Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe Part 21

PRIOR, in _The Life of Goldsmith_, page 457, expressly says that Oglethorpe, "_after being educated at Oxford_, served under Prince Eugene against the Turks."[1]

[Footnote 1: About this time he presented a ma.n.u.script French paraphrase of the Bible, in two folio volumes, finely illuminated, to the library of Corpus Christi College in Oxford. "The gift of James Oglethorpe, Esq., Member of Parliament." GUTCH's _Appendix to Wood's History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford_.]

Again, CROKER has a long note upon a pa.s.sage in Boswell's _Life of Johnson_, II. p. 173, to invalidate a narative of Oglethorpe's respecting a writing of Colonel Sir Thomas Prendergast, who was killed at the battle of Malplaquet, on the 31st of August, 1709, which thus concludes: "At the battle of Malplaquet, Oglethorpe was _only eleven years old_. Is it likely that Oglethorpe, at the age of _eleven years_, was present at Pope's interview with Colonel Cecil? And, even if he were, what credit is to be given to the recollections, after the lapse of sixty-three years, of what a boy of _eleven_ heard?"[1]

[Footnote 1: CROKER means that the time when Oglethorpe told the story to Dr. Johnson was _sixty-three_ years after the battle of Malplaquet, when the event referred to took place.]

In reply to this, I would observe, that it is not even probable, as this statement would imply, that the interview of Pope with Colonel Cecil was directly after the battle. There might have been intervening years. Moreover, Croker goes upon the presumption that the birth of Oglethorpe was in 1698. Now, to a.s.sign his birth to that year would make him only _eighty-seven years_ old when he died; but Dr. Lettsom, in "a letter on prisons," in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, Vol. LXXI. p.

21, has this remark: "I spent an evening, which agreeably continued till two o'clock in the morning, with the late General Oglethorpe, when this veteran was in the _ninety-sixth_ year of his age; who told me, that he planted Georgia chiefly from prisons." And Hannah More writes of being in company with him when he was _much above ninety years_ of age. He was, therefore, born before 1698. And, finally, the record of his admission into Corpus Christi College, at Oxford, decides the matter beyond all controversy; and, by certifying his age to be _sixteen_, proves that he was born in _sixteen hundred and eighty-eight_. For the _month_ and _day_, I receive the testimony of William Stephens, Esq., Secretary for the affairs of the Trustees in Georgia, in the first volume of his Journal. On Thursday, December, 21st, [1738,] he makes this record.

"Another heavy rain of all last night, and this whole day's continuance; which, whatever impediments it might occasion to our other affairs, was no hindrance to our celebration of _the General's birth-day_, as had been always the custom hitherto; and in the very same manner as we did last year, under the discharge of cannon, &c."

And McCall, who has named _December_ 21st, says, "I am indebted to the Encyclopedia Perthensis, and to the Journal of a private gentleman in Georgia, where his birth-day was celebrated, for the date which I have inserted."[1]

[Footnote 1: _History of Georgia_, Vol. I. p. 321.]

This a.s.signment will tally with the other dates and their attendant circ.u.mstances; allow time, with becoming propriety, for finishing his education at the University; and show that he was not so precocious a soldier as has been represented, but that, instead of the _juvenile_ age of _eleven_, he entered the army at the _manly_ age of _twenty-one_.

_Memorandum_. This attempt to ascertain the exact age of Oglethorpe, was written in 1837. I have, since then, received the following letter, dated London, October 2d, 1840.

My Dear Sir.

In compliance with your request, I. have been, this morning, to the vestry of St. James, Westminster, where I examined the record of Oglethorpe's baptism, of which the following is an exact copy in substance and form.

Bapt. | June 1689 2. | James Oglethorpe of Sir Theophilus and | his lady Elinor, b. 1.

I certify that the above is a true extract from the Register Book of Baptisms belonging to the Parish of St. James, Westminster.

J.G. GIFFORD, _Preacher and a.s.sistant_.

Hence it appears that Oglethorpe was born on _the first_ of June, 1669, and baptized on the _second_. I was a.s.sured by Mr. Gifford that this is the true meaning of the record; and I observed in the Register Book that other names were recorded in like manner. There were several other baptisms the same day, with different days of birth.

Most truly your friend and obedient servant, JARED SPARKS.

This will be deemed decisive; though to me not entirely satisfactory.

I think I see cause for questioning the "b.1." not their _import_, but their _correctness_: occasioned either for family reasons, or that the date given at the font either was not distinctly heard by the officiating clergyman, or misremembered at the time when the entry was made in the Book. Besides, there would seem no occasion for the presentation so immediately after the birth; for, according to custom, it is very unusual before _the eighth day_. On the other hand, from the statement of Nichols, Vol. II. p. 19, that of the children of Sir Theophilus, "the five eldest were born at St. James London," we may infer that JAMES, who was the _sixth_ in the order of births in the family, was born at G.o.dalming. This is proved, also, by Shaftoe's narrative, which mentions the going down of the mother to London, in consequence of the sickness and death of one of the nurslings. Now, though the main statement of that doc.u.ment may not be true, such an incidental circ.u.mstance as this, which has no direct bearing on "the vexed question," may be admitted. If, therefore, born at G.o.dalming, he could not be taken to London, for baptism, _on the day after his birth_. And, admitting that his nativity was on the 21st of December, the season of the year alone would be sufficient reason for deferring the public ceremony till after the inclement weather, and the opportunity favored for having it in the Parish Church, where all the other children had been baptized.

After all, the fact that on the _ninth_ of July, _seventeen hundred and four_, he was _sixteen years_ old, as is testified on the Record of his admission into College, is incompatible with the date of June 1st, 1689, for the day of his birth, but consistent with that of December 21st, 1688.

To adjust all these discrepancies respecting the time of his birth, and others of the time of his death, one needs the ingenuity of the Benedictins of St. Maur, who published a 4to volume with this t.i.tle: "_L'art de verifier les dates des faits historiques_."

III.

CHARLES MORDAUNT, _Earl of Peterborough_. This great man died on his pa.s.sage to Lisbon, 25th of October, 1735, aged 77. To bravery and heroism, he added a penetrating genius and a mind highly polished and well instructed in ancient and modern literature, as his _Familiar Epistles_, preserved among those of his friend Pope, fully evince.

Of REV. GEORGE BERKELEY, D.D., the celebrated Dean of Derry, and afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, I give the following particulars.

His learning and virtues, his lively and agreeable conversation, introduced him to the acquaintance, and procured him the esteem and friendship of many great and learned men, and among others the Earl of Peterborough, who made him his Chaplain, and took him as a companion on a tour of Europe in 1714-15. Soon after his return, the Dean published a proposal for the better supplying of the churches in the American Plantations with Clergymen, and for instructing and converting the savages to Christianity, by erecting a College in Bermuda. The first branch of this design appeared to him in the light of importance; but his princ.i.p.al view was to train up a competent number of young Indians, in succession, to be employed as missionaries among the various tribes of Indians. It appeared to be a matter of very material consequence, that persons should be employed in this service who were acquainted with the language necessary to be used; and he had also a strong persuasion that such missionaries as he proposed would be much better received by the savages than those of European extraction. These Indian lads were to be obtained from the different tribes in the fairest manner, and to be fed, clothed and instructed at the expense of the Inst.i.tution.

The scheme, for some time, met with all the encouragement that was due to so benevolent a proposal. The King granted a charter; and the Parliament voted a very considerable sum to be obtained from the sale of lands in St. Christophers. Such a prospect of success in the favorite object of his heart, drew from Berkeley some beautiful verses, "in which," a writer of the day remarks, "another age, perhaps, will acknowledge the old conjunction of the _prophetic_ character with that of the _poetic_, to have again taken place."

In consequence of this encouragement, he resigned his rich Deanry; and in execution of his n.o.ble design, embarked in the latter part of Autumn, 1728; his lady and her sister accompanying him; and arrived at Newport, in Rhode Island, in February following. This situation he pitched upon with a view of settling a correspondence there for supplying his College. He purchased a country-seat and farm in the neighborhood, where he resided about two years and a half. His residence in this country had some influence on the progress of literature, particularly in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The presence and conversation of a man so ill.u.s.trious for talents, learning, virtue, and social attractions, could not fail of giving a spring to the literary diligence and ambition of many who enjoyed his acquaintance.

Finding, at length, that the promised aid of the ministry towards his College would fail him, he embarked at Boston in September 1731, on his return to England. At his departure he distributed the books which he had brought with him, among the Clergy of Rhode Island. He sent, as a gift to Yale College, a deed of his farm; and afterwards made a present to its Library of about a thousand volumes.

Immediately after his arrival in London, he returned all the private subscriptions that had been advanced for the support of his undertaking.

The fund, which had been calculated upon for his College, had been chiefly appropriated as a marriage portion of the Princess Ann, on her nuptials with the Prince of Orange. There remained, however, 10,000, which General Oglethorpe had interest enough in Parliament to obtain for the purpose of carrying over and settling foreign and other Protestants in his new Colony of Georgia in America;[1] "having first paid Dean Berkeley the compliment of asking his consent to the application for the money, before he moved for it in Parliament."

[Footnote 1: See _Journal of the House of Commons_, May 10, 1733.]

He pa.s.sed the latter part of his life at Oxford; and deceased January 14th, 1753, aged 74.

The character of this worthy prelate was expressed in few words by Bishop Atterbury, who, having heard much of him, wished to see him.

Accordingly, he was one day introduced to him by the Earl of Berkeley.

After some time, Mr. Berkeley quitted the room; on which the Earl said to the Bishop, "Does my cousin answer your Lordship's expectations?"

The Bishop, lifting up his hands in astonishment, replied, "So much understanding, so much knowledge, so much innocence, and such humility, I did not think had been the portion of any but angels, till I saw this gentleman."

Mr. Pope sums up Bishop Berkeley's character in one line. After mentioning some particular virtues that distinguished other Prelates, he ascribes

"To Berkeley every virtue under heaven."

I close these memoirs of the early companion, and congenial and lasting friend of Oglethorpe, with the verses referred to, written by him.

"ON THE PROSPECT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IN AMERICA."

The muse, disgusted at an age and time, Barren of every glorious theme, In distant lands now waits a better clime, Producing subjects worthy fame.

In happy climes, where from the genial sun And virgin earth such scenes ensue, The force of art by nature seems outdone, And fancied beauties by the true:

In happy climes, the seat of innocence, Where nature guides and virtue rules; Where men shall not impose, for truth and sense, The pedantry of courts and schools:

There shall be seen another golden age, The rise of empire and of arts; The good and great inspiring epic page, The wisest heads and n.o.blest hearts.

Not such as Europe breeds in her decay, Such as she bred when fresh and young, When heavenly flame did animate her clay, By future ages shall be sung.

Westward the course of empire takes its way,-- The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day,-- Time's n.o.blest offspring is the last.

IV.

REFERENCE TO DEBATES IN THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS IN WHICH OGLETHORPE TOOK A PART.

[_See History and Proceedings of the House of Commons_.]

Against the banishment of Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester.

April 6, 1723.

On ecclesiastical benefices.