of England from performing the same act of Christian courtesy, His words are these:

"My reading does not enable me to comprehend how, without an Episcopacy, the Gospel, together with all its divine institutions, can possibly be propagated. In the present state of matters, I do not see how 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."*

An application so strongly urged claimed immediate assent. 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." 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 opportunity of promoting His truth, and enlarging the borders of His Church."

Meanwhile the difficulties in the way of success in England, foreseen from the first by the amiable Dr. Berkeley, were far from being removed. In a letter to a gentleman in New York, Dr. Seabury, wearied out with the indifference of those in power to

the needs of a suffering Church in a revolted Province, writes: "I have been amused, I think deceived."* But, "amused" or deceived" the indefatigable Seabury could not long remain, and the following letter, addressed to the Connecticut Clergy, expressed his final determination, after a single effort, to have recourse to the Scotch Bishops:

[Rev. Dr. Seabury to the Clergy of Connecticut.]

London, July 26, 1784.

Gentlemen:

I take the opportunity by Mr. Townsend, to write to you, although I have little more to say than I have already said in my late letters.

On the 21st inst. I had an interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury. I was with him an hour. He entered fully and warmly into my business; declared himself fully sensible of the expediency, justice and necessity of the measure, and also of the necessity of its being carried immediately into execution. An act of Parliament, however, will be requisite to enable the Bishops to proceed, without incurring a Præmunire. A bill for this purpose, I am encouraged to expect, will be brought in as soon as the proper steps are taken to insure it an easy passage through the two Houses. The previous measures are now concerting, and I am flattered with every prospect of success. But every thing here is attended with uncertainty, till it is actually done. Men or measures, or both, may be changed to-morrow, and then all will be to go through again. However, I shall patiently wait the issue of this present session of Parliament, which, it is the common opinion, will continue a month longer. If nothing be done, I shall give up the matter here as unattainable, and apply to the North, unless I should receive contrary directions from the Clergy of Connecticut.

The various difficulties I have had to struggle with, and the various steps I have taken to get through them, are too long to communicate by letter; but I hope to spend the next winter in

* Hawks and Perry's Notes to the Reprinted Journals of the General Convention, Vol. I., p. 586.

Connecticut, and then you shall know all, at least all that I shall remember.

My best regards attend the Clergy, and all my friends, and the friends of the Church. I hope yet to spend some happy years with them. Accept, my good Brethren, the best wishes of

Your affectionate, humble Servant,

SAMUEL SEABURY.*

A letter addressed to an old friend, himself a brother refugee from America, where he had been president of King's College, in New York, gives us more in detail the reasons finally influencing Dr. Seabury in taking this step. We copy it from a transcript made in the Bishop's own hand-writing, and preserved by him in his "Letter-Book," still in the hands of his family:

[The Rev. Dr. Seabury to the Rev. Myles Cooper, LL.D.]

My Dear Sir:

London, 31st August, 1784.

I hope this letter will find you safe at Edinboro' in good health and spirits. Here, every thing, in which I have any concern, continues in the same state as when I saw you at your Castle. I have been for some time past, and yet am, in daily expectation of hearing from Connecticut; but there have been no late arrivals, nor shall I wait for any, provided I have any favourable account from you, but shall hold myself in readiness to set off for the North at twenty-four hours notice. With regard to myself, it is not my fault that I have not done it before; but I thought it my duty to pursue the plan marked out for me by the Clergy of Connecticut, as long as there was any probable chance of succeeding. That, probably, is now at an end, and I think myself at liberty to pursue such other scheme as shall insure to them a valid Episcopacy; and such I take the Scotch Episcopacy to be in every sense of the word; and such I know the Clergy of Connecticut consider it, and have always done so; but the connection that has always subsisted between them and the Church of England, and the generous support they have hitherto received from that Church, naturally led them, though no longer a part of the British dominions, to apply to that Church in the first instance, for relief in their spiritual necessity. Unhappily the connection of this Church with the State is so intimate, that the Bishops

* Churchman's Magazine, Vol. iii., No. 12, p. 238.

can do little without the consent of the Ministry; and the Ministry have refused to permit a Bishop to be consecrated for Connecticut, or for any other of the thirteen States, without the formal request, or at least consent of Congress, which there is no chance of obtaining, and which the Clergy of Connecticut would not apply for, were the chance ever so good. They are content with having the Episcopal Church in Connecticut put upon the same footing with any other religious denomination. A copy of a law of the State of Connecticut, which enables the Episcopal congregations to transact their ecclesiastical affairs upon their own principles, to tax their members for the maintenance of their Clergy, for the support of their worship, for the building and repairing of Churches, and which exempts them from all penalties and from all other taxes, on a religious account, I have in my possession. The Legislature of Connecticut know that a Bishop is applied for, they know the person in whose favour the application is made, and they give no opposition to either. Indeed were they disposed to object, they have more prudence than to attempt to object to it. They know that there are in that State more than 70 Episcopal Congregations; many of them large; some of them making a majority of the inhabitants of large towns, and with those that are scattered through the State, composing a body of near or quite 40,000; a body too large to be needlessly affronted in an elective Government.

On this ground it is that I apply to the good Bishops in Scotland, and I hope I shall not apply in vain. If they consent to impart the Episcopal Succession to the Church of Connecticut, they will, I think, do a good work, and the blessing of thousands will attend them. And perhaps for this cause, among others, God's Providence has supported them, and continued their Succession, under various and great difficulties, that a free, valid and purely ecclesiastical Episcopacy, may, from them, pass into the Western world.

As to anything which I receive here, it has no influence on me, and never has had any. I, indeed, think it my duty to conduct the matter in such a manner as shall risk the salaries which the Missionaries in Connecticut receive from the Society here as little as possible, and I persuade myself it may be done so as to make that risk next to nothing. With respect to my own salary, if the Society choose to withdraw it, I am ready to part with it.

It is a matter of some consequence to me that this affair be determined as soon as possible. I am anxious to return to America this Autumn, and the Winter is fast approaching, when the voyage will

be attended with double inconvenience and danger, and the expense of continuing another winter is greater than will suit my purse. I know that you will give me the earliest intelligence in your power, and I shall patiently wait till I hear from you. My most respectful regards attend the Right Reverend Gentlemen under whose consideration this business will come; and, as there are none but the most open and candid intentions on my part, so I doubt not of the most candid and free construction of my conduct on their part.

Accept, my dear Sir, of the best wishes of

Your ever affectionate, &c.,

S. S.*

Adding to the other testimonials the following attestation from himself, Dr. Cooper forwarded, through a friend in Edinburgh, Dr. Seabury's letter and his own to the Primus of the Scotch Church:

[Rev. Dr. Cooper to Bishop Kilgour.]

Dr. Cooper presents his most respectful compiments to Bishop Kilgour, and begs leave to acquaint him, that, to Dr. Cooper's knowledge, Dr. Seabury is recommended by several worthy Clergymen in Connecticut, as a person worthy of promotion, and to whom they are willing to submit as a Bishop.

Edinboro', 13th September, 1784.

Following the reception of this communication, we find, in the Letter-book referred to, several letters well worthy of reproduction, as throwing additional light on this portion of our narrative:

[From Bishop Kilgour of Aberdeen, to Rev. John Allen of Edinburgh.]

Rev. and Dear Sir:

I acknowledge by the first opportunity the receipt of yours of the 14th ult., inclosing Dr. Seabury's letter to Dr. Cooper, which I doubt not you have received in course.

Dr. Seabury's long silence, after it had been signified to him, that the Bishops of this Church would comply with his proposals, made them all think that the affair was dropped, and that he did not choose to be connected with them; but his letter and the manner in which he accounts for his conduct give such satisfaction, that I have the pleasure to inform you, that we are still willing to comply with his

* From the Letter-book of Bishop Seabury, in possession of the Rev. Dr. Seabury of New York.