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A. D. 1732. 



were to be authorized by his majefly's perpetual charter, which they 

 obtained on the 9th of June this year ; empowering 2 1 gentlemen by 

 name, and fuch others as they fliould from time to time eled into their 

 body, to be truflees for eftablilhing the colony, therein named Georgia 

 in America, bounded between the mofl: northern flrcam of the river 

 Savannah, and the mofl fouthern ftream of the river Alatamaha, ftretch- 

 ing above 100 miles along the fea-coaft, and extending weflward from 

 the heads of the fliid rivers in dired lines to the South fea, with the 

 iflands within 20 leagues of the fea-coaft. The truftees were empower- 

 ed to receive and manage the contributions of all perfons and corpora- 

 tions inclined to give money for tranfporting people to, and fettling 

 them in, the faid country. This corporation was made capable in law 

 to hold and purchafe lands, &c. in Great Britain, to the value of Liooo 

 yearly, and in America to an unlimited value, for the faid charitable 

 purpofe. Their common-council to confift of 1 5 perfons, with power 

 to make them up 24, as they afterwards did. They were to pay annu- 

 ally to the crown 4/ for every 100 acres of land granted to the planters, 

 the quit- rent to begin to be paid 10 years after the refpedive dates of 

 fuch grants. Georgia to remain forever an independent province ; 

 fave only that its militia fhall be commanded by the governor of South- 

 Carolina : but the government of the colony in other refpeds to be in 

 the truflees for 21 years, at the expiration of which it was to be vefled 

 in the crown. Liberty of confcience and freedom of worfliip allowed 

 to all its inhabitants, papifls alone excepted. Lands to be granted to 

 any perfon, not exceeding 500 acres, on fuch terms as to the common- 

 council {hould feem proper. No truftee to hold lands nor office in 

 Georgia. The grants of lands to be regiftered here in the office of the 

 auditor of the plantations. With refped to the progrefs made by thofe 

 truftees, it may be truely faid, that they took all poflible pains for exe- 

 cuting the tru'ft : they ereded two good towns. Savannah and Frederica, 

 at the north and fouth extremities of the province, befides feveral vil- 

 lages and fmall forts, and one more confiderable one among the Indians, 

 called Augufta, with a fmall garrifon for the protedion of the Indian 

 trade, 240 miles weft from the fea, up the river Savannah. They made 

 a common nurfery-garden of white mulberry trees, for the produdion 

 of filk. They procured foreign vine-drefTers to improve the native 

 vines, which in great abundance run up the talleft trees, and bear fmall 

 grapes ; and they have alfo fent thither many forts of vines from Eu- 

 rope ; as alfo fome Piedmontefes, /killed in the winding of filk, and 

 tending the filk-worms. For feveral years alfo they and other lords 

 and gentlemen, by fubfcription, maintained a travelling profeflbr of 

 botany for colleding the moft pretious plants and feeds in various 

 American climates, to be tranfplanted to Georgia. Yet, by having 

 feveral idle drones, drunkards, and downright rogues, the prosperity of 



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