A company was formed, for transplanting, into this unsettled wilderness, such of the suffering poor, in the mother country, as might be willing to search, in a new world, for the means of subsistence. To this company, the territory, now denominated Georgia, was granted by George the second, in 1732: and a corporation, consisting of twenty-one persons, was created, under the name of "trustees for settling and establishing the colony of Georgia." Large sums of money were subscribed, which were applied towards transporting such poor people, as should be willing to go over, and begin the new settlement. In November, one hundred and sixteen persons embarked at Gravesend, under the conduct of general James Oglethorpe, who arrived, early the next year, at Charleston; whence he soon afterwards proceeded to the tract of country allotted for the new colony, and laid the foundation of the town of Savannah, on the river which bears that name. A treaty was held with the Creek Indians, and the cession of a considerable tract of land was obtained from them but the trustees, totally unacquainted with the situation of the country, devised for it a system, rather calculated to impede than promote its population. With a view to promote the strength of the province, they agreed to establish such tenures for holding lands, as they judged most favourable to a military establishment. Each tract granted was considered as a military fief, for which the possessor was to appear in arms, and take the field, when called upon for the public defence. The grants were in tail male, and, on the termination of the estate, were to revert to the trust, to be regranted to such persons, as would most martial, and honourably acquitted. After the return of Gage to England, in 1775, the command of the British army, in America, was offered to general Oglethorpe. He professed his readiness to accept the appointment, if the ministry would authorize him to assure the colonies that justice would be done them but the command was given to Sir William Howe. He died in August, 1785, at the age of ninety-seven; being the oldest general in the service. Nine years before his death, the province of Georgia, of which he was the father, was raised to the rank of a sovereign, independent state, and had been for two years acknowledged as such, by the mother country, under whose auspices it had been planted. benefit the colony. Any part of the lands granted, which should not be enclosed, cleared, and cultivated, within eighteen years, reverted to the trust. The importation of negroes, and of rum, was absolutely prohibited. The tenure, by which their lands were held, drove the settlers into Carolina, where that property was to be acquired in fee simple. The prohibition of the introduction of negroes rendered the cultivation of the country, in that warm, moist climate, in a great degree impracticable. Oglethorpe engaged with activity in the business of defence. He erected forts on the Savannah, at Augusta, and at Frederica. Ten miles nearer the sea, a battery was constructed, commanding the entrance into the sound, through which all vessels must come, that were sent against Frederica. These forts were calculated for defence against the Indians and the Spaniards. The latter remonstrated against them, and a commissioner, despatched from the Havanna, insisted on the evacuation of the country, to the thirty-third degree of north latitude but their complaints and claims were equally disregarded. : Seven years after the settlement of Georgia, Oglethorpe, under an impression that the reduction of St. Augustine would give permanent peace, both to Georgia and Carolina, invaded Florida, with four hundred of his own men, a regiment raised by South Carolina, a small naval force, and some auxiliary Indians. The expedition proved abortive. In two or three years afterwards, this invasion was retaliated, by a considerable land and naval force, from the Havanna. The invaders landed on the banks of the Altamaha, and there built a fort. After sundry skirmishes, they evacuated the province, and peace was restored. The inhabitants of Georgia remonstrated particularly against the tenures, by which their lands were held, and against the prohibition of the introduction of negroes. These complaints were addressed to persons having but little knowledge of the condition of the petitioners, and were therefore neglected. The settlement of Carolina, not unlike that of Georgia, both in soil and climate. advanced with much greater rapidity. Although emigration to the latter colony was encouraged, by premiums, at the public expense, yet the tenure of their lands, and the want of that labour which was to be furnished by negroes, from Africa, more than counterbalanced all these advantages. In the space of ten years, the settlers in Georgia could with infinite difficulty obtain a scanty subsistence. In 1752, the trustees of Georgia, finding that the province languished under their care, surrendered their charter to the king. Their fundamental regulations were ill adapted to the situation and circumstances of the poor settlers. They rendered the culture of the lands very difficult, if not impracticable. By prohibiting the importation of rum, they deprived the colonists of an excellent market for their lumber, in the West Indies. The government of Great Britain had been at great expense, beside private benefactions, for supporting the colony; but had yet received small returns. The vestiges of its cultivation were scarcely perceptible: and its commerce was neglected and despised by the parent country. Its whole annual exports did not amount to the value of ten thousand pounds sterling. On the surrender of the charter, the people were favoured with the same liberties and privileges, as were enjoyed by their neighbours, under the royal care, and the colony soon began to flourish. In 1763, all the lands, lying between the rivers Altamaha and St. Mary's, were by royal proclamation annexed to Georgia. The good effects of the new royal government, and of an extension of limits, were soon manifested. That young province had struggled with great difficulties; but from this period it made rapid progress, in population and wealth. Its rich swamps attracted the attention of its neighbours, as well as of strangers; and many settlements were made by Carolinians, about Sunbury, and on or near the Altamaha*. * Much of the growth of the colony is to be ascribed to its governor, James Wright; "who wanted neither wisdom to discern, nor resolution to pursue, the most effectual means for its improvement." In addition to a paternal administration, he discovered the excellence of the low lands, and Georgia, from its first settlement, had very little disturbance from Indians. The increasing strength of South Carolina, on its northern frontier, the recent chastisement of the Yamassees, and the treaties which were made with the Cherokees, three years before its settlement, contributed to its internal peace. When the colony was in a most desirable state of prosperity, the American revolution commenced. The twelve more northern provinces confederated by the most solemn ties, to make a common cause, in defending their liberties, against Great Britain. Georgia, only forty four years old, for some time hesitated. Some of her first settlers, who came out with Oglethorpe, were still alive, and well knew how vulnerable the province was. Georgia loved liberty; and a majority of her inhabitants felt that they had a common interest, with the northern colonies; but her weakness pointed out the danger of joining with them, in their daring resolutions, to resist the power of Britain. A colony of New England settlers, who had first migrated from Dorchester in Massachusetts, to Dorchester in South Carolina, and afterwards to St. John's in Georgia, led the way, in confederating with their northern neighbours. They, in March, 1775, appointed Dr. Lyman Hall, their delegate to congress, and he was received, as a representative of a part of a colony. In July, 1775, the whole province in convention gave its sanction to the measures of congress, and was admitted as the thirteenth link of the grand chain, comprehending all the colonies between Canada and Florida. The white population of Georgia, at this period, was about fifty thousand. A great proportion of its carly settlers was from Scotland. river swamps; by the proper management and cultivation of which, he acquired a plentiful fortune; and his successful example promoted at once emulation and industry, among the planters. The rapidity of the progress of the colony strikingly appears, by a comparison of its exports. In 1763, the exports of Georgia amounted to no more than 27,0211. sterling; but in 1773, the province exported staple commodities, to the value of 121,6771. sterling. NEW YORK. The country, which is now the state of New York, was first settled by Hollanders, and held by them for more than half of the seventeenth century. They founded their claim on prior discovery, by Henry Hudson, in 1609, and subsequent permanent occupation. The English claimed the same country, as first discovered by Cabot, in 1497; and also from the circumstance, that the same Hudson, under a commission from the king of England, had, as early as the year 1608, discovered Long Island, New York, and the river which still bears his name. It is neither necessary nor important, to decide which had originally the best title to the country. In the year 1613, captain Argal was sent out, by Sir Thomas Dale, governor of Virginia, to dispossess the French of the two towns, Port Royal, and St. Croix, in Acadia, then claimed as part of Virginia. In his return, he visited the Dutch, on Hudson's river, who, being unable to resist him, submitted for the present, to the king of England, and, under him, to the governor of Virginia. Argal abandoned his conquests, and the Dutch resumed possession. They also proceeded to settle and fortify. They immediately erected a fort on Manhattan island, and, in the course of twenty years, had a fort on the east side of Delaware bay, and another on Connecticut river, which they called Good Hope. Determined on the settlement of a colony, the States General made a grant of the country, in 1621, to the West India company. Wouter Van Twiller arrived at fort Amsterdam, now New York, and took upon himself the government, in 1629. The New Englanders having commenced a settlement in Newhaven, Kieft, the second governor of New Netherlands, protested against them; but his protest being unsupported, was disregarded. In the same year, the Dutch protested against a settlement of the Swedes, which had lately been made on the eastern banks of the Delaware. In 1640, the English, who had overspread the eastern part of |