University of Virginia Library

52. Impressions of South Carolina
BY ELIZA LUCAS (May 22d, 1742)

I AM now set down, my dear brother, to obey your commands and give you a short description of the part of the world I now inhabit.

South Carolina is an extensive country near the sea. Most of the settled part of it is upon a flat. The soil near Charlestown sandy; but further inland it is

clay and swamp lands. The country abounds with fine navigable rivers and great quantities of fine timber. At a great distance, that is to say about a hundred and fifty miles from Charlestown, it is very hilly.

The soil in general is very fertile and there are few European or American fruits or grains but what grow here. The country abounds with wild fowl, deer, and fish. Beef, veal, and mutton are here in much greater perfection than in the islands, though not equal to that of England. Fruit is extremely good and grows in profusion. The oranges exceed any I ever tasted in the West Indies or from Spain or Portugal.[196]

The people in general are hospitable and honest; and the better sort add to these qualities a polite genteel behavior. The poorer sort are the most indolent people in the world, or they would never be so wretched in so plentiful a country as this.

The winters here are fine and pleasant. But four months in the year are extremely disagreeable,—excessively hot, much thunder and lightning, anti mosquitoes and sand flies in abundance. Charlestown, the metropolis, is a neat pretty place. The inhabitants are polite and live in a very genteel manner. The streets and houses are regularly built. The ladies and gentlemen are gay in their dress. Upon the whole you will find as many agreeable people of both sexes, for the size of the place, as almost anywhere.

St. Phillips Church in Charlestown is a very elegant one and much frequented. There are several more places of public worship in the town, and in general the people are of a religious turn of mind.

I began in haste and have shown no order in writing, or I should have told you, before I came to summer,

that we have a most charming spring in this country. Especially is this true for those who travel through the country. For the scent of the young myrtle and yellow jessamine, with which the woods abound, is delightful.

The staple commodity here is rice, which is the only thing they export to Europe. Beef, pork, and lumber they send to the West Indies.

Mama and Polly join in love, with dear brother.

Yours affectionately,

E. LUCAS.

To GEORGE LUCAS, Esquire.