easier for such Persons, by an affected Shew of Religion, and Adherence to Mr. Wesly's Novelties, to be provided by his Procurement from the publick 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 declar'd, That he never desir'd to see Georgia a Rich, But a *Religious Colony.

AT last all Persons of any Consideration came to look upon him as a Roman Catholick, for which the following Reasons seem'd 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 publickly 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. Wesly to have been baptized by a Presbyterian Dissenter, the same Thing was propos'd to him; but Mr. Gaff not inclinable to go that Length, was ever thereafter excluded from the Communion.

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 shew towards them; Persons suspected to be Roman Catholicks were received and caressed by him as his First-Rate Saints.

3dly, A third Confirmation of this Suspicion arose from his Endeavours to establish Confession, Pennance, Mortifications, Mixing Wine with Water in the Sacrament, and Suppressing in the Administration of the Sacrament, the Explanation adjoyned to the Words of communicating by the Church of England, to shew 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 Apostolick Constitutions.

4thly, As there is always a strict Connexion betwixt Popery and Slavery; so the Design of all this fine Scheme seem'd 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, Pennances Drinking of Water, and a thorough Subjec

According to his System.

tion 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 brib'd and decoy'd 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, Neice 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 Behaviour 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 'foresaid Means, by repelling her from the Holy Communion, of shewing 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 Neice, and could now declaim as fluently against Spiritual Tyranny as any Person) was indicted before a GRAND JURY of Forty Four Free-holders, 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,

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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 Honourable the Trustees.

W

E 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 publick Necessities and Hardships, which can only be remedied by your Honours Authority: THEREFORE, We the said Grand Jury having examined 'several Witnesses, do, upon our Oaths, Represent to your 'Honours the following Grievances, Hardships and Necessities.

THAT as the Inhabitants of this Town and County have 'been and are still subject to many Inconveniencies, 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 Honours 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 ⚫ endeavoured 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 threatning 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 over-awing others from making just Complaints and Repre'sentations to Your Honours; and the known Implacability of the said Causton, and his frequent threatning of such People, is to many weak-minded tho' 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 Honours good Intentions, and greatly detrimental to the Pros'perity of the Colony; and that he hath refused to pay the Publick Debts otherwise than in Provisions at those dear Rates, and sometimes bad and unwholsome, out of the Publick Store, whereby the Inhabitants were greatly distressed, and some have 'been obliged to leave the Province.

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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 before 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 escap'ed 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 Inhabi"tants 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 altho' almost every Body, Masters and Servants, ' labour'd 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 Behaviour 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 hindring People to settle on the Tracts that were allotted to them by the Trustees; ' whereby several People have been greatly distressed, and some ' almost ruin'd, contrary (as we humbly conceive) to Your Ho'nours good Intention, aud the principal Part of Your glorious Undertaking.

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THAT the said Thomas Causton, in order to colour his illegal Proccedings, hath uttered Words to this or the like Pur'pose, We do not stand upon our Feet; we do not know either our Laws or Liberties, nor what the Trustees intend; a Ma'gistrate cannot act to strict Forms, but may dismiss Matters of Petty-Felony in the easiest Manner; thereby claiming to him'self (as we humbly conceive) a dispensing Power, fatal to the "Liberties of British Subjects, and contrary, &c.

THE Want of Publick 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 Free-holders thereof incapable of proceeding with proper Vigor in the Cultivating their Lands; and as the Honourable James Oglethorpe, Esq; did generously promise, that Your Honours would be pleas'd to give this Colony con'timual Assistance, by sending over Servants to the said Free'holders at reasonable Rates: Therefore, we do, with all Hu'mility, lay before Your Honours the great and general Want of 'Servants in this Town and County; not doubting Your timely Assistance therein.

THAT the Town of Savannah stands in the utmost Need ' of having a good Wharff and Crane, for the Conveniency of both Strangers and Inhabitants, they being at double Pains and Costs in landing and getting their Goods up the Bluff.

THAT the Light-House of Tybee, which with great Labour and (as we humbly conceive) vast Expence to Your Honours, "remains unfinish'd and uncover'd; by Reason of which, that ⚫ most necessary and lofty Structure is subject to all the Injuries ' of Weather, and may totally decay if not in time prevented, which will be greatly detrimental to the Trade, Navigation and Welfare of this Colony.

THAT the Inhabitants of this Town and County are at vast Expence in Time of Sickness, especially they who have most Servants; it being a general Misfortune, that during the hot 'Season of the Year, hardly one Half of the Servants are able to do their Masters any Work, by Reason of the violent Sicknesses; which hath very much prevented the Inhabitants from 'making Improvements.

IT is without the least Personal Resentment to Mr. Causton, or any other Person, that we do, with the most profound Respect and Duty, lay before Your Honours the foregoing Grievances, Hardships and Necessities; and it is not the Persons or Personal Infirmities of any of the Magistrates we blame; but such of their Actions and Words as (we humbly conceive) tends to the Subversion of our Laws and Liberties; and we are firmly pursuaded, that Mr. Causton would not have impannelled this Grand Jury, on an Affair that so nearly concerned him as that of his Neice's did, if he had not believed the several Persons ' of this Grand Jury, to be Men of strict Integrity, and no way prejudiced against him; and as we the said Grand Jury are, for the time being, appointed for the solemn Representation of