to do duty in twenty-nine counties, or parishes; and that such was likely to be the case where they had "no Bishops to visit the Clergy, and to confirm, and confer orders.”

He calculates the entire population, including 10,000 negroes, at upwards of 100,000; but complains that there are few or no schools for the education of youth, and adds"When this is considered, and the increasing British empire on this continent, I am convinced that his Lordship of London will willingly part with so great a part of his diocese, and join in soliciting to procure Bishops to ordain and visit the Clergy.".

One of the Society's Missionaries, the Rev. Charles Cupples, writes in the same strain from Bute county:

"We have a few dissenters here, of such as are generally called ranting Anabaptists, but they have of late mightily decreased, and generally attend the public worship in the Church; and I am fully persuaded that, if we could have a Bishop here in America to inspect the Clergy, and carry on the discipline of the Church towards offenders, dissension would soon, by the blessing of God, be at an end."2

Another Missionary, the Rev. John Barnett, gives a practical instance of the same want:

"On Whit-Tuesday (he says) I dedicated St. Philip's Church. Being wholly unacquainted with a proper form or mode of dedication, I wrote to several Clergymen for their advice, but not one could give me the least information. I then drew up a form, which was approved by his Excellency and the Council, and, indeed, gave an universal satisfaction."

53

Enough, perhaps, has already been said to show the vast extent of district over which the Missionaries were

1 Original Letters, vol. xiv. 1. 185.

2 Ibid. 1. 34.

3 Ibid. 1. 38.

called upon to travel; but the following simple statement of the Rev. T. S. Drage (Feb. 1771) may be added:

"The place where I reside is named Salisbury, in the county of Rowan, 300 miles distant from the seat of government, and near 400 from the sea, fine air, temperate climate, and a fertile country... I found the people of the Church of England disheartened, and dispersed like sheep, but have collected them into about forty congregations, or have as many preaching places where I meet them, consisting, on a moderate calculation, of 7,000 souls, men, women, and children, or 900 families, inhabiting a country 180 miles in length, and 120 in breadth."

In the course of two years he had baptized 802 persons, of ages varying from infancy to sixty years. The neglect of baptism, owing, doubtless, in the first instance, to the want of Clergy, and afterwards to that indifference which was the consequence, was fearfully general throughout America. It was, however, remedied to some extent wherever the Clergy got a footing. A Missionary, Mr. Reed, had the satisfaction of baptizing the chief justice of the province.

One only instance more shall be adduced of the laborious nature of a Missionary's duty, arising not only from the immense tract of country assigned to him, but also from the difficulty of traversing it.

The Rev. N. Christian attended to perform divine service at five places-two of them nearly thirty miles distant from the town of Brunswick, where he resided, and the three others more than forty miles-" the roads exceeding bad, especially to Waccamaw, there being upwards of twelve swamps to cross, some of which are so deep that horses are frequently up to the saddle in crossing them." The time had now arrived when, in addition to all the

1 Original Letters, vol. xiv. 1. 21.

2 Ibid. 1. 211.

hardships inseparable from their position, they were to be subjected to persecution in consequence of the war of parties.

Writing on the 30th August, 1775, Mr. Earl says:

"The situation of the Clergy in this part of the world is truly critical... Some of them have been suspended, deprived of their salaries, and, in the American manner, proscribed by the committees, and thereby rendered incapable of getting a settlement in any part of the united colonies; and all this on account of charges against them of opposing the general cause of America. How far they are to blame I am not able to determine, but verily believe that, if the most learned and eloquent divine in England was to endeavour to dissuade the Americans from their present resolutions, he would make no impression upon them, but, contrariwise, rather inflame them, so tenacious are they of the measures adopted."1

1 Original Letters, vol. xiv. 1. 128.

CHAPTER V.

GEORGIA.

Foundation of the Colony-The Saltzburg Emigrants-Rev. John WesleyHis strict Observances-Catechising-Expenses for one Year-Appeal to the Commissary- South Carolina Clergy-Performs Service in French, Italian, and German-His Sunday's Occupation-Reason for leaving Georgia-Embarks for England-Passes Whitfield in the Downs-Whitfield's Preaching in America-His Orphan House-Rev. W. MorrisRev. Mr. Zouberbugler-Rev. Jonathan Copp-Province divided into Parishes-Rev. Samuel Frink-Rev. Edward Ellington-Takes charge of the Orphan House-Want of Churches-Gross Ignorance of the SettlersWant of a Bishop-Ecclesiastical Returns of Savannah.

THE colony of Georgia, projected with much political wisdom as a barrier for the southern states against the encroachments of the Spaniards, was established in the year 1733. It was the last colony founded by Great Britain in America. The administration of it was committed, for a limited time, to a corporation of trustees; one of whom, General Oglethorpe, an active and enterprising man, went out with the first body of colonists, and, immediately after his arrival, proceeded to lay the foundation of the city of Savannah.' Two years after

1 The device upon the public seal was, "the Genius of the colony seated between the two rivers which were its boundaries, with the cap of liberty on his head, a spear in one hand and the cornucopia in the other-on the reverse were some silk-worms at their work, with the words, Non sibi sed aliis, for their motto;" a motto which must be heartily adopted by every true Missionary.-Southey's Life of Wesley, vol. i. p. 88.

wards a large and important addition was made to the settlement, by the immigration of a body of German Protestants, who were expelled from the province of Saltzburg, on account of religion. About two hundred of these exiles (who altogether amounted to 25,000, or a tenth of the whole population) embarked for Georgia, in four transports, which they were enabled to equip by the liberality of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a society which continued to supply them with funds for the support of their schools till the separation of the American Colonies from Great Britain.

The Saltzburghers-" colonists," says Southey,' "of the best description"-named their settlement, Ebenezer.'

The Trustees of the new colony rightly considered it a part of their duty to provide for the pastoral superintendence of their settlers, as well as for the instruction and conversion of the natives; and, in looking out for clergymen duly qualified for the discharge of this important duty, their attention was naturally directed to the Rev. John Wesley and his companions at Oxford. These men had acquired celebrity, without seeking it, by their self-denial, the regularity of their lives, and their charity to the suffering and afflicted. Dr. Burton, at that time President of Corpus Christi College, was one of the trustees, and, being

1 Life of Wesley, vol. i. p. 87.

2 "In the evening we came to New-Ebenezer, where the poor Saltzburghers are settled. The industry of this people is quite surprising. Their sixty huts are neatly and regularly built, and all the little spots of ground between them improved to the best advantage. On one side of the town is a field of Indian corn; on the other are plantations of several private persons; all which, together, one would scarce think it possible for a handful of people to have done in one year."-Wesley's Journal, July 27, 1737.

Whitfield gives an equally favourable account of their settlement, and adds, "They are blest with two such pious ministers as I have not often seen."-Life of Wesley, vol. i. p. 87.