BEAUFORT DISTRICT,

On the fea coaft between Combatee and Savannah rivers.

The committee appointed by the act of Affembly to divide th districts into counties, were to lay them as nearly forty miles fquare as was practicable, due regard being paid to fituations, natural boundaries, &c.

Charleston is the only confiderable town in South-Carolina: it is fituated on the tongue of land which is formed by the confluence of Ashley and Cooper rivers, which are large and navigable. Thele rivers mingle their waters immediately below the town, and form a fpacious and convenient harbour, which communicates with the ocean just below Sullivan's ifland, which it leaves on the north, seven miles fouth-eaft of the town. In these rivers the tide rifes, in com❤ mon about fix feet and a half.* The continued agitation which this occafions in the waters which almoft furround Charleston; the refreshing sea breezes which are regularly felt, and the smoke rifing from fo many chimneys, render Charleston more healthy than any part of the low country in the fouthern States. On this account it is the refort of great numbers of gentlemen, invalids from the West-India iflands, and of the rich planters from the country, who come here to fpend the fickly months, as they are called, in queft of health and of the focial enjoyments which the city affords: and in no part of America are the focial bleffings enjoyed more rationally and liberally than in Charleston. Unaffected hofpitality, affability, ease in manners and address, and a difpofition to make their guests welcome, easy, and pleased with themselves, are characteristics of the respec table people in Charleston.

The land on which the town is built is flat and low, and the water brackish and unwholesome. The streets from caft to weft extend from river to river, and, running in a straight line, not only open beautiful profpects each way, but afford excellent opportunities, by means of fubterraneous drains, for removing all nuifances, and keeping the city clean and healthy. These streets are interfected by others, nearly at right angles, and throw the town into a number of squares, with dwelling houfes in front, and office houses and little gardens behind, Some of the streets are conveniently wide, but most of them are much too narrow, especially for fo populous a city, in fo warm a climate. Befides their being a nursery for various diseases from their confined fituation, they have been found extremely inconvenient in cafe of

It is worthy of remark, that the tide uniformly rises confiderably higher in the night than in the day; often from ten to twelve inches. The fact is certain; the caufe is unknown.

fires, the deftructive effects of which have been frequently felt in this city. The houfes, which have been lately built, are brick, with tiled roofs. Some of the buildings in Charleston are elegant, and most of them are neat, airy, and well furnished. The public buildings are, an exchange, ftate house, lately rebuilt, armoury, poor house, two large churches for Epifcopalians, two for Congregationalists, or la dependents, one for Scotch Prefbyterians, one for Baptifts, one for German Lutherans, two for the Methodists, a large house for worflip being lately finished by them, one for French Proteftants, befides a meeting houfe for Quakers, a Roman Catholic Chapel, and a Jewish fynagogue.

But little attention is paid to the public markets. A great propor tion of the most wealthy inhabitants have plantations, from which they receive fupplies of almost every kind of provifion. The country abounds with poultry and wild ducks: their beef, mutton, and veal, are not of the best kind. Few fish are brought to market.

In 1787, it was computed that there was one thousand fix hundred houfes in this city, nine thoufand fix hundred white inhabitants, and five thousand four hundred negroes; and what evinces the healthiness of the place, upwards of two hundred of the white inhabitants were above fixty years of age. In 1791, there were fixteen thousand three hundred and fifty-nine inhabitants, of whom feven thousand fix hundred and eighty-four were flaves.

Charleston was incorporated in 1783, and divided into thirteen wards, which chufe as many wardens, from among whom the citizens elect an intendant of the city. The intendant and wardens form the city council, who have power to make and enforce by-laws for the regulation of the city.

BEAUFORT.

Beaufort, on Port Royal island, is a pleasant little town, of about fixty or seventy houfes, and two hundred and fifty inhabitants, who are diftinguished for their hofpitality and politenefs. The courts which were formerly held here, are now held at Coofawhatchie.

GEORGE-TOWN.

This town, the feat of justice in George-town diftrict, stands on a fpot of land near the junction of a number of rivers, which, when united in one broad stream, by the name of Winyaw, fall into the ocean twelve miles below the town.

COLUMBIA,

COLUMBIA.

Columbia, which has lately been made the feat of government by the legislature, ftands just below the junction of Saluda and Broad rivers on the Congaree. The public offices have, however, in fome instances been divided, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the lower counties, and a branch of each retained in Charleston.

CAMDEN.

Camden, on the Wateree, north-west of Santee hills, one hundred and thirty miles north-weft from Charleston, is regularly built, upon a good plan; but a small part of it is yet executed.

PURYSBURGH.

Puryfburgh is a hilly village, about twenty miles above Savannah, on the north bank of the river of the fame name.

It was early fettled which for a while

by foreigners, with a view to the culture of filk, they attended to with fpirit. The mulberry trees are yet ftanding, and fome attention is still paid to the making of this article: but the profits of the rice and indigo have diverted the original planters from almost every other purfuit. Befides thefe, are Jackfonborough, Orangeburgh, and Cambridge, which are all inconfiderable villages of from thirty to fixty dwelling houses.

POPULATION.

According to the cenfus of 1791, the number of inhabitants in this State was as follows:

VOL. III.

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GEORGE

JSTRICT.