becoming humane； was inquiring into ancient wrongs。 There arose； among
other things； a belated notion of prison reform。 The English Parliament
undertook an investigation； and Oglethorpe was of those named to examine
conditions and to make a report。 He came into contact with the incarcerated
… not alone with the law…breaker； hardened or yet to be hardened； but with
the wrongfully imprisoned and with the debtor。 The misery of the debtor
seems to have struck with insistent hand upon his heart's door。 The
parliamentary inquiry was doubtless productive of some good； albeit
evidently not of great good。 But though the inquiry was over； Oglethorpe's
concern was not over。 It brooded； and； in the inner clear light where ideas
grow； eventually brought forth results。
Numbers of debtors lay in crowded and noisome English prisons； there often
from no true fault at all； at times even because of a virtuous action；
oftenest from mere misfortune。 If they might but start again； in a new
land； free from entanglements！ Others； too； were in prison；； whose crimes
were negligible； mere mistaken moves with no evil will behind them … or； if
not so negligible； then happening often through that misery and ignorance
for which the whole world was at fault。 There was also the broad and
well…filled prison of poverty； and many of the prisoners there needed only
a better start。 James Edward Oglethorpe conceived another settlement in
America； and for colonists he would have all these down…trodden and
oppressed。 He would gather； if he might； only those who when helped would
help themselveswho when given opportunity would rise out of old slough
and briar。 He was personally open to the appeal of still another class of
unfortunate men。 He had seen upon the Continent the distress of the poor
and humble Protestants in Catholic countries。 Folk of this kindfrom
France； from Germanyhad been going in a thin stream for years to the New
World。 But by his plan more might be enabled to escape petty tyranny or
persecution。 He had influence； and his scheme appealed to the humane
thought of his dayappealed； too； to the political thought。 In America
there was that debatable and unoccupied land south of Charles Town in South
Carolina。 It would be very good to settle it； and none had taken up the
idea with seriousness since Azilia had failed。 Such a colony as was now
contemplated would dispose of Spanish claims； serve as a buffer colony
between Florida and South Carolina； and establish another place of trade。
The upshot was that the Crown granted to Oglethorpe and twenty associates
the unsettled land between the Savannah and the Altamaha； with a westward
depth that was left quite indefinite。 This territory； which was now severed
from Carolina； was named Georgia after his Majesty King George II； and
Oglethorpe and a number of prominent men became the trustees of the new
colony。 They were to act as such for twenty…one years； at the end of which
time Georgia should pass under the direct government of the Crown。
Parliament gave to the starting of things ten thousand pounds； and wealthy
philanthropic individuals followed suit with considerable donations。 The
trustees assembled； organized； set to work。 A philanthropic body； they drew
from the like minded far and near。 Various agencies worked toward getting
together and sifting the colonists for Georgia。 Men visited the prisons for
debtors and others。 They did not choose at random； but when they found the
truly unfortunate and undepraved in prison they drew them forth； compounded
with their creditors； set the prisoners free； and enrolled them among the
emigrants。 Likewise they drew together those who； from sheer poverty；
welcomed this opportunity。 And they began a correspondence with distressed
Protestants on the Continent。 They also devised and used all manner of
safeguards against imposition and the inclusion of any who would be wholly
burdens； moral or physical。 So it happened that； though misfortune had laid
on almost all a heavy hand； the early colonists to Georgia were by no means
undesirable flotsam and jetsam。 The plans for the colony； the hopes for its
well…being； wear a tranquil and fair countenance。
Oglethorpe himself would go with the first colonists。 His ship was the Anne
of two hundred tons burden…the last English colonizing ship with which this
narrative has to doand to her weathered sails there still clings a
fascination。 On board the Anne； beside the crew and master； are Oglethorpe
himself and more than a hundred and twenty Georgia settlers； men； women；
and children。 The Anne shook forth her sails in mid…November； 1732； upon
the old West Indies sea road； and after two months of prosperous faring；
came to anchor in Charles Town harbor。
South Carolina； approving this Georgia settlement which was to open the
country southward and be a wall against Spain； received the colonists with
hospitality。 Oglethorpe and the weary colonists rested from long travel；
then hoisted sail again and proceeded on their way to Port Royal； and
southward yet to the mouth of the Savannah。 Here there was further tarrying
while Oglethorpe and picked men went in a small boat up the river to choose
the site where they should build their town。
Here； upon the lower reaches； there lay a fair plateau； a mile long； rising
forty feet above the stream。 Near by stood a village of well…inclined
Indiansthe Yamacraws。 Ships might float upon the river； close beneath the
tree…crowned bluff。 It was springtime now and beautiful in the southern
landthe sky azure； the air delicate； the earth garbed in flowers。 Little
wonder then that Oglethorpe chose Yamacraw Bluff for his town。
A trader from Carolina was found here； and the trader's wife； a half…breed；
Mary Musgrove by name； did the English good service。 She made her Indian
kindred friends with the newcomers。 From the first Oglethorpe dealt wisely
with the red men。 In return for many coveted goods； he procured within the
year a formal cession of the land between the two rivers and the islands
off the coast。 He swore friendship and promised to treat the Indians
justly； and he kept his oath。 The site chosen； he now returned to the Anne
and presently brought his colonists up the river to that fair place。 As
soon as they landed； these first Georgians began immediately to build a
town which they named Savannah。
Ere long other emigrants arrived。 In 1734 came seventy…eight German
Protestants from Salzburg； with Baron von Reck and two pastors for leaders。
The next year saw fifty…seven others added to these。 Then came Moravians
with their pastor。 All these strong； industrious； religious folk made
settlements upon the river above Savannah。 Italians came； Piedmontese sent
by the trustees to teach the coveted silk…culture。 Oglethorpe； when he
sailed to England in 1734； took with him Tomochi…chi； chief of the
Yamacraws； and other Indians。 English interest in Georgia increased。
Parliament gave more money26；000 pounds。 Oglethorpe and the trustees
gathered more colonists。 The Spanish cloud seemed to be rolling up in the
south； and it was desirable to have in Georgia a number of men who were by
inheritance used to war。 Scotch Highlanders…there would be the right folk！
No sooner said than gathered。 Something under two hundred； courageous and
hardy； were enrolled from the Highlands。 The majority were men； but there
were fifty women and children with them。 All went to Georgia； where they
settled to the south of Savannah； on the Altamaha； near the island of St。
Simon。 Other Highlanders followed。 They had a fort and a town which they
named New Inverness； and the region that they peopled they called Darien。
Oglethorpe himself left England late in 1735； with two ships； the Symond
and the London Merchant； and several hundred colonists aboard。 Of these
folk doubtless a number were of the type the whole enterprise had been
planned to benefit。 Others were Protestants from the Continent。 Yet
othersnotably Sir Francis Bathurst and his familywent at their own
charges。 After Oglethorpe himself； most remarkable perhaps of those going
to Georgia were the brothers John and Charles Wesley。 Not precisely
colonists are the Wesleys； but prospectors for the souls of the colonists；
and the souls of the IndiansYamacraws； Uchees； and Creeks。
They all landed at Savannah； and now planned to make a settlement south of
their capital city； by the mouth of Altamaha。 Oglethorpe chose St。 Simon's
Island； and here they built； and called their town Frederica。
〃Each Freeholder had 60 Feet in Front by 90 Feet in depth upon the high
Street for House and Garden； but those which fronted the River had but 30
in Front； by 60 Feet in depth。 Each Family had a Bower of Palmetto Leaves
finished upon the back Street in their own Lands。 The side toward the front
Street was set out for their Houses。 These Palmetto Bowers were very
convenient shelters； being tight in the hardest Rains； they were about 20
Feet long and 14 Feet wide； and in regular Rows looked very pretty； the
Palmetto Leaves lying smooth and handsome； and of a good Colour。 The whole
appeared something like a Camp； for the Bowers looked like Tents； only
being larger and covered with Palmetto Leaves。〃*
* Moore's 〃Voyage to Georgia〃。 Quoted in Winsor's 〃Narrative and
Critical History of America〃； vol。 V； p。 378。
Their life sounds idyllic； but it will not always be so。 Thunders will
arise； serpents be found in Eden。 But here now we leave themin infant
Savannahin the Salzburgers' village of Ebenezer and in the Moravian
village nearbyin Darien of the Highlandersand in Frederica； where until
houses are built they will live in palmetto bowers。
Virginia； Maryland； the two Carolinas； Georgiathe southern sweep of
England…in…Americaare colonized。 They have communication with one another
and with middle and northern England…in…America。 They also have
communication with the motherland over the sea。 The greetings of kindred
and the fruits of labor travel to and fro： over the salt； tumbling waves。
But also go mutual criticism and complaint。 〃Each man；〃 says Goethe； 〃is
led and misled after a fashion peculiar to himself。〃 So with those mass
persons called countries。 Tension would come