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110 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
thing needed for the colony's maintenance and protection. This depart
ure of Oglethorpe for Georgia became known as the Great Embarkation.
To preach tlje gospel both to the Indians and to the colonists, John
Wesley, a young divine of ascetic habits of life, accompanied him, under
a commission from the trustees, to succeed the Rev. Samuel Quincey, with
whose conduct as resident minister there was much dissatisfaction. Mr.
Wesley was employed at a salary of £50 sterling per annum. For a
young minister who was both a fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, and a
fine classical scholar, to undertake such an errand to the wilds of America
at such a salary was proof sufficient of John Wesley 's consecration. His
brother, Charles "Wesley, wishing to accompany' him, was retained as
Oglethorpe's private secretary and was also designated as secretary of
Indian affairs. These gifted divines embodied all unconsciously at this
time one of the great reform movements of modern times; but the hour
had not yet struck for its awakening.
Two vessels were chartered by the trustees to convey the new emi
grants to Georgia. These were the Symond, a vessel of 220 tons, Capt.
Joseph Cornish in.command, and the London Merchant, a sister ship,
Capt. John Thomas in command. On Tuesday, October 14, 1735, Ogle
thorpe, accompanied by the two Wesleys, the Rev. Mr. Ingram, and
Charles Delamotte, the son of a London merchant, set out for Grave-
send, where these vessels were waiting at the docks ready to spread sail.
Besides the two vessels above named there was also a convoy, his majesty's
sloop of war, the Hawk, commanded by Captain Gascoine. This was
provided with special reference to Oglethorpe's comfort; but he declined
to avail himself of quarters better than those allotted to his fellow-voy
agers. He, therefore, took a cabin on the Symond. Two hundred a,nd
fifty-two passengers were listed for this eventful voyage. These included
a number of German Lutherans, under Captain Hermsdorf and Baron
Von Reck, also twenty-five Moravians, accompanied by the Rev. David
Nitschman. Sir Francis Bathhurst,-his son, three daughters, and a num
ber of servants, were also among the voyagers, going without expense
to the trust to settle in Georgia.
But adverse weather conditions prevented a departure for several
weeks. It was not until December 10, 1735, that favoring gales arrived;
and even then it was a tempestuous voyage upon which these colonists
embarked. Violent storms raged, tossing the ships upon angry seas. The
following anecdote of the voyage has been preserved: On one occasion
the waters broke over the Symond, flooding the vessed from stem to
stern. It even burst through the windows of the state cabin and
drenched the inmates. John Wesley was almost washed overboard by
one of the waves. But in all these storms and dangers the Moravians
were calm and unterrified. The tempest began on Sunday, just as they
commenced services; the sea broke over the ship, split the mainsail, and
poured down upon the vessel, threatening instant destruction. The
English screamed, but the Germans sang on.
"Wiere you not afraid?" asked Wesley, speaking to one of them.
"I thank God, no," he replied.
"But were not your women and children afraid?" he inquired.
"No," answered the Moravian, "our women and children are not
afraid to die."