Oglethorpe pays particular attention to internal Improvements--Meets with many annoyances--The Creeks, under Toonahowi, make an incursion into Florida--The Spanish form a design upon Georgia--Some of their fleet appear on the coast--Oglethorpe prepares for defence--Applies to South Carolina for assistance--Spaniards attack Fort William--Dangerous situation of Oglethorpe--Spanish fleet enter the harbor and land on St. Simons--In three successive engagements they are defeated--A successful stratagem--Enemy defeated at Bloody Marsh-- Retire and attack Fort William, which is bravely defended by Ensign Stewart--Spanish forces, repulsed in all their assaults, abandon the invasion in dismay, and return to St. Augustine and to Cuba. Of the year 1741 but few memorials are to be found. Oglethorpe resided principally at Frederica; but occasionally visited Savannah; and, every where, and at all times, actively exerted his powers of persuasion, his personal influence, or his delegated authority to reconcile the jarring contests and restore the social accordance and peace of the community, while with vigilance and precaution he concerted measures to guard the Colony against the threatening purposes of the Spaniards. In reference to his peculiar trials and vexatious annoyances, are the following remarks, copied from a letter of a gentleman at Savannah, deeply read in the early history of the Colony.[1] [Footnote 1: WILLIAM B. STEVENS, M.D., _letter, October_ 19,1840.] "The difficulties with which General Oglethorpe had to contend, were peculiarly onerous and perplexing, not only with the Spanish foes,--with the restless Indians,--with the clamorous settlement,--with discontented troops,--with meagre supplies,--with the defection of Carolina,--with the protest of his bills, and with the refusal of a just naval protection;--but the officers of his regiment were at enmity with him and with each other, and crimination and recrimination followed, disturbing the peace, and weakening the efficiency of the military corps. At a Court Martial, held in the early part of January, 1739, composed of thirteen officers, they, in their letter, dated 12th of January, to the General speak thus--'2d. That we have observed a great spirit of mutiny among the soldiers, particularly those of Lieutenant Colonel Cochran's company,' and '3d. That by evidence given in Court, it appears to us that Lieutenant Colonel James Cochran was in the knowledge of, and concealed a mutiny.' The wonder is, that, with such opposing influences, and such discordant materials, he effected _any thing_. That he achieved _so much_, under such adverse circumstances, proves him to have been a firm, bold, intrepid, and sagacious man; to have possessed the most eminent military qualifications, and those sterling virtues which mock at the petty malice of the envious, and triumph over the machinations of malignity."