USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. I > Part 5
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When Oglethorpe arrived in Georgia, the 5th of February 1736, he brought over a number of guns for the batteries and forts, erected and to be.
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erected at Savannah, Augusta, Frederica, and other places. The fort at Augusta was intend- ed for the protection of the Indian trade, and was considered a proper place for holding treaties with the several Indian tribes. Frederica on St. Simons' island at the mouth of the Alatamaha, was a regular work of Tappy (a composition of oyster-shells and lime) with four bastions, mount- ed with several pieces of cannon-on the south end of the island ten miles from the fort, a bat- tery called fort St. Simons, was raised, comman- ding the entrance of Jekyl sound : ten thou- sand pounds were granted by the British govern- ment towards building and garrisoning these works.
The celebrated John Wesley accompanied Oglethorpe to Georgia, with an intention of mak- ing religious impressions on the minds of the Indians as well as the colonists. Himself and followers before he left England, were distin- guished by a more than common strictness of re- ligious life-they received the sacrament of the Lord's supper every week ; observed all the fasts of the church ; visited the prisons; rose at 4 o'clock in the morning and refrained from all amusements. From the exact method in which they disposed of every hour, they acquired the appellation of methodists, by which their follow- ers have since been denominated. Wesley had drawn over a considerable number of proselytes and created many unpleasant divisions amongst
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the people in Georgia ; he was charged with re- quiring too much of their time from necessary la- bor, to attend his prayers, meetings and ser- mons, at improper hours, tending to propagate a spirit of indolence and hypocrisy amongst the abandoned, by adhering to his novelties. That he had an undue influence over the public funds, which was exercised exclusively in favor of his own sect, and that he excommunicated all such as differed with him in his creed and shut them out from religious ordinances, contrary to the spirit and tenderness authorised by the christian religion. . He was also charged with an attempt to establish confessions, penance, mortifications, &c. and ap- pointed deaconesses, with sundry other innova- tions, which he called apostolick constitutions : that his schemes seemed judiciously calcula- ted to debase and depress the minds of the peo- ple, to break down the spirit of liberty, and hum- ble them with fastings, penances, drinking wa- ter, and a thorough subjection to the spiritual jurisdiction, which he asserted was to be estab- lished in his own person ; and when this should be accomplished, the minds of the people would be equally prepared for the reception of civil or religious tyranny-that jesuitical arts were used to bring his schemes to perfection ; party divi- sions were made in private families ; spies engag- ed in their houses ; servants bribed to communi- cate family secrets to him, and that those who had given themselves up to his spiritual guidance,
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especially females, were required to discover to to him their secret actions, and the subjects of their dreams. He had preserved a great intima- cy with Causton the chief bailiff, and had said some tender things to his niece-she rejected his proposals, having been engaged to a gentleman, whom she married soon after : this produced chagrin and gave umbrage to Wesley, who under some frivolous pretexts repelled her from the ho- ly communion-her husband thought himself well founded in an action of damages ; and Caus- ton, who was nettled at the affront offered to his niece, encouraged him in prosecuting the suit : accordingly thirteen indictments were found against Wesley, one of which was at the instance of this lady-the others were founded on the im- proper exercise of his ecclesiastical functions: these indictments, found by forty-four freeholders, were forwarded by the bailiffs to the trustees, accom- panied by an abstract of other matters, by which they considered themselves oppressed. It will be but just to extract a few observations from Wesley's own journal, as the record has been pre- served by his biographers Doct. Coke and Mr. Moore, and then leave the reader to draw his own conclusions .- " Mr. Causton, the store- keeper and chief magistrate of Savannah, had a young lady in his house, his niece, of an improv- ed understanding, and elegant person and man- ners. The general (meaning Oglethorpe) thought he found in her a proper bait for this soaring re-
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ligionist. This young lady was introduced to him as a person who had severely felt the anguish of a wounded spirit, and now was a sincere enquir- er after the way of eternal life. After some time he observed that she took every possible oppor- tunity of being in his company. She also desired a greater intimacy ; but modestly veiled her real motives, under a request that he would assist her in attaining a perfect knowledge of the French tongue.
" Mr. Delamotte (a friend of Mr. Wesley's) had not learned to defy suspicion. He thought he saw in her, semblance of worth, not substance. He therefore embraced an opportunity of expos- tulating with Mr. Wesley, and asked him if he designed to marry Miss Sophia ? at the same time set forth in a strong light, her art and huis simplicity. Though pleased with the atten- tion of his fair friend, Mr. Wesley had not allow- ed himself to determine upon marriage. Mr. Delamotte's question not a little puzzled him. He waved an answer at that time ; and perceiving the prejudice of Mr. Delamotte's mind against the young lady, he called on bishop Nitscham, and consulted him : his answer was short ; mar- riage said he, you know, is not unlawful. Wheth- cr it is now expedient for you, and whether this lady is a proper match for you, ought to be ma- turely weighed. Finding his perplexity increase, he determined to propose his doubts to the elders . of the Moravian church. When he entered the
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house where they met together, he found Mr. Delamotte sitting amongst them. On his pro- posing the business, the bishop replied-we have considered your case-will you abide by our de- cision ? he answered, I will-then said the bish. op, we advise you to proceed no farther in this business. He replied, the will of the Lord be done. From this time he cautiously avoided every thing that tended to continue the intima- cy. Soon after this a young gentlewoman, who had been some time before married to the surgeon of the colony, and had sailed with the general from Europe, sent for him, and related to him under a promise of secrecy, what we shall now declare concerning the hitherto mysterious part of this circumstance, adding these words : I had no rest till I resolved to tell you the whole affair : I have myself been urged to that behav- iour towards you which I am now ashamed to mention-both Miss Sophia and myself were or- dered, if we could not succeed, even to deny you nothing." Some would be ill-natured enough to doubt the truth of this assertion : to say the best ofit, Mr. Wesley violated the laws of fidelity and confidence, in recording it in his journal.
Mr. Wesley proceeds and admits that ten bills of indictment were found against him, and that he was required to give security to appear at court for trial, which he refused .- " In the after- noon the magistrates published an order, requi- ring all the officers and centinels to prevent his
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going out of the province ; and forbidding any person to assist him so to do. Being now a pris- oner at large, in the place where he knew by ex- perience, every day would give fresh opportu- nity to procure evidences of words he never said, and actions he never did ; he saw clearly the hour was come for leaving that place ; and as soon as evening prayers were over, about eight o'clock, the tide then serving, he shook the dust off his feet and left Georgia."
I have discussed this subject at more length than I intended, because Mr. Wesley has been spoken of by some of his followers as the supe- rior of St Paul, in point of religious zeal; and his efforts for the conversion of the aboriginies of America, have been produced as evidences of the assertion. In Mr. Wesley's journal, he dates his conversion after he was forty years of age, and seven years after he left Georgia; therefore he could not have been fully qualified to heal the wounded spirit of Miss Sophia.
Having portrayed the morning of Mr. Wesley's character, it is but just to give the evening. Af- ter the period of life at which he dates his con- version, he appears to have been a warm and zeal- ous advocate for the christian religion, in which it is believed he was eminently favored amongst the saints of God, and as distinguished for his holy walk, as for his great abilities, indefatigable labor and singular usefulness-the foibles of his carly life were used by his enemies to stain his
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character, and if possible to rob him of the laurels which he acquired in advanced age : he seems to have imagined that the glorious head of the church was pleased to furnish special interposi- tion in his behalf, which he was sometimes ready to construe as miraculous. He is gone to give an account of himself to his proper judge, by whom I doubt not, all his iniquities are pardoned.
The return of Oglethorpe in February 1736, contributed greatly to the settlement and preser- vation of the colony, which had already become considerable enough, not only to draw the at- tention, but to excite the jealousy of the Span- iards ; who, without all question, would have been glad to have overpowered and driven out of it their unwelcome neighbors, if it had been in their power. The Spanish governor was appre- hensive of the consequences which must have at- tended an open war between the two nations, on account of the disputes between their frontier provinces ; which circumstances were so well improved by Oglethorpe, and the Indians who had entered into friendship with the new settle- ment, and were so strongly attached to the Eng- lish interest, that the governor of St. Augustine, upon mature deliberation, found it more expedi- ent to enter into a negociation with the English colony ; which Oglethorpe also knowing to be advisable for the security of Georgia, negociated and concluded a treaty, upon very just and rea- sonable, as well as safe and advantageous terms ;
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as will appear by the following copy of the treaty itself, and the powers given by him for conclud- ing and signing it.
" To Charles Demsey, Esquire.
" I have empowered you by procuration, dated the 23d of June 1736, to treat and con- clude, concerning certain matters of importance; relating to these provinces, with his excellency Don Francisco del Moral Sanches, captain-gene- ral of Florida, and governor of St. Augustine, and the council of war of the said garrison ; and having since the dates of these letters, received advice from the governor of St. Augustine, as also a message from his excellency Don Juan Francisco Geumes de Horcasitas, major-general in his catholic majesty's service, captain-general of the island of Cuba, and governor of Havannah, by Don Antonio de Arredondo, they both em- powering him to treat concerning the said mat- ters ; I do hereby empower, constitute and ap- point you, to treat, conclude and sign the follow- ing articles ; and to deliver the same unto the governor and council of St. Augustine, they sign- ing, sealing and interchanging the said articles :
" First. That his excellency the governor of St. Augustine, shall restrain his Indians, subjects to the king of Spain, frem committing any hostil- ities upon the subjects of the king of Great-Bri- tain. I will restrain the Indian subjects of the king of Great-Britain in this province, from any.
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hostilities upon the subjects of his catholic ma- jesty.
" Secondly. That in respect to the nations of free Indians called Creeks, I will use my utmost amicable endeavors upon any reasonable satisfac- tion given them, to prevail with them to abstain from any hostilities whatsoever, with the subjects of his catholic majesty.
" Thirdly. That with respect to the fort built on the island of St. George, I will draw off that garrison, together with the artillery, and all other things by me posted there ; provided that none of his catholic majesty's subjects, nor any other per- son, shall inhabit, people or fortify the said island; provided also, that no prejudice shall arise to the right of the king my master, to the said island, nor to any other dominions or claim that his Bri- tannic majesty hath upon the continent : but that his right shall remain to the said island, and to all other places whatsoever, as if the said garrison had never been withdrawn : and the said garrison shall withdraw within fourteen days after the rati- fication of these articles.
" Fourthly. I will agree with his excellency the governor of St. Augustine, and the council of war; that his Britannic majesty's subjects un- der my command, shall not molest in any manner whatsoever, any of his catholic majesty's subjects, provided that his catholic majesty's subjects do not molest any of his Britannic majesty's subjects, nor his allies.
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Fifthly. That concerning any differences that have or shall arise, concerning the limits of the respective governments and dominions of the two crowns, such differences shall remain unde- cided, until the determination of the respective courts ; and that the subjects of each crown here, shall remain in profound peace, and not in any manner molest each other, until the determina- tion of the respective courts on this subject.
" Lastiy. That no person shall be received from any garrison in either government, without a passport from the governor to whom such per- son belongs.
" Given under my hand and seal at Frederica, in Georgia the 27th day of september, 1736.
" By the power to me given by his excellency James Oglethorpe, esq. governor and director. general of the new colony of Georgia, by his ex- cellency's procuration, bearing date the 27th of October, in the tenth year of the reign of our so- vereign lord george the second, by the grace of God, king of Great-Britain &c. &c. and in the year of our Lord 1736 ; I do hereby confirm and ratify the above articles with his excellency Don Francisco del Moral Sanches Villegas, captain- general and governor of St. Augustine of Florida, and with the council of war of the said garrison of St. ugustine ; as witness my hand and seal this. 26th day of October, 1736."
The counterpart of this treaty, executed by the governor of St. Augustine, by the advice and
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with the consent of a council of war, was certi- fied by Bartholomew Niotts, notary-public, in due form. But it appeared that the governor of St. Augustine was not in the secret of his mas- ter's court, for the Spanish ministry at home were very far from being desirous that a fair corres- pondence should be established between the two colonies. On the contrary their object was to compel the British government to relinquish the design of settling the colony of Georgia ; and with this view sir Thomas Geraldino, on the first of September, presented a memorial to his grace the duke of Newcastle, in which, among other things, he was pleased to say it was indisputable that the colony of Georgia was settled upon his masters dominions ; so that a plainer proof could not be had, that the Spaniards were determined if possible, to compel the crown of Great-Britain to surrender this settlement. -
In the course of this year, Oglethorpe had been employed in strengthening the colony against an anticipated attack from the Spaniards, through Florida, notwithstanding the treaty which had just been concluded ; and while thus engaged, re. ceived a message from the governor of Augus- tine, informing him that a Spanish commissioner from the Havanna, had arrived there, in order to make certain demands of him, and would meet him at Frederica for that purpose. At the same time he had advice, that three companies of in- : fantry, had accompanied the commissioner. to the
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Spanish settlement. A few days afterwards the commissioner came to Georgia by sea, and Ogle- thorpe unwilling to permit his visit at Frederica, despatched a sloop to bring him into Jekyl sound, where he intended to hold a conference. Here the commissioner demanded that Oglethorpe and his people, should without loss of time, evacuate all the territories to the southward of St. Helena sound, as they belonged to the king of Spain, who was determined to maintain his right to them; and should Oglethorpe refuse to comply with this demand, he declared he had orders to proceed to Charleston, and lay his instructions before the governor of that province. Oglethorpe endea- vored to convince the commissioner that his ca- tholic majesty had been misinformed respecting those territories, but to no purpose : the demand was positive and peren:ptory, and the conference broke off without coming to any agreement - Oglethorpe, apprehensive of the danger which threatened his colony, embarked immediately and sailed for England, for the purpose of obtaining a formidable force to meet the enemy in case his colony should be invaded. When he arrived in England the trustees were conver.ed, and these circumstances communicated to them. As war had not yet been formally proclaimed between the two nations, further proceedings were suspend- cd until late in the summer of 1757, when appear- an ces became more alarming. and the following petition was presented to the king :-
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" The humble memorial of the trustees for es- tabiishing the colony of Georgia in America,
" Humbly sheweth,
" That they being intrusted by your majesty with the care of the colony of Georgia, which was formerly part of your majesty's province of South- Carolina, and your majesty's colony of Georgia being very much exposed to the power of the Spaniards, and being an object of their envy, by having valuable ports upon the homeward pas- sage from the Spanish West-Indies, and the Span- iards having increased their force in the neighbor- hood thereof ; the trustees, in consequence of the great trust reposed in them by your majesty, find themselves obliged, humbly to lay before your majesty, their inability, sufficiently to pro- tect your majesty's subjects settled in Georgia, under the encouragement of your majesty's char- ter, against this late increase of forces, and there- fore become humble suppliants to your majesty, on the behalf of your majesty's subjects settled in the province of Georgia, that your majesty would be pleased to take their preservation into your royal consideration, that by a necessary sup- ply of forces, the province may be protected against the great dangers that seem immediately to threaten it. All which is most humbly sub- mitted to your majesty's great wisdom.
" Signed by order of the trustees, this 10th day of August, 1737.
" BENJAMIN MARTYN, Secretary."
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On the 25th of the same month, Oglethorpe obtained the appointment of colonel, with the rank of general and commander in chief of the forces in South-Carolina and Georgia; and was directed to raise a regiment with all possible ex- pedition for the protection of the frontiers of the colonies. As an encouragement for the good be- haviour of the soldiers, the trustees resolved to . give them an interest in the prosperity and welfare of the colony; and accordingly made a grant of land in trust, for an allotment of five acres to each soldier of the regiment, to be cultivated by him for his own use and benefit, and to hold the same during his continuance in the service ; and for a further encouragement they resolved, that each soldier, who at the end of seven years from the date of his enlistment, should be desirous of quit- ting the service, and should produce his regular discharge, and would settle in the colony, should on having his commanding officers certificate or good behaviour, be entitled to a grant of twenty acres of land. The regiment was filled up, em- barked and arrived in Georgia, in Sept. 1738. The inhabitants of the colony at the close of this year, amounted to one thousand one hundred and ten persons, exclusive of those who had settled at Augusta, Tybee, Skidaway, Argyle, Thunder- bolt, Cumberland and Amelia, who had brought servants and come to Georgia, at their own ex- pense. The emigrants of this year were principally of German protestants, who settled at Ebenezer.
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. During Oglethorpe's absence from Georgia,' the discontents of the people had ripened into a settled aversion to their condition : the strict laws of the trustees, respecting the rum trade, had created a serious quarrel at Savannah : the forti- fication at Augusta, had induced the traders from Charleston to open stores there, as most conveni- ent and profitable for commercial intercoure with the Indians. For this purpose, the land carriage being expensive, they intended to force their way with loaded boats up Savannah river, for the supply of goods to their stores. As the boats passed the town of Savannah, a trader, in- duced by advantageous offers for a prohibited ar- ticle, smuggled rum on shore to the soldiers .- Causton who was the chief of the bailiffs, net- tled with such an infringement of the law, un- der his executive guidance, rashly ordered the boats to be examined, the packages to be open- ed, the casks of rum staved, and the offender to be confined. This harsh treatment was resent- ed by the governor of Carolina, who deputed one member from the council, and one from the legis- lature, with instructions to proceed to Savannah, and enquire into the case, and demand by what authority, the person and goods of Carolinians were seized and destroyed, in waters where an equal right of navigation was claimed, under a law of the colony of Georgia. Time had cooled the temper of Causton and his associates, and becoming sensible of their error, the trader was
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released, his goods restored, compensation allow- ed for the damages sustained, out of the trustees funds, and satisfactory concessions made : the dispute was settled and the deputies treated with the utmost civility. An agreement was entered into, that the Carolina traders should not there- after be interrupted, but that they should be assist- ed and protected in their lawful pursuits ; and on the other hand it was engaged, that no spirituous liquors should be smuggled amongst the settlers, and that the navigation of Savannah river should be open and free to both provinces.
In the mean time the most extravagant accounts of this paradise of the world, were circulated in England : numerous hackrey muses might be instanced, but I shall confine myself to the cele- brated performance of the reverend Mr. Wesley, where a sufficient stock of truth and religion, might be expected to counterbalance a poetical licence : this was said to have been written about the time he was courting the smiles of justice Causton's niece : the poem is entitled " Georgia," and some verses upon Mr. Oglethorpe's second. voyage :-
" See where beyond the spacious ocean lies A wide waste land beneath the southern skies, Where kindly suns for ages roll'd in vain, Nor e'er the vintage saw, or rip'ning grain; Where all things into wild luxuriance ran, And burthen'd nature ask'd the aid of man. In this sweet climate and prolific soil, He bids the eager swain indulge his toil ; In free possession to the planters hand,
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Consigns the rich uncultivated land. Go you, the monarch cries, go settle there, Whom Britain from her plenitude can spare ; Go, your old wonted industry pursue ; Nor envy Spain the treasures of Peru."
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" But not content in council here to join, A further labor, Oglethorpe, is thine : In each great deed, thou claim'st the foremost part, And toil and danger charm thy gen'rous heart : But chief for this thy warm affections rise ; For oh! thou view'st it with a parent's eyes : For this thou tempt'st the vast tremendous main, And floods and storms oppose their threats in vain."
" He comes, whose life, while absent from your view, Was one continued ministry for you ; For you were laid out all his pains and art, Won ev'ry will and soften'd ev'ry heart. With what paternal joy shall he relate, How views its mother isle, your little state : Think while he strove your distant coast to gain, How oft he sigh'd and chid the tedious main ! Impatient to survey, by culture grac'd, Your dreary woodland and your rugged waste. Fair were the scenes he feign'd, the prospect fair ; And sure, ye Georgians, all ne feign'd was there. A thousand pleasures crowd into his breast ; But one, one mighty thought absorbs the rest, And gives me heav'n to see, the patriot cries, Another Britain in the desart rise.
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