GENERAL OGLETHORPE TO THOS. TOWERS.*

17 APRIL 1736.

DEAR SIR,

FREDERICA the 17th Aprill 1736.

I send you inclosed a Memorial of the King's Right to these Countreys and in the Trustees letter the Correspondence between me and the Governor of Augustine. It is fit that Mr. Vernon or you shou'd carry the Copies of both to the Duke of Newcastle, with my letter to his Grace which I have sent open to Mr. Vernon and which I desire you would read. I referr you to the Carolina Gazette and Trustees Letter for News here.

I not having time to stay at Savannah desired Mr. Wesley to inquire concerning Mr. Quincy's behaviour there, and this is a copy of a Paragraph by him sent to me in his Letter.

I found Mr. Quincy here last night who hearing you was not certain as to the time of your Return hither, resolved to make use of the first opportunity of waiting upon you at Frederica. I have not only heard more than I usually do of what the People here say concerning his behaviour among

*P. R. O. Georgia. B. T. vol. 19, p. 89,

† P. R. O. Georgia. B. T. vol. 19, p. 137,

them, but have purposely asked several Questions about it. And if they were (as I suppose) answered sincerely, his Carriage has not been such as I believed it was, but in the general more than inoffensive. All I have spoke to, inform me, That they judge him to be a good natured, friendly, peaceful, sober just man and that they have no complaint against him either relating to his private life or to the execution of his office as a Clergyman except his absence from them (in New England I apprehend) which they believe was chiefly owing to his ill state of health.

With respect to his marrying an Englishman to an Indian woman unbaptized he was advised to do so by most of the people then in Savannah and by what I found in conversing with them the generality of the people thought they had done a very pretty thing in getting an Intermarriage. I thought it was proper to acquaint you of this matter. Mr. Quincy intending to return soon to England and he then will deliver you this himself. He thinks of applying to be assistant to Mr. Garden Minister at Charles Town who is Commissary to the Bishop of London for Carolina.

I have been down to the Southward to quell a Mutiny among our Frontier Garrison. The Spaniards have, I appre

*P. R. O. Georgia. B. T. vol. 19, p. 139,

hend, detained the persons I sent down to treat with them, contrary to faith, and have sent up some Launches to view us. I am forced to set out immediately to throw succour into the Frontier Garrisons, who I expect will be attacked every hour. I have no time to write particulars I send you Copies of the Letters I had from Augustine. I could think of no method to hinder the Spaniards from being supplied with Presents but that of remonstrating to the Governour and Council of Carolina to get an Embargo, and if they do not grant that, to buy up all the arms &c. which may amount to about £1200 sterling now in Charles Town and by that means delay the Spaniards being able to make a strong push till they receive Succours from Europe. I have drawn upon you for £500 Sterling upon this account payable to Mr. Eveleigh. I am,

I have received no Letters from you since my arrival here except by Mr. Bradley who is arrived safely with the horse. The Spaniards complain of our Indians harrassing them and as I could not restrain them by any other means I sent Boats and men to make a Garrison, from whence to patrole upon

*P. R. O. Georgia. B. T. vol. 19, p. 98.

the Rivers that seperate the British from the Spanish Dominions and sent to the Governour of Augustine by the same Gentleman who carried the first Message of my having so done. The Spaniards on his arrival seemed greatly rejoyced at our taking such care to prevent the Indian Ravages but soon after some letters coming from some Merchants in Charles Town to the Governour, the Scene was changed, they confined my Messengers, put all their men under arms, ordered their Horse out and took measures to attack us. The best way to prevent which, upon mature advice I found was to strengthen ye Frontiers & to shew them that though we courted their friendship, we did not fear their force. I went down myself, found the Garrison at St. Georges Fort had mutinied, re-embarked themselves and met them returning from their Post. I carried them back & resettled them, in ye mean time a Bark sent out from Augustine to spy upon our settlements without Colours & like a Pyrate came near where the Independent Company is quartered upon St. Simons Island. Ensign Delegall who commanded there, made signals to her to come in and show what nation she was of but she refusing & running away he fired at her. The alarm being once given the Garrison at Fort St. Andrews saw her and called to her as she ran away, but would not fire upon her because she answered. She met also some of our Boats whom she fancied were in pursuant of her, on which she made the best of her way to Augustine with a dismal account that the whole Coast was covered with men boats & Cannon I also made use of some small stratagems on the Frontiers at Fort St. George to make them believe we were numerous and treating some Spaniards who came with messages to us with great kindness. God was pleased to prosper our endeavours. The Spanish Gov" was obliged to call a Council upon the Terrors spread abroad, in which the Bishop, the Officers & the People declared unanimously that they were for preserving a good harmony with the King of Great Britain's Subjects, and desired the Governour to release the Messengers I had sent down, and send up an Officer with them to excuse them having violated the Laws of Nations & Hospitality. Whilst things were going on in this manner

at Augustine I came from St. George's Fort hither and in five days time returned to the Frontiers with men Cannon & Provisions, where I found that Capt. Hermsdorff, who commands the Boat which guards the Passages being apprehensive from the threats of the Spaniards so as to think it dangerous to stay without Defence for the return of the Messengers had fortified himself and for that purpose had chose the old Fort which was erected by Sir Walter Raleigh's first Colony when Sir Francis Drake took Augustine. I met a Spanish boat and making up to her to know what she was found she had on board Mr. Dempsey and a Capt. of horse and the Gov" of Augustine's Secretary who are sent as Deputies to treat with I sent a boat to escort them to St. Simon's and found Major Richard and all our Gentlemen sent by me on the message had been dismissed in a very honorable manner though when thought us weak they had threatened Major Richard to send him to the Mines at least if he would not sign some Interrogatories which they presented to him. The Spanish Officers are now at the Garrison where the Independent Company lies. I shall fee them tomorrow and shall by Dymond send you an account of their message.

me.

The Magistrates of Savannah have seized and staved large quantities of Rum upon the River under the Hill at Savannah. This Channel being between Hutchinson's Island and Savannah they deem that the water between the Island and the Town is Georgia since the Islands are so. The People of Charles Town have taken this extremely ill and sent me a Representation upon it, which I have sent to Mr. Causton of which he is to send you a Copy. They are also very angry concerning the Indian Trade and some private men have taken great pains to incense the Indians against the Spaniards and against the Colony of Georgia particularly. Capt. Green who I am informed has advised the Uchee Indians to fall upon the Saltzburgers for settling upon their Lands, the occasion of which was an indiscreet action of one of the Saltzburgers who cleared and planted four acres of Land beyond the Ebenezer contrary to my orders and without my knowledge. They also turned their cattle over the River some of whom strayed away and eat the Uchees corn