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any necessity, and would leave the province and his lot to his creditors; consequently all his property would be swallowed up and himself ruined. The admission of negroes in Georgia, would also fa. cilitate the desertion of Carolina slaves, and in. stead of proving a frontier, would promote the evil which was intended to be checked, and give strength to the Spanish force at Augustine. In fine, it was the intention of the trustees, to people the new colony with industrious farmers, who should by their example, bring up their children in the same habits. The introduction of negroes would increase a propensity for idleness among the poor planters and their families, contrary to the fundamental principles of their charter and constitution.

When the trustees had made these dispositions and arrangements, and were enabled by benefac tions from several private persons; on the 3d of October, 1732, it was resolved to send over one hundred and fourteen persons, men, women and children, being such as were in decayed circum. stances, and thereby disabled from following any business in England, and who if in debt, had leave from their creditors to go, and such as were recommended by the minister, church wardens, and overseers of their respective parishes. James Edward Oglethorpe, esquire, one of the trustees, accompanied them at his own expense, for the purpose of forming the settlement. On the 24th of the same month, the people were all question

ed, whether any of them had any objections to the terms and conditions proposed: four of them desired that their daughters might inherit as well as their sons, and that the widows dower might be considered. The trustees resolved, that every person who should desire it, should have the privilege of naming a successor to the lands granted to them, who in case they should die without male issue, should hold the same to them and their male heirs forever; and that the wid dows should have their thirds as in England; with which resolutions the people being made ac. quainted, were well satisfied, and executed articles under their hands and seals, testifying their consent thereto, which agreements were deposit. ed in the office of the trustees.

The trustees prepared forms of government, agreeably to the powers given them by the charter. They established under their seal, a court of judicature for trying criminal and civil causes, by the name and stile of the town court. They also appointed magistrates, bailiffs, a recorder, constables and tything-men.

On the 16th of November, 1732, the reverend Mr. Herbert, a clergyman of the church of England, and a man from Piedmont, engaged by the trustees to instruct the people in the art of wind. ing silk, and one hundred and fourteen persons, embarked on board of the ship Anne, captain Thomas. Several of the trustees went to graves. end, for the purpose of ascertaining whether

they were well accommodated and provided for, and left them well satisfied. At the time of their embarkation, five thousand acres of land were granted to three of the colonists, in trust for them or their survivors; to make grants from time to time to every man of twenty years of age or upwards, who might afterwards arrive in Geor. gia; to be divided into fifty acre lots, on the terms heretofore specified. Having every thing furnished them by the corporation, which was requisite for building and cultivation, and having nothing to risque but what arose from a change of climate, they could not properly be called ad venturers. Mr. Oglethorpe was clothed with power to exercise the functions of a governor over the new colony, and proved a zealous and active promoter of the settlement.

CHAPTER II.

ON the 13th of January, 1733, the ship Anne arrived in Charleston, where Oglethorpe and his party were received with the greatest hospitality by the governor and council. Governor Johnson, sensible of the great advantages that must accrue to Carolina from this new colony, gave all the encouragement and assistance in his

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power to forward the settlement. Many of the Carolinians sent them provisions; also hogs and cattle to begin their stock. William Bull and Jonathan Bryan, men of knowledge and ex. perience, accompanied Oglethorpe, and the rangers and scout boats were ordered to attend them to Georgia. The general assembly on the mo. tion of governor Johnson, voted that Oglethorpe should be furnished at the public expense with one hundred and four head of breeding cattle, twenty-five hogs and twenty barrels of rice; and sent boats to carry these supplies to Savannah. some scout boats were also ordered with a body of rangers, to protect the adventurers from the insults of the natives, while they were preparing houses and fortifications, to defend themselves. Oglethorpe had written to the trustees, informing them of his safe arrival in Charleston, with the loss of only two children at sea. After they had landed at Yamacraw bluff, Oglethorpe, Bryan and Bull, explored the country, and having found this high spot of ground, situated on a navigable river well suited for the purpose, they fixed on it as the most convenient and healthy situation for the settlers. On this hill he marked out a town, and from the Indian name of the river, which run past it, called it Savannah.

The following letter was written by governor Oglethorpe, to the trustees in London:

"From the camp near Savannah, the 10th February, 1733.

"GENTLEMEN,

"I GAVE you an account in my last, of our arrival in Charles-town. The governor and assembly have given us all possible encourage. ment. Our people arrived at Beaufort on the 20th of January, where I lodged them in some new barracks built for the soldiers, whilst I went myself to view the Savannah river; I fixed upon a healthy situation about ten miles from the sea. The river here forms an half moon, along the south side of which the banks are about forty feet high, and on the top a flat, which they call a bluff. The plain high ground extends into the country about five or six miles, and along the river side about a mile. Ships that draw twelve feet water can ride within ten yards of the bank. Upon the river side in the centre of this plain, I have laid out the town, opposite to which is an island of very rich pasturage, which I think should be kept for the trustees cattle. The river is pretty wide, the water fresh, and from the key of the town you see its whole course to the sea, with the island of Tybee, which forms the mouth of the river. For about six miles up into the coun. try the landscape is very agreeable, the stream being wide, and bordered with high woods on both sides. The whole people arrived here on the first of February; at night their tents were got up. 'Till the 10th we were taken up in un

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