that country, or from their political brethren at the North. In November, 1783, the question was directly propounded to the Primus of the Scottish bishops: "Can consecration be obtained in Scotland for an already dignified and wellvouched American clergyman, now at London, for the purpose of perpetuating the Episcopal Reformed Church in America, particularly in Connecticut?" In connection with this query, Dr. Berkeley thus addresses Bishop Skinner:

"I have this day heard, I need not add with the sincerest pleasure, that a respectable presbyter, well recommended from America, has arrived in London seking what, it seems, in the present state of affairs, he cannot expect to receive in our Church.

"Surely, dear Sir, the Scotch prelates, who are not shackled by any Erastian connexion, will not send this suppliant empty away.

"I scruple not to give it as my decided opinion, that the King, some of his cabinet counsellors, all our bishops (except, peradventure, the Bishop of St. Asaph), and all the learned and respectable clergy in our Church, will at least secretly rejoice, if a Protestant bishop be sent from Scotland to America; but more especially if Connecticut be the scene of his ministry. It would be waste of words to say anything by way of stirring up Bishop Skinner's zeal.”(1)

Enquiries with reference to the personal fitness of the candidate, and the causes which led to the rejection of his suit in England, followed, to which the persevering Dr. Berkeley made speedy and satisfactory reply. Coupled with a strong assertion that they need fear nothing from the English authorities in granting "a consecration, which can contradict no law, for a foreign and independent state," (2) he proceeds to state clearly and forcibly the obstacles in the way of the Bishops of the Church of England. "My reading does not enable me to comprehend how, without an Episcopacy, the gospel, together with all its divine institutions, can possibly

(1) Seabury MS., quoted by the Bishop of Oxford.

(2) Ibid.

be propagated. In the present state of matters, I do not see now the English primate can, without royal license at least, if not parliamentary likewise, proceed to consecrate any bishop, except for those districts which erst were allowed to give titles to assistant bishops. In this state of things, I think the glory of communicating a Protestant Episcopacy to the united and independent states of America, seems reserved for the Scotch bishops. Whatever is done herein, ought assuredly to be done very quickly, else the neverceasing endeavours of the English dissenters, whose intolerance has kept back the blessing of prelacy from the Protestant prelatists of America, will stir up too probably a violent spirit in Connecticut against the bishop in fieri. If the Church of England was to send a bishop into any one of the United States of America, the Congress might, and probably would, exclaim that England had violated the peace, and still claimed a degree of supremacy over the subjects of that independent state. The Episcopal Church of Scotland cannot be suspected of aiming at supremacy of any kind, or over any people. I do therefore earnestly hope, that, very shortly, she may send a prelate to the aid of transatlantic aspirants for the primitive ordinance of confirmation."(1)

An application so strongly urged claimed immediate as

sent.

The Primus of the Scotch bishops, Bishop Kilgour, in expressing his "hearty concurrence in the proposal for introducing Protestant episcopacy into America," continues: "All things bid fair for the candidate. I hope, indeed, that the motion is from, and the plan laid under, the direction of the Holy Spirit."(2) His acquiescence was seconded by his brethren in the Episcopate. "The very prospect," writes another, "rejoices me greatly; and considering the great depositum committed to us, I do not see how we can account to our great Lord and Master, if we neglect such an opportu

(1) Seabury MS., quoted by the Bishop of Oxford. (2) Ibid.

nity of promoting his truth, aud enlarging the borders of his Church."(1)

With this introduction, detailing the gradual removal of the difficulties in the way, and the republictaion of the letters and testimonials borne by Dr. Seabury to England, and subsequently laid before the Scottish bishops, as appears from the records in their "Minute Book," to which we shall shortly refer, we propose to continue our narrative of the success of the application in Scotland, by presenting from Bishop Seabury's own Letter-book, already alluded to, the original correspondence which is there preserved, as illustrating the history of this important transaction.

Communication of the Clergy of Connecticut, to the Archbishop of York.(2)

MY LORD,

New York, April 21, 1783.

The clergy of Connecticut, deeply impressed with anxious apprehension of what may be the fate of the Church in America, under the present changes of empire and policy, beg leave to embrace the earliest moment in their power to address your grace on that important subject.

This part of America is at length dismembered from the British empire; but, notwithstanding the dissolution of our civil connexion with the parent state, we still hope to retain the religious polity; the primitive and evangelical doctrine and discipline, which, at the reformation, were restored and established in the Church of England. To render that polity complete, and to provide for its perpetuity in this country, by the establishment of an American Episcopate, has long been an object of anxious concern to us, and to many of our brethren in other parts of this continent. The attainment of this object appears to have been hitherto obstructed by considerations of a political nature, which we conceive were founded in groundless jealousies and misapprehensions that can no longer be supposed to exist: and therefore, whatever may be the effect of independency on this country, in other respects, we presume it will be allowed to open a door for renewing an application to the spiritual governors of the Church on this head; an applica

(1) Seabury MS., quoted by the Bishop of Oxford.

(2) These papers were addressed to the Archbishop of York, as, at the time of their preparation, the See of Canterbury was vacant. Vide White's Memoirs, page 79.

tion which we consider as not only seasonable, but more than ever necessary at this time; because, if it be now any longer neglected, there is reason to apprehend that a plan of a very extraordinary nature, lately formed and published in Philadelphia, may be carried into execution. This plan is, in brief, to constitute a nominal Episcopate by the united suffrages of presbyters and laymen. The peculiar situation of the Episcopal churches in America, and the necessity of adopting some speedy remedy for the want of a regular Episcopate, are offered, in the publication here alluded to, as reasons fully sufficient to justify the scheme. Whatever influence this project may have on the minds of the ignorant or unprincipled part of the laity, or however it may, possibly, be countenanced by some of the clergy in other parts of the country, we think it our duty to reject such a spurious substitute for Episcopacy, and, as far as may be in our power, to prevent its taking effect.

To lay the foundation, therefore, for a valid and regular Episcopate in America, we earnestly entreat your grace, that, in your archiepiscopal character, you will espouse the cause of our sinking Church, and, at this important crisis, afford her that relief on which her very existence depends, by consecrating a bishop for Connecticut. The person whom we have prevailed upon to offer himself to your grace, for that purpose, is the reverend Doctor Samuel Seabury, who has been the society's worthy missionary for many years. was born and educated in Connecticut-he is personally known to us—and we believe him to be every way qualified for the Episcopal office, and for the discharge of those duties peculiar to it, in the present trying and dangerous times.

He

All the weighty considerations which concur to enforce our request, are well known to your grace; we therefore forbear to enlarge, lest we should seem to distrust your grace's zeal in a cause of such acknowledged importance to the interests of religion. Suffer us then to rest in humble confidence that your grace will hear and grant our petition, and give us the consolation of receiving, through a clear and uninterrupted channel, an overseer in this part of the household of God.

That God may continue your life and health, make you in his providence an eminent instrument of great and extensive usefulness to mankind in general, a lasting blessing to the Church over which you preside in particular; and that the present and future sons of the Church in America, may have cause to record and perpetuate your name as their friend and spiritual father, and, when your sacred work is ended, that you may find it gloriously rewarded, is and shall be the devout prayer of the clergy of Connecticut, by whose order (in convention assembled,) and in whose behalf, this letter is addressed to your grace, by your grace's most obedient, humble servant, (Signed,) ABRAHAM JARVIS, Minister of the Episcopal Church in Middletown, and Secretary to the Convention.

Testimonial.

Whereas our well beloved in Christ, Samuel Seabury, doctor of divinity, and missionary of Staten-Island, in this province, is about to embark for England, at the earnest request of the Episcopal clergy of Connecticut, and for the purpose of presenting himself a candidate for the sacred office of a bishop; and that when consecrated and admitted to the said office, he may return to Connecticut, and there exercise the spiritual powers, and discharge the duties which are peculiar to the Episcopal character, among the members of the Church of England, by superintending the clergy, ordaining candidates for holy orders, and confirming such of the laity as may choose to be confirmed-We, the subscribers, desirous to testify our hearty concurrence in this measure, and promote its success; as well as to declare the high opinion we justly entertain of Doctor Seabury's learning, abilities, prudence, and zeal for religion, do hereby certify, that we have been personally and intimately acquainted with the said Doctor Seabury for many years past-that we believe him to be every way qualified for the sacred office of a bishop; the several duties of which office, we are firmly persuaded, he will discharge with honour, dignity, and fidelity, and consequently with advantage to the Church of God.

And we cannot forbear to express our most earnest wish, that Doctor Seabury may succeed in this application, as it will be the means of preserving the Church of England in America from ruin, and of preventing many irregularities which we seem approaching, and which, if once introduced, no after care may be able to

remove.

Given under our hands, at New York, this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

MY LORD,

JEREMIAH LEAMING, D.D. CHARLES INGLIS, D.D. Rector of Trinity Church, New York. BENJAMIN MOORE, D.D. Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, New York, and others.

Letter to the Archbishop of York.

New York, May 24, 1783.

The reverend Doctor Samuel Seabury will have the honour of presenting this letter to your grace. He goes to England at the request of the Episcopal clergy of Connecticut, on business highly interesting and important. They have written on the subject to your grace, and also to the archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishop of London. But, as they were pleased to consult us on the occa