Page images
PDF
EPUB

transmit your name to posterity, as the restorer of civil rights and privileges, and thereby render your name ever dear.

Whatever you may think necessary to be done in our behalf, we must leave to your discretion, hoping you will do nothing therein but what is consistent with your character as our agent. We are, sir,

Your most humble servants,

WILLIAM WOODROOFFE,
WILLIAM EWEN,

Savannah, 21st August, 1742.

To Mr. Thomas Stephens.

JOHN LYNDall.

No. XXXIV.

Appointment for an Agent on Behalf of the People of Georgia.

GEORGIA.

At a meeting of Landholders, Settlers, and Inhabitants at Savannah, the seventh day of October, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., Annoque Domini, one thousand seven hundred and forty-one.

Whereas many of his Majesty's subjects, who are settled in, and are belonging to the province of Georgia, have, as well singly as in joint numbers, from time to time presented to the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia, divers remonstrances, representations, and petitions, with repeated complaints of grievances which have never been effectually redressed. And whereas, for want of timely remedies to the evils set forth in the said representations, &c., being applied, the said province is greatly deserted by many of her inhabitants, by reason of the restrictions that render them wholly incapable of raising provisions for their support; and whereby those who still remain in the said province are unable to subsist themselves and families by cultivation, as are some of them barely in any shape;- We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being settlers and inhabitants of the said province,

[blocks in formation]

are unanimously of opinion, that, in order to the effectually settling and establishing the said province, and to remove all those grievances and hardships we now labor under, it is expedient for us to appoint an agent for representing, transacting and soliciting in Great Britain those affairs of so great importance. Wherefore, Mr. Thomas Stephens being thought by us to be a person fitly qualified for the said purpose, in behalf of ourselves, and many others of his Majesty's poor distressed subjects, now residing in, and belonging to the said province, we do hereby constitute and appoint the said Thomas Stephens. And he is hereby nominated and declared agent, to represent and transact the affairs aforesaid. And further, it being necessary that we, the said inhabitants, or some of us do correspond with the said Thomas Stephens, we do, in behalf of ourselves and others aforesaid, hereby nominate and appoint William Woodrooffe, Thomas Ormston, Peter Morell, John Lyndall, and William Ewen, or any three of them, to correspond with the said agent; and he is hereby impowered and authorized to pursue such instructions as he shall from time to time receive from the said persons, hereby appointed to correspond with him in relation to the complaints of grievances of the people in the aforesaid colony of Georgia; and this appointment to remain in full force and virtue during the pleasure of the said inhabitants. Given under our hands, at Savannah, the day and year above written.

Signed by landholders,

123

Letters from those absent at the time,

18

141

Instructions to Mr. Thomas Stephens, Agent for the People of Georgia in America.

We do, in behalf of ourselves and the rest of his Majesty's subjects, who have settled in this province, request and desire that you, Mr. Thomas Stephens, will, on your arrival in England, apply, petition, and solicit for redress of grievances, in such manner as you shall think most advisable, (applica

tion to the trustees only excepted,) and in particular for obtaining the following articles, which we apprehend to be necessary in order for the more effectually establishing this province; and which the charter granted by his Majesty to the trustees impowers them to give us, viz.:

That a regular government be established in Georgia, as in others of his Majesty's provinces in America.

That upon consideration, that Georgia is intended as a barrier to South Carolina, all grants of lands be at least as extensive, and not inferior in any respect to those of that province.

That the quit-rents in Georgia be not greater than in others of his Majesty's provinces, the land being in no kind better than in South Carolina.

That the use of negroes, under such restrictions as shall be thought proper, be allowed for cultivating our lands.

That encouragement be given for the making pot-ash, silk, wine, oil, indigo, hemp, flax, or other commodities that might be raised in Georgia, in America, and greatly increase the trade and navigation of Great Britain.

That, if you should not obtain such an alteration in the constitution, as shall enable the inhabitants to support themselves by cultivation, to pray, "that the money, which may hereafter be granted for the use of the colony, may be applied for removing them to some other part of his Majesty's dominions, where they may be able to support themselves and families, and be of use to the public, instead of a burthen to it, as they are now."

WILLIAM WOODROOFFE,
THOMAS ORMSTON,

PETER MOREll,

WILLIAM EWEN,

JOHN LYNDall.

Savannah, 27th Oct., 1741.

No. XXXV.

A List of Complainants, who are styled a few Clamorous

A.

John Amory,

Benjamin Adams,

Malecontents.

Thomas Andrews,
Thomas Atwell,
Thomas Antrobus,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »