[Hewatt, Alexander] An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia.

London: Printed for Alexander Donaldson, 1779, first edition, two volumes, octavo, xiv, [1l], [1] -347; ix, 329pp., bound in contemporary ¼ leather, speckled paper covered boards, bindings somewhat worn, rubbed and scuffed, leather dry, corners bumped, text somewhat foxed, else a very good set.

The earliest history of the region, published during the Revolution, it was one of the few primary sources on the southern colonies available in England at the time. Hewatt lived for a time in Charleston and was according to Streeter, “a keen collector of historical documents.” Justin Winsor describes this work as the “earliest account of South Carolina cast in a sustained retrospective spirit.” Hewatt’s work was evidently written sometime prior to the revolutionary period as it is only in the last chapter that he refers to the colonial claims for independence. He gives a full account of the war with the Yamasee Indians and its causes in chapter five of the first volume. Chapter ten is almost wholly occupied with an account of the war with the Cherokees. A narrative of Sir Alexander Cumming’s treaty with that nation, and of the embassy of seven of their chiefs to England is found in chapter seven.

Bradford 2274; DeRenne, p. 217; Howes H-452; Sabin 31630; Streeter Sale 1133                                              $ 3000.00