufficient to support their common ^ ecessity. ( 5 ) the following account : " John Peter Purry, a native of Neufchalel in Switzerland, having formed a design 3. They must have at least 3 or 4 good Shirts and a Suit of Clothes, each. 4. They are to have each for their Wages 100 Livres yearly, which make 50 Crowns of the Money of Neufchalel in Sivisserland, but their Wages are not to commence till the Day of their arrival in Carolina. 5. Expert Carpenters shall have suitable Encouragement. 6. The time of their Contract shall be 3 Years, reckoning from the Day of their arrival in that Country. 7. They shall be supply'd in part of their Wages with Money to come from Sivisserland, till they imbark for Carolina. 8. Their Wages shall be paid them regularly at the end of every Year : for security whereof they shall have the Fruits of their Labour, and generally all that can be procured for them whether Moveables or Immoveables. 9. Victuals and Lodgings from the Day of their Imbarkation shall not be put to their Account, nor their Passage by Sea. 10. They shall have what Money they want advanced during the Term of their Service in part of their Wages to buy Linnen, Clothes, and all other Necessaries. 11. If they happen to fall Sick they shall be lodg'd and nour ; ished Gratis, but their Wages shall not go on during their Illness or while they are not able to Work. 12. They shall serve after Eecovery the time they shall have lost during their Sickness. 13. What goes to pay Physicians or Surgeons, shall be put to their Accompt. As to those who go to settle on their own Account, they must have at least 50 Crowns each, because their Passage by Sea and Victuals will cost from 20 to 25 Crowns, and the rest of the Money shall go to procure divers things which will be absolutely necessary for the Voyage." ( 6 ) of leaving his native country, paid a visit to Carolina in order to inform himself of the circumstances and situation of the Province. After viewing the lands there, and procuring all the information he could with respect to the terms of obtaining them, he returned to Britain. The Government entered into a contract with him and, for the encouragement of the people, agreed to give lands and four hundred pounds sterling for every hundred effective men he should transport from Switzerhmd to Carolina. Purry, while in Caro- lina, having furnished himself with a tlattering account of the soil and climate, and of the excellence and freedom of the Provincial Government, returned to Switzerland and published it among the people. Im- mediately one hundred and seventy poor Switzers agreed to follow him, and were transported to the fer- tile and delightful Province as he described it ; and not long afterwards two hundred more came over and joined them. The Governor, agreeable to instructions, allotted forty thousand acres of land for the use of the Swiss settlement on the north-east side of Savanna river ; and a town was marked out for their accommo- dation which he called I^irisburgh, from the name of the principal promoter of the settlement. Mr. Bignion, a Swiss minister whom they had engaged to go with them, having received Episcopal ordination from the Bishop of London, settled among them for their reli- gious instruction On the one hand the Governor and Council, happy in the acquisition of such a force, al- lotted ( 7 ) lotted each of them his separate tract of land and gave every encouragement in their power to the peo- ple. On the other, the poor Swiss emigrants began their labours with uncommon zeal and courage, highly elevated with the idea of possessing landed estates, and big with the hopes of future success. However, in a short time they felt the many inconveniencies at- tending a change of climate. Several of them sick- ened and died, and others found all the hardships of the first state of colonization falling heavily upon them. They became discontented with the provisions allowed them, and complained to Government of the persons employed to distribute them ; and, to double their distress, the period for receiving the bounty ex- pired before they had made such progress in cultiva- tion as to raise sufficient provisions for themselves and families. The spirit of murmur crept into the poor Swiss settlement, and the people, finding themselves oppressed with indigence and distress, could consider their situation in no other light than a state of banish- ment, and not only blamed Purry for deceiving them, but also heartily repented their leaving their native country." Violent indeed was the change from the mountains of Switzerland to the swamps of the lower Savannah : and the malarial influences engendered by a hot sun smiting the marish grounds upon which they fixed their new abodes proved most disastrous to the health and comfort of the Colonists. For several years did they contend ( 8 ) contend manfully against penury and disease, while industriously endeavoring to convert the forests into cultivated fields. Upon his return from England, in 1736, Oglethorpe was waited upon by a deputation from Purrysburg, consisting of Hon Hector Beringer de Beaufain, M. Tisley Dechillon, — a patrician of Berne, — and several other Swiss gentlemen. They came to congratulate him upon his successful voyage, and to acquaint him with the condition of their settlement. A short time afterwards Mr. Oglethorpe repaid their visit, and was lodged and handsomely entertained at the house of Colonel Purry. The poverty of Carolina, the indifference of the Home Government, the penury of the Colonists, and the evil effects of the climate conspired to retard the progress of the settlement, and quickly brought about its almost total abandonment. After a comparatively short and precarious existence Purrysburg, like New Ebenezer and Abercorn on the Georgia side of the river, became little more than a name : — scarcely aught else than a frail monument of hope deferred and disappointment most severe. Charles C. Jones, Jr. Augusta, Georgia, October 1st, 1880. THE MEMORIAL. My Lord : Altliongli the English, who possess Carolina, are fully persuaded that it constitutes one of the richest countries in the world, Jean Pierre Purry of Neuf- chatel, Switzerland, — formerly Director General in the service of the India Company in France, — seri- ously doubts whether they have properly investigated the true cause of its fertility, and the methods by which it may be developed to the greatest possible extent. Hence the reason why he takes the liberty of me- morializing you, my Lord, in the following concise and graphic manner. I. The boundless iveaUh which might be obtained from Carolina not only on account of the extent of its territory, — which is immense, — and the fertility of its soil, — which is remarkable, —but also by reason of its situation, excellent in many respects. II. llie facility with which, without depopulating England, — this country could be peopled with good in- habitants from various nations, — Switzerland, France, Germany, and other countries, — all professing the Protestant religion. III. Finally, there is perhaps, nothing more imjjor- tant ( 10 ) tant to the State, more worthy of public attention, or more likely to enhance the general wealth of England, than the consummation of an enterprize such as this. 2 Qr ^21 III proof of this, it is only necessar}^ for us to ob- the climates serve, in the first place, that it is quite impossible for of the loorld, ^Q to reflect upon the system of our Glolje, and its tJiCTC 7)1 list H6' gg^^^^jY^g natural productions, — varying with climates and sea- one better ?:ons, — without admitting that it is the Sun alone which " '^^^ ^^''- animates all things and causes them to fructify; since they languish and die or acquire vitality just as this heavenly body withdraws itself from or ai)proaches the earth. For, as all the countries of the world which are not located on the same parallel possess degrees of heat differing the one from the other to a greater or less extent, and as from the Equator to the Poles there is no degree which corresponds exactly with another, it necessarily follows that there must be one which is the best of all. Behold a fixed principle which none can doubt. IJ The Now this principle, upon which depends our whole very best cli- systcm, being once well established, it will be very mate should ^rj^^^^r \^q ascertain which one of these degrees of heat necessarili/ be ^ ^ ,■, , , n i • • -i ^ -i i i i on or about ^^^^ ^^ ^^^® temperature ot the air is best adapted to the 33rc? de- evokc abundantly from the earth, — and that without gree of Lati- ^-^^^^.^ labor or expense, — everything essential to life. When we consider the fact that the longest days of Summer are twelve hours on the Equator, and twenty- four hours on the Polar Circles, and take the mean of these two extremes, — that is to say counting from the first ( 11 ) first degree to the half of 66^ degrees, which is B3i degrees, — we will find that the best countries of the world ought to be on or about the 33rd degree of Lati- tude. This is moreover verified b}^ experience ; and all the countries of our Globe, as Barbary, Syria, Egypt, Persia, Mogolistan, China, Japan, and, gener- ally speaking, all others are rich and productive only in proportion to their proximity to this degree, unless, indeed, they should here and there be found of sandy, marshy, or rocky character, or of no value, where fruit-bearing plants cannot come to perfection. We must note this carefully. In accordance with this principle it follows neces- j^^ rpj^-^ sarily that Carolina and New Mexico on the Northern is verified by side, and Chili and Rio de la Plata on the Southern, ^*p^'-''^"c«. are, regarded as a whole, the best countries m America ^^^^.^^ ^^ ^j^^ because they are situated on or about the 33rd degree countries of Latitude. This conclusion cannot be questioned. «^*'^^"'("'^^ we are best ac- Even if we had never heard Spain described, we would quainted. never weary in asserting that Andalusia must be the best of her provinces because it approaches nearest to the 33rd degree. Provence and Languedoc must be superior to all the other provinces of France because they are the most southern. For the same reason Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples ought to be more fertile than the rest of Italy. Thus might we distin- guish between the other countries of the world, known and unknown. In truth, it is only necessary to affirm that it is the Sun which causes differences in countries and climates. The ( 12 ) IV The '^^^^ undersigned, Jean Pierre Purry, dares to main- author was isim witliout presumption that he believes himself to the first who j^jj^yg j-^gg^ ^}^g g^gj^ ^Ijq located the best climate at the hest climate. ^'^^^ degree of Latitude ; and he will persist in this ErrorofGeo- opiuiou uutil he fiuds some one who will convince him graphers in ^}^^^ j^^ jg mistaken in his calculations. While waitino^, regard to this ^ subject. h^ requests persons, learned on such subjects, to name to him a single country in that degree (always suppos- ing that the soil is neither sandy, nor marshy, nor rocky,) which does not constitute one of the most fer- tile regions in the world. He also ventures to assert, without desiring to give offence to any one, that his- torians and geographers have all attributed the change to nature and to a diversity of climate. When they speak to us of the degrees of heat and cold which characterize each country, when compared with others, they always base their opinions upon that Mse princi- ple, knowing that countries which are situated in the centre of the Torrid Zoue are the warmest, and that the others differ in heat in proportion as they are nearer to or farther removed from this centre. V. And of '^^^^ same error is observable when we note the ^&- but also as an excellent mtre'pot and place for refitting ships. Notwithstanding all these advantages neither the Spanish, nor the Portugese, nor the English, nor any other peoples desired to form a settlement there until more than one hundred and fifty years had elapsed ( 14 ) elapsed after the discovery of such an attractive coun- try. To-day however, the Dutch, well recognizing the utility, not to say the absolute necessity of this settle- ment, declare they do not know how they can, from this time forward, dispense with it. VII. The la all good faith it should be admitted that such mis- error am- ^j^j^^g ^gj-c causcd Cither by a want of knowledsje of pier commit- _ "^ _ ^_ ted in ignor- the naturc of climatcs, or by false ideas entertained ing fhisprin- on this subject. So true is this, that when they chanced "•^^* upon a good country one would be justified in assert- ing that thc}^ did so blindly, since they followed routes directly contrary to their plans. This is very evident from the testimony of Dampier himself, — one of the most famous voyagers of his day. We will see what he thought of the Terres Audrales and La Nouvelle Ilollandc : "For," says he (a), " if I had been asked why, the first time I came on this side, I did not traverse it towards the South, and why 1 did not endeavor to extend my voyage to the East of La Nouvelle Hollande and of La Nouvelle Guime, I would have answered that I was unwilling to lose more time than was absolutely necessary in the higher latitudes, being fully persuaded that the countries on that side were not so worthy of exploration as the regions near- est to the Equator and more directly under the influ- ence of the Sun." Now nothing can be more false than such a statement. Because, of all La Nouvelle Hollande no section can be better than that which lies (a) Dampier. Voyage to Terres Auatral, volume v., p. 3. ( 15 ) on the Southern side and which is called Terre de JVuits: — the residue being always poorer as it ap- preaches the line ; or, to make use of proper terms, as it stretches out under the more direct influence of the Sun. Let us apply this principle to Carolina, and the adjacent countries from the Northern Sea even to the ^^^-^^^^^^ ^y Southern. It certainly embraces, and without excep- this principle tion, the best parts of North America, extending on '^ Camlma ^ . etna its sur- this same parallel of the 33rd degree of Latitude not ^oMncZm^rs. less tlian from five to six hundred leagues. This de- gree is the par excellence of heat and of temperature, causing a fertility of soil, and contributing to the hap- piness of all who there inhabit, no matter from what quarter of the world they may have come. All other regioni^ are less desirable in proportion to their re- moteness from this degree. In proceeding it is proper to remark that Carolina, j^ ^^^_ situated in the degree named, has very few momi- /irmed hy ex- tains,— ih^t it is a land of plains,— of hills,— and of ^««««<^e, and gentle declivities, that the soil is for the most part very ZJ^UeUnd rich, requiring only good cultivation at the hands of ;« every re- man, that it abounds in game, deer, and wild bulls, ^p^'^^- that it is watered by numerous beautiful rivers teem- ing everywhere with excellent fishes, and that within its limits, — which are narrowest from east to west, — it includes all that vast extent of country which once bore the name of Florida, for some time however, called by the French Louisiana, and which the Eng- lish could more appropriately name Georgia or Geor- gine ( 16 ) gine in conformity to the two charters granted to the Concessionaries in 1664 and 1666 during the reign of Charles 11. The propriety of this latter appellation could be easily demonstrated. X If the It is true that the French have possession of the French, who mouth of the Mississippi river ; but, with the excep- ''^^outh^of the^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ adjacent to the mouth of this river Mississippi, and for a distance of some sixty or eighty leagues into should pre- ^l^Q country, the region is very poor. If they should 'VSTit OUT tlSC of that river pu^posc to prevent the English from descending the river and entering the Gulf of Mexico by that route, they, in turn, by virtue of the right of original occu- pancy, having securely established themselves on that same river in the vicinity of the 33rd degree of Lati- tude, would not permit the French to ascend higher. It would not be less ridiculous in the French to im- agine [and a more chimerical pretention I cannot divine], that all the country belonged to them, than it would be in the Dutch to idly claim all lands situated along the Rhine or the Meuse, upon the pretext that they were the owners of the territory surrounding the mouths of those rivers. XI. What But let us consider the case under the worst possi- couldhedone\i\Q circumstanccs. Let us suppose for a moment that m sue an ^j^^ French should be strong enough to prevent the English from descending the river. In that event they could then transport their silks, furs, indigo, and, gen- erally speaking, all their most valuable products, upon mules and horses and in conveyances to their licensed ports, event. ( 17 ) ports, as is the commoa practice in Persia, in Arabia, and in different countries in the East : whereas, if the French possess only the lower part of the country, which is worth nothing, and are not able to ascend the river and carry on their commerce with the Spaniards of New Mexico and with the natives, the mouth of this river would no longer prove of any utility to them unless indeed, to furnish a spot wherein to bury im- mense sums as surely as if they had thrown them into the sea. Such truly has been the case, either through ignorance or otherwise, for nearly twenty-five years ; — in fact, ever since they have been occupying that locality. However, to obviate all difficulties and relieve the XII. It is English of all apprehensions they can have on this score, ^^^^^^'"'^ ^^ it is manifestly their duty to people the country, and cowitrv with advance, year by year and little by little, towards the good hotest- river in order not only to defend themselves, but also, ^'^^^' if circumstances rendered it necessary, to attack their enemies. This action becomes all the more important because the wealth and fertility of a country can be developed only by the cultivation of the soil and by the great increase of its population, and because they possess the means of colonizing it far superior to the French by reason of their greater number of vessels, and the proximity to Carolina which exempts them from passing through the dangerous strait of Bahama, and facilitates their return to Europe. Add to all this the ease with which they may, without depopulating England, secure colonies of good Protestants who will prove ( 18 ) prove neither vagabonds nor idlers, [as is the case with the most of those whom the French send to their falsely claimed Louisiana] but rather es:cellent laborers, the sons of peasants, the majority of them married, each possessing a suitable calling, and specially skilled in the cultivation of the soil. Hence we conclude that the country being well peopled, as it would be in a very short time, one would find himself entirely safe, and free from all apprehension on the score above alluded to. Xlll The Never perhaps, have circumstances been more favor- eircumstan- 2^\y\Q Wi^^n at the present time for enlisting excellent favomhlefur colouists in Switzerland. How many families are to- such a pro- day, in that country, in debt through the misfortunes ject, especial- ^^ ^^^^ times and the stao-nation of trade ! How many ly in the case of Switzer-y^^^^S men are there who do not know what to do, or land. upon what matter to bestow their attention, and who have no means of support save the profession of arms ! How many are there who refrain from marriage for fear of bringing more unhappy souls into the world, of whom there are already too many ! This arises from the fact that the population of Switzerland is too dense, considering the sterility of its soil : —that peace has obtained in Europe for the past twelve or thirteen years : — that there is no longer any demand for cattle, and the peasant can no more find a market for his horses. It is not well that Switzerland should be as thickly populated as it is. Nearly eighteen hundred years agone, the inhabitants of this nation, en masse, formed the'resolution to burn their dwellings and go in search of another country where they hoped to find habita- tions ( 19 ) tions pleasanter and more spacious than those which they possessed among their barren mountains. Moreover, of late 5^ears, a pestilence having ravaged some countries in the North, and a report having been circulated in Switzerland that lands would be given to all who would go thither, although the soil was poor, people flocked there from all quarters. But these deluded persons, when they arrived in those parts, finding nothing equal to what they had been led to expect, and knowing not in what direction to look for assistance, were constrained to return in confusion to their own homes. It happens every day [very much after the fashion ^^^^^ ^^^ of bees when they find themselves overcrowded \\\ Protestant their hives] that many young people leave Protestant >^^«<^«- Switzerland who have, so to speak, no resource other than to go into service in France, Spain, Italy, Savoy, and other Roman Catholic communities in their neigh- borhood, where most of them change their religion in order to maintain themselves and ameliorate their con- dition. Thus we see the poor Calvinists of the Pala- tinate betaking themselves into Hungary,— although there at the mercy of the Turks or of the Jesuits, — not knowing where else to go. Likewise many Prot- estants remain in France, enduring tyranny and per- secution, influenced much less by a just horror of the idolatry which they there behold and frequently have the misfortune to commit, than by the helping hand which, in drawing them into such a dangerous snare, at the same time offers a sure and honest retreat where thev ( 20 ) they may, by cultivatinji' their own lands, guard them- selves against poverty, and dispense with the charity of their brethren. So much may be said without in any manner excusing them. XV. What In order to attract them hither, it would only be mighthedone neccssary to distribute circulars in all directions assu- , ^^^,^ ring them oi a truth that there is no region in i* ranee, in Spain, in Italy, or in fine, in the whole of Europe, which equals Carolina in attractiveness: that just as much land as they can possibly cultivate will be given to such as desire to establish themselves here : — especi- ally to those who are suffering persecution because of their religion ; — that all will be furnished with free passage across the sea in the King's ships ; and, finally, that His Britannic Majesty will extend to them all the charitable aid which they could hope from his royal bounty in order that they may enjoy happy lives and form prosperous settlements in this country. XVI. It is It is proper to observe that by virtue of a natural Mghlyproha- inclination characteristic of all reasonable beings, — blethatadis- j^r^j^gKr w^q Iqyq of liberty, — most of the Swiss soldiers, tCiStC JOT WCLT and the hap- whcu their terms of enlistment shall have expired, will piness of a resign and joyfully embrace this opportunity to place married life themselvcs at casc : and for two important reasons : mine many fii'st, which is negative, in order that the}^ may, in good oldiers to time, liberate themselves from the evil pursuit of war, — come here. ^ calling illy suited to the tastes of all who desire to lead the lives of honest Christians ; — and, for a second reason, which I call positive, that they may secure for themselves the sweet and virtuous companionship born of ( 21 ) of marriage. For it is certain that there are scarcely any Swiss soldiers who would not marry if their Cap- tains would grant them the liberty of doing so ; and there is no man in the world, however stupid he may be, who does not long, at least during his old age, for a home which will shelter him from the horrors of poverty and misery. The public being once fully persuaded of the fertility XVll. The of Carolina, what joy will fill the hearts of the poor, Jf^^^"*^*''/ ' >) '' X ' the passage. and with what eagerness will they hasten thither when they are well assured that they will go to end their days in one of the most delightful countries in the uni- verse ! We may safely assert that many French refu- gees, and many from Switzerland, from Wirtemberg, from the Palatinate, from Holland, from Saxony, and from other Protestant countries, — more indeed than the King's ships could carry, — would present them- selves, all of whom would prove faithful subjects of G-reat Britain, and cost absolutely nothing except the expense of transportation. But this expense is so insignificant a charge upon the General Grovernment, that it need not be considered when compared with the fruits, oils, wax, cotton, tobacco, indigo, cocoa, leather, furs, wood for building and other purposes, resin, tar, hemp, wool, silk, brand}^, and excellent wines, wheat, rice, and other products, — useful as medicines and dye- stuffs, — which will surely be realized, and which will demand nothing in exchange save the merchandize proceeding from the manufactories of Great Britain. In truth there is matter for surprize at the indififer- XVIII The ence, ( 22 ) zeal^ and the ence, not to sa}^ contempt, which is evinced, even among ^McT^ t th ^"^^^ most enlightened nations of Europe, towards indi- Emj)ress o/viduals who are informed above their fellows, and who Russia, upon QQxi\(\^ bj their superior knowledge, fortified hy large should"^ ^'^ experience, contribute to the re-establishment of the //le ^^esq/ ^/ie shattered fortunes at least of certain States : while, on most etdight- ^j^g other hand, we see a people, barbarous and fierce, ened nations. ^ . ., • p ,^ i ir> /» xi whose territory is for more than halt or the year cov- ered with snow, interested in agriculture, commerce, and navigation, cherishing the arts and sciences, and searching with all imaginable eagerness for such as can prove serviceable to them in these departments. Wit- ness the recent Declaration of the Czar, published only a few days since, in Axvor of strangers who might desire to establish themselves at Petersburg or in other com- mercial cities of his dominion, and in which her Majesty, the Empress of Russia, promises to defray the expenses of their journey, to have houses built for them, to exempt them from taxes for a period of twenty years, to furnish them with the means requisite for carrying on their trades, to extend free religious toleration and to pa}' one hundred rubles per annum to the pastor of each colony in case it is unable of its own means to support him. XIX. And In view of this, can it be possible that England will par^tci^ar 1/ j^^l^ with an indifferent eye upon the new forces which in hngiand. '' ^ the French are to-day collecting in order that they may go and take possession of the best portion of the fertile country of Carolina, — I mean that which lies between the Mississippi river and the original concession ? [For it ( 23 ) it is quite true that they have actually equipped four half-galleys to transport by that river as many colonists as they can secure ] Can it be possible that the Eng- lish, on their part, are willing to do nothing, to under- take nothing, and that they will not bestir themselves in an effort to prevent this, especially during a period of peace when the roads are open on every hand by which peoples may be assembled, and when the King's vessels are unemployed? England should at least make Carolina the store-house and granary for the islands of Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Saint Christopher, — which produce neither bread nor wine, — and remem- ber that she can, without wronging any one, reduce it now into possession and make of it a country which, when populated and cultivated properly, may be ranked with the most extensive and richest domains in the Universe. But here is the principal article upon which I beg xx. Above you, my Lord, to bestow y«ur particular attention: it all,mregard is SILK. There is no article of merchandize which fur- '^'.^/ ''^^,j . , which would nishes support for so many people, in which so much be obtained money is invested, or which commands more general ^^,^^ ^'^^°- consumption throughout the world. Provence and ^*"'*' Lanquedoc produce some little of an excellent quality, but they are not situated in a degree of heat to yield a great deal, and of the most desirable sort. Italy, Spain, and Sicily succeed much better for the reason I have indicated. But Carolina will undoubtedly far surpass all the countries I have just named, because it is located precisely in the degree of heat and tempera- ture ( 24 ) ture wliicli best befits the nature of the silk-worm, so that in about thirty years, more or less, if it is desired to put into general use certain sure and infallible meth- ods for the cultivation of this article, — which the writer offers to indicate at any time and place, — G-reat Britain will, in that event, be able to produce on her own lands a quantity of silk sufficient to supply the needs not only of her own subjects, but also, if she found it necessary, of the rest of Europe. This is the reason why the wri- ter is persuaded that there is perhaps nothing in the world more advantageous to the State, nothing having a greater tendency to enhance the wealth of Great Britain in general and of the English in particular, than the consummation of such a project. Consequently it is most worthy of attention. Should the fine opportunity, presented to-day, unfor- tunately be allowed to escape, we are very apprehen- sive that it will never occur again. I am, with very profound respect, My Lord, by your permission, Your very humble, and very obedient servant, Jean Pierre Purry. At London, the 18th of July, 1724.— Printed at Londou by G. Bowyer, and to be fouud at Paul Vaillant's in the Strand. MDCCXXIV. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 014 495 323 ft LIBRARY OF CONGRESS lii'iiiiiiiiijililiiiiiijijijlllijllljlll 014 495 323 A