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CHAPTER IV
OGLETHOEPE'S HUMANE ENTERPRISE NOT THE FIRST EFFORT TO COLONIZE
- GEORGIA—SIR EGBERT MONTGOMERY'S UTOPIAN SCHEME OP COLONI
ZATION—LAUNCHED IN 1717—His GRANDILOQUENT DESCRIPTION OF
OUR SOIL AND CLIMATE—COMPARES THE COUNTRY WITH PALESTINE
—THE MARGRAVATE OF AZILIA—DETAILS OP His PROPOSED SETTLE
MENT—To BE A COLOSSAL MILITARY STRONGHOLD TWENTY MILES
SQUARE, CENTERING AROUND THE MARGRAVE 's HOUSE—THOUGH WELL
ADVERTISED, THE SCHEME FAILED TO ELICIT SUPPORT AND PROVED
ONLY A MAGNIFICENT AIR-CASTLE.
. Oglethorpe's humane enterprise was not the' first effort to .colonize
the Territory of Georgia. Fifteen years before the galley Anne started
upon her long voyage to the new world, Sir Robert Montgomery con
ceived the ambitious idea of planting a colony between the Savannah
and the Altamaha rivers, to be called the Margravate of Azilia. It was
the most unique scheme of empire building which the human intellect
ever conceived. This region was pictured to the imagination of the
prospective colonist as another Land of Promise, and there was no lack
of zeal on the part of Sir Robert in exploiting the enterprise. But it
came to naught. The story is one of fascinating interest. However,
instead of telling it anew, we prefer to quote a few extracts from a well
digested account: *
'' In the summer of 1717, Sir Robert Montgomery secured from the
Lords Proprietors of Carolina a grant of land lying between the Alta
maha and the Savannah Rivers, with permission to make settlements on
the south side of the latter stream. This territory was to be erected
into a separate and independent province, was to be holden of Sir Robert,
his heirs and assigns forever, and was to be called the Margravate of
Azilia. A yearly quit-rent of a penny per acre for all lands occupied
was to be paid; such payment, however, not to commence until three
years after the arrival of the first ships transporting colonists. In addi
tion, Sir Robert covenanted to render to the Lords Proprietors one-
fourth of all the gold, silver, and royal minerals which might be found
within the limits of the ceded lands. Courts of justice were to be organ
ized and such laws enacted by the freemen of the Margravate as might
conduce to the general good and in no wise conflict with the statutes and
customs of England. The navigation of the rivers was to be free to all
the inhabitants of the colonies of North and South Carolina. A duty
was to be laid on skins, and the revenues thus derived were to be applied
to the maintenance of the clergy. Sir Robert, in consideration' of this
* '' History of Georgia,'' Charles J. Jones, Jr., Vol. I, pp. 70-82.
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