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CHAPTER XXII
HAVING PASSED UNDER THE DIKECT CONTROL OP THE CROWN OF ENGLAND,
A NEW FOKM OF GOVERNMENT Is REQUIRED FOR GEORGIA—MEAN
WHILE THE RULES OF THE TRUSTEES CONTINUE IN EFFECT——PATRICK
GRAHAM Is PLACED TEMPORARILY AT THE HELM, WITH FOUR ASSIST
ANTS—GEORGIA'S POPULATION IN 1753 ESTIMATED AT 2,380 WHITES
AND 1,066 BLACKS—EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE SILK INDUSTRY—ON MAY
8, 1754, A NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT Is PROPOSED—GEORGIA TO
HAVE A ROYAL GOVERNOR LIKE THE OTHER PROVINCES—ALSO A
KING'S COUNCIL, TO CONSIST OF TWELVE MEMBERS—CAPT. JOHN
REYNOLDS, OF THE ROYAL NAVY, Is APPOINTED GOVERNOR, VICE-
ADMIRAL AND CAPTAIN-GENERAL—OTHER APPOINTMENTS MADE BY
THE GROWN—GEORGIA'S NEW PROVINCIAL SEAL—DUTIES OF THE
GOVERNOR DEFINED—THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIST OF A LOWER
HOUSE, SITTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE KING'S COUNCIL—To BE
GIVEN FULL LEGISLATIVE POWERS—PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS—GOV
ERNOR REYNOLDS ARRIVES IN THE PROVINCE—GIVEN A JOYOUS RECEP
TION—FINDS THE PROVINCE IN AN UNSETTLED CONDITION—CEREMONY
OF INSTALLATION—WHITES A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF TRADE—WRITS
OF ELECTION ISSUED—GEORGIA'S FIRST LEGISLATURE CONVENES IN
SAVANNAH, JANUARY 7, 1755—EARLIEST LAWS RELATIVE TO SLAVERY
IN THE PROVINCE—GOVERNOR REYNOLDS MAKES A TOUR OF INSPEC
TION—HARDWICKE, A NEW TOWNSITE, Is RECOMMENDED FOR A FUTURE
CAPITAL—EDWARD GRAY, A DISSOLUTE CHARACTER, SETTLES A COL
ONY AT BRANDON, BUT LATER REMOVED TO SALTILLA RIVER—GOVERNOR
REYNOLDS, WITH THE AID OF DE BRAHM, PLANS NEW FORTIFICA
TIONS—THE ACADIANS IN GEORGIA—ON ACCOUNT OF THE PROSCRIP
TION OF CATHOLICS A PROBLEM Is PRESENTED—FATE OF THE POOR
UNFORTUNATES—GOVERNOR REYNOLDS PROVES A DISAPPOINTMENT—
INFLUENCED BY A CORRUPT, SECRETARY, TO WHOM HE LARGELY COM
MITS THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS—COMPLAINTS MADE BY THE
COLONISTS—RECALLED TO ENGLAND—LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR ELLIS
Is GIVEN A TEMPORARY COMMISSION—GOVERNOR REYNOLDS RESUMES
His PLACE IN THE NAVY, WHERE HE ERASES THE STIGMA FROM His
RECORD.
NOTE: OLD INDEPENDENT.
Georgia having passed under the direct control of the Crown of
England, it was necessary to adopt a new form of government. On
taking- over his royal charge, the king announced that all laws enacted
by the trustees would remain in effect for the present and that all
appointees would continue in office until further notice. President
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