Part 598

SOME months have I been here, and now think it high time, according to my promise, to send you as explicit an account, as I well can, of the _progress_, and _present situation_ of the Orphan-house. Some have thought, that the erecting such a building was only the produce of my own brain; but they are much mistaken. It was first proposed to me by my dear friend the reverend Mr. _Charles Wesley_, who, with his excellency General ♦_Oglethorpe_, had concerted a scheme for carrying on such a design, before I had any thoughts of going abroad myself. It was natural to think, that as the government intended this province for the refuge and support of many of our poor countrymen, that numbers of such adventurers must necessarily be taken off, by being exposed to the hardships which unavoidably attend a new settlement. I thought it therefore a noble design in general, to erect a house for fatherless children. And believing such a provision for orphans would be some inducement with many to come over, I fell in with the design, when mentioned to me by my friend, and was resolved, in the strength of GOD, to prosecute it with all my might. This was mentioned to the honourable the trustees. They took it kindly at my hands; and as I then began to be pretty popular at _Bristol_, and elsewhere, they wrote to the _Bishop_ of _Bath_ and _Wells_, for leave for me to preach a charity-sermon on this occasion in the abbey-church. This was granted, and I accordingly began immediately to compose a suitable discourse: but knowing my first stay at _Georgia_ would be but short, on account of my returning again to take priests orders, I thought it most prudent, first to go and see for myself, and defer prosecuting the scheme till I came home: because I could then be better able to judge, whether the scheme was practicable, and consequently could be able to recommend it with the greater earnestness. When I came to _Georgia_, I found many poor orphans, who though taken notice of by the honourable trustees, yet through the neglect of persons that acted under them, were in miserable circumstances. For want of a house to breed them up in, the poor little ones were tabled out here and there, and besides the hurt they received by bad examples, forgot at home what they learnt at school. Others were at hard services, and likely to have no education at all. Upon seeing this, and finding that his majesty and parliament had the interest of this colony much at heart, I thought I could not better shew my regard to GOD and my country, than by getting a house and land for these children, where they might learn to labour, read, and write, and at the same time be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Accordingly, at my return to _England_ in the year 1738, to take priest orders, I applied to the honourable society for a grant of five-hundred acres of land, and laid myself under an obligation to build a house upon it, and to receive from time to time, as many orphans as the land and stock would maintain. As I had always acted like a clergyman of the church of _England_, having preached in many of the _London_ churches, and as I had but a few months before collected near a thousand pounds _Sterling_, for the children belonging to the charity-schools in _London_ and _Westminster_; it was natural to think, that I might now have the use at least of some of these churches to preach in, for the orphans hereafter more immediately to be committed to my care. But by the time I had taken priests orders, the spirit of the clergy began to be much imbittered. Churches were gradually denied to me. And I must let this good design drop, and thousands (I might add ten thousands) go without hearing the word of GOD, or preach in the fields. Indeed two churches, one in _London_ (_Spittle-fields_) and one in _Bristol_ (St. _Philip_’s and _Jacob_) were lent me upon this occasion; but those were all. However, GOD kept me from being discouraged. I collected for the Orphan-house in _Moorfields_, two and fifty pounds one sabbath-day morning; twenty-two pounds of which was in copper. It would have rejoiced your heart to see the people give; they offered willingly, and took more pains to come through the crowd and put their contributions into my hat, than some would to have gotten them. Thousands of prayers were put up with the alms that were given, and I trust both went up as a memorial before GOD. In the afternoon I collected again at _Kennington-Common_, and continued to do so at most of the places where I preached. Besides this, two or three of the _Bishops_, and several persons of distinction contributed; till at length, having about a thousand and ten pounds, I gave over collecting, and went with what I had to _Georgia_. At that time multitudes offered to accompany me; but I chose to take over only a surgeon, and a few more of both sexes, that I thought would be useful in carrying on my design. These chearfully embarked with me, desiring nothing for their pains, but food and raiment. My dear fellow-traveller, _William Seward_, Esq. also joined with them, and was particularly useful to me on this occasion. Our first voyage was to _Philadelphia_, where I was willing to go for the sake of laying in provision. Having a Captain of a ship with me, who had been my spiritual child, by his advice, I laid out in _London_ a good part of the thousand pounds for goods; and by his care and that of my other fellow-travellers, without any trouble to myself, got as much by them at _Philadelphia_ as nearly defrayed the family’s expence of coming over. Here GOD blessed my ministry daily, and begun that work in _Philadelphia_, which, I am persuaded, will be remembered through the ages of eternity. _January_ following, 1739, I met my family at _Georgia_, and being unwilling to lose any time, I hired a large house, and took in all the Orphans I could find in the colony. A great many also of the town’s children came to school _gratis_, and many poor people who could not maintain their children, upon application, had leave given them to send their little ones for a month or two, or more, as they could spare them, till at length my family consisted of between sixty and seventy. Most of the orphans were in poor case; and three or four almost eaten up with lice. I likewise erected an _Infirmary_, in which many sick people were cured and taken care of _gratis_. I have now by me a list of upwards of a hundred and thirty patients, who were under the Surgeon’s hands, exclusive of my own private family. This Surgeon I furnished with all proper drugs and utensils, which put me to no small expence; and this was still increased by clearing land, buying stock, and building a large dwelling-house, sixty-feet by forty, and out-houses, commodious for a large family to live in. Sometimes (labourers and all) I have had a hundred and twenty to provide for daily. My friends, as well as myself, seemed to have particular courage and faith given us for the season; and we went on chearfully, believing that He for whose sake we began, would enable us to finish this good work. About _March_ I began the great house, having only about one hundred and fifty pounds in cash. I called it _Bethesda_, because I hoped it would be a house of mercy to many souls. Blessed be GOD, we have not been disappointed of our hope; it has proved a house of mercy indeed to many. Several of our labourers, as well as visitors, have (in a judgment of charity) been born of GOD here, and given evident proofs of it, by bringing forth the fruits of the spirit. Many boys have been put out to trades, and many girls put out to service. I had pleasure the other day, of seeing three boys work at the house in which they were bred, one of them out of his time, a journeyman, and the others serving under their masters. One that I brought from _New-England_ is handsomely settled in _Carolina_, and another from _Philadelphia_ is married, and lives very comfortably at _Savannah_. How so large a family has been supported in such a colony, without any visible fund, is wonderful! I am surprized when I look back, and see, how for these six years last past, GOD has spread a table in the wilderness for so many persons. Were all the particular providences that have attended this work recorded, perhaps they would be found not inferior to those mentioned by Professor _Franck_, in his _Pietas Hallensis_, whose memory is very precious to me, and whose example has a thousand times been blessed to strengthen and encourage me in the carrying on this enterprize. My being detained so long in _England_, has been a little detrimental to me, my friends not knowing so well how to act, because they expected to see me daily. And I cannot yet say that I have surmounted the first year’s expence, which indeed was very great, and greater no doubt than it would be now, after my friends have had so many years experience in the colony. However, I doubt not, but by the blessing of GOD, in a short time to pay off my arrears, and then the family will be maintained at a small expence. My standing annual charges are now but trifling to what they have been; and my friends have raised an annual subscription sufficient for discharging it, till the family may be able to provide for itself. This, GOD willing, I hope will be, in a good measure, speedily effected. We have lately begun to use the plow; and next year I hope to have many acres of good oats and barley. We have near twenty sheep and lambs, fifty head of cattle, and seven horses. We hope to kill a thousand weight of pork this season. Our garden, which is very beautiful, furnishes us with all sorts of greens, &c. We have plenty of milk, eggs, poultry, and make a good deal of butter weekly. A great quantity of wool and cotton has been given me, and we hope to have sufficient spun and wove for the next winter’s cloathing. If the vines hit, we may expect two or three hogsheads of wine out of the vineyard. The family now consists of twenty-six persons. Two of the orphan boys are blind, one is little better than an idiot. But notwithstanding, they are useful in the family, one in the field, and the other in the kitchen. I have two women to take care of the houshold work, and three men and two boys employed about the plantation and cattle. A sett of _Dutch_ servants has been lately sent over: the magistrates were pleased to give me two; and I took in a poor old widow, aged near seventy, whom no body else cared to have. A valuable young man from _New-England_ is my school-master, and in my absence performs duty in the family. Sabbath-days the grown people attend public worship at _Savannah_, or at _White-bluff_, a village near _Bethesda_, where a _Dutch_ minister officiates. My dear friends who have hitherto been my assistants, being married and having three or four children, thought it best, as most suitable to the institution, to remove: GOD has mercifully provided for them, and they are comfortably settled at _Savannah_ and elsewhere: we frequently write to and hear from one another. I need not trouble you with the order of our family. It is pretty near the same as usual, and I do not think to make any material alteration for some time. Many have applied to me to take in their children as boarders, and erect a public school: but I have not yet determined. It is certain such a school would be exceedingly useful in this part of the world, if there should be a peace, not only for these northern parts of the colony, but also for the more southern parts of _Carolina_, _Purisburgh_, and _Frederica_, where are many fine youths. I have been prevailed on to take one from _Frederica_, and another from _Purisburgh_, and it may be shall admit more. For the present, considering the situation of affairs, I think it most prudent to go on making what improvements I can on the plantation, and shall bring a tutor with me from the northward in the fall, to teach a few youths the languages, and enlarge the family, when affairs are more settled. The house is a noble commodious building, and every thing well adapted for bringing up youth. Here is land to employ them in exercising their bodies, and to keep them from idleness out of school hours. Here are none of the temptations to debauch their tender minds, which are common to more populous countries, or in places where children must necessarily be brought up with negroes. What GOD intends to do with the colony is not for me to enquire: secret things belong to him. It has hitherto been wonderfully preserved, and the Orphan-house, like the burning bush, has flourished unconsumed. In fine, the government has, no doubt, its welfare much at heart: and, GOD willing, I intend to carry on my design till I see the colony sink or swim. The money that has been expended on the Orphan-house, and Orphan-house family, has been of vast service to this northern part of the colony. And though it has been greatly detrimental to my own private interest, yet I do not repent of the undertaking. No, I rejoice in it daily, and hope yet to see many more souls born unto GOD here. I have had a very comfortable winter. The people of _Savannah_, having no minister till lately, gladly accepted my labours; and at _Frederica_, the gentlemen and soldiers of General ♦_Oglethorpe_’s regiment, as well as the inhabitants of that town, received me very gladly. Major _Horton_ seems to behave very well; he has a very fine growing plantation. I saw barley in the ear the first of _March_. _Georgia_ is very healthy. Not above one, and that a little child, has died out of our family, since it removed to _Bethesda_. I think the colony (were the inhabitants sufficiently numerous) is capable of as good improvement as any on the continent.