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were consequently brought in numbers； in English ships。 There began； in
this part of the world； even more than in Virginia； the system of large
plantations and the accompanying aristocratic structure of society。 But in
Virginia the planter families lived broadcast over the land； each upon its
own plantation。 In South Carolina； to escape heat and sickness； the
planters of rice and indigo gave over to employees the care of their great
holdings and lived themselves in pleasant Charleston。 These plantations；
with their great gangs of slaves under overseers； differed at many points
from the more kindly； semi…patriarchal life of the Virginian plantation。 To
South Carolina came also the indentured white laborer； but the black was
imported in increasing numbers。
From the first in the Carolinas there had been promised fair freedom for
the unorthodox。 The charters provided； says an early Governor； 〃an overplus
power to grant liberty of conscience； although at home was a hot
persecuting time。〃 Huguenots； Independents； Quakers； dissenters of many
kinds； found on the whole refuge and harbor。 In every colony soon began the
struggle by the dominant color and caste toward political liberty。 King；
Company； Lords Proprietaries； might strive to rule from over the seas。 But
the new land fast bred a practical rough freedom。 The English settlers came
out from a land where political change was in the air。 The stream was set
toward the crumbling of feudalism； the rise of democracy。 In the New World；
circumstances favoring； the stream became a tidal river。 Governors；
councils； assemblies； might use a misleading phraseology of a quaint
servility toward the constituted powers in England。 Tory parties might at
times seem to color the land their own hue。 But there always ran； though
often roughly and with turbulence； a set of the stream against autocracy。
In Carolina； South and North； by the Ashley and Cooper rivers； and in that
region called Albemarle； just back of Virginia； there arose and went on；
through the remainder of the seventeenth century and in the eighteenth；
struggles with the Lords Proprietaries and the Governors that these named；
and behind this a more covert struggle with the Crown。 The details
differed； but the issues Mvolved were much the same in North and South
Carolina。 The struggle lasted for the threescore and odd years of the
proprietary government and renewed itself upon occasion after 1729 when the
Carolinas became royal colonies。 Later； it was swept； a strong affluent；
into the great general stream of colonial revolt； culminating in the
Revolution。
Into North Carolina； beside the border population entering through Virginia
and containing much of a backwoods and derelict nature； came many
Huguenots； the best of folk； and industrious Swiss； and Germans from the
Rhine。 Then the Scotch began to come in numbers； and families of Scotch
descent from the north of Ireland。 The tone of society consequently changed
from that of the early days。 The ruffian and the shiftless sank to the
bottom。 There grew up in North Carolina a people； agricultural but without
great plantations； hardworking and freedom…loving。
South Carolina； on the other hand； had great plantations； a town society；
suave and polished； a learned clergy； an aristocratic cast to life。 For
long； both North and South clung to the sea…line and to the lower stretches
of rivers where the ships could come in。 Only by degrees did English
colonial life push back into the forests away from the sea； to the hills；
and finally across the mountains。
CHAPTER XV。 ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD
In the spring of 1689； Virginians flocked to Jamestown to hear William and
Mary proclaimed Lord and Lady of Virginia。 The next year there entered； as
LieutenantGovernor； Francis Nicholson； an odd character in whom an
immediate violence of temper went with a statesmanlike conception of things
to be。 Two years he governed here； then was transferred to Maryland； and
then in seven years came back to the James。 He had not been liked there；
but while he was gone Virginia had endured in his stead Sir Edmund Andros。
That had been swapping the witch for the devil。 Virginia in 1698 seems to
have welcomed the returning Nicholson。
Jamestown had been hastily rebuilt； after Bacon's burning； and then by
accident burned again。 The word malaria was not in use； but all knew that
there had always been sickness on that low spit running out from the
marshes。 The place might well seem haunted； so many had suffered there and
died there。 Poetical imagination might have evoked a piece of sad
pageantrystarving times； massacres； quarrels； executions； cruel and
unusual punishments； gliding Indians。 A practical question； however； faced
the inhabitants； and all were willing to make elsewhere a new capital city。
Seven miles back from the James； about halfway over to the blue York； stood
that cluster of houses called Middle Plantation； where Bacon's men had
taken his Oath。 There was planned and builded Williamsburg； which was to be
for nearly a hundred years the capital of Virginia。 It was named for King
William； and there was in the minds of some loyal colonists the notion；
eventually abandoned； of running the streets in the lines of a huge W and
M。 The long main street was called Duke of Gloucester Street； for the
short…lived son of that Anne who was soon to become Queen。 At one end of
this thoroughfare stood a fair brick capitol。 At the other end nearly a
mile away rose the brick William and Mary College。 Its story is worth the
telling。
The formal acquisition of knowledge had long been a problem in Virginia。
Adult colonists came with their education； much or little； gained already
in the mother country。 In most cases； doubtless； it was little； but in many
cases it was much。 Books were brought in with other household furnishing。
When there began to be native…born Virginians； these children received from
parents and kindred some manner of training。 Ministers were supposed to
catechise and teach。 Well…to…do and educated parents brought over tutors。
Promising sons were sent to England to school and university。 But the lack
of means to knowledge for the mass of the colony began to be painfully
apparent。
In the time of Charles the First one Benjamin Symms had left his means for
the founding of a free school in Elizabeth County； and his action had been
solemnly approved by the Assembly。 By degrees there appeared other similar
free schools； though they were never many nor adequate。 But the first
Assembly after the Restoration had made provision for a college。 Land was
to have been purchased and the building completed as speedily as might be。
The intent had been good； but nothing more had been done。
There was in Virginia； sent as Commissioner of the Established Church； a
Scotch ecclesiastic； Dr。 James Blair。 In virtue of his office he had a seat
in； the Council； and his integrity and force soon made him a leader in the
colony。 A college in Virginia became Blair's dream。 He was supported by
Virginia planters with sons to educatedaughters' education being purely a
domestic affair。 Before long Blair had raised in promised subscripti