reconnoitring the country, marked the fpot on which Savannah now ftands, as the fittest to begin their fettlement. Here they accordingly be gan, and built a fmall fort; a number of small huts for their defence and accommodation.——Such of the fettlers as were able to bear arms, were embodied, and well appointed with officers, arms, and ammunition.A treaty of friendship was concluded between the settlers and their neighbours, and the Creek Indians, and every thing wore the afpect of peace and future profperity.

In the mean time the truftees for Georgia had been employed in framing a plan of fettlement, and establishing fuch public regulations as they judged moft proper for anfwering the great end of the corporation. In this general plan they confidered each inhabitant both as a planter and a foldier, who must be provided with arms and ammunition for defence, as well as with tools and utenfils for cultivation. As the strength of the province was their chief object in view, they agreed to establish such tenures for holding lands in it as they judged moft favourable for a military establishment. Each tract of land granted was confidered as a military fief, for which the poffeffor was to appear in arms, and take the field, when called upon for the public defence. To prevent large tracts from falling in procefs of time into one hand, they agreed to grant their lands in tail male in preference to tail general. On the termination of the eftate in tail male, the lands were to revert to the truft; and fuch lands thus reverting were to be granted again to fuch perfons, as the common-council of the truft fhould judge most advantageous for the colony; only the truftees in fuch a cafe were to pay special regard to the daughters of fuch per fons as had made improvements on their lots, especially when not already provided for by marriage. The wives of fuch perfons as should furvive them, were to be, during their lives, entitled to the manfion-house, and one-half of the lands improved by their husbands. No man was to be permitted to depart the province without licence. If any of the lands granted by the trustees fhall not be cultivated, cleared, and fenced round about with a worm fence, or pales, fix feet high, within eighteen years from the date of the grant, fuch part was to revert to the truft, and the grant with refpect to it to be void. All forfeitures for non-refidence, high-treafon, felonies, &c. were to the trustees for the use and benefit of the colony. The use of negroes was to be abfolutely prohibited, and also the importation of rum. None of the colonifts were to be permitted to trade with Indians, but such as should obtain a special licence for that purpose.

These were fome of the fundamental regulations established by the truftees of Georgia, and perhaps the imagination of man could fcarcely have framed a fyftem of rules worfe adapted to the circumftances and fituation of the poor fettlers, and of more pernicious confequence to the profperity of the province. Yet, although the trustees were greatly mistaken, with refpect to their plan of fettlement, it must be acknowledged their views were generous. As the people fent out by them were the poor and unfortunate, who were to be provided with neceffaries at their public ftore, they received their lands upon condition of cultivation, and, by their perfonal refidence, of defence. Silk and wine being the chief articles intended to be raifed, they judged negroes were not requifite to thefe pur

pofes,

pofes. As the colony was defigned to be a barrier to South-Carolina, against the Spanish fettlement at Auguftine, they imagined that negroes would rather weaken than ftrengthen it, and that fuch poor colonists would run in debt, and ruin themselves by purchafing them. Rum was judged pernicious to health, and ruinous to the infant fettlement. A free trade with Indians was confidered as a thing that might have a tendency to involve the people in quarrels and troubles with the powerful favages, and expofe them to danger and deftruction. Such were, probably, the motives which induced thofe humane and generous perfons to impose fuch foolish and ridiculous reftrictions on their colony. For by granting their small eftates in tail male, they drove the fettlers from Georgia, who foon found that abundance of lands could be obtained in America upon a larger scale, and on much better terms. By the prohibition of negroes, they rendered it impracticable in fuch a climate to make any impreffion on the thick forefts, Europeans being utterly unqualified for the heavy talk. By their discharging a trade with the Weft-Indies, they not only deprived the colonists of an excellent and convenient market for their lumber, of which they had abundance on their lands, but also of rum, which, when mixed with a fufficient quantity of water, has been found in experience the cheapest, the most refreshing, and nourishing drink for workmen in fuch a foggy and burning climate. The trustees, like other diftant legiflators, who framed their regulations upon principles of fpeculation, were liable to many errors and mistakes, and however good their defign, their rules were found improper and impracticable. The Carolinians plainly perceived that they would prove infurmountable obftacles to the progrefs and profperity of the colony, and therefore from motives of pity began to invite the poor Georgians to come over Savannah river, and fettle in Carolina, being convinced that they could never fucceed under fuch impolitic and oppreffive reftrictions.

Befides the large fums of money which the truftees had expended for the fettlement of Georgia, the parliament had alfo granted during the two laft years .36,000 towards carrying into execution the humane purpose of the corporation. But after the representation and memorial from the legiflature of Carolina reached Britain, the nation confidered Georgia to be of the utmost importance to the British fettlements in America, and be'gan to make still more vigorous efforts for its speedy population. The first embarkations of poor people from England, being collected from towns and cities, were found equally idle and useless members of fociety abroad, as they had been at home. An hardy and bold race of men, inured to rural labour and fatigue, they were perfuaded would be much better adapted both for cultivation and defence. To find men poffeffed of thefe qualifications, they turned their eyes to Germany and the Highlands of Scotland, and refolved to fend over a number of Scotch and German labourers to their infant province. When they published their terms at Inverness, an hundred and thirty Highlanders immediately accepted them, and were tranfported to Georgia. A township on the river Alatamaha, which was confidered as the boundary between the British and Spanish territories, was allotted for the Highlanders, on which dangerous fituation they fettled, and built a town, which they called New Inverness. About the fame time an hundred and feventy Germans embarked with James Oglethorpe, and

Gg 4

and were fixed in another quarter; fo that, in the fpace of three years, Georgia received above four hundred British subjects, and about an hundred and feventy foreigners. Afterwards feveral adventurers, both from Scotland and Germany, followed their countrymen, and added further ftrength to the province, and the trustees flattered themfelves with the hopes of foon feeing it in a promifing condition.

Their hopes, however, were vain. Their injudicious regulations and reftrictions the wars in which they were involved with the Spaniards and Indians-and the frequent infurrections among themfelves, threw the colony into a state of confufion and wretchedness too great for human nature long to endure. Their oppreffed fituation was reprefented to the trustees by repeated complaints; till at length, finding that the province languished under their care, and weary with the complaints of the people, they, in the year 1752, furrendered their charter to the king, and it was made a royal government. In confequence of which, his majesty appointed John Reynolds, an officer of the navy, governor of the province, and a legislature, fimilar to that of the other royal governments in America, was established in it. Great had been the expence which the mother country had already incurred, befides private benefactions, for fupporting this colony; and finall have been the returns yet made by it. The veftiges of cultivation was fcarcely perceptible in the forefts, and in England all commerce with it was neglected and despised. At this time the whole annual exports of Georgia did not amount to 10,coo fterling. Though the people were now favoured with the fame liberties and privileges enjoyed by their neighbours under the royal care, yet feveral years more elapfed before the value of the lands in Georgia was known, and that spirit of industry broke out in it, which afterwards diffused its happy influence over the country.

In the year 1740, the Rev. George Whitefield founded an orphan-houfe academy in Georgia, about 12 miles from Savannah.-For the fupport of this, in his itinerations, he collected large fums of money of all denominations of christians, both in England and America. A part of this money was expended in erecting proper buildings to accominodate the ftudents, and a part in fupporting them. In 1768, it was propofed that the orphan-house fhould be erected into a college. Whereupon Mr. Whitefield applied to the crown for a charter, which would have been readily granted, on condition that the prefident fhould, in all fucceffions, be an Epifcopalian, of the Church of England. Several letters paffed between the archbishop of Canterbury and Mr. Whitefield on the fubject, in which the archbishop infifted on this condition. But Mr. Whitefield, though himself an Epifcopalian, declined it, alledging to his grace, that it would be unjuft to limit that office to any particular fet, when the donations for the foundation of the inftitution had been made and intrutted to him by the various religious denominations, both in England and America. In confequence of this difpute, the affair of a charter was given up, and Mr. Whitefield made his affignment of the orphan-houfe in truft to the countefs of Huntingdon. Mr. Whitefield died at Newbury Port, in New-England, in October, 1770, in the 56th year of his age, and was buried under the Prefbyterian church in that place.

Soon

Soon after his death a charter was granted to his inftitution in Georgia, and the Rev. Mr. Percy was appointed prefident of the college. Mr. Percy accordingly came over to execute his office, but, unfortunately, on the 30th of May, 1775, the orphan-house building caught fire, and was entirely confumed, except the two wings, which are still remaining. The American war foon after came on, and put every thing into confufion, and the funds have ever fince lain in an unproductive itate. It is probable, that the college eftate may hereafter be fo incorporated with the univerfity of Georgia, as to fubferve the original and pious purposes of its founder.

From the time Georgia became a royal government, in 1752, till the peace of Paris, in 1763, the struggled under many difficulties, arifing from the want of credit, from friends, and the frequent moleftations of enemies. The good effects of the peace were fenfibly felt in the province of Georgia. From this time it began to flourish, under the fatherly care of Governor Wright. To form a judgment of the rapid growth of the colony, we need only attend to its exports.

In the year 1763, the exports of Georgia confifted of 7,500 barrels of rice, 9,633 pounds of indigo, 1,250 bushels of Indian corn, which, together with deer and beaver fkins, naval ftores, provifions, timber, &c. amounted to no more than £27,021 fterling. Ten years afterwards, in 1773, it exported commodities to the value of £.121,677 fterling.

During the late war, Georgia was over-run by the British troops, and the inhabitants were obliged to flee into the neighbouring states for fafety. The fufferings and loffes of her citizens were as great, in proportion to their numbers and wealth, as in any of the ftates. Since the peace, the progrefs of the population of this ftate has been aftonishingly rapid. Its growth in improvement and population has been checked by the hoftile irruptions of the Creek Indians, which have been frequent, and very diftreffing to the frontier inhabitants for thefe two years paft. This formidable nation of Indians, headed by one Mac Gilvery, an inhabitant of Georgia, who fided with the British in the late war, ftill continue to harrafs the frontiers of this ftate. Treaties have been held, and a ceffation of hoftilities agreed to between the parties; but all have hitherto proved ineffectual to the accomplishment of a peace. It is expected that, under the new government, conciliatory measures will be adopted, and tranquillity restored to the state.

THE WESTERN TERRITORY.

UNDER this name is comprehended all that part of the United

States which lies north-weft of the Ohio. Bounded weft, by the Miffifippi river; north, by the Lakes; eaft, by Pennfylvania; fouth-eaft and fouth, by the Ohio river. Containing, according to Mr. Hutchins, 411,000 fquare miles, equal to 263,040,000 acres-from which, if we

deduct

deduct 43,040,000 acres for water, there will remain 220,000,000 of acres, belonging to the federal government, to be fold for the discharge of the national debt; except a narrow ftrip of land, bordering on the fouth of Lake Erie, and ftretching 120 miles weft of the western limit of Pennfylvania, which belongs to Connecticut.

But a fmall proportion of thefe lands is yet purchased of the natives, and to be difpofed of by Congrefs. Beginning on the meridian line, which forms the western boundary of Pennfylvania, feven ranges of townships have been furveyed and laid off by order of Congrefs. As a north and fouth lina ftrikes the Ohio in an oblique direction, the termination of the 7th range falls upon that river, 9 miles above the Muskingum, which is the firit large river that falls into the Ohio. It forms this junction 172 miles below Fort Pitt, including the windings of the Ohio, though in a direct line it is but go miles.

The lands in which the Indian title is extinguished, and which are now purchafing under the United States, are bounded by Pennfylvania on the eaft, by the Great Miami on the weft, by the Ohio on the fouth, and extend nearly to the head waters of the Muskingum and Sioto on the north. On thefe lands two fettlements are commencing, one at Marietta*, at the mouth of Muskingum, under the direction of the Ohio company. This fettlement confifts, at present, of about 220 fouls, and is almost daily increafing. The other between the Miami rivers, under the direction of Colonel Symmes, which, though very small at prefent, is in profpect of a rapid enlargement. There are feveral other tracts, delineated on the map, which have been granted by Congress to particular companies, and other tracts for particular uses, which remain without any English fettlements.

Rivers.] The Muskingum is a gentle river, confined by banks fo high as to prevent its overflowing. It is 250 yards wide at its confluence with the Ohio, and navigable by large batteaux and barges to the Three Legs; and, by fmall ones, to the lake at its head. From thence, by a portage of about one mile, a communication is opened to Lake Erie, through the Cayahoga, which is a ftream of great utility, navigable the whole length, without any obstruction from falls. From Lake Erie, the avenue is well known to the Hudfon in the ftate of New York.

The Hockbocking refembles the Muskingum, though fomewhat inferior in fize. It is navigable for large boats about 70 miles, and for fmall ones much farther. On the banks of this very useful ftream are found inexhauftible quarries of free-ftone, large beds of iron ore, and fome rich mines of lead. Coal mines and falt fprings are frequent in the neighbourhood of this ftream, as they are in every part of the western territory. The falt that may be obtained from thofe fprings will afford an inexhauftible ftore of that neceffary article. Beds of white and blue clay, of an excellent quality, are likewife found here, fuitable for the manufacture of glafs, crockery, and other earthen wares. Red bole and many other ufeful foffils have been observed on the branches of this river.

The Sioto is a larger river than either of the preceding, and opens a more extenfive navigation. It is paffable for large barges for 200 miles,

*This place was firft called Adelphi, and is fo called in the map.