Settlements increase to the annihilation or absorption of others in their vicinity. The possessions of the many become concentrated in the ownership of the few. Towns perish for lack of support. Thus nothing is more common than to observe, amid the changes consequent upon the development of new plantations, a mortality among villages and settlements for which, at the outset, growth and lasting prosperity were confidently anticipated. “It hath been a great endangering to the health of some plantations,” says Lord Bacon, “that they have built along the sea and rivers in marish and unwholesome grounds; therefore though you begin there to avoid carriage and other like discommodities, yet build still rather upwards from the stream, than along.” Had this precaution been observed, fewer towns would have died in Georgia. After all, however, despite the admonitions of the wisest and the foresight of the most experienced, we cannot hope to arrest the potent influence of inherent decay, or to stay that unseen hand which remorselessly worketh change and destruction among human habitations. “Out upon Time! it will leave no more Of the things to come than the things before! Out upon Time! who forever will leave But enough of the Past for the Future to grieve O’er that which hath been, and o’er that which must be: What we have seen, our sons shall see; Remnants of things that have pass’d away, Fragments of Stone rear’d by Creatures of Clay.” FOOTNOTES [1] “Antiquities of the Southern Indians, particularly of the Georgia Tribes.” New York, 1873. [2] History of the Province of Georgia, pp. 29, 30. Wormsloe, 1849. [3] Extract of the Journals of Mr. Commissary VonReck, &c., p. 32. London, 1734. [4] The Stone of Help. [5] An Extract of the Journals of Mr. Commissary VonReck, &c., pp. 16, 18. London, 1734. [6] Moore’s Voyage to Georgia, p. 11. London, 1744. [7] Strobel’s Saltzburgers and their Descendants, p. 87. Baltimore, 1855. [8] Voyage to Georgia, &c., p. 23. London, 1741. In reporting this change of location to the Trustees, Mr. Oglethorpe, on the 13th of February, wrote as follows: “The people at Ebenezer are very discontented and Mr. VonReck and they that come with him, refuse to settle to the Southward. I was forced to go to Ebenezer to quiet things there and have taken all the proceedings in writing. Finding the people were only ignorant and obstinate, but without any ill intention, I consented to the changing of their Town. They leave a sweet place where they had made great improvements, to go into a wood.” Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, vol. III, p. 13. Savannah, 1873. Compare Harris’ Biographical Memorials of Oglethorpe, pp. 130, 132. Boston, 1841. Wright’s Memoir of Oglethorpe, p. 113. London, 1867. [9] Strobel’s Saltzburgers and their Descendants, p. 89. Baltimore, 1855.