第 31 节
作者:疯狂热线      更新:2021-12-07 09:33      字数:9322
  becoming humane; was inquiring into ancient wrongs。 There arose; among
  other things; a belated notion of prison reform。 The English Parliament
  undertook an investigation; and Oglethorpe was of those named to examine
  conditions and to make a report。 He came into contact with the incarcerated
  … not alone with the law…breaker; hardened or yet to be hardened; but with
  the wrongfully imprisoned and with the debtor。 The misery of the debtor
  seems to have struck with insistent hand upon his heart's door。 The
  parliamentary inquiry was doubtless productive of some good; albeit
  evidently not of great good。 But though the inquiry was over; Oglethorpe's
  concern was not over。 It brooded; and; in the inner clear light where ideas
  grow; eventually brought forth results。
  Numbers of debtors lay in crowded and noisome English prisons; there often
  from no true fault at all; at times even because of a virtuous action;
  oftenest from mere misfortune。 If they might but start again; in a new
  land; free from entanglements! Others; too; were in prison;; whose crimes
  were negligible; mere mistaken moves with no evil will behind them … or; if
  not so negligible; then happening often through that misery and ignorance
  for which the whole world was at fault。 There was also the broad and
  well…filled prison of poverty; and many of the prisoners there needed only
  a better start。 James Edward Oglethorpe conceived another settlement in
  America; and for colonists he would have all these down…trodden and
  oppressed。 He would gather; if he might; only those who when helped would
  help themselveswho when given opportunity would rise out of old slough
  and briar。 He was personally open to the appeal of still another class of
  unfortunate men。 He had seen upon the Continent the distress of the poor
  and humble Protestants in Catholic countries。 Folk of this kindfrom
  France; from Germanyhad been going in a thin stream for years to the New
  World。 But by his plan more might be enabled to escape petty tyranny or
  persecution。 He had influence; and his scheme appealed to the humane
  thought of his dayappealed; too; to the political thought。 In America
  there was that debatable and unoccupied land south of Charles Town in South
  Carolina。 It would be very good to settle it; and none had taken up the
  idea with seriousness since Azilia had failed。 Such a colony as was now
  contemplated would dispose of Spanish claims; serve as a buffer colony
  between Florida and South Carolina; and establish another place of trade。
  The upshot was that the Crown granted to Oglethorpe and twenty associates
  the unsettled land between the Savannah and the Altamaha; with a westward
  depth that was left quite indefinite。 This territory; which was now severed
  from Carolina; was named Georgia after his Majesty King George II; and
  Oglethorpe and a number of prominent men became the trustees of the new
  colony。 They were to act as such for twenty…one years; at the end of which
  time Georgia should pass under the direct government of the Crown。
  Parliament gave to the starting of things ten thousand pounds; and wealthy
  philanthropic individuals followed suit with considerable donations。 The
  trustees assembled; organized; set to work。 A philanthropic body; they drew
  from the like minded far and near。 Various agencies worked toward getting
  together and sifting the colonists for Georgia。 Men visited the prisons for
  debtors and others。 They did not choose at random; but when they found the
  truly unfortunate and undepraved in prison they drew them forth; compounded
  with their creditors; set the prisoners free; and enrolled them among the
  emigrants。 Likewise they drew together those who; from sheer poverty;
  welcomed this opportunity。 And they began a correspondence with distressed
  Protestants on the Continent。 They also devised and used all manner of
  safeguards against imposition and the inclusion of any who would be wholly
  burdens; moral or physical。 So it happened that; though misfortune had laid
  on almost all a heavy hand; the early colonists to Georgia were by no means
  undesirable flotsam and jetsam。 The plans for the colony; the hopes for its
  well…being; wear a tranquil and fair countenance。
  Oglethorpe himself would go with the first colonists。 His ship was the Anne
  of two hundred tons burden…the last English colonizing ship with which this
  narrative has to doand to her weathered sails there still clings a
  fascination。 On board the Anne; beside the crew and master; are Oglethorpe
  himself and more than a hundred and twenty Georgia settlers; men; women;
  and children。 The Anne shook forth her sails in mid…November; 1732; upon
  the old West Indies sea road; and after two months of prosperous faring;
  came to anchor in Charles Town harbor。
  South Carolina; approving this Georgia settlement which was to open the
  country southward and be a wall against Spain; received the colonists with
  hospitality。 Oglethorpe and the weary colonists rested from long travel;
  then hoisted sail again and proceeded on their way to Port Royal; and
  southward yet to the mouth of the Savannah。 Here there was further tarrying
  while Oglethorpe and picked men went in a small boat up the river to choose
  the site where they should build their town。
  Here; upon the lower reaches; there lay a fair plateau; a mile long; rising
  forty feet above the stream。 Near by stood a village of well…inclined
  Indiansthe Yamacraws。 Ships might float upon the river; close beneath the
  tree…crowned bluff。 It was springtime now and beautiful in the southern
  landthe sky azure; the air delicate; the earth garbed in flowers。 Little
  wonder then that Oglethorpe chose Yamacraw Bluff for his town。
  A trader from Carolina was found here; and the trader's wife; a half…breed;
  Mary Musgrove by name; did the English good service。 She made her Indian
  kindred friends with the newcomers。 From the first Oglethorpe dealt wisely
  with the red men。 In return for many coveted goods; he procured within the
  year a formal cession of the land between the two rivers and the islands
  off the coast。 He swore friendship and promised to treat the Indians
  justly; and he kept his oath。 The site chosen; he now returned to the Anne
  and presently brought his colonists up the river to that fair place。 As
  soon as they landed; these first Georgians began immediately to build a
  town which they named Savannah。
  Ere long other emigrants arrived。 In 1734 came seventy…eight German
  Protestants from Salzburg; with Baron von Reck and two pastors for leaders。
  The next year saw fifty…seven others added to these。 Then came Moravians
  with their pastor。 All these strong; industrious; religious folk made
  settlements upon the river above Savannah。 Italians came; Piedmontese sent
  by the trustees to teach the coveted silk…culture。 Oglethorpe; when he
  sailed to England in 1734; took with him Tomochi…chi; chief of the
  Yamacraws; and other Indians。 English interest in Georgia increased。
  Parliament gave more money26;000 pounds。 Oglethorpe and the trustees
  gathered more colonists。 The Spanish cloud seemed to be rolling up in the
  south; and it was desirable to have in Georgia a number of men who were by
  inheritance used to war。 Scotch Highlanders…there would be the right folk!
  No sooner said than gathered。 Something under two hundred; courageous and
  hardy; were enrolled from the Highlands。 The majority were men; but there
  were fifty women and children with them。 All went to Georgia; where they
  settled to the south of Savannah; on the Altamaha; near the island of St。
  Simon。 Other Highlanders followed。 They had a fort and a town which they
  named New Inverness; and the region that they peopled they called Darien。
  Oglethorpe himself left England late in 1735; with two ships; the Symond
  and the London Merchant; and several hundred colonists aboard。 Of these
  folk doubtless a number were of the type the whole enterprise had been
  planned to benefit。 Others were Protestants from the Continent。 Yet
  othersnotably Sir Francis Bathurst and his familywent at their own
  charges。 After Oglethorpe himself; most remarkable perhaps of those going
  to Georgia were the brothers John and Charles Wesley。 Not precisely
  colonists are the Wesleys; but prospectors for the souls of the colonists;
  and the souls of the IndiansYamacraws; Uchees; and Creeks。
  They all landed at Savannah; and now planned to make a settlement south of
  their capital city; by the mouth of Altamaha。 Oglethorpe chose St。 Simon's
  Island; and here they built; and called their town Frederica。
  〃Each Freeholder had 60 Feet in Front by 90 Feet in depth upon the high
  Street for House and Garden; but those which fronted the River had but 30
  in Front; by 60 Feet in depth。 Each Family had a Bower of Palmetto Leaves
  finished upon the back Street in their own Lands。 The side toward the front
  Street was set out for their Houses。 These Palmetto Bowers were very
  convenient shelters; being tight in the hardest Rains; they were about 20
  Feet long and 14 Feet wide; and in regular Rows looked very pretty; the
  Palmetto Leaves lying smooth and handsome; and of a good Colour。 The whole
  appeared something like a Camp; for the Bowers looked like Tents; only
  being larger and covered with Palm