a province of North America, between 31° and 36° degrees of N. Lat. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic, on the west by Tennessee, on the north by Virginia, and on the south by Georgia. It is divided into two states, North Carolina and South Carolina.

North Carolina is about 430 miles long, and in general about 100 broad; but its sea coast is about 300 miles in extent. Its area is 50,500 square miles.

To the distance of 60 miles from the sea, the country is perfectly level, with a sandy or marshy soil, except along the banks of rivers, where a vegetable mould, three or four feet deep, affords fine pasture and good crops. Beyond this level country, there is a tract 40 miles in breadth, consisting of small sand hills, interspersed with pitch pine, which is of little value for agricultural purposes. The western parts of the state are generally mountainous; but between the mountains, and at their feet, lies much fertile land fit for any species of cultivation. There are several large swamps near the sea coast.

The winter in North Carolina is mild; the summer hot and sultry; the autumn is pleasant. The changes of temperature are sudden and frequent, and vegetation is sometimes hurt by the frost. In the upper country the climate is healthy; but in the low country, along the coast, the miasms are injurious, particularly in autumn.

The principal rivers are the Roanoke, which is navigable for boats 70 miles; the Pamlico, navigable for boats 80 miles; the Neuse, navigable 160 miles for small boats, and 50 miles for sea vessels; and Cape Fear river. A line of sand banks stretching along the coast, renders it difficult to approach it except at some points. The minerals are iron ore, which is abundant, but little worked; and gold, which is found in some of the rivers, but only in trifling quantities. Of animals there are the deer, bear, cougar, wild cat, fox, squirrel, the wild turkey, and various species of snakes. The bison and the beaver, which were formerly numerous, have now disappeared.

The population of North Carolina in 1810 was Carolina, 555,500, including 168,824 slaves, and 10,266 free blacks. It is one of the most thinly peopled of the old states, having only about 11 persons to the square mile. The inhabitants are chiefly planters, who live on their plantations at a distance of two or three miles from each other. Marriages are made among them at an early age. They are hospitable and indolent in their habits, and are accused of being addicted to gambling, drinking, and horse racing. In the upper country, however, where few slaves are kept, the people are laborious, sober, and plain in their manners. The government is vested in a senate and house of commons. The former consists of a member for each county, chosen annually by persons who possess 50l. freeholds. The house of commons consists of two representatives for each county, and one for each of six towns, chosen by all the freemen of mature age. There is no established church; the prevailing denominations are Presbyterians, Moravians, Quakers, Methodists, and Baptists. A public provision is made by the state for the support of schools and a university. The agricultural products are cotton, tobacco, rice, indigo, maize, wheat, barley, &c. The wheat harvest is early in June. The manufactures are chiefly domestic, and are but inconsiderable. The commerce of the state is also but small, the whole amount of the exports in 1817 being 956,580 dollars. The value of lands and houses in the state, ascertained by a fiscal census in 1814, was 92,571,487 dollars, being three times as great as in 1799. Newbern, the largest town in the state, contained only 2467 inhabitants in 1810.

South Carolina is of a triangular form, and extends along the sea coast 170 miles. Its greatest length is 340 miles, and its area is 24,080 miles. In its general appearance, soil, climate, and productions, it resembles North Carolina, but has less mountain land. Snow seldom falls, and during seven years the thermometer never rose above 93° nor fell below 17°. The annual average of rain is about 49 inches. The chief rivers are the Savannah, which is navigable for sloops 250 miles; the Santee, navigable 150 miles; the Pee Dee, also navigable to a considerable distance; Ashley river, Cooper river, &c. The population of South Carolina in 1810 was 415,115, including 196,365 slaves, and 4554 free blacks. The whites are distinguished by politeness, hospitality, and a nice sense of honour. They are at the same time profuse in their habits, fond of gaming, and not free from the imputation of drunkenness. Horse races, hunting, dancing, and ball-playing, are favourite amusements. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives. The senate consists of 43 members elected for four years, and renewed by halves. The representatives, 124 in number, are chosen for two years. The electors consist of all the free white males of 21 years of age. The value of lands, houses, and slaves in this state in 1814 was 123,416,512 dollars. The exports in 1817 amounted to 10,372,613 dollars; but a great proportion of the trade is in the hands of the New Englanders, the shipping belonging to the state in 1815, amounting only to 37,168 tons. There is no established church; the most numerous sects are the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Independents. Till a late period education was but little attended to. But since Carolina, since 1795 two colleges, and a considerable number of academies and grammar schools have been established.

In Charlestown, and some of the other towns, there are a number of societies of a philosophical, literary, or economical nature. The judges are appointed by the legislature during good behaviour, and are removable by impeachment. The judges of the different circuits, four in number, form the highest, or constitutional court, and meet once a year at Columbia, and at Charlestown, for the purpose of hearing and determining all motions for new trials, &c. The common and statute law of Great Britain is in force, and has been adapted by various modifications to the principles of the constitution.

Carolina was discovered by Sebastian Cabot about the year 1500, in the reign of Henry VII. but the settling of it being neglected by the English, a colony of French Protestants, by the encouragement of Admiral Coligny, were transported thither; and named the place of their first settlement Arx Carolina, in honour of their prince, Charles IX. of France: but in a short time that colony was destroyed by the Spaniards; and no other attempt was made by any European power to settle there till the year 1664, when 800 English landed at Cape Fear in North Carolina, and took possession of the country. In 1670, Cha. II. of Britain granted Carolina to the lords Berkeley, Clarendon, Albemarle, Craven, and Ashly, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colliton.

The plan of government for this new colony was drawn up by the famous Mr Locke, who very wisely proposed a universal toleration in religious matters. The only restriction in this respect was, that every person claiming the protection of that settlement, should, at the age of 17, register himself in some particular communion. To civil liberty, however, our philosopher was not so favourable; the code of Carolina gave to the right proprietors who founded the colony, and to their heirs, not only all the rights of a monarch, but all the powers of legislation. The court, which was composed of this sovereign body, and called the Palatinate Court, was invested with the right of nominating to all employments and dignities, and even of conferring nobility; but with new and unprecedented titles. They were, for instance, to create in each county two caciques, each of whom was to be possessed of 24,000 acres of land; and a landgrave, who was to have 80,000. The persons on whom these honours should be bestowed were to compose the upper house, and their possessions were made unalienable. They had only the right of farming or letting out a third part of them at the most for three lives. The lower house was composed of the deputies from the several counties and towns. The number of this representative body was to be increased as the colony grew more populous. No tenant was to pay more than about a shilling per acre, and even this rent was redeemable. All the inhabitants, however, both slaves and freemen, were under an obligation to take up arms upon the first order from the Palatine court.

It was not long before the defects of this constitution became apparent. The proprietary lords used every endeavour to establish an arbitrary government; and, on the other hand, the colonists exerted themselves with great zeal to avoid servitude. In consequence of this struggle, the whole province, distracted with tumults and dissensions, became incapable of making any progress, though great things had been expected from its particular advantages of situation. Though a toleration in religious matters was a part of the original constitution, dissensions arose likewise on that account. In 1705, Carteret, now Lord Granville, who, as the oldest of the proprietors, was sole governor of the colony, formed a design of obliging all the non-conformists to embrace the ceremonies of the church of England; and this act of violence, though disavowed and rejected by the mother country, inflamed the minds of the people. In 1720, while this animosity was still subsisting, the province was attacked by several bands of savages, driven to despair by a continued course of the most atrocious violence and injustice. These unfortunate wretches were all put to the sword: but, in 1728, the lords proprietors having refused to contribute towards the expenses of an expedition, of which they were to share the immediate benefits, were deprived of their prerogative, except Lord Granville, who still retained his eighth part. The rest received a recompense of about 24,000l. The colony was taken under the immediate protection of the crown, and from that time began to flourish. The division into North and South Carolina now took place, and the settlement of Georgia commenced in 1732.

See GEORGIA.