to civilization and humanity; and convert the blind idolater, from
gross and abject superstitions, to the holy charities, the sublime
morality and humanizing discipline of the gospel; the nation, or
the individual, that shall have taken the most conspicuous lead in
achieving the benignant enterprise, will have raised a monument of
that true and imperishable glory, founded in the approbation and
gratitude of the human race; unapproachable to all but the elected
instruments of divine beneficence: a glory with which the most
splendid achievements of human force or power must sink in the
competition, and appear insignificant and vulgar in the comparison.
And above all, should it be considered, that the nation or the
individual, whose energies have been faithfully given to this
august work, will have secured, by this exalted beneficence the
favour of that Being, "whose compassion is over all his works," and
whose unspeakable rewards will never fail to bless the humblest
effort to do good to his creatures.

Your Memorialists do not presume to determine that the views of
Congress will be necessarily directed to the country to which they
have just alluded. They hope to be excused for intimating some of
the reasons which would bring that portion of the world before us,
when engaged in discovering a place the most proper to be selected,
leaving it with confidence, to the better information and better
judgment of your honourable body to make the choice.

Your Memorialists, without presuming to mark out, in detail, the
measures which it may be proper to adopt in furtherance of the
object in view; but implicitly relying upon the wisdom of Congress
to devise the most effectual measures; will only pray, that the
subject may be recommended to their serious consideration, and
that, as an humble auxiliary in this great work, the Association,
represented by your Memorialists, may be permitted to aspire to the
hope of contributing its labours and resources.

BUSH. WASHINGTON, _President_.

With respect to the most eligible situation for the establishment of the
proposed colony, I shall probably more certainly avoid the imputation of
unbecoming assurance, by omitting, for the present, to add any thing
more specific to what I had already expressed (Par. 38