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CHAPTER VII
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PLAN OF SAVANNAH DRAWN BEFORE OGLETHORPE LEAVES ENGLAND—
HUNDREDS EAGER TO EMBARK FOR GEORGIA—SELECTING EMIGRANTS
—EIGID EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS—ONLY THE WORTHY CHOSEN—
PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE—THIRTY-FIVE FAMILIES SET SAIL FOR
GEORGIA ON NOVEMBER 17, 1732—OGLETHORPE ACCOMPANIES THE EX
PEDITION—PEN-PICTURE OF THE GREAT HUMANITARIAN AND SOLDIER—
Two CHILDREN DIE AT SEA—CHARLESTON Is SAFELY REACHED—JOY
OF THE COLONISTS—SOUTH CAROLINA'S WELCOME TO OGLETHORPE—
ROYALLY ENTERTAINED—WITH COL. WILLIAM BULL, THE FOUNDER
SETS OUT ON A RBCONNOITERING TOUR—SAILS UP THE SAVANNAH
RIVER—LOCATES THE SITE OF A TOWN ON A HIGH BLUFF—MAKES A
TREATY WITH TOMO-CHI-CHI, AN AGED Mico, OF THE YAMACRAWS, A
SMALL DETACHED TRIBE OF THE CREEK INDIANS—RETURNS TO CHAR
LESTON—CONDUCTS THE COLONISTS TO YAMACRAW BLUFF—THE EX
PEDITION LANDS ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 12, 1733—GEORGIA
DAY.
Oglethorpe, while still in England, devising plans for his settlement,
drew the diagram of a town to embody his conception of a military
stronghold and to constitute at the same a civic center for the new prov
ince. Savannah, therefore, began to exist in embryo long before its
foundations were actually laid upon the bluffs at Yamacraw. We will
discuss somewhat more in detail the specifications of this plan at a later
period. We pause just here only to record in its proper chronological
place an interesting fact. The future metropolis of Georgia's seaboard,
though still unnamed, was already, so to speak, in life. It only needed to
be transferred from England to Georgia. Its earliest inhabitants were
already gathering upon the banks of the Thames and, with rosy anticipa
tions of a bright tomorrow, were waiting for the hour to sail.
But let us not anticipate. Having secured funds sufficient to launch
the new enterprise and to defray its initial expenses and furthermore
having adopted regulations for governing the colony soon to be planted,
it was next in order to secure emigrants. To this end the trustees an
nounced themselves ready to receive applications from all who wished to
emigrate to Georgia. The bare announcement was like an opening of the
flood-gates. Applications poured in upon the trustees. To give these
an unbiased consideration, a committee was appointed from the trust
to visit the prisons. Its object was to inquire into the worthiness of all
applicants and when satisfied on this point to make compromises with
creditors for whatever debts were due, to assume payment thereof, and
to procure a release of the debtor.
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