28 SEVENTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 



rained in or soaked in through the banks. The 

 experiment was therefore abandoned. Major Sam- 

 uel Porcher, aware of the cause of the failure, and 

 possessing a plantation which jutted against the 

 highland, judiciously determined to avail himself of 

 the advantage which circumstances afforded him, 

 and for years kept his resolve to himself, until he 

 was enabled to purchase some adjoining tracts of 

 land which were essential to his success. At length 

 this was accomplished, and in 1817 he commenced 

 his orreat work. Few men are free from weak 

 points of character, and most men can be made to 

 act weakly if assailed at these points. Major 

 Porcher, however, was not swayed by any adverse 

 opinions, the advice of friends, or the laughter and 

 jeers of others, but on he went, in a w^onderful reli- 

 ance on his own judgment. Who will not now ad- 

 mit that he has given greater evidence of practical 

 wisdom, enterprise, persevering energy, patience, 

 and indomitableness of purpose than any other 

 South Carolinian ? Any man in this country who 

 can make his provisions in a rich swamp, and plant 

 only long cotton on high land, every acre of which 

 he can therefore manure, has it in his power to 

 thrive, and need never think of the West. 



Mr. Samuel Foxworth, then nineteen years of 

 age, as his overseer, and his driver George, through 

 a period of thirty years, served him faithfully. 

 When the work was about to begin, George was 



