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In what is probably the fullest and most vivid extant account of the American Colonial frontier, The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution gives shape to the daily life, thoughts, hopes, and fears of the frontier people. It is set forth by one of the most extraordinary men who ever sought out the wilderness--Charles Woodmason, an Anglican minister whose moral earnestness and savage indignation, combined with a vehement style, make him worthy of comparison with Swift. The book consists of his journal, selections from the sermons he preached to his Backcountry congregations, and the letters he wrote to influential people in Charleston and England describing life on the frontier and arguing the cause of the frontier people. Woodmason's pleas are fervent and moving; his narrative and descriptive style is colorful to a degree attained by few writers in Colonial America.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright Page
  2. pp. i-vi
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. vii-x
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. xi-xl
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  1. Part One: The Journal of the Rev. Charles Woodmason
  1. Journal of C. W. Clerk. Itinerant Minister in South Carolina 1766, 1767, 1768
  2. pp. 3-64
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  1. Part Two: Society and Institutions of the Backcountry
  1. A Report on Religion in the South: "The New Lights now infest the whole Back Country."
  2. pp. 67-83
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  1. A Letter to the Bishop of London: "I have a wide field before Me!"
  2. pp. 84-87
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  1. On Correct Behavior in Church: "Bring no Dogs with You."
  2. pp. 88-89
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  1. The Plight of the Anglicans: "The Stipends of the Clergy here, is not a competent Maintenance."
  2. pp. 90-92
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  1. The Presbyterians Urged to Be Tolerant: "We should live like Brethren in Unity."
  2. pp. 93-94
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  1. The Baptists and the Presbyterians: "This is very fine Talking: I could wish that all the Doings too, were equally Innocent."
  2. pp. 95-108
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  1. The New Light Baptists: "Peoples Brains are turn'd and bewilder'd."
  2. pp. 109-111
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  1. The New Light Baptists: "And yet twelve months past most of these People were very zealous Members of our Church."
  2. pp. 112-113
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  1. The New Light Baptists: "They apply to the Passions, not the Understanding of People."
  2. pp. 114-117
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  1. The Need for Education: "Speak O Ye Charlestown Gentry, who go in Scarlet and fine Linen and fare sumptuously ev'ry day."
  2. pp. 118-122
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  1. The Justices of the Peace: "In my Travels, I once stopp'd at a Magistrates on his Court day, to see the Practise of Things."
  2. pp. 123-129
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  1. Backcountry Litigiousness: "We see the Passions of Mortals highly inflam'd."
  2. pp. 130-131
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  1. The Rev. William Richardson: "Thus fell this Poor Gentleman."
  2. pp. 132-135
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  1. A Letter to John Chesnut: "Mean, degenerate Wretches, I reserve to be lashed in another form and Place, than the Pulpit."
  2. pp. 136-149
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  1. A Burlesque Sermon: "There was an Old Man, in Old Times who was called Abraham."
  2. pp. 150-162
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  1. Part Three: The Regulator Documents
  1. The South Carolina Regulator Movement: An Introduction to the Documents
  2. pp. 165-189
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  1. The Regulator Documents: A Letter to an English Friend: "I now begin to be quite worn out, and cannot go thro' the fatigues I've endured."
  2. pp. 190-212
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  1. The Remonstrance: "We are Free-Men—British Subjects—Not Born Slaves."
  2. pp. 213-246
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  1. A Letter to Henry Laurens: "If We could be but calmly and tenderly heard."
  2. pp. 247-252
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  1. An Advertisement: "The pleasant Hills, Rising Grounds, and beautiful Prospects of the Back Country."
  2. pp. 253-255
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  1. An Advertisement: "A Cargo of Fifty Thousand Prime Slaves."
  2. pp. 256-259
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  1. A Political Problem: "Is it not Paradoxical, That the Frontier and Interior Inhabitants should Pay Duties and Taxes?"
  2. pp. 260-263
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  1. Christopher Gadsden Answers a Political Problem: "Such artful Insinuations and mischievous Catches."
  2. pp. 264-265
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  1. An Answer to Christopher Gadsden: "Have Patience—Have Patience! has for many Years been the Prescription of our Political Quacks."
  2. pp. 266-271
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  1. A Letter to John Rutledge: "You call us a Pack of Beggars."
  2. pp. 272-278
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  1. Injunctions to the Rangers: "You are to take these Free Booters and Desperadoes."
  2. pp. 279-284
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  1. The Regulators Praised: "All your Artillery was an Hiccory Switch."
  2. pp. 285-288
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  1. Chief Justice Charles Shinner: "A Gentleman not of bright Parts, but of tried Integrity."
  2. pp. 289-290
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  1. Chief Justice Charles Shinner: "With great Reluctance and forebodings He embark'd with his family for Charlestown."
  2. pp. 291-298
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 299-305
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