Volume 03 Page 0093

Middle River bank, whilst from earliest boy-hood days are my associations
connected with every foot of ground upon this Savannah River property. I did intend
remaining at Gowrie until the end of the 1st week in May, but after the first
of this month unless necessary to do so there is not a particle of pleasure in
remaining here. Before the War I once remained at Gowrie (1856 or '57) until the
Ninth May but the Spring was cool and I had fire early in the mornings & evenings
for 2 or 3 days before leaving, the nights being very chilly. "Note From my book
of that period kept at Gowrie the following Extract is taken "Saturday
"9th May 1857. Ther. 64° N.E. Finish planting this day with No 7 Her. Open.
"I leave Gowrie this day for Savannah." "Reached Charleston 17th May 1857"

Whilst on this subject let me remark that in the 5th Nov'r 1853, being very
anxious to return to Gowrie, after my long Summer in Charleston alone, the
entire family being away at the North, it was reported, and fully credited, that
black frost (ice) had appeared in and around Charleston. I hastened on to Gowrie
on the 9th Nov'r 1853, reaching which the Overseer was astonished to see me,
there had been not a particle of frost in the Savannah River Swamp; all
vegetation was green as in mid-summer, and sweet potato vines not even tinged.
The evening of the 10th Nov'r a violent chill seized me, which returned every other
day, whilst a fever set in. For one week, or 10 days, I was in the house down
with this chill & fever, but never allowed the family to know about it. The
Overseer (Mr Stephen F Clark) a most estimable man took care of me, knowing
what to administer. The fever left me with coming frost (about the 20th Nov'r)
but from this I learnt a lesson by my own practicle experience, viz: A man
need not trifle with our climate. Mr Clark died at Gowrie 10th Dec'r 1855
of Consumption, buried at Purysburgh, and at my own expense I placed a head
and foot stone with suitable Inscription over his grave.

During the Agricultural Season of 1876-'77, or better explained from the
month of May 1876, down to the sale of the Crop, and up to April 1877, the
Rice planter of South Carolina (and in this instance Gowrie although in Georgia
suffered as much as if in Carolina) had to contend against the following serious
difficulties, all too coming in one year, Viz:

1st Treaty between the United States & the Sandwich Islands, known as the
"Hawaiian Treaty," removing the duty upon rice produced in that country

2nd The ever to be remembered June freshet, causing destruction to the Crops.

3rd Politics in South Carolina; factors declining to Advance for planters.

4th Low state of the Rice Market, the article sold at a loss.

It may be interesting to touch briefly upon each of these points.
As far back as I am able to learn from Statistics at my command, i.e. for about
40 years & perhaps more, had the duty upon foreign rice entering the United States
remained unchanged, being so great as to have been simply a "protective tariff,"