ence and comfort, were constantly increasing. Emigrants came principally from the northern colonies; but often large bodies of protestants arrived from Europe; in one year, 1752, the number who came exceeded sixteen hundred.

CHAPTER XIII.

GEORGIA.

UPON the southern part of the territory included in the Carolina charter, no settlement was made, until several years after that charter was forfeited. In June, 1732, several benevolent gentlemen, in England, concerted a project for planting a colony in that unoccupied region. Their principal object was to relieve, by transporting thither, the indigent subjects of Great Britain; but their plan of benevolence embraced also the persecuted protestants of all nations.

To a project springing from motives so noble and disinterested, the people and the government extended their encouragement and patronage. A patent was granted by the king, conveying to twenty-one trustees the territory now constituting the state of GEORGIA, which was to be apportioned gratuitously among the settlers; and liberal donations were made by the charitable, to defray the expence of transporting them across

the Atlantic, and of providing for their support the first season.

The concerns of the colony were managed by the trustees, who freely devoted much of their time to the undertaking. Among other regulations, they provided, that the lands should not be sold nor devised by the owners, but should descend to the male children only; they forbade the use of rum in the colony, and strictly prohibited the importation of negroes. But none of these regulations remained long in force.

In November, 1732, one hundred and thirteen emigrants embarked for Georgia, at the head of whom the trustees had placed James Oglethorpe, a zealous and active promoter of this scheme of benevolence. In January, they arrived at Charleston; and the Carolinians, sensible of the advantage of having a barrier between them and the southern Indians, gave the adventurers a cordial welcome. They supplied them with provisions, and with boats to convey them to the place of their destination. Yamacraw Bluff, since called Savannah, was selected as the most eligible place for a settlement.

The next year, five or six hundred poor persons arrived, and to each a portion of the wilderness was assigned. But it was soon found that these emigrants, who were the refuse of cities, had been rendered poor by idleness, and irresolute by poverty, were not fitted to fell the mighty groves of Georgia. A race more hardy and enterprising was necessary. The trustees, therefore, offered to receive, also, such as had not, by

persecution or poverty, been rendered objects of compassion, and to grant to all who should repair to the colony, fifty acres of land. In consequence of this offer, more than four hundred persons, from Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland, arrived in the year 1735. The Germans settled at Ebenezer, the Scotch at New Inverness, now Darien.

In 1736, John Wesley, a celebrated methodist, made a visit to Georgia, for the purpose of preaching to the colonists, and converting the Indians. Among the former, he made some proselytes, but more enemies. He was accused of diverting the people from labour, of fomenting divisions, of claiming and exercising high and unwarranted ecclesiastical authority. His conduct towards the niece of one of the principal settlers, was highly resented by her friends. Thirteen indictments for alleged offences were found against him; but before the time of trial he returned to England, and there, for many years, pursued a successful and distinguished career of piety and usefulness.

Two years afterwards, George Whitefield, another and more celebrated methodist, arrived in the colony. He had already made himself conspicuous in England, by his numerous eccentricities, his ardent piety, his extraordinary eloquence, and his zeal and activity in propagating his opinions. He came to Georgia for the benevolent purpose of establishing an orphan house, where poor children might be fed, clothed, and educated in the knowledge of christianity. In the prosecution of this

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Such was the character of the greater parts settlers, and such the restrictions imposed. the plantations languished and continued quire the contributions of the charitable.

War having been declared against Spain. Mr. Oglethorpe was promoted to the rank of genera in the British army, and at the head of two thousand men, partly from Virginia and the Carolinas, undertook an expedition against Florida. He took

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o Spanish forts and besieged St. Augustine; it encountering an obstinate resistance, was mpelled to return unsuccessful to Georgia.

Two years afterwards the Spaniards, in retaliaon, prepared to invade Georgia; and they inended, if successful there, to subjugate the Caolinas and Virginia. On receiving information of their approach, General Oglethorpe solicited ssistance from South Carolina. But the inhabitants of that colony, entertaining a strong prejudice against him, in consequence of his late defeat, and terrified by the danger which threatened themselves, determined to provide only for their own safety.

Meanwhile General Oglethorpe made preparations for a vigorous defence. He assembled seven hundred men, exclusive of a body of Indians, fixed his head-quarters at Frederica, on the island of St. Simon, and with this small band, determined to encounter whatever force might be brought against him. It was his utmost hope that he might be able to resist the enemy until a reinforcement should arrive from Carolina, which he daily and anxiously expected.

On the last of June, the Spanish fleet, consisting of thirty-two sail, and having on board more than three thousand men, came to anchor off St. Simon's bay. Notwithstanding all the resistance which General Oglethorpe could oppose, they sailed up the river Alatamaha, landed upon the island, and there erected fortifications.

General Oglethorpe, convinced that his small force, if divided, must be entirely inefficient, as

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