our America, and especially his perseverance in it, amidst the many peculiar discouragements, he had to encounter during the late years of the war here, and upon a plan which appears to us to have the greatest probability of success, viz. by the mission of their own sons.

"We look upon it our duty as christians and ministers of the gospel, to give our testimony, that as we believe a disinterested regard to the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and the good of his Majesty's dominions in America, were the governing motives, which at first induced the Rev. Mr. Wheelock to enter upon the great affair, and to risk his private interest in carrying it on; so we esteem his plan to be good, his measures prudently and well concerted; his endowments peculiar; his zeal fervent, and his endeavors indefatigable for accomplishing this design.

And we apprehend that the generous donations already made have been, and we are confident will be, laid out in the most prudent manner, and with the best advice, for the furtherance of the important design. And we pray God abundantly to reward the liberality of any upon this occasion, and that in consequence thereof, the wide extended wilderness of America, may blossom as the rose; habitations of cruelty become dwelling places of righteousness; and the blessings of thousands ready to perish, come upon all those, whose love to Christ, and charity to the heathen, has been shown upon this occasion.”

Ebenezer Rosseter, Pastor of the first Church in Stonington. Joseph Fish,

Nathaniel Whitaker,

Benjamin Pomeroy,

Elijah Lothrop,
Nathaniel Eells,
Mather Byles,
Jonathan Barber,

Matthew Graves,
Peter Powers,

Second Church in Stonington.

Church in Chelsea.

First Church in Hebron.

Church in Gilead.

Church in Stonington.

First Church in New London.

Church in Groton.

Missionary at New London.

Church in Newent.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

GEORGE the Third, by the grace of GOD, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

To all to whom these presents shall come,

GREETING.

WHEREAS it hath been represented to our trusty and wellbeloved John Wentworth, Esq. Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over our province of New Hampshire, in New England in America, that the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon, in the colony of Connecticut, in New England aforesaid, now Doctor in divinity, did, on or about the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty four, at his own expence, on his own estate and plantation, set on foot an Indian Charity School, and for several years, through the assistance of well disposed persons in America, cloathed, maintained and

educated a number of the children of the Indian natives, with a view to their carrying the gospel in their own language, and spreading the knowledge of the great Redeemer among their savage tribes, and hath actually employed a number of them as Missionaries and School Masters in the wilderness for that purpose. And by the blessing of God upon the endeavors of said Wheelock, the design became reputable among the Indians, insomuch that a larger number desired the education of their chil dren in said School, and were also disposed to receive missionaries and school masters in the wilderness, more than could be supported by the charitable contributions in these American colonies.

Whereupon the said Eleazar Wheelock, thought it expedient that endeavors should be used to raise contributions from well disposed persons in England, for the carrying on and extending said undertaking, and for that purpose said Eleazar Wheelock, requested the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, now Doctor in Divinity, to go over to England for that purpose, and sent over with him the Rev. Sampson Occum, an Indian minister, who had been educated by the said Wheelock. And to enable the said Whitaker, to the more successful performance of said work on which he was sent, said Wheelock gave him a full power of attorney, by which said Whitaker solicited those worthy and generous contributors to charity, viz. the Right Hon. William Earl of Dartmouth, the Hon. Sir Sidney Stafford Smythe, Knight, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, John Thornton, of Clapham, in the county of Surrey, Esq. Samuel Roffey, of Lincoln's Innfields, in the county of Middlesex, Esq. Charles Hardey, of the parish of St. Mary-le-bonne, in said county, Esq. Daniel West, of Christ's Church, Spitalfields, in the county aforesaid, Esq. Samuel Savage, of the same place, gentleman; Josiah Robarts, of the parish of St. Edmund the King, Lombard Street, London, gentleman, and Robert Keen, of the parish of St. Botolph, Aldgate, London, gentleman; to receive the several sums of money which should be

contributed, and to be trustees to the contributors to such charity which they cheerfully agreed to.

Whereupon, the said Whitaker did, by virtue of said power of attorney, constitute and appoint the said Earl of Dartmouth, Sir Sidney Safford Smyth, John Thornton, Samuel Roffey, Charles Hardey, and Daniel West, Esquires, and Samuel Savage, Josiah Robarts, and Robert Keen, gentlemen, to be trustees of the money which had then been contributed, and which should by his means be contributed for said purpose; which trust they have accepted, as by their engrossed declaration of the same under their hands and seals, well executed fully appears, and the same hath also been ratified by a deed of trust, well executed by said Wheelock.

And the said Wheelock further represents, that he has, by a power of attorney, for many weighty reasons, given full power to the said trustees, to fix upon and determine the place for said school, most subservient to the great end in view. And to enable them understandingly to give the preference, the said Wheelock has laid before the said trustees the several offers which have been generously made in the several governments in America to encourage and invite the settlement of said school among them for their own private emolument, and for the increase of learning in their respective places, as well as for the furtherance of the general design in view.

And whereas a large number of the proprietors of lands in the western part of this our province of New Hampshire, animated and excited thereto by the generous example of his Excellency their Governor, and by the liberal contributions of many noblemen and gentlemen in England, and especially by the consideration that such a situation would be as convenient as any for carrying on the great design among the Indians; and also considering that without the least impediment to the said design, the same school may be enlarged and improved to promote learning among the English, and be a means to supply a great number of churches and congregations which are

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likely soon to be formed in that new country, with a learned and orthodox ministry, they the said proprietors have promised large tracts of land for the uses aforesaid, provided the school shall be settled in the western part of our said province.

And they the said Right Hon. Hon. and worthy trustees before mentioned, having maturely considered the reasons and arguments in favor of the several places proposed, have given the preference to the western part of our said province, lying on Connecticut river, as a situation most convenient for said school.

And the said Wheelock has further represented a necessity of a legal incorporation, in order to the safety and well being of said seminary, and its being capable of the tenure and disposal of lands and bequests for the use of the same. And the said Wheelock has also represented, that for many weighty reasons, it will be expedient, at least in the infancy of said institution, or till it can be accommodated in that new country, and he and his friends be able to remove and settle by and round about it, that the gentlemen whom he has already nominated in his lust will (which he has transmitted to the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England) to be trustees in America, should be of the corporation now proposed. And also as there are already large collections for said school in the hands of the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England, and all reason to believe from, their signal wisdom, piety, and zeal, to promote the Redeemer's cause (which has already procured for them the utmost confidence of the kingdom) we may expect they will appoint successors in time to come, who will be men of the same spirit, whereby great good may and will accrue many ways to the institution, and much be done by their exam-ple and influence to encourage and facilitate the whole design in view. For which reasons said Wheelock desires that the trustees aforesaid, may be vested with all that power therein which can consist with their distance from the same.

Know ye therefore that We, considering the premises and being willing to encourage the laudable design of spreading