USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 10
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The Olive trees in the publick garden make large shoots, but have not yet bore fruit ; ground Nuts, Sisannim, Palma Christi, and many other productions will yeild Oyl: and doubtless, when their Virtues are better known, and proper machines erected this also may become a Manu- facture. ,
Successful growers of vine- yards.
100 £ Ster. ling given for the first pipe of wine made in Georgia.
Olive trees, ground nuts, sisannim and Palma Christi growing in public garden.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Causton to the Trustees.
Drugs for dying and medicine natural productions.
There can be no room to doubt, that Drugs both for dying and Medicine are naturall pro- ductions; Since tis very evident that the Natives Dye various colours and cure various Diseases ; Therefore if skilful Botanists were employd, both these Sorts of Drugs Might be not only refin'd from their native rudeness, but other productions also, not yet growing here, might be introduct, And be of as good growth as those now purchas'd in forreign Territorys.
Experiments in annual cotton proved successful.
The experiments made in planting Annual Cotton has generally prov'd successfull in re- spect to quantity and quality, But unless some engine be found as will take out the Seed agre- ably to that Sort which is rais'd in the West Indias, no great quantity can be obtain'd. That of the West Indias will not produce Cotton here and is easily divested of its' Seed; But the Sort which grows here is far more difficult, and at present is no otherwise cleans'd than by a tedious picking.
Tobacco thrives well.
Tobaccoe thrives very well, and in a Short time a Sufficient quantity might be rais'd to supply the home consumption.
Greatest part of land near coast sandy and poor.
Altho I mentiond at the beginning that the greatest part of the Land near the Coast was saudy and poor, I would not be understood But that there are large Tracts of very fruitfull land. sufficient to raise means for there manufactures ; And if these or some of them were duly pro- moted, the clamorous and dreadful Sound of Starving would soon be silenc't; And I am apt
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Mr. Thos. Causton to the Trustees.
to think, that if a retrospection was made into the affairs of South Carolina, It would be found that they laboured under a lingring Infancy whilst they depended on raising of food only; And till they found a Manufacture (only fit for Slaves to work in) they did not mend their cir- cumstances; because till they met with advant- ages whereby to guard agt. the Losses by Death and desertion in those Slaves, such kind of Labourers must have been their more effectuall ruin.
I think it practicable and therefore wish, that the Plough would in a few years supply the place of the Hoe in Georgia ; And therefore that due support for some short time might be gran- ted to the planters; And as a due promotion of such Manufactures proper for the Country will naturally add to the planters comfort and be his future hope, It is very probable that the request for Negro's would also dye.
Oxted Decem'. 1. 1741.
Sir
The foregoing being agreable to my promise I commit it to your Consideration as occasion shall Serve, for my own part, Delays has rais'd a despair of that Success which I once expected and assur'd others would attend Industry.
Aspiring thoughts often deceive, But slight- ed Integrity and disregarded Industry wounds the Soul.
The plough instead of the hoe.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Give me leave to repeat thanks for your last, but my not hearing farther obliges me to think that the Prejudice here, has clouded all my hopes.
I wish you much happiness, and desire to be esteemd
S'.
Yo' most obedient Servt.
T. Causton.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE 31ST OF DEC. 1741. LOST CAPT. HARRA- MOND DITTO A CAPT. SNOW COPPY JULY 1743.
Savannah Decr. 31st : 1741.
Honourable Gentlemen.
A true State of Georgia. Lists of in- habitants of towns, villages and settle- ments sent the Trustees.
Having it in your Commands to send annu- ally a true State of this Colony, whereby you might be enabled to promote the Well Being of the same, by due Encouragement of the indus- trious, & rectifying what you should judge done amiss, by some that live, idle, disorderly, & in- deed of very little Use among us : I transmitted in the Month of Now': last Year from hence, what I thought verily to be then such a true State of Georgia, wherewith I also sent divers Lists of the Inhabitants of all the Towns, Vil- lages, & distinct Settlements, within the whole
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Province : & this by your special Order was done upon Oath taken by me in open Court, & by many others who readily join'd with me, in de- posing that the above State of the Province of Georgia was true according to the best of our Knowledge, & from the most certain Informa- tions we could obtain from others; & did desire the Seal of the Court might be affixed thereto (which was accordingly done). And being well aware, that there were some who lived among us, of a querulous Disposition, whom the plain- est Truth will not evince against their own Opin- ion; wherever I doubted any Seruple might be raised by such Persons; particularly [sic] as to the Nature of the Soil, Produce of the Land in Cultivation; natural Produce of the Country in Timber, Shrubs, Vegetables of great Variety; Roots of Value, Drugs; &c; for the stronger Confirmation of what we asserted; I added divers Affidavits made voluntarily by such as had experimentally found the Truth of it. All these Things with many other Papers of es- pecial Use for your Honours Information, were sent from Charles Town in the Ship Scudamore, bound thence for Bristol : but to my great Grief, we are lately inform'd from divers Parts, that the Scudamore never arrived in any Port of Britain; or elsewhere that may be learnt; but was in all probability founder'd at Sea. This great Misfortune has in some Measure de- stroy'd the Intent of those Papers, whereby a clear View was opened (we hoped) to the satis- faction of all concern'd in an Enquiry what the
Voluntary affidavits as a con. firmation of state- ments.
-
The Scuda- more, a ship carrying important papers to England, supposed to have been lost at sea.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
A duplicate of lost Journal sent by another ship.
real State of this Colony was at that Time; for tho' a Duplicate was sent by another Ship about a Month after the Original, which I am inform'd came not to the Honble Trustees Hands 'till April last; yet the Loss of all those Papers that were sent with it, is irrecoverable.
A List of Inhabitants made for the Trustees.
What I look on as my Duty now, is to trans- mit such List of the Inhabitants of the several Towns & Villages as may both shew, who they are; & what they are; together with the Settle- ments made by divers, on certain Tracts of Land consisting of different Quantities to the Extent most of 'em, of 500 Acres; & laying within the Northern District of the Province of Georgia, entitled the County of Savannah: the several particulars whereof are herewith sent.
After having so farr executed your Honours Commands, to the best of my Understanding, & only laid down Matter of Fact, visible, not to be controverted; I must also in the next Place ask leave to make a few Remarks on the disengenu- ous Methods taken by some Persons to culum- niato all who think differently from them; & after many base Assertions, void of any Foun- dations, pointed directly at the Trusts Secre- tary here; they have in plain Terms, by the strongest Inferences they could patch together, charged the Trustees themselves with being the Authors of their Misery, as they tell the World is come upon them.
Base as. sertions, vold of foundation. : made in regard to the Trus. tees and Secretary.
The Substance of what they publish'd, I find chiefly in two Papers that came abroad into the
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Light this Year now pass'd over; Coppy of one of which was lately sent me by the Trusts Orders, entitled the Remonstrance of the In- habitants of the Town & County of Savannah, & the Rest of the Inhabitants of the Province of Georgia to the honble Trustees &c, dated Nov': 22nd: 1740: the other came abroad some time last Summer, publish'd in Print at Charles Town in Sº Carolina under the Title of a true & historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia &c; with three of the Authors Names to it.
The Remonstrance begins with an heavy Ac- cusation against your Honours Secretary, which they enlarge much upon, & which he must beg Leave to referr to, forewoiding tedious trans- cripts of the Writers Eloquence; who seems to delight more in Words & a peculiar Style, than in reciting plain Matters of Fact, with such Sin- cerity, as ought to be expected.
In the first Place they begin roundly to assert, that their Friends in England had advis'd 'em. of your Honours having sent Orders to your Secretary & the Magistrates here, to acquaint the Inhabitants that they should write their Grievances & Complaints, & get the Seal of this Town affixed to them, in Order to have the Same transmitted to the honble Board. Those Orders were dated in a Letter to me of 25th of Feb"y : 1739/40 & came to my Hands from your Hon- ours Accomptant on 19th of May following. I have lately on this Occasion had Recourse sev- eral Times to that Letter (which without Doubt
"The Re- monstrance of the In- habitants
of the Town and County of Savan- nah, and the Rest of the Inhabitants of the Province of Georgia,"
"A True and His- torical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia."
Accusations against the Trustees' Secretary very much enlarged upon.
An order in regard to the Seal being affixed to Complaints of the In. habitants to the Trustees.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
A club formed to oppose power and authority of the Trustees.
Articles concerning the choosing of magis. trates and other offf- cers, free use of negroes, tenure of land in fee simple.
your Clerks took Coppy of ) & confess my Want of Discernment to find out by what means such a Construction could be made of it, as these Men have try'd to palm upon the common Un- derstanding of those who read it: Can it be supposed, that 'twas your Honours Intentions, I should consult Doctor Tailfer & his Adherents, in what manner to aggravate those Grievances which they were become Appellants to Parlia- ment to get redress'd. & to join with 'em in re- proaching the Trust, with being wholly regard- less of the Welfare of the Colony? It was too well known, how turbulent a Sett of Men at that Time were grown in opposing all Power & Au- thority whatever, deriv'd from the honble Trust ; how they had form'd themselves into a Club for that End ; & by Degrees were come to such Pitch, as nothing less would satisfy 'em than a total Subversion of the whole Constitution; in those three Articles more especially ; concerning chus- ing their own Magistrates & other Officers; the Free Use of Negroes ; & a Tenure of their Lands in Fee Simple &c: Was it possible, if I had at- tempted it, to have formed any thing intelligible, or consisting with Truth & common Decency, from a collective Body, of such as were pre- judiced to the utmost Degree, & determin'd at all Events to oppose every Proposition that was not of their own Shaping? 'Twas too evident from their ordinary Conversation, that 'twas impracticable. Wherefore your Secretary thought it his safest Course, to make Choice of a few of the most intelligent Persons, such as
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Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
were more than equally interested in the Wel- fare of the Colony, with farr the greatest part of the People; whom he consulted in all that was done, & it soon appear'd how unbyass'd their judgments were; for scarce a Paragraph was agreed to in its first forming, without many Alterations & much Controversy, 'till all Doubts were clear'd & we were unanimous in our Opin- ion; & wherein soever that unanimily [sic] could not be attain'd, 'twas wholly laid asside.
'Tis laid to your Secretary's Charge that 'twas several Months after I reed your Honours Orders contain'd in the aforesaid Letter, before I publish'd it; together with what we had pre- pared at the same Time. What can more natur- ally be inferr'd from thence; than that we acted with great Caution in pursuing Truth where we could find it, even in the most remote Parts ? which was indeed the Case.
In the next Place they take Notice that at a Meeting of the Town Court, a long Paper was read setting forth the Colony in the most ad- vantagious Light ; enumerating several Particu- lars, which the old Settlers (as they would be distinguish'd by) cannot join in; why? because they say they can't remember ever to have seen a Pomegranate Hedge, much less with Fruit growing; a notable Remark truly! but do they pretend to disprove it? I now do averr, what I before asserted; that such Hedges were then, & are now, to be seen; & such Plants are to be found in divers parts of this Province. I do
A paper read at Town Court in regard to the Colony.
Pomegran- ate Hedges.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Spite shown in petty instances.
not remember (to use their own Words) that I said there was Fruit growing: but this year I am well inform'd the Person who planted those Hedges has fair Fruit upon 'em. Their mean Spite appears remarkable even in such petty Instances; where they cannot with Patience bear, that your Honours should be inform'd what the Land in this Colony is capable of yielding; whether by its natural Product, in great Variety of choice Vegetables, Roots, Drugs, &c, besides Timber of most Kinds; as also by Cultivation : & the Mention which they made of Silk, Wine, Oil &c, is in such a con- temptuous Manner, as if they demanded Credit implicitly, from all whom they think fit to ap- peal to, that 'twould never come to any Perfec- tion; as your Secretary would perswade the World, & principally your Honours to believe. This indeed may deserve some Consideration, whether ever in any of my Letters, Journals, or even in that State of the Colony, which they are so angry at; I have dared to impose the least Shadow of Falshood upon those I have the Honour to serve ; whose Penetration, would soon discover it, & expose the Imposter to Shame, withont the Assistance of such Helpers. If the Quantities of Grain produced, have been less than might have been expected, for some Years past ; what is it owing to, but that Aversion to planting, which has been so industriouly propa- gated by artfull Men, for their own By Ends, during so long time past? for the Use of Ne- groes, or the Contrary, herein I conceive is not
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Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
the Question : & I believe 'twill be hard to find a Reason, why such Men at least as were born to labour, should not occupy & cultivate what Land they could, for their own Benefit; had they not suffer'd themselves blindly to be led aside by those Designers. But of this more will be said hereafter. Nevertheless, they say 18 Per- sons, some Landholders, & some not, sign'd the said Paper, & were sworn in Court: 'Twould Lave been but fair, if they had also told how many were sworn before a magistrate out of Court at several times, who came of their own Accord to your Secretarys House, & sign'd after being sworn; where I had given publick Notice that Collection lay, entitled a true State of the Province of Georgia; & where it continued to lay open many Days, from the Time of my read- ing it publickly. 'till the Day I sent it off : inso- much that 'twas withheld from none, whether they came with a Disposition to put their Names to it, or cavil at it in another Place: & I was so cautious not to give any Jealousy of tampering with the People; and prevailing by either menac- ing or wheedling to join in what we had done, that I defy 'em to produce One whom I ask'd any Thing about it: whilst 'tis notoriously known with what Diligence Messengers were sent on Foot, on Horseback, or by Water, to every Place which they thought would yield 'em Proselytes : insomuch that their boasted Num- bers consisted in great Part of the most ignor- ant, & lowest of the People; among whom were divers, who were not only wandering Persons,
Led blindly aside by Designers.
"A true State of the Province of Georgia."
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
without the least Interest in the Colony; but several others also whom Plenty of Drink had deprived of their Reason; as some of 'em have since confess'd it with Shame. And it ought not here to be forgotten, with what Care & Secresy that Remonstrance of theirs was carried on, till perfected; no Person whatever being allow'd a Sight of any Part of it, without being well as- sured of his joining therein.
A sugges- tlon that every per- son write his own grievance.
They go on & say, That they modestly told your Secretary they apprehended from what he had read to 'em; the Meaning of the honble: Board was, that every Person should write their own Grievances; to which I answer'd No: whereto I can only make this Reply; that 'tis very probable I might say, 'twas past my Under- standing to make such an Explication of any Paragraph which I had read to 'em, or which could be found in the aforesaid Letter, as would admit of it. What they say of the Town Seal is likewise a Misrepresentation : they ask'd for it, 'tis true; & 'twas with usual Modesty, most in solenty demanding it; when I told 'em, the Seal was in the Magistrates Custody, who I did imagine, would not be of Opinion, 'twas meant by the Trust to be made Use of in that manner; & exposed to give a Sanction to whatever Com- plaints whether real or feign'd were put to- gether out of Court: so they were told from the Bench, where two of the three Bayliffs were of the same Opinion with me. the third I chuse to say nothing of here, probably his Name may be made Use of on another Occasion.
Misrepre. sentation in regard to Town Seal.
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Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
In the next Place, they declare the Impos- sibility they are under of living in Georgia, in any Shape, unless they have the Liberty & Free- Com before mention'd (which need not to be repeated being well known) : & here the Penman thinks he has a fair Field to display his Rhe- torick, & in most pathetick Strains to move his Readers to Compassion, for those unhappy People who have bestow'd so much fruitless Labour with the Sweat of their Brows; poor Gentlemen who never were used to such Work! These Things would seem very melting: but I hope a little Enquiry farther may be made into this dismal Story without the Imputation of Cruelty, for not being contentedly led in the Dark. 'Tis well known that upon the first Es- tablishment of this Colony, poor unfortunate Men, who were render'd incapable of living at Home; whether thro' misfortune or Misconduct were accepted : did not these Men know on what Terms they came? have there been any Hard- ships or new Conditions, imposed on 'em since ? surely it might reasonably be expected, that such who had no Stock of their own, should spare a little of the Sweat of their Brows in taking some Pains to live : Several of 'em, have done so, who by their Industry in Cultivation, & raising some Live Stock, now live comfortably : & tis past all Doubt, that more might have done the same, had they not been deceiv'd with the specious Assurances made 'em by a few design- ing Men, who told 'em they were Fools to under- take such Work as was only fit for Negroes, &
Impossibli. ity of living in Georgia without more free- dom and liberty.
The false complaints of idle people.
Deceived with assur. ances made by design. ing men.
الح
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Enough to intoxicate poor people already prone to laziness.
if they would stick by it with them, it must cer- tainly produce a Concession from the Trust to make Use of Slaves; & that would maintain 'em handsomely. Was not this (or less) sufficient to intoxicate a Parcell of poor People that were already prone to Laziness? who readily there- fore swallow'd the Bait, which lull'd 'em asleep, & golden Dreams was what they must next live upon ; which soon brought divers of 'em to that starving Condition that this Remonstrance sets forth; & when they could no longer find Credit here, they fled to Carolina & other Places where they found themselves miserably disappointed; for without Work nothing was to be had there: Some few have since return'd to Georgia again, from different Provinces they made Tryal of; where they found their Mistake; for Labour was still before their Eyes; & they had ex- periene'd that Wages ran higher here than in other Parts; so that 'twas manifest, if they would work at any Thing, tho' no clearing of Land, they were in no Danger of starving: Many of 'em ('tis confess'd) lost their Lives by the Exchange; who too late wish'd them- selves back; but unhappily were stopt by the Contagion at Carolina to lay their Bones there. Tho' by all that we can learn with Truth not near so many as our Remonstrants set forth with a sort of Pageantry; having Recourse to the Register of Mortality (as they tell us) : Nevertheless large Exceptions should have been made for Errors, unless willfull; as might plainly be made appear from hence, if 'twere of
Wages higher in Georgia than in other parts of Colony.
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Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
any Use: let those who deluded 'em have the Thanks due for their Pains.
As to the Decay of Houses &c which the Re- monstrants give such a mournfull Account of; 'tis apprehended it may be sufficient to referr to the annexed List; where 'twill appear, with- out any Attempt of Art, to give a false Colour- ing; what the present Number is: but having not seen what a poor Parcell they have reduced them to; Your Secretary conceives it of little Import to argue at Randome. Had they taken Truth & Justice for their Guides, they would at the same Time have taken Notice how many were new built or building at that Time on fresh Lots. And here it may be observ'd as proper as any where, (tho' I step aside a little from fol- lowing the Track they pursue) that within a little Time now past, no less than 6 or 7 Fami- lies have had Freehold Lotts granted in this Town, who sought earnestly for 'em; & those Grants not rashly obtain'd, without the Char- acters of the Persons being being first enquired into, & the Probability of their immediate mak- ing some Improvements ; wherein several of 'em have already shewn that they are in earnest : & that I may not let their piteous Moan pass, re- lating to the 500 Acre Lots, without due Regard; they may take some Consolation possibly in being told, that here are Men to be found yet, who are hardy enough to make Experiment, & see whether something better than utter Ruin may not arise from a due Management of those Tracts of Land, or less Quantities; whereof
Decoy of Houses.
Of little import to argue at random.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Stirrers up of discord left Georgia.
about a Dozen or more are fully occupied, & con- siderable Plantations rais'd upon them ; as there were also at the same Time that these Stirrers up of Discord (for Reasons best known to them- selves) forsook Georgia, & led divers others to dance the same Rounds : moreover it is affirm'd by your Secretary, that in few Weeks past, since the Receipt of your Constitution, appointing a President & four Assistants to have the Juris- dietion of the County of Savannah (esteem'd one half of the Province of Georgia) they have granted divers Parcells of Land, to different Persons, amounting to upwards of [sic] Acres, to be confirm'd by your Honours; which the Grantees are instantly going to work upon, as Landholders, exclusive of any Town or Village: & several Petitions are now before 'em for farther Grants of the like Kind; which they will take due Consideration of, not to put 'em into the Hands of such, as mean no better, than to wait for the Time of holding them in Fee Simple, which they seem to expect ; when they'll be ready to make Sale, of what cost them no Pains or Expence, to any that will purchase.
Grants of land.
Curious strokes of exuberant malice, to make the Trust's Secretary become odlous.
Those curious Strokes of exuberant Malice which these Remonstrants have interwoven so frequently in almost every Paragraph, to make your Secretary become odious ; He is very little disturb'd at, & can look on 'em with Contempt, whilst he thinks his Character safe under your Honours Protection, & which he hopes his In- tegrity will in some Measure entitle him to : but with what Patience can any man read such a
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Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Volume of Bagatel, with all its Tinsel Orna- ments, & imaginary Substance; who knows that the principal Requisite for a Foundation is wanting; & that is, Truth? They say that for seven Years by past they had tried all that in them lay, to make the Province flourish; but to no Purpose; & they are just as far now from being able to support themselves by their Lands, as they were at first sitting down; &c; (very likely indeed). Now (for once to humour them) let us look over the List of these Complainers, & see how & what they have done since your Secretarys Abode here (which is more than four Years past) : & 'tis imagin'd there can be no fairer Way of bringing this to the Test, than by adding to the Name of each of the Subscrib- ers a true Account of what Land he has planted, & what else he has taken Pains in, to make this Colony flourish : wherefore I ask leave to referr to such List annex'd, as well of those who put the first Hands to this Remonstrance at Savan- nah, as of those who so cordially join'd 'em soon after at Charles Town.
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