NORTH CAROLINA 133 



other regions, where land is still to be had not taxed 

 at all or very little. 



The manner of taking up land usual in North Caro- 

 lina was formerly as follows : a piece of land possessed 

 of no man, was sought out, and taken over as free- 

 hold either from the crown or the proprietors of the 

 province on payment of 20 Pd. for a thousand acres, 

 and a shilling a year ground-rent for every 100 acres. 

 One could, moreover, for 1 penny the acre annual 

 ground-rent, have the use of as much land anywhere 

 as was desired. 



The maintenance of the civil list of the state of 

 North Carolina is said to amount at this time to only 

 some 15000 pounds. North Carolina during the last 

 war set up at one time and another 10 regiments, each 

 commonly of but 300 men, and towards the end of the 

 war much less than 300. The number of the people 

 of this state was estimated by the Congress in Septem- 

 ber 1774 at 300,000 souls, among whom it was believed 

 were 75,000 arms-bearing men, but this estimate is 

 likely very much too high.* 



The form of government of this state does not differ 

 materially from that of most of the others. The exec- 

 utive power is in the hands of the Governor and the 

 Council of State, who are elected annually by the 

 members of the Assembly. The Governor must own 

 property in land to the amount of at least 1000 Pd., 



* According to a later numbering of the people in the 13 

 provinces, published by the Congress since the Peace, only 

 200,000 souls are given for North Carolina. Several American 

 almanacs for 1785 and 1786 still make a parade of the figures 

 for 1774, which exceed the last by at least half a million, in 

 the total population. 



