1829.] MISCELLANEOUS. to return to each and every person, the amount received from them for the stalls in the Broad street market for the present year. March 13, 1829. 335 BLOOMFIELD, Penn. May 14. The new Forge.-We are gratified to learn, that the new forge of Messrs. Stephen Duncan and John D. Mahon, at the mouth of Shearman's Creek in this county, is now in full operation. This is another evidence of the march of improvement in this county, and it will doubtless be a pleasure to all to know that the enterprise of The Committee charged with the management of John Scott's legacy, offer the following report for the year 1828: Since the last report, they have awarded the follow-the proprietors will be amply rewarded. We perceive ing premiums. 1. To Francis H. Smith, of Baltimore, for a great improvement in the Musical Glasses, which not only facilitates playing on them, but increases their utility and their power, and permits their adaptation to Churches; one of the sets is now in use, at Harrisburg-A Medal and twenty dollars. 2. To Owen Carr, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in the apparatus for Cutting Shingles, and which also cuts the edges of the Shingles smooth and straight, by one stroke of the knife-A Medal and twenty dollars.. JAMES MEASE, ROB'T HARE, WILLIAM HEMBEL, JAMES RONALDSON, WILLIAM PHILLIPS, To the Select Council, Philadelphia.-Phil. Gazette. (From the Harrisburg Chronicle May 11 . ) IMPROVEMENTS ON THE JUNIATA. Extract of a letter to one of the editors, dated Hamiltonsville, April 28, 1829. also by the list of titles of acts of the late Legislature, that the privilege of erecting a toll bridge at the mouth of Shearman's creek has been granted to these gentlemen. Fish. It is stated as a fact, that on some day last week, a race attached to the Forge at the mouth of | Shearman's creek, was drained ofthe water, when there were taken out of it forty coal baskets full (holding about a bushel each) of very large white and black suckers, catfish, Eels, &c.!!!-Perry Forrester. "I write to you from a place that has a name on our State map, but which, at the time it received it, did not | deserve it. Last winter, I have been informed, there was nothing more of a town than four old huts-which are yet standing-at present, eight or ten new frame houses are built, and others going up, some of them quite respectable. The town is regularly laid off, the streets are eighty feet wide, it has a Post office, four stores and a tavern. “Clintonville is another new town. It was laid out this spring, twelve miles from Huntingdon, immediately below the two river aqueducts. It has a Post office, but improvements have not yet commenced' "If you have ever been at Aughwick falls, and would see them now, they would hardly be recognized, for in the distance of half a mile the shantees stand as close as they do at Clark's ferry. "The work on the canal is progressing rapidly. It would be well worth any one's while, who has been once through this country, to visit it the ensuing sum mer. Wild Pigeons. We have never before witnessed such multitudes of wild pigeons as have appeared amongst us the present season. Flocks extending miles in length, have many days been seen passing over the hills, and presenting a novel and interesting appearance. But what is most extraordinary, and causes us now to notice them, is their encampment, about ten miles from this place, in a S. W. direction, where they have built their nests and are raising their young. The encampment is upwards of nine miles in length and four in breadth: the lines regular and straight: within which, there is scarcely a tree, large or small, that is not corered with nests. They cause such a constant roaring by the flapping of their wings that persons on going into the encampment have great difficulty in hearing each other speak. Every thing throughout their camp ap pears to be conducted in the most perfect order. They take their turns regularly in setting and in feeding their young; and when any of them are killed upon their nests by the sportsmen, others immediately supply their places." Pennsylvania Canak-It is said that the water will be let into the canal immediately, and probably get down to Allegheny town this day week. If there should be no accident, there will then be about fifty miles of the western division navigable, extending from Pittsburgh up the borders of the Allegheny. We are informed also, that during the month of June, the great tunnel | will be completed, when the navigation will be opened . entirely through to Blairsville.-Statesman. LANCASTER, Penn. May 12. Conestogo Navigation.-Yesterday morning, as the Ark Adam Reigart was clearing lock No. 9 at the mouth of the Conestogo, part of the South wall was forced into the lock, occasioning a rush of water which overwhelmed the ark, and hurried her into the river a complete wreck. Fortunately no lives were lost, and nearly all the cargo we understand has been saved. Active measures, we understand, have been adopted by the company to repair the damages, which are not of much consequence, and to provide against the occurrence of similar accidents in future. Should the water fall in a few days, the interruption to the navigation cannot exceed two weeks. The Squabs, (as the young are called,) are now sufficiently large to be considered by Epicures better for a rich dish than the old ones–and they are “being” caught and carried off by wagon loads.-Montrose (Susquehanna County) Register. CHESTER, Penn. May 19, 1829. Hail Storm.-On Saturday night last, between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock, our borough was visited with a heavy rain accompanied by a high wind, sharp lightning, thnuder, and considerable hail, which lasted about twenty minutes. Some of the gardens in the town were slightly injured by the hail. In Concord township we learn that the barn belonging to Moses Palmer was blown down, and the roof of a house partly blown off. It will be seen by a letter published in to-day's paper from a friend on Tinicum, that the storm was very severe in that vicinity. All the gardens have been destroyed by the hail-the public and private buildings very much injured. Mrs, Hart, at Tinicum Hotel, has suffered very considerable; not less than 68 panes of glass were broken in the Hotel-the vegetables in the garden completely demolished-the Strawberry beds destroyed-the fruit trees stripped-in fact the destruction of property by the storm in so short a space of time, is tremendous.-Union. POTTSVILLE, May 16, 1829. The weather here still continues cold, and we have, with the exception of a few days, found the heat of a good coal fire absolutely necessary. On Wednesday morning last (13th) we had a very severe frost, resembling a slight fall of snow, which, we fear, has very much injured, if not completely destroyed, what little fruit and vegetables we have. On the same morning, there was ice frozen a quarter of an inch thick in a trough at our office door. MILTON, May 14. On Tuesday night, 12th inst. there was a severe frost; we fear that fruit is very much injured, if not completely destroyed. Snow in May.-We are credibly informed, (says the Lehigh Herald) that on Sunday, the 10th instant, snow to the depth of four inches, fell on the other side of the Blue Mountain. However, it has done no damage to vegetation. The Bellefonte Patriot of the 11th, says: "The fall grain in this region of country looks well, and bids fair to yield an abundant harvest. It is devoutly to be hoped that prospects so cheering may not be blighted. The stagnation of all kinds of business, in consequence of the failure of the crops last year, creates an intense anxiety as to the result of the present year." ERIE, April 23. Our Harbor.-We are much gratified to be able to state that notwithstanding the frequency and almost unparalleled severity of the storms during the past winter, the works at the entrance of our harbour have sustained no injury whatever. The water on the bar was measured last week and ascertained to be seven feet in the shoalest part, and even this is limited to a very short distance. The waters of the Lake are now two feet lower than they were last fall, so that the channel has gained in depth in the course of the winter from eighteen inches to two feet. The heavy gale of the 20th inst. has carried the ice out of sight, but it is not probable that it will be gone so that the vessels can leave Buffalo before the 10th or 12th of May. Erie Gaz. Appointments by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Charles S. Coxc, John Swift, Josiah Randall, Roberts Vaux, and Daniel H. Miller, to be the inspectors of the new state prison for the eastern district of Pennsyl'a. Samuel Black, to be a justice of the peace for the district of Southwark, in the county of Philadelphia. The Doylestown Intelligencer informs us of a curious discovery made in digging on the Delaware canal, in Durham township, Bucks county. Three feet below the surface, a pile of 18 cannon ball was found, and directly underneath, the bones of a human being. They were principally eighteen pounders. It would be worth the trouble of some inquiry to ascertain why cannon balls were so freely used in the burial of this unknown person, and whether he was a soldier or an officer of the revolutionary army. The canal at the place of the discovery, runs very near the old Durham Furnace-the first forge ever erected in Pennsylvania out of Philadel. phia, and probably the very first. We believe this forge was in operation during the whole of the revolution.Most likely it furnished cannon balls for the army, and that the pile now discovered, was secretly placed under the grave of one of the workmen by some of his fellow laborers. Saturday Bulletin. Mr. Henry Morris, has caused the ground to be cleared and levelled, and the sleepers, rails, &c. prepared, for the purpose of laying a Rail Road, two miles in extent, from the landings at Port Carbon, up Mill Creek, to his coal land, which, we understand, will be completed in the course of 6 or 8 weeks. Miner's Journ. We feel pleased in being enabled to state that the coal taken from the vein opened on the Sharp Mountain, on the North side of the landings at Mount Carbon, and owned by Lippencott & Richards, has turned out to be equal in quality to any other at present sent to mar ket. Heretofore the coal taken out of this vein did not possess that degree of solidity which is requisite to constitute good coal, and of course was worked to consider able disadvantage. But this difficulty has vanished, and they have, after piercing the mountain to the extent of about 100 yards, come to a fine stratum of coal, 14 feet wide, and is worked to the depth of about 11 feet. The vein runs perpendicular, and it is impossible to ascertain the depth; but persons may form some idea of the im mense body of coal contained in this vein, when we state, that two drifts have already been run in about 50 feet above the water level, which are both worked, and it is intended to run another drift some distance immediately under the two above mentioned, and also another a short distance further up the hill immediately above them. The extent of the vein we are also at a loss to By the Commissioners of the define, but the general opinion of those who have some County. knowledge of the nature and extent of the mines, is, that the vein runs through the whole course of the mountain. Ibid. PITTSBURG, (Penn.) May 13. Penitentiary,-On the first Monday of May, agreeably to the provisions of existing laws, the following gentlemen were appointed Inspectors of the Western Penitentiary: Robert Christy, James Adams, John Irwin, Richard Gray, Neville B. Craig,* John Snyder,* William Woods, *Were re-elected. By the Court of Common By the City Councils. Wednesday, May 20. On Monday afternoon, the Select and Common Councils elected Messrs. Matthew I.. Bevan and Thomas Earp, Guardians of the Poor for 3 years. Mr. J. J. Smith, a great grandson of the celebrated Dr. Logan, was, on Thursday week, unanimously elected Librarian of the Philadelphia Library, in the place of George Campbell, Esq. resigned: who has occupied that station for nearly twenty-three years. Appointments by the Governor. Maj. William S. Ross, to be an Associate Judge of the Courts of Luzerne county, in the room of Mathias Hollenback, Esq. deceased. Edward Hutchinson, to be Inspector of Spirituous Liquors at the Conestogo landing, near the city of Lan caster. There are now about 1000 persons in the Alms-house. Seven hundred of this number, have, it is believed, been reduced to pauperism by intemperance. The name of the Post-office, formerly Salem, Wayne co. Pa. has been changed to Hamlinton, Oliver Hamlin, Postmaster. In the early settlement of Susquehanna county, Pa. Mr. Daniel Spencer, of Springville township, killed with one pound of powder, 60 deer, 9 bear, 3 foxes, 1 wolf, 3 owls, and a number of partridges and quails. Mr. Spencer has killed upwards of 1500 deer since he first settled in that county. Susque. pap. Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street. Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION office, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance. THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. Christ Church was built, until the year 1700, when the Some Particulars relating to the Commencement and Pro- that Mr. Evans was assisted by the Society for propaga gress of the Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylting the Gospel in foreign parts, or that the Church in vania. Philadelphia ever received any pecuniary aid from that First of the Churches in Philadelphia. useful institution. The only help which they derived The province of Pennsylvania was granted by King from the mother country, either in building their Charles II. to William Penn, Esq., in the year of our Church or supporting their Minister, was a stipend of Lord, 1681. A short time after this grant, the proprie- £50, given by King William, who also made an allow tor, accompanied by above two thousand persons, left ance of £30 for a schoolmaster, to be settled in PhilaGreat Britain, and settled in and near that part of the delphia. The Rev. Mr. Evans continued labouring with province where Philadelphia was afterwards built. This great success in Philadelphia and the places adjacent. noble city was laid out by the original grantee, and in That zeal for religion which had manifested itself in the the short space of twenty years contained two thousand city, spread among the neighboring towns, and he houses, and as many families inhabiting them. Among found the harvest more abundant than he was able alone the number of those who had emigrated from England, to reap. The account of this gentleman's labors happiand become engaged in the concerns of this flourishingly has been preserved, and as it affords the only infor city, there were several members of the Episcopal mation which we have upon the subject at that early Church. In common with their brethren of other com- day, it is thought advisable to publish his letter entire. munions, they had exchanged the privileges of their native land, for the wilderness, which had lately begun to assume the face of civilization, and where the glad tidings of the Gospel were seldom or ever proclaimed.We are unable to determine their number, owing to the imperfect accounts which have been preserved--in all probability it was small; and in a new country, among other denominations of Christians, differing widely from them in opinion, there was but little room to hope for any speedy accession to their numbers. The following letter was written by Mr. Evans, in London, as appears from its date in the year 1707, whither he had gone to transact some private concerns: The state of the Church in Pennsylvania, most humbly of fered to the venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. provinces; and that Church, which at first seemed to be but a private Conventicle, is now become truly the Catholic Church of those parts. As it was my zeal for God's glory, and the earnest desire I had of propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, that were the great motives that engaged me in this Thus situated, far from their native country, having mission; so God has been graciously pleased to bless many difficulties to contend with, and by reason of the my honest endeavours and labours, this way, with a peculiar institutions of that Church to which they were suitable success in the Church of Philadelphia, in Pennattached; but little prospect of being able to worship sylvania. As if this had been the Philadelphia mentionGod in the way they had been accustomed, or to receive ed in the Revelations, God has, out of the abundance of the ordinances of His House from a ministry which they his goodness hitherto verified that promise made to it. approved, there was much to discourage immediate ex- Rev. 3. viii. "Behold! I have set before thee an open ertion. These remarks are not intended, as might per-door, and no man can shut it"-For, from a very weak haps be anticipated, to introduce an apology for their and infant state, it is now exceedingly increased and want of zeal, but to set their laudable and pious exer- strengthened by those numbers that have been gained tion in its true light. Not content to meet together in over to it; and from hence the marvellous light of the some place where their small company might be accom- Gospel has been spread and diffused not only unto the modated and hold religious services, waiting for a favor-adjacent Churches, but also to some of the neighboring able opportunity when their strength would be increased, and a clergyman should come among them; they resolutely commenced, and before the year 1696 completed a church, which they called Christ Church, on the very site now occupied by the building of the same name. This instance of religious enterprise was very creditable to the first Episcopalians of Philadelphia, and we regret that it is not in our power to record their names. By their means, the foundation of a large and respectable society of Christians was laid at a very early period, and by their example, the scattered members of the Episcopal Church in the neighboring counties and provinces were excited to a simultaneous effort.It is peculiarly gratifying to find such a zeal for religion associated with the spirit of enterprise which led these settlers from their native country, and in this respect their conduct is worthy of imitation by all, who in the search of wealth, leave behind them the privileges of the Sanctuary. We have no information of any circumstances which took place in this infant Church, from the time that VOL. III. 43 But though God has thus prospered the affairs of his Church in Pennsylvania, yet I am far from arrogating any thing to myself on the account of my performance, for I glory not in any thing but in the Lord: nor can it well be possible that so good a cause should miscarry, when it is promoted and countenanced by a set of such extraordinary men, as the venerable corporation for And here I propagating the Gospel in foreign parts. must humbly crave leave to make the most sincere and grateful acknowledgments to the venerable society, both in behalf of myself and my congregation, for the expense it has been at in paying his majesty's grant of £50 per annum to the Church of Philadelphia and £30 to the school. Nor must I omit among the number of our benefactors the noble and generous Col. Nicholson, who has by his large contributions, and other remarkable instances of his zeal for the glory of God and good of souls, shown of what advantage to religion the influence and what I have said concerning the benefit of those semexample of one good man is. But because a more min-monthly evening lectures, and the number of converts, ute and particular account of the Church's affairs in and the extent of my district, and the great work that in Pennsylvania, and some of the adjacent provinces, may all respects lies on my hands, it might be expected that in some respects be useful as well as satisfactory to the I should say something concerning the necessity and usevenerable society, I will here lay before it all that oc-fulness of an assistant to me in the discharge of my ducurs to my memory at this distance, and will show by what steps and method the Church in Philadelphia and the adjacent parts, came to be formed and established as it now is. ty. But when I consider the danger that may arise from having two ministers in one Church, especially where there is not a Bishop to whom both parties may speedily resort, and be concluded by; and how apt some To proceed therefore, I was sent over missionary in young missionaries are to run into factions, and to vie the year 1700, by the Right Honourable and Right Rev. with those to whom they should on all accounts pay a the Lord Bishop of London, to Philadelphia, in the just regard and deference, of which there has been a late province of Pennsylvania, where I preached the Gospel, unhappy instance in those parts, I cannot bring myself and administered the ordinances of Christ with equal to entertain a thought of this kind till a Bishop, or at comfort to myself, as well as advantage to others, and least a Suffragan be established or settled in those parts. God was in a little time pleased to prosper my labours For the peace and unity of any Church is too valuable a to that degree, as that I had in less than three years af- blessing to be easily or slightly parted with; and if diviter my arrival, a very numerous congregation, consisting sions of this kind should happen, which may easily for the most part of persons brought over from the Qua- enough fall out, in a Church where all its ministers are kers, & other sectaries, to the Church of England. And the yet upon a level, and not the least shew or shadow of true religion (by the frequent resort of persons from re-authority to restrain or keep them within bounds, how mote parts to Philadelphia) did so spread, and the num-inconsiderable would all those other advantages be, ber of converts did so increase, that I was obliged to di- that may be reaped from an assistant, though he preach vide myself among them as often and as equally as I and acquit himself like an angel in all the other parts of could, till they were formed into proper districts, and his function. As for the number of adult persons and had ministers sent over to them by the venerable so- children I baptized during my mission, I take them by ciety. a modest computation to amount to seven hundred and For this reason I went frequently to Chichester, which fifty, or rather eight hundred in Philadelphia and in all is twenty-five miles; Chester or Upland, twenty; Mai- the forenamed places. The Welsh at Radnor and Medenhead, forty (where I baptized19children at one time); rioneth, in the province of Pennsylvania, had addressed Concord, twenty; Evesham in West Jersey, fifteen; my Lord of London, having a hundred hands to their Montgomery, twenty; and Radnor, fifteen miles distant petition, for a minister to be settled amongst them that from Philadelphia.-All which, though equally fatigu- understands the British language, there being many aning and expensive, I frequently went to and preached, cient people among those inhabitants that do not underbeing by all means determined to lose none of those 1 stand the English; and could a sober and discreet man had gained, but rather add to them, till the society oth-be procured to undertake that mission, he might be caerwise provided for them. pable, by the blessing of God, to bring in a plentiful But Montgomery and Radnor, next to my own belov-harvest of Welsh Quakers, that were originally bred in ed Philadelphia, had the most considerable share in my labours, where I preached in Welsh once a fortnight for four years, till the arrival of Mr. Nichols, minister of Chester, in 1704. About which time also the Rev. Mr. John Thomas, my late assistant, came for England. By this gentleman's departure, the service of the Church of Philadelphia entirely devolved upon myself in all its parts, so that I was obliged to an uncommon application and labour in the supply of my cure in all its branches. the Church of England, but were unhappily perverted before any minister in holy orders, that could preach to them in their own language, was sent into Pennsylvania, but I believe they are not irrecoverable had they an itinerant missionary who would use application and dilence to introduce them to the communion of the Church. There is another Welsh settlement called Montgomery, in the county of Philadelphia, twenty miles distant from the city, where there are considerable numbers of Welsh people. formerly in their native country of the communion of the Church of England; but about the year 1698, two years before my arrival in that country, most of them joined with the Quakers, but by God's blessing some of them were induced to return, and I have baptized their children and preached often to them, especially while my late assistant, Mr. Thomas continued with me. I visited them since, and prevailed upon them to meet every Lord's Day, about forty in number, where one that can understand the language well, and is a sober, While Mr. Thomas continued in Philadelphia, we had an evening lecture twice every month, one preparatory to the Holy Sacrament the last Sunday of the month; the other to a society of young men that met together every Lord's Day after evening prayer, to read the Scriptures and sing Psalms, and (I being always present at these meetings, unless hindered by the public services of the Church, or by visiting persons in violent sickness or calamitous circumstances, read some select prayers out of the public Liturgy of the Church, always beginning with this collect "Prevent us, O Lord! in all our doings," &c. and concluding with the Bene-discreet man, reads the prayers of the Church, the prodiction) carried them with me to the Church when Mr. Thomas read and I preached upon subjects suitable to the occasion; particularly I insisted upon those texts, "Rejoice, O young man," &c. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse," &c. And we discovered a visible benefit from these evening lectures;-for those Quakers that dared not appear in the day at the public service of the Church, for fear of disobliging their parents or masters, would stand under the Church windows at night, till many of them plucked up so much courage as to come to the Church itself, and at last by the blessing of God upon the word preached, submitted to the holy ordinance of Baptism, and continue steadfast in the communion of the Church of England. And here, after *Now Marcus Hook. per psalms and lessons, omitting the absolution, &c. what properly belongs to the priest's office, and then reads some portion in a book of devotion to the people. I met with several good books translated into the Welsh language among my country people, particularly the Whole Duty of Man, in Welsh, and the Practice of Piety. As for the Christian Monitor, Dorrington's Family Guide to the Lord's Supper, the Advice of a Minister to his Parishioners-all in Welsh, what I received, were faithfully disposed, but were so few, that a greater number is still much wanting. There is a Welsh settlement between Appoquinimy and New Castle, to which the Rev. Mr. George Ross has preached frequently in the English tongue since his arrival; but that gentleman not understanding their native language, is not so capable to answer the end as 1829.] EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA. the Rev. Mr. Jenkins would be, who is going missionaary to Appoquinimy, who has a competent knowledge in the Welsh tongue; and if the most honorable society would be pleased to give it him in charge to visit those people as often as may be, it would be a means by God's help, to keep those in the communion of the Church that are already joined with it, and to induce others that have been seduced. There is a large and fine structure built for divine service at Newcastle, forty miles from Philadelphia, finished within and without, where I preached in the beginning of December last, and found a considerable congregation, considering the generality of the people were gained over from other persuasions. Their minister, the Rev. Mr. George Ross, is esteemed a person that is ingenious and well learned, as well as sober and prudent, and I doubt not, but by the blessing of God, upon his good endeavors, the Church of New Castle will continue to increase. In Chester, twenty miles from Philadelphia, upon Delaware river, they have a good Church, built with brick and finished, where Mr. Henry Nichols is minister. I preached in the middle of December last in that Church, to a congregation consisting of about one hundred and fifty; but when I preached the summer before, I found a more numerous congregation. Our winters being severe in those parts, detain many from Church whose plantations lie at a distance, and for that reason Mr. Nichols preaches sometimes at Concord in the week days. Trinity Church, in Oxford township, lies in the county of Philadelphia, nine miles from the city, where. for the first four years after my arrival in Philadelphia, I frequently preached and administered both the Sacraments, and had, when I preached last in it about one hundred and forty people; most of the people brought over to the Church of England from Quakers, Anabaptists, and other persuasions. 339 er want there. For to establish a Bishopric, would be in effect the establishing a College in those parts, or at least it would draw many of our young students thither, from Great Britain and Ireland, in hopes both of ordina tion and preferment, whereas by sending to Great Britain a vast deal of time is lost; nor can the true state of ecclesiastical things or persons be ever so well known as by a Bishop who lived upon the spot, and who consequently can best see into all the secret causes and springs of things. Secondly,-A Bishop is absolutely necessary to preside over the American clergy, and to oblige them to do. their duty, and to live in peace and unity one with another. The missionaries of America are like other men, and they may sometimes fall out and differ among themselves, and give great offence through their unnecessary heats and animosities to the people. The contention between Paul and Barnabas was so sharp, and grew so high, that they fell out and parted upon it; and can we think that the American missionaries are better armed, or less exposed to accidents of this kind than those two great and holy men were. And if this should be the case of the American missionary, as it has sometimes been, how fatal must the consequence of such an unhappy strife and contention be, where there is no superior to control them, or to take a cognizance of any affair of this kind into his hands, religion in this case must bleed and fall a victim to the factions and unruly humors of a few turbulent and indiscreet persons; nor indeed, humanly speaking, is it possible it should be otherwise. When there was no king in Israel, the children of Israel did that which was right in their own eyes, and can it be expected that it will be otherwise with the clergy of America, where there is no Bishop to put a stop to their career, or to keep them within those bounds of decency, respect, and mutual forbearance, which they so much owe to one another. Wheresoever Presbytery is established, there they have the face and appearance of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction and authority after their way to resort to, upon all occasions. But our clergy in Ameica are left destitute of any advantages of this kind, and are exposed to the mercy of their own very often unreasonable passions and appetites, which are by many degrees the worst masters they can truckle under. I will only in the third place mention the disadvantages the laity lie under for want of a Bishop, and put an end to this tedious memorial. The ministers' subsistence and livelihood being in all places in America more or less depending upon the bounty of the people by contributions and acts of assembly, it is a difficult matter for them, without the countenance and authority of a Bishop, to put a stop to the profaneness and immorality of their several parishioners, for to touch the more topping and considerable men of them either in public or private, is to draw the fury of the whole congregation upon the missionary, and to deprive himself of the salary or maintenance which he has from them. It were to be I should now put an end to my memorial, were it not that the want of a Bishop amongst us cannot be passed over in silence; 'tis a dismal thing, to consider how much the want of one has retarded the progress of the true religion in America. The Spaniards were, in the beginning of their settlements in these Indies, sensible of these disadvantages, and therefore they wisely remedied any inconveniences that might happen on this score, by erecting several Bishoprics in their dominions in that part of the world; and why we should not copy after them, especially in so useful and necessary a point, I do not understand, since what is good for them in this respect cannot be bad for us. Fas est etiam ab hoste doceri. It can be no shame for us to imitate their prudence and conduct, and on this occasion; and though we had no such instance or example to direct or influence in an affair of this kind, yet the evident necessity of the thing itself loudly calls for supply and relief. I will only mention a few things, which point at this defect, and then the venerable society will judge whether the Eng-wished that the clergy's salaries and maintenances in lish Americans have not reason to press for and demand America were settled and adjusted by act of Parliathe constant residence of a mitred head among them. I ment, in Great Britain, and then they would be the take it for granted, that the ends of the mission can nev- more bold and resolute in doing their duty: but as bad er be rightly answered without establishing the disci- as things are in this respect, yet a Bishop would to a pline as well as the doctrine of the Church of England great degree remedy all inconveniences of this kind; for in those parts; for the one is a fortress and bulwark of if the missionary either could not or durst not do his dudefence to the other, and once the outworks of religion ty, then the Bishop would; and the laity would in a litcome to be slighted and dismantled, it is easy to fore- tle time be brought to pay a greater regard to their spir see, without the spirit of prophecy, what the conse-itual guides, and then they would by degrees submit to quence will be. As to a ready and constant supply of ministers or missionaries, which is of the last consequence to the well being of the American Churches, this can never be hoped for, without a resident Bishop among them, to whom upon the death, or notorious and scandalous immorality of any clergyman, application may in a little time be made. And the wants of each cure may be supplied by his ordaining such persons as shall be found capable of labouring in God's vineyard; such I presume a resident Bishop would seldom or nev: Church discipline, and censures, without which, though |