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China； Persia and the Madeiras。Special provision was therefore made to
secure the planting of mulberry trees as the first step towards silk culture；
the other branches to be introduced as speedily as might be。
Filled with enthusiasm for their plan； the Trustees proceeded to spread
abroad the most glowing descriptions of the country where the new colony
was to be settled。
〃The kind spring； which but salutes us here；Inhabits there； and courts
them all the year。 Ripe fruits and blossoms on the same trees live At
once they promise； when at once they give。 So sweet the air； so moderate
the clime；None sickly lives； or dies before his time。 Heaven； sure； has kept
this spot of earth uncurst；To shew how all things were created first。〃
So wrote Oglethorpe； quoting the lines as the best pen picture he could
give of the new land； and truly； if the colonists found the reality less
roseate than they anticipated； it was not the fault of their generous；
energetic leader； who spared neither pains nor means in his effort to make
all things work out as his imagination had painted them。
The Trustees having； with great care； selected thirty…five families from
the number who wished to go； the first emigrant ship sailed for Georgia in
November； 1732； bearing about one hundred and twenty…five 〃sober；
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The Moravians in Georgia
industrious and moral persons〃； and all needful stores for the
establishment of the colony。Early in the following year they reached
America； and Oglethorpe； having chosen a high bluff on the southern bank
of the Savannah River； concluded a satisfactory treaty with Tomochichi；
the chief of the nearest Indian tribe； which was later ratified in a full
Council of the chiefs of all the Lower Creeks。 His fairness and courteous
treatment won the hearts of all； especially of Tomochichi and his people；
who for many years remained on the best of terms with the town which
was now laid out upon the bluff。
The Salzburgers。
The Salzburgers； referred to by name in the proposals of the Georgia
Trustees； were； at this time； very much upon the mind and heart of
Protestant Europe。 They were Germans； belonging to the Archbishopric of
Salzburg； then the most eastern district of Bavaria； but now a province of
Austria。 〃Their ancestors； the Vallenges of Piedmont； had been compelled
by the barbarities of the Dukes of Savoy to find a shelter from the storms
of persecution in the Alpine passes and vales of Salzburg and the Tyrol；
before the Reformation； and frequently since； they had been hunted out by
the hirelings and soldiery of the Church of Rome； and condemned for their
faith to tortures of the most cruel and revolting kind。 In 1684…6； they were
again threatened with an exterminating persecution； but were saved in part
by the intervention of the Protestant States of Saxony and Brandenburg；
though more than a thousand emigrated on account of the dangers to
which they were exposed。
〃But the quietness which they then enjoyed for nearly half a century
was rudely broken in upon by Leopold； Count of Firmian and Archbishop
of Salzburg； who determined to reduce them to the Papal faith and power。
He began in the year 1729； and ere he ended in 1732 not far from thirty
thousand had been driven from their homes； to seek among the Protestant
States of Europe that charity and peace which were denied them in the
glens and fastnesses of their native Alps。
〃The march of these Salzburgers constitutes an epoch in the history of
Germany。* * *Arriving at Augsburg； the magistrates closed the gates
against them； refusing them entrance to that city which； two hundred years
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The Moravians in Georgia
before； through Luther and Melancthon and in the presence of Charles V
and the assembled Princes of Germany； had given birth to the celebrated
Augsburg Confession； for clinging to which the Salzburgers were now
driven from their homes； but overawed by the Protestants； the officers
reluctantly admitted the emigrants； who were kindly entertained by the
Lutherans。
〃The sympathies of Reformed Christendom were awakened on their
behalf； and the most hospitable entertainment and assistance were
everywhere given them。〃 Only a few months after the signing of the
Georgia Colony Charter； the 〃Society for the Propagation of Christian
Knowledge〃 requested the Trustees to include the Salzburgers in their
plans。 The Trustees expressed their willingness to grant lands； and to
manage any money given toward their expenses； but stated that they then
held no funds which were available for that purpose。
In May； 1733； the House of Commons appropriated 10；000 Pounds to
the Trustees of Georgia； 〃to be applied towards defraying the charges of
carrying over and settling foreign and other Protestants in said colony；〃
and over 3；000 Pounds additional having been given privately； the
Trustees； at the suggestion of Herr von Pfeil； consul of Wittenberg at
Regensberg； wrote to Senior Samuel Urlsperger； pastor of the Lutheran
Church of St。 Ann in the city of Augsburg； who had been very kind to the
Salzburgers on their arrival there； 〃and ever afterward watched over their
welfare with the solicitude of an affectionate father。〃On receipt of the
invitation from the Trustees； seventy…eight persons decided to go to
Georgia； and left Augsburg on the 21st of October； reaching Rotterdam the
27th of November； where they were joined by two ministers； Rev。 Mr。
Bolzius； deputy superintendent of the Latin Orphan School at Halle； and
Rev。 Mr。 Gronau； a tutor in the same； who were to accompany them to
their new home。In England they were treated with marked kindness； and
when they sailed； January 19； 1734； it was with the promise of free
transportation to Georgia； and support there until they could reap their first
harvest from the fifty acres which were to be given to each man among
them。
They reached Charlestown； South Carolina； the following March； and