He willingly encountered in their behalf a variety of fatigue and danger, and thus became the founder of the Colony of Georgia; a Colony which afterwards set the noble example of prohibiting the importation of slaves This new establishment he strenuously and successfully defended against a powerful attack of the Spaniards.  In the year in which he quitted England to found this settlement, he nobly strove to secure our true national defence by sea and land, —­a free navy—­ without impressing a constitutional militia.  But his social affections were more enlarged than even the term Patriotism can express; he was the friend of the oppressed negro,—­ no part of the globe was too remote,—­ no interest too unconnected,—­ or too much opposed to his own, to prevent the immediate succor of suffering humanity.  For such qualities he received, from the ever memorable John, Duke of Argyle, a full testimony, in the British Senate, to his military character, his natural generosity, his contempt of danger, and regard for the Public.  A similar encomium is perpetuated in a foreign language;[1] and, by one of our most celebrated Poets, his remembrance is transmitted to posterity in lines justly expressive of the purity, the ardor, and the extent of his benevolence.  He lived till the 1st of July, 1785; a venerable instance to what a duration a life of temperance and virtuous labor is capable of being protracted.  His widow, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Nathan Wright of Cranham hall, Bart. and only sister and heiress of Sir Samuel Wright, Bart. of the same place, surviving, with regret, but with due submission to Divine Providence, an affectionate husband, after an union of more than forty years, hath inscribed to his memory these faint traces of his excellent character.

  “Religion watches o’er his urn,
  And all the virtues bending mourn;
  Humanity, with languid eye,
  Melting for others’ misery;
  Prudence, whose hands a measure hold,
  And Temperance, with a chain of gold;
  Fidelity’s triumphant vest,
  And Fortitude in armor drest;
  Wisdom’s grey locks, and Freedom, join
  The moral train to bless his shrine,
  And pensive all, around his ashes holy,
  Their last sad honors pay in order melancholy."[2]

[Footnote 1:  Referring to the encomium of the Abbe Raynal, in his Histoire Philosophique et Politique.]

[Footnote 2:  These last verses were added by the old friend of the General, the Rev. Moses Browne.]

OBITUARY NOTICE

OF

MRS. ELIZABETH OGLETHORPE,

WITH EXTRACTS FROM HER WILL.

OBITUARY NOTICE

COPIED FROM THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE FOR 1787, PAGE 1025