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.