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GEOBGIA AND GEOEGIANS 195
Indian trade; and he had advocated not yielding to South Carolina in
the quarrel between the two colonies. They were ready to break away
from his advice in regard to land and the South Carolina quarrel, as
they were soon to do in other respects.*
The next month the trustees arranged that the sola bills which were
used for money in the colony should be endorsed by three of the officials
in Savannah. Up to this time, Oglethorpe alone had had this power.
Now he was totally excluded from handling the money, though he could
still make accounts subject to approval by the trustees. The Earl of
Egmont in commenting on this exclusion of the colonel mentioned that
it "was thought a prudent and necessary step." f They also requested
him through their accomptant that he would be careful to distinguish in
his expense accounts between items that pertained to defense, which
would be paid from the British treasury, and those that belonged to the
strictly civil affairs for which the trust was responsible. J
One or two other incidents may be cited showing a slight irritation
between Oglethorpe and the home board. In May, 1740, the latter
learned that the general had employed a jailer and provost-marshal at
Savannah and that he had disposed of certain trust servants. Both of
these things had been done without leave 'of the trustees arid without
informing them of the matter; and they were displeased at the occur
rences.**
Again in the same year, the trustees felt that Oglethorpe was acting
without his authority and without reason in withholding from the peo
ple a deed poll that had been sent over in 1739. This related to certain
indulgences granted by the trustees to the settlers in regard to the land
tenures. Notice of the grants had been sent to Secretary Stephens at
Savannah, and the people were expecting the deed; but Oglethorpe did
not like the regulations, preferring to stand by the original rules, and
so it was claimed by the trustees that he wilfully kept back the deed; to
the discouragement both of the people and of the trustees.ft
On December 17, 1740, through their accomptant they wrote to the
magistrates at Savannah that they did not desire General Oglethorpe to
interpose in their civil concerns while he was employed in his military
ones, which were distinct services. They expected their orders to be
obeyed by those to whom they might be sent without giving the general
the trouble of being consulted and without waiting for his directions
therein, which the trustees did not expect from him nor reasonably
could. |t This was not liked by General Oglethorpe, but it was judged
most necessary by the board of trustees for the general was too far away
and his mind was too much occupied with military concerns to attend
to matters in the northern part of the province.***
The situation had not been formally discussed in the meetings of
the trustees, so far as the records show, until December 19, 1740, two
*C. R. V: 247, 259, 266.
t Ibid., 287.
t B. T., Ga., IX: Verelst to Oglethorpe, June 11, 1740.
**0. E. V: 346.
tt Ibid., 211.
U B. T., Ga., X: Verelst to Oglethorpe.
*** G.R. V: 290-291.