The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-25
TWO CENTS.
Notes on the south
CHARLESTON, s c., June I6, lS49.
Society in Charlottesville Different Castes-Yhe

CHARLESTON, s c., June I6, l849
Society in Chartston--7he Different Castes-YNe
Serial CiiQnes, &c &C., &c.
So much has lately been said about arstocracy,
in New York particularly, since that Italian Opera
concern was erected in Massacre Place, and the
codfshes came out as organized and generally
recognised body, that was anxious to ascertain if
there was anything similar IN this ancient and his
torical old town; and if So how the thing is ma
naged. Ii. your Gotham, money is the only test, |
believe, OF who's who!" There is no Wall
street here to take precedence and give .ne to the
commsrcial, and even social, circles. Charleston
Is evidently behind New York ia this regard, but
Is fast coming up with her. The white and black
inhabitants are pretty well classified here, particu-
larry the former. There are three main divisions,
or classes and these, again, cut up into differ
ent cllques and grades. Though the classes are
all arbitrary distinctions, yet they fast running
into each other by lntermarriagrs of wealth and
former obscurity with poverty and great names, In
old families.
The first class are those families who arc de-
scended from the Huguenots-c lique No /
I'd clique of this class are the rice planters, and
also the Sea Island cotton planters on Cooper
River.
3D. clique are the glorious names of our revolu-
tionary days, and those descended from the old
Church OF England families
OF the second class
Clique list, the rice and cotton factors, or mer-
chants.
Clique I'd, the common upland cotton planters.
Clique I'd, Judges, editors OF newspapers, bank
and railroad presidents aud directors.
VI the third class, are the wholesale jobbing dry
goods merchants and wholesale grocers. Below
that are retail grocers and shopk-epers clerks boss
mechanics, and sort of general outside class that
have not YET got down to; bur they are allowed
to 1--we In this community unmolesed, and will be
unable to shine until they supper penny paper
Some OF these inherited names, of The first class,
have become very poor. and their former large
fortunes have dwindled down To notlingness, and
II Is very natural that these names should wish to
be kept up, at any cost or any sacr,fice II is
highly creditable propensity But there is only
one way to do 1t. There is only one broker that
can make the negotlat.u, and his name is
money. There are found, lower down a mer-
daughters, to many and to each of whom the head
can give money The old families have an equal
quantity of educated sons and daughters, who
have no money-the q,ad pro quo IS glven-one
side mas the name, the O,ner the money, and thus
matches are made up with The best possible results.
There are females IN This city, WIN came here
from the North, who came out as nurses, who are
now rolling IN wealth and splendor Their hns-
bands Were poor when they married, have made
money, and their children form the most aristo-
cratic alliances with those who are willing to cross
with money. The Yankees are gaining ground
here, hand over fit. | should think the most pro-
gressive men here are from the North. The
wholesale merchants are nearly all so.
don't think Charleston can ever be great
commercial city, and the reason why think 50,
is that bar; IS feet all that is on it at high water,
and steamers of a large size cannot come here.
But OF the commercial resources of Charleston
Will write at another time. COMMISSIONER.