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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 193
Savannah would have to account for them.* This was another step in
the separating of Oglethorpe from the active management of the colony.
Before this all expenses were to pass under his eye, while after this he
would have little knowledge of the ordinary expenses.
This tendency, however, was not continuous. Oglethorpe gave as
undivided attention to the civil affairs of the colony for awhile after his
return to Georgia in September, 1738, as at any time during his connec
tion with it., There had never been any adequate executive authority in
Savannah; and, after the settlement in the southern part of the province
was made, not even Oglethorpe's influence was felt to any degree.
Thomas Causton had exercised almost despotic power, and he had got
ten the finances of the colony into a most deplorable condition. By
order of the trustees, he was arrested by Oglethorpe, and held under
bond until the matter could be investigated.! Affairs seemed in such
desperate straits that Oglethorpe felt called on to pledge' his personal
credit to insure a feeling of confidence on the part of the people. He
offered to advance to the trustees the income from his estates and his
salary for the year.:!: They appreciated his work and expressed their
feelings to him on several occasions. On February 3, 1739, Accountant
Verelst wrote, "The Trustees are sensible of the difficulties you labor
under and the dangers you are exposed to; * * * They much ap
prove of your conduct under these hardships and are truly animated
with a most commendable zeal for the preservation and welfare of that
province which you have endured so many fatigues, and gone through
so many eminent dangers in the establishing of." ** Later they express
appreciation also for the generous advances of money with which to
finance the colony, and they promise to reimburse him as soon as the
accounts could be presented to them, but they urge that he do not run
beyond the computed rate of expenses.ft It is evident that they are fear
ful that one who is so generous with his own money may be too much
inclined to spend too freely the money of others which he had in charge.
A service of quite a different sort was performed by him in his visit
to Coweta in order to meet with the Creek Nation, obtain new land
grants from them, and renew the treaty of peace and friendship. The
long journey of 500 miles through the wilderness was successfully made,
and the objects of the trip were fully realized. Jt Colonel Oglethorpe
was a master hand in winning the 'Confidence and support of the red
men; and his services were especially important just at this time, as the
war with Spain was imminent.
Toward the close of 1739 there developed a somewhat serious dis
agreement between Oglethorpe and the trustees as to the amount of au
thority he was to exert in Georgia. On July 4, 1739, the colonel wrote
to the trustees that things were in bad shape in the province. He repre
sented that magistrates generally were using their powers to get income
for winking at those who disobeyed the laws or they expected large
* G. E. II: 237-238.
t Ibid., 247.
t B. T., Ga., XXI: Oglethorpe to Trustees, Oct. 19, 1738.
** Ibid., Verelst to Oglethorpe, Feb. 3, 1739.
tt Ibid., June 11, 1739.
it C. B. V: 22fi.
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