第 30 节
作者:疯狂热线      更新:2021-12-07 09:33      字数:9322
  very long ocean combers; with at intervals an abrupt break; a gap;
  cliff…guarded; boulder…strewn; with a narrow rushing stream making way
  between hemlocks and pines; sycamore; ash and beech; walnut and linden。
  Towards these blue mountains Spotswood and his knights rode day after day
  and came at last to the foot of the steep slope。 The long ridges were high;
  but not so high but that horse and man might make shift to scramble to the
  crest。 Up they climbed and from the heights they looked across and down
  into the Valley of Virginia; twenty miles wide; a hundred and twenty longa
  fertile garden spot。 Across the shimmering distances they saw the gray
  Alleghanies; fresh barrier to a fresh west。 Below them ran a clear river;
  afterwards to be called the Shenandoah。 They gazedthey predicted
  colonists; future plantations; future towns; for that great valley; large
  indeed as are some Old World kingdoms。 They drank the health of England's
  King; and named two outstanding peaks Mount George and Mount Alexander;
  then; because their senses were ravished by the Eden before them; they
  dubbed the river Euphrates。 They plunged and scrambled down the mountain
  side to the Euphrates; drank of it; bathed in it; rested; ate; and drank
  again。 The deep green woods were around them; above them they could see the
  hawk; the eagle; and the buzzard; and at their feet the bright fish of the
  river。
  At last they reclimbed the Blue Ridge; descended its eastern face; and;
  leaving the great wave of it behind them; rode homeward to Williamsburg in
  triumph。
  We are thus; with Spotswood and his band; on the threshold of expanding
  American vistas。 This Valley of Virginia; first a distant Beulah land for
  the eye of the imagination only; presently became a land of pioneer cabins;
  far apartvery far apartthen a settled land; of farms; hamlets; and
  market towns。 Nor did the folk come only from that elder Virginia of tidal
  waters and much tobacco; of 〃compleat gentlemen〃 at the capital; and of
  many slaves in the fields。 But downward from the Potomac; they came south
  into this valley; from Pennsylvania and Maryland; many of them Ulster Scots
  who had sailed to the western world。 In America they are called the
  ScotchIrish; and in the main they brought stout hearts; long arms; and
  level heads。 With these they brought in as luggage the dogmas of Calvin。
  They permeated the Valley of Virginia; many moved on south into Carolina;
  finally; in large part; they made Kentucky and Tennessee。 Germans; too;
  came into the valley…down from Pennsylvaniaquiet; thrifty folk; driven
  thus far westward from a war…ravished Rhine。
  Shrewd practicality trod hard upon the heels of romantic fancy in the mind
  of Spotswood。 His Order of the Knights of the Horseshoe had a fleeting
  existence; but the Vision of the West lived on。 Frontier folk in growing
  numbers were encouraged to make their way from tidewater to the foot of the
  Blue Ridge。 Spotsylvania and King George were names given to new counties
  in the Piedmont in honor of the Governor and the sovereign。 German
  craftsmen; who had been sent over by Queen Annevine…dressers and
  ironworkerswere settled on Spotswood's own estate above the falls of the
  Rapidan。 The little town of Germanna sprang up; famous for its smelting
  furnaces。
  To his country seat in Spotsylvania; Alexander Spotswood retired when he
  laid down the office of Governor in 1722。 But his talents were too valuable
  to be allowed to rust in inactivity。 He was appointed deputy
  Postmaster…General for the English colonies; and in the course of his
  administration made one Benjamin Franklin Postmaster for Philadelphia。 He
  was on the point of sailing with Admiral Vernon on the expedition against
  Cartagena in 1740; when he was suddenly stricken and died。 He was buried at
  Temple Farm by Yorktown。 On the expedition to Cartagena went one Lawrence
  Washington; who named his countryseat after the Admiral and whose brother
  George many years later was to receive the surrender of Cornwallis and his
  army hard by the resting…place of Alexander Spotswood。 Colonial Virginia
  lies behind us。 The era of revolution and statehood beckons us on。
  CHAPTER XVI。 GEORGIA
  Below Charleston in South Carolina; below Cape Fear; below Port Royal; a
  great river called the Savannah poured into the sea。 Below the Savannah;
  past the Ogeechee; sailing south between the sandy islands and the main;
  ships came to the mouth of the river Altamaha。 Thus far was Carolina。 But
  below Altamaha the coast and the country inland became debatable; probably
  Florida and Spanish; liable at any rate to be claimed as such; and
  certainly open to attack from Spanish St。 Augustine。
  Here lay a stretch of seacoast and country within hailing distance of
  semi…tropical lands。 It was low and sandy; with innumerable slow…flowing
  watercourses; creeks; and inlets from the sea。 The back country; running up
  to hills and even mountains stuffed with ores; was not knownthough indeed
  Spanish adventurers had wandered there and mined for gold。 But the lowlands
  were warm and dense with trees and wild life。 The Huguenot Ribault; making
  report of this region years and years before; called it 〃a fayre coast
  stretching of a great length; covered with an infinite number of high and
  fayre trees; 〃 and he described the land as the 〃fairest; fruitfullest; and
  pleasantest of all the world; abounding in hony; venison; wilde fowle;
  forests; woods of all sorts; Palm…trees; Cypresse and Cedars; Bayes ye
  highest and greatest; with also the fayrest vines in all the world 。 。 。 。
  And the sight of the faire medows is a pleasure not able to be expressed
  with tongue; full of Hernes; Curlues; Bitters; Mallards; Egrepths;
  Woodcocks; and all other kind of small birds; with Harts; Hindes; Buckes;
  wilde Swine; and all other kindes of wilde beastes; as we perceived well;
  both by their footing there and 。 。 。 their crie and roaring in the
  night。〃* This is the country of the liveoak and the magnolia; the gray;
  swinging moss and the yellow jessamine; the chameleon and the mockingbird。
  * Winsor's 〃Narrative and Critical History of America〃; vol。 V; p。 357。
  The Savannah and Altamaha rivers and the wide and deep lands between fell
  in that grant of Charles II's to the eight Lords Proprietors of
  CarolinaAlbemarle; Clarendon; and the rest。 But this region remained as
  yet unpeopled save by copperhued folk。 True; after the 〃American Treaty〃 of
  1670 between England and Spain; the English built a small fort upon
  Cumberland Island; south of the Altamaha; and presently another Fort
  Georgeto the northwest of the first; at the confluence of the rivers
  Oconee and Oemulgee。 There were; however; no true colonists between the
  Savannah and the Altamaha。
  In the year 1717the year after Spotswood's Expedition … the Carolina
  Proprietaries granted to one Sir Robert Mountgomery all the land between
  the rivers Savannah and Altamaha; 〃with proper jurisdictions; privileges;
  prerogatives; and franchises。〃 The arrangement was feudal enough。 The new
  province was to be called the Margravate of Azilia。 Mountgomery; as
  Margrave; was to render to the Lords of Carolina an annual quitrent and
  one…fourth part of all gold and silver found in Azilia。 He must govern in
  accordance with the laws of England; must uphold the established religion
  of England; and provide by taxation for the maintenance of the clergy。 In
  three years' time the new Margrave must colonize his Margravate; and if he
  failed to do so; all his rights would disappear and Azilia would again
  dissolve into Carolina。
  This was what happened。 For whatever reason; Mountgomery could not obtain
  his colonists。 Azilia remained a paper land。 The years went by。 The
  country; unsettled yet; lapsed into the Carolina from which so tentatively
  it had been parted。 Over its spaces the Indian still roved; the tall
  forests still lifted their green crowns; and no axe was heard nor any
  English voice。
  In the decade that followed; the Lords Proprietors of Carolina ceased to be
  Lords Proprietors。 Their government had been; save at exceptional moments;
  confused; oppressive; now absent…minded; and now mistaken and arbitrary。
  They had meant very well; but their knowledge was not exact; and now
  virtual revolution in South Carolina assisted their demise。 After lengthy
  negotiations; at last; in 1729; all except Lord Granville surrendered to
  the Crown; for a considerable sum; their rights and interests。 Carolina;
  South and North; thereupon became royal colonies。
  In England there dwelled a man named James Edward Oglethorpe; son of Sir
  Theophilus Oglethorpe of Godalming in Surrey。 Though entered at Oxford; he
  soon left his books for the army and was present at the siege and taking of
  Belgrade in 1717。 Peace descending; the young man returned to England; and
  on the death of his elder brother came into the estate; and was presently
  made Member of Parliament for Haslemere in Surrey。
  His character was a firm and generous one; his bent; markedly humane。
  〃Strong benevolence of soul;〃 Pope says he had。 His century; too; was
  becoming humane; was inquiring into ancient wrongs。 There arose; among
  other things; a belated notion of prison reform。 The English Parliament
  u