which its arguments were urged. Though some might regret the determination at which its author had arriv. ed, all would rejoice that in making it he had maintained the dignity of a gentleman, the elegance of a scholar, and the candour and charity of a Christian.

The last letter which I have been able to find of the correspondence before alluded to, bears date in March, 1783. It has reference to the mode of his return to America. The record of his oath of allegiance to the government of his native state, from which it declares him to have been absent about twenty years, is before me, and is dated June 10th, 1783. The place of his residence for the year ensuing, and the estimate formed of him by his neighbours and associates, will appear from the testimonial which, on his removal, they presented to him.*

*These are to certify, that the Rev. Charles Henry Wharton, a native of St. Mary's county, in the state of Maryland, and descended from a very genteel and respectable family,-ever since he arrived from Europe, (whither, when very young, he was sent for the benefit of his education,) has resided at his seat in this neighbourhood, for these twelve months last past; during which time, his life and conversation, as a Christian, have been irreproachable and exemplary, while the easiness and affability of his deportment, as a gen tleman, have, very deservedly, gained him the esteem and affection of the sensible, the cool, and thinking part of the professors of every denomination; who, unfettered by the prejudices of education, dare to exert that most valuable prerogative of human nature, the liberty of thinking and judging for themselves. In justice, therefore, to real merit, we, the subscribers, unasked, and unsolicited, do freely and voluntarily, from a conviction of the rectitude and integrity of his heart, and of his general usefulness to society, both as a minister of the Gospel of Christ, and as a scholar, present him, at his removal

In May, 1784, Dr. Wharton visited Philadelphia, for the purpose of publishing his letter to the Roman Catholics. It was made the subject of a pamphlet by his kinsman, Mr., afterwards Archbishop Carroll, under the title of "An Address to the Roman Catholics of the United States of America; by a Catholic Clergyman." To this, Dr. Wharton published an answer, entitled "A Reply to an Address to the Roman Catholics of the United States of America; by the Author of a Letter to the Roman Catholics of the city of Worcester." Of these tracts, collected in 1817, (with two others,) in one volume, a writer in the "British Review," (the Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne,) thus speaks: "The Letter is the first tract in the volume now under consideration, and is characterized by just arguments and a truly liberal spirit. To counteract the effects which might be produced by it in America, the late Roman Catholic Archbishop, Carroll, published a reply, in which he defends the principles of his Church with eru-dition, and endeavours to answer Dr. Wharton's objections with politeness. The latter produced an answer to the Archbishop's reply, in which he has completely

from this settlement, with this small testimony of our esteem and regard.— Given under our hands, this 26th day of July, 1784.

JEREMIAH JORDAN,

RICHARD BARNES,

J. A. THOMAS,

PHILIP KEY,

GEO. SLAIDE,

GEORGE GOLDIE,

JOHN LLEWELLEN.”

vindicated the Protestant faith, with equal ability and learning." The re-publication was made in consequence of repeated applications to the author. It had extensive and rapid circulation, and has been long since out of the bookseller's hands. The union of Archbishop Carroll's pamphlet with his own, in the same volume, must be regarded as an evidence at once of the entire fairness of Dr. Wharton's disposition, and of his entire confidence in the sovereign power and certain supremacy of truth. The courteous and Christian spirit which animated the whole controversy evinces, that widely as its authors differed in their views of religion, its power was felt and owned in both their hearts.

The two remaining tracts which make up the volume, were written at a later period, and on a different occasion. A.Roman priest in the city of New-York, in the year 1813, who had procured the restitution of some stolen goods, declined to give testimony, at the police-office, as to the person by whom the theft was committed, and pleaded the privilege of the confessional. The question thereupon came up for trial before the Mayor's Court, whether he could be excused from testifying,—and, generally, whether a Roman Catholic Priest can in any case be justifiable in refusing to reveal the secrets of sacramental confession. The Court decided, the Hon. De Witt Clinton, Mayor, presiding, that the witness should be excused from answering. The report of the trial being published by William Sampson, Esq., a Rọman Catholic gentleman, one of the counsel in the case;

there was added, as an appendix, what was called, “ A true exposition of the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, touching the sacrament of penance, with the grounds on which this doctrine is founded." To this "True Exposition," Dr. Wharton published a "Short Answer;" which was dedicated to the Bishops, Clergy, and Lay-deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in General Convention assembled,-and in which, conclusive proof from Scripture, from history, and from reason, was given, that the doctrine of auricular confession, as a divinely instituted sacrament of the Christian Church, has no foundation in Scripture,—that it was unknown to the primitive Church, and that no earthly tribunal has the right to impose or require it. To this "Short Answer," a "Brief Reply" was made by the Rev. Dr. O'Gallagher, to which Dr Wharton finally rejoined in a pamphlet, entitled "Some Remarks on Dr. O'Gallagher's 'Brief Reply' to Dr. Wharton's 'Short Answer' to 'A true exposition of the doctrine of the Catholic Church, touching the sacrament of penance;' by Charles H. Wharton, D. D., Rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New-Jersey." These two Tracts, pronounced by competent judges to be "learned and well-written," conclude the volume; the second edition* of which, constitutes volume second of these "Remains." The whole is commended confidently to the Christian community, to all who love and seek to know the truth, as an acquisition at all times of great value, and at the pre

*This is in fact the third edition of the first three pieces.

sent time peculiarly interesting and opportune. "To the divine who is desirous of investigating the controversy between Protestants and [Roman] Catholics, this work," says a learned writer,* of the Church of England, "will be extremely useful. Dr. Wharton fully meets his antagonist with arguments drawn from the Scriptures, from the writings of the Fathers, and from Christian antiquity; so that his volume may be considered as a store-house of information to the sincere inquiring Protestant.”

In September and October, 1785, being then Rector of Immanuel Church, New-Castle, Delaware, Dr. Wharton attended the General Convention held in the city of Philadelphia; having been also present at the previous, considered as the first, General Convention, assembled in New-York, in October, 1784. There is in my possession the manuscript journal of a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Delaware, held in Dover, on the 26th and 27th days of September, 1786, at which Dr. Wharton was present, and presided; and, as President, was authorized to sign the recommendation of the Rev. WILLIAM WHITE, D. D., for consecration to the Archbishops and Bishops of England. Let not the grateful acknowledgment be here omitted, of that wonderful goodness of God, which preserved the signer of that testimonial to see the reverend brother, whom he thus recommended to "the office of a Bishop," presiding in a house com

Rev. T. H. Horne.