the language of the Indians to be able to translate this book; or had they been sufficiently instructed to permit them to read it with advantage, I doubt not that we should immediately see surprising results from it; but God will accomplish his good work by the means which he will judge proper to employ.  I have written to Mr. Varelst to buy, to the amount of five pounds sterling, copies of your father’s work, and to send them to me.

“Have the kindness to commend me to the prayers of a Divine so worthy and pious; and be assured that I am,

“Your affectionate friend, and very humble and obedient servant,

“JAMES OGLETHORPE.”

The Trustees were now desirous of obtaining proper persons to go to Georgia to teach, and endeavor to convert, the Indians; and to officiate as chaplains to the colonists at Savannah, and at the new town about to be built on the island of St. Simons.  They fixed their eyes upon Mr. John Wesley and some of his associates, as very proper for such a mission.  The amiable and excellent Dr. John Burton,[1] one of the Board, who was well acquainted with Wesley, having learned that he was in London, went thither himself, in order to accompany him to Oglethorpe, with whom, indeed, he was already acquainted by family attentions as well as public fame.  The matter was proposed to Wesley, and strongly urged by such arguments as they thought most likely to dispose his mind to accept the proposal.[2] Several influential friends concurred in advising him to go; and, as even his mother encouraged it, he yielded his compliance.  His brother Charles agreed to accompany him, as did Benjamin Ingham, a member of their association at Oxford, and Charles Delamotte, son of a merchant in London.

[Footnote 1:  When the settling of Georgia was in agitation, in 1732, Dr. Burton was solicited by the excellent Dr. Bray, and other Episcopal Clergymen,[A] to give his assistance in promoting that undertaking.  Accordingly he preached a Sermon in its recommendation before the Society for conducting it; and his Discourse was afterwards published, with an Appendix concerning the State of the Colony.  BENTHAM, de vita et moribus Johannis Burtoni. 8vo.  London, 1771, page 12.]

[Footnote A:  Rev. Dr. HALES, Dr. BERRIMAN, and others.]

[Footnote 2:  Life of the Rev.  JOHN WESLEY and of the Rev.  CHARLES WESLEY, his brother, by the Rev. HENRY MOORE. 8vo.  Lond. 1824. 2 vol.  Vol.  I. p. 334.  This interview was on the 28th of April, 1735.]

In consequence of this engagement of the Wesleys, the General deemed it highly proper to visit their venerable and excellent parents at Epworth, not only to confirm their consent, but to communicate to them such information as should interest them strongly in every measure which aimed at the instruction, civilization, and christianizing of the natives of Georgia, from whom he and the new settlers had met so kind a reception.  A reference to this, gives me the opportunity of introducing a letter from that aged minister, the Reverend Samuel Wesley, written rather more than a year before, in which he mentions the progress which he had made in a work that he was about to publish, and acknowledges the obligations which he was under to the General for kindnesses shown to himself and sons.[1]