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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02401 8449
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/georgiaasproprie00mcca_0
GEORGIA AS A PROPRIETARY PROVINCE
THE EXECUTION OF A TRUST
BY JAMES ROSS McCAIN, Ph.D. Professor of American History Agnes Scott College
ARTI et VERITATI
BOSTON: RICHARD G. BADGER TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED
1
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY RICHARD G. BADGER All Rights Reserved
1727340
1
Made in the United States of America The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.
1
1
PREFACE
This work makes no attempt to tell the full story of Georgia under the Trustees. Stevens, Jones, and others have written the general history of the colony so fully that there is no need of repetition. Assuming a reasonable knowledge of this history on the part of the reader, the pres- ent study attempts to explain in some detail the institutional organization and development of the province. The sub- jects treated are those which have been practically neg- lected by the historians of the state. The study has of necessity been made almost exclusively from the original sources ; and it is believed by the author that no informa- tion on this subject has been untouched. Many of the manuscript materials have never before been available for use by Georgia historians.
The first five chapters of this monograph were printed in 1914 under the title "The Executive in Proprietary Geor- gia" for presentation to Columbia University as a doctoral dissertation. The thorough revision of these chapters and the addition of so much new material make the present pub- lication practically a new work.
Though particular mention can be made of only a few of those who have aided in the prosecution of this study, the author is deeply grateful to all who have rendered him service in the matter. Foremost among those to whom grati- tude is due, is Professor H. L. Osgood, of Columbia Univer- sity, whose assistance and advice in gathering material and in organizing it have been invaluable. To Hon. Lucian
3
4
Preface
Lamar Knight, Compiler of the Georgia State Records, I am indebted for his cordial aid in providing access to the manuscripts and other source materials in the Capitol. My father, Dr. J. I. McCain, of Erskine College, has been good enough to read the entire manuscript and make helpful sug- gestions. Finally my wife has given constant encourage- ment in every stage of the work, and she has rendered special service in the reading of the proof.
THE AUTHOR.
Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia, August 1, 1917.
CONTENTS
I THE CREATION OF THE TRUST
PAGE
MOTIVES FOR SETTLING GEORGIA
17
Relief of the poor
18
Promotion of English trade
19
Erection of barrier province against Spanish and Indians
21
PETITION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATION
22
First report of the Board of Trade.
22
Its second report .
23
Charter granted .
24
PROVISIONS IN CHARTER FOR IMPERIAL CONTROL
26
II THE PERSONNEL OF THE TRUSTEES
BASES FOR CHOOSING MEMBERS OF THE TRUST
29
Interest in charitable work .
29
Ability to give financial aid
30
Influence in the House of Commons
30
TABULATION OF THE ATTENDANCE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE TRUST ON ITS MEETINGS . 31
TABLE SHOWING THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMON
COUNCIL OF THE TRUST IN THEIR ATTENDANCE
35
RECORD OF THE COMMITTEE SERVICE OF EACH TRUSTEE
38
GENERAL SUMMARY SHOWING THE MOST FAITHFUL MEMBERS IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OF SERVICE 40
JAMES VERNON: THE MOST FAITHFUL TRUSTEE
41
JOHN, LORD VISCOUNT PERCEVAL, LATER EARL OF EGMONT
44
HENRY L'APOSTRE
46
REV. SAMUEL SMITH
47
THOMAS TOWER
.
48
ROBERT HUCKS AND JOHN LAROCHE
49
REV. STEPHEN HALES
50
ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, FOURTH EARL OF SHAFTESBURY
51
5
1
.
6 Contents 6
PAGE
TRUSTEES FAITHFUL FOR SHORT PERIODS 52
DIFFERENCES AMONG MEMBERS OF THE TRUST 54 FEW OF THE TRUSTEES REALLY DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF GEORGIA 55 A SMALL GROUP OF THEM WORTHY OF HIGHEST PRAISE 56
III RELATION OF OGLETHORPE TO GEORGIA
LIFE OF OGLETHORPE PRIOR TO THE FOUNDING OF THE COLONY
57
DID HE ORIGINATE THE PLAN OF SETTLING GEORGIA?
60
ACTIVITIES IN PREPARING FOR THE FIRST EXPEDITION
62
MOTIVES FOR ACCOMPANYING THE SETTLERS TO GEORGIA
63
AUTHORITY IN THE NEW PROVINCE
64
Not by any means a governor
64
An attorney with very limited powers 65
LABORS IN GETTING THE COLONY STARTED
66
Selection of spot for the first town
66
Supervising the surveys and buildings
67
Pacifying the Indians · · 67 Preparing for defense of the colony 68
WEAKNESSES IN HIS ADMINISTRATION
69
OGLETHORPE'S RECEPTION ON HIS RETURN TO ENGLAND
70
LABORS WHILE IN ENGLAND, 1734-1735 71
POWERS STILL LIMITED ON SECOND TRIP TO GEORGIA
72
NEW LABORS IN THE PROVINCE
73
HIS MISTAKE IN LOCATING FREDERICA 74
INTIMATION OF BREACH WITH TRUSTEES ABOUT EXPENDITURES
76
TREATY WITH THE SPANISH AT ST. AUGUSTINE
76
SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND, 1736-1738 77
SERVICES ON THIRD TRIP TO THE COLONY
79
79
Probing the administration of Thomas Causton in Savannah Visit to the Indians at Coweta 80
GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF AUTHORITY FROM OGLETHORPE
80
FEELING THAT A REGULAR GOVERNOR FOR THE COLONY SHOULD BE APPOINTED . 84
MILITARY SERVICES OF OGLETHORPE - EXPLAINING HIS NEGLECT OF CIVIL AFFAIRS
85
Invasion of Florida . 86
Repelling the counter attack on Georgia
86
Promotion and return to England .
86
7
Contents
PAGE
INDICATION OF LACK OF HARMONY BETWEEN OGLETHORPE AND THE TRUSTEES OF GEORGIA .
87
SERIOUS DISAGREEMENT OVER THE BALANCING OF TRUST ACCOUNTS
91
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN RELATIONS WITH COLONY .
92
Actuated by high motives
92
Failure in South Carolina differences
93
Mistaken judgment as to legislation
94
Great success in defense
94
Trustees themselves largely to blame for failures
95
A governor with large discretionary powers needed .
96
IV ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE TRUST IN ENGLAND
GENERAL CHARTER PROVISIONS AS TO POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES
98
A COMMON COUNCIL TO EXECUTE MANY OF THESE FUNCTIONS
100
Provisions for membership .
100
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR THE GENERAL CORPORATION AND FOR THE COMMON COUNCIL 101
SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE COUNCIL IN PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATION 102
CONTRARY TO EXPECTATION, THE COUNCIL MEETS LESS FREQUENTLY THAN THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION 105
REGULARITY OF TRUST MEETINGS
106
PLACES OF MEETING
109
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ITS IMPORTANCE
109
NOTABLE DECLINE OF INTEREST IN ATTENDANCE ON BUSINESS
110
COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION
111
WORK OF COMMITTEES IN THE COMMON COUNCIL
113
STRUGGLE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE
116
DISPUTES WITH THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CUSTOMS
121
RELATIONS WITH THE ADMIRALTY BOARD
122
LONG STRUGGLE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT 123
Early grants 124
Failure to get the colony in the budget 124 Walpole's threatening attitude . 125
Efforts to provoke Parliamentary inquiry 128
New Ministry unfavorable to Georgia in 1742 129
Investigation of colony provoked by its enemies 130 Trustees justified, but get no money 131
Second decade of Trust less eventful in relation to Parliament
132
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Contents
PAGE
PROPOSAL TO SURRENDER THE TRUST TO THE CROWN IN 1752 . 134
SUMMARY OF THE TRUSTEES' POLICY IN ENGLAND . 135
V ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE IN GEORGIA
GENERAL FEATURES OF BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FAIRLY UNI- FORM IN PROVINCES OF AMERICA 137
TRUSTEES DELIBERATELY DEPART FROM THESE FEATURES
138
GEORGIA UNIQUE IN ITS PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION
139
NO GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FOR MANY PARTS OF THE COLONY
141
LOCAL MODELS STILL FOLLOWED IN 1735
143
INDIVIDUAL APPOINTEES OF THE TRUSTEES FOR SPECIAL TASKS DO MOST OF THE EXECUTIVE WORK 145 Dissatisfaction both in England and in Georgia 147
APPOINTMENT OF A SECRETARY TO BE RESIDENT IN COLONY 148
His instructions as to:
Military affairs 149
Civil concerns
150
Religious business
150
General matters
151
ORGANIZATION OF THE PROVINCE INTO TWO COUNTIES, 1741
153
A president and assistants for each county 154
Nominal powers of the president . 155
President and assistants organized as a Board also limited in power . · 157
The County of Savannah the only one organized under the plan . 158
ALL GEORGIA PLACED UNDER A SINGLE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1743 158
SALARIES FOR ALL OFFICERS NOTABLY SMALL 159
-
GRADUAL INCREASE OF POWER FOR THE GEORGIA OFFICIALS
161
SOME LEADING OFFICIALS IN GEORGIA AFFAIRS UNDER THE TRUSTEES 162
Thomas Causton 163
Henry Parker 164
Thomas Christie . 166
Noble Jones
166
William Stephens
167
James Habersham
169
THE GREAT NEED OF TRAINED AND CAPABLE LEADERS 171
ATIVES
TRUSTEES PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF THEIR REPRESENT- .
172
9
Contents
I AGE
VI LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE
FULL LEGISLATIVE POWER FOR TWENTY-ONE YEARS VESTED IN TRUS- TEES 173
THE PEOPLE OF THE COLONY ALLOWED NO VOICE IN MAKING LAWS
.
173
NO FORMAL LAWS OR RULES ADOPTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS
174
COLONY AT FIRST CONTROLLED BY SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FROM ENGLAND FOR EACH EMERGENCY 176
THREE IMPORTANT LAWS PASSED IN 1735 - THE ONLY ONES FOR TWENTY YEARS 177
Summary of provisions of act regulating Indian trade
177
Details of the law forbidding the importation and use of rum
179
Law prohibiting the use of negro slaves in Georgia .
180
OTHER LEGISLATION SUGGESTED, BUT NOT PASSED
181
REGULATIONS CONTROLLING LAND TENURES.
182
ACTS PASSED BY TRUSTEES, BUT DISAPPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE .
183
ATTEMPTS TO MODIFY OR REPEAL OTHER ACTS ALSO BLOCKED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE . 184
THE WEAKNESS RESULTING FROM SO FEW LAWS
187
DISSATISFACTION OF THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA MANIFESTED BY PETI-
188 TIONS
No POWER ALLOWED THE COLONISTS EVEN IN LOCAL MATTERS
189
PROPOSALS OF TRUSTEES IN 1750 TO CALL AN ASSEMBLY TO ACT AS AN AD- VISORY BODY FOR ONE YEAR ONLY 189
Recommendations as to local needs at Savannah
192
Suggestions for improvements in colony as a whole 193
MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY APPROVED BY TRUSTEES 194
THE ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHED AS A PERMANENT ADVISORY BODY
195
ESTIMATE OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THE PROPRIETARY PERIOD
196
VII THE JUDICIARY OF THE COLONY
FULL JUDICIAL POWER GRANTED THE TRUSTEES FOR ONLY TWENTY- ONE YEARS 198
TOWN COURT OF SAVANNAH ESTABLISHED IN 1732 199
TOWN COURT FOR FREDERICA ESTABLISHED IN 1735
201
IN 1741 COURTS MORE DEFINITELY ESTABLISHED BY COUNTIES .
203
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Contents
PAG
SAVANNAH COURT GIVEN APPELLATE JURISDICTION OVER WHOLE PROV- INCE IN 1743 203
COURT OF FREDERICA AND APPELLATE POWER OF SAVANNAH COURT SUS- PENDED IN 1745 204
EFFORTS TO SECURE ADMIRALTY COURTS FOR COLONY FUTILE 205
TRUSTEES THEMSELVES ACTIVE IN JUDICIAL MATTERS 206
APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL IN CASE OF JOSEPH WATSON 209
JUSTICE USUALLY NOT WELL ADMINISTERED IN GEORGIA 212
No LAWYERS ALLOWED IN COLONY 213
DIFFICULTY IN SECURING FAIR JURIES
215
ATTEMPTS OF GRAND JURIES TO EXERCISE TOO MUCH POWER 216
IRREGULAR METHODS OF PROCEDURE 217
PERSONNEL OF THE EARLY COURTS AT SAVANNAH 218
SMALL AMOUNT OF JUDICIAL BUSINESS AT FREDERICA 221
SALZBURGHERS AND SCOTCH HAD ALMOST NO JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION . 223
REVIEW OF JUDICIAL MEASURES 225
VIII THE LAND SYSTEM OF GEORGIA
Section One. CHARTER PROVISIONS AND EARLY REGULATIONS 226
Restrictions on making grants . 227
Specific regulations of a typical grant . 229
Inheritance to be by tail male . 229
No land to be granted in fee simple 230
First published rules in 1735 239
Regulations for adventurers paying their own way 233
Provisions severe in statement, but not in practice 234
Section Two. STRUGGLE FOR BETTER LAND REGULATIONS 235
Dissatisfaction pronounced by 1738 235
Concessions granted in 1739 237
Further concessions in 1740-1742
House of Commons urges fee simple tenure for adventurers 239
242
Law embodying this advice lost in controversy with law officers of the Crown 243
All restrictions on land tenures removed in 1750 243
Section Three. FORFEITURES 244
Many provisions for forfeiture 244
Releases frequent 248
Section Four. QUIT RENTS 249
Four shillings per hundred acres on charity lands 249
Adventurers charged various rents 250
11
Contents
PAGE
Rules of 1735
251
In 1742 House of Commons suggests lower rents 252
Acts reducing rents for the people fail to pass government officials 253 Carteret's interest in Georgia bought by the Crown in 1744 254 No money collected in colony for rents during 1732-1752 255
Section Five. MACHINERY OF THE LAND SYSTEM ·
·
256
Large trust deeds made to agents for subdivision among colonists going at the expense of the Trust 257
Steps necessary to obtain a grant except on charity 258
Officials in Georgia begin to recommend grants 260 Surveyors called forth frequent complaints 261
Squatters rare in province 263
Section Six. THE SIZE OF LAND GRANTS 263
Who could obtain the maximum grant of 500 acres? 264
Fear of shortage of land expressed by Trustees 265
Charity settlers to get 50 acres each 267
Grants to servants and soldiers when their terms expire 268
Table showing acreage of grants from 1732 to 1741 . 269
Applications favorably received 1741-1752 269
Applications refused or postponed for the same period . 270
Section Seren. METHODS OF LAYING OUT LAND GRANTS
272
Settlements made in communities or towns 272
Study of Savannah as a type 272
Comparison and contrast with New England towns 273
Section Eight. INDIAN GRANTS TO TRUSTEES
275
Gradual extensions of white boundaries 276
Confirmation of grants in 1739 at Coweta 276
Attempts of Bosomworth to get Indian reservations
278
GENERAL SUMMARY OF LAND POLICY
279
IX EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS IN THE COLONY
RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR INSTRUCTION 280
CHRISTOPHER ORTMAN AT EBENEZER 281
DARIEN AND AUGUSTA LEFT WITHOUT EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
282
FEW RESULTS AT FREDERICA
283
JOHN BURNSIDE'S PETITION TO START A "WRITING SCHOOL" AT SAVAN- NAH IN 1735 284
THE INDIAN SCHOOL IRENE 1735
284
DELAMOTTE ORGANIZES FIRST DAY SCHOOL IN SAVANNAH 1736
286
BETHESDA ORPHAN HOME AND SCHOOL 287
Whitefield and Habersham co-operate in founding it
288
Whitefield's campaign for funds
288
Daily program of work at the institution .
292
12
Contents
PAGE
Interruption of work due to Spanish invasion 293 Trustees severely reprove Habersham 294 Difficulties in raising money for the support of work 295
FIRST FREE SCHOOL IN SAVANNAH 297
PETER JOUBERT AN INEFFECTIVE TEACHER 299
EDWARD HOLT CHOSEN AS A PERMANENT TEACHER 1749 300
SAVANNAH SCHOOLS SUSPENDED 301
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
302
X
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF EARLY GEORGIA
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES IN GREAT BRITAIN DOING WORK IN THE COLONY 303
RELATION OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON TO GEORGIA . 306
TRUSTEES COMPOSED OF BOTH DISSENTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ESTAB- LISHED CHURCH 308
WORSHIP OF ESTABLISHED CHURCH ONLY ONE TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE TRUSTEES THEMSELVES 309
REV. HENRY HERBERT A TEMPORARY SUPPLY AT SAVANNAH
309
REV. SAMUEL QUINCY UNSUCCESSFUL IN MOST RESPECTS 310
REV. JOHN WESLEY AT SAVANNAH AS CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIEST
311
His love affair
312
Prosecution by William Williamson
313
Difficulty in getting trial
315
Leaves colony
315
UNHAPPY EXPERIENCES OF REV. CHARLES WESLEY AT FREDERICA 316
WORK OF REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD 317
Interest aroused in orphanage
318
Resigns pastorate at Savannah
319
PASTORAL WORK OF REV. WILLIAM NORRIS 320
REV. CHRISTOPHER ORTON .
322
REV. THOMAS BOSOMWORTH, THE WORST TROUBLEMAKER IN THE COLONY
322
LONG AND FRUITFUL LABORS OF REV. BARTHOLOMEW ZOUBERBUHLER 324 .
MISSION AT AUGUSTA UNDER REV. JONATHAN COPP 326
CHAPLAINS OF THE REGIMENT 327
PRESBYTERIAN WORK IN THE COLONY
328
MORAVIAN SETTLEMENTS ONLY TEMPORARY .
329
Contents 13-14
JEWISH ORGANIZATION IN PROVINCE
PRICE
332
SALZBURGHER SETTLEMENTS AND WORK
333
Settlement at Ebenezer . 334 Work of Rev. John Martin Bolzius and assistants 335 Reasons for the success of their work . 336
EXPENDITURES OF TRUSTEES FOR RELIGIOUS WORK
337
CHURCH BUILDINGS IN GEORGIA
338
SUMMARY OF RELIGIOUS WORK IN THE PROVINCE
341
BIBLIOGRAPHY
343
INDEX
351
GEORGIA AS A PROPRIETARY PROVINCE: THE EXECUTION OF A TRUST
1
15-16
Georgia as a Proprietary Province: the Execution of a Trust
CHAPTER I
THE CREATION OF THE TRUST
T HE charter creating a corporation to establish the province of Georgia was granted in 1732. It had been more than a hundred years since a corporation for colonizing purposes had been organized in England; and it had been more than fifty years since a colony had been established by English people in America. The wild dreams of untold wealth in America that stimu- lated colonization in the early part of the seven- teenth century had long before been dissipated; religious persecution in England was not so severe that any sect or creed felt it necessary to seek an asylum in the new world ; the experience of the proprietors in Carolina had proved that colonization was not financially profitable. All the motives which had inspired the founding of the other colonies seemed to be lacking. What, then, were the causes leading to the establishment of the thirteenth English colony within the present limits of the United States?
The charter itself states with sufficient clearness the three principal objects of the province. These were (1) the re- lief of poor subjects who through misfortune and want of employment were reduced to great necessity; (2) the in-
17
18
Georgia as a Proprietary Province
crease of the trade, navigation, and wealth of the realm; and (3) the establishment of a barrier for the defence of South Carolina and the provinces further north against the ravages of the Indians.1 It is not necessary to give any extensive account of the reasons for pressing these purposes at that particular time, nor is it worth while to pursue in detail the methods by which it was proposed that the prov- ince should accomplish its objects. A few general state- ments, such as were set forth at that time by the sponsors of the movement, will indicate in outline the plans for the colony.
It was not the purpose of the founders of Georgia to relieve indiscriminately the poor, but rather those of reputa- ble families and of liberal, or at least easy, education. There were multitudes of the poor; according to the writers of the time, four thousand per year were committed to prison for debt alone in the one city of London.2 Very many of the victims belonged to the class that the new colony was intended to relieve. Some of them had been undone by guardians, some by lawsuits, some by accidents of com- merce, some by stocks and bubbles, and some by suretyships ; but they all suffered alike, being either a burden to their friends or objects of harsh treatment at the hands of jailers. It was thought that such people might aid themselves and at the same time develop a new province which might be use- ful in many ways.3 Arguments both from the humanitarian and from the economic viewpoints were urged in favor of the project; but the larger part of the stress was put on the economic basis for the effort. For instance, figures were
1 Colonial Records of Georgia (Cited as C. R.) I: 11.
' Reasons for Establishing, Georgia Historical Collections (Cited as G. H. C.) I: 216.
'New and Accurate Account, G. H. C. I: 56.
.
19
The Creation of the Trust
brought forward to show that it took two thousand pounds to support a hundred families in London, while families of the class that would be sent to Georgia could earn only one thousand pounds; so that their support entailed a loss of a thousand pounds per year on the public. It was esti- mated that in Georgia these hundred families ought to earn six thousand pounds, clearing four thousand pounds with which to buy English merchandise.+ While the economic arguments received the most stress before the public, it was probably the humanitarian motives that gave the first im- pulse to the plan for starting the colony. So far as it can be ascertained, the movement took definite shape imme- diately after certain prison investigations that revealed the wretchedness and cruelty suffered by those who were impris- oned for debt. The sequence of time is suggestive of the probable relations of cause and effect between the investi- gation of the misery and the efforts to relieve it. This probability is strengthened by the fact that several mem- bers of the investigating committee, notably James Ogle- thorpe, were prominently interested in founding the new colony.
The project of founding Georgia came in the midst of the Walpole era. During this period, nearly all of Eng- land's energies were directed to, the expansion of her trade and the development of manufactures. The idea that the balance of trade must be favorable to a nation in order to be profitable was generally accepted without question; and there was an increasing desire to have the colonies produce raw materials for the manufactories of the realm. In view of these facts, it is not strange that much stress was laid on the possibilities of Georgia for increasing the trade and wealth of England. It was pointed out that France, Spain
'New and Accurate Account, G. H. C. I: 62.
20
Georgia as a Proprietary Province
and Portugal were promoting and enlarging settlements abroad with unusual industry and success; but it was thought that none of these would compare with Georgia in natural resources.
Since the silkworm mulberry was indigenous to the prov- ince, and since a good quality of silk had already been pro- duced in South Carolina, it was confidently believed that the finest quality of raw silk could readily be produced in Georgia, and it was estimated that the five hundred thou- sand pounds per annum lost in the balance of trade in this article could be saved. Moreover, the raw material sent from Georgia to England would give employment the whole year round to twenty thousand persons who would be re- quired for its manufacture. It was even hoped that Georgia might enable England to become an exporter of silk, since both land and mulberry leaves would be free in the new colony, and since the cost of production would thus be cheaper than in competing countries.5
Georgia was also thought especially adapted to the rais- ing of flax, hemp, and potash, of which products England annually imported from Russia alone the value of more than one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. All this could be saved, it was urged, in the balance of trade by importa- tion from the new colony. Furthermore, the importation from Russia was largely of manufactured goods, while that of the raw goods from Georgia would again encourage home manufactures and so employ more workers. Thus help could reach as many poor people who remained in England as actually went over to settle in America.
Since the new colony would be in about the same lati- tude as Madeira, the proper care and application would re- sult in producing wine in sufficient quantities for both the 5 Reasons for Establishing, G. H. C. I: 210.
21
The Creation of the Trust
plantations and the realm. Besides the products specified in detail, it was thought that indigo, cochineal, dyeing woods, and drugs of various kinds could be produced in the prov- ince. None of these products would compete with those of the realm or of the other plantations; and none would require very severe labor, for which the indigent people of the cities would not be fitted.6 The various arguments for the founding of the colony form an excellent commentary on the whole policy of England regarding her commercial and industrial relations to her colonies.
The idea of establishing a barrier province for the pro- tection of South Carolina and the northern provinces arose from the many troubles that had been coming from time to time on the frontiers, especially along the Savannah River. There had been wars with the Spanish in 1686 and in 1703- 1706; and the terrible Yemassee war occurred in 1715. In 1727 the Yemassees were once again threatening to go on the warpath. Numerous frontier defences had been main- tained from time to time; but the principal one, Fort King George, on the Altamaha, had been burned in 1726; and so there was no adequate defence from that quarter for South Carolina.7 It was thought that Georgia would be a protec- tion because of the rapid growth that was expected of it and also because the people were to be arranged in towns or settlements in the nature of garrisons. As South Caro- lina was weakened from the standpoint of defence by her slave population, it was expected that negroes would be for- bidden in the new settlement.
Actuated by these principal objects, though with others of less import also in mind, the little group of persons in- terested in the enterprise memorialized the Privy Council for
· Ibid., 212.
" Smith 171, 208-209.
1
22
Georgia as a Proprietary Province
the privilege of carrying on the work. The petition set forth the willingness of the petitioners to raise the money necessary to relieve the poor and to transport them to their new homes. In fact they were willing to take entire charge of the founding and support of the province. They re- quested a grant of land to the south of the Savannah River in South Carolina, together with such powers as might be necessary to carry out the details of the scheme. They requested also the right to purchase and hold lands of in- heritance in Great Britain to the value of a thousand pounds. The name suggested by them for the organization to be created was "The Corporation for Establishing Char- itable Colonies in America." This memorial was presented on September 17, 1730; and it was immediately referred to a committee of the Council for investigation.8
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