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CHAPTER XXIII
LlEUTENANT-GoVEBNOB BLLIS DELAYED IN EMBARKING FOB GEORGIA——
IMPROVES His OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME BETTER EQUIPPED—SKETCH
OP His LIFE—EXPLORATIONS MADE BY HIM IN THE ARCTIC REGION—
SOMETHING OF A SCHOLAR, HE MAKES IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS
TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH—ARRIVAL IN THE PROVINCE—GREETED
WITH JOYFUL ACCLAMATIONS—PAYS His DUTIFUL RESPECTS TO GOV
ERNOR REYNOLDS, WHO LEAVES IMMEDIATELY FOR ENGLAND—FINDS
THE PROVINCE IN A DEMORALIZED CONDITION, BUT WINS THE FRIEND
SHIP OF THE COLONISTS—HOLDS A CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS—
MAKES A TOUR OF INSPECTION—LIKE GOVERNOR REYNOLDS HE Is
PARTIAL TO HARDWICKE—GEORGIA DIVIDED INTO PARISHES—EPIS
COPACY Is ESTABLISHED—LETTER TO THE BOARD OF TRADE—INVESTED
WITH FULL POWERS AS GOVERNOR—PROSPERITY BEGINS TO RETURN
—EDMUND GRAY'S SETTLEMENT OF BRIGANDS ON THE SATILLA RIVER
Is BROKEN UP—SUNBURY, A SEAPORT TOWN, Is FOUNDED AT THE
MOUTH OF THE MIDWAY RIVER—ONCE A RIVAL OF SAVANNAH—THE
BOSOMWORTH CLAIM Is FINALLY SETTLED—SOUTH CAROLINA BE
COMES INVOLVED IN A WAR WITH THE CHEROKEES—GOVERNOR LITTLE-
TON'S UNWISE POLICY IN DEALING WITH THE INDIANS CONTRASTED
WITH THE FINE DIPLOMACY OF GOVERNOR ELLIS:—BUT GEORGIA Is
FATED TO 1 LOSE HER POPULAR CHIEF MAGISTRATE—ILL HEALTH
CAUSES GOVERNOR ELLIS TO ASK FOR His RECALL—LEAVES THE
PROVINCE AMID UNIVERSAL REGRET—BECOMES GOVERNOR op NOVA
SCOTIA—His SUBSEQUENT CAREER—LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR WEIGHT
Is COMMISSIONED.
NOTES : • GALPHINTON—QUEENSBORO—GEORGE GALPHIN.
Delayed in leaving England, Lieutenant-Governor Ellis did not reach
Georgia until February 16, 1757. Meanwhile he had made the most of
opportunities for posting himself relative to the true condition of affairs.
He had devoured every book, letter, document and paper pertaining to
the province; he had familiarized himself with the location of every
fort on the colony's exposed borders, the strength of its garrison, the
nature of its construction; he had versed himself in the duties encumbent
upon him as an officer of the Crown, resolved to profit by the mistakes
of his predecessors. This indicated a wise head upon shoulders which
were still young. His ambition was to restore tranquility to the
province, to revive its commercial activities, to rebuild its waste places,
and to give prosperity to its inhabitants.
Henry Ellis was a student. With predilections for travel, he had
already contributed to the sum of geographical knowledge. At the age
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