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Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 13<br />

ments at St. Augustine established Spain's title to Florida; but no agree<br />

ment could be reached as to a dividing line between Florida and Caro<br />

lina. . The nor<strong>the</strong>rn boundary line <strong>of</strong> Florida was not fixed until 1763,<br />

100 years after <strong>the</strong> grant'to <strong>the</strong> Lords Proprietors, when Spain ceded<br />

all Florida to England.''<br />

. In a subsequent chapter, we will tell how an effort was made by Sir<br />

Robert Montgomery, in 1717, to establish within <strong>the</strong> Province <strong>of</strong> Caro<br />

lina on what is now <strong>the</strong> Territory <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong>, a separate jurisdiction to<br />

be called <strong>the</strong> Margravate <strong>of</strong> Azilia; but <strong>the</strong> ambitious scheme <strong>of</strong> this<br />

English nobleman, failing to enlist popular support, was finally<br />

abandoned.<br />

Meanwhile great dissatisfaction had resulted from <strong>the</strong> government <strong>of</strong><br />

Carolina by <strong>the</strong> Lords Proprietors, seven <strong>of</strong> whom deeded back to <strong>the</strong><br />

crown all rights and titles held by <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong>se lands. Lord Carteret<br />

alone retained his interests. When a charter was granted to <strong>the</strong> trus<br />

tees <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> only an undivided moiety <strong>of</strong> seven-eights was conveyed<br />

to <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> lands lying between <strong>the</strong> Savannah and <strong>the</strong> Altamaha<br />

rivers. But Lord Carteret subsequently deeded to <strong>the</strong>m his interest;<br />

and thus was <strong>Georgia</strong>'s title perfected.<br />

To quell <strong>the</strong> Indians who had been incited by French and Spanish<br />

traders to make inroads upon <strong>the</strong> Carolina settlements, Governor Moore<br />

invaded <strong>the</strong> territory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indians west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Savannah River and<br />

compelled <strong>the</strong> Province <strong>of</strong> Appalachee to submit to English rule. At a<br />

later period <strong>the</strong> Yemassees, driven out <strong>of</strong> Carolina by Governor Craven,<br />

allied <strong>the</strong>mselves with <strong>the</strong> Florida Seminoles among whom <strong>the</strong>y found<br />

homes. In 1729 a treaty <strong>of</strong> peace between England, France, and Spain<br />

was signed at Seville, <strong>the</strong> object <strong>of</strong> which was to adjust rival interests in<br />

<strong>the</strong> new world; but its effect was only to produce a temporary lull.<br />

Meanwhile, <strong>the</strong> Seminoles on <strong>the</strong> south and <strong>the</strong> Cherokees on <strong>the</strong> west<br />

still menaced <strong>the</strong> Carolina frontier; while French and Spanish traders<br />

continued to dwell among <strong>the</strong>m, enjoying <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>its <strong>of</strong> an extensive<br />

barter.<br />

There were great advantages to be gained from cultivating more inti<br />

mate trade relations with <strong>the</strong> Indian tribes. Consequently, England, in<br />

1730, dispatched Sir Alexander Cuming, a Scotchman, on a secret mis<br />

sion to accomplish this object. Successful beyond his most sanguine<br />

expectations, especially in his visit to <strong>the</strong> Cherokees, he negotiated a<br />

treaty with <strong>the</strong>se Indians, who agreed to submit <strong>the</strong>mselves to <strong>the</strong><br />

sovereignty <strong>of</strong> King George. Several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chiefs accompanied him to<br />

England where <strong>the</strong>y were received with great popular enthusiasm. It<br />

was <strong>the</strong> first visit <strong>of</strong> an American Indian to <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r country; but<br />

<strong>the</strong>se savages were no less objects <strong>of</strong> interest to <strong>the</strong> English people than<br />

were <strong>the</strong> sights <strong>of</strong> London to <strong>the</strong>se children <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest. Portraits were<br />

painted <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indians, attired in English garments, standing amid <strong>the</strong><br />

tall trees <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> park in London.* «<br />

Dating from this visit <strong>of</strong> Sir Alexander Cuming, England's trade<br />

relations not only with <strong>the</strong> Cherokees but also with <strong>the</strong> Creeks became<br />

extensive and <strong>the</strong>re followed an influx <strong>of</strong> Scotch traders, some <strong>of</strong> whom<br />

intermarried with chiefs, producing <strong>the</strong> noted leaders <strong>of</strong> mixed blood<br />

'History <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong>," Charles 0. Jones, Jr., Vol. I, p. 78.

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