Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/94

62 Foundation of Georgia. [iV36-42 was called after the name of the river. The frankness and kindliness which were leading features in Oglethorpe's character at once won the good-will of the natives, and relieved the colony from all fear in that quarter. Early in 1736 a second settlement was formed, and received the name of Frederica. It was on St Simon's Island at the mouth of the Alatamaha river, about seventy miles south of Savannah. The site chosen faced the mainland, and could only be approached through a narrow strait ; and the town was fortified. The colony, though primarily intended for the good of destitute English citizens, was not wholly made up of such inhabitants. There were two foreign settlements, one of Moravians, and one of Protestants from Salzburg who had fled from the severity of a Roman Catholic archbishop. There was also a settlement of Highlanders, of great military value to the colony, forming a township called New Inverness, a little to the north of Frederica. Somewhat later another township was formed at Augusta, about a hundred miles above Savannah, on the river of that name. This, however, was rather a station for the Indian trade than a regular town. In 1736 the Spaniards in Florida excited Oglethorpe's suspicion by making an armed reconnaissance. Finding the colony, however, stronger than they expected, they abstained from active hostility, and Oglethorpe received a friendly visit from the Spanish governor. In 1739 war was declared between Great Britain and Spain ; and in the spring of 1740, Oglethorpe, relying on assistance promised from South Carolina, resolved to invade Florida and to attack the fortified town of St Augustine. His force consisted of 400 regulars whom he had brought out, two troops of irregular horse and one of foot, and a company of Highlanders, raised in the colony. He had also a large force of Indians, and 100 volunteers from South Carolina, while a fleet of six vessels was to co-operate. He reached St Augustine, but for various reasons could do nothing against it. The garrison had been reinforced, and was stronger than Oglethorpe had anticipated; the government of South Carolina failed to send adequate help ; the Indian allies were, as usual, useless for sustained operations ; and, most serious of all, Oglethorpe had no siege artillery. Moreover on such a coast, intersected by creeks and often untraversable, it was scarcely possible to keep up regular com- munication between the fleet and the land force. The siege had to be abandoned, and Oglethorpe retired into his own colony; but the Spaniards were not strong enough to retaliate or even to harass the retreating enemy. During the next year the colony was more than once alarmed by the appearance of Spanish vessels, evidently with hostile purpose ; but it was not till 1742 that any attempt was made at an invasion by land. In that year a force estimated at 5000 men, supported by a fleet of 41 sail, threatened Frederica. The result fully confirmed what the events of two years earlier had suggested, that in such a country there were