CHAPTER XI

GEORGIA IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD

Bibliography

The unfruitful attempt of Sir Robert Mountgomery (1717) to establish a colony in the area later deeded to the Georgia trustees is set forth in his "Discourse concerning the design'd Establishment of a New Colony to the South of Carolina in the most delightful Country of the Universe" (Force, "Tracts and Papers," Vol. I, Tract I). The mission of Sir Alexander Cuming (1730) to the Cherokees to establish trade connections and friendship forms the basis of a paper by Samuel G. Drake, entitled, "Early History of Georgia and Sir Alexander Cuming's Embassy to the Cherokees" ("New England Hist. & Gen. Register," Vol. XXVI, pp. 260-271).

The life story of Oglethorpe has been told by Thomas Spalding in a "Sketch of the Life of General James Oglethorpe" (1840, "Coll. Georgia Hist. Soc.," Vol. I); by Thaddeus Mason Harris, D.D., in "Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe, Founder of the Colony of Georgia in North America (1841); by William B. O. Peabody in a "Life of James Oglethorpe, the Founder of Georgia" (1847, "Library of American Biography," Series II, Vol. II); and best by Robert Wright in "A Memoir of General James Oglethorpe, One of the Earliest Reformers of Prison Discipline in England, and the Founder of Georgia in America" (1867). A recent condensed and well proportioned biography is "James Oglethorpe, The Founder of Georgia" (1904, "Historic Lives" Series) by Harriet C. Cooper. The Oglethorpe correspondence inserted in "The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia" (edited by A. D. Candler, 1910-1915 Vols. XXI-XXV inclusive) will be found highly valuable in throwing added light upon this extraordinary philanthropist.

The Charter issued to the trustees for establishing the colony appears in Vol. I of "The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia." A tract prepared by Oglethorpe, entitled, "A New and Accurate Account of the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia" (1732, "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. I) sets forth the economic motives that underlay this colonial

enterprise. Another tract, written by B. Martyn, Secretary of the Board, "Reasons for establishing the Colony of Georgia, ... (1733. "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. I) throws supplementary light upon the economic advantages expected from colonial expansion, with detailed information as to how the trustees proposed to conduct their enterprise. Francis Moore's "Voyage to Georgia begun in the year 1735, . . . (1744, "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. 1) gives a fine picture of the settlement as then founded. It also has the "Rules and Orders" made by the trustees for their immigrants. An anonymous tract, "An Impartial Enquiry into the State and Utility of the Province of Georgia" (1741, "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. I) seeks to remove prevailing misconceptions of the colony-its climate, soil, land tenures, and negro policy. "An Account showing the Progress of the Colony of Georgia in America from its First Establishment" (1741) drawn up by Benjamin Martyn upon order of the trustees, is a document of prime importance with minute information chronologically arranged, ("Col. Rec. State of Ga." Vol. III; Force, "Tracts and Papers" Vol. I, Tract V). "A State of the Province of Georgia Attested upon Oath in the Court of Savannah, Nov. 10, 1740" by William Stephens, Secretary of the colony (Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. II, and Force, "Tracts and Papers" Vol. I, Tract III) and "A Brief Account of the Causes that have retarded the Progress of the Colony of Georgia in America, Attested upon Oath, . . . (1743, "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. II) are controversial documents which, interpreted with discrimination, help the student to visualize the real experiences of the first settlers. "A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia in America, . . . .." (1741, "Coll. Ga. Hist. Soc.," Vol. II; Force, "Tracts and Papers" Vol. I, Tract IV) by Patric Tailfer, M.D. and others as a polemic is one of the most expert pieces of writing to be met with in our early literature', yet as history must be handled with great critical reserve. A "Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia beginning October 20, 1737" by William Stephens, ("The Col. Rec. State of Ga.," Vol. IV and Suppl. Vol.) although colored by the author's peculiar political and religious ideas, is informing in its accurate details. Almost as much may be said for the "Journal of the Earl of Egmont," first President of the Board of Trustees, 1738-1744. This has recently been made accessible in the "Col. Rec. of the State of Ga.," Vol. V.

Omitting references to the literature of Oglethorpe's military expeditions, the histories of Georgia next engage attention. "An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina.

and Georgia" (II Vols. 1779, see Carroll's "Hist. Coll.," Vol I) by Rev. Alexander Hewatt, a loyalist Presbyterian minister of Charleston, gives Georgia history accurately although subordinte to its main interest in the affairs of South Carolina. "A View of the Constitution of the British Colonies in North America and the West Indies at the time the Civil War broke out on the Continent of America" (1783) reflects the almost exclusively judicial interest of its author, Anthony Stokes, Chief Justice of Georgia. The "History of Georgia" (Vol. I, 1811, Vol. II, 1816) by Hugh McCall, although copious in its treatment of the Revolution, adds little to Hewatt; from whom without acknowledgment the author made large borrowings. "A History of Georgia from its First Discovery by Europeans to the Adoption of the Present Constitution in MDCCXCVIII" by Rev. William B. Stevens, M.D. (Vol. I, 1847, Vol. II, 1859) is fair minded, reasonably exhaustive, and dignified in its style. "Statistics of the State of Georgia, . . . " (1849) by Rev. George White, is much more informing than its uninviting title indicates. The "Historical Collections of Georgia, ... (3rd edition 1855) by the same author has an abundance of useful information. "The History of Georgia, . . . " by T. S. Arthur and W. H. Carpenter (1854) is a mere handbook scarcely worthy of serious notice. "The History of Georgia" (II Vols. 1883), by Charles C. Jones, Jr., gracefully written in an impartial spirit, with generous source quotations but usually lacking in documentary reference, is quite indispensable. A "History of Georgia" (1898) by L. B. Evans aims only to meet the needs of boys and girls. "The Story of Georgia and the Georgia People" (1900) by George G. Smith, is a popular presentation, not so serviceable to thorough students as the work of Jones.

In the ecclesiastical field proper, no serious work for Episcopalianism appears prior to that of William Stevens Perry, D.D., who, in his "History of the American Church, 1587-1883" (1885) has devoted one chapter to setting forth Wesley's and Whitefields' experiences in Georgia. Rev. S. D. McConnell, and Prof. Tiffany review the salient facts. page 7.

See

On Wesley's connection with Georgia, one does well to consult Rev. Luke Tyerman's ". . . Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley" (III Vols. 1870-73); "John Wesley, His Life and His Work" (1871) by Rev. Matthew Leliévre, D.D.; and "The Life of John Wesley" (new ed. 1899) by Rev. John Telford. Wesley's "Journal" (Vol. I) will always be suggestive for religious conditions in Georgia in its early days. For full Wesley bibliography see page 314 f.

Whitefield's activities in Georgia may be studied in his “Journal of a Voyage from London to Savannah in Georgia" (edited by James Hutton, 1738, enlarged by A. C. Seymour, 1811), and a "Continuation of Rev. Mr. Whitefield's Journal from his Arrival at Savannah . . . (1740); "The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, A. M. containing all his Sermons and Tracts . . . with a select Collection of Letters . . ." (VI Vols. 1771); "Memoirs of The Life and Character of the Rev. George Whitefield, A.M. . . . "by Rev. John Gillies, D.D., revised and corrected with sermons and letters appended (1845); and "The Life of Rev. George Whitefield, A.B. . . . (II Vols. 1876) by Rev. L. Tyerman. The Bethesda orphanage receives frequent mention in Whitefield's Letters, a few of which are addressed to the orphans. "Early Methodist Philanthropy" (1915) by Eric M. North also throws light upon this institution.

On both Wesley and Whitefield the investigator should keep in touch with the "Colonial Records of the State of Georgia” (Vols. IV, V, XX ---XXV incl.) where good indexes may direct him to much desired material.

In the General Account of all Monies and Effects Received and Expended by the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America, ("Col. Rec. State of Ga.," Vol. III) there appears a suggestive reflection of the philanthropic and religious purpose that underlay the Georgia enterprise and the exact steps taken by the trustees to compass their end. Sermons preached before the trustees from time to time (for list see Perry, "History of the American Episcopal Church, , Vol. I, pp. 368-71) also set forth the religious aims of the Colony. On the Salzburgers, the work of Rev. P. A. Stroebel, entitled, "The Salzburgers and their Descendants, "despite its age (1855) will still be found very useful. Their European experiences are described by E. B. Speirs in "The Salzburgers" ("The Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 1890, pp. 665-699. "The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia" (Vols. XXI-XXV incl.) contain scores of documents relating to these folk. Minute details of their settlements are accessible in Samuel Urlsperger's "Ausführliche Nachricht von den Salzburgischen Emigranten die sich in America, neidergelassen haben" (1735-1746) and "Americanisches Ackerwerk Gottes, oder Zuverlässige Nachrichten . . . Ebenezer in Georgia betreffend” (1754).

The story of the short lived colony of Moravians has been set forth in "The Moravians in Georgia" (1904) by Adelaide L. Fries, who has succeeded in embodying in her modest monograph all the relevant mater

ial contained in the standard works of Reichel, de Schweinitz, Hamilton, and others (see p. 156 f).

The Congregational experiment at Midway has been described by Rev. James Stacy in "History of the Midway Congregational Church" (1903). The same writer has set forth the beginnings of Presbyterianism in "A History of the Presbyterian Church in Georgia" (n.d.)

DOCUMENTS

I. THE MOTIVES AND CONDUCT OF THE ENTERPRISE The following paragraphs are taken from a prospectus by Benjamin Martyn, secretary of the Board, entitled "Reasons for Establishing the Colony of Georgia with regard to the Trade of Great Britain" (1733).

"To show the disadvantage under which we purchase some of the products of other countries, I shall begin with the Italian trade, the balance of which is every year above three hundred thousand pounds against us, as appears by accounts taken from the custom-house books. And this balance is occasioned by the large importation of silk, bought there with our ready money, though we can raise raw silk of equal goodness in Georgia, and are now enabled to work it up here in as great perfection as the Italians themselves.

That we can raise it, we have sufficient proof by an importation of it from Carolina for several years, though for want of hands to carry it on, the quantity imported has been too small for any thing more than trials. With many navigable rivers for the convenience of its trade, the country is extremely rich and fruitful. It produces white mulberry-trees wild, and in great abundance. The air, as it is healthy for man (the latitude about thirty-two,) is also proper for the silk worms, and as care is the principa1 thing requisite in nourishing and feeding these, every person from childhood to old age can be of use.

By raising raw silk in Georgia, and gaining it at so easy a rate for manufacturing here, we shall save not only the large sum paid annually to the Italians, but we shall likewise prevent a very large sum going every year into France for her wrought ones.

It is well known, that with the same ease with which we can raise silk in Georgia, we can supply ourselves with flax, hemp and potashes.

Though these articles are so very considerable, and enough to justify the settling such a colony as Georgia, they are not the only ones in which she will be advantageous to us. She can supply us with indigo, cochineal, olives, dying woods, and drugs of various kind, and many others which are needless to enumerate.

If it should be asked here, How will these people, who cannot work at the plough at home, be able to go through the same 'abor abroad? The answer is obvious. Their fatigue, unless at first, will not be so great, as the climate is so much kinder, and the soil so much more fruitful. Besides, though a man, who has not been inured to the labor of the country, and has a family, will not go to the plough for so poor a support