that was likely to be taken in case of a real attack; and likewise finding, to their cost, that the improvement of land was a vain and fruitless labor with white servants only, and with such restrictions and precarious titles, many began to withdraw and leave the colony, and very little was planted this

season.

And now to make our subjection the more complete, a new kind of tyranny was this summer begun to be im

1737. posed upon us; for Mr. John Wesley, who had come

over and was received by us as a clergyman of the Church of England, soon discovered that his aim was to enslave our minds, as a necessary preparative for enslaving our bodies. The attendance upon prayers, meetings and sermons inculcated by him, so frequently, and at improper hours, inconsistent with necessary labor, especially in an infant colony, tended to propagate a spirit of indolence and of hypocrisy amongst the most abandoned; it being much easier for such persons, by an affected show of religion, and adherence to Mr. Wesley's novelties, to be provided by his procurement from the public stores, than to use that industry which true religion recommends; nor indeed could the reverend gentleman conceal the designs he was so full of, having frequently declared, that he never desired to see Georgia a rich, but a religious* colony.

At last all persons of any consideration came to look upon him as a Roman Catholic, for which the following reasons seemed pretty convincing. 1st, Under an affected strict adherence to the Church of England, he most unmercifully damned all dissenters of whatever denomination, who were never admitted to communicate with him until they first gave up their faith and principles entirely to his moulding and direction, and in confirmation thereof declared their belief of the invalidity of their former baptism, and then to receive a new one from him. This was done publicly on the persons of Richard Turner, carpenter, and his son. Another instance was that of William Gaff, who had once communicated, and always conformed to his regulations, but was at last found out by Mr. Wesley to have been baptized by a Presbyterian dissenter; the same thing was proposed to him, but Mr. Gaff not inclinable to go that length, was ever thereafter excluded from the communion.

According to his system.

2dly, While all dissenters (whereof a considerable number was in the colony) were thus unmercifully damned, and shut out from religious ordinances, contrary to that spirit of moderation and tenderness which the Church of England show towards them; persons suspected to be Roman Catholics were received and caressed by him as his first rate saints.

3dly, A third confirmation of this suspicion arose from his endeavors to establish confession, penance, mortifications, mixing wine with water in the sacrament, and suppressing in the administration of the sacrament, the explanation adjoined to the words of communicating by the Church of England, to show that they mean a feeding on Christ by faith, saying, no more than "the body of Christ; the blood of Christ;" by appointing deaconesses, with sundry other innovations, which he called apostolic constitutions.

4thly, As there is always a strict connection betwixt Popery and slavery; so the design of all this fine scheme seemed to the most judicious, to be calculated to debase and depress the minds of the people, to break any spirit of liberty, and humble them with fastings, penances, drinking of water, and a thorough subjection to the spiritual jurisdiction. which he asserted was to be established in his person; and when this should be accomplished, the minds of people would be equally prepared for the receiving civil or ecclesiastical tyranny.

All jesuitical arts were made use of to bring the well concerted scheme to perfection; families were divided in parties; spies were engaged in many houses, and the servants of others bribed and decoyed to let him into all the secrets of the families they belonged to; nay, those who had given themselves up to his spiritual guidance (more especially women) were obliged to discover to him their most secret actions, nay even their thoughts and the subject of their dreams: at the same time he gave charge to juries; gave his opinion in all civil causes that came before the court: nor could we imagine what all this would end in: complain we might; but to no purpose: and Mr. Causton and he went hand in hand.

But the merciful providence of God disappoints frequently those designs that are laid deepest in human prudence.

Mr. Wesly at this time repulsed Mrs. Sophia Williamson, niece to Mr. Causton, from the sacrament. This young

lady was by her friends put under the ghostly care of Mr. Wesly; who was pleased to make proposals of marriage to her: these she always rejected; and in some little time married Mr. William Williamson, of Savannah, much contrary to Mr. Wesly's inclinations; after the said marriage, Mr. Wesly used all means to create a misunderstanding betwixt Mrs. Williamson and her husband, by persuading her, that Mr. Williamson had no right to regulate her behavior as to conversing with him, or attending meetings as formerly; but at last finding he could gain nothing upon her, and that Mr. Williamson had forbade him any conversation with his wife out of his presence, he took the aforesaid means, by repelling her from the Holy Communion, of showing his resentment. Mr. Williamson thought himself well founded in an action of damages; and Mr. Wesly (being no longer supported by Mr. Causton, who was highly nettled at the affront put upon his niece, and could now declaim as fluently against spiritual tyranny as any person) was indicted before a grand jury of forty-four freeholders, and thirteen indictments were found against him; one concerned Mr. Williamson and his spouse; the others concerning the grievances we felt by his measures, and the exercise of his ecclesiastical functions, as above related: these last were given in to the magistrates, to be by them laid before the trustees, that these our grievances might in time coming, be properly redressed, (we having no other jurisdiction, either civil or ecclesiastical, that we could make application to;) then the grand jury began to consider and think, that as it was not probable a greater number of the better sort of people could ever be legally met together; so this was a fit time to represent their grievances and hardships to the trustees: which they did in the following manner.

"An Abstract of the Representation of the Grand Jury of Savannah, to the Honorable the Trustees.

"We the grand jury, duly sworn on the 22d of the last month, and having divers matters laid before us, which we humbly conceive cannot properly be presented to this court, because several of the said matters touch the proceedings of the magistrates of the said court, and contain sundry articles, setting forth many public necessities and hardships, which

can only be remedied by your honors' authority: Therefore, we the said grand jury having examined several witnesses, do, upon our oaths, represent to your honors the following grievances, hardships and necessities.

"That as the inhabitants of this town and county have been and are still subject to many inconveniences, for want of a body of the laws and constitutions of this province; it being exceeding difficult in many cases, both for grand and petit juries, to discharge in a proper manner the great duties that are incumbent on them by their oaths; so we hope your honors will assist us, that we may be enabled well and truly to execute our duties as aforesaid.

"That Thomas Causton, by his arbitrary proceedings, hath endeavored to render the power and proceedings of grand juries ineffectual, especially this grand jury, by intruding upon it when inclosed and about business, and using the members thereof, with great haughtiness and ill nature, and threatening to dissolve them.

"That the said Thomas Causton, by his office of storekeeper, hath the dangerous power in his hands of alluring weak-minded people to comply with unjust measures, and also overawing others from making just complaints and representations to your honors; and the known implacability of the said Causton, and his frequent threatening of such people, is to many weak-minded, though well disposed persons, a strong bulwark against their seeking redress, by making proper complaints and just representations to you their benefactors, patrons and protectors.

"That the said Causton has made great advancements on provisions and goods sold out of the trustees' store to the inhabitants, contrary to Mr. Oglethorpe's promise when he first settled this colony, and contrary, as we apprehend, to your honors' good intentions, and greatly detrimental to the prosperity of the colony; and that he hath refused to pay the public debts otherwise than in provisions at those dear rates, and sometimes bad and unwholesome, out of the public store, whereby the inhabitants were greatly distressed, and some have been obliged to leave the province.

"That whereas one John White, who had been committed for felony, at the suit of William Aglionby, and he the said Aglionby was bound to prosecute the same at next court: notwithstanding he the said White was removed be

fore that time by a warrant under the hand and seal of Thomas Christie, and as we think, by the advice and command of Thomas Causton; by which means we imagine the criminal has escaped justice, to the great encouragement of enormous offenders, contrary, as we conceive, to the laws of our country, the peace of our sovereign lord the king, his crown and dignity, and particularly to the welfare of this your colony.

"That the said Causton did greatly discourage the inhabitants of this town and county, in the measures they had taken for the defence and safety of this place in the late alarm from the Spaniards; for although almost every body, masters and servants, labored continually in making a fort to defend themselves, in case of necessity; yet he the said Causton never came nigh the work, but by his words and behavior did all he could to prevent it; until at last the people were obliged to leave off the work unfinished, contrary to the welfare and safety of this colony.

"That the said Causton hath greatly prevented and discouraged the cultivation of lands, by his hindering people to settle on the tracts that were allotted to them by the trustees; whereby several people have been greatly distressed, and some almost ruined, contrary (as we humbly conceive) to your honors good intention, and the principal part of your glorious undertaking.

pur

"That the said Thomas Causton, in order to color his illegal proceedings, hath uttered words to this or the like pose:-'We do not stand upon our feet; we do not know either our laws or liberties, nor what the trustees intend; a magistrate cannot act to strict forms, but may dismiss matters of petty felony in the easiest manner;' thereby claiming to himself (as we humbly conceive) a dispensing power, fatal to the liberties of British subjects, and contrary, &c.

"The want of public roads hath been greatly detrimental to many who have settlements at any distance from this place; and some have lost, and are still liable to loose great part of their crops, through the difficulty of passing to and from their plantations.

"That the great want of servants in this town and county doth render the freeholders thereof incapable of proceeding with proper vigor in the cultivating their lands; and as the honorable James Oglethorpe, Esq. did generously promise, that