Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
And Information haveing some time before been given to this Government by General Oglethorpe (at the Time of the detection of the Negro plot here) of some Intelhgence Received at Georgia from a Spanish prisoner, " That popish Emissarys were Dispers'd " Amongst his Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent, under " Several Disguises, Such as School-masters, Dancing Masters, " Physicians and Such Like, That they might under Such " colourable appearances gain famihar admittance into Private " familys, k have an opportunity of debauching & Distracting " the minds of the people, in order to carry on their wicked " purposes, of Creating Disturbances & Occasioning Revolts " among his Majesties Subjects ;" and there was great Reason to apprehend, that the late Conspiracy here, was Caused by such Vilanous Practices of disguised Papists who had Stolen in Amongst us.
After Whitfield had made an Itinerary or Two through his Majesty's Colonys on this Continent, from Georgia to Boston, & back again, under the like Pretence (but with what real Design he best knew) and had purchased some thousand Acres of Land at the Forks of the River Delewarre in Penusilvania Govern ment, not many Miles from the Limitts of this, and there laid the foundation of a large house for a Seminary, where (as given out) Such Youth & Negroes as People would be Fools, or Mad Enough to Entrust to his Managem' were to be Educated in his New-fangled principles or Tenents whatever they were ; Thus Reformation and the True Work of the Lord (as he and his Votaiies would have had it supposed) was to go on at a high Rate ; & this Scheme was Carryed on by Whitfield 'til he had gull'd a Sufficient Sum out of the deluded people, under Colour of Charity for the Orphan house at Georgia, & this Negro- Academy, but (as most rational to suppose) with real Design under both pretexts to fill his own Pockets ; & when he had Carried on the Farce so far as he Could well Expect to Profit by