C283 
 P86 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00042717710 
 
 This book must not 
 be taken from the 
 Library building. 
 
 ft 
 
COLLECTIONS 
 
 A PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL 
 ^istoricol Society 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 
 
 1851. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 STANFORD & SWORDS, PUBLISHERS 
 
 1851. 
 
R. CRAIGHEAD, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPEK, 
 112 FULTON STREET. 
 
<L>0 
 
 
 dbfta nf ilie inmftj. 
 
 $3resioent. 
 
 The Rt, Rev. T. C. BROWNELL, D.D. LL.D, 
 The Rev. FRANCIS L. HAWKS, D.D. LL.D, 
 
 BttttiavQ- 
 
 The Rev. B. FRANKLIN. 
 
 treasurer. 
 
 FREDERICK S. WINSTON, Esq., 60 Cedar street, New York, 
 
 Qfe-ecntbe Committee. 
 
 The Rev. WM. BACON STEVENS, D.D., Perm, 
 
 « « PHILIP SLAUGHTER, Virginia. 
 
 « " A. B. PATERSON, N. Jersey. 
 
 « " J. H. H03ART, N. York. 
 
 " « W. I. KIP, D.D., N. York. 
 
 " " T. W. COIT, D.D., Conn. 
 
 « « T. C. PITKIN, Conn. 
 
 Mr. JOHN ALEXANDER, Md. 
 
 « SAMUEL H. HUNTINGDON, Conn, 
 
 » ROBERT BOLTON, Jun., N. Y, 
 
 « G. M. WHARTON, Penn. 
 
 » E. A. NEWTON, Mass. 
 
 « G. L. DUYCKINCK, N. Y. 
 
 > 
 *) 
 
JV LIST OF OFFICERS. 
 
 (fTorresponbiug Members. 
 
 Mr. R. H. Gardiner, Gardiner, Maine. 
 
 Rev. Charles Burroughs, D.D., Portsmouth, N. H. 
 
 » Joel Clafp, D.D., Bellows Falls Vt. 
 
 " J. A. Hicks. D.D., Rutland, 
 
 " Samuel B. Baecock, Dedham, Mnss. 
 
 " J. H. Eaihes, Providence, R. I. 
 
 " N. S. Richardson, New Haven, Conn. 
 
 " Alfred Stubbs, New Brunswick, N. J. 
 
 " S. C. Brinckle, New Castle, Del. 
 
 " W. D. Wilson, D.D., Geneva, W. N. Y. 
 
 " F. H. Cuming, Grand Rapids, Mich. 
 
 " C. W. Fitch, Piqua, Ohio. 
 
 " Mr. J. M. Moore, Madison, 111. 
 
 " Samuel Chase, D-.D., Robin's Nest, 111. 
 
 " Benj. Akerly, Milwaukee, Wis. 
 
 " S. Davis, Green Bay, " 
 
 " Alfred Louderback, Davenport, Iowa. 
 
 " E. G. Gear, Fort Snelling, Minn. 
 
 " F. J. Clerc, St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 " William Vaux, Fort Laramie. 
 
 " J. N. Norton, Frankfort, Ky. 
 
 " Charles Tomes, Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 " W. C. Stout, Fayetteville, Ark. 
 
 " Charles Gillette, Houston, Texas. 
 
 Mr. George S. Yerger, Vicksburgh, Miss. 
 Col. Isaac Croom, Greensborough, Ala. 
 Rev. C. Hanckel, D.D., Charleston, S. C. 
 
 « C. Wallace, " " 
 
 " T. J. Young, " 
 
 " J. A. Sheppard, Scuppernong, N. C. 
 
 The corresponding members are agents of the Protestant Episcopal Historical 
 Society in their several dioceses. Where no corresponding member is elected 
 the member or members of the Executive Committee in that diocese performs 
 the duties. 
 
 Direct Church papers, donations of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, &c, to the 
 Rev. Benj. Franklin, Philadelphia. Subscriptions and moneys to F. S. Winston, 
 Esq., Treasurer, 60 Cedar street, N. Y. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Preface, 
 
 Keith and Talbot. Keith's Letters and Journal, 
 
 Talbot's Letters, 
 
 Early History of the Church at Burlington, by Bass, 
 
 Non-Juring Episcopate in the United States, . 
 
 State of the Church A.D. 1730-40 ; being a Communication from Dr. 
 
 Bray, Commissary of Maryland, . 
 List of Persons licensed to the Plantations by the Bishops of London, from 
 
 the year 1745 inclusive, 
 List of the several Parishes where Divine Service was performed in the 
 
 year 1724, according to the Rules of the Church of England, 
 
 Mr. Whitfield, concerning the Missionaries, 
 
 Efforts to obtain the Episcopate before the Revolution, . 
 
 Thoughts upon the Present State [1764] of the Church of England in 
 
 America, 
 
 Letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Dr. W, 
 
 nia, 1766, 
 
 Virginia Memorial, touching the Glebes, . 
 
 Address on the Sale of the Glebes, 1795, 
 
 Letter of Mr. Henderson Walker to the Bishop of London (1703) 
 
 Account of Mr. Blair's Mission to North Carolina (1703), . 
 
 Smith of Pennsylva 
 
 Page 
 
 vii 
 
 1 
 
 55 
 
 67 
 
 87 
 
 99 
 
 107 
 
 121 
 129 
 136 
 
 158 
 
 165 
 166 
 174 
 182 
 184 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Tfie Executive Committee of the Protestant Episcopal Historical Society have, 
 at length, the pleasure of presenting to its members the first volume of its col- 
 lections. 
 
 That it has not sooner appeared is less the fault of the Committee than of some 
 of the members of the Society. The former adopted as a rule, to which they 
 have inflexibly adhered, to contract no debt which they had not the means of 
 paying at any moment when it might be demanded. Hence they were unwilling 
 to print until they had funds in hand to pay for the work. Some of the members, 
 from inattention, delayed their payments for a time, and the Committee waited 
 to receive them. The volume is as large as their means enabled them to 
 make it. 
 
 The Committee indulge the hope that it will not, in its contents, disappoint the 
 reasonable expectations of the Society. It will be found to present the record 
 of past events only ; interesting, as they hope and believe, to all the members of 
 the Church alike. It is made up of the early documents themselves, with but 
 two exceptions. Those two consist merely of a condensed summary of the facts 
 connected with two past events of historical interest to churchmen (occurring in 
 colonial times), chronologically arranged, and embodying the substance of many 
 scattered documents. These two were prepared by two members of the publishing 
 Committee. Nearly the whole of the book consists of that which has never 
 before been published, and a part of it presents probably the best history extant 
 of the earliest labors in America of the venerable Society for Propagating the 
 Gospel. 
 
 The book will afford to the members of the Church a specimen of the general 
 nature of the materials, which (should the Society be sustained) will compose the 
 future volumes of the series. The materials at the disposal of the Committee are 
 abundant enough for many such volumes as this; and some of them are of deep 
 interest, and indeed importance to the Church. To Churchmen, therefore, we 
 must look for support. The historical student or antiquary who is not a church- 
 man, may here and there be found to attach a value to such a publication as ours ; 
 but the number of such is not large, and, therefore, our support must be derived 
 from Protestant Episcopalians, alive to the importance of preserving the documen- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 tary history of their portion of the Church of Christ. Our subscription list of 
 members is at present small ; it consists of but little more than three hundred 
 names; but among those are to be found that of every bishop, as well as those of 
 many of the oldest and most influential clergy. Had the Society some twelve or 
 fifteen hundred members, the Committee would pledge themselves to publish 
 annually four volumes like the present, to a copy of which each member would 
 be entitled by virtue of his annual payment of two dollars. 
 
 The present members of the Society are, for the most part, derived from the 
 ranks of the clergy. The laity have not yet had their attention drawn to the 
 subject; and, in fact, most of them are probably ignorant of the existence of the 
 Society. The Executive Committee would, therefore, respectfully solicit the 
 co-operation of the conductors of Church periodicals, in making known to the 
 laity the plans and purposes of the Society; and would ask also for the efficient 
 aid of our numerous parochial clergy, in causing the Society to be known in their 
 respective congregations. If each clergyman would procure but a few lay 
 members, the Society might pursue its work on a larger scale, and more than 
 repay to every member the amount of his annual subscription. 
 
 The Committee deem it proper to say that the management of the affairs of the 
 Society costs nothing. It has no paid agent, and the services of every officer are 
 gratuitously rendered. 
 
 It only remains to add that the following gentlemen compose the Publishing 
 Committee who have prepared the present volume : 
 
 Rev. F. L. Hawks, D.D., LL.D. 
 Rev. Wm. B. Stevens, D.D. 
 Rev. W. I. Kip, D.D. 
 
 Rev. Benj. Franklin. 
 Robert Bolton, Jr. 
 Geo. L. Duyckinck. 
 
KEITH AND TALBOT, 
 
 The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts was 
 established in England, by charter, bearing date the 16th day of June, 1701. 
 
 One of the first acts of the Society was to send to the English Colonies on 
 this continent a missionary to make personal examination, by travelling over 
 the then several governments of British America that now constitute a part 
 of the United States. 
 
 The individual selected was the Rev. George Keith, whose Journal is here- 
 after presented, and of whom a slight sketch will form a suitable introduction 
 to the record of his labors. 
 
 George Keith was born at Aberdeen, in Scotland ; not, however, of Quaker 
 parents At what time he became a member of the Society of Friends, we have 
 not been able to discover. He was possessed of learning, having been very well 
 educated, and his talents were of a high order. His mind was acute and 
 logical, and his temper fearless. In truth, the greatest defects in his character 
 resulted from the indulgence of his temper. He was irritable and overbearing 
 at times, and his language was not always regulated by Christian gentleness. 
 He was, however, we think, honest in avowing and following the convictions 
 of his understanding, but we fear he can scarcely be said to have been an 
 amiable man, inasmuch as he frequently appears to have courted rather than 
 shunned controversy. 
 
 The first account we have of his appearing in this country, places him in 
 East Jersey in 1682. He was then a Quaker and held the office of surveyor 
 general, "in 1689 he removed to Philadelphia, on the invitation of some 
 wealthy families, who desired him to become tutor to their children. He 
 discharged the duties of this situation faithfully and skilfully. He also (as old 
 Gerard & Croese informs us) " at the same time exercising his preaching faculty 
 among an unlearned and ignorant company of people, as for the most part 
 their preachers were, excelled them all, appearing as a bright luminary, and 
 outshining all the rest of that order among them ; and by his opportune 
 diligence and industry in all the parts of his ministerial office, he rendered 
 himself beloved of them all, especially the more inferior sort of people. 
 
x Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Keith became a writer as early as the year 1665. His first productions 
 were all in favor of the Quakers. His zeal led him with a fearless spirit to 
 cast himself into the very midst of those among whom he well knew Quaker- 
 ism had reaped what it deemed a glorious martyrdom. He here boldly 
 threw down the gauntlet, and challenged to theological combat the chosen 
 champions of Puritanism. He thus commenced his " Solemn call and warning 
 from the Lord to the people of New England to repent." 
 
 " The burden of the word of the Lord that came unto me on the twenty- 
 first day of the fourth month, 1688, in the town of Boston, in New England, 
 to declare it unto Boston and its inhabitants, and to the inhabitants of New 
 England," &c. A copy of this he posted in the most conspicuous place in the 
 town, and followed it by a letter addressed to " James Allen, Joshua Moody, 
 Samuel Willard, Cotton Mather, called preachers in Boston." 
 
 In this he charged them with preaching false doctrine, and challenged them 
 to public disputation. Their answer is characteristic of men who felt their 
 power, and at the same time resented the insult offered to their dignity. 
 
 " Having received a blasphemous and heretical paper, subscribed by one 
 George Keith, our answer to it and him is, if he desires conference to instruct 
 us, let him give us his arguments in writing, as well as his assertions ; if to 
 inform himself, let him write his doubts ; if to cavil and disturb the peace of 
 our churches (which we have cause to suspect) we have neither list nor leisure 
 to attend his motions ; if he would have a public audience, let him print ; if 
 a private discourse, though he may know where we dwell, yet we forget not 
 what the apostle John saith, Epis. 2, 10th verse."* 
 
 To this Keith was not backward in preparing a reply in the shape of 
 another letter more severe than the first, and as if the present controversy 
 were not enough, he turns to the past and evokes new elements of contention 
 in " a brief answer to some gross abuses, lies, and slanders, published some 
 years ago by Increase Mather, late teacher of a church at Boston, in New 
 England, in his book called, An essay for the recording of illustrious provi- 
 dences, -&c, and by Nath. Morton in his book called New England's 
 . Memorial." 
 
 In 1691 Keith was again in Pennsylvania, and now commenced his dispute 
 with the Quakers, which ended in his separation from them, after having been 
 a preacher among them for twenty-eight years. The Quaker writers charge 
 him with ambition and desire to assume undue authority, under a mistaken 
 impression of his own influence. It is, however, but just to Keith to say, that 
 he denied this, and charged his adversaries with a departure from the 
 
 * " If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your 
 house, neither bid. him God speed." 
 
Keith and Talbot xi 
 
 original doctrines held by the society. Without entering into the particulars 
 of tire controversy, suffice it to say that twenty-eight leading members issued 
 against him what they called " A testimony of disownment," in 1692. Keith 
 repaid this with a similar testimony against the twenty-eight, signed by 
 himself and a "considerable party," including "some wealthy and influential 
 members of the society," who adhered to him. Keith and his friends were 
 called Christian Quakers ; he charged his opponents with Deism. 
 
 Soon after this, in 1694, he went to England and was there admitted to holy 
 orders in the established church. 
 
 In April, 1702, he sailed for America on a mission of observation, and the 
 Journal which follows commences with this voyage. In August, 1704, he 
 reached England and became rector of Edburton, in Sussex, where he ended 
 
 his days. 
 
 The authorities for the above sketeh are General History of the Quakers, by 
 Gerard Croese, Proud's Pennsylvania, Keith's churches in New England 
 brought to the test, Keith's Journal, Allen's Biographical Dictionary, Gordon's 
 Pennsylvania, Review of Bishop Doane's Sermon at the Consecration of 
 St. Mary's Church, Burlington, December 23d, 1834. 
 
 As a'suitable introduction to the official report by Mr. Keith, contained in 
 his " Journal," the publishing committee have prefixed thereto several docu- 
 ments hitherto unpublished, and consisting principally of letters written by 
 Mr. Keith and his companion, the Rev. Mr. Talbot, furnishing a very full 
 account of the general aspect of the colonies in a religious point of view, and 
 together with the detailed report in the " Journal " itself, affording probably 
 the most complete picture that can now be obtained of the precise condition 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America when the venerable society 
 here commenced its labors. 
 
 The following letter it is supposed gave rise to the measures which ended 
 in the appointment of Mr. Keith as the first missionary of the Society to 
 America. 
 
 A Letter from Mr. George Keith to the Secretary of the Venerable Society 
 about the State of Quakerism in North America. 
 
 " Worthy Sir : — . ,. . . , , , , • , 
 
 " \ccording to your desire I send you this short Memorial 
 
 of the State of Religion in such parte of North America where I have 
 
 travelled, and which I can give of my own knowledge, especial y in relation 
 
 to Quakerism and some other things by letters from my friends there. 
 
xii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 " In Pennsylvania, when I came to live there, which, was in the year 1689, 
 by the number of men and women that used to come to the yearly meetings 
 from the several parts of that province, and from the West and East Jerseys, 
 we did commonly reckon there might be at least fifteen hundred Quakers, 
 two hundred of which might perhaps belong to the West and East Jerseys. 
 
 "After the breach that began in the year 1691, betwixt a party of Quakers 
 that joined with me in opposing some of their errors (especially their notion 
 of the sufficiency of the light within every man to salvation without anything 
 else) and another Party that joyned with Thomas Lloyd then Deputy Gover- 
 nor of Pennsylvania and a great Preacher among the Quakers, all the 
 Meetings in those Provinces abovementioned were broken, and they set up 
 Separate Meetings one from another, on the account of different Principles of 
 Religion (especially in relation to the notion aforesaid of the Sufficiency of the 
 light within, without any thing else, which I and my Friends judged a plain 
 opposition to Christianity, and an Establishing of Deism in its place) so that 
 when I came from Pennsylvania to England, which was in the year 1694, I 
 left behind me fourteen or fifteen Meetings in Pennsylvania, West and East 
 Jerseys, that met apart from the Quakers (on the account of their opposition 
 to their Errors) to the number of above Five hundred persons. 
 
 " Since there hath been a Church of England Congregation set up at 
 Philadelphia, the Chief Town in Pennsylvania, a considerable number of those 
 that did come off with me on the account of the Quakers Errors are joyned 
 with the Church of England, both Men and Women of good account, and 
 others of them keep up their Separate Meetings, particularly one at Phila- 
 delphia, and some of them have joyned themselves with the Anabaptists in 
 those Parts, as I have had particular Information by letters from my friends 
 there, year after year. 
 
 " It would be of great service, as I judge, if one or two more Church of 
 England Ministers were sent to Pennsylvania ; it is not to be doubted, but they 
 would not only get hearers, but such as would join with them to make up 
 Congregations, one whereof might be at New Castle, which is forty miles 
 below Philadelphia, by the River Delaware, the other at the Falls by the same 
 River, about thirty miles above it. 
 
 " In West Jersey that lyes on the east side of Delaware River, I have 
 several friends that joyned with me in the Separation from the Quakers, 
 especially about Croswicks, which is about Fifteen or Sixteen miles from 
 Burlington (the chief Town in West Jersey lying by Delaware River) ; if a 
 Church of England Minister were sent thither it is not to be doubted but he 
 would be received and joyned with, both by some of my friends and some 
 other sober persons. The most proper place to set up a Church would be 
 at Burlington, and another at Croswicks abovementioned. 
 
 " In East Jersey I have several friends that came off with me in the 
 Separation from the Quakers, and so continue, and as I have been informed 
 by a worthy gentleman, Colonel Morris, formerly my scholar, who has a 
 family and a good estate in that Province, and is now in London, (being lately 
 come from East Jersey, who knows my friends there) they are well prepared 
 to receive a Church of England Minister among them, and it is not to be 
 doubted but he would have several other persons to joyn with him to set up 
 a Church Congregation ; the fittest places to set up a Church Congregation 
 
Keith and Talbot. xu 
 
 are Amboy and the Falls in Shrewsbury, near where Colonel Morris has his 
 house and estate, for though Araboy has few Inhabitants, yet People would 
 come to it from Woodbridge and other places thereabouts. 
 
 " The people of East Jersey who are not Quakers, are generally Indepen- 
 dents, having originally come from New England, but the young generation 
 might easily be brought off to the Church, if they have any Church set up 
 
 ^Efst Jersey has six or seven considerable Towns in it, as Shrewsbury, 
 Middletown, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Elizabeth and Newark Town; the 
 Inhabitants, generally all English that came ongmally from New England, 
 about Thirty years ago; and Bergen, inhabited generally with Dutch, all 
 Calvinists who have a Dutch Minister. 
 
 "There is not one Church of England as yet in either West or East Jeisey 
 the more is the pity; and except in Two or Three Towns there is no face of 
 any public worship of any sort, but People live very mean like Indians^ In 
 New York there are but few Quakers, and some that were are come off and 
 
 ioyned with the Church there. One Mrs. , a friend of mine, is lately 
 
 deceased, but before her death, was baptized, and had the Lord s Suppei 
 administered to her, and got her Children baptized, whereof I had a late 
 Account in a letter from one of my friends there, now a zealous Churcnman. 
 
 "In Lono- Island there are not many Quakers; it is a great place and has 
 many Inhabitants, English and Dutch; the Dutch are Calvinists and have 
 some Calvinistical Congregations ; the English some of them Independents 
 but many of them no Religion, but like Wild Indians ; there is no Church of 
 England in all Long Island, nor in all that great Continent of New lork 
 Province, except at New York Town. 
 
 "The places where the Quakers have their greatest Meeting in Long Island 
 are Flushing and Oyster Bay, in both which places I have been several times 
 at their Meetings. ~ , 
 
 " In Road Island where I have been several times, there are many Quakeis 
 and Anabaptists, but never had a Church of England until of late 
 
 " In all the Continent of New England there is no Church of England i 
 think, but at Boston, I have travelled through much of it, but never heard of 
 any but that one. Few Quakers are at Boston. There are some at Sand- 
 wich, some at Piscataway and other scattered Places, but very few. _ 
 
 " It seems a good expedient to me that such Ministers as go over into these 
 parts that I have named, should not constantly reside in one place at present, 
 but preach at several places through the whole Province, which they may 
 safely now travel through from one end to another, with little charge or 
 
 ** "And* that a considerable number of little books, such as the Pastoral 
 Letter, and those against Swearing, Drunkenness, and Sabbath breaking were 
 sent to be spread among them. And if a little book were printed by some 
 able man, to show the sin of Schism, to persuade to the Communion ot the 
 Church of England, and sent among them, it would be of good service. 
 
 " I remain, 
 
 " Worthy Sir, 
 
 " Your humble servant, 
 
 "George Keith." 
 
xiv Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 For the more perfect understanding of the relation of Mr. Keith's missionary 
 labors, we here insert a general view of the state of religion in the colonies 
 about the time of his visit. 
 
 An Account of the State of Religion in the English Plantations in North 
 America, by Col. Dudley, Governor of New England. 
 
 The Plantations on the Shore of America as they lye from South to North 
 may be thus accounted : 
 
 South Carolina contains Seven thousand Souls, will admit and support 
 
 three Ministers. 
 
 North Carolina, Five thousand Souls, alike three Ministers, and both 
 stand in need of Schools. 
 
 Virginia, Forty thousand Souls, was by the Lord Culpepper divided into 
 about Forty Parishes with an Established Maintenance by Act of Assembly, 
 but are not fully supply'd, and the Maintenance hurt by disuse, but will 
 be always encouraged by Colonel Nicholson the present Governor. 
 
 Maryland, Twenty five thousand Souls in twenty six parishes, I suppose 
 well supply'd by the care of Dr. Bray. 
 
 Pensilvania and the Lower Counties annext, Fifteen thousand Souls, 
 will well support Four Ministers; one at Philadelphia, and one in each 
 County, with dependant Schools upon each. 
 
 West Jersey, Two thousand Souls most Quakers, may yet have one 
 Minister, at present, supported from England. 
 
 East Jersey Six thousand Souls in about Seven Towns and Parishes, may 
 at present support Two Ministers, the rest being Dissenters. 
 
 Connecticut, Thirty thousand Souls, about thirty three Towns, all Dissen- 
 ters, supply'd with Ministers and Schools of their own persuasion. 
 
 Naraganset or Kings Province, Three thousand Souls, without any Minis- 
 try or public form of Religion, may have two Ministers, and might well 
 Support them. 
 
 Road Island and Providence Plantations, Five thousand Souls in Seven 
 Towns, at present under a Quaker Government ; but might have Two Minis- 
 ters and Schoolmasters, at first subsisted from hence, at Feast one of them. 
 
 Massachusetts or New England, Seventy thousand Souls, in Seventy. 
 Towns, all Dissenters, that have Ministers and Schools of their own persuasion,* 
 except one Congregation of the Church of England at Boston, where there are 
 two Ministers. 
 
 New_ Hampshire, Three thousand Souls in Six Towns, all Dissenters, that 
 have Ministers and Schools of their own persuasion. 
 
 Province of Mayn, Two thousand Souls in Six Towns (the rest of that 
 great Province being in ten years past wasted and driven off by the Indians) 
 are all Dissenters, and have Ministers and Schools of their own." 
 
Keith and Talbot. 
 
 xv 
 
 In the three last Colonies and Connecticut, by an early law providing for 
 Ministers and Schoolmasters, I am of opinion there are no Children to be 
 fonnd of ten years old, that do not read well, nor men of Twenty that do not 
 
 W1 The t0 Ministers to be sent from England to any of the abovesaid Colonies, 
 must be men of good learning, sound morals, and should not be very young; 
 and where there is not the view of a good support from their hearers, must be 
 supplied from hence that they be not in Contempt, but may be well provided 
 for in those parts where the Governments are immediately dependant upon 
 the Crown and Government of England. 
 
 After Mr. Keith came over, and had made a survey of the field before him, 
 he, in conjunction with the few clergymen then in the northern part of the 
 country (with the exception of the two or three in New England), made the 
 Mowing statement, designed for the Venerable Society. It contains no details 
 of Mr. Keith's journeyings or labors, as set forth in his Journal; but is never- 
 theless valuable as contributing ' to a picture of the religion of the times, as 
 viewed by the eyes of churchmen. 
 
 An Account of the State of the Church in North America, by Mr. George 
 Keith and Others. 
 
 A Brief account of the State of the Church in the American parts hereafter 
 mentionel, and a scheme of such proper and «Pf^^^™££ 
 as we humbly Conceive by the blessing of God, may be useful to the i educing 
 ?L main body of the DisLters of all sorts to f Church of England, by way 
 of Question and Answer. 
 
 In what circumstances the Church of England is, as by Law Established 
 and the Schools ? 
 
 PEKSiLVANiA-Thereisno Church or School established by any Law in 
 the Pio'oc'Lertheless in Philadelphia (the Chief Town - ^nsikania 
 there is one Church consisting of a large Congregation having Mr. Evan, tor 
 ther Master and Mr. Thomas his Assistant, with three Congregations in 
 he Cott^'vl Chester, Radner (being a Welch ^Church), and Oxford, 
 which are supplied only in the week days by the said Ministers. 
 
 West New Jersey.— There is no Church or School established by Law ot 
 the Province. 
 
 East New J E RSEY.-There are eight English Towns, and two Dutch, but 
 neither Church or School established by any Law. 
 
 New York -There are some Counties, five of which are inhabited by 
 Dutch and those of Dutch extraction, viz. Albany, Ulster, Dutchess Orange 
 and feS County, in which the Church and Church of England School 
 have notVet been settled, but the Presence of the present Governor of that 
 Provinc /his Excellency he Lord Cornbury, has mightily influenced many of 
 
xvi Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 the people of the said Counties to desire that Church of England Ministers 
 and Schoolmasters may be sent amongst them, particularly Albany repre- 
 sentatives have desired his Lordship that an English Schoolmaster might be 
 established in that county, and some of the Inhabitants of Ulster County 
 passionately desire a Church of England Minister ; Suffolk County is the only 
 English County without a legal Establishment of a Church of England 
 Minister ; for in y e County of West Chester, Queen's County, Richmond, and 
 New York County, the Church is Established by Law, this Province, though 
 it hath a great number of Inhabitants, could never yet obtain a publick legally 
 Established School. 
 
 New England. — There is no Church, nor Church of England School 
 established by Law in all the Colonies Eastward of the Province of New York, 
 viz. Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth and New 
 Hampshire, except at Boston, where there is one Church of England, consist- 
 ing of a large Congregation, having two Ministers, Mr. Myles and Mr. Bridge, 
 and one in Rhode Island consisting of a large Congregation and one Minister, 
 viz. Mr. Lockier Lockyer], and another in Braintry which has no Minister. 
 
 How Ministers and Schoolmasters are maintained ? 
 
 Philadelphia. — The two Ministers are maintained by the Voluntary 
 subscriptions of the Congregation, and the coustant munificence of his Excel- 
 lency Col. Nicholson, Governor of Virginia. 
 
 Jerseys. — In the West and East New Jerseys, there is neither Minister 
 nor maintenance. 
 
 New York. — A Provision is made by Law for six Ministers, viz : in the 
 City and County of New York £100 per annum of the money of this province, 
 for one Minister ; In Queens County on Nassau Island £120 per annum for 
 two Ministers to be equally divided betwixt them ; £40 per annum for one 
 Minister in the County of Richmond ; in West Chester County a maintenance 
 for two Ministers, viz. £50 for each, besides her Majesty allows £130 per 
 annum for the maintenance of the Chaplain of the Forces. There is yet no 
 provision for Schoolmasters made by Law, though by the zealous Recommenda- 
 tion of the Lord Cornbury to the general Assembly, a legal maintenance is 
 undoubtedly expected, and till then the Church of England Schoolmaster in 
 the County of New York as heretofore, will be supported by the Voluntary 
 Contributions of those whose children are instructed by him ; notwithstanding 
 it is humbly conceived that an annual Pension from England for the Support 
 and farther encouragement of some Ministers and Schoolmasters in poor 
 Towns will be of great use and service to the Church. 
 
 Boston. — Mr. Myles is maintained by the Contribution of the Church and 
 Mr. Bridge out of her Majesty's Treasury in England. 
 
 Rhode Island. — Mr. Lockier, the Minister, is maintained partly by the 
 Contributions of the people, and partly by a Supply from England. 
 
 What Number of Churches, Schools and Ministers ? 
 
 As for Pensilvania, Jerseys and New England this is answered already 
 ut supra. 
 
Keith and Talbot. xvii 
 
 New York.— There are in this Province one Chapel and four Churches, 
 viz. one Chapel in Fort William Henry, two Churches in 9*T*oTTk2 
 in the County of West Chester, and one large Church in the City ot Mew 
 York, founded Anno Domini, 1695, and erected by the charitable Contribu- 
 tions of many well disposed persons, especially the generous donations f hs 
 Excellency Col. Nicholson, Governor of Virginia, and Col. Fletcher, late 
 Governor of New York. M 
 
 The Reverend Mr. Edmund Moll, is Chaplain to the Fort and Forces Mr. 
 Bartow, Rector of West Chester County ; Mr. Vesey, Rector of New 
 York; the Reverend Mr. Gordon, late Rector of Queens County, who to the 
 grief of all 2;ood men is removed by Death. 
 No School house yet erected in this Province. 
 How the People are inclined to promote them ? 
 
 Philadelphia.— The English Congregation is very forward to encourage 
 and promote the Interest of the Church of England; as for the congregations 
 of the County, being lately reduced from Quakerism they are very averse 
 from a Maintenance and therefore the Ministers of Philadelphia freely serve 
 the Cures. 
 
 E^st and West Jersey.— There is a considerable number of People that 
 were formerly Quakers, and other Dissenters in a good disposition to embrace 
 Communion with the Church, but not so forward to contribute to the Main- 
 tenance of those who discharge these offices, wherewith God is served by his 
 Church. 
 
 New York— In all these Counties where the Church is established by the 
 law of this Province, the People generally are in a readiness to embrace the 
 Doctrines and Worship of the Church, and to Encourage Free Schools. 
 
 New England.— In Swansey, Naraganset, Seconet, Bramtry Salem 
 Ipswich, and Piscataway, there are several hundreds of People in those and 
 other places of New England, desirous of Church of England Ministers among 
 them, a considerable Number of which in Swansey and Seconet have already 
 petitioned the Lord Bishop of London for two Ministers. 
 
 What Number of them are of the Church of England and in what Places ? 
 In Philadelphia and the adjacent places by a modest Computation, there 
 seems to be 1 or 800, the number being considerably increased since the 
 arrival of the two present Ministers. 
 
 East and West Jerseys, ut supra in the 4th Question. 
 New York.— That large Church is now thronged, and the Congregation 
 daily increasing, by an addition of Dutch and French, as well as English 
 People al^o in other Counties of this Province, the number of those who are 
 earnestly desirous of a Church Minister is very considerable, though at present 
 the exact number cannot be known. 
 
 New England, ut supra in the 1st Question. 
 
 What hopes there are to bring more over, and by what ways and means ? 
 
 In Pensilvania, the West and East Jerseys, and the several Colonies of 
 
xviii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 New England, there are great hopes, were there a considerable number of 
 pious, learned clerks, well versed in the controversies between the Church and 
 the Brethren of the Separation, speedily sent over and supported by England 
 and by maintenance, and as for the ways and means, we humbly conceive, 
 that if the Queen, the Lord Chancellor, the Arch Bishops, Bishops, Collegiate 
 Churches, and Universities, would be pleased to present as many pious and 
 learned Ministers, as are needful, to livings, as they fall, of £200 per annum, 
 at least, upon condition that they come to the aforesaid places, to preach the 
 Gospel for such time as their Graces and Lordships shall soe arrange. 
 
 That if a competent portion of the Tyth may be reserved for the supply of 
 the Cures, and the residue sent Yearly to supply the Missionaries ; with sub- 
 mission, we believe that this would effectually contribute to the Proselyting, 
 the main body of the Dissenting People, to their Ancient Mother, the Church ; 
 or if this Method be not so agreeable to the persons above mentioned, it is 
 humbly suggested that until the fund to be raised by that Noble and Illus- 
 trious Society, for the Propagating of Christian Faith, in these Parts, be able 
 to answer the charge of their great and pious undertaking, that their Lord- 
 ships would be pleased to contrive how the profits of such Sine Cures, as are in 
 the Queen's and their Lordship's gifts may be sequestred as they fall, for the 
 supply of the Missionaries ; and it is humbly prayed that a remarkable 
 encouragement may be given to such as will undertake the study of the 
 Indian languages in order to their Conversion ; and that above all, a Suffra- 
 gan Bishop may be sent over for the Confirming the Baptized, and giving 
 orders to such as are willing and well qualified to receive them, there being a 
 considerable number of actual preachers and others of New England.education 
 well disposed to serve in the Ministry. 
 
 New York. — If proper methods be speedily taken, we have reasonable 
 hopes that the English Counties of that Province will be easily reconciled to 
 the Church, as to ways and means, by sending a pious and learned Clergy 
 among them as aforesaid : again that in the small Towns the Ministers have 
 directions and Encouragement given them to officiate as Ministers and School- 
 masters, than which a more effectual way cannot be taken to establish the 
 Church on the Sure and lasting foundations of Truth and Peace. 
 
 And as to the Dutch Counties and Towns in the Province it would be of 
 admirable Service to send such Dutch Ministers to their Vacant Counties and 
 Towns, especially forthwith one to Kings County, now destitute, ordained by 
 the Bishop of London, with whom they would as readily comply as if they 
 were Ministers of their own persuasion. 
 
 What opposition and Discouragement the Church of England meets with, 
 from the Government, Society of people or private persons ? 
 
 Pensilvania. — The chief opposition and discouracjment the Church of 
 England meets with, ariseth from persons disaffected being put into places 
 and offices of trust in council, in Commission of the peace and Courts of 
 Jurisdiction. 
 
 One other great discouragement which the Church labours under, is from 
 
 the pretended Ministry of Quakers, who have threatened our Reverend and 
 
 " worthy Brother, Mr. Keith, at their Meeting places, which he has visited in 
 
Keith and Talbot. X1X 
 
 New England, Rhode Island, Long Island, and the two Jerseys, with the 
 penalty of £20 for speaking in their Meetings, though without Interruption to 
 their Speakers; and notwithstanding they have not qualified themselves 
 according to the Act of Toleration. There is a great opposition also from all 
 other Dissenters, as Presbyterians, Independants and Anabaptists, who daily 
 increase in other Provinces, as well as Pensilvania, for want of an established 
 Ministry of the Church in those Parts. 
 
 New York.— The Church of England under the late Administration of 
 the Lord Bellamontand Captain Nanfan hath been grievously opposed and op- 
 pressed ; but since the auspicious arrival of the Right Honorable the Lord 
 Cornbury, has been delivered from the violence of the enemies, restored to her 
 rio-hts, o-reatly countenanced and encouraged, and lives under the just expecta- 
 tion of being more firmly established and enlarged. But many of the Dutch 
 Dissenters and all the Quakers, though differing from one another amongst 
 themselves, yet agree in opposing with great zeal and malice, whatever tends 
 to the honour and interest of the Church. 
 
 New England.— Whilst the Council as well as the Assembly is in the 
 choice of the people, and whilst the Assembly assumes a power to oblige the 
 Members of the Church of England that maintain their own Minister, to 
 contribute by a tax, in proportion much beyond others of the like Estate, to 
 Support the Dissenting Ministry, there are but slender hopes to see the 
 Church increase and flourish in that Colony. 
 
 How Quakers and others support their Meetings and Schools. 
 
 1. The Quakers support their Meetings and Schools by several ways and 
 means, as first by their Established Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, and yearly 
 Meetings. 
 
 2. By the great and large collections of Money gathered, especially at then- 
 Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, which they put into a Common stock. _ 
 
 3. By their proselyting many poor People to their way, by their Charity. 
 
 4. Bv keeping their Trade within themselves and maintaining a strict 
 Correspondence and Intelligence over all parts where they are. 
 
 5. By the many and sometimes great Legacies which the Quakers at their 
 Death give to the Common Stock, they appointing persons to visit the sick, 
 upon that Account, so that in Philadelphia they have £1000 given by Lega- 
 cies in about two years last past, as appears by the Records of their Wills in 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 6. By sending over great numbers of Missionaries yearly from England 
 into these Parts and furnishing them well out of their National Stock, especi- 
 ally since Mr. Keith left them. 
 
 7. By their having George Foxe's Orders and Canons duly and orderly 
 read in their Monthly and especially in their Quarterly Men and Women's 
 Meetings ; though they never read one chapter of the Holy Bible in the said 
 meetings. 
 
 8. By spreading Books, printed both in England and here and dispersing 
 them at cheap rates, which leavens their youth with prejudices against the 
 Church and her Ministers. 
 
xx Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 9. By frequent Meetings of their Speakers to consider of ways and means 
 to propagate their errors. 
 
 10. By their great hospitality to all friends, and others that come to their 
 public Meetings, especially their Quarterly and Yearly Meetings. 
 
 1 1. By suffering none of themselves to marry but with those of their own 
 profession. 
 
 12. By refusing to swear and fight, by which means many come over to 
 them, to excuse themselves from being jurymen and serving in the Militia. 
 
 13. By building diverse large and fair Structures, for their Meeting houses, 
 especially in Philadelphia, Burlington, and Rhode Island. 
 
 14. By keeping and publickly recording all Misfortunes and Accidents of 
 Sudden Deaths that happen to their Adversaries which they call Judgments of 
 God upon their Opposers, whether Priests, Impropriators, Magistrates, or others. 
 
 15. By keeping a true and exact Register of all their Births, Burials, and 
 Marriages, and all Passages, Travels, and Sufferings of their travelling friends, 
 especially by keeping a distinct and particular record of the Sufferings and 
 Death of the friends of the Ministry with the Circumstances of the time and 
 place of their decease. 
 
 16. By collecting into volumes the particular Treatises of the preaching 
 Quakers of Account after their Deaths, after they have expunged some of 
 their lying Prophecy's, and other Ridiculous and Scandalous Passages. 
 
 17. By their seeking out in what places in England and elsewhere what 
 they can object of Scandals against either Ministers or People, professing 
 Communion with the Church, reproaching the whole Church with them. 
 
 18. By their grossly misrepresenting the Doctrine of the Church of 
 England and of all other Protestant Churches in all points of difference 
 between them. 
 
 19. By their high pretences to the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, the 
 same in kind with those which the Apostles and Prophets had. 
 
 20. By their singularities in Common Speech, and refusing to give any 
 marks of honour, or due respects to Magistrates and Superiors. 
 
 21. By setting up Meetings in all places where they can find access, though 
 they have no resident Ministers to preach or pray in these said Meetings ; 
 hundreds of which sort are in England, and many in these American Parts. 
 
 22. By the People's great liberality to all their Itinerant Preachers, and 
 putting their Ministers generally into a way of Trade, especially Merchandizing, 
 and putting many poor Mechanics, Servants, and Women, that have no good 
 way of living, pretending to the Ministry among them, into such ways of trade 
 and business, whereby to live plentifully, by which means, many who had 
 nothing are become rich. 
 
 23. By their great partiality in concealing the gross faults of their 
 Ministers and People favouring them of their party, either in Arbitrations or 
 Courts of Judicature, where they have the Government in their hands, or 
 any share therein. 
 
 24. By their using all possible Endeavours to discourage, reproach, and 
 scandalize all such Persons as leave their Communion for their errors and 
 other unjust practices, and to ruin them if possible, and then to tell their 
 hearers that the Judgment of God fell upon such who forsake the truth as 
 they term it, by which they fright the people. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 
 
 xxi 
 
 What ways and means are proper to put a stop to them ? 
 
 By using some of the like ways and means above mentioned, such as are 
 lawfull, proper and convenient ; many of the above mentioned being very un- 
 lawfull which are used by them. By sending over such Books as are most 
 proper and useful, not only for the detecting the Quakers errors but also for 
 informing the People in the Doctrine, way and Worship of the Church, 
 especially all the Works of the Author of the " Snake in the Grass, particu- 
 larly his live discourses printed together by Charles Brown, "the Invention of 
 Man in the Worship of God," by Dr. King, Bishop of Londonderry all the 
 small treatises lately published against profane swearing and breach ot the 
 Sabbath. The abstract of the " London Cases," Dr. Bevendge s Sermon con- 
 cerning the excellency and usefulness of the Common Prayer " The unworthy 
 communicant," "Comber upon the Common Prayer," "Ihe Whole duty 
 of Man" Mr. Brent, of Bristol, against lying, Common Prayer Books and 
 books of homilies, and the articles of the Church of England and Catechisms, 
 the Exposition of the Church Catechism, by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. 
 Lastly, Large and Common Prayer Books, for Churches; that the Executive 
 part of the Government be put into the hands of persons well affected to the 
 
 Church of England. , , . , . , n 
 
 That Ministers of the Church of England in these American parts as well 
 as Enoland, acquaint themselves well with the Quakers erroneous Doctrine 
 and Principles, and that it be earnestly recommended to all such, where 
 Quakers abound most, to preach against their sad Doctrines and principles, 
 which are most erroneous, at least once every three months in their Parish 
 Churches. 
 
 New York. Signed by us, 
 
 George Keith. 
 
 Evan Evans, Cler. Minister of Philadelphia. 
 
 Alexander Innes, Presbyter. 
 
 Edmond Mott, Chaplain of Her Majesty's Forces in New York. 
 
 John Talbot. 
 
 William Veset, Rector of New York. 
 
 John Bartow. 
 
xxii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Mr. Keith to Dr. Bray. 
 
 Philadelphia, 24th Feb. 1703-4. 
 
 "Dr. Bray— 
 
 "Reverend and Worthy Sir: 
 
 " My very humble and kind respects 
 remembered to you, and all our friends with you ; having this occasion I 
 was glad to accept of it (as of all occasions that occur) to write unto you. I 
 writ unto you from New York, in November last, together with our scheme 
 of the State of the Church in these Northern parts of America, and therewith 
 I sent a long letter to the Honourable Corporation for Propagating the 
 Gospell in Foreign Parts, and a letter to my Lord of London, all which I 
 enclosed in my letter to you, which I hope you have received. I have had 
 Uo letter from you as yet, nor from any of your honourable Corporation, but 
 one from my worthy friend, Mr. Chamberlayne,* wherein he signified to me 
 that your Corporation had not met, betwixt his receiving my Letters and the 
 time of his writing to me, so that he could not say any thing, what the Cor- 
 poration would do, concerning allowing Mr. Talbot his charge in travelling 
 with me, but he thought that they would be well satisfied that he was my 
 companion, and would allow him what they thought was convenient. I have 
 heard Mr. Talbot say that if they allow him £50 English money per annum, 
 it will do, and indeed that is little enough, and would not near do, but that 
 we are often upon free quarters, more especially among our friends. Mr. 
 Talbot, I hear, has a good character given of him, to my Lord of Canterbury, 
 and indeed he deserves it, he has been mightily serviceable and comfortable 
 to me in all respects, as a Son to his Father, and is well beloved by all where 
 we have travelled, who are well affected to the Church ; and has been much 
 desired by the People in several Places, to be their Minister (after he has finished 
 his travels with me, which are like to be done, somewhat above a year here- 
 after) particularly at Chester, about 16 miles Southward from Philadelphia, 
 by the river Delaware, where he has once preached, and hath brought over 
 the same time there also, in the said Town of Chester, Mr. Yeates who lives 
 there, and who has been the principal person, to cause build a Church, very 
 decent and convenient of Brick, that will hold a thousand people, it is well 
 glazed, but not as yet wainscotted nor plaistered, but it is fit for use, and we 
 have preached in it twice: the 14th of this instant I preached in it, and there 
 were above two hundred hearers, all generally well affected to the Church ; 
 but they greatly desire a Minister, and if the Corporation please to give an 
 yearly supply of £50 per annum, the people there, and thereabouts, would 
 contribute to make up the rest. This, Mr. Yeates desired me to write to you 
 to lay before my Lord of London and the Honourable Corporation. 
 
 " Betwixt New York and Pensylvania we continued about a month, viz. 
 from 14th of December to 11th of January travelling among the Friends, 
 calFd formerly the Keithian Quakers especially for East Jersey, having been 
 about a whole month travelling among them before that, which was in the 
 month October ; and by God's blessing our labour has had good success 
 among them, so that generally very few excepted, all the Keithians in East 
 Jersey are well affected to the Church, and we baptized twenty two persons 
 * He was Secretary of the Society. 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxiii 
 
 in East Jersey, all either Keithians or Keithian children. I am forced to use 
 this name of distinction to distinguish them from the other Quakers who are 
 generally very stiff and averse from the Church, and all principles of true 
 Christianity everywhere, and who decline all discourse or converse with us. 
 Colonel Morris did very kindly entertain us at his house in East Jersey, and 
 both he and his Lady went with us from meeting to meeting in divers places. 
 At Amboy in East Jersey they have contributed about £200 towards building 
 a Church and greatly desire a Minister. The Contributors are some Keithians 
 and some other persons well affected to the Church. At Burlington also 
 several persons (among whom some are Keithians) well affected to the Church 
 have contributed about two hundred pounds towards building of a Church 
 and they are to begin the Building this Spring. In all these new erectings 
 of Churches in these Northern parts, Governor Nicholson has largely con- 
 tributed, and is a mighty promoter and encourager of them by his Letters and 
 Advice as well as his purse ; as not only at Boston and Rhode Island, but at 
 Burlington, in West Jersey, Chester, in Pensylvania, and here at Philadelphia. 
 In all places where I have yet travelled, at Boston, Rhode Island, N. York 
 and Philadelphia, the Ministers live very regularly and are in good esteem, 
 and the Churches in good order, and the people generally devout, and well 
 affected to the Word and the publick worship of God ; at Concord, in Pensil- 
 vania, and thereabouts, especially at Thomas Powell's, formerly a Keithian, 
 several people formerly Keithians, are well affected to the Church and enter- 
 tained us kindly. Mr. Evans, Minister of Philadelphia, was with me and I 
 preached at two severall places among them and they were well affected ; also 
 I had a publick dispute with one Killingsworth, an Anabaptist preacher at the 
 house of Thomas Powell. This Killingsworth was sent for by some Ana- 
 baptists forty miles off to dispute with me. The dispute continued four hours, 
 it has had good effect and it's hoped will have more ; they belong to the 
 new Church at Chester above mentioned. I have preached here at Philadel- 
 phia nine several times, and had great auditories, in some of them a thousand 
 people were thought to be present, many besides the Church People, Quakers, 
 Presbyterians and Anabaptists. But of late the Quakers have made an act in 
 their meeting that none of them may come to Church, which has of late 
 deterred them from coming. The ministers here are in very good esteem 
 among the People and they have a brave vestry of good and wise men, and 
 good concord, love and unanimity among them, so that the Church here is in 
 a Flourishing Condition. And at Newcastle, 40 miles from Philadelphia, 
 there is at present no minister, they had a Presbyterian minister called Will- 
 son, but he has been gone about half a year. Could a Minister of the Church 
 of England be sent among them, it's thought they would gladly receive him, 
 and it would be of mighty service for advancing the Church in this province, 
 it being, as it were, the Frontier. Also in other parts below New Casde, 
 they want a Minister. 
 
 "There is a mighty cry and desire, almost in all places where we have 
 travelled, to have Ministers of the Church of England sent to them in these 
 Northern parts of America ; so that it may be said the Harvest is great but 
 the labourers few, and some well affected to the Church have desired me to 
 write to my Lord of London and to you that if a Minister be not sent with the 
 first Conveniency, Presbyterian Ministers from N. England would swarm 
 
xxiv Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 into those countries and prevent the increase of the Church. They have here 
 a Pr bv erian meeting and minister, one called Andrews; but they are not 
 fike to increase here. I have had severall meetings with he Keithian Qua- 
 kers hi at my lodgings, and friendly conferences with them and their 
 Seache , and list Sunday I preached at a Keithian meeting house and was 
 kindly inv'ited to dinner after the meeting by a man and h» wife of thrt 
 meetino', and that evening I preached at the Church. Divers of ^them (God 
 be praised for the success) are like to be gained to the Church who have 
 heaK frequently at the Church and are well affected. ■ Their chief speaker, 
 John Hart has vented a most absurd notion in his Discourses and vindicates 
 it in his i reaching, (viz.) That true Believers ought not to fear Hell and 
 Damna^, so X Conditionally, and they ought to serve God on y from 
 love to him, without all regard to punishment or Scripture tlneatemngs, so 
 much as coiditionally. I have in two severall meetings at my Lodgings, m 
 Ztaring of his foLwers, detected his errors, and last Sunday preached * 
 lono- sermon ao-ainst it, in the Keithian Meeting, upon that Text, lPeU-17, 
 Wher "opened many 'other Texts of Scripture to prove that a Conditioned 
 fear is necessary to the best of Men : such as Heb. 4 : 1 ; Rom. 14 10 &c. 
 Most of h hearers and followers are dissatisfied with the strange doctrine 
 and are like to forsake him. I have told them 'tis vile Antinomiamsm and 
 the Root of Ranterism and Libertinism; and some of his female hearers are 
 offended at him for his telling them, they need not fear to commit the sin of 
 whoredom being chaste women. He openly denied before many judicious 
 persons to me at my lodgings last Monday, 22nd of this Instant, hat pubhck 
 pSment of death was" inflicted upon a murtherer for a terror to others, if 
 innocent which I told him was contrary to Dent. Id : iu, n. 
 
 "The s x boxes you sent are all come safe ; that to Boston, that to New 
 York that to the two Jerseys, and that to Pensylvania, are disposed of already 
 accord ng to your orders, and are very acceptable to the people The great 
 BMes hffolio I have given one of them to the Church in Philadelphia, at the 
 Mmiste?s request, another to the new Church at Chester above mentioned 
 aSher I thmk to give to the Church at Burlington and another to that of 
 S>y and the reft to other Churches when erected There is a great need 
 of Con men Prayer Books in 8vo for the use of the people, ""7™" 
 o-ladlv buy them and some might be given to the Poorer Sort. I wish 2 or 
 1^0 wei7sent over to these pL direct them to Mr. tou* the minis^r £ 
 you send them ; also the new Psalms, being only used here n thw Chnrch 
 the people want them greatly ; if you would send over 100 of them at least 
 I hS the people would gladly buy them. They sing very well m the 
 Chu ch here, and the youth have learned to sing and delight much n it. I 
 We disposed of many of your lectures in folio which are very acceptable to 
 Ik I people, and as you ordered, have desired them to read them to their 
 familips and neighbours on Sundays. , 
 
 "Dear Sir 'I long to have a letter from you to know of your welfare, and 
 other Zod news you have to impart to me, and what hopes you can give us 
 of having good ministers sent over to these parts, which are so greatly wanted 
 and desired- and if they come not timely, the whole country will be overrun 
 wttL P esbv erians, Anabaptists, and Quakerism ; the Quaker Missionaries do 
 mgh% swarm oil of old England into these parts, and have prosehted 
 many; many in Long Island are Quakers or Quakerly affected. 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxv 
 
 " You see, Dear Sir, what a long letter I have writ to you, I question not 
 your acceptance of it. It's but a summary of affairs here, but I keep a 
 punctual Journal of all things worthy my notice in my Travells. 
 
 " I have written the more at length to you, hoping, Dear Sir, and desiring 
 that you would be pleased to impart either the whole or what part of it you 
 think requisite to my Lord of London, and my Lord of Worcester, and to 
 your Honourable Corporation. We intend about two weeks hence to set 
 forward to Maryland and Virginia. I have had a very kind letter from his 
 Excellency, Governor Nicholson, inviting us to Virginia, but before we go 
 hence, I purpose to have a Publick meeting in this place to detect the 
 Quakers errors out of their own Books, after the method I used at Turner's 
 Hall, in London. All course of Justice against Criminals is at a stop here, so 
 that the Criminal Court can do nothing against murtherers ; the Quakers 
 throw the whole Burden of Jurymen upon the Churchmen, so that a great 
 List of Churchmen have been summoned ; such as have appeared (some 
 formerly Keithians) men of good sense and repute have refused to swear, not 
 that they think it unlawful], but that there is no law in the Province, that 
 enjoins swearing in any case, and severall persons have lain long here in Prison, 
 some on suspected murther, and can have no trial, and are said to be in great 
 want of Bread. Colonel Quarry I suppose will give my Lord of London or 
 yourself, some more full information. This is one instance of many of the 
 great Deficiency of Quaker Government. I send you herewith a small 
 specimen of my printed Labors here away. My sermon I preached at Bos- 
 ton soon after my arrival, was sent to you soon after it was printed, but it 
 hath not come to your Hands. I send you this one ; the single sheet called 
 a Refutation, &c, I lately printed at New York. Mr. Increase Mather has 
 printed against the six rules in ray Sermon, and I have my answer in the 
 press at New York, in vindication of them ; when it is done, I shall order 
 some copies to be sent to you, all which I hope will be acceptable to you and 
 the clergy. 
 
 " I remain your affectionate, 
 " Humble servant, 
 
 " George Keith." 
 
 Mr. Keith to the Secretary. — Extract. 
 
 "Philadelphia, 3d April, 1703. 
 
 " Worthy Sir : 
 
 " The main thing of importance I have at present to write 
 to you here, is to tell you of the extreme desire that people have in severall 
 parts where we have travelled to have Church of England Ministers sent to 
 them particularly in East Jersey, at Amboy and in the Woods about where 
 Colonel Morris lives, att Burlington, in West Jersey, also at Oyster Bay, in 
 Long Island, and at Hampsted and in this province of Pensylvania, at Chester 
 and at Frankford. At Chester, 20 miles from this, down the River, some 
 
xxvi Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 well-affected have built a brave Church of Brick. Mr. Yates, who lives there, 
 has been the principal promoter of it. Several hundreds come to Church 
 there, when they hear of a Sermon to be preached, that is commonly supplied 
 by the ministers there, once in two weeks, and the like at Franckford 7 or 8 
 miles from this upward the river. •, 
 
 " The 2 Ministers here (viz.) Mr. Evans and Mr. Thomas, have a very good 
 character here, and to my knowledge are very laborious in the service of God 
 and Exemplary in Life, the people of the Church generally zealous and well- 
 affected, the most of them my former acquaintance and many of them my 
 old friends, called Keithians, some are lately come to Church since my arrival 
 here. This day I got from this place towards Virginia, having been in this 
 province about ten weeks, and had much exercise with diverse opposite 
 spirits ; but all the Church people very loving to us and respectfull. If God 
 please to bring us safe to Maryland and Virginia, you shall hear from us with 
 the first opportunity. Thus, Dear Sir, I conclude, with my Hearty thanks to 
 you for all your civilities and my sincere prayers to Gocl for a blessing to you 
 and yours, desiring your prayers for me. 
 
 " And remain your affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 " George Keith. 
 
 " P. S. I suppose long before this you have heard of the Decease of Worthy 
 Mr. Gordon, who dyed at Jamaica, on Long Island, about six weeks after his 
 arrival with us at Boston ; his sickness was a violent fever that was then 
 frequent at N. York, where it's thought he first had it. 
 
 " I hope his disease will be no discouragement to other Good men to come 
 into these parts where the Harvest is so great and the Labourers so few. 
 
 " I thank God I have had generally good health of Body and great inward 
 comfort, joy and peace of mind ever since my arrival, though I am weak in 
 Body. My Companion also has had his health generally. In several Places 
 in N. England, where we travelled, as I have formerly writ to the Honourable 
 Society, there is a great desire for ministers of the Church of England to be 
 sent to them, as at Narraganset, Swansey, Little Compton, alias Seconat. In 
 all which places I have preached and was kindly received." 
 
 Mr. Keith to the Lord Bishop of London. 
 
 " Philadelphia, 26th February, 1702-3. 
 
 " My Lord : 
 
 " I think it not proper to write to your Lordship a long letter, to 
 give your Lordship an account of the many circumstances relating to my 
 travels and services, and success of them since I arrived into these northern 
 parts of America, but rather in general to acquaint your Lordship with the 
 state of the several particular Churches under your inspection and care, in 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxvii 
 
 these Countries where I have travelled ; as at Boston in N. England, at 
 Rhode Island, at New York, and here at Philadelphia ; in all which places to 
 my great satisfaction and joy, I did find great regularity and good order. The 
 Ministers in very good repute among all, and the people devout in the publick 
 Worship of God, and generally of good morals, so that if in all other Places 
 the ministry and people were so pious, so moral, and so regular as I have 
 found them, in those places where I have travelled, the Church of England 
 would be in great esteem and greatly prosper. Here at Philadelphia, from a 
 small beginning the Church is increased considerably, first by the pious 
 endeavours and great diligence of Mr. Clayton, and since his decease by others, 
 and especially by the pious endeavours and great diligence of both Mr. Evans, 
 the Minister here, and of his Assistant, Mr. Thomas, of both whom, the 
 adversaries of the Church give a good report, touching their sobriety and good 
 conversation. The Congregation here has been considerably enlarged in num- 
 ber by those called Keithian Quakers, coming into the Church, whose good 
 examples many others have followed both in town and country, and since my 
 arrival in this Country there has been some increase in Divers places both of 
 those formerly called Keithians and others who are well affected to the Church. 
 In E. Jersey the Keithians are generally zealous for the Church and divers 
 others whom they have an influence upon. Mr. Talbot, my Companion, and 
 I have laboured among them, in preaching from place to place, and had 
 much conference with them in private from House to House, for the space of 
 two months, and we baptized two and twenty persons, young and old of those 
 called Keithians. In W. Jersey also those formerly called Keithians are well 
 affected and came from divers parts to visit me, and heard me, and showed 
 me Love and Affection. I have been here not much above a month, and 
 have preached nine times in the Church here, having had large auditories, 
 sometimes about a thousand persons in the Church, but not all of the Church, 
 many of them Presbyterians, some Anabaptists, and some Quakers, but the 
 Quakers of late have made an Act that none of their way shall come, which 
 has at present put a stop to their coming. I have also had much private 
 discourse with some who yet remain Keithians, and use to meet together ; of 
 divers of them, I have good hope, they have frequently come to Church to 
 hear me, and last Sunday I went and preached in their meeting, with which 
 some of them were well pleased though others not. 
 
 " My Lord, there is an exceeding great desire in divers places that your 
 Lordship would send over pious and able Ministers to them, both in Long 
 Island, E. Jersey and W. Jersey, and also in divers places in this province of 
 Pensylvania (as also in N. England, as I acquainted your Lordship in my 
 former letter, November last.) The people well affected to the Church have 
 gathered two hundred pounds towards building a Church at Burlington, in 
 W. Jersey, they are to begin to build as they have told me this Spring ; also 
 at Amboy, in E. Jersey, they intend to do the like. Colonel Morris is a very 
 good friend to the Church and a promoter of it, and was very kind and 
 assistant to us, and is very regular in his family, and his Lady is a very pious 
 and good Woman, his family is a little Church ; he useth the Common 
 Prayer in his family daily, and on Sundays his neighbours come to his house, 
 as to a Church, and at times Mr. Junesse preacheth in his house. I suppose 
 your Lordship remembereth Mr. Junesse, a good man, but a nonjuror. 
 
xxviii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 " My Lord, if but 3 or 4 pious and able ministers were sent over to supply 
 the present necessity in these provinces of E. and W. Jersey and Pensylvama, 
 it would be of exceeding great service to promote and increase the Church. At 
 Chester, in Pensylvania, 16 miles Southward from Philadelphia, by the River 
 Delaware, some well affected persons have built a brave Church. Mr. Yates, 
 who- lives at Chester, has been the main promoter of it; they are to write to 
 your Lordship earnestly to request your Lordship to send them an able and 
 pious Minister. The Quakers are very many and rich, in and about that 
 place, but some of good note of them called Keithians are well affected to the 
 Church in that County who would certainly join with the Church, if they had 
 a Minister. I have lately preached at Chester and had an auditory of above 
 200 persons, and also at the Houses of 2 Keithians, my former friends and 
 acquaintances, who received me with much affection. I am forced to use this 
 term of distinction to distinguish them called Keithians from the other sort of 
 Quakers who generally are most refractory and pertinacious in their Errors, 
 but yet there is hope of many of the Youth among them. 
 
 " There is here at Philadelphia a brave vestry of men, both pious and very 
 discreet and in good unity and harmony one with another, and kind to their 
 Ministers, and they have been very civil and Respectfull to us. We have 
 lodged all the time of our stay here at Philadelphia, with an ancient Gentle- 
 woman, a widow called Mistress Welch, formerly a Keithian but now a 
 zealous Churchwoman and so is her daughter. 
 
 " My Lord, having thus far given you an account in general of things 
 hereaway, I shall not enlarge upon this subject ; what further shall occur in 
 my Travels, I think to acquaint your Lordship from time to time. His 
 Excellency Governor Nicholson is a very great patron and benefactor to all 
 the New-Erected Churches in these Northern parts of America. 
 
 " I remain your Lordship's most humble 
 
 " And most obliged servant, 
 
 " George Keith." 
 
 Mr. Keith to the Secretary. 
 
 " Philadelphia, 4th September, 1703. 
 " Worthy Sir: 
 
 " These are to acquaint you that by God's help and favour 
 I and my worthy associate Mr. Talbot, have finished our Travels in Maryland, 
 Virginia and North Carolina, and are safely returned to this place. In all 
 Countryes and places we met with very kind reception from persons of all 
 conditions, high and low, having preached in all the several parts where we 
 travelled both on Sundays and on Weekdays in their respective Churches, the 
 Quakers only excepted, who not only in these parts of Maryland and Vir- 
 ginia, but in all other parts where we went to visit their meetings and have 
 Friendly Discourse with them either at their meetings or at their houses, were 
 
Keith and Talbot. =u* 
 
 generally very uncivil and rude to us, as in New England, at Piscataway 
 Rhode Island, and Long Island, E. and W. Jersey, declining generally all 
 discourse with us, and returning nothing to our kindly offers to inform them, 
 but reproaches and railings and gross reflections (not only upon us, but upon 
 the Church of England and her clergy) used by some of them, whereof we 
 have sufficient proof. In Virginia there are but few Quakers and very much 
 asunder, and the time of their yearly meeting happened when we were on our 
 travels returning from North Carolina, so that we had not timely notice to be 
 there. The Quakers' yearly meeting in Maryland was over before we came 
 into that Country. The Governors of the several Countries and Provinces, 
 where we have travelled, and other inferior Magistrates and Justices of 1 eace, 
 were very kind to us, and so were all the Ministers where we travelled ; and 
 kindly invited us to preach in their Churches, whenever we came, as ac- 
 cordingly we did. Virginia and Maryland are generally well provided with 
 Ministers, and they are generally of good repute, but in some Places ministers 
 are wholly wanting, as in Princess Ann's County, in Virginia, and at Anapo- 
 lis, in Maryland; and in all North-Carolina there is not one minister since 
 Mr. Brett is gone, of whom I need not to say anything, for I suppose you have 
 heard fully of his bad character. In Maryland, Squire Finch, President of the 
 Counsell there, and Sir Thomas Lawrence, Secretary, with divers Justices of 
 Peace, and many other persons of good quality, showed so much kindness as 
 to go with us to one of the Quakers' meetings, at a place called Herring- 
 Creek, to countenance us ; and not only so, but they invited us to go. -But 
 when we came, soon after I began to speak, the Quakers being there all silent ; 
 When I began, they did most universally and rudely interrupt me and would 
 not suffer me to speak, notwithstanding that both the President, Squire J? inch, 
 and Sir Thomas Lawrence, the Secretary, did entreat them to give rne a 
 hearing and to have some friendly discourse with me, especially to vindicate 
 the Church of England from the base reflections that one Thomas btory,_a 
 preaching Quaker from Philadelphia, had cast upon her and her Catechism m 
 their last yearly meeting in Maryland, but by no means would the fakers 
 suffer me to speak nor regard the entreaty of those worthy Persons 1 hey did 
 mightily plead that their meetings were tolerated by the Act of Toleration 
 and that for my offering to speak in their meetings I had broke the Act of 
 Parliament, and was lyable to the fine of Twenty pounds every time I offered 
 to speak in their meetings. I told them I had not broke the Act of Parlia- 
 ment for I was qualified according to the Act to speak in their meetings, but 
 they were not, and upon enquiry they will not be found comprehended in that 
 Act, untill they fulfill the Conditions required of them therein, none of which 
 they had done, so we were constrained to leave their meeting, not having any 
 liberty to speak, nor would they give any except by violence ; the magistrates 
 then present had commanded some constables to turn them out of doors by 
 violence who did interrupt me ; but these worthy persons thought not fit so 
 to do, knowing that they would call it persecution. Immediately after we 
 came out of the Quakers' meeting, the President Squire Finch and bir 
 Thomas and the other Justices, and the whole Company above mentioned to 
 the number of about sixty invited me to preach in a place near at hand 
 formerly a church but then used for a school, which I did. Mr. Mall 
 minister of the parish there having read the prayers. And though we have had 
 
xxx Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 little success any -where upon those called Foxonian Quakers, yet in all places 
 •where we travelled, I hope in God we have furnished the people with good 
 and effectual antidotes to preserve them from the Infection of Quakerism by 
 detecting their errors, both by preaching and spreading books among their 
 vile errors. And by the blessing of God have been instrumentall to keep 
 some from Quakerism who were in danger to be infected with it. But 
 notwithstanding the averseness of those called Foxonian Quakers, everywhere 
 generally (some few excepted) these formerly called Keithian Quakers both in 
 E. and W. Jersey and Pensylvania and at New York did kindly receive us and 
 most are come over to the Church with good zeal, so that in E. & W. Jersey 
 and some other places above a hundred have been baptized by Mr. Talbot and 
 me and Mr. Evans very lately ; most of them Keithians formerly so called, and 
 their children : and they greatly desire that good and able ministers may be 
 sent among them, particularly at Burlington in W. Jersey, at Shrewsbury in 
 E. Jersey, where Coll. Morris lives, and who has been very Instrumental to 
 them, & very kind to us and hospitable ; also at Chester in Pensylvania they 
 greatly desire a minister, and at New Castle by the River Delaware. In 
 Burlington, the people assisted by the county and some others, especially by 
 the beneficence of Governour Nicholson, have built a church of Brick where I 
 preached two weeks ago before Lord Cornbury, who was come thither to 
 publish his Commission to be Governour of these two provinces of E. & W. 
 Jersey now put into one. The Church was very full of People, and the next 
 Sunday after that, I preached there again and had a considerable auditory. 
 As also by the like beneficence of Governour Nicholson and other assistants, 
 they have built a Church of Brick at Chester in Pensylvania, where both 
 Mr. Talbot and I have preached several times ; and so hath Mr. Evans and 
 had large auditories, and the people zealously affected, and among them 
 divers formerly called Keithians. The like beneficence that worthy Patriot 
 Governour Nicholson hath given to the people at New Castle to build a 
 church there, and to them at Amboy in E. Jersey, the like ; and to many 
 other Places (besides what he hath done very considerable) in Virginia & 
 Maryland to the number at least of fourteen Churches, lately erected and 
 designed to be erected, all by the Example and Encouragement he hath 
 given them ; to most of them Twenty-five pounds a piece, and to some more 
 according as there was occasion : which hath raised a great esteem of him 
 universally in these Northern parts of America, and earnest wishes that he 
 may long continue in the station and dignity where he now stands, that 
 he may be a further Instrument of good both to Church & State, as he 
 hath already been. Besides my exercises in travelling and preaching in these 
 American parts, I have had occasion of Writing and Printing several books 
 for the service of God and his Church, and in vindication of the Truth against 
 Quakers and some other Dissenters, particularly my first sermon at Boston in 
 N. England, there printed, which I hope you have seen, and my vindication of 
 it in answer to Mr. Increase Mather's exceptions, a copy of which I now send 
 you : also a printed sheet against an absurd opinion of Mr. Samuel Willard, 
 president of the College of Cambridge in N. England, which is that the sin 
 of Adam and of all other men and Devils came to pass of necessity, by God's 
 Decree, and his Determining their wills necessarily to Commit them. The 
 which absurd opinion he hath endeavoured to defend in a late printed book 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxxi 
 
 of above four sheets, and which the Presbyterians cry up and esteem, but the 
 Quakers dislike ; I would to God that so they did their own errors lo 
 which Book of the said Mr. Samuel Willard, I have now my answer ready to 
 be printed. Also I have printed a book in answer to a most abusive book oi 
 one Caleb Qusey, a Quaker, against me, a copy of which I herewith send you : 
 And there is now in the Press at New York a Book of mine against the vile 
 Blasphemies contained in a printed Book of one William Davis, with whom 1 
 had some dispute here at Philadelphia some months agoe. I had your kind 
 letter wherein you give me notice— that the Honorable Corporation hath 
 allowed Mr. John Talbot to be my associate in my travels, 'and that they give 
 £60 per annum to bear his charge, for which I humbly thank them : he hath 
 been very comfortable to me and serviceable throughout, and is universally so 
 well beloved that in every place where they want a Minister they have desired 
 to have him, and especially at Burlington and in E. Jersey. He designs to 
 stay in these American parts, and in my opinion I think the Corporation will 
 hardly find any one fitter to send to be their missionary (and to give him the 
 best post either on Loner Island or E. or W. Jersey) than he is, being so well 
 known & beloved both for his preaching and good Conversation, and civil and 
 oblioin-v behaviour. But I leave it wholly to the discretion of the Honorable 
 Corporation where to fix him after his time is expired with me, which will be 
 about eight months hence, when my two years which I design to travel in 
 these American parts will be out; and, God willing, I design to come to 
 England in the Fleet that is to sail from Virginia to London next Spring or 
 Summer, if God please to spare my life and give me health and Preserva- 
 tion In the meantime we think to be travelling through the several parts ot 
 these provinces of W. and E. Jersey and Long Island, and this of Pensylyania, 
 where we have had much success and are likely still to have more, untill the 
 next Spring that I prepare for my coming home to England. The late 
 troubles by°the Indians and French in New England who have killed several 
 English People and carried away about one hundred Persons not far from 
 Boston as we are informed by letters from Boston, do block up the way to JS. 
 England and do awaken many here away. My Lord Cornbury no doubt will 
 endeavour to put the two Jerseys in a posture of defence as well as JNew 
 York Province ; but the Province of Pensylvania, for want of a Governor, 
 and the great manv Quakers who pretend they can't fight so much as in self- 
 defence f lyes very'naked and open at present both to French and Indians; 
 however the three Quakers in E. Jersey, nominated to be of the Counsel 
 there have taken the Attestation, and solemnly promised upon the Faith of a 
 Christian (which I think they have not) to defend the Queen's majesty and 
 her Government ; this some other Quakers do dislike and construe to be a 
 departino- from their ancient Principle against fighting. 
 
 "Worthy Sir, I am afraid I have troubled you with too long a letter at 
 least it is too long to the Corporation, therefore please to give the heads of it 
 to them or the worth v Committee appointed by them. As you advised me 
 I keep a Journal of all observable occurrences which I hope to produce at 
 
 my return. I remain, 
 
 " Your obliged and affectionate friend, 
 
 " George Keith." 
 
xxxii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 [The reader will have made some acquaintance with Mr. Talbot from the 
 preceding letters of Mr. Keith ; but he will learn much more of his temper 
 and disposition from the characteristic communications of Mr. Talbot himself, 
 which, without further preface, we present. — Pub. Com :] 
 
 Mr. JohnpTalbot to Mr. Richard Gillingham. 
 
 g " New York, 24 November, 1702. 1 
 
 " My Dear FkTend : 
 
 " I take all opportunities to let you know that I live, and 
 shall be glad to hear as much of you. Friend Keith and I have been above 
 500 miles together visiting the churches in these parts of America, viz., New 
 England, New Hampshire, N. Bristol, N. London, N. York, and the Jerseys 
 as far as Philadelphia. We preached in all churches where we came, and in 
 several Dissenters' meetings such as owned the Church of England to be their 
 mother church, and were willing to communicate with her and to submit 
 to her Bishops if they had opportunity; I have baptized severall persons, 
 whom Mr. Keith has brought over from Quakerism, and indeed in all places 
 where we come, we find a great ripeness and inclination amongst all sorts of 
 people to embrace the Gospel. Even the Indians themselves have promised 
 obedience to the Faith, as appears by a conference that my Lord Cornbury the 
 Governor here has had with them at Albany : five of their sachems or kings 
 told him they were glad to hear that the sun shined in England again since 
 King William's Death ; they did admire at first what was come to us, that 
 we should have a squaw sachem, viz. : a woman-king, but they hoped she 
 would be a good mother and send them some to teach them religion, and estab- 
 lish Traffick among them that they might be able to purchase a coat, and not 
 go to church in Bear Skins, and so they send our Queen a present, ten Bear 
 Skins to make her fine, and one for a muff to keep her warm ; after many 
 Presents and Compliments they signed the treaty and made the Covenant so 
 sure that they said Thunder and Lightning should not break it on their part, 
 if we did not do as the Lord Bellamont did, throw it into the sea. The papists 
 have been zealous and diligent to send priests and Jesuits to convert these 
 Indians to their superstitions ; 'tis wonderfully acted, ventured and suffered 
 upon that design ; they have indeed become all things, and even turned 
 Indians as it were to gain them, which I hope will provoke some of us to do 
 our part for our holy faith and mother the Church of England. One of their 
 Priests lived half a year in their wigwams (i. e. houses) without a shirt, and 
 when he petitioned my Lord Bellamont for a couple, he was not only denyed 
 but banished ; whereas one of ours, in Discourse with my Lord of London, 
 said, ' who did his Lordship think would come hither that had a dozen shirts.' 
 If I had their language or wherewith to maintain an Interpreter, it should be 
 the first thing I should do, to go amongst the thickest of 'em. Mr. Keith 
 says if he were younger he would learn their language and then I'm sure he 
 might convert them sooner than the Heathen called Quakers. Indeed he is 
 the fittest man that ever came over for this province, he is a well study'd 
 divine, a good philosopher and Preacher, but above all an excellent Disputant, 
 especially against the Quakers, who use to challenge all mankind formerly. 
 Now all the Friends (or enemies rather) are not able to answer one George 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxxm 
 
 Keith ; he knows the Depths of Satan within them and all the Doublings and 
 Windings of the Snake in the Grass. In short he has become the best cham- 
 pion ao-ainst all Dissenters, that the Church ever had, and he's sett up such a 
 Lio-ht in their Dark places, that by God's blessing will not be putt out. The 
 Clergy here have had a sort of Convocation at the Instance and Charge of his 
 Excellency Col. Nicholson Governor of Virginia ; we were but seven in all ; 
 and a week together, we sat considering of ways -and means to propagate the 
 Gospel, and to that End we have drawn up a scheme of the present state ot 
 the Church in these provinces which you shall see when I have time to tran- 
 scribe it, and I shall desire you to send it afterwards to my good brother 
 Kemble. We have great need of a Bishop here to visit all the churches to 
 ordain some, to confirm others, and bless all. We pray for my good Lord of 
 London, we cannot have better than he whilst he lives, therefore in the mean 
 time we shall be very well content with a suffragan. Mr. Keith's mission will 
 be out about a year hence; by that time I hope to get some tokens for my 
 o-ood friends and Benefactors. But as for myself I am so well satisfied 
 with a prospect of doin^ good that I have no inclination to return for Eng- 
 land ; however be so kind as to let me know how you doe, which will be 
 a comfort to me in the wilderness. You know all my friends, pray let them, 
 especially my mother and my sister Hannah, know that I am well, God 
 be praised, and shall be glad to hear so much of them. I cannot write many 
 letters, much less one two or three times over as when I had nothing else to do. 
 I prav God bless you and all my Friends, I desire the Benefit of their 
 prayers, though I cannot have that of their good Company. I know you 11 
 take all in good part that comes from 
 
 " Your old Friend, 
 
 "John Talbot. 
 
 « -p. S — I have many places offered me but I know not where I shall 
 settle, in mean time you may direct your letters for me to be left with Mr. 
 Bridge of Boston N. E, Mr. Vesey at N. York, Mr. Evans at Philadelphia and 
 Mr. Wallace in Virginia." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to Mr. Gillingham. 
 
 " New Castle, 10th April, 1703. 
 
 "Dbab Sir: 
 
 "God be praised we are come thus far in health and safety 
 in our way towards Virginia. We are to goe aboard a sloop on Monday 
 moraine and hope to be at James's Town next week. This is a pretty town 
 on Delaware River, between Pensylvania and Maryland. There is no Church 
 as yet, neither ever was an orthodox minister settled there ; but one Mr. 
 Wilson, a Presbyterian, that preaches to the People in the Court-House ; he 
 has left them this last winter, but finding it not for the better, he means to 
 come ao-ain this summer, he has disobliged some people thereby which makes 
 them the more favorable to the Church, which I hope by God's bless.ng to 
 found here very speedily.. 
 
xxxiv Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 " The Place is very Pleasant, and agreeable as most in America, and would 
 be very populous, but that there is no settled ministry nor Government, for 
 what good does it do people to live in a Place void of Gospel and Law too ; 
 so that several people have moved and gone elsewhere to the Church, seeing 
 the Church does not come to them. 
 
 " I Lave sent you a scheme of the present state of the Church in these 
 parts as we have found in our travels ; since it was drawn up I have gone 
 with Mr. Keith and without him, about East and West Jersey Preaching and 
 baptising several scores of men, women and children, encouraging them to 
 build Churches by promising them in time ministers from England, and that 
 the Honorable Society would take care to send none but sober, good men 
 well qualified in all respects for the work of the ministry. I look upon it that 
 the sending Mr. Keith in quality of a missionary, to travel for the good of the 
 Churches, has been the best service that has been done yet for the Church of 
 England in these parts of the world ; for he is a general scholar, an able 
 disputant and a perfectly honest man. He is in a word Hereticorum malleus, 
 and so he had need; having to deal with some of the worst that ever 
 troubled the Church or the World. Here is little or no Government, and 
 people in many places take the liberty to say there be three Gods, or no God, 
 and nothing is done to them. Certainly 'tis better to live where nothing is 
 lawful than where all things are. Since I came to be more acquainted with 
 the Quakers I have much worse opinion of them than ever I had. It appears 
 by William Penn's book, that he is a greater Antichrist than Julian the 
 apostate. He has said that Christ is a finite, impotent creature ; and Faith 
 in the History of Christ's outward manifestation is a deadly poyson these 
 latter ages have been infected withal, to the destruction of holy Living. Who 
 was defender of the Faith when the lewd Heretick was made Governor and 
 Proprietor of a province ? Certainly God gave this Land into the hands of 
 the English, that they might Publish the Gospell and give knowledge of 
 Salvation to these people ; and I am sure the King gave this to William 
 Penn, with Injunction expressly in his patent, that he should endeavour to 
 convert the Indians to the Faith ; but instead of that he labours to make 
 Christians Heathens ; and proclaims Liberty and Priviledge to all that believe 
 in one God, and yet when they come here, they say there are three or none, 
 and yet be borne out by the Quakers against the Christians. They pretend 
 they ought not to fight, yet I have seen several commissions, under several of 
 their Governor's hands to kill, &c. God bless Queen Anne, and defend her 
 that she may defend the Faith ; and her Faithful Councellours if they have 
 any piety or policy I'm sure will take some course with these Heathens and 
 Hereticks, for if they be let alone to take the sword (which they certainly will 
 when they think they are strong enough) we shall perish with it, for not 
 opposing them in due time. Notwithstanding the Toleration they are subject 
 to all the penal laws, as you'll 6nd if you read the Act, and were I in 
 England, and had as much knowledge in Law as you, I would bring Statutes 
 and Judgments against them. I have done so att New York where there is 
 a good Governor, my Lord Corn bury. 
 
 "Last Lord's day I was at Burlington, the chief Town in West Jersey, 
 where I have preached many times in a house hard by the Quakers' meeting : 
 we shall have one too, I hope, when we return here again from Virginia, 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxxv 
 
 where we think to stay but two or three months ; after sermon I wont out 
 with the rest of the people, and laid the corner stone of Saint Mary's 
 Church. God grant it may rise to be the house of God, and the Gate of 
 Heaven to them. 
 
 " It seems the Honorable Gentlemen of the Corporation have considered 
 my Travels for the Service of the Church, and have given me a handsome 
 allowance to bear my charges with Mr. Keith. Pray give them my hearty 
 service and thanks to let them know that, by the grace of God, I shall make 
 it my business to fulfil my mission. Pray remember my duty and Love to 
 my Good Mother; I hope she is alive and well, let her not want £10 per 
 annum, as long as I have £60 coming to me, which will be due the 12th 
 of June next ensuing. It grieves me much to see so many People here 
 without the benefit of serving- God in the wilderness. I believe T have been 
 solicited to tarry at twenty Places where they want much, and are able to 
 maintain a minister, so that he should want nothing; they send to New 
 England and call any sorry young man, purely for want of some good honest 
 clergyman of the Church of England. Many" go to the heathen meetings of 
 the ^People called Quakers, because there are no houses of God in their 
 provinces, till at last they come to be bewitched and forced out of their Faith 
 and senses too. The country is a good land in all parts of it, bating the 
 sudden change of Heat and Cold, which, if people be not careful, they are 
 many times the worse for. The air is generally clear and pure. Nobody 
 complains here of the spleen, unless he has also an evil conscience attending. 
 I saw Mr. Burley, Mr. Scott's friend, at Philadelphia. I was at his house, 
 he lives very well and entertained me very civilly, and was glad to hear of 
 his old Friends. I am but poor at present, being robbed by a negro of all 
 my money out of my Portmanteau ; the young slut did not leave me one 
 Token for myself, only I got the bag again. But blessed be God I never 
 wanted meat nor drink, nor cloaths neither as yet ; but if you don't send me 
 some cloaths next shipping, instead of going as they do in White Hall, I 
 shall go as the Indians do. I shall be content, let it be as it will. I might 
 have had money enough here if I would have taken what People have offered 
 me, but lest the Quakers should say truly, as they do falsely, that we come for 
 money and preach for hire, I preach the Gospel as freely as the Apostles did 
 
 to the first Churches. 
 
 " Virginia, 8th June. 
 
 " When I wrote this, I missed the opportunity to send it so I brought it 
 hither with me so you must take it rough as it runs. We have been now at 
 our journey's end in N. Carolina as far as we could goe, now we tack about and 
 stand another way to Philadelphia again, thus George Keith's home and mine 
 is every where. Governor Nicholson has been very kind and generous to me. 
 I pray God prosper him long in his Government ; he has some enemies as 
 well as other men, but none of them can deny but he is a just magistrate in 
 his place. I have sent the scheme of our Church affairs by one Mr. Beverly, 
 an honest Gentleman of this Country, who is bound for England very 
 speedily ; you'll hear of him at Mr. Parry's, the Virginia Merchant. George 
 Keith comes home next year; then if I can get anything worthy sending, I 
 shall have a carefull hand to deliver it. There is one Mr. Keyes, my Lord of 
 London's taylor ; you may deal with him to send me a chest of cloathes, 
 
xxxvi Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 new or old, once a year. Direct them or anything else for me to be left with 
 George Walker at Kecoughtan in Virginia. I am 
 
 " Semper Idem, 
 
 "J. T." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to Mr. Giilingham. 
 
 " Virginia, 3d May, 1703. 
 
 "Dear Friend : 
 
 "Now at last (God be praised) we are arrived at the 
 Haven where we would be. Mr. Keith is got to his Daughter's house, and I 
 am got amongst my old Friends and acquaintance in these parts, who are 
 very glad to see me ; especially those of the ministry, who came over along with 
 me. Here has been great alterations in these ten years. Since I was here 
 many of my old Friends are dead, but I have found some new in their stead ; 
 amongst which is the bearer, Mr. Robert Beverly, who has one of the best 
 houses and plantations in this country, where I reckon myself as it were, at 
 home, he has been so courteous and civil. But there is some dispute in Law 
 concerning the Title, and he is come over to see about it ; wherein I hope you 
 will and can be serviceable to him, and I shall take it as done to myself. I 
 have sent you several Letters, but have none yet from nobody. I hear the 
 Honorable Gentlemen of the Society at Bow have ordered £60 per annum 
 for travelling charges : £30 I have received upon Bill. I desire you to 
 receive the other £30 to buy Books for a friend of mine here, who will repay 
 me. I desire you to lay out £10 more in cloathes and shirts which I desire 
 neighbour Leviton to buy for me, and send them in some ship to New York 
 directed to me, to be left at Mr. Vesey's, minister there. I shall be glad to 
 hear how all our Friends do, especially my good mother. Pray let me know 
 where she is, and how she does, let her have decern minas upon my account 
 as long as she lives. I have sent the present state of the Church, apud 
 Americanos as far as we have gone ; the first year from Dover, eighty miles 
 eastward from Boston in New England, to Philadelphia in Pensylvania ; since 
 that scheme was finished, I have gone up and down in E. and W. Jersey 
 preaching and baptizing and preparing the way for several Churches there. 
 At Amboy they are going to build one, at Hopewell another, and at 
 Shrewsbury, Coll. Morris is going to build one at his own cost and charge, 
 and he will endow it as he says, which I don't doubt, for he is an honest 
 Gentleman, and a member of the Honorable Society for Propagating the 
 Gospel in Foreign parts. I was at Burlington last Lady day, and after 
 prayers we went to the Ground where they were going to build a Church, 
 and I laid the first stone, which I hope will be none other than the House of 
 God and Gate of Heaven to the People. Coll. Nicholson, Governor here, 
 was the chief founder of this as well as many more ; and indeed he has been 
 the benefactor to all the Churches on this land of North America. God bless 
 this Church and let them prosper that love it. We called this Church St. 
 
Keith and Talbot. ixxvii 
 
 Mary's, it being upon her day. January last I was at the opening of a 
 church at Chester; I preached the first sermon that ever was there, on 
 Sunday the day before the Conversion of St. Paul, and after much debate 
 what to call it, I named it St. Paul's. This is one of the best Churches in 
 these American Parts, and a very pleasant place ; but they have no minister 
 as yet, but Mr. Evans of Philadelphia officiated there once in three weeks. 
 The Governor of Virginia is building several more churches : Two at North 
 Carolina, where we are going next week, and one at New Castle, where in all 
 appearance we shall have a considerable Congregation of Christian People. 
 The place is very well planted for trade both by sea and Land. It being 
 allmost in the midway between Philadelphia and Maryland upon Delaware 
 Ever ; where, God willing, I intend to spend some labour and pains ; though 
 I can't find in my heart to settle in any place for my own, but to travel, as I 
 told you, for the" good of the Church in general. I should be glad to hear 
 how you did about the Centurion, and how matters of account stand between 
 us. Tis good to reckon some time if we never intend to pay, though I hope 
 to be out of debt to the world. Yet I shall always count myself obliged to 
 my friend. I have been with George Keith a year next Junel2th, then my 
 £60 becomes due. This has been a sickly year apud Americanos, but God 
 be praised I have had good health all this time. And I believe I have done 
 the Church more service since I came hither than I would in. seven years in 
 England. Perhaps when I have been here six or seven years, I may make a 
 Trip home to see some Friends (for they won't come to me) but then it will 
 be Ammo Revertendi, for I have given myself up to the service of God and 
 his Church apud Americanos ; and I had rather dye in the service than 
 desert it. Pray give my service and thanks to the Honorable Society for 
 their Generous Allowance to bear my charges. I shall take care to fulfill my 
 mission, and goe as far with it as any body that they shall send forth. We 
 came hither in a sloop from Pensylvania, when we were out of Delaware 
 River, a North west wind took us and carried us out to sea and lost us ten or 
 twelve hours so as I was never lost in my life ; 'tis true sometimes, as the 
 sailor sayes, the last storm was the worst. The sea never got any thing 
 before by my sickness, but then I was so sick that I had much adoe to keep 
 my bowels within my body ; we arrived safe at last, God be praised ; but I 
 shall be hardly catched on board so small a vessel agaiu in a good while. 
 We are going now by land to Pamplico in North Carolina, a place where 
 there never was any minister but only one Dan. Brett, a scandalous Fellow, 
 that has done more harm than good every where. He was the worst I think 
 that ever came over. 
 
 " We want a great many good ministers here in America, especially in 
 those parts mentioned in the scheme ; but we had better have none at all 
 than such scandalous beasts as some make themselves ; not only the worst of 
 ministers but of men. If you know none so good as to come, I hope you will 
 find them that are willing to send. Some good books would do very well in 
 the mean while. I am sure there is no want of them in England, they have 
 enouo-h and to spare. Indeed we have had many of Dr. Bray's books and I 
 could wish we had more. But his way and method is not the best for this 
 people that we have to do withal, Quakers and Quakers' friends ; to most of 
 them, nothing but controversy will serve their turn, 'tis a hard matter to 
 
xxxviii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 persuade to the Baptismal Covenant, on which the Doctor has writ three or 
 four Books to the folio, that they may be ever learning and yet never be able 
 to come to the knowledge of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, nor the Ten 
 Commandments. 
 
 " Those that we have to deal with are a sharp and inquisitive people : they 
 are not satisfied with one Doctor's opinion but must have something that is 
 authentick if we hope to prevail with them. 
 
 " We should have some Common Prayer Books new or old, of all sorts 
 and sizes with the thirty-nine articles, and some books of Homily's, to set up 
 the worship and service of God till we have ministers ; some of Dr. Comber's 
 Books would be of right good use here to give those that ask a Reason of all 
 things contained in our English Liturgies ; which has still stood the Best Test 
 of all adversaries that were not blind and deaf. Above all, Mr. Lesly, the 
 Author of the ' Snake in the Grass,' has given Quakerism a deadly wound, I 
 hope never to be healed : and his five Discourses about Baptism and 
 Episcopacy have brought many to the Church. We want a 1000 of them 
 to dispose of in the way that we goe. I use to take a wallet full of Books 
 and carry them 100 miles about, and disperse them abroad, and give them to 
 all that desired them; which in due time will be of good service to the 
 Church; 'tis a comfort to the people in the Wilderness to see that some body 
 takes care of them. There is a time to sow and a time to reap, which last I 
 don't desire in this world. I might have money enough of the people in 
 many places, but I would never take any of those that we goe to proselyte, 
 especially amongst the Quakers ; I resolved to work with my hands rather 
 than they should say I was a hireling, and come for money, which they are 
 very apt to do. The Governour of Virginia, my old Friend, has been very 
 generous to us, and has taken care that nothing be wanting to us while we 
 are in his Territories ; if there were such another Governour in America, it 
 would be much cheaper travelling for the missionaries. But alas ! I am 
 afraid we shall lose him before we get such another. There are a parcel of 
 men in the world, that are given to change, and don't know when they are well 
 themselves, nor can't let others alone that do. But more of this another 
 time, I have writ enough to tire you and myself too : you must take it as it 
 is. I have something else to do now than write letters twice over; rough 
 as it runs I hope you'll take it in good part. With my Love and Service to 
 all Friends, I desire your Prayers, and rest 
 "Your real Friend, 
 
 " And servant, 
 
 "J. T." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. — Extract 
 
 " Philadelphia, 1st September, 1703. 
 
 "Sir: 
 
 " Mr. Keith and I have preached the Gospel to all sorts and 
 conditions of men, we have baptized several scores of men, women and chil- 
 
Keith and Talbot. xxxix 
 
 dren, chiefly those of his old Friends (the rest are hardened just like the Jews 
 who please not God and are contrary to all men), we have gathered several 
 hundreds together for the Church of England, and what is more, to build 
 houses for her service. There are four or five going forward now in this pro- 
 vince and the next. That at Burlington is allmost finished. Mr. Keith 
 preached the first sermon in it before my Lord Cornbury, whom the Queen 
 has made Governour of Jersey to the satisfaction of all Christian people. 
 Churches are going up amain where there were never any before. They are 
 going to build three at N. Carolina to keep the people together, lest they 
 should fall into Heathenism, Quakerism &c. &c, and three more in these 
 lower counties about New Castle, besides that at Chester, Burlington and 
 Amboy. 
 
 " And I must be so just to a member of your Society, his Excellency 
 Francis Nicholson, Governour of Virginia, as to acknowledge him to be the 
 Prime Benefactor and Founder, in chief of them all ; so generous has he been 
 to the church ; so just to the State, so far from taking of bribes, that he will 
 not receive a present from any, great or small. Therefore we have hopes that 
 it will please God and the Queen to give him time to perfect the good works 
 that he has begun ; that he may see the Church prosper and prevail against 
 all her enemies, which I dare say is all that he -desires ; being zealous for the 
 honour of the Church of England which is the mother of us all. Upon her 
 account it was that I was willing to travel with Mr. Keith, indeed I was loath 
 he should go alone, now he was for us, who I'm sure would have had fol- 
 lowers enough had he come against us. Besides, I had another end in it, that 
 by his free Conversation and Learned Disputes both with his Friends and Ene- 
 mies, I have Learnt better in a year to deal with the Quakers, then I could by 
 several years' study in the schools. We want more of his narratives which 
 would be of good use here where we often meet with the Quakers and their 
 Books. More of his answers to Robert Barklay would come well to the clergy 
 of Maryland and Virginia, &c. Barklay's book has done most mischief, there- 
 fore Mr. Keith's answer is more requisite and necessary. Mr. Keith has done 
 great service to the Church where ever he has been, by Preaching and disput- 
 ing, publicly and from house to house ; he has confuted many (especially the 
 Anabaptists) ; by Labor and Travel night and day, by writing and printing of 
 books mostly at his own charge and costs and giving them out freely, which 
 has been very expensive to him. By these means People are much awakened, 
 and their Eyes opened to see the good old way, and they are very well pleased 
 to find the Church at last take such care of her children. For it is a sad 
 thing to consider the years that are past, how some that were born of the 
 English, never heard of the name of Christ, how many others were baptized in 
 his name and follow away to Heathenism, Quakerism, and Atheism for want 
 of confirmation. 
 
 " It seems the strangest thing in the world and 'tis thought History can not 
 parallel it, that any place has received the Word of God so many years, 
 so many hundred Churches built, so many thousand proselytes made, and 
 still remain altogether in the wilderness as sheep without a shepherd. The 
 poor church of America is worse off in this respect than any of her adver- 
 saries. 
 
 " The Presbyterians here come a great way to lay hands one on another ; 
 
x l Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 but after all I think they had as good stay at home, for the good they do. 
 The Independents are called by their Sovereign Lord the People. The Ana- 
 baptists and Quakers pretend to the spirit. But the poor Church has no body 
 upon the spot to comfort or confirm her children. No body to ordain several! 
 that are willing to serve, were they authorized for the work of the ministry. 
 Therefore thef fall back again into the Herd of the Dissenters, rather than 
 they will be at the Hazard and Charge to go as far as England for orders ; so 
 that we have seen severall Counties, Islands and Provinces, which have 
 hardly an Orthodox minister amongst them, which might have been supplied 
 had we been so happy as to see a Bishop or Suffragan apud Americanos. 
 
 " We count ourselves happy, and indeed so we are, under the protection and 
 Fatherly Care of the Right Rev. Father in God, Henry Lord Bishop of Lon- 
 don, and we are all satisfied that we can't have a greater Friend and Patron 
 than himself. But alas ! there is such a great Gulph fixt between us, that we 
 can't pass to him nor he to us ; but may he not send a Suffragan ? I believe 
 I am sure there are a great many learned and Good men in England, and I 
 believe also did our Gracious Queen Anne but know the necessities of her 
 many good subjects in these parts of the world, she would allow £1000 per 
 annum* rather than so many souls should suffer ; and then it would be a hard 
 case if 'there should not be found one amongst so many pastors and^Doctors 
 (de tot millions, unus qui transiens, adjuvet nos) ; meanwhile I don't doubt 
 but some learned and good man would go further, and do the Church more 
 service with £100 per annum than with a coach and six, 100 years hence. _ 
 
 " The Reverend author of the ' Snake in the Grass' has done great service 
 here by his Excellent Book ; no body that Lknow since the Apostles' dayes has 
 managed controversie better against all Jews, Heathens and Heretics ; many 
 here have desired to see the author, however I hope we shall not want his 
 works, especially against the Quakers, and the five discourses which have con- 
 vinced many, and are much desiderated. 
 
 " Those boxes of books that were sent over last year, Mr. Keith has disposed 
 of in their several Places as directed. I have carried of the small sort, in 
 a wallet, some hundred miles, and distributed them to the people as I saw 
 need. They have been long upon the search for truth in these parts, they see 
 through the vanity and pretences of all Dissenters, and generally tend directly 
 to the^Church. Now is the time of harvest, we want a hundred hands for the 
 work, meanwhile two or three, that are well chosen, will do more good there 
 than 'all the rest; for we find by sad experience that people are better where 
 they have none, than where they have an ill minister. Next unto God, our 
 eyes are upon the Corporation for help in this heavy case. I dare say 
 nothing has obtained more reputation to the Church and nation of England 
 abroad'than the honorable society for Reformation of manners and the Rever- 
 end and honorable corporation for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. 
 
 " The Quakers compass sea and land to make proselytes ; they send out 
 yearly a parcel of vagabond Fellows that ought to be taken up and put in Bed- 
 lam rather than suffered to go about raving and railing against the Laws and 
 Orders of Christ and his Church ; and for why ? Their preaching is of cursing 
 and Lyes, poysoning the souls of the people with damnable errors and heresies, 
 and not content with this in their own Territories of Pensylvania, but they 
 travel with mischief over all parts as far as they can goe, over Virginia and 
 
Keith and Talbot. xli 
 
 Maryland, and again through Jersey and New York as far as New England; 
 but there they stop, for they have prevented them by good Laws and due 
 Execution ; Fas est ab hoste doceri. Sir 
 
 " Your most humble and obedient servant, 
 
 "John Talbot" 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Philadelphia, 7th April, 1704. 
 
 " W orthy Sir '. 
 
 " Mr. Keith has fought the good fight, finished his race, 
 bravely defended the Faith, done the Church of Christ true and laudable 
 service which I trust will be regarded here and rewarded hereafter. 1 may 
 say he'has done more for the Church than any, yea than all that have been 
 before him. He came out worthy of his mission and of the Gospell ot Ghnst. 
 Taking nothing of the Heathen that he came to proselyte ; besides his 
 ordinary or rather extraordinary travels, his preaching excellent sermons upon 
 all occasions, his disputes with all sorts of Heathens and Hereticks (who 
 superabound in these parts ;— Africa has not more monsters than America). 
 He has written or printed ten or a dozen Books and Sermons, much at ins 
 own charge, and distributed them freely; which are all excellent in their 
 kind and have done good service all along shore. Now, since friends must 
 part' I pray God, shew some token upon him for good, that he may arrive 
 safe 'in England where he would be, that all his adversaries may see it, and 
 be ashamed of their impious omens, &c. I have one prayer more to God tor 
 the sake of his Church in the deserts, viz. : That the Reverend and Honora- 
 ble Corporation may find one amongst the thousands of the Reverend and 
 Learned Clergv of England, worthy, honest, and willing to succeed that the 
 People of the Lord may not be scattered abroad in the wilderness like sheep 
 without a Shephard. . . 
 
 " As for the affairs of the Church here, wee have said much formerly in 
 Schemes and Letters, but have heard no great matter how or whether 
 received; therefore I don't mean to be tedious at present; something 1 thins 
 I should say because vou desired me to keep a Journall. To begin then 
 where we began our Travells, at Boston New England. There is one Church 
 and there were two ministers, both sober and discreet men m the mam, and 1 
 believe would have done good service at a distance; they were both our 
 Friends, and I could wish they had been so to one another, or that those 
 representations were true that are now gone to his Grace and to the Kight 
 Reverend Bishops of the Corporation, which say they parted good Jmends ; 
 but to say the Truth as it is, there is such a variance that the Church can t 
 flourish between them. Mr. Vesey does very well with his people at *lew 
 York- Mr. Honyman is arrived but not yet settled, because he had been 
 scandalized by an evil report which we have no reason to believe. 1 should 
 not have forgott my honest brother Lockier of Rhode Island, who is very 
 industrious when well. The Quakers themselves as far as I can hear, have 
 
 c 
 
xlii Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 no evil to say of that Priest. Nova Cesarea or New Jersey has been most 
 unhappy ; there is not, nor ever was, an orthodox minister settled amongst 
 them. But there is one Mr. Alexander Innes a man of great Piety and 
 Probity, who has by his Life and Doctrine preached the Gospell, and rightly 
 and duly administered the Holy Sacraments. We hope he will find favour 
 with the Noble Corporation because he is worthy, and has need of it ; as the 
 people have need of him and are not so able or willing as we could wish to 
 support the ministry ; — 'tis pity those hands should be put to dig that are fitt 
 to cultivate the vineyard. I come now to Philadelphia where there is now 
 none but Mr. Evans a very sober, decent man, who has doubled his diligence 
 since Mr. Thomas departed ; he does the whole service of the Church now, 
 and is more constant and frequent in preaching and performing divine service 
 than any that I know upon the Continent ; but the school is supplyed here 
 by a Swede untill one can be sent from England, which I hope will not be 
 long. Now there is a good salary paid, and it would be a very good school 
 were there but a good master-, 'tis hard that the Heathens should have 
 schools in the town, and the Christians not one. The Church at Chester is 
 almost finished, and one at New York is going to be reared, both by the 
 care and industry of Mr. Jasper Yeates, and all by the generous bounty of 
 Governour Nicholson. God send us such a Publick Spirited Minister in the 
 Church here, as he is always and everywhere the best Friend and Patron of 
 the Church, the Crown and Country that ever came over. I dare say this 
 because I know it to be true, having had the honor to know his Excellency 
 many years, though 1 know he has as many adversaries as the Church herself 
 and the more I dare say upon her account. . . . We received a box of 
 books, by the hands of his Honor Governour Evans, written by the Reverend 
 Author of the " Snake in the Grass ;" we know not who sent them, but, 
 being directed for Mr. Keith, we ventured to lend them abroad for the 
 Publick good, and pray God to bless the Author and the Donors. There 
 were the first and seeond defence of the Snake &c. but not the Snake itself; 
 and four of his five discourses, but not that of Episcopacy, which are most 
 desiderated here ; we cannot purchase either of those books at any rate ; we 
 want 1000 Common Prayer Books ; we can hardly get one in America, and 
 when we do find one, it costs five times as much as it's worth in England. 
 The Church wants to be published here, which can't be done without the 
 Liturgy, and something to shew for what we say. Mr. Tate's and Mr. 
 Brady's Psalms have obtained here, and would do so every where, if they 
 had in them the Bishop of London-derry's book of the " Inventions of Men 
 in the Worship of God and Dr. Beveridge's sermons of the " Excellency of 
 the Common Prayer," which have gone a great way here to save the Church. 
 I can't tell what would do more except the Doctors should come themselves ; 
 however I hope they will send those books we mentioned with some others in 
 the scheme, as Mr. Brent's of Bristol against Lying, which is not to be 
 forgotten at this time and place. I'm sorry Mr. Barclay returned so soon 
 from his post at Braintree in New England, the poor Christians are mightily 
 opprest there by a sort of Hypocrites, who pretend to receive the Church, but 
 indeed are her mortal enemies ; their College also has gone a great way to 
 poison this country with Damnable doctrines, which appears by the Learned 
 books of the Rev. Mr. Keith to be worse than Heathenism or Atheism ; we 
 
Keith and Talbot. xliii 
 
 hope that care will be taken in this heavy case that some Grave and Wise 
 Tutor and Philosopher will be sent to preside at the College of Cambridge in 
 New England to teach them humanity in the first place, that in time they 
 mio-ht be brought to Christian Principles and Practices ; for at present they 
 are 3 not much better than the Quakers, and in the latter particular, much 
 worse. If I had an Estate I could not have laid it out better than in the 
 service of God, apud Americanos along with Mr. Keith, who is a true son of 
 the Church of Eno-land, sound in faith and holy in Life, whom I love and 
 reverence as my Father and Master, and shall be as Loath to part with him 
 as if he were so indeed. Therefore I am the more obliged to the Reverend 
 and Honorable Society for their generous allowance to me, that I might not 
 be burdensome to him nor to others, but beneficial to all as far as we could 
 goe. God be praised a Door is opened to the Gospel, and the true light 
 shines to them in the Wilderness, but there are many adversaries ; and now 
 our Champion is gone, we must make a running fight out by Gods blessing 
 and his books. I shall do my best. I mean to gather up the arrows that he 
 has shot so well at the mark, and throw them again where there is most 
 
 need. 
 
 " Your most humble 
 
 " And obedient servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 [The foregoing letters of Messrs. Keith and Talbot will have prepared the 
 reader for the Journal of the former, to which allusion is made in the letters. 
 This Journal was the official report of the Society's agent, and on its state- 
 ments the Society acted in selecting the first missionary stations in what is 
 □ow the United States.— Pub. Committee.] 
 
JOURNAL. 
 
 OF 
 
 T R A Y E L S 
 
 FROM 
 
 NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
 
 T O 
 
 CARATUCK, 
 
 On the Continent of 
 
 NORTH-AMERICA. 
 
 B Y 
 
 GEORGE KEITH, A.M., 
 
 Late Missionary from the Society for the Propagation 
 of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; and now Rector 
 of Edburton in Sussex. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed by Joseph Downing, for Brao. Aylmer at the Three-Pigeons, 
 over-aoainst the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill, 1706. 
 
TO THE 
 
 Most Reverend Father in G D 
 
 THOMAS, 
 
 Lord Arch-Bishop of 
 
 CANTERBURY, &c, 
 
 PRESIDENT; 
 
 And to the rest of the 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 
 in Foreign Parts ; 
 
 This JOURNAL 
 Is most humbly Dedicated 
 By their late Missionary 
 
 George Keith. 
 
A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 trawcU and UXint0tra 
 
 Of the Reverend 
 
 GEORGE KEITH, A.M. 
 
 THE Twenty eighth Day of April 1*702, I sailed from Cowes in the 
 Isle of Wight, in one of the Queens Ships, called the Centurion, 
 whereof Captain Heme was Commander, who was very Civil to me, 
 bound for Boston in New-England ; and by the good Providence of 
 God we arriv'd at Boston the Eleventh day of June, our whole time of Passage 
 beino- Six Weeks and one Day. Colonel Dudley Governour of New-England 
 and Colonel Povie Deputy Governour, and Mr. Morris, with all whom we sailed 
 in the same ship, were so generous and kind both to Mr. Patnck Gordon 
 Missionary for Long-Island, and to me, that at their desire we did Eat at their 
 Table all "the Voyage on free cost. 
 
 At mv Arrival the Reverend Mr. Samuel Miles, and the Reverend Mr. 
 Christopher Bridge, both Ministers of the Church of England Congregation 
 at Boston did kindly receive me and the two ministers in company with me, 
 and we lo'dg'd, and were kindly entertained in their Houses, during our abode 
 
 a June li 1*702 being Sunday, at the request of the abovenamed Ministers 
 of the Church of England,, I Preached in the Queens Chappel at Boston, on 
 Eph. 2. 20, 21, 22. where was a large Auditory, not only ot Church People, 
 but of many others. . „ , 
 
 Soon after, at the request of the Ministers and Vestry, and others of the 
 Auditory, my Sermon was Printed at Boston. It contained m it, towards the 
 conclusion, Six plain brief Rules (Vide Appendix), which told my ^Aujtory 
 did well a^ree to the Holy Scriptures, and they being well observed and put 
 in Practice" would bring all to the Church of England who dissented from her. 
 
6 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 This did greatly Alarm the Independent Preachers at Boston. Whereupon 
 Mr. Increase Mather, one of the chief of them, was set on Work to Print 
 against my Sermon, as accordingly he did, and Published a small Treatise 
 against the said six Rules, wherein he laboured to prove them all false and 
 contrary to Scripture, but did not say any thing against the Body of my 
 Sermon. And not long after, I Printed a Treatise in Vindication of these Six 
 Rules, in answer to his, wherein I shewed the invalidity of his objections 
 against them. This I had Printed at New York, the Printer at Boston not 
 daring to Print it, lest he should give offence to the Independent Preachers 
 there. After it was Printed, the printed Copies of it were sent to Boston, 
 and dispersed both over New-England and the other parts of North America. 
 
 June 21, Sunday. I preached a second Sermon at the Queens Chappel, 
 on Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8, 9. 
 
 June 28, Sunday. The Reverend Mr. John Talbot, who had been Chap- 
 lain in the Centurion, Preached there. 
 
 By the advice of my good Friends at Boston, and especially of Colonel 
 Joseph Dudley, Governour of Boston Colony, I chose the abovenamed Mr. 
 John Talbot to be my Assistant and Associate in my Missionary Travels and 
 Services, he having freely and kindly offered himself, and whom I freely and 
 kindly received, and with the first occasion I wrote to the Society, praying 
 them, to allow of him to be my Fellow-Companion and Associate in Travels, 
 &c, which they accordingly did, and indeed Divine Providence did well order 
 it, for he proved a very loving and faithful Associate to me, and was very 
 helpful to me in all respect, and was well approved and esteemed every 
 where, both with respect to his Preaching and Living, in the several places 
 where we Travelled. 
 
 July 1, Wednesday. I went from Boston to Cambridge in New-England, 
 accompanied with my associate Mr. Talbot, and Mr. Bridge abovenamed, and 
 I was present at the Commencement, which was that very day : and having 
 heard Mr. Samuel Willard, President of the College, at the said Commence- 
 ment maintain some Assertions that seemed to me very unsound, the next 
 day I writ a Letter to him in Latin, shewing my great dislike of those his 
 assertions, and after some days I sent it to him ; after this, at the request of 
 some there, I put it into English, and had it Printed at New York, and 
 dispersed into many other places of America, as well as of New England. 
 
 The Assertions abovenamed of the said Mr. Samuel Willard, that seemed 
 to me very unsound, were these : I. That the Fall of Adam, by virtue of 
 God's Decree, was necessary. II. That every free act of the Reasonable 
 Creature is determined by God, so that whatever the Reasonable Creature 
 acteth freely, it acteth the same necessarily. 
 
 Not long after my Letter to him was Published and dispersed, he Printed 
 a reply to it, in a small Treatise containing about four Sheets, where notwith- 
 standing his many shufflings, and seeming to disown the charge, he very 
 roundly and plainly not only asserts all that I had charged on him, but much 
 more, as appears from his express Words, Page 50 of the said Reply, Where 
 he saith, Nor shall I part with my opinion ? viz. that the Origine and Cause 
 of the necessity of the first Sin is more to be derived from God, than from 
 Man himself Nay further, (saith he) that the whole cause of the futurity 
 of it is owing to the divine Decree, though still the whole sin and blame of it 
 
George Keith's Journal. * 
 
 is due to Adam, for that in the accomplishing of his Apostacy, he abused his 
 own free Will, and Voluntarily transgressed the Command. 
 
 After some time that bis Reply to my Letter was Printed, I published in 
 Print an answer to his Reply, my answer contains about six Sheets. My 
 Endeavours in these matters, by the Blessing of God, had a good effect in 
 quieting the Minds of many People in these parts, and bringing them over to 
 the Church, in East-Jersey, especially at Elizabeth Town there. Such who 
 desire to read both my Answer to Mr. Samuel Willard, and my letter, and 
 also my Answer to Mr. Increase Mather in vindication of the six Rules above- 
 mentioned, together with all the other Treatises I published in Print during 
 mv abode in America, from June 11th 1702, to June the 8th 1704, and 
 some Printed Sermons within the said time, may find them at the most 
 Reverend Thomas Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Library at St. Martins, 
 all bound up together in one Volume, which I presented to the Society some 
 small time after my arrival at London. _ 
 
 July 5, Sunday. I Preached again at the Queens Chappel in Boston upon 
 Rev. 3.20. ' 
 
 July 8, July 9, Thursday. I went from Boston to Linn, accompanied with 
 Mr. Talbot, and the next day, being the Quakers Meeting day, we visited their 
 Meeting there, having first called at a Quaker's House, who was of my former 
 acquaintance. Mr. Shepherd the Minister of Linn did also accompany us, 
 but the Quakers, though many of them had been formerly Members of his 
 Church, were very abusive to 'him, as they were unto us. After some time 
 of silence, I stood up and began to speak, but they did so interrupt with then- 
 Noise and Clamour against me, that I could not proceed, though I much 
 entreated them to hear me : So I sat down and heard their Speakers one after 
 another utter abundance of falsehoods and impertinencies and gross perversions 
 of many Texts of the Holy Scripture. After their Speakers had done, they 
 hasted to be gone : I desired them to stay, and I would shew them that they 
 had spoke many falshoods, and perverted many places of Scripture, but they 
 would not stay to hear. But many of the People staid, some of them 
 Quakers, and others who were not Quakers but disaffected to the Quakers 
 Principles. I asked one of their Preachers before he went away, seeing they 
 Preached so much the sufficiency of the Light within to Salvation, (without 
 any thins; else) did the Light within teach him without Scripture, that our 
 Blessed Saviour was born of a Virgin, and died for our Sins, &c. He replyed, 
 If he said it did, I would not believe him, and therefore he would not 
 answer me. . 
 
 After their Speakers were gone, I went up into the Speakers Gallery, where 
 they use to stand and Speak, and I did read unto the People that staid to 
 hear me, Quakers and others, many Quotations out of Edxo. Burroughs s 
 Folio Book, detecting his vile Errors, who yet was one of their chief Authors, 
 particularly in Page 150, 151. where he renders it the Doctrine of Salvation 
 that's only necessary to be Preached, viz. Christ within, and that he is a 
 Deceiver that exhorts People for Salvation to any other thing than the Light 
 within ; as appears by his several Queries in the Pages cited. And where he 
 saith, Page 273. that the Sufferings of the People of God in this Age [mean- 
 ing the Quakers] are greater Sufferings, and more Unjust, than those of 
 Christ and the Apostles ; what was done to Christ, or to the Apostles, was 
 
8 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 chiefly done by a Law, and in great part by the due execution of a Law. But 
 all this a noted Quaker, whose name I spare to mention, (as I generally intend 
 to spare the mentioning of their Names) did boldly defend. But another 
 Quaker who stood by, confessed the last Passage in rendering the Quakers 
 Sufferings greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ, was not well 
 worded, but to excuse it, said, we must no*t make a Man an offender for 
 a word. 
 
 July 10. We came to Hampton, and were very kindly entertained there. 
 Hampton is distant N. Eastward from Boston 50 Miles. 
 
 July 12, Sunday. Mr. Talbot Preached at Hampton in the forenoon, and 
 I Preach'd there in the Afternoon on Acts 26. 18. 
 
 July 15, Wednesday. I Preached the Lecture there on the same Text. 
 
 July 16, Thursday. We went to the Quakers Meeting at Hampton, 
 accompanied with Mr. John Cotton the Minister of the Parish, and Mr. 
 Cuslhn the Minister of Salisbury Parish, and very many Civil People of both 
 these Parishes came, who were not Quakers, hoping to have heard some fair 
 Dispute betwixt the Quakers and me. At the Quakers Meeting there we 
 heard two Quaker Preachers. The first who spoke was a Ship Carpenter 
 from Situate, who spoke about half an hour or more, but very Ignorantly, and 
 most grossly perverting several Texts of Scripture, particularly Job. 17. 3. and 
 Rom. 1. 19. which he brought to prove, that the ignorant People (to whom 
 he directed his Discourse) as he accounted them, had a little Babe within 
 them, lying in a Manger under the Earth, to which if they would hearken, 
 that little Babe within them (meaning by that little Babe, the Light within 
 them) would give them the knowledge of God, which was Life Eternal. He 
 told them he could not read the Scripture, and hoped they would excuse 
 him, if he did not so exactly quote the Words. After him the other Quaker 
 Preacher, who came from Shrewsberry in East-Jersey, began and continued 
 Preaching very long, above two Hours, and did mightily heat himself; he 
 also most ignorantly spoke many things, and grossly perverted and misapplied 
 many Texts of Scripture, to prove the sufficiency of the Light within to 
 Salvation (viz. without Scripture or any thing else.) And as the Quakers 
 ordinary way is in their Preaching every where, they have a set of Texts of 
 Scripture which they commonly bring to prove the sufficiency of the Light 
 within to Salvation without any thing else, but which they miserably pervert 
 and misapply, such as Job. 1. 9. Job. 3. 19, 20. Job. 12. 36. Job. 16. 7, 8, 9, 
 10, 11. Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Titus 2. 11, 12. Many of which 
 Texts and others he did grossly pervert and misapply to prove his false 
 Doctrine. And the like perversions of Scripture he used against Baptism, and 
 the Lord's Supper, in the common road of other Quakers, as extant in their 
 Printed Books. After he had done, having exceedingly tired and wearied all 
 his Hearers who were not Quakers, I offered to speak, but immediately their 
 Preachers went away in all hast after I began to speak, though I earnestly 
 entreated them to stay ; many also of the Quaker hearers went away with 
 them, but some stayed, and all the people who were not Quakers, together 
 with the two New-England Ministers abovementioned, did stay, and heard me 
 about the space of an hour resume and refute the heads of the Quaker 
 Preachers discourse, and rescue the Texts of Scripture which they had quoted 
 from their gross perversions and misapplications, both as concerning the 
 
George KeitKs Journal. » 
 
 \lAght within, and the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 
 But the day being very hot, and the House not large enough to contain the 
 Auditory, we kept the Meeting in an Orchard joining to the House, where we 
 had some shade of Trees. Among the Quakers who stayed to hear me, one 
 or Vivo endeavoured to interrupt me in my Discourse ; but a noted Quaker 
 and Preacher of good repute belonging to their Meeting, did forbid them to 
 make any interruption, telling them, I did not interrupt their Preacher?, and 
 therefore they should not interrupt me. I did also read to them many gross 
 Antichrfctian expressions I had collected out of the Folio Book of Edward 
 Burroughs (whom the Quakers have magnified with no less title than that of 
 a Prophet; in their Title page of his Folio Book, published by them after Ins 
 decease) and I told them if they were willing I would show them the Passages 
 in the Book it self. To this the abovementioned Quaker Preacher reply d to 
 me, I ueeded not to show them to him, for he believed the Quotations were 
 truly made, and that there were great Errors in their Friend's Books. The 
 same Quaker preacher did kindly invite us to his House, with whom 1 had 
 much Discourse. He told me he approved very well of what he had heard 
 me discourse, and that he did perceive my Doctrine about the necessity of 
 Faith in Jesus Christ, in order to Salvation, was the same he had formerly 
 heard me declare in their Meetings when I was among them about Tw. Ive 
 Years past. Some of his Neighbours told me, his manner of Preaching in the 
 Quakers Meetings, was not to speak much, but what he spoke was generally 
 no other than the express words of Scripture, without his putting any 
 Commentary or gloss on them ; he has the Character of a sober, honest and 
 very charitable Man among all his Neighbours, his Name is Thomas Chase. 
 At this same Meeting of the Quakers at Hampton, one of the Qu ikers 
 belonging to that Meeting did boldly affirm to me, before many ^ itm-sses, 
 that the Blood of Christ that was outwardly shed upon the Cross could do 
 him no good, and he did extremely blame me, for owning to Mr. John Cotton 
 the Minister of Hampton Parish, about Twelve Years past, that we were 
 justified and sanctified by that Blood of Christ's Body that was outward \\ -lud 
 on the Cross, and did earnestly contend that the Blood of Christ, whereby the 
 faithful are said in Scripture to be justified and sanctified, was not any outward 
 Blood of Christ, but the inward Blood of the Light within them, as they had 
 learned from George Fox, and George Whitehead, and other Quaker Authors, 
 in their Printed Books, whereof I have given a large and full Account, in 
 several of my Printed Narratives at London, particularly the first, thud, and 
 fourth. I endeavoured to help the said Quaker's Understanding, by infoi mmg 
 him, that by our being justified and sanctified by the Blood of Christ that 
 was outwardly shed, was not meant that it was by any material or on ward 
 application of that Blood to us, but by the Merit of our blessed Sav-i mrs 
 Passion and Death, in his being a most satisfactory and acceptable Sacrifice to 
 God for our Sins, the which Sacrifice required that his Biood should be *hed ; 
 for without the shedding of Blood, there could be no remission of Sins ; and 
 all Men who had remission of Sins by that Blood, it was by a true and ively 
 Faith in that Blood ; but all that I said or could say to him did not pi vail, 
 but he continued strong in his most unchristian assertion, still justifying it, 
 and blaming me for my Christian Doctrine. This with all the other ] 
 I brought both from their Preachers words, then spoke by them, a pioted 
 
10 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 out of their Books, which the Quakers present did not contradict, did greatly 
 satisfy the People there, who were not Quakers, that the Quakers chief 
 Authors and Preachers were guilty of most unchristian Principles, repugnant 
 to the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith ; and that the inferior sort had 
 received their gross Errors from their Leaders Words and Writings. 
 
 July 19, Sunday. Mr. Talbot Preached at Salisbury in the Forenoon, 
 and I Preached there in the Afternoon, on Philip. 2. 13, where we had a 
 great Auditory, and well affected, as also we had the like at Hampton. The 
 occasion of our having so great an Auditory both at Hampton and at Salis- 
 bury was this, as some of them told us, that they had been informed concern- 
 ing us, that We being Ministers of the Church of England, we would Preach 
 down-right Popery to our Hearers : But (said they) we came the rather to 
 hear you, to know whether we could hear any Popery Preached by you ; but 
 indeed, (said they which were the most Judicious, and most Ancient among 
 them,) Praised be God we heard no Popish Doctrine Preached by any of you, 
 but good sound Protestant Doctrine, the same which we have heard our 
 Ministers of New-England Preach to us, and which to our great comfort we 
 have believed these Forty Years past, and we still continue to believe. We 
 replied, we were very glad to find that they were of the same Faith with the 
 Church of England, in these great Fundamentals of the Christian Religion. 
 
 July 23, 1702. We came to the Quakers Meeting at Dover (by Piscata- 
 way River) distant from Boston North-Eastwards about Seventy Miles, where 
 after some time of silence, we heard their Preacher, who was a Taylor, and 
 lived in the Town of Dover : He did not speak long, but exhorted them to 
 keep to the Foundation, and he quoted St. Paul's Words, Another Founda- 
 tion can no Man lay, but that which is laid already, which is Jesus Christ. 
 I heard him patiently till he had done ; and after he had done, I perceiving, 
 by the sequel of his discourse, that he meant nothing else by Jesus Christ 
 being the Foundation, but the light within them, and as it is in all Men, 
 according to their common Doctrine. I asked him what he meant by Jesws 
 Christ being the Foundation, whether the Light within them only, or the 
 Man Christ Jesus, who was, and is, both God and Man without them, and, 
 who is also in them as he is God, and is in all Men by his general 
 Presence and Illumination, and is in all the Faithful by his special 
 Grace and Illumination ? But to this he would give no positive 
 answer. But seemed greatly surprized, and as a Man astonished at 
 my plain Question ; for I found he had no other notion of Jesus Christ 
 being the Foundation, but the Light within, which he called God, and said, 
 God was Adam's Teacher the first, and will be the last ; all which he 
 apply ed to the Light within, as it is in all Men, Jews, Turks, and Infidels, the 
 same as in the Quakers by their plain confession. I asked him again, did the 
 light within him, without the Scripture, teach him that Jesus Christ was 
 Born of the Virgin Mary ? He replyed by asking me, who taught Joseph 
 that Christ was to be Born of her ? I answered him, an Angel : But had an 
 Angel taught him the same ? He said the Holy Ghost had taught him. I 
 again asked him, had the Holy Ghost Taught him that without the Scripture ? 
 To this he quite demurred, and was at a stand, until a Quaker that was next to 
 him, whispered to him in the Ear, and bid him ask me, who taught Nebu- 
 chadnezzar that the fourth that was with the three Children in the fiery 
 
George Keith's Journal. 11 
 
 Furnace was like the Son of God ? I answered him, that case was Miraculous 
 and extraordinary, which he could not pretend unto ; nor do the Leaders 
 among the Quakers pretend, that the Light luithin them, without Scripture, 
 teacheth them anything of Christ as he was outwardly Born of a Virgin, or 
 of his Death, Burial, and Resurrection, &c. for it is not needful (they say) to 
 be taught them by the Light within them, and yet the Light within them 
 doth sufficiently teach them all that is necessary to Salvation without any 
 thing else ; which plainly proves from their avowed Principle, that they do 
 not think the Faith of Christ's Birth, Death, Burial, Resurrection, &c. 
 -necessary to their Salvation ; but even this again is contradicted by some of 
 them, who affirm it is necessary to them who have the Scriptures, to have that 
 Faith, and to such not to have it, is a Damnable Sin. After this short 
 Conference with him he went away, and some of the Quakers with him, but 
 many stayed behind, both Men and Women, with whom we had much 
 discourse, wherein they generally betrayed their horrid ignorance, and 
 prejudice, against the very Fundamentals of Christianity. One of them did 
 mightily contend against me, for the sufficiency of the Light within every Man 
 to Salvation, without any thing else, and charged my denial of his Assertion 
 to be Blasphemy ; for (said he) the Light within is God, and God could do 
 every thing, and can, and is sufficient to save us without any thing else. I 
 replyed to him, there were several things God could not do. This again he 
 charged to be Blasphemy, and bid me give him one Instance of any one 
 thing he could not do. I told him, I could give him diverse Instances ; as 
 that" he could not Lie, nor be the Author of any Sin, to which he assented. 
 I told him again, as God could not Lie, so nor could he contradict his 
 declared will and purpose plainly delivered to us in the holy Scripture, which 
 was to save us by Jesus Christ, who died for us, lThess. 5. 9. and therefore 
 this being God's revealed Will to save us by Jesus Christ who died for us, to 
 save us without Jesus Christ who died for us, would contradict God's revealed 
 Will given us in the holy Scripture ; this Answer did quite put him to silence. 
 After I had thus said, one Mrs. Knight, a Quaker belonging to their Meeting, 
 being present, (whose Name I mention to her Praise, and to make it known, 
 that some among the Quakers are not such Infidels, as they more generally 
 are, though all of them, even the best, are involved in great Errors) signified 
 her good liking to my Answer, and said, she thought that I would give that 
 Answer : she also did vindicate my Reputation against another Quaker- Wo- 
 man there present, who said, they (viz. the Quakers) had no good opinion of 
 me, when I was formerly among them in that Town, about Twelve Years past 
 or more. I am sure, said Mrs. Knight, that is not true ; for Friends then had 
 a very good Esteem of him, and particularly so I had, and was glad that by 
 my Husbands Invitation, he came and Lodg'd one Night at our House. And 
 while we were discoursing about a sinless Perfection, whether it was attainable 
 in this Life ; another Quaker- Woman affirmed, that she was perfect to that 
 degree, that she had not any Sin. What (said I) have ye no sin, neither 
 actual nor original ? W x as ye not Bora with original sin ? nay, (said she) I 
 was born of Holy Parents, and I knew never any thing but Purity and 
 Holiness. But, said I, David came of holy Parents, and yet he said, Psal. 
 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive 
 me. Were your Parents more holy than David's Parents ? To this she 
 
12 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 answered, what David's Parents were she knew not, whether holy or not, but 
 she knew her Parents that they were holy. And this is the very Doctrine 
 of George Fox and Edward Burroughs, in their Printed Books, that the 
 Children of holy Parents are Born without all defilement of Sin. After this 
 Mr. Talbot produced George Fox's Will in Print (which as it has received 
 several Impressions at London, so it hath had one at least at New-York in 
 America) and began to read in it, how George Fox left his Boots and Spurs, 
 and Clyster-pipe, to Thomas Lower ; by which Mr. Talbot did infer, that it 
 seemed George Fox did leave them as holy Relicks. No, said she, viz. the 
 above mentioned Woman who said she had no Sin, they have been silver 
 Spurs, for she had seen silver Spurs, and the Clyster-Pipe was a Golden 
 Pipe : To this I replyed, this made George Fox very vain and Proud, that his 
 Spurs were silver Spurs ; this was a great reflexion on George Fox, to say he 
 wore silver Spurs ; and that his Clyster-Pipe was a Golden Pipe, this was to 
 render him very Prodigal indeed, who was but a poor Shoemaker Journy- 
 man (whose Master I knew) before he became the Ring-leader of the Quakers, 
 that no less would serve him than silver-Spurs ; and as for a Golden Clyster- 
 Pipe, I never heard of any such thing before. We had also much reasoning 
 with diverse of the Quakers in that Meeting, concerning the Sacraments, and 
 particularly that of Baptism. The chief Person that did undertake to dispute 
 with me against Baptism with Water, was a Quaker Justice of that Town, 
 whose Name I spare, as I think fit generally to spare their names (except 
 where I can say something to their commendation, and that is but very 
 seldom) whereas I produced Matth. 28. 19. to prove that our Blessed 
 Saviour had commanded the practice of Baptism to his Apostles, and to their 
 Successors to administer it to all Proselytes to Christianity to the end of the 
 World : To this he replyed, that Water was not mentioned, and that the 
 Baptism that Christ there commanded, was not outward Baptism with 
 Water, but inward Baptism with the Spirit. I asked him what Teaching 
 was that, which Christ commanded there, Matth. 28. 19, 20. He said, it was 
 inward Teaching ; but in this another Quaker presently contradicted him, and 
 said, it could not be inward Teaching that Christ commanded the Apostles ; 
 for none but God, and Christ, and the Holy Ghost, could Teach inwardly ; 
 but the Apostles being but Men, they could but Teach outwardly ; I 
 commended his answer, and from thence I inferred against them both, that as 
 the Apostles could not Teach inwardly, so nor could they Baptize inwardly, 
 the latter being as impossible to Men to do as the former ; and therefore the 
 Baptism that Christ commanded the- Apostles to administer was outward 
 Baptism with Water, and which accordingly they performed either by them- 
 selves, or by appointing others to do it by the Authority they had from 
 Christ. This is but a hint of many things that passed in discourse betwixt us, 
 having continued with them for many hours. After we came out of the 
 Meeting, the Quaker- Woman who boasted so much of her sinless Perfection, 
 did invite us to her House, and did kindly entertain us both with Victuals and 
 Drink, and offered us a good Bed to lodge in, it being late. We thanked her 
 for her Hospitality and proffer to lodge us, but we went into our Boat that 
 waited for us, and went down the River that Night to the Town called Straw- 
 berry-bank, and lodged there at an Inn, or Public House of Entertainment. 
 Here it is worthy of notice, what some of the Neighbours of the Quakers 
 
George Keith's Journal. 13 
 
 of that Town did inform us concerning the Quakers there, viz. how that 
 sometime after Quakerism had got entrance into that Town, and they had set 
 up a Quaker Meeting there, the Quakers invited their Neighbours to come to 
 their Meetings, where they should hear excellent Preachers, who should 
 Preach to them freely without any Cost or Charge, not like their hireling 
 Minister, who put them to great charge to maintain him : Upon this Publica- 
 tion, many or most of the Parish deserted the Minister, and frequented the 
 Quakers Meetings. But not long after, the Contributions that the Quakers 
 gathered in their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Travelling Friends 
 of the Ministry, were so frequent, and rose so high, that they far exceeded 
 what they were to pay their Minister as the Law of the Country required ; 
 whereupon they generally concluded to desert the Quaker Meetings, and 
 return to their Minister; for, said they, if this be the way of it, that the 
 upholding the Quakers Ministers that come among us be so chargeable, far 
 above what we pay to the Minister of the Parish, we will go back again to our 
 own Minister Mr. John Pike, and accordingly so they did, and continue hearing 
 their own Minister, who is of good Fame among the Neighbourhood, and 
 whom we intended to have visited at his House, but it happened that he was 
 gone abroad ; however such as were more thoroughly leavened with 
 Quakerism, keeped up their Meetings, and have Built a Meeting-House to 
 themselves, where we did visit them, and discourse with them as above- 
 mentioned. 
 
 July 25, 1*702. We Arrived at Salem, and had intended to have visited 
 the Quakers at their Meeting there, the next Day, but we were informed that 
 they had removed their Meeting for that Day from Salem to another Place, 
 of which we could have no notice, though we made enquiry. 
 
 July 28. In our way from Salem to Boston, as we stayed some Hours at 
 the Ferry by Newberry, I had much discourse with a sober Carpenter who 
 was a Quaker, his Name was William Clement. He did readily confess to 
 the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith, concerning our blessed Saviour ; but 
 had some dispute with me about Baptism, and by the Discourse I had there 
 with him, seemed to be much convinced that it was his Duty to have his 
 Children Baptized, as he had been himself, in Infancy, and had a Resolution 
 to have it done. 
 
 August 1. We returned to Boston. 
 
 August 2, Sunday. I Preached again at the Queen's Chappel there on 
 Philip. 2. 13. 
 
 August 3, 1*702. I set out from Boston accompanied with the Reverend 
 Mr. Samuel Myles, one of the Ministers of the. Church of England Congrega- 
 tion there, and we arrived at Neivport in Rhod-Island the next day, where 
 we were kindly received. Mr. Lockyer the Church of England Minister there 
 and diverse others of the Church came from Newport and met us at the 
 Ferry, and conducted us to the Town, and place of our Lodging. Mr. Talbot 
 stayed at Boston to officiate in the Church there for "Mr. Myles, until 
 his return. 
 
 August 6. I went to the Quakers Meeting at New-port on Rhod-Island 
 accompanied with Mr. Myles, Mr. Lockyer, and many People belonging to 
 the Church there, some of them being Justices of the Peace, to wit, Mr. Carr, 
 and Mr. Layton. 
 
14 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 After one of their Preachers had spoke a long time, and came to an end, 
 having perverted many Texts of Scripture, to prove the sufficiency of the 
 Light within, the inward Teacher, without any thing else, their common 
 Subject ; and though they do not so very frequently say, without any tiling 
 else, yet they always so mean it, and oft so express it, as they have very much 
 of late both in their Discourses and Books. The two particular Texts of 
 Scripture which he greatly perverted, to prove the Quakers false Notion of the 
 sufficiency of the Light within all Men to Salvation, without any thing else, 
 were Job. 16. 8. and Titus 2. 11. I began to speak, standing up in a 
 Gallery opposite to the Gallery where their Teachers were placed, who were 
 many ; having intended in a friendly manner to inform them, how their 
 Speaker had misunderstood and misinterpreted those, and other Texts of 
 Scripture ; and I much requested them to hear me a while without interrup- 
 tion, as I had heard their Preacher. But I was instantly interrupted by them 
 very rudely, and they were very abusive to me with their ill-Language, 
 calling me Apostate, &c. and they threatened me with being guilty of the 
 breach of the Act of Tolleration, by which they said their Meetings were 
 Authorized. I told them I had not broken the Act of Tolleration ; for neither 
 that Act, nor any Law of England, did forbid a Minister of the Church of 
 England to speak in their Meetings, if he did not interrupt them, as I did 
 not, nor did I intend so to do. And they who made the interruption were 
 guilty of the breach of that Act, and not T ; though upon good enquiry it will 
 be found, the Quakers have not the benefit of that Act, for want of the 
 Qualifications of their Preachers required by the Act. 
 
 Mr. Myles said I ought to be heard, I being a Missionary into these 
 American parts, by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign 
 Parts, sent on purpose to endeavour to reduce the Quakers from their Errors, 
 the which Society hath a Patent from the Crown of England, and not to hear 
 me, nor suffer me to speak, was a Contempt of Supream Authority. Some of 
 the Quakers having said that Mr. Myles affirmed I was sent by the Queen : 
 I told them I had no immediate Mission from the Queen, and I knew not that 
 ever the Queen (whom God Bless and Preserve) had heard of me. But 
 remotely and mediately my Mission was from the Queen, it being from the 
 Honourable Society, who had a Patent from the Crown. 
 
 After this I applyed my self to their Governour, Col. Cranston, who was 
 there present, and frequents their Meetings, but is no professed Quaker ; and 
 I said to him, May it please your Honour to command these Men not to 
 interrupt me, but that I may have a Peaceable hearing among such here 
 present who are desirous to hear me, as indeed many such were, not only of 
 the Church People, but of Independents and Anabaptists, as well as diverse 
 of the Quakers, especially the Younger sort of them. These modest words 
 of mine to the Governour (who is chosen by the People, but is not their 
 Governour by the Queen's immediate appointment) some Quakers have so 
 wrested and falsified in Print, that they have affirmed I spoke to the 
 Governour in a commanding way, to compel the Quakers to hear me, which 
 were neither my Words nor Sense ; for I only desired him, that by his 
 Authority I might not be interrupted : And if I be interrupted, it behoved 
 me to complain to the Honourable Society, that I could not have liberty to 
 speak in their Meeting, and so, what in them lay, to frustrate the end of my 
 
George Keith's Journal. 15 
 
 Mission. For where could I have opportunity to inform them, but in their 
 Meetings ? Should I go to their Houses, they would not let me come into 
 them. The Governour, at this, went away, and Civilly said to me, he thought 
 I had done better, to have stayed till they had clone. I told him, then they 
 would be gone, as they had served me at Lynn, at Hampton, and at Dover. 
 After the "Governour was gone, one of their Speakers, who was the Deputy 
 Governour, and had been formerly their chief Governour, took out of his 
 Pocket a Printed abusive Paper full of Lies, having no Name to it, and began 
 to read it in the Meeting, on purpose to drown my Voice, that I might not be 
 heard. The Title of it was, One Wonder more: or George Keith the eighth 
 Wonder of the World, Printed at London several Years before. Mr. Myles 
 said it was an Infamous Libel, without a Name to it, and it was a shame for 
 such a man as he, being Lieutenant Governour in the Place, to read such an 
 Infamous Libel against any Man, on purpose vilely to defame him. 
 
 After he had done, another Quaker Preacher, who had been formerly their 
 Governour, began to Preach ; he told the Auditory he had read the Scriptures 
 in three Languages, but neither in Latin, Greek, nor Hebrew : but first 
 Literally, secondly Carnally, thirdly Spiritually. He said the Grace [the 
 Light within all Men] was all-sufficient, which he brought as a Proof for its 
 being sufficient to Salvation, without Scripture, or Christ's Blood shed, without 
 us, or any thing else. He also said, it was to as little purpose to Preach to 
 natural Men, or for natural Men to read the Scriptures, as to Four-Footed 
 Beasts ; whereby he not only condemned the Practice of the Apostles, who 
 Preached to natural Men, as Christ commanded them ; but also he condemned 
 the Practice of the Quaker Preachers, who both Preach, and write Books to 
 natural Men, whom they call the World in order to Convert them to Quaker- 
 ism ; all this, and many other gross falshoods and nonsensical Words he there 
 uttered. And yet all this the Quakers swallow down, as the Infallible 
 dictates of the Light within them, as they pretend ; for as George Whitehead 
 hath affirmed in his little Book, called, The Voice of Wisdom, such Ministers 
 who leant Infallibility, and speak not from the Infallible Spirit, are no 
 Ministers of Christ. And George Fox, in his great Mystery, calls them, 
 Thieves, Witches, Conjurers, who speak or write, and not from the Infallible 
 Spirit ; surely by this Quaker-test, their greatest Authors and Leaders are no 
 other, whose Discources and Books are full of notorious falsehoods, and 
 contradictions to the holy Scriptures. 
 
 At last the first Speaker made a long rambling Prayer, full of Tautoligies, 
 and vain Repetitions, and presumptuous Boastings, as their manner is, after 
 they have vented forth abundance of falshoods in their Preachings, running 
 down the Scriptures and Sacraments, and the Resurrection of the Body after 
 Death, and other great Doctrines of the Christian Religion, they commonly 
 conclude with their Prayers, Blessing God for his glorious presence .among 
 them, and his mighty power that has been with them, to assist, refresh, and 
 comfort them, to which the Quaker hearers do frequently echo to them with 
 several sorts of Hummings and Sounds, whereby to Seal to the Truth not 
 only of the Words, but of the mighty Power and Life that has attended their 
 Speakers. But while they utter such falshoods and contradictions to holy 
 Scriptures, as also such uncharitable Speeches against all other Communions 
 and ways of Worship, and Ministry, but their own ; it is impossible that they 
 
16 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 can be acted by any divine Life or Power to do this : And yet some Power 
 more than ordinary doth frequently Act them, in their Speakings, and 
 commonly works most strongly among them, when they are vehemently 
 running down the necessity of the Scriptures, or the Sacraments, and Preach- 
 ing uplhe sufficiency of the Light within them to Salvation, without any thing 
 else, as I have oft observed. The strong impression their Speakings in their 
 Meetings frequently have (or used to have more formerly than of late) upon 
 their Hearers ; manifestly to be observed by the visible effects of it upon many 
 of them, causing them, 'some to shed Tears in plenty, some to shake and 
 Quake, some to utter deep Groans, others to Sing; sufficiently prove that 
 some Power, more than ordinary, doth at times Act them, and this Power 
 doth at times Act and Operate among them, and in them, in a total silence 
 of Words, (as well as when they utter words) in their Assemblies, of which 
 they glory not a little. The most tolerable Construction that can be made of 
 this Power, what it is, or whence it proceeds, seeing it can be no Divine 
 Power, is, that it is some strong natural Enthusiasm, raised by heighth of 
 fancy, and exalted imagination, such as Mr. Causabon has described in his 
 Treatise of Enthusiasm. But then it must needs be granted, that when they 
 are Acted so furiously and outragiously, to contradict the plainest Doctrines of 
 Christianity, and defame and reproach Christ's sacred Institutions, that Satan 
 acts together with this Power of Strong Fancy and Imagination, and makes 
 use of It, as its Organ and Instrument, or Conduit of Conveyance.^ For it's 
 hardly to be conceived, how a meer natural or Animal Power, without the 
 influence of some Diabolical Spirit, can act Men with such zeal and industry 
 to Preach and Propagate most destructive Errors to Mens Perdition. Seeing, 
 according to Holy Scripture, the Devil is the Father of Lies; and all Damna- 
 ble Doctrines, are the Doctrines of Devils ; of which they have a great many, 
 as their Words and Books plainly shew. Immediately after their Prayers, all 
 their Preachers went away, and many of the Quaker Hearers, but many of 
 them also stayed, especially the Younger sort, both Men and Women ; and 
 generally all the People who were not Quakers, both those of the Church, and 
 those called Independents and Anabaptists stayed. I told their Preachers, as 
 they were making hast to be gone, it was a shame to them to go away, and 
 leave so many of their Sheep exposed to the Wolf, as they have affirmed me 
 to be, but I thank God I am none ; but by their own Argument, by their so 
 flying and running away, do not they prove themselves not to be true 
 Shepherds, but Hirelings? 
 
 I had now full liberty without any interruption to speak, perceiving the 
 Auditory generally desirous to hear me. I recollected and resumed most of 
 the heads of their discourse, such as I could remember, and the Texts of 
 Scripture, which they had grossly perverted and misapplied, and refuted their 
 Perversions and Falshoods ; and thus I continued some considerable time 
 speaking in their Meeting -House, having a considerable large Auditory, all 
 very attentive. Before I had made an end, diverse of the Quaker Preachers 
 returned, and stood quietly and heard me, but said nothing, neither made 
 they any offer to dispute any matter with me. I was informed by some 
 credible Persons, that the occasion of their Preachers returning to the 
 Meeting, while I was speaking, was, that some Quaker Zelot- Women went to 
 their Preachers, and told them, it would greatly reflect on them, to absent 
 
George Keith's Journal. 17 
 
 themselves while I was speaking in their Meeting-House, and might expose 
 the Weak Friends to be deceived by me. However after their return, they 
 said nothing, but suffered me to proceed in speaking as long as I thought 
 fit; and thus our Meeting ended Peaceably. 
 
 The Quakers had Built a new Meeting-House at Newport, large enough to 
 hold Five Hundred Persons, or more, with fair and large Galleries, and Forms 
 or Benches below. But one thing very singular I observed, that on the Top 
 of the Turret of their Meeting-House, they have a perfect Iron Cross, two 
 large Iron Bars crossing one the other at right Angles, a more perfect Cross 
 I never saw any where on any Church. I mention this the rather, because 
 George Fox, in some of his Printed Pamphlets, makes a great outcry and 
 noise against the Steeple Houses in England, as he calls them, for having 
 Crosses on the Tops of them, and that it is Popery ; what can the Quakers 
 say to this ? Are their Brethren of Rhod-Island guilty of Popery, for having 
 the Cross on the top of their Meeting-House, which I suppose remains there 
 to this day ? 
 
 August 9, 1702. Sunday. I Preached at Newport on Rhod-Island, my 
 Text was Job. 1. 9. and I had a very numerous Auditory, not only of the 
 People of the Town, but of many that came from other parts of the Island 
 with a desire to hear me. I told my Auditory after I had concluded my 
 Sermon, that I was to have a publick Meeting the 14th Instant at the Colony 
 House in Newport, to detect the Quakers Errors out of the Printed Books of 
 their chief Authors, and that I had obtained leave of the chief Governour 
 Collonel Cranston to keep the Meeting in that House ; and that I was to give 
 notice to the Quaker Preachers to meet me there about the first Hour after 
 Noon, if they thought fit to defend their Principles and Authors. 
 
 August 10. I sent a written Paper to the Quaker Preachers there, to 
 meet me at the Place and Time abovementioned, to which they sent me their 
 Answer soon after, that they would meet me, so that things should be carried 
 fairly, and each Party should have liberty to speak an Hour without interrup- 
 tion, and two Moderators should be chosen, each on a side, to keep good 
 order ; to which I consented, though I told them, an hour at once was too 
 long, yet I would yield to their Proposition, rather than that the Meeting 
 should fail. 
 
 August 14. We Met about the first Hour after Noon, the time appointed : 
 They allowed me to begin my Charge against them, and the Hour Glass was 
 turned to measure the time. I brought with me George Fox's Book, called 
 the Great Mystery, and diverse other Quaker Books, viz. Richard Claridge 
 his Book, called, Lux Evangelica Attestata, and Mr. Pen's Book, called, 
 Primitive Christianity. I spent my first Hour mostly in reading to them, 
 and to the Auditory, which were some Hundreds of People, both of the 
 Town and Country, many Quotations out of George Fox's great Mystery, full 
 of most dreadful Errors and Heresies, and detecting the gross absurdity of 
 them, contradicting the Holy Scriptures ; and in the conclusion, before my 
 hour was quite spent, I told them, I was to expect from them a particular 
 answer to each Quotation I had read to them, and I proffered to them, that if 
 they questioned my true Reading, they might Read them, laying the Book 
 open before them. And for better Method's sake, I offered to Read again the 
 quotations to them singly one by one, aud let them give their Answer to each 
 
 2 
 
18 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 single quotation, whether they owned them to be according to their Principles, 
 yes, or no, seeing George Fox was the first and most Authentic Author 
 among them, whom the Quakers at London have in Print called, the Apostle 
 of this Age. But instead of any such performance by them, to the great 
 disappointment of all the Auditory who were not Quakers, nor Quakerly 
 affected, such as the far greatest part of the Auditory was not, they gave not 
 the least Answer directly, or indirectly, to any one of the quotations I had 
 read to them, nor gave they any reason of excuse why they declined to give 
 any Answer to them. But as they had projected it before hand, one of chief 
 Note among their Speakers, viz the Deputy Governour abovementioned, did 
 read to the Auditory, the Printed sheet, called, the Christianity of the People 
 •called Quakers, &c. and after that was fully read, he read one or two other 
 scurrilous Libel§, having no Name to them, that some Quakers had Printed 
 against me, about the Year 1700, when I joined to the Church of England, 
 one of which was that abovementioned, called, One Wonder more : or George 
 Keith the eighth Wonder of the World. Having thus spent their Hour, all 
 their Speakers rose up to be gone, pretending the Agreement was but for two 
 Hours in all, which I denied ; and the Moderator chosen by them, to whom 
 I appealed, gave it against them, that the time was not limited to two Hours 
 in all, but to one Hour to one side at a time. 
 
 So I began my second Hour, and I first shewed how unfair and unreason- 
 able they were, to give no Answer to my Charges I had given out of George 
 Fox, and other approved Authors, with whom they pretend to be one in 
 Doctrine, and that they are not varied in a tittle from their first Principles; 
 but as God is the same, and the Truth is the same, so his People (the 
 Quakers) are the same ; so one of their approved Authors has lately Printed 
 in his Book at London ; after this I proceeded to reply to what was fL to be 
 said, to those Printed Libels, their chief Speaker had read against me. And 
 first, as to the Printed sheet, called, The Christianity of tie People called 
 Quakers, asserted (as they say) by George Keith ; which is a deceitful 
 contrivance of the Quakers, as if I had composed that sheet in form and 
 manner as it is there Printed, which is altogether false. The sheet, I grant, 
 contains some quotations, collected by the Quakers out of my former Books 
 many Years ago, when I was among them ; all which, so far as they were 
 contrary to sound Doctrine contained in the holy Scripture, I had in Print 
 retracted several Years ago ; and therefore they did not now affect me. 
 Though none of those quotations, however erroneous, contradict the Founda- 
 tion of the Christian Faith, concerning our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, his 
 Person, and twofold Nature, and Offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, and the 
 necessity of Faith in him, as he outwardly came in the Flesh, died for our 
 Sins, and rose again, &c. in order to Mens Salvation. Whereas the System 
 of Quakerism, set forth in George Fox's great Mystery, and other Quaker 
 Authors, is a point blank contradiction to this Faith. 
 
 Next, As to their Printed Libel, called, One Wonder more, &c. havino- no 
 Name to it of any Person or People, I was not obliged to take notice of it; 
 and it contained several notorious falshoods, as that I had said, in the Book 
 called, Help in time of Need, that I had taken the Scots League and Cove- 
 nant, and that Libeller positively charges me with having taken it, both 
 which are utterly false ; for I being Born in the Year 1638, 1 was not capable 
 
George Keith's Journal. 19 
 
 of taking it, when it was given, viz. about the Year 1043, by reason of my 
 non-age, and it was never given in a National way since, in Scotland, that I 
 know of: Again, that Libeller falsely accuseth me that I had said, I was not 
 changed in my Perswasion in any thing since I had left the Quakers, from 
 what I had, when among them. For, on the contrary, I have owned in Print 
 that I was changed in my Perswasion and Judgment in several things, and 
 had Printed a Book of Retractation of many Errors I had been in, whilst I 
 was among them. But, I thank God, I never had the worst of their Errors, 
 nor any (that I can remember) that contradicted the necessity of Faith in 
 Christ Jesus, who is both God and Man, in order to Mens Salvation, to which 
 the Quakers Fundamental Principle, that the Light icithin them is sufficient 
 to Salvation without any thing else, is a perfect contradiction. This vile 
 Antichristian notion that sets up Deism, and overturns the Christian Faith, I 
 never had, and I challenge my greatest Adversaries to prove it against me. 
 Let the Quakers Retract and Renounce their Errors, as I have done mine, to 
 God's Praise, who has so enabled me, and I shall no more charge them 
 therewith. And whereas they had upbraided me with my changing, I told 
 them many Quakers had made as great changes as I had, and particularly 
 Richard "Claridge, now a great Author among them, who was first an 
 Episcopal Preacher, then an Anabaptist Preacher, and now a Quaker 
 Preacher. 
 
 After I had thus replyed "to their malicious Libels Read against me, I 
 proceeded to read diverse other Quotations out of Richard Claridge's Lux 
 JEvangelica, and Mr. Pen's Primitive Christianity, and so continued detecting 
 the gross absurdity of their assertions, till my second Hour was almost spent; 
 and I renewed my demand to them, to give their Answer to what I had 
 further both read and said in my second Hour. 
 
 But nothing did they say, to any one thing I had said ; but after a long 
 time of silence, they began to Preach, one after another, after their common 
 way, intermixing therewith false accusations against me, that I did pervert 
 their Friends Words, and charged them falsely, but did not give one Instance 
 to prove I had done so. And after they had continued their second Hour, 
 Preaching and Railing against me, they went away. 
 
 Before the People that were not Quakers went away, I told them, I pur- 
 posed to have another publick Meeting in the same place the 17th Instant, to . 
 begin about Eight a Clock in the forenoon, to detect the Quakers great 
 Errors, particularly in their rejecting the Divine Institutions of Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper ; and of this I gave notice to the Quaker Preachers, 
 desiring them to come and defend themselves if they could, they should have 
 a fair hearing ; but not one of them came. However many People of the 
 Town came, both Church People and Dissenters, who (with great attention 
 and satisfaction) heard me prove the Divine Institution of both Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper, and refute the Quakers Idle and absurd evasions and 
 glosses, whereby they use to pervert the plain Texts of Scripture upon those 
 heads, as they do upon all others controverted by them. 
 
 And here I think fit to give a List, or Catalogue, of the chief and most 
 scandalous quotations I did read to the Quakers and Auditory present, at the 
 abovesaid Meeting at Newport on Rhod-Island, out of George Fox his Great 
 Mystery, Richard Claridge his Lux Evang. attest, and Mr. Pen's Primitive 
 Christianity. 
 
20 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 The Quotations out of George Fox's Great Mystery, &c. 
 
 I. Pag. 246. Christ, God and Man, Flesh and Spirit, is in the Quakers. 
 
 II. Pag. 149. Whole Christ, God and Man, is in Men. 
 
 III. Pag. 211. Christ is not absent from his Church, as touching his 
 Flesh. 
 
 IV. Pag. 322. The Flesh of Christ is in them, because they Eat it. 
 
 V. Pag. 322. The Flesh of Christ came down from above. 
 
 VI. Pag. 250. And the Devil was in thee, and thou saith, thou art 
 saved by Christ without thee, and so hast recorded thy self to be a 
 Reprobate. 
 
 VII. Pag. 246. He Quotes Isai. 9. 6. to prove, that God the Father took 
 upon him Man's Nature. 
 
 VIII. Page 9. He will not allow, that Christ is to come to Judgment 
 without us, at the end of the World ; but saith, Christ is come to Judgment 
 and he blames his Opponent, for having any such expectation ;—who are come 
 to Christ the Light, the Life, they need not go forth, viz. to look for a Christ 
 without them. 
 
 IX. Page 350. The Scriptures are not the means, nor the Rule of Faith. 
 The means of Salvation is not ordinary, nor outward. 
 
 X. Pag. 302. The Spirit is the Rule, saith Christ. 
 
 XL Page 229. He blames the Ministers of New-Castle, and saith,they 
 are not fitto be Ministers who know not the State of Souls from Eternity to 
 Eternity. 
 
 XII. Page 281, and 318. He pleads for a Perfection in fulness, above 
 any degree, before the death of the Body ; and saith, he witnessed it. And 
 pag. 282, 197. He pleads for a Perfection, as God is Perfect, in equality 
 and not in quality only. Like to this is what he saith to his Opponent 
 
 Pag. 67. Again : Thou makest a great pudder, that any one should witness 
 he is equal with God. And in his Answer he proves his equality with God 
 against his Opponent, from the Westminster Catechism. 
 
 Pag. 127. He giveth the same Proof that he is equal with God, from the 
 Assemblies Catechism made at Westminster; his Opponent being some 
 Presbyterian or Independent, who owned that Catechism : But that Catechism 
 doth not say, that George Fox, or any meer Man, was equal with God ; but 
 that the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are equal with God the Father ; which is 
 orthodox Doctrine. But the Mystery of George Fox's Argument did conflict 
 in this, that he was the Son, and consequently he was equal with God. _ The 
 dispute betwixt him and his Opponent, was not, whether the Son, viz. the 
 second Person of the Holy Trinity, was equal with God the Father, for his 
 Opponent owned that. 
 
 XIII. Pag. 73. None can know Christ by the Scriptures. 
 
 Pag. 168. Them that never heard the Scripture outwardly, the Light 
 that every Man hath that cometh into the World, being turned to it, with that 
 they will see Christ, with that they will know Scripture, with that they will 
 be led out of all delusions, come into Covenant with God, with which they 
 will come to Worship God in the Spirit, and serve him. 
 
 Pag. 47. The Light in Men sufficient to Salvation, without the help of 
 any other means or discovery. 
 
 XIV. The Quakers are the only Ministers of Christ, since the Apostles days. 
 
George KeitKs Journal. 21 
 
 The Quotations I did then read out of a Book of Richard Claridge, called 
 Lux Evangelica attestata. 
 
 I. Pag/l7, 18, 19. He saith God doth afford to all Men, even in the 
 ordinary way of his Providence, such a manifestation of his Light or Spirit, as 
 is sufficient to lead and Guide the Faithful into all truth necessary to Salva- 
 tion, without Scripture. Note, by Faithful, he means Faithful to the Light 
 xoithin them, who have not the Scripture. 
 
 II. Pag. 49. Faith in Christ, as outwardly, (he saith) is no essential part 
 of the Christian Religion. 
 
 III. Pag. 26. He denies that Christ's Body is the same in Substance he 
 had on Earth. 
 
 IV. Pag. 90. He justifies that Assertion of Mr. Pen, in his Preface to 
 Mr. Barclaye's Folio Book, pag. ?,6. Oh Friends! great is the Mystery of 
 
 Godliness, God manifest in the Flesh ; and if that be a Mystery, how 
 
 much more is the Work of Regeneration a Mystery, that is wholly inward 
 and Spiritual. And to confirm it, the said R. C. calls Christ within the 
 Mystery of that Mystery, viz. of Christ without. 
 
 The Quotations I did then read out of Mr. Pen's Primitive Christianity. 
 
 I. Pag. 30. Concerning the Light within all Men, he saith : If it reveal 
 God, (which he affirms from Rom, 2. ver. 7, to 17. in pag. 73, 74.) to be sure 
 it manifests Christ. 
 
 II. Page 50, to 55. The Heathens have the same Light in them, that true 
 Christians have. 
 
 III. Pag. 78. All Religion is but one in the many modes and shapes of 
 it : if Men be obedient to the Light within. Note, this takes away all real 
 and substantial distinction betwixt Deism, and Christianity, and betwixt 
 natural and revealed Religion. 
 
 August 16, Sunday. I Preached in the Church at Newport on Rhod- 
 Lsland, on Acts 26. 18. having Preached on the same Text, the Wednesday 
 foregoing, in the same plaae. 
 
 August 24. Being the Tenth Day after the Conference I had with the 
 Quakers at Nevyport on Rhod-Island, a Quaker Preacher Woman, living at 
 Newport, who has been a Speaker in the Quakers Meeting upwards of Forty 
 Years, writ a long Letter to me, which I have by me, where, after diverse 
 severe Charges against me, in meer generals, she blames me for saying to the 
 Quaker Preachers at Portsmouth, which is at the other end of the Island, 
 where I went to visit them, at their Meeting there August the 13th, that they 
 did not Preach Christ enough, as he was outwardly Crucified and lifted up 
 on the Tree of the Cross ; and whereas I had said unto them, that they should 
 direct their Hearers, to look by Faith to Christ, as he was Crucified, and 
 lifted up on the Tree of the Cross, in order to be spiritually healed, as the 
 Israelites in the Wilderness were directed by Moses to look to the Brascn 
 Serpent, to be healed Bodily, after they were bit by Serpents there, for which 
 I had quoted Job. 3. 14. This most ignorant Woman Preacher, in her said 
 Letter to me, denies that the lifting up of Christ in Job. 3. 14, is to be meant 
 of his lifting up on the Tree of the Cross, or that People should be directed 
 to him for healing, as he was there lifted up. 
 
 To overthrow my assertion she gives diverse Reasons. 
 
 I. That lifting up, Job. 3. 14. is the same with that whereof he said, I, 
 
22 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 when I am lifted up, will draw all Men after me : but that was not his lifting 
 up on the Cross. 
 
 II. The Enemies of God, did lift him upon the Tree, &c. 
 ■ III. He is not now upon the Tree, nor did he long stay there. 
 
 IV. It would be a great fallacy, and known Error, for any to Preach to 
 People, that they should look for him upon the Tree, seeing he is not there, 
 but risen. 
 
 Some time after I received her Letter, I writ an answer to her, and 
 laboured therein to convince her of her gross ignorance, as well as of perverting 
 both my Words and Sense, as if what I had said to the Quaker Preachers at 
 Portsmouth, where she was present, that they were to Preach to People, to 
 direct them to look to Christ for healing, as he was lifted up on the Tree, did 
 purport, that they were to go on Foot to Jerusalem, to look to him with their 
 Bodily Eyes, than which there could be no greater perversion of Words. 
 And if this be not a wilful perversion in her, she is most extreamly ignorant, 
 to think that there can be no looking to Christ, as he suffered on the Tree of 
 the Cross, but by the bodily sight, seeing it is very common in Scripture, to 
 express Faith in God and in Christ by looking to him. 
 
 And her pretended Argument from Job. 11. 32. is most evidently against 
 her, for that his lifting up, Job. 12. 32. is to be understood, his lifting up on 
 the Tree, whereon he was Crucified, is clear from V. 33. This Ae said, 
 signifying what manner of Death he should Die. She was so mightily 
 pleased with her Letter to me, that lest it should miscarry, some Months after 
 I received it in Pensilvania, she sent me a duplicate of it, as if it had been 
 some Jewel. 
 
 This Letter of hers is a fresh Instance, beside many more, to prove that the 
 Quakers have no real devout regard to Christ, as he suffered Death for our 
 Sins, and rose again without us, &e. in order to our Salvation, as the 
 necessary object of Faith. They do commonly say, they believe all that is 
 written of Christ, his Birth of the Virgin, his "Life, Miracles, Death, Burial, 
 Resurrection, Ascension, &c. But the fallacy lies here, that all this Faith 
 (they say) is but Historical, and not the saving Faith ; they believe it as they 
 believe any other History, but they think it not necessary to Salvation, and 
 that because it is necessary, it is to be Preached ; nay, George Whitehead 
 a great Author among them, hath said in his Book, called, Light and Life, 
 That to confide in Christ ivithout us, is contrary to Deut. 30, and Rom. 10. 
 And the like he saith in Truth defending. And as plainly as any of them, 
 Mr. Pen hath declared himself, Quakerism a new nickname, &c. pag. 6. 
 Faith (saith he) in the History of Christ's outward manifestation is a deadly 
 Poison these latter Ages have been inflicted with to the destruction of godly living. 
 
 August 23, Sunday. I Preached at Naraganset, (that lyes on the Conti- 
 nent, but is not far from Rhod-Island) at the House of Mr. Opdyke's where I 
 had a considerable Auditory, my Text was Titus 2. 11. The People there 
 are very desirous, that a Church of England Minister be sent to them. 
 
 August 27. I Preached at Little Compton, alias Seaconot, that lyes on 
 the Continent also, not far from the Island, at the House of Henry Head, 
 where I had a large Auditory; my Text was Jer. 31. 33. They are there 
 also very desirous, that a Minister be sent to them. Mr. Lockyer went a long 
 with me, and read the Prayers at both Places. 
 
George KcliKs Journal. 23 
 
 August 30, 1702. Sunday. Being accompanied with Mr. Lockyer, we 
 crossed the Ferry at Portsmouth in the Morning, in order to be at Swansey, 
 on the Continent, to Preach there, as accordingly I did ; Mr. Lockyer read the 
 Prayers ; there was a large Auditory. My Text was 1 Thess. 1. 5. They 
 greatly desire a Minister to be sent unto them. 
 
 As we were crossing the Ferry at Portsmouth on Rhod-Mand, by the 
 good Providence of God we escaped a great danger ; we had essayed to cross 
 the Ferry the Day before, but the Wind was so strong, it Avas not safe to try 
 it, hoping the next day would be more Calm ; but the Wind little abated the 
 next day, so that both Wind, and Sea, were very boisterous ; when we were 
 about half over the Ferry (that is of a considerable breadth) our Mast and 
 Sail were beat down by the Wind, the Mast at its fall, touched gently my 
 shoulder, and did me no harm ; we had no ability to get up our Sail again, 
 there being but one Negroe Man to manage the Boat, and we were in all 
 three Passengers, and having three Horses in the Boat. So for some time we 
 remained there much tossed by the Waves of the Sea, and were in danger to 
 be driven out to the Sea and overwhelmed. After some time a Boat came 
 off from Land to help us, and to Tow us to Land. But the Rope they gave 
 us broke, and the Rope we gave them did also break, and so we were left 
 helpless. But a Quaker of my former acquaintance, whose Name is John 
 Burden, who had also a Ferry-Boat, came with all Speed in his Boat to 
 relieve us, and Towed us to Land, having several able Men with him in the 
 Boat, to manage her. After we landed, I offered Money to his Men, but he 
 would not permit them to receive any. I thanked him very kindly for his 
 help in our great Danger, and said to him, John, ye have been a means under 
 God to save our natural Life, suffer me to be a means under God to save your 
 Soul, by good information to bring you out of your dangerous Errors. He 
 replyed, George, save thy own Soul, I have no need of thy help ; then, said 
 I, I will pray for your Conversion ; he replyed, the Prayers of the Wicked are 
 an abomination; so uncharitable was 'he in his opinion concerning me, (as 
 they generally are, concerning all who differ from them) though Charitable in 
 this action. 
 
 The next Day, we crossed the Ferry in his Boat : After our landing he 
 entertained us civilly at his House, with whom I had much Discourse, and I 
 laboured much to inform him, how that the Quakers Principle, that the Light 
 within every Man was sufficient to Salvation without any thing else, did 
 plainly overthrow the Christian Faith, and set up meer Deism or Heathenism 
 in the room of Christianity. But I could not prevail to convince him. He 
 had a great many of the Quakers Printed Books lying in a AVindow in his 
 House, which I looked upon, and asked him that he would sell them to me, 
 for they would be useful to me in that Country ; but he earnestly refused, and 
 said, I should not have them, though I should give double Money for them : 
 Why, said I ? Because (said he) thou wilt do Mischief with them ; he meant, 
 that I would expose the Quakers Principles, and make them known, what they 
 are, out of their own Books ; which the Quakers are loath should be known, 
 and therefore when Quotations are produced out of their Books, though ever 
 so fairly Quoted, they use confidently to deny, there are any such in their 
 Books, when the Books are not present to lay before them. 
 
 September 6, 1702. Sunday! I Preached again at Newport on Rhod- 
 
24 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Island, on Job. 12. 36. Mr. Talbot also Preached there several times, and 
 commonly wherever we Travelled, the one of us Preached in the Fore-noon 
 on the Sundays, and the other in the After-noon, except when the days were 
 short, that there was no Sermon usual in the Afternoon ; and sometimes, for 
 the greater Service in diverse places, one Preached in one part, and one in 
 another, at the same time. 
 
 The time, that we remained at Newport, on Rhod-Island, Mr. Carr, and 
 Mr. Laiton, Inhabitants on the Island, both of them of the Church of England, 
 and of good repute among their Neighbours, shewed us several Commissions 
 in writing, given to them, by Quaker Governours, with their Hands and Seals 
 affixed, Commissionating them to be Military Officers, to fight against the 
 Indians, and French, in the times of the several Wars the English had with 
 them ; to Kill and destroy their Enemies. The Quaker Governours Names, 
 who gave these Commissions to several, to be Military Officers in the Quaker 
 Government, whose Commissions in the Original Signed and Sealed by them, 
 we saw, and read, are, 1. William Coddington. 2. Walter Clark. 3. John 
 Eston. 4. Henry Bull, all Preachers but the first ; Walter Clark, and John 
 Eston, were alive when we were there, and I suppose still are alive, the other 
 two were dead; true Copies of which Commissions, are now in the Custody 
 of a Person of Quality in England, and can be produced if occasion require it. 
 This I thought fit to make known, that it may evidently appear, how contrary 
 the Quakers Practice, where they have the Government, is, to their 
 professed Principle, that it is unlawful to them, to fight with a Carnal Weapon, 
 so much as in their own defence. The like Commission I have seen in the 
 Original, given by some Quaker Magistrates at Philadelphia, in Pensilvania, 
 about fifteen Years ago, giving three Persons, there Commissions to be 
 Captains, to go with their Companies to recover a Sloop by force of Arms, 
 that some Privateers had stolen out of the Harbour. 
 
 That it is the Quakers professed Principle that they cannot Fight, or Kill, 
 in their own defence, is evident from s"eueral Declarations of their Leaders and 
 Authors in Print, but especially from Mr. Pen's Key, which has been oft 
 reprinted. In Pag. 34, 35. he saith, They (i. e. the Quakers) cannot Kill or 
 slay their own kind ; for Proof of which he quotes 2 Cor. 10. 3, 5. The 
 Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal, &c. This again was contradicted 
 by the Quakers Practice in Pensilvania, who by his Authority or Allowance 
 put several Persons to Death judicially, for suspected Murthers. (to several of 
 which they had no Evidence made either by Witness, or by their Confession, 
 whom they caused to be put to death.) And as to that Text Mr. Pen has 
 quoted in his Key, 2 Cor. 1 0. 3, 5. for a Reason why the Quakers cannot use 
 a Carnal Weapon. Query, Is not a Gallows, or Gibbet, on which the Quaker 
 Judges in Pensilvania (some of which were Preached also) caused some to be 
 hanged for suspected Murther, a Carnal Weapon as really as a Sword, Gun, 
 or Spear ? 
 
 The like Contradiction, the Quakers are guilty of, in their late common 
 Practice, of their Solemn calling God to Witness about worldly matters, 
 contrary to their Professed Principle, published in Print by Mr. Pen, and 
 several other Quakers, in their Treatise of Oaths. In that Book Mr. Pen 
 saith, To attest the Name of Cod in any Terrestrial Matter, is a breach of 
 Christ's Command, Matt. 5. 34, 37. 
 
George KcitKs Journal. 25 
 
 Again, in Mr. Pen's Key, which hath had several impressions (Pag. 36. of 
 one impression) he saith, The Quakers can go no further than Yea, and Nay, 
 [viz. in their declarations in Civil Judicatures, &c] This Mr. Pen knoweth 
 is contradicted, (if not by himself) by the frequent practice of Quakers, both 
 in England and America, who, beyond their Yea, and Nay, solemnly call 
 God to Witness in their affirmations before Magistrates, which, in the 
 judgment of the most judicious, is the substance of an Oath, and without all 
 controversie is more than Yea, and Nay. And this the prevailing Party of 
 the Quakers in England have not only practised, but with no small endeavour 
 have Petitioned to be granted unto them, by Act of Parliament, and which 
 they have obtained. It is true, there is a small Party of Quakers opposite to 
 this Practice, who think it is a going off from their Ancient Testimony of 
 Yea, and Nay. But the other Party has carried it against them. And yet 
 they would have it believed, they are all in perfect Unity of Principles, 
 whereas they are much divided, as in their Principles about Swearing and 
 Renting, so in diverse others. A Quaker of good Note among them, has not 
 only declared for Baptism, as being an Institution of Christ, but has actually 
 received it, but not by any Minister of the Church of England, (as I am 
 informed) which I wish he had done, if he was not formerly Baptized. I am 
 also informed, that he has declared his mind concerning the Lord's Supper, 
 that it is of Divine Institution. I hope God in due time will further enlighten 
 him to see, how grosly the Quakers have erred in other things, as much as in 
 their throwing away those Two Divine Institutions, and calling them, worldly 
 Rudiments and beggarly Elements, which Mr. Pen said, in Print, The 
 Quakers have been led to reject by the same Spirit by luhich Paul [and the 
 Apostles) were led to reject Circumcision ; yet I have not heard that the 
 Quakers have cast him out of their Communion, for his taking up, what both 
 he, and they, had so long thrown away. I hope he is not of his Brethrens 
 Opinion, that the Light within him, and within all Men, is sufficient to Sal- 
 vation, without any thing else ; for if he were, I cannot see, what need he 
 could think he had, either of Baptism, or the Lord's Supper, or of the 
 Scriptures, or of Christ without him, and his precious Blood, and Sacrifice 
 upon the Cross for our Sins, and his continual Intercession for us in Heaven 
 with the Father ; all which are something else, than the Light within him. 
 
 I happened in America, while I was there Travelling, to see a Book lately 
 Printed, called New-England Judged, having a Printed Appendix to it, by 
 John Whiting Quaker, who has set up of late for a great Author among 
 them, and who is extreainly ignorant as well as confident, to utter Falshoods 
 and abusive Slanders. In his said Appendix, he utters a notorious Falshood 
 upon me, as if at Philadelphia, about the Year 1692, I had fained my self a 
 Prisoner, and to make this Fiction to be believed, I had gone to the Porch of 
 the Prison, the Prison door being shut against me, and from the Porch of the 
 Prison, had writ and dated a Paper of complaint against the Quakers for my 
 imprisonment ; and to make his Reader take the greater notice of it, he has 
 caused the following Words to be printed on the Margin in great Black 
 Letters ; Note, George Keithh-Mock Imprisonment. Now to prove the 
 notorious falshood of this, I need go no further than a Book of one of his 
 Brethren, viz. Samuel Jennings, Printed at London 1694, called by him, The 
 State of the Case, dx. wherein, though he has uttered many falshoods, con- 
 
26 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 cerning the State of the Case, about our differences in Principles of Religion, 
 in the Years 1691, and 1692, whereof I had largely detected him in my 
 Printed Reply to his Rook ; yet he saith true, in what be did Report in his 
 Book, concerning two. Persons > whom the Quakers had put in Prison, the one 
 for Printing a sheet of mine, I called an Appeal, &c. and the other for selling 
 one or two of them when Printed ; the Name of the Printer is William 
 Bradford, the Name of the other is John Mackcomb. Now concerning them 
 the said Quaker, Samuel Jennings, Reports, that they signed a Paper from 
 the Prison, when they signed it in the Entry common to the Prison, and the 
 next House. Thus he gives the true matter of Fact, and tells truly who 
 Signed that Paper in the Entry or Porch, which were those two above- 
 named persons, but mentions not me, as being concerned in Signing that 
 Paper, either in the Entry or Porch, or any where else. And to be sure if I 
 had been one of the Persons, who had Signed that Paper, he would have 
 told the World of it, as thereby thinking to have some great matter against 
 me. For he chargeth it upon these two abovenamed Persons, William 
 Bradford, and John Mackcomb, that it was deceit in them to Sign a Paper 
 from the Prison, when they were not in the Prison, but in the Porch or 
 Entry of it, as he saith. In my Answer to him, I have shewed it was no 
 deceit, nor had any thing blarne-worthy ; the Case was this. They were 
 Prisoners by a Warrant from some Quaker Justices, for the Fact above- 
 mentioned, and had been detained in Prison for some time, and were ordered 
 to be kept in Prison until the next Court, unless they gave security by Bonds 
 to Answer at the next Court. After some time the Jay lor by favour let them 
 go home, but still they were Prisoners, not being released by any Judicatory ; 
 and the Quaker Justices delaying to bring them to a Tryal, they went to the 
 Prison to Write, and Sign their Petition from the Prison, to have their Tryal 
 at the next Sessions ; but it happened that the Jaylor was gone abroad, and 
 had the Key to the Prison with him, so that they could not get in. Now I 
 see no deceit or insincerity in this, more than in the common Practice of 
 many Quakers, who have printed Records of their suffering Imprisonment (for 
 not paying Tithes) some Years, and yet they oft had liberty to go home, by 
 favour of the Jaylors, to my certain Knowledge. But whether William 
 Bradford and John Mackcomb, were guilty of deceit or not, is not material to 
 the present Case of John Whiting his Vile Slander, as if I had been the 
 Person, or one of the Persons, who had Writ that Paper from the Porch or 
 Entry of the Prison. This is sufficient Proof, that what John Whiting has 
 thus Printed against me, was not from the infallible Spirit, and that he is 
 therefore by George Fox's Sentence, a Deceiver. 
 
 September 10, 1702. We came from Newport on Rhod-Island and crossed 
 the Ferry over to Naraganset, and lodged that Night at Mr. Balfures House, 
 who Entertained us very kindly and hospitably, and next day we Travelled 
 about 25 Miles, and lodg'd at Mr. Sextons, an Inn-keeper ; and next day we 
 safely arrived at New-London in Connecticot Colony, and Government, which 
 stands by a Navigable River. 
 
 Septemb. 13, Sunday. Mr. Talbot Preached there in the Forenoon, and I 
 Preached there in the Afternoon, we being desired so to do by the Minister, 
 Mr. Gurdon Salte7ista.ll, who civilly Kntertained us at his House, and 
 expressed his good affection to the Church of England, as did also the 
 
George KeitKs Journal. 27 
 
 Minister at Hampton, and the Minister at Salisbury abovementioned, and 
 diverse others New-England Ministers did the like. My Text was Rom. 8. 9. 
 The Auditory was large, and well affected. Col. Winthrop, Governour of the 
 Colony, after Forenoon Sermon, invited us to Dinner at his House, and kindly 
 Entertained us, both then, and the next day. 
 
 Sept. 15, 1702. We hired a sloop to carry us from New-London to 
 Long-Island over the Sound, being about Six Leagues Broad, and that day 
 we safely arrived at a Place on Long-Island, called, Oyster- Ponds, about 
 Noon, after that we came on Horseback that Day 24 Miles, and lodged at 
 Mr. HoweVs an Inn-keeper, the next Day we Travelled 45 Miles, to Seatalkct, 
 and lodged at Mr. Gibs, Innkeeper; the next Day, being the 17th Instant, we 
 Travelled 32 Miles, all upon Long-Island, and arrived at Oysterbay, where we 
 were kindly received, and hospitally entertained by Mr. Edward White at his 
 House, on free cost, for several Days, where we staid to rest and refresh us. 
 He was a Justice of Peace, and had been formerly a Quaker, and his Wife 
 had been a Quaker also, and was not quite come off from the Quakers. 
 
 Septcmb. 20, Sunday. At the Request of Mr. Edward White, and some 
 other Neighbours in the Town, having used the Church Prayers before 
 Sermon, I Preached on Titus 2. 11, 12. And that Day Mr. Talbot 
 Baptized a Child, at the request of the Child's Mother, her Husband being 
 from home. 
 
 Septemb. 24, 1*705. I went to the Quakers Meeting at Flushing on 
 Long-Island, accompanied with Mr. Talbot and the Reverend Mr. Vesey, the 
 Church of England Minister at New- York, and diverse other Persons 
 belonging to Jamaica (a Town on Long-Island,) well affected to the Church 
 of England. After some time of silence, I began to speak, standing up in the 
 Gallery, where their Speakers use to stand when they speak ; but I was so 
 much interrupted by the Clamour and Noise, that several of the Quakers 
 made, forbidding me to speak, that I could not proceed. After this, one of 
 their Speakers "began to Speak, and continued Speaking about an Hour, the 
 whole was a ramble of nonsense and perversion of Scripture, with gross 
 reflections both on the Church, and the Government there. Several times 
 speaking of Christ, he said, while Christ was in that Prepared Body, which is 
 a common Phrase among them ; whereby they plainly intimate, they do not 
 believe he is now in that" Body, or that he has any thing of that Body, which 
 he had on Earth. Nor do they own that Christ has any Body but his 
 Church, or such a Body as he had from all Eternity, and is every where ; all 
 which hath been sufficiently proved out of the Printed Books of their most 
 noted Authors. He said, they (viz. the Quakers) believed in that very Christ 
 that died at Jerusalem ; and a little after he said, that, that Christ, was the 
 Seed that was oppressed by Sin in Men. He Preached against all Creeds, 
 and accused all their Adversaries that they kicked against the Spirit. This 
 was a reflexion upon the Church of England, because she doth not hold, that 
 Men have those extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, to Preach, and Pray, as the 
 Quaker Preachers pretend to have ; but as they have it not, it is evident they 
 have an extraordinary impudence to father all their ignorant and nonsensical 
 Expressions, and perversions of Scripture, (which they commonly utter in their 
 Meetings) upon the Holy Ghost, which is a most dreadful Sin. He said, 
 Yice was set up, which was a reflexion upon the Government there, because 
 
28 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 some were lately made Justices of the Peace on Long-Island, that were not 
 greatly affected to Quakerism. After he had done, he went away out of the 
 Meeting in all hast, fearing (I suppose) he should be questioned about the 
 things he had said. I stood up again to speak in their Meeting, but they 
 made a new interruption, and threatened me with being guilty of the breach 
 of the Act of Toleration, and that by my so doing, I had put my self Twenty 
 Pounds in the Queen's Debt; I told them, I had not broke the Act of 
 Toleration, for I made no interruption, but was silent all the while their 
 Preacher was speaking ; but they had broke the Act of Toleration, by 
 interrupting me, when I began to Speak ; they told me, I had no right to 
 Speak in their Meetings. I answered, I had better right to Speak in these 
 Meeting-Houses, than any of their Speakers had ; at this they seemed greatly 
 to Wonder ; and asked how I could make that appear, for the House and 
 Ground was theirs, which they had bought with their Mony, and to which 
 I had contributed nothing : And one of them was so hot, that he commanded 
 me to go out of the House, for it was his House, and for me to stay in his 
 House, against his Will, was contrary to Law, and he could Prosecute me. 
 I Answered him, it was not his Property ; all who have a Mind to come into 
 that House at Meeting time, may come, it being appointed for a Religious 
 Meeting -House, where all have a common Right ; and according to the Act 
 of Toleration, ye are bound to keep your Doors open where ye Meet ; and if 
 ye shut them against me, or any, we may prosecute you by Law. But, said 
 they, How has thou a better right to speak in our Meeting-House than we ? 
 I told them, in a double respect : First, that Meeting-House was appointed 
 for the service of Truth, (which is their own manner of Phrase,) and that what 
 was Truth, should be spoken in it, and not falshood and error ; and there- 
 fore, while I speak Truth in it, and your Speakers speak not Truth, but 
 falshood and errors, I have a better right than they. Secondly, None of your 
 Speakers have any right to Speak in your Meeting-Houses, because ye have 
 not your Meeting-Houses Licensed, as the Act of Toleration expressly requires ; 
 nor have any of your Preachers qualified themselves as that Act express, 
 viz. to Sign to Thirty-four of the Articles of Religion of the Church of 
 England ; this they have not done, nor can do, because the Quakers Princi- 
 ples are contrary to most of them, or rather indeed to them all, whereas I am 
 qualified, as the Act requires. They accused me, that I came not in Love to 
 Preach to them, but was hired by the Bishops to come, and that the Love of 
 Money brought me to America, and not Love to their Souls. I told them it 
 was a false accusation. 
 
 I owned it, that God had raised up Friends to assist me with Money, in 
 such a chargeable Undertaking ; but this was no more than what the Quakers 
 at London did, who largely supply the Travelling Friends who come over 
 from England into America, with Money out of their National Stock, beside 
 what they gather up in the several Meetings in America, which they visit. 
 They replyed, they never knew any Mony given to any Travelling Friends, by 
 their Meeting. And they asked me, if I had any Mony from them, while I 
 was a Travelling Friend among them ? Yes, said I, I have had from this 
 very Meeting. They asked of whom, and when ? I told them, of an honest 
 Woman, yet living not far distant ; they replyed, Art not thou a Treacherous 
 Man to tell this ? Why, said I, to tell the Truth, in answer to your Question. 
 
George Keith's Journal. 29 
 
 It is a tiling well enough known to themselves, that they have frequent 
 Collections, at their -Monthly, and Quarterly Meetings, one chief use whereof 
 is, to furnish the Travelling Friends with Mony. 
 
 One of the Quakers at that Meeting in Flushing, that made the interrup- 
 tion, did openly accuse me in the Meeting, that I had defrauded the Poor of 
 50 Pounds of Mony, which Miles Forster had delivered to me to give the 
 Quakers at London, for the use of their Poor, being part of what Colonel 
 West had left to them by Legacy in his Will, (whereof Miles Forster was the 
 sole Executor.) The which Scandalous accusation, the Quakers of Long 
 Island had industriously spread over the Country against me ; and the same 
 was objected against me, by a Quaker at Burlington in West-Jersey, in the 
 hearino- of many present. But as I then declared, and I now declare, I had 
 no Mony delivered to me by Miles Forster, to give to the Quakers at London, 
 whether Poor or Rich. At my coming from America, in the Year 1693, the 
 said Miles Forster gave me a Bill of 40 Pounds English Mony to be paid me 
 at London, to my own proper use, (he being indebted to me, in some part of 
 the like Sum.) But the Mony of this Bill, was no part of the Poors Mony, 
 but wa% Miles Forster s own Mony, which he drew by Bill, upon a Person at 
 London, that did owe him a far greater Sum ; the which Bill was duly paid 
 to me. When he gave me that Bill, he told me what was the occasion and 
 cause, that moved him to do it, which was this, That to his certain knowledge, 
 Gol. West, out of the special respect and love he had to me, by his reading 
 my Books, about the time the difference betwixt the Quakers of Pensilvania, 
 and me, about matters of Religion began, had designed to give me some 
 considerable Benefaction ; and in order to that, when he lay sick at Miles 
 Forster 's House at Neiu- York, he desired Myles Forster to Write to me to 
 come to him. I was then living with my Family at Philadelphia, distant 
 about an Hundred Miles from Neiu-York. After I received this Message, I 
 made all the hast I could to go to JVeiv-York unto him. But it so happened, 
 that Col. West was Dead and Buried before I arrived. To answer the intent 
 of Col. West, Myles told me, he gave me that Bill, to be paid to me at 
 London, as some gratification to me, for the respect Col. West had to me, and 
 also for the labour, and charge, I was at in my Journey, to come unto him. 
 But none of the Money of that Bill, was any part of what Col. West left in 
 his Will to the Poor of the Quakers at London, but was Mgles Forster's own 
 Money, which was owing to him at London by the Person on whom he drew 
 that Bill. If Myles Forster paid himself again that Money he gave me to my 
 own proper use, out of that part of Col. West's Estate, that was left in Legacy 
 to the Poor of the Quakers at London, Myles Forster was to be accountable 
 to -the Quakers, if they have any right to it, for his so doing, and not I ; for it 
 was simply Miles Forster's benefaction to me, though he gave it to me on 
 Col. West's Account ; Col. West having left to him, not only a considerable 
 Legacy, as being his Executor, but had also left to him in his Will, full Power 
 to dispose of what Money was left to the Poor of the Quakers at London, to 
 what Quakers, or what sort of Quakers he thought fit ; for no Names of 
 Quakers, nor sort of Quakers were mentioned in the Will, nor no Name of 
 any Meeting of Quakers mentioned therein, (there being at that time two 
 sorts of Quakers at London opposite to one another) and Miles Forster 
 informed me, that much, if not most of what was left by Col. West in his 
 
30 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Will to the Poor of the Quakers at London, was depending on a Condition 
 expressed in the Will, that was not performed, and by somewhat that 
 happened could not, nor even can be performed ; and consequently the far 
 greatest part thereof, which was much more than the contents of that Bill 
 which he gave to me, did wholly belong by right to him, being the Executor. 
 But the Quakers and Miles Forster, are to debate the case betwixt them. 
 The Quakers Lawyers at New- York, have sufficiently informed them, that 
 they can have no Claim or Action against me, for what I received of Miles 
 Forster. And Miles Forster's Lawyers, have declared their Mind in the 
 Case, that the Quakers can have no right to sue him, for what he gave to me, 
 whether he gave it out of the Money left in Col. West's Will to the Poor, or 
 otherwise. Because, by the Will, he had Power to give to me what part of 
 it he pleased, as well as to any other. And when I was lately with Miles 
 Forster, at Amboy in East-Jerssy, where he now lives ; he told me some 
 London Quakers had sent their Letter of Attorney to some Quakers of New- 
 York Province, to demand of him the Poors Money, that was left to their 
 Poor of London, by the Will of Col. West, and that they of New-York and 
 he had some Meeting about it; and that he asked them, By what* Right 
 these Quakers at London did demand that Money, more than any other 
 Quakers there, seeing their Names were not in the Will, nor the Names of 
 any other, either of Persons, or Meetings. But to this they could give no 
 satisfactory Answer, and so the Matter remains in suspence betwixt them. 
 
 September 27, 1702. Sunday. I preached at Hampsted on Long-Lsland 
 in the Afternoon, where was such a Multitude of People, that the Church 
 could not hold them, so that many stood without at the Doors and Windows 
 to hear ; who were generally well affected, and greatly desired that a Church 
 of England Minister should be settled among them ; which has been done, 
 for the Reverend Mr. John Thomas is now their Minister. My Text was, 
 Luke 10.42. 
 
 September 28. We arrived at the Ferry by New-York. 
 
 September 30, Wednesday. At the Request of Mr. Vesey, the Minister at 
 New- York, I preached at the Weekly Fast, which was appointed by the 
 Government, by reason of the great Mortality that was then at Neiu-York, 
 where above Five Hundred died in the Space of a few Weeks ; and that very 
 Week, about Seventy died. My Text was, Jam. 5. 13. 
 
 October 1. From the Ferry by New-York, we came to Reedhook on Long- 
 Lsland, where we waited for a fair Passage, and next Day we got over to 
 Staten-Island, and from Staten-Lsland to Amboy in East-Jersey. 
 
 October 3, Sunday. I preached at Amboy in East-Jersey; the Auditory 
 was small: My Text was Tit. 2. 11, 12. But such as were there, were well 
 affected ; some of them, of my former Acquaintance, and others who had been 
 formerly Quakers but were come over to the Church, particularly Miles 
 Forster, and John Barclay (Brother to Robert Barclay, who published the 
 Apology for the Quakers) the Place has very few Inhabitants. We were 
 several Days kindly entertained by Miles Forster at his House there. 
 
 October 10, 1*702. Sunday. We went to the Meeting of the Quakers at 
 Toponemes, in Freehold in East-Jersey, who used to keep a separate Meeting 
 from the other Quakers, for their gross Errors ; and joined with me and my 
 Friends in the Separation, about the Year 1692 ; and it happened to be their 
 
George Keith 's Journal. 31 
 
 Yearly Meeting, where diverse came from West-Jersey and Pensilvania : 
 One of their Preachers pray'd and preached before I began. After he had 
 done, I used some of the Church Collects I had by heart, in Prayer; and 
 after that, I preached on JI(b. 5. 9. There was a considerable Auditory of 
 diverse sorts ; some of the Church, and some Presbyterians, besides the 
 Quakers ; they heard me without any Interruption, and the Meeting ended 
 peaceably. Their two Speakers lodged in the same House with me that 
 Evening," at the House of Thomas Boels, formerly a Quaker, but is now of 
 the Church. I had some free Discourse with them about several weighty 
 things : I told them, so far as they used their Gifts to instruct the Ignorant, 
 and reclaim them from the vile Errors of Quakerism, they were to be com- 
 mended ; but that they had taken upon them to Administer Baptism and the 
 Lord's Supper to any, they were greatly to be blamed, having no due external 
 Call, or Ordination, so to do. 
 
 October 11, Monday. We met again the next Day, and had the like 
 Auditory : Their other Speaker aray'd and preached, and after that, I pray'd, 
 using the same Collects as the Day before, and preached on 1 Thes. 5. 19. 
 without any Interruption, and the Meeting peaceably ended. I could blame 
 nothing in the Matter of their second Speaker, nor in the former, except where 
 he said in his Discourse, That they who were in Christ, need not fear Hell. 
 I endeavoured to clear the Matter in my Discourse, by distinguishing betwixt 
 an Absolute Fear of Hell, such as the Wicked ought to have, and a Con- 
 ditional Fear, which Good Men, even such who are in Christ, ought to have ; 
 and about this he and I had some private Discourse also betwixt us, but he 
 was dissatisfied, and would not own, That any who icere in Christ ought to 
 have any Fear of Hell, so much as Conditional. 
 
 October 17, Sunday, I preached at Midleton in Hast- Jersey, where, before 
 Sermon, Mr. Talbot read the Church Prayers, and I preached on Mat. 28. 19, 
 20. One main part of my Sermon being to prove Infant-Baptism to be 
 included in the Apostles Commissions, as well as that of Adult Persons, there 
 being several of the Auditory who were Anabaptists, who heard me civilly, 
 without any Interruption ; but most of the Auditory were Church People, or 
 well affected to the Church. 
 
 October 2-1, Sunday, 1702. I preached at Shreiosbury in East-Jersey at 
 a House near the Quakers Meeting-house, and it happened that it was the 
 Time of the Quakers Yearly Meeting at Shrewsbury : My Text was 2 Pet. 2. 
 1, 2. The Church Prayers being read before Sermon, we had a great Con- 
 gregation, generally well affected to the Church, and diverse of them were of 
 the'Church, and that Day I sent some Lines in Writing to the Quakers at 
 their Yearly Meeting ; which Mr. Talbot did read to them in their Meeting, 
 wherein I desired them to give me a Meeting with them some Day of that 
 Week, before their Meetings were concluded ; in which Meeting, I offered to 
 detect great Errors in their Authors Books, and they should have full Liberty 
 to auswer what they had to say in their Vindication. But they altogether 
 refused my Proposition ; and several Papers pass'd betwixt us : In some of 
 their PapeVs, they used gross Reflections on the Church of England, as much 
 as on me. We continued our Meetings three days, as the Quakers did theirs. 
 And the second Day of our Meeting at the same House, where we had 
 formerly met, I detected the Quakers Errors out of their printed Books, 
 
Pag. 
 
 292. 
 
 Pag. 
 
 515. 
 
 Pag. 
 
 698. 
 
 Pag. 
 
 413. 
 
 Pag. 
 
 27. : 
 
 32 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 particularly out of the Folio Book of Edw. Burroughs Works, collected and 
 published by the Quakers after bis Death, and did read the Quotations to the 
 Auditory, laying the Pages open before such as were willing to read them, 
 for their better Satisfaction, as some did read them. 
 
 Some of the Quotations were such as follow. 
 
 Page 128. (i. e. the Ministers) Prophecy and Preaching would soon be 
 ended, if they had not the Scripture to preach their Imaginations upon. 
 
 Pag. 273. Quakers Sufferings greater and more unjust than the Suffer- 
 ings of Christ and the Apostles. 
 
 Pag. 19. He denies a written Word. — No other Word (saith he) do I own 
 but Christ. 
 
 Pag. 402. He will revoke if any can prove, that the Scriptures call them- 
 selves the Word. 
 
 Pag. 484. The Spirit of God, the only standing Pule to walk by, not the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 The Flesh of Chris fs Body Infinite. 
 God and the Spirit, not Persons, but Infinite Beings. 
 They (i. e. the Quakers) are One with the Father in Nature. 
 All that Christians practise is become Idolatry. 
 That which sinned could not be saved, <£c. 
 
 October 26, 1702. Tuesday. I preached again at Shrewsbury on Mat. 
 7. 13. In all these Meetings at Shrewsbury, Midletown, and Toponemes, or 
 where ever else, on Nethersi7iks, Mr. Lewis Moris, and diverse others of best 
 Note in that Countiy, frequented the Congregations and Places where we 
 preached, and did kindly entertain us at their Houses, where we lodged as we 
 travelled too and again ; particularly Mr. Moris, Mr. Lines, Mr. Johnston, 
 Mr. Boels, and Mr. Read ; Mr. Lines being in Priest's Orders, has oft 
 preached among them, and by Preaching, and Conferences frequently with 
 Quakers and other sorts of People, as also by his pious Conversation, has 
 done much Good among them, and been very instrumental to draw them off 
 from their Errors, and bring them over to the Church. 
 
 October 29, 1702. We arrived at Burlington in West-Jersey. 
 
 November 1, Sunday. We preached in the Town-House at Burlington, 
 (the Church not being then built) and we had a great Auditory of diverse 
 sorts, some of the Church, and some of the late Converts from Quakerism. 
 Mr. Talbot preached before Noon, and I in the Afternoon. My Text was, 
 John 17. 3. Col. Hamilton, then Governour of West- Jersey, was present 
 both Forenoon and Afternoon, and at his Invitation we dined with him. 
 
 November 3. At Burlington I detected the Quakers Errors out of their 
 great Authors, George Fox his great Mystery, and Edioard Burroughs Folio 
 Book, and others, having given the Quakers Preachers Notice two Days 
 before, to come and defend their Principles and Authors ; but none of them 
 would appear in the Cause. 
 
 November 5. We arrived at Philadelphia, and were kindly received by 
 the two Ministers there, and the Church People, and especially by the late 
 Converts from Quakerism, who were become zealous Members of the Church. 
 
 November 8, Sunday. I preached in the Church of Philadelphia, at the 
 Minister's Request, on 2 Pet. 3, 15, 16. in the Afternoon. Mr. Talbot 
 preached there in the Forenoon. And again I preached another Sermon, on 
 
George KeiiKs Journal. 33 
 
 the same, that Evening, after six a Clock, (it being usual once a Month to 
 preach an Evening-Sermon in that Town.) We had a very great Auditory, 
 so that the Church could not contain them, but many stayed without and 
 heard. 
 
 That^Week a Meeting of the Clergy being appointed to meet together at 
 Neiv-York by general Consent, we accordingly did meet, being Seven in 
 number ; at our Meeting we drew up an Account of the State of the Church 
 in these American Parts of Pensilvania, West and East-Jersey, and New- 
 York Province ; a Copy whereof we sent to the Honourable Society at 
 London, for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Colonel 
 Nicolson, Governour of Virginia, to encourage us to meet, was so generous 
 to bear our Charges, (I mean of all of us that lived not at New- York) beside 
 his other great and generous Benefactions to the Building and Adorning many 
 Churches lately built in these Parts, whereof a particular Account has been 
 given to the Honourable Society. 
 
 November 15, 1702. I preached at New-York on Revel. 3. 20. being 
 Sacrament-Day. 
 
 November 22, Sunday. I preached again at New-York, on Rom. 6. IT, 
 18. in the Forenoon, and Mr. Talbot in the Afternoon. My Lord Cornbury, 
 Governour of New-York and the Jerseys, was very kind to us, and at his 
 Invitation, we did eat at his Table both Sundays and other Times. 
 
 November 26, Thursday. I Preached at Hampsted on Lang-Island, on 
 Acts 26. 18. 
 
 November 29, 1702. I Preached again at Hampsted, on Ueb. 8. 10, 11, 12. 
 Sunday, December 3, 1702. I visited again the Quakers Meeting at 
 Flushing on Long-Island, having obtained a Letter from my Lord Cornbury, 
 to Two Justices of Peace to go along with me, to see that the Quakers should 
 not interrupt me, as they had formerly done : But notwithstanding the Two 
 Justices that came along with me, to signifie my Lord Cornburfs Mind, by 
 his Letter to them, which was read to them in their Meeting by Mr. Talbot, 
 they used the like interruption as formerly, and took no notice of my Lord 
 Cornbury' 's Letter, more than if it had been from any private Person. They 
 renewed their former accusation against me, that I had broke the Act of 
 Toleration ; I replyed, I had not broke it, for I did not interrupt any of them ; 
 they answered, I interrupted their silent Worship ; I said, I knew no Clause 
 in that Act, that forbid the interruption of their silent Worship. I brought 
 the Printed Act of Toleration with me to their Meeting, and Mr. Talbot did 
 Read several Passages out of it to them, to shew that they had neither 
 qualified their Meeting-Houses, nor their Preachers, as the Act required. 
 But notwithstanding they objected the Act of Toleration against me ; when I 
 objected it against them, they said, that Act did not extend to America ; 
 Behold their Partiality ! We stayed and heard three of their Speakers one 
 after another, though it was very grievous to us to hear so much nonsense, 
 and perversion of Scripture, uttered by them ; and all this upon pretence of 
 being moved by the Spirit of God. Their chief Speaker, who is a most 
 ignorant Person, said, Balak had sent Balaam to Curse the People of God : 
 His Sense and perverse Application of that historical Passage of Scripture, is 
 easie to understand without a Commentary. After they had done, they 
 generally went away, Speakers and others ; bnt many, who were not Quakers, 
 
 3 
 
34 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 stayed and heard me resume and detect the gross Perversions and Misappli- 
 cations of the Scriptures, which they had made. And after this, I detected out 
 of a Book of George Whitehead, called, The Divinity of Christ, his vile 
 Error concerning Christ, both with respect to his Godhead and Manhood, and 
 I did read the Passages out of his Book in the Hearing of the Auditory. In 
 his said Book, he blames his Opponent, Thomas Vincent, for affirming, that 
 the Son proceeded from the Father by an eternal Act of Generation, and 
 chargeth it with Confusion and Nonsense. Also in the same Book he brings 
 many Places of Scripture, all which he grossly perverts, to prove that Christ 
 suffered as God. And in the Appendix to his Book, he blames his Opponent, 
 Th Danson, for saying, Christ, as Man, had a created Soul and Body ; and 
 from his so saying doth infer, by way of Query, Doth not this render him a 
 Fourth Person ? And George Fox in his Preface to that Book, most lgno- 
 rantly and perversely argues against the Three Persons in the Godhead, 
 inferring, by way of Qu<ery, (their common way of Disputing) Doth not this 
 render them Four Persons ? Just as John Whiting, a late Author among 
 them in his Book called, Judas and the Chief Priests, doth ridicule that 
 Passage in the Litany of the Church of England, Holy, Blessed and 
 Glorious Trinity, Three Persons and One God ; inferring, that from this 
 there should be Four Persons ; for that Three and One are Four : Whereas 
 in the Act of Toleration, there is an express Clause that excludes all such 
 from the Benefit of the Act, That either in their Speaking or Writing, deny 
 the Holy Trinity, as taught and professed in the Church of England : And 
 yet these very Persons that thus revile and ridicule the Doctrine of the Holy 
 Trinity as taught in the Church of England, are mighty Pleaders for their 
 Liberty by the Act of Toleration ; as if not only their Meetings and Preach- 
 ings were Tolerated, but Authorized by the Act. 
 
 December 6, 1702. I Preached at Oysterbay in the Town-House, on Bom. 
 10. 7, 8, 9. And we were kindly entertained at the House of Mr. Edward 
 White abovementioned. 
 December 13. I preached at Staten-Island in the Town-House, on litus 
 
 2. 11, 12. ,_ T . T 
 
 December 20, 1702. I preached at Dr. Johnston's, at Nethersinks, on 
 
 Rev. 22. 14. 
 
 December 25, Friday, being Christmas day. I preached at the House ot 
 Mr. Morris, on Luke 2. 10, 11. And after Sermon, diverse of the Auditory 
 received with us the Holy Sacrament ; both Mr. Morris and his Wife, and 
 diverse others. Mr. Talbot did administer it. 
 
 Decemb. 27, Sunday, 1702. T preached in Shrewsbury Town, near the 
 Quakers Meeting-House, at a Planter's House, and had a considerable 
 Auditory of Church People lately converted from Quakerism, with diverse 
 others of the Church of best Note in that Part of the Country. My Text 
 was Heb. 8. 10, 11. ,„_. tf - Jt . 
 
 January 1, Friday. I preached at the House of Mr. Thomas Boels at 
 Freehold in East-Jersey : My Text was Isaiah 59. 20, 21. Before Sermon, 
 after the Church Prayers, I baptized all his Children ; two Sons and three 
 Daughters. He was formerly a Quaker, but is now come over to the Church ; 
 also a Son of Samuel Dennis, a late Convert from Quakerism. 
 
 January 3, Sunday, 1702. I preached again at his House, on the same 
 
George Keith's Journal. 35 
 
 Text, and before Sermon Mr. Talbot baptized two Persons belonging to the 
 Family of John Read, formerly a Quaker, but was lately come over to the 
 Church with all his Children ; one Son and two Daughters. His two 
 Daughters were baptized by Mr. Talbot, October 24, 1702. As also the 
 same Day were baptized William Leads and his Sister Mary Leads, late 
 Converts from Quakerism to the Church : And some Days before, at the 
 House of John Read, Mr. Talbot baptized the Wife of Alexander Neaper 
 and his three Children. He had been a Quaker, but was come over to the 
 Church. 
 
 January 4, 1702. I came to the House of Robert Ray in Freehold in 
 East-Jersey, accompanied with Thomas Boels, and lodged at his House that 
 Night. At his and his Wife's Desire, I baptized all his Children ; some 
 Boys and some Girles, in number Five : they both had been Quakers, but he 
 was not then come throughly off from Quakerism. 
 
 January 10, Sunday. I preached at Burlington at the House of Mr. 
 Revel, on Mat. 6. 33. And I baptized a Man's Child who was a Church- 
 man, where I had a large Auditory. 
 
 January 11. We came to Philadelphia, and lodged at the House of 
 Mrs. Welch all the Time we happened to be at Philadelphia, until we went 
 from Pensilvania to Virginia and North- Carolina, in the Months of April 
 and May, 1702. She had been a Quaker for many Years, and of good 
 Repute. About the Years 1691 and 1692, it pleased God, by my Means, 
 through the Illumination of the Holy Spirit, to give her and her Daughter 
 (who was educated in Quakerism) to see their Errors and forsake them ; and 
 also many others in that Place about that time ; who afterwards gradually 
 came off from Quakerism, and at last came clearly off, and joined to the 
 Church, whereof they are become zealous Members. She entertained us both 
 at her House, (vis. Mr. Talbot and me) all the time, abovementioned, and 
 also after our Return, so long as we stayed there, gratis. 
 
 January 17, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia, on John 3. 5. in the 
 Forenoon, and Mr. Talbot preached in the Afternoon. I preached again on 
 the same Text, an Evening Sermon, that begun after the sixth Hour at Night. 
 January 24, Sunday, 1702. I preached at Philadelphia on Mat. 5. 17. 
 both in the Forenoon and Afternoon ; Mr. Evans the Minister of Phila- 
 delphia having that Day been at Chester in Pensilvania, to accompany Mr. 
 Talbot, who was to preach there the first Sermon in the Church after it was 
 built. 
 
 January 31, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia, on Mat. 5. 17. being 
 my third Sermon on that Text ; and the same Day at the sixth Hour at 
 Night, I preached there on 1 Cor. 11. 28. 
 
 February 7, Sunday, 1702. I preached at Chester in Pensilvania, in the 
 New Church, on Mat. 16. 18. 
 
 February 9, Tuesday. I preached a second Sermon on the same Text at 
 Concord in Pensilvania, at the House of John Hanon. 
 
 February 11. I preached a third Sermon on that Text at the House of 
 Thomas Powel in Chester County ; both these Men, John Hanon and his 
 Wife, and Thomas Powel and his Wife, had been Quakers, but are become 
 zealous Members of the Church, with diverse others their Neighbours. 
 
 February 12, 1702. I had a Dispute with Mr. Killing 'sworth an Ana- 
 
3 q Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 baptist Preacher, at the House of Thomas Powel, before a great Auditory. 
 The Subjects of our Dispute were, First, About Set Forms of Prayer 
 Secondly, About the manner of Baptizing, whether by Dipping or Sprinkling 
 Thirdly Whether Infants of Believers are proper Subjects of Baptism * 
 Fourthly, Concerning Ordination. It had a good Effect upon several present ; 
 and I hope upon himself; for by a Letter I received sometime ago from Mr 
 Talbot this Mr. Killingsworth is become well affected to the Church, and 
 has preferred Ground to build a Church upon, and Wood to build it, upon 
 his Land where he lives, at Salem in West Jersey. _ 
 
 In the first Week of February, 1702, I had a Meeting with the Separate 
 Quakers and their Preachers, who left the Quakers Meetings for their gross 
 Errors, and joined with me about the Year 1691. They met at my Lodging 
 in Philadelphia, at my Request ; and the next Week thereafter, we had 
 another Meeting at the same place. I told them, that the Reason why I 
 desired to have a friendly Meeting and Conference with them, was, that 1 
 might answer their Objections against their Conformity to the Church ot 
 England, and particularly their Objections against Infants Baptism : Also! 
 had some Discourse with one of their Preachers, to convince him of his 
 Antinomian Notion, and the great Error and Hurt of it, mz. That they who 
 are in Christ, ought not to fear Hell in any respect, not so much as Condi- 
 tionally He was very earnest and warm in the Defence of it, and pressed it 
 very much, that that matter should be first discoursed upon, thinking to have 
 some Advantage against me in that Point; but the Success proved the 
 contrary, so that his maintaining of it, offended diverse of his Hearers that 
 soon after they left him, and came over to the Church I asked him, If they 
 who were in Christ, could possibly fall from that good State. He said they 
 might possibly fall from it. I replyed, then there is the more Cause of Fear ; 
 as they who are in a Castle, yet they have just occasion of Fear, conditionally 
 lest if thev should go out their watchful Enemies should destroy them; and 
 Fear is very useful to them to keep them within. And as God Almighty had 
 indued all living Creatures with a natural Fear, that is of great use to them to pre- 
 serve their natural Life ; so he had indued all his Children with a spiritual Fear, 
 that is as useful and as necessary to them to preserve their spiritual Lite. 
 And as Hope is necessary to keep Men from Despair, so Fear is necessary to 
 keep them from Presumption. I mentioned also several Texts of Scripture to 
 him, and desired him to consider them, viz. Job 31. 24. 1 Cor 9. 2l.Heb. 4 
 1 Pom 8 31. But he continued resolute in his erroneous Opinion. JNext 
 we proceeded to discourse about other matters, as, What were their Objections 
 ao-ainst their Conforming to the Church, and against Infants Baptism < 1 
 laboured very much, in Love, to satisfie them about all those matters ; but 1 
 found they were resolute to keep up their Separate Meeting, though it be 
 dwindled away and diminished to a very small Number from what it was at 
 the Beginning, after the Separation, about 1692, and which continued several 
 Years until a Church of England Congregation was set up at Philadelphia ; 
 soon 'after which, most of that Party, both in Town and Countrey, and also 
 in West and East-Jersey, and some in New-York, came over with good 
 Zeal, and according to good Knowledge, to the Church, praisecL be God for it. 
 February 14, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia, on Acts 26. 22, 23. 
 at the Evening Lecture, after Six at Night. 
 
George KeitJCs Journal. 37 
 
 February 21, Sunday, 1702. I preached at Burlington in Wkt-Jersey, 
 on Rom. 10. 7, 8, 9. and Feb. 22. I baptized the Wife of Mr. Rob. Wheeler 
 and his three Children, and five others : in all 9 Persons. He and his Wife 
 had been Quakers, but are come over to the Church. He did most kindly 
 and hospitally entertain us at his House, gratis, the several times that we 
 travelled to and fro in those Parts : And the like kind and free Entertain- 
 ment he gives to all Ministers of the Church that travel that way. 
 February 28, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia on Mat. 5. 17. 
 March 4. I had a publick Meeting at Philadelphia, at the House that 
 formerly belonged to Zacharia Whitbane, to detect the Quakers Errors, by 
 plain Quotations out of their approved Authors, particularly Mr. Pen's Sandy 
 Foundation ; having before given intimation to the chief Preachers of the 
 Quakers at Philadelphia, to defend their Principles and Authors, if they 
 could ; but none of them would appear in the Cause. One William Southsby, 
 who is a sort of Preacher among them, told the Auditory, he was not come 
 to dispute, but to complain against me, that I had said, he denied the 
 Resurrection ; and he came to clear himself, and desired leave to read a short 
 Paper, wherein he gave Account of his Faith of the Resurrection. After he 
 had read his Paper, which contained some Words he had Transcribed out of 
 1 Cor. 15. and some other Texts of Scripture ; I asked him, Did he believe 
 the Resurrection of that Body of his standing before us ? He said, He would 
 not Answer to that ensnaring Question. By this it plainly appeared to the 
 Auditory that were not Quakers, that he did not really believe the Resurrec- 
 tion of the Body, even when he seemed to confess it, after the manner of all 
 Hereticks, who profess to give their Faith in Scripture Words, but quite 
 contrary to the true and real sense of the Scripture, as Arius, Sabellius, 
 Nestorius, Futyches, Pelagius, d-c. 
 
 March 7, 1702, Sunday. I Preached at Philadelphia, on Philip. 2. 13. 
 March 10, 1702. I had a publick dispute at Philadelphia, with one 
 William Davis, who had been formerly a Quaker ; but some time after he 
 left them, he set up for a new Sect-Master, to draw Disciples after him, and 
 Published a Book full of Blasphemous Notions, as that there are three Gods ; 
 and that none of these three Gods are any where but in Heaven ; and that 
 Christ as God, suffered upon the Cross ; with diverse other gross Blasphe- 
 mies ; a particular Account of which, I have given in Print, Bound up with 
 other Printed Tracts, which I did present to the Honourable Society. 
 
 March 14, Sundav. I Preached at Philadelphia a second Sermon on 
 Phil. 2. 12, 13. 
 
 March 21, Sunday. I Preached at Philadelphia, on 2 Cor. 12. 9. 
 March 28, Sunday. I Preached at Philadelphia a second Sermon on 
 2 Cor. 12. 9. 
 
 April A, Sunday. I Preached at Chester in Pensilvania on Titus 2, 11, 12. 
 April 8, Thursday. I Preached at New-Castle, on 1 Thess. 5. 19. 
 April 11, Sunday, 1703. I Preached at New-Castle, on Jude 20. Mr. 
 Talbot Preached there in the Afternoon, and Baptized three Children of Mr. 
 James Claypool (who had been formerly a Quaker) and another Child of a 
 Churchman. And at our return to Neio-Castle from Virginia, I Baptized 
 the said Mr. James Claypool, he was much afflicted with a Palsie. 
 
 April 18, 1 703. I Preached at York Town, by York River, on Acts 20, 21. 
 
38 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Avril 20 1703. We arrived at WUUamsburgh in Virginia, (having 
 comeby Water in a Sloop, from New-Castle to York River,) and were very 
 kindly received there, and entertained by Col. Nicholson, then Govemour ot 
 
 4^21 , Wednesday. I Preached in WUUamsburgh Church, before the 
 Convocation of the Clergy then Assembled, on 1 Job. 1.1. 
 
 April 25, Sunday. I Preached at James-Town on 1 Job. 1. 3. at the 
 request of the Reverend Mr. Blair Minister there, and Commissary, who very 
 kindly and Hospitally Entertained us at his House. 
 
 J/ay 2, Sunday, 1703. I Preached at Kicketan Church by James River, 
 
 on 2 Cor. 3. 18. ' . . _ „ , 
 
 May 4 Tuesday. I Preached there the Thanksgiving Sermon, on FsaL 
 18 48 49 the Minister, the Reverend Mr. Wallis, being then in England. 
 
 May 9, Sunday. I Preached at a Chappel in Elizabeth County m Vir- 
 ginia, on Psal. 1. 1. 2, 3. 
 
 Jfaw 10 We took our Journey from thence to North- Carolina. 
 May 16, Whitsunday, 1703. I Preached at the House of Capt. Sanders 
 in Corretuk in North- Carolina, on Rom. 1. 16. _ 
 
 We desio-ned to have Travelled further into North- Carolina, but there was 
 no Passage from that Place by Land convenient to Travel, by reason of 
 Swamps, and Marishes ; and we had no way to go by Water but in a Canow 
 over a great Bay, many Miles over which we essayed to do, but the Wind 
 continuing several Days contrary, we returned to Virginia. 
 
 May 23 Sunday, 1703. I Preached at the Church in Princess Anns 
 County in Virginia, on Heb. 12. 1. and I Baptized Eight Children there. 
 Mr. Talbot Preached the same Day at a Chappel belonging to the same 
 County, and Baptized Ten Children. _ 
 
 The whole County is but one Parish, and is about Fifty Miles in length ; 
 the People are well affected, but they had no Minister, and greatly desire to 
 have one; and as they informed us, the Minister's Salary being paid in 
 Tobacco, (as it is generally all over Virginia and Maryland) the Tobacco of 
 that County was so low, that it could not maintain him. 
 
 May 30, Sunday, 1703. The Reverend Mr. Blair Commissary, Preached 
 at Kicketan, where I was an Hearer, having no occasion that Day to Preach 
 any where in that County. 
 
 June 6, Sunday. Mr. Talbot Preached at Kicketan, we stayed there about 
 Ten Days, at my Daughters House at Kicketan by Jamas River ; she is 
 fully come off from the Quakers, and is a zealous Member of the Church of 
 England, and brings up her Children (so many of them as are capable through 
 Age,) in the Christian Religion, Praised be God for it. 
 
 June 13, Sunday. I Preached at the Church of Abington, on the North- 
 side of York-River, the Reverend Mr. Smith is Minister there, and did Read 
 the Church Prayers. My Text was, 1 Thess. 5. 19. I lodged at Major 
 BurrelVs House, and was kindly Entertained. Mr. Talbot Preached at 
 TPz llidTYi s h ut oh • 
 June 20, Sunday. IPreached at Hampton Churchin Virginia, on Jam. 1. 22. 
 June 27, Sunday. Mr. Talbot Preached at York-Town by York-River, 
 where I was present with him ; we were kindly Entertained there at the 
 Collector's House several Days, waiting for Passage up Maryland-bay. 
 
George Keith's Journal. 39 
 
 June 28, ] 703. We sailed in a Sloop from York-Town, up Maryland-bay 
 to West-River ; the Master of the Sloop was a Quaker, whose Name is 
 Thomas Sparrow. After our Landing, he kindly Entertained us at his House 
 that Night, and refused to take any thing either for our Passage or Enter- 
 tainment at his House. And as to our Provision on Board the Sloop, the 
 Governour of Virginia sent us in Plenty. I had much Discourse ' and 
 Reasoning with the said Thomas Sparrow, both aboard the Sloop, and at his 
 House, especially about Baptism and the Lord's Supper, but he used the 
 same evasions to the Texts of Scripture I brought for them, as the Quakers 
 commonly use. 
 
 _ July lj 1703. We came to Annapolis in Maryland, where we were 
 kindly received and Entertained by Esquire Finch, then President of Mary- 
 land, and Sir Thomas Lawrence the Secretary there. 
 
 July 4, Sunday. I Preached at Annapolis, on 1 Thess. 1. 5. and had a 
 large Auditory well affected ; my Sermon at the request of a worthy Person 
 who heard it, was Printed at Annapolis, mostly at his Charge ; and Copies 
 of it sent by him, to many parts of the Country. It is Bound up with other 
 Printed Sermons and Tracts, in the Book abovementioned, which I Presented 
 to the Honourable Society, soon after my arrival into England. 
 
 July 7, 1703. At the desire of some Persons of best Note in that part of 
 Maryland, I went to the Quakers Meeting at Herring- Creejc in Maryland, to 
 have some friendly Conference with them. The aforesaid Esquire ^mcA,'sir 
 Thomas Lawrence, and several Justices of the Peace, and many Persons of 
 goed Note, came along with me to the Quakers Meeting there, and also the 
 Reverend Mr. Hall the Minister of the Parish, and diverse other Ministers of 
 the neighbouring Parishes. While the Quakers were all silent ; after some 
 time, I stood up to speak among them, intending a brief Discourse on Job. 7. 
 38, 39. I had spoke but a very few Sentences, when they interrupted me 
 very rudely ; and notwithstanding the kind and gentle Entreaty of Esquire 
 Finch and some others there present of their kind Neighbours, praying them 
 to hear me, by no means would the Quakers suffer me to proceed°in my 
 Discourse. They told the Auditory, I was none of them, and they had 
 disowned me. I asked them for what ? But they would give no Reason for 
 their so doing. One of them stood up, and accused Mr. Hall the Minister of 
 the Parish, and also the Sheriff, of Theft ; And being inquired what the 
 Theft was, whereof he accused them. He answered, that the Sheriff had 
 
 given some Tobacco of his, to the said Hall, which was none of his. 
 
 The Case was this. The Sheriff having a quantity of Tobacco belonging to 
 this Quaker in his Custody, as is usual in that Country. The Sheriff, in 
 Kindness and good Neighbourhood to the said Quaker, rather than to 
 distrein upon him, according to the Law, paid to Mr. Hall so much out of 
 the Quakers Tobacco, as was due to Mr. Hall by the said Quaker, by an Act 
 of the general Assembly, and confirmed by the Queen. And when some 
 present said to him, his calling it Theft, reflected on the general Assembly, he 
 still persisted in it, that it was Theft, I did again offer to Speak, but they 
 did interrupt me again, and abused me with reviling Speeches in meer 
 Generals, as the manner generally of the Quakers is, to all who Endeavour to 
 reform them from their Errors, and especially to any who with a good 
 Conscience upon Divine Conviction, have forsaken their Erroneous ways, to 
 
40 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 whom they are most outragious, as the Jews were "to St. Paul, after his 
 Conversion to Christianity. The aforesaid Persons, my worthy Friends, who 
 came with me to the Quakers Meeting, finding that the Quakers would give 
 me no hearing in their Meeting, desired me to Preach to them my Sermon 
 which I had begun upon, (but was interrupted by the Quakers) at a Chappel 
 very near to the Quakers Meeting, where they would gladly hear me before 
 they went away, on that Subject, to which I readily agreed. Mr. Hall the 
 Minister of the Parish did begin with the Church Prayers, and after the 
 Prayers, I Preached my Sermon to them, in the said Chappel, (where was a 
 great Auditory of both Men and Women) the same in Matter, as near as I 
 could, which I had designed to deliver in the Quakers Meeting ; for I made 
 no use of Notes at that time, knowing that if I had used Notes, the Quakers 
 would have made the greater exceptions, and have said, I was only a Minister 
 of the Letter, as their manner is to object against them, who make use of 
 Notes ; and I doubted not but that God would assist me, to deliver what was 
 proper and Edifying, though I had no Notes at that Time. Though I oft 
 made use of Notes in my Sermons which I Preached, and continue to do, and 
 I do well approve of it. 
 
 The Matter which I mainly insisted upon, in my Discourse on that iext, 
 Job. 1. 38, 39. was, that though we had no Warrant from this, or any other 
 place of Holy Scripture, to expect those Miraculous and extraordinary Inspi- 
 rations of the Spirit given to the Apostles, which enabled them to Preach 
 without Study, and to Speak with Tongues they had not learned by Industry, 
 yet we had sufficient ground from many Texts of Holy Scripture, to believe, 
 that God continues to give to all the Faithful, such plentiful Inspirations, 
 Influences, and Assistances of his Holy Spirit, as are necessary to their 
 Sanctification, and to their continual Growth and Progress therein, and to 
 enable them to serve him acceptably, and comfortably, in all Duties of 
 Holiness and Righteousness, and especially to assist them in their Prayers and 
 Thanksgivings to Almighty God, in the due Use of the Means of Grace ; and 
 to assist the Ministers of his Word, in their Preaching and Praying, and in 
 all other Parts of their Ministerial Calling. 
 
 And I shewed, that the Ministers and People of the Church of England, 
 had a better Belief, Trust, and Hope of the inward Assistances of the Holy 
 Spirit, than the Quakers had, notwithstanding the Quakers proud and 
 presumptuous Affirmations and Pretensions to the Spirit above others. For 
 (said I) the Quakers, and the Quaker Preachers, have such a Distrust of the 
 Spirit's Assistance to pray, or give Thanks vocally, that they think, or pretend 
 they oft have it not : and for that Reason given by them, they oft neither 
 pray in their Families, nor at their Meals. And for want of the Spirits 
 Motion and Assistance, as they pretend and profess, so as to enable them, 
 either to Preach or Pray in audible Words, they used to have many silent 
 Meetings, where one Word is not uttered among them from first to last; and 
 in many Places they have them still. And it is certain, that generally in the 
 Quakers Families, there is no vocal Prayer used at all, and rarely, even in 
 their Preachers Families. But none of them use constant Prayer in their 
 Families, either twice or once a Day, that ever I heard of, and some not once 
 in a Year, in the Family, whatever they do in their Publick Meetings for 
 Ostentation. The Reason of this Omission, which they think not to be any 
 
George Keith's Journal. 41 
 
 Sin, is, that the Spirit doth not move or assist them. But what Spirit is 
 that, but a Spirit of Ostentation and Vain-Glory, that moves them so fre- 
 quently to pray in their Publick Meetings, and so rarely, not once in a Year, 
 in their Families ? Now whence doth this proceed, that they pray so seldom 
 in their Families and in some of their Meetings, but either from their great 
 Distrust, (as is said) or from a political Contrivance of their first Authors, the 
 more to make their Proselytes believe, they waited for some extraordinary 
 Inspiration and Impulse: For they had wont to say, That they who could 
 pray or preach at set Times, have not the true Gift of Prayer or Preaching. 
 And yet it is sufficiently known, that many of them are arrived at that 
 Confidence, to preach and pray in their way of Rhapsody, at any time, in their 
 Meetings ; and they have their ordinary Set-times, especially at London, 
 when to begin and when to end ; so that if any of their Preachers happen to 
 transgress the ordinary time, they oft get some Reprimand. Such of them 
 who had not arrived at this Confidence and Conceit of their Ability, to preach 
 or pray at any time, except when the Spirit moves them, I compared them to 
 a Mill that stands by a small Brook, or Run of Water, that has oft so little 
 Water as cannot make the Wheels of the Mill to go, till there come afresh, 
 they know not when. 
 
 Whereas the Faithful of the Church of England, both Ministers and 
 People, and in all true Christian Churches, have no such Distrust of the 
 Assistance of the blessed Spirit of God, but believe that blessed Spirit will 
 never be wanting to them, 1 to give them his Assistance in some Measure and 
 Degree, more or less, according to his good Pleasure ; sufficient to enable 
 them to perform all requisite Duties unto God acceptably. 
 
 Another thing I insisted upon from the Words of the Text, was, That these 
 inward Aids and Assistances of the Holy Spirit given to the Faithful, were 
 only promised to them who believed sincerely in Jesus Christ, both God and 
 Man, who is now in Heaven without us, our blessed Mediator and Intercessor 
 with the Father ; and who believe that he is to come in his Glorified Body, 
 the same in Substance he had on Earth, (in which he suffered Death for our 
 Sins) to be the Judge both of the Quick and Dead, at his Coming and 
 Appearing visibly without us, as really as he visibly ascended into Heaven, in 
 the Sight of his Disciples. And that therefore the Quakers who generally 
 have not this Belief in Jesus Christ, as above declared, (as hath been fully 
 and evidently proved, and can still be proved out of the printed Books of their 
 noted Authors.) But instead of the true Christian Faith in Jesus Christ 
 (according as the Holy Scripture hath set him forth) have set up a Belief 
 only in the Light within them, as the said Light is in all Men. These, I say, 
 can lay no Claim to any such Assistances of the Holy Spirit, as are only 
 promised to sincere Believers in Jesus Christ, according to the Words of the 
 Text, Job. 7. 38, 39. He that believes in me, out of his Belly shall flow 
 Rivers of living Water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that 
 believe on him should receive, (to wit, that very Man which they both saw 
 with their outward Eyes, and heard with their outward Ears) who, as he was 
 visible as Man, yet was invisible as he was God : And that it is said in the 
 following Words, The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was 
 not yet glorified : that is, He was not given, until after His Ascension, either 
 in that Plenty and Variety of miraculous Gifts, or in that Plenty and large 
 
42 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Measure of the ordinary Gifts and Graces of the Spirit, as were afterwards to 
 be given to the Faithful after his Ascension. 
 
 July 10, Saturday. I preached at Herring-Creek Church, at the Request 
 of Mr. Hall the Minister, on the two Sacraments, my Text was, 1 Cor. 
 12, 13. 
 
 July 11, Sunday. I preached at Mr. Colbactfs Church in the next Parish 
 a second Sermon on Job. 7. 38, 39. 
 
 July 14. I crossed Maryland-Bay over to the Eastern Shore, accom- 
 panied with Mr. Hall abovementioned, from Annapolis to Kent-Island : We 
 had a fair and easie Passage, in the Space of three Hours. Mr. Talbot had 
 gone up the Western Shore to preach at several Places on that side, and after 
 some time to come to me. 
 
 July 15. We travelled from Kent-Island to the House of the Reverend 
 Mr. Lilingstone, where we were kindly entertained some Days. 
 
 July 18, Sunday. I preached at Mr. Lilingston's Church in Talbot County, 
 on Eph. 2. 10, and had a great Auditory, and well affected. 
 
 July 21, Wednesday. I preached at Mr. Bourdly's Church, on Rom. 
 1 0. 7, 8, 9. and had a great Auditory, and were kindly entertained at his 
 House. 
 
 July 25, Sunday. I preached at the Church of Shrewsbury in Maryland, 
 on 1 Cor. 3. 11, 12. where was a large Auditory out of diverse Parishes: 
 But that Parish of Shrewsbury had no Minister, nor have had for some 
 considerable Time past. We were kindly entertained by Mr. Blays at his 
 House in that Parish, some Days. On Sunday in the Evening, I had some 
 Discourse with a Quaker who came from London and sold Goods to the 
 Planters, for Tobabco. I found him so extream ignorant, that I could not 
 perswade him, that our Blessed Saviour, as he was Man, had a created Soul. 
 I asked him, If he himself had a created Soul ? This also he denied. _ I 
 mentioned that place of Scripture to him, The Soul that Sinneth shall die : 
 And could a Soul sin, that was not created ? If the Soul of Man be not 
 created, it must be God, and God could not Sin. But no Reasons can - 
 prevail with them, however so plain, who are given up to strong Delusion, as 
 indeed they too generally are. This Discourse I had with him in the Hear- 
 ing of another Quaker, who came with him, at the House of Mr. Blay, who 
 was present. 
 
 July 28. I crossed Sasafrax-River, (Mr. Hall having gone home) and 
 came that Day to the Reverend Mr. Sewils, Minister of Cecil- County in 
 Maryland, where Mr. Talbot came to me. Mr. Sewil kindly entertained us 
 at his House, and accompanied us to the Mannor, by Bohemia River, where 
 we lodged, and were kindly entertained by the Master of the House, who 
 was a German. 
 
 July 29. We came from thence to New-Castle, by Delaware-River, and 
 were kindly entertained at the House of Mr. Robert French, some Days. 
 
 August 1, 1703, Sunday. I preached at New- Castle, on Heb. 5. 9. and 
 had a large Auditory of English, and some Dutch : They have had a Church 
 lately built, and the Reverend Mr. Rosse, a Missionary from the Honourable 
 Society, has been sent to them, which they greatly desired. 
 
 August 2. I came to Upland, alias Chester, by Delaware-River, Mr. 
 Talbot having gone before to preach there, August 1. 
 
George Keith's Journal. 43 
 
 August 3, Tuesday. I preached in the Church at Chester, a second 
 Sermon on Titus 2. 1], 12, 13, 14. and had a considerable Auditory: we 
 were kindly entertained at the House of Mr. Jasper Teates there. 
 
 ^ August 4. We came from Chester to Philadelphia, where we were 
 kindly received and entertained by our Friends, and especially by Mistress 
 Welch, at whose House we again lodged as formerly. 
 
 August 8. Mr. Talbot preached in the Forenoon at Philadelphia, and I 
 preached there in the Afternoon, on 2 Cor. 12. 9. 
 
 August 15, Sunday. I Preached at Philadelphia on 1 Job. 5. 3. 
 
 August 22, Sunday. I preached at the New Church at Burlington, on 2 
 Sa?n. 23. 3, 4. My Lord Cornbury was present and many Gentlemen who 
 accompanied him, both from New-York, and the two Jerseys, having had 
 his Commission to be Governour of West and East-Jersey, Read at the 
 Town-House there, some Days before. It was the first Sermon that was 
 Preached in that Church. 
 
 August 29, Sunday. I preached again at the Church in Burlington, on 
 Jam. 1. 22. 
 
 Sept. 5, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia, on Acts 2. 41, 42. being 
 Sacrament Day. 
 
 Sept. 12, Sunday. I preached at the Church in Burlington, a Second 
 Sermon, on Jam. 1. 22. Mr. Talbot preached that Day at Chester in 
 Pensilvania. 
 
 Sept. 15. I preached at Will. Hewlins in West-Jersey, on Tit. 2. 11. 
 
 Sept. 19, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia in the Afternoon, on 
 Mat. 16. 6. 
 
 Sept. 21, Tuesday. I preached at Philadelphia, on Jude 3. This week 
 being the time of the Quakers yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, the Minister 
 of Philadelphia, the Reverend Mr. Evans, with the consent of the Vestry, 
 having agreed together with us, to have both Prayers and Sermons at the 
 Church in Philadelphia, all the Days that the Quakers had their Meetings in 
 that Week, which use to continue three Days ; there happens commonly in 
 that Week to be a great concourse of People at Philadelphia, not only 
 Quakers, but also of many others, as at some great Fair. 
 
 Sept. 21, Tuesday. Mr. Talbot went to the Quakers Meeting at Phila- 
 delphia, that met at the New Meeting-House, called, the Banck- Meeting, 
 about 9 of the Clock in the Forenoon, and began to read a Paper to them 
 which I had Writ, containing some Observations on the Attestation, taken 
 and Signed by some of the most noted Quakers in West-Jersey, in order to 
 their being made Members of the Council in the Province of West and East- 
 Jersey. The Quakers were so rude, that they pushed him on the Breast, and 
 drove him by violence from the threshold of the Door, where he stood; yet 
 he continued Reading, till he had finished it ; but by the Tumult that the 
 Quakers raised he was little heard. After which, I went in to their Meeting- 
 House, and stood up on a Bench to Read it in their hearing within doors, but 
 I had scarce read three Lines, till a Quaker, whose Name I spare, pulled it 
 out of my Hand with great violence, and some of them overturned the Bench 
 I stood upon, but I had no hurt, Praised be God ; for as I was falling, some 
 that were not Quakers supported me with their shoulders till my Feet gently 
 touched the Ground ; another Person that was no Quaker, pulling the said 
 
44 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Paper out of the Quakers hand, it was torn in two pieces betwixt them ; but 
 by the order of a Justice of Peace, who was no Quaker, the Quaker returned 
 to me that torn piece of the Paper which he had kept. Of this Rude and 
 Disorderly Carriage of the Quakers at the said Place, the said Day, diverse 
 Persons of good Credit gave an Affidavit before a Justice of Peace at Phila- 
 delphia. I need not here recite the Contents of my Observations on these 
 Quakers Attestation, for the like Observations have been made by another 
 hand, and published in Print lately, in these American parts, and perhaps 
 may be Reprinted at London ere long. 
 
 Sept. 26, Sunday. I preached in ^Burlington Church, a third Sermon, on 
 Jam. 1. 22. in the Forenoon, and Mr. Talbot in the Afternoon. 
 
 October 3, Sunday. I preached in Burlington Church, on Heb. 8. 10, 11, 
 12. both Forenoon, and Afternoon, and read the Prayers before Sermon. 
 
 October 10, Sunday, 1703. I preached at Toponemes in Freehold in 
 East-Jersey, on Acts 2. 41, 42. and had a considerable Auditory, diverse of 
 them late Converts from Quakerism to the Church. Mr. Innesse above- 
 mentioned did read the Prayers. Mr. Talbot staid to preach in several 
 places in Pensilvania, and West- Jersey, for some time. 
 
 October 17, Sunday. I preached at Shrewsbury near the Quakers 
 Meeting there, on Psal. 103. 17, 18. 
 
 October 24, Sunday. I preached again there, on Heb. 8. 10, 11. And 
 Mr. Innesse Baptized two Men ana a Child. 
 
 October 31, Sunday. I preached at Amboy in East-Jersey, on Titus 2. 11, 
 12, 13, 14. 
 
 November 3. I preached at And. Craig's in the Township of Elizabeth 
 Town, on 2 Pet. 1. 5. and Baptized his Four Children. 
 
 November 4. I Baptized the Children of Andrew Hemton, eight in 
 Number ; He and his Wife are come over from Quakerism to the Church. 
 And November 3, I Baptized Seven Children of a Widow Woman there. 
 
 November 7, Sunday. I preached at Netv-York, on Acts 2. 42. and that 
 Sermon was soon after Printed at New-York, at the desire of some who 
 heard it, and did contribute to the Charge of its Printing. 
 
 November 14, Sunday. I preached at Jamaica on Long-Island, on Heb. 
 8. 9, 10. 
 
 November 17, Wednesday. I preached at Oysterbay on Long-Island, on 
 Jude 20, 21. And Novem'b. 19. there I Baptized Mrs. White, Wife to Mr. 
 Edward White, and all his Children, viz. three Sons and five Daughters. 
 He and his Wife were formerly Quakers, but are come over to the Church. 
 And the same Day I Baptized Mrs. Jones, Wife to Captain Jones of that 
 Township. 
 
 November 20, Saturday. At Oysterbay, I Baptized John Townsend, a 
 Justice of Peace, and his three Children. And Mr. Nathaniel Cole, and his 
 Wife, and his three Children. There had scarce been any Profession of the 
 Christian Religion among the People of that Town ; they had scarce any 
 Notion of Religion but Quakerism : The Quakers had formerly a Meeting 
 there, but many of them who lived in that Town, became Followers of Thomas 
 Chase (not the Thomas Chase of Ha?nj)ton in New-England abovementioned) 
 and were called, Chase's Crew, who set up a new sort of Quakerism, and 
 among other Vile Principles, they condemned Marriage, and said, it was of 
 
George Keith? s Journal. 45 
 
 the Devil, perverting that Text of Scripture, The Children of the Resurrection 
 neither Marry, nor are given in Marriage ; and they said they were the 
 Children of the Resurrection ; and indeed, as the Author of the Snake in the 
 Grass has well observed ; This Mad sort of Quakers, called Chase's Crew, did 
 but consequentially practice, what the followers of George Fox held very 
 generally in Principle, viz. that they were come already to the Resurrection, 
 and had their vile Bodies already changed ; so George Fox has expressly 
 Taught in Print, in a Printed Treatise of his about the Supper, where he will 
 have the Lord's Supper now to be only inward. 
 
 November 21, Sunday. I preached at Ilampsted Church on Long-Island, 
 on 1 Pet. 2. 9. and Lodged that Night at Isaac Smith's House, Four Miles 
 distant from the Church, and there I Baptized a Young- Woman of his 
 Family, and a Boy, and a Girl of his Relations, and a Neighbours Child, a 
 Boy. This Isaac Smith had been formerly a Quaker, and was scarce then 
 fully come off, but came and heard me Preach, and was well affected, and did 
 kindly Entertain me. 
 
 November 28, Sunday. I preached at New-York on 1 Cor. 12. 13. and 
 that Sermon also was Printed at New-York, at the desire of some who heard 
 it, and contributed to the Charge of Printing it ; and by the Blessing of God, 
 both these printed Sermons have been serviceable to many in these American 
 Parts, and to some also in England, to reclaim them from their erroneous 
 Opinions about the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's-Supper. 
 
 December 5, Sunday, 1703. I preached at New-York, on John 12 
 35, 36. 
 
 December 12, Sunday. I preached at Amboy, at my Lord Cornbury's 
 Lodging, where he was present, and many with him. My Text was John 
 12. 35, 36. 
 
 December 19, Sunday. I preached at the House of Col. Tounfly in 
 Elizabeth-Town, both Forenoon and Afternoon, on 1 Pet. 2. 9. Many of 
 that Town having been formerly a sort of Independents, are become well 
 affected to the Church of England, and desire to have a Minister of the 
 Church of England sent to them: There I baptized a Child of Mr. 
 Shakmaple. 
 
 December 25, Christmas-day. I preached at Amboy in East-Jersey on 
 1 Tim. 3. 16. *' 
 
 December 26, Sunday. Mr. Talbot preached there on Peal. 125 and 
 baptized a Young Man, called John Brown, who had a Quaker Education, 
 and a 1 oung Woman. 
 
 December 21 1703. I preached at Capt. Bishops by Ravai-Biver in 
 East-Jersey, on Jude 20. and baptized a Child of Robert Wright 
 
 December 29 Wednesday. I preached at the Independents Meeting- 
 House in Woodbndge, at the Desire of Mr. Shepherd, and some others there, 
 on 1 lim. 3. 16. After Sermon Mr. Shepherd kindly entertained us at his 
 House. 
 
 December 30, Thursday. I preached at Piscataway in East-Jersey, on 
 Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8, 9. y ' 
 
 January 2, Sunday. I preached at Amboy on Heb. 8. 10, 11. 
 _ January 9, Sunday. I preached at the House of Dr. Johnston on Nether- 
 sinks, on Psal. 119. V. 113. and had a considerable Auditory. 
 
46 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 January 16, Sunday. I preached at Mr. Morris House at the Falls of 
 Shrewsbury in East-Jersey, on 2 Cor. 5. 17. 
 
 January 23, Sunday. I preached again at Mr. Morris House on 2 Pet. 1. 5. 
 January 30, Sunday. I preached at the House of Mr. Thomas Boels m 
 Freehold in East- Jersey, on 1 Cor. 3 5. 58. 
 
 February 6, Sunday. I preached at the House of Mr. John Read m 
 Freehold in East-Jersey, on PsaZ. 119. 96. 
 
 February \3, Sunday. I preached at Burlington Church in West-Jersey, 
 on 1 Cor. 15. 58.. 
 
 February 20, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia both Forenoon and 
 Afternoon, on P sal. 119. 96, 97. 
 
 February 27, Sunday, 1704. I preached at Trinity -Chappel at Franck- 
 fort (alias Oc/brd) in Pensilvania, on 1 Jbfoi 2. 24. As I returned from 
 Franckfort to Philadelphia, that very Day, about the 4th Hour in the After- 
 noon, being Sunday, both I and those in company with me, observed that a, 
 Corn-Mill belonging to some Quakers was Grinding, which they told me, is 
 very common there. 
 
 March 5, Sunday, 1704. I preached at Philadelphia, on Luke 2. 29, 30, 
 31, 32, in the Afternoon. 
 
 March 12, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia on 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. 
 March 16, Thursday. I preached at Trinity- Chappel at Franckfort, on 
 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. 
 
 March 19, Sunday. I preached at Philadelphia a second Sermon on 
 1 Tim. 2. 2, 3, 4. 
 
 March 26, Sunday, 1704. I preached both Forenoon and Afternoon, at 
 Burlington Church, on 1 Cor. 15. 58. two other Sermons, being my last I 
 preached there. 
 
 April 2, Sunday, 1704. I preached at Philadelphia on John 4. 24. being 
 my last Sermon I preached there. 
 
 After my Return from East-Jersey to Philadelphia, about the middle of 
 February 1703. for the Space of Six Weeks, I remained mostly at Phila- 
 delphia, and was very kindly and hospitally entertained by Mr. Joshua Carpen- 
 ter, at his House, where I lodged all that time, until I began my Journey 
 from Philadelphia towards Virginia, to take Passage for my Return to 
 England. Mrs. Welch, with whom I lodged formerly, having been Sick and 
 Weak all that time ; but some time after it pleased God to restore her to 
 Health, 
 
 During the most part of Winter, in the Year 1703. Mr. Talbot, by my free 
 Consent,°did travel in diverse other Parts in Pensilvania, West and East- 
 Jersey, Preaching and Baptizing many in those Parts where I was not with 
 him. For the greater Service of God and his Church, we did oft travel 
 separately, (being still one in Heart and Affection) and I had very good 
 Friends that travelled with me in his Absence, to accompany me from place 
 to place, in all those places where I travelled. 
 
 April 9, Sunday. I preached at Chester Church in Pensilvania, on John 
 4. 24. being my last Sermon there. 
 
 April 12, Wednesday. I preached at Newcastle, on Jude 20. 
 April 16, Easter-Sunday. Mr. Talbot preached at Mr. Bourdhfs Church 
 in Maryland, where I had preached before July 21, 1703. 
 
George Keitlis Journal. 47 
 
 April 23, Sunday. I preached at Annapolis in Maryland, Col. Seamour 
 Governour of Maryland, being present, who very kindly entertained us at his 
 House both then and at other times, during our Abode there, as we waited 
 for Passage clown Maryland-Bay to James-River in Virginia. 
 
 Mr. Talbot accompanied me from Philadelphia to Annapolis in Maryland, 
 where with true Love and Affection, we did take our Farewell of one another, 
 and he returned to serve God and his Church, as formerly, especially in 
 Pensilvania, West and East-Jersey, where he was like to have the greatest 
 Service and Success : And some time ago, the Right Reverend Henry, Lord 
 Bishop of London, has writ to him to fix at Burlington, to be Minister 'of the 
 Church there, where is now a large Congregation ; and where, not lom>- a"-o, 
 there was little else but Quakerism or Heathenism. 
 
 April 26, 1704. I sailed down Maryland-Bay to Virginia, in Captain 
 Pulman's Ship, who very kindly entertained me and Mr. John Barclay, my 
 good Friend with me : He, in true Love and Affection, travelled with me 
 from his dwelling House at Amboy in East-Jersey, to James-River in 
 Virginia, and he staid with me until he saw me aboard the Ship, June 8. 
 where we took our Farewell. 
 
 May 2, 1704. We arrived at Kicketan by James-River, and staid some 
 Days at the House of my Son in Law there. 
 
 May 7, Sunday. I preached at Williamsburgh Church in Virginia, on 
 1 Tim. 2. 3, 4. Col. Nicnlson, then Governour of Virginia, being present, 
 who kindly entertained us. 
 
 May 14, Sunday. I heard Mr. Grace preach in Kicketan Church, on 
 Luke 23. 43. 
 
 May 21, Sunday, 1704. I preached at Kicketan on Acts 20. 21. 
 May 28, Sunday. I preached in the Queen's Ship, called, Bread-Nought, 
 Capt. Evans Commodore to the Virginia Fleet bound for England. 
 
 June 4, Whitsunday. I preached again in the Commodore-Ship, on 
 Job. 16. 7. l 
 
 June 8. I came aboard the Commodore, and was kindly and generously 
 entertained by Capt. Evans at his Table, all the Voyage, gratis, and I lodged 
 (near to him) in the great Cabin. 
 
 August 6, 1704. We arrived safe at the Downs, praised be God our 
 Preserver. 
 
 August 6. Having taken my Leave of Captain Evans at the Downs, I 
 came aboard a Merchant-Ship, whose Commander was Captain James Thomas, 
 and sailed in his Ship until we arrived into the Thames, about ten miles from 
 London, being kindly entertained by him : And that Evening, being the 14th 
 of August, I came to my Family in London, safe and well, notwithstanding 
 of the false Prophecy of some of the Quakers, That L should never see England 
 any more, after my Departure out of it, in April, 1 702. The abovementioned 
 Captain James Thomas, my good Friend, some Years ago came off from 
 Quakerism (wherein he was educated) and his Wife also, a°nd are come over 
 to the Church. He was baptized above three Years ago, by the Reverend 
 Mr. Stubs, in St. Alphage Church by Zion- College, whereof he is Minister; 
 to whose Baptism I was one of the Witnesses. 
 
 Thus I have given an entire Journal of my two Years Missionary Travel 
 and Service, on the Continent of North-America, betwixt Piscataway-River 
 
48 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 in New-England,. and Coretuck in North Carolina ; of extent in Length 
 about Eight hundred Miles ; within which Bounds are Ten distinct Colonies 
 and Governments, all under the Crown of England,™. Piscataway, Boston, 
 Rhod-Island, Connecticut, New-York, East and West-Jersey, Penszlvama, 
 Maryland, Virginia, and North- Carolina. p 
 
 I travelled twice over most of those Governments and Colonies and I 
 preached oft in many of them, particularly in Pensilvania, West and East- 
 Jersey and New-York Provinces, where we continued longest, and found the 
 
 ^^^^^^ and my Fellow-Labourer Mr. John Talons 
 Ministry, in the Places where we travelled I shall not say much ; yet it is 
 necessary that something be said, to the Glory of God alone to whorc it 
 belongs, and to the Encouragement of others, who may hereafter be imployed 
 
 "in'afuie 6 place's where we travelled and preached we found the People 
 generally well affected to the Doctrine that we preached among them and 
 they did generally join with us decently in the Liturgy and Pubhck Pra s 
 and Administration of the Holy Sacraments, after the Usage of the Chuich 
 of England, as we had Occasion to use them. 
 
 And where Ministers were wanting, (as there were wanting in many 
 Places) the People earnestly desired us to present their Request to the 
 Honourable Society, to send Ministers unto them, which accordingly I have 
 foneTand in answer to their Request, the Society has sent to such Places as 
 seemed most to want, a considerable Number of Missionaries. 
 
 Beside the general Success we had, praised be God for it) both in our 
 Prfachhi., and much and frequent Conference with People of diverse Perswa- 
 Sonl many of which had been wholly Strange* to the Way of the Church 
 of England; who, after they had observed it in the Public payers and 
 reading the Lessons out of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
 men °and the Manner of the Administration of Baptism and he Lord 
 Supper, were greatly affected with it, and some of which declared their great 
 Satisfaction and theVeem they had of the Solemn and edifying manner of 
 our Worship and Administration, far above whatever they could obseive m 
 other Ways of Worship known to them. 
 
 To many, our Ministry was as the sowing the Seed and Planting who, 
 probably, never so much as heard one orthodox Sermon preached to them 
 Ee we came and preached among them who received the Word with 
 Joy and of whom we have good Hope, that they will be as the good 
 Ground That bringeth forth Fruit, some Thirty, some Sixty,andsomean 
 HZdred Fold. U to many others it was a Watering to what had been 
 formerly Sown and Planted among them ; some of the good Fimt whereot 
 wdd observe, to the Glory of God, and our great Comfort, while we were 
 with them, even such Fruits of true Piety and good Lives and sober and 
 riXteous Living, as prove the Trees to be good from which they did proceed 
 g Many or most of those who had born the Name oi Separatist Quakers 
 (for their leaving the Meetings of the Quakers, because of their Opposition to 
 IT treat Fundamentals of* the Christian Faith, and had embraced the 
 Doctine they heard preached by me, concerning the Way of Salvation by 
 Faltn in Jesus Christ, both God and Man, as he outwardly came in the Flesh, 
 
George Keith's Journal. 49 
 
 died for our Sins, and rose again, &c. about the Years 1691 and 1692, and 
 had set up distinct Meetings), we found had joined with the Church of 
 England Congregation at Philadelphia, before our Arrival, when we came 
 among them :°they received us with great Joy and Satisfaction to hear us 
 preach what tended to their farther Confirmation in the Christian Faith, and 
 in Communion with the Church of England. And they expressed the great 
 Benefit they had received by my several Epistles I wrote to them from 
 London, about the Years 1698 and 1699, to answer the Scruples and 
 Objections some of them had made to me in some of their Letters, against 
 joining with the Church of England, which they told me, gave them great 
 Satisfaction, by the Blessing of God, to join with the Church, and with which 
 they joined' soon after. And the like Service my Epistles did to others of 
 their Friends, in East and West-Jersey, and other Parts of that Country, to 
 whom they had imparted them, at my Desire. 
 
 The Reverend Mr. Evan Evans, the Minister of the Church of England 
 Congregation at Philadelphia, informed me, that (beside the considerable 
 Number of Converts to the Church from Quakerism, that the former Minister, 
 the Reverend Mr. Claiton had baptized) by his Account, since he was 
 Minister there, he had baptized of Men, Women, and Children, in Pensilvania 
 and West-Jersey, of English and Welsh, about Five hundred; many, or 
 most of them, having been Quakers, and the Children of Quakers, and 
 Quakerly affected ; and beside these, many who had left Quakerism, and had 
 joined to the Church, had been baptized in Infancy, not having been born of 
 Quaker Parents. , _, . 
 
 Since our Arrival into those American Parts, by the Blessing ot God upon 
 our Labours among them, in Pensilvania, West and East-Jersey, and New- 
 York Province, there have been, by modest Computation, at least two 
 hundred Persons baptized of Quakers, and their Children, and Servants, and 
 of such who were Quakerly affected, by Mr. Talbot, and Mr. Evans, and by 
 me, and some by the Reverend Mr. Vesey, Minister of New- York, in that 
 Town. And beside these, many who had been baptized in Infancy, have 
 come off from Quakerism and joined to the Church in these Countries, since 
 we travelled and preached among them, and had much Conference with 
 diverse of them in private from House to House. Diverse also of Dissenters 
 formerly disaffected to the Church, who were not Quakers, are become well 
 affected to the Church, and her Publick way of Worship, and Administration 
 of the holy Sacraments, as well as to the Truth of Her Doctrine, since our 
 Labouring among them, both in East and West-Jersey, and else where ; so 
 that, God = be Praised, almost in all these Couutries where we Travelled and 
 Laboured, in some of which there was little to be observed but Quakerism, or 
 Heathenism, which are much one (and if we may believe some of the 
 Quakers great Authors, they are altogether one, viz. the Religion of the 
 Quakers, and of such Heathens, who were obedient to the Light within them, 
 but without all Faith, and Knowledge of Christ, as he came in the Flesh). 
 I say, in all these Countries almost, by the Blessing of God on our Labours, 
 there' are good Materials prepared for the Building of Churches, of living 
 Stones, as soon as, by the good Providence of God, Ministers shall be sent 
 amoncr' them, who have the discretion and due qualifications requisite to 
 Build'with them. The Truth of which some of the late Missionanes have 
 
 4 
 
50 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 found, to their great Comfort, who, as soon as they Arrived 1 into these Parts, 
 unto which they were sent, did find a People prepared to receive them ; so 
 that what others had Sown before them, they have Reaped, and I hope will 
 more abundantly Reap. 
 
 In Pensilvania, where there was but one Church of England Congregation. 
 settled, to wit, at Philadelphia (and even that but of few Years standing) at 
 our Arrival there ; there are now, Blessed be Cod, Five Church of England 
 Congregations supplied with Ministers, and who have convenient Churches, 
 where the People assemble constantly every Lord's Day to the Prayers and; 
 Sermons, and where the Holy Sacraments are duly Administered, according, 
 to the Church of England. The places in Pensilvania, where these Churches 
 are set up, are, the first, Philadelphia, the second Chester or Upland, the 
 third Franclcfort alias Oxford, the fourth New-Castle, the fifth Apoquimene. 
 
 At Philadelphia, they have Prayers in the Church, not only on the Lord's 
 Days, and other holy Days, but all Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, and the 
 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper administered Monthly, and the Number of 
 the Communicants considerable. The Church is commonly well filled with 
 People every Lord's Day, and when they are fully assembled, both of the 
 Town and Country that belong to that Congregation, they may well be 
 reckoned, by modest Computation, to amount to Five Hundred Persons of 
 Hearers. But sometimes there are many more ; and generally the Converts 
 from Quakerism, are good Examples, both for frequenting the Church Prayers, 
 and frequent partaking of the Lord's-Supper, with zeal and devotion, and also 
 of sober and virtuous Living in their daily conversation, to the frustrating the 
 lying Prophecies and Expectations of the Quaker Preachers especially, who 
 used to Prophecy, that whoever left the Profession of Quakers, after thai 
 should be good for nothing, but as unsavoury Salt, to be trod under foot of 
 Men. But to God's Praise be it said, they may be generally compared with 
 the best Quakers for their Morals, and far to exceed many of them in that 
 respect; aud which greatly casts the Ballance, that the Morals of those 
 converted from Quakerism, -both in England and America, or any where else, 
 are Built on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being 
 the head corner Stone, which the Quakers Morals (no moye than the Heathens) 
 are not Built upon. 
 
 At Burlington in West-Jersey, Twenty Miles distant from Philadelphia, 
 on the other side of Delaware-River, there is now a settled Congregation, 
 with a fixed Minister, to wit, the Reverend Mr. John Talbot, my Fellow 
 Labourer, where there is a large Congregation, and a considerable Number 
 of Communicants, many of them having been formerly Quakers, and Quaker- 
 ly affected, or such as were of no particular denomination. And such of them 
 as had not been Baptized in Infancy, have received Baptism, partly by Mr. 
 Evans, and partly by Mr. Talbot, and some of them by me. Mr. Talbot has 
 Baptized most of them who have been Baptized, since our Arrival among 
 them, and particularly all the Children, both Males and Females, of William 
 Budd, who formerly was a Quaker-Preacher, but is come over from Quaker- 
 ism, to the Church, with diverse others of the Neighbourhood, in the Country 
 about the Town of Burlington, who come usually to the Church at Burling- 
 ton on the Lord's-Day ; some of them, Six, Eight, and some of them Ten, or 
 Twelve Miles, and some of them more. 
 
George KeitNs Journal. 51 
 
 In some other Places they are about Building Churches, both in West and 
 East- Jersey. 
 
 The place at FrancKfort in Pensilvania, where the Congregation Assembles 
 on the Lord's-Day, is ealled, Trinity Chappel, it was formerly a Quaker 
 Meeting-House, Built, or fitted by Quakers, but some time ago has been given 
 to the Church, by such who had the Right to it : Some Land adjoining was 
 given by a Person well affected to the Church, for the use of the Minister, 
 who should reside there, for a House, Garden, and small Orchard. 
 
 I can say little to any Success we had in America, amongst the other sort 
 of Quakers, though, as the above-written Journal sheweth, I Laboured much 
 among them, in true Love, and good Will ; but they being misled, and 
 prejudiced by their Leaders, seemed too generally to reject my Labour of 
 Love ; however, I am not without hope, that the Seed that God had enabled 
 me to Sow among them, will in some of them, in due time, take Root down- 
 ward, and bear Fruit upward, though little of it doth yet appear. 
 
 There are now Thirteen Ministers in the Northern Parts of America, all 
 placed within these two Years last past, and generally Supported and 
 Maintained by the Honourable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
 Foreign Parts. 
 
 In all the Places where we travelled, the Governours of all the- several 
 Provinces, did very kindly treat us, and give us all possible Countenance and 
 Encouragement that we could desire or expect. 
 
52 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Here followeth an Account of the several Treatises I wrote and 
 published in Print, in North America, within the Time of my 
 Abode there, in the Years 1702, and 1703, to 1704. 
 
 M Y t 
 
 Sermon I preached at Boston, on Ephes. 2. 20. printed 
 there. 
 
 II. My printed Sheet, in a Letter to Mr. Samuel Willard, a Preacher at 
 Boston. 
 
 III. My Reply to Mr. Increase Mather's printed Remarks against the Six 
 Rules I gave in my Sermon, on Ephes. 2. 20. 
 
 IV. My Answer to Mr. Samuel Willard's Reply to my printed Sheet. 
 
 V. My Answer to Caleb Pusey Quaker, his Book against me, which he 
 abusively called, Proteus Ecclesiasticus. 
 
 VI. The Account of the blasphemous Notions of William Davis, who 
 after he left the Quakers, set up for a Sect-Master. 
 
 VII. My Answer to a second Book of Caleb Pusey against me. 
 
 VIII. My Sermon preached at New-York, on Acts 2. 41, 42. 
 
 IX. My Sermon preached at New- York, on 1 Cor. 12. 13. 
 
 X. My Sermon preached at Annapolis in Maryland, on 1 Thes. 1. 5. 
 
 All these bound up in one Book, I humbly presented to the Society, soon 
 after my Arrival at London : The Book it self may be found at the Library 
 of the most Reverend Thomas Lord Arch Bishop of Canterbury, by St. 
 Martins in the Fields, where the Society useth to meet. 
 
George Keith's Journal. 53 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Six Rules above-mentioned, in the first Sheet of the 
 foregoing Journal, are these following. 
 
 The First Rule. 
 
 WHATEVER is enjoyn'd by our Superiours, if it contradict not God's 
 Commands in Holy Scripture, ought for Conscience sake to be 
 obev'd, according to 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14, Bom. 13. 5. Heb. 13 1 17. ^.And if 
 what they enjoyn, be not made a Command of God, or an Article of *aith, or 
 a Means of Grace. 
 
 The Second Rule. 
 
 Whatever Church holds the Fundamentals of Christian Religion, and has 
 the Word of God dulv Preach'd, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the 
 Lord's-Supper duly Administered ; such a Church is a true Church of Christ ; 
 and to separate from such a Church in external Communion, and in external 
 Acts of Worship, is a Sin, the which Sin is the Sin of Schism, that is very 
 heinous, Bom. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 12. 25. 1 Cor. 1. 10, 13. and nothing can 
 excuse from the Guilt of that Sin, unless when anything is enjoyn d to Persons 
 that is really sinful and contrary to God's Commands given us in the Holy 
 Scriptures ; not what Men, bv Prejudice of Education, or by wrong Informa- 
 tion, say is Sin, but what really is so, and can be clearly proved to be so out 
 of the Holy Scriptures. And if they cannot join in one or some external 
 Acts of Worship, because sinful; yet in other Acts they ought to join that 
 are not sinful. 
 
 The Third Rule. 
 
 What Thino-s we see amiss in particular Persons, are not to be charged 
 upon the whole Church, unless the Church do justify those Persons m those 
 Thino-s : and what we can't amend, we ought to bear ; for there is no 
 Christian Society upon Earth but has some particular Persons that do amiss ; 
 and all Dissenters, when particular Failings of particular Persons are objected 
 to them, give the like Excuse. 
 
54- Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 The Fourth Rule. 
 
 To join in external Acts of Publick Worship, where the Matter is found, 
 tho' there be a great Mixture of unsound Members with others found, is no 
 Sin, but our Duty, for which we are warranted both by the Practice of the 
 Prophets, and other holy Persons in the Ancient Jewish Church, who never 
 did separate from the Publick Worship of God when the Matter of it was 
 found, notwithstanding that Things were very much amiss, amongst them in 
 Practice : And also by the Example of Zacharias and Elizabeth, and all 
 other holy Persons that were then in the Jewish Church, and by the Example 
 of our Saviour himself and his Apostles, who frequented the Temple Worship, 
 performed in the Synagogues before our Saviour's Passion, that put an end to 
 Circumcision, and Sacrifices, and other Types of the Old Testament. 
 
 The Fifth Rule, 
 
 Whatsoever Things were commanded of God, or allow'd and practised 
 lawfully under the Old Testament, that were neither any Part of the 
 Ceremonial Law, nor of the Jewish Polity peculiar to that Nation, are still 
 binding to us under the New Testament, or allow'd and practiced lawfully ; 
 and a Proof out of the Old Testament, in all such Cases, is as good as a Proof 
 out of the New. 
 
 The Sixth Rule. 
 
 _ Set Forms of Prayer and Thanksgiving (where the People pray Vocally 
 with the Minister) are a Duty as well under the New Testament as the Old ; 
 and that it was practised under the Old, is clear from Isa. 29. 13. Joel 2. 11. 
 Mos. 14. 2, 3, Mat. 15. 8, &c. And under the New Testament our Saviour 
 gave a Form of Prayer to his Disciples, which he commanded his Disciples 
 to say ; and John the Baptist taught his Disciples a Form of Prayer, Luke 
 11. 2. And many of the Dissenters use the Form of Benediction after 
 Sermon, The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. And they use the Form 
 of Words that Christ taught, both in Baptism and the Lord's-Supper. Under 
 the Old Testament they were to pray with the Spirit, and with Sincerity of 
 Heart and Affection, as well as under the New ; and therefore if praying in a 
 *orm was not then inconsistent with praying by the Spirit, no more is it 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Keith, and Talbot. 55 
 
 [In continuation of the story of the Church's progress, as well as in fur- 
 ther illustration of Mr. Talbot's character, we resume here the publication 
 of his letters.] 
 
 Mr. Talbot to Mr. Keith. 
 
 " N. York, October 20th, 1705. 
 " Reverend Sir : 
 
 " We received advice from Barbadoes that your Fleet was 
 arrived, a confirmation of which we shall be glad to have from yourself. We 
 the clergy in these Provinces, Pensilvania, N. Jersey, and N. York, being con- 
 vened here by the directions of my Lord Cornbury and his Excellency Gover- 
 nour Nicholson, to make a representation of the present state- of affair* of the 
 Church, which we have drawn up, in a scheme, and transmitted to your vene- 
 rable Society signed by the twelve apostles, I mean to do- in this Letter as I 
 do in my Travels, touch and go from place to place, and tell you such things 
 as I thought not so proper for the Public view. I got some hundreds of Fr. 
 Buggs Books printed, which I had endorsed with a challenge and so was 
 bound to answer it \ but I could not provoke the friends to it by no means. 
 No they say, as they used to do, that they will answer in print. Then I 
 offered to take the two Almanacks by Dan. Leeds and Caleb Pusey and prove 
 them by Friends Books. I challenged y e latter at y e head of his Regi- 
 ment to come forth and see himself proved a Lyar, in y e very same book 
 and page where he most impudently charges G. K. D. L. and y e eight 
 ministers of your Church of England. But all I could get of them at present 
 was this sorry paper, " False News from Gath," which I intend to answer with 
 " true news to Gath," Ashdod and the rest of the uncircumcised, unbaptized 
 Philistines ; at length I appointed a meeting at Church, whether they would 
 come or no, and there I exposed their errors before all men, women and chil- 
 dren that were there ; but none answered a word, though several Quakers 
 were there, whilst I, Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Nichols examined y e " Bomb," and 
 D. L. Almanack by their books, and proved y e quotations true. I have hired 
 a chamber at Burlington, where I keep the present collection of friends books \. 
 several of them came to me there and were satisfied,, but some desired me to 
 set down my quotations book and page, which I promised to do-at my leisure, 
 particularly to one of their friends of y e ministry whom I believe will come off. 
 I have forgot his name, he lives near Peter Chamberlain's in Pensilvania. Mr. 
 Sharpe was very jealous to bring y e Quakers to stand a tryal ; he carried one 
 of y e Bombs into their meeting, and read a new challenge which I sent them, to 
 answer what they they had printed ; but all in vain. Sam. Jennings stood up 
 and said, ' Friends let's call upon God ;' then they went to Prayer and so their 
 meeting broke up. Since, I have read several scandalous Letters from several 
 Quakers, whereby I see they are preparing War against me ; one was from 
 W. Bakeshaw, the same villain that pulled y e paper out of your hand last 
 yearly meeting at Philadelphia. He said there was not a word of truth in the 
 Bomb, and he would answer it but none appeared. Mr. Nichol, Mr. Sharp 
 and I preached in our turns, proper sermons to warn y e people of their errors, 
 and heresies ; so we kept up y e Christian yearly meeting so happily begun by 
 
56 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 you at Philadelphia. Mr. Nichols gives his service to you, he is indeed an 
 ingenious man, and will prove in all appearance an able hand against Quaker- 
 ism. I have promised to set him up with friends, goods, &c. ; we mean to go 
 down to Chester and give him a broad side there if the Governour will give us 
 leave. They are all out at Philadelphia as much about Government as ever 
 they were about religion. There is Charter against Commission and Major 
 
 . against Governour. They have 2 sheriffs, Captain Fenny appointed by Governor 
 Evans, and young John Budd by y e Major. Now the Governour proclaimed 
 their proceedings null and void, but G. Jones told him it was not he nor his, 
 neither that should take away their Charter ; so much for State affairs, you 
 may hear all perhaps one of these days in Westminster Hall, meanwhile here's 
 a Government divided against itself; God preserve his Church and let them 
 that have the watch look out. There is a new meeting house built for 
 Andrews, and almost finished since you came away, which I am afraid will 
 
 ■ draw away great part of the Church, if there be not y c greatest care taken of 
 it ; Mr. Rudman serves there some times, but chiefly at the Country Church 
 
 ,(in Oxford near Frankfort) with good success ; but he has met with some dis- 
 turbance from Edward Eaton, who has been very pevish and scandalous 
 
 • in words and writings, for which he was presented to y e Grand Jury, but 
 ■it was hard to persuade them to find the Bill ; but what will come of it 
 
 I know not. 
 
 " Mr. Sharp and I have gone the rounds several times from Burlington to 
 Arnboy, to Hopwell, to Elizabeth Town, to Staten Island in our turns, with 
 good success, God be blessed, in all places. He has gathered a Church him- 
 self at Cheesquaks, where he preached several times, and baptized about forty 
 persons. Now I am alone, for my Lord Cornbury has preferred him to 
 'be Chaplain of Her Majesty's Fort and Forces at N. York. I saw his Com- 
 mission signed this day in y e room of Mr. Mott who dyed about 3 months 
 ago. I was loth to part with my good friend and companion in travel, but 
 
 • considering how he had been disappointed at home, I would not hinder his 
 preferment abroad, hoping that the good providence of God and y e venerable 
 ■Society will supply his place. 
 
 "The Assembly sat at Burlington in September, but did nothing that my 
 Lord desired them, so he dissolved them and called another there in October. 
 Now I hear that Mr. Wheeler our good friend is chosen instead of Thomas 
 Gardener. It seems their interest goes down thereabouts. Sam. Jennings 
 complains that a man can't turn friend of truth now but he is ridiculed out of 
 it. I hope' the venerable Society will take Mr. Bradford's case into their consider- 
 ation. It has cost me Ten pounds and more out of my Pocket to print some 
 small books ! to give away, where I could not stay that the Church might 
 ■be served and the Printer employed, without setting forth those that are erro- 
 neous. I know you will not forget y e Reverend Mr. James, who has been so 
 zealous for y e service of y e Church, since you put him upon it. I count him 
 as my father now you are gone, and indeed our Convocation had been at 
 a Loss for a Foreman had not he supplied the place by his gravity and wis- 
 dom. I have drawn another Bill upon Mr. Hodges, not knowing when 
 I should have so good opportunity ; besides I have been at more than ordi- 
 nary charge for horses and cloaths, for I never received any from England 
 since I came out of it. As for that parcel that my Friend Mr. Gillingham 
 
Keith and Talbot. 57 
 
 sent by Capt. Tnnifer, I can't hear what is become of it. My horse you know- 
 dyed at Burlington and y e Quakers recorded it as a judgment upon me. 
 Ben. Wheat set it, down in his Almanack, such a day of y e 1st month, John 
 Talbot's horse dyed, and Barnet Lane haled him into the river. But I was 
 more sorry for the mare that you were so kind to give me, for she dyed before 
 i came over the Bay in Maryland. I hope y e venerable Society will see good 
 to take you into their number, for it may be of use to them to have one there 
 that has been here. I hope the Letter will come safe to your hand by Mr. 
 Robert Owen minister of a church in Maryland who is a very honest Gentle- 
 man. And indeed so are all the Missionarys in general, especially the English 
 one Mr. More, the only countryman we have amongst us, a man according to 
 my own heart, I'm sorry he's to go so far off as y e Mohocks, God knows 
 whether we shall see him again. 1 had y e same call and had gone to the 
 same place, but when I saw so many people of my own nation and tongue, I 
 soon resolved by God's grace to seek them in y e first place, and if we could 
 not recover those that were fallen, yet by God's help we may keep them out 
 of y e pit of Quakers and Hereticks who have denyed y e Faith and are worse 
 than Indians and Heathens who never knew it. 
 
 " As for a Suffragan we are all sensible of y e want we have of one, and 
 prav God send us a man of peace, for otherwise he will do more harm than 
 good, as proud, ambitious, covetous men used to do, troubling the State and 
 perplexing the Church, and then they run away, and leave all in the lurch. 
 I saw our honored friend, Coll. Nicholson, last month at Burlington, where he 
 staid a week or ten days. I was obliged to him every way, particularly for 
 his friendly advice in a case that was difficult to me at that time, but I shall 
 not mention names because I am resolved, by God's grace, to take heed 
 what I say of any man, whether good or bad. 
 
 " Coll. Nicholson took Bills of Mr. Bass for the money in hand, £70, 
 Pensylvania money, and gave it all to the Churches in these Provinces, with 
 Bills of Exchange to make it up £100 sterling, besides what he subscribed to 
 the Churches to be erected at Hopewell, Elizabeth Town, Amboy and Salem. 
 We have made it appear that he has exhibited to the Churches in these 
 Provinces about £1000 : besides, what he has given to particular persons and 
 the poor would amount to some hundreds more, which we did not think fit 
 to mention. He is a man of as much prudence, temperance, justice, and 
 fortitnde as any Governor in America, without disparagement to any, and of 
 much more zeal for the house and service of God. I have seen four of them 
 together at Church in Burlington, but in the afternoon their place had been 
 empty had it not been for the Honorable Governor Nicholson ; so that I can't 
 but observe the example of his piety in the Church, is as rare as his bounty 
 towards it ; no wonder then that all that love the Church of England are 
 fond of Governor Nicholson, who is a true son, or rather a nursing father, of 
 her in America. I hope you will do him all the service you can at home 
 whereby you will oblige all the Churches abroad. 
 
 " Mr. Urquhart is well chosen for the people of Jamaica, and indeed I 
 think none fitter than the Scotch Episcopal to deal with Whigs and Fanaticks 
 of all sorts. Had not Stuttart been allowed to preach he had brought them 
 all to the Church almost by this time ; but now they resort most to a barn that 
 is hard by, and will not pay Mr. Urquhart what is allowed by Law, though 
 
58 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 my Lord Cornbury has given his orders for it. Mr. John Lillingston designs, 
 it. seems, to go for England next year ; he seems to be the fittest person that 
 America affords for the office of a suffragan, and several persons, both of the 
 Laity and Clergy, have wished he were the man ; and if my Lord of London 
 thought fit to authorize him, several of the Clergy both of this Province and of 
 Maryland have said they would pay their tenths unto him, as my Lord of 
 London's Vicegerent, whereby the Bishop of America might have as 
 honorable provision as some in Europe. Ah, Mr. Keith, I have wanted you 
 but once, that is ever since you went. I pray God supply your place with 
 such another, who will pass through all Governments serving the Church, 
 without giving offence unto the State. I hope, good Sir, you will excuse 
 this long Letter. I had not time to write a short one ; therefore, amicitia 
 nostra, i desire that you would take all in good part that comes from 
 " Your most faithful friend 
 
 " And humble servant, 
 
 " John Talbot." 
 
 [We next find Mr. Talbot in England, whither he had gone on business of 
 the church, as his letters will explain.] 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Society for Propagating the Gospel. 
 
 " London, March 14, 1706. 
 
 " May it please the Reverend and 
 
 Right Honorable Society for Propagating the Gospel : 
 
 " After I had travelled with Mr. G. Keith through nine or ten Provinces 
 between New England and North Carolina, I took my leave of him in Mary- 
 land. The Assembly then sitting offered me £100 sterling to go and 
 Proselite their Indians ; but my call was to begin at home, and to teach our 
 own People first, ■ whose Language we did understand ; so I returned to 
 Burlington to finish the Church which was happily begun there. Mr. Sharpe 
 came to my assistance where I left him to supply that hopeful and infant 
 Church, whilst I went to East Jersey for Amboy, Elizabeth Town, Wood- 
 bridge and Staten-Island. This we did by turns about half a year till Mr. 
 Mott dyed who was Chaplain of the Queen's Fort and Forces at New York. 
 I was offered this place also, where I should have Board and Lodging and 
 £130 per annum, paid weekly ; but nothing could tempt me from the 
 service of the Society who were pleased to adopt me into their service, before 
 I had the honour to know them. Mr. Sbarpe was glad to embrace this 
 offer ; so I travelled alone, doing what good I could, till last Summer, I met 
 with Mr. John Brook who brought me a letter from, my Lord of London and 
 orders to fix at Burlington, as I did till November last. There was a general 
 meeting of the Missionarys who resolved to address the Queen for a suffragan 
 Bishop, that I should travel with it, and make known the requests of some of 
 the Brethren abroad, whose case we had recommended formerly by Letter to 
 the Venerable Society, but without success. It will be four years next June 
 since I associated with Mr. Keith. I was allowed £60 per annum for three 
 

 Keith and Talbot. S'9 
 
 years, but for the last I had nothing iieither here nor there. I have no 
 Business here but to solicit for a Suffragan, Books and Ministers for the 
 propagating the Gospel. God has so blessed ray Labors and Travels abroad 
 that I am fully resolved by his Grace to return, the sooner the better, having 
 done the Business that I came about ; meanwhile my Living in Gloucester- 
 shire is given away, but I have no reason to doubt of any Encouragement 
 from this famous Society who have done more in four years for America than 
 ever was done before ; and your Petitioner will ever pray. God bless all our 
 Benefactors in Heaven and Earth, and reward them for ever, for all the Good 
 they have done to the Church in general and in particular to 
 " Your most humble servant and 
 "Obedient Missionary, 
 
 "John Talboi." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " London, April 16th, 1707. 
 u Honored Sir" 
 
 " I have received several letters from my friends in America 
 who long for my return, which I was forward to do once and again, but Satan 
 hindered me by raising lies and slanders in my way. But I have cleared 
 myself to all that have heard me, and I hope you will satisfy the Honorable 
 Society that I am not the man to whom that dark character did belong. Mr. 
 Keith has known my doctrine and manner of life some years, what I have ven- 
 tured, suffered and acted for the Gospel of Christ abroad and at home. I desire 
 his letter may be read to the Honorable Board, and that they will be pleased 
 to dispatch me, the sooner the better, for the season is far spent, and the 
 •ships are going out, and if I go at all, I would go quickly. I know the 
 wants of the poor people in America. They have need of me or else I 
 should not venture my life to do that abroad which I could do more to my 
 ■own advantage at home. I should be glad to see somebody sent to North 
 Carolina. I hope the Planters' letters are not quite forgotten. 'Tis a sad 
 thing to live in the wilderness like the wild Indians without God in the 
 world. 
 
 " Your humble Servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 [Written after his return to America.] 
 
 " Philadelphia, 20th August, 1708. 
 *' HoNGR&Bi/E Sir: 
 
 " I have written several letters to you from Boston and New 
 York by Brothers Brookes and Moore ; but I am afraid they are all lost 
 
60 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 together ; they have been nine months gone, and we saw them not since, nor 
 any news of them. I met them at Boston and would persuade them to 
 return, but all in vain ; they had been so dragooned that they had rather be 
 taken into France than into the Fort at New York. I have carried on ever 
 since at Burlington as well as I could, and I thank God with success wherever 
 I am ; but I cannot stay long at any place, because there are so many that 
 want, certainly the present state of that province is worse than the first; we 
 have lost our labour and the Society their cost, there being several Churches 
 and no ministers in all East Jersey to supply them, so that they fall away 
 apace to Heathenism, Quakerism and Atheism, purely for lack of looking 
 after. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Moore are much lamented, being the most pious 
 and industrious Missionaries that ever the Honorable Society sent over ; let 
 the adversaries say what they will they can prove no evil thing against these 
 men. I have heard all sides and parties, what can be said pro or con. Mr. 
 Honeyman is outed, Mr. Nicholls scouted into Maryland ; he had come home 
 had I not dissuaded him, and I could have hindered all the rest of these 
 scandals and disorders but that we had no Bishop nor hopes of any ; you 
 would not hear of it, therefore I said you must hear worse and worse still, if 
 aught can be worse than that the bodies and souls of men are ruined and undone, 
 and the Bounty of the Society lost, for lack of an overseer of the poor Church 
 in America ; without which the Gospel cannot be planted, nor any good work 
 propagated in the World. The Bible you sent to Hopewell I was willing to 
 take to Burlington till more came over, because ours is worn out ; they that 
 come I hope will bring Books with them. I shall write more particularly by 
 the next opportunity. God bless all our friends of the Honorable Society, 
 remaining theirs and 
 
 w Your humble servant, 
 
 "John Talbot" 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, 24th August, 1708. 
 " Honorable Sir : 
 
 " It is now nine months ago since I parted with Mr. Brooks and 
 Mr. Moore at Boston ; I sent letters by them, but we are much afraid all are 
 miscarried. I was always glad to see them but mueh surprised to meet them 
 both there ; they told me what hardship they met with from the Governors of 
 New York and Jersey, and how they escaped out of their hands *, I was for 
 converting them back again, telling them the dangers of the sea and the 
 enemy, but poor Thorogood* said he had rather be taken into France than 
 into the Fort at New York ; and if they were sunk in the sea, they did not 
 doubt but God would receive them, sinee they were persecuted for righteous- 
 ness, that is for Christ's sake and his Gospel, and doing their duty to the best of 
 their knowledge. Truly as it was in the beginning so I find it in the end ; all 
 
 * The Rev. Thorogood Moore is meant — Ed. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 61 
 
 that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ; hut somebody 
 mu«t answer for these things at home or abroad. If I could have given 
 them any hopes of a Bishop or Suffragan to direct or protect them, 1 believe 
 they would not have gone; nay, I would have hindred them; but alas! 1 
 had no such hopes myself: I came over to be as good as my word rather 
 than on any encouragement to do any good; meanwhile, I am pure from the 
 Blood of all men; ye are my Witnesses that I pleaded with all my soul to 
 send an overseer of this poor Church, but you would not hear; therefore is 
 this evil come upon us. I don't doubt but by God's mercy their souls are 
 n6t miscarried, they are in peace wheree'r they be I don't doubt ; but we 
 Christians in Jersey are most miserable; we have Churches now but no 
 ministers to open them, and if the gate of Heaven be shut, the gates of Hell 
 will soon prevail against us. ,,,,., , 
 
 " This comes to you in the bosom of Mr. Moore's which he gave me at 
 Boston which was the last that I had of him ; he is much lamented, as 
 indeed 'they are both ; as for Thorowgood, I never knew his fellow of his age, 
 nor ever shall ao-ain I fear ; nothing can make this country amends for their 
 loss but a o-ood Bishop ; but alas ! that is vara avis in terns, &c. I preached 
 the Gospel at Marble-Head, where the people offered to subscribe some 
 hundreds of pounds to build a Church ; but I have resolved to build no more 
 Churches till there are more ministers to serve the Churches that are built. 
 I preached at Stratford as T came along in Connecticut Colony, where was a 
 numerous auditory, and Mr. Muirson had forty Communicants there the first 
 time ever the Holy Sacrament was rightly administered; and upon the 
 Islands, Rhode Island, Long Island, and Staten Island, I preached till the 
 Winter broke up, when I got to Amboy and Elizabeth Town, where had 
 been nobody since Mr. Brook left them, who was an able and diligent 
 Missioner as ever came over ; I got home about our Lady day, where I was 
 very welcome to all Christian people, but alas ! I could not stay, I am forced 
 to turn Itinerant again, for the care of all the Churches from East to West 
 Jersey is upon me ; what is the worst is that I can't confirm any nor have not 
 a Deacon to help me. My Clerk is put in prison, and was taken from the 
 Church on the Lord's day upon a civil action of meum and tuum. . I don t 
 know how soon I may be seized so myself, but I bless God I fear no evil so 
 loner as I do none ; Exurgat deus dissipentur inimic, &c. I hear there is 
 another Governor coming for these provinces ; people are sorry it is another 
 Lord for they say there never came a good one into these parts. I may say 
 of them as the Quakers did of me, ' Thee comest for money,' but I proved 
 them Liars, for I have taken no money of them nor yet of others since 1 
 ' came I shall say no more on this point but refer all to Mr. Moore's letter, 
 which I hope will have some weight with the Honorable Society, because 
 they are the last words of their best Missioner when he was in prison for the 
 Gospel of Christ and for a good conscience. His humble proposal is that the 
 Honorable Society would use their interest with the Queen that we might 
 have men of morals for Governors, if not of Religion ; I say the same, and 
 pray God direct them all for the best ; so I desire your prayers for, 
 F J "Sir, 
 
 " Your most humble servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
62 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, 30th June, 1709. 1 
 
 " Sir : 
 
 " I received your long letter and find Certamen est de lana 
 Caprina. For your moderation, which is nothing in the world but a name 
 which St. Paul never used in all his Epistles nor anything like it, but one 
 where 'tis wrong translated ; it should be let your gentleness be known to all 
 men, which I am for as much as anybody, towards man and Beast too; but if 
 you mean moderation in Religion, as one said here, 'I don't care whether I go 
 to Heaven or Hell." Good sir pardon your servant in this thing, but let us 
 not differ about words, but follow the things that are for peace, and things 
 whereby we may plant the Gospel and edify the Church of God. I am very 
 glad to find by the President's letter, that the members of the Honourable 
 Society are convinced, that a head is necessary to the body, but if he don't 
 make haste he will come too late, for here is nothing established, but such a 
 moderation to all that is good, and such a toleration of all that is evil, yea of 
 the most damnable Heresies, which by the way is a damnable Toleration, and 
 worse than the worst persecution that ever was in the world ; for that only 
 destroyed men's bodies, but these destroy body and soul in Hell for ever, 
 which is damnable with a vengeance and will make the last State of poor 
 America worse than the first, if not timely prevented. Is it not strange, that 
 so many islands should be inhabited with Protestants, so many provinces 
 planted by them — so many hundred thousand souls born and bred up herein 
 America ; but of all the Kings, Princes and Governours, all the Bishops and 
 Archbishops which have been since the Reformation, they never sent out any- 
 body here to propagate the Gospel ? I say to propagate it by imparting some 
 spiritual gift by ordination or confirmation. I thought the Society had set up 
 to supply these wants, and to take of! this horrible scandal from the Protestant 
 Churches, but truly they would not hear of it till they had lost their best mis- 
 sionaries (may lose all the rest for ought I know before it be legally obtained). 
 What ! is there a law against the Gospel? Let it be taken out of the way as 
 Popish and Antichristian ; we can't Baptize anybody hardly now for want of 
 God fathers and God mothers, for who will be bound where they are not like 
 to be discharged ? I can't get children here to be catechised, for they are 
 ashamed of anything that is good, for want of school masters to teach them 
 better. There is one Mr. Humphreys come over with my Lord Lovelace, 
 I suppose not unknown to you by Mr. Congreve ; he is a pretty sober young 
 man and graduate of Dublin college ; I have got him £20 subscribed, but that 
 is not enough for one that has a family. If the Society please to add so 
 much to it as they think fit, it will be as good a work as they can do. Mr. 
 Evans liked him so well that he would have had him for a free school at Phil- 
 adelphia, but that wanderer Mr. Ross, has got in there I believe by this time, 
 for they would not be quiet till they got poor Mr. Chub to resign. I pity 
 Mr. Jenkin's case, and I hope the society will restore him, for he is young 
 enough to move pity and to amend ; or if he cannot live there, let him be Iti- 
 nerant in this province and I will help him what I can ; the churches in east 
 Jersey are falling to the ground for lack of looking after, I can't go there above 
 
Keith and Talbot. 63 
 
 once or twice a year to administer the Holy Sacrament that they be not quite 
 starved It had been better not to have put these poor people to the charge 
 of buildincr churches, than have nobody to supply them I cant get so much 
 as a Reader here for any of them, and it were to save their souls You that 
 live at home in ease and plenty, little do you know what they and we do bear 
 and suffer here, and how many thousand souls are legally lost whilst they at 
 home are legally supplying them. Who will answer it to Jesus Christ who 
 S require an account of us all, and that very speedily too, meanwhile He has 
 chared all to take care of his flock not by constraint but willingly, not for 
 filthy Lucre but of a ready mind ; then they who don't care whether they go to 
 Heaven or Hell will have no reward for that moderation. I find in your books 
 that one Mr. Sergt. Hooke is willing to give the tenth of his Land to the 
 Church at Hopewell ; pray let him send me a power and I will take care ot 
 it and cret him a purchaser for the rest. I have got possession of the best 
 house in America for a Bishop's seat; the Archbishop told me he would con- 
 tribute towards it and so I hope will others ; pray let me know your mind in 
 this matter, as soon as may be, for if they slip this opportunity, there is not 
 such another to be had. Our church here does flourish, God be praised, and 
 the town too is much more populous than it was; I hope we shall soon be 
 out of Debt, meanwhile I take nothing of them, there is my moderation ; 
 besides I bless God, I have kept the peace where nobody else did or could, 
 and that is no sign of immoderation : now I have shown you my moderation 
 by my works, pray show me yours that I may learn more how to approve 
 
 myself as I ought. 
 
 "Yours &c. 
 
 "Johx Talbot. 
 
 " Pray for God's sake send us some books of assorts, especially Common 
 Prayer books. 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, 27th September, 1709. 
 
 " Sir : 
 
 « Though I have sent you several letters of late, yet I can't 
 omit so good an opportunity as this by Mr. Hamilton of giving my duty and 
 service to the Honorable Society ; my comfort is I have always told them tne 
 truth both at home and abroad, though I was not believed till it was too late. 
 When I reflect on the progress of the Gospel (I will not say the Church tor we 
 never had it here, nor never shall till there comes over a propagator to plant 
 and to build it up) a cloud of melancholy thoughts throngs upon me ; lor when 
 the Shepherds are smitten the sheep of the flock must need be scattered 
 abroad. Mr. Moore, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Muirson, Mr. Reedman, Mr. Jenkins, 
 Mr Urquhart, all worthy men, dead in less than two years, and almost all tne 
 rest run away, as Black, Crawford, Nichols ; Ross is a wandering star, we do 
 not know where he will fix ; meanwhile he does not well to supplant and under- 
 
J 
 
 64 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 mine, let him be confined to some place where there is need, and not stay 
 altogether m the town to do more hurt than good ; there's Mr. Evans, Mr. 
 Ross, and Mr. Chub all at Philadelphia, and none else in that Province, where 
 the Society have sent most ; at Chester there's none, at New Castle none, at 
 Appoquitnony none, at Dover hundred none, at the whorekills none, and the 
 people in all these places so abated of their zeal, that I'm sure it had been 
 much better to have sent none at all, than none to supply the death and 
 absence of these men. Here is not one come to supply the loss of these 10 
 missionaries, and if there does come any what will they do but find great dis- 
 couragements, and the last state of their several places worse than the first; 
 wherefore my advice is, with humble submission to my superiors, to keep 
 then- money and g'ive us leave to come home, and send no more till they 
 think fit to send a propagator of the Gospel ; for otherwise their planting 
 the Gospel is like the Indians planting gunpowder, which can never take root, 
 but is blown away by every wind. Poor brother Jenkins was baited to death 
 with musqmtoes, and blood thirsty Gal-Knippers* which would not let him rest 
 night nor day, 'till he got a fever at Appoquimony, came to Philadelphia, and 
 died immediately of a Calenture ; my brother Evans and I buried him as well 
 as we could, it cost us above £20 for, poor man ! he had nothing, being out of 
 Quantum with the Society, and his bills protested. If you please to call 
 to mind, I told the Society when I was there, that those places must be served 
 by itinerants, and that it is hardly possible for anybody to abide there, that is 
 not born there, 'till he is musquito proof; those little things are a great plague 
 m some parts, and when a man is persecuted in one place he should have 
 leave to go to another, or else, he has very hard measure, especially in these 
 parts where our life is a kind of Penance both winter and summer, and nobody 
 can tell which is the worst, the extreme heat or cold. I hear Mr. Vaughan is 
 arrived at Boston, but is not yet come into this province, he will have enough 
 to do to supply Mr. Brook's charge at Elizabeth Town, Amboy, Piscataway, 
 who have had none since he left them; but I have done for them, may be 
 once in a quarter or so ; somebody occasionally passing by that way, but poor 
 Hopewell has built a Church and have had no minister yet ; and he had need 
 be a good one that comes after Mr. Moore ; there be many more in England 
 but none so good as to come over and help us, that I can see or hear of. As 
 for the account of what Indians we have converted, truly I never saw nor i 
 knew any that were Christians indeed ; but I know there are hundreds, yea 
 thousands of our white folks, that are turned Infidels for want of looking after 
 Let them that have the watch look out and see what they will answer • for he 
 that is higher than the highest regards. I have received nothing from 
 the people in this province, nor will not till they be out of debt for building ' 
 the church. I leave honest Mr. Hamilton to give you a farther account 
 ot our attains, and how we do ; he has been one of our benefactors and given 
 us ±10. I hope when he returns, the Society will be so kind as to send 
 us some Common Prayer books which we very much want here and at Hope- 
 well, Maidenhead, and everywhere. I pray God direct and prosper the 
 designs of the sacred Society, that Religion and learning, piety and virtue, may 
 be established among us for all generations : so I rest sir, 
 
 "Your's&c. "John Talbot. 
 
 * Ganni-nippers, a large species of musquito. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 65 
 
 "I hope you will put the Society in mind of what we have often desired, 
 a school master, for there is none in Town nor in all the province that is 
 good ; and without, we can't instruct the children as they ought to be in the 
 Catechism, for they will not be brought to say it in the Church till they 
 have been taught at school. " 
 
 Messrs. Evans and Talbot to the Society. 
 
 " Burlington, December 4th, 1712. 
 
 " Right Reverend and Right Hon. Sirs : 
 
 " It is with the greatest satisfaction that we received from our 
 brother Henderson the account of your zeal, care and diligence in relation to 
 the Church at Jamaica; your favourable reception of the memorial we 
 sio-ned with the rest of our brethren on that account will encourage us to use 
 the utmost of our efforts for the interest of the Church, though for our reward 
 here, we expect little other than what the effects of the malice and rage of 
 the Church's enemies will afford us. In these parts of the world the great 
 enemy of mankind hath fov many hundred years ruled with an uninter- 
 rupted sway, and we are sensible that he doth and will use all the^ means 
 possible to hinder and discourage the Missionaries, whose business it is to 
 promulgate the Gospel, and by that means to deliver his Captives from the 
 greatest slavery into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Our Great 
 Master hath, in these parts, raised us up some faithful friends of all ranks 
 who are zealously affected both to us and the work we are engaged in, and 
 nothing now seems more wanting to establish the Church, in a flourishing- 
 state, than the residing of a Bishop amongst us in these parts ; which we are 
 in hopes it will not be long before we are blessed with, since we are informed 
 the Honorable Society have closed the bargain for the house at the point, and 
 directed the fitting it up for the reception of a Bishop. We are sorry any 
 accident should have altered so charitable and good a design, and therefore you 
 may imagine it was with no little concern that we beheld the damage done 
 by fire, on one part of the house, since the closing of the bargain (though 
 before any possession was given to any person on account of the Society). 
 On the 23d October, in the afternoon, by the foulness of the chimney and 
 carelessness of one Stiles, who kept possession for Mr. Tatham, the fire took on 
 the top of the Roof, but by the industry and care of all sorts of people was 
 extinguished with the loss of part of the Roof of that part of the house that 
 heth next the Town, and little other damage. His Excellency the Governor, 
 by his letter to Mr. Talbot of the 3d November, 1712, hath directed him to 
 repair the house and make it habitable for a Bishop; which since it could 
 not be done this winter, as your Honours may see by the enclosed certificate, 
 we thought it more advisable to acquaint the Society thereof, as also our 
 opinion Ihat it would be less chargeable and more certain, if the Society 
 would please to give order to some person in this Town to manage that work, 
 and believe Mr. Secretary Bass hath already (without any directions) taken 
 
66 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 care to provide some things necessary for the covering the House and fencing 
 the Garden, &c, and whose zeal for the interests of the Church, and particu- 
 larly for the coming over of a Bishop, we believe is not unknown to the 
 Honorable Society, if his letters of the 22d May, 1711, with the enclosed 
 papers, were communicated to the Society. We herewith send the Honora- 
 ble Society the carpenter's opinion about the repairs, and believe that the 
 sending Glass, Sheet Lead, Nails, &c, from England would be both better 
 and cheaper than to purchase them here. We earnestly pray for a blessing 
 on your pious endeavours for the Glory of God and good of his Church, and 
 remain with all imaginable deference, 
 
 " Right Reverend and Right Honorable, 
 " Your most obedient and faithful 
 " Humble Servants, 
 
 "Evan Evans. 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to'Jhe Secretary 
 
 " Burlington, October 28th, 1714. 
 
 " Sir : 
 
 " \ sent a letter by Mr. Evans, wherein I desired leave of the 
 Honorable Society to come home. I have been long enough in these parts 
 to see iniquity established by law, and that by some of your own members, 
 and what good can your Missionaries dq ? I have been sick a long time this 
 fall with a burning fever, which made me so weak that I could scarce speak. 
 I could not preach, nor read prayers, so the service of God ceased. In all 
 this Province of West New Jersey there never was any minister of Christ's 
 Church settled but myself. I have built three Churches since I came here, 
 but have nobody to keep them, nor myself neither. We have had a very 
 sickly time this year ; I have buried more than in ten years before ; and 
 many Church people died that had nobody to visit them when sick, nor bury 
 them when dead. Let them that have the watch look out, 'tis they must 
 give account ; I am clear of the blood of all men, abroad and at home, and 
 so I hope to keep myself. The Society were once upon a good resolution to 
 send Deacons to be School Masters ; if they had done so to Burlington, to 
 Bristol, to Hopewell, they might have kept the Church doors open, for they 
 could read the Prayers and Homilies, Baptize and Catechize, they could visit 
 the sick and bury the dead ; but now they must bury one another; they have 
 no where to go but to Quakers' meetings, which are as bad as Indians' ; 
 there's nothing but powawing and conjuring to raise a Devil they cannot lay 
 again ; and now that this wickedness is established by law, what should we 
 do here any longer? They do declare in the presence of God Almighty, 
 they don't swear, call him to witness all they say is no more than yea or 
 nay. 
 
 " The Church at New Bristol, over against Burlington, was opened about 
 St. James' day, and so called St. James' Church, by the Rev. Mr. Philips, 
 
Keith and Talbot. 67 
 
 who preached the first sermon. The Church was full of people from all 
 parts, who were liberal contributors to it. I went now and then to preach 
 there on Sundays in the afternoon before I was sick, but since that I have 
 not been able, so the Church has been shut up, almost ever since it was 
 opened The Church at Hopewell has been built these ten or twelve years, 
 and never had a minister settled there yet, though they have sent several 
 Petitions and Addresses to the Society ; but I understand since, that Hope- 
 well, Maidenhead, &c, were kept under the thumb for Cotton Mather and 
 the 'rest of the New England Doctors to send their emissaries ; and those 
 hirelings have often come there, and as often run away, because they were 
 hirelings and cared for no souls but themselves. 
 
 "As°for the Church at New Bristol, it was first; begun by the zealous 
 Thorowo-ood Moore, of pious memory ; and when he was taken away by this 
 same cursed faction that is now rampant, I was unwilling any of his good 
 works should fall to the ground, so I crossed the water at my own cost to serve 
 those poor people, who lived in Darkness and the shadow of death, m the 
 midst of Heathenism, Atheism, and Quakerism ; but it pleased God by our 
 preachino- the word in season and out of season, some came to believe and 
 were baptized, they and their children, and two of the Chief people there, 
 Mr. John Rowland and Mr. Anthony Burton, were willing to undertake to 
 build a Church, which since they have done, and I believe they will endow it 
 too if they get a minister .before they die. I gave them five pounds and a 
 pulpit of black walnut, which cost as much more, to encourage them ; I 
 promised to lay their case before the pious society, that they may take some 
 care of them, that they be not a reproach to the heathenish Quakers, who 
 are too apt to reflect upon us, ' where is your Priest, where is your Minister, 
 and where is your Church, it may serve us for a meeting house, &c. Fudet 
 hac opprobria nobis did potuisse et non potuisse repelli. 
 
 "But the History of the Church at Burlington, &c, has been so much 
 better done by Colonel Jeremiah Bass, Esq., Secretary of this Province and 
 transmitted home, by the hands of the Honorable General Nicholson, that 1 
 need say no more at present, but desire the prayers and blessing of the 
 venerable Society for their 
 
 " Most humble and faithful Missionary 
 " And servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 History of the Church at Burlington, Nero Jersey, by Jeremiah Bass, Esq., 
 delivered by General Nicholson. 
 
 [Mr. Bass was her Majesty's Secretary of the Province of Jersey.] 
 
 SOLI DEO GLORIA. 
 
 "After a long season of Ignorance, Superstition, and Idolatry had covered 
 this Province, it pleased that Infinite Being whose goodness is over all Ins 
 
68 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 works, and who hath promised to give unto our Blessed Saviour, the Imma- 
 culate Jesus, the Heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the 
 Earth for his possession, to illuminate these Provinces with some Rays of his 
 Glory and Goodness, by sending the glorious light of the Gospel amongst us. 
 The first European inhabitants of this River were the subjects of the King of 
 Sweden, who in their first settlement in this River, brought with them the 
 Religion of their country, in which, to their commendation, and the care of 
 their Missionaries, they have yet continued ; few of them having at any 
 time from their first settlement to this day, apostatized from their Christian 
 faith, to the envy of Quakerism. 
 
 "The next Inhabitants were the Dutch, who having taken the River from 
 the Swedes, introduced their Laws, Government, and Religion, which again 
 suffered an alteration, by the coming in and conquest of these parts by the 
 English, who in their first settlement of this Province, seemed to mind more 
 the business of their Trade and Plantation, than that great concern of their 
 souls. There being in the Western Division, no settled Society or Congrega- 
 tion of any of the Church, or any Dissenters, except Quakers ; and although 
 some Reverend Divines, as they occasionally passed through this Province, 
 preached the Gospel and administered the ordinance of Baptism to some few 
 persons, and by that means sowed the seeds of the Gospel, that have since 
 sprung up around us, and excited the desires of some of the inhabitants to 
 make a more diligent enquiry into the true way of worshipping God, and 
 had in some measure taken off those prejudices that most of the inhabitants 
 laboured under, by education, example and reading the Books and hearing 
 the discourses of such as had misrepresented both the Doctrine and Discipline 
 of the Church of England ; yet we cannot properly begin any History of the 
 Church but from the arrival of the Reverend Mr. Edward Portlock, who at 
 the desire of several of the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of this 
 Province, came over, ordained by the Right Reverend Henry, Lord Bishop of 
 London, to take the care and cure of souls, as rector of a Church, to be 
 built at Perth-Amboy, the metropolis of the Eastern Divison of this Province, 
 who arrived in this Province, and made his application to the Governor, for 
 
 the Proprietor, in the year ; who with the consent and approbation of 
 
 the Agents, for the Proprietors, called the Council of Proprietors, set apart 
 one of the Houses (that had been formerly built at the charge of the general 
 Proprietors) for the peculiar service and worship of God, according to the 
 Laws of England, which House, by the Contribution of several pious and 
 well-disposed persons, was soon covered, and glazed, and fitted with seats and 
 a Pulpit, and Mr. Portlock put into possession of the same, (which by the 
 way is the only Church they have to this day at Perth-Amboy) ; in the 
 interim, Mr. Portlock preached sometimes at the Governor's House, some- 
 times at a House belonging to Mr. Dockaray of London, merchant, sometimes 
 in the neighbouring Towns of Woodbridge, Piscataway, Elizabeth Town, and 
 when the Governor's business called him into the Western Division, accompa- 
 nied him to Burlington, where the Public Town House was allotted him for 
 that service. This good work was at the same time carried on by the Rev. 
 Mr. Vesey, in the Eastern Division, and the Rev. Mr. Clayton, Minister of 
 Christ Church, Philadelphia. These beginnings of Light, which through the 
 blessing of God were not unsuccessful, and the division that at this 5 time 
 
Keith and Talbot. 
 
 happened amongst the people called Quakers, by Mr George Keiths 
 op S some of their principal errors, occasioned several pons and well 
 So d Christians to think of erecting a place in Bur mgton peculiar y 
 Seated and set apart for the service and worship of God, according to the 
 usa-e of the best of Churches, the Church of England; who were herein 
 much encouraged and assisted by the pious discourses and sermons of the 
 ST Mr Evan Evans, Rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia who 
 frequently came over into this Province, preached and baptized both Infants 
 and Adult persons, and the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, our worthy Minister, a 
 Missionary of the Honorable Society for the propagation of the Gospel in 
 Foeo-n Parts; this good work was very much forwarded by the generous 
 contribution of his Excellency Francis Nicholson, Esq., then Governor of 
 vTAnia, who we must own to be our first and best Benefactor, and indeed 
 he gave life and motion to the whole work, by a generous contribution of 
 near £50, to be laid out towards that service; and since, I have the just 
 oc Lion to mention that worthy patron of our Churches (in whose commen- 
 dation on this score too much can hardly be said). I may be therefore bold 
 fn affirming that no Church in these parts hath wanted assistance towards 
 its foundation, reparation, or beautifying but hath on application tasted of his 
 bountv; no Missionaries or Ministers, that have had the happiness of his 
 acquaintance, have parted from him without some mark of his favour; nor 
 no d vout and pious' member, in any exigency or distress, has applied to him 
 for relief or support in vain. On this encouragement and the assistance of 
 some considerable benefactions of £50, from the members of the Church at 
 Philadelphia; £12 10s. from the Rev. Mr. Myles at Boston and the 
 fourteous care and diligence of Mr. Robert Wheeler, of Burlington, 
 merchant, since deceased, (who has sometimes been in advance above ±150 
 Si of hi own pocket), and the contributions of several other persons, who 
 thouoh not particularly mentioned, will be rewarded by Him, who has 
 promised a reward for a Cup of Cold Water, given to a Disciple, in the name 
 
 ° f ^TheChurch of St. Mary in Burlington, in the Western Division of the 
 Province of New Jersey, had the foundation stone laid by the Rev. John 
 Talbot, Missionary from "the Honorable Society for propagating the Gospel, on 
 the 25th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1703 ;_ being a day sacred 
 to the memory of the Annunciation of the Conception of our Blessed 
 Saviour to the Virgin Mary, which gave name to the Church. 1 his 
 beginning was carried on with that Industry and Diligence, chiefly b he 
 said Mr. Wheeler, that it was inclosed, covered, ceiled and glazed and the 
 Holv Sacrament administered therein, by the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, on 
 Whitsunday, the 4th of June, 1704; the Divine Service having been read 
 and Sermons preached in the said Church ever since the 22d of August , in 
 the preceding year, 1703. Thus the work of God and his Chu.ch was 
 carried on amongst us, with great alacrity. The Burying ground purchased 
 for the Church, containing in all about three acres, being well fenced m, ana 
 Pews and Seats in the Church, the members began to think it convenient to 
 form themselves into a regular Society, according to the Law and Customs ot 
 England, and therefore addressed themselves by Petition to his Excellency, 
 Edward, Lord Cornbury, (since Earl of Clarendon), Her Majesty s Governor 
 
?0 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 of this Province, and a real friend of our Church, who on the 4th October, 
 1704, granted his Warrant for a Patent to Incorporate them, under his Privy 
 Seal, with all requisite and necessary powers for their encouragement and 
 support. The Church thus settled, under the care of the Rev. Mr. John 
 I Talbot, through the Blessing of God, on his ministry, grew and increased so 
 that we had subscriptions made, and the foundation laid, for a Church at 
 Hopewell, in the upper part of the County of Burlington, which hath been 
 since finished, which was for some time supplied by the Rev. Mr. May, but is 
 now without _ any minister. We had another begun at Salem, which by some 
 unhappy accidents, hath been since discontinued, though not without some 
 hopes of being revived, when it shall please God to send some one amongst 
 us, that careth for the welfare, and seeketh the good of the Churches ; to 
 both of which Churches we find his Excellency, Colonel Nicholson, one of 
 the first and chiefest Benefactors ; and here I cannot omit mentioning the 
 Honorable Colonel Cox, then one of Her Majesty's Council for this Province, 
 who was one of the first subscribers to our Church at Burlington, and has 
 given the like assistance to that at Hopewell, together with the assurance of 
 settling 200 acres of Land, out of the nighest and most convenient part of 
 his Land, contiguous to the said Church, for a glebe for the Minister, when- 
 ever it shall please God a missionary be sent over, to take care of that 
 Church, or sooner if it be desired. I might also mention the Churches of 
 Chester, New Castle, Dover River, Apoquiraony, Oxford, and Bristol, that 
 about the time, were either begun or finished; but designing to confine 
 myself to Burlington only, I purposely omit any particulars of them. Our 
 Reverend Minister's affairs calling him for England, in the year of our Lord 
 1705, he appointed the Rev. Mr. Thorowgood Moore to serve the Church in 
 his room, a person of morals, exemplary meekness, piety and charity. Our 
 Vestry thought it their duty, by the Rev. Mr. Talbot, to send home Addresses 
 to Her Majesty, and a Letter of Thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 the Bishop of London, and the Honorable the Society for the Propagation of 
 the Gospel, which are too large to be inserted in this Essay. Our Church 
 for some time found no considerable alterations by the absence of our worthy 
 Rector; but that enemy of our happiness, who had been many times hereto- 
 fore sowing the seeds of Division and Dissension amongst us, (which through 
 the care and prudence of our Rector, were not suffered to grow and increase) 
 took advantage of his absence, and stirred up such a flame, that had almost 
 broken us to pieces, and occasioned the unhappy removal both of Mr. Moore 
 and the Rev. Mr. Brooks, Rector of the Church in Elizabeth Town, (erected 
 chiefly by the care and diligence of Colonel Richard Townly, who has given 
 the ground it stands on, and a place for a Burying Ground,) who have not 
 been heard of since their departure from Marble-Head, in the year 1707. 
 But I willingly pass over this subject, too sad to be insisted on, charitably 
 hoping that all who were any ways the unhappy authors of it, have since 
 blotted out their sins by repentance, and I have good cause to believe that 
 had we been so happy, to have enjoyed an Ecclesiastical Governor, to have 
 dispensed the censures of the Church, and to have determined differences, 
 that will sometimes unavoidably occur, betwixt Ministers and Members, and 
 betwixt Ministers and the People, this mischief bad been prevented or cured ; 
 it is no wonder if our Communicants grew remiss and slack in their duty, if 
 
Keith and Talbot. ^ 
 
 too many fell away in scandalous sins of schism, if error and heresy increased 
 KS were both taken and given (as there were in tins case), when the 
 Ecclesiastical sword was wanting, to punish evil-doers, to "-g^^Jj 
 reduce the erring, and to cut off the obstinate and heretics By this unhappy 
 If our Sector, who was then in England and of Mr. Moore who was 
 crone from us, the number of our Communicants, and the Interest of our 
 Church sensibly decreased, but began again to revive on the return of our 
 Reverend Rector in the year 1708, who acquainted us that he had presented 
 ^humble Iddress to Lr Majesty, and the other Letters that we „d 
 that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to give us Lead and Glass 
 and Pulpit C oth, and Altar Cloth, and a Silver Chalice, and Salver for the 
 Commu lion Table, and a Brocade Altar Cloth ; and that she had also sent 
 LeT and Glass, and Pulpit Cloths, and Altar Cloths for the Churches of 
 HoptS and SX, which' we received by the hands f the Honorable Col. 
 Robert Quarry. He also brought us an Embossed Silver Cha ice and Patten 
 the Aft of Madam Catharine Bovey, of Hacksley ; for all which our Vestry 
 returned their thanks by Addresses and Letters of the 6th of November, 
 
 ^"His Excellency, the Lord Cornbury, being succeeded in the Government of 
 this Province, by His Excellency the Lord Lovelace, whose Commission was 
 published the 20th of December, 1708, all things relating to the Church here, 
 continued much at a stand, His Excellency never coming so far as Burlington 
 nor as I know of, having ever been at Church in this Province, whilst he 
 enjoyed that Government! By the death of that Nobleman, m the year 1709 
 the Government devolved upon Colonel Richard Ingoldsby then Lieutenant 
 Governor of the Provinces of New Jersey and New York, under whose ^ 
 istration, our Vestry (that by some : unaccoun able neglect had omitted 
 to pass the charter designed for us, by the Earl of Clarendon) gotit now 
 passed under the Broad Seal of this Province, whereby they became mem po- 
 rted by the name of the Minister, Church-Wardens, and Vestry, of the 
 Church of St. Mary in Burlington; which was enrolled m the Secretary s 
 Office the 25th of January 1709. By this Charter the Rev Mr. John 
 Talbot Rector Mr. Robert Wheeler, and Mr. George Mills, Church-Warden , 
 Sd^L^Sel Cox, Lieut. Col. Huddy, Alexander ^^HerM^s 
 Attorney General, Jeremiah Bass, Her Majesty's Secretary of this Pro mce 
 and sundry others, were appointed, constituted and made a Body Co. poi ate 
 and Politic, in deed and in name, to have Community and succession pe e- 
 tual, with powers to purchase, take and receive Lands, &c, in fee and perpe- 
 tuity, not exceeding £300 sterling per annum, with power to sue and ^bes^d, 
 implead and be impleaded, to make and use a Common Seal, and the same, 
 Salter at their discretion/to choose New Church-Wardens and Vestrymen 
 as there shall be occasion, with many other powers and immunities, tool»P 
 to be here inserted, from which time the members of the Corporation met 
 together and transacted all affairs, relating to the Church, under tha seal and 
 title And here I cannot forget mentioning the Donation ot 25U Acres 
 of Land gven to this Church! the last Will of Thomas Leicester deceased, 
 which by § this Charter, we were enabled to receive. We had nothing hap- 
 pened of any great note to us, till the year 1711 ; and some time m April in 
 that year, Ye Church received the gift of a large silver Beaker, with a cover, 
 
^ 2 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 well engraved, being the present of the Honourable Colonel Robert Quarry, 
 for the use of the Communion ; in the same month the minister, Church- 
 Wardens, and Vestry, having received advice from the Rev. Mr. Evan Evans, 
 Rector of Christ Church, in Philadelphia, and from the Vestry there, that their 
 Assembly had passed an act directing affirmation, to such, who for conscience 
 sake,_ cannot take an oath, together with a copy of the said act, and duly con- 
 sidering with themselves, the pernicious tendency of such proceedings to Reli- 
 gion in General, and to the best of Churches, the Church of England in par- 
 ticular, they thought it their duty to give as public a testimony as they could, 
 of their just detestation and abhorrence of such principles and practices, and 
 in order, thereto, at their meeting, on the 4th of April, 1711, they caused the 
 following Resolves to be entered on their minutes : 
 
 '"Resolved that the said act is contrary to, and destructive of the Religious 
 and Civil Liberty of Her Majesty's subjects, and contrary to the Laws of 
 Great Britain. 
 
 Resolved that an address be drawn up to her Majesty against giving her 
 Royal Assent to the said act. 
 
 " ' Ordered that the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, the Honourable Col. Daniel Cox, 
 Alexander Griffith, Esq., Her Majesty's Attorney-General, and Mr. Secretary 
 Bass, do draw up the said address.' 
 
 " According to these Resolves, an Address was drawn, signed and sent home 
 to Her Majesty, together with others, to the Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop 
 of London, the Right Honourable, the Earl of Clarendon, &c, which had that 
 good effect at home that Her Majesty was pleased by her order in Council to 
 declare her disapprobation of that act. The gentlemen of this church, were 
 rather induced to this, in that they had just cause to fear that the same ene- 
 mies of our Church that had, with so much cunning and artifice, obtained 
 thatact, in the neighbouring Province, would be restless in their endeavors to 
 obtain the same in this Province ; and indeed the party of the same sort 
 of men, having got themselves chosen Representatives of the People, in 
 this Province, in conjunction with some others, who in this too much betrayed 
 the interests of the Church, had at the Sessions of the Assembly, in this Pro- 
 vince, in December, January, and February, 1710, obtained a Bill, to pass the 
 House of Representatives, entitled an act for ascertaining the qualifications of 
 Jurors, and enabling the Quakers to serve on them, and to enjoy places of 
 profit and trust, within this Province; which was by the majority of the 
 Council, rejected at the second reading ; who in this, as well as in many other 
 mstances,_ showed their zeal and fidelity to the Church, and its interest herein 
 this Province. 
 
 " The Church, all this while, had laboured under the burden of a Debt, 
 contracted by several of its members, towards the building and finishing the 
 same, which occasioned a new subscription to be made, which, not answering 
 to a sufficient sum to pay the Debt, we find the same worthy member, Col. 
 Coxe, by the Donation of £25, set us clear of that incumbrance we were 
 uneasy under. 
 
 " Our Church now began to have thoughts of providing something in this 
 Town like a Glebe, for the Rector of our Church, for the time being, but 
 were almost discouraged by our paucity and poverty ; but Divine Providence, 
 that never faileth those that confide in it, afforded us an unexpected supply, 
 
Keith and Talbot. V3 
 
 by means wholly unthought of by us. The Rev. Dr. Frampton, late Bishop 
 of Gloucester, having, by his last Will and Testament, left £100 sterling 
 towards propagating the Gospel in America, at the sole appointment of the 
 Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop of London, that Worthy and Reverend 
 Prelate, at the instance and desire of Madam Catharine Bovey, of Hacksley, 
 in the county of Gloucester, our worthy Benefactress, by a proper Instrument, 
 in April, before he died, directed the money to be paid into her hands, for 
 purchasing somewhat in America, that may be perpetual to the Church of St. 
 Mary's in Burlington ; to which she is pleased in her Letter to promise an 
 addition of her own to complete the purchase. This sum is appropriated 
 towards the payment of the purchase money, for a convenient House, 
 Orchard, and about Six Acres of Land, adjoining to the Church, in the town 
 of Burlington, to the use of the Rector of the said Church, for the time 
 beino-, for ever ; and since I am mentioning these small Benefactors, towards 
 the Church here, I should be justly charged with ingratitude and inad- 
 vertency, if I had not remembered that act of generosity in the Right 
 Honorable the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, who 
 have not only constantly supported our Reverend Minister with a salary of 
 £60 per annum, but have, at the expense of £600 sterling, purchased the 
 House formerly built, and belonging to Mr. Tatham, with fifteen Acres of 
 Land, and twelve Acres of Meadow, for the use of a Bishop, when it shall 
 please God to send one hither, and have since repaired the same, at very 
 great additional expense. 
 
 "The same General Assembly that had not sat since the 16th of July, 
 1711, after many repeated prorogations, at last met his Excellency, Colonel 
 Robert Hunter, Governor of this Province, on the 8th of December, 1713, 
 and continued their Session till the 17 th of March following, in which 
 amongst other acts, having passed an Act, ' That the Solemn Affirmation and 
 Declaration of the People, called Quakers, shall be accepted and taken 
 instead of an Oath in the usual form, and for qualifying and enabling the 
 said people to serve as Jurors, and to execute any office or place of trust 
 or profit within this Province," the Minister, Church- Wardens, and Vestry, 
 on a due consideration of the danger the Church is in, by the increase of 
 Atheism, Deism, Socinianism, Quakerism, and a new set of people that seem 
 to be a compendium of all the ancient Heresies, known by the name of Free- 
 thinkers, and perceiving this Act of Assembly to give too great encourage- 
 ment to these Enemies of our Church, thought it their duty to use their 
 strenuous endeavours to obviate those apparent mischiefs ; and, therefore, in 
 an humble manner, made a new application to Her Royal Majesty, (who is 
 not only Titular, but indeed the Defender of the Church) to prevent the 
 giving her Royal Assent to so mischievous an Act ; and at the same time 
 addressed the Honourable Society for the propagation of the Gospel, for their 
 countenance and assistance, to all which they are in hopes of a gracious 
 answer. By this Act, the professed enemies of the Church, being made 
 capable to be admitted into all offices and places of profit and trust, it is 
 easy to perceive how hazardous it is for any of the friends of the Church to 
 appear in its defence, or to adventure to put a stop to this foment of evil, by 
 the most regular methods of addressing against it ; since some persons, not 
 contented with liberty of conscience, are so fond of licentiousness in Govern- 
 
74 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 ment, that they will leave no stone unturned to obtain their darling Idol. 
 It was for this end that by false suggestions and calumnies, several of the 
 friends and favorites of the interest of the Church, Gentlemen of some of the 
 best estates in the Province, were, to our very great grief, removed from being 
 of her Majesty's Council and their places filled with others, that have been 
 made favorable to their designs and interests ; but it is time now to put a 
 period to this Essay, it being sometimes more dangerous to assert Truth than 
 to justify Error. In a word, since the first beginnings of any Established 
 Church in this Province, we may truly say, that the Church never was in 
 more danger, by Enemies from without, and false Brethren, pretended 
 Friends amongst us, and never had so few in public station to appear in her 
 defence. 
 
 I have only to add in obedience to your Excellency's commands, the 
 methods in which, your Excellency m'ky be most servicealbe to the Church ; 
 your long acquaintance with the interest of the Church in these parts of the 
 world, during your Excellency's Administration of the Government, of the 
 Provinces of Maryland, Virginia, &c, as it makes you a very good judge of 
 all propositions, made for that end, so it might have been a very good reason 
 for me to avoid any such attempt, lest I should too much expose my own 
 weakness ; but since your Excellency is pleased to declare that you expect 
 this service from me, I hope my obedience will apologize for my faults. I 
 cannot but think the sending over a Bishop amongst us, to be of absolute 
 necessity, and without which, all other attempts and methods to render the 
 Church flourishing in these parts will be fruitless. Without government, no 
 society or number of men can long be cemented, much less flourish and 
 increase; without the censures of the Church are duly and impartially 
 administered how shall either virtue be encouraged, or vice in all its forms 
 detected and punished ? The authors or perpetrators of some crimes may be 
 too great for the Civil government to take hold of in these parts of the world, 
 that might soon be corrected by the Ecclesiastical Governor ; we need such 
 an Ecclesiastical Governor that dare reprove and censure any that infringe the 
 just Laws and Constitution of the Church ; let us have such a Bishop as 
 St. Ambrose, and we shall soon have such Governors as Theodosius. 
 
 I would also humbly propose that no persons be admitted into the Legisla- 
 ture or Executive Power of Government, but such as are in the Communion 
 of the Church, if it be practicable ; if in some places, this is not practicable, 
 let them be such at least as are under the sacred tie and obligation of an 
 oath ; and, that our youth may not be tainted with erroneous principles, in 
 their tender years, that no schools be permitted for the Education of youth, 
 but such as are Licensed by the Governor's Instructions, that none be 
 licensed but such as have a Certificate of their Sufficiency, Ability, and 
 Sobriety, from the Minister and Church-Wardens of the place, where they 
 last resided, or if no Minister thereof, four of the soberest and most substantial 
 Inhabitants. That all endeavours be used for a legal, regular, and honorable 
 support of an orthodox Clergy. 
 
 That no Laws be passed by the Governor and Council, that in any way 
 intrench on the rights and liberties of the Church ; or if any such inadvertency 
 should be passed, that they be of no force, until they have received Her 
 Majesty's Royal approbation ; that the Laws that enjoin all persons to frequent 
 
Keith and Talbot. V5 
 
 some public place of Worship every Lord's day, and all Laws for suppressing 
 of Immorality and profaneness be duly and impartially executed. 
 
 " That all the Clergy be encouraged to put all the Ecclesiastic Laws and 
 Canons that relate to scandalous offenders, into execution, without any respect 
 of persons whatsoever. 
 
 " All which are hereby submitted to your Excellency's judgment by him 
 who is, Your Excellency's most affectionate and very humble servant, 
 
 ' J "J. Bass." 
 
 Brigadier Hunter to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations. 
 
 [Extract of a letter from Brigadier Hunter, Governor of New York, dated there the 
 9th of April, 1715.] 
 
 " Mr. Talbot has incorporated the Jacobites in the Jerseys, under the name 
 of a Church, in order to sanctify his Sedition and Insolence to the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 "I. the Society take not more care for the future, than has been taken 
 hitherto, in the choice of their Missionaries, instead of establishing Religion, 
 they'll destroy all Government and good manners." 
 
 The Secretary to Mr. Talbot. 
 
 August 23d, 1715. 
 
 *' T^fvprt^nt) Sir * 
 
 ' " I wrote to you on the 7 th of April, in answer to yours 
 of the 28th of October last, which will come by the Rev. Mr. Walker, but 
 because possibly this may come to your hands before his arrival, I have 
 enclosed a copy thereof. I am ordered to acquaint you that at a meeting of 
 the Societv, the first of July last, the Right Reverend, the Lord Bishop of 
 London, laid before them an Extract of a Letter, communicated to him by 
 the Lord Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, which was sent to them 
 from Brigadier Hunter, Governor of New York, containing a complaint 
 against you, with respect to your behaviour in those parts. The Society 
 considered the same, and thereupon ordered a Copy of the said Extract, 
 should be sent you, that you may have an opportunity of giving your answer 
 to that charge, a Copy of which Extract is likewise here inclosed. 1 have 
 nothing more in charge to communiate to you at present. 
 
 " I am, &c, 
 
 " W. Taylor." 
 
76 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 The Church- Wardens, <&c, of Burlington to the Honourable Society. 
 
 Burlington, 28th, 1715. 
 " Right Reverend and Right Honorable : 
 
 " We cannot but adore that 
 Divine Providence that has raised up so illustrious a Society, to be the 
 propagators and defenders of the best of Churches, in these dark corners of 
 the world, where the members are so frequently exposed to the malice and 
 rage of those who are declared enemies, both to her doctrine and discipline. 
 "We acknowledge with the highest degree of gratitude, the sensible effects of 
 your favour and protection, which we have already received, and hope we 
 shall, by the grace of God, be enabled so to carry ourselves, in this trouble- 
 some age, that no calumnies of our enemies, may anyways lessen your 
 opinion of us ; we have had the happiness, at your expense, of being educated 
 under the care of a truly Pious and Apostolic Person, the Reverend Mr. 
 Talbot, the fervour and excellencies of whose discourses, and the piety of 
 whose life are the best recommendations of the religion he professes, in now 
 better than this 12 years, that he hath had not only the care of us, but on all 
 emergent occasions, that of all the neighbouring Churches, hath lain on him, 
 and in all that time, we are bound to assert, that we never heard either in his 
 public discourses or private conversation, anything that might tend towards 
 encouraging sedition, or anyways insolencing the government ; it was there- 
 fore with the greatest surprise imaginable, that we read the following clause 
 of a letter from Brigadier Hunter to the Board of Trade and Plantation, 
 dated the 9th of April, 1*7 15, by the Right Reverend, the Bishop of London, 
 communicated to your Reverend and Honourable Society, in these words, 
 ' Mr. Talbot has incorporated the Jacobites in the Jerseys, under the name of 
 a Church, in order to sanctify his sedition and insolence to the government ; 
 if the Society take not more care for the future, than has been taken hitherto, 
 in the choice of their Missionaries, instead of Establishing religion, they will 
 destroy all government and good manners.' What could induce this gentle- 
 man to endeavour to fix so barbarous, so calumnious, so very false, and 
 groundless a scandal, is to us altogether unaccountable, to which we think 
 the shortest answer that can be given, is that of Nehemiah to Sanballat, 
 ' there are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of 
 thine own heart." 
 
 " The Church at Burlington, Right Reverend and Right Honourable, is the 
 only Church that we know of, incorporated in the Jerseys, which was begun, 
 by that steady protector of our Churches here, the Earl of Clarendon, when 
 he was her late Majesty's Governor of this province, and finished under the 
 administration of Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, and we are therefore, more 
 particularly concerned, to answer to this charge. Our Minister, the Reverend 
 Mr. Talbot, having undertaken his own defence against what the Governor 
 hath charged him with, we shall say no more, than what we have said, on 
 this account." 
 
Keith and Talbot. 7* 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 "Burlington, November 1st, 1715. 
 
 "Sir: 
 
 "First I am bound to render thanks to the Right Rev. and 
 Right Honourable Society, for sending honest Mr. Walker, to my assistance ; I 
 hope he will answer the* good character given of him on all hands ; I have 
 offered him my house at Burlington, and all my interest is at his service. 
 
 " Next, I am obliged to the Society, for giving me leave to answer for my- 
 self, touching the reflections cast upon me by Brigadier Hunter. To be an 
 accuser is bad, to be a false accuser is worse, but a false accuser of the bre- 
 thren is literally a Devil ; I make no difference, for I call God to witness v 
 I know no soul, in the Church of Burlington, nor in any other Church I 
 have planted, but is well affected to the Protestant Church of England and 
 present Government in the house of Hanover; therefore he that accused 
 us all for Jacobites, has the greater sin. I can compare it to nothing more 
 or less, than Doeg, the Edomite, who stabbed the Priests' characters,, and 
 then cut all their throats ; or Haman, the Agagite, who slandered, all the 
 Jews as Jacobites who did not observe the King's Laws; so they were 
 appointed as sheep to the slaughter; but God delivered them, and so, I hope 
 he will do tis, from the hand of the Enemy. The Honourable Colonel Bass, 
 our Chief-Church-Warden, as diligent and faithful a servant of the Church 
 and Crown as any, has been belied out of his Secretary's Office, and fined, and 
 confined in the Common Gaol, for nothing but defending the Royal Law 
 of Kino- George, against an idol of the heathenish Quakers. Mr. Alexander 
 Griffiths died ^heart-broken, being falsely accused and abused as a disaffected 
 person to the -Government ; he "died at Amboy ; poor Mr. Ellis, the school- 
 master, is very much discouraged in his business by a Quaker school-master 
 being set up, in opposition to his license ; he has made his complaints oft, 
 not without cause, but without effect ; he is a very sober, honest young gen- 
 tleman, and deserves better encouragement. I wish the. Society would take 
 some better care of Burlington House ; as for Governour Hunter, he does not 
 come here once in three years, and as soon as he gets his money, spends 
 it all at New York ; so that we have only the burden, not the benefit, 
 of Government; therefore we have the greater need of a Chorepiscopu:, 
 a Rural Bishop or Suffragan, to impart some spiritual Gift, without which, 
 there never was, or can be any being, or well-being of a Church. This is the 
 burden of all our lamentations, and so it will be, till it is answered ;_ the 
 sooner the better, Cum bono deo. So desiring prayers of the sacred Society, 
 I remain, 
 
 " Your humble servant, 
 
 "John Talbot."' 
 
78 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Sir : 
 
 Burlington, 1716, 
 
 " I have not had the favour of a letter, though I have sent 
 several since Mr. Walker arrived. I have put him into the Church at 
 Burlington, and into a house, which out of my poverty, I have prepared for 
 the service of the Church, for ever, and for the use of the missionaries, for the 
 time being, from the Honourable Society, if I die in the service, and be not 
 forced to sell it again for pure necessaries. 
 
 " I hear that one of my bills was ordered to lie by for a half year. I wish I 
 had known the reason of it, that I might have answered by the bearer, the 
 Honourable Colonel Coxe, who comes home with another gentleman of the 
 Vestry of the Church at Burlington, to clear that Church from the slanders 
 that Colonel Hunter has raised against us, only because we were Christians, 
 and could not serve God and Mammon, Christ and Belial, &c. 
 
 " I don't know any thing that I have done, contrary to my duty, either in 
 Church or State ; but if it be resolved that no Englishman shall be in Mission 
 or Commission, apud Americanos, I don't know what we have done, that 
 we should all give place to Scotch-Irish ; but I am content to suffer with Good 
 Company,/erre quam sortem patvuntur omnes, nemo recuset. I suffer all things 
 for the elect's sake, the poor church of God, here, in the Wilderness. There 
 is none to guide her, among all the sons that she has brought forth, nor 
 is there any that takes her by the hand of all the sons that she has brought 
 up. When the Apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God, 
 immediately they sent out two of the chief, Peter and John, to lay their 
 hands on them, and pray that they might receive the Holy Ghost ; they did 
 not stay for a secular design of salary ; and when the Apostles heard that the 
 word of God was preached at Antioch, presently they sent out Paul and Bar- 
 nabas, that they should go as far as Antioch, to confirm the Disciples, and so 
 the Churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily ; 
 and when Paul did but dream that a man of Macedonia called him, he 
 set sail all so fast, and went over himself to help them ; but we have been 
 here these twenty years, calling till our hearts ache, and ye own 'tis the 
 call and the cause of God, and yet ye have not heard, or have not answered, 
 and it is all one. 
 
 " I must say this, if the Society don't do more in a short time, than they 
 have, in a long, they will, I fear, lose their honour and character too ; I don't 
 pretend to prophesy, but you know how they said the kingdom of God shall 
 be taken from them, and given to a nation that will bring forth the fruits of 
 it. God give us all the grace to do the things that belong to our peace, so 
 God bless you all. 
 
 " And yours, 
 
 " John Talbot. 
 
 "You may imagine what you please of the Irish missionaries, but I am sure 
 we have lost Mr. Brook and Thoroughgood Moore, two English-men, that 
 were worth all the Teagues that ever came over." 
 
Keith and Talbot. *79 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. (Extract!) 
 
 " Burlington, September 17th, 1717. 
 "Sir: 
 
 " I received an Order from the Society, to look after some 
 Lands belonging to the House at Burlington, together with Mr. Vesey, but he 
 is not yet come this way, so I shall say nothing to that point at present, 
 because it is but an acre or two, and that is safe enough. 
 
 " The Quakers would have got that, as they have all the rest of the mea- 
 dow Lands belonging to the Bishop's House, and divided them amongst 
 themselves." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, May 3d, 1718. 
 "Sir: 
 
 " I used to write to you now and then, though I seldom 
 have the favour of an answer, or not to the point. All your missionaries 
 hereabouts, are going to Maryland, for the sake of themselves, their wives and 
 children ; for my part, I cannot desert my poor Flock, that I have gathered, 
 nor will I, if I have neither Money, Credit, nor Tobacco. But if I had known 
 as much as I do now, that the Society were not able, for their pails, to send 
 Bishop, Priest, nor Deacon, no Lecturer nor Catechist, no hinter, nor holder- 
 forth, I would never have put the good people in these parts to the 
 charge and trouble of building Churches ; (nay, now they must be stalls, or 
 stables for Quakers horses, when they come from market or meeting) as 
 I said before, but some people will not believe till it is too late. Dr. Evans 
 himself is gone to Maryland, for he says nobody will serve the Church 
 for nought, as I do ; for my part, I cannot blame the People in these parts, 
 for they do what they are able, and no body can desire more, rich or poor, 
 for those that do them any good. My Duty to the Honourable Society. 
 " I am your most humble servant, 
 
 " John Talbot." 
 
 [It would seem that not long after the date of this letter, Mr. Talbot again 
 visited England, and obtained the interest on Archbishop Tenison's legacy to 
 the oldest American missionary.] 
 
 Copy of Order for Mr. Talbofs receiving the Interest of the late 
 Archbisho2) Tenison's £1000. 
 
 " Upon the humble petition of John Talbot, Clerk, this day preferred to 
 the Right Honourable, the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, thereby 
 setting forth that Dr. Thomas Tenison, late Archbishop of Canterbury, did by 
 Codicil to his Will, bequeath £1000 towards settlement of Bishops in Ame- 
 
80 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 rica ; and until such lawful appointments of Bishops, did direct that the 
 interest should be applied to the benefit of such missionaries, being English- 
 men of the province of Canterbury, as have taken true pains in the respective 
 plans committed by the Society to their care in the foreign plantations, and 
 have been by unavoidable accidents, sickness, or other infirmities of the body, 
 or old age, disabled from the performance of their duties in the said places, 
 and forced to return to England ; and that upon the hearing of this Cause, it 
 was among other things ordered that the £1000 should be placed out at 
 interest, on such Government or other security as Mr. Bennet, by whom 
 the account of the Testator's personal Estate was directed to be taken, should 
 approve of, and the interest thereof is to be applied according to the directions 
 of the Testator's Will, until one month after the appointment and consecra- 
 tion of two Bishops, and that the said John Talbot, who was formerly Rector 
 of Freethorn, in the County and Diocese of Gloucester and province of Can- 
 terbury, hath been in the service of the said Society for the propagation 
 of the Gospel in foreign parts, as their Missionary in the foreign plantations, 
 near 18 years, during which time he hath taken true pains in the discharge of 
 his holy function, in the several places committed to his care by the said 
 Society, and by his zeal and exemplary fife, and conversation, hath done great 
 service to the Church in America, and therefore is qualified to receive the 
 interest of the said £1000, as by the certificate of the said Corporation, under 
 their Common Seal, hereunto annexed, may appear, and that there having no 
 Bishops been yet appointed in America, and the said John Talbot being the 
 only missionary that is an Englishman, and of the province of Canterbury, 
 hath been so long, and behaved himself so well, in the said service, as by the 
 said certificate appears, the said John Talbot, by the direction of the said 
 Society, applied himself to the said Mr. Bennet, for the said interest, who 
 apprehends he cannot pay the same without the direction of this Court, and 
 thereupon the said John Talbot, on the 2 2d April 1721, applied himself 
 to your Lordship, that the said Mr. Bennet might pay such interest as was 
 then due to him, which was ordered accordingly, and that the said Mr. Ben- 
 net, pursuant to the said Order, did pay unto the said John Talbot, all 
 the interest then received, and the said John Talbot hath applied to the said 
 Mr. Bennet for what interest has been received since, who apprehends he can- 
 not pay the same, without your Lordship's further directions : Therefore, and 
 inasmuch as there is no other person entitled to receive any part of the said 
 interest, it is prayed, that the said Mr. Bennet may be ordered to pay such 
 Interest as is now due to the said John Talbot, or, as he shall appoint, which 
 is ordered accordingly, whereof notice is forthwith to be given. 
 
 " Ric. Price, Deput. Reg." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, November 27. 
 " Sir : 
 
 " I and Mr. Skinner arrived safe, in six weeks at Philadel- 
 phia, never better weather, nor so good a Passage, as the Captain said (who 
 
Keith and Talbot. 81 
 
 was a Quaker) ; they and the sailors used to say, they had no luck when 
 the Priests were on Board, but now they are both prettily convinced, and 
 finally converted, to say no more. All sorts and conditions of men, women 
 and children were glad to see us return, for they had given me over. I was 
 yesterday at New Bristol, in Pensylvania, to call the people to Church, but 
 they had almost lost the way ; it was so overgrown with Bushes, they could 
 hardly find the Church, having had nothing to do there, for two years and a 
 half. Since I came away the Church there has suffered very much, but the 
 Bishop's house here at the point, is in the worst condition of all ; 'tis made 
 nothing but a baudy-house, a sheep's cote and play-house ; the boys have 
 broken the windows from the top to bottom ; they break the doors, steal 
 the leads and iron bars, they pull down the pales, and cut the Cedar posts, 
 they steal the fruit, and break the Trees ; 'tis in vain to repair it any more, 
 unless some family be put in to guard it, I think. I have a house of my own 
 just by the Church, and I would not live in the point House, if they would 
 give it to me, but I am loath to see it fall down, as the Coach House and 
 stables have already ; and what will they do for the meadows, they will be lost 
 if not claimed speedily, the witnesses will be dead that know where the Lands 
 lie ; if the Society think fit to send any Orders about these things, I hope 
 they will come before it is too late ; I thought it my duty to lay these things 
 before the Honorable Body, and hope you will read it to the Committee and 
 Society, that something may be done, before the whole House drops through ; 
 this is the last time of asking, so I crave your prayers and remain 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 "John Talbot. 
 
 "P. S. — The Society had better never have bought this House, for some 
 Gentleman or another, such as Colonel Cox, would have done very well with 
 it, but since they have bought, and can't sell it again for the worth, they had 
 better make a Free School or a College ; it is very well contrived for that 
 purpose. Several of Mr. Skinner's scholars at Philadelphia are fit for the 
 Academy, but here is no place to send them to ; they can't afford to send 
 their children to Europe for Education ; sailing is now too dangerous and 
 troublesome and chargeable, something of a College must be had here, 
 the sooner the better. " " J. T." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, 20th September, 1723. 
 "Rev. Sir: 
 
 " I have more work to do now than I had before, and I have 
 no assistant ; they are both gone, and have left me and the Church in 
 the lurch. I have fifteen miles to travel from the Capes of Delaware to 
 the Hills and Mountains in East Jersey, and none to help me but Mr. Lidenius, 
 a Swedish minister, and he is going away. I have been this month at Tren- 
 ton, at Hopewell, and Amwell, preaching and baptizing nineteen persons 
 
82 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 in one day. I visited several persons that were sick, who had been Quakers, 
 and who were come off their errors, with Mr. George Keith ; they were 
 80 years of age, and had never received the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper in all their lives, but were loth to die, without the benefit and com- 
 fort of it ; so I was fain to come back again to Burlington, to get the Ele- 
 ments, then returned to the Mountains, and did administer to their great 
 satisfaction. They are preparing to build a Church in the Spring, but when 
 they will have a minister I cannot tell ; but it is a solemn thing (as they say 
 in New England) for the lost sheep to go astray in the Wilderness ; to 
 be among Wolves is worse, but for sheep to be without a shepherd, is the 
 most deplorable case of all ; meanwhile it is some comfort to see the Bishop's 
 house at Burlington, in repairs again : it is as well finished and furnished, 
 as ever I saw it. The Governour of New York is coming to reside here 
 for a month or two. We have got an honest Churchman, as we suppose, 
 to live there and keep it in good order, now it is so, by care and order 
 of Colonel Coxe ; if the account comes not by this ship, " Old Annise," it will 
 by the next this fall, in Captain Richmond. I have set up one Mr. Searle, a 
 schoolmaster, to read prayers, and preach on Sundays, at Springfield ; I lent 
 him some sermons of Drs. Tillotson and Beveridge ; several Quakers came to 
 hear him, and are much taken with him ; they say they never thought the 
 Priests had so much Good Doctrine. I am sure he is a much better Clerk 
 
 than Mr. H n, saving his orders, therefore I commend him to the Society 
 
 for their encouragement ; and hope they will count him worthy to be a half- 
 pay officer in their service. I pray God bless all our benefactors, and pros- 
 per all the labours of all their honest missioners, especially 
 " Your &c. 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, 7bris 7th, 1724. 
 "Rev. Sir: 
 
 " I have been here altogether this last half-year ; I preach 
 once on Sunday morn, and Catechize or Homilize in the afternoon. I read 
 the prayers of the Church, in the Church, decently, according to the order of 
 Morning and Evening Prayer, daily through the year, and that is more than 
 is done in any Church that I know, apud Americanos. I bought a house 
 and two or three lots of land, adjoining to the Church-yard, and since I came 
 over last, I have settled by deed, upon St. Mary's Church at Burlington, a 
 parsonage and glebe ; though there was neither Church, house, nor glebe, 
 before I came, I hope there will be one now, for ever. I design to send the 
 Society some account of the particulars of this in my next ; and this is more 
 than any body has done before, that I know, of my own proper cost and 
 charge ; so that I have been a good husband, to do this of my poverty, for I 
 have no salary from the people. I had formerly £20 per annum, when there 
 
Keith and Talbot. 83 
 
 was money, but now, here is neither money, credit, nor tobacco, nothing but 
 a little paper coin, that is nothing but sorry rags, and we can hardly get 
 them to pay the Clerk £10, that is allowed him by the year. We are 
 amongst a set of people called Quakers, who have denied the faith, and are 
 worse than infidels ; they serve no God but Mammon, and their own Bellies, 
 and it is against their conscience to let the priest have anything, either by 
 Law or Gospel. I have commonly the Sacrament administered once a 
 month, and at the great feasts two or three days together ; the number of 
 Communicants is uncertain, 20, 30, 40, or 50 persons. 
 
 " There is no parochial library yet, for I never had any, from the Society, 
 but I design to leave mine, and Mr. Thorogood Moore's, when I die, to that 
 use ; meanwhile we want Common Prayer Books very much. If it please 
 the Honourable Society, instead of £5, in small tracts, to let that money be 
 laid out in Common Prayer Books, they would be of great use to the people 
 in all parts, who can't get them here for love or money. Those small tracts 
 were but of small use, for they laid up and did no good, and not being- 
 bound, they soon perish in the using, for it costs more to bind books here, 
 than to buy them in Britain. I shall say but one thing more at present, 
 which I omitted when I was in England, for my money was short, or else I 
 would have got some Bells, which we want here very much ; I don't mean a 
 Ring of Bells in a Steeple, for idle fellows to make a vain jangling, but 
 one good bell in the Church, that the people may know when to come 
 together to worship God. I pray for you all, as I hope you do for 
 " Your most Humble Servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Bisho]) of London. 
 
 " Burlington, July 2d, 1725. 
 
 " May it Please your Lordship : 
 
 "I understand by letters from some friends in England, 
 that I am discharged the Society for Exercising Acts of Jurisdiction over my 
 Brethren, the Missionaries, &c. This is very strange to me, for I knew 
 nothing about it, nor any body else, in all the world. I could disprove it by 
 1,000 witnesses, but since there is one come home in the Richmond, Mrs. 
 Alexander, relict of the Comptroller in Philadelphia, &c. (she has been many 
 years a member of Christ Church), she can give your Lordship the best 
 account of the present state. As for myself, I shall not turn accuser of the 
 Brethren, but this I will say, those that came last are not better than their 
 fathers, and some of them have given occasion to a proverb of reproach, and 
 been told to their faces, ' The Devil would have the Bishop of London for 
 ordaining such fellows as you.' 
 
 " This I take to be the most unpardonable sin, the iniquity of Eli's house, 
 which the Lord said should not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever, 
 
84 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not : But, my 
 Lord, let them be who they will, or what they will, to their own Master they 
 stand or fall, I have nothing to do with them, nor ever had, nor ever 
 will. I am clear of the blood of all men, and will so keep myself. Let 
 them that have the watch look out : as your Lordship has done me the 
 wrong, so I hope you will do me the right, upon better information, to let me 
 be in statu quo, — for indeed I have suffered great wrong, for no offence or 
 fault at all, that I know of, a long, long penance I have done, for crimes, 
 alas ! to me unknown, but God has been with me, and made all things 
 work together for my good ; meanwhile I hope your Lordship will hear 
 the right, and do nothing rashly, but upon your authority, for the edifi- 
 cation and not for the destruction of this poor Church apud Americanos, 
 which has many adversaries, and none to help her. But this good Lady, 
 Mrs. Alexander, if your Lordship please to give her audience, will give the 
 best information, and answer all objections that can be alleged against 
 " Your most humble 
 
 " And faithful servant, 
 
 "J. Talbot." 
 
 Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. 
 
 " Burlington, July 8th, 1725. 
 " Eeverend Sir : 
 
 " Yours received March, ult., that I am out of Quantum, 
 with the Society, and also a Bill, protested since that, payable to Mr. 
 Graham, of £30, value received. I heard nothing of this before our Lady 
 Day last past, therefore I have drawn a bill for three quarters' salary, for so 
 long I was actually in their service at my proper cost and charge, in propa- 
 gating the Gospel, and this is as much due to me, as any I have from them. 
 Sir, I desire the favour of yourself to lay the case before the Honourable 
 Board, and when they consider the thing, as it is, they will please to pay that 
 Bill to my worthy Friend, Mr. Thomas Forey, for I never knew any board 
 discard their officers but they paid them, for the time being, in their service, 
 and knew nothing of their will and pleasure to the contrary. I remain, your 
 most humble and obliged servant, 
 
 "John Talbot." 
 
Keith and Talbot. 85 
 
 [Extract from a Memorial to the Society from Churches in Pennsylvania and New 
 
 Jersey.] 
 
 " Sheweth : 
 
 "That the melancholy circumstance of the Church of 
 England in these Colonies, is a subject, we hope, worthy, not only your 
 compassion, but tender regard, having not above one Minister to seven or eight 
 Churches or Congregations, and we bemoan our case, when we behold so 
 many Churches, lately built, lie as desolate around us, convincing arguments 
 of our affection for the Church, and of our great misfortune in being 
 destitute of pastors. When at the same time we daily see Dissenters of all 
 denominations, continually supplied, and increase, through this, our mis- 
 fortune, and upbraid us with this defect. It is, therefore, with the utmost 
 concern, we express our unhappiness, when we view our circumstances rather 
 decline than flourish. In particular, that Mr. Talbot, who for nigh thirty 
 years past, has behaved himself with indefatigable pains, and good success in 
 his Ministry, among us, under your Honour's care, has by some late conduct 
 (nowise privy to us), rendered himself disagreeable to his superiors and 
 departed from us. We cannot, without violence to the principles of our 
 Religion, approve of any acts, or give into any measures inconsistent with 
 our duty and Loyalty to his Majesty, whom God long preserve ; yet in 
 gratitude to this unhappy Gentleman, we humbly beg leave to say, that by 
 his exemplary life and ministry, he has been the greatest advocate for the 
 Church of England, by Law Established, that ever appeared on this shore. 
 This unhappy accident, together with the death and removal of some other 
 clergymen from us, has very much increased the cause of our complaint, and 
 we have no other recourse but to your Honours for relief. Having well- 
 grounded hopes, the same good spirit which prompted you to undertake the 
 glorious work of propagating the Gospel in foreign parts will continue your 
 pious regards to these Colonies, and the rather, since so many stately monu- 
 ments are erected for God's service, testifying our sincere willingness to 
 embrace your charitable assistance, and to answer the glorious ends you have 
 in view. 
 
 " Therefore, your petitioners most humbly beg your Honourable Society 
 will please to extend your wonted charity and necessary supply to the 
 several Churches and Congregations, of which particular accounts are hereto 
 annexed. 
 
 " And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, 
 " Shall ever pray," (fee. 
 
 Christ Church, Philadelphia. 
 
 Samuel Hasell, ) n -, , _, 
 ■o -o > Churchwardens. 
 
 ROBERT JjOLTON, ) 
 
 Thomas Lawrence, Charles Read, "| Vestrymen 
 
 Thomas Penton, Benjamin Morgan, \ m. • * rn. \ 
 
 T „ ' » y Christ Church, 
 
 James Iutiiill, Ihomas Iresse, d ,. 7 , , .■ 
 
 „ T ' T t, ' Philadelphia. 
 
 Thomas Leech, James Bingham, J £ 
 
86 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Thomas Polgreen, Thomas Chase, William Fraser, Robert Asheton, 
 George Plumly, Arthur Oliver, Daniel Harrison, John Brooks, Henry Dexter, 
 John Orton, John Knowles, George Meall, R. Asheton. 
 
 St. James'' Church in New Bristol. 
 
 John Abraham Denormandie, } 
 
 F. Gaudouett, > Churchwardens. 
 
 John Allen, ) 
 
 St. Mary's Church at Burlington. 
 
 Rowland Ellis, ) ni -, 7 
 T t r Churchwardens. 
 
 Jonathan Lovett, j 
 
 Peter Bard, Samuel Bustill, Richard Allison, James Gould, John 
 Dagworthy, F. Owes, James Trent, Jacob Baillergeau, Edward R. Price, 
 William Cutler, Thomas Fosgate, James Thompson, Anthony Elton, Simon 
 Nightingale, Thomas Skeene, Thomas Hunloke, George Willis. 
 
 The Churchwardens of Burlington to the Governor. 
 
 " November 4th, 1725. 
 " Since your Excellency has been pleased to order, that the Rev. Mr. 
 Talbot should surcease officiating in this Church, it heartily grieves me to see 
 the doors thereof daily shut up ; but we humbly beg leave to acknowledge 
 your Excellency's favour, and repeated willingness to assist and join with us 
 in this affair. The hurry of country business, that would not admit of our 
 members to meet together, prevented our addressing your Excellency sooner, 
 but we crave leave to acquaint your Excellency, that as it is our unhappiness 
 to be without a Minister, we humbly hope for your Excellency's favourable 
 countenance and good offices to obtain what is so expedient and necessary 
 for the interest of our Holy Religion and the best of Churches, of which we 
 acknowledge ourselves unworthy members. 
 " We are, &c, 
 
 " Rowland Ellis, and others." 
 
 Thus far Mr. Talbot has been permitted to illustrate his own character, by 
 his letters. The reader, however, will, we trust, not be unwilling to trace him 
 to the end of his career ; and particularly to be informed of his connec- 
 tion with the Episcopate in the Colonies, derived from the non-Jurors. At 
 the request of the Publishing Committee, therefore, one of their number has 
 prepared the following paper on that subject; and with it conclude our 
 memorials of Mr. Talbot. 
 
NON-JURING EPISCOPATE 
 
 UNITED STATES, 
 
 COMPILED BY THE 
 
 REVEREND B. FRANKLIN 
 
 Part of the documentary evidence of the existence of Bishops in America 
 having non-Juring orders, previous to the Revolution, is contained in the 
 preceding letters. Upon referring to the letters written to the Secretary of 
 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, by the Rev. John Talbot, 
 anterior to his visit to England, a.d. 1718, it will be observed that he 
 pleads with untiring perseverance, and almost pathetic earnestness, for a 
 Bishop to be sent to America. It will also be observed that at one time he 
 had such hopes of seeing a Bishop here, that he purchased a residence 
 for one by direction of the Venerable Society, at Burlington, N. J. He 
 waited for years in vain. The hopes of the Society were dissipated. Mr. 
 Talbot seems to have despaired of obtaining the Episcopacy from the Esta- 
 blished Church, and during his absence, as above, the residence purchased for 
 a Bishop went to decay. 
 
 Mr. Talbot had been charged falsely, as it appears, with Jacobinism, even 
 previous to a.d. 1*715. This charge might have suggested to him the 
 idea of obtaining the Episcopacy from the Jacobin Bishops of England. It is 
 certain that he went to England about a.d. 1718, and returned late in the 
 autumn a.d. 1722. V\ T e have a letter from him to the Secretary of the Society 
 
88 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 for the Propagation of the Gospel, dated November 27th of that year, 
 which announces his safe return. In this letter, and in all that succeed 
 it, not even a request appears that a Bishop be sent to America, a matter 
 which Mr. Talbot never before omitted strenuously to urge. 
 
 It was during this visit that Mr. Talbot received the interest on Arch- 
 bishop Tennison's bequest. 
 
 Mr. Talbot, while in England at this time, made the acquaintance of 
 the Rev. Dr. Robert Welton, who had been deprived of the rectorship 
 of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, London, for his attachment to the non-Jurors. 
 At this time also occurred the first division in the ranks of the non-Jurors 
 themselves. Some adhered to the English Liturgy, as it was in the days 
 of James II., while others wished to introduce what became known as the 
 " Usages." They were four, namely, mixing Water with the Wine, Prayer 
 for the Dead, the Prayer for the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 
 Elements, and the Oblatory Prayer.* 
 
 The party which rejected the "Usages," consecrated Ralph Taylor a 
 Bishop in the year 1120. Mr. Perceval, in his book on the Apostolic 
 Succession, states that in the year 1722 Ralph Taylor consecrated Robert 
 Welton a Bishop, and then Taylor and Welton together consecrated John 
 Talbot. 
 
 Lathbury, in narrating the history of division among the non-Jurors, 
 writes : 
 
 " Being once divided, other minor separations or subdivisions soon fol- 
 lowed. Thus in l723-4,f Robert Welton was consecrated a Bishop by 
 Ralph Taylor, who, contrary to the Canons of the Church, took upon 
 himself to act in his individual capacity. No precedent could be pleaded 
 for such a proceeding, which must, therefore, be regarded as an innova- 
 tion on the practice of the Universal Church from the Apostolic age. 
 Talbot also was consecrated by Taylor and Welton. These consecrations, 
 therefore, were viewed as irregular and uncanonical. It appears that Tay- 
 lor [Talbot] and Welton were never recognised as Bishops by the rest of the 
 body; yet both exercised the Episcopal functions in the American Colo- 
 nies. The Government, at the desire of the Bishop of London, at length 
 interposed, when Welton retired to Portugal, where he died in 1726, and 
 Taylor [Talbot] returned to the Communion of the National Church." 
 
 This paragraph has been quoted in full from Lathbury, though it 
 contains some errors which the following documents will show. It con- 
 
 * Lathbury's History of the Non- Jurors, pp. 252, 492-494. 
 t A mistake of a year probably. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 89 
 
 firms, if it does not merely repeat, the statement of actual consecration 
 whic.h appears in Perceval's work. 
 
 Dr. Welton and Mr. Talbot undoubtedly came to America soon after 
 their consecration, and labored in the cities and vicinities of Philadelphia 
 and Burlington. 
 
 The Documents which prove this are given below, with the exception 
 of those which appear in the previous part of the volume. 
 
 Letter from an Unknown Person to Dr Bray. 
 
 " Cecil County in Maryland, July 29th, 1724. 
 "Rev. Sir: 
 
 " In a former I have acquainted you with my treatment at 
 Philadelphia, how villainously and barbarously I was supplanted by Mr. Tal- 
 bot, who has been years at Burlington in the Jerseys, some time Itinerant 
 with George Keith, and very famous for his disaffection to the Crown. Ever 
 since the revolution he and one Smith a rigid took some pains to 
 
 persuade me not to pray for the King and Royal Family, but to say as they 
 did, only the King and Prince ('tis obvious whom they mean) and since 
 I was not to be wrought on, I was by their contrivance very unhandsomely 
 kick't out, and in order to proselv te that province he, the said Talbot, supplyed 
 the place till some honest hearts addressed the Governour, and he ordered the 
 Church doors to be shut up, but now set open again to your late neighbour 
 Dr. Welton, who I hear is lately arrived there. If more such come of that 
 kidney all the clergy both in and out of the Government will be corrupted, 
 and the people all seduced from their allegiance to his Majesty — there will be 
 no need of popish priests and Jesuits any longer — they who should oppose 
 and resist will effectually carry on and promote the Romish designs. I can't 
 but wonder how my Lord Chancellor was induced to let Talbot when last in 
 England have the interest of the late Archbishop Cant, his legacy towards 
 sending a Bishop over into America, with assurance of having it for the 
 future till one be appointed. I am now settled here in an easy parish well 
 disposed people. I have a fine glebe and between 30 and 40,000 lbs. worth 
 of tobacco yearly ; but I fear I shall receive none this year, that and corn 
 all being burnt up with the excessive drought. I am with all humble respects, 
 
 "Rev. Sir, Your, &c." 
 
 The above letter was undoubtedly written by the Rev. John Urmston, 
 as will appear from its correspondence with the following letter by that 
 clergyman, to the Secretary of the Venerable Society. Though Mr. Urm- 
 ston uses harsh language, he does not appear to have been able to specify 
 against Mr. Talbot any other charge than that of Jacobinism. The charge 
 of supplanting is at least open to a difference of opinion, particularly 
 
90 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 as the first part of the letter shows that Mr. Urmston's labors were pro- 
 bably not very acceptable, inasmuch as he came to America after vainly 
 seeking employment in England ; and in this country also wandered about 
 seeking employment for a long time in vain. It is thought best to give 
 the letter in full. Though the first third of it does not bear upon the 
 evidence of non-juring Episcopacy in the American Colonies, it will be 
 seen that the remainder contains almost positive testimony to the fact : 
 
 " Cecil County in Maryland, June ult. 1724. 
 "Rev. Sir: 
 
 " You may remember that I once had a mind to have gone 
 with the D. of Portland ; you were pleased to offer me that letter to a French 
 Marquis who went with his Grace. I thought my Lord D. of Kington who 
 married the other's sister might be more effectual. He spake to his brother 
 and his answer was that he should take no more into his family and yet soon 
 after entertained Charles Lamb. This Avas one of the many disappointments 
 I met with whilst in England last. I was rude in not acquainting you with 
 my departure, but believe you will be so good as to pardon that and many 
 other liberties particularly this long scroll which with humble respects will 
 give you a further account of my unfortunate circumstances which I the 
 rather communicate to you knowing you to be no half papist, as too many 
 of the clergy now-a-days are. • 
 
 " You're to be acquainted that I went from London to New England, 
 where I had some hopes of staying but was prevented by the New Converts, 
 one whereof had the offer if he would go to England and be ordained, and 
 forthwith did, and is now minister of the New Episcopal Church in Boston, 
 the only man that could be thought of; he'll do more good there than any 
 other. I left the place very contentedly, and went from New York, where I 
 narrowly missed of being Chaplain to the Fort and assistant to Mr. Vesey. 
 Hearing that the Incumbent of Philadelphia was gone to England for his 
 health, and left the place ill-supplyed, I hastened thither, and was gladly 
 received of the people. About six months after, we had the news of the death 
 of the Incumbent aforesaid. I had written to my correspondent to get some 
 friend to intercede with my then Lord of London to appoint me minister there. 
 I never doubted of my friend's diligence nor his Lordship's favour, but my 
 letters from England must certainly have been intercepted. Mr. Talbot, the 
 famous Rector of Burlington, in the Jerseys, supplanted me here* Governor 
 Burnet had been long displeased with him by reason he is a notorious 
 Jacobite, and will not pray for the King and Royal Family by name, only 
 says the King and Prince, by which 'tis obvious whom he means. He hath 
 often endeavoured to persuade me to do so too (little less than treason, I 
 
 * The counter statement to this will be seen in another part of this volume, in a letter 
 of Talbot, dated at Philadelphia, 9th December, 1723, in the part immediately following 
 the blank, which blank, as the coincidence of dates proves, should contain the name of 
 the Rev. John Urmston. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 91 
 
 think, to go about to pervert the King's subjects from their duty and allegi- 
 ance to his Majesty). He hath poisoned all the neighbouring clergy with his 
 rebellious principles ; they dare not pray otherwise "than he does when he is 
 present. _ He caused many of my hearers to leave the Church; at last he 
 gained his point, was accepted, and I kicked out very dirtily by the Vestry, 
 who pretend that the Bishop of London is no Diocesan, nor hath anything to 
 do there more than another Bishop, so that any one that is lawfully ordained 
 and licenced by any Bishop, it matters not who, the Bishop of Rome I 
 suppose^ Talbot and many more will say, or any other, is capable of taking 
 upon him any cure in America. I was not sorry for my removal from so 
 precarious and slavish a place, where they require two sermons every Lord's 
 Day, Prayers all the week, and Homilies on Festivals, besides abundance of 
 Funerals, Christenings at home, and sick to be visited ; no settled salary, the 
 Churchwardens go from house to house every six months, every one gives what 
 he pleases, sometimes liberally, and on the least pretence or dislike, or it may 
 be the persuasion of the Churchwardens and their adherents, they'll give 
 nothing, and so they forced that worthy gentleman, Dr. Evans, and many 
 others to leave the places ; they love new faces. I was told that they had 
 eleven ministers within the space of nine years. About three months after 
 Talbot was gotten into his kingdom some had the courage to go to Sir 
 William Keith, who otherwise was well enough pleased with Talbot, and to 
 tell his Excellency that it was a shame such a fellow should be allowed to 
 officiate in the Church, and that if his Excellency suffered him they would 
 write to England against them both, whereupon Talbot was sent away, and 
 the place hath been vacant these four months. What has become of this 
 great Apostle I know not ; certainly Governor Burnet will not suffer him to 
 return to Burlington. Some of his confidants have discovered that he is 
 in* orders, as many more rebels are.f I have heard of no ordina- 
 
 tions he has made as yet, but doubtless he'll persuade all the clergy who are 
 his creatures to be ordained again by him. To this end he came fraught 
 from England with some of the most virulent and scandalous pamphlets he 
 could pick up ; that one I met with by chance, whose title was, ' The Case 
 Truly Stated,' proving that all ordained by Bishops consecrated since or 
 such as conformed and approved of the revolution are imposters, and the 
 divine service is only to be performed by those who have been re-ordained by 
 non-jurors, and that there are enough of them all over England to serve the 
 Church. Prok mores atque hominum fidem ! 
 
 "As oldest Missionary he received the three years' interest of the £2000 
 the _ late Archbishop of Canterbury his legacy towards the support of 
 a Bishop in the plantations, and is entitled to the same until a Bishop be 
 appointed. My Lord Chancellor did not know the man, or certainly he 
 would never have admitted him to so great a favour. I went by land "from 
 Philadelphia to North Carolina, in order to take a view of Maryland and 
 
 * The blank above evidently was filled by, or intended to be understood as if contain- 
 ing, the word Bishop's. 
 
 t This can hardly be regarded as proof that there were a number of non-juring 
 Bishops in the Colonies. Mr. Urmston was plainly loose, both in his insinuations and 
 assertions. If there had been such numbers as he would seem to assert, we should 
 undoubtedly find other mention of them. 
 
92 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Virginia, and to sell my Plantation, stock, and goods ; that done, I returned 
 to Maryland, and am settled in Cecil County, a very promising, thriving 
 place; the income is between 33 and 34,000, which will he considerable 
 when Tobacco bears a price. 
 
 "I am, Reverend Sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient 
 
 " John Urmston." 
 
 TExtract of a Letter from Mr. Henderson* to the Bishop of London, dated " Maryland, 
 
 August 16th, 1724. 
 
 " Mr. Talbot, Minister of Burlington, returned trom England about two 
 
 years ago in Episcopal orders, though his orders till now of late have been 
 kept as a great secret, and Dr. Welton is arrived there about six weeks 
 ago, as I'm credibly informed, in the same capacity, and the people of Phila- 
 delphia are so fond of him that they will have him right or wrong for their 
 minister. 
 
 " I am much afraid these gentlemen will poison the people _ of that 
 province. I cannot see what can prevent it but the speedy arrival of a 
 Bishop there, one of the same order to confront them, for the people will 
 rather take confirmation from them than have none at all, and by that means 
 they'll hook them into the schism. 
 
 " I am well assured they'll get no footing in this province, for I dare say 
 his Majesty King George has not subjects any where in his dominions 
 more zealously attached to him than the Clergy and Protestant laity here, 
 
 are. 
 
 " I question not but your Lordship in your great wisdom will find out 
 some expedient to prevent the ruin that threatens _ the Church in that 
 province. I need say no more but to beg your Lordship's prayers for, 
 " May it please your Lordship, 
 " Your most dutiful son and 
 
 " Most obedient humble servant, 
 
 "Jacob Henderson." 
 
 * Mr. Henderson was Commissary in Maryland. 
 
" Mr Lord : 
 
 Keith and Talbot. 93 
 
 Mr. Stubbs to the Bishop of London. 
 
 " Westmer, April 16,1725. 
 
 " In obedience to your Lordship's commands, just now laid 
 upon me in the Cockpit, I dispatch as ordered by Sir J. Phillips, two para- 
 graphs of a letter just come to hand, signed ' John Urmston,' and dated 
 'Cecil County, in Maryland, 7ber. 29th, 1724 :' 'P. S. Mr. Talbot did me no 
 unkindness in causing me to be turned out of Philadelphia to make room 
 for himself. He convened all the clergy to meet, put ©n his robes and de- 
 manded Episcopal obedience from them ; one wiser than the rest refused, 
 acquainted the Governor with the ill consequences thereof, the danger he 
 would run of losing his Government, whereupon the Governor ordered the 
 Church to be shut up.' 
 
 " ' P. S. He is succeeded by Dr. Welton, who makes a great noise amongst 
 them by reason of his sufferings. He has brought with him to the value of 
 £300 sterling in guns and fishing tackle, with divers printed copies of his 
 famous altarqueee at White Chapel. He has added a scrowl with words 
 proceeding out of the mouth of the Bishop of Peterborough to this effect, as 
 I am toldf " I am not he that betrayed Christ, though as ready to do it as 
 ever Judas was." I have met him since in the streets, but had no further 
 conversation with him.' 
 
 " Your Lordship's 
 
 " Most dutiful 
 
 "Philip Stubbs." 
 
 Sir William Keith to the Secretary S. P. <x. 
 
 "May 13, 1725. 
 
 " Sir : 
 
 " The notice which the Society do me the honour to give 
 by your letter of loth January, concerning Dr. Welton's character, shall be 
 duly regarded by using all the means that is in my power to prevent the 
 mischief which they apprehend from the Doctor's residing in the Govern- 
 ment, But so long as the Vestry here take upon them to be wholly inde- 
 pendent on the Governor's authority, and that Clergymen may be indifferently 
 called without either a license from the Bishop or Induction here, I hope I 
 cannot be accountable for irregularities of that nature untill I am better 
 assisted with a proper authority; and if I knew where to make application 
 without cm-ins; offence, I think I have some reason to complain that the 
 Church here is" so much neglected as that the Governor and those who are 
 truly well affected to our" Sovereign Lord King George, and his Royal 
 Family, cannot decently attend the publick worship. The Bishop of London 
 very well knows my sentiments on this matter, and I must entreat that you 
 
94 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections, 
 
 will be pleased to assure the Society that his Majesty has not a servant in 
 America who is more heartily disposed than I am to rectify abuses of this 
 matter. 
 
 " Sir, your most obedient Humble Servant, 
 
 "W. Keith." 
 
 [Extract from a Memorial of Peter Evans to the Bishop of London.] 
 
 " But more especially for your Lordship's goodness in communicating your 
 thoughts concerning the Church Vestry of Philadelphia, of which Vestry 
 your Lordship had received some disagreeable account. Your memorialist, 
 as one (though unworthy) of the said Vestry, humbly begs leave to give 
 your Lordship a true information of the said Vestry's conduct towards Dr. 
 Welton, who at his arrival there, about June 1724, was a stranger, and his 
 coming altogether unknown to every of them. The circumstances of the 
 Church there being not a little melancholy at that time, for that being 
 destitute of a Minister no Divine Service had been performed there for some 
 months before, an«d a numerous congregation which if kept together were 
 not only able but willing to raise a handsome support for a Missionary which 
 was daily expected from your Lordship. 
 
 " But the Church doors being shut, it was evident the congregation would 
 soon dwindle, and be captivated among the many Dissenting Teachers in 
 that growing city, and render them unable to perform their promises to your 
 Lordship. To prevent which inconvenience several members of the Vestry 
 met, and being well assured by some persons of the Doctor's acquaintance, 
 that he was esteemed an orthodox minister, and it appearing by several Eng- 
 lish printed newspapers that the Doctor had there lately taken the oaths, and 
 conformed to the Government,* but had been deprived of his living, several 
 members of the Vestry asked the Doctor to officiate until such time as they 
 were favoured with a Missionary from your Lordship, which he readily 
 granted, and the Church doors were opened, and for that reason, and from 
 the character of the Doctor's preaching, the congregation resorted to hear 
 him. 
 
 " Your memorialist hopes your Lordship will be induced to believe their 
 zeal for the Church (and not for any mistaken principles of the Doctor's) was 
 the true cause of their frequenting the Church. Your memorialist, from his 
 knowledge of and acquaintance with the people there for twenty-two years 
 past, does believe it a piece of injustice to insinuate them as disaffected to his 
 Majesty, for your memorialist well knows that every member of the Vestry 
 and all others of the congregation to whom it was tendered have conformed 
 to the Laws, and given all the proofs of their Loyalty to his Majesty that is 
 in their power. 
 
 " But for his and their defence against the information of Sir William 
 Keith, your memorialist begs leave (and he hopes in case of self-defence and 
 
 * This was probably an unfounded report. — B.F. 
 
Keith and Talbot. 95 
 
 preservation lie may be allowed) to observe to your Lordship that Sir William 
 Keith has not been so happy in his conduct, or sincere in his relations as to 
 acquire undoubted credit, as appears from the following Paragraph (taken 
 out of the Lords' proceedings against him for being concerned in the Scottish 
 conspiracy Anno 1 Y03), viz. : 'It was declared by the Lords, spiritual and 
 temporal, in Parliament assembled, that Mr. William Keith (upon his exami- 
 nation by the Lords appointed to examine him by this House) hath prevari- 
 cated with this House, and by his behaviour doth not seem an object worthy 
 of his Majesty's mercy.' 
 
 " Your* memorialist humbly begs leave to observe to your Lordship in 
 vindication of himself and the said Vestry, that the said Sir William has for 
 some years been elected member of the said Vestry, but taking upon him to 
 overrule them, and entirely depriving them of the freedom justly due, he was 
 left out of the Vestry in the time of Mr. Vicary, the last settled Missionary 
 amongst us from your Lordship's predecessors, which was about three years 
 ago, and from that time seemed displeased with the Vestry, and withdrew 
 his subscription from Mr. Vicary, to whom the Vestry shewed all due 
 regard.'' 
 
 The Rev. William Becket, Misssionary at Lewes, Pa. (now Delaware), 
 writes to the Secretary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, under date 
 of March 13, a. d. 1727. In this letter he mentions Dr. Welton incidentally, 
 as if it were commonly known at that period that he was a non-juror while 
 officiating in Philadelphia. Mr. B. was complaining that marriage licenses 
 were given by the Governor to those who had no right to them, and specially 
 charges Sir William Keith with having granted them " when Dr. Welton, 
 the non-juror, was minister of Philadelphia, to whom it was- not fitting to 
 grant them." 
 
 [Extract from the Fulham Manuscripts.] 
 
 " Queries to be answered by the persons who were Commissaries to my 
 Predecessor : 
 
 " Mr. , Minister of , Philadelphia, 
 
 is desired to answer these queries : 
 
 ****** 
 ****** 
 
 " 3. Does any Clergyman officiate who has not the Bishop's License for 
 that Government ?" 
 
 "A. One only at present, Dr. Welton at Philadelphia, with whom we 
 
96 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 have no correspondence nor of whom have we any further knowledge hut 
 that we hear he professes to have come into these parts only to see the coun- 
 
 These queries were signed hy 
 
 Bohert Weyman, Missionary at Oxford and Whitemarsh, Pa. 
 ' William Beckett " " Lewes, Pa., now Delaware. 
 
 George Ross " " New Castle, " 
 
 John Humphreys " " Chester, Concord, & Markershook, Pa» 
 
 {Letter from Fulham MSS. of Mr. Glentworth to Mr. Cummings.] 
 
 " February 14, 1725-6. 
 •"Sir: 
 
 " I came from Philadelphia the 4th day of December, at 
 ■which time Dr. Welton officiated in the Church every Sunday, once at least, 
 but generally twice, and likewise on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 
 
 " The order to recall him went over in one Captain Richmond, who sailed 
 the beginning of December, and can hardly be arrived there by this time. 
 " I am, Sir, 
 
 " Your most humble servant, 
 
 "Thomas Glentworth." 
 
 Sir William Keith to the Lord Bishop of London. 
 
 " Philadelphia, April 8th, 1726. 
 " My Lord : 
 
 " I am glad to acknowledge the great honour your Lordship 
 was pleased to do me by your letter dated last June, which I received some 
 lime ago, and am glad that by your Lordship's great care I can now answer 
 it so effectually as to acquaint you that I have by this conveyance returned an 
 authentic certificate unto my Lord Townsend's office, of Dr. Welton's having 
 been duly served with his Majesty's Writ of Privy Seal, commanding him 
 upon his allegiance to return to Great Britain forthwith ; in pursuance of 
 which Order, the Doctor did us the favour about four weeks ago to depart for 
 Europe by the way of Lisbon, so that I doubt not but your Lordship will 
 now more easily find a way to supply this Church with a suitable Incumbent, 
 and as the people's hopes are generally placed on your Lordship's pious care 
 for that purpose, I am fully persuaded that any gentleman who comes over 
 recommended by your Lordship will be handsomely received." 
 
Keith and Talbot. 9*7 
 
 Mr. Cummings to the Bishop of London. 
 
 [Extract.] 
 
 " Philadelphia, October 19th, 1726. 
 " Mr Lord : 
 
 " I have been here so short a time that all the account I can 
 oive of the place as yet is, that the soil and clime seem to be better and more 
 regular than the temper of the people; however, I have been very well 
 received by those of any note, and am in a particular manner obliged to Mr. 
 Moore, our Collector ; he is a sober and pious man, and has all along endea- 
 voured to support the Church, in opposition both to Welton's and the 
 principles of the other Schismaticks and Sectaries, which are indeed here very 
 numerous. I hope in a little time, by proper and moderate methods, to cancel 
 all the bad impressions the angry Doctor had given of his successor. Your 
 Lordship will observe by his favourite sermon, printed here, in what a scur- 
 rilous manner he falls foul upon all the Clergy of the present Establishment, 
 charo-ing the people that as they tendered their salvation not to receive but 
 reject any that should be sent among them. He is now in Lisbon ; 'tis well 
 if he beii't got into the Convent. I ha'nt seen all the Clergy of this province 
 as yet, but have heard a good character of them all. I have been importuned 
 by numbers of people from Burlington and by some of this province to write 
 to your Lordship in favour of Dr. Talbot; they made me promise to mention 
 him, otherwise I would not presume to do it. He is universally beloved, even 
 by the Dissenters here, and has done a great deal of good. Welton and he 
 had differed and broke off correspondence, by reason of the rash chimerical 
 projects of the former long before the Government took notice of them. If 
 he were connived at and could be assisted by the Society (for I am told the 
 old man's circumstances are very mean), he promises by his friends to be 
 peaceable and easy, and to do all the good he can for the future." 
 
 [Extract of a letter from Commissary Chris. Wilkinson to the Bishop of London, dated 
 at " Chester River, in Queen Ann's County, Maryland, June 15, 1726."] 
 
 — "I understood Dr. TVelton has left Philadelphia and is gone for Lisbon. 
 He and the rest of the non-jurors disagreed very much among themselves, 
 in so much that they avoided one another's company. Mr. Talbot and Mr. 
 Smith (who also differ very much in their sentiments of submission to our 
 established Government) have been with us in Maryland. They behaved 
 themselves verv modestly, avoided talking very much, and resolved to submit 
 quietly to the orders sent from England to prohibit their public officiating in 
 any of the Churches, or to set up separate meetings." 
 
 
98 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Dr. Welton appears not to have returned to England, but to have died 
 in Lisbon. 
 
 By reference to the letters of Mr. Talbot during the year 1725, it will 
 be seen that he was discharged from the Society's employment for alleged 
 Jacobinism. It will be observed that he does not deny having received Epis- 
 copal Orders. 
 
 The late venerable Bishop White related a tradition which has been pre- 
 served by the Rev. Dr. Hawks in his History of the Church in Maryland. As 
 it is an important link in the present inquiry, it is quoted in full, as it appears 
 in the above work, p. 185. 
 
 " The venerable prelate who was so long our presiding bishop, was accus- 
 tomed to relate a story which he heard from his elder brethren, when he was 
 but a youth, and it may here be most appropriately preserved. The story 
 was this : A gentleman who had been ordained among the Congregation- 
 alists of New England, and who had officiated among them as a minister for 
 many years, at length to the surprise of his friends, began to express doubts 
 about the validity of his ordination, and manifested no small trouble of mind 
 on the subject. Suddenly about the time of the arrival of Talbot and Welton, 
 he left home without declaring the place of his destination or purpose of his 
 journey. After an interval of a few weeks he returned, and gave no further 
 information of his movements than that he had been to some of the Southern 
 Colonies ; he also said on his return that he was now perfectly satisfied with 
 his ordination, and from that day never manifested the least solicitude on the 
 subject, but continued until he died to preach to his congregation. It was 
 soon whispered by those whose curiosity here found materials for its exercise, 
 that the minister had been on a visit to the non-juring bishops, and obtained 
 ordination from one of them. He never said so ; but among Churchmen 
 it was believed that such was the fact." 
 
 Both Perceval and Lathbury state, without referring to any authority, that 
 Talbot took the oaths and conformed. If this were the case, it would be diffi- 
 cult to explain why he continued to be deprived of his missionary appointment 
 to Burlington, especially as he was willing to labor, and the people were 
 anxious to have him for their rector. 
 
 Thus appears to have ended the only effectual attempt to provide anything 
 like a Protestant Episcopacy for America, until the Revolution having, under 
 the Providence of God, opened a new door, England finally granted to those 
 whom she regarded as successful rebels what she had previously refused 
 to give to obedient children. 
 
State of the Church A. D. 1730-40. 99 
 
 The following communication is from Dr. Bray, once Commissary of Mary- 
 land. Its precise date is nowhere given, but from facts mentioned in it, it 
 must have been about the year 1740. It presents a view of our condition on 
 the Continent at or about that time : 
 
 "A Memorial! humbly layd before his Grace the Lord A.Bp. of Canterbury, 
 the Lord Bishop of Lcftidon, and the other Bishojjs of this Kingdome, 
 Representing the present State of Religion in the several Provinces on the 
 Continent of North America, in order to the providing a sufficient number 
 of proper Missionaries so absolutely necessary to be sent at this Juncture 
 into those parts. 
 
 " May it please y s Lordships : 
 
 "Amongst other Reasons for my Return at this tyme of 
 Consequence to our Church in America, in Reference to which I have been 
 happy in the approbation of those my Ecclesiastical Superiors, to whom I am 
 more immediately accountable in things relating to my Mission, there is one 
 of concernment to be layd before all your Lordships ; And as I humbly 
 conceive, the Universityes also of this Kingdome. And it is to represent to you 
 the present state of Religion in Maryland, Virginia, Pensylvania, the East and 
 West Jerseys, New York, Road Island, Long Island, North and South Caro- 
 lina, New England and Newfound Land. And this in order to the Propaga- 
 tion of the true Christian Religion in those Parts at a Crisis when, as many 
 thousands are in a happy Disposition to embrace it, so Infidelity, Heresy, and 
 Schism seem to make their utmost efforts to withdraw, and to fix those people 
 at the greatest distance from it. 
 
 " I. And to begin where I am more immediately concerned, with Mary- 
 land. Here, through the mercies of God, and after many struggles, we are 
 in a fair way at last to have an Established Church. The law for New Eng- 
 land I have brought over along with me for the Royal Assent, not incumbered 
 as formerly with such clauses as hindred the same. And thereby is provided 
 a maintainance for the Clergy of forty pounds of Tobacco per Poll, taxed 
 upon each Comunicable person, which amounts in some parishes to about 
 eio;htv pounds per annum, according to the Rate which Tobacco has borne 
 these" three last years, though that is higher than they can promise themselves 
 the same for the future. But in fifteen of them at least by reason of the 
 thinness of the Inhabitants, not to above a thyrd of that value. And yet 
 these latter parishes having built their Churches, think they ought to have 
 Ministers as well as the rest ; and had I not in my Parochial Visitations 
 given them good words and fair promises speedily to supply them, I fear our 
 Law would have scarcely passed ; and yet how to make good that promise to 
 them I shall be sadly at a Loss, except the Proposalls hereafter given, may 
 find favour with y* Lordships, and those to whom you shall please to recom- 
 end them. 
 
 " The Papists in this Province appeare to me to be about a twentieth part 
 of the Inhabitants ; and though the Quakers bragg so much of their numbers 
 and Riches, with which considerations they would incline the Government to 
 favour them with such unprecedented Priviledges, as to be free from paying 
 
100 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 their dues to the Established Church, or rather would fain overthrow its 
 Establishment, yet they are not above a fifteenth part in number, and bear 
 little Proportion with those of the Church in wealth and trade. 
 
 " II. As for Pensylvania, I found too much work in Maryland to be able to 
 visit that Province personally, though most earnestly sollicited thereunto by 
 the People. But there passed letters betwixt myself, and that Church, full 
 of the greatest Respects on their side. And by conferences with some of the 
 Principall Persons of that Country, I was fully made to understand the state 
 of Religion there, where I think, if in any Part of the Christian World, a 
 very great proportion of the People may be said to be Tsrayjxlvoi, sive dispo- 
 siti sj5 £w^v aiwviov. 
 
 " The Keithites, which are computed to be a thyrd part, are freely such, 
 and so very well affected are they to the Interest of our Church, that in the 
 late election of Assembly men, ever since Mr. Penn came into his Govern- 
 ment ; they had almost carryed it for the Churchmen, to the great amaze- 
 ment of these latter, so as to let them see that they had been extreamly 
 wanting to themselves in not timely applying. 
 
 " There are in Pensylvania two congregations of Lutherans being Swedes, 
 whose Churches are finely built, and their two Ministers lately sent in nobly 
 furnished with £300 worth of Books by the Swedish King, and they live in 
 very good Accord with our Minister and his Church. 
 
 " There is but one Church of England Minister as yet, and he at Philadel- 
 phia singularly beloved and respected by his People ; and they do most 
 importunately sollicite both from thence, and from other Parts of that 
 Province for more, where I am afraid there are at least six wanting. 
 
 " There are some Independants, but neither many nor much Bigotted. 
 
 " III. Adjoining to this are the two Colonies of the East and West 
 Jerseys, where they have some pretty Towns, and well peopled, but are 
 wholly left to themselves without Priest or Altar. True it is, Mr. Mathers 
 from New England seems now to bestirr himself in sending both there and 
 into the other colonies, where he sees us take footing. His Independent 
 Preachers and the Quakers are very numerous in the Jerseys, but I am credi- 
 bly informed that the people are more affected to our Clergy, could they have 
 them. The Keithians are alike affected to us, as in Pensylvania, and 
 I think there would be a Reception for six Ministers in both the Jerseys. 
 
 " IV. From New York, the E. of Bellamont, the Governor, writes me 
 word, that a Church of England Clergy are much wanted there, and there 
 will be Room for at least two Ministers, besides one which they have already : 
 the one to assist at New York, the other to be placed at Albany, where 
 besides the Inhabitants of the Town, which are many, we have two Compa- 
 nies of Souldiers in Garrison, but all without a Preacher. 
 
 " V. In Long Island there are nine Churches, but no Church of England 
 Minister, though much desired, and there ought to be at least two sent into 
 that Colony. 
 
 " VI. In Road Island, for want of a Clergy, many of the Inhabitants are 
 said to be sunk down right into Atheism, the new generation being the 
 offspring of Quakers, whose children for want of an outward teaching, which 
 these Enthusiasts at first denyed, being meer Ranters. As indeed the sons of 
 the Quakers are found to be such in most places, and equally to deny all 
 
State of the Church A. D. 1730-40. 101 
 
 Religion. And here therefore there will he work enough for two suhstantiall 
 Divines, at least. 
 
 " VII. Ronoak lyes betwixt Virginia and Carolina. It is peopled with 
 English, intermixt with the native Indians, to a great Extent. And as there 
 wilt be occasion for at least two Missionaries to be sent amongst y m , so the 
 Governor, who is now going over to that Colony, being a very worthy gentle- 
 man, I dare promise will give the best Countenance and Encouragement which 
 shall be in his power. 
 
 " VIII. The last Province that I shall now speak of on the Continent is 
 Carolina, a very thriving Colony, and so large as to want at least three Mis- 
 sionaries, besides one lately sent thither. 
 
 "It is no part of my province to speak to Virginia, it being under the 
 Jurisdiction of a very worthy Person, Mr. Commissary Blaire, whose abilities 
 as they fitt him for great Designs, so his Industry has been*for some years 
 exercised in doinsj uncomon services to that Church. 
 
 " But the gratitude which all that are well affected to Christianity, do owe, 
 more especially the Clergy, and above all myself, to that admirable Patron of 
 Ptelitjion and "Learning," Colonel Francis Nicholson, the present Governor 
 thereof, forbids me to pass over in silence those Glorious Works which he is 
 there carrying on with such unusuall application ; and which, when accom- 
 plished, rnusf render his memory sweet to all succeeding generations. 
 
 " The two 2Teat Designs which he is now so intent upon for the Good of 
 the Church (not to mention here what a Patron, or rather a Founder he has 
 been to it in most of y e other Provinces, now named) are the Erecting of a 
 Colledge in Virginia, or rather an University for those Parts, which he has 
 almosthnished ; and the settling of the Church by Law on such a foot, and 
 with the Advice and Assistance of Mr. Blaire, in such a Constitution as will, 
 if they can make the next Assembly sensible of their own Good, reduce the 
 Clero-v there from that Servile Dependance on the Vestrys, which would have 
 frightened all men of worth from ever coming amongst them. But the 
 scheme which I have seen these Gentlemen have layd, when accomplished, 
 will render that Clergy and Province mutually happy in one another. 
 
 " Considering this^Governor's late Heroick Actions in the Conquest of the 
 most desperate of Enemies, the Pyrates, who were so infatuated as to 
 approach his Province, and in whose Reduction his own personall presence 
 and valour had a share, almost to a fault, it's hard to say whether Arms or 
 Letters have the greatest Right to Challenge him for their Generall. But 
 when we consider "the extream Disproportion betwixt the numbers of persons 
 in publick Post, who are studious of the Good of God's Church, compared 
 with such as are thought serviceable to the State in Arms, it ought to be the 
 hearty wishes of all the friends of Religion and Learning, not only in his own 
 Province, but all over that Continent, that he would never more expose his 
 person to such Dangers, wherein should he fall, in all human appearance, the 
 Loss would be Irreparable. 
 
 " Nor do I think myself obliged to speak here of New England, where 
 Independancy seems to be the Religion of the Country. True it is since a 
 Church was opened at Boston about fifteen years agoe for the English 
 Service, the Congregation of Church People are become very numerous ; and 
 the young Students of the College are sayd upon the Reading of our 
 
102 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Episcopal Authors (against which they are narrowly watched by Mr. Mathers) 
 to become not so ill affected to us, but that some of tbem would gladly 
 receive their orders from the hands of Bishops if they could ; and two ofthem 
 have lately come over hither to be accordingly ordained. But my Design is 
 not to intermeddle where Christianity under any form has obtained possession 
 of the Country, but to represent rather the deplorable fate of the English 
 Colonies, where they have been in a manner abandoned to Atheism, or 
 which is much as one, to Quakerism, for want of a Clergy settled amongst 
 them. And I think I have one remaining Instance of such neglect in this 
 kind, as if it provokes me to some warm Reflections upon our Nation (for the 
 Church I know wants power, and Riches to do much of itself) I conceive the 
 occasion will bear me out. 
 
 "And it is with Reference to the last Colony in America that I shall speak 
 to anything at present, named Newfound Land, near whose coast we were 
 drove in my voyage to Maryland ; and I could have been very glad if with the 
 safety of our ship and lives, we had been thrown into it, that I might have 
 personally seen the Condition of the place and people. But this Curiosity 
 was in a great measure satisfyd by the account I received from the Master of a 
 Ship on board of us, who had made many Voyages there, and gave me this 
 account of the Island, so farr as it is in the possession of the English ; that 
 there are Harbours in it belonging to us 26, Families 274, Inhabitants as 
 well winter as summer on the Island about 1120, workmen about 4200, ships' 
 crews in the Fishing Season 3150, and men in the ships sent at the latter end 
 of the yeare to carry home the Fish 1200. 
 
 "And now is it possible to imagine that from a nation possessing Chris- 
 tianity in its Purity, defecate of the least tincture of Dross and Corruption ; 
 the sole Tendency of whose Principles is to inspire all its Disciples with the 
 noblest thoughts of Godj with an ardent zeale for his Honour and Glory, and 
 with a boundless and unlymitted Love to mankind, a Love as Extensive as 
 the whole World, and as Intensive as that we have to ourselves ; Is it credi- 
 ble that in a Colony of so many thousand soules, who are all of them natives 
 from England, from whence our shipping do sail to it during many months in 
 the year, and where so many thousand Families abide perpetually, some 20 
 years, most the whole course of their Lives, and from whose trade such profit 
 accrues to the Nation as contributes next to the woollen manufacture to turn 
 the Ballance of Europe in Commerce on our side ; can any one believe it 
 when he is told, that from such a Nation, with respect to such a Colony, 
 there neither was or is, nor is ever like to be for any measures that have been 
 yet, or are likely to be taken or encouraged by the Publick, any Preaching, 
 Prayers, or Sacraments, or any Ministerial! and Divine Offices performed on 
 that Island ; but that they should be suffered to live as those who know no 
 God in the World ! Are Rome and Mecca, whose sons are so apt to compass 
 Sea and Land to gain Proselytes to Superstition and Folly, so regardless of 
 their own people ? And will it not then be more tolerable for that Tyre and 
 this Sydon than for us in the day of Judgment ! for if they had known the 
 things which we do, the most rude and uncultivated of those Parts which 
 we possess, should not have remained uninstructed in the best Religion in the 
 World. 
 
 " The truth of it is, this Indifference of ours in propagating the Religion 
 
State of the Church A. D. 1 730-1 740. 
 
 103 
 
 which we profess to believe, in those Parts, where as well our powers do 
 enable us, as our Duty obliges us to take some care thereof, is the Amaze- 
 ment of all whom I ever yet heard make serious Reflections upon it. 
 
 " But since for any publick Funds that we are ever likely to get for the 
 Propagation of Christian Knowledge, either in this or the other Colonies, we 
 may complain in vain ; and the only hope is from the pious Clergy them- 
 selves, and such particular persons amongst the devout Laity, whose hearts 
 are inflamed with a Love of God, and of "those souls which he has purchased 
 with his own Blood ; I shall rather turn myself to you, my most Reverend 
 Lords, giving you a general Estimate of the number of Missionaries, which we 
 hope to belupplved withall from f Paternall Care; and as there will be 
 need of at least two to be sent to Newfound Land, so upon y e whole it 
 appears that there are at present wanting no less than forty Missionaries to be 
 sent into all these Colonies. 
 
 " And the necessity that they should be both so many, and singularly well 
 qualified for the purpose, I am next to show you ; and that there shouldbe at 
 least that number sent into each of these Colonies, as I have now mentioned, 
 appears from hence, that even then their business will lye extreamly wide, but 
 chieflv for tbis reason, that there is so great an Inclination to embrace 
 Christianity amongst many Quakers, all over those Parts, where Mr. Keith 
 has been, that it will be a fatal 1 neglect if our Church should not close with 
 that Providence which offers so many Proselytes into her Bosom. For I am 
 to inform your Lordships that this vast accession of perhaps 50000 soules^ to 
 our Church, if not speedily secured, will fall into the Independents, who bping 
 aware of it are very busy at this tyme in sending their Ministers from New 
 England, and those maintained too from thence, which makes it worth our 
 while to examine whether it be not by misapplication of a noble charity. And 
 the Plantations growing now into populous and powerfull Provinces, with all 
 humble submission, in my opinion, ought not to be so neglected, as that it 
 should be indifferent to us, whether they be made True Sons of our Church, 
 or the most soure leavened of all its Enemies, Independants, Ana-Baptists, 
 and Quakers. 
 
 " Nor is the necessity less that these Missionaries should be singularly well 
 qualified than that they should be at all sent. And indeed in order to make 
 the better choice, agreeable to what I have observed of the State, the Temper 
 and Constitution of the Country and people, is one great reason that has 
 persuaded me so soon back : and y e persons which alone can do good there, 
 as I conceive, must 
 
 " In the first place, be of such nice moralls as to abstain from all appear- 
 ance of evil, there being not such a calumniating people in the world as the 
 Quakers are every where found to be, and it is the most fault of the Planta- 
 tions, that they give their Tongues too much Liberty that way, especially if 
 they can find the least flaw. 
 
 " Secondly, they must be men of good Prudence, and an exact Conduct, 
 or otherwise they will unavoidably fall into Contempt with a people so well 
 versed in Business as every the meanest Planter seems to be. 
 
 " Thirdly, they ought to be well experienced in the Pastorall Care, having 
 a greater Variety both of Sects and Humours to deal with in those parts than 
 
104 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 are at home ; and therefore it would be well if we could be provided with 
 such as have been Curates here for some time. 
 
 " Fourthly, more especially, they ought to be of a True Missionary spirit, 
 having an ardent Zeale for God's Glory, and the Salvation of men's soules. 
 And 
 
 " Fifthly, of a very active spirit, and consequently not so grown into 
 years as to be incapable of Labour and fateigue, no more than very young, 
 upon which account they will be more lyable to be despised. 
 
 " And lastly, they ought to be good, substantiall, well-studied Divines, 
 very ready in the Holy Scriptures, able with a sound Judgment to explicate 
 and prove the great Doctrines of Christianity, to state the nature and extent 
 of the Christian duties, and with the most moving considerations to enforce 
 their Practice, and .to defend the truth against all its adversaries ; to which 
 purpose it will be therefore absolutely requisite to provide each of them with 
 a Library of necessary Books, to be fixt in those places to which they shall 
 be sent, for the use of them, and their successors for ever. This to be a 
 perpetuall Encouragement to good, and able Divines always to go over and 
 to render them useful when they are there ; a design, of whose usefulness, of 
 whose necessity I am now so fully persuaded, since I have been in and know 
 y e wants of these Parts, that I am resolved to have no hand in sending over 
 any one, the best Missionary, who shall not be so provided. 
 
 " Well, but the great quere will be how we may be able to procure so 
 great a number of such able Missionaries, how to maintain them, and how to 
 furnish them out with such Libraries ; in order to all which I crave leave to 
 offer these following considerations : 
 
 " First, that the Colonies now named, consisting chiefly of Quakers, or such 
 as for want of the Gospell being preached amongst them, are in a manner of 
 no religion ; they are in that respect to be considered as so many Heathen 
 Nations. And it will seem unreasonable to expect that a people before they 
 are converted and made to understand the goodness and advantages of true 
 Religion, should be induced to maintain its Ministry, and especially in this 
 case of the Quakers, the persons chiefly to be proselyted ; who above all other 
 rights of the Church of Christ, have been deeply prejudiced against the 
 maintenance of the Clergy. 
 
 " Secondly, that if the Missionaries, which shall be sent into each of these 
 Colonies, shall be well chosen and duly qualified, I am persuaded they will 
 find the work of God to prosper so well in their hands, that in three years' 
 time the people will, out of pure Devotion, subscribe or settle a very plentifull 
 maintenance both for them and their successors ; to support me in which 
 Conjecture we have two veiy eminent and late Instances : the one in Pensyl- 
 vania, the other in Carolina ; in the former of which Mr. Clayton, who at his 
 first going over three years agoe, and whilst his Congregation was not above 
 sixty persons, had scarcely £50 per annum maintainance, yet upon the acces- 
 sion of new Converts to upwards of 700 (for so is that Church increased in 
 three years) has brought the maintenance of the Minister of Philadelphia to 
 £150 per annum ; and in Carolina, Mr. Marshall, through his excellent 
 Preaching and singular conduct, so gained upon y e people, that from a poor 
 subscription maintenance at first, they settled upon him and his successors 
 within two years after his being amongst them, what amounts to £300 per 
 
State of the Church A. D. 1730-40. 105 
 
 annum ; and at his death, the General Assembly of the Province were so 
 kind to his widow, as to present her with £300 upon her Return home. 
 
 " Thirdly, I conceive, therefore, that in the interim, and during the first 
 three years, it will be absolutely necessary that these Missionaries should be 
 subsisted from hence ; and it shall be my utmost care in that time to have 
 them so provided of Glebes, and the same so stocked, as that they may 
 thenceforward live comfortably upon the Emoluments of their own places. 
 
 " Fourthly, the method by which I would humbly propose to have these 
 Missionaries, which I desire, both well chosen and supported from home 
 in their service for the first three years, is as follows : 
 
 " I. As to the choice, that every Bishop be pleased to pitch upon some 
 proper person within his own Diocess, such as his Lordship shall judge best 
 qualified, as aforesaid, for the Mission. And then 
 
 " II. As to his support, that his Lordship having subscribed to the follow- 
 ing Proposall, the sum his Lordship shall think fitt to contribute towards 
 such a Design, he be pleased to recommend it to the Dignifyed and others 
 the most considerable Clergy within his Diocese, and they to the well- 
 disposed Laity, within their respective parishes, to make up the sum 
 proposed. 
 
 " III. That the sum subscribed for each Missionary be £50 per annum for 
 three years,' and as less will not be sufficient to encourage a person of Learn- 
 ing and worth to undertake the Mission, so it will not suffice to subsist even a 
 private Minister in these parts, where every thing is very dear, which must 
 be bought for money, and not bartered for by the product of the country, 
 which no Clergyman will be Master of till he can have a Glebe, and shall 
 have cultivated his Plantation. 
 
 "IV. That the subscriptions be payd into the Arch Deacons at their 
 Easter Visitation, and be forthwith returned by them to the hands of the 
 Bishop of the Diocess, or to such person or persons in London as his Lordship 
 shall appoint to receive it, and to pay it to the order of the Missionary sent 
 by such Diocess. 
 
 " V. That besides the £50 per annum allowed each Missionary for his 
 subsistence, £20 a year be also subscribed towards raising a Library of 
 necessary and useful Books, both for himself and his successors in the Town, 
 or other place wherein he shall be settled. 
 
 " VI. That the first payment of the £50 and £20 be advanced at his first 
 going off (which I could 'wish might be before Christmas next), that so being 
 sufficiently furnished with all necessaries, he may not appeare to come as an 
 Indigent person into the place where he shall be appointed, and as one that 
 is to have free quarters upon those he is to proselyte ; the Quakers being very 
 prying into the Condition of those who come over, whom, if they find poor, 
 they proclaim hirelings, and to come over meerly for Bread. But if other- 
 wise, they have been found at a loss what to say against them. And to be 
 well provided at first will succeed the better to the advantage both of the 
 Missionary himself and the Church, to the support and countenance of which 
 he will undoubtedly lay a good Foundation, who coming first shall be happy 
 in his conduct. 
 
 " And indeed, my Lords, could we but have such men as by their reall 
 worth might be able to gain the affections of those people, I do not in the 
 
106 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 least doubt, from what I have already found, but that in my next Visitation, 
 I could obtain large Tracts of Glebes, and good Houses built by the respec- 
 tive parishes in Maryland, and the Proselyte Churches in the other Colonies, 
 so as both those, who shall now go over, will themselves in few years be in a 
 comfortable condition, and their successors after them in a happy settle- 
 ment. 
 
 " And as neither the Clergy's Condition can be comfortable, nor can it be 
 •properly called a settlement, till they shall be in Houses, and on Glebes of 
 their own ; so now is the time to endeavour both, or it will be too late here- 
 after to think of obtaining either, for as yet land may be taken up, or had 
 upon easy terms. But should the Plantations continue to increase as they 
 have done of late, within seaven years, Land will not be purchased at treble 
 the Rate as now. 
 
 " For my own part, I take this to be so happy a Juncture to lay the 
 Foundation of lasting Good to the Church of God in those Provinces, that 
 though after the Expence already of above a thousand pounds in its service, 
 and though it must be still at my own charge that I can again go, yet I shall 
 not make the least difficulty in accompanying your Lordships' Missionaries, 
 which from your respective Diocesses you shall please to send into those 
 Parts. And being therefore so little interested myself in the Mission, that it 
 will go near to sacrifice the remainder of my small Fortunes to Embarque 
 again in it, I hope I may with a better Countenance, through your Lordships' 
 Patronage, presume to offer the following Proposalls to the Very Reverend 
 Dignitaries and wealthier Clergy of the Church, for a small subscription from 
 each of them towards the maintenance of those Missionaries, their Brethren, 
 whom your Lordships shall please to send." 
 
 u J>ro2)osalls for the Propagation of the Christimi Religion, and for the 
 Reduction of the Quakers thereunto in the several Provinces on the 
 Continent of North America. 
 
 "Whereas severall English Colonies on the Continent of North America, 
 now growing into populous Provinces, are however, to the no small scandall 
 of our Church and Nation, as yet, destitute both of Churches and of persons 
 to Minister in Holy Things, to preach to them the word of God, to offer up 
 the Prayers of the People, and to administer the Holy Sacraments. 
 
 " And whereas, to the great Dishonour of God, and the Destruction of a 
 multitude of souls, as well as the great Scandall of the Reformed Religion, 
 many thousands of the people in those Parts have been sadly deluded by 
 Quakers into a Total Apostacy from the Christian Faith, and giving them- 
 selves up to the Conduct only of the Light within, or mere Natural Con- 
 science, have rejected the Holy Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and 
 Practice. 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 107 
 
 "Whereas again, notwithstanding the strong prejudices and great obstinacy 
 of that sort of Unbelievers, yet through the blessing of God upon the 
 Labours of such, who have hitherto endeavoured the Reduction of that 
 people, many of the Quakers are returned to the Christian Faith, and others 
 amongst them are so staggered as to doubt that they are in a dangerous 
 state of Unbelief, so that now there wants only under God more Labourers 
 to be sent into those fields, which seem to be white for Harvest. 
 
 "And Lastly, whereas we, the Clergy and others of the Diocess of 
 
 , in concurrence with such as are piously disposed in other 
 
 Diocesses, being sensible of the infinite mercies of God towards us in affording 
 us the Light of his Holy Gospell ; and thinking ourselves obliged out of 
 Gratitude to God, and Compassion to those People, who are not yet happy 
 in the like, to provide, so far as in us lyes, for the Propagation of the same 
 Holy Faith amongst those of our own Nation, though never so far remov'd 
 from us into Foreign Parts, Do subscribe the severall sums to our names 
 annexed, to be payd yearly, at the Easter Visitation, to the Reverend the 
 
 Arch Deacon of , to be immediately returned by him to the 
 
 Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord Bishop of this Diocess, for the mainte- 
 nance, support of, and to provide a Library for such Missionary as his 
 Lordship shall think fit to send into those Parts. 
 
 A List of Persons Licensed to the Plantations by the Bishops of London 
 from the year 1745 inclusive. 
 
 [From the Fulham MSS.] 
 
 
 AFRICA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 Philip Quaque, a Moor 
 
 ALBANY. 
 
 May 
 
 4 
 
 1765 
 
 Gold Coast 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 Harry Munro 
 William Stanford 
 
 AMERICA IN GENERAL. 
 
 July 
 July 
 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 1770 
 1775 
 
 Went to Jamaica 
 
 
 John Jones 
 Gideon Castlegrave 
 Thomas Browne 
 
 June 
 Jan. 
 July 
 
 19 
 11 
 
 28 
 
 1750 
 1750 
 1764 
 
 
108 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 David Fullerton 
 
 June 
 
 20 
 
 1767 
 
 
 
 John Sayre 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 Now in Nova Scotia 
 
 
 Thomas Fielde 
 
 Aug. 
 
 2 
 
 1770 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Daniel BatWell 
 
 Oct. 
 
 16 
 
 1773 
 
 
 
 Myles Cooper 
 
 Jan. 
 
 4 
 
 1774 
 
 
 
 ANTIGUA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alexander Grant 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1748 
 
 
 
 Robert Monerief 
 
 Feb. 
 
 27 
 
 1748 
 
 
 
 John King 
 
 Sept. 
 
 1 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 William Shervington 
 
 Dec. 
 
 23 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 Henry Byam 
 
 Oct. 
 
 20 
 
 1754 
 
 
 
 Samuel Lovely 
 
 Oct. 
 
 3 
 
 1758 
 
 
 
 John Bowen 
 
 Dec. 
 
 23 
 
 1759 
 
 
 
 James Somerville 
 
 March 
 
 5 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Francis Massett 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 James Coull 
 
 Dec. 
 
 26 
 
 1772 
 
 St. John's Parish 
 
 
 John Shepherd 
 
 March 
 
 8 
 
 1773 
 
 
 
 Josiah Weston 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1774 
 
 St. Mary's Parish 
 
 
 James Lindsay 
 
 Feb. 
 
 17 
 
 1783 
 
 Falmouth Parish 
 
 
 Samuel Jefferson 
 
 Dec. 
 
 30 
 
 1783 
 
 St. John's Parish 
 
 
 BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Richard St. John 
 
 Sept. 
 
 25 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 John Snow 
 
 May 
 
 26 
 
 1746 
 
 
 
 William Duncanson 
 
 Sept. 
 
 8 
 
 1760 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 George Tyzard 
 
 Jan. 
 
 19 
 
 1767 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Richard Moss 
 
 Feb. 
 
 16 
 
 1767 
 
 Dismissed 
 
 
 John Hunt 
 
 Nov. 
 
 4 
 
 1769 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 James Brown 
 
 March 
 
 15 
 
 1779 
 
 Providence, went to Pensacola 
 
 BARBADOES. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kenneth Morrison 
 
 Oct. 
 
 21 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 Thomas Barnard 
 
 Dec. 
 
 22 
 
 1746 
 
 
 
 Robert Braithwaise 
 
 Sept. 
 
 27 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 John Edwards 
 
 Dec. 
 
 26 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 Edward Brace 
 
 Dec. 
 
 28 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 William Duke 
 
 Dec; 
 
 21 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 John Shepley 
 
 Feb. 
 
 12 
 
 1754 
 
 
 
 Isaac Hunt 
 
 Feb. 
 
 4 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Robert Boucher 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1756 
 
 
 
 Thomas Harris 
 
 Feb. 
 
 7 
 
 1757 
 
 
 
 Richard Saer 
 
 March 
 
 17 
 
 1757 
 
 
 
 Wm. Duke 
 
 May 
 
 21 
 
 1758 
 
 
 
 Jonathan Downes 
 
 March 
 
 30 
 
 1759 
 
 
 
 Richard Harris 
 
 Dec. 
 
 23 
 
 1759 
 
 
 
 Thos. Duke, a Deacon 
 
 June 
 
 1 
 
 1760 
 
 License endorsed Sept. 
 
 22, 176 
 
 Thomas Wharton 
 
 June 
 
 12 
 
 1760 
 
 
 
 William Dunlap 
 
 Feb. 
 
 25 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 William Ferrill 
 
 Aug. 
 
 31 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 Robt. Boucher Nicholls 
 
 April 
 
 5 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Joseph Hebson 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 109 
 
 
 Benjamin Spry 
 
 Oct. 
 
 27 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Michael Mashart 
 
 Jan. 
 
 1 
 
 1771 
 
 Catechist 
 
 
 Joseph Hutchins 
 
 June 
 
 13 
 
 1771 
 
 
 
 Samuel Dent 
 
 Dec. 
 
 26 
 
 1772 
 
 Christ Church Parish 
 
 
 Henry Quintine 
 
 Feb. 
 
 22 
 
 1773 
 
 
 
 Robert Jackinan 
 
 Dec. 
 
 28 
 
 1777 
 
 St. George's Parish 
 
 
 John Duke 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1779 
 
 License endorsed Jun 
 
 
 Hugh Williams Austin 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1779 
 
 
 
 Henry Evans Husband 
 
 March 
 
 14 
 
 1781 
 
 
 
 Francis McMahon 
 
 Sept. 
 
 25 
 
 1782 
 
 St. James's Parish 
 
 
 Henry Evans Holder 
 
 Oct. 
 
 28 
 
 1782 
 
 St. Joseph's Parish 
 
 
 Timothy Blenman 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 1783 
 
 St. George's Parish 
 
 
 Hugh Williams Austin 
 
 Sept. 
 
 8 
 
 1784 
 
 St. Peter's Parish 
 
 
 BERMUDAS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Holiday 
 
 July 
 
 15 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 John Danvers 
 
 May 
 
 9 
 
 1746 
 
 
 
 Alex. Richardson 
 
 June 
 
 16 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 John Feveryear 
 
 Oct. 
 
 12 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Thomas Lyttleton 
 
 March 
 
 30 
 
 1767 
 
 Now in England 
 
 
 Benjamin Blackburn 
 
 Dec. 
 
 27 
 
 1773 
 
 St. George's Parish 
 
 
 Ludlow Holt 
 
 Feb. 
 
 25 
 
 1777 
 
 
 
 CAPE BRETON. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Benj. Lovell 
 
 Sept, 
 
 9 
 
 1784 
 
 Military Staff 
 
 
 CANADA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 David Cabran de Lisle 
 
 April 
 
 15 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 Leger Jno.Baptiste Noel 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Veyssiere 
 
 March 
 
 5 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 David Francis de Mont- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 mollin 
 
 March 
 
 5 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 CARRIBEES. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Ramsay 
 
 Nov. 
 
 24 
 
 1761 
 
 St. John's Capisterrc 
 
 
 William Scott 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 John Syines 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 
 
 Benj. Win. Hutchinson 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Hy. Erskine Kirkpatrick 
 
 July 
 
 18 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 John Pogson Crook 
 
 March 
 
 25 
 
 1769 
 
 
 
 William Taylor 
 
 Dec. 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 
 
 Thomas Wilson 
 
 Sept. 
 
 22 
 
 1771 
 
 Did not go 
 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Reid 
 
 April 
 
 1 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 John Rowan 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1747 
 
 
 
 Robert Cumming 
 
 Jan. 
 
 19 
 
 1748 
 
 
 
 William Pow 
 
 Jan. 
 
 23 
 
 1748 
 
 
 M 
 
 Alexander Stewart • 
 
 June 
 
 18 
 
 1753 
 
 
 M 
 
 John McDowel 
 
 July 
 
 5 
 8 
 
 1753 
 
 
110 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collection®* 
 
 William Fanning 
 
 March 
 
 25 
 
 1754 
 
 
 
 William Miller 
 
 March 
 
 31 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Samuel Laird 
 
 Oct. 
 
 12 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Daniel Earl 
 
 Sept. 
 
 19 
 
 1756 
 
 
 
 William Harrison 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1756 
 
 
 
 William Teale 
 
 Dec. 
 
 6 
 
 1762 
 
 
 
 John Barnett 
 
 May 
 
 2 
 
 1765 
 
 Bad^Mars 
 
 
 James Cosgreve 
 
 Feb. 
 
 25 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 George Meiklejobn 
 
 March 
 
 12 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 Charles Kupples 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 Samuel Fiske 
 
 Aug. 
 
 31 
 
 1766 
 
 
 
 John Cramp 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 
 
 Hobart Briggs 
 
 April 
 
 5 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 James Macartney 
 
 July 
 
 25 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Francis Johnston 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 Henry John Burgess 
 
 Nov. 
 
 1 
 
 1768 
 
 
 
 John Wills 
 
 Jan. 
 
 30 
 
 1769 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Theodorus Swain Drage 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 1769 
 
 Never heard of him after 
 
 Edward Jones 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 1769 
 
 
 
 Peter Blin 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1769 
 
 
 
 Charles Edward Taylor 
 
 Jan. 
 
 1 
 
 1771 
 
 Now there 
 
 
 Nicholas Christian 
 
 Aug. 
 
 13 
 
 1773 
 
 
 
 Nathaniel Blount 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1773 
 
 St. Thomas's Parish 
 
 
 Hezekiah Ford 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1774 
 
 St. Jude's Parish 
 
 
 Charles Pettigrew 
 
 March 
 
 1 
 
 1775 
 
 
 
 John Lott Phillips 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1776 
 
 St. Margaret's Parish 
 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alexander Keith 
 
 June 
 
 26 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 David Garrow 
 
 July 
 
 15 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 Bolton Simpson 
 
 Aug. 
 
 26 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 Robert Beetham 
 
 Oct. 
 
 16 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 Robert Stone 
 
 June 
 
 30 
 
 1749 
 
 
 
 Jn. Utrick Geisendauner 
 
 Sept. 
 
 24 
 
 1749 
 
 
 
 Wm. Langhorne 
 
 June 
 
 5 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 Alexander Douglass 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1750 
 
 
 
 Charles Martin 
 
 Sept. 
 
 13 
 
 1751 
 
 
 
 Michael Smith 
 
 April 
 
 14 
 
 1752 
 
 
 
 James Harrison 
 
 June 
 
 22 
 
 1752 
 
 
 
 Robert Barron 
 
 Feb. 
 
 2 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 Alexander Barron 
 
 June 
 
 17 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 Richard Clarke 
 
 July 
 
 16 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 John Andrews 
 
 July 
 
 16 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 Jno. Cheshire Heyborne 
 
 Aug. 
 
 7 
 
 1753 
 
 Did not go 
 
 
 Clement Brooke 
 
 Jan. 
 
 29 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Jenkin Lewis 
 
 July 
 
 5 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Winwood Serjeant 
 
 Dec. 
 
 19 
 
 1756 
 
 
 
 Samuel Fenner Warren 
 
 Jan. 
 
 12 
 
 1758 
 
 Afterwards My. in N. 
 
 Er 
 
 Robert Cooper 
 
 May 
 
 1 
 
 1758 
 
 
 
 John Tongue 
 
 Sept. 
 
 8 
 
 1759 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Abraham Immer 
 
 Jan. 
 
 28 
 
 1760 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Joseph Dacre Appleby 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 Ill 
 
 M 
 
 Wilson 
 Offspring Pearce 
 Joseph Stokes 
 George Skene 
 John Green 
 John Evans 
 Joseph Edwards 
 John Hockley 
 William Lonsdale 
 Paul Turquand 
 Charles Woodmason 
 George Spencer 
 Samuel Ward 
 Thomas Straker 
 John Lewis 
 Richard Farmer 
 Francis Hoyland 
 Robert Purcell 
 Thomas Morgan 
 Robert Smith 
 James Pierce 
 Saml. Frederick Lucius 
 William Jones 
 Henry Purcell 
 John Hinde 
 Natlil. James Martin 
 Christ. Erust Schab 
 John Yillette 
 Thomas Walke 
 Haddon Smith 
 Edward Jenkins 
 Charles Fredk. Moreau 
 John Dundays 
 Wm. Eastwick Graham 
 
 ST. CHRISTOPHERS. 
 
 William Topham 
 Thomas Jones 
 Robert Roberts 
 Francis Hoyland 
 Delahay Reece 
 John Clerkson 
 Hnry. Rubt. Duckworth 
 John Roberson 
 Wm. John Julius 
 Wm. Thomas 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Matt. Graves 
 
 Richard Clark 
 
 John Tyler 
 
 John Rutchers Marshall 
 
 Oct. 
 
 I 26 
 
 Oct. 
 
 26 
 
 Oct. 
 
 30 
 
 Dec. 
 
 7 
 
 March 
 
 16 
 
 March 
 
 24 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 Sept. 
 
 12 
 
 Jan. 
 
 16 
 
 April 
 
 28 
 
 April 
 
 28 
 
 April 
 
 24 
 
 Dec. 
 
 14 
 
 Jan. 
 
 28 
 
 July 
 
 21 
 
 Nov. 
 
 16 
 
 March 
 
 26 
 
 April 
 
 5 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 Oct, 
 
 3 
 
 Oct. 
 
 3 
 
 Nov. 
 
 1 
 
 Feb. 
 
 8 
 
 March 
 
 31 
 
 Jan. 
 
 29 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 Sept. 
 
 2 
 
 Feb. 
 
 18 
 
 Aug. 
 
 22 
 
 Aug. 
 
 29 
 
 Feb. 
 
 8 
 
 June 
 
 6 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 Feb. 
 
 24 
 
 May 
 
 4 
 
 Sept. 
 
 6 
 
 Dec. 
 
 23 
 
 Feb. 
 
 9 
 
 Sept. 
 
 30 
 
 Dec. 
 
 26 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 May 
 
 19 
 
 Oct. 
 Feb. 
 June 
 July 
 
 761 
 761 
 761 
 761 
 762 
 762 
 762 
 765 
 766 
 766 
 766 
 767 
 767 
 768 
 768 
 768 
 769 
 769 
 769 
 769 
 769 
 769 
 770 
 770 
 771 
 771 
 771 
 771 
 772 
 772 
 772 
 773 
 773 
 775 
 
 1745 
 1748 
 1753 
 1753 
 1760 
 1760 
 1772 
 1775 
 1781 
 1783 
 
 1747 
 1767 
 1768 
 1771 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 Did not go 
 
 Dead 
 
 Came to England 
 Dead 
 
 Did not go 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Did not go 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Came home. Prince Frdk's parish 
 
 St. Mark's Parish 
 
 Ashley Parish 
 
 Dead. Prince Frederick's Parish 
 Prince William's Parish 
 
 SS. George & Peter's Parishes. 
 
 Woodbury 
 
112 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 James Nicholls Feb. 3 1774 ] Northbury & New Cambridge 
 
 M 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 •M 
 M 
 
 -M 
 
 Henry McLeane 
 James Mcintosh 
 Austin Leigh 
 Joseph Miller 
 Isaac Mann 
 George Green 
 
 EAST FLORIDA. 
 
 John Forbes 
 John Frazer 
 John Leadbetter 
 John Kennedy 
 
 WEST FLORIDA. 
 
 Samuel Hart 
 William Dawson 
 William Gordon 
 Nathaniel Cotton 
 George Chapman 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 
 Barthol. Louberbuhler 
 Jonathan Copp 
 Samuel Frink 
 John Alexander 
 Edward Ellington 
 Alexander Finlay 
 James Seymour 
 John Holmes 
 John Rennie 
 James Browne 
 John Stewart 
 
 GRANADA. 
 
 George Bowdler 
 John Cumming 
 John Findlater 
 Francis McMahon 
 
 GUADALOTJPE. 
 
 Gaspar Joel Monard 
 
 JAMAICA. 
 
 Joshua Peat 
 Patrick McCullock 
 
 July 
 Dec. 
 Feb. 
 
 Sept. 
 Aug. 
 March 
 
 May 
 March 
 Nov. 
 Dec. 
 
 May 
 
 July 
 
 Aug. 
 
 March 
 
 May 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 June 
 
 March 
 
 July 
 Dec. 
 June 
 Sept. 
 
 24 
 
 Ausr. 25 
 
 Sept. 
 June 
 
 1764 
 1771 
 1771 
 1773 
 
 1774 
 
 1778 
 
 1764 
 1769 
 1773 
 1776 
 
 SS. Paul's & George's Parishes 
 
 St. Augustine 
 
 St. Augustine 
 St. Mark's 
 
 1764 Mobile 
 1764 I Pensacola 
 1767 
 
 1768 
 1773 
 
 1745 
 1750 
 1763 
 1766 
 1767 
 1770 
 1771 
 1773 
 1773 
 1779 
 1781 
 
 1764 
 1769 
 1771 
 
 1784 
 
 1759 
 
 1746 
 
 1748 
 
 Pensacola 
 
 Augusta 
 
 St. George's Parish. Dismissed 
 
 St. George's Parish. In England 
 Christ Church, Savannah Parish 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 113 
 
 George Evans 
 Joseph Stoney 
 Henry Caaffe 
 Colin Campbell 
 Robert Harris 
 Robert Atkins 
 John McAuley 
 Isaac Teale 
 Anthony Davis 
 John Ramsay 
 John Perney 
 Michael Smith 
 Hadden Smith 
 William Clarke 
 John Walcot 
 Inglis Twing 
 John Usher Tyrrel 
 Thomas Pool 
 William Morgan 
 Alexander Robertson 
 Middleton Howard 
 Richard Johnson 
 Philip Anglin 
 Peter Miller 
 Thomas Bradshaw 
 James Steel 
 Thomas Simcocks 
 
 st. john's island. 
 
 John Caulfield 
 
 LEEWARD ISLANDS. 
 
 Matt Towers 
 
 MARYLAND. 
 
 John Houston 
 Hamilton Bell 
 George Cooke 
 Alexander Adams 
 Richard Brown 
 John Macpherson 
 Thomas Johnston 
 Matthew Harris 
 Thomas Thornton 
 John Ross 
 
 Alexander Williamson 
 Philip Walker 
 William Barrell 
 Samuel Keene 
 Joseph Mather 
 Daniel Maynadier 
 Francis Lander 
 
 Jan. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 July 
 
 Sept. 
 
 May 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 June 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Sept, 
 
 March 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 May 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 July 
 
 April 
 
 June 
 
 March 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 March 
 
 March 
 
 Sept 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 17 
 
 1749 
 
 1750 
 
 1751 
 
 1751 
 
 1752 
 
 1753 
 
 1754 
 
 1755 
 
 1757 
 
 1759 
 
 1761 
 
 1764 
 
 1766 
 
 1767 
 
 1769 
 
 1769 
 
 1769 
 
 1773 
 
 1773 
 
 1775 
 
 1775 
 
 1775 
 
 1776 
 
 1777 
 
 1778 
 
 1782 
 
 1784 
 
 1769 
 
 26 1746 
 
 1747 
 1747 
 1748 
 1748 
 1750 
 1751 
 1751 
 1753 
 1754 
 1754 
 1755 
 1756 
 1760 
 1760 
 1760 
 1760 
 1761 
 
 St. George's Parish 
 Clarendon Parish 
 
 Kingston Parish 
 Westmoreland Parish 
 
114 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 William Dowie April 
 
 Samuel Howard May 
 
 Samuel Sloane Dec. 
 
 Thomas Alkin Feb. 
 
 Benet Allen Sept. 
 
 Henry Fendall Feb. 
 
 Edward Edmiston March 
 
 Thomas John Clagett Oct. 
 
 John Porter June 
 
 John Patterson June 
 
 Jeremiah Berry Dec. 
 
 Daniel McKinnon Dec. 
 
 John Scott March 
 Jcb Henderson Hindman Dec. 
 
 Edward Gaunt Feb. 
 
 George Gowndril March 
 
 John Montgomery July 
 
 John B. Gowie July 
 
 Thomas Lendrum Feb 
 
 obert Graham Mnrcl 
 
 James Wilmer Sept. 
 
 Thomas Reid Sept, 
 
 Hamilton Bell Feb 
 
 George Mitchell Apri 
 
 William Duncan May 
 
 Thomas Harrison Aug, 
 Walter Hanson Harrison Aug. 
 
 Robert McKormick Apri 
 
 Thomas Braithwaite Jan 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Willard Wheeler Dec. 
 
 Mather Byles June 
 
 William Clark Dec. 
 
 Gideon Bostwick Marcl 
 
 Daniel Fogg Auj 
 
 MONTSERRATT. 
 
 William Blair Sept. 
 
 John Symes Sept. 
 
 George Young Dec. 
 
 MOSQUITO SHORE. 
 
 Thomas Warren June 
 
 Robert Shaw June 
 
 Edwin Thomas Sept. 
 
 William McHenley ' Feb. 
 
 2 
 
 1762 
 
 2 
 
 1765 
 
 23 
 
 1765 
 
 25 
 
 1766 
 
 30 
 
 1766 
 
 25 
 
 1767 
 
 30 
 
 1767 
 
 11 
 
 1767 
 
 11 
 
 1768 
 
 11 
 
 1768 
 
 22 
 
 1768 
 
 22 
 
 1768 
 
 25 
 
 1769 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 2 
 
 1770 
 
 31 
 
 1770 
 
 23 
 
 1770 
 
 28 
 
 1771 
 
 2 
 
 1773 
 
 8 
 
 1773 
 
 21 
 
 1773 
 
 21 
 
 1773 
 
 28 
 
 1774 
 
 6 
 
 1774 
 
 29 
 
 1774 
 
 24 
 
 1774 
 
 24 
 
 1774 
 
 11 
 
 1775 
 
 6 
 
 1776 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 22- 
 
 1768 
 
 14 
 
 1770 
 
 19 
 
 1770 
 
 27 
 
 1750 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 28 
 
 1775 
 
 24 
 
 1768 
 
 29 
 
 1774 
 
 11 
 
 1747 
 
 241 
 
 1773 
 
 Come home 
 
 Prince George's Parish 
 St. Paul's Parish 
 
 Somerset Parish 
 Stepney Parish 
 St. Michael's Parish 
 Trinity Parish 
 Durham Parish 
 St. James's Parish 
 
 Gone to Jamaica 
 
 St. John's & Thomas's Parishes 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from l5"45. 
 
 115 
 
 NEW EKGLAND. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Barzillai Dean 
 
 Nov. 
 
 21 
 
 1745 
 
 
 
 William McGilchrist 
 
 Oct. 
 
 10 
 
 1746 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 William Hooper 
 
 June 
 
 10 
 
 1747 
 
 
 
 Jerem. Learning 
 
 June 
 
 21 
 
 1748 
 
 
 
 Richard Mansfield 
 
 Aug. 
 
 11 
 
 1748 
 
 
 
 Jonathan Coulton 
 
 March 
 
 26 
 
 1752 
 
 
 
 Ichabod Camp 
 
 March 
 
 26 
 
 1752 
 
 
 
 John Fowle 
 
 May 
 
 24 
 
 1752 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Edward Bags 
 
 May 
 
 24 
 
 1752 
 
 
 
 Peter Bowers 
 
 March 
 
 18 
 
 1753 
 
 
 
 John Troutbeck 
 
 May 
 
 7 
 
 1754 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Solomon Palmer 
 
 Oct. 
 
 20 
 
 1754 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Marmaduke Browne 
 
 Jan. 
 
 29 
 
 1755 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 William McClenachan 
 
 March 
 
 31 
 
 1755 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Edward Winslow 
 
 .March 
 
 31 
 
 1755 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Jolin Graves 
 
 June 
 
 4 
 
 1755 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Christopher Newton 
 
 Julv 
 
 28 
 
 1755 
 
 
 
 Samuel Fairweather 
 
 March 
 
 25 
 
 1756 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 James Scovil 
 
 April 
 
 4 
 
 1759 
 
 
 
 Samuel Peters 
 
 Aug. 
 
 25 
 
 1759 
 
 In England 
 
 
 James Greaton 
 
 Jan. 
 
 28 
 
 1760 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Jacob Bailey 
 
 March 
 
 17 
 
 1761 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 
 
 Thomas Davies 
 
 Oct. 
 
 26 
 
 1761 
 
 
 
 Samuel Andrews 
 
 Oct. 
 
 26 
 
 1761 
 
 
 
 John Beardsley 
 
 Oct. 
 
 26 
 
 1763 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 
 
 Joshua Wingate Weeks 
 
 April 
 
 17 
 
 1763 
 
 Ejected himself 
 
 
 Roger Viets 
 
 April 
 
 17 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 William Walter 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 Abraham Jarvis 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 Bela Hubbard 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 John Lvon 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1765 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 John Wiswell 
 
 Feb. 
 
 11 
 
 1767 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 
 
 Richard C 
 
 Feb. 
 
 27 
 
 1770 
 
 
 
 Luke Babcoek 
 
 Feb. 
 
 2 
 
 1770 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Samuel Parker 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1774 
 
 Trinity, Boston 
 
 
 NEWFOUNDLAND. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Benjamin Lindsay 
 
 March 
 
 30 
 
 1751 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Edward Langman 
 
 Jan. 
 
 10 
 
 1752 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 William Fotheringham 
 
 June 
 
 8 
 
 1762 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 James Balgoar 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1764 
 
 
 
 Laurence Couglan 
 
 April 
 
 26 
 
 1766 
 
 Removed 
 
 
 Isaac Hunt 
 
 March 
 
 4 
 
 1777 
 
 Trinity Bav. Never 
 
 went 
 
 Walter Price 
 
 March 
 
 22 
 
 1784 
 
 St. John's Parish 
 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Moses Badger 
 
 Feb. 
 
 23 
 
 1767 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Kanna Cossit 
 
 March 
 
 27 
 
 1773 
 
 Haverill Parish 
 
 
 William Aldington 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1 1775 
 
 
 
116 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 NEW JERSEY 
 
 Thomas Thompson 
 Thomas Wood 
 George Craig 
 Samuel Cooke 
 Thos Bradbury Chandler 
 Samuel Seabury 
 Robert McKean 
 Andrew Moreton 
 Agur Treadwell 
 Leonard Cutting 
 Nathaniel Evans 
 Jonathan Odell 
 George Spencer 
 Abraham Beach 
 William Frazer 
 William Ayres 
 David Griffith 
 Robert Blackwell 
 
 Samuel Tingley 
 
 Uzal Ogden 
 
 NEW PROVIDENCE. 
 
 Robert Carter 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 Joseph Lamson 
 Samuel Auchmuty 
 Epenetus Townsend 
 Joshua Bloomer 
 William Andrews 
 John Stewart 
 John Doty 
 John Vardill 
 John Ogilvie 
 William Johnson 
 John Milner 
 Harry Munn 
 Ephraim Avery 
 John Bowden 
 Benjamin Moore 
 Jas Sayre 
 William Stanford 
 Thomas Lambert Moore 
 
 NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 William Tutty 
 William Anwyl 
 Peter Christian Burger 
 John Breyntow 
 
 March 
 
 25 
 
 1745 
 
 Sept. 
 Sept. 
 June 
 
 29 
 1 
 3 
 
 1749 
 1750 
 1751 
 
 Aug. 
 Dec. 
 
 20 
 23 
 
 1751 
 1753 
 
 April 
 March 
 
 26 
 17 
 
 1757 
 1760 
 
 April 
 Dec- 
 
 30 
 
 21 
 
 1762 
 1763 
 
 Sept. 
 Jan. 
 
 22 
 19 
 
 1765 
 1767 
 
 Jan. 
 
 19 
 
 1767 
 
 June 
 
 14 
 
 1767 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 Aug. 
 
 19 
 
 1770 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1772 
 
 March 
 
 8 
 
 1773 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1773 
 
 Sept. 
 
 23 
 
 1749 
 
 June 
 
 10 
 
 1745 
 
 July 
 
 20 
 
 1747 
 
 Dec, 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1769 
 
 June 
 
 10 
 
 1770 
 
 Aug. 
 
 19 
 
 1770 
 
 Jan. 
 
 1 
 
 1771 
 
 April 
 June 
 
 6 
 30 
 
 1774 
 1749 
 
 March 
 
 25 
 
 1756 
 
 Feb. 
 
 25 
 
 1761 
 
 Feb. 
 
 11 
 
 1765 
 
 June 
 
 2 
 
 1765 
 
 May 
 June 
 
 29 
 29 
 
 1774 
 1774 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1774 
 
 July 
 Sept. 
 
 8 
 21 
 
 1775 
 
 1781 
 
 April 
 April 
 Jan. 
 
 17 
 
 27 
 15 
 
 1749 
 
 1749 
 1752 
 
 April 
 
 23 
 
 1752 
 
 Dead 
 
 Removed to Nova Scotia. Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Removed 
 
 Dead 
 
 Gloucester County. Dismissed 
 St. John's in Elizabeth Town. ) 
 Removed to Maryland. \ 
 Sussex County 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Come to England 
 
 Dead 
 
 Shenesboro'. Refused it 
 
 Charlotte, &c. Precincts 
 
 Fredericksburgh Precinct 
 
 Albany. Mosq. Shore 
 
 Islip, in Suffolk County 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 117 
 
 Joseph Bennet 
 Paulua fiyrzelius 
 
 James Adam de Martel 
 John Eagleson 
 Peter de la Roche 
 William Ellis 
 
 Nathaniel Fisher 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Philip Reading 
 William Sturgeon 
 Hugh Neill 
 William Smith 
 Thomas Barton 
 Aaron Cleveland 
 Charles Inglis 
 Jacob Due he 
 William Thompson 
 Alex. Murray 
 Jacob Duche 
 Richard Peters 
 Samuel Giles 
 Hugh Wilson 
 John Andrews 
 Samuel Magaw 
 Walter Chapman 
 Thomas Coombe 
 William White 
 Bernard Page 
 Frau^ott Fred. Filing 
 William Stringer 
 Thomas Hopkinson 
 Sydenham Thorn 
 
 QUEBEC. 
 
 Lewis Guerry 
 
 RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 Thomas Pollen 
 George Bissett 
 
 John Stephen 
 John Trotter 
 
 John Robertson 
 Alexander Campbell 
 William Yates 
 
 March 
 Feb. 
 
 July 
 March 
 March 
 Feb. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 April 
 
 June 
 
 March 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 July 
 
 Dec. 
 
 March 
 
 Dec. 
 
 June 
 
 Sept, 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 July 
 
 Oct, 
 
 April 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 March 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Ausf. 
 
 April 
 
 Feb. 
 May 
 
 Sept, 
 Dec. 
 
 Jan. 
 Jan. 
 April 
 
 11 
 
 30 
 
 1762 
 1767 
 1767 
 1768 
 1771 
 1774 
 
 1777 
 
 1746 
 1747 
 1750 
 1753 
 1755 
 1755 
 1758 
 1759 
 1759 
 1762 
 1762 
 1765 
 1765 
 1765 
 1767 
 1767 
 1768 
 1771 
 1772 
 1772 
 1772 
 1773 
 1773 
 1774 
 
 1775 
 
 1754 
 1767 
 
 1764 
 1768 
 
 1745 
 1745 
 17451 Dead 
 
 Annapolis and Granville. Re- ^ 
 moved to Boston. \ 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Went to New York 
 
 In England 
 
 St. Paul's, Philadelphia 
 
 Christ Chh. & St. Peter's, Phila. 
 
 Went to Maryland 
 
 Has a Church in Philadelphia 
 
 Did not go 
 
 Wyoming Parish 
 
 Junietta 
 
 St. Paul's, Philadelphia 
 
 Mispillion and St. Paul's 
 
 Dead 
 
118 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Alexander White 
 
 June 
 
 William Proctor 
 
 July 
 
 William Coles 
 
 Feb. 
 
 William Webb 
 
 March 
 
 Joseph Simpson 
 
 June 
 
 John Hindman 
 
 Sept. 
 
 William Stuart 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Robert Dickson 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Musgrave Dawson 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Robert Innes 
 
 July 
 
 Isaac Campbell 
 
 July 
 
 Thomas Warrington 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Roscow Cole 
 
 Jan. 
 
 John Smelt 
 
 March 
 
 John Dixon 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Alexander Cruden 
 
 March 
 
 John Andrews 
 
 April 
 
 Richard Locke 
 
 May 
 
 Archibald Spencer 
 
 Aug. 
 
 William Douglass 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Robert McLaurin 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Adam Menzies 
 
 Dec. 
 
 James Fovvlis 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Peter Davis 
 
 June 
 
 John Ramsay 
 
 July 
 
 Miles Selden 
 
 Jan. 
 
 John Nivison 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Joseph Bewsker 
 
 March 
 
 John Brumskill 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Thomas Smith 
 
 Feb. 
 
 John Agnew 
 
 June 
 
 Thomas Wilkinson 
 
 July 
 
 James Pasteur 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Thomas Davis 
 
 Sept. 
 
 James Garden 
 
 Sept. 
 
 James Craig 
 
 March 
 
 Joseph Davenport 
 
 Oct. 
 
 James Maury 
 
 Dec. 
 
 William Meldrum 
 
 June 
 
 Rice Hove 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Gronow Owen 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Jacob Rowe 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Robert Read 
 
 April 
 
 Isaac William Giberne 
 
 Sept. 
 
 James Craig 
 
 Sept. 
 
 John Brander 
 
 March 
 
 Andrew Burnaby 
 
 April 
 
 Alexander Rhonnald 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Patrick Lunen 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Joseph Collinson 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Thomas Price 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Richard Hewitt 
 
 Sept. 
 
 James Semple 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Arch. McRobert 
 
 Feb. 
 
 James Horrocka 
 
 Nov. 
 
 10 
 
 1745 
 
 1 
 
 1745 
 
 2 
 
 1746 
 
 16 
 
 1746 
 
 2 
 
 1746 
 
 22 
 
 1746 
 
 26 
 
 1746 
 
 22 
 
 1746 
 
 1 
 
 1747 
 
 6 
 
 1747 
 
 6 
 
 1747 
 
 21 
 
 1747 
 
 19 
 
 1748 
 
 28 
 
 1748 
 
 4 
 
 1748 
 
 14 
 
 1749 
 
 12 
 
 1749 
 
 13 
 
 1749 
 
 30 
 
 1749 
 
 24 
 
 1749 
 
 24 
 
 1750 
 
 28 
 
 1750 
 
 28 
 
 1750 
 
 11 
 
 1751 
 
 13 
 
 1751 
 
 15 
 
 1752 
 
 25 
 
 1752 
 
 2 
 
 1752 
 
 29 
 
 1752 
 
 2 
 
 1753 
 
 17 
 
 1753 
 
 31 
 
 1753 
 
 23 
 
 1753 
 
 22 
 
 1754 
 
 22 
 
 1754 
 
 31 
 
 1755 
 
 12 
 
 1755 
 
 27 
 
 1755 
 
 13 
 
 1756 
 
 21 
 
 1756 
 
 21 
 
 1757 
 
 13 
 
 1758 
 
 10 
 
 1758 
 
 30 
 
 1758 
 
 30 
 
 1758 
 
 11 
 
 1759 
 
 7 
 
 1759 
 
 25 
 
 1759 
 
 23 
 
 1759 
 
 23 
 
 1759 
 
 23 
 
 1759 
 
 30 
 
 1760 
 
 30 
 
 1760 
 
 25 
 
 1761 
 
 5 
 
 1761 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
Persons Licensed to the Plantations from 1745. 
 
 119 
 
 William West 
 Leonard Watson 
 Jonathan Boucher 
 Archibald Dick 
 Devereux Jarratt 
 Richard Collinson 
 William Buckham 
 James Maury Fontaine 
 John Lyth 
 Henry Skyring 
 John Mathews 
 John Wishart 
 Walter Jameson 
 Robert Renney 
 Thomas Lendrum 
 Townsend Dade 
 Charles Mynn Thruston 
 Christopher Mackae 
 George Goldie 
 William Hubard 
 Thomas Floyd 
 Josiah Johnson 
 William Haly burton 
 Benjamin Sebastian 
 Lee Massey 
 James Stuart 
 Arch. Aven 
 William Bland 
 Thomas Martin 
 Thomas Lundie 
 William Courts 
 Samuel Clug 
 Arthur Hamilton 
 Walter Macgowan 
 Robert Yancey 
 William Agar 
 James Stevenson 
 Arthur Emerson 
 James Thompson 
 Charles Clay 
 Mathew Maurey 
 Thomas Baker 
 Isaac Avery 
 Samuel Henley 
 Alexander Lunen 
 Thomas Gwatkin 
 John Kvnaston 
 James Herdman 
 William Selden 
 Spence Grayson 
 Abner Waugh 
 John W T ingate 
 William Vere 
 James Ogilvie 
 Daniel Sturges 
 
 Nov. 
 
 24 
 
 1761 
 
 March 
 
 10 
 
 1762 
 
 March 
 
 26 
 
 1762 
 
 March 
 
 26 
 
 1762 
 
 Dec. 
 
 28 
 
 1762 
 
 Dec. 
 
 28 
 
 1762 
 
 April 
 
 17 
 
 1763 
 
 Oct. 
 
 10 
 
 1763 
 
 Oct. 
 
 10 
 
 1763 
 
 Oct. 
 
 10 
 
 1763 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1764 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1764 
 
 June 
 
 29 
 
 1764 
 
 July 
 
 1 
 
 1764 
 
 April 
 
 3 
 
 1765 
 
 Aug. 
 
 13 
 
 1765 
 
 Aug. 
 
 13 
 
 1765 
 
 Dec. 
 
 23 
 
 1765 
 
 Feb. 
 
 25 
 
 1766 
 
 April 
 
 28 
 
 1766 
 
 May 
 
 9 
 
 1766 
 
 July 
 
 10 
 
 1766 
 
 Aug. 
 
 28 
 
 1766 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1766 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1766 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1766 
 
 Feb. 
 
 2 
 
 1767 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 1767 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 1767 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1767 
 
 June 
 
 7 
 
 1768 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1768 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1768 
 
 June 
 
 24 
 
 1768 
 
 July 
 
 25 
 
 1768 
 
 June 
 
 21 
 
 1768 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 Sept. 
 
 29 
 
 1768 
 
 Feb. 
 
 28 
 
 1769 
 
 June 
 
 7 
 
 1769 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 Oct. 
 
 18 
 
 1769 
 
 Dec. 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 Dec. 
 
 24 
 
 1769 
 
 Jan. 
 
 5 
 
 1770 
 
 Aug. 
 
 9 
 
 1770 
 
 Sept. 
 
 23 
 
 1770 
 
 March 
 
 11 
 
 1771 
 
 May 
 
 29 
 
 1771 
 
 March 
 
 11 
 
 1771 
 
 Sept. 
 
 22 
 
 1771 
 
 Sept. 
 
 22 
 
 1771 
 
 Sept. 
 
 22 
 
 1771 
 
 Nov. 
 
 11 
 
 1771 
 
 Gone to Maryland 
 Did not go 
 
 Dead 
 
 Dead 
 
 St. Mary's Parish 
 Dale Parish 
 
 Hampshire. 
 Norborne 
 
120 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Benjamin Blagrove 
 
 March 
 
 5 
 
 1772 
 
 Elizabeth City 
 
 William Leigh 
 
 March 
 
 16 
 
 1772 
 
 Shelburne 
 
 Nathaniel Manning 
 
 March 
 
 16 
 
 1772 
 
 Hampshire 
 
 Robert Buchan 
 
 March 
 
 16 
 
 1772 
 
 
 John Braidfoot 
 
 April 
 
 25 
 
 1772 
 
 
 Peter Muhlenberg 
 
 April 
 
 25 
 
 1772 
 
 
 Joseph Messenger 
 
 May 
 
 7 
 
 1772 
 
 Stafford County 
 
 William Hannah 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1772 
 
 Culpepper County 
 
 William Holt 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1772 
 
 Amelia County 
 
 John Bracken 
 
 July 
 
 6 
 
 1772 
 
 Amelia County 
 
 Francis Wilson 
 
 Aug. 
 
 24 
 
 1772 
 
 Drysdale Parish 
 
 Saml. Smith McCrosky 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1772 
 
 Christ Church Parish 
 
 Rodham Kenner 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1772 
 
 Hampshire 
 
 John Hyde Saunders 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1772 
 
 James City 
 
 Alexander Balmain 
 
 Oct. 
 
 11 
 
 1772 
 
 Cople Parish 
 
 Jesse Carter 
 
 Oct. 
 
 21 
 
 1772 
 
 Southampton Parish 
 
 Robert Andrews 
 
 Dec. 
 
 26 
 
 1772 
 
 Wave Parish 
 
 William McKenzie 
 
 June 
 
 6 
 
 1773 
 
 
 John Campbell 
 
 June 
 
 6 
 
 1773 
 
 Stratton Major Parish 
 
 John McLean 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1 
 
 1773 
 
 Botetourt Parish 
 
 Thomas Davis 
 
 Sept. 
 
 21 
 
 1773 
 
 Norfolk Parish 
 
 Thomas Hall 
 
 April 
 
 6 
 
 1774 
 
 St. Martin's Parish 
 
 Emanuel Jones J! 
 
 Sept, 
 
 21 
 
 1774 
 
 St. Bride's 
 
 Samuel Shield 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1774 
 
 Drysdale Parish 
 
 John Hurt 
 
 Dec. 
 
 21 
 
 1774 
 
 Trinity Parish 
 
 John Brace 
 
 March 
 
 1 
 
 1775 
 
 Elizabeth Parish 
 
 John Leland 
 
 April 
 
 11 
 
 1775 
 
 Wicomoco Parish 
 
 Christ. Todd 
 
 April 
 
 26 
 
 1775 
 
 Brunswick Parish 
 
 William Gordon 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1775 
 
 
 John Buchanan 
 
 Aug. 
 
 13 
 
 1775 
 
 Henrico Parish 
 
 James Madison 
 
 Oct. 
 
 1 
 
 1775 
 
 
 John White Holt 
 
 June 
 
 11 
 
 1776 
 
 Russell Parish 
 
 ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Thomas Load 
 
 Dec. 
 
 28 
 
 1777 
 
 
Parishes, &c.,in 1724. 
 
 121 
 
 4 List of the several Parishes or places where Divine Service is performed 
 ' according to the rites of the Church of England, in South and North 
 Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and New 
 England with an Account of the present Income belonging to each Parish, 
 or place, 'taken from the Books of the Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gospel in Foreign Parts, July 1, 1724. 
 
 [From the Fulham MSS.] 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 St. Phillips's, Charlestown. — There is 
 a house and glebe ; the Rev. Mr. 
 Garden the present Minister - 
 
 St. James's, Goose Creek.— A house 
 and glebe; the Rev. Mr. Ludhim, 
 
 Minister 
 
 St. Andrew's.— A house and glebe ; the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Guy, Minister - 
 St George's. — A house and glebe ; the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Varnod, Minister 
 St. John's. — A house and glebe; the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hunt, Minister 
 
 St Thomas's.— No house, two glebes, 
 
 money allowed oat of the Treasury, 
 
 now at interest for building a house; 
 
 the Rev. Mr. Hasell, Minister - - 
 
 St. Dennis's, a French Conformist 
 
 Church. — No house nor glebe; the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Lapiere, Minister 
 
 Christ Church.— A house and glebe; 
 
 the Rev. Mr. Pownall, Minister 
 St. James's, Santee, a French Conform- 
 ist Church.— A house and glebe; the 
 Rev. Mr. Pouderons, Minister - 
 St. Paul's. — A glebe but no house ; 
 the money allowed by the Treasury 
 at interest for building one; the 
 Rev. Mr. Standish lately appointed 
 Minister there - 
 
 St. Bartholomew's and St. Helen's. 
 Depopulated by the Indian war ; have 
 neither Churches nor Parsonage 
 houses; when they shall be supplied 
 they will be allowed each 
 
 
 
 til! 
 
 £ s d £ s d 
 
 00 
 
 Besides considerable 
 perquisites for wed- 
 120 dings, christenings, 
 funerals. 
 
 50 80 
 
 50 80 
 
 50 80 
 
 50 80 
 
 50 80 
 
 00 80 
 
 50 80 
 
 00 80 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 
 
122 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 s oj £ 
 
 c-e « . 
 
 03, SB 
 
 2. c.2 — 
 
 " U = "2- S 
 
 >,5o . 
 »- o ~ M 
 
 c 5 * — 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 Is divided into several precincts or pa- 
 rishes, and an allowance settled out 
 of each precinct, by Act of Assembly, 
 of about £70 Carolina money, which 
 amounts to about £15 sterling. A 
 particular account of the state of the 
 Church there is daily expected from 
 Mr. Mosley, a gentleman of that 
 country. There is at present but 
 one Minister, the Rev. Mr. Newnam, 
 who supplies four or five of the pa- 
 rishes by turns, and is allowed by the 
 Society ------ 
 
 80 
 
 About £60, 
 
 which he is 
 
 supposed to 
 
 receive for his 
 
 service. 
 
 Not known 
 to the So- 
 ciety. 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 N.B. — Twenty shillings this country 
 money is about 15s. sterling. No 
 provision made in this government 
 for the Church by the Assembly. 
 
 Christ Church, in Philadelphia. — A 
 handsome parsonage, and the minis- 
 ter is maintained by the voluntary 
 contributions of the people ; besides 
 which there is an allowance from the 
 Crown of £50 sterling per annum if 
 it can be recovered, which will make 
 it a comfortable living. There is 
 at present no settled minister ; there 
 is no allowance from the Society. 
 
 There is also £30 a year allowed by 
 the Crown to a Schoolmaster, which, 
 with the encouragement he might 
 meet with there, would be a hand- 
 some subsistence for a Schoolmaster. 
 
 New Castle. — There are three Churches 
 in this county, viz., one at Newcastle, 
 one at Whiteclay Creek, and one at 
 Apoquinomy, now all supplied by one 
 minister. There is an estate left to 
 the Church at Newcastle forever, 
 worth about £20 per annum sterling. 
 The Rev. Mr. Ross is the present 
 Minister. There is no glebe or par- 
 sonage house that the Society have 
 any account of. 
 
 Chester. — There are three Churches in 
 
 70 
 
 00 
 
 About £48 
 per annum, 
 Pensylvania 
 money. 
 
Parishes, dr., in 1724. 
 
 123 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 5 e ~' = 
 
 c c - ~" 
 
 <* 5 
 
 
 this county, viz., one at Chichester, 
 one at Chester, and one at Concord, 
 all supplied by one minister; there 
 is a valuable piece of ground given 
 for a minister's house, garden, and 
 other conveniencies at Chester, but 
 the house not yet built. The Rev. 
 Mr. Humphrey is the present Minis- 
 ter 
 
 Oxford. — There is no glebe nor par- 
 sonage house, but the people have 
 promised to purchase a house and 
 110 acres of land, and £80, that 
 monev has been left for that purpose. 
 The Rev. Mr. Way man is the pre- 
 sent Minister, who also supplies 
 
 Radnor, a Welsh Congregation, about 
 twenty-five miles distant from Ox- 
 ford, who are very pressing to have a 
 minister reside among them, though 
 they say they are not able to do any- 
 thing for him. They have built a 
 Church, but have no parsonage nor 
 glebe. 
 
 Sussex. — In this county there are three 
 Churches, all supplied by one minis- 
 ter. A great number of people, who 
 have subscribed sufficient sums to 
 the minister for support of himself 
 and family, so that he may lay by the 
 Societv's allowance. The Rev. Mr. 
 Becket is the present Minister 
 
 Apoquinotny. — There is no glebe nor 
 parsonage house, but the people have 
 promised to provide a house for the 
 minister, and to contribute to his 
 maintenance according to their capa- 
 bilities. There is no minister there 
 at present - 
 
 Kent County. — The Church here has 
 not been supplied with a settled mi- 
 nister for many years past. The 
 people are very desirous of an Epis- 
 copal Minister, and promise to contri- 
 bute according to their abilities. There 
 is no glebe nor parsonage house. 
 
 The Churches at Bristol, Perquihomen, 
 and another new Church lately built 
 in this Province, being but small 
 
 60 
 
 60 
 
 £ s d 
 
 Formerly 
 about £30 
 per annum, 
 Pensylvania 
 money, and 
 have pro- 
 mised to in- 
 00 crease it. 
 
 About £20 
 Pensylvania 
 money, and 
 some pre- 
 sents of pro- 
 00 visions. 
 
 60 
 
 60 
 
 The sum is 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 00 ciety. 
 
 About £30 
 
 Pensylvania 
 money sub- 
 scribed to 
 the former 
 00 minister. 
 
124 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 c 5.2 = 
 
 *< 
 
 3 m 
 
 >S£ 
 
 congregations, are supplied by the 
 neighbouring clergy, and the minis- 
 ters of the Swedish congregations 
 there, for which they receive some 
 small allowance from the Society. 
 
 NEW JERSEY. 
 
 N.B. — 20s. money of New York and of 
 this Province is about 13s. 4d. ster- 
 ling. No provision is made in this 
 Province for the Church by Act of 
 Assembly. 
 
 Burlington. — There is no house nor 
 glebe. Mr. Talbot is the present 
 Minister « 
 
 Hopewell, Maidenhead. — Two Churches 
 supplied by one minister, now va- 
 cant. There is no house nor glebe, 
 but Colonel Coxe has promised to 
 give one hundred acres of land to 
 the Church at Maidenhead 
 Salem. — A new congregation. There 
 is no parsonage house nor glebe, but 
 the people have promised to make a 
 handsome provision for their minis- 
 ter, who is the Rev. Mr. Holbrook - 
 Elizabeth Town. — The minister where- 
 of also supplies some neighbouring 
 towns. There is no house nor glebe. 
 The Rev. Mr. Vaughan is the present 
 
 Minister 
 
 Amboy. — The minister whereof also 
 supplies Piscatoqua and Wood- 
 bridge, two other Churches in that 
 neighbourhood. There has been 
 lately given to the Church at Amboy 
 some ground for a glebe and building 
 a parsonage house ; and a lady has 
 left by her will, for the use of the 
 minister forever, a house and land 
 worth £400 sterling. The Rev. Mr. 
 Skinner is the present Minister 
 
 Formerly 
 about £20 
 60 00 per annum, 
 New York 
 money, now 
 uncertain. 
 
 Small and 
 60 00 uncertain. 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 60 00 ciety. 
 
 About £30 
 per an 
 New 
 60 00 money 
 
 per annum, 
 New York 
 
 About £30 
 per annum, 
 New York 
 60 00 money. 
 
Parishes, d'c.,in 1724. 
 
 125 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 
 o 
 
 60 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 NEW YORK. £ s d 
 
 Trinity Church, in that city. — There is 
 
 a house and garden, and besides the 
 
 allowance by Act of Assembly, the 
 
 perquisites and presents are very con- 
 siderable, in so much that this living 
 
 is computed to be worth above £200 
 
 sterling per annum. There is no- 
 thing allowed by the Society to the 
 
 Minister, who is the Rev. Mr. Vesey. 00 
 But the Society allow to a catechist 
 
 for the negroes in New York (the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Wetmore) £50 sterling per 
 
 annum, who is also an assistant to 
 
 the Rev. Mr. Vesey, for which the 
 
 people have promised to allow him 50 
 
 £50 per annum, New York money - 
 West Chester, to which is annexed East 
 
 Chester, Yonkers, and the Manor of 
 
 Pelham, all served by one Minister. 
 
 There is a house and glebe of twenty 
 
 three acres. The Rev. Mr. Barton is 
 
 the present Minister - - - 50 
 
 New Rochell — A French Conformist 
 
 Congregation, part of the parish of 
 
 West Chester aforesaid, to whose 
 
 minister the people are rated, so that 
 
 there is nothing by Act of Assembly 
 
 settled on the minister here. There 
 
 is a house and glebe and one hundred 
 
 acres of land let out for the benefit 
 
 of the Minister, who is the Rev. Mr. 
 
 Stoupe 
 
 Rye. — There is a parsonage and glebe, 
 
 and to this parish is annexed Mamaro- 
 
 neck and Bedford, where the minister 
 
 occasionally officiates. The Rev. 
 
 Mr. Jenney is the present Minister - 50 
 Richmond, on Staten Island, has a par- 
 sonage house and glebe of sixty 
 
 acres, and Mr. Duxbury has lately 
 
 left to the Church there a very hand- 
 some plantation, the value of which 
 
 has not been certified to the Society. 
 
 The Society allowed £50 sterling 
 
 per annum to the late IncumbenF, 
 
 but the Governor has lately collated 
 
 100 N. York 
 money. 
 
 The amount 
 of the vo- 
 luntary con- 
 tributions & 
 perquisites 
 is unknown 
 to the So- 
 ciety. 
 
 £50 per an- 
 num, New 
 York mo- 
 00 ney. 
 
 50 N.York 
 monev. 
 
 50 00 
 
 About 40s. 
 per annum, 
 New York 
 money. 
 
 Formerly 
 £25 per an- 
 num, New 
 York mo- 
 ney, now 
 precarious, 
 the people 
 providing 
 fire wood & 
 some pre- 
 sents. 
 The minis- 
 ter says he 
 receives no- 
 50 N.York thing this 
 money, way. 
 
 The late 
 minister re- 
 ceived none 
 except some 
 
126 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Names of Ihe Parishes and Places. 
 
 SB 
 
 §■5" 
 £ = >• = 
 o 5.2 — 
 
 ^ o 
 w 
 
 bh 
 
 
 go-, 
 c s © • 
 
 " o I, 
 
 to that living one Mr. Harrison, who 
 is well contented without the So- 
 ciety's allowance - - - - 
 
 Jamaica, on Long Island, the minister 
 whereof supplies two other towns in 
 that neighbourhood. There is a par- 
 sonage house and glebe. The Rev. 
 Mr. Poyer is the present Minister - 
 
 Hempstead, on Long Island, the minis- 
 ter whereof also supplies the adja- 
 cent towns. There is a parsonage 
 house and glebe ; and the Rev. Mr. 
 Thomas is the present Minister 
 
 £i s d £> s d 
 
 few neces- 
 40 N.York saries for 
 00 money, his house. 
 
 60N.York Small and 
 50 money, uncertain. 
 
 60 N.York 
 50 money. Nothing. 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 
 N.B. — No provision is made in this 
 Province or Government by Act of 
 Assembly. 
 
 Stratford. — A congregation supplied 
 by the Society for some time past. 
 There is a Church now building, but 
 the members are for the most part 
 poor, and their contributions to the 
 minister precarious. A gentleman 
 has lately given four hundred acres 
 of land for a perpetual glebe for an 
 Episcopal minister there, of a consi- 
 derable value. The Rev. Mr. John- 
 son is the present Minister 
 
 There are several other congregations 
 in this Government, who have con- 
 formed to the Church of England, 
 and are ve'y desirous of having mi- 
 nisters, particularly New Town, 
 where there are thirty Communi- 
 cants, and the Conformists being 
 the major part of the Town, the 
 Episcopal Minister, if chose by them, 
 will be entitled to a maintenance by 
 the laws of the country. They have 
 laid out two hundred acres of land 
 for a glebe for an Episcopal Minis- 
 ter. 
 
 If the Society should think fit to send 
 a Missionary to New Town he might 
 also supply Ripton, as Mr. Johnson 
 might Fairfield. Two other Con- 
 formist congregations, those of Rip- 
 
 60 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 00 ciety. 
 
Parishes, &c, in 1724. 
 
 127 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 ton, having also agreed to lay out a 
 glebe for an Episcopal Minister. 
 
 5-3 ■ • 
 
 ° § aj— 
 
 rzH ° 
 
 < o 
 
 ED 
 
 Ss 9 O M 
 
 >>g3 ■ 
 152=5 
 t> s * 
 
 £ s i £ s <J 
 
 NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 N.B. — No provision is made by Act of 
 Assembly for the Church in this 
 Province. 
 
 In Boston there are two Churches, one 
 called 
 
 The King's Chapel, of which the Rev. 
 Mr. Myles is the present Minister, 
 who is supported by the voluntary 
 contributions of the people, the 
 amount whereof is not known to the 
 Society. The Rev. Mr. Harris, who 
 is called the King's Chaplain, is 
 afternoon preacher, for which he re- 
 ceives from the Crown £100 sterling, 
 paid in England, and has one of Sir 
 Leoline Jenkins's Fellowships at 
 Jesus College. The Society allow 
 nothing to this Church. 
 
 The other, called Christ Church, lately 
 built. The present Minister is the 
 Rev. Dr. Cutler; he has an allow- 
 ance from the Society, which, toge- 
 ther with the voluntary contributions 
 of the people, is a comfortable main- 
 tenance for him and his family - 
 
 Newbury. — There is no house nor 
 glebe yet provided, but the people, 
 by voluntary contributions, pay the 
 minister as much or more than the 
 usual rate was, for the maintenance 
 of a dissenting teacher, besides which 
 he has £60. The Rev. Mr. Plant pre- 
 sent Minister - 
 
 Marblehead. — There is no house nor 
 glebe ; the voluntary contributions 
 very precarious. The Rev. Mr. 
 Mossom, Minister - - - - 
 
 Bristol. — A new settled Church, built 
 by voluntary subscriptions, and the 
 people have promised to contribute 
 to the utmost of their ability towards 
 the maintenance of their minister. 
 There is no house nor glebe. The 
 
 The Society 
 have had no 
 account of 
 the particu- 
 lars or gross 
 60 00 sum. 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 
 60 00 ciety. 
 
 About £20 
 per annum, 
 New Eng- 
 
 60 00 land money. 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 
128 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Names of the Parishes and Places. 
 
 o a Si 
 
 2 o.£ — 
 < 9 
 
 P 7 in O n 
 o >>™ 3 aj 
 
 >§ 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ussher is the present Mi- 
 nister 60 
 
 Providence. — A new Church, likewise 
 built by voluntary subscriptions. 
 There is no house nor glebe, but the 
 people have promised to assist the 
 minister by voluntary contributions 
 to the utmost of their power. The 
 Rev. Mr. Pigot is the present Minis- 
 ter 60 
 
 Newport, on Rhode Island, the minister 
 whereof occasionally officiates at 
 Tiverton, Swansey, and Little Comp- 
 ton. There is no house nor glebe. 
 The Rev. Mr. Honeyman is the pre- 
 sent Minister 70 
 
 'Narraganset, in the Colony of Rhode 
 Island, the minister whereof also oc- 
 casionally officiates at Tiverton, 
 Swansey, and Little Compton in 
 conjunction with Mr. Honeyman. 
 There is no parsonage house, but 
 some lands laid out for the ministry 
 in general, which the present minis- 
 ter, the Rev. Mr. Macsparren, is en- 
 deavouring to recover out of private 
 hands, who have gotten possession 
 thereof. The people have promised 
 to contribute handsomely towards his 
 maintenance, and to provide him a 
 house 70 
 
 £ s d 
 
 to the So- 
 00 ciety. 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 00 ciety. 
 
 About £40 
 
 per annum 
 
 New Eng- 
 
 00 land money. 
 
 The sum 
 not known 
 to the So- 
 00 ciety. 
 
Mr. Whitfield, concerning the Missionaries. 129 
 
 [From the Lambeth MSS.] 
 
 [A Copy of Mr. Whitefield's letter to the Society against their Missionaries, November 30, 
 1740 ; and also a letter from Dr. Bearcroft on that subject, June 27, 1741.] 
 
 " On board the Savannah, bound from ) 
 Philadelphia to Georgia, Nov. 30th, 1740. ] 
 " Honoured Gentlemen : 
 
 " I hope a single eye to God's glory, inclines me to trouble 
 you with this. I have been now through the greatest part of America, and 
 nave had an opportunity of seeing the state of the Church of England. I 
 think it is at a very low ebb, and will in all probability be much worse, nay, 
 at last dwindled into nothing, unless care be taken to send over Missionaries 
 that are better qualified for the pastoral office. It is too evident that most of 
 them are corrupt in their principles and immoral in their practices, and 
 many of them such as covdd not stand their Trials amongst the Dissenters, 
 or were discarded by them for their profaneness and irregularities. Our 
 Church seems to be their last refuge, so that it is almost become a saying, that 
 anything will make a Church Parson. None but those who are here present 
 can tell into what contempt our Church is brought. The accounts given in 
 to the Society by the Missionaries are the subject of common ridicule. I 
 read some of them lately. I was ashamed to see how the nation was 
 imposed on, and therefore thought it my duty to inform you of it. But 
 perhaps I have said too much already however. I have delivered my soul. 
 I write out of the simplicity of my heart. I leave the consequences to God, 
 for the stones would cry out against me if I did not speak. If you had a 
 mind only to establish the form of religion, sending such ungodly despicable 
 Ministers would render even that ineffectual ; for though the Dissenters have 
 lost much of the power of Godliness, yet they have enough left to shame us. 
 I speak not this out of prejudice or resentment, for I am as much opposed 
 by their as our own Carnal Clergy, but I do it to prevent your being imposed 
 on for the future, and to entreat you, if you would not have our tottering 
 Ark fall quite down, that you would not employ such unhallowed hands to 
 keep it up ; they will meet with a Curse instead of a Blessing. 
 "I am, 
 
 " Honoured Gentlemen, 
 
 " Your very humble servant, 
 
 " George Whitefield." 
 
 " Charterhouse, June 27th, 1741. 
 " My Lord : 
 
 "Mr. Whitefield hath wrote three letters about the Mis- 
 sionaries, but the Society would not answer them, the two first directed to the 
 Secretary, and the last directed immediately to the Society, which is so 
 extraordinary an one, that I thought it proper to transmit a Copy to your 
 
130 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Lordship. The stroke under ungodly despicable, is in the original, though 
 there are several of them, I will venture to affirm, as worthy as, and I am 
 sure, much more regular than himself. His first letter was levelled chiefly 
 against Mr. Arnold, who had debated with him in Print, and the single fact 
 charged by Mr. Whitefield on Mr. Arnold is this, in Mr. Whitefield's own 
 words: 'He hath borrowed four or five pounds from one Owen Owens, and 
 said that Mr. Cummins would pay it; when the man applyed to Mr. 
 Cummins, he said he knew nothing of the matter, but rather than have Mr. 
 Arnold exposed, he paid the sum for him. This is to be attested by numbers 
 of witnesses, and Mr. Frame, Brother-in-Law to Mr. Proprietary Pen, told 
 me yesterday the Governor informed him how he had been chiding Mr. 
 Cummins for not suffering him to be pursued and apprehended.' I wrote 
 upon this to Mr. Cummins, the Commissary of Philadelphia, whose answer is 
 this : 'As to that silly story which you tell me Mr. Whitefield wrote against 
 Mr. Arnold, 'tis true his giddy admirers made a noise with it here, but with- 
 out any just grounds, for Mr. Arnold, the night before he left this place, 
 asked me to lend him £5. I told him I could not tell if I had so much at that 
 time in the house, but desired him to breakfast with me next morning and I 
 could then give him an answer. He was obliged, it seems, to set out very 
 early, and having borrowed the money of Owen Owens gave him a letter 
 to me, desiring I would pay that sum, and promising to remit it me in 
 a little time from New York. "When Owen came demanding his money 
 that morning, after asking him a few questions, I found, though I pro- 
 mised to see him paid, he was ready, and I doubt not, instigated by 
 Whitefield's votaries, to follow after and arrest Mr. Arnold because he had 
 dared to contradict their oracle. I therefore directly paid hira the money, 
 and Mr. Arnold soon after very honestly and without my asking sent me 
 payment of it from New York. I shewed your letter to Mr. Frame, the 
 Proprietor's Brother-in-Law, before some Gentlemen ; he affirmed what related 
 to him is false.' I may perhaps have tired your Lordship, but have mentioned 
 these things as they may afford some little fight to Mr. Whitefield's full 
 thoughts about the Missionaries, and if I can be any way serviceable. 
 " I am, my Lord, 
 
 " Your most obedient and 
 " Most humble servant, 
 
 " Philip Bearcroft." 
 
 Letter from Mr. Whitefield to the Bishop of Oxford. 
 
 " On board the Mary and Ann, bound fr< 
 London to Scotland, July 28th, 1741 
 
 " My Lord : 
 
 " Want of leisure not respect has been the occasion of my 
 not sending your Lordship my letter, which I promised some time ago. 
 Being now on board on my way to Scotland, I have time to write my 
 
Mr. Whitfield, concerning the Missionaries. 131 
 
 thoughts more freely. I would first then observe to your Lordship that you 
 have too good an opinion of the Missionaries in general that are employed by 
 the honourable Society. Your Lordship says, p. 31, 'that it hath been pre- 
 tended indeed that immoral and negligent men are employed as Missionaries.' 
 This can be too easily proved. I could mention several instances. Whether 
 this be from want of care I will not take upon me to determine, but that it 
 frequently and commonly happens is certain. I have lately received a letter 
 from Jonathan Belcher, Esq., late Governor of New England, wherein he 
 writes thus : ' It is now about thirty-seven years ago that I dined with the 
 late Dr. Compton, then Bishop of London, at his Palace at Fulham, and 
 there were several Bishops and other dignified Clergy at Table ; and knowing 
 me to be a young gentleman of Interest and Figure in my Country, they 
 urged me much to conform to their Church, and asked me how the Church of 
 England got forward in New England. I told their Lordships that they were 
 greatly deceived in what money was sent hither in that service, for that the 
 general rise of the Church in New England was from dissolute livers, such as 
 quarrelled with their Ministers, but that it was " Rara Avis in terris^ for 
 any man to go over to the Church, from a principle of religion and conscience, 
 or to improve himself in a pious, serious life ; and this really, Sir,' adds this 
 worthy gentleman, ' is the case of this country at this day.' I hope this will 
 have more weight with your Lordship, as coming from a gentleman without 
 my knowing anything of it, a gentleman also of figure and good report, and 
 who declares himself unprejudiced in another part of his letter. For speak- 
 ing of a particular thing, he writes thus : ' Not that I have any squeamish 
 prejudices against that excellent Church' (meaning the Church of England), 
 ' although I have been born and bred a Dissenter ; and pray what do we 
 differ in doctrine ? Would they preach and five their articles, there would 
 be a more general coalition among them and the Dissenters.' And then he 
 afterwards says : ' From long observation I find no persons going off from 
 our Church to that of the Church of England, who thereby become more 
 vitally pious. If I found they did, I should, I hope from a wise and judi- 
 cious choice, immediately conform.' Thus far the worthy Governor Belcher, 
 and indeed, my Lord, this is too true. Those at a distance cannot well 
 conceive how contemptible our Church is abroad, and that owing to the 
 unworthy, immoral, and negligent lives of the generality of the Missionaries, 
 several of which have come over to us, because they could not stand tryal 
 among the Dissenters, or had lived too loosely among them. Your Lordship 
 is pleased to say, p. 32, 'That the most earnest requests, the most solemn 
 adjurations are sent, that all who can would give any useful intelligence 
 relating to them.' This is certainly right and good, but I fear your Lordship 
 hath been misinformed if your Lordship was told that great regard is 
 always paid to such intelligence, for I myself have sent over two letters to 
 the Honourable Society for this purpose, and no regard has been paid to them. 
 If your Lordship pleases I will send you copies of them both. I could not 
 but further observe in looking over the list of the Missionaries, that there are 
 q,o less than twenty employed in preaching and teaching school in the 
 Province of New England (where certainly the Gospel is preached with 
 greater purity than at home), and but two settled Missionaries in all North 
 Carolina, and one of those, viz., Mr. Garzia, can scarce speak English. Does 
 
132 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 not this look too much like making a party of religion ? I have a letter now 
 by me somewhere amongst my papers, wrote by Dr. Mather to the late Lord 
 Chancellor King, in which he gives sad proofs of the immorality of our 
 Missionaries, and also complains of this seeming partiality. If the people of 
 New England impose taxes on the Members of the Church of England, 
 whilst others are exempt, it is certainly wrong. But as the first settlers went 
 over there to worship God in their own way, Independency I think may 
 well be reckoned the Established Worship there as well as Presbytery the 
 Established Worship in Scotland: and surely it would more answer the 
 design of the Institution of the Honourable Society to send Missionaries to 
 North Carolina, where there are inhabitants enough and nobody to teach 
 them, than to New England, where they have a Minister of their own every 
 five or ten miles. Your Lordship, I am persuaded, is more noble than to be 
 offended with this plainness of speech. The Searcher of Hearts knows from 
 what principle I write. Your Lordship is pleased to say, page 31st, 'that 
 exact accounts are required from the Missionaries twice a year.' And when 
 they are brought in, what accounts do they generally give ? That they have 
 baptized so many, and had so many Communicants. A poor account this, 
 and in other respects so very bad, that when I was last at Philadelphia, many 
 that were really Friends of the Church upon reading the accounts were 
 ashamed to see how the Honourable Society was imposed on by the account 
 of the pious labours of the Missionaries. Indeed your Lordship says, page 
 17th, and I doubt not your Lordship was informed so, 'that multitudes of 
 Negroes and Indians have been brought over to the Christian Faith.' This, 
 for all that I know to the contrary may be matter of fact. I pray God it may 
 be found true at the great day ; but your Lordship says, page 9, ' the success 
 of one of the Catechists has been so great in the Plantation belonging to the 
 Society, that out of two hundred and thirty, at least seventy are now believers 
 in Christ.' I should be glad to know what Plantation your Lordship means : 
 that seventy may have learned to repeat their Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and 
 Ten Commandments in the Vulgar Tongue, and been baptised, is probable 
 enough. But that seventy are now believers in Christ, I cannot help ques- 
 tioning. I fear your Lordship hath been misinformed ; and now I am men- 
 tioning the Negroes, I beg leave to object against the method lately proposed 
 for their Conversion, especially in the Province of Carolina, where the 
 Governors are so exceedingly jealous over any that shall undertake publicly 
 to teach them. I believe it will be a work of a long time to find out two or 
 three young Negroes, and to instruct them so as to qualify them to instruct 
 others. Besides, few, I believe, will submit to be taught by a young Negro. 
 I question whether the Assembly will permit a slave to learn to write. And, 
 after all, this way of converting them will only be teaching them to write and 
 read. These are good things, but without setting over them truly pious 
 people, that may have more authority over them than any young negroes 
 whatsoever, and may lead them to a knowledge of themselves and God ; 
 however good the intention of the Honourable Society may be, I fear their 
 good intention will prove abortive and of none effect. Pensylvania, in my 
 opinion, is far preferable to Carolina for the instruction of the Negroes. The 
 Quakers, however blameable in other respects, are certainly praiseworthy in 
 this : I mean their lenity to their poor slaves. Your Lordship is pleased to 
 
Mr. Whitfield, concerning the Missionaries. 
 
 133 
 
 urge these people's forbidding to assist his Majesty (whom I truly love and 
 honour), as one reason why Missionaries should be sent over to instruct the 
 people in better principles. But at the same time, your Lordship takes notice 
 of many other pernicious errors that took early root in the Provinces abroad, 
 that are not yet extirpated, and perhaps in part newly revived; some 
 dissolving the obligations of moral duties ; some destroying the inward peace 
 of every pious and good person, and making life gloomy and uncomfortable ; 
 some leading men to ascribe every folly or wickedness that possesses the 
 fancy to Divine inspiration; some inconsistent with our present^ happy 
 establishment. All these, my Lord, are errors, and, as your Lordship hath 
 been pleased so particularly to mention the Quakers, would it not have been 
 right in your Lordship to have pointed out the others also who are thus 
 erroneous, that people might the better beware of and so avoid them. I 
 suppose your Lordship has been informed of the persons that broach such 
 errors, otherwise I suppose your Lordship would not have mentioned them ; 
 and if so, I would humbly submit it to your Lordship's judgment, whether 
 you are not bound in conscience to write to them or plainly name them, that 
 they may either clear themselves or take shame for holding and preaching 
 things contrary to the Gospel of the ever-blessed Jesus. Thus, my Lord, I 
 have freely wrote to your Lordship what was upon my heart. I think I have 
 no sinister end in view ; I think I write purely out of a zeal for God, and the 
 good of souls. I heartily pray for the coming of Christ's Kingdom, and 
 would therefore willingly have all things taken out of the way that may 
 obstruct its progress. I am persuaded your Lordship would not wilfully 
 continue in any error, nor be above receiving information from the meanest 
 servant of Jesus Christ. This persuasion encouraged me to write to your 
 Lordship. You may depend on it, my Lord, that I shall not mention what I 
 have wrote, and if your Lordship is so condescending as to send me a line by 
 way of answer, it shall be kept quite secret by, 
 "My Lord, 
 
 " Your Lordship's dutiful 
 " Son and Servant, 
 
 " George Whitefield. 
 
 " P. S. I hope to be in London in about six weeks. If your Lordship 
 pleases to direct a letter to me, as before, it will come to hand. The Lord be 
 with your spirit." 
 
 Letter from the Lord Bishop of Oxford to Mr. Whitefield. 
 
 « Cuddesden, September 17th, 1741. 
 
 ' "Sir: 
 
 " It being now about the time that you proposed to be in 
 London, I send this to return you thanks for your last letter. I am not 
 sufficiently acquainted with Governor Belcher's character to know how far his 
 account of his own impartiality may be relied on. We often deceive ourselves 
 
134 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 in that matter, and all sects of Christians are too apt to think hardly of those 
 who are not of their own Church, and especially those who leave it; and as 
 there is but too much room for all parties to reproach one another with want 
 of inward religion^ \ery well meaning persons may mistake in making 
 comparisons. To his testimony you add your own, and I believe you speak 
 as you think. But you must permit me to say, and I do it with sincere good 
 will to you, that I am persuaded you are much too severe in what you have 
 printed concerning your Brethren of the Clergy in this Nation, and therefore 
 you may have been too severe in what you have written concerning those 
 abroad, especially as I find that many accounts different from yours are sent 
 to the Society, concerning their Missionaries, bv persons in all appearance 
 well deserving credit. Still what you and the Governor have- said, may and 
 I hope will give occasion for stricter enquiries, but you cannot think it rea- 
 sonable that we should pay regard to your accounts only. I have seen one, 
 if not both your letters to the Society. They consist, as I remember, of 
 general Charges, without mentioning any particular, and therefore all that 
 can be done upon them is to enquire. Your objection against the number of 
 Missionaries in New England I have endeavoured to answer in my Sermon, 
 and if they can be proportioned better, I wish they were. But I have always 
 understood that the reason of there being only two in North Carolina, was 
 the bad reception of those who were sent, of which you may read very 
 discouraging accounts in Humphrey's History of the Proceedings of the 
 Society, and the difficulty of finding Persons to undertake that Mission; 
 which difficulty I suppose must have been the reason of sending a Person 
 not sufficiently acquainted, by your account, for I know not the fact, with 
 our language. _ I believe the accounts of the Missionaries are as regularly 
 sent to the Society as can be expected from that distance, or proper notice 
 taken of the neglect. They may indeed, and frequently, if not constantly, do 
 give further accounts than of their Baptisms and their Communions, which 
 however are such marks of Christian profession as deserve to be particularly 
 mentioned ; nor do the accounts which we publish by any means consist of 
 these only. But it may be very improper for us to print everything which it 
 may be proper for them to write. If any part of their information which 
 we print is false, we designedly put it in the power of all abroad who are 
 really Friends of our Church or of Eeligion, to prevent our being imposed on 
 by it, and if they will not, the blame is not ours ; for making these things 
 the subject of their discourse instead of informing us, is only doing harm. 
 But I hope all good persons will consider how very licentious common 
 discourse upon such subjects usually is, and will therefore examine carefully 
 before they take up accusations. The only Plantation belonging to the 
 Society, I mean as their Property, is in Barbadoes, and when I say that 
 seventy of the Negroes there are believers in Christ, I use that expression as 
 I apprehend it is commonly used in speaking of Countries where different 
 religions are professed, to signify that so many profess themselves Christians. 
 I do not see reason to suspect their being hypocrites in that profession, and I 
 hope their faith produces good fruits. The method lately proposed for 
 instructing Negroes continues to appear to me very promising, at least highly 
 fit to be tried. There is a prospect that the young Negroes designed for 
 teachers will, by the blessing of God on their education, become truly pious, 
 
Mr. Whitfield concerning the Missionaries. 135 
 
 as well as qualified in other respects. The disadvantage of their youth will 
 be lessening every day, and they will gain authority by degrees if they are 
 duly supported. It is not that I know of, proposed that their scholars should 
 learn to write, and I do not at all understand why you say that this method 
 will be only teaching them to write and read. Whether Pensylvania is 
 preferable to Carolina for Instruction of the Negroes I know not, _ but wish it 
 were tried every way. "What errors took early root in our Colonies, and are 
 not yet extirpated, you may see in Humphrey's, and as I have only spoken 
 doubtfully concerning the revival of any of them, and that not upon any 
 intelligence communicated particularly to me, but from such accounts as he 
 before the Society, I do not apprehend myself obliged to go further than I 
 have done in this matter. I have accused no person, nor designed to make 
 any person otherwise thought of than he was before. If I have given 
 occasion to any one to ask himself whether he is blamable or not, I have 
 only put him upon doing what we all ought to do more frequently, and God 
 grant we may do it, to his Glory and our own Good. 
 " I am, Sir, 
 
 " Your loving Brother 
 " And Servant, 
 
 "Thomas Oxford." 
 
 " Mr. Whitefield." 
 
EFFORTS 
 
 TO OBTAIN 
 
 THE EPISCOPATE 
 
 BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 BY FRANCIS L. HAWKS. 
 
 The following article was published some twenty years ago in a then 
 existing Church periodical of but limited circulation, and has probably fallen 
 under the eye of comparatively few of the members of the Society. As time 
 and care were bestowed in the collection of facts necessary in its preparation, 
 the Publishing Committee have thought it worth reprinting, and have there- 
 fore obtained the consent of the author, who is one of their number, to 
 preserve it in the pages of the Society's collections : — 
 
 Among a body of Christians, in whose system of ecclesiastical government 
 episcopacy held a conspicuous place, it would follow, of course, that efforts 
 would not be wanting to obtain an officer so essential as is a Bishop. Hence, 
 at a very early period, the subject of an American Episcopate seems to have 
 occupied the minds of Episcopalians, both in the colonies and in the mother 
 country. 
 
 The Bishop of London, " by customary usage (which seems to have taken 
 its rise from accidental connexion"*), exercised spiritual jurisdiction in the 
 plantations, from a period commencing soon after the settlement of Virginia ; 
 and to him was confided the supervision of a diocese, which it was neither 
 expected or required that he should ever see.f 
 
 * Archbishop Drummond's paper upon the present state of the Church of England in 
 the colonies, drawn up in June, 1764.— MSS. of Gen. Convention. 
 
 t There is some difficulty in tracing satisfactorily the origin and progress of the 
 " accidental connexion" of the Bishop of London with the church in the American 
 colonies. The best account which we can furnish on this subject is the following : — 
 
 The first royal grant made of lands in America was by King James I. in the year 
 1606, to what was then termed the second Virginia Company ; and pursuant to the 
 provisions of this grant, it was ordered that " the true word of God should be preached, 
 planted, and used, according to the rites and doctrines of the Church of England." 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 187 
 
 It was not long ere the evils resulting from such an arrangement were 
 sensibly felt in the colonies, and readily suggested themselves to the minds of 
 churchmen in England. Nay, the necessity of a Bishop to an Episcopal 
 
 In 1620, the number of clergymen in Virginia was less, by one-half, than the number 
 of parishes, and it was the duty of the " Virginia Council," which sat in London, to 
 supply the deficiency. The Bishop of London was a member of the council, and had 
 taken a deep interest in the prosperity of the plantations, having raised £1000 toward 
 building a college in Virginia. The council, therefore, very naturally applied to him as 
 one of their body, for his help in procuring ministers. And this is the first instance to 
 be met with of the connexion of the Bishop of London with the Church in the 
 colonies. 
 
 This was probably the origin of the jurisdiction exercised for many years over the 
 American church by the successive prelates of the see of London. This jurisdiction was 
 unquestioned for a long period of time, and of course gained strength with its age. At 
 length, in 1675, the Committee of Trade and Plantations " desired that inquiry be made 
 touching the jurisdiction which the Bishop of London hath over the foreign plantations." 
 What caused the inquiry is unknown, but no return was made to it. In 1679, however, 
 the instructions given to Lord Culpepper, at that time appointed governor, clearly show 
 that the Bishop of London was not supposed to have any jurisdiction, for he has nothing 
 but a mere ministerial office assigned him : the Governor has the power to prefer to eccle- 
 siastical benefices in the colony, and the only notice taken of the Bishop of London is in 
 requiring of the person preferred a certificate from that prelate that the candidate is 
 " conformable to the doctrine of the Church of England." 
 
 In 1681, Sir Thomas Lynch was appointed Governor of Jamaica, and he was 
 instructed to report to the Bishop of London all ministers who officiated in the island 
 without " being in due orders." 
 
 In 1685, the Bishop of London proposed to the Committee of Trade, that he should 
 have all ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the West Indies, except the disposition of parishes, 
 licenses for marriage, and prolate of wills. 
 
 This was approved of, and the governor was directed to give all countenance and 
 encouragement to the exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the island, by the Bishop 
 of London, except in the particulars enumerated, as to which the power was conferred 
 on the governor. 
 
 Similar instructions were given to all the other colonial governors, and under this 
 authority, Bishops Compton and Eobinson, and for a few years, Bishop Gibson, exercised 
 jurisdiction in the plantations. But, in 1725, Bishop Gibson desired more explicit 
 authority and direction, and for that purpose applied by petition to the king in council. 
 The petition was referred to the attorney and solicitor general, who stated as their opinion 
 that the Bishops of London had all acted by an authority which was insufficient, and that 
 the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the colonies did not rightfully belong to any Bishop in 
 England, and that the most proper mode of conferring on any person the right to exercise 
 such jurisdiction was by patent. 
 
 A patent was accordingly granted to Dr. Gibson, but it was to him personally, and 
 not as Bishop of London; his successors were not named in it, so that the patent 
 expired with his life: nor did any of his successors ever obtain another, but acted 
 without one. 
 
 From the first exercise of jurisdiction up to the period of Bishop Gibson s patent, there 
 were several circumstances which had a tendency to strengthen the opinion that the 
 Bishop of London was the rightful diocesan of the American church. Thus, m 1679, 
 some of the inhabitants of Boston, who were members of the Church of England, 
 petitioned Bishop Compton, then in the see of London, for his help in obtaining for 
 themselves the services of the church. The bishop procured the consent of the king that 
 a church should be allowed. This application called the attention of Dr. Compton more 
 particularly to the state of the church in the colonies, and resulted in his proposing to 
 various parts of America to supply them with clergymen ; and on his application to the 
 king, his majesty granted a bounty of £20 to each minister who would go over to the 
 colonies, and instructed the governors to permit none authoritatively to serve any cure ot 
 souls " unless he was licensed to do so by the Bishop of London." 
 
138 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections, 
 
 Church was so obvious, and its propriety so unquestionable, that it seems to 
 have engaged the unsolicited attention of even the irreligious monarch, 
 Charles II. And it is but an act of justice to the prelates who successively 
 occupied the see of London, to remark, that among the dignitaries of the 
 English church, none seem to have been more generally anxious than were 
 they to furnish the colonies with a bishop. We meet with no record of any 
 whose lust of power was such as caused them to covet the exercise of an 
 authority, which, while it conferred honour, imposed also a fearful responsi- 
 bility.* 
 
 In most of the earlier efforts which were made for procuring the Episcopate 
 in America, the laity seem to have co-operated with the clergy ; though in 
 the first step taken towards effecting the object, it does not appear that either 
 clergy or laity in the plantations had any agency ; but in the subsequent 
 applications, for several years, there is abundant evidence that a bishop was 
 solicited alike by all. 
 
 The first proposal of an American Episcopate, of which we have any 
 authentic record, was in 16*72 or the year following.f In one of these years 
 
 Another circumstance, which doubtless confirmed in public opinion the authority of the 
 Bishop of London, was the following : — Sir Leoline Jenkins, observing the wretched 
 state of the colonies as to religious instruction, by his will (after remarking on the 
 small number of clergymen in the fleets and plantations of the king) founded two new 
 fellowships at Jesus College, Oxford, upon condition that the fellows and their successors 
 forever, should take priests' orders, and go out as chaplains in the navy when thereto 
 required by the Lord High Admiral ; and in case there should be no use for them at sea, 
 then they were " to be called by the Lord Bishop of London to go out into any of hi3 
 majesty's foreiga plantations." The selection by the testator of the Bishop of London to 
 make the call was probably founded on the opinion, then prevalent, that the spiritual care 
 of the plantations belonged to that prelate. 
 
 In 1701, the charter of " the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 
 Parts" was obtained ; and by this society, missionaries were furnished to all the colonies 
 except Maryland and/Virginia, up to the period of the American revolution. But, as 
 all the clergymen who had come over prior to 1701, had been licensed by the Bishop of 
 London, the practice continued after the society was established, and the missionaries 
 always considered that prelate as their diocesan. For the statements in this note, see 
 Bishop Sherlock's memorial to the king in council, presented in February, 1749-50 ; Dr. 
 Kenneli's account of the society ; Humphrey's History of the Society ; and Bishop 
 Gibson's petition and commission, among the MSS. of the General Convention, i 
 
 * We find one of the English prelates using the following language on this subject : 
 " No one who has any experience or sense of these things [the duties of a bishop] can 
 ever say that the Bishop of London could at any time take a competent care of the 
 plantations as a bishop ; nor did the ablest prelate that ever filled that see ever think that 
 he could, or ever wish to continue in so irksome_and fruitless an office." — Thoughts upon 
 the present state of the Church of England in America, by Archbishop Drummond — 
 MSS. of Gen. Convention. 
 
 Again, another thus expresses himself: " I am very sensible (and in this I speak the 
 sentiments of my brethren) that nothing can more effectually contribute to the happy and 
 prosperous state of the colonies, in a civil as well as a religious view, than the appoint- 
 ment of resident bishops. A bishop of London, however inclined to do his duty, is too 
 sensible of the importance of the charge which long usage and custom has committed' to 
 him, and too conscious of the little service he can do to a clergy at this distance from 
 him, not to feel very anxiously the necessity of a more immediate inspection and 
 government." — Original letter from the Bishop of London to the clergy of Connecticut, 
 February 18, 1765— Johns. MSS. 
 
 t A letter of 1662, sent from England to Massachusetts, would seem to show that a 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 139 
 
 a resolution was taken by the king (Charles II.) in council to send a bishop 
 to Virginia, and the individual was actually selected on whom the proposed 
 honour should be conferred. Dr. Alexander Murray, who had been the 
 companion of the king in his travels, was the person nominated to be the first 
 bishop in America ; and a draught of letters patent was prepared, which 
 Bishop Gibson in 1723 stated, was then extant among the records of the see 
 of London.* 
 
 Of the causes which led to the failure of the intended design, it is not 
 possible at this distance of time to speak with certainty. In the manuscript 
 already referred to, it is suggested by Bishop Gibson that the plan was 
 defeated because " the endowment was to be out of the public customs." In 
 an extract from a letter written by Dr. Murray himself,f a different, and 
 probably more correct reason is assigned. In October, 1673, the plan of 
 establishment for the bishop was referred to the then Bishop of London (Dr. 
 Compton), and the Lord Keeper (Sir Orlando Bridgman) ; and very soon 
 after, through the instrumentality of the celebrated ministry, known as the 
 Cabal, Sir Orlando Bridgman was displaced before an opportunity had been 
 afforded him of reporting on the proposed establishment ; and the subject 
 was not again resumed. 
 
 The next mention which we find made of an American Episcopate is in 
 the abstract of the proceedings of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, in 
 the year 1703. It is there said that the society had received " addresses 
 from divers parts of the continent, and islands adjacent, for a suffragan, to 
 visit the several churches ; ordain some, confirm others, and bless all." 
 
 Indeed, about this period, the pressing want of a bishop seems to have 
 been very sensibly felt, and the applications to the society appear to have 
 been urged with an almost importunate frequency. They received a respect- 
 ful hearing, and at length a committee prepared a statement of facts, entitled 
 . " the case of suffragan bishops for foreign parts briefly proposed," which was 
 submitted to the queen's attorney-general for his opinion.^ 
 
 bishop was appointed in that year. Its language is : " There was a General Governor, 
 and a Major-General chosen, and a Bishop with a suffragan, but Mr. Norton writes that 
 they are not yet out of hopes to prevent it." See Hutchinson's History of Massachu- 
 setts, vol. i. p. 225, note. There is no evidence which throws light on this appointment, 
 if it ever was made. It is perhaps not improbable, that in transcribing, a mistake may 
 have been made in the year ; 1662 having been written for 1672. 
 
 * Bishop Gibson's letter and memorial on sending bishops to the English plantations 
 abroad. MSS. of Gen. Convention. 
 
 Address from the clergy of New York and New Jersey to the Episcopalians in 
 Virginia, p. 11. 
 
 t Chandler's Appeal further defended, p. 148. 
 
 % Dr. Kennett's account of the Society, published at London in 1706, but without the 
 author's name. By the beneficence of many individuals, a fund for the support of a 
 bishop in America had been gradually accumulating, and it is probable, that had one been 
 appointed, the colonists would have been entirely relieved from the burthen of his 
 maintenance. It deserves too to be remembered, that the larger portion of this fund was 
 contributed by gentlemen who were themselves in the episcopal office ; among whom 
 Bishop Butler, of Durham, holds a conspicuous place. Indeed, such was the anxiety of 
 the English prelates on the subject, that it was said the Bishop of London, in 1745, 
 " offered to the king and council, on condition that an American bishop might be sent 
 
 
140 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 The plan was not, however, brought to a speedy conclusion, for in 17 10 
 we find the society alluding to the want of a bishop in America, stating that 
 the subject is yet under the consideration of the society, and informing the 
 public that they were endeavouring to find a commodious and central place 
 in which to fix the residence of the bishop.* Nor was it long after this 
 representation, before the society purchased at Burlington, in New Jersey, at 
 an expense of £600, a convenient mansion house and lands for the use of the 
 future bishop.f 
 
 We have said that in the earlier efforts which were made to procure the 
 episcopate, the laity co-operated with the clergy. In an address of the 
 society to the throne in 1*712, the subject is thus represented to the queen : 
 " We cannot but take this opportunity, farther to represent to your majesty, 
 the earnest and repeated desires not only of the missionaries, but of divers 
 other considerable persons that are m communion with our excellent church, 
 to have a bishop settled in your American plantations.";}; And again, in 
 1714, by way of apology for such continued importunity, the society stated 
 that it acted " upon renewed instances from governors of provinces, ministers, 
 vestries, and private persons in the plantations, for settling ecclesiastical 
 superiors there," and " after a loud call for fifteen years together."§ 
 
 Nor is it surprising that such should have been the fact : at the period of 
 which we are now writing, the jealousy of ecclesiastical power, and the dread 
 of prelatical tyranny, seem not to have been awakened. There appears at this 
 time to have been very little effort made to play upon the prejudices, or to 
 alarm the fears of men : the political aspect of affairs, which at a subsequent 
 period arrayed in opposition to an American Episcopate all who were not, 
 and many who were churchmen, furnished at this time no exciting 
 cause. The colonies were in tranquillity. In many parts, the inhabitants 
 were almost entirely of the Church of England ; these individuals looked 
 toward the mother country with the confiding Ifeelings of a child towards 
 a parent. Too feeble to think of independence, and probably too loyal 
 to desire it, the institutions of the land of their fathers were invested 
 with a sacredness which they wished not to violate. They had been 
 educated in the faith of the Church of England. That church deemed 
 
 over in his time, that he would give towards his support ten thousand pounds." — Original 
 letter from Dr. Chandler to Dr. Johnson — Johns. MSS. 
 
 * Abstract of the society's proceedings, 1710. " 
 
 t Address from the clergy of New York and New Jersey to the Episcopalians of 
 Virginia, p. 13. It has been stated in a life of Dean Swift, by Sir Walter Scott, that 
 " there was a plan suggested by Colonel Hunter, Governor of Virginia, to send out Dr. 
 Swift as bishop of that province, to exercise a sort of metropolitan authority over the 
 colonial clergy ; but the appointment did not take place." If the statement of the 
 biographer be correct, it is probable that the plan was contemplated about this time. Dr. 
 Balcho (alluding to the circumstance in his History of the Church in South Carolina) 
 observes, that the known intimacy between Colonel Hunter and Dr. Swift affords some 
 confirmation to the statement. Colonel Hunter was appointed Governor of Virginia in 
 1708, but was captured by the French on his voyage out. 1^1710 he was sent out 
 Governor of New York and the Jerseys. See Dalcho's History, pp. 90, 91. 
 
 X Dr. Kennetfs anniversary sermon, 1712, p. 29, note. 
 
 § Abstract, 1714. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 141 
 
 bishops necessary for ecclesiastical government. The colonists looked around 
 them, and saw the number of Episcopal clergymen in this country, 
 exceeding the number in many of the dioceses of England.* They felt that 
 if supervision was needed at home, the necessity for it abroad could not be 
 diminished, where the number to be overlooked was larger than that at 
 home. 
 
 The representation of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, to which we 
 have already alluded, experienced at the hands of the queen the most favour- 
 able reception. In the abstract of the proceedings for 1715, it is stated that 
 " her majesty was pleased to give a most gracious answer, highly satisfactory 
 to the Society, and a draught of a bill was ordered, proper to be offered to 
 the parliament for establishing bishops and bishoprics in America." The 
 object so earnestly desired appeared at this time on the eve of accomplish- 
 ment ; but the friends of the measure were destined to witness the destruction 
 of their hopes, in the death of the queen, before the bill had been introduced 
 into parliament. 
 
 Disappointed, but not in despair, the advocates of an American Episcopate 
 renewed their efforts early in the reign of the queen's successor. They were 
 favourably received by George L, and once more did they look forward to the 
 successful termination of their persevering labours : once more too were they 
 doomed to disappointment : scarcely was the new monarch seated on his 
 throne before his attention was absorbed by the single object of retaining his 
 sovereignty. The friends of the house of Stuart, by their efforts to place the 
 pretender upon the throne, furnished for a time ample employment to the 
 king and his advisers. It was not a period to devote much attention to the 
 comparatively unimportant application of a few episcopalians in the colonies, 
 when the existence of the government itself was threatened by an extensive 
 and dangerous rebellion. 
 
 Thus interrupted in their designs, the friends of an American Episcopate 
 seem not to have renewed their application for many years. It was not until 
 the second George had been upon the throne for thirteen years, that in 1740 
 the necessity of a bishop over the churchmen of America was again publicly 
 alluded to. In that year, Dr. Seeker, who was then Bishop of Oxford, 
 preached the anniversary sermon before the Society for Propagating the 
 Gospel, and depicting in lively colours the inconveniences of the Church in 
 America, pleaded with affectionate earnestness for a resident bishop, as the 
 only remedy for its manifold spiritual privations. 
 
 "Whether any measure proposing relief resulted from his representation, we 
 have not the means of discovering ; it is probable, however, that, discouraged 
 by repeated failures, the society preferred patiently to wait until some oppor- 
 tunity, decidedly favourable to their wishes, should present itself. 
 
 This opinion derives countenance from the fact that, from the period just 
 alluded to, up to the year 1750, we have met with no record of any attempt, 
 direct or indirect, for the attainment of the object in view. 
 
 There seems to be reason too for supposing that during this interval, the 
 efforts of English churchmen were suspended upon the intimation of those in 
 authority. In the manuscript of Archbishop Drummond, prepared in 1764,. 
 
 * Abstract, 1715. 
 10 
 
142 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 and already referred to, he remarks, that " in the late reign, the fears of 
 disturbing his majesty's governors, particularly in New England, so influenced 
 the ministry, that they not only, perhaps very wisely, hesitated about the 
 proposal of settling bishops in America, but finally postponed it." 
 
 However, about the year 1750, some of the leading members of the 
 Society for Propagating the Gospel* entered upon the subject with a zeal 
 which seemed only to have gained strength from previous disappointments. 
 
 We have remarked that in 1*713 but little opposition had been made to 
 the proposed measure by such of the colonists as were not of the communion 
 of the Church of England. 
 
 To say that there was no opposition would not be true : there probably 
 never was a period when the unhappy feelings engendered by differences of 
 opinion in religion, did not produce an opposition, in which conscience had 
 less to do than party feeling. But at the early period which we have named 
 (1713) the opposition which was made, principally in New England, was by 
 no means formidable. Indeed, uncommon pains seem to have been taken to 
 remove all just ground of apprehension from the minds of those to whom 
 Episcopacy was most abhorrent. In a letter to Dr. Cohnan, a congregational 
 minister of Boston, written by Dr. Kennett in 1713, we meet with the follow- 
 ing language in reference to an American Episcopate : " I hope your 
 churches would not be jealous of it, they being out of our line, and 
 therefore beyond the cognizance of any overseers to be sent from hence. "\ 
 
 But at the latest period of which we have spoken (1750), the state of 
 things was materially different from what it had been when efforts to obtain 
 a bishop in the colonies were first made. An opposition, by no means 
 general in its origin, and, so far as we can discover, not marked by 
 violence in the commencement, had in the lapse of time attained to a magni- 
 tude not to be despised : the question had from time to time been agitated, 
 discussion had provoked warmth, to minds heated by controversy objects 
 assumed an undue magnitude, dangers were apprehended more imaginary 
 than real ; religious prejudices assumed their unholy sway, and religious 
 toleration was not at all understood.^ The gradual increase too, both of 
 
 * Bishops Sherlock, Seeker, and Butler. Free examination of Critical Commentary, 
 p. 2. 
 
 t Turell's Life of Dr. Cohnan, p. 127. 
 
 X As a matter of curiosity, there is subjoined the following passage on the subject of 
 religious toleration ; it is to be found in an article contained in Gaine's N. York Gazette 
 of May 2, 1768, and is there given as an extract from some work on the subject : 
 " Toleration is a city of refuge in men's consciences for the devil to fly unto — a tolera- 
 tion of soul murder : for establishing whereof damned souls in hell will curse men upon 
 earth — a transcendent catholic, fundamental evil, — the abomination of desolation : all the 
 devils in hell, and their instruments, are at work to promote a toleration." 
 
 Another instance of how little was understood of religious toleration is furnished by the 
 •following incident. When Governor Dudley of Massachusetts died, there was found in 
 his pocket a copy of verses written by himself, containing these lines : 
 
 " Let men of God in court and churches watch 
 O'er such as do a toleration hatch, 
 Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice, 
 To poison all with heresie and vice." 
 
 " This (says Hutchinson) was the prevailing doctrine many years, and until their eyes 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 143 
 
 Episcopal congregations and clergymen in New England, doubtless, contri- 
 buted not a little to give fierceness to the opposition. The number of the 
 Episcopal clergy in New England had been enlarged from six or seven to 
 twenty ; and of these twenty, several had deliberately renounced their 
 ordination in the congregational mode, from conscientious scruples as to its 
 validity. This latter fact alone was sufficient to provoke the hostility of the 
 descendants of the pilgrims. It was not to be endured, that Episcopacy 
 should, unmolested, rear its mitred head among the children of men who had 
 said to the world : " Let all mankind know that we came into the wilderness, 
 because we would worship God without that Episcojxicy, that Common 
 Prayer, and those unwarrantable ceremonies, with which the land of our 
 forefathers' sepulchres has been defiled ; we came hither because we would 
 have our posterity settled under the pure and full dispensations of the gospel ; 
 defended by rulers that should be of ourselves."* 
 
 But whatever may have been the causes which led to the opposition, the 
 fact is undeniable, that among such of the colonists as were not of the Church 
 of England, the resistance to the measure was so determined, that in the steps 
 taken in 1750, uncommon care was manifested to remove the apprehensions 
 and disarm the hostility of American anti-Episcopalians. 
 
 The plan which, after much deliberation, was at that time digested was 
 designed to pay a due regard to the necessities of the church on the one 
 hand, while it should offer neither injury nor offence to any portion of the 
 colonists on the other. This plan, we presume, will lose nothing of its 
 interest with the reader, when he is informed that it is from the pen of the 
 justly celebrated Dr. Butler, Bishop of Durham. It is in these words : 
 
 1. That no coercive power is desired over the laity in any case, but only a 
 power to regulate the clergy who are in Episcopal orders, and to correct and 
 punish them according to the law of the Church of England, in case of 
 misbehaviour or neglect of duty, with such powers as the commissaries abroad 
 have exercised. 
 
 2. That nothing is desired for such bishops that may in the least interfere 
 with the dignity, or authority, or interest of the governor, or any other 
 officer of otate. Probates of wills, license for marriages, &c, to be left in the 
 hands where they are ; and no share in the temporal government is desired 
 for bishops. 
 
 3. The maintenance of such bishops not to be at the charge of the 
 colonies. 
 
 4. No bishops are intended to be settled in places where the government is 
 in the hands of dissenters, as in New England, &c. ; but authority to be given 
 only to ordain clergy for such Church of England congregations as are among 
 them, and to inspect into the manners and behaviour of the said clergy, and 
 to confirm the members thereof. f 
 
 were opened by a fresh persecution coming upon themselves from King James. This 
 made his declaration for a general liberty of conscience welcome, and they thanked the 
 king for allowing to them what they before thought themselves bound in conscience to 
 deny to others." — See blather's Magnalia, book ii. chap. v. ; Hutchinson' s History, vol. 
 i. p. 75, note. 
 
 * Mather's Magnolia, book iii. part i. sect. vii. p. 219, vol. i. Hartford edit. 
 
 t The manuscript copy of this plan, in the handwriting of Bishop Butler, and dated 
 
144 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 At the present day, when an experience of many years has shown that 
 the liberties of our country are not jeoparded, even though we have bishops 
 among our citizens, it is somewhat difficult to sympathize with our ancestors 
 in their excited apprehensions of a tyrannical prelacy. "With the restrictions 
 which the plan just stated would impose upon the bishops of America, it 
 surely seems difficult to imagine that there was any serious cause of alarm. 
 And yet it would probably be most unjust to suppose that the alarm expressed 
 was not in many cases truly felt, there doubtless were some whose only 
 apprehension was, that the Church of England in America would increase at 
 the expense of the denominations which were around it : they probably knew 
 that the claim of American Episcopalians to a bishop was perfectly unanswer- 
 able ; nor were they ignorant of the distinction which existed between the 
 ecclesiastical rights of a spiritual kind appertaining to a bishop, and the 
 accidental appendages of temporal power, which had been conferred by man, 
 but which formed no necessary part of the Episcopal office. 
 
 There were others, however, less informed, who honestly dreaded the 
 introduction of bishops, as a measure pregnant with danger to their liberties. 
 The very name was associated inseparably in their minds with spiritual courts 
 and tithes, and a long et cetera of grievances, which from boyhood had 
 formed the subject of unalterable hatred and pious anathema. "With them, 
 bishop and tyrant were synonymous terms* 
 
 The prejudices implanted by early education disqualified them from view- 
 ing the subject dispassionately. They were not sufficiently informed upon 
 the point to make a sober decision. The claim urged by Episcopalians to 
 enjoy equally with all their fellow-citizens the exercise of their peculiar 
 religious opinions and practices, was an equitable claim ; honest men felt it to 
 be so ; had they but understood that it was possible for a bishop to be one 
 divested of all temporal power, and that immense wealth was not essential 
 to the Episcopal office, their hostility to bishops would probably have been 
 less sturdy in its character. 
 
 Let then the declaration, that their opposition finds its best apology in 
 their ignorance, be viewed rather as the judgment of charity than as evidence 
 of disrespect.f 
 
 in 1750, was in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Apthcrp, of Massachusetts, and was first 
 published by him. A copy of it may also be seen in the Address from the Clergy in 
 New York and New Jersey to the Episcopalians in Virginia, pp. 21, 22. 
 
 * A striking instance of the truth of this remark is furnished in the following extract, 
 which was published in Parker's New York Gazette of April 4, 1768: 
 
 " Those apostolical monarehs who are to chastise us with scorpions, right reverend 
 and holy tyrants, who want to plunge their spiritual swords into the souls of their fellow 
 creatures : — of all who will not be so senseless as to adore the mitre and surplice : — 
 blood-suckers who obliged our ancestors to abandon their native land, and leave behind 
 them what is the very heaven of persecutors and temporizing conformists." 
 
 t The equity of the demand made by the Episcopalians of America cannot be better 
 exhibited than in the following forcible language of Bishop Lowth : 
 
 " These unhappy churches labour under the singular distress of not being able to 
 minister to their own spiritual wants : their situation and circumstances deprive them of 
 the common benefit which all Christian churches, in all ages, and in every part of the 
 world, have freely enjoyed: and which in that country [America] Christians of every 
 other denomination do at this time freely enjoy. If any easy remedy can be applied to 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 
 
 145 
 
 There was, too, a third, though not very numerous, class, perfectly 
 acquainted with the distinction between powers purely Episcopal, and those 
 which were not, who yet doubted, either the honesty of intention of those 
 who proposed to separate between them, or questioned the practicability of 
 making such a separation. As to their motives, they were probably pure. 
 Evidence is not wanting to justify the charitable inference of the venerable 
 senior Bishop of the church, with respect to this class of opponents.* As 
 they laid aside their resistance to an Episcopate purely religious, as soon as 
 American independence had quieted their apprehensions of supposed political 
 danger, it ought to be believed that they were sincere in the apprehensions 
 previously professed. 
 
 But to resume the narrative. On the 21st of February, 1750, Bishop 
 Sherlock, then in the see of London, presented to the king in council 
 " Considerations relating to Ecclesiastical Government in his Majesty's Domi- 
 nions in America."! A copy of this document is appended to Dr. Chandler's 
 "Free Examination of the Critical Commentary on Archbishop Seeker's 
 letter to Mr. Walpole," and it manifests a studious care to avoid giving just 
 offence to any of the inhabitants of this country. It expressly disavows any 
 intention of sending a Bishop to New England or Pennsylvania ; it proposes 
 to confide to the American prelates no powers but such as are purely 
 Episcopal ; and, in direct terms, protests against any tax or imposition upon 
 the people of this country for the support of the proposed Episcopate. 
 
 The period selected for bringing the subject before the king seems to have 
 been an inauspicious one. His Majesty was at that time preparing for a visit 
 to his German possessions on matters of great political moment ; and on this 
 account the consideration of the subject was deferred until his return from 
 Hanover ; and thus was defeated the third application which had been pre- 
 sented to the throne. 
 
 During the absence of the king, Bishop Seeker, in reply to a letter from 
 Mr. Walpole, (addressed to Bishop Sherlock, but meant also for Bishop 
 Seeker,) drew up an answer, which produced no effect upon the proposed 
 measure, so far as we can discover. 
 
 We are now approaching that period in our history when the hostility of 
 the colonists to a resident bishop had assumed a systematic form, and was by 
 
 this grievance, surely in charity it will not be denied to their petitions : in justice it cannot 
 be refused to their demands. The proper and only remedy hath long since been pointed 
 
 out : the appointment of one or more resident bishops for the exercise of offices purely 
 
 Episcopal in the American Church of England :— offices, to which the members ot the 
 Church of England have an undeniable claim, and from which they cannot be precluded 
 without manifest injustice and oppression:' And again — " Unless groundless fears, 
 invidious surmises, injurious suspicions, — unless absurd demands of needless and imprac- 
 ticable securities against dangers altogether imaginary and improbable, are to set aside 
 undoubted rights, founded upon the plainest maxims of religious liberty, upon the 
 common claim of mutual toleration, that favourite but abused principle, the glory and 
 the disgrace of Protestantism, which all are forward enough to profess, but few steadily 
 practise ; and which tho?e who claim it in its utmost extent for themselves are sometimes 
 least of all inclined to indulge in any to others."— Anniversary Sermon before the Society 
 for Propagating the Gospel in 1771, pp. 14, 18. 
 
 * See Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 7. 
 
 t Letter from Bishop Sherlock to Dr. Johnson, dated September 19, 1/50. Johns. 
 MSS. 
 
146 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 no means confined to those who were not Episcopalians. The causes which 
 led to the determination of the parent country to impose upon the colonies 
 the odious stamp duty of 1764, belong to the province of the civil historian: 
 our subject has no connexion with them. But the effect produced by the 
 obnoxious measure upon our ancestors falls within the range of our investiga- 
 tion ; for the political aspect of affairs at that day had an important bearing 
 upon the question of an American Episcopate. 
 
 Wounded by the unkindness of the mother country, insulted by a con- 
 temptuous neglect of respectful representations, and deeply injured by what 
 was deemed oppression, it is not wonderful that our forefathers should 
 abate nothing of their prejudices against bishops, when they thought of the 
 ecclesiastical establishment of England, intimately blended as it is with the 
 machinery of her civil government. From the oppressions of the government, 
 the transition was easy to apprehended oppressions by the Hierarchy which 
 it sustained. The cordial hatred which was felt by many towards that 
 Hierarchy, it was not difficult to transfer to those who might be sent hither 
 clad with Episcopal authority, communicated by the bishops of England. 
 These circumstances were favourable to those who had long resisted the 
 proposed measure. To them it was an easy task to awaken a determined 
 opposition in minds predisposed to view with suspicion any thing which, in 
 its fortunes, was so linked to the British government, that it could not but be 
 the upholder of its measures. 
 
 In England, too, the large body of the dissenting interest readily co- 
 operated with their brethren in America. The different denominations 
 concentrated their forces in a committee in London, and a constant 
 correspondence was carried on with a society in this country, composed 
 principally of the Congregationalists of New England and the Presbyterians 
 of New York and New Jersey. The venerable Bishop of Pennsylvania 
 informs us that at a subsequent period, in 1771 and 1772, he was acquainted 
 with a member of the English Committee, and knew that he had free access 
 to the ministry. It was deemed an object of importance to avoid giving 
 offence to the dissenters, and exciting thereby their political opposition, 
 as they possessed an influence in the elections to Parliament which was too 
 powerful to be despised.* 
 
 Unpropitious as were the times for agitating the question of an American 
 Episcopate, it may well be supposed that the discussion would not wilfully 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 50. The following extracts also exhibit the influence 
 which the dissenters exercised on the subject : — 
 
 " From him I first learned the true reason of the Bishop of London being 
 
 opposed and defeated in his scheme of sending us bishops. It seems that the Duke of 
 Newcastle, Mr. Pelham, and Mr. Onslow, can have the interest and votes of the whole 
 body of the dissenters upon condition of their befriending them ; and by their influ- 
 ence on those persons, the ministry was brought to oppose it." — Manuscript letter of Dr. 
 Chandler to Dr. Johnson. — Johns. MSS. 
 
 " We must wait for more favourable times ; which I think it will contribute not 
 
 a little to bring on, if the ministers of our church in America, by friendly converse with 
 the principal dissenters, can satisfy them that nothing more is intended or desired than 
 that our church may enjoy the full benefit of its own institutions, as all others do. For 
 so long as they are uneasy, and remonstrate, regard will be paid to them and their friends 
 here by our ministers of state." — Letter from Bishop Seeker to Dr. Johnson. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 147 
 
 be provoked by the Churchmen in this country. Accident, however, appears 
 to have brought it forward in the following manner : 
 
 The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts had from the 
 commencement been the chief source of support to the Episcopal ministers on 
 this continent. In every colony but Virginia and Maryland all the clergy of 
 the church were, or had been, missionaries of the Society. Without the aid 
 of this institution, the Church could not possibly have been sustained in the 
 greater part of what was British America. Under its auspices, houses of 
 worship had been built, congregations had been collected, and ministers 
 sustained, until the Society, by its annual bounty, was now upholding more 
 than eighty missionary stations, and supporting seventy-two missionaries, 
 exclusive of those employed in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the West 
 Indies.* Of these, thirty were employed in New England, and truth 
 compels us to add, that they were deemed intruders by the descendants of 
 the first settlers. This state of things produced repeated attacks on the 
 Society by those who viewed with jealous apprehension its successful opera- 
 tions. The chief subject of complaint was, that, unmindful of the purposes 
 of its institution, instead of sending the Gospel and the ministry to the 
 destitute parts of the continent, it sought out the better settled and more 
 comfortable portions of the country, and there stationed its missionaries, to 
 make converts to the Church of England, of men who already had the 
 Gospel preached among them by ministers of other denominations.f It was 
 
 * Abstract of the Society's proceedings for 1764. 
 
 t With the venerable English Society for Propagating the Gospel, the church in this 
 country has no connexion, save that created by the bonds ol a common faith ; but there 
 is not an Episcopalian in the United States acquainted with the labours of that Society in 
 planting the Church on this continent who must not feel that he, at least, owes to it a 
 heavy debt of gratitude. We would endeavour, even at this distance of time, to pay a 
 small portion of that debt by repelling a calumny. The growth of the Church in New 
 England, particularly, was a perpetual source of irritation and hatred to the bigoted 
 Cono-regationalists: hence the charge of making " converts to the Church ol England 
 was often repeated. And yet, upon the best inquiry we have been enabled to make, we 
 cannot find a solitary instance of a Missionary having been sent by the Society into 
 New England but upon the request of the people themselves. It was the practice ot the 
 Society not to send a missionary to any place before the inhabitants applied lor him. 
 Nay in some instances, in New England, the people not only asked for a missionary, but 
 at their own expense actually erected Church edifices before the Society sent any clergy- 
 men to them. The Society was in operation for several years before it sent any 
 missionary to New England, as the abstracts will show. This course of conduct is not 
 consistent with the design " to episcopise dissenters," as it was termed. The truth seems 
 to be this- the Church grew, notwithstanding opposition ; and the cause of its increase 
 is furnished by an eye-witness (the excellent Dr. Johnson, of Stratford), in a manuscript 
 now before us. " The true causes and occasions of the being and growth ot so many 
 congregations of the Church of England in these provinces are as follow :— 
 
 " 1 As the country continued to increase, and there were many accessions from Great 
 Britain and Ireland, there were, among others, many of the established Church came 
 over to settle in these colonies, as well as others, so that there was, fifty years ago, scarce 
 a town of considerable standing but what had some scattering among them, in some 
 several families. In Stratford, for instance, the first in Connecticut that applied to the 
 Society there were, in the beginning of this century, fifteen families. 
 
 «2 So the case has been ever since Church people have settled in this country, many 
 dissenters have treated them with much clamour, and contempt, and frequent disputing, 
 which occasioned many of them to procure books wherewith to defend themselves, such 
 
148 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 not to be expected that a charge of this kind, often repeated as it was, would 
 be permitted to pass unnoticed. The Society had in its employment gentle- 
 men who were prompt to repel this unfounded imputation. Among these 
 was the Rev. JEast Apthorp, the missionary at Cambridge, a clergyman 
 deservedly respected, both for his piety and ability, who published a small 
 pamphlet, entitled " Considerations on the Institution and Conduct of the 
 Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." It was not long 
 before this production found an antagonist, of no mean ability, in Dr. 
 Mayhew, a Congregational minister of Boston, who gave to the world his 
 answer, with the following motto prefixed, sufficiently expressive of the nature 
 of the work: — " Brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily, to spy 
 out our liberty which ive have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into 
 bondage ; to whom toe gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour, that the 
 truth of the Gospel might continue with you. v 
 
 In this angry production, (for such it must be deemed,) Dr. Mayhew not 
 only considered the subject introduced in Mr. Apthorp 1 s pamphlet, but inter- 
 spersed many injurious reflections on the Church of England, and particularly 
 inveighed against the plan of appointing bishops for America ; and thus the 
 matter was once more presented as a subject of controversy.* 
 
 An anonymous production, published originally in London, and reprinted 
 in this country, contained an answer to Dr. Mayheio, remarkable for its 
 strength of argument, fairness of discussion, and Christian temper. Such 
 was its effect, not only upon those who took no part in the discussion, but even 
 
 as " the London Cases," " Hoadly against Calamy," " Archbishop Potter on Church 
 Government," and some even " Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity," not to mention some 
 others ; and their thus defending themselves occasioned many inquisitive candid dissenters 
 to read those books, which reconciled them to the Church. So that the dissenters 
 themselves, by thus censuring and disputing, have occasioned the increase of the 
 Church. 
 
 " 3. Another thing, and what has of late chiefly occasioned the accession of multitudes 
 of proselytes to the Church, was the wild enthusiasm that long obtained among them- 
 selves ; on which occasions their own managements were in many instances so extrava- 
 gant and ridiculous as tended vastly more to drive their people into the Church than 
 any thing we ever did to draw them over to it ; particularly that monstrous enthusiasm 
 that was at first encouraged by themselves, fifteen or twenty years ago, in consequence of 
 Mr. Whitfield's rambling once and again through the country, who was followed by a 
 great many strolling teachers, who propagated so many wild and horrid notions of God 
 and the Gospel, that a multitude of people were so bewildered, that they could find no 
 rest to the sole of their foot, till they retired into the Church as their only ark of safety. 
 And many of these continue among great numbers to this day, and have occasioned many 
 separate meetings among the dissenters themselves, and these have occasioned much hot 
 contention among them in settling ministers, and often the prostitution of discipline 
 upon the merest trifles, which have caused many people to conclude, that if they must 
 separate from their former brethren, who are in endless contentions and confusion, their 
 best way will be to retire into the Church, which is in peace. Now these are all known 
 facts." — Johns. MSS. 
 
 * That we may not be suspected of doing injustice to Dr. Mayhew, we would add 
 that his work was condemned by those of his own persuasion. In reply to an inquiry 
 made of Dr. Samuel Chandler, a Presbyterian divine of London, whether he could or 
 did approve of the bitter and injurious publications against the Society, he answered, that 
 " he was truly sorry to see what Dr. Mayhew had published, and had wrote to him, 
 signifying the same, with his desire that he would desist." — Original letter from Rev. Mr. 
 Jarvis (afterwards Bishop Jarvis) to Dr. Johnson. — Johns. MSS. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 149 
 
 upon Dr. Mayhew himself, that he frankly acknowledged his adversary to be 
 " a person of excellent sense and a happy talent at writing ; apparently free 
 from the sordid, illiberal spirit of bigotry ; one of a cool temper, who often 
 showed much candour, was well acquainted with the affairs of the Society, 
 and in general a fair reasoner."* Dr. Mayhew published two answers to the 
 tract, in which he abated much of his former acrimony ; he persisted, how- 
 ever, in affirming, that he was not "wrong in any material point," and so far 
 indulged, in reproach, that he was animadverted on by Mr. Apthorp in a very 
 sensible and polite review, entitled, " A Review of Dr. Mayhew's Remarks," 
 <fec. This terminated the controversy. Dr. Mayhew, on reading it, declared 
 he should not answer it, and in the following year he died.f 
 
 At the time Dr. Mayhew answered the " anonymous tract," he was not 
 aware of the fact now well established, that the author of that production, 
 whom he characterized as a " worthy answerer," was Archbishop Seeker, the 
 President of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. If the character of this 
 prelate, as given by Dr. Mayhew in the extract already quoted, be honourable 
 to the memory of the Archbishop, it is honourable also to the character of 
 Dr. Mayhew, that, notwithstanding the warmth of controversy, he candidly 
 acknowledged the merits of an antagonist whom he must have felt that it 
 was difficult to answer. The incident is one which reflects honour on both 
 the gentlemen concerned. 
 
 At the same time that the Archbishop was engaged in England in the 
 preparation of his tract, the Rev. Mr. Carter, of Boston, and Dr. Johnson, of 
 Stratford, were occupied on the same subject, and their several productions 
 were afterwards published in the same volume, Dr. Johnson's observations 
 forming an appendix to Mr. Caner's fuller vindication. 
 
 The reasons assigned in the writings both of the Archbishop and Mr. 
 Apthorp, for desiring the proposed establishment of bishops in the colonies, 
 furnish perhaps the best picture of the disadvantages which retarded, at that 
 day, the growth of the Church. The principal reasons are the want of con- 
 firmation, the need for superintendence of the conduct of the clergy, and 
 especially the saving candidates the trouble, cost, and risk of a voyage to and 
 from England in procuring ordination. While all other denominations had 
 the means within themselves of perpetuating their ministry — while bishops 
 were not denied to another Church of Protestant Episcopalians, the Moravian 
 Brethren— the members of the Church of England alone were excluded from 
 a right, the exercise of which was, in their view, essential to their existence as 
 a Church. The expense of the voyage to and from England was not less 
 than £100; nearly one-fifth of those who had taken that voyage had lost 
 their lives ; and, in consequence of these discouragements, onedialf of the 
 churches in many of the provinces were destitute of clergymen. These 
 reasons were forcibly and unanswerably urged, and common justice and 
 common humanity, it was truly said, pleaded strongly for a remedy of these 
 evils. 
 
 To o-uard too against the fears of those who were known to be opposed to 
 the measure, it was stated in the publication of the Archbishop, that the 
 
 * Mayhew's remarks on an anonymous tract, &c, p. 3. 
 
 t Review of the Life and Character of Archbishop Seeker, by Dr. Porteus. 
 
150 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 proposed bishops should " have no concern in the least with any persons who 
 do not profess themselves to he of the Church of England, but may ordain 
 ministers for such as do ; may confirm their children when brought to them 
 at a fit age for that purpose ; and take such oversight of the Episcopal clergy 
 as the Bishop of London's Commissaries in those parts have been empowered 
 to take, and have taken without offence. But it is not desired in the least 
 that they should hold courts to try matrimonial or testamentary causes, or be 
 vested with any authority now exercised either by provincial governors or 
 subordinate magistrates, or infringe or diminish any privileges or liberties 
 enjoyed by any of the laity even of our own communion." And as to the 
 place of residence of the American bishops, it was declared, " that it neither 
 is, nor ever was intended or desired to fix one in New England ; but Episco- 
 pal colonies have always been proposed." " To such a plan as this," says the 
 venerable Bishop White, " it is difficult to perceive how hindrance could have 
 been attempted by any description of persons without an avowal of intole- 
 rance."* Dr. Mayhew very candidly remarked, with reference to it, "that if 
 such a scheme as this were carried into execution, and only such consequences 
 were to follow as the proposer had professedly in view, he could not object to 
 it, except upon the same principle that he should object against the Church 
 of England in general."f 
 
 And yet, such was the state of excitement produced in the colonies by 
 political considerations, that the scheme of sending bishops to this country, 
 however restricted in their powers, met with but little countenance from the 
 great mass of the inhabitants : the opposition was not confined to those who 
 were not of the Church of England ; there were Episcopalians, both of the 
 clergy and laity, who had caught the temper of the times, and learned to 
 look with a suspicious distrust upon the scheme of an American bishop, as 
 but another plan for riveting chains which they already thought were scarcely 
 to be tolerated longer. 
 
 The character of the distinguished prelate who had so successfully encoun- 
 tered Dr. Mayheiv, gained nothing thereby in the eyes of a large majority, 
 but was assailed with a virulence of invective seldom surpassed. With 
 unrelenting rancour, and unexampled wantonness of abuse, he was attacked 
 in pamphlets and newspapers, and escaped not the malevolence of his enemies 
 even after he had descended to the grave.J 
 
 When it is recollected that the chief, if not the sole cause of this insatiate 
 hate, was the aid which the Archbishop had rendered to the measure of an 
 American Episcopate ; in other words, his demand for religious toleration in 
 America, it is difficult not to concur in the sentiment expressed by his 
 affectionate and pious biographer. " What an idea (says Bishop Porteus) 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 53. 
 
 t Remarks on an anonymous tract, &c, p. 59. 
 
 t The following specimen is from the pen of an Episcopal clergyman in Virginia, 
 whose name we deem it most charitable to his memory to withhold. The extract was 
 published in Purdie and Dixon's Virginia Gazette of July 18, 1771 : 
 •v " As to Seeker, he is laid in the grave : disturb not his slumber. His character, no 
 more than his body, can endure the keen question of the searching air. Unless you 
 would give another specimen of your friendship, cause him not to stink to futurity." 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 151 
 
 must it give mankind of his grace's character to have such a circumstance 
 sino-led out by his bitterest revilers as the most exceptionable part of it !"* 
 
 Scarcely had the controversy which has been detailed been brought to a ■ 
 conclusion before it was again renewed, under the following circumstances :— 
 At the annual meeting of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, held in 
 1161, the Bishop of Landaff preached the anniversary sermon, in which he 
 alluded to the state of religion on some parts of the continent. Certain 
 expressions which be used, representing the condition of some of the colonies 
 as but little better than heathenish, were supposed by some to refer particu- 
 larly to New England, though candour compels us to add, that such does 
 not seem to have been a fair inference. On the contrary, New England is 
 particularly designated as being worthy of great commendation for the 
 attention which religion had there received from its earliest settlement. 
 
 Amono- those who professed to entertain this singular opinion of the 
 bishop's sermon was Dr. Charles Chauncy, of Boston, a Congregational 
 divine of much celebrity. He published " A Letter to a Friend, containing 
 Remarks on certain Passages" in the sermon, and as the necessity of a 
 resident Episcopacy was one of the points urged by the Bishop of Landaff, 
 the door was open for a renewal of the war of pamphlets. 
 
 That Dr. Chauncy was justly entitled to the reputation which he possessed 
 is evident from his publication, for it is not wanting in ability, and especially 
 in ingenuity. The ground which he took was, that the introduction of 
 bishops was not to be dreaded as a measure at all likely to convert Presbyte- 
 rians into Churchmen ; nor was it on that ground opposed ; but from the 
 fear of hurtful consequences both to the bishops and people ; and he thus 
 expresses his views : — 
 
 " Such consequences would certainly be the effect, if these bishops should make use of 
 their superiority, as most probably they would, sooner or later, to influence our great 
 men here, and much greater ones at home, to project and endeavour to carry into execu- 
 tion measures to force the growth of the Church. It may be relied on, our people would 
 not be easy if restrained in the exercise of that ' liberty wherewith Christ hath made 
 them free ;" yea, they would hazard everything dear to them, their estates, their very 
 lives, rather than suffer their necks to be put under that yoke of bondage, which was so 
 sadly galling to their fathers, and occasioned their retreat into this distant land, that they 
 might enjoy the freedom of men and Christians.''! 
 
 Nor did the Society for Propagating the Gospel escape the rebukes of the 
 author of the letter. The sole design of the institution was stated to be " to 
 episcopise the colonies." 
 
 Dr. Chauncy was followed by Mr. William Livingston, a lawyer of New 
 York, who, in 1*768, published in that city, "A Letter to the Right Rev. 
 Bishop of Landaff," &c. It must be deemed most unfortunate for the literary 
 reputation of Mr. Livingston, that he had ever seen the production of Dr. 
 Chauncy. That he had seen it is proved by a quotation from it, accompanied 
 with a very slight acknowledgment of his obligation for the quotation. From 
 beginning to end, his letter is but a repetition of the arguments of Dr. 
 Chauncy, presented in the gaudy trappings of a more florid style. Every 
 
 * Life of Seeker, by Dr. Porteus. 
 X A Letter to a Friend, &c, p. 47. 
 
152 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 passage of the sermon commented on by Dr. Chauncy, is commented on by 
 Mr. Livingston, and none other is ; nay, these passages are considered in 
 precisely the same order, and not unfrequently answered, in part, in the very 
 same words ; nor is there a solitary thought worthy of note, which had not 
 already been given to the world by Dr. Chauncy. It would be difficult to 
 conceive of a more palpable plagiarism, unless it were a verbatim copy. 
 
 We should be the less disposed to record this instance of literary theft, if 
 it were not prefaced by the affectation of a modesty which becomes ridiculous 
 as soon as the theft is known. The advertisement to Mr. Livingstones 
 " letter" contains a disclaimer of any desire to come before the public as an 
 author, and an expression of diffidence, resulting " from the business of his 
 profession, and a sense of inability." 
 
 The next production, and that which terminated the discussion on the 
 bishop's sermon, was an anonymous pamphlet, entitled " A Vindication of the 
 Bishop of Landaff's Sermon." This is now known to have been written by 
 Dr. Lnglis, an Episcopal clergyman of New York.* Extensive research, a 
 familiar acquaintance with facts, a skilful arrangement of them, manly 
 argument, and a keen and biting sarcasm, are characteristics of this produc- 
 tion. 
 
 Before the discussion elicited by the sermon of the Bishop of Landaff had 
 been brought to a close, the point in debate was presented anew, and new 
 combatants were ready to enter the field of controversy. 
 
 Early in 1767, the Rev. Dr. Johnson of Stratford, in Connecticut, suggested 
 to Dr. Chandler of Elizabethtown, in New Jersey, the propriety of addressing 
 the public on the subject of an American Episcopate. It has indeed been 
 intimated that the suggestion came from a higher source, and that the 
 measure originated with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Of this, however, 
 no proof has been met with, and as it was positively contradicted by Dr. 
 Chandler, the insinuation was probably without foundation. Very soon after 
 the proposition by Dr. Johnson, a voluntary association of the Episcopal 
 clergy of New York and New Jersey,f at which were present some of their 
 brethren from the neighbouring provinces, after discussion of the subject, 
 were unanimous in the opinion "that fairly to explain the plan on Avhich 
 American bishops had been requested to lay before the public the reasons of 
 this request, to answer the objections that had been made, and to obviate 
 those that might be otherwise conceived against it, was not only proper and 
 expedient, but a matter of necessity and duty." 
 
 The performance of this duty devolved on Dr. Chandler, and gave birth 
 to " an Appeal to the Public in behalf of the Church of England in Ame- 
 rica," published in June, 1767. This production consisted substantially of a 
 short but perspicuous view of the evidence in favour of Episcopacy, the 
 hardships of the case of the Church, deprived of an officer deemed essential 
 to its existence, the plan proposed, with an answer to the fears and objections 
 of those who opposed it. 
 
 * Afterwards Bishop lnglis, and father of the late Bishop of Nova Scotia. 
 
 t Among the names of the clergy then assembled are to be found those of Dr. 
 Auchmuty, Dr. Chandler, Dr. MyUs Cooper, Dr. Ogilvie, Mr. Charlton, Mr. Seabury 
 (afterwards Bishop of Connecticut), Mr. Ingles (afterwards Bishop of Nova Scotia), and 
 Mr. Abraham Beach. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 153 
 
 It was not to be expected, after the previous discussions of the subject, that 
 the author could present much of novelty to attract his readers. The object 
 of Dr. Chandler was to satisfy the American public, that the apprehensions 
 which were entertained by many were groundless — that the claim of Episcopa- 
 lians was founded in the most obvious justice, and that their peculiar opinions 
 on the subject of Church Government Avere built upon apostolic and primitive 
 usage. The work is marked by a sound judgment and lucid argument, and 
 upon its first appearance was treated by many, even of those who were not 
 Episcopalians, with the respect which was due to the talents and standing of 
 the author. The more candid acknowledged that to resist such claims as 
 were there presented, upon the ground of apprehended evils, which were all 
 guarded against by the plan proposed, savoured more of intolerance than of 
 Christianity. 
 
 The first opposition to the " appeal," there is reason to think, had its 
 origin in disappointed feelings. An application for a charter by the Presby- 
 terians of New York had been rejected by the authorities of the mother 
 country, and the Bishop of London was supposed to have been active in 
 defeating the application. These facts are stated repeatedly in the subsequent 
 newspaper publications' on the part of the Church, and are not contradicted 
 in the replies of its adversaries ; but of the precise nature of the application, 
 or of its merits, we have no evidence on which to speak. 
 
 The attack on the Appeal commenced simultaneously from various quarters, 
 thus giving rise to a very natural suspicion, that a combination had been 
 entered into for the purpose of effectually crushing the plan of an American 
 bishop. A series of essays appeared in the New York Gazette, under the 
 name of the " American Whig ;"■* while the Pennsylvania Journal in Phila- 
 delphia gave to the world the lucubrations of the " Sentinel," and Dr. 
 Chaunaj of Boston (in his proper name) published the "Appeal to the 
 Public Answered." The violent invectives of the Whig were re-published in 
 the papers of Philadelphia and Boston, while the alarm sounded in Philadel- 
 phia by the Sentinel was instantly echoed from the presses of the sister 
 cities ; and thus was concentrated the opposition of the three principal cities 
 into an attack more fierce than any which had preceded it. 
 
 It is impossible to read many of these publications without a hunuliatino- 
 sense of the infirmity of our nature. If in some, the questions fairly involved 
 are discussed in the spirit of manly argument, in the greater part abusive 
 personalities supply the place of facts, and railing is substituted for rea- 
 soning. 
 
 Nor is it intended to exempt from this censure many of the publications 
 on the part of the Episcopalians. The American Whig soon found an 
 antagonist under the assumed name of " Timothy Tickler," who followed its 
 successive numbers with what he termed " A Whip for the American Whig," 
 and it must be confessed that his lash is often laid on with merciless severity. 
 There runs through his writings a bitterness of spirit not to be commended, 
 and both these essayists will be laid aside by the candid reader with the 
 feeling that the contest between them was, which could call the hardest 
 names. 
 
 * These were attributed to Mr. William Livingston, already mentioned. 
 
154 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 The Sentinel was met in Philadelphia by a gentleman whose talents have 
 seldom been surpassed. Dr. William Smith, who for years had been an 
 attentive observer and a prominent actor in the concerns of the American 
 Episcopal Church, came before the public in a series of essays under the title 
 of " The Anatomist." Of all the newspaper productions of that time, this 
 will probably be read with most interest ; for though not entirely free from 
 bitterness, it is yet, for the most part, made up of facts and reasoning. There 
 are exhibited a calm self-possession and a coolness of mind which it is obvious 
 were the result of the author's conviction that his cause was good. He is 
 never roused to unbecoming anger, and but seldom stoops to retort abuse. 
 Still these essays are severe, but their severity consists principally in the 
 unanswerable nature of their arguments. 
 
 The newspaper essays already mentioned were the most prominent m the 
 controversy ; but they were not all. There were " Remonstrants" and " Anti- 
 Sentinel " not remarkable for ability : but for scurrility and vulgar humour 
 the meed of superiority is justly due to " A Kick for the Whipper, by Sir 
 Isaac Foot." The author aims at wit, and reaches blackguardism. 
 
 It is due to Dr. Chandler to say that in all his writings on this subject, he 
 preserved his dignity. In reply to Dr. Chauncy, he published " The Appeal 
 Defended," and^subsequently, in 1771, "The Appeal Further Defended," in 
 answer to a second production of Dr. Chauncy. 
 
 Of the arguments urged* nothing remains to be added to what has already 
 been said in the history of the discussion between Dr. Mayhew and Mr. 
 Apthorp. The reasons for desiring the proposed Episcopate remained 
 unaltered ; all that Dr. Chandler could say had already been said. He was 
 able only to refer to facts more evidently showing the inconveniences under 
 which the Church laboured,* and to remove prejudice as far as possible. _ 
 
 While the controversies of which we have spoken were at their height, 
 legislative interference was not wanting to oppose obstacles to the obnoxious 
 measure. The province of Massachusetts Bay was the first to interfere. At 
 the period of which we are writing, Dennis de Berdt, Esq., was agent to the 
 province in London, and to him on the 12th of January, 1768, the House of 
 Representatives addressed a letter, from which the following extract is 
 taken : — 
 
 * Shortly before the appeal was written, two missionaries perished in one ship upon 
 the coast of New Jersey, almost in sight of their port, one of whom left a family in N. 
 York dependent upon charity. But one of the most remarkable instances of the incon- 
 venience and risk of obtaining orders in England was furnished in the history ot the 
 parish of Hebron in Connecticut. For nearly twenty years that congregation exerted 
 themselves, and without success, to obtain a minister at their own expense. They first 
 sent over Mr Dean, in 1745, who was admitted to holy orders and appointed their 
 missionary but in returning he is supposed to have perished, as the ship was never heard 
 of The next was Mr. Colton, who in 1752 died on his passage from London. Ihe 
 third candidate sent to England by this unfortunate people, was Mr. Usher, who, on his 
 passage in 1757, was taken by the French, and died a prisoner in the castle of Hayonne. 
 The fourth was Mr. Peters, who in 1759, very soon after his arrival in England was 
 taken with the small pox, and narrowly escaping with his life, to the great joy oi his 
 people, at length reached them and officiated as their missionary.— The Appeal further 
 Defended, p. 127-128. 
 
 About one-fifth of all who ever went for orders never saw their homes again. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 155 
 
 " The establishment of a Protestant Episcopate in America is also very zealously con- 
 tended for : and it is very alarming to a people whose fathers, from the hardships they 
 suffered under such an establishment, were obliged to fly their native country into a wil- 
 derness, in order peaceably to enjoy their privileges, civil and religious : Their being 
 threatened with the loss of both at once, must throw them into a very disagreeable 
 situation. We hope in God such an establishment will never take place in America ; 
 and we desire you would strenuously oppose it. The revenue raised in America, for 
 aught we can tell, may be as constitutionally applied towards the support of prelacy 
 as of soldiers and pensioners: If the property of the subject is taken from him without 
 his consent, it is immaterial whether it be done by one man or five hundred, or whether 
 it be applied for the support of the ecclesiastic or military power, or both. It may be 
 well worth the consideration of the best politicians in Great Britain or America, what 
 the natural tendency is of a vigorous pursuit of these measures." 
 
 It has already been mentioned that Episcopalians were to be found who, at 
 this time, opposed the introduction of bishops into America. The most 
 remarkable instance of this occurred in Virginia, and the Legislature of that 
 province (composed chiefly of Churchmen) has left on record a disapprobation 
 of the measure as decided as that of Massachusetts, though resting on a very 
 different ground. 
 
 The circumstances which gave rise to the interposition of the Viro-inia 
 Legislature were the following: — In the month of April, 1771, the Rev. Mr. 
 Camm, at that time the commissary of the Bishop of London for Virginia, 
 by public advertisement, requested a general attendance of the Episcopal 
 clergy at the College of William and Mary, on the 4th of May. At this 
 time there were more than one hundred parishes in Virginia, and most of 
 them supplied. On the 4th of May, a very small number of the clergy 
 assembled, and when the proposition was made to address the king in behalf 
 of an American Episcopate, most of those present desired the commissary to 
 call another meeting and inform the clergy of the nature of the business to 
 be considered. 
 
 This was done, and on the 4th of June, twelve clergymen only attended, a 
 number less than that of the former meeting. The first question considered 
 was, whether such a minority of the clergy could be deemed a convention of 
 the Virginia clergy : it was determined (not without opposition) that it was 
 a convention. The proposition to address the king was then considered and 
 determined in the negative. A third question was then proposed, whether 
 the convention should apply to the Bishop of London for his opinion and 
 advice ; and in the propriety of this measure there was a unanimous con- 
 currence. 
 
 But before adjournment a successful effort was made to reconsider the vote 
 upon the subject of the address to the king, and it was finally resolved on. 
 The grounds taken in opposition were, respect to the Bishop of London, the 
 disturbances occasioned by the stamp act, a recent rebellion or civil war in 
 North Carolina just suppressed, and the general clamour at that time ; there 
 does not appear to have been the slightest objection to Episcopacy, as such ; 
 but on the contrary, there is a distinct declaration of cordial and conscientious 
 approval of the government of the church by the bishops. 
 
 Against the vote determining to address the king, two clergymen of 
 eminence solemnly protested : they were Samuel Henley, Professor of Moral 
 Philosophy, and Thomas Gwatkin, Professor of Mathematics and Natural 
 Philosophy, in the College. The reasons assigned in the protest were : 
 
156 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 " First. Because as the number of the clergy in this colony is at least a hundred, we 
 cannot conceive that twelve clergymen are a sufficient representation of so large a 
 body. 
 
 " Secondly. Because the said resolution contradicts a former resolution of the same con- 
 vention, which puts a negative upon the question, whether the king should be addressed 
 upon an American Episcopate? and that an assembly met upon so important an occa- 
 sion should rescind a resolution agreed to and entered down but a few minutes before, is 
 in our apprehension contrary to all order and decorum. 
 
 " Thirdly. Because the expression American Episcopate includes a jurisdiction over 
 the other colonies ; and the clergy of Virginia cannot, with any propriety, petition for a 
 measure which, for aught that appears to the contrary, will materially affect the 
 natural rights and fundamental laws of the said colonies, without their consent and 
 approbation. 
 
 " Fourthly. Because the establishment of an American Episcopate at this time would 
 tend greatly to weaken the connexion between the mother country and her colonies, to 
 continue their present unhappy disputes, to infuse jealousies and fears into the minds of 
 Protestant Dissenters, and to give ill-disposed persons occasion to raise such disturbances 
 as may endanger the very existence of the British empire in America. 
 
 " Fifthly. Because we cannot help considering it as extremely indecent for the clergy 
 to make such an application without the concurrence of the President, Council, and 
 Representatives of this province : an usurpation directly repugnant to the rights of 
 mankind. .... 
 
 " Sixthly. Because the Bishops of London have always hitherto exercised ecclesiastical 
 jurisdiction over this colony ; and we are perfectly satisfied with the mild, just, and 
 equitable government of our excellent diocesan, the present Lord Bishop of London, and 
 do think a petition to the crown to strip his Lordship of any part of his jurisdiction but 
 an ill return for his past labours, and contrary to our oath of canonical obedience. We 
 do farther conceive, as it had been unanimously determined by this very convention, that 
 his Lordship should be addressed for his opinion relative to this measure, the clergy ought 
 to have waited for his Lordship's paternal advice before they had proceeded any farther 
 in an affair of such vast importance. 
 
 " Seventhly. Because we have particular objections to that part of the resolution by 
 which the committee are directed to apply, as it is termed, for the hands of the majority 
 of the clergy of this colony : a method of proceeding, in our opinion, contrary to the 
 universal practice of the Christian Church, it having been customary for the clergy to 
 sign all acts of an ecclesiastical nature in public convention : whereas the manner of 
 procuring their concurrence, now proposed, is unworthy the decorum and dignity by 
 which so venerable a body ought ever to be guided." 
 
 This matter was deemed of sufficient importance to occupy the attention of 
 the House of Burgesses, and on the 12th of July, they passed the following 
 vote : 
 
 « Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the thanks of this house be given to the Rev. 
 Mr. Henley, the Rev. Mr. Gwatkin, the Rev. Mr. Hewitt, and the Rev. Mr. Bland* 
 for the wise and well-timed opposition they have made to the pernicious project of a few 
 mistaken clergymen for introducing an American bishop : a measure by which much 
 disturbance, great anxiety, and apprehension would certainly take place among his 
 Majesty's faithful American subjects ; and that Mr. Richard Henry Lee and Mr. Bland 
 do acquaint them therewith." 
 
 The circumstances which we have just detailed unfortunately produced a 
 coldness between the Episcopalians of Virginia and those of the northern 
 provinces. The clergy at whose request Dr. Chandler had prepared the 
 
 * The Rev. Messrs. Hewitt and Bland subsequently protested, or joined in the protest 
 of Messrs. Henley and Gwatkin. 
 
Episcopate before the Revolution. 157 
 
 " Appeal," appointed a committee, who prepared " An Address from the 
 Clergy of New York and New Jersey, to the Episcopalians in Virginia." 
 This was published in 1771, and in 1772 a spirited pamphlet, in reply, was 
 published by Mr. Gwatkin. 
 
 There is a warmth of feeling betrayed in the Address and in Mr. Gwatkin's 
 answer, the more to be lamented because it is obvious that the opinion of 
 both parties was substantially the same on all the points ■ discussed, save one, 
 viz., the expediency at that time of making the proposed effort. Mr. 
 Gwatkin explicitly declares that the authors of the protest "have not any 
 aversion to Episcopacy in general, to that mode of it established in England, 
 or even to an American Episcopate introduced at a proper time, by proper 
 authorities, and in a proper manner." 
 
 The grounds of opposition to an " immediate establishment" are stated to 
 be " a prudential regard to the practicable, a desire to preserve peace, heal 
 divisions, and calm the angry passions of an inflamed people." 
 
 And on this point of expediency, it will probably now be confessed that the 
 clergy of Virginia judged wisely. It certainly was a time when, in addition 
 to all the objections urged on former occasions, there might have been 
 presented the powerful consideration that the people of this country were 
 hostile to the measure on political grounds, that they were fast verging to the 
 point when they would not hesitate to resort to arms against the mother 
 country, that the adoption of the scheme would inevitably exasperate the 
 colonies to a forcible resistance in many parts of the continent. All this was 
 known at home, and therefore the application was calculated only to increase 
 the hostility among the colonists, without the slightest prospect of accomplish- 
 ing any good. 
 
 Considerations of this kind seem to have been present to the mind of Dr. 
 Smith, for in the concluding sentence of the "Anatomist" (which is termi- 
 nated abruptly before he had finished the discussion of all the points 
 proposed), he uses this language : 
 
 " But, in truth, from the gloomy prospect that seems gathering against us on the other 
 side of the Atlantic, it might be better for you and for me to cultivate domestic harmony 
 for the present, and to suspend the settlement of our remaining differences to a more 
 convenient season." 
 
 11 
 
THOUGHTS 
 
 UPON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE 
 
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND 
 
 IN AMERICA. 
 
 ^Written in 1*764, — Author uncertain^ 
 
 As the Civil, Commercial, and Military States of America are at present 
 under the consideration of his Majesty's Ministers, it is humbly hoped that, as 
 soon as there is leisure to go through this extensive subject, the State of the 
 Church of England in those parts will also be regarded, and the design so 
 often mentioned, and so often misunderstood, of having Bishops appointed 
 and settled in the Episcopal Colonies, will be maturely and impartially con- 
 sidered. The great accession to the British Empire in America calls for due 
 attention to the Episcopal affairs there at this crisis. It cannot be thought 
 presumptuous to revive this subject now with all respect and submission. 
 It would be an omission not to do it, and it seems necessary to determine 
 upon it at this juncture ; to reject or to model this Design, which to many 
 experienced wise and good men, conversant in these Countries, appears so 
 desirable for the sake of Government as well as Religion. 
 
 The Church of England is established in many Colonies, but without 
 considering it established it seems even from the charters of the Colonies of 
 New England to have an equitable claim to have order settled amongst_ its 
 members according to its own discipline, as well as every other Persuasion. 
 Protestant Churches, of all Denominations, there, provide a succession of 
 Ministers amongst themselves. This is the case of every Christian Church in 
 the world except the Church of England in America. To supply that 
 Ministry at great hazard and expence, a Voyage to England^ must be 
 incurred by the natives of America, let them be ever so well qualified; and 
 in consequence of the Difficulties many improper persons are unavoidably 
 sent from hence. 
 
 The great New England Colonies were founded by those who fled from the 
 Intolerance of the Church here in the last century ; and they enjoy there full 
 and free liberty of conscience, and order in regard to their Ministers and 
 Churches. The Principle is right, that it is not advisable to send Bishops 
 unto those Colonies, nor was it ever meant to disturb the minds of those 
 subjects of his Majesty by such a proceeding, or to infringe upon any one's 
 Liberty in any Colony ; but to model everything upon the most extensive 
 
Church of England in America, 1764. 159 
 
 Principles of Toleration. The Church of England is the only one in those 
 parts distinguished by the want of the compleat Exercise of Religion accord- 
 ing to its Kites and Ceremonies, whilst it desires that all its fellow Pro- 
 testants may enjoy the full exercise of their religion without any obstruction, 
 according to their forms in every part of his Majesty's dominions. 
 
 Though the Colonies settled with those who dissent from the Church of 
 England are extensive and respectable, yet let it at the same time be consi- 
 dered that there are very great, equally great numbers of Episcopalians in 
 America, who have equally an earnest desire and a fair claim to have the order 
 of their Church completed which hath never been ; and from this defect have 
 arisen many inconveniencies and mischiefs ; and as the concerns of Great 
 Britain are enlarged, more inconveniencies and mischiefs must consequently 
 arise both to Church and State. 
 
 The Bishop of London, by customary usage (which seems to have taken 
 its rise from accidental connexion) hath exercised Jurisdiction by his Commis- 
 sar)'- in the Plantations. The first mention of it is in 1620. Instructions 
 were given at different times to the Governors that the Clergy and School- 
 masters should have Certificates of their Conformity from the Bishop of 
 London. Accordingly he Ordained and gave Certificates to those that went 
 to America ; and in 1685 the Governors are directed to give all countenance 
 to the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction, except in collating to Benefices, 
 granting Licenses for Marriages, and Probates of Wills, which are reserved 
 to the Governors. So passed the Bishop of London's Pastoral care of the 
 Colonies, very imperfectly indeed as to any real benefit to Religion. In 
 1725, Sir Philip York and Sir Clement Wearg, then Attorney and Solicitor 
 General, in a Report to the Privy Council, declared that the whole Ecclesias- 
 tical Jurisdiction was in the Crown ; that the Plantations were not part of 
 any Diocese in England, and that no jurisdiction could be exercised there 
 legally but by Commission from the King under the Great Seal. Upon this 
 Bishop Gibson sent out a Commission. Bishop Sherlock who succeeded him 
 in 1748 thought the Commission imperfect and ineffectual, and did not take 
 one out. The last Commissary died sometime before Bishop Sherlock, and 
 none hath been appointed since. The succeeding Bishops of London took 
 out no Commission, and at present there is neither Commission nor Commis- 
 sary, nor any legal jurisdiction in Ecclesiastical affairs in America but what is 
 vested in his Majesty. 
 
 The Bishop of London acts now according to the old usage. But how 
 impracticable is it in him to fulfill his duty as he would wish, in any respect, 
 to any good purpose, even if he had a Commission from the King, as Bishop 
 Gibson had ! Some Jurisdiction is necessary, but Inspection is more so. No 
 one who is sensible of the weight that is upon every honest mind in executing 
 the trust of conferring orders, and the expediency of that previous knowledge 
 which every Bishop would willingly have of the character of the candidates ; 
 No one who knows the necessity of constant attention to right conduct in the 
 clergy, and to instruction of the youth ; No one who has been witness of 
 what may be preserved in order, or put into order by regular Visitations ; 
 No one who reflects on the great service which it is to persons of all ages, 
 particularly through the common ranks of Life, with regard to plain know- 
 ledge and plain Virtue (which are foundations of the Principles of the 
 
160 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Community) to have education kept in a right method ; No one who has 
 seen the general Benefit in the previous steps to Confirmation, and the 
 rational use of it. — No one who has an idea of the just Influence of 
 Residence and Mutual Correspondence of a Bishop with his Clergy, of the 
 Superintendance, the Example, the Assistance of a Man of Character and 
 Discretion at the Head of a Diocese ; No one .who has any experience or 
 sense of these things can ever say, that the Bishop of London could at any 
 time take any competent care of the Plantations, as a Bishop. Nor did the 
 ablest prelate that ever filled that chair ever think that he could, or ever 
 wish to continue in so irksome and fruitless an office. 
 
 It seems equally improbable that a Commission of different Bishops here, 
 or Itinerant Bishops sent there for a time, or a number of Commissaries 
 inhabiting there would do any real service in the present state of America. 
 Dioceses in England, which have been long formed and regulated, do not 
 perhaps require so much attention as those extensive and irregular countries 
 where vast Tracts are without Churches or Ministers, and nothing but the 
 immediate eye of a constant resident Bishop can produce order amongst 
 Instructors, as well as those who are to be instructed in Religion, can' watch 
 over the great influx of Foreign Protestants, and by encouraging of worthy 
 persons acceptable to people increase the Establishments of Religion, and 
 secure obedience to Government. 
 
 It could not be expected that a Bishop living in England could do anything 
 effectually even in the enlightened state in which America was in the last 
 century and the beginning of this. But the state of America within these last 
 thirty years, and particularly by the late regulations, is so different, so much 
 more known, and so much more valuable, that the subject of Ecclesiastical 
 affairs, as well as all others, is greatly extended in comparison of former 
 times. From the year 16*72, when a Bishop was first thought of for Virginia, 
 to 1750, when the subject was dropped in compliance with a Message from 
 his Majesty's Ministers, it does not appear from any of the Papers, that this 
 •subject has ever been fully and impartially considered. It now becomes 
 much more important for the service of Religion and Government, and 
 objections may diminish or disappear, when the numbers, dispositions, and 
 •circumstances are brought into view in their present state, and the design 
 fairly laid open, as it is here, with the most dutiful and zealous Intentions for 
 his Majesty's service, and firm Resolution of cheerful obedience to his Royal 
 Pleasure whatever he shall in his Royal Wisdom determine. 
 
 Upon a review of the numbers in May, 1762, exclusive of the new acquisi- 
 tions, there were in the American Colonies and the Islands : 
 
 Blacks 844,000 
 
 Whites 1,260,000 
 
 Total of the Inhabitants .... 2,104,000 
 
 
Church of England in America, 1764. 161 
 
 Of the whites the Religious Persuasions were thus divided, viz. : 
 
 Episcopalians 401,000 
 
 Presbyterians, Independants, and Anabaptists . . . 391,000 
 People of various Denominations, German Sectaries, Jews, 
 
 Quakers, Papists, <fcc. ...... 468,000 
 
 1,260,000 
 
 This general calculation was formed as exactly as the circumstances would 
 allow upon particular calculations in each Colony by Persons conversaut in 
 America. The new acquisitions must increase the number of Inhabitants 
 considerably. 
 
 In Maryland the Church of England is established by Charter, and in fact 
 there are forty-two Parishes, though the proprietor was a Papist, and many 
 Papists are now there. 
 
 In Pennsylvania all Persuasions are united, and no objections to Bishops 
 arise from thence. 
 
 In New England many Independants may object, though perhaps not 
 so many as is imagined, and none can give a reason but what must 
 contradict their own Principles of Liberty, and deny to others an equal 
 claim to such Privileges as they enjoy. If we can judge by the opinions of 
 the chief persons of the established Church of Scotland, or of those who dissent 
 from the Church of England here, the body of Dissenters will not be, as 
 thev have no reason to be, offended ; though some of the warmest in America 
 might care. Moderation on all sides is more universal. It is owned that 
 order is necessary to every Establishment of Religion, and that religion itself 
 cannot properly be supported without it. Now there is a manifest deficiency 
 in the order and discipline of the Church of England in America, by wanting 
 Bishops ; and no objections against supplying it will be made by any one 
 who has a just value for the doctrine of Toleration, and is a sincere w r ell 
 wisher to Piety, Virtue, and good Government : provided the Regulations in 
 settling Bishops are calculated not to offend or disturb those who enjoy their 
 Liberty of Conscience to its full extent. 
 
 In this and in all other important subjects there will be different opinions ; 
 and perhaps it creates fewer animosities to decide about a proposal upon a 
 sense of its fitness than to seek for a variety of sentiments. Objections arise 
 from different motives, from licentiousness, from a dislike of any inspec- 
 tion, from an undistinguishing aversion to all Church Discipline, from old 
 inveteracy against the Church of England, from prepossession against unseem- 
 ing novelty, from various views and passions. In the late Reign the fears of 
 disturbing his Majesty's Government, particularly in New England, influenced 
 the Ministers that they not only, perhaps very wisely, hesitated about the 
 Proposal of sending Bishops in America, but finally postponed it. These 
 fears seem to have been carried too far, and probably other reasons were 
 combined in them. But the scene has been so much more in view lately and 
 so much enlarged, that in the opinion of impartial and understanding Persons 
 Government is more likely now to suffer in its tranquillity and stability by 
 the imperfect state of the Church of England in America, which can only be 
 
162 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 set right by the residence of Bishops there. The Heats too of the most 
 respectable part of the Dissenters are so abated, that in the eye of the most 
 timid Policy apprehension of any considerable uneasiness in that Quarter 
 seems groundless. There does not seem a greater likelihood of reviving 
 Church Parties, and Dissensions, and Controversies by this step than by the 
 Establishment of the Church of England in the new acquisitions. Nor can 
 there be any sort of grounds to foresee consequences of exorbitant Church 
 Power, of any Spiritual Tyranny or Intolerance. The Inclinations and 
 Principles of the chief of the Clergy manifestly do not tend that way ; and 
 if ever they should, the proposed regulations may entirely defeat such ideas. 
 It must be owned that the probable consequence will be the increase of the 
 Church of England in America when the present disorder of it is removed ; 
 but it should be considered that the Civil Government here may receive great 
 support there from such increase, and that it is no less important, even as a 
 matter ,of State, that Ecclesiastics should be able to do good, than that they 
 should not be able to do harm. 
 
 That there may be some zealous Independants in America, who will cry 
 out at such an appointment, and alarm themselves and others with false 
 suspicions ; and even that many persons will not care for any steps taken 
 towards promoting order, is probably true ; but it is fitting to be done by 
 his Majesty upon principles of true Religion and sound Policy. The objections 
 of such Persons might be an additional Reason to the State for doing it. 
 
 His Majesty's Royal Protection is extended to Protestants of all Denomina- 
 tions, and the Church of England humbly hopes for it in this instance of 
 settling Bishops in America. This appointment is not only useful but 
 necessary to the welfare of that Church, to the regular administration of its 
 offices and purposes of Religion and Virtue which is the end of its establish- 
 ment. This design appears reasonable in itself, and free from every material 
 Inconvenience or just objection : And if his Majesty, upon a view of the 
 Equity, the Safety, and Advantage of it, thinks fit to give orders for carrying 
 it into execution, the mode must be referred to his Majesty's Determination. 
 However, the following thoughts are humbly submitted for consideration, 
 which occur after reflecting upon it, and which though imperfect may excite 
 better. 
 
 Four suffragan Bishops to the See of Canterbury or London may be 
 appointed- by the King in conformity to the Statute in the twenty-sixth year of 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 Of these none should reside in the Colonies where the Government is in 
 the hands of Dissenters, as in New England. It is only desired that they 
 may ordain clergymen for such Church of England Congregations as are in 
 those Colonies, inspect into the manners and behaviour of the Episcopal 
 clergy there, and confirm such fit persons as may offer themselves for that 
 purpose. 
 
 First. The Residence of the four Bishops might be at Burlington in New 
 Jersey, or at New York. His Diocese might comprehend all that is East of 
 the River Delaware. 
 
 Second. At William and Mary's College at Williamsburg in Virginia. His 
 Diocese might comprehend all that is west of the River Delaware as far as the 
 Southern Boundary of North Carolina. 
 
Church of England in America, 1764. 163 
 
 Third. At Charlestown in South Carolina. His Diocese might comprehend 
 all from the Northern Boundary of South Carolina to the Gulf of Florida, 
 and also the Island of Jamaica, for the passage to Jamaica is said to be easier 
 from the Continent than the other Islands. 
 
 Fourth. At Coddrington College in Barbadoes. His Diocese might com- 
 prehend all the Islands, exclusive of Jamaica. 
 
 As to the income, it should be suitable to such a character and sufficient 
 to secure a proper respect, and as far as can be judged from the expense of 
 living and extent of the Dioceses, it seems that £1000 sterling per annum is 
 the least that can be allowed, and £1,500 is the most that is requisite. 
 
 The people of the Colonies must not be burthened with the maintenance 
 of the Bishops, but the Income may be raised by many ways, some more 
 eligible than others. 
 
 There is £3,800 now in the Funds at three per cent, which arose from 
 various Benefactions towards this design, besides £1,000 given by Archbishop 
 Tennison, and £1,000 left by Mr. Fisher this year; and £500 by Bishop 
 Osbaldiston. This might be employed in buying houses, stock, &c, at first, 
 and other Benefactions might come in. But to avoid uncertainty, the Income 
 might be made sure bv annexing some great Living in the Diocese to the 
 See of the Bishop, who would also officiate as often as circumstances would 
 allow, in the Parochial Duty of it. Some Prebend, or Sinecure, in England 
 in the gift of the Crown, might be held with the Bishoprick, as some are by 
 Persons in the Universities here ; a Salary out of the Revenues of William 
 and Mary College might be added to the Bishoprick of Virginia ; and a 
 salary out of the Revenues of Coddrington College to the Bishop of the 
 Islands. Besides this, Lands now unappropriated might be allotted to make 
 up a sufficient Income ; or a small part might be granted out of the Quit- 
 Rents, which are said to be capable of great advancement for the King's 
 
 There has been of a long time £100 allotted out of the Quit-Rents of 
 Viro-inia to the company there; and £20 has been given by the Crown ever 
 since 1679 as a Bounty to each Minister that goes from hence for his passage 
 to America. There would be a saving in these two articles ; and in general 
 the maintenance of the Bishops will not be a difficulty, and may be modelled 
 iu many ways, if it is thought fit to appoint them. 
 
 As to the powers. There has been the Difficulty and the stumbling block 
 from a fear of spiritual Courts, without Reason or Distinction ; but if the 
 powers desired here are considered fairly, there is no real ground for objection or 
 Suspicion, or Jealousy. The appointment of Bishops may appear unprece- 
 dented in the Colonies, but surely it is as unprecedented to bave so many 
 Episcopalian Churches without a Bishop, and to expect the end without the 
 means of Religion. As to the Jurisdiction of the suffragan Bishops, it cannot 
 be justly objected to, as it is no greater than what has been exercised by the 
 Commissary of the Bishop of London. It may be specified to prevent harm, 
 and limited by his Majesty to any Degree in conformity to the statute in the 
 twenty-sixth Henry VIII. No coercive powers are desired over the 
 Laity, but only to regulate the Behaviour of the Episcopal clergy and Clerks 
 of Parishes, and to punish them according to the Law of the Church of 
 England in case of Misbehaviour or Neglect of Duty. The directing and 
 
164 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 enforcing the Reparation of their Parsonage Houses and Churches, together 
 with a due Provision of all such things as the Laws require for the decent 
 and orderly performance of Divine Service therein, should be also under the 
 Jurisdiction. 
 
 Nothing is desired for such Bishops that may in the least interfere with the 
 Dignity, authority, or Interest of the Governor or any other officer of State. 
 Probates of Wills, Licenses for Marriage, &c, are to be left in the hands 
 where they are. Delegates too may be appointed there or here, to whom 
 appeal might be from a Bishop's Jurisdiction, and thereby all irregular extent 
 of power curbed, if ever it should be thought of by him. No share in the 
 temporal government is desired for our Bishops, but every endeavour should 
 be used by them to co-operate with the Governors for the public good, by 
 mutual advice and assistance ; and chiefly by sowing the seeds that will 
 insensibly produce right temper and conduct ; and by instilling and propa- 
 gating sound principles in the people, which are the strongest hold in the 
 structure of Government, and the firmest guard to secure obedience. If his 
 Majesty thinks fit the Bishop may be by his office a member of every 
 Council in his Diocese, as the Surveyor General in his Department. This is 
 not desired, except it is thought that it would enable the Bishops to be of 
 more assistance to the Governors and useful to the State. 
 
 Many other regulations wiser and better may occur to his Majesty's 
 Ministers in a course of candid deliberation upon this subject ; and if the 
 design is likely to be beneficial to the administration of Government in 
 Church and State, and productive of every good end in both, surely there is 
 no reason to stop it for fear of imaginary Dangers or Hierarchical Powers, 
 which can never take effect, when there are real Difficulties which may now 
 be removed, and lasting advantages which may be gained by pursuing it. 
 
 If this Proposal is not thought fit to be taken into consideration at this 
 Juncture, there is little reason to hope for it ever succeeding. But the wise 
 and good_ men in general are convinced from Reason and Experience, that 
 the appointment of Bishops in America would have been at all times of 
 considerable service, and is now become much more necessary for the culti- 
 vating Religion and Virtue, for the Propagating Principles conducive to the 
 Quiet of the State, and securing the Allegiance and Loyalty of his Majesty's 
 subjects in those parts ; and therefore if unhappily it is thought advisable to 
 lay aside so excellent a design, the Members of the Church of England, both 
 at home and abroad, will receive this Decision with the most serious concern. 
 Yet they will continue their sincere endeavours to carry on every good 
 purpose agreeably to the Principles of their Religion as far as its imperfect 
 state there will allow ; and always shew themselves faithful, active and 
 vigilant to the best of their ability in maintaining the Peace and Security of 
 his Majesty's Government in the Colonies. 
 
Letter to Br. William Smith. 165 
 
 Archbishop of Canterbury to Dr. W. Smith, of Pennsylvania — 1766. 
 
 " Good Dr. Smith : 
 
 " It is long since I wrote to you ; sickness and business 
 have had their shares in preventing me, but the chief hindrance hath been, 
 that I could say nothing determinate concerning our principal American 
 affairs, nor indeed can I now. The beginning of last year we thought an 
 ecclesiastical settlement of Quebec was almost made, on which a Bishop 
 might easily be grafted. But that was opposed by one great man as too 
 favourable, by another as not favourable enough, to the Papists. Then the 
 Ministry changed : we were to begin again ; and could get nothing but fan- 
 words, though the King interposed for us. Now it is changed once more, 
 and whether we shall fare better or worse for it, I cannot guess. I have 
 begged the Bishop of London to take out a Commission. He is backward ; 
 but I hope at length to prevail, and then we may set up our Corresponding 
 Societies. There were no improper expressions in the Address of the Connec- 
 ticut or of the New York and New Jersey clergy ; but they came when both 
 you and we were on fire about the Stamp Act ; and so were not presented. 
 But the King was apprised of the contents of them, and desired they might 
 be postponed. The Bishops have expressed their good wishes to Mr. 
 Wheelock's School, but declined contributing to it, as the Society designs to 
 set up one in imitation of it, which Sir William Johnson, who desires to be a 
 member of the Society, presses as peculiarly seasonable. We have sent to 
 ask his advice, and Mr. Barton's, and shall be glad of yours and every 
 Friend's, in what place or places, under what Masters or Regulations, we 
 may best begin the work. I was at first for sending Indians to Mr. 
 Wheelock to be afterwards Episcopally Ordained ; but Mr. Apthorp was 
 clear, that they would all turn out Presbyterians. Mr. Whitfield hath got 
 such hold of Lord Dartmouth, who was First Lord of Trade till a few Days 
 ago, that I laboured in vain to oppose his scheme for the Orphan House. 
 But if it be not completed, I hope it may now be altered. I wrote a long 
 Letter to Mr. Duche in December, in answer to one from him about his 
 religious notions. I hope he hath communicated it to you, and hath at least 
 received no harm from it. I considered Mr. Peters as some way superior to 
 the compliment of a Dr.'s Degree ; but if you find he would like it, and think 
 it would be useful, I can easily obtain it on your sending me word, where he 
 was educated, what Degree he hath, what age he is, &c. I condole with you 
 on the sad loss of Messrs. Wilson and Giles and your Brother, which I 
 mentioned to the King as one argument for American Bishops. You will 
 have had an account from Dr. Burton of what the Society have done on the 
 occasion, and I hope you will find that sooner or later, such care, as we can, 
 hath been taken, or will be taken, of every thing which you have recom- 
 mended to us ; particularly we shall be mindful of what Mr. Peters and you 
 desire concerning Sussex and Kent Counties. Mr. Neill hath been directed 
 not to give his assistance any longer to Mr. Macclenachan's congregation, as 
 they have made no application to the Bishop of London. The clergy at N. 
 York have been alarmed with a Report, that the American Dissenters are 
 
166 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 uniting themselves with the Kirk of Scotland, in hopes of obtaining, by their 
 means" some new privileges from our Parliament. I do not apprehend any 
 danger of that sort. Pray write frequently and fully about everything, 
 though I should write seldom and briefly. Yet I will endeavour to mend in 
 that respect, if I am able. But at least be assured, that I shall take much 
 notice of your Information and advice, and that I am, 
 " With great Regard, 
 
 " Your loving Brother, 
 
 "Tho. Cant." 
 " Lambeth, August 2, 1766." 
 
 [The history of the alienation of the glebes in Virginia from the Church, 
 by the Legislature, is well known. The following memorial will serve to 
 show how manfully our brethren of the laity, of that day, contended for 
 what they deemed their rights :] 
 
 "Halifax County, "Virginia, July, 1795. 
 
 " To the Honourable the Speaker and other Members of the House of 
 Delegates, sundry Inhabitants of the Parish of Antrim and County of 
 Halifax, beg leave to offer the following Remonstrance and Petition: 
 
 "Relying on the wisdom, the impartiality, and patriotism of the House, we 
 come forward, on the present occasion, to express our sentiments by remon- 
 strating with the most determined firmness against the attacks which are now 
 made on our dearest rights. It is well known to the Honourable House 
 that Petitions have frequently been presented to it by the Baptists and their 
 adherents, praying for a sale of the Glebe lands always in possession of, and 
 now for some considerable time vested by law in, the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church. Concerning Petitions of this kind in general, permit us to observe, 
 that from their origin we have always viewed them with extreme dissatisfac- 
 tion, conceiving them to be hostile to the peace of the community, and 
 opposed to those principles which give security to property, in every free 
 government. At the late happy revolution, everything was settled on a sure 
 foundation. The great principles of Republicanism were then established, 
 and they have since continued to influence most of our publick deliberations. 
 It was then declared ' That all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of 
 religion ;' a privilege which, since that time, we have all equally enjoyed. 
 And the great maxim adopted by our Legislators since the Declaration seems 
 to be, to separate religion, as far as relates to its temporal _ support or 
 establishment, as much as possible from the political institutions of our 
 country. Accordingly, by the first General Assembly that met, after the 
 formation of our Constitution, in 1776, it was enacted, "That all and every 
 Act of Parliament which renders criminal the maintaining any opinions in 
 matters of religion, forbearing to repair to Church, or the exercising any 
 
Virginia Memorial totcckinr/ the Glebes. 16*7 
 
 mode of worship whatsoever, shall henceforth he of no validity or force 
 within this Commonwealth.' In the very next section of the same Act, 'All 
 Dissenters, of whatever denomination, from the Church,' at that time, 
 ' established by law, are totally freed and exempted from all levies, taxes, 
 and impositions whatsoever, towards supporting and maintaining the said 
 Church, as it now is, or hereafter may be, established, and its ministers.' 
 And by the fourth section of the said Act, it is farther enacted, ' That there 
 shall in all time coming be saved and reserved to the use of the Church by 
 law established, the several tracts of Glebe lands already purchased, the 
 churches and chapels already built, and such as were begun or contracted for 
 before the passing of this Act, for the use of the Parishes ; all books, plate, 
 and ornaments belonging or appropriated to the use of the said church, &c. : 
 and that there shall moreover be saved or reserved to the use of such 
 Parishes as may have received private donations, for the better support of 
 the said church and its ministers, the perpetual benefit and enjoyment of all 
 such donations.' This Act was generally satisfactory at the time it was 
 passed. It gave the Baptists and other Dissenters all which, at that time, 
 they demanded. It flowed as a consequent from the last article in the 
 Declaration of Rights, concerning Religion ; and serves as the basis, next to 
 the Constitution itself, whereon the peace, the prosperity, the security, and 
 independence of all religious societies rest. Therefore, to attempt innovations 
 now with regard to religious affairs, or with regard to the property belonging to 
 any religious society, indicates designs, in our apprehension, highly inimical to 
 the spirit of our Constitution, designs of a threatening and revolutionary aspect, 
 in their consequences pregnant with injustice and persecution, perhaps with 
 tumult and blood, and such as we cannot contemplate in prospect without 
 abhorrence. 
 
 " AYhen we address this Honourable House, our duty and our wish is, to 
 use the language of respect. But being sincere, the expression of our senti- 
 ments must correspond with our perceptions of the subject. Neither do we 
 wish to weary the attention of this House on a subject which has so often 
 come under its consideration. But we request to be heard with patience, 
 whilst, not only for the foregoing considerations, but also for the following 
 reasons, we remonstrate against all memorials and petitions for the sale of 
 Glebes, either collectively or separately : 
 
 " 1st. Because we conceive it to be contrary to the Constitution of this 
 country. 
 
 " Neither the State nor Federal Constitution, indeed, say anything 
 expressly concerning Glebes, or the property belonging to any religious 
 society. This was unnecessary. They left such property as they found it, 
 and as it always had been, in the possession, and to the use of each society 
 respectively ; and doiug so, we conceive that it ought still so to remain. But 
 it is not necessary for us in this case to rely on an argument merely negative. 
 For if a law were passed by the Assembly for the sale of the Glebe lands 
 which have been in possession of the Church ever since the first settle- 
 ment of this country, and been confirmed to her by their own Act nearly 
 twenty years ago, such a law. having an ex post facto view, would certainly, in 
 its own nature, be unconstitutional. 
 
168 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 " 2dly. Because it would destroy that confidence which we and the rest 
 of the community ought always to have in the Legislature. 
 
 " The Assembly of Virginia has already pledged its Legislative faith, the 
 most solemn pledge and firmest sanction which a free State can give, that 
 this property shall, 'in all time coming, be saved and reserved to the use of 
 our church. We are sensible that this Assembly has powers adequate to 
 repeal the law. But should it now be repealed, and the property disposed 
 of, according to the prayer of the Baptists, it would tend to sap the founda- 
 tion of those rights by which property in general is held, introduce into 
 the Acts of Assembly instability and uncertainty, be a fluctuation in law 
 which we are confident is without precedent in Virginia, and thus would 
 overturn that trust and security which should always be placed in the Legis- 
 lature. It would also be a violation of right ; for we think that the 
 Assembly may, as in the case of escheats, vest landed property in an 
 individual or society, which property cannot be taken away without an 
 equivalent, by a subsequent Assembly, with equal powers, unless at the same 
 time justice and the constitution be disregarded. Should the law simply be 
 repealed, still the property would be held by a certain body of men who 
 were in the rightful possession of it before that law was made. And a 
 question of the greatest magnitude, and involving the highest interests, 
 would arise : whether this property always held and enjoyed by a certain 
 society, and still applied to the use for which it was originally set apart, could 
 be taken from them without trampling on their rights as men and as citizens. 
 
 " 3dly. Because we conceive that by the Baptists and their abettors, the 
 meaning of the fourth Article of our Declaration of Rights is misrepresented, 
 when they assert, that in conformity to the spirit of that article, the Act 
 vesting the Glebe lands in the Protestant Episcopal Church is unconstitu- 
 tional. 
 
 " That article declares ' That no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive 
 or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in considera- 
 tion of publick services.' Here, as the Glebes are vested in us by law, they 
 would insist that we enjoy ' exclusive emoluments from the community.' If 
 we did, it would be something which the community paid for since the 
 revolution ; whereas the community or commonwealth of Virginia gave no 
 new or original grant to the church, for all the Glebes were purchased and 
 paid for before the revolution, and most of them one hundred years prior to 
 that event. The community only pledged itself to guaranty to the Church, 
 not any new property at that time or ever since given her, but the property 
 at that time in her rightful possession, and which has been hers from the 
 beginning. But we do not perceive that the article alluded to has any 
 relation to this question ; its object being to prevent hereditary offices in the 
 civil government. 
 
 " 4thly. Because your Remonstrants, with the rest of the community, are 
 involved in an unnecessary expense. 
 
 " Glebes, from their very origin, have been held by Ministers and Vestries, 
 by use, by prescription, by law, by everything that constitutes a sufficient 
 right ; and yet to maintain this right we are taxed, and that not only to pay 
 those who advocate its security, but also those who wish to destroy it. But 
 rather than relinquish our right to anything, however trivial that thing may 
 
Virginia Memorial touching the Glebes. 169 
 
 be in itself, and particularly before we will relinquish our right in the property- 
 belonging to us as a religious society, we will murmur at no expense incurred 
 for its security. 
 
 " 5thly. Because by holding this property no superiority or pre-eminence, as 
 is alleged, is conferred on us by law, which indeed would be odious in 
 Republican Government. 
 
 " We, as well as the Constitution and Laws of our country, justly abhor 
 distinctions with regard to religious sects, or with regard to the right of 
 holding property; and as we enjoy no superiority above others by law, so we 
 claim none. But the rights and property which are ours already by the Con- 
 stitution and by law, which were ours before the revolution, during its 
 progress, and ever since, and which were never attempted to be taken from 
 us until very lately, we cannot now be deprived of, without violating the 
 principles of justice, and that principle of equality which they themselves 
 pretend to advocate. For if this property is taken from us at the request of 
 one sect or party, it will create a distinction in favour of that party or sect ; 
 and would be one mean of putting it in their power to establish their own 
 religion and tenets on the ruins of those of another. 
 
 " For the foregoing reasons, and a variety of others which might be 
 adduced, did we wish to trespass on the patience of this House, we remon- 
 strate against the sale of Glebes in general ; and to what has already been 
 advanced, we add the following reasons why we remonstrate in particular 
 against the Petition or Petitions praying for a sale of the Glebe belonging to 
 Antrim Parish, in this County : 
 
 " 1st. Because should the Glebe of Antrim Parish be sold by the operation 
 of an Act of Assembly, none will deny that the Episcopalians would be 
 entitled to their proportion of the money. 
 
 "But the injustice done the Episcopal Society must be obvious in taking 
 their Church property out of their own hands, and appropriating that part 
 of it which would fall to their share, even on the principles of those who 
 petition for a sale, to a public purpose; for the Episcopalians are as able and 
 as willing as any other denomination to pay whatever taxes may be expedient 
 for the support of the Federal and State Governments, or whatever levies 
 may be necessary for the order, the safety, or conveniency of their county, and 
 do not choose that their share of the money arising from the sale of the 
 Glebe, if an equal division is to take place after the sale, should be appropri- 
 ated to a different purpose. If it be urged that a majority of the people in 
 this county have a right to have the money appropriated according to their 
 wish, yet it should be remembered that neither in -a County nor in a State 
 can a majority of the people violate the constitutional rights of the minority. 
 If it be said that the right itself is in dispute, we reply that we and our 
 ancestors have been in possession of this right from the earliest settlement of 
 this country, and under different forms of government ; that it is ours by use, 
 by prescription, by law, and that now we cannot be deprived of it, without 
 compelling us to submit to laws, in their own nature having retrospective 
 views, and in their operation involving ex post facto circumstances ; which 
 would be unconstitutional and oppressive. If it be said that the county, or 
 
170 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 people in the county, originally paid for the Glebe, or that it was paid for by 
 the State or community at large, and therefore that the State or a majority of 
 the people in this county, have a right to have it sold ; yet it should be 
 remembered that the State, and likewise the County, by its representation in 
 the State Legislature, has, in a constitutional sense, ' saved and reserved' it to 
 the religious uses of a certain society. And for the State or County to 
 violate its publick faith, by taking back what it once gave, would be fully as 
 unjust as for one individual to violate a contract entered into with another, or 
 take back what he formerly gave him. Neither is it certain, although it may 
 be so represented to this Honourable House, that it is the wish of a majority 
 of the people in this county to have the Glebe sold ; for no fair and equal 
 measures have been adopted to ascertain their sentiments on the subject. It 
 is, in fact, more a party dispute than anything else : and your Remonstrants 
 are very sensible of the disadvantages they lie under in this, that they have 
 it not in their power, except in their present address, to obviate any misrepre- 
 sentations which may be made, as both the Delegates from this county 
 are decidedly for the sale of our Glebe. We think that the Baptists are, 
 perhaps, the most numerous denomination of Christians in this county at 
 present, and for the most part busying themselves in elections, our candidates 
 and delegates generally embrace the views, and espouse the claims of that 
 party. But we also think that there is a part of the people fully as numerous 
 as they are, who have joined no church, who are very indifferent with regard 
 to affairs of this kind, and particularly with regard to the point in dispute ; 
 but who have been prevailed upon by the Baptists and their partizans to sign 
 the petition for the sale of our Glebe, which, had the matter been represented 
 to them in a just point of view, we are confident they would not have done. 
 This House cannot be ignorant of the underhand and unjustifiable means 
 which are often made use of in procuring subscribers to Petitions of this kind, 
 that too often principle is sacrificed to party, and reason to passion. But we 
 trust that this House, sitting as the Guardian of Rights, will not violate 
 the sacred deposit placed in her hands, but that she will, ' without favour, 
 affection, or partiality,' secure to every class and description of men, the 
 privileges and rights which, by the Constitution, and by Law, they now 
 enjoy. 
 
 "2dly. Because the Episcopal Society within this county has been at 
 considerable expense in repairing the Churches of the Parish, and taking 
 care of the social property. 
 
 " These expenses were cheerfully incurred under the firm belief — a belief 
 which still forms part of their political creed — that the Assembly of Virginia 
 would never grant its approbation to have their Glebe or any part of their 
 Church property disposed of, to gratify the wishes of any sect or any party 
 whatever ; and which they conceive it cannot indeed do, consistent with 
 justice and the constitution. But if the Glebe is sold, this money will have 
 been expended, not for their own benefit and use, but that of the Baptists or 
 some other sect, as the Churches will eventually fall into their hands, your 
 Remonstrants being partly deprived of the means of procuring a Minister of 
 their own persuasion. This, indeed, would not be a direct prohibition of the 
 ' free exercise of their religion,' which by the constitution, ' all men are 
 equally entitled to,' though in its effects it would extend that far ; and there- 
 
Virginia Memorial touching the Glebes. 171 
 
 fore would be unconstitutional, inasmuch as it would do violence to their 
 conscientious principles, either by depriving them entirely of religious 
 ordinances and the means of instruction in that Church which they prefer to 
 all others, or by obliging them to have recourse to some other with which 
 their consciences will not permit them to join. And we expect it will not be 
 denied, that whatever by a natural consequence produces an unconstitutional 
 effect, must in itself be unconstitutional. 
 
 " 3dly. Because the Incumbent of this Parish, one of your Remonstrants, 
 has been at considerable expense in improving the Glebe lands and repairing 
 the plantation. 
 
 " He has occupied these lands for nearly five years. "When he received 
 them, the fences were entirely in a ruinous situation ; and the repairs and 
 improvements he has made, not, only in that respect, but in several others, 
 have far exceeded the profits derived from the plantation, accurate statements 
 of which he can produce. But if the Glebe is sold, agreeable to the prayer 
 of the Petition for that purpose, he will thus have expended the little he 
 had to spare for the benefit of the County at large, to which the Glebe, with 
 its appurtenances and improvements, if sold, would be little more than a 
 mite. It may indeed be represented to the House, that he wasted the Glebe 
 lands by cutting down and selling the timber. Since he has occupied these 
 lands, there has been timber sold off the premises to the amount of thirty- 
 three shillings, all of which, except a few trees, would have been given gratis, 
 as the rest encumbered a few acres intended to have been cleared. But the 
 money laid out in improving the place has far exceeded that amount. 
 Circumstances of this kind, however, are to be judged of by the Vestry of the 
 Parish, and come with no propriety under the cognizance of any others. It 
 may also be represented to this House, that the Incumbent neglects some of 
 the churches in his Parish, and attends only at those where they pay him ; 
 to which it is replied, that the Incumbent makes known to the Vestry of the 
 Parish and people at large on what conditions he can officiate at the churches, 
 which conditions they deem reasonable. "Where these conditions are complied 
 with, he gives a regular attendance, either at the churches, or anywhere else 
 in the Parish. Where they are not, it is not in his power. And your 
 Remonstrants are astonished that circumstances coming entirely under their 
 notice, as they relate to their own church government and the rules of their 
 sect, should in the least be submitted to the consideration of others, and 
 particularly when they are so represented that, through their medium, the 
 minister may be seen in an unfavourable point of view. 
 
 " 4thly. Because the petition for the sale of the Glebe of Antrim Parish in 
 this County, strikes, in the most unconstitutional, arbitrary, and persecuting 
 manner, in the first place, at the rights of the Minister and Vestry, and 
 through their medium, those of the whole Episcopal Society within the 
 Parish. 
 
 "In the year 1784, an Act was passed to 'empower the Vestry of Antrim, 
 in the county of Halifax, to sell the Glebe of the said Parish, and to lay out 
 the money in purchasing a more convenient one.' The former Glebe has 
 been sold, agreeable to this Act, and the money laid out in purchasing a 
 more convenient one, agreeably to the third section of the said Act, namely, 
 ' That the money arising from the sale of the said Glebe shall be by the said 
 
172 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Vestry laid out and applied towards purchasing a more convenient Glebe for 
 the use and benefit of the Minister of the said Parish for the time being, for 
 ever.' In the year 1784, an Act was passed for incorporating the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church. This Act gave offence, and was repealed in 1786 ; in 
 consequence of which the several powers of government and discipline in the 
 said Church returned to the members at large, to be freely exercised by them 
 as by any other religious society ; for in the ' Act to Repeal the Act for 
 Incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for other purposes,' there 
 is a clause to the following effect, namely : ' Saving to all religious societies 
 the property to them respectively belonging, who are hereby authorized to 
 appoint from time to time, according to the rules of their sect, trustees, who 
 shall be capable of managing and applying such property to the religious 
 uses of such societies.' We, as a religious society, have appointed trustees, 
 c according to the rules of our sect, for managing the property to us belonging, 
 and applying it to the religious uses of our society ;' and ' according to the 
 rules of our sect,' made in a Convention of the clerical and lay deputies of 
 our church, it is an established Canon among us, ' That no person shall be 
 received into any Parish within this Commonwealth, as a Minister, until he 
 shall have entered into a contract in writing with the Vestry or Trustees on 
 behalf of the society within such Parish, by which it shall be stipulated and 
 declared that he holds the appointment subject to removal, agreeably to the 
 rules and Canons of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 within this State.' Here is a contract entered into, by the Minister on one 
 side, and by the Vestry or Trustees, in behalf of the Society, on the other; 
 and that contract authorized to be made by law, ' according to the rules of 
 our sect.' Your Remonstrants now wish to call the attention of this House 
 to the tenth section of the first article of the Federal Constitution, and 
 will submit it to their judgment, whether a Glebe can be taken from a 
 Minister and Vestry without violating that part of the Constitution; for 
 among the prohibitory clauses in the section just mentioned of the Federal 
 Constitution are the following, viz. : ' No State shall pass any ex post facto 
 law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts.' Whereas a contract has 
 been entered into, and is 'on record in the Vestry Books of this Parish, a 
 contract authorized to be made by law, a contract of the most solemn kind, 
 a contract concerning the use of that property which ever was, and still is 
 ours, by the constitution, and by the common and statute laws of the land ; 
 and concerning that kind of service which is the most interesting and 
 important of any. But all these bulwarks of happiness and security, law, 
 prescription, custom, contracts, and constitution, are, by this Petition for the 
 sale of our Glebe, to be prostrated beneath the feet of a party. _ No. The 
 Assembly of Virginia, the House of Delegates, will never permit it. And 
 even were not the constitution and laws so express on this subject, yet we 
 doubt not but this House will abhor the prayer of any Petition, by whatever 
 hand it is presented, or from whomsoever i comes, which, if it were granted, 
 would disfranchise the citizen of his rights, and turn from house and home 
 many indigent families and many worthy characters who have deserved well 
 of the Republic. The Ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church would 
 not then have the pleasing prospect before them of living in a land of peace 
 and equal liberty, but all the horrors of proscription and exile ; for if in one 
 
Virginia Memorial touching the Glebes. 173 
 
 parish the rights of the Protestant Episcopal Society be violated, so they may- 
 be in everv parish in Virginia. And the question concerning tbe sale of the 
 Glebe belonging to Antrim Parish in this county, involves, in fact, the ques- 
 tion respecting the sale of the whole. 
 
 " 5thly. Because to grant the prayer of the Petition for the sale of our 
 Glebe would very much interrupt the peace and harmony of this country, 
 and involve your Remonstrants and many others in much needless altercation 
 and controversy. 
 
 " The dispute in itself has too near an affinity to religion not to partici- 
 pate in much of that animosity and rancour, which are the unhappy 
 fruits of religious controversy. It directly militates against that wise and 
 Christian maxim in our Declaration of Rights, which affirms it to be the 
 4 mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity 
 towards each other ;' and we are confident this House will patronize no 
 attempt that has a contrary tendency. And, 
 
 " 6thly. We remonstrate against this Petition for the sale of our Glebe, 
 and all others of a similar nature, because in its whole tenor we conceive it 
 to be vexatious, unreasonable, unprecedented, and unjust ; because it tends to 
 destroy our political happiness ; because it threatens to unnerve our Constitu- 
 tion and laws ; and because it can be productive of no publick good, but may 
 be productive of much publick evil. 
 
 " These, o-entlemen, are the principles on which we remonstrate ; they are 
 the principles in which we have lived, which we teach our posterity, and in 
 which we hope to die. And we trust this Honourable House will not, as it 
 tenders the preservation of publick faith and publick peace, encroach on the 
 rights of the peaceable, — rights which a very numerous part of your 
 constituents maintain, and which we, your Remonstrants, hold most sacred 
 and dear. 
 
 " And we pray that this House will come to some resolution indicative of 
 its displeasure, at least, declarative of its sense in the most explicit and 
 decisive tenor, respecting any Petition for the sale of a Glebe occupied by a 
 Minister, if the money arising from the sale is to be appropriated to a 
 different purpose ; and that it will adopt such other measures as in its wisdom 
 it may deem most eligible for a farther confirmation and security of the rights 
 and property now enjoyed by the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for the 
 prevention of future attempts to invade them. Such measures as these, we 
 are persuaded, would soon put an end to this disagreeable contest, would 
 contribute greatly towards the promotion of peace, piety, and morality, and 
 more effectually diffuse their happy influence over the minds of the people at 
 
 large. . 
 
 "And your Remonstrants and Petitioners will, as in duty bound, ever 
 
 pray." 
 
 12 
 
174 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 Address of the Rector of Antrim Parish, Virginia, to the Members of the 
 Church, on the proposed Sale of the Glebes in Virginia. 
 
 " Brethren: 
 
 " When I solicit your attention to what I have just now to 
 say concerning the sale of the Glebes, I am well aware of the difference 
 of sentiment which exists with regard to the subject. I have only to request 
 of you to lay passion and prejudice aside, and calmly and impartially weigh 
 the arguments I shall offer. 
 
 " It is, I believe, generally known, that for several years past, memorials 
 and petitions have been presented to the Assembly by the Baptists for the 
 sale of the Glebe Lands vested by law in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 this State. These petitions have still been rejected by the Assembly, and 
 generally by a very considerable majority ; the members from the upper 
 counties, where there are but few glebes, and few of the Episcopal profession, 
 votino- almost to a man in favour of the Baptist memorial ; and those from 
 the middle and lower counties generally opposing it. So long has this 
 struggle continued, so much money has it cost the country, so much offence 
 has it given to sober Christians of all persuasions, and so little prospect is 
 there of its being terminated according to the wish of the Baptists, that even 
 they and their abettors begin to be convinced, that to persist in presenting 
 memorials of that kind will never be productive of the intended effect. 
 
 " The attention of the Baptists, therefore, is now turned towards effecting 
 a sale of the Glebe Lands in each county separately. Accordingly a petition 
 has lately been drawn up by , for the sale of the glebe in this 
 
 parish, which I presently occupy, and sent out among the people, or soon 
 will be, in order to obtain subscribers. 
 
 "This is a brief statement of the case, as far as has come within my 
 knowledge. And, on the present occasion, I do not mean to lay before you 
 the variety of arguments which is urged on either Jde, or to weary your 
 attention by a multiplicity of words. I only design just now to submit a few 
 things not unworthy the consideration, I think, of every impartial and honest 
 man. 
 
 " To begin at the source, therefore, of this dispute. You know that before 
 the late happy revolution in this country, the Church of England, the same, 
 except in some points of discipline, with ours at this day, was the established 
 religion in Virginia. But when the British yoke was thrown off, these States 
 became sovereign, free, and independent, not only with respect to civil affairs, 
 but with regard to religious affairs also. x\ccordingly, in the Declaration of 
 Eights made by the Representatives of the good people of Virginia, met at 
 Williamsburg, in May, 1776, it is said : 'That Religion, or the duty which 
 we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed 
 only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence ; and therefore all 
 men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the 
 dictates of conscience ; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise 
 Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.' 
 
 " But this only goes so far as to establish free toleration, by declaring that 
 
Address on the Sale of Glebes, 1795. 175 
 
 * all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion.' Still, however, 
 there was a religion established by law, and all other sects were obliged to 
 contribute to the support of the established Church. This was an intolerable 
 grievance, and loudly called for redress. And it was not long before it was 
 redressed. For by the first General Assembly that ever met in Virginia after 
 the formation of our State Constitution, at Williamsburg, in October, 1776, 
 it was enacted, ' That all dissenters, of whatever denomination, from the 
 Church established by law, shall, from and after the passing of this Act, be 
 totally free and exempt from all levies, taxes, and impositions whatever, 
 towards supporting and maintaining the said Church, as it now is or hereafter 
 may be established, and its ministers.' And in the very next section, the 
 glebes and Churches, with their appurtenances, are vested in the church at 
 that time, and ever since, possessing them, in the following words : 'And be 
 it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that there shall in all time 
 coming be saved and reserved to the use of the Church by law established the 
 several tracts of Glebe lands already purchased, the churches and chapels 
 already built, and such as were begun or contracted for before the passing of 
 the said Act, for the use of the Parishes, all books, plate, and ornaments 
 belonging or appropriated to the use of the said Church, and all arrears of 
 money or tobacco arising from former assessments or otherwise; and that 
 there shall moreover be saved or reserved to the use of such Parishes as may 
 have received private donations, for the better support of the said Church 
 and its Ministers, the perpetual benefit and enjoyment of all such donations.' 
 
 " This Act, seemingly, gave universal satisfaction to the Baptists and other 
 dissenters at the time it was passed ; but in a few years after, they began to 
 petition to have that part of it repealed which makes over the Glebes and 
 Churches to the Protestant Episcopal Society, and have continued to petition 
 almost every Assembly to have this property sold. 
 
 " The principal arguments they make use of to support their plea, are the 
 following : 
 
 " 1st. As most of the Glebe lands were originally purchased with money 
 levied upon the people at large, they say that in whatever County a majority 
 of the people wish these lands to be sold, they ought to be sold, and the 
 money refunded, or applied to some other use. 
 
 "The sentiments of the majority of the people, I allow, are always entitled 
 to much attention ; but when they petitioned to have an establishment of 
 religion annulled, as it justly was, almost twenty years ago, then was the time 
 for them to insist also on a sale of the Glebes and Churches. Whereas, in 
 this petition at that time, they prayed for no such thing, although their claim 
 at that day was just as good as it is now. And if in one instance, they 
 petition for money to be given back, which was paid under the British 
 Government, it is equally just that they should do so in every case. 
 
 "If they say that the laws were oppressive which compelled them to 
 support a religion from which at that time they dissented, then let them 
 recollect how few were dissenters when the Glebes were originally purchased, 
 and that, even upon their own principles, if a part of the original purchase 
 money is to be given back, it ought to be a part only in proportion to that 
 number who then were dissenters. For if they, from conscientious motives, 
 
176 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections, 
 
 have dissented from their forefathers, they can with no justice now have any 
 retrospective view or claim to what was done by their ancestors with a good 
 conscience. 
 
 " Whatever was then done with respect to religious affairs was done by the 
 authority of those laws and that government under which we then lived. 
 Many of these laws are now repealed, and especially those which had the 
 least respect to an establishment of religion ; and that government we wisely 
 rejected for one of our own. And under our present constitution and laws, 
 property of every kind is secured to the individuals and bodies who are the 
 rightful holders thereof, by everything firm and sacred which the laws of God 
 and of our country have devised. Glebes and Churches are held and enjoyed 
 by ministers and vestries, by as good a right as each of you hold your private 
 estates. 
 
 " You know that in this country landed property has always been con- 
 sidered in the eye of the law as the most sacred of any, and that she puts 
 forth her hand with reluctance to seize it. And once the Legislative body 
 passes an Act vesting in any individual or society any landed estate, there 
 must be cogent and weighty reasons indeed to move it to rescind a confirma- 
 tion made of that kind of property which, in its own nature, is the most 
 permanent, and rendered the most fixed and stable of any, by the nature of 
 our laws. We are not now in the heat of a revolution. Everything has 
 been settled on a sure foundation, by a free Convention of the people. Nor 
 do I conceive that any innovations can now take place, at least, until another 
 Convention is called with similar powers. For should the Assembly pass an 
 Act to take away from one society the property it has always enjoyed since 
 the first settlement of this country, — and by their own grant, for nearly now 
 these twenty years, — it would be a fluctuation in law, if not an innovation of 
 right, which, I think, highly inimical to the spirit of our constitution, and, I 
 am confident, is without precedent in Virginia. I allow that principle is not 
 to be regulated by precedent. But if the principle be of suspicious or 
 dubious tendency, it certainly stands in need of the authority of precedent, 
 before it is suffered to be introduced. 
 
 " The Glebes did originally belong to the country at large, and they still 
 are for the use of the country at large, agreeable to the purpose for which 
 they were first set apart, for the churches are open to all without discrimina- 
 tion, and the services of ministers are tendered to all on the same terms. 
 But the country at large did, by its representatives, at the commencement of 
 the revolution, vest them in a particular society. And now to petition the 
 Assembly to take back what it has already given, is to petition them to 
 introduce a fatal precedent with respect to the right by which property in 
 general is held, — to trample the rights of one society under their feet, and 
 destroy that confidence which the people ought always to have in the faith 
 of the Legislature. 
 
 " 2dly. The Baptists urge, that by holding this property, a certain pre-emi- 
 nence and superiority is conferred on us, which is odious in Eepublican 
 Governments. 
 
 " But the constitution of this country is founded on equality, and abhors 
 distinctions of every kind in its laws. The laws themselves cannot, and dare 
 
Address on the Sale of Glebes, 1795. 177 
 
 not, without a violation of right, confer superiority or exclusive privileges on 
 any one denomination of Christians above another. If we enjoy any pre- 
 eminence above them, I am sure it is not derived to us from that quarter. 
 
 " But they give out that they are afraid of an establishment, and that they 
 consider the Glebes as the foundation of a religious establishment. But it is 
 impossible there can be any such thing as a religious establishment in 
 America as long as there is a free government. Nor do I believe there ace 
 ten men in this county, of any discernment, who wish or expect such a thing. 
 Yet I have often heard it said of the Episcopalians, by those of a different 
 religious persuasion, that they generally wished to have their Church esta- 
 blished by law. But the reproach is unjust. This spirit prevails no more 
 among us than it does among others. Our Church can support itself without 
 an establishment ; and if it does not, why it ought not to exist. And I do 
 not hesitate to say, that in her present state, she is more pure and perfect as a 
 Church than ever she was under the establishment. 
 
 " And as we enjoy no pre-eminence by law, so we claim none ; but the 
 rights which are ours already by law, we cannot think of relinquishing; 
 because if these rights are given up at the request of one sect, we cannot tell 
 but we shall be obliged to deliver up others still dearer unto us ; and that 
 when they shall have it in their power to deprive the Episcopal society of the 
 property which it enjoys, — they may next proceed to deprive it of the free 
 exercise of its religion, and establish their own upon its ruins. 
 
 " 3dly. They quote the fourth Article of the Declaration of Rights to 
 support their assertion, that the Act vesting the Glebe lands in the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church is unconstitutional. 
 
 " That Article declares, ' That no man, or set of men, are entitled to 
 exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in 
 consideration of publick services.' Here they would insist, that, as we enjoy 
 the Glebes, we enjoy ' exclusive emoluments from the community.' They 
 might as soon say that the Members of the Council and Parish Ministers 
 under the British Government, who are now living in this State, enjoy 
 1 exclusive emoluments from the community.' For the money which partly 
 purchased the estates they now live on, was certainly paid them by the 
 publick. If we enjoyed any ' exclusive emoluments from the community,' it 
 would be something which was paid for by this community since the revolu- 
 tion ; whereas the community gave no emolument or new grant to the 
 Church ; it only confirmed to her what from the beginning was her's, and has 
 ever since been in her possession. Most of the Glebes were purchased and 
 paid for one hundred years before the revolution ; and in many counties, 
 from the frequent migrations to the western country and to other States, it is 
 very questionable whether there be one third of the inhabitants remaining 
 whose ancestors paid for the purchase of a Glebe. So that if they petition 
 for the sale of them because their ancestors paid for them, it will be very 
 difficult, if not impossible, to find out to whom the money is now owing. If 
 they say that the Country or the State first purchased them, and that they 
 are to be given back to the Country or State, then it should be remembered 
 that the State has already pledged its legislative faith, that they shall, ' in all 
 time coming,' remain to the use of one religious society, according to the 
 
1*78 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 intention for which they were originally given. And for the State to take 
 back what it once gave, would be fully as unjust as for one individual to take 
 back what he formerly made over to another. 
 
 " But it is unfortunate for them, that this article which they quote has^ not, 
 I think, the smallest allusion to the point in dispute. Its intention is to' 
 prevent hereditary honours, offices, or emoluments in the civil government. 
 This the connection of the whole Article makes plain — ' That no man or set 
 of men are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the 
 community, but in consideration of publick services; which, not being 
 descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge, to be 
 hereditary.' 
 
 "Influenced by these and arguments of a similar kind, the House of 
 Delegates have hitherto negatived the prayer of the Memorial and Petition 
 offered by the Baptists. But an attempt is now made to sell the Glebe lands 
 
 belonging to this Parish, by a petition from the county , which will 
 
 soon be circulated for this purpose, in order to procure as many subscribers as 
 possible. 
 
 " In relation to the sale of this Glebe in particular, permit me to observe a 
 few things. 
 
 " This Petition, therefore, for the sale of the Glebe in this Parish, or in 
 any other Parish, let it be signed by ever so many, will certainly be opposed 
 in the House of Delegates, and I am confident will be rejected by a consider- 
 able majority, for it involves the main question for the sale of all the Glebes 
 in the State. The Vestry of this Parish hold their glebe lands by the very 
 same right as all other Glebes in the State are held ; and if the law is violated 
 in one instance, it may be so in twenty. 
 
 " It is true there have been several Glebes sold by Act of Assembly, and 
 the money applied to a different purpose ; but it has been in such Parishes 
 only where there was no minister or vestry, or for some other weighty rea- 
 sons. But that a Glebe should be sold while it was occupied by a Minister, or 
 that a petition should be presented for such a purpose, I know of no instance 
 in Virginia. 
 
 " But, behold, here is a petition brought forward for the sale of the Glebe 
 which I occupy ; a Glebe which I procured neither by intrigue nor by stealth, 
 but honestly and openly, and on which I have lived without interruption for 
 several years. And what is it now that I have done, that I should be 
 compelled to give up the privileges I have hitherto enjoyed? Have I taken 
 a sixpence from any man by fraud or by oppression ? Have I told lies ? Am 
 I guilty of robbery, drunkenness, or murder ? Or what black and enormous 
 crime am I to be charged with, that I should forfeit the rights of a citizen ? 
 On the contrary, has not my manner of life, since I came among you, been 
 sufficiently known ? I am not ignorant that on several occasions reports have 
 been whispered prejudicial to my character. But I challenge any man to 
 step forth, if he dare, and say anything in any company, and before my 
 face, which an honest man would blush to own. In the discharge of my 
 office I have industriously avoided all subjects of a controversial and inflam- 
 matory nature, though at the same time I have used all freedom in delivering 
 my own sentiments, — a privilege I always will exercise. For as I know not, 
 so I care not, to dissemble. I value the approbation of mine own mind more 
 than that of all mankind. 
 
Address on the Sale of Glebes, 1795. 179 
 
 " The friends of this petition are very confident of having a great majority 
 of the freeholders and other inhabitants of this county as subscribers. I 
 shall not attempt to undeceive them. It is very probable they will. But of 
 the unprejudiced, of those who are averse from contention and discord, of the 
 well-informed and peaceable, I hope they will have very few. The promoters 
 of it also do everything they can to make it interest and agitate the minds of 
 the people at large. But in fact, it is a matter of no such high concernment. 
 It is a matter of small consequence to the county whether the Glebe be sold 
 or not. They, however, have their own views. They know that as long as 
 they are the heroes of the day they will not be forgotten. But if they are 
 truly patriots ; if they wish to promote the peace and prosperity of their 
 county, let them abet no partial and party schemes, and gratify one part of 
 its inhabitants at the expense of the other ; but let them devise some plan 
 equally beneficial to the whole ; let them introduce among us manufacturers, 
 or open to us channels by which we can more easily find a market for the 
 commodities we now have to spare. These, and such like, are objects more 
 worthy the attention of Friends to the People, and would confer on them 
 more deserved and more lasting popularity. 
 
 "Those who favour this plan should also consider, that no material advan- 
 tage can be derived from the sale of the Glebe, either to themselves or to 
 others. You think, perhaps, it would annihilate the Church. If it should, 
 would that be of any advantage to you ? or would you wish to give power 
 to one denomination of Christians to trample upon another? They will next 
 trample upon yourselves. Although the Baptists are the most numerous sect 
 in this county at present, they may not be so always. We find that first one 
 sect has its day, and then another. In short, there can be nothing more 
 variable and fluctuating than the state of religious sects with regard to 
 decadency or increase. And in this county, it is a truth too plain and too 
 lamentable, that, notwithstanding the number of preachers, there is not one 
 half of the people at large who are in church communion with any denomi- 
 nation of Christians. They have joined no church. They attend regularly 
 at no place of publick worship, and generally are very indifferent with regard 
 to religious affairs. To these people it is a matter of no concern whether the 
 Glebe be sold or not. They will, wdien asked, give their voices for it or 
 against it, according to the prevailing opinion in the company where they 
 may be, or in the neighbourhoods where they live. 
 
 " You, however, w T ho have the smallest concern for the interests of religion 
 in general and the peace and happiness of our county, but more particularly 
 all freeholders who have a respect for the constitution and laws of our 
 country, and are unbiassed by party views, I would have seriously consider 
 and think what you are called upon to do, when you are solicited to sign 
 these petitions for the sale of the Glebe. You are called upon to give your 
 voice for taking away from one religious society the property they have 
 always possessed, and that without an equivalent, and deprive a fellow-citizen, 
 myself, of his just rights, who has had no other object in view than to 
 promote your dearest interests. This appears so iniquitous and unjust, so 
 arbitrary and persecuting, that I have no doubt it partly excites your 
 righteous indignation as well as mine. 
 
 "I have lived on the Glebe since I have been Minister of the Parish, and 
 
180 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 most of what I have received for my services has been expended in repairing 
 and improving the plantation. These repairs have been of considerable value, 
 and though my word, I expect, will not be doubted by any person present, 
 yet I wish none to take it upon that authority alone ; I am willing to 
 submit their value to the determination of a jury. And if the Glebe is sold, 
 I shall thus have expended the little I had to spare for the publick, to whom, 
 when divided among them, it will be little more than nothing. 
 
 " For if the Glebe were sold, what would it be to the whole county ? It 
 would fetch little more than £200, perhaps not so much in ready money. 
 This would not pay half your County and Parish levies for one year. Indeed, 
 the proportion which would fall to the share of every man is too insignificant, 
 and not worth the attention of any freeholder whatever. And, therefore, to 
 agitate and inflame the public mind concerning a matter of so trivial impor- 
 tance to the county at large, must be done with no other end than to gratify 
 the wishes of a party, or to promote selfish and particular views. 
 
 " The Baptists say they do not petition for the sale of the Glebes on 
 account of their value. Neither need we wish to hold them on account of 
 their value, but as a matter of right. The one I occupy has hitherto brought 
 me every year into debt, authentic accounts of which I can at any time 
 produce. If the law, however, which vests the Glebes in us be unconstitu- 
 tional and oppressive, if it be contrary to the principles pervading Republican 
 Governments and free States, for God's sake let it be repealed. But if it is 
 not ; if the law is constitutional ; if it secures rights which we hold dear as 
 life and liberty itself; if it is wished to be repealed to gratify the views of 
 one religious sect, then let it stand fast as the pillars of justice, and secure 
 not only to us the rights which we presently enjoy, but to our posterity for 
 
 ever. 
 
 " To the preachers, and other members of the Baptist Church, who are 
 zealous in promoting this Petition, I would take the liberty of observing, that 
 as this, at best, is but a circumstance of a political nature, it seems not with 
 any propriety to come so particularly under the cognizance of those who 
 labour in the vineyard of Christ. Ministers, to be sure, are men ; and they 
 have civil rights to defend ; but this dispute is too nearly connected with 
 religion not to partake of much of that animosity and rancour which are the 
 unhappy effects of religious controversy. How different is this from the 
 mild spirit of that religion which breathes unanimity, forgiveness, meekness, 
 and peace! When we ourselves make it appear by our conduct, that 
 Christianity has so little power over our hearts, can it be supposed that ever 
 we will recommend it to the esteem of others ? The infidel will never believe 
 us, and the libertine will get confirmed in his vicious practices. Alas ! we 
 pull down with our own hands that Church of Christ which we ought to 
 build up and defend. We fill the minds of the community, moreover, with 
 * wrath, hatred, and emulations, envyings, and strife.' How long shall it be 
 before the doctrines of the Son of God have full influence on the minds of 
 men ! How long shall this land, the asylum of all nations, be filled with 
 contention ? When shall we fully prize the blessings we enjoy ? We might 
 now sit every man at peace 'under his own vine, and under that fair Tree of 
 Liberty which we planted.' But, alas ! the canker-worm of Jealousy feeds on 
 its foliage ; the whirlwinds of discord threaten to root it out for. ever. 
 
Address on the Sale of Glebes, 1165. 181 
 
 " On you, however, who are attached to this Church, and who in your 
 respective neighbourhoods must have some influence, I must place my sole 
 dependence for obviating the efforts which are now making to ruin your 
 Church ; and particularly that you will be industrious in procuring as many 
 subscribers as possible to the remonstrances which I shall put into your hands. 
 The issue of the affair will not depend on the number of subscribers, though 
 it may be materially affected by it. For me to take an active part, farther 
 than by endeavouring to set it in a fair and just light before the public mmd, 
 would be indelicate and improper. This is not so much my business as 
 yours And unless strenuous exertions are now made, the event may be very 
 unfortunate for your Church. If the Glebe is sold, it will affect neither my 
 reputation nor my property ; but if it is, the church in this Parish, and in a 
 great many others in Virginia, will well nigh be ruined. Yes, that Church 
 which I believe in my confidence to be as pure as any at this day on earth, 
 will be left without a vestige of her memory in the land. She will fall, as a 
 bright star from heaven, and be lost in perpetual night. Unfortunate she ! 
 she°has ' nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against 
 her.' Like the sun in an unclouded sky, she was once the light and glory of 
 this land; and shall she set in darkness and rise no more? Forbid it, 
 heaven ! forbid it, justice : forbid it, honour. 
 
 " I myself, whilst holding the station which I possess, will, I trust, discharge 
 my duty with fidelity. If we are all united and act in concert, the effect we 
 can produce will be considerable. Adversity is the fire which purifieth the 
 Church. Through many such she hath passed, and ours when tried in that 
 furnace will come forth still more pure. That at the present crisis you may 
 act your parts with firmness as her friends, having due regard at the_ same 
 time to the Christian character, is my earnest recommendation. Providence 
 will thus smile on our labours, and conduct them at length to a happy issue. 
 Conscience will approve of our conduct; and death will introduce us to 
 glory. 
 
 " Antrim Glebe, Halifax, June 4th, 1795." 
 
MR. HENDERSON WALKER 
 
 LORD BISHOP OF LONDON. 
 
 " May it please your Lordship 
 
 " North Carolina, 21st October, 1703. 
 
 " The great and pious designs of your Lordship towards 
 these American Parts for the Propagation of the Christian Church, of which 
 you are so pious and good a Pillar, imboldens me to lay before your Lordship 
 the present State of North Carolina as to their Christian well-being ; and I 
 was the more encouraged to do it by reason that our Lords Proprietors were 
 pleased to write to us concerning Mr. Bray, your Lordship's Commissary, 
 coming to visit us. 
 
 " My Lord, we have been settled neer this fifty years in this place, and I 
 may justly say most part of twenty-one years on my own knowledge without 
 Priest or Altar, and before that time, according to all that appears to me, 
 much worse. George Fox some years ago came into these parts, and by 
 strange infatuations did infuse the Quakers' Principles into some small number 
 of the people, which did and hath continued to grow ever since very numerous 
 by reason of their yearly sending in men to encourage and exhort them to 
 their wicked principles ; and here was none to dispute nor to oppose them in 
 carrying on their pernicious principles for many years, till God of his infinite 
 goodness was pleased to inspire the Rev. Dr. Bray some time about four years 
 ago to send in some books of his own particular pious gift of the explanation 
 of the Church Catechism, with some other small books to be disposed of and 
 lent as we thought fit, did in some measure put a stop to their growth ; and 
 about a year after did send to us a library of books for the benefit of this 
 place, given by the honourable the Corporation for the establishing of the 
 Christian religion, by one Mr. Daniel Bret, a minister appointed for this place. 
 He for about half a year behaved himself in a modest manner, but after that 
 in a most horrid manner ; broke out in such an extravagant course that I 
 am ashamed to express his carraige, it being in so high nature. It hath been 
 a great trouble and grief to us who have a great veneration for the Church 
 that the first minister that was sent to us should prove so ill as to give 
 the Dissenters so much occasion to charge us with him. My Lord, I humbly 
 begg you to believe that we do not think that the Rev. Dr. Bray knew any 
 thing of the life and conversations of the man. We did about this time two 
 years, with a great deal of care and management, get an Assembly, and we 
 
North Carolina in 1703. 183 
 
 passed an act for building of churches and establishing a maintenance for a 
 minister amongst us, and in pursuance thereto we have built one church, and 
 there is two more a going forward, and his Excellency Francis Nicholson, 
 Esq., Governor of Virginia, was pleased of his pious goodness to give us £10 
 to each church, and we sent copies of that act of Assembly to our Lords 
 proprietors to get the same ratified, and likewise a copy to Dr. Bray to 
 entreat his favour with them to obtain a Ratification, which we are in hopes 
 to obtain this shipping, but they not being come we are in a great loss. ^ My 
 Lord, I humbly beg leave to inform you that we have an Assembly to sit the 
 3d November next, and there is above one half of the Burgesses that are 
 chosen are Quakers and have declared their designs of making void the act 
 for establishing the Church ; if your Lordship out of your good and pious 
 care of us doth not put a stop to their growth, we shall the most part, 
 especially the children born here, become heathens. I humbly entreat your 
 Lordship to send some worthy good man amongst us to regain the Flock, and 
 so perfect us in our duty to God, and establish us by his Doctrine, life, and 
 conversation in the fundamentalls of our Christian profession that we in our 
 time and those as come hereafter, may bless God that he has raised up so 
 noble a pillar as your Lordship to regain those who are going astray, and put 
 a stop to the pernicious growing Principles of the Quakers. 
 
 " Your Lordship may see the copy of our act by Dr. Bray, and I humbly 
 beo- your Lordship's Pardon for giving you this trouble, and take leave to 
 subscribe myself, 
 
 "My Lord, 
 
 " Your most humble and obedient servant, 
 
 "Henderson Walker" 
 
AN ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 ME . BLAIR'S MISSION 
 
 TO NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 "I was ordained in order to go to the Plantations 12th April, 1703, and 
 then received the Queen's Bounty of £20, aud soon after my Lord Wey- 
 mouth's bounty of £50, upon which I lived in England till the 1st October 
 following, which together with my fitting out for such a Voyage and Country 
 consumed the most part of my money. I had likewise £5 sent me by my 
 Lord of London to Portsmouth, and when I landed in Virginia, I had no 
 more than £25. 
 
 _ "I landed in Virginia 14th January, 1703. As soon as I could conve- 
 niently travel, I waited on the Governor, and immediately after made the best 
 of my way into the country where I was bound. 
 
 " I arrived amongst the Inhabitants after a tedious and troublesome journey 
 on the 24th. I was then obliged to buy a couple of Horses, which cost me 
 fourteen pounds, one of which was for a guide, because there is no possibility 
 for a stranger to find his Road in that Country, for if he once goes astray (it 
 being such a Desart country) it's a hazard if ever he finds his Road again. 
 Besides there are mighty inconveniences in travelling there, for the roads are 
 not only deep and difficult to be found, but there are likewise seven great 
 Rivers in the country, over which there is no passing with horses, except two 
 of them, one of which the Quakers have settled a Ferry over for their own 
 conveniency, and nobody but themselves have the Priviledge of it, so that at 
 the passing over the Rivers, I was obliged either to borrow or hire Horses, 
 which was both troublesome and chargeable, insomuch that in little more than 
 two months I was obliged to dispose of the necessaries I carried over for my 
 own use to satisfy my creditors. 
 
 " I found in the Country a great many children to be baptized, where I 
 baptized about one hundred, and there are a great many still to be baptized, 
 whose parents would not condescend to have them Baptized with Godfathers 
 and Godmothers. 
 
 " I married none in the Country, for that was a Perquisite belonged to the 
 Magistrates which I was not desirous to deprive them of. 
 
 " I preached twice every Sunday, and often on the week days when their 
 Vestries met, or could appoint them to bring their Children to be baptized. 
 
North Carolina in 1703. 185 
 
 " I called a Vestry in each Precinct, in my first progress through the 
 country, to whom I gave an Account of my Lord Weymouth's charitable 
 bounty, in supporting my Mission among them, and likewise of the good 
 designs the honourable Society had for them, as I was informed by Mr. Amy 
 that they had settled £80 per annum for the maintenance of two Clergymen 
 amongst them. And likewise a proposal that Dr. Bray desired me to" make 
 to them upon their procuring good Glebes he doubted not but that there 
 might be a settlement made for the advantage of the Church, such as there 
 is in the Island of Bermudas, viz. two Slaves and a small Stock in each Pre- 
 cinct, and that to be continued good by the Incumbent to his successor, which 
 will be a lasting Estate to the Church. 
 
 " They have built in the Country three small Churches and have three 
 Glebes. 
 
 "In the three Chief Precincts there is a Reader establisht in each, to 
 whom they allow a small salary, who reads Morning and Evening Prayer 
 every Lord's Day, with two Sermons, and I took care to furnish them with 
 books from the Library before I came away. 
 
 " I remained very well satisfied in the Country till their Assembly sat, 
 which was on 1st March, where I expected they would propose a settlement 
 for my maintenance ; and they taking no care of it, together with my then 
 circumstances, which were but very indifferent, Discouraged me very much, 
 and occasioned my first thoughts of returning to England, for I was informed 
 before I went thither that there was £30 per annum settled by Law to be 
 paid in each Precinct for the Maintenance of a Minister, which Law was sent 
 over hither to be confirmed by their Lords proprietors ; and it being sup- 
 posed not to be a competency for a Minister to live on, was sent back again 
 without Confirmation, whereof the Quakers took the advantage, and will endea- 
 vour to prevent any such Law passing for the future ; for they are the greatest 
 number in the Assembly, and are unanimous, and stand truly to one another 
 in whatsoever may be for their Interest, for the Country may be divided into 
 four sorts of people : 1st, the Quakers, who are the most powerful enemies to 
 Church Government, but a people very ignorant of what they profess ; 2d 
 sort are a great many that have no Religion, but would be Quakers if by that 
 they were not obliged to lead a more moral life than they are willino- to 
 comply to; a 3d sort are something like Presbyterians, which sort is upheld 
 by some idle Fellows that have left their lawful Imployment and preach and 
 baptize through the country without any manner of orders from any sect or 
 pretended Church. A 4th sort, who are really zealous for the Interest of the 
 Church, are the fewest in number, but the better sort of people, and would 
 do very much for the settlement of Church Government there, if not opposed 
 by these three Precedent Sects, and although they be all three of different 
 pretensions, yet they all concur together in one common cause to prevent 
 anything that will be chargeable to them, as they allege Church Government 
 will be if once establisht by Law ; and another great discouragement these 
 poor people have is a Governor who does not in the least countenance them 
 in this Business, but rather discourage them. 
 
 "Finding it impossible to travel through the Country at that rate I begun, 
 I was resolved to settle in one precinct, but the people all alledging my 
 Lord Weymouth's Charity was universally designed for the whole country, 
 
186 Protestant Episcopal Historical Collections. 
 
 would not consent to it, which bred some disturbance amongst them, upon 
 which I was advised by some of the best friends of the Church to come over 
 and represent their condition to the Honourable Society, not only of their 
 want of Ministers, but likewise of Inhabitants to maintain them ; and their 
 desires, they complying with my necessities, was a powerful argument, consi- 
 dering I was then reduced to my last stake, and knew not where and upon 
 what account to be further supplied. Besides such a solitary, toylsome, and 
 hard living as I met with there, were very sufficient discouragement. I was 
 distant from any Minister one hundred and twenty miles, so that if any 
 case of difficulty or doubt should happen, with whom should I consult ? 
 And for my travelling through the Country, I rid one day with another, 
 Sunday only Excepted, above thirty miles per diem in the worst roads that 
 ever I saw, and have sometimes layn whole nights in the woods. 
 
 "I will now endeavour to shew you how ineffectual a single Man's labours 
 would be amongst so scattered a people. In the first place, suppose him 
 Minister of one precinct (whereas there are five in the Country), and this 
 precinct as they are all, bounded with two Rivers, and those Rivers at least 
 twenty miles distant, without any inhabitants on the Road, for they plant 
 only on the Rivers, and they are planted in length upon these Rivers at least 
 twenty miles. And to give all these Inhabitants an opportunity of hearing a 
 Sermon, and bringing their Children to be baptized, which must be on the 
 Sabbath, for they want spare time of another day, and must be in every ten 
 miles distance, for five miles is farthest that they will bring their children or 
 willingly come themselves, so that he must, to do his duty effectually, be ten 
 or twelve weeks in making his progress through one precinct. 
 
 " You may also consider the distance that the New Colony of Pamtico is 
 from the rest of the Inhabitants of the country, for any Man that has tried 
 it, would sooner undertake a voyage from this City to Holland than that, for 
 besides a Pond of five miles broad and nothing to carry one over but small 
 Perriaugers, there are about fifty miles Desert to pass through without any 
 human creature Inhabiting in it. I think it likewise reasonable to give you 
 an Account of a Great Nation of Indians that live in that Government com- 
 puted to be of no less than 100,000, many of which live amongst the Eng- 
 lish, and all as I can understand a very civilized people. 
 p;"I have often conversed with them, and have been frequently in their 
 towns. Those that can speak English among them seem to be very willing 
 and fond of being Christians, and in my opinion there might be methods 
 taken to bring over a great many of them. If there was no hopes of making 
 them Christians, the advantage of having Missionaries among them would 
 redound to the Advantage of the Government, for if they should once be 
 brought over to a French Interest (as we have too much reason to believe 
 there are some promoters amongst them for that end) by their late Actions ; 
 it would be (if not to the utter ruin) to the great prejudice of all the English 
 Plantations on the Continent of America. 
 
 " I have here in brief set down what I have to say, and shall be ready to 
 answer to any Questions the Honourable Society shall think convenient to ask 
 me concerning the Country, and shall be both ready and willing to serve them 
 anywhere upon such encouragement as I can live according to my education, 
 after my Lord Weymouth ceases to lay his commands on me. 
 
North Carolina in 1703. 187 
 
 " I have made a considerable losing voyage of it this time, both by 
 my troublesome travelling in America and likewise by being taken into 
 France, where I was prisoner of war nine weeks, and was forced to make use 
 of my credit for my sustenance, and have lived in the same circumstances 
 since I came to England, without any manner of relief, which has been very 
 troublesome to me, all which has brought me considerably in debt, near £35, 
 and now in no way to pay it, without my charitable Benefactor or the 
 Honourable Society judge my labours worthy a reward."