Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

terian churches in that town, who are to let out the fame upon intereft at five per cent. per annum, to fuch young married artificers, under the age of twenty-five years, as have ferved an apprenticeship in the faid town, and faithfully fulfilled the duties required in their indentures, fo as to obtain a good moral character from at least two refpectable citizens, who are willing to become fureties in a bond, with the applicants, for the repayment of the money fo lent, with intereft, according to the terms herein after prescribed; all which bonds are to be taken for Spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in current gold coin: and the manager fhall keep a bound book, or books, wherein fhall be entered the names of those who fhall apply for, and receive the benefit of this inftitution, and of their fureties, together with the fums lent, the dates, and other neceffary and proper records, refpecting the bufinefs and concerns of this inftitution: and as these loans are intended to affift young married artificers in fetting up their business, they are to be proportioned by the difcretion of the managers, fo as not to exceed fixty pounds fterling to one perfon, nor to be less than fifteen pounds.

And if the number of appliers fo entitled should be fo large as that the fum will not fuffice to afford to each as much as might otherwife not be improper, the proportion to each fhall be diminifhed, fo as to afford to every one fome affiftance. These aids may therefore be fmall at first, but as the capital increases by the accumulated intereft, they will be more ample. And in order to ferve as many as poffible in their turn, as well as to make the repayment of the principal borrowed more eafy, each borrower fhall be obliged to pay with the yearly intereft one tenth part of the principal; which fums of principal and inte

reft

reft fo paid in, fhall be again let out to fresh borrowers. And it is prefumed, that there will be always found in Boston virtuous and benevolent citizens, willing to beftow a part of their time in doing good to the rifing generation, by fuperintending and managing this inftitution gratis; it is hoped that no part of the money will at any time lie dead, or be diverted to other purposes, but be continually augmenting by the intereft, in which there may in time be more than the occafion in Bofton fhall require: and then fome may be spared to the neighbouring or other towns, in the said state of Maffachusetts, which may defire to have it, fuch towns engaging to pay punctually the intereft, and the proportions of the principal annually to the inhabitants of the town of Boston. If this plan is executed, and fucceeds, as projected, without interruption for one hundred years, the fum will be then one hundred and thirty-one thousand pounds; of which I would have the managers of the donation to the town of Boston then lay out, at their discretion, one hundred thousand pounds in public works, which may be judged of moft general utility to the inhabitants; fuch as fortifications, bridges, aqueducts, public buildings, baths, pavements, or whatever may make living in the town more convenient to its people, and render it more agreeable to frangers reforting thither for health, or a temporary refidence. The remaining thirtyone thousand pounds I would have continued to be let out to intereft, in the manner above directed, for one hundred years; as I hope it will have been found that the inftitution has had a good effect on the conduct of youth, and been of fervice to many worthy characters and useful citiAt the end of this fecond term, if no unfortunate accident has prevented the operation, the

zens.

the fum will be four millions and fixty-one thousand pounds fterling; of which 1 leave one million and fixty-one thousand pounds to the lifpofition and management of the inhabitants of the town of Bofton, and the three millions to the difpofition of the government of the ftate; not prefuming to carry my views farther.

All the directions herein given refpecting the difpofition and management of the donation to the inhabitants of Bofton, I would have observed refpecting that to the inhabitants of Philadelphia; only, as Philadelphia is incorporated, I requeft the corporation of that city to undertake the management, agreeable to the faid directions: and I do hereby veft them with full and ample powers for that purpose. And having confidered that the covering its ground-plat with buildings and pavements, which carry off most rain, and prevent its foaking into the earth and renewing and purifying the fprings whence the water of the wells must gradually grow worse, and in time be unfit for ufe, as I find has happened in all old cities; I recommend, that, at the end of the first hundred years, if not done before, the corporation of the city employ a part of the hundred thoufand pounds in bringing by pipes the water of Wiffahickoncreek into the town, fo as to fupply the inhabitants, which I apprehend may be done without great difficulty, the level of that creek being much above that of the city, and may be made higher by a dam. I also recommend making the Skuylkil completely navigable. At the end of the fecond hundred years, I would have the difpofition of the four millions and fixty-one thousand pounds divided between the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia and the government of Pennsylvania, in the fame manner as herein directed with refpect to that of the inhabitants

inhabitants of Bofton and the government of Maffachusetts. It is my defire that this inftitution fhould take place, and begin to operate within one year after my decease; for which purpofe due notice fhould be publicly given previous to the expiration of that year, that thofe for whose benefit this establishment is intended may make their respective applications: and I hereby direct my executors, the furvivors and furvivor of them, within fix months after my decease to pay over the faid fum of two thousand pounds fterling to fuch perfons as fhall be duly appointed by the felect men of Boston and the corporation of Philadelphia, to receive and take charge of their respective fums of one thousand pounds each for the purposes aforefaid. Confidering the accidents to which all human affairs and projects are fubject in fuch a length of time, I have perhaps too much flattered myfelf with a vain fancy, that thefe difpofitions, if carried into execution, will be continued without interruption, and have the effects propofed: I hope however, that, if the inhabitants of the two cities fhould not think fit to undertake the execution, they will at least accept the offer of thefe donations, as a mark of my good will, token of my gratitude, and teftimony of my defire to be useful to them even after my departure. I wish, indeed, that they may both undertake to endeavour the execution of my project, because I think, that, though unforeseen difficulties may arife, expedients will be found to remove them, and the fcheme be found practicable. If one of them accepts the money with the conditions, and the other refuses, my will then is, that both fums be given to the inhabitants of the city accepting; the whole to be applied to the fame purpofes, and under the fame regulations directed for the fepa

rate

rate parts; and if both refufe, the money remain of course in the mafs of my eftate, and it is to be difpofed of therewith, according to my will made the feventeenth day of July 1788.

My fine crab-tree walking-ftick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the form of the cap of Liberty, I gave to my friend and the friend of mankind, General Wafhington. If it were a fceptre, he has merited it, and would become it.

ESSAYS

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »