Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

194 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
allowances for doing their duty. They were banding together to allow
persons to escape who were indebted to the trust. There was a general
need of a more steady way of doing things, but the people were denying
that he had authority over them. He also strongly opposed any changes
in the land laws, -urging that those who complained in the matter were
those who- made the least improvement as things were.* He made it
plain that he felt that he ought to be allowed to take affairs in hand
and to straighten them out; and the trustees understood perfectly well
his meaning, but they were not inclined to yield to him.
They agreed with him that a steady and regular manner of doing
things ought to be observed, but they said that this would result best
from a faithful performance of the commands of the trustees. First of
all, the estimate of expenses ought to be carefully considered and ought
not to be exceeded. All funds misapplied are at the peril of the official
neglecting or disobeying in the matter: They seem to doubt somewhat
the charges he makes against the officials in Georgia, asking him to make
specific and personal charges. They regretted that the people denied
authority in him. They declared that such must belong to the factious
element of the settlers. The wiser part must understand that he neither
could nor would exceed the power given him by the trustees who would
uphold the powers flowing from themselves. They likewise did not
agree with his advice concerning the changes in. the land laws, admitting
that the complainants made little improvements, but thinking that this
was due to discouragement in regard to the laws.f
At the same time, Oglethorpe was sent a report of the Committee on
Accounts to whom had been assigned the duty of checking up his ac
counts recently submitted. The report made a number of criticisms as
to the colonel's policies and expenditures. For instance, it criticized
him for hiring men to work when there were so many trust servants in
the colony; it seemed unreasonable to the committee that he should pur
chase posts when the servants could so easily cut them; it appeared
unnecessary to purchase cattle when there were more than 1,000 head in
the province; and lastly that receipts for a niimber of expenditures did
not appear, though the committee did not doubt that they had been
properly expended. $
The letter as first prepared by the trustees was harsher than the one
sent as summed up above. It was softened by the Earl of Egmont, but
still it was severe enough to much displease Colonel Oglethorpe. The
trustees felt that he wanted to act in all things at his pleasure and to
spend whatever money seemed to be needed, while they felt seriously
the need of strict economy; they thought also that he wrongfully applied
some of the trust money for defense that ought to have been looked
after by the general government of Great Britain. They had been fol
lowing almost absolutely his advice in regard to the regulations they
would pass for the provinces; and now they felt that he had made mis
takes in regard to several matters. He had always advocated maintain
ing strictly the original provisions as to land tenures, rum, negroes, and
* B. T., Ga., XXI: Oglethorpe to Trustees, July 4, 1739.
t C. R. V: 267-268.
i O.E. II: 310-311.