LETTER IX

Description of Charles-town; thoughts on slavery; on physical evil; A melancholy scene

Charles-town is, in the north, what Lima is in the south; both are Capitals of the richest provinces of their respective hemispheres:  you may therefore conjecture, that both cities must exhibit the appearances necessarily resulting from riches.  Peru abounding in gold, Lima is filled with inhabitants who enjoy all those gradations of pleasure, refinement, and luxury, which proceed from wealth.  Carolina produces commodities, more valuable perhaps than gold, because they are gained by greater industry; it exhibits also on our northern stage, a display of riches and luxury, inferior indeed to the former, but far superior to what are to be seen in our northern towns.  Its situation is admirable, being built at the confluence of two large rivers, which receive in their course a great number of inferior streams; all navigable in the spring, for flat boats.  Here the produce of this extensive territory concentres; here therefore is the seat of the most valuable exportation; their wharfs, their docks, their magazines, are extremely convenient to facilitate this great commercial business.  The inhabitants are the gayest in America; it is called the centre of our beau monde, and is always filled with the richest planters of the province, who resort hither in quest of health and pleasure.  Here are always to be seen a great number of valetudinarians from the West Indies, seeking for the renovation of health, exhausted by the debilitating nature of their sun, air, and modes of living.  Many of these West Indians have I seen, at thirty, loaded with the infirmities of old age; for nothing is more common in those countries of wealth, than for persons to lose the abilities of enjoying the comforts of life, at a time when we northern men just begin to taste the fruits of our labour and prudence.  The round of pleasure, and the expenses of those citizens’ tables, are much superior to what you would imagine:  indeed the growth of this town and province has been astonishingly rapid.  It is pity that the narrowness of the neck on which it stands prevents it from increasing; and which is the reason why houses are so dear.  The heat of the climate, which is sometimes very great in the interior parts of the country, is always temperate in Charles-Town; though sometimes when they have no sea breezes the sun is too powerful.  The climate renders excesses of all kinds very dangerous, particularly those of the table; and yet, insensible or fearless of danger, they live on, and enjoy a short and a merry life:  the rays of their sun seem to urge them irresistibly to dissipation and pleasure:  on the contrary, the women, from being abstemious, reach to a longer period of life, and seldom die without having had several husbands.  An European at his first arrival must be greatly surprised when he sees the elegance of their houses, their sumptuous furniture, as well as the magnificence of their tables.  Can he imagine himself in a country, the establishment of which is so recent?