SOUTH CAROLINA 203 



high credit). A negro who might have been had for 

 40 guineas down, was in my presence bid up to 150 

 Pd. sterling, at 7 years' credit with interest. 



The English merchants being willing and able to 

 give longer and vastly greater credit than the French 

 and Dutch either can or will give, the result is that the 

 greater part of the trade of Carolina falls to Great 

 Britain and would, even was there not a general pref- 

 erence for English manufactures and a fixed belief 

 in their superior goodness. 



Notwithstanding the material injury suffered by 

 South Carolina during the war, recovery is more rapid 

 there than in any of the other states; commerce is 

 almost as flourishing and as extended as before the 

 disquiets, and there is every reason to expect further 

 increase. 



It is generally admitted, and is a matter of surprize 

 to every incoming European, that at Charleston finer 

 manners and a more tasteful mode of life are un- 

 mistakeably prevalent, and if there was need, the fact 

 might easily be proved by numerous observations. 

 And it is quite as certain that this refinement of man- 

 ners and taste has a positive influence on the opinions, 

 those whose characteris.tick this is showing on many 

 occasions nobility and magnanimity of thought and 

 conduct. The Assembly had appointed a committee to 

 examine the list of banished citizens and their confis- 

 cated property, in order to determine the degree of 

 their offences against the state, and so bring them 

 back again or continue their banishment. Even this 

 investigation was held behind open doors. The 

 opinions of the worthiest and most esteemed citizens 

 and gentlemen of Charleston were to the effect that 



