USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 7
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3ª. The Expense of Mantainance is so great that an extraordinary return must be expected to defray it. The lowest proportion that will Satisfy working Servants is one pound wt Flesh one pd bread kind per day and one bottle Mol- lasses per week, Many exceed this quantity and
Heat and climate.
Methods for cultivation of contigu- ous plan- tations.
Expense of mainte- nance great.
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100
COLONIAL RECORDS
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
if it were possible to retrench it the Masters would gain nothing by it for Serts when dis- contented are of litle Service- It adds not a litle to our necessitys that as we can not raise those necessary provisions of our own We must buy the greater part from Strangers at double the price they give in the Neighbouring prov- ince. And in proportion as our Poverty en- creases, our Credit decresses Provisions grow Scarcer and the price augments, to this join Cloaths, linnings, Shoes and oyr necessarys with the Chargeable Article of Sickness and expenses And I must Conclude (tho I do not pretend to understand Politicall Arithmetick) the totall Can not be less than 10 or 12£ Str. each And I must Say that the expences of Phisicians and Appothecarys is amongst the greatest griev- ances we labour under, Our Servants are So Sencible that it is impossible for them to ex- ecute the most laborious parts of Cultivation with Safty that great numbers have deserted and dayly do So well knowing that in all the other provinces there are Negroes to undergo those labours that would be fatall to a British Constitution and of those who remain Almost Certain Sickness and frequently death is their fate and the loss of time the Smallest part of the damnage that the Master suffers.
Great num- bers of ser- vants have deserted.
Lots marked off without regard to quality of soil, etc.
4th. As the Plan of the Severall lotts were Cutt out regularly and without regard to the Quality of the Soil In many places they occurr in pine barrens which are Unimproveable or in Swamps where the necessary ditches and drains surpass the abilitys of the Planter.
CORRESPONDENCE
101
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
5th. I Shall only add upon this head an other reason that hinders the Success of the laborious planter and that is Poverty. Cattle Hoggs &c would be most usefull in supporting the family but are absolutely necessary to enable him to improve his land Carry his Commodities to or from Mercat [sic] and oyr uses
MS: I presum to Say that Since my arrivall in this Collony I have with the greatest appli- cation I was Capable of prosecute the improve- ment of my Small farm. Cleard Enclosed and planted 15 Acres with Corn, Potatoes, Peas, Rice Cotton, Tobacco, Nurceries &c. In doing which and Mantainance of My family I expend- ed 150£ Str The returns of all which amount- ed to about 6£ Ster: Nor was this the great- est of my losses, two of my Servants deserted to Carolina four dyed out of my family twelve Continued Sick a long time my Self after Six months of Illness given over by Phisicians and a Charge of Sick-bed expenses included in the former of above 50£ str. God Forbid I Should lay down my Case as a mean to judge oyrs by, I hope few have Shared so many misfortunes, but I may be bold to Say that every Person has sustaind losses and that none can pretend by his improvements to defray the fifth part of his necessary expendings.
That we are as incapable to relieve our Nec- essitys by trade as Culture will Appear from reflecting on what is said in relation to our Servants, No branch of Trade and Manufac- tures can be usefull or profitable unless the
Cattle, hogs, absolutely necessary.
Shared many mis .. fortunes.
Trade not prolific en- ough to re- lieve neces- sities.
102
COLONIAL RECORDS
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
: :
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Neighbor- ing Colonies 'enjoy great- 'er advan. tages.
profits arising therfrom dos Overballance the Necessary Charges, And Our private Conven- iencies has Oblidgd ws to try Severall kinds of them, boards, bricks, tannage &c which has made Some Circulation from hand to hand amongst our selves. But how Could we ever expect to Export those Commodities to forreign places when our Neighboring Collonies Can affoord them at a Much Cheaper rate, and in a great measure have even broke off our endeavours to proceed further by pouring in upon ws those very Species much below the extent of our nec- essary expenses. I aknowledge that Some Lum- ber and slaves have been exported from this Collony But I do averr it as truth that no ad- vantage ever did arise to the exporters further than that it was perhaps a less loss to employ their Servants in Such labour than Culture.
Want of credit.
The Second reason which dissables us to pros- ecute either Trade or Culture is Our want of Credit. Your Sop | : knows Very well that both the Meckanick and Mercantile part of Man- kind live more by Credit than Stock, And the Man who has a probable Scheme of improving Credit is naturally entitled thereto, We have Exhausted our Publick supports and Private Stocks in prosecuting the Scheme laid down to ws by the Honble Trustees, And now Stand in need of Credit to enable ws further to go on This Credit now so necessary for our Sub- sisting and wellfare we are Cutt off from by wanting a full right and title to our lands and being laid under a Chain of restrictions to
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103
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
which all his Majestys oyr Subjects in America are Strangers to. The Wisdom of the Honble board in not Dispensing to ws at Our first Set- tlement the full right and privileges Containd in the Kings most gracious Charter, with the conveyance of which in the properest manner those Honble persons were entrusted was never by ws calld in question, having Ashurances that those restrictions were temporary for prevent- ing the abuses that might arise at the Settle- ment of an infant Collony and untill a proper body of laws under your Consideration Should be perfected, For who could scruple to entrust his interest in the hands of such Honble Guar- dians. Not untill the last Scene and I may Say Catastrophy of our Tragedy have we presum- ed in So unanimous a manner to request and insist for those just releifes Which the ex- igences of our Affairs, the justice of the Nation and Humanity of the Honble Trustees makes ws depend upon-
My Lord: I will be bold to Say that in no part of America are there a handfull of More resolute Spirits either to withstand an Enemy defend their property, (if they had any) or dare difficulties, And As we have not fled our Coun- try for Crimes but generously ventured our lives in effecting a Settlement upon the most exposed point of his Majesties dominions Where the barreness of the Earth, [sic] the Aspect of the Heavens and Cituation of our bordering Enemys all Conspire to Shorten our lives and Exercise our Courage and Patience,
Not given full rights and privi- leges con- tained in the King's charter.
A handful of resolute spirits.
104
COLONIAL RECORDS
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
We might and do expect that Our priviledges and libertys Shall equall those of our fellow Subjects For who would Would [sic] venture his life to defend no propertie or fight to Secure to himself Slavery and poverty.
It would be presumption in me to launch into arguments for Support of our Cause with your So'p | : Whose Sympathy and Humanity will Supply Stronger & more moving defences than I can express The Voice of our Case is suffi- ciently moving without imbellishments to Affect the Generous, It is sufficient to the Skillfull Phisician that the Circumstances of the Patient be clearly and justly represented To prescribe the method of Cure were superfluous.
As For the Manufactures of Silk and Wine, I entertain the most promising hopes that they (especially the former) may turn to the great Support and enriching of the Collony and in time If your Honrs Shall be pleas'd to give the Proper orders and Supply the means of bring- ing those Experiments to perfection Commence a Staple Commodity wherein Our Neighbouring Collonys do no wise interfere with ws or we with them. But this is more the subject of our faith and hopes than of our present Advantage.
And Now M L .: To Summ up the Whole It appears morally Certain That this Collony Cannot Subsist upon the present footing, and if is to be alter'd in the favours of others why not of ws who have risqued our all in the Ad- venture, And who are chargeable with no blame but that We could not effect impossibilities.
Manufacture of silk and wine.
Recapitula. tion.
1
CORRESPONDENCE
105
Hugh Anderson to the Earl of Egmont.
Were I to Advance that The Dissolving of this Collony would Dissapoint the Noble de- signs of the Nation, and leave this now import- ant Pass a prey to the French or Spaniards, render the advantages of a regiment and garri- son Useless as well as impracticable, Irritate the Indians, endanger the loss of the Indian trade and Expose all the Northern Collonys to the Insults of Adversarys. These might be in- formations to oyrs but can be none to your Sop | : Whose Comprehensive knowledge engrosses the Politicall interests of States and Countrys.
It is probable My Lord, that the particular difficulties of my own Cituation may necessitate me to Seek bread for my family & Children in Some other Corner of the World before Meas- ures for retriving the State of this Collony Can be taken by the board But this Shall never abate my Solicitude for the Prosperity of this society of which I am a present Member, nor my Grat- . itude to the Honble Trustees and particularly your Sop | : for favours received Which I Shall allways Aknowledge And I presume to liope that your Goodness will regard my Sincere in- tentions as an Appollogie for Many weaknesses which render this letter unworthy of being pre- sented to your Sop | : I am &v.
The effect of dissolv- ing the Colony.
May have to seek bread else- where.
106
COLONIAL RECORDS
Robt. Trevor to Mr. Martyn.
FROM ROBT. TREVOR TO MR. MARTYN.
Hague, March 3ª. n. s. 1739.
Sir,
As I was not favoured with Yours of the 11th. past O. S. till Sunday last: This is the first Opportunity, I have had of assuring You, that I shall not be wanting, if applied to, to serve the Persons therein recommended to Me, in their Passage thro' This Country, as far as lays in my Power; tho' I hope They will not have much Occasion for my Assistance, but that all the Precautions required by This Government, with respect to the Transit of Emigrants, will have been taken, & complied with, either by Them, or whoever has the Direction of their Journey, or else that the smallness of their Number may have exempted Them from being regarded, & treated, as Emigrants; whom the Dutch Gov- ernors, & Commanders upon the Frontiers have now standing Orders (occasioned by the Com- plants of the Inhabitants of Gueldres, & the Towns along the Meuse, of the many Incon- veniences, They suffered from These People) not to lett pass, without They produce a Certif- icate of some sufficient Subject of This State having given Bail for their orderly Passage thro' & contracted with Them for their imme- diate Transportation out of it. Till of late there was but one Merchant at Rotterdam, with his Associates, who was allowed to answer for, &
The Transit of emi. grants.
Complaints by the in- habitants of Gueldres and towns along the Meuse.
.
CORRESPONDENCE
107
Robt. Trevor to Mr. Martyn.
transport These Emigrants ; but the States, ap- prehendi g that such a Monopoly might give Occasion to abuses, and Extortions, now grant Their P: ssport for the Entrance of These poor People to any of their Subjects of Credit, & Sub- stance, who apply to Them for the same, & en- gage Themselves under sufficient Caution, for the good Behaviour, & speedy Embarcation of such as They shall introduce into the Country; which Method, & Regulation seems to render it necessary for Your Board to have some Agent, or Correspondent at Rotterdam; who by timely applying, whenever You expect any Companies of These Emigrants, to the States for their said Passport; depositing the Caution required; and taking all necessary Measures for their immediate Embarcation, may save These poor People from the Hardships, & Miseries, to which the least Detention, on Molestation in their March cannot but expose Them.
There is another Ordonnance, which the States have lately issued, on Account of the Contagious Distemper in Hungary, which, as it forbids the Entrance of all Strolers, Va- grants, & poorer sort of Travellers, especially on the Side of Germany, may possibly' some- what affect the Emigrants too; at least, it seems to render it necessary for Them to present Themselves for admittance with the fullest, & clearest attestations of Health from the Towns, & Countries from whence They come, or thro' which They may pass in their Journey to the Frontiers of This State.
A grant of passports for the en- trance of emigrants.
Ordonnance on account of contag. iou dis- temper in Hungary.
108
COLONIAL RECORDS
Col. Oglethorpe to the Trustees.
In answering Your Favour I have been in- sensibly led to touch upon the foregoing Partic- ulars; and I hope the Relation They have to the Business of Your Board, will engage You to forgive This Trouble from,
Sir, Your most obedient humble servant
Mr. Martyn.
Robt. Trevor.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
A LETTER FROM COL OGLETHORPE TO THE TRUS- TEES RECOMMENDING MR. OBRYAN FOR A LOT OF 500 ACRES.
Savannah 8th. March 1738/9.
Gent™.
A grant of land to Mr. Obryan.
Settlement of Augusta.
Mr. Obryan is a man who hath kept a Store- house for furnishing the Indian Traders with Goods, he took up a Lot on the first Settlement of Augusta, and hath returned me the Inclosed Plot thereof. I should recommend to You the granting to him and the heirs male of his Body under the same Restrictions, Reservations and Limitations as usual, the said 500 Acres of Land and to send over the said Grant under your Seal unto him. The Settlement of Augusta is of great Service it being 300 miles from the Sea,
109
CORRESPONDENCE
Gen'l Oglethorpe to the Trustees.
and the Key of all the Indian Countrey, there- fore I recommend to You the forwarding the said Grant, it being a reward of a considerable Inhabitant, who begun the Settlement of the Town at his own Expence, with a well furnished Warehouse. There are also several other Men who have deserved extreamly well of the Trus- tees, whom I shall recommend to you for Lotts near the said place.
Gentlemen
Your most obedient humble servant James Oglethorpe
The honble the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) GENERAL OGLETHORPE TO THE TRUSTEES RECD 18 JUNE 1739
Savannah 9th. March 1738/9.
Gentlemen
I acquainted you upon my first Arrival with the terrible bad Situation of Affairs, but I find you received those Advices extreamly late by reason of Neglect at Charles Town.
The Store hath received a second advice from You that You have sent back an account Cer- tified by Mr. Causton of L 772 : 4 : 7 due to Mr. Symond for Goods deliver'd to the Stores here, and that you have ordered it to be paid here.
Terrible situation of affairs.
110
COLONIAL RECORDS
Gen'l Oglethorpe to the Trustees.
Mr. Symond demands payment of debt.
The Scituation of the Stores you will find by Mr. Jones's Letters as well as mine, and that there was a great deal more due amongst the People upon the Spot here, than the Stores amounted to. The Store offered M. Purry (who is M. Symond's Correspond, to deliver him Provis- ions &c. that were in Store in payment of the Debts at the prices which other Creditors of- fered to take them in Payment of theirs, but he said he was unwilling to take the Provisions which was all that the poor people here had to keep them from starving, out of their Mouths. And also that his Demand was for Goods sold for Money, and not for Provisions and Goods which he did not know how to raise money upon if he had them. Mr. Purry here, as well as Mr. Symond at London, have been of great Ser- vice to the Colony. All that they have delivered into the Stores has been of the best Sorts, in a good Condition, and at the lowest prices, and if other people had dealt as well by the Trus- tees, there had been several Thousands of Pounds saved. I should therefore recommend it to You as a Point of Expediency as well as Justice, to pay out of the first Monies that come to hand the Demand of Mr. Symonds-
There was £426 .. 0 .. 2 more delivered by M. Purry to the Store here before my arrival, & expended, otherwise, he would have took the same Goods back again. I am
Gent™.
Your most obedient humble Servant
James Oglethorpe
111
CORRESPONDENCE
Gen'l Oglethorpe to the Trustees.
There is also ano". Acco". not yet settled, but weh Is suppos- ed may amo. to abt. 400 and odd pounds. for provs. & goods deld. before my arrival. and Money to the Missionary. The honble the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
GENERAL OGLETHORPE TO THE TRUSTEES, RECD BY CAPTN. YEOMAN 14 MAY 1739
Savannah 12th March 1738/9.
Gentlemen
-
It is with great difficulty I carried on Affairs here, Mr. Jones hath acted with Steadiness and Courage, he desired me not to confirm a Cer- tificate signed by Mr. Causton in favour of Mr. Williams, for the reasons in his Letter. M. Williams is very angry, and hath got the poor People of Savannah, many of whom are deeply in Debt to him, to sign the Petition for Negroes, which affirms that white men cannot work in this Province. This Assertion I can disprove by hundreds of Witnesses, all the Saltzburghers, the people at Darien, many at Frederica, and Savannah, and all the Industrious in the Prov- ince. The idle ones are indeed for Negroes. If the Petition is countenanced, the Province is ruined. M. Williams and Doctor Talfeur will
Mr. Wil- liams' peti- tion for negroes.
If petition is counte- nanced Province is Ruined.
.
112
COLONIAL RECORDS
Gen'l Oglethorpe to the Trustees.
buy most of the Lands at Savannah with Debts due to them, and the Inhabitants must go off and be succeeded by Negroes. Yet the very debtors have been weak enough to sign their Desire of Leave to sell.
The regi-
ment furn. ished with credit through Col. Cochran.
A worse affair hath happened, Upon the Civil Letter wrote by ye Trustees to Mr. Causton to furnish Colonel Cochran with what he wanted for the Regiment, and paying for the same, a Credit hath been given to his order to ye amount of £935 : 13 : 3, and M. Causton hath taken from Colo. Cochran £198 in Diries. The Debt cannot be demanded of the Regiment, for Reg- iments have nothing but the pay of each individ- ual Officer and Man. When Six Soldiers were subsisted out of ye Trustees Store, no more should have been issued than what their Pay would have discharged, but they have received and spent their Pay, and the Debt for their Sub- sistance is still due to the Trustees nor can I tell from whence the money can come for to discharge it.
Money ad- vanced by Gen. Ogle- thorpe.
I have advanced for the Service of the Colony about £2000 and have drawn Bills upon Mr. Verelst upon my own account, and have ordered all my Cash, Pay and Salary & Ap- pointments in his hands, to answer those Bills, with that Sum I have paid the 5 months Expences since my arrival and if the Parlia- ment have granted any Money I hope you will reserve that Sum, that when you are satisfied that it hath been applied in such manner as You shall approve of, you will pay that Money
.
113
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
into the hands of Mr. Verelst for replaceing my money that paid the Bills.
There are 10 Ounces of Silk Worms Eggs hatched, and Lyon hath planted 34 of an acre of Vineyard, which thrives well, and hath 20 Acres cleared already which he intends to plant in the fall. The Trustees have 12 an acre and the Plants have began to shoot & promise well.
Vineyard planted by Lyon the Gardner.
I am
Gentlemen
Your most obedient
humble servant James Oglethorpe.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO THE HONOURABLE THE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA- RECD. BY CAPTN. MACKAY MAY 9TH 1739
Honourable Gentlemen
My last of the 6th. of Feb was intended by me to be followd with another a week since, in order to go by Capt Thomson then loading at Charles Town : but the Generals presence among us, requiring frequent application from such as have the honour of serving you, to diver- Why letter was post. poned. sity of Matters, as occasion offerd, during his short abode here; I was oblidged to postpone
114
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
it, till a few days more were past; so y' I fear Thomson will be sailed : and now my Duty calls upon me to present you with Coppy of my Jour- nal continued, & Duplicate of my former letter, as customary; both which are herewith en- closed: and from thence I conceive Your Hon- ours may in some measure form an Opinion what posture we are in here
The late Representation so much in Vogue wth some, & in contempt with others, I have no farther occasion to touch upon; since (if I am rightly informed) tis gone to England, & either is or will be, exposed to your View, with all its celebrated arguments, as well as notorious ab- surditys; more especially relating to Negros : and there let it take its Fate. The General has shewn evident tokens of his deep resent- ment here; wherein tis to be hoped Men of different Sentiments will not be all alike equally involved. Twould be great Injury in me, not to say with confidence, yt a Remnant is yet left, of such as peaceably and quietly follow their own Business, without medling with matters above their Reach.
We are now come to the high Season for planting: and upon the Generals giving Or- ders for providing a sufficient Stock of good Seed of divers kinds for that purpose, he also required the Officers to bring in Lists of the several Tythings of such as intended to plant, and what Store of Seed they stood in need of for that Use: The Returns of which Lists he appeard well pleased at, exceeding far what he
Seed for crops fur. nished.
Deep Re -· sentment shown by Gen. Ogle- thorpe.
115
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
expected : but whilst I would be an Advocate for those who are truly deserving, I must not swell that number beyond due Bounds: where- fore I took the freedome to offer a Caution in delivering out such seed; being not without rea- son apprehensive, that there might be some among those Promisers, who sought corn or Potatos, rather with a view of putting it into their Bellys than into the Earth: for which reason I conceive, when Planting is over, is the only time to judge of those who have busyed themselves truly in that Work: and That (if it so please God) I shall be exactly carefull to give an account of: and not palliate even my own Defects, which with Grief I foresee will appear in a disagreeable light; not thro' want of an hearty good Will and sincere endeavour to do better; but through the Inability of some, and the incurable Slothfulness of other, of that wretched Crew of Servants, that have been a Wretched plague to me for so many months past (which crew of servants. I have often before taken notice of, and is too well known distinguishable from all about me) I have the Mortification to find my self sadly defeated in those essential Points, whereon I raised my greatest Hopes; and must submit (I fear) to be ranked in a Class far inferiour to what I aimed at as a Planter.
When I look upon my self in another capac- ity; having the honour to be employd in your Service; I beg leave to say without giving of- fence, that living in a distressd State cannot but abate those Facultys which should enable
Difficulties surrounding him in a distressed state.
116
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
a man to act wth Vigour, and a Spirit requisite to break thro' many difficultys which he must ex- pect here to encounter, in discharging his Duty as he ought. Your Honours kind approbation of my service, which I receivd some time since, with an assurance of supporting me against all opposition, gave a fresh Spring to my endeav- ours ; & I think I may without vanity take upon me to say that as tis at my heart to render you more acceptable service, so I am confident I could make it effectual, were not my Wings clippd in the attempt: but whilst I am tyed down to the narrow Limits I live in, through scantiness of means to better my self at any time as occasion may require; tis not possible but many things must escape my knowledge, wch. undoubtedly you ought not to want informa- tion in: and I cannot easily perswade my self to submit to the low Work of writing by Hear say; believing it incumbent on me to maintain the truth of what I lay before you. Nothing can be more in my aversion than to be thought craving: tis well known I seek no expensive way of living: but notwithstanding all the Re- trenchments I am content to make, I cannot avoid the hatefull running in Debt for the nec- essary incidents of Life; wch affects me heavily. The General was so sensible of this, that he was pleased to order me £20 immediately towards supplying my Wants, additional to the small Sum he gave me in November last; & advised me to write to your Honours about it, that your pleasure might be known: which indeed I had partly done before, in my letter to Mr. Verelst
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