Letter from James Oglethorpe to Sir John Phillips, Bart.

St. Helen's Road [near y?]

Isle of Wight June 16, 1734

Sir,

Tis with pleasure I acquaint you I left Mr. Van [Von] Reck, the two Ministers and all the Congregation of the Saltsburgers in perfect health. They are a sober industrious, cheerfull & devout people. God has been pleased visibly to protect them in their Passage as Mr. Van Reck has mentioned at Large in his Letters to Mr. Newman. They are settled to their Satisfaction upon a River which they have named Eben-ezer; where they intend to erect a Stone Pillar "in memory of God's having delivered them from Persecution & led them to the utmost parts of the Earth, where they may praise his name with freedom and be a Light to the Gentily." These are the Ministers own words as near as I can translate them and indeed there does seem to be a Door opened towards the Conversion of the Indians; for one of the Indian chiefs, called Tomo cha chi the Meeko of Yammacraw a Man of excellent understanding is so desirous of having their Youth instructed in the English Learning and consequently in the Christian Religion that he is come over notwithstanding his great age to solicit for a means of instructing their people: he is now with me & has brought with him a youth whom he calls his nephew & next heir; this Child hath already learnt the Lord's prayer both in Indian & English. I shall leave the Indians at my house in the Country whilst I shall go to Town, where I hope to have the happiness of waiting upon you and acquainting you more fully with many things relating to this matter, at which I believe you be as much pleased as surprized. I am

Sir Your most obedient humble Servant

James Oglethorpe

Source: Copy of a letter in the collection of the Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia

(c) Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia