“Also, as a means of preserving health and, consequently, the happiness of the inmates, as well as to aid in sustaining the Home, there shall be lectures and readings therein upon oratory and histrionic art, to which pupils shall be admitted, upon such terms and under such regulations as the Managers may prescribe. The garden and grounds are to be made productive of profit, as well as of health and pleasure, and, so far as capable, the inmates, not otherwise profitably occupied, shall assist in farming, horticulture and the cultivation of flowers in the garden and conservatory.
“ARTICLE VIII
“‘The Edwin Forrest Home’ may also, if the revenue shall suffice, embrace in its plan lectures on science, literature and the arts, but preferably oratory and the histrionic art, in manner to prepare the American citizen for the more creditable and effective discharge of his public duties, and to raise the education and intellectual and moral tone and character of actors, that thereby they may elevate the drama and cause it to subserve its true and great mission to mankind, as their profoundest teacher of virtue and morality.
“ARTICLE IX
“‘The Edwin Forrest Home’ shall also be made to promote the love of liberty, our country and her institutions, to hold in honor the name of the great dramatic Bard, as well as to cultivate a taste and afford opportunity for the enjoyment of social rural pleasures. Therefore, there shall be read therein to the inmates and public, by an inmate or pupil thereof, the immortal Declaration of Independence, as written by Thomas Jefferson, without expurgation, on every Fourth Day of July, to be followed by an oration under the folds of our national flag. There shall be prepared and read therein before the like assemblage, on the birthday of Shakespeare, the twenty-third of April, in every year, an eulogy upon his character and writings, and one of his plays, or scenes from his plays, shall on that day be represented in the theatre. And on the first Mondays of every June and October ‘The Edwin Forrest Home,’ and grounds shall be opened for the admission of ladies and gentlemen of the theatrical profession and their friends, in the manner of social picnics, when all provide their own entertainments.
“The foregoing general outline of my plan of the Institution I desire to establish has been sketched during my preparations for a long voyage by sea and land, and, should God spare my life, it is my purpose to be more full and definite; but should I leave no later will or codicil, my friends who sympathize in my purposes will execute them in the best and fullest manner possible, understanding that they have been long meditated by me, and are very dear to my heart. They will also remember that my professional brothers and sisters are often unfortunate, and that little has been done for them, either to elevate them in their profession or to provide for their necessities under sickness or other misfortunes. God has favored my efforts and given me great success, and I would make my fortune the means to elevate the education of others and promote their success, and to alleviate their sufferings and smooth the pillows of the unfortunate, in sickness or other disability, or the decay of declining years.
“These are the grounds upon which I would appeal to the Legislature of my native State, to the Chief Magistrate of my native city, to the Courts and my fellow-citizens, to assist my purposes, which I believe to be demanded by the just claims of humanity, and by that civilization and refinement which springs from intellectual and moral culture.
“I, therefore, lay it as a duty upon my Trustees to frame a bill which the Legislature may enact, as and for the charter of said Institution, which shall ratify the articles in said outline of plan; shall authorize the Mayor of the city to act as one of its Managers, and the said Court to exercise the visitatorial jurisdiction invoked, and prevent streets from being run through so much of the Springbrook grounds as shall include the buildings and sixty acres of ground. Such a charter being obtained, the Corporation shall be authorized, at a future period, to sell the grounds outside said space, the proceeds to be applied to increase the endowment and usefulness of the Home. And so far as I shall not have built to carry out my views, I authorize the said Managers, with consent of my sisters, or survivor of them, having a right to reside at Springbrook, to proceed to erect and build the buildings required by my outline of plan, and towards their erection apply the income accumulated or current of my estate, and should my sisters consent, or the survivor of them consent, in case of readiness to open the Home, to remove therefrom, a comfortable house shall be procured for them elsewhere, furnished and rent and taxes paid, as required in respect to Springbrook, at the cost and charge of my estate or of the said Corporation, if then in possession thereof. Whensoever the requisite charter shall be obtained and the Corporation be organized and ready to proceed to carry out its design, then it shall be the duty of said Trustees to assign and convey all my said property and estate unto the said ‘Edwin Forrest Home,’ their successors and assigns forever, and for the latter to execute and deliver, under the corporate seal, a full and absolute discharge and acquittance forever,—with or without auditing of accounts by an auditor of the Court, as they may think proper,—unto the said Executors and Trustees.
“In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-six.