166 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



the idea of painting it black on the side towards the 

 sea whence it can be seen very far, so as to make it 

 invisible to British ships, whose visits were dreaded. 

 But the result so far from being that desired was di- 

 rectly the opposite, for in clear weather the black side 

 is far more distinct, and on gloomy, cloudy days it is 

 seen quite as far and appears, if anything, larger than 

 before. 



There is a German Lutheran congregation here, 

 with its own church and minister, but it it not very 

 numerous. 



The name of the city, since the last peace, has been 

 changed from Charlestown to Charleston, and at the 

 same time its rank, that of a Town until then, made 

 that of a City. By the English rule those towns only 

 are called cities which have a Bishop and are incor- 

 porated, or those which exercise their own granted 

 privileges under the presidency of a Mayor and other 

 officers and use a special city-seal. A bishop Charles- 

 ton has not, but the dignity of a Mayor, called Super- 

 intendent, has been given it under this elevation of 

 rank conferred by the Provincial Assembly. 



The number of the inhabitants was formerly reck- 

 oned at 10-12000, of which half or probably two thirds 

 were blacks, but at present it is not possible to say 

 exactly what the number is, since no precise baptismal 

 or death lists are kept. The population, besides, has 

 considerably diminished both by voluntary emigration 

 and by the banishment of many of the most estimable 

 citizens of the royalist party. But certainly the num- 

 ber of the white inhabitants is greatly less than that 

 of the blacks, browns, and yellows to be seen here of 

 all shades. In winter the city is less active than in 



