George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

238 GEORGE WHITEF1ELD
trouble made him most grateful for any help afforded him in
carrying out his benevolent purposes. In a letter he shows
both his kindness and his perverted notions about slaves :
' God has put it into the hearts of my South Carolina friends to contri-
bute liberally towards purchasing a plantation and slaves in this province,
which I purpose to devote to the support of Bethesda. Blessed be God,
the purchase is made. I last week bought at a very cheap rate a planta-
tion of six hundred and forty acres of ground ready cleared, fenced, and
fit for rice, corn, and everything that will be necessary for provisions.
One Negro has been given me. Some more I purpose to purchase this
week.'
While benefactors were thanked with exuberant gratitude,
detractors were quietly faced with an audited account of
receipts and disbursements in behalf of the orphan-house. A
very serious affair was auditing in these days, before the intro-
duction of limited liability companies. First, Whitefield and
Habersham were put upon oath that the accounts laid before
the bailiffs contained, to the best of their knowledge, a just
and true account of ' all monies collected by, or given to
them, or any other, for the use and benefit of the said house
and that the disbursement had been faithfully applied to and
for the use of the same.' Then comes the statement of the
auditors, given upon oath, in which they say :
' It doth not
appear that the Rev. Mr. Whitefield hath converted any part
thereof to his own private use and property, or charged the
said house with any of his travelling, or other private expenses
but on the contrary, hath contributed to the said house many
valuable benefactions.'
The return of spring saw him mounted for another excur-
sion. The news of his coming spread from settlement to
settlement ; and when the early light of the fresh spring morn-
ings flushed the sky, farmers and planters bestirred them-
selves, and prepared for a ride to the distant preaching-place.