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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 199
ment from being employed as a magistrate' in Georgia. The matters
were postponed for final settlement; but the general desired leave to dis
sent to all the resolutions.*
On January 30 following, the subjects were again discussed; and it
was decided that if any of the magistrates of Georgia should accept
military employment they would become incapable of holding or exer
cising their civil offices. It was further decided that dormant commis
sions be sent over for men to take the places of any magistrates who
should thus change to the military service. As might have been ex
pected from his former action, Oglethorpe dissented from the resolu
tions, t
Again on May 24, 1748, he dissented to the proceedings of the day.
On this occasion, the principal point under discussion was the distribu
tion of Indian presents by a joint commission from South Carolina and
Georgia. J In expressing opposition to this plan, he may have been
moved by his early hostility to making any concessions to South Caro
lina in regard to the Indian trade, for we have noted that he was per
sistent on that subject. On the same day, he presided at a meeting of
the common council and dissented likewise from the proceedings of the
day. It is very difficult to see any reason for his behavior on that occa
sion. Only routine matters were passed upon, and nothing involving
any disputed principle was seemingly discussed or put through.** This
was the next to the last meeting of the common council that he attended,
and it was only a short while until he stopped attending the meetings
of the general board. So far as the records show, his last meeting with
the trustees was at the anniversary sermon on March 16, 1749.ft
During the remaining years of the trust, Oglethorpe was in England
and was taking an active part in Parliamentary affairs, J J and of course
it is interesting to ascertain why he did not keep up his connection with
the affairs in Georgia. His regiment was disbanded in 1748, and that
severed one connection that he had had with the province. We have
noted also that he was not in accord with several of the measures being
adopted at that time by the trustees. There was one other circumstance
that may help to explain his absence from the councils of the trust. He
was having-a disagreement with the trustees in regard to financial mat
ters. Late in 1744 he was asked to render an account of the' various
orders for money or other articles given by him to Thomas Causton,***
and there is no record of any settlement as to that.
On July 6, 1751, the accomptant was instructed to call on General
Oglethorpe for the balance due from him to the trust of about £1,412,
because the money was urgently needed for carrying on the colony.ttt
The general replied that the balance of accounts was in his favor, and
that even if that were not true the claim of the trustees on him was not
* Ibid., 463.
t Ibid., 464-465.
. tlbid., 516.
**C. B. II: 489.
tt C. E. I: 529.
it Wright, 363-370.
***O.B. II: 441.
tttC.B. I: 563.