space of twelve months from the date hereof, to the end that they may receive the benefit hereby intended, and that proper grants and conveyances. in the law may be forthwith prepared and executed for that purpose. And it is hereby expressly declared, that no fee or reward shall be taken for the entering of any such claim, directly or indirectly, by any person or persons whatsoever. Signed by order of the said common council,

BENJAMIN MARTYN, Secretary."

These resolutions were published by paragraphs in a Charleston Gazette, but as they were not well understood, Stephens was requested on a certain day, to read them entire at the courthouse, and explain them as he went on-after he had finished this task, and exerted his utmost abilities in giving an explanation, one of the settlers, ludicrously remarked, that the whole paper consisted of males and tails, and that all the lawyers in London would not be able to bring the meaning down to his comprehension; and that he understood as little of its meaning then, as he had when Stephens began-others wished to know how often those two words had occurred in the resolutions, that the number ought to be preserved as a curiosity; and that the author of it ought to be lodged in bedlam for lunacy.

In 1739, general Oglethorpe informed the trustees, that he had been advised through a variety of sources, that the Spaniards had been tampering

with the Indians by every possible means, to bring them into a war against the British colonies, and suggested the necessity of his taking a journey into the nation, for the purpose of adopting measures to defeat a scheme, which would be so injurious to the settlement of Georgia and that a general assembly of the nations which was soon to be held at the Coweta town, four hundred miles from Frederica, afforded a favorable opportunity for the accomplishment of his purposes; and the more effectually to destroy the seditious designs of the Spaniards, he should carry with him several pack-horse loads of goods to be distributed amongst the Indians as presents: accordngly, and in compliance with a promise he made the preceding year, he travelled through the nations as far as the Cowetas, where he conferred with the deputies of the Creeks, Cherokees and Chickasaws: he was received with the greatest hospitality and friendship, and after smoaking the pipe of peace, drinking sofkey, black-drink, and passing through the various ceremonies of their ancestors; they unitedly declared, that they remained firm in their former love to the king of Great-Britain and his subjects, and adhered to all the engagements of amity and commerce, entered into with the general as the representative of the trustees of Georgia. By this treaty it was further declared that all the dominions, territories and lands between the Savannah and St. John's

* See Appendix No. 3;

rivers, including all the islands; and from the St. John's river to the Apalachie bay, and thence to the mountains; do by ancient right belong to the Creek nation; and that they would not suffer either the Spaniards, or any other people, excepting the trustees of the colony of Georgia, to settle their lands. They also acknowledged the grant which they formerly had made to the trustees, of all the lands on Savannah river, as far as the river Ogechee, and all the lands along the sea coast as far as St. John's river, and as high as the tide flowed; and all the islands, particularly St. Simons, Cumberland and Amelia; and that they reserved to the Creek nation all the lands from Pipe-makers bluff to Savannah, and the islands of St. Catharine, Ossabaw and Sapelo; and further declared, that the said lands were held by the Creek nation as tenants in common. Oglethorpe, as commissioner of George the second, declared that the English should not enlarge or take up any lands, excepting those granted as above mentioned, to the trustees, by the Creek nation, and covenanted that he would punish any person, who should intrude upon the lands, so reserved by that nation. This treaty was concluded on the 21st of August, 1739.

This judicious arrangement was well timed and proved advantageous to the public. It was just closed when he received an express from secretary Stephens, enclosing a letter from Col. Bull, lieutenant governor of South Carolina, with intel

ligence from lieutenant governor Clarke of NewYork, stating that the French had marched from Mont-Real, with a body of two hundred regular troops, and five hundred Indians, who were to be reinforced by French and Indians on their route, and that this army was designed against the Indians in friendship with his Britannic majesty's subjects in South-Carolina and Georgia, who are situated near some branches of the Mississippi river. The general apprised the Indians of the danger with which they were threatened, and after mutual promises of perpetual friendship, he returned to Georgia.

While admiral Vernon was sent to take the command of a squadron on the West-India station, with orders to act offensively against the Spanish dominions in that quarter, to divide their force, General Oglethorpe was ordered to annoy the subjects of Spain in Florida, by every method in his power: in consequence of which the General projected an expedition against the Spanish settlement at Augustine; this design he communicated to Governor Bull, requesting the support and assistance of Carolina in the expedition. Bull laid his letter before the provincial assembly, recommending to them to raise a regiment, and give him all possible assistance in an enterprise of such interesting consequence. The assembly, sensible of the great advantages that must accrue to them from getting rid of such troublesome neighbors, resolved, that so soon as the General

should communicate to them his plan of opera tions, together with a statement of the assistance requisite, at the same time making it appear that there was a probability of success, they would most cheerfully assist him.

The

The Carolinians however, were apprehensive that as the garrison at Augustine had proved such a painful thorn in time of peace, they would have more to dread from it in time of war. people nevertheless lent a favorable ear to the proposal, and earnestly wished the dislodgement of so malicious an enemy. General Oglethorpe was busily engaged in collecting all the intelligence he could, respecting the situation and strength of Augustine, and finding it was not well supplied with provisions, urged the execution of his project at the favorable moment, with a hope of surprising the enemy before a supply should arrive. He declared that no personal toil or danger should discourage him from exerting himself towards freeing Carolina from such neighbors, as had instigated their slaves to massacre them, and publicly protected them, after such bloody attempts. That measures might be concerted with the greatest secrecy and expedition, he went to Charleston in person, and laid before the legislature of Carolina, an estimate of the force, arms, ammunition and provisions, which he judged might be requisite for the expedition. The assembly voted one hundred and twenty thousand pounds Carolina money for the expen