The new
province was to be called the Margravate of Azilia. Mountgomery, as
Margrave, was to render to the Lords of Carolina an annual quitrent and
one-fourth part of all gold and silver found in Azilia. He must govern in
accordance with the laws of England, must uphold the established religion
of England, and provide by taxation for the maintenance of the clergy. In
three years' time the new Margrave must colonize his Margravate, and if he
failed to do so, all his rights would disappear and Azilia would again
dissolve into Carolina.
This was what happened. For whatever reason, Mountgomery could not obtain
his colonists. Azilia remained a paper land. The years went by. The
country, unsettled yet, lapsed into the Carolina from which so tentatively
it had been parted. Over its spaces the Indian still roved, the tall
forests still lifted their green crowns, and no axe was heard nor any
English voice.
In the decade that followed, the Lords Proprietors of Carolina ceased to be
Lords Proprietors. Their government had been, save at exceptional moments,
confused, oppressive, now absent-minded, and now mistaken and arbitrary.
They had meant very well, but their knowledge was not exact, and now
virtual revolution in South Carolina assisted their demise. After lengthy
negotiations, at last, in 1729, all except Lord Granville surrendered to
the Crown, for a considerable sum, their rights and interests. Carolina,
South and North, thereupon became royal colonies.
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