Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/407

Rh were making for this Purpose in all the parts of America belonging to them; * * * that from a deep sense of these growing Evils the two Seminaries aforesaid, distant about 100 miles from each other, were begun in two of the most important and populous trading Cities in his Majesty's American Dominion, nearly at the same time and with the same view not so much to aim at any high Improvements in Knowledge, as to guard against total Ignorance; to instill into the Minds of Youth just prin- ciples of Religion, Loyalty and Love of our excellent Constitution, to instruct them in such branches of Knowledge and useful Arts as are neces- sary to Trade, Agriculture, and a due improvement of his Majesty's valu- able Colonies; and to assist in raising up a succession of faithful Instruc- tors and Teachers to be sent forth not only among his Majesty's subjects there but also among his Indian allies, in order to instruct both in the way of Truth, to save them from the Corruptions of the Enemy, and help to remove the Reproach of suffering the Emissaries of a false Religion to be more zealous in propagating their Slavish and Destructive Tenets in that part of the world than Britons and Protestants are in promoting the pure form of Godliness, and the glorious plan of public Liberty and Happiness committed to them. * * * But as Designs of so extensive a nature have seldom oeen completed (even in the most wealthy Kingdoms) unless by the united generosity of many private Benefactors and often by the par- ticular Bounty of Sovereign Princes, the Petitioners are persuaded it will not be thought strange that all the Resources in the power of individuals in young Colonies should be found inadequate to such a work, and that the Governor and Trustees of the said Seminaries should have the just appre- hension of seeing all that they have raised for their support speedily exhausted and an end put to their usefulness, unless they can procure assist- ance from distant places, as the expense of each of them is four hundred pounds sterling yearly above their Income, the defraying of which would require an additional Capital of about Six Thousand Pounds sterling a Piece. * * * That the Petitioners being accordingly appointed to sollicit and receive such assistance, and being sensible that the highest satis- faction which his Majesty's known piety and humanity can derive from the Prosperity and Extension of his Dominions will be to see these advantages improved for enlarging the sphere of Protestantism, increasing the number of good Men, and bringing barbarous Nations within the Pale of Religion and Civil life, they are, therefore encouraged humbly to pray, That his Majesty will be pleased to direct that a ROYAL BRIEF may be passed under the Great Seal of Great Britain, authorizing them to make a Collection throughout the Kingdom from house to house, for the joint and equal ben- efit of the two Seminaries, and Bodies corporate aforesaid. And the Brief was, with only the delay of official formalities, issued on 19 August.