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A True and Historical

NARRATIVE, &c.

NOTHING is more difficult for Authors, than to divest themselves of Byass and Partiality, especially when they themselves are Parties or Sufferers in the Affair treated of.

IT is possible, this may be suppos'd the Case with us, the Publishers of this Narrative; i may be imagined, that the Hardships, Losses and Disappointments, we have met with in the Colony of Georgia, will naturally sour our Humours, and engage us to represent every Thing in the worst Light.

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AS the Probability of those Surmises is very obvious to us, we have to the utmost of our Power, guarded against the weak Side of ourselves; and to convince the World of our Sincerity, shall no further descend into the Grievances of particular Persons, than is absolutely requisite for making our General Narrative intelligible; and to a faithful Detail of Publick Vouchers, Records, Extracts, Missives, Memorials and Representations, shall only adjoin so much of History, as may be necessary to recount the most material Events, and compleat the Connexion, WE are hopeful, that an Information founded the strictest Truth, will effectually introduce any further Steps that Providence shall enable us to take towards procuring the Redress of our Grievances. While we had the least Hopes of Redress from our immediate Superiors and Patrons, we would not, and when we began to dispair of Relief by that Channel, we durst not, make Application to any other Tribunal, unless we would expose ourselves to the dreadful Effects of the Resentment of those who had before reduced us to Poverty by Oppression: And indeed, in all the Applications we made for Redress, we were brow-beat, obstructed, threatned, and branded with opprobrious Names, such as proud, idle, lazy, discontented and mutinous People, and several other Appellations of that kind; and were always afterwards harrassed by all Means whatsoever, several Instances of which, will appear to the Reader in the Sequel.

OUR late Retreat from that Confinement, to a Land of Liberty, puts it in our Power to speak the Truth; and tho' our Endeavours are too late to relieve the Dead, the Dying, and

those many now dispersed in all the Corners of his Majesty's Dominions; yet they may be the Means of ushering in Sympathy and Assistance to the Survivors, and to Multitudes of Widows and Orphans of the Deceas'd, from the Humane and Generous.

AS our sole Design is to give a plain Narrative of the Establishment and Progress of the Colony of GEORGIA, from it's Rise to it's present Period; we shall court no other Ornaments than those of Truth and Perspicuity; and shall endeavour to carry the Reader's Attention regularly, from the first to the last Motions we make mention of.

IN the Year 1732, His Majesty was pleased to erect, by His ROYAL CHARTER, into a separate Province, distinct from South-Carolina, that Space of Land lying between the Rivers Savannah and Alatamaha, under the Name of GEORGIA.

AS this Gracious Charter is the Basis and Foundation of all the Transactions relating to this Province, which have so much amus'd and perplex'd the World, and which our Endeavour is to set in a true Light; we cannot dispense with inserting the Charter at large, which we are confident, for many Reasons, will be acceptable to the Reader.

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GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. WHEREAS We are credibly informed, That many of Our poor Subjects are, through Misfortunes and Want of Employment, reduced to great Necessity, insomuch as by their Labour they are not able to provide a Maintenance for themselves and Families; and if they had Means to defray their Charges of Passage, and other Expences incident to new Settlements, they would be glad to settle in any of Our Provinces in America; where, by cultivating the Lands at present waste and desolate, they might not only gain a comfortable Subsistance for themselves and Families; but also strengthen Our Colonies, and increase the Trade, Navigation and Wealth of these Our Realms. AND Whereas Our Provinces in North-America, have been frequently ravaged by Indian Enemies; more especially that of South Carolina; which in the late War, by the Neighbouring Savages, was laid waste by Fire and Sword, and 'great Numbers of the English Inhabitants miserably massacred; and Our living Subjects who now inhabit there, by Reason of the Smallness of their Numbers, will, in Case of a new War, be exposed to the late Calamities; inasmuch as their whole Southern Frontier continueth unsettled, and lieth open to the 'said Savages; AND whereas We think it highly becoming

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⚫ Our Crown and Royal Dignity, to protect all Our loving Subjects, be they never so distant from Us; to extend Our Fatherly Compassion even to the meanest and most infatuate of Our People, and to relieve the Wants of Our above mentioned poor Subjects; and that it will be highly conducive for accomplishing those Ends, that a regular Colony of the said poor People 'be settled and established in the Southern Territories of Carolina; AND Whereas We have been well assured, That if We would be graciously pleased to erect and settle a Corporation, for the Receiving, Managing and Disposing of the Contributions of our loving Subjects; divers Persons would be in'duced to contribute to the Purposes aforesaid. KNOW YE Therefore, That WE have, for the Consideration aforesaid, and for the better and more orderly carrying on the said good Purposes, of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, Willed, Ordained, Constituted and Appointed, and by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, do Will, Ordain, Constitute, Declare and Grant, That Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved John Lord Viscount Purcival, of Our King'dom of Ireland, Our Trusty and Well-beloved Edward Digby, .George Carpenter, James Oglethorpe, George Heathcote, Thomas Tower, Robert Moor, Robert Hucks, Roger Holland, William Sloper, Francis Eyles, John Laroche, James Vernon, 'William Beletha, Esqrs. A. M. John Burton, B. D. Richard Bundy, A. M. Arthur Beaford, A. M. Samuel Smith, A. M. Adam Anderson, and Thomas Coram, Gentlemen, and such 'other Persons as shall be elected in the Manner herein after ( mentioned, and their Successors to be elected in the Manner ' herein after directed, be, and shall be one Body Politick and Corporate, in Deed and in Name, by the Name of The Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America; and them and their Successors by the same Name, We do, by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, really and fully 'Make, Ordain, Constitute and Declare, to be one Body Politick in Deed and in Name forever; and that by the same Name, they ' and their Successors, shall and may have perpetual Succession; and that they and their Successors, by that Name, shall and may forever hereafter, be Persons able and capable in the Law, to purchase, have, take, receive and enjoy, to them and their Successors, any Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Advowsons, Liberties, Privileges, Jurisdictions, Franchises, and ' other Hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being in Great 'Britain, or any Part thereof, of whatsoever Nature, Kind or Quality, or Value they be, in Fee and in Perpetuity; not exceeding the Yearly Value of One Thousand Pounds, beyond

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Reprises; also Estates for Lives, and for Years; and all other manner of Goods, Chattels and Things whatsoever they be; for the better Settling and Supporting, and Maintaining the said 'Colony, and other Uses aforesaid; and to give, grant, let and demise the said Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Here'ditaments, Goods, Chattels and Things whatsoever aforesaid, by Lease or Leases, for Term of Years, in Possession at the Time of granting thereof, and not in Reversion, not exceeding the Term of Thirty One Years, from the Time of granting 'thereof; on which in case no Fine be taken, shall be reserved 'the Full; and in case a Fine be taken, shall be reserved at least a Moiety of the Value that the same shall reasonably and bona fide, be worth at the Time of such Demise; and that they and their Successors, by the Name aforesaid, shall and may forever ' hereafter, be Persons able, capable in the Law, to purchase, 'have, take, receive and enjoy, to them and their Successors, any Lands, Territories, Possessions, Tenements, Jurisdictions, 'Franchises and Hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being in 'America, of what Quantity, Quality or Value whatsoever they be, for the better settling and supporting, and maintaining the 'said Colony; and that by the Name aforesaid they shall and may be able to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all 'Courts and places whatsoever, and before whatsoever Judges, 'Justices and other Officers, of Us, Our Heirs and Successors, in all and singular Actions, Plaints, Pleas, Matters, Suits and Demands, of what Kind, Nature or Quality soever they be; and to act and do all other Matters and Things in as ample 'Manner and Form as any other Our liege Subjects of this 'Realm of Great Britain, and that they and their Successors forever hereafter, shall and may have a Common Seal to serve, for the Causes and Businesses of them and their Successors; * and that it shall and may be lawful for them and their SuccesC sors, to change, break, alter and make new the said Seal, from 'Time to Time and at their Pleasure, as they shall think best. 'AND We do further grant, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors,

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That the said Corporation, and the Common Council of the " said Corporation herein after by Us appointed, may from Time 'to Time, and at all Times, meet about their Affairs when and ' where they please, and transact and carry on the Business of the said Corporation. And for the better Execution of the Purposes aforesaid, We do, by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, give and grant to the said Corporation, and their Successors, That they and their Successors forever, may upon the third Thursday in the Month of March year

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