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were warm and dense with trees and wild life。 The Huguenot Ribault； making
report of this region years and years before； called it 〃a fayre coast
stretching of a great length； covered with an infinite number of high and
fayre trees； 〃 and he described the land as the 〃fairest； fruitfullest； and
pleasantest of all the world； abounding in hony； venison； wilde fowle；
forests； woods of all sorts； Palm…trees； Cypresse and Cedars； Bayes ye
highest and greatest； with also the fayrest vines in all the world 。 。 。 。
And the sight of the faire medows is a pleasure not able to be expressed
with tongue； full of Hernes； Curlues； Bitters； Mallards； Egrepths；
Woodcocks； and all other kind of small birds； with Harts； Hindes； Buckes；
wilde Swine； and all other kindes of wilde beastes； as we perceived well；
both by their footing there and 。 。 。 their crie and roaring in the
night。〃* This is the country of the liveoak and the magnolia； the gray；
swinging moss and the yellow jessamine； the chameleon and the mockingbird。
* Winsor's 〃Narrative and Critical History of America〃； vol。 V； p。 357。
The Savannah and Altamaha rivers and the wide and deep lands between fell
in that grant of Charles II's to the eight Lords Proprietors of
CarolinaAlbemarle； Clarendon； and the rest。 But this region remained as
yet unpeopled save by copperhued folk。 True； after the 〃American Treaty〃 of
1670 between England and Spain； the English built a small fort upon
Cumberland Island； south of the Altamaha； and presently another Fort
Georgeto the northwest of the first； at the confluence of the rivers
Oconee and Oemulgee。 There were； however； no true colonists between the
Savannah and the Altamaha。
In the year 1717the year after Spotswood's Expedition … the Carolina
Proprietaries granted to one Sir Robert Mountgomery all the land between
the rivers Savannah and Altamaha； 〃with proper jurisdictions； privileges；
prerogatives； and franchises。〃 The arrangement was feudal enough。 The new
province was to be called the Margravate of Azilia。 Mountgomery； as
Margrave； was to render to the Lords of Carolina an annual quitrent and
one…fourth part of all gold and silver found in Azilia。 He must govern in
accordance with the laws of England； must uphold the established religion
of England； and provide by taxation for the maintenance of the clergy。 In
three years' time the new Margrave must colonize his Margravate； and if he
failed to do so； all his rights would disappear and Azilia would again
dissolve into Carolina。
This was what happened。 For whatever reason； Mountgomery could not obtain
his colonists。 Azilia remained a paper land。 The years went by。 The
country； unsettled yet； lapsed into the Carolina from which so tentatively
it had been parted。 Over its spaces the Indian still roved； the tall
forests still lifted their green crowns； and no axe was heard nor any
English voice。
In the decade that followed； the Lords Proprietors of Carolina ceased to be
Lords Proprietors。 Their government had been； save at exceptional moments；
confused； oppressive； now absent…minded； and now mistaken and arbitrary。
They had meant very well； but their knowledge was not exact； and now
virtual revolution in South Carolina assisted their demise。 After lengthy
negotiations； at last； in 1729； all except Lord Granville surrendered to
the Crown； for a considerable sum； their rights and interests。 Carolina；
South and North； thereupon became royal colonies。
In England there dwelled a man named James Edward Oglethorpe； son of Sir
Theophilus Oglethorpe of Godalming in Surrey。 Though entered at Oxford； he
soon left his books for the army and was present at the siege and taking of
Belgrade in 1717。 Peace descending； the young man returned to England； and
on the death of his elder brother came into the estate； and was presently
made Member of Parliament for Haslemere in Surrey。
His character was a firm and generous one； his bent； markedly humane。
〃Strong benevolence of soul；〃 Pope says he had。 His century； too； was
becoming humane； was inquiring into ancient wrongs。 There arose； among
other things； a belated notion of prison reform。 The English Parliament
undertook an investigation； and Oglethorpe was of those named to examine
conditions and to make a report。 He came into contact with the incarcerated
… not alone with the law…breaker； hardened or yet to be hardened； but with
the wrongfully imprisoned and with the debtor。 The misery of the debtor
seems to have struck with insistent hand upon his heart's door。 The
parliamentary inquiry was doubtless productive of some good； albeit
evidently not of great good。 But though the inquiry was over； Oglethorpe's
concern was not over。 It brooded； and； in the inner clear light where ideas
grow； eventually brought forth results。
Numbers of debtors lay in crowded and noisome English prisons； there often
from no true fault at all； at times even because of a virtuous action；
oftenest from mere misfortune。 If they might but start again； in a new
land； free from entanglements！ Others； too； were in prison；； whose crimes
were negligible； mere mistaken moves with no evil will behind them … or； if
not so negligible； then happening often through that misery and ignorance
for which the whole world was at fault。 There was also the broad and
well…filled prison of poverty； and many of the prisoners there needed only
a better start。 James Edward Oglethorpe conceived another settlement in
America； and for colonists he would have all these down…trodden and
oppressed。 He would gather； if he might； only those who when helped would
help themselveswho when given opportunity would rise out of old slough
and briar。 He was personally open to the appeal of still another class of
unfortunate men。 He had seen upon the Continent the distress of the poor
and humble Protestants in Catholic countries。 Folk of this kindfrom
France； from Germanyhad been going in a thin stream for years to the New
World。 But by his plan more might be enabled to escape petty tyranny or
persecution。 He had influence； and his scheme appealed to the humane
thought of his dayappealed； too； to the political thought。 In America
there was that debatable and unoccupied land south of Charles Town in South
Carolina。 It would be very good to settle it； and none had taken up the
idea with seriousness since Azilia had failed。 Such a colony as was now
contemplated would dispose of Spanish claims； serve as a buffer colony
between Florida and South Carolina； and establish another place of trade。
The upshot was that the Crown granted to Oglethorpe and twenty associates
the unsettled land between the Savannah and the Altamaha； with a westward
depth that was left quite indefinite。 This territory； which was now severed
from Carolina； was named Georgia after his Majesty King George II； and
Oglethorpe and a number of prominent men became the trustees of the new
colony。 They were to act as such for twenty…one years； at the end of which
time Georgia should pass under the direct government of the Crown。
Parliament gave to the starting of things ten thousand pounds； and wealthy
philanthropic individuals followed suit with considerable donation