Copy of a letter to the Pensylvania &c Society; Copies of Which have been made for the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor &c, the Church of Scotland &c With some Remarks by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the same.

For Messieurs Peters and Franklin

Containing some brief remarks on the distressed unformed state of the Foreign Protestants in N. America, especially in the Province of Pennsylvania; with an Enquiry into the best means for supplying them with Instructors and incorporating them with the English in the rising Generation.

The Society entrusted with monies collected for the use of the foreign Protestants in Pennsylvania and other adjacent Colonies in North America. My Lords and Gentlemen

On my return from north-america, it gave me inexpressible pleasure to hear of a public-spirited Society formed in London with a design truly pious and useful, that of propagating Christian knowledge and the English language among the vast body of Germans settled but yet incorporated, with us in that country, and particularly in Pennsylvania.

It has long been blamed as an error in politics to have suffered such a body to sit down together, without considering that it was hardly possible to prevent it in the first settlement of a new country. At present I shall not stay to give the Reasons why this could not have been prevented, nor to propose any schemes for a more equal distribution of future-comers among the English. Neither shall I enquire whether, by natural generation in a country where living is easy and marriage encouraged, British-america might not encrease without the Admission of one foreigner more as fast as the interest of trade requires; for it is the Opinion of many that it this interest when the People in the country encrease faster than the cities can consume, or the   find a foreign market for the farmers staple produce.

Leaving all these nice discussions whose consequences are remote, I shall enquire what will be the most probable method for incorporating those foreigners with ourselves, who are already settled us. ’Tis this you more immediately expect from me, and this I can more readily give my Sentimen   upon, as I have little else to do, but to submit to your candid Judgment and Improvment, substance of what I laid before the honourable Mr. Penn on the same subject, a gentleman, like a father of his country, always desirous to know and zealous to execute whatever tends to promote happiness of the mixed multitude of people settled in it, and to blend them together in one   principled British Society.

This is a work of far greater importance than can be easily imagined at this distance, by those who have made the situation of American Germans the object of their most frequent Thoughts. Figure to yourselves upwards of 100,000 strangers settled in our territory, cheifly by themselves, and mu   fast; strangers indeed to every thing of ours; strangers to our Laws and manners; strangers the sacred sound of liberty in the land where they were born, and uninstructed in the right use   Value of it in the country where they now enjoy it; utterly ignorant and apt to be misled by our ceasing enemies, and surrounded with such enemies to mislead them; and what is worst of all,   danger of sinking deeper and deeper every day into these deplorable circumstances, as being almost entirly destitute of instructors and unacquainted with our language, so that it is hardly possible for us to warn them of their danger, or remove any prejudices they once entertain. Nay such prejudices may be every day encreased among them by designing persons, even without our knowing it. For in Pennsylvania in particular, they have many foreign books imported among them; and they have as many printing houses, and near as many news-papers, in their own language, as we have in ours. Of late their bonds and other legal writings are frequently made in their own language, and allowed good in our courts of judicature, where interpreters are constantly wanted from the vast increase of German business, and will probably be soon wanted in the assembly itself to tell one half the legislature what the other half says.

These circumstances forebode consequences that should awaken not only our compassion but our greatest vigilence. And whatever these consequences may be, the Germans are not to be charged with them, or thought blameable, but we ourselves. “That People have their virtues. Their industry and frugality are examplary. They are excellent husbandmen, and contribute greatly to the improvement of a new country.” They likewise have their Fears of falling into a total ignorance, or of being seduced at last from that religion for which they and their fathers have heretofore suffered so much, and they earnestly desire the means of preventing it. But alas! they have almost none to guide them, none to dispense knowledge and the word of life to them, no opportunity of instructing their children, or acquiring our language, which surely they would wish to acquire, when they see it considered as a qualification for all posts of honor, and used in all writings, courts of judicature &c.

How much, then, is this unfortunate people obliged to you for commiserating their sad circumstances? how much is the whole British nation, nay the whole protestant interest, and the interest of liberty obliged to you for exerting yourselves in such a cause? For, though thousands might have dreaded the inconveniences, and pitied the condition of these foreigners; and tho ten thousand might be ready to contribute to their releif, yet while nobody in particular became active in this affair, all this good disposition was lost, for want of an opportunity of showing it.

Such an opportunity you have now given; and surely no one will so far injure your honor, your catholic Spirit, your generous and useful intention, as to think it the work of this or that party. No; ye noble and worthy patriots! it is the work of no party. It is a British work. It does not regard a handful of men, of this or that denomination, happily escaped from popish tyranny and persecution; but its success is to determine whether a vast multitude of fellow-protestants, of many different denominations (doubling in their numbers perhaps once in twenty years) shall fall into the deepest ignorance, shall be seduced by our indifatigable Foe, shall live in a seperate body, shall turn our trade out of its proper channel by their foreign connections, and perhaps at last give us laws and language or, whether, on the other hand, they shall adopt our language, our manners, our    and incorporate with us in one happy enlightened Society.

As it appears from these considerations, that you are entitled to the thanks of your country for what you have undertaken, so it is a happy circumstance that your and well-known abilities are sure pledges to the public, that whatever is contributed will faithfully and successfully applied by personages so capable to judge of the best measures for   the good design.

What these measures are, I shall now humbly propose to your consideration.

1. The great want of Clergy to preach the gosple among these people in their own way, has been already noticed; and the signal service done to religion, in the dark parts of the world, by other pious Societies, will sufficiently justify and recommend that part of your design which regards the settlement of clergy among them. The influence of a faithful clergy to form the principles of such a people, and retain them in their duty, is too obvious to be enlarged upon.

2. What I shall chiefly consider, is the other part of your design; a right education of Youth. And, as this enters but too little into designs of this nature, I rejoice to see a Society formed, whose more immediate view is the establishment of Schools in the untutored parts of America. Indeed, in the present case, nothing else can answer the principal design. Clergy as I said before are greatly wanted and must be sent to preserve the present generation from falling off; but it is from a right institution of the rising generation that we are to expect the desired coalition. The old can only be exhorted and warned. The young may be instructed and formed. The old can neither acquire our language, nor change their national manners. The young may do both. The old, whatever degree of worth they may acquire, descend apace to the grave and their influence is quickly lost. The young, when well instructed, have their whole prime of life before them, and their influence is strong and lasting.

If schools were established, under one uniform government in those places that are settled by Germans, for the common education of their children, and the children of such of the English as are settled among them, with the divine blessing, it could hardly fail of incorporating them in process of time. At such schools acquaintances and connections would be formed among the youth, and deeply impressed upon them in their open and cheerful moments. A common language and conformity of manners would also be acquired, and they might be taught to feel the meaning, and exult in the enjoyment of liberty, a common weal and a common country. And when once these sacred names are understood and felt at the heart, there will be no place in it for the narrow distinctions of country, or extraction, or anything that would drive them thence. When by means of school acquaintances, the youth are brought more frequently together; when reserve is laid aside and a common language acquired, Intermarriages will be frequent between the different nations, which cannot fail to unite them in a common interest. It was intermarrying in this manner that saved the infant Roman state from a dreadful war and occasioned the incorporation of two different Nations. And the neglecting to concert proper measures for the more frequent intermarriages between the Scots and Piets hindred them from ever incorporating; so that it was a fatal resolution which Buchanan tells us the latter entered into—Providendum ne peregrini secum post miscerentur. The nations pursued one another with inextinguishable hatred ’till the Piets were totally extirpated.

Nothing hinders such intermarrying between the English and Germans in America, but the few opportunities they have of being together, and their using a different language. Were it otherwise, the most considerable men in the country would like to be fashionable, and think they had a right to consult only their own Fancy in the choice of a wife; for love is all-powerful, and looks far beyond the narrow distinctions of country or extraction. Now as then leading Men, of whom I am speaking, always influence the vulgar in the country, so were such intermarriages once brought about among a few such leading families in each country, no arts of our enemies will be able to divide them in their affections.

But, besides these advantages already mentioned, by means of a right education of the vulgar, such a spirit may be promoted through all ranks as is best suited to the particular genius of every government in our colonies. Every government has its fundamental active principle, as every man is thought to have his ruling passion as the spring of his action and therefore, as the B. de Montesquieu well observes “The laws of education being the first impressions we receive, and those that prepare us for civil life, each (School or) particular family should be governed according to the plan of the great family that comprehends the whole.” Nor is this all. Education, when thus uniformly conducted thro a whole country in subordination to the public sense, may not only be made to preserve the grand principle of government, whatever it is, but also to mend or change a wrong principle.

Thus if the spirit of a people is too pacific, as in some of our colonies, it may be gradually changed by a right institution of the laws of education. Means may be contrived to fire the boy-senator by displaying the illustrious actions of the greatest heroes in the sacred struggle for freedom. He may be rationally convinced that without self-defence society cannot long subsist in the centre of aspiring foes.

On the other hand, if the spirit of a people is too martial or barbarous, such a spirit, by means of education, may be softned and tempered. Youth may be taught to relish the softer arts, and taste enjoyments in peace and virtuous industry, far superior to those falsly looked for in the unbounded licentiousness of war.

I could say much more of the political advantages of a right education, especially of the vulgar who are the strength and active hands of government. But this for the sake of brevity and other obvious reasons, I pass over. From what has been said it is evident, in the present circumstances of the people under consideration, that nothing but a common education of youth can obviate the inconveniences justly dreaded, and incorporate them into one happy whole. For this, as has been shewn, is the only means left for teaching them a common language, giving rise to acquaintances and intermarriages, influencing their genius, and preserving, forming or alterating the principle of government among them, as public weal requires.

The next things to be considered are, 1st. The method of education that is most likely to answer all the aforesaid ends. 2ly. The Government of the schools. 3ly. The means for supplying them with proper masters, and a proper maintenance for such masters.

1. With regard to the method of education, that is a point too important to be handled in the bounds to which I am confined at present, and therefore it shall be the subject of a separate letter. I shall only observe in general that it should be calculated rather to make good citizens than what is called good scholars. The English language, together with a short system of truths and duties, in the socratic method by way of catechism, and lastly writing and something of figures, is all the education necessary for the vulgar in such schools. These things, therefore, should be left open to be acquired by every body that desire it even without price; but to prevent the vulgar from spending too much time at school, after a proper foundation is laid in the knowledge of the English Tongue, morals &c every other less necessary branch of letters, particularly latin and greek, should be discouraged and taxed with high quarterly fees to the master I know it is generally thought that the knowledge of what is called moral philosophy is only to be acquired by the recluse learned man, by means of languages and laboured discussion for which the vulgar have neither leisure nor capacity. But nothing can be a greater or more dangerous mistake than this, as it is to be feared nothing has more contributed to the present general corruption of morals among the people. It is possible those great Truth and duties, divine, moral and social, the knowledge and practice of which God intended as the means of making man happy and keeping society together, can be any other way above an    reach, than as they have been made so by the imaginary destinctions and perplexing reasonings of men themselves? No; These truths and duties are founded on the most simple principle the most obvious relations, and from thence may be deduced at no great expence of time, or genius, without the aid of learned languages or laborious researches. In a very short the general principles of our common Christianity might be laid before youth and the truths and Duties thence resulting, pressed home upon them as truely amiable for their own intrinsic beauty and happy tendency. The use and end of society might be explained to them, with the difference between one sort of government and another. The excellency of our own might be pointed out and all the horrors of civil and religious tryanny displayed. From thence all the social duties might be deduced by a chain of the most clear and natural consequences. All this might be taught at leisure hours by a good master, during the 3 or 4 years which the vulgar might otherwise spend in learning to read and write; and it is hardly to be conceived how much such early impressions would contribute to make good subjects as well as good men. It of little importance to society how many recluses, whom seldom launch into real life, should be   in morality and ethics; but the virtue of the active vulgar is the strength of the state. It is plain then, that without making these topics, above mentioned a part of the education of these people, these schools will be of little use. In what manner this is to be done I shall enquire more particularly afterwards.

The success of this and every other part of the scheme will depend on the good government of the schools, which is the 2d thing to be spoken of. Now, in smaller societies, where it is practicable, it is of great use to have all places of education uniformly governed by one sett of the chief men of these societies, who can have no interest opposite to the public good. Thus the Laws of the smaller societies of education can never clash with the laws of the great society; and the youth will be every where trained up in subordination to the public sense. This trust can only be executed by gentlemen residing on the spot, and therefore must be devolved upon 6 or 7 principal gentlemen residing in Pennsylvania where the want of such schools is greatest. These gentlemen may be called Trustees-general for providing foreign protestants in British America with Ministers and School-masters.

One or more of these Trustees is once very Year to visit all the schools, and examin every Youth, giving a small premium, at the expence of the said Trustees-general, to one or more youths born of foreign parents who shall best deliver an oration in English , or read a little of an English author, nearest to the right pronunciation of the language. Let another premium to be given to that youth, whether of English or foreign parents, who shall best answer to some questions concerning religious and civil duties, on that plan already sketched out as a part of their education. These visitations can put the Trustees to no inconveniency. In the summer months one or other of them will be led by their private business to every place where such schools are fixed. And what a glorious sight will it be to behold the proprietor or governor, or judges in their circuits, or any other learned persons in their occasional journeys thro the country, enter these schools, in person to perform their part of the visitation, and see that all things be carried on according to the public sense. This will indeed be acting like the fathers of their country, and those ancient Lawgivers who deigned in person to superintend the education of youth as the rising hopes of the state.

But farther, as the success of all schools depends on good discipline and keeping up a noble emulation among the youth, which is best done by frequent visitations and premia, as above, these Trustees-general should be empowered to substitute at least six deputy-visitors or Trustees for every school. These should reside in the Township or District where such a school is fixed, and be its immediate patrons, visiting it and bestowing premia at least once every quarter, or every month if possible. For the sake of forming more connexions and harmony three of these deputy-visitors should be English and three foreigners. By being once or twice present at the annual visitations by the Trustees general, they will be instructed in the method of examinations and confering the premia. And these deputies are to transmit quarterly or monthly accounts to the Trustees-general at Philadelphia, of the number of scholars &c in the respective schools under their care; and this will enable the Trustees-general by means of their secretary, once or twice every year, to send to the society in London an account of the whole state of schools, churches &c. Thus the whole scheme may be conducted in one regular uniform method in every German-settlement.

I have been the more full on this article, because the nomination of these Trustees-general is the first step to be taken, and immediatly necessary to empower them to look out for Schoolmasters, determine the proper places to fix schools in, and contrive means to erect School-houses &c.

3. The next thing is how to find a supply of proper instructors, which is something difficult as they must be masters both of the and German tongues. Besides this the Schoolmasters must be versed in Mathematics, Geography, Drawing, History, Ethics, with the constitution and interests of the several colonies with respect to the mother country and one another. But it would be well if none of them understood latin, but one or two in some of the larger towns. Now, it will be impossible to find strangers thus qualified; for tho they understood both the languages, and all the branches of literature above mentioned, yet   be sure of their principles, however well recommended. Add to this that strangers could not for several years know the Genius of the people, or correspond with the general supreme polity in the education of youth;nay for ought we could know they might be sent from some parts of the Palatinate, or Switzerland on purpose to counterwork the grand Design. Such masters, then, must be educated in the countries where they are wanted, and be taken from among the sons of such Germans and English as speak both languages. Of the principles and tempers of such we may be certain, when they are educated under the eye of the public with a view to this particular business; and tho at first we must trust some strangers, yet it will be prudent to continue measures for educating in time coming every Schoolmaster, Clergyman, physitian &c. in the colonies where they are wanted among the Germans, for such men must have a natural influence over the people, and the constant importation of foreigners of those professions would greatly retard the desired coalition.

It is a happy circumstance, in Pennsylvania in that there has been for some years a flourishing seminary established, on the most catholic and manly bottom, where such men may be faithfully educated; and it is happier still that the worthy proprietary of that country, sensible of the inconveniences I have observed, is about making a charitable foundation in the academy for educating always 3 or 4 poor English or German youth, which will be a constant supply of perhaps above one half the instructors that will be wanted among the foreigners of that province. Some substantial farmers will also think it worth while to educate some of their children to gain a living this way; and thus not only the foreigners in Pennslyvania, but in the Jersies, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia may in time be supplied with instructors bred in America among themselves.

4. The last thing is, how to maintain such instructors. The foreigners themselves are really unable to do this; and it is     for them. As to the English in America, they can hardly educate their own children and maintain their clergy in many places; but I know such as can will readily contribute to a work on the success of which their safety so much depends. They will erect School-houses, Churches and Dwelling-houses for such instructors among their reformed neighbors, and provide each of them with a few Acres of land. For the rest they must depend on what the Charity of your fellow-Christians shall enable you, ye worthy patriots! to transmit for this good work. Twenty pounds to every Schoolmaster and forty pounds to those who serve both as Ministers and Schoolmasters (and a great many who serve in both capacities) will enable such to live decently, together with a house and glebe, and perquisites of some of the most substantial Scholars, and for Marriages &c. &c.

To conclude I pray God give you success in your undertaking, for upon its success much, very much depends. The knowledge you would propagate, far from lessening the attachment of America, is the only means of preserving good government and advancing the interest of the mother-country there. Commerce is the child of Industry and an unprecarious Property; but these depend on virtue and liberty, which again depend on knowledge and Religion. Tis true, among those miserable slaves that drudge beneath torrid Suns, merely for the advantage of a master, Education is quite unecessary. The less such a people know, the more happy and governable they are. There is but one principle of government among them, namely fear; and but one article of knowlege necessary, namely that they owe an implicit obedience in all things. These two are soon taught. The tyrant, his hireling priests and his armed legions are the Schoolmasters of such a people, and very successful ones too! But among a free people the case is quite the reverse. They are only to be governed by reason, virtue, glory, honor &c. which are the principles of free government; and therefore without the aid of education such a people could not be governed at all. Those who are in most cases free to act and speak as they please, had need be well instructed in order to act and speak right. Suppose, as is too like to be the case, both English and Germans should, in the the remote corners of america, degenerate into a state little better than that of wood-born savages, what uses could they make of English privileges? Could they be ruled by any principle of free government, by reason, virtue, honor or law, which they know not? No; they would spurn all    and use their liberty of action against those from whom they received it, till they were either instructed in the proper use of it, or till the principle of government was changed; and they were governed by fear, which is Slavery, and a principle soon taught, as already observed. Thus appears the justness of the forecited B. de Montesquieu’s Observation, “That wherever there is most freedom, there the whole power of Education is requisite to good government.”

Hitherto I have only considered your noble undertaking in a political light, but there are other lights in which to consider it, not less moving or interresting. If our safety was out of the question, is the fate of such a considerable branch of the protestant interest as those emigrants are, a point of no importance to us? Can we be unconcerned whether those distant regions shall enjoy the gosple in its native purity, or fall a prey to ignorance and error. Those who think they can, let them but for once reflect, and see if it will not pierce their inmost heart to imagine they hear those unhappy people thus bewailing themselves to the solitary woods and deaf rocks. “Alas! how miserable is our case! We were driven from our friends and natal soil by the fiery scourge of persecution. We committed ourselves to the mercy of the waves and sought a better home in an unknown corner of the World. Here we penetrated the howling wilderness and sat down in places before untrod by Christian foot, less afraid, of the savage beasts that prowled around us, than of those polished humane savages from whose iron rod we fled. Those and unnumbered difficulties more we cheerfully encountered for the sake of religious liberty and a good conscience. But (O deplorable situation!) we are again threatned with all those dangers from which we fled. We are like to loose all sense of our religion and with it our Liberty also. Heathen-error approaches us on the one Side, and popery, that popery from which we fled on the other. The french-Germans are our near neighbors. They are well supplyed with popish missionaries and may take the advantage of our ignorance which is the support of their kingdom. Or if we should escape their snares who shall save our Children.” Their Children! did I mention their children? this is the most affecting consideration of all. Their children are so far more numerous than themselves, coming forward in the world like grasshoppers in multitude, exposed an easy prey with their parents, and none to instruct them. Their parents are ignorant themselves, and obliged to face the piercing north and sultry south and toil all the day long to provide for the infant calls of hunger without having one moment to spare for the nurture of their tender Minds. What then shall become of this vast multitude of little ones? Surely they should be taken care of by those who gave an asylum to their fathers, and in whose country they were born. To such they address themselves and lisp thro my pen in tender accents like these—“O all ye who look for a just object to that most glorious of all Christian virtues, Charity; turn your pitying eyes upon us! Leave us not to ourselves growing up like wild branches without one hand to form us. Suffer not our tendre souls to ripen only in ignoran   and fall a prey to those who would seduce us. Consider us as the rising hopes of a large branch of the protestant interest, whose fate is to determine into whose hands a great part of the new world should fall. On us it depends whether it shall fall under the dread reign of popery, or perhaps sink immediatly back into its original barbarism, or whether, on the other hand, it shall flourish long in all that exalts, all that embellishes Society. On us perhaps it depends too, whether our Heathen-neighbors, in whose soil we dwell; shall continue in their present ignorance, or, inspired by our good example, at last embra the Truth, for who knows either the time when, or the means by which, God shall turn to the hearts of these

These are pressing calls, and such surely as no protestant in any country whatever can be deaf to. With regard to the    Churches of the Netherlands surely they cannot withhold themselves from the cries of their destressed brethren in a distant land of the shadow of death. Charity sparkles as the brightest gem in the Belgic crown, and these churches will not discontinue that compassion which they have heretofore exerted, till they have assisted to build up a holy sanctuary among their distant friends, which will ever be a retreat to persecuted protestants, and such is the instability of humane things, perhaps themselves or their children may be forced to shelter in it.

With regard to the British churches, as no one of them can claim these foreigners being more immediately a part of themselves, so all should extend their charity to them as fellow-protestants; as all are equally interested in their safety.

As for the Scots, they will no doubt exert that noble zeal for the releif of those emigrant-Germans which they have already shewn. They who understand the value of knowlege and a preached gosple, must wish others to share the same distinguished blessings.

As to the English, besides having all these charitable motives in common with others, they must consider themselves as the more immediate patrons of the protestant interest, and particularly that branch of it that has taken reguge in their colonies. They must consider what they owe to their numerous refug   and their children, in humanity, in honor, and in good policy. Englishmen must think it a godlike work to incorporate these foreigners with themselves; to mingle them in equal privileges with the Sons of freeedom, and teach their conscious bosoms to exult at the thoughts of an unprecarious property, a home and   endearments; to contrive Laws for making them flourish long in a well-ordered Society, and make a provision for improving their natures and traning them up for eternal scenes!

This, ye illustrious patriots! this is the glorious object of your undertaking. And, while it is such, you cannot fail of being supported in it by every one that considers how little of this globe is occupied by freemen and protestants; and that considers how much it is incumbant on britons to extend the reign of Freedom and Religion by securing the mighty blessings in our colonies, and among all those who have taken sanctuary in   set from the    some other great names is a sure pledge of your success in your future applications to the charity of your countrymen. And surely a charity thus bestowed on the education of such a vast multitude of young subjects, has more merit in it (if I may use the words of a great writer) than a thousand pensions bestowed upon the great. Its effects will be felt thro many an aera, and rolled down in a tide of happiness, gently diffusing itself to glad the hearts of millions in the untutored places of the earth. Thus instead of hearing the sound of lamentation and sorrow among a people wandering without shepherds in a dry and barren land where no water is, we shall hear the voice of Joy among them. They and their posterity, through long-succeeding generations, shall be happy and enlightened, so that in the sublime strains of the prophet, The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desart shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

I hope to be a pleased spectator of part of this happiness, and if I have been to much warmed with the prospect of it, forgive me, and take it as a sure pledge that I will decline no labor as often as you honor me with any opportunity of forwarding your grand scheme to effect it. With this view these thoughts are humbly offerd to you, My Lords and Gentlemen, by your most faithful and humble servant.