Travel Accounts

A DESCRIPTION OF “CAROLANA” BY A “WELL-WILLER,” 1649

EDITED BY HUGH TALMAGE LEFLER*

[Vol. 32 (1955), 102-105]

The following unsigned two-page communication to The Moderate Intelligencer, to which no reference is made in the Colonial Records of North Carolina, and which, so far as is known, has never been reprinted, is one of the few documents relating to North Carolina between the grant by Charles I to his Attorney-General, Robert Heath, in 1629 and the more effective grant by Charles II to the eight Lords Proprietors in 1663.

The Moderate Intelligencer, one of the most important mid-seventeenth century papers, was a weekly news sheet published in London from June 5, 1649, to February 23, 1654—a very long life for a periodical in that day. Its founder, owner, and editor, John Dillingham of Whitefriars, was a very controversial figure. A tailor turned publisher, he was involved in many disputes with other journalists and with political and religious leaders. He gave information against Archbishop Laud in 1643, and Dr. Brownrigg was committed to Dillingham’s house in 1644. Gilbert Mabbott, a rival journalist, attempted to appropriate the title of his paper, but the House of Lords decided that “Dillingham alone was entitled to the title of The Moderate Intelligencer.” Some contempories praised Dillingham’s writing and were quite enthusiastic about his idea of a journal in French for the benefit of foreigners in England. One writer referred to him as “the Countryman’s Chronicler ... the citizens’ harbinger ... and the epitome of wit... and though he tells lies by the gross, yet he would have the book-turners of this isle believe that he useth moderation.” Other critics were less complimentary; one referred to Dillingham as “a Prick louse vermin Taylor”; another condemned “that botching and Moderate Intelligencer,” edited by that “learned Scout.”

The following interesting and detailed account of “Carolana” may have been a bona fide communication to Dillingham’s paper, or it may have been the product of his own fertile imagination. But it is significant that in 1649, at the time when Oliver Cromwell as Lieutenant General was preparing for his Irish campaign, plans were under way to appoint a governor for the Albemarle Sound region, then considered a part of Virginia despite the Heath patent of 1629. The editor has been unable to discover the identity of either the “well-willer” or the “Gentleman going over Governour into Carolana.”

THE MODERATE INTELLIGENCER: IMPARTIALLY COMMUNICATING MARTIALL AFFAIRS TO THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND

(From Thursday, April 26 to Wednesday, May 2, 1649.)

At the intreaty of a well-willer, the following lines are inserted.

There is A Gentleman going over Governour into Carolana in America, and many Gentlemen of quality and their families with him.

This place is of a temperate Climate, not so hot as Barbado’s nor so cold as Virgina; the Winter much lake our March here in England. The Northern latitude begins where Virgina ends, at 37, neer Cape Henry, and takes in six degrees Southerly; no bounds to the East and West, but the Seas. At Point Comfort, neer Cape Henry, you enter into a fair Navigable River, called James River, about two leagues over: on both sides that River, are the chiefe Plantations in Virginia, and their chief Town James Town. On the South side of this River, are two Rivers, Elisabeth, and Nansamond, which convey you into Carolana; so that this River is in a haven to both Colonies. This Carolana, besides the temperature of the Climate, hath many Native Commodities to feed and cloath the body: Deer in abundance, bigger and better meat then ours in England, having two young ones at a time; their skins good cloathing, being better dressed by the Indians then ours: Elkes of a large size, admirable meat, having three young at a time; their Hides make good Buffe; besides Hares and Conies, and many other that are good meat: Beasts of prey, that are profitable for their Furres, as Bevers, Otters, Foxes, Martins, Minches, and Musk-Cats, their Cods better sented then those of East-India, and more lasting: Fowle of all sorts, Partridges and wild Turkies 100 in a flock, some of the Turkies weighing 40 pounds, Fish there are in great abundance, of all sorts. In the Woods are sundry kinds of Fruits, as Strawberries, Raspices, Gooseberries, Plums, and Cherries; three several kinds of Grapes, large, and of a delicious taste. In these woods are herbes and flowers of fragrant smels, many kinds of singing Birds, which have varieties of sweet Notes. Though this Countrey be for the most part woody, but where the Indians have cleared, for their Corne and Tobacco, or where fresh marshes and medows are, yet they are pleasant and profitable; pleasant, in respect of the stately growth and distance of the Trees one from the other, that you may travail and see a Deere at a great distance; profitable, being of divers kinds, both for shipping, Pot-ashes, Mulberry trees for Silk-wormes, Walnut trees, and stately Cedars; so that when of necessity you must cut down for Building and other uses, you are recompenced for your labour. You have also many pleasant Ascents, Hills and Valleys, Springs of wholesome waters, Rivers, and Rivolets. Now you see you are plentifully fed and cloathed with the naturall Commodities of the Country, which fall into your hands without labour or toyle, for in the obtaining of them you have a delightful recreation. Now fearing you should out of this abundance, in the excesse take a Surfer, you have many Physical herbs and Drugs, Allom, Nitrum, Terra Sigillata, Tarre, Rosin, Turpentine, Oyle of Olives, Oyle of Walnuts, and other Berries; Honey from wild Bees, Sugar-Canes, Mulberries, divers sorts of Gums and Dyes, which the Indians use for paint. Within the ground, Mines of Copper, Lead, Tinne, Pearle, and Emroydes. Having the profit and pleasure of the natural Commodities, you shall see what Art and Industry may produce. The Soyle is for the most part of a black mould about two foot deepe, you may trust it with anything. The Indian Corne yeelds 200 for one, they have two Crops in six moneths; English Wheat, Barley, and Pease, yeeld 30 for one; Hempe, Flax, Rice, and Rape-feed have a large encrease: What English Fruits are planted there, improve in quantity and quality. Besides all this is said, we shall shake hands with Virginia, a flourishing Plantation, which is not onely able to strengthen and assist us, but furnish us with English Provision, Cowes and Oxen, Horse, and Mares, Sheepe and Hogs, which they abound in now, which they and other Plantations were enforced to bring out of other Countries with great difficulty and charge, these are ready to our hands.

If this that hath been said give incouragement to any, let them repair to Mr. Edmond Thorowgood, A Virginia Merchant, living in White-Crosse-Street, at the house that was Justice Fosters. He will informe you of the Governour, from whom you will understand when and how to prepare themselves (not exceed August) and what conditions shall be given to Adventurers, Planters, and Servants; which shall be as good, if not better, then have been given to other Plantations.

Plantations in America were first famous in King James his time, the arguments to draw people over were the bringing the Gospel to the Indians, inriching men that went and adventured, and extending Dominion, the fruit whereof is visible, in King Charles his time, the persecution of men diffring in opinion revived this undertaking, and thousands went to New England whose condition is also known, now their seems to be great designes of this nature which arise out of the discotents at the present state of affairs, alterations, & the wants which the late War hath brought many unto, for which there seems no blame. For censent be advised to make no use of the Merchant farther than transportation, part with nothing, if an adventurer, but what you are willing to loose to accomodate your friend, lay no foundation of a Plantation for your perticular before you go, when you begin to disburst, resolve to go, leave more or lesse behind you in England that may supply the first necessities, which will be greatest, and thus much be sure, if the Countrey be healthful to English, its seated as well as any upon which the English are, if not better.