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CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENT STATE OF GEORGIA
Source: A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia in America #173
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From 1741 A True and Historical Narrative edited by Amy HAVING now brought down this Work to the Month of October, 1740, being about the Time most of the Authors of this NARRATIVE were obliged to leave that fatal Colony; we shall conclude the whole with a Geographical and Historical Account of its present State. Georgia’s climate GEORGIA lies in the 30 and 31 Degrees of North Latitude. The Air generally clear, the Rains being much shorter and heavier than in England. The Dews are very great. Thunder and Lightning are expected almost every Day in May, June, July and August; they are very terrible, especially to a Stranger. During those Months, from Ten in the Morning to Four in the Afternoon, the Sun is extremely scorching; but the Sea-breeze sometimes blows from Ten till Three or Four. The Winter is nearly of the same Length as in England, but the Mid-day Sun is always warm, even when the Mornings and Evenings are very sharp and the Nights piercing Cold. Georgia’s land and natural fruit The Land is of Four Sorts: Pine Barren, Oak Land, Swamp land, and Marsh. Georgia’s Pine Land The Pine Land is of far the greatest Extent, especially near the Sea-Coasts. The Soil of this is a dry, whitish Sand, producing Shrubs of several Sorts, and between the shrubs grows a harsh, coarse kind of Grass which Cattle do not love to eat. But here and there is a little of a better Kind, especially in the Savannas (so they call the low, watery Meadows which are usually intermixed with Pine Lands). It bears naturally two sorts of Fruit: Hurtle-Berries [blueberries?] much like those in England, and Chinquopin-Nuts, a dry Nut about the Size of a small Acorn. A laborious Man may in one Year clear and plant four or five Acres of this Land. The first Year, it will produce from two to four Bushels of Indian Corn, and from four to eight of Indian Pease per Acre. The second Year, it usually bears much about the same. The third, less; the fourth, little or nothing. It bears peaches well, and also the White Mulberry which serves to feed the Silk-Worms. The Black mulberry is about the Size of a Black Cherry, and has much the same Flavor. Georgia’s Oak Land The Oak Land commonly lies in narrow Streaks between Pine Land and Swamps, Creeks, or Rivers. The Soil is a blackish Sand, producing several Kinds of Oak, Bay, Laurel, Ash, Walnut, Sumach and Gum Trees, a sort of Sycamore, Dog Trees and Hickory. In the choicest Part of this Land grow Parsimon Trees, and a few Black Mulberry and American Cherry Trees. The common wild Grapes are of two sorts, both red: the Fox Grape grow two or three only on a Stalk, is thick-skinned, large stoned, of a harsh Taste, and of the Size of a small Cherry; the Cluster Grape is of a harsh Taste too, and about the Size of a white Curran. This Land requires much Labor to clear; but when it is cleared, it will bear any Grain, for three, four or five Years sometimes without laying any Manure upon it. An Acre of it generally produces Ten Bushels of Indian Corn, besides five of Pease, in a Year. This is rightly esteemed the most valuable Land in the Province since white People are incapable of clearing and cultivating the Swamps. Georgia’s swamp land A Swamp is any low, watery Place covered with Trees or Canes. There are three sorts here: Cypress, River and Cane Swamps. Cypress Swamps are mostly large Ponds, in and around which Cypresses grow. Most River Swamps are overflown on every Side by the River which runs through or near them; if they were drained, they would produce good Rice, as would the Cane Swamps also, which in the meantime are the best Feeding for all Sorts of Cattle. Georgia’s marsh land and sea islands The Marshes are of two sorts: soft, wet Marsh which is all a Quagmire and absolutely good for Nothing, and hard Marsh which is a firm Sand, but somehow at some Seasons is good for feeding Cattle. Marshes of both sorts abound on the Sea-Islands, which are very numerous and contain all sorts of Land. Cedar Trees grow on these chiefly, near Creeks and Runs of Water. Five-acres is the max the strongest man could maintain Considering no Land can be sowed (or at least what is sowed preserved) till it is enclosed, five Acres is the utmost a very able and laborious Man can propose to manage. This is the Quantity allotted for the Task of a Negro in the Neighboring Province, yet a Negro works four Hour each Day more than a white Man can do. A prosperous season is unrealistic here A prosperous Season without Disappointments does not happen here due to such small improvements as can be expected in an infant Colony one Year in five. Either Drought burns or Rain drowns the Corn and makes the Pease fall out of the Pod. Deer (which no Fences can keep out) devour those little Settlements in a Night. Rats and Squirrels do the same. Birds eat the Seed out of the Ground and dig up the Blade after it is spired. A variety of Worms and Insects devour half of it. But let us suppose none of those Evils happened. Let us view the Amount of the Produce possible, valued at the highest going rate: Max possible production on Pine Land The Produce of five Acres of Pine Land raised by one Hand, the first Year, l.s.d. Indian Corn, 20 Bushels at 10s. Currency per Bushel. 150 Sterling. Indian Pease, 40 Bush. at ditto. 2100 Total of first Years Produce, 3150 The second Year the same; the third less, the fourth little or nothing. Max possible production on Oak Land Best Oak Land, five Acres Corn 15 Bushels Pease per Acre, is 75 Bushels ditto Price, is 4 l. 13 s. 9 d. Sterling. The labor and tool cost is three times the produce return Now consider the Maintenance of every single white Servant per Annum at the lowest Rate. Then the Reader will be able to judge whether white People can get their Livelihood by planting Land in this Climate without Negroes. And the Allowance to the Trustees’ Dutch Servants being the Least at which any white Servant could be maintained in Georgia, we shall therefore take our Estimation from it, which is Eight Pence Sterling per Day or 12 l. 3 s. 4 d. Sterl. per Annum; so that at a Medium, the Expense is three Times greater than the Produce, besides Tools, Medicines and other Necessaries. Farming rice is a deadly job The Proportion of Pine Barren to good Swamp or Oak Land is at least six to one. The vast majority of the small Lots have none or very little Oak Land. Even if they had Swamp land that would bear Rice, white People are unable to clear them if they are covered with Trees. Even if the swamp land was covered only with Canes, which is the easiest to cultivate, it would be impossible to manufacture the Rice by white Men. The Exercise is so severe that no Negro can be employed in any other Work or Labor comparable to it. Hundreds of them each year lose their Lives by that necessary Work, despite all the Care of their Masters. SAVANNAH stands on a flat Bluff (that’s what they call a high Land hanging over a Creek or River). The bluff rises about Forty Feet perpendicular from the River and commands it several Miles both upwards and downwards. If it weren’t for a Point of Woods about four Miles down the River that stretches itself out towards the South-East, one might have a View of the sea and the island of Tybee. The Soil is a white Sand for over a Mile South-East and North-West. East of this is a River Swamp. Oglethorpe reserves the best land for the Indians West is a small Body of Wood-land in which was the old Indian Town. A creek separates this wood-land from a large Tract of Land which runs upwards along the River for about five Miles. It is by far the best land near the Town, but General Oglethorpe declares it is reserved for the Indians, as are also some of the Islands in the River Savannah, and the three most valuable Islands upon all the Coast of that Province, namely Ossiba, St. Katherine [Catherine], and Sapula [Sapelo]. The Public Garden doesn’t grow because it is on barren land South-West of the Town is a Pine Barren that extends about fourteen Miles to the Vernon River. On the East Side of the Town is situated the Public Garden. This garden is actually ten Acres enclosed on a barren Piece of Land. It is hardly possible for what is planted to live, and impossible to thrive. All the Planters were supposed to have been furnished with Mulberry-Trees, &c. from this garden. The town’s layout is beautiful The Plan of the Town was beautifully laid out in Wards, Tythings, and Public Squares left at proper Distances for Markets and Public Buildings. The whole thing is nicely uniform. The Public Works in this Town are: 1. A Courthouse, being one handsome Room with a piache on three Sides This also serves for a Church for Divine Service, since no church was ever built, despite the fact that the Trustees in their Public Acts acknowledge the Receipt of about Seven Hundred Pounds Sterling from charitable Persons for that express Purpose. 2. Opposite to Courthouse stands the Logg House or Prison. It is the only one remaining of five or six that have been successively built in Savannah. The prison is that Place of Terror and Support of absolute Power in Georgia. 3. Near the prison is a House built of Loggs, at a very great public cost for the Trustees’ Steward. The Foundation below ground is already rotten, as the whole structure will soon be because the Roof is flat. The Rain comes in at all Parts of it. (*In August, 1740, a new Foundation was begun.) 4. The Store-house, which has been altered many Times at a very great public cost. It now serves as a Store only for the private Benefit of one or two. 5. The Guard-house that was first built on the Bluff soon decayed, as did a second through improper Management. The one now standing is the third. Several Flag-Staffs were also erected, the last of which, according to common Report, cost 50 l. Sterling. 6. A Public Mill for grinding Corn was first erected at a considerable Expense in one Square of the Town. In about three years’ time (without doing the least service) it fell to the Ground. In another Square of the Town a second was started at a far greater Expense. It was never finished. It is now erased and converted into a House for entertaining the Indians and other such like Uses. 7. Wells and Pumps were made at a great cost, but they were immediately choked up and never rendered useful. This Grievance was frequently represented both to the General and Magistrates. The lack of Wells obliged the Inhabitants to use the River Water, which all Summer long is polluted with putrid Marshes and countless insects that deposit their Ova there, along with putrefied carcasses of Animals and corrupted vegetables. This no doubt caused much of the Sickness that swept off many. Savannah looks like a ghost town now Several of the Houses built by Free-holders without male heirs have fallen to the Trustees (even ignoring the lawful Creditors of the Deceased). They are disposed of as the General thinks proper. At least two hundred lots were taken up in Savannah, about one hundred and seventy of which were built upon. Several of these had more than one House upon them. A great many of these are now in ruins, and many more shut up and abandoned. The Town appears very desolate. Barely one-fourth of its Inhabitants remain, and most of those are in a miserable Condition for lack of the proper Necessaries of Life. St. SIMONS Island is bordered on the East by the Gulf of Florida. All other sides are bordered by Branches of the Alatamaha [Altamaha]. It is about One Hundred Miles South of Savannah and extends about Twenty miles long and anywhere from two to five Miles wide. Frederica on St. Simons Island, was once populated military town, now it’s desolate On the west side of St. Simons, on a low Bluff, stands FREDERICA. Frederica has Woods to the North and South. To the East is partly Woods, partly Savannas, and partly Marsh. The soil is mostly blackish Sand. The fortifications are augmented since the retreat from Augustine, and here lie most of the remains of General Oglethorpe's Regiment. Frederica was laid out in Form of a Crescent. It was divided into 144 lots, and about 50 of those were built upon. Despite the Circulation of the Regiment’s money, Frederica has no more than 120 Men, Women, and Children, and these are daily stealing away by all possible Ways. Before the Attempt on St. Augustine, three Companies of the soldiers were stationed on the Sea Point about five Miles southeast of the Town. The officers built several pretty houses there, and many lots were allocated and entered by soldiers. Most, if not all, of the Sea Point is now desolate. Several of the Officers of the Regiment brought over Servants to cultivate Land. Colonel Cochran brought 20 Servants, Lieut. Horton at Jekyl brought 16 Servants, Capt. Gascoign at least as many. They are all gone. And according to our best Information, about Two Hundred of the Regiment are diminished. Poor Darien only has 53 left from the 250 Scot Highlanders who settled there About 20 miles northwest from St. Simons, is DARIEN, the Settlement of the Scots High-Landers. The town is situated on the mainland close to a Branch of the Alatamaha River, on a Bluff 20 Feet high. The Town is surrounded on all sides with Woods. The Soil is a blackish Sand. Nearly 250 people Settled here. In Spring 1736, they built a large Fort for their own Protection. The poor Remains of these are now no more than 53, more than two-thirds of which are Women and Children. There are also besides eleven of the Trustees’ Servants enlisted as Soldiers and stationed there under the Command of an Officer in order to keep the others from going away. Nevertheless, they are making their Escape daily. Fort St. Andrews is the southernmost settlement with two companies of the regiment mostly moved into Frederica The Southernmost Settlement in Georgia is FORT St. ANDREWS, 50 Miles South of Frederica. It sits on the Southwest side of Cumberland Island upon a high Neck of Land which commands the River both Ways. The fort walls are of Wood filled up with Earth, round which are a Ditch and Pallisade. Two Companies of General Oglethorpe's Regiment were formerly stationed there, but tore now mostly drawn to Frederica. The Carr/Carteret plantation is abandoned, and Spaniards attacked some soldiers stationed there Opposite Frederica on the mainland were settled Messrs. Carr and Carteret with more than 20 Servants. They had cleared a considerable Tract of Land, but that Plantation is now abandoned and their servants either dead or dispersed. We recently heard from Frederica that the General had stationed 10 or 12 Men there, who were then attacked by Spaniards or Spanish Indians. Four were killed, four carried off, and two left wounded. The Saltzburghers moved, now there is Old and New Ebenezer, six miles east NEW EBNEZER, to which the Saltzburghers removed from their former Habitation at Old Ebenezer, consists of about 100 people under the Government of Mr. Boltzius, their Pastor. They live and labor in a kind of Community and never commix or associate with Strangers. They have been hitherto liberally supported both from Germany and England, and their Right and Privileges have been much more extensive than any others in the Colony. This Town lies six miles east of the old one on a high Bluff on the side of Savanna River, 40 Miles from Savannah. Nearby on a Creek of the same River was built a Sawmill, which cost of the Public Money above 1500 l. Sterl. but, like most other public Works, is now entirely ruinous. Abercorn is empty About Ten Miles East of Ebenezer on a Creek three Miles from the River was the Village of ABERCORN. In the Year 1733, there were ten Families settled there, and several afterwards. In the Year 1737, Mr. John Brodie with twelve Servants settled there: But all those are gone, and it is now a Heap of Ruins. Joseph’s Town is empty; most of the servants died Four Miles below Abercorn on the River side is Joseph's Town, which was the Settlement of some Scots Gentlemen with thirty Servants; but they have now left it, most of their Servants having died there. A long list of abandoned settlements A Mile below on the River side is the Settlement where Sir Francis Bathurst, with twelve in Family and Servants, was placed, now in Ruins, without an Inhabitant. A Quarter of a Mile below was the Settlement of Walter Augustine, with six in Family: Within this Settlement was another Mill erected, at the Charge of above 800 l. Sterling, all now in Ruins, without an Inhabitant. A Mile below is Landiloe, the Settlement of Mr. Robert Williams, with forty Servants, who made large Improvements there and continued for four Years planting each Season with great Industry in various shapes, still expecting (with the other Settlers) an Alteration in the Constitution. After sinking a great deal of Money, he was obliged to leave it with the Loss of above Two Thousand Pounds Sterling. It is now uninhabited and very much decayed. Next below that is the Five hundred Acre Tract belonging to Dr. Patrick Tailfer, which was settled but found impracticable to proceed upon by Reason of the Hardships and Restrictions in the Colony. Next to that is Mr. Jacob Mathews’ Plantation (formerly Mr. Musgrove’s) called the Cow-pen, who lived there some Time with ten Servants; but has now left it, and keeps only two or three to look after his Cattle. Adjoining to this was Mr. Cooksey's Settlement, with five in Family; now entirely abandoned. Next to this was Capt. Watson’s Plantation, with a good House, now in Ruins. All these lie upon the side of the River. And upon the East and Southward were the Settlements of Young, Emery, Polhil and Warwick; all forsaken. Yamacra is still there Next upon the River side is the Indian Land before mentioned, separated from the foregoing Settlements by a Creek, and running all along to the Town: A little below this Creek is a Place called Irene, where Mr. John Wesley built a pretty good House for an Indian School; but he soon wearied of that Undertaking and left it. A little below this is the Indian Town called New-Yamacra, were the Remainder of Tomo Chachi's [Tomochichi] Indians reside. Five Miles Southwest of Savannah on a small Rise stands the Village of Highgate. Twelve Families were settled here in 1733, mostly French, now reduced to Two. A Mile Eastward of this is Hampstead, where several German Families were settled in 1733, and some others since, now reduced to none. Five Miles South-East of Savannah, is THUNDERBOLT, where there was a good Timber Fort and three Families with twenty Servants were settled; but it is now all in Ruins and abandoned. Four Miles South of this is the Island of Skiddoway, on the North-East Point whereof Ten Families were settled in 1733; now reduced to none. A Creek divides Skiddoway from TYBEE Island, on the South-East Part of which, fronting the Inlet, the Light-House is built: Twelve Families were settled here in 1734, who have now forsaken it. Twelve Miles Southward by Land from Savannah, is Mr. Houston's Plantation, kept with one Servant. And, About Thirty Miles from that, up the River Ogeeche, was the Settlements of Messrs. Stirlings, &c. with Twenty-five Servants: This Place, when they went there, was the Southermost Settlement in the Colony, and very * remote; so that they were obliged to build; at their own Expense and at a considerable Charge, a strong Wooden Fort for their Defence. And the said Messrs. Stirlings having resided there about three Years with the Servants, they were oblig'd to leave it after having exhausted their Fortunes to no Purpose in the Experiment. * This was the only Spot allow'd them to settle upon, any other Place being refused. Escaped prisoners killed a woman and servant left home alone at Fort Argyle Twenty Miles above this, on a high Bluff on the same River, stands Fort Argyle, a small square Wooden Fort, Musket-Proof. A Body of Horse called the Southern Rangers were stationed there for several Years under the Command of Capt. James Macpherson. They were paid by the Government of Carolina but have been discharged for some Time. After that, ten Families had settled here and around it; now all gone. The Fort itself was left garrisoned by one Officer, one Dutch Servant, and one Woman. They were recently surprised in the Officer's Absence by two Prisoners that broke out of the Logg-house in Savannah, and both murdered. Near the Mouth of Vernon River on a kind of Island called Hope Isle are the Settlements of Messrs. John Fallowfield, Henry Parker and Noble Jones. They have made some Improvements there, mostly by Mr. Fallowfield. He has a pretty little convenient House and Garden with a considerable stock of Hoggs, and some Cattle, &c. and where he generally resides with his Family. Nearby on a Piece of Land which commands the * Narrows is a Timber Building called Jones's Fort. It serves for two Uses: to support Mr. Noble Jones, who is Commander of it, and to prevent the poor People of Frederica from getting to any other Place, where they might be able to support themselves. (*This is a narrow Passage, thro' which Boats are obliged to pass and repass in going to and from the South) About three Miles South-East of Savannah, upon Augustine Creek, lies Oxstead, the Settlement of Mr. Thomas Causton, improved by many Hands and at a great Charge, where he now resides with a few Servants. Betwixt Oxstead and the Town of Savannah lie: 1. Hermitage, the Settlement of Mr. Hugh Anderson, who had seventeen in Family and Servants; but he was obliged both to leave that and retire from the Colony about two Years ago, upon Account of the general Hardships. 2. The Settlements of Mr. Thomas Christie and six others belonging to the Township of Savannah: all now forsaken. 3. The Settlements of the Germans of Count Zinzendorff who were twenty Families; which are likewise now entirely abandoned, they having all gone to other Colonies. Upon the West side of Savannah, lie the Township Lots of the Jews, now deserted, (they having all gone to other Colonies, except three or four ) as are all others on that Quarter, excepting one or two. About three Miles from Savannah, on the South, the Settlement of Mr. William Williamson is in the same Condition. The Trustee’s example land flopped Also the Settlement belonging to the Trustees adjoining to Mr. Williamson's; which was committed by them to the Care of Mr. William Bradley, their Steward, to be cultivated and improved by him at their Charge as an Example to others and to satisfy themselves what Improvements in Land were practicable by white Servants. The Event might have opened the Eyes of any that would see: Upwards of twenty, sometimes thirty Servants were employed. More than 2,000 Pounds Sterling expended in the Experiment; and never so much of any kind of Grain raised from it, as would have maintained the Numbers employed about it six Months: It now lies on a Parr with the most ruinous Plantation in Georgia. Thomas Jones tried a new plantation last year and paid a ton of labor for not 100 bushels of corn Part of their Dutch Sergeants have been employed last Year by Mr. Thomas Jones, upon a new Plantation about a Mile to the Southward of Savannah; They were Twenty-five in Number, and maintain'd at the Expense of 8 d. sterling each per Diem; and we have lately been credibly informed, the Whole Produce did not exceed One Hundred Bushels of Corn. 1740-3 A great Orphan House begun and never finished The Orphan-House is situated about fourteen Miles Southeast of Savannah: This famous Work was begun in March, 1740. During the space of six Months, there were about One Hundred Men, Women and Children, maintained and employed about it. According to their own Calculation, they have expended near 4,000 Pounds Sterling. But ever since Mr. Whitefield left Georgia the latter End of August in the same Year, it has decayed steadily; for, besides those he then carried to the Northward with him, a great many have since left them; and their Money growing short, they were soon obliged to discharge most of the Workmen; besides of late, many Divisions have arisen amongst them: In short, the Design seems to be drawing near a close, although at this Time the House itself is scarcely half finished: It is built upon a low Pine Barren, surrounded on one Side with a large Tract of salt Marsh, extending to Vernon River, to which they have a Passage by Water when the Tides are up for small Craft; on the other Side it is surrounded with Woods; They have cleared about ten Acres of Ground, and have built several Houses and Huts. The Frame of the Orphan-House is up, the Roof shingled, and the Sides weather boarded: It is sixty Feet in Length, forty Feet wide: It has two Stories besides Cellars and Garrets; the Cellars are built Brick, which likewise serves, for a Foundation to the whole Building: It would certainly be a fine Piece of Work, if finished; but if it were finished, where is the Fund for its support? and what Service can an Orphan-House be in a Desert and a forsaken Colony? About three or four Miles from the Orphan-House, on the side of Vernon River, William Stephens, Esq; (formerly mentioned) has a Plantation with five or six Servants, who have cleared about seven or eight Acres: However if he reaps no Benefit from them, he is at as little cost to maintain them because the Trustees allow him so many Servants, and cover their Maintenance. As it would be too tedious to mention particularly the Township or five and forty-five Acre Lots, being in all about One Hundred that were settled; we need only therefore in general say that there are few or none of them but what are in the same Condition with those before specified, in other words. ruinous and desolate. Augusta thrives due to better soil, Indian trade, and illegal Negro labor The last Place we shall mention is AUGUSTA 200 Miles up the River from Savannah, on the same Side. It was founded in 1737 at a considerable cost under the Direction of one Mr. Roger Lacy, being at that Time Agent to the Cherokee Nation: It is principally, if not altogether, inhabited by Indian Traders and Store-keepers, the Number of whom may now be about thirty or upwards. A considerable Quantity of Corn has been raised there. To account for this outlier, we shall only assign two Reasons: 1. The goodness of the Land, so great a Distance from the Sea, is richer than in the maritime Parts. 2. More importantly, the Settlers there are indulged in and connived at the Use of Negroes, by whom they execute all the laborious Parts of Culture. Upwards of Eighty Negroes are now in the Augusta Settlements. We do not observe this as if it gives us any Uneasiness that our Fellow-Planters are indulged in what is so necessary for their Wellbeing, but we may be allowed to regret that we and so many British Subjects who stood much more in need of them, should have been ruined for Want of such Assistance. HAVING now taken a Survey of the Colony of Georgia, we shall conclude this Treatise by taking Notice of two or three of the most remarkable Transactions in it since last October. [...] Spaniards attack Carteret settlement at Frederica (repeated) We have recently been informed from Frederica, that the General having stationed twelve Men upon the Place which was the Settlement of Messrs. Ker and Carteret before mentioned, they were attacked by Spaniards or Spanish Indians, and four were killed, four carried off, and two wounded. People are escaping Frederica and Darient A good many of the People have come away from Frederica lately. In order to get away, they had to make excuses such as going a Hunting upon the Islands, & c. We are informed that some Differences have happened between the General and some of the Magistrates there, and that in the Place of one of them he has appointed one of his waiting Boys. Several of the poor Remainder of the Darien People have likewise escaped, despite the Body of Forces stationed there to prevent them from leaving. Hopefully this is enough detail; it’s all we could afford HAVING thus brought this Historical Narrative within the Compass proposed, and endeavored to dispose the Material in as distinct a Method and Series as the necessary Conciseness would allow, we readily admit that the Design is far from being complete. To have acquainted the World with all the Hardships and Oppressions which have been exercised in the Colony of Georgia would have required both a larger Volume than we were capable of publishing and more Time than we could bestow. We therefore satisfy ourselves that we have, with Care and Sincerity, executed so much of the Design as may pave the Way to any others who can descend more minutely to Particulars. Those who are best acquainted with the Affairs of that Colony will be most capable of judging how tenderly we have touched both Persons and Things. IT only remains, that we in a few Paragraphs endeavor to exhibit to the View of the Reader the REAL Causes of the Ruin and Desolation of the Colony; and those briefly are the following: 1. Representing the Climate, Soil, &c. of Georgia in false and too flattering Colors; at least, not contradicting those Accounts when publicly printed and dispersed, and satisfying the World in a true and genuine Description thereof. 2. Restricting the Tenure of Lands from a Fee simple to Tail-Male, cutting off Daughters and all other Relations. 3. Restraining the Proprietor from selling, disposing of, or leasing any Possession. 4. Restricting too much the Extent of Possessions; it being impossible that fifty Acres of good Land, much less Pine Barren, could maintain a white Family. 5. Laying the Planter under a Variety of Restraints in clearing, fencing, planting, &c. which was impossible to be complied with. 6. Exacting a much higher Quit-Rent than the richest Grounds in North-America can bear. 7. Chiefly- Denying the Use of Negroes, and persisting in such Denial after, by repeated Applications, we had humbly remonstrated the Impossibility of making Improvements to any Advantage with white Servants. 8. Denying us the Privilege of being judged by the Laws of our Mother Country; and subjecting the Lives and Fortunes of all People in the Colony, to one Person or Set of Men, who assumed the Privilege, under the Name of a Court of Chancery, of Acting according to their own Will and Fancy. 9. General Oglethorpe's taking upon him to nominate Magistrates, appoint Justices of the Peace, and to do many other such Things, without ever exhibiting to the People any legal Commission or Authority for so doing. 10. Neglecting the proper Means for Encouraging the Silk and Wine-Manufactures; and disposing of the liberal Sums contributed by the Public, and by private Persons, in such Ways and Channels as have been of little or no Service to the Colony. 11. Misapplying or Keeping Sums of Money which have been appointed for particular Uses, such as Building a Church, &c. several Hundreds of Pounds Sterling (as we are inform'd) having been lodged in Mr. Oglethorpe's Hands for some Years by past, for that Purpose, and not one Stone of it yet laid. 12. Assigning certain fix'd Tracts of Land to those who came to settle in the Colony without any regard to the Quality of the Ground, Occupation, Judgment, Ability or Inclination of the Settler, &c. &c. &c. By these and many other such Hardships, the poor Inhabitants of Georgia are scattered over the Face of the Earth. Her Plantation a Wild. Her Towns a Desert. Her Villages in Rubbish. Her Improvements a By-Word. Her Liberties a Jest. An Object of Pity to Friends. An object of Insult, Contempt, and Ridicule to Enemies. THE END.
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