Extract of a Letter from Mr. John Martin Boltzius to Mr.
Newman.
Most Honoured Sir; The Contents of Your Letters, which we received
in Dover from your own Hand, gave us singular Evidences of Your Favour
for us: therefore I hope surely, that you will accept this humble Letter, as
a Testimony of our Gratitude for Your beloved Kindness, and that You may-
favourably oversee the Faults, which I commit in Writing the first Time in Your
Englisch Tongue. By the Blessings of God we are arrived on the Coast of Charles-
Town the 7.th of March, where our Ship rid at Anchor till a Pilot came to –
bring us for Georgia. After we were gone with the Captain, and a few other
Persons in a Sloop to Charles Town, we had the great Honour to wait upon James
Oglethorpe Esqr. and to dine in the House of the Lord Governour. Mr. Oglethorpe
received us kindly, and sent to the People in the Ship some fresh Water, Meat,
good Wine, and Garden-Fruits, to refresh them with these Benefits after the
hard Salt-Provisions. What Joy this brought is inexpressible. We departed from
there the 9.th March, and arrived the 11.th Ditto at Savannah in Georgia. In
this Place was pitched a Tent, and having received here much Benefits by the fatherly
Care of our Governour Mr. Oglethorpe. We took a Journey to the Country designed
for us, for which we have longed a great while. All our Fellow-Travellers were
very glad to see the green and fruitful Tracts of Land on the Right and Left Sides
of the River, and especially the Saltzburg People have great Desire to labour
earnestly, and hope by the Blessing of God a Happy Success, and tho’ our Voyage
was attended with much Trouble, neverthe less this Voyage was of a great Advantage
and we have much Reason to magnify God’s Goodness, that he shewed both to our
Souls and Bodies. A few of them were sick, because they were not used to eat
Ship-Victuals, and the great Motion of the Sea, but their Health was restored in a
short Time, insomuch that they all live, and are very well at this Time. Even as these
Persons have received from us at other Times a good Testimony of their true Piety and
Christian Virtues, so I assure you, that we can report the same of them at present; For
they have much Delight both to hear the Holy Word of God, and to exercise with all
their Heart, that which God demands from Men in his Holy Scriptures taking this
good Purpose they will shew themselves not only Labourers but good Christians also
all their Life Time. And after this Way shall it come to pass that the may adorn
the Doctrine of Christ, and set a good Example to Dwellers in the same Place, or
in the Neighbourhood. Many among them are Defective in Reading, because they
have wanted good Instructions in the Land of Saltzburg, but for the Love of God’s
Word they give their almost Application to learn it, and we will help them therein
with all our Power. Very few are stock’d with Bibles and Psalmbooks, after which
they have a hearty Desire. And if our Heavers continue (as we surely hope) to-
walk before God, so shall perform his dear Promises being in his Holy Word, especialy
Lev. 26. and You an all our Benefactors shall receive much Matter to glorify
in Dover from your own Hand, gave us singular Evidences of Your Favour
for us: therefore I hope surely, that you will accept this humble Letter, as
a Testimony of our Gratitude for Your beloved Kindness, and that You may-
favourably oversee the Faults, which I commit in Writing the first Time in Your
Englisch Tongue. By the Blessings of God we are arrived on the Coast of Charles-
Town the 7.th of March, where our Ship rid at Anchor till a Pilot came to –
bring us for Georgia. After we were gone with the Captain, and a few other
Persons in a Sloop to Charles Town, we had the great Honour to wait upon James
Oglethorpe Esqr. and to dine in the House of the Lord Governour. Mr. Oglethorpe
received us kindly, and sent to the People in the Ship some fresh Water, Meat,
good Wine, and Garden-Fruits, to refresh them with these Benefits after the
hard Salt-Provisions. What Joy this brought is inexpressible. We departed from
there the 9.th March, and arrived the 11.th Ditto at Savannah in Georgia. In
this Place was pitched a Tent, and having received here much Benefits by the fatherly
Care of our Governour Mr. Oglethorpe. We took a Journey to the Country designed
for us, for which we have longed a great while. All our Fellow-Travellers were
very glad to see the green and fruitful Tracts of Land on the Right and Left Sides
of the River, and especially the Saltzburg People have great Desire to labour
earnestly, and hope by the Blessing of God a Happy Success, and tho’ our Voyage
was attended with much Trouble, neverthe less this Voyage was of a great Advantage
and we have much Reason to magnify God’s Goodness, that he shewed both to our
Souls and Bodies. A few of them were sick, because they were not used to eat
Ship-Victuals, and the great Motion of the Sea, but their Health was restored in a
short Time, insomuch that they all live, and are very well at this Time. Even as these
Persons have received from us at other Times a good Testimony of their true Piety and
Christian Virtues, so I assure you, that we can report the same of them at present; For
they have much Delight both to hear the Holy Word of God, and to exercise with all
their Heart, that which God demands from Men in his Holy Scriptures taking this
good Purpose they will shew themselves not only Labourers but good Christians also
all their Life Time. And after this Way shall it come to pass that the may adorn
the Doctrine of Christ, and set a good Example to Dwellers in the same Place, or
in the Neighbourhood. Many among them are Defective in Reading, because they
have wanted good Instructions in the Land of Saltzburg, but for the Love of God’s
Word they give their almost Application to learn it, and we will help them therein
with all our Power. Very few are stock’d with Bibles and Psalmbooks, after which
they have a hearty Desire. And if our Heavers continue (as we surely hope) to-
walk before God, so shall perform his dear Promises being in his Holy Word, especialy
Lev. 26. and You an all our Benefactors shall receive much Matter to glorify
the