Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe

Biographical Memorials of James
Oglethorpe

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by Thaddeus Mason Harris
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Title: Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe
Author: Thaddeus Mason Harris
Release Date: January 11, 2004 [eBook #10677]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORIALS OF JAMES OGLETHORPE***
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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORIALS OF JAMES OGLETHORPE,
FOUNDER OF THE COLONY OF GEORGIA, IN NORTH
AMERICA.
by THADDEUS MASON HARRIS, D.D.
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES; OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT ATHENS,
GREECE; OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY;
THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY; THE AMERICAN
ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY; AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER

OF THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
MDCCCXLI.

TO THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENTS, THE OFFICERS
AND MEMBERS
OF THE
GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
THIS WORK IS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

TO I.K. TEFFT, ESQ., WILLIAM B. STEVENS, M.D., AND A.A.
SMETS, ESQ., _OF SAVANNAH_;
WITH A LIVELY SENSE OF THE INTEREST WHICH THEY
HAVE TAKEN IN THE PUBLICATION OF THIS WORK, THIS
PAGE IS INSCRIBED BY THEIR OBLIGED AND GRATEFUL
FRIEND,
THADDEUS MASON HARRIS.

"Thy great example will in glory shine, A favorite theme with Poet and
Divine; Posterity thy merits shall proclaim, And add new honor to thy
deathless fame."
On his return from Georgia, 1735.
[Illustration: GEN. JAMES OGLETHORPE. _This sketch was taken in
February preceding his decease when he was reading without
spectacles at the sale of the library of Dr. S. Johnson.

PREFACE
Having visited the South for the benefit of my health, I arrived at
Savannah, in Georgia, on the 10th of February, 1834; and, indulging
the common inquisitiveness of a stranger about the place, was informed
that just one hundred and one years had elapsed since the first settlers
were landed there, and the city laid out. Replies to other inquiries, and
especially a perusal of McCall's History of the State, excited a lively
interest in the character of General OGLETHORPE, who was the

founder of the Colony, and in the measures which he pursued for its
advancement, defence, and prosperity. I was, however, surprised to
learn that no biography had been published of the man who projected
an undertaking of such magnitude and importance; engaged in it on
principles the most benevolent and disinterested; persevered till its
accomplishment, under circumstances exceedingly arduous, and often
discouraging; and lived to see "a few become a thousand," and a weak
one "the flourishing part of a strong nation."
So extraordinary did Dr. Johnson consider the adventures, enterprise,
and exploits of this remarkable man, that "he urged him to give the
world his life." He said, "I know of no man whose life would be more
interesting. If I were furnished with materials, I would be very glad to
write it." This was a flattering offer. The very suggestion implied that
the great and worthy deeds, which Oglethorpe had performed, ought to
be recorded for the instruction, the grateful acknowledgment, and just
commendation of contemporaries; and their memorial transmitted with
honor to posterity. "The General seemed unwilling to enter upon it
then;" but, upon a subsequent occasion, communicated to Boswell a
number of particulars, which were committed to writing; but that
gentleman "not having been sufficiently diligent in obtaining more
from him," death closed the opportunity of procuring all the requisite
information.
There was a memoir drawn up soon after his decease, which has been
attributed to Capel Lofft, Esq., and published in the European
Magazine. This was afterwards adopted by Major McCall; and, in an
abridged form, appended to the first volume of his History of Georgia.
It is preserved, also, as a note, in the second volume of Nichols's
Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, with some references
and additional information. But it is too brief and meagre to do justice
to the memory of one of whom it has been said, "His life was full of
variety, adventure, and achievement. His ruling passions were, the love
of glory, of his country, and of mankind; and these were so blended
together in his mind that they formed but one principle of action. He
was a hero, a statesman, an orator; the patron of letters, the chosen
friend of men of genius, and the theme of praise for great poets."[1]
The writer of this elegant encomium, adds this remark: "AN
AUTHENTIC AND TOLERABLY MINUTE LIFE OF

OGLETHORPE IS A DESIDERATUM." Such a desideratum I have
endeavored to supply. This, however, has been a