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.