the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第7章
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adjacent parts of Bohemia。
Nitschmann and Toeltschig were two of the five young men in
Zauchenthal； Moravia； who had set their hearts on the revival of the
ancient Unitas Fratrum。Toeltschig's father； the village burgess； had
summoned the five comrades before him； and strictly forbidden their
holding religious services； warning them that any attempt at emigration
would be severely punished； and advising them to act as became their
youth； frequent the taverns and take part in dances and other amusements。
They were sons of well…to…do parents； and little more than boys in years；
（Nitschmann was only twenty）； but their faith and purpose were dearer to
them than anything else on earth； so they had left all and come away；
commending their homes and kindred to the mercy of God； and singing
the exile hymn of the ancient Unitas Fratrum； sacred through its
association with those brave hearts who had known the bitterness and the
joy of exile a hundred years before。
〃Blessed the day when I must go My fatherland no more to know；My
lot the exile's loneliness；
〃For God will my protector be； And angels ministrant for meThe path
with joys divine will bless。
〃And God to some small place will guide Where I may well content
abideAnd where this soul of mine may rest。
〃As thirsty harts for water burn； For Thee； my Lord and God； I yearn；If
Thou are mine my life is blest。〃
Though holding positions as Count Zinzendorf's hausmeister and
gardener； both Nitschmann and Toeltschig were actively employed in the
affairs of the renewed Unitas Fratrum； and had been to England in 1728 to
try to establish relations with the Society for the Propagation of Christian
Knowledge； though without success。They were the better fitted； therefore；
to conduct the party to England； and to share in the negotiations already
begun by Spangenberg。
This 〃first company〃 left Herrnhut on the 21st of November； 1734；
traveling by Ebersdorf （where Henry XXIX； Count Reuss； Countess
Zinzendorf's brother； gave them a letter of recommendation to any whom
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they might meet on their way）； to Holland； whence they had a stormy and
dangerous voyage to England。
The day after they reached London they called on Gen。 Oglethorpe
and having gained admittance with some difficulty they were very well
received by him； carrying on a conversation in a mixture of English and
German； but understanding each other fairly well。Spangenberg coming in
most opportunely； the Moravian affairs were fully discussed； and the new…
comers learned that their arrival had been fortunately timed； for the
Georgia Trustees were to hold one of their semi…annual meetings two days
later； when Oglethorpe could press their matter； and a ship was to sail for
Georgia the latter part of the month。 Oglethorpe was disturbed to find that
the colonists had failed to raise any money toward their expenses； but
promised to try and assist them in that also。
On the 18th the colonists were formally presented to the Trustees；
heard the lively argument for and against their cause； and had the
satisfaction of seeing the vote cast in their favor。 It was contrary to the
custom of the Trustees to grant lands to any who did not come in person to
apply for them and declare their intention of going to Georgia to settle； but
Oglethorpe's argument that the high rank of Count Zinzendorf was entitled
to consideration was accepted and five hundred acres of land were granted
to the Count and his male heirs。
The Indenture bore date of Jan。 10； 1734； Old Style； （Jan。 21； 1735；）*
and the five hundred acres were 〃to be set out limited and bounded in
Such Manner and in Such Part or Parts of the said Province as shall be
thought most convenient by such Person or Persons as shall by the said
Common Council be for that Purpose authorized and appointed；〃 there
being a verbal agreement that the tract should be in the hilly country some
distance from the coast； which； though less accessible and less easily
cultivated； lay near the territory occupied by the Indians。Five pounds per
annum was named as the quit rent； payment to begin eight years later； and
such part of the tract as was not cleared and improved during the next
eighteen years was to revert to the Trustees。 The Trustees also agreed that
they would reserve two hundred acres near the larger tract； and whenever
formally requested by Count Zinzendorf； would grant twenty acres each
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The Moravians in Georgia
〃to such able bodied Young Men Servants as should arrive and settle with
him in the said Province of Georgia。〃
* This IS written correctly。See the author's explanation of the
calendar in Chapter IV。 A。 L。； 1996。
In addition to the five hundred acres granted to Zinzendorf； fifty acres
were given to Spangenberg； and fifty acres to Nitschmann； although as the
latter was not going to Georgia； and the former did not intend to stay； this
alone was a departure from the custom of the Trustees。Each of the fifty
acre grants was in three parts； a lot in the town of Savannah； a five acre
garden； and a forty…five acre farm； and while their acquisition had not been
a part of the Herrnhut plan the colonists readily yielded to the advice of
their English friends； who pointed out the necessity of having a place to
stay when they reached Savannah； and land that they could at once begin
to cultivate； without waiting for the selection and survey of the larger
tract。In fact； though they knew it not； these two grants； which lay side by
side； were destined to be the scene of all their experiences in the Province
of Georgia。
The Trustees seem to have been pleased with the appearance of their
new settlers； and approved of their taking passage in the ship that was to
sail the latter part of the month。Since the vessel had been chartered by the
Trustees； they promised to make no charge for such baggage as the
Moravians wished to take with them； arranged that they should have a
portion of the ship for themselves instead of being quartered with the other
passengers； and offered Spangenberg a berth in the Captain's cabin。This he
declined； preferring to share equally with his Brethren in the hardships of
the voyage。 Medicine was put into his hands to be dispensed to those who
might need it； and he was requested to take charge of about forty Swiss
emigrants who wished to go in the same vessel on their way to Purisburg
in South Carolina； where they sought better material conditions than they
had left at home。
Land having been secured； Gen。 Oglethorpe arranged that the Trustees
should lend the 〃First Company〃 60 Pounds； payable in five years； with
the understanding that if repaid within that time the interest should be
remitted； otherwise to be charged at ten per cent。； the usual rate in South
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The Moravians in Georgia
Carolina。Of this 10 Pounds was spent in London for supplies； and 50
Pounds paid their passage across the Atlantic。 The ten men （Spangenberg
taking Nitschmann's place） pledged themselves jointly and severally to the
payment of the debt； the bond being signed on Jan。 22nd； （Jan。 11th； O。 S。）
the day after the grant of the land。
In addition to this Oglethorpe collected 26 Pounds 5 Shillings； as a gift
for the Moravians； 10 Pounds being presented to them in cash in London；
and the rest forwarded to Savannah with instructions that they should be
supplied with cattle； hogs and poultry to that amount。 Oglethorpe further
instructed Messrs。 Toojesiys and Baker； of Charlestown； to honor
Spangenberg's drafts on him to the amount of 20 Pounds； so securing the
settlers against possible need in their new home。
The next day Gen。 Oglethorpe presented Spangenberg to the Bishop of
London； who received him very kindly。Oglethorpe's idea was that the
Moravians might ally themselves closely with the Church of England； and
that the Bishop might； if they wished； ordain one of their members from
Herrnhut。Spangenberg and Nitschmann were not authorized to enter into
any such agreement； but both welcomed the opportunity to establish
pleasant relations with the English clergy； and several interviews were had
which served as a good opening for intercourse in later years。
Until their vessel sailed； the Moravians found plenty to interest them
in the 〃terribly great city〃； where they were regarded with much interest；
and where they were greatly touched by the unexpected kindness they
received。
They had interviews with the Trustees； with Mr。 Vernon； and with Gen。
Oglethorpe； who gave them much information as to what to expect in their
new home； and many suggestions as to the best way of beginning their
settlement。Spangenberg was presented to the 〃Society for the Propagation
of Christian Knowledge〃； was courteously received； offered more books
than he was willing to accept； invited to correspond with the Society； and
urged to keep on friendly terms with the Salzburgers； which he assured
them he sincerely desired to do。 Conversations with Court Preacher
Ziegenhagen were not so pleasant； for a letter had come from Senior
Urlsperger inveighing against the Moravians and Ziegenhagen put forth
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every effort to reclaim Spangenberg from the supposed error of his ways；
and to persuade him to stop the company about to start for Georgia； or at
least to separate himself from them； and return to the old
