Spanish expedition against Georgia. ་ 1742. THE Spaniards had not yet relinquished their claim to the province of Georgia. No sooner, therefore, had the greatest part of the British fleet, under admiral Vernon, left the seas about the Spanish settlements, than they made preparations for dislodging the English settlers from that province. Menaces having no effect on Oglethorpe, an armament was prepared at Havana to expel him from the Spanish frontiers. A body of 2000 men, commanded by Don Antonio de Rodondo, embarked from that port under convoy of a strong squadron, and arrived at St. Augustine in May. Oglethorpe, receiving intelligence of their arrival in Florida, sent advices of it to governor Glen of Carolina, and made all possible preparations for a vigorous resistance. With his regiment, and a few rangers, Highlanders, and Indians, he fixed his head quarters at Frederica, and waited in expectation of a reinforcement from Carolina. About the last of June, the Spanish fleet, amounting to 32 sail and carrying above 3000 men, under the command of Don Manuel de Monteano, came to anchor off St. Simon's bar; and, after sounding the channel, passed through Jekyl sound, received a fire from Oglethorpe at fort Simon's, and proceeded up the Alatamaha, beyond the reach of his guns. Here the enemy landed, and erected a battery with 20 eighteen pounders mounted on it. Oglethorpe, judging his situation at fort Simon's to be dangerous, spiked up the guns; burst the bombs and cohorns; destroyed the stores; and retreated to Frederica. With a force amounting to little more than 700 men, exclusive of Indians, he could not hope to act but on the defensive, until the arrival of reinforcements from Carolina. He, however, employed his Indians, and occasionally his Highlanders, in scouring the woods, harassing the outposts of the enemy, and throwing every impediment in their marches. In the attempts of the Spaniards to penetrate through the woods and morasses to reach Frederica, several rencountres took place; in one of which they lost a captain and two lieutenants killed, and above 100 men taken prisoners. Oglethorpe at length, learning by an English prisoner, who escaped from the Spanish camp, that a difference subsisted between the troops from Cuba and those from St. Augustine, occasioning a separate encampment, resolved to attack the enemy, while thus divided. Taking advantage of his knowledge of the woods, he marched out in the night with 300 chosen men, the Highland company, and some rangers, with the intention of surprising the enemy. Having advanced within two miles of the Spanish camp, he halted his troops, and went forward himself with a select corps, to reconnoitre the enemy's situation. While he was endeavouring cautiously to conceal his 1742. approach, a French soldier of his party discharged his musket, and ran into the Spanish lines. The general now returned to Frederica, and endeavoured to Stratagem effect by stratagem, what could not be achieved by surprise. thorpe. of OgleApprehensive that the deserter would discover to the enemy his weakness, he wrote to him a letter, desiring him to acquaint the Spaniards with the defenceless state of Frederica, and the case with which his small garrison might be cut to pieces. He pressed him to bring forward the Spaniards to an attack; but, if he could not prevail thus far, to use all his art and influence to persuade them to stay at least three days more at fort Simon's; for within that time, according to advices just received from Carolina, he should have a reinforcement of 2000 land forces, with 6 British ships of war. The letter concluded with a caution to the deserter against dropping the least hint of admiral Vernon's meditated attack upon St. Augustine, and with assurance, that for his service he should be amply rewarded by the British king. Oglethorpe gave it to the Spanish prisoner, who, for a small reward together with his liberty, promised to deliver it to the French deserter. On his arrival, however, at the Spanish camp, he gave the letter, as Oglethorpe expected, to the commander in chief, who instantly put the deserter in irons. This letter perplexed and confounded the Spaniards; some suspecting it to be a stratagem to prevent an attack on Frederica, and others believing it to contain serious instructions to direct the conduct of a spy. While the Spanish officers were deliberating what measures to adopt, an incident, not within the calculation of military skill, or the controul of human power, decided their counsels. Three ships of force, which the governor of South Carolina had sent out to Oglethorpe's aid, appeared at this juncture off the coast. The agreement of this discovery with the contents of the letter convinced the Spanish commander of its real intention. The The Spanwhole army, seized with an instant panic, set fire to the fort, and ish abandon precipitately embarked, leaving several cannon, with a quantity prise. of provisions and military stores; and thus, in the moment of threatened conquest, was the infant colony providentially saved.1 On an impeachment, brought forward before this invasion, Oglethorpe now felt himself bound in honour to return to England, where, on trial, the charge was adjudged to be false, malicious and groundless. The character of this able general now appeared in resplendent light; and his contemporaries acknowledged, what impartial history must record, that to him Carolina was indebted for her safety and repose; as well as Georgia, for her existence and protection. 1 Hewatt, ii. 111-119. Marshall, i. 338–344. the enter 1742. Fanueil Church in Massachusetts. N. Hampshire. Philadelphia. Treaty with tions. Oglethorpe never afterward returned to America. The trus tees of Georgia now established a kind of civil government, and committed the charge of it to a president and four assistants, who were to act under their instructions, and to be responsible to them for their public conduct. Above 1500 persons had, at this period, been transported by the trustees to Georgia.1 Fanueil Hall, a handsome and commodious brick building, was erected on Market Square in Boston, and given to the town by Peter Fanucil, esquire, who died just at the time of its completion. A church was built in Bennet street, at the north end of Boston.3 2 Massachusetts contained 164,000 inhabitants.4 The number of ratable polls of white men in that colony was 41,000. Boston contained 1719 dwelling houses, and about 18,000 inhabitants.5 In the county of Worcester there were about 3200 taxable sons. New Hampshire contained 6000 whites, ratable polls.7 The entries at the port of Philadelphia, this year, were 230, and the clearances 281.8 per A treaty was holden at Philadelphia by the government of the Six Na- Pennsylvania with the deputies of the Six Nations, who agreed to release their claim to all the land on both sides of the river Susquehannah, as far south as that province extended, and northward to the Endless Mountains, or Kittochtinny Hills. In compensation for this territory, they received goods of considerable value.9 Public library in Philadel phia. For the promotion of knowledge, which had received but little public encouragement in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin had, in 1731, brought forward a proposal for a public library. 1 Hewatt, ii. 120-124. 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 253. The lower floor of Fanueil Hall was to be occupied as a public market; and the chamber over it, as a town hall for the transaction of the affairs of the town. 3 Ibid. 263. By a society formed from the old north church. 4 Adams, Letters, Lett. xvii. In 20 5 Douglass, i. 530, 531. Brit. Dom. i. 215. By a new valuation, this year, there were reported 16,382 souls in Boston; but Douglass allows an addition for some men, sent on the Cuba expedion, and for several sons and apprentices, "designedly overlooked to ease the quota of Boston's provincial tax." years (from 1722 to 1742) the inhabitants of Boston had increased 6000, or one third. By this valuation of 1742, there were in Boston 1200 widows (1000 of them poor); in the alms houses 111 persons; in the workhouse 36; 1514 negroes; 418 horses, and 141 cows. 6 Brit. Emp. ii. 75. 7 Pres. Stiles, MS. 8 Univ. Hist. xli. 30. 9 Brit. Emp. ii, 439–449. "Endless Mountains" is the Indian name translated, expressive of their unknown extent. The Kittochtinny or Kittatinni were a chain or single narrow ridge in those mountains. Proud, ii. 246. Colden, Five Nations, American Magazine and Hist. Chronicle for 1743 and 1744. In the transactions at this treaty, of the council present at it, next to the name of the lieut. governor, George Thomas, is the name of James Logan. It was well received; and 50 persons subscribed 40 shillings 1742. each, and agreed to pay 10 shillings annually for 50 years, the term for which the company was to continue. The subscribers, having now increased to 100, obtained a charter. This was the first, if not the origin, of all the American subscription libraries.1 themselves The English commanded by major Crawford, established English esthemselves in Rattan, in the bay of Honduras, to protect the tablish hewers of Campeachy wood, and to ensure the commerce of at Rattan ; indigo and cochineal with the Spaniards of Guatemala.2 By the advice of admiral Vernon, 200 of the American regiment with 50 marines were sent under convoy, with an engineer, arms, and build a ammunition, and some cannon for a fortification; and a town was town. built and fortified on the island.3 1743. THE shipping of New England, about this time, is said to Shipping of have consisted of at least 1000 sail, exclusive of fishing barks.4 N. England. Ship building, one of the principal branches of the trade of Boston, declined at this period. In the military establishment of tablishment Massachusetts for this year, 114 men were employed in public of Mass. service.6 Military es nation. The Catawba nation of Indians could bring scarcely 400 Catawba warriors into the field. These were composed partly of their own men, and partly of refugees from various smaller tribes, which were obliged, about this time, on account of their reduced numbers, to associate with them.7 The second baptist church was built in Boston.8 Baptist chh. Lieutenant governor Bull, of South Carolina, having received Silver mine credible information that a silver mine had been discovered in S. Caroand opened, and that several persons were now working upon it in the Cherokee nation, issued a proclamation, strictly forbid 1 Life of Franklin, in his Works, i. 74, 75, and 83-85. The instrument first subscribed was rendered null and void by the charter of incorporation, which gave perpetuity to the company. 2 Alcedo, Art. ROATTAN, or RATTAN. 3 Univ. Hist. xli. 449. 4 Univ. Hist. xxxix. 346. Wynne, i. 165. "Before" this year. 5 European Settlements, ii. 183. There were built this year, 1743, 30 vessels; in 1746, 20 vessels; in 1749, 15 vessels. lina. 7 Adair, 223, 224. Drayton, 94. This nation was about 200 miles from Charlestown, S. Carolina. 8 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 264. 1743. ding all persons whatever from running out any land in the Cherokee nation, or in any other nation of Indians, and from opening or working any mine, in any of the Indian nations within this province, until his majesty's pleasure should be made Academy phia. known. Benjamin Franklin suggested the establishment of a college in Philadel for the education of young men in the higher branches of knowledge; from which the Academy, afterward the University of Pennsylvania, originated.2 Palatines A ship from England, bound for Philadelphia, with about 200 lost at sea. Palatines on board, put into Hampton road in Virginia, having lost about 160 passengers from the Palatinate.3 German bible and newspaper. Indigo. American Death of A German edition of the Bible was printed by Christopher Gower, at Germantown. A newspaper, in the German language, was published weekly at Philadelphia.5 The culture of the Indigo plant was introduced into South Carolina by Miss Lucas. The cultivation of this valuable plant being considered of importance, some indigo seed was soon after imported from the West Indies, where it had already been cultivated with success, and yielded an immense profit. At first the seed was planted as an experiment; and it was so entirely successful, that several planters turned their immediate attention to the culture of indigo, and studied the art of extracting the dye." The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle began to be published at Boston.8 James Blair, first president of William and Mary College in Virginia, died at the age of 88 years." 1 American Magazine and Historical Chronicle for 1743. 2 Memoirs of Pennsylv. Hist. Society, i. 130. 3 American Magazine and Historical Chronicle. 4 Ramsay, Chronological Tables. 5 Thomas, ii. 336; "as early as May, 1743." 6 Ramsay, Chron. Tables. 7 Hewatt, ii. 138, 139. Drayton, S. Car. 127. See 1748. 8 It was printed by Rogers and Fowle, and sold by S. Eliot and J. Blanchard, in Boston; it was sold also in Philadelphia by B. Franklin, in New York by J. Parker, in New Haven by J. Pomroy, in Newport by C. Campbell. It was published in monthly numbers, only 12 years after the commencement of the first similar publication in London, the Gentleman's Magazine. Ramsay, Chron. Table. Thomas, ii. 255. 9 The Rev. Mr. Blair was born and educated in Scotland, where he obtained an ecclesiastical benefice. Toward the close of the reign of Charles II. he went into England. The bishop of London, finding him well qualified, prevailed on him to go as a missionary to Virginia, where he found a wide field for the exercise of his talents and virtues. The bishop, having the plantations under his care, and supplying them with what clergymen he could procure from England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, afterwards appointed Mr. Blair his ecclesiastical commissary for the province of Virginia. He was one of the king's council, and rector of Burton parish, as well as president of the college. He was a learned man, and useful in his various offices and stations. He published four volumes of Discourses, entitled: "Our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount ex |