ed a plan
which they thought would eradicate the evil by striking at its very
root, the difficulty which many found in earning a living in the
overcrowded cities.

In 1663 King Charles II. had granted to eight "Lords Proprietors" the
portion of North America lying between the 31st and 36th degrees of
latitude, enlarging the boundaries in 1665 to 29 deg. and 36 deg. 30
min. By 1728 most of these Lords Proprietors had tired of their attempt
to govern the colonies they had established in "Carolina", and in
1729 seven of the eight sold their interest to the English crown, the
district being divided into "North Carolina", "South Carolina", and a
more southerly portion, nominally included in the latter, which was held
in reserve.

To this unused land the thoughts of Oglethorpe turned, and he and his
friends addressed a memorial to the Privy Council, stating "that the
cities of London, Westminster, and parts adjacent, do abound with great
numbers of indigent persons, who are reduced to such necessity as to
become burthensome to the public, and who would be willing to seek a
livelihood in any of his majesty's plantations in America, if they were
provided with a passage, and means of settling there." They therefore
asked for a grant of land lying south of the Savannah River, where they
wished to establish a colony in which these unfortunate men might begin
life anew, and where Protestants, persecuted in some parts of Europe,
might find a refuge. They also offered to take entire charge of the
affair, and their petition, after passing through the usual channels,
was approved by the King, George II, a charter was prepared, and the
great seal was affixed June 9th, 1732.

This instrument constituted twenty-one noblemen and gentlemen a body
corporate, by the name and style of "The Trustees for establishing the
Colony of Georgia in America", and in them was vested full authority for
the collecting of subscriptions and the expending of moneys gathered,
the selection of colonists, and the making and administering of laws
in Georgia; but no member of the corporation was allowed to receive
a salary, or any fees, or to hold land in the new province. The
undertaking was to be strictly for the good of others, not for their
own pecuniary benefit. The charter granted to them "all those lands,
countries, and territories situate, lying and being in that part of
South Carolina, in America" between the Savannah and Altamaha, gave them
permissio