in the love of it."

[Sidenote] William Sayle visits Carolina.

Notwithstanding these preparations, several years elapsed before the
proprietors of Carolina made any serious efforts towards its settlement.
In 1667, they fitted out a ship, gave the command of it to Captain
William Sayle, and sent him out to bring them some account of the coast.
In his passage Captain Sayle was driven by a storm among the Bahama
islands, which accident he improved to the purpose of acquiring some
knowledge of them; particularly the island of Providence, which he judged
might be of service to the intended settlement of Carolina; for, in case
of an invasion from the Spaniards, this island, fortified, might be made
to serve either as a check to the progress of their arms, or a useful
retreat to unfortunate colonists. Leaving Providence, he sailed along the
coast of Carolina, where he observed several large navigable rivers
emptying themselves into the ocean, and a flat country covered with
woods. He attempted to go ashore in his boat, but observing some savages
on the banks of the rivers, he was obliged to drop his design; and, after
having explored the coast and the mouth of the rivers, he took his
departure and resumed to England.

[Sidenote] And is appointed the first governor of it.

His report to his employers, as might naturally be expected, was
favourable. He praised their possessions, and encouraged them to engage
with vigour in the execution of their project. His observations
respecting the Bahama islands induced them to apply to the king for a
grant of them. Charles bestowed on them by patent all those islands lying
between the 22d and 27th degrees of north latitude. Nothing then remained