USA > North Carolina > The history of North Carolina from the earliest period, Volume II > Part 3
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justed, and a preliminary treaty was signed in London, on the 9th of September, Spain agreeing to pay ninety- five thousand pounds sterling, as a compensation for the depredations, committed by her subjects on the com- merce of Great Britain in America. Whether the Span- ish minister had deviated from his instructions, or whe- ther, as is more likely, the cabinet of Madrid, seeing the facility with which that of London had yielded to an ac- commodation, repented of its too easy concession, and sought to obtain better terms, Philip, in ratifying the treaty, insisted, as an indispensable condition of his sig- nature, that the sum of sixty-eight thousand pounds sterling, which were due him by the British company of the Assiento, should be accepted in part of that, stipu- lated by the treaty.
The court of London complained of this condition, as an infidelity ; and after the reproaches usual on such a circumstance, a new negotiation was begun on the 10th of January : it concluded by a vague agreement, that in case the company of the Assiento should not sa- tisfy the Catholic king, he would be at liberty to sus- pend their privilege, and four days after, a treaty was signed at the Pardo, by which it was agreed, that until measures could be taken to conciliate the interest of the two nations, and ascertain the true boundary between the provinces of South Carolina and Georgia, and that of Florida, all acts of hostility should cease in America, and that neither the Spanish nor the English would erect any fortification on, or occupy any new part of the dis- puted ground : the king of Spain promised to pay eighty- five thousand pounds within four months, and the king of Great Britain to satisfy the claims of his subjects on Spain, for spoliation. These terms excited a general
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indignation in England; the merchants exclaimed against the smallness of the sum, and the nation, trusting on her strength, hoped to be able to reduce Spain to allow a continuance of what she called an illicit trade. Parlia- ment, biassed by the general wish, seemed disposed to contest the prerogative of the crown, in making peace or war.
The ministry, intimidated, discovered no other means of calming the public mind, than a seeming dereliction of the treaty of the Pardo : they suffered to remain in the Mediterranean, the fleet which had been agreed to be withdrawn, and instead of giving orders for the suspen- sion of hostilities in America, dispositions were made for sending new forces thither. As every thing announced an approaching war, Philip was in no hurry in making the stipulated payment, and George, pleased with a pre- tence to gratify his subjects, complained of an infraction which was so welcome to him, and pretending great anger, granted letters of marque against Spain.
No business of importance came before the general assembly, which was convened at Newbern, early in the year. Newton, a small village, conveniently situated near the confluence of the two branches of Cape Fear river, where several merchants and tradesmen had set- tled, invited by the depth of the water, which allowed the approach of vessels of considerable burden, was now established as a town, and the name of it altered to that of Wilmington, in compliment to the earl of Wil- mington, the nobleman to whose protection, it has been observed, governor Johnston was chiefly indebted for his office. The privilege of sending a member to the lower house of the legislature was extended to the new town : the collector and naval officers of Port Bruns-
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wick, the clerk of the court, and the register of the county of New Hanover, were directed to remove their offices thither.
A formal declaration of war against Spain, was signed by the king on the 19th of October, and four days after was proclaimed with great solemnity throughout the city of London. Admiral Vernon was sent to take the command of a squadron on the West India station, with orders to act offensively against the Spanish do- minions in that quarter, and governor Oglethorpe was directed to annoy the subjects of Spain in Florida, by every means in his power : he immediately determined on an expedition against St. Augustine, and communi- cated his design to lieutenant governor Bull of South Carolina, and governor Johnston. The former laid the plan before the legislature of his province, which was then in session : they voted one hundred and twenty thousand pounds, for the service of the war, and a regi- ment of four hundred men was raised, partly by gover- nor Bull in that province, recruits being made in North Carolina under the auspices of governor Johnston, and in the province of Virginia under those of governor Gooch; colonel Vanderdussen was appointed to the command of this regiment. Indians were sent for from the different tribes in alliance with the British, and Vin- cent Price, who commanded the ships of war on this station, furnished four twenty gun ships and two sloops. Governor Oglethorpe, having appointed the mouth of St. John's river for the place of general rendezvous, re- turned to Georgia, and, placing himself at the head of his own regiment, on the 9th of May passed over to Florida; on the following day he infested fort Diego, at the distance of twenty-five miles from St. Augustine ;
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after a short resistance, the commanding officer capitu- lated, and lieutenant Dunbar, being left in the fort with a small garrison, the governor proceeded to the place of rendezvous, where he was joined by colonel Vander- dussen's regiment, and a company of Highlanders under captain M'Intosh : but, before this time, six Spanish half galleys with long brass nine pounders, and two sloops laden with provisions, had arrived at St. Augustine, and the army, now consisting of a little more than two thou- sand men, regulars, provincials and Indians, moved to fort Moosa, within two miles of St. Augustine. On its approach, the garrison abandoned the fort and retreated into the town ; the goveanor burnt the gates of the fort, made three breaches in its walls, and advanced towards the town and castle ; he soon discovered that an attack by land upon the town was impracticable, and that an attempt to storm the castle would be precarious and dangerous ; the enemy was too well prepared to receive him; during his stay at Fort Diego, they had drove all the cattle from the woods around the place, into the town ; the garrison consisted of seven hundred regulars, two troops of horse, besides the militia of the province, two companies of armed negroes and some Indians. The castle, built of soft stone, had four bastions, a cur- tain sixty yards long, and a parapet nine feet thick ; the rampart, which was twenty feet high, was casemated un- derneath for lodgings, arched over, and newly made bomb proof ; fifty pieces of cannon, a number of them twenty-four pounders, were mounted; the town was, besides, entrenched with ten salient angles, on each of which some small cannon were placed.
In these circumstances, it was resolved, with the as- sistance of the ships, to turn the siege into a blockade,
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and shut up every channel by which provisions could reach the garrison. Accordingly, colonel Palmer, with ninety-five Highlanders and forty-two Indians, was left at fort Moosa, and directed to scour the woods and in- tercept all supplies from the country by land; colonel Vanderdussen, with the Carolina regiment, was sent to take possession of point Quarsel, about a mile distant from the town, and erect a battery ; while the governor, with his party and the greatest part of the Indians, land- ed on the island of Anastasia ; hence he resolved on storming the town; captain Green, with one of the ships, guarded the passage by the way of the Matanzas, and with the rest the mouth of the harbor, so as to cut off all supplies by sea; batteries were erected on the island, and cannon mounted. These dispositions being made, the governor thought himself in a situation to summon the place to surrender, but the Spanish com- mander returned for answer, he would gladly shake hands with him in the castle. On this, the governor opened his batteries against the castle, throwing at the same time a number of shells into the town : his fire was spiritedly returned from the castle and half galleys, but the distance was so great, that though the cannon- ade was continued on both sides for several days, very little execution was done. It was thought of destroy- ing the half galleys by a nightly attack, but on sounding the bar, it appeared impracticable to employ the large ships, and the galleys being covered by the cannon of the castle, to send small vessels on this service appeared too rash. A detachment of three hundred Spaniards sallied out and surprised colonel Palmer's party at fort Moosa, and cut them almost entirely to pieces : some of the Chickasaw Indians, in escaping, met with a Spaniard,
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and according to their mode of warfare, cut off his head, brought it to the camp and presented it to governor Oglethorpe : he called them barbarous dogs, and angrily bid them be gone. This treatment, more humane than politic, exasperated the Indians, who loudly complained of it, observing, that if one of them had carried the head of an Englishman to the Spanish commander, he would have been differently received. The vessels stationed at. Matanzas being ordered off, some small vessels from Havana, with troops and provisions, passed through that small channel to the relief of the garrison : some Spanish prisoners, taken soon after, reported, that this reinforcement consisted of seven hundred men, and the supply of provisions was ample.
The governor now despaired of forcing the place to surrender : his men were dispirited by sickness, enfee- bied by heat and fatigued; his Indians grew trouble- some, the navy was short of provisions, and the season of hurricanes was approaching. Any farther attempt appearing hopeless, the siege was raised, and the gover- nor reached Frederica on the 10th of July.
At the meeting of the legislature, on the 21st of Au. gust, in the town of Edenton, governor Johnston com- municated to the two houses the instructions which he had lately received, to enlist men in the king's service, and to apply to the legislature for aid, it being expect- ed that the troops, thus raised, would be at the expense of the province, transported to the West Indies, to join other troops sent thither, on an intended expedition against the Spaniards, and pressed them to manifest their loyalty and duty to their sovereign, by a cheerful compliance with his desire : he added, that in compli-
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ance with his instructions, he had already enlisted four hundred men.
The lower house readily consented to the measure, and early entered on the consideration of the means by which a fund could be raised for this service. The po- verty of the people and the great scarcity of a circula- ting medium rendered it impossible to collect a sum of money, sufficient for this purpose : a levy in the com- modities of the country appeared to be the only effec- tual expedient : accordingly, a poll tax of three shillings proclamation money was laid, to be paid in tobacco, rice, Indian dressed skins, beeswax, tallow, pork and beef: the inhabitants of that part of the province, hereto- fore called Albemarle county, were allowed to discharge it at their option, in bills of credit, at the rate of seven pounds ten shillings for one pound in proclamation money.
As the extreme scarcity of money rendered it diffi- cult to pay taxes, and as the bills of credit in circulation were to cease to be current within four years, the facili- ty of paying in the same commodities was extended to the discharge of taxes, fines and forfeitures. Ware- houses, for receiving the commodities were directed to be built in each county.
With a view to give greater encouragement to settlers in the American provinces, an act of parliament was this year passed, extending all the privileges of natural sub- jects, in the colonies, to such aliens, who, after a resi- dence of seven years, should take the oaths of abjuration and fidelity and receive the sacrament, in some protest- ant or reformed congregation. The statute excuses Quakers and Jews from the last formality.
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The statute, allowing bounties on the importation into Great Britain of naval stores, masts, &c. from the Ame- rican provinces, which was about to expire, was con- tinued for the further period of ten years.
In April, 1740. the merchants of Great Britain, trading to America, complained to the house of commons, of the inconvenience and discouragement brought on the British commerce, in America, by the excessive quantities of paper money then issued, and the depreciated condition thereof, for want of proper funds to support its credit. The house, by way of palliation, addressed the throne, to put a temporary stop to the evil, by instructing the gover- nors not to give their assent to any further laws of that nature, without an express proviso, that it should not take effect, until the king's approbation was first obtained. 1686595 1
Early in the following year, the four hundred men en- listed in the province were transported to Jamaica : they were embarked there on board of the fleet, under the orders of admiral Vernon. This expedition had not the success which was expected, and which the superi- ority of the forces, employed, seemed to promise. In the month of March, the British troops possessed them- selves of near all the forts and batteries which defended the harbor of Carthagena, and on the 9th of April, a grand attack was made on fort St. Lazarus : it however proved unsuccessful. This misfortune, being followed by a great mortality among the officers and soldiers, the siege was raised and the troops re-embarked on the 16th. However, all the castles and forts which guarded the harbor were demolished ; six ships of war, as many gal- leons, and all the other ships in the harbor, were burnt
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. or destroyed, and many hundred guns carried away or rendered useless.
The legislature met at Edenton early in the spring ; its attention was taken up by objects of internal policy. The county of Edgecombe, which had been erected by an order of governor Burrington in council, was con- firmed by law ; a town was established on Mittam point, on the south side of New river, in the county of Ons- low, to which, in compliment to the governor, the name of Johnston was given ; an ecclesiastical division of the province into fourteen parishes took place, and the elec- tion of churchwardens and vestry men was regulated; pro- vision was made for the erection of churches and procu- ring ministers ; an act was passed, accurately defining the rights and duties of master and servant, for the ap- prehension of fugitives, and the trial and punishment of slaves, and some restraint was laid on the emancipation of them.
Few sessions of the legislature had ever been pro- ductive of so many useful acts ; laws were made con- cerning marriages; to prevent usury ; to ascertain the damages on foreign bills ; for the suppression of immo- rality : the improvement of roads and inland navigation ; to prevent the stealing of cattle, boats and canoes ; the regulation of weights and measures; the speedy and cheap trial of small causes; the regulation of taverns and restraint of tippling houses ; and the relief of pri- soners. 1
The settlements on Cape Fear river had become so considerable, that in the latter part of this year, the legislature was convened at Wilmington : the ses- sion was but of short duration : the county of Bertie was divided, and the upper part of it established as a
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new county, to which the name of North Hampton was given ; an act was passed for establishing ports, or places of delivery and shipping of merchandize, imported or exported; and to prevent the clandestine running of goods, which was soon after repealed, experience having shown, that its effect was to drive a considerable part of the trade from the province to Virginia.
Disturbances occasioned, in Massachusetts, by the abuses introduced by a banking company, in that pro- vince, induced parliament to pass a statute, prohibiting the establishment of banks, in the British colonies, on the continent.
Although the territory granted, by the second charter of Charles II., to the proprietors of Carolina, extended far to the south west of the river Alatamaha, the Span- iards had never relinquished their claim to the province of Georgia : their embassador at the British court, had even declared, that his master would as soon part with Madrid. Admiral Vernon had so much occupied their attention, in the West Indies, that they had not been able to bestow much of it on the recovery of that pro- vince. But, as soon as the admiral returned home, they began their preparations for dislodging governor Ogle- thorpe. With this view, don Antonio de Rodondo, embarked at Havana, with two thousand men, under the convoy of a strong squadron: the expedition reached St. Augustine in the month of May.
Governor Oglethorpe, having had early information of their approach, sent to governor Glen, of South Car- olina : in the meanwhile, he made every preparation at Frederica, for a vigorous defence ; and his Indian allies, who were greatly attached to him, soon crowded to his camp ; and a company of Highlanders joined him, at the
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first notice. The inhabitants of the southern part of the province of South Carolina, deserted their habita- tions, and, instead of joining the forces in North Car. olina, flocked to Charleston, with their families, slaves, and most valuable effects. It was then de- termined to fortify the town, and abide in a posture of defence. A want of confidence, in governor Ogle- thorpe's military talents, produced by his unsuccessful expedition against St. Augustine, recommended this measure. It was not thought, that, on the event of the governor being crushed, the reduction of Georgia would open an easy access to the enemy, into the heart of South Carolina, the force of the two provinces, becoming, by its division, unequal to the defence of either.
In the latter part of June, thirty-two sail, under the orders of don Manuel de Montanio, brought don An- tonio de Redondo, and his two thousand men, rein- forced with one thousand more from St. Augustine. The fleet anchored off Simore's bar and came in with the tide, into Jekyl sound. Governor Oglethorpe, who was at Simore's Fort fired at them as they passed : they returned his fire, and proceeded up the river Alatamaha, out of the reach of his guns. Among their forces, was a regiment of negroes, the officers of which, decked in lace, bore the same rank as the white officers, and, with equal freedom and familiarity, walked and conversed, with the commander in chief. This circumstance was calculated to alarm the inhabitants of South Carolina, where, there being so many negroes, this regiment would soon have acquired such a force, as might have baffled . every opposition. Unable to stop the progress of the enemy, the governor spiked the guns, burst the bombs and cohorns, destroyed his stores, and retreated to Fred-
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erica. The enemy was too strong to warrant his acting otherwise, than on the defensive. He sent out strolling parties, to watch the motions of the Spaniards, while he employed his main body on the fortifications. At night, his Indians were employed, ranging through the woods, and harrassing the Spanish outposts. They brought him five prisoners, by whom, he became acquainted with the extent of the force against him. Still expecting assistance from South Carolina, he exerted all his ad- dress in gaining time, and keeping up the spirits of his garrison. For this purpose, the Highlanders were de- spatched to reinforce the Indians, and assist them in ob- structing the approach of the enemy. His principal force did not amount to seven hundred men.
The enemy made several attempts to pierce through the woods, but met with such opposition from deep mo- rasses and dark thickets, lined with fierce Indians and wild Highlanders, that they honestly confessed, the devil himself could not pass through them, to Frederica. Don Manuel, however, had no other prospect left : one party was sent after another, to explore the thickets, and occupy every advantageous situation. In two skir- mishes, with the Highlanders and Indians, the enemy had one captain and two lieutenants killed, and one hun- dred men taken prisoners. The Spanish commander now altered his plan, and, keeping his men under cover of his cannon, proceeded, with some galleys, up the river, with the tide, to reconnoitre the fort, and draw the go- vernor's attention elsewhere. A party of Indians was sent to lie in ambuscade and prevent the landing of the Spaniards. Governor Oglethorpe, having learned from an English prisoner, who effected his escape, that differ- ences had arisen to such a height in the Spanish army,
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that the forces from Cuba, and those from St. Augus- tine, encamped in different places, determined on a sur. prise of one of the camps; and, availing himself of his knowledge of the woods, marched out in the night, with three hundred chosen men, the Highland company and some rangers : he halted at the distance of two .miles, and taking with him a small party, drew closer, to ob- serve the position of the enemy. At this moment, while every thing depended on the concealment of his ap- proach, one of his party fired his musket, ran off and alarmed the Spaniards. This treachery disconcert- ing his plan, the governor brought back his party to Frederica. With a view to prevent any credit to the report of the deserter, by whom he apprehended his weakness would be made known to the Spanish com- mander, he wrote a letter to this man, desiring him to represent Frederica to the Spaniards, as a weak and de- fenceless port, and induce them to come and attack it; but, if he could not persuade them to this, to use every possible artifice, to induce them to stay at least three days more where they were, as advices were received, that, within that time, two thousand men would arrive to the relief of Georgia, from South Carolina, with six ships of the line; and, above all, urged him to conceal from the Spaniards, the approach of the British fleet to St. Augustine, promising him the highest reward, if he acted his part well. This letter he gave to one of the Spanish prisoners in his camp, who, for the sake of ob- taining his liberty, undertook to give it to the deserter, instead of which, agreeable to the governor's expecta- tion, he placed it in the hands of his commander.
This letter gave rise to various conjectures: the Spanish general had the deserter put in irons, and called
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a council of war, to determine on the proper steps to be pursued. Some of the officers were of opinion, the letter was written with a view to its being intercepted, and to prevent the attack on Frederica: others, on the contrary, thought the contents of the letter very pro- bable, and recommended the dropping of a plan, which was attended with so many difficulties, and the issue of which hazarded, not only the loss of the army and the fleet, but that of the whole province of Florida. Du- ring this deliberation, three ships of war, which gover- nor Glen had sent out, came in sight. This accident, corresponding with the letter, convinced the Spanish commander that it was no fiction; and the army was struck with such a panic, that they immediately set fire to their works, and embarked in great hurry and con- fusion, leaving behind several cannon and a quantity of military stores. The wind prevented the British ships from beating up the river, and, before the morning, the invaders passed them and escaped to St. Augustine.
This attack on a neighboring province, notwithstand- ing its failure, manifested the necessity which there was, for the rest of the provinces to place themselves in a situation to repel invasion. France could not be ex- pected, much longer, to retain her neutrality. The natural alliance, which subsisted between the princes who filled the French and the Spanish thrones, forbade the belief, that Great Britain might long carry on the war against one of them, without his being openly supported by the other. Indeed, Great Britain and France observed each other, and each expected, that the other would soon begin the contest. The northern provinces were prepared to meet the foe. Every forti- fied place had been repaired and improved: the militia N. CARO. II. 6
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were training, and no measures were neglected, to place the country in a state of defence. In Europe, great pre- parations were made every where. The arsenals of both nations were full of workmen, and, although each sove- reign held out, as the ostensible object of his move- ments, the support of one of the personages, who was contending for the imperial diadem, each contemplated the probability of soon using the means, which were providing. in a different undertaking.
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