The Address of both Houses of Assembly in Georgia.
To his Excellency James Wright, Esq. Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Majesty’s province of Georgia.
May it please your Excellency,
WE his Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the council and commons house of assembly of Georgia, in general assembly met, beg leave to acquaint your Excellency, that with the highest satisfaction we learn, that the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield has applied for lands, in order to the endowment of a College in this province. The many and singular obligations Georgia has continually laid under to that reverend gentleman, from its very infant state, would in gratitude induce us, by every means in our power, to promote any measure he might recommend; but in the present instance, where the interest of the province, the advancement of religion, and the pleasing prospect of obtaining proper education for our youth, so clearly coincide with his views, we cannot in justice but request your Excellency to use your utmost endeavours to promote so desirable an event, and to transmit home our sincere and very fervent wishes, for the accomplishment of so useful, so beneficent, and so laudable an undertaking.
By order of the upper House.
James Habersham, President.
December 20, 1764.
By order of the Commons House.
Alex. Wylly, Speaker.
To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following Answer.
Gentlemen,
I AM so perfectly sensible of the very great advantage which will result to the province in general, from the establishment of a seminary for learning here, that it gives me the greatest pleasure to find so laudable an undertaking proposed by the Rev. Mr. Whitefield. The friendly and zealous disposition of that gentleman, to promote the prosperity of this province, has been often experienced; and you may rest assured, that I shall transmit your address home, with my best endeavours for the success of the great point in view.
James Wright.
December 20, 1764.
A Letter to his Excellency Governor Wright, giving an account of the steps taken, relative to the converting the Georgia Orphan-House into a College: Together with the literary correspondence that passed upon that subject, between his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Reverend Mr. Whitefield.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans xii. 14.
Honoured Sir,
AS your Excellency, together with the members of his Majesty’s honourable council, and house of representatives, were pleased at my late visit to the Orphan-house, not only highly to approve of, but also deeply to interest yourselves in the design of converting the present Georgia Orphan-house into a college; so I am persuaded, you make no doubts but that ever since my arrival in England, July 1765, I have exerted my utmost efforts in endeavouring to bring this important affair to a desirable issue. To mention all the various circumstances which have occurred during that interval, to impede and retard its more speedy prosecution, would be tedious and unnecessary: I would therefore only inform your Excellency, that about fifteen months ago, a memorial was delivered into the hands of the late clerk of his Majesty’s most honourable privy council. That this memorial was by him transmitted to the Lord President, and by his Lordship referred to the consideration of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury; that by his Grace’s permission a literary correspondence ensued; but as that correspondence, and with that, the negociation itself seems at an end, I think it my duty, not only to lay an account of the whole before your Excellency in particular; but, through your Excellency’s hands, before his Majesty’s council and house of representatives of the colony of Georgia, together with all the other American colonists, and the public in general, on both sides the water, who have so liberally contributed to the promoting this design.
To the King’s most Excellent Majesty.
The Memorial of George Whitefield, Clerk,
Sheweth,
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.
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.
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 the 15th December, 1738, to the 1st Jan. 1745–6, by public Collections, private Benefactions, and annual subscriptions, per accompt | 4982 | 12 | 8 | By cash paid sundries by particular accompts examined, from the 15th December, 1738, to the 1st Jan. 1745–6, for buildings, cultivation of lands, infirmary, provisions, wearing apparel, and other incident expences | 5511 | 17 | 9¼ | ||
| To ballance super-expended, Jan. 1, 1745–6. | 529 | 05 | 1¼ | ||||||
| £. | 5511 | 17 | 9¼ | ||||||
SAVANNAH in GEORGIA.
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. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| l. | s. | d. | l. | s. | d. | ||
| 1746, April 16. To sundries expended as per audit this day | 5511 | 17 | 9¼ | 1746, April 16. By sundry receipts per 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 | ||
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.
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.