THAT about twenty-six years ago, your memorialist, assisted by the
voluntary contributions of charitable and well disposed persons, at
a very great expence, and under many disadvantages, did erect a very
commodious house, with necessary out-buildings, suitable for the
reception of orphans and other poor and deserted children; and that
with the repair of the buildings, purchase of negroes, and supporting
a large orphan family so many years, he hath expended upwards of twelve
thousand pounds sterling, as appears by the accounts, which from time
to time have been audited by the magistrates of _Savannah_, and which
are humbly presented with this memorial.
That your memorialist, since the commencement of this institution, hath
had the satisfaction of finding, that by the money expended thereon,
not only many poor families were assisted and thereby kept from leaving
the colony in its infant state; but also that a considerable number of
poor helpless children have been trained up, who have been, and are now
useful settlers in this and the other neighbouring provinces; that in
order to render the institution aforesaid more extensively useful, your
memorialist, as he perceived the colony gradually rising, hath for some
years past designed, within himself, to improve the original plan, by
making further provision for the education of persons of superior rank,
who thereby may be qualified to serve their king, their country, and
their God, either in church or state.
That in his late visit to _Georgia_, he did with inexpressible
pleasure see the province in a very flourishing state; but with concern
perceived that several gentlemen had been obliged to send their sons
to the northern provinces, who would much rather have had them educated
nearer home; and thereby prevent their affections being alienated from
their native country, and also considerable sums of money from being
carried out of _Georgia_ into other provinces.
Your memorialist begs leave further to observe, that there is no
seminary for academical studies as yet founded southward of _Virginia_;
and consequently if a college could be established (especially as
the addition of the two _Floridas_ renders _Georgia_ more centrical
for the southern district) it would not only be highly serviceable to
the rising generation of the colony of _Georgia_, but would probably
occasion many youths to be sent from the neighbouring southern
provinces for education. The many advantages accruing to _Georgia_
thereby, must necessarily be very considerable.
That in consideration of the foregoing premises, your memorialist, in
_December 1764_, presented a memorial to his Excellency the Governor,
and the honourable the council of the province of _Georgia_, praying
that two thousand acres of land might be granted in trust, towards
carrying on the desirable end of founding a College; which motion was
not only immediately complied with, but the general assembly being
then sitting, an address, a copy of which is herewith also sent, was
presented from them to his Excellency, expressing their unanimous
and highest approbation, with a desire that his Excellency would
use his endeavours to have this affair forwarded at home with all
possible expedition. That upon the arrival of your Memorialist, he
was informed that this address was remitted to, and laid before the
Lords Commissioners for trade and plantations; and having received
repeated advices, that numbers both in _Georgia_ and _South-Carolina_
are waiting with impatience to have their sons initiated in academical
exercises; your Memorialist therefore prays, that a charter upon
the plan of _New-Jersey_ College may be granted; upon which your
Memorialist is ready to give up his present trust, and make a free
gift of all lands, negroes, goods, and chattels, which he now stands
possessed of in the province of _Georgia_, for the present founding,
and towards the future support of a College, to be called by the name
of _Bethesda_ College in the province of _Georgia_.
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_June 17, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
I THINK myself highly honoured in the L―――― P――――t’s referring a late
memorial to your Grace’s consideration; and as highly obliged to your
Grace, for the deep attention your Grace hath given to the copy of an
intended charter presented to your Grace by the E―――― of _D――――h_. The
inclosed will shew, what an almost implicit regard hath been paid to
your Grace’s wise remarks, and judicious corrections. I wish it could
have been altogether implicit; but circumstances are such, (as hath
been hinted to your Grace by L―――― _D――――h_) that I cannot, in honour
and conscience, _oblige_ the master of the _Georgia_ College to be
a member or minister of the church of _England_. Such an obligation,
I am persuaded, hath greatly retarded the progress of the College
of _New-York_; as on the contrary, the letter signed by your Grace,
Proprietor _Pen_, and the late Dr. _Chandler_; engaging, that
institution shall be continued on a BROAD BOTTOM, hath as much promoted
the growth of the College of _Philadelphia_. The trustees of that
seminary (as your Grace is pleased to observe) have agreed, “That their
Provost shall always be a minister of the established church.” But then
I would beg leave to reply, that they are not thereto _enjoined_ by
their charter. That is entirely silent concerning this matter: their
agreement is purely voluntary. The wardens of the College of _Georgia_
will not be prohibited by charter, from following the example of the
trustees of the College of _Philadelphia_. It is more than probable
they will never need it. The first Master will assuredly be a clergyman
of the church of _England_. By far the majority of the intended wardens,
are, and always will be members of that communion; and consequently
the choice of a Master will always continue to run in that channel.
My heart’s desire is, that some worthy duly qualified minister of the
church of _England_ may be always and readily found for that grand
purpose. But lest this should not always be the case, I dare not, as
persons of all denominations have been contributors, confine or fetter
the future electors. The monies gained by the _New-York_ lotteries, for
the erecting a college in _New-York_, were thrown in by persons of all
religious persuasions, in confidence, that the College would hereafter
be founded on an enlarged basis. And therefore, very great numbers,
may it please your Grace, think, and for ever will think themselves
injured, by its being confined within its present contracted boundary.
Hence it is, that many fine promising youths are almost daily sent
from the college in their native city, to that of _New-Jersey_. I dread
giving the same occasion of resentment and offence: and therefore am
determined to avoid it in the wording of the _Georgia_ College charter.
For the same reasons, I dare not enjoin the daily use of our church
liturgy. I love to use it, I have fallen a martyr, in respect to bodily
health, to the frequent reading it in _Tottenham-Court_ chapel; and it
has been constantly read twice every _Sunday_ in the Orphan-house, from
its first institution to this very day. The Wardens, when the power is
devolved on them, may determine this point as they please; but I cannot
enjoin it by charter: and have therefore, in this present draught,
not only omitted the paragraph concerning public prayer, but also that
concerning doctrinal articles. Perhaps your Grace may judge, that, all
things considered, saying nothing about either, may be a proper medium.
Your Grace further wisely observes, “That his Majesty should be very
well advised, whom he names for the first Master.” I trust he will.
I believe the Right Honourable the Earl of _D――――h_ will vouchsafe to
interest himself in the choice, and likewise be so good as to present
the first Master to your Grace’s approbation. The terms of ♦the charter
being not as yet settled, the choice of a Master cannot as yet be fixed
upon. When the former are ascertained, the latter may more easily be
applied for. In the mean while your Grace may be assured, that the lot
will not fall upon me. Alas! my shoulders are too weak for the support
of such an academical burden: my capacity, may it please your Grace,
is by no means extensive enough for such a scholastic trust. To be a
presbyter at large, is the station, which I think divine Providence
hath called me to, for near these thirty years past. During that
space, I trust my eye hath been in some degree single, and my views
disinterested; and my highest, my only ambition, during the feeble
remains of my future pilgrimage, I trust, will be this, That the last
glimmerings of an expiring taper may be blessed, and owned by the
great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, to guide some wandering sinners to
the practical knowledge of himself. I desire to bless his name, that
I have been spared long enough to see the colony of the once despised
_Georgia_, and the yet more despised Orphan-house, advanced to such a
promising height. My honoured friend and father, good Bishop _Benson_,
from his dying bed, sent me a benefaction for it of ten guineas,
and poured forth his most fervent dying breathings for its future
prosperity. That your Grace may yet live many years, to be happily
instrumental in promoting its welfare, both spiritual and temporal,
when turned into a college, is the earnest prayer of, may it please
your Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful, obliged son and servant,
_G. W._
_Tottenham-Court Road_,
_June 17, 1767_.
♦ removed duplicate “the”
_The Archbishop to Mr._ Whitefield.
_To the Reverend Mr. Whitefield_,
THE Archbishop of _Canterbury_ hath put Mr. _Whitefield_’s draught
of a charter for a College in _Georgia_, into the hands of the Lord
President; who hath promised to consider it: but desires to know
from Mr. _Whitefield_, what present endowment, and to what value, he
proposes for his College.
_July 1, 1767._
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_London, July 4, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
MY obligations are much increased by your Grace’s putting the last
draught of the _Georgia_ College so speedily into the hands of the
Lord President. As by this, (I presume) it hath been honoured by your
Grace’s, so I make no manner of doubt, but it will also meet with his
Lordship’s approbation. In obedience to your Grace’s desire, I herewith
send your Grace an account of “what present endowment, and to what
value, I propose for the intended College.” Upon a moderate computation,
may it please your Grace, I believe its present annual income, is
between four and five hundred pounds sterling. The house is surrounded
with eighteen hundred acres of land; a plan of which, and likewise of
the house itself, I herein inclose, and humbly present for your Grace’s
inspection. The number of negroes young and old, employed on various
parts of these lands, in sawing timber, raising rice for exportation,
and corn with all other kinds of provision for the family, is about
thirty. Besides these, the College will be immediately possessed of
two thousand acres of land near _Altamaha_, which were granted me by
the Governor and Council, when I was last at _Georgia_; and a thousand
acres more, left, as I am informed, by the late reverend and worthy
Mr. _Zubberbuler_. So that, by laying out only a thousand pounds
in purchasing an additional number of negroes, and allowing another
thousand for repairing the house, and building the two intended wings,
the present annual income may very easily and speedily be augmented
to a thousand pounds _per annum_. Out of this standing fund, may be
paid the salaries of the Master, professors, tutors, &c. and also small
exhibitions be allowed for some orphan or other poor students, who
may have their tutorage and room-rent gratis, and act as servitors to
those who enter commoners. What these salaries and exhibitions ought
to be, may at a proper season be submitted to your Grace’s future
consideration. At present, I would only further propose, that the
negroe children belonging to the College, shall be instructed, in their
intervals of labour, by one of the poorer students, as is done now
by one of the scholars in the present Orphan-house. And I do not see
why an additional provision may not likewise be made for educating and
maintaining a number of _Indian_ children, which, I imagine, may easily
be procured from the _Creeks_, _Choctaws_, _Cherokees_, and the other
neighbouring nations. Hence the whole will be a free-gift to the colony
of _Georgia_: a complex extensive charity be established; and at the
same time, not a single person obliged, by any public act of assembly,
to pay an involuntary forced tax towards the support of a seminary,
from which many of the more distant and poorer Colonist’s children
cannot possibly receive any immediate advantage; and yet the whole
Colony, by the christian and liberal education of a great number of its
individuals, be universally benefited. Thus have I most readily, and I
humbly hope, gratefully complied with your Grace’s desire, which to me
is as a command. I am constrained to trespass on your Grace’s patience,
whilst I congratulate your Grace on the goodness of GOD, who, amongst
many other signal marks of his peculiar providence, hath honoured
your Grace, in making you an happy instrument of establishing two
_Northern-American_ Colleges; the one at _New-York_, and the other at
_Philadelphia_: and if (as I pray may be the case) your Grace should
yet be made further instrumental in establishing a third College in the
yet more southern, but now flourishing colony of _Georgia_, I trust it
will be an additional gem in the crown, which I earnestly pray that GOD,
the righteous judge, may give your Grace in that day. In his great name,
I beg leave to subscribe myself, may it please your Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful, obliged son and servant,
_G. W._
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_Tottenham-Court, September 1, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
AS I am going out of town for a few weeks, I beg leave humbly to
enquire, whether my L―――― P――――t hath considered the draught of the
charter sent him by your Grace some weeks ago. The Governor, Council,
Assembly, and other inhabitants of _Georgia_, wait with impatience to
have this affair brought to a desired issue; and therefore I humbly
hope your Grace will excuse the freedom of the request now made by,
may it please your Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful, obliged son and servant,
_G. W._
_The Archbishop to Mr._ Whitefield,
_Lambeth, September 18, 1767._
_To the Reverend Mr. Whitefield._
THE Archbishop of _Canterbury_ sends Mr. _Whitefield_ the enclosed
letter from the Lord President, which he received this day, and which
he desires may be returned to him.
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_Tottenham-Court, October 13, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
BY a series of unaccountable incidents and mistakes, your Grace’s
letter, with that of the L―――― P――――t, did not reach me till this
afternoon. I have made bold to copy the letter; and in obedience
to your Grace’s command, herewith return the original. Its contents
shall be immediately and duly considered, and an answer very speedily
remitted to your Grace. In the mean time, with most humble thanks for
the zeal and punctuality shewn by your Grace in the prosecution of this
important affair, and earnestly begging an interest in your Grace’s
prayers, that I may be kept from erring on the right hand, or the left,
in this final discharge of my public trust, I beg leave to subscribe
myself, may it please your Grace,
Your Grace’s most obedient and dutiful son and servant,
_G. W._
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_Tottenham-Court, October 16, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
AFTER earnest application to the Father of mercies for direction,
I have endeavoured as in his presence, duly to consider and weigh
the contents of the L―――― P――――t’s letter, which your Grace was so
condescending as to transmit for my perusal. His L――――p therein,
is pleased to inform your Grace, “That he observes, that the second
draught of Mr. _Whitefield_’s charter, differs from that of _New-York_;
in not requiring the head of the College to be a member of the church
of _England_, which his Lordship thinks so material a qualification,
that for one, he should not be for dispensing with it. And his L――――p
is also of opinion, that the public prayers should not be extempore
ones, but the liturgy of the church, or some part thereof, or some
other settled and established form.” Thus far his L――――p. And, as I
profess myself to be a presbyter of the same communion with his L――――p,
I cannot but applaud his L――――p’s zeal for, and watchfulness over, the
honour of the established church. But if his L――――p would be so good
as to take a particular view of the point of light in which I stand,
I cannot help flattering myself, but that his L――――p will be so far
from thinking, that being a member of the church of _England_ is a
qualification not to be dispensed with in the head of the intended
College; that on the contrary, it ought not so much as to be mentioned,
or insisted upon in the charter at all. For not to trouble your Grace
with a repetition of the reasons urged against such a restraining
clause, in my letter of _June 17_; I would beg leave further to observe
to your Grace, that by far the greatest part of the Orphan-house
collections and contributions came from Dissenters, not only in
_New-England_, _New-York_, _Pensylvania_, _South-Carolina_, and
_Scotland_, but in all probability here in _England_ also. Most
of these places I have visited since the several audits of the
Orphan-house accompts, and acquainted with the design of turning it
into a College; and likewise the address of the Council and Assembly
of the province of _Georgia_, with his Excellency Governor _Wright_’s
answer, highly approving and recommending the design, have been
published. Being frequently asked, “Upon what bottom the intended
College was to be founded;” I not only most readily and repeatedly
answered, “Undoubtedly upon a _broad bottom_;” but likewise, in most
of the above-mentioned places, have solemnly declared from the pulpit,
that it should be upon a _broad bottom, and no other_. This, I judged,
I was sufficiently warranted to do, from the known, long established,
mild, and uncoercive genius of the _English_ government; also from
your Grace’s moderation towards protestant Dissenters; from the
unconquerable attachment of the _Americans_ to toleration principles,
as well as from the avowed habitual feelings and sentiments of my own
heart. This being the case, may it please your Grace, I would humbly
appeal to his L――――p, whether I can answer it to my GOD, my conscience,
my king, my country, my constituents, and Orphan-house benefactors
and contributors, both at home and abroad, to betray my trust, forfeit
my word, act contrary to my own convictions, and greatly retard and
prejudice the growth and progress of the intended institution, by
narrowing its foundation, and thereby letting it fall upon such a
bottom, as I am persuaded will give a general disgust, and most justly
open the mouths of persons of all denominations against me. This, as
I acquainted your Grace, in the same letter referred to above, is what
I dare not do. And therefore, as your Grace by your silence seems to
be like-minded with the L――――d P――――t; and as your Grace’s and his
L――――p’s influence will undoubtedly extend itself to others of his
Majesty’s most Honourable Privy-Council, I would beg leave, after
returning all due acknowledgments, to inform your Grace, that I intend
troubling your Grace and his Lordship no more about this so long
depending concern. As it hath pleased the great Head of the church
in some degree to renew my bodily strength, I purpose now to renew
my feeble efforts, and turn the charity into a more generous, and
consequently into a more extensively useful channel. If I know any
thing of my own heart, I have no ambition to be looked upon at present,
or remembered for the future, as a founder of a college; but I would
fain, may it please your Grace, act the part of an honest man, a
disinterested minister of JESUS CHRIST, and a truly catholic, moderate
presbyter of the church of _England_. In this way, and in this only,
can I hope for a continued heart-felt enjoyment of that peace of GOD,
which passeth all understanding, whilst here on earth, and be thereby
prepared to stand with humble boldness before the awful, impartial
tribunal of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls at the great day.
That your Grace may shine as a star of the first magnitude in that day,
is the sincere prayer of, may it please your Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful obliged son and servant,
_G. W._
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_Tottenham-Court, November 11, 1767._
_May it please your Grace_,
THE bearer is my humble friend; one who hath been with me several years,
and been my companion in travel through the continent of _America_.
If your Grace would be so good as to send by him the plans and papers
relating to the Orphan-house, it would much oblige, may it please your
Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful humble servant,
_G. W._
_P. S._ I know not whether your Grace or the Lord President hath the
copy of the _New-Jersey_ College charter. I gave it to Mr. Secretary
_Sharp_, in order that your Grace and his Lordship might see it.
Mr. _Sharp_ being dead, obliges me to trouble your Grace with this
particular: I should not otherwise have taken the freedom.
_Mr._ Whitefield _to the Archbishop_.
_Tottenham-Court, February 12, 1768._
_May it please your Grace_,
AS not only the Governor, Council and Assembly of _Georgia_, have been
for a long season, and are now waiting for an account of what hath been
done in respect to the affair of the intended _Bethesda_ college, I
find myself under a necessity of giving them and the contributors, on
this, as well as the other side of the water, a plain narration of the
steps I have been taking; and at the same time I intend to lay before
the public a draught of the future plan, which, GOD willing, I am
now determined to prosecute. And as the letters which I have had the
honour of writing to your Grace, contain most of what I have to say
on this subject, I suppose your Grace can have no objection against my
publishing those letters, together with the answers returned, and the
issue of the correspondence. To prevent your Grace’s having further
trouble, as I hear your Grace is at present much indisposed, I shall
look upon silence as an approbation, at least as a tacit allowance of
what is designed by, may it please your Grace,
Your Grace’s most dutiful son and servant, in
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
_G. W._
THUS, may it please your excellency, concluded my correspondence with
his Grace, and I humbly hope, the province of _Georgia_, in the end,
will be no loser by this negociation. For, GOD willing, I now purpose
to add a public academy, to the Orphan-house, as the college¹ of
_Philadelphia_ was constituted a public academy, as well as charitable
school, for some time before its present college charter was granted by
the honourable proprietors of _Pensylvania_ in the year 1755.
¹ This college was originally built, above twenty-eight years
ago, for a charity school and preaching place for me, and
ministers of various denominations, on the bottom of the
doctrinal articles of the church of _England_. The trustees,
as a public and standing acknowledgment of this, have
inserted a clause in their Grant, for leave for a part
of the building still to be allowed for that purpose.
Accordingly I preached a sermon in it, for the benefit of
their charity children, when I was last at _Philadelphia_,
before a very large auditory, and Dr. _Smith_, the present
Provost, read prayers.
In pursuing a like plan, the present _Georgia_ Orphan-house estate,
which for near these three years hath been in a state of suspense, may
be vigorously and properly improved, and thereby an ample and lasting
provision made for the future maintenance and education of many poor,
indigent, and orphan, as well as more opulent students. Proper masters
likewise may now be sent over to instruct, and prepare for academical
honours the many youths, who are at this time both in _Georgia_ and
the adjacent provinces, waiting for admission. In the mean time, a
proper trust may be formed to act after my decease, or even before,
with this proviso, that no opportunity shall be omitted of making fresh
application for a college charter, upon a _broad bottom_, whenever
those in power shall think it for the glory of GOD, and the interest
of their king and country to grant the same. And thus, may it please
your Excellency, my beloved _Bethesda_ will not only be continued as a
house of mercy for poor orphans, but be confirmed as a seat and nursery
of sound learning, and religious education, I trust, to the latest
posterity. That this may be the happy case, as I am persuaded is the
desire of your Excellency, his Majesty’s Honourable Council, and house
of representatives, in the province of _Georgia_, so it shall still be,
to my latest breath, as it hath been for many years, the earnest
endeavour and incessant prayer of,
May it please your Excellency, Your Excellency’s, &c.
_G. W._
_Commons House of Assembly, Monday, January 29, 1770._
MR. Speaker reported, that he with the house having waited on the
Reverend Mr. _Whitefield_, in consequence of his invitation, at the
Orphan-house academy, heard him preach a very suitable and pious
sermon on the occasion; and with great pleasure observed the promising
appearance of improvement towards the good purposes intended, and the
decency and propriety of behaviour of the several residents there;
and were sensibly affected, when they saw the happy success which
has attended Mr. _Whitefield_’s indefatigable zeal for promoting the
welfare of the province in general, and the Orphan-house in particular.
Ordered, That this report be printed in the Gazette.
_John Simpson, Clerk._
_Extract from the Georgia Gazette._
_Savannah, January 31, 1770._
LAST _Sunday_ his Excellency the Governor, Council and Assembly, having
been invited by the Reverend Mr. _George Whitefield_, attended at
divine service in the chapel of the Orphan-house academy, where prayers
were read by the reverend Mr. _Ellington_, and a very suitable sermon
was preached by the reverend Mr. _Whitefield_ from _Zechariah_ ivth
chapter 9th. and part of the 10th verses; “_The hands of Zerubbabel
have laid the foundation of this house, his hands shall also finish
it; and thou shalt know, that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto
you; for who hath despised the day of small things?_” to the general
satisfaction of the auditory; in which he took occasion to mention the
many discouragements he met with, well known to many there, in carrying
on this institution for upwards of thirty years past, and the present
promising prospect of its future and more extensive usefulness. After
divine service, the company were very politely entertained with a
handsome and plentiful dinner; and were greatly pleased to see the
useful improvements made in the house, the two additional wings for
apartments for students, one-hundred and fifty feet each in length, and
other lesser buildings, in so much forwardness, and the whole executed
with taste and in a masterly manner; and being sensible of the truly
generous and disinterested benefactions derived to the province through
his means, they expressed their gratitude in the most respectful terms.
Orphan-House, in Georgia, Dʳ. │ Orphan-House, in Georgia, Cʳ.
─────────────────────────────────── │ ──────────────────────────────────
Sterling, │ Sterling,
────────── │ ──────────
l. s. d. │ l. s. d.
──── ── ── │ ──── ── ──
To cash received from } │ By cash paid sundries }
the 15th December, } │ by particular }
1738, to the 1st Jan.} │ accompts examined, }
1745‒6, by public } 4982 12 8 │ from the 15th }
Collections, private } │ December, 1738, to }
Benefactions, and } │ the 1st Jan. 1745‒6,} 5511 17 9¼
annual subscriptions,} │ for buildings, }
per accompt } │ cultivation of }
│ lands, infirmary, }
To ballance } │ provisions, wearing }
super-expended, Jan. } 529 05 1¼ │ apparel, and other }
1, 1745‒6. } │ incident expences }
──── ── ──
£. 5511 17 9¼
SAVANNAH in GEORGIA.
Sidenote: S. L.
THIS day personally appeared before us _Henry Parker_ and _William
Spencer_, bailiffs of _Savannah_ aforesaid, the Reverend Mr.
_George Whitefield_, and _James Habersham_, Merchant of _Savannah_
aforesaid, who, being duly sworn, say, That the accompts relating to
the Orphan-house, now exhibited before us, of which the above is an
abstract, amounting on the debit side (namely, for collections and
subscriptions received) to the sum of four thousand nine hundred
eighty-two pounds twelve shillings and eight pence, sterling, and on
the credit side, (namely, for disbursements paid) to the sum of five
thousand five hundred eleven pounds seventeen shillings and ninepence
farthing, sterling, do, to the best of their knowledge, contain a
just and true account of all the monies collected by, or given to
them, or any other, for the use and benefit of the said house; and
that the disbursements, amounting to the sum aforesaid, have been
faithfully applied to and for the use of the same. And the Reverend Mr.
_Whitefield_ further declareth, that he hath not converted or applied
any part thereof to his own private use and property, neither hath
charged the said house with any of his travelling, or any other private
expences whatsoever.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD,
JAMES HABERSHAM.
SAVANNAH in GEORGIA.
THIS day personally appeared before us, _Henry Parker_, and _William
Spencer_, bailiffs of _Savannah_ aforesaid, _William Woodrooffe_,
_William Ewen_, and _William Russel_ of _Savannah_ aforesaid, who being
duly sworn say, That they have carefully and strictly examined all
and singular the accompts relating to the Orphan-house in _Georgia_,
contained in forty-one pages, in a book entitled, _Receipts and
disbursements for the Orphan-house in_ Georgia, with the original bills,
receipts, and other vouchers, from the fifteenth day of _December_, in
the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight, to
the first day of _January_, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven
hundred and forty-five; and that the monies received on account of the
said Orphan-house, amounted to the sum of four thousand nine hundred
eighty-two pounds twelve shillings and eight-pence, sterling, as above;
and that it doth not appear, that the Reverend Mr. _Whitefield_ hath
converted any part thereof to his own private use and property, or
charged the said house with any of his travelling, or other private
expences; but, on the contrary, hath contributed to the said house many
valuable benefactions; and that the monies disbursed on account of the
said house, amounted to the sum of five thousand five hundred eleven
pounds seventeen shillings and ninepence farthing, sterling, as above,
which we, in justice to the Reverend Mr. _Whitefield_, and the managers
of the said house, do hereby declare, appear to us to be faithfully and
justly applied to and for the use and benefit of the said house only.
WILLIAM WOODROOFFE,
WILLIAM EWEN,
WILLIAM RUSSEL.
Sworn this 16th day of _April_, 1746, before us, bailiffs of _Savannah_;
in justification whereof we have hereunto fixed our hands, and the
common seal.
HENRY PARKER,
WILLIAM SPENCER.
General Accompt of Monies expended and received
for the Use of the Orphan-house in _Georgia_, from
_January_ 7th, 1738‒9, to _February_ 9th, 1765.
Dʳ. │ Cʳ.
─────────────────────────────────── │ ──────────────────────────────────
Sterling, │ Sterling,
────────── │ ──────────
l. s. d. │ l. s. d.
──── ── ── │ ──── ── ──
1746, April 16. To │ 1746, April 16. By
sundries expended as │ sundry receipts per
per audit this day 5511 17 9¼ │ audit 4982 12 8
│
1752, Feb. 25. To ditto 2026 13 7½ │ 1752, Feb. 25. By ditto 1386 8 7½
│
1755, Feb. 19. To ditto 1966 18 2 │ 1755, Feb. 19. By ditto 1289 2 3
│
1765, Feb. 9. To ditto 3349 15 10 │ 1765, Feb. 9. By ditto 3132 16 0¼
│ ──── ── ──
│ 10,790 19 6¾
│ By the Rev. Mr.
│ Whitefield’s
│ benefactions, being
│ the sums expended
│ more than received,
│ as appears from
│ the several
│ former audits, now
│ carefully examined,
│ viz. Folio 65 — 1169 10 1¼
│ Ditto 81 — 400 5 4¾
│ Ditto 98 — 494 10 4
│ ──── ── ──
│ 2064 5 10
──── ── ── │ ──── ── ──
12,855 5 4¾ │ 12,855 5 4¾
Sidenote: GEORGIA ss.
BEFORE me, the Honourable _Noble Jones_, Esq. senior, one of the
assistant justices for the province aforesaid, personally appeared the
Reverend Mr. _George Whitefield_ and _Thomas Dixon_ of the province
aforesaid, who being duly sworn, declare that the accompts relating to
the Orphan-house, from folio 82, to folio 98, in this book, amounting
on the debit side to three thousand three hundred and forty-nine pounds
fifteen shillings and ten pence, sterling, and on the credit side to
three thousand one hundred and thirty-two pounds sixteen shillings
and one farthing, sterling, contain, to the best of their knowledge,
a just and true account of all the monies collected by, or given to
them, or any other, for the use or benefit of the said house; and that
the disbursements amounting to the sum aforesaid, have been faithfully
applied to and for the use of the same.
Signed, GEORGE WHITEFIELD,
THOS. DIXON.
_February 9, 1765._
Sworn this 9th day of _February_, 1765, before me; in justification
whereof I have caused the seal of the general court to be affixed.
Signed N. JONES. Sealed.
Sidenote: GEORGIA ss.
BEFORE me, the Honourable _Noble Jones_, Esq. senior, personally
appeared _James Edward Powell_ and _Grey Elliot_, Esqrs. members
of his Majesty’s honourable council for the province aforesaid,
who being duly sworn, declare that they have carefully examined the
accompts containing the receipts and disbursements, for the use of the
Orphan-house in the said province, and that comparing them with the
several vouchers, they find the same not only just and true in every
respect, but kept in such a clear and regular manner, as does honour
to the managers of that house; and that on a careful examination of
the several former audits, it appears that the sum of two thousand and
sixty-four pounds, five shillings and ten pence, has at several times
been given by the Reverend Mr. _George Whitefield_ for the use of the
said house; and that in the whole the sum of twelve thousand eight
hundred fifty-five pounds five shillings and four pence three farthings,
has been laid out for the same house since 7th _January_, 1738‒9, to
this day:――Also that it doth not appear that any charge has ever been
made by the said Reverend Mr. _Whitefield_, either for travelling
charges or any other expences whatever, and that no charge of salary
has been made for any person whatever, employed or concerned in the
management of the said house. _February_ 9th, 1765.
Signed, JAMES EDWARD POWELL,
GREY ELLIOT.
Sworn this 9th day of _February_, 1765, before me; in justification
whereof, I have caused the seal of the general court to be affixed.
Signed N. JONES. Sealed.
Dʳ. │ Cʳ.
─────────────────────────────────── │ ──────────────────────────────────
General Accompt of monies expended │ Monies received for the use of the
for the Orphan-house, taken from │ same, taken from the authentic
the authentic book, from Dec. │ book, from Dec. 1738, to
1738, to February 1770. │ February 1770.
─────────────────────────────────── │ ──────────────────────────────────
l. s. d. │ l. s. d.
──── ── ─── │ ──── ── ───
1746 April 16. To │ By Benefactions and
Sundries, per audit, │ Collections, in
this day, 5511 17 9¼ │ England 4471 0 6¼
│
1752 Feb. 25 Dᵒ ―――― 2026 13 7½ │ Dᵒ ―――― Scotland 978 2 5½
│
1755 Feb. 19 Dᵒ ―――― 1966 18 2 │ Dᵒ ―――― Georgia 275 5 7¼
│
1765 Feb. 9 Dᵒ ―――― 3349 15 10 │ Dᵒ ―――― Charles-Town 567 1 9¾
│
1770 Feb. 2 Dᵒ ―――― 2548 17 0½ │ Dᵒ ―――― Beaufort 16 10 7
│
│ Dᵒ ―――― Boston,
│ New-York, Philad. &c. 1809 6 10½
│
│ Dᵒ ―――― Lisbon 3 12 0
│ ──── ── ───
│ 8120 19 10½
│ By cash, received for
│ payment of boarders
│ cocoons, rice,
│ lumber, ♦indigo,
│ provisions, &c. 3983 19 3
│ By the Reverend Mr.
│ Whitefield’s
│ benefactions, being
│ the sums expended,
│ more than received,
│ as appears by the
│ several audits,
│ carefully examined, 3299 3 3¾
──── ── ─── │ ──── ── ───
15404 2 5¼ │ 15404 2 5¼
♦ “indico” replaced with “indigo”