either to settle Land or encourage Trade, neither do we hear of any such likely to come until we are on better Terms. It is true, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a Regiment for the Defence of this Province and our neighbouring Colony, which indeed will very much assist us in defending ' ourselves against all Enemies; but otherwise does not in the least ' contribute to our Support; for all that Part of their Pay which is expended here, is laid out with transient People, and our Neighbours in Carolina, who are capable to supply them with 'Provisions and other Necessaries at a moderate Price, which we ' as before observed, are not at all capable to do upon the present Establishment. This then being our present Condition, it is obvious what the Consequences must be. 'But we for our Parts have intirely relied on and confided in Your good Intentions, believing You would redress any Griev'ances that should appear; and now by our long Experience, from Industry and continual Application to Improvement of Land here, do find it impossible to pursue it, or even to subsist ' ourselves any longer, according to the present Nature of the • Constitution; and likewise believing You will agree to those Measures that are found from Experience capable to make this Colony succeed, and to promote which we have consumed our Money, Time and Labour; we do, from a sincere Regard to its • Welfare, and in Duty both to You and ourselves, beg Leave to lay before Your immediate Consideration, the Two following 'chief Causes of these our present Misfortunes and this deplora'ble State of the Colony, and which, we are certain, if granted, 'would be an infallible Remedy for both. 6 1st, The Want of a free Title or Fee-simple, to our Lands; which if granted, would both induce great Numbers of new 'Settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those who ' remain here chearfully to proceed in making further Improvements, as well to retrieve their sunk Fortunes as to make Provisions for their Posterity. 6 2d, The Want of the Use of Negroes, with proper Limitations; which if granted, would both occasion great Numbers of 'white People to come here, and also render us capable to subsist ' ourselves, by raising Provisions upon our Lands, until we could 'make some Produce fit for Export, in some Measure to Ballance our Importation. We are very sensible of the Inconveniencies and Mischiefs that have already, and do daily arise from an unlimited Use of Negroes; but we are as sensible, that these may be prevented by a due Limitation, such as so many to each white Man, or so many to such a Quantity of Land, or in any other Manner which Your Honours shall think most proper. 6 6 6 By granting us, Gentlemen, these Two Particulars, and such other Privileges as His Majesty's most dutiful Subjects in America enjoy, You will not only prevent our impending Ruin, but, we are fully satisfied, also will soon make this the most flourishing Colony possess'd by His Majesty in America, and Your Memories will be perpetuated to all future Ages, our latest Posterity sounding Your Praises, as their first Founders, Pa'trons and Guardians; but if, by denying us these Privileges, we 'ourselves and Families are not only ruin'd, but even our Pos'terity likewise; You will always be mentioned as the Cause and Authors of all their Misfortunes and Calamities; which we hope We are, will never happen. 6 Robert R G. Gilbert, Thomas Christie, John Fallowfield, Thomas Ormston, Joseph Wardrope, John Burton, Robert Hows, James Anderson. with all due Respect, Magistrates. Thomas Trip, Samuel Holms, William Parker, John Grhame, Henry Moulton, William Greenfield, Peter Tector, Hugh Frazer, John Penrose, David Snook, John Kelly, Joseph Stanley, William Ewen, Henry Loyd, James Houston William Coltbred, Thomas Wattle, James Corneck. Thomas Andrews, Thomas Gantlet, Richard Rogers. In all 117. THIS Representation was signed with the greatest Willingness by the above One Hundred and Seventeen Free-holders in the County of Savannah, and only a very few of the General's Favourites declin'd to subscribe the same, so strong appeared to all of them the Truths therein contained, and the absolute Necessity of such an Application. The Jews applied for Liberty to sign with us; but we did not think it proper to join them in any of our Measures: We likewise did not allow Widows and Orphans to subscribe; because as the Representation contain'd the absolute Necessities of the Colony; it Might be objected to us, that they were no proper Judges. As for the People of Ebenezer, the Subscribers did particularly appoint some of their Number to wait upon Mr. Boltzius, their Pastor, and to shew him the Representation; which was done; and Mr. Boltzius declar'd, That the Saltzburghers were equally dissatisfied with their Rights and Restrictions as the other Free-holders, and he doubted not their Willingness to join in petitioning for Redress, engaging to consult them, and to bring their Answer; which he never did; and being thereafter question'd thereupon by Mr. Anderson (one of the Persons commissioned to commune with him as is above related) in the Presence of several Gentlemen, he the said Boltzius, after some frivolous Excuses, confessed, that the Honourable Mr. Oglethorpe had both given them Satisfaction, and engaged him to write Home to Germany for a further Supply of his Countrymen. This Gentlemen (we observe it with Regret) has been made the Instrument of imposing upon many British Subjects, by publishing Journals and Letters (to which we refer) most inconsistent with Truth. Neither did we admit of Servants to sign the same, lest it should be objected, that they were under the Influence of their Masters. By this our Conduct it will appear to every Person of Impartiality, how far we were from using Arts * to extort by Clamour a Redress of our Grievances. A COPY of the Representation was immediately sent to Frederica, and another to Darien: The last was sent to Mr. John More M Intosh, and under the same Cover a Letter to Mr. Benjamin M Intosh: But the first kept up the other's Letter, and sent his own with the Representation to the General; who immediately dispatch'd Lieut. George Dunbar (who speaks the Highland Language, and has a very fluent and artful Way of Talking) who, with the Assistance of More M Intosh, and Promises to the poor People of Cattle (which they afterwards got) with several other Considerations, soon persuaded them to sign a Paper, the Design of which, they were told, was to oppose the People of Savannah; who being Enemies to the General, were petitioning against him. As for their Leader M Intosh, he was immediately set up in a Store, and plentifully supplied with all Kinds of Goods, and has often declared, That if, by acting as he did, he could live well himself, be did not care what became of the rest of the Colony; and as for his Children they might go wander in the Woods with the Indians. As soon as it was heard that the Representation was come to Frederica, the Inhabitants were called together, and told, That the People of Savannah were going to throw off the Government of the Trustees, and had associated together for that Purpose; and therefore Vide Trustees Answer. H advis'd them to beware of any Snare that might be laid by these People, which if they were caught in would ruin them. And thus was the Design of the Representation quash'd both in Darien and Frederica. Some Time after this a Copy of the Representation was sent to Mr. Oglethorpe, together with the following Letter, which was wrote by an anonymous Author; which we think is partly an Explanation of the Representation, and likewise a true View of the Situation of the Colony at that Time, with the Character Mr. Oglethorpe then bore in it; and for these Reasons we here insert it: It was directed, To the Honourable James Oglethorpe, Esq; General and Commander in Chief over all His Majesty's Forces in SouthCarolina and Georgia, &c. at Frederica. SIR, 13 T is the common Misfortune of all who act in the higher Stations of Life, to be surrounded with Flatterers, who con'sult rather the Humours, Passions and Prejudices of their Patrons, than their Honour and Interest: This should induce every Person in such Station, who regards his own Honour, Interest or Fame, to lend an open and attentive Ear to Truth, ' in whatever Shape or from whatever Hand delivered. I who use this Freedom with Your Excellency, being an anonymous 'Author, have no other Byass, Motive or Interest in View, fur'ther than as I am a Member of the Colony, and a Well-wisher to the Happiness of Society, unless a real and sincere Regard to your Honour and Welfare, and an earnest Desire to restore you to that Quiet of Mind and the now suspended Affections ' of the People, which the present State of Affairs must necessarily deprive you of; it is not therefore of Consequence to enquire who writes, but what is wrote: I am, Sir, a Plain-Dea'ler, and shall, with the greatest respect, use you with more 'Sincerity than Ceremony; and if my Arguments can attain the 'desired Effect, you will, I doubt not, think me your and the 'Colony's real Friend. When a skilful Physician would relieve 'his Patient of a Disease, he traces it from the Beginning, and 'examines the Sources and Progress of it, in order that by finding out the Cause, he may the more certainly apply a Remedy: In the Body Politick the same Process is necessary to effect a Cure. The present languishing and almost desperate Con'dition of the Affairs of this Province, is too obvious to your Excellency to need a Description: Be pleased then, laying aside Prepossession and Prejudice, to retire unto your self, and examine impartially whence the present Misfortunes take Rise; |