USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
As the Welfare of all Societies & Bodies in- corporated, is in a great Measure owing to the conscientious Discharge of their Trust, which by the respective Founders is required in the Guar- dian or Guardians thereof: they ought to make a faithfull Application of all publick Donations, or charitable Allowances, according to the pious Intentions of the respective Donors, that they may be render'd, both a present & future Happi- ness to every individual Person to whom they were design'd as such, as well as a Benefit to the Community in general.
Causes which frustrate intentions of contrib. utors to charitable foundation.
I humbly beg leave, with an entire Sense of my own Unworthiness, & with all that Rever- ence & Submission, which is due to your Hon- ours, & the Cause I am engaged in, to lay before von some of those many unhappy Causes, which entirely frustrate the pious Intentions of the respective Contributers to this charitable Foun- dation, the Orphan House, in this Colony of Georgia in America.
To expatiate upon the Character of that Gen- tleman or his Superintendants, who have the Administration of the Orphan House would be as unnecessary, as they are universally known.
What does he mean?
Permit me Gentlemen, only to observe that these thrasonical, vain-glorious Diotrepheses,
239
CORRESPONDENCE
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
are so immers'd in the bottomless Gulph of Spiritual Pride & Obduracy, that they will sacri- fice both the Glory of God, & Felicity of Man- kind, to raise a vain Admiration of themselves & to be at the Head of a Party. This is the Principle that inspires all their Actions, & the spiritual Motion they constantly Obey.
To what End are all those extravagant Col- lections, which have been made in all the wealthy Cities, & Towns in England, & several other Parts! all those immense Sums were collected, under the specious Colour of being apply'd to the Use of the poor Orphans of Georgia, which is nothing but a horrible Imposition upon the World. At this very Juncture there are no more than 14 Orphans, belonging to the whole Pro- vince of Georgia, the Rest are brought from all Parts of the World, not so much out of Regard either to their Souls or Bodies (as may reason- ably be expected) as to make a Seminary, to engross the Education of Youth, & by training them up in Ignorance, & blind Subjection to their pretended spiritual Guides, that they might thereby prepare them to swallow down all the Gross Absurdities of their Doctrine, in order to propagate their own horrid Scheme of Religion, than which, nothing could have a more direct Tendency to rend in Pieces our Constitution both in Church & State.
Their Principles, Practices, & pernicious Con- sequences, I have examin'd at large in another Essay; occasion'd by a late Controversy be- tween the Revd: M' Orton, & the Superinten-
A horrible imposition upon the world.
240
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
Used villainous means to blacken character of the Rev. Mr. Orton.
dants of the Orphan House, who made use of such villainous Means to blacken the Character of this worthy Gentleman, that I thought my self obliged in Conscience to vindicate him as far as I was able, from the Attacks & Malice of his inveterate Enemies. I presume your Hon- ours had much rather see a good Meaning weak- ly supported, than an ill one drest up in the most plausible Colours ; this gives me sure Confidence that my weak, but zealous Defence of the most sacred Principles of the Establish'd Church may claim some Title to your Honours Protec- tion : But to the Point.
Scheme of Religion.
This Scheme of Religion of theirs, seems to be professedly calculated for the final Destruction of all Religion & Virtue, & this Orphan House instead of being any real Benefit to the Colony, must consequently be the Destruction of it, ac- cording to the present Management.
A piece of Popish policy at the bottoni.
An expe. dient made use of by imposters.
As far as I can learn from all apparent Cir- cumstances, one may reasonably conclude, that there is a Piece of Popish Policy at the bottom; their solo End & Design is to make a Reforma- tion (or rather a Destruction) both in Church & State. And they expressly declare there will be no Christianity in the World as long as the Church of England stands. So these Furiosoes set to work all the Engines of their Policy, to bring about a Reformation, & have hit upon an Expedient, made use of by all such Imposters. If we look but a little abroad, & see what the Jesuits in the Popish Dominions have been, & are now, doing, in those Countries about us.
241
CORRESPONDENCE
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
where Popery is the Religion by Law estab- lish'd; These crafty, designing Ecclesiasticks, persue the same Methods, & by a most subtle Dexterity have banish'd every usefull Study & Learning out of their respective Districts, ex- cept what suits with their own Tenets; by this means they have in a Manner prevented their Hearers from all possibility of making any En- quiry into the Errors & Delusions of their Re- ligion, so they have got an Opportunity of mak- ing what Interpolations they please, & imposing upon the People the greatest Absurdities, nay Impossibilities in Nature, as Matters of Faith.
Analogous to this seems to be the Foundation of the Orphan House, which appears to have been with Design, to engross the Education of Youth, & thereby to banish all Traces of true Religion, & usefull Knowledge out of the World, or Order to make Way for their horrible Delu- sions, & gross Impostures, which are so glaring & conspicuous, that they must soon be detected by Men of common Understanding.
Hence we may see a Reason, why these Re- formers level all their Artillery, & exhaust their Magazine of Scandal against the Clergy of the Church of England (a flagrant Instance of which, lately happen'd here) because these are the shining Lights who detect & discover their horrid Designs of imposing upon the World; these are the greatest Enemies, & Opposers, the Bane & Scourge of Profaneness & Infidelity, of ... Heresy & Schism, of Whims & Innovocations in Religion. In vain are all the Pains & Policy of
The founda- tion of the Orphan House.
Artillery and mag. azine of scandal leveled against the clergy of the Church of England
242
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
Pains and policy of the mis- chlevous sons of ignorance.
those mischievous Sons of Ignorance to get those Barriers remov'd, to shake or disconcert them, as long as a standing Order of these Men, duly qualified for their sacred Function, who are the Light of Religion, & by whom it is dispensed to all the World, are yet in Being. The horrid Designs & Impostures which the aforesaid Friends of Ignorance & Error, endeavour to put upon the World, will always be detected & made conspicuous ; so that 'tis impossible for them to succeed in their Works of Darkness as long as Learning & good Sence have any, Place among the Sons of Men. This they seem very conscious of, & for that Reason all glorious Seminaries of sound Learning, are the constant Marks at which they direct all their Aims, & against which they exhaust their bitterest Spleen & Malice. Which venerable Societies are the Glory of the Reformation, & the Bulwark of Christianity; & from these precious Fountains do flow the Suc- cess & Glory of our Kingdome, & likewise the Kingdome of Christ, whose Glory are essen- tially united.
To extricate themselves out of this insuper- able Difficulty, as well as they could, they have built an Orphan House (as they call it, tho it scare deserves the Name) They have brought Children to it from all Parts of the World, Or- phans or not Orphans without Distinction; some they even forcibly tore from their Parents Breasts.
Orphans without dis- tinction.
Pray what was the Motive of all this, not any Regard he had either to their Souls or Bodies.
243
CORRESPONDENCE
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
nor to the Interest of the whole or any Individu- al; If the Man be sincere in what he does, (which a Man in his Senses, must have a good Share of Faith to believe) he is really sadly to be lamented; but allowing it was so, we are not to suffer one Man's ill grounded mistaken Zeal, to be the Ruin of a Nation, or to turn Traytor to his King & Country, merely because a poor deluded Wretch, unhappily mistakes the Delus- ions of the Devil, or the Suggestions of his own wild Imagination for the Internal Oracles of God, & from thence thinks that it is doing Ser- vice to God, & Religion to conspire the Ruin of both.
Hence with those deluded Wretches, Rebellion has assum'd the glorious Name of Religion, & Faith is to be turn'd into Faction; Prosecution against common Disturbers of the publick Peace, & Opposers of all Laws Humane & Divine, is christen'd a meritorious Suffering for Christs Sake, whence its evident to all the World that they are warmly in the Interest of the op- posite Party.
For a Proof of this, several irresitable [sic] Arguments might be brought but I shall only instance this diabolical Scheme, the Orphan House & its Consequences.
To come to the Point, their unprecedented Manner of Proceeding is this, instead of train- ing up the Youth in the early Principles of Piety & sound Religion, they infuse into their tender Minds, innumerable Prejudices thereby vitiat-
Poor, deluded wretch mistakes delusions of the Devil for Internal Oracles of God.
A diabolical scheme, the Orphan House and its conse- quences.
244
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
ing & giving a wrong Biass to their weak Under- standings in Matters of eternal Moment, draw- ing them from the true Faith of Christ, to em- brace the most notorious & pernicious Doctrines, confounding the very Distinctions of Good & Evil, blowing up the Coals of Strife & Conten- tion, to the great Disturbance of the publiek Tranquility, & Banishing Love & Charity among Neighbours, the only Cements of publick Peace, & the main Pillars of Religion.
Thus they set to work all the Engines of their Policy, to rend in Pieces the Members of Christs Body, by dividing his Kingdome against itself.
Thus they entirely frustrate, the grand End & Design of all charitable Foundations, which is promoting the Glory of God, and the Felicity of Mankind. All the Doctrines & Principles they so Zealously propogate are highly derogatory to the Glory of God, the Excellency of Christianity, & Subversive of all Religion, nor are they less injurious to the publick Welfare.
The train. ing up of the youth.
Instead of training up the Youth to labour & Industry, whereby they might make Provision for their own worldly Subsistence, & become usefull Members of Society, they teach them to cast off all Obligations both as Men, & Chris- tians ; they deny Obedience even to the positive Commands of the Gospel; make all the Promises & Threatning of Reward & Punishment conse- quent thereupon mere Mock & Delusion.
Distribu- tion of ob- ligation.
Thus they destroy all Obligation we lie under as Christians, to obey the Divine Commands, by
245
CORRESPONDENCE
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
asserting that all good Works are the sole Effect of God's Spirit, which worketh irresistably with- out any Cooperation on the Man's part. Thus they resolve the Soul & Substance of all Religion into their Spiritual Feelings, which without a Spirit of Divination one may reasonably con- elude to be the Delusions of the Devil, for to suppose good Spirits to work for bad Ends is a Moral Contradiction, & when the Effect is such, the Cause must be so too.
In the next Place they cast off all Obligations we lie under as Men or Members of one Com- munity, in which every Individual is oblig'd to behave himself so in his different Station & Capacity, which Providence has assign'd him, as to promote the Int'rest of the Whole.
Instead of training up those poor Children, to such servile Offices or Employments, which are necessary in all Communities, & for which the wise Governour of the World, seems by his Pro- vidence to have design'd them, they fill their Heads with mischievous Notions, that they ought entirely to neglect all Concerns of this Life, & give themselves up entirely to Prayer & Meditation, & (as they term it) sanctify their whole Life by these Means unto the Lord. This Doctrine is chiefly calculated to amuse & cap- tivate the lazy and Indolent Part of Mankind, & will doubtless be readily embrac'd by all, whom Providence seems to have design'd for servile Offices. To corroborate this Assertion, I shall beg leave to offer one Instance, One of White- field's Followers set about converting the Ne-
A moral contra. diction.
Heads filled with mischiev- ous notions.
A doctrine calculated to captivate lazy and indolent part of manhood.
246
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
One of Whitefield's followers converting negroes in Carolina.
groes in Carolina, the Method he took was this, he told them they must not go to work but go & seek Christ, he was their Master: To which they reply'd in the Height of Joy & Transport, Christ was a very good Master, if he would get 'em a Holy Day, they would seek him every Day : & pursuant to that Resolution, they went raving in the Woods for some time till their Masters were oblig'd to take them under Dis- cipline.
What then must be the Consequence of infus- ing such like Principles into tender Minds sus- ceptible of the Faint of such Infection! In- digence & Beggary in every Shape must neces- sarily follow, & those Orphans must consequent- ly be the Bane of all Humane Society.
A doctrine very dan- gerous in its effect.
As a necessary Remedy against the ill Effects of this Doctrine, they substitute another, much more dangerous in its Effects, Viz. That all Things are common among Christians. The inevitable Consequence of such a leveling Scheme must be Mutinies, Riots, Robberies, & Disorders of every kind.
The scheme of the Orphan House means for destruction of the Colony.
In fine nothing could be more professedly calculated for the Destruction of this Colony, than this Scheme of the Orphan House, & this seems to be the great Aim, which these disaf- fected Bigots, or Pretended Reformers have in View. Their Maxim of building I find is pull- ing down, & their Way of supporting the Body of the Church is pulling away its Pillars: & still those Wretches dragg in the sacred Name
CORRESPONDENCE
247
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
of Religion to vouch for all their Impieties, & skreen their Wickedness under this most holy Protection.
I need not inform you Gentlemen, that we have here the Dregs & Refuse of all Countries, & what the Consequence of this new Doctrine will be considering the Giddiness of the waver- ing, unstable Populace; their Greediness (like the Athenians of old) of imbibing the Poyson of Novelty, & even their Affection for Delusion, is not Difficult to presage. They have made too successfull a Progress in propagating such vile & abomenable Doctrines, already, as are a Re- proach to the Glory & Dignity of Christ, & the Temper of our Religion, & if those wicked Im- postores [sic] succeed in their horrid Designs of engrossing the Education of Youth into their own Hands, the Disease will in a short time be- come so Epidemical, that if no Remedy be ap- ply'd to put a Stop to the spreading of its Ma- lignacy the Contagion will, like a devouring Fire, lay every Thing waste about it, & threaten a total Ruin & Destruction to the Colony.
Your Zeal, Gentlemen, for the Welfare of this Colony, has ever been so conspicuous, that there is not the least Reason to doubt but your Hon- ours will exert yourselves in a Matter of such great Moment; & not only lend a helping Hand towards stopping the Conflagration, but like- wise if possible by a timely Aid, defeat & pre- vent the Incendaries.
The dregs and refuse of all countries.
-
248
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
Upon the education of youth depends the suc- cesses or disgrace of every nation.
The Education of Youth has always been thought worthy the Consideration of the wisest Men of all Ages, this Concern so nearly affects the Common Interest, that upon this alone de- pends, the Glory and Success, or the Ruin and Disgrace of every Nation or Country.
Mr. Tully one of the wisest heathens.
To shew that I do not stand single in my Opinion of this, permit me, Gentlemen, (to give Weight to what I have advanced) to produce the Authority of one of the wisest Heathens (Tully himself) who seems to be very sensible of the Necessity of the Education of Youth, when he thus elegantly expresses himself. Recta Juven- tutis Institutio ad summum Reipublica Emolu- mentum, conducit Maxime, In another Place, Nullus nos posse majus, meliusve Reipublica afferre munus quam docendo et erudiendo Juventutem.
Cursorily pointed out deplorable truths.
I could expatiate farther & set the Matter in Hand, in a more glaring Light, but this is no gratefull Subject to dwell upon, & I have just eursorily pointed out these deplorable Truths, which I hope your Honours will take into ser- ious Consideration.
I have something more material to observe, but I dare not presume to think that you have done me the Honour to attend to this long Ad- dress, which particular Reason obliges me to protract.
A tedious apology for a tedious per- formance.
There is nothing more innexcusable with Gentlemen of Sense than a tedious Apology for a tedious Performance: I therefore shall only
249
CORRESPONDENCE
Thomas Bosomworth to the Trustees.
add, that I have Reason fo hope, that, that dis- position which is inseperable from great Minds (I mean that affable & courteous Behaviour, that condescending meekness and Humanity for which your Honours are so deservedly fam- ed) will induce you to indulge the seeming Im- pertinence of this: Upon Consideration that after ill Luck at start, young Men are not apt to make any farther Attempts, to recover them- selves out of that Obscurity into which they are driven, which brings down that Vigour & Ele- vation of their Minds, improved & directed to nobler Purposes.
When a young Man (especially of any Share of Modesty) has to struggle with a long Opposi- tion of unfavorable Incidents, when his san- guine Expectations are crost, & his most hon- ourable Designs intercepted, it must throw an almost insuperable Damp upon the most enter- prizing Genius (unless buoy'd up with more than ordinary Expectation) so as to make him remember his laudable Ambition to more.
Nothing sure can be of a more depressing Nature than to be fixt remote from the Advan- tages of Letters, and to be condemn'd to Ob- scurity, to those (especially) who are qualified to be usefull in some more favourable Scene.
I presume your Honours will be pleas'd grac- iously to accept this, with your common Indul- gence, and your Countenance will add Spirit to the Authors future Labours, and weak Endea- vours to promote the Welfare of this Colony, of
250
COLONIAL RECORDS
Revd. Mr. Bolzius to Harman Verelst.
which this is humbly intended as an Introduc- tion
I am
Gentlemen
Your Honours most humble and devoted Servant Thos : Bosomworth.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM THE REVD. MR. BOLZIUS TO HARMAN VERELST ESQR. 15 MARCH 1741
Ebenezer in Georgia March 15th 17416 Dear Sir,
In my last of the 15th JanTy. I had the pleasure to acquaint you with the happy Arrival of the Saltzburgers under the Conduct of Mr. Vigera. They remember with great Respect & thankful- ness the great many benefits which the Honble. Trustees have been pleased to heap upon them at London, & in their Sea- Passage, for which they beseech God to bless them manyfold here & here after. They are in hopes, the Honble. Trustees will generously add to their former Benefactions a little Stock of Cattle, of Hogs & Poultrey for which they highly promise to be in- finetly obliged to them. They are all still in a very good state of Health, & have done already
The happy arrival of the Saltz- burgers under the conduct of Mr. Vigera.
CORRESPONDENCE
251
Revd. Mr. Bolzius to Harman Verelst.
a great Deal of labour in their respective Plan- tations for preparing the Ground for planting this Month. By joynt labour they have last Month repaired our Mill with some Difficulty, but to such a good Effect, that it will be further to a very great use to our & other Places in the Colony. Likewise they have by common Indus- try built a high & very strong Bridge to pass now very commodiously a little River & great Swamp between the Town of Plantations, which is to us & other people of such a great use, that I am not able to express it in Words. It would indeed redound to a very great Encouragement to our people, if the Honbie. Trustees would give Orders, that the Bounty for our Crop of the year 1739, which was promised to us by his Ex- cellency Gen1: Oglethorpe more than once, might be pay'd to the Saltzburgers as well as it has been to our Neighbours in the Colony. The General himself has given Orders to Savannah for paying the Bounty to us, & tho' other Inhabi- tants had a Benefaction of 2 shil. for a Bushle of Corn, the Saltzburgers will be very well satis- fy'd with one shil. & thank God & their Benefac- tors for it. Henry Newman Esq; wrote me Word some Months ago, that the Honble. Trus- tees have bountifully allow'd to Dr. Thilo a dutch Servant, several tools & Sª a Day for him, but Orders are not yet issued here for that pur- pose, make therefore bold, to intercede, for the said D'. Thilo. If they were not despleased to allow him some Provisions, instead of a Servant, he thinks it to be more convenient for him,
A high and strong bridge built.
Henry Newman's letter in regard to Dr. Thilo.
252
COLONIAL RECORDS
Revd. Mr. Bolzius to Harman Verelst.
however only to the Honble Trustees good Will & Pleasure.
I have forgotten in my last to acquaint you that Hamilton, who pretended to be an English Schoolmaster at our Place, & came over with Cap. Thomson, has left our Place, & follows his Trade at Savannah. He had cleared Ground be- fore his Hutt, more than he was sufficient to plant, but his wife being proud & idle, & both addicted to a life disagreeable to our Constitu- tions, have abandoned our Place, & promised the Magistrates to pay their Passage. I offered them their maintainance in the Orphan House, if they had a mind to follow good Directions & to be of some Use to the Children; but refusing that they liked better to lead a loose life.
Lastly I beg the favour of you to present to the Ilonde. Trustees my & M' Gronau's most humble Respects, which you would be pleased to accept of
Dear Sir
your most obedient very humble Servant John Martin Bolzius.
To Harman Verelst Esq :
Hamilton, who pre- tended to be an English school- master.
253
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Mr. Thos. Bosomworth.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM MR. THOS BOSOMWORTH
Savannah March ye 20th 1741/5.
Sir
The Character you was pleas'd to give me of Coll: Stephens as a worthy Gentleman, (from my own Experience) is what he highly deserves. And I shall ever look upon it, as the greatest Happiness, that I had the good Fortune to fall into the Hands of a Gentleman of Learning, and Sense, and I believe a Friend to those who have the least Share of either : for tho I came over in the Capacity of a Clerk, he has treated me in every Respect, with the utmost Civility, & good Manners, and I shall be glad of all Opportuni- ties of acknowledging his Favours with the ut- most Sense of Gratitude.
When I first arrived here Coll. Stephens, had wanted a Clerk for some time, so that there was a long Arrear of Letters &c to post into the Books, which I should have undertaken with Pleasure, and I dare venture to say, could have gone thro' with it, without being So Soon tired with such dry Work, as might be imagined.
I must own I am not so compleat a Clerk, as to coppy Mechanically; by the Letter only for which Reason, Coll: Stephens as an Instance of his Respect, would not suffer me to undertake it.
High com. mendations of Col. Stephens.
Clerk to Col. Stephens.
254
COLONIAL RECORDS
Letter from Mr. Thos. Bosomworth.
In the Interim, I employ'd my Thoughts, in the best manner I could, and as I thought, for the Interest of the Colony, but I am sorry to find, that my good Intentions are so farr per- verted as to be imputed to an Ambition of ap- pearing as an Author, I cant help saying, that I think it a very ungenerous Remark of a pre- tended Friend, even after he had vouchsafed some Degree of his Approbation : But however, as to the Justness of it, by the Verdict of the Honble. Gentlemen into whose Hands they will come, I am willing to stand or fall.
But to a fresh Subject.
I presume the Honourable Gentlemen are ac- quainted by their Secretary here (Coll: Steph- ens) that he has done me the Honour to nomi- nate me Register of the Town & Township of Savannah, with an Addition of the Place of Sec- retary to the Indian Affairs, to corrobate [sic] which I only want their Honours Appointment ; which I presume I need not dispute upon the Recommendation of that Gentleman.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.