February 18th
share on:
“It has long been my intention to invest, at my death, one thousand pounds current money of this state in the hands of Trustees, the interest only of which to be applied in instituting a school in the Town of Alexandria, for the purpose of educating orphan children who have no other resource, or the children of such indigent parents as are unable to give it.”
To the Trustees of the Alexandria Academy
17 December 1785
Gentlemen,
That I may be perspicuous and avoid misconception, the proposition which I wish to lay before you is committed to writing; and is as follows:
It has long been my intention to invest, at my death, one thousand pounds current money of this state in the hands of Trustees, the interest only of which to be applied in instituting a school in the Town of Alexandria, for the purpose of educating orphan children who have no other resource, or the children of such indigent parents as are unable to give it. The objects to be considered of and determined by the Trustees for the time being, when applied to by the parents or friends of the children who have pretensions to this provision. It is not in my power at this time to advance the above sum; but that a measure, that may be productive of good, may not be delayed, I will until my death, or until it shall be more convenient for my Estate to advance the principal, pay the interest thereof (to wit, fifty pounds*) annually.
Boston Public Library
Under this state of the matter, I submit to your consideration the practicability and propriety of blending the two institutions together, so as to make one Seminary under the direction of the President, Visitors, or such other establishment as to you shall seem [sic] best calculated to promote the objects in view, and for preserving order, regularity, and good conduct in the Academy. My intention, as I have before intimated, is, that the principal sum shall never be broken in upon; the interest only to be applied for the purposes above mentioned. It was also my intention to apply the latter to the sole purpose of education, and of that kind of education which would be most extensively useful to people of the lower class of citizens, viz. reading, writing and arithmetic, so as to fit them for mechanical purposes.
The fund, if confined to this, would comprehend more subjects; but, if you shall be of opinion, that the proposition I now offer can be made to comport with the institution of the School which is already established; and approve of an incorporation of them in the manner before mentioned, and thereafter, upon a full consideration of the matter, should conceive that this fund would be more advantageously applied towards cloathing and schooling, than solely to the latter, I will acquiesce in it most cheerfully; and shall be ready, (as soon as the Trustees are established upon a permanent footing,) by Deed or other instrument of writing, to vest the aforesaid sum of One thousand pounds, in them and their successors forever, with powers to direct and manage the same agreeably to these my declared intentions.**
G:o Washington
* This 50-pound yearly donation funded approximately 20 students. The ratio of girls to boys was limited to 1:4. — MVLA4
** Upon Washington’s death, he willed $4,000 to the Alexandria Academy as well as additional sums to the following present day institutions: Washington and Lee University, and the George Washington University. — MVLA4
GEORGE WASHINGTON:
THE INTERVIEW POWERED BY A.I.
In the hallowed halls of history, a voice echoes once more as “George Washington: The Interview” unfurls a never-before-seen side of America’s first President. This electrifying book transcends the boundaries of time, employing state-of-the-art technology and primary source material to bring you face-to-face with the man who laid the cornerstone of the nation we know today. Journey through the intimate details of Washington’s life as he reveals the victories and defeats, the triumphs and tragedies of his storied past.
Are you ready to step into the past and meet the man behind the myth?