Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEOEGIA AND GEORGIANS 137
overtaken they were put into irons; and, after trial by court martial,
having been found guilty, were shot. As we shall see later, the preserva
tion of Oglethorpe 's life at this time by what seemed almost a miraculous
intervention meant much not only to Georgia's future existence but to
an Anglo-Saxon supremacy in North America.
Financial embarrassment made the outlook for Georgia at this time
dark with threatening storm-clouds. Causton's defalcations were not
unattended by other calamities. There had been a gradual shrinkage
for some time in private contributions to the trust. Parliament had
decreased its appropriations for the colony's support; and, having au
thorized a regiment, the sum of £12,000 sterling was set aside for its
maintenance, while only £8,000 was put at the disposal of the trust, to
meet its customary expenditures. Consequently the trustees had in
curred a debt of £12,000. Not only were forts still in need of cannon
but colonists were clamoring for bread. There had been a failure of
crops. The constant dread of a Spanish invasion had proved demoraliz
ing to agricultural pursuits. Malarial fevers had become prevalent. To
prevent a threatened destruction of the province, therefore, it was neces
sary for Parliament to act. An appropriation of £20,000 was accordingly
made with which the trustees were enabled to meet outstanding obliga
tions.
But there was a growing spirit of discontent in the colony, due to
causes the roots of which struck still deeper. The system of land
tenure had not given satisfaction. Since a property owner could neither
mortgage nor sell his lands there was a check put upon trade. The
necessity for slaves was hourly becoming more and more urgent.
Effluvia from the swamps was rapidly destroying life among the white
servants who tilled the river bottom plantations. As a result scores of
settlers had quit the province, most of these going to South Carolina,
where no restrictions were put upon lands and where there were 40,000
slaves. It was doubtless at this time that Oliver Goldsmith w,as inspired
to write his doleful lines descriptive of conditions in Georgia. Portray
ing the region along the "wild Altama" he wrote as follows: