TO THE PUBLISHERS OF THE
BOSTON EVENING-POST
September 26,
1763
I do not know what
Degree of credit the following Account may deserve, or how the
extraordinary Facts contained therein are authenticated; but the
narrative, though in Appearance somewhat romantic, is extremely
curious; and as the Character described is such an uncommon mixture of
Philosophy and Enthusiasim, that I think it well worthy a Place in your
Paper.
Whilst
the brave and worthy General Oglethorp commanded in Georgia, and by his
extensive influence over the Indian nations around that colony kept
them in friendship and subjection to this crown; and in March, 1743,
while he, with a detachment of his indefatigable regiment, and a large
body of Indians, was making an incursion to the very gates of St.
Augustine, one Preber, a German Jesuit, as he afterwards appeared to
be, was sent prisoner to Frederica, by Capt. Kent, who commanded at
Fort Augusta, on the main. Capt. Kent, had, for some time before,
perceived a remarkable intractability in the Creek Indians, in matters
of trade, and a sulkiness in that generous nation that betokened no
good to the English; After a wise and secret enquiry, and from
proper intelligence, he had great reason to imagine some ill humours
were stirred up in these people, by a white man, who had resided some
time in the upper towns, after having been many years among the
Cherokee, who always shewed him the utmost deference. Upon these
advices he got him privately seized and conveyed (without noise or
bustle) to Frederica, as aforesaid, little imagining the importance of
his capture; though the Indians, missing him, made it very apparent by
their clamours, that they were not a little interested in his
safety. The General, at his return, was surprised, upon
examination, to find in this person, who appeared in his dress a
perfect Indian, a man of politeness and gentility, who spoke Latin,
French, Spanish, and German fluently, and English brokenly. What
passed at his several examinations, it is not in my power to determine;
but the consequence was, that he was detained a prisoner, so remained
when I left the colony, in the beginning of the year 1744, which was
after his excellency returned to England.
Preber,
as to his person, was a short dapper man, with a pleasing, open
countenance, and a most penetrating look. His dress was a
deerskin jacket, a flap before and behind his privities, and
morgissons, or deer-skin pumps, or sandals, which were laced, in the
Indian manner, on his feet and ancles. the place of his
confinement was the barracks, where he had a room, and a centry at his
door, day and night. the philosophical cafe, with which he bore
his confinement, the communicative disposition he seemed possessed of,
and his politeness, which dress or imprisonment could not disguise,
attracted the notice of every gentleman at Frederica, and gained him
the favour of many visits and conversations.
His
economy was admirable; from his allowance of (? -) and bread, he always
spared till he had by him a quantity on which he could regale, even
with gluttony, when he allowed himself that liberty. "It is
folly," he would say, "to repine at one's lot in life; - my mind soars
above misfortune; -- in this cell I can enjoy more real
happiness, than it is possible to do in the busy scenes of life.
Reflections upon past events, digesting former studies, keep
me fully employed, while health and abundant spirits allow me no
anxious, no uneasy moments; __ I suffer -- though a friend to the
natural rights of mankind, -- though an enemy to tyranny, usurpation
and oppression; --and what is more, --I can forgive and pray for
those that injure me; -- I am a christian, -- and christian principles
always promote internal felicity."
Sentiments
like these, often expressed, attracted my particular notice, and I
endeavoured to cultivate a confidence he seemed to repose in me, more
especially, by every kind office in my power. Indeed, had nothing
else been my reward, the pleasing entertainment his conversation
imparted, would have been a sufficient recompence. He had read
much was conversant in most arts and sciences; but in all greatly
wedded to system and hypothesis.
After
some months intercourse, I had, from his own mouth, a confession of his
designs in America, which were neither more no less, than to bring
about a confederation amongst all the southern Indians, to inspire them
with industry, to instruct them in the arts necessary to the commodity
of life, and i short to engage them to throw off the yoke of their
European allies, of all nations. For this purpose he had, for
many years, accommodated himself to their opinions, prejudices and
practices, had been their leader in wars, and their priest and
legislator in peace, interlarding (like his brethren in China) some of
the most alluring Romish rites with their own superstitions, and
inculcating such maxims of policy as were not utterly repugnant to
their own, and yet were admirably calculated to subserve the views he
had upon them. Hence they began, already, to be more acute in
their dealings with the English and French, and to look down upon those
nations as interlopers, and invaders of their just rights. The
Spaniards, I found, he looked upon with a more favourable eye; "They,
says he, are good christians, that is (with a smiling sneer) such
subjects as may be worked upon to do any thing for the sake of
converting their neighbours; -- with them my people would incorporate
and become one nation; -- a bull, a dispensation, or a brief,
will bring them to anything." When I hinted, though at a
distance, the bloodshed his scheme would produce, the difficulties he
had to encounter, and the many years it would require to establish his
government over the Indians, he answered in this remarkable
manner; "Proceeding properly, many of these evils may be avoided,
and as to length of time, -- we have a succession of agents to take up
the work as fast as others leave it. We never lose sight of a
favourite point, nor are we bound by the strict rules of morality, in
the mans, when the end we pursue is laudable, if we err, our general is
to blame, and we have a merciful god to pardon us. But, believe
me, before this century is past, the Europeans will have a very small
footing in this continent." Thus, the father, or nearly in these
words, expressed himself, and often hinted that there were many more of
his brethren, that were yet labouring amongst the Indians for the same
purpose. The adventures of this remarkable man, which he imparted
to me, are so extraordinary, that I shall, the first opportunity,
consign them to your hands for publication, if you will accept of them;
and, at present, shall conclude this letter with one striking instance
of his presence of mind and fortitude.
On
the 22nd of March, 1744, the large magazine of bombs, and small
magazine of powder, at Frederica, by some accident were set on fire and
blew up with a dreadful explosion. In a moment the town wore all
appearance of a bombardment, the inhabitants left their houses, and
fled with the utmost consternation into the adjacent woods and
savannahs, whilst the splinters of the bursting shells flew in the air
to an amazing distance, considering they were not projected from the
usual instruments of destruction. The worthy and humane Capt.
Mackay, who then commanded in the garrison, immediately opened the
doors of the prisons to all the captive Spaniards and Indians, and bid
them shift for themselves. A message was sent to Preber to
the same purpose, which he politely refused to comply with, an din the
hurry he was forgotten. the bombs were well bedded as it
providentially happened, and at intervals, were some hours discharging
themselves. When the explosion began to languish some of us
thought of the jesuit, and went to his apartment, which by the bye, was
not twenty paces from the bomb-house; after calling some time, he put
forth his head from under his feather bed with which he had
prudently covered himself, and cried, "Gentlemen, I suppose all's over;
-- for my part, I reasoned thus; the bombs will rise perpendicularly,
and, if the force fails, fall again in the same direction, but the
splinters will fly off horizontally; therefore, with this truly
convering, I had better stand the storm here, than hazard a knock in
the pate by flying further." This was said with the same ease
that he would have expressed himself at a banquet, and he continued the
conversation, with his usual vein of pleasantry, to the end of an
explosion, that was enough to strike terror to the firmest
breast.
I
am, Sir, your constant reader and humble servant
Americus