Mar. 5. A. S. S. W. arose, which carried us, through the Mercy of Jesus Christ, within sight of Carolina. We sung Te Deum, and the 66th Psalm, which was the Psalm for the Day, and seemed adapted to our Condition and Circumstances: and we trust it will be a Psalm of Rememberance to us upon the Day, which is to be celebrated every Year, as a Thanksgiving unto the Lord, for all his Mercies vouchsafed unto us. At Eleven in the Forenoon, we discovered the Coast of Carolina, all covered over with large Pine Trees. The Wind being N. W. by W. contrary, we could not reach the Point of Charlestown, so that we were forced, as we had been in our Voyage from Rotterdam to Dover, to stand off and on several times, in order to get more Wind. God acts, with us, as he did with the Israelites: Joshua was to circumcise all those who were willing to enter into Canaan: so God is willing to circumcise; amend, and convert our Hearts, before he let us disembark. Towards Evening, we met an English Ship, which came from Charlestown this Afternoon, and was bound for London. He told us the agreeable News of Mr. Oglethorpe's being safely arrived the Night before at Charles-town, in his Way to England, which mightily rejoiced and comforted us.
Mar. 6. At six in the Morning, the Wind blowing hard at West, we lost Sight of Land; though at Noon, the Wind coming to the South, we saw Land again: but Night approaching, we lay off and on.
Mar. 7. At Nine, there came from Charles-town, a Pilot on Board our Ship, we immediately cast Anchor; and at Ten, the Captain, the Reverend Divines, and I went into the Pilot's Boat. At one in the Afternoon, we came to Charles-town, where I immediately waited on his Excellency Robert Johnson Esq; and Mr. Oglethorpe. They were glad to hear that the Saltzaburgers were come within six Leagues, all safe and in good health, without the Loss of any one Person. Mr. Oglethorpe showed me a Plan of Georgia, and gave me the Liberty to choose a Settlement for the Saltzburgers, either near the Sea, or further in the Continent. I accordingly accepted his Favour, and chose a Place 21 Miles from theTown of Savannah, and 30 Miles from the Sea, where there are Rivers, little Hills, clear Brooks, cool Springs, a fertile Soil, and plenty of Grass.
Charles-town is a fine Town, and a Sea-Port, and enjoys an extensive Trade. It is built on a Flat, and has large Streets: the Houses good, mostly built of Wood, some of Brick. Wheat Bread is very dear here, there being no Wheat Flour but what Gentlemen raise upon their Plantations for their own Use, and that is very good; or what they receive from the Northern Colonies, or from England; Rice is here excellent and cheap. there are five Negroes to one White, and there are imported generally 3000 fresh Negroes every Year. There are computed to be 30,000 Negroes in this Province, all of them Slaves, and their Posterity for ever: They work six Days in the Week for their Masters without pay, and are allowed to work on Sundays for themselves. Baptism is rarely here administer'd to the Children of the Negroes, and Marriage is not in use amongst them; but they are suffer'd promiscuously to mix, as if they were a Part of the Brute Creation. Being thus used, lays amongst them a Foundation of Discontent; and they are generally thought to watch an Opportunity of revolting against their Masters, as they have lately done in the Island of St. John and of St. Thomas, belonging to the Danes and Sweeds; and it is the Apprehension of these and other Inconveniences, that has induced the Honourable Trustees for Georgia, to prohibit the Importation and Use of Negroes within their Colony.
Mr. Oglethorpe sent on Board our Ship, by the Pilot's Sloop, a large Quantity of fresh Beef, two Butts of Wine, two Tunn of Spring Water, Cabbage, Turnips, Radishes, Fruit, &c. as a present from the Trustees, to refresh the Saltzburgers after their long Voyage; for which Kindness (under God) we cannot be sufficiently thankful to them.
Mar. 8. We thought this Morning to have gone with the Pilot's Long Boat, on Board our Ship the Purrysburg, for the Captain had taken here a Pilot, to bring us into the River Savannah. Mr. Oglethorpe had given us for our Guide Mr. Dunbar, who knows the Country very well, and was already settled in Georgia, near the Place appointed for us. We thought, I say, to have gone this morning; but the Boat was too much loaded, and theWind, which was E. S. E. though favourable for Georgia, was contrary for us to reach our Ship. We returned to the Town, and lay there.
Mar. 9. We beg'd of God, that he would permit us to go to our Georgia. . We went away this Morning at ten, and got on Board our Ship at two in the Afternoon.
Mar. 10. God blessed us this Day with the Sight of our Country, our wish'd for Georgia, which we saw at ten in the Morning; and brought us unto the Savannah River, and caused us to remember the Vows we had made unto him, if He did through his infinite Goodness bring us hither. We were to day very much edified with the xxxii Chapter of Genesis, and the xxvi of Leviticus. At Noon, we cast Anchor because of the Tide: at eight, during the Evening Prayers, we enter'd the River of Savannah; and were shelter'd by the Divine Goodness, from all Dangers and Inconveniencies of the Sea. This River is in some Places broader than the Rhine, and from 16 to 25 Foot deep; and abounds with Oysters, Sturgeon, and other Fish. Its Banks were cloathed with fresh Grass; and a little beyond were seen Woods, old as the Creation; resounding with the Musick of Birds, who sung the Praise of their Creator.