On Saturday Mr. Rogers attended me to Colchester, where I took the stage and returned to my family and friends. And sir, when I retrace the circuitous route, of at least one hundred and forty miles, which performed, every stage is marked with agreeable incidents, and every toil is sweetened with an endearing recollection. If there is any pleasure in conferring an obligation, you, sir, must feel the expression of that gratitude, which animated every heart. Your goodness in authorizing this mission, will long be remembered, as a monument of that charity which delights in doing good.

i

Here my communication should have ended, but for the pledge which I gave and a ardent desire which I feel in leaving no interest unessayed, which might tend to promote the interest and prosperity of the church. I have already stated, that these churches have been reared into life by the care and industry of Mr. Rogers, and to speak with caution, they embrace a number of not less than two thousand souls; many of them have received baptism at his hands, have come to the holy communion through his persuasion and influence, and now wait with a hope and expectation of being presented by their own minister to the bishop, that they may receive the apostolic rite of confirmation. This is the only point which involves in it any delicacy. If Mr. Rogers is not pos sessed of ecclesiastical authority, his administrations are of course void; if he is possessed of authority and constitutionally deprived of the exercise, his administration must be equally invalid. But if he has unjustly, that is, WITHOUT A CONSTI TUTIONAL AND CANONICAL TRIAL been forbidden the law ful exercise of that authority which he constitutionally and rightfully possessed, can the interdict in any sense affect the right either in the person dispensing, or in the persons receiving the exercise of that power?!! It may not be permitted for me to travel over decisions said to be bottomed on legitimate principles, but I should be sorry to find on the records of the church history, precedents by which, if they should obtain the force of law, the whole right of trial would be committed, and constitutional discipline set at defiance!! I am disposed to believe that whatever is rightly, that is, constitutionally and canonically bound on earth, is bound in heaven; but can any

man in his senses suppose that there is any force in a sentence not constitutionally inflicted!! If such is the case, the whole Protestant church stands this moment excommunicated! The maxim of the Apostle is, that they who have a written law, shall be judged by that law, and to guard this claim, it would appear that we were forbidden, by the highest ecclesiastical authority, to acknowledge, much more TO SANCTION ANY ASSUMED POWER. [See the bishop's Pastoral Letter of 1808, page 62.]

For my part I have no hesitation in acknowledging both the AUTHORITY of Mr. Rogers and his RIGHT constitutionally to exercise it. I consider every step, excepting that of deciding, to what authority is Mr. Rogers EXCLUSIVELY amenable? so informal and so extra-judicial that no decision, of course, no consequence affecting the character or authority of Mr. Rogers can grow out of it. And it has appeared to me that the only true ground of proceeding in this case is to commence it de novo, [anew] or to pass it by as a clerical blunder, and learn from this example, not to implicate the peace of the church through personal misunderstandings.

I should be pleased to accompany the bishop in his visitation of the church in Hebron, Jewitt City, and Poquatanic, (three only of the nine parishes which I visited have churches,) should the bishop be satisfied that it would be consistent with his duty to acknowledge Mr. Rogers' administrations, and to receive from him, as the curate, the subjects of confirmation, and to communicate with him in the offices of the church; otherwise I do not consider it prudent to hold myself responsible for any consequences that may grow out of your sincere wishes to serve them. This much, I can assure you, that no mention will be made of the unpleasant subject by them, but every attention and every mark of respect will be most cordially bestowed, should you feel justified in pursuing the course I have suggested. Having pledged myself not to lead you into any unpleasant dilemma, I feel it my duty not to withhold any information by which you might be enabled to judge correctly of the feelings of a great proportion of society, and might be enabled to form an opinion and make your decision accordingly. No people, I am sure, wili more

cordially welcome the bishop, or treat him with greater respect, under the forementioned conditions, than those under the care of Mr. Rogers. They hold out the branch of peace on constitutional principles, and they feel that there can be no security left to the church, but by adhering strictly to its principles. And sir, I venture to say, that at least one half of the clergy of this state are of the same opinion. With the most profound assurances of my cordial respects and dutiful submission to every constitutional and canonical direction, L am, Right Reverend Sir, your's, affectionately,

SOLOMON BLAKESLEE.

CHAPTER VII.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH CONTINUED.

Within a few days after the receipt of the foregoing letter, Bishop Hobart published, or caused to be published, in all the newspapers printed in Connecticut, that he would visit the different Episcopal churches in that state, on such particular days as he therein designated, and among others, that he would visit St. Peter's church in Hebron, on the 20th day of August, 1817, and St. George's church in Jewitt City, on such a day in that month, and St. James' church in Poquatanic, on another day in that month. Expectation was all alive. No suspicion was entertained that all was not right, or that a plan was for ned for my ruin or their destruction. Great preparations were made for their own spiritual improvement in the public worship of God, and instruction from his word; in confirmation or the laying on of hands, in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and God's blessing, all by the bishop. Great curiosity was awakened, for not one out of an hundred of the people in my care, had ever seen a bishop in their lives. Great preparations were made to honor him and to make him welcome. I had taken unusual trouble in preaching lectures on the subject of confirmation, and in going from house to

house in all my parishes, to endeavor to explain it to them, and to solemnize their minds for the proper and worthy reception of that interesting rite. On the night before the 20th of August, Mr. Ezekiel Brown, one of the wardens of the church, in Hebron, came to me after dark. The heart of the good man was ready to burst, the tears streamed from his eyes, and he was unable to speak; at length, with a broken and a faultering voice, he said, I have bad news; the bishop is a going to disappoint us; he says that he cannot visit our church because you are here ; if you were not here he would

come.

This was the first intimation that the plan was to drive me off, or to ruin me, or to divide and scatter the churches and congregations, which I had gathered. There was no time for reflection or consultation. If the bishop did not intend to visit my parishes, why did he impose upon the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee, by directing him to preach to them, and to give them false notice? Why did he pledge himself in all the newspapers to me, to my people, and to the whole world! He had received Mr Blakeslee's letter, and knew upon what terms he would be received. He was expected in Hebron at four o'clock the next afternoon, and it was thought advisable for me to go with the wardens and Dr. Peters, the next mor ning, to the next town, where the bishop was, and if possible make some arrangements with him. This was done, and he alleged that a compliance with the terms of Mr. Blakeslee's letter, would be an interference on his part with the proceedi ings of Bishop Jarvis, and would be calling upon himself the resentment of his friends; and that he did not wish to have any thing to do with it one way or the other; at length he agreed that he would perform his engagements, and not disappoint the people. if the wardens would give in writing under their hands, that they would not consider him as recogniz ing me as a minister ON THAT DAY. He said expressly, that he did not wish to approve or disapprove of me, as a minister, but that his wish and intention was to leave me to-morrow as I was yesterday; he did not see me, lest it should, by Bishop Jarvis' friends, be construed into an arrangement between him aud n.e. Rather than to have the people disap

pointed, they consented to his proposal. He wrote a certifi cate to the amount of what he proposed, and the wardens signed it. I wish to have it distinctly understood that he did not see me, nor make any arrangements with me, or what I should say, or do, or where I should be. In regard to this, the wardens were not authorized, neither did they make any arrangement or agreement; but only for themselves and the church, that they would not consider him as recognizing me as a minister on that day. This was the amount of their certi ficate, and he expressly said again and again, that he did not wish to approve or disapprove of me, as a minister, but to leave me to-morrow as I was yesterday: that is, as discharging all the duties of a regular priest in the Episcopal church. With this certificate, he came to Hebron, in company with the honorable John S. Peters, and others. With them he came to the door of St. Peter's church in Hebron, on the 20th day of August, 1817. From 1500 to 2000 people were, by computation, assembled for public worship, for religious instruction, and for divine ordinances. About 150 persons were present, who were prepared and expected to be confirmed: which is the apostolic rite of lay ng on of hands after baptism. Great numbers were prepared to receive from the hands of the bishop, at that time, the sacrament of the Lord's supper. When he came to the door of the church, while he was fastening his horse and carriage, I went out and welcomed him to the church in Hebrou; he made no reply, but said to one of the wardens, who was present, Mr. Rogers must withdraw; he replied, and not attend church? the bishop said yes; and instantly mounted his carriage, apparently in anger, and rode off, without consulting the other warden or the vestry, without any apology, without going into the church, and without even speaking to the people The insult, the astonishment, the disappointment, are indescribable. It was with difficulty that many were restrained from offering him personal violence. The federal presbyterians were pleased, and some of them actually triumphed and exulted at what was done. The church people were mortified, disappointed, and ashamed. The bishop, instead of going to the house of the honorable John S. Peters, where he was