In the mean time Mr. Sharp had not been idle. Besides corresponding with the celebrated Franklin on the subject, he had written to a Baptist Minister in Rhode Island, the President of the College in Providence, furnishing him with information, derived from family papers, throwing doubt upon the validity of the Scottish consecrations. These documents had been shown to many persons at the North; and as it appears from a subsequent letter from Mr. Sharp, (1) copies were placed in the hands of the Rev. Samuel Provoost, rector of Trinity Church, in New York, for the purpose of laying them before the approaching Convention at Philadelphia. The strangeness, to say the least, of the channel of this communication with the American Church, though arousing the indignation of some, (2) did not prevent the Rector of Trinity Church, from heartily seconding Mr. Sharp's efforts to impair confidence in Bishop Seabury's orders; and this act was the first of a series of petty incivilities and more open hostilities, the record of which stains the character and Episcopate of the first Bishop of New York.

Learning from Mr. Manning of the partial success of his efforts, Mr. Sharp addressed himself to the task of removing the few remaining obstacles to American consecrations in England. We cannot better detail the story of his success than by transferring to our pages the following extracts from his Diary and Correspondence, as published in his "Memoirs."

66

Sept 10, 1785.-Waited on the Archbishop, at Lambeth,

(1) Sharp's Memoirs, foot note to p. 218.

(2) We copy from the Bishop Parker Correspondence, an extract from a letter written April 27, 1785, by Mr. T. Fitch Oliver, a candidate for holy Orders, soon after ordained by Bishop Seabury.

"I have lately seen a letter from Granville Sharp, Esq., (London), on the subject of Dr. Seabury's being nominated by the Scottish Nonjuring Bishops, which I shall endeavour to show you when I see you in Boston, if I can obtain permission. 'Tis addressed to president Manning. Has Mr. Sharp no correspondence with any Clergyman of the Episcopal Church in this Country, that he writes on a subject of that Nature to a Baptist Minister? He seems to be dubious as to the Validity of Consecration obtained thro' that Channel, but if the Succession has been preserved, I cannot perceive why it should not be sufficient."

and communicated to him Mr. Manning's letter respecting the convention of the Episcopal Clergy this month at Philadelphia; also Dr. Franklin's letter on the subject of Episcopacy and the Liturgy. He assures me that the Administration would be inclined to give leave to the Bishops to consecrate proper persons. He desired copies of the letters."(1) Accompanying these letters was the following communication, addressed to the Archbishop.

"My Lord,

"Old Jewry, 13th September, 1785.

"Enclosed I have the honour to send your Grace the copies of the letters which I promised. I think it right to add also an extract from a letter which I received last year from an eminent physician at Philadelphia (Dr. Rush, who was physician-general to the Continental army, and some time a member of Congress); for this affords a proof of such candour and moderation towards the Episcopal church, from a Presbyterian, as is seldom known, though I have reason to think it is not uncommon at present in America. The letter was partly in answer to my remonstrance on the subject of Episcopacy.

"Extract of a letter from Dr. Rush, dated 27th of April, 1784:-'I am happy in being able to inform you that at'tempts are now making to revive the Episcopal Church in 'the United States. Though a member of the Presbyterian 'church, yet I esteem very highly the Articles and the worship of the Church of England. There are but two ways of 'preserving visible religion, in any country; the first is, by 'establishments; the second is, by the competition of differ'ent religious societies. The revival of the Episcopal church in our country will produce zeal, and a regard to the ordi'nances of religion, in every other society. Such is the lib'erality produced among the Dissenters by the war, that I 'do not think they will now object to a Bishop being fixed in 'each of our States, provided he has no civil revenue or ju'risdiction.'

"I had similar assurances from Dr. Witherspoon, (a member of Congress and Presbyterian clergyman) when in England last summer; and this inclination to promote Episcopacy is amply confirmed by Mr. Manning's late account of the in

(1) Sharp's Memoirs, pp. 218, 219.

tended convention of the Episcopal clergy of the provinces of Virginia and New York, at Philadelphia; as well as by Dr. Franklin's declaration of his opinion, that unless a 'Bishop is soon sent over with a power to consecrate others, 'so that we may have no more occasion of applying to En'gland for ordination, we may think it right to elect also.' All these circumstances prove, that the present time is very important and critical for the promotion of the interests and future extension of the Episcopal Church in America, and that no time should be lost in obtaining authority for the Archbishops and Bishops of England to dispense with the oaths of allegiance in the consecration of Bishops for foreign churches, that they may be restored to their unquestionable right, as Christian Bishops, to extend the Episcopal church of Christ all over the world.

"An immediate interference is also become the more necessary, not only on account of the pretensions of Dr. Seabury and the Nonjuring Bishops of Scotland, but also to guard against the presumption of Mr. W-y and other Methodists, who, it seems, have sent over some persons, under the name of superintendents, with an assumed authority to ordain Priests, as if they were really invested with Episcopal authority.

"Some accounts of this were read to the Society for propagating the Gospel, in May last, from the letters of their Missionaries; and I have since heard that some Methodistical clergymen have procured consecration from the Moravian churches, which the latter had received from the Bishops of Poland. . . These attempts of the sectaries prove that they perceive among the Americans an increasing inclination towards Episcopal government; and, consequently, they prove also, that the exertions of every sincere friend to the Church of England are peculiarly necessary at this Time, to facilitate the communication of a pure and irreprehensible Episcopacy to America, by removing the obstacles which at present restrain the Archbishops and Bishops of England from extending the Church of England beyond the bounds of the English Government.

"I should also inform your Grace that America is not the only part wherein Protestant Episcopacy is likely to be extended, when the rights of election are better understood; for had I been prepared in the year 1767 on this point, as I am at present, I have reason to believe that a Protestant

Episcopal Church would have been promoted in Holland, and in several parts of Germany and Switzerland, long before this time.

"How I happened to be concerned in so important an affair, if your Grace should have leisure and curiosity to be informed, I am ready to communicate on receiving your commands.

"I remain, with great respect and esteem,

"My Lord, &c., &c."(1)

In connection with this letter to the Archbishop, it may be well to add, from the same source, an extract from a communication addressed by Mr. Sharp to Dr. Franklin, with reference to the intimation he had made of the probability of an election of a Bishop by the Americans. The information contained in this note was doubtless new to the celebrated Philosopher, who, a little earlier, when he had been applied to by some young candidates for holy Orders, who had been refused ordination in England, in consequence of the inability of the Bishops to dispense with the oath required by the Act of Uniformity, had consulted first the Bishops of France, and then the Pope's Nuncio, and after referring them to the Bishops in Ireland, had finally advised. them to act, in case of refusal, as they would be obliged to if England were swallowed up in the sea.(2)

(1) Sharp's Memoirs, pp. 219, 220.

(2) Vide Sharp's Memoirs, pp. 214, 215. We add, as a curiosity, from Dr. Franklin's private Correspondence, a copy of this remarkable letter. To Mess. Weems and Gant, Citizens of the United States, London.

Gentlemen,

Passy, near Paris, July 18, 1784.

On receipt of your letter, acquainting me that the Archbishop of Canterbury would not permit you to be ordained unless you took the oath of allegiance; I applied to a clergyman of my acquaintance for information on the subject of your obtaining ordination here. His opinion was, that it could not be done; and that if it were done, you would be required to vow obedience to the Archbishop of Paris. I next enquired of the Pope's Nuncio, whether you might not be ordained by their Bishops in America, powers being sent him for that purpose, if he has them not already. The answer was, the thing is impossible, unless the gentlemen become Catholics. This is an affair of which I know very little, and therefore I may ask questions and propose means that are improper or impracticable. But what is the necessity of your being connected with the Church of England? Would it not be as well if you were of the Church of Ireland?

"To his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, &c.

"You have intimated a probability that the People of America, in a certain case, 'may think it right to elect' bishops; but the Episcopal clergy of America will, of course, be aware, that the mere election of a Presbyter to the office of

The religion is the same, though there is a different set of bishops and archbishops. Perhaps if you were to apply to the Bishop of Derry,(1) who is a man of liberal sentiments, he might give you orders as of that Church. If both Britain and Ireland refuse you and I am not sure that the Bishops of Denmark or Sweden would ordain you, unless you became Lutherans: what is to be done? Next to becoming Presbyterians, the Episcopalian Clergy of America in my humble opinion, cannot do better than to follow the example of the first clergy of Scotland, soon after the conversion of that country to Christianity; who, when their King had built the Cathedral of St. Andrew's, and requested the King of Northumberland to lend his bishops to ordain one for them, that their clergy might not as heretofore be obliged to go to Northumberland for orders, and their request was refused; they assembled in the Cathedral, and the mitre, crozier, and robes of a bishop being laid on the altar, they, after earnest prayers for direction in their choice, elected one of their own number; when the King said to him, "Arise, go to the altar, and receive your office at the hand of God." His brethren led him to the altar, robed him, put the crozier in his hand, and the mitre on his head, and he became the first Bishop of Scotland.

If the British islands were sunk in the sea (and the surface of this globe has suffered greater changes), you would probably take some such method as this: and if they persist in denying you ordination, it is the same thing. An hundred years hence, when people are more enlightened, it will be wondered at, that men in America, qualified by their learning and piety to pray for and instruct their neighbours, should not be permitted to do it till they had made a voyage of 6000 miles out and home, to ask leave of a cross old gentleman at Canterbury: who seems, by your account, to have as little regard for the souls of the people of Maryland, as King William's Attorney General, Seymour, had for those of Virginia. The Rev. erend Commissary Blair, who projected the College of that Province, and was in England to solicit benefactions and a charter, relates, that the Queen in the King's absence, having ordered Seymour to draw up the Charter which was to be given, with £2000 in money, he opposed the grant; saying that the nation was engaged in an expensive war, that the money was wanted for better purposes, and he did not see the least occasion for a college in Virginia. Blair represented to him, that its intention was to educate and qualify young men to be ministers of the Gospel, much wanted there; and begged Mr. Attorney would consider that the people of Virginia had souls to be saved as well as the people of England. "Souls (said he) d- your souls! Make tobacco!"

Í have the honor to be, gentlemen, &c.,

B. FRANKLIN. -Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., by his Grandson, William Temple Franklin. 4to. London, 1818. Vol. ii. pp. 57, 58.

(1) Lord Bristol.