An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia. In Two Volumes. (FIRST EDITION. COMPLETE TWO VOLUME SET.)

London: Printed for Alexander Donaldson, 1799. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 8vo. (respectively). FIRST EDITION, 1779. TWO VOLUME COMPLETE SET. The First History of South Carolina. Howes H452. Printed for Alexander Donaldson, London, 1779. Matching hardcover set. Rebound in black cloth, covers are plain. Spines bear orange leather labels stamped in gilt, along with the volume numbers. Top edges gilt. Endpapers are gray. Leaves are printed on laid paper. Includes "The first set of the fundamental constitutions of South Carolina / as compiled by Mr. John Locke"/ pages 321-347. Vol. I: xiv, 347 pp; Vol II: ix, 309 pp. On a shelf, this set spans 2.5 inches. <br><br>ABOUT THIS SET: The "earliest history of the region", Howes H452. "Justin Winsor calls this work the 'earliest account of South Carolina cast in a sustained retrospective spirit'. Hewatt, an Englishman who at one time lived at Charleston, was a keen collector of historical documents". (Streeter II, 1133). "In Volume I, [Hewatt] gives a sympathetic and balanced account of Indian life and customs, based in part on his own observations. He describes the climate, soil, natural resources, fauna, snakes and insects; how to make turpentine, tar, and pitch; and how to cultivate silk, cotton, and especially rice. In Volume II, he describes and criticizes slavery in the colonies and the treatment of slaves; he maintains that slaves should be given some instruction in morals and religion. He discusses diseases in Carolina and describes the cultivation of indigo in some detail. His factual account of the 'present state and condition of the colony' probably refers to the latter 1760s or early 1770s; he quotes some statistics of 1776." (Clark I, 225. De Renne 217. Turnbull I, 223). <br><br>ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alexander Hewatt came to Charleston in 1763 as minister of the Scots (First Presbyterian) Church there. Fascinated with the history of South Carolina, he soon became a keen collector of historical documents. When the British fleet arrived at Charleston in 1776, Hewatt and other ministers were required to renounce their loyalty to the king. When he refused, Hewatt was given sixty days to leave the colony. He sailed for Great Britain, where he devoted the next two years to completing his history. In 1780 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity form the University of Edinburgh, an indication of the esteem in which he and his work were held. "Hewatt's account reflects the influence of William Robertson and the Scottish school of historiography. less concerned with a strict chronology of events, Hewatt instead focused on the interrelatedness of those events and their various causes and effects. His goal in doing so was to provide moral, political, and practical instruction to the colonists and to those in England" both of whom he hoped would see the importance of continuing South Carolina's close ties to the Crown" (ANB). The work includes detailed descriptions of the climate, topography, and fauna of South Carolina, as well as discussions of slavery there. He warned that the mistreatment of slaves was likely to "fire them with desires of liberty and vengeance." Chapter 5 in the first volume includes a full account of the Yamasee War, while chapter 10 is devoted to the war with the Cherokee. <br><br>CONDITION: This set is overall VG with general shelf wear. Removal of bookplate on the front pastedown on both volumes, and clipped rectangular front endpaper removed in both volumes. Leaves are in remarkable condition, with extremely minimal foxing. Completely free from marginalia or annotation. Bindings are tight. An incredible set. <br><br>Additional photographs available upon request. This set will be delivered with "adult signature required". Full refund if not satisfied.