Charleston, the place and the people . nimate a society in whichthere was already so much intellect and cultivation as inthat of Charleston. Hospitality and gayety remainedas great, but took on a lighter, more modern fashion. They brought us into touch with the last Europeanthought and custom, was said of the Middletons, yearsafter, by a near and dear friend of many years standing. Never since the years immediately preceding the Revo-lution was Charleston so prosperous, so cheerful, so fullof advance of every sort, as in those between 1840 andIHtiO. By this time the commerce of the place had r
Charleston, the place and the people . nimate a society in whichthere was already so much intellect and cultivation as inthat of Charleston. Hospitality and gayety remainedas great, but took on a lighter, more modern fashion. They brought us into touch with the last Europeanthought and custom, was said of the Middletons, yearsafter, by a near and dear friend of many years standing. Never since the years immediately preceding the Revo-lution was Charleston so prosperous, so cheerful, so fullof advance of every sort, as in those between 1840 andIHtiO. By this time the commerce of the place had re-gained its proper position. No longer abandoned to strangers, there were now^ im-portant mercantile houses of her own people. Her cottonand rice were carried in ships owned at home, her impor-tations came direct from Europe. Her wharves were filled with vessels flying the x\meri-can flag. The old Exchange, by this time called theCustom House, bristled with eager merchants and cap-tains. The office of Collector of the Port was one of. 2h 465 466 CHARLESTON importance. It was considered of much consequence thatthe incumbent should be acceptable to the business menof the town. In 1845, President Polk proposed to nomi-nate a new one. On this subject Mr. Poinsett, who thenresided chiefly on his Peedee plantation, wrote to Bull Pringle, his connection. After speaking ofother offices he says: — I did not sign the memorial in favour of Mr. Xs ap-pointment. I refused to do so on the ground that theCoUectorship of the Port was one of peculiar interestto the Merchants and citizens of Charleston with which anon-resident ought not to interfere. Other things were beginning. In addition to the oldCharleston Library another society was founded, calledthe Apprentices Library; the idea being that the bookscollected should be more especially adapted to the needsof young tradesmen and mechanics. The society built agood hall in ^Meeting Street, which was used for lectures,etc., the l
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