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SMITM,

Life and Correspondence

OF THE

Rev. William Smith, D.D,

First Provost of the College and Academy of Philadelphia.
First President of Washington College, Maryland. President of the St. Andrew's Society of Phila-
delphia. President of the Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Children of
Clergymen in the Communion of the Church of England in America.
Secretary of the American Philosophical Society, etc., etc.

WITH COPIOUS EXTRACTS FROM HIS WRITINGS.

b ) >*

BY HIS GREAT-GRANDSON,

HORACE WEMYSS SMITH,

Member of the //istorical Society of Pennsylvania,
Editor of ike " Miscellaneous Works of Richard Penn Smith," of "The York-Town Orderly Book,"

"Andreana," etc., etc.

VOL. II.

PHILADELPHIA :
PUBLISHED BY FERGUSON BROS. & CO.,

15 NORTH SEVENTH STREET.

1880.

zx- i\\t\

■Til,

Entered acfonjing toAct t>f Ct)ngpes?^in the year 1878, by

•"• ' :'l : ' 's; Ai GEXjfepk'&'co.,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C

• . ■ « • ' FCRPUSQK «ROS. &. CO.,

•* ,* J . . BRIN-SEHS A'jip'^EL|cTgC»JpERS,

. • » • ' ' 'PHILADELPHIA.

9 5LSYn4 3

5

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Dr. Smith Preaches in the Churches near the Valley Forge — His Cat-
tle and Horses are taken for the Army, but Restitution or Com-
pensation IS Honorably made by Order of General Washington —
Makes Observations along with Rittenhouse and other Men of
Science, on an Eclipse of the Sun — Preaches on St. John's Day,
before Washington and the Society of Free Masons 9

CHAPTER XXXVn.

On the Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, Dr. Smith returns
TO the City, and begins the Work of Re-establishing the College —
His Great Services of every sort, Literary, Fiscal and of Business
Generally, herein — The College Finances put upon as good a Foot
as Practicable in the Supremacy of Continental Paper — Instructors
brought back, and Degrees again Ordered to be Conferred 13

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The Abrogation of the College Charter by President Reed and the
Legislature of Pennsylvania — A Truthful and Eloquent History
OF the Transaction by the Provost Stille — The Transaction
Characterized and Condemned — The Episcopal Academy Founded
IN Consequence of the Injustice done to the College — Dr. Smith

LEFT without MEANS OF LIVING — FiNAL REPEAL IN 1 789 OF THE ACT OF

Abrogation as Repugnant to Justice, Unconstitutional, and Danger
ous to Chartered Rights i8

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Washington made a

Dr. Smith interests himself in having General Washington made a
Grand Master over all the Masonic Lodges formed or to be formed
in the United States 29

CHAPTER XL. .

Dr. Smith goes to Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland, and estab-
lishes his School, which finally became Washington College —
Takes charge of a Parish there — Preaches a Thanksgiving Sermon
for the Establishment of Peace and Independence, July 4TH, 1780 —
Assembles the Church in Convention, November 9TH, 17S0 — The
First Church Convention in Maryland — Address of the Parishes

(3)

4 CONTENTS.

TO THK General Assembly of the State — The Name " Protestant
Episcopal Church" first given to the Church of England at this
Convention 34

CHAPTER XLI.

Dr. Smith Preaches a New Year's Sermon in St. Peter's Church, Phila-
delphia— Proposes General Washington as a ]Member of the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society — General W.-vshington's Letter of Ac-
ceptance TO Dr. Smith — Dr. Smith to C^sar Rodney — Dr. Smith
Preaches a Funeral Sermon at the Burial of Mrs. Coudon —
Preaches in May, 1781, a Fast Sermon in Chestertown, and in De-
cember of the same Year a Thanksgiving Sermon — Extracts from
THESE Two Last — Death of John "Wemyss — Extract from the Min-
utes of THE Grand Lodge — The Ahiman Rezon 39

CHAPTER XLII.

Dr. Smith Preaches a Funeral Discourse on the Rev. Hugh Neill, of

WHOM SOME account IS GIVEN — DeATH OF MrS. BlACKWELL, WiFE OF

the Rev. Mr. Blackwell — Notice and Elegiac Stanzas upon her
Death attributed to Dr. Smith — The Convention of 1782 in Mary-
land— Success of Kent County School, and Development of Wash-
ington College, Maryland — Death of William Moore, Esq., of
Moore Hall 59

CHAPTER XLIII.

Dr. Smith's Account of Washington College— Address to the Inhabi-
tants OF Maryland in regard to the College — List of the Sub-
scriptions— Dr. Smith and Peregrin Lethbury to the Assembly of
Maryland — Address of the Visitors to the Assembly — Dr. Smith in
behalf of the visitors to general washington general wash-
INGTON TO Dr. Smith in reply — Proceedings of the Assembly of •
Maryland 65

CHAPTER XLIV.

:/

First Commencement of Washington College, May 14, 1783 — List of
Graduates — Corner-Stone Laid — Convention at Chestertown, May
12, 1783 — Petition the Assembly — Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White-
Convention at Annapolis, August 13, 1783 — Petitions to the Gen-
eral Assembly of Maryland — Declaration of Rights — Notice ofI
Rev. Thomas Gates — Dr. Smith Chosen for Bishop of Maryland —
Clergy of Maryland Give Recommendation of him for Consecration
to the Bishop of London — Notices of the Rev. Dr. Gordon and of
the Rev. Dr. West — Marriage of Dr. Smith's Eldest Daughter 87

CHAPTER XLV.

Dr. White, Dr. Blackwell of Pennsylvania and Dr. Beach of New
Jersey Desirous of a Continental Convention — Dr. Smith in Mary-
land Assists the Project — Dr. Smith to Dr. White — A Church

CONTENTS. 5

Conference is Made at a Meeting of the Clergy to Re-establish the
Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Children of the
Clergy, Founded, 1769 — Ecclesiastical Convention of Pennsylvania,
May 25TH, 17S4 — Declaration by it of Principles — Ecclesiastical
Convention of Maryland, June 220, 1784 — Dr. Smith's Sermon at it —
Declaration by it of Principles Sufficiently Harmonious with those
OF the Pennsylvania Convention — Convention of Several States in
New York, October 6th, 1784 — Dr. Smith Presides — Fundamental
Principles Declared by it, and Proceedings End — Dr. Smith Chair-
man of Committee to Frame an Ecclesiastical Constitution and to
Frame and Propose a Proper Substitute for the State Prayers — Dr.
Smith Elected President of the Corporation for the Relief of the
Widows, etc 103

CHAPTER XLVI.

Convention of the Church in Seven States, held a. d. 1785, at Christ
Church in Philadelphia — Dr. Smith Chairman of a Committee to
make a Review of and Further Alterations, with Additions to the
Liturgy — The Thirty-nine Articles Presented in a Condensed
Form — The Alterations, Additions and Condensation Adopted by
THE Convention — The Whole Ordered to be Printed in a Book —
The Proposed Book — Dr. Smith Requested to Preach a Sermon at
the Close of the Convention suited to the Solemn Occasion — He
DOES so — Extracts from the Sermon — Dr. White, Dr. Smith and the
Rev. Mr. C. H. Wharton, at this time of New Castle, Delaware,
but better known afterwards as Dr. Wharton, of Burlington, New
Jersey, appointed a Committee to see the Proposed Book through
the Press 118

CHAPTER XLVn.

Correspondence between Dr. Smith and Dr. White, with a Letter
from Dr. Wharton to the latter while the Copy of the " Proposed
Book" was going through the Press, including Dr. White's " Hints
FOR A Preface," and Dr. Smith's Preface — Dr. Smith to the Rev.
Samuel Parker 141

CHAPTER XLVni.

The " Proposed Book " — Absurd Pretensions of the so-called " Re-
formed Episcopal Church," that the Schism of their Sect found
Support in it — History of the Formation of the Book — Dr. Smith
chiefly entitled to the Credit of it — Some Description of the
Respective Ecclesiological Characters and Tastes of Dr. Smith, Dr.
White and Dr. Wharton, as applied to this Subject — Dr. Smith's
Services in Procuring the Episcopal Succession — Adjourned General
Convention of 1786 at Wilmington — A Partial Compliance with the
Suggestions of the English Archbishops — Dr. White, Dr. Provost
and Dr. Griffith Recommended to the English Bishops for Conse-
cration— Maryland Convention of 1786 — Attestation by his Parish
Officers in Maryland of Dr. Smith's Fitness for Consecration.... 203

O CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XLIX.

Matters Contemporaneous with and Collateral to the General Ec-
clesiastical Councils — The Proposed Book, etc. — Church Convention
IN Maryland, 1784 — Efforts to Prevent the Apostacy of the Meth-
odists— Second Commencement of Washington College — Genf:ral
Washington Honors it with his Presence— Dr. Smith to Dr. West
about the Funds for the College — Christian Frederick Post — His
Death and a Notice of him — A Friendly Letter from Dr. Muhlen-
berg TO Dr. Smith — Ordination by Bishop Seabury of a Pupil of Dr.
Smith Prepared for Holy Orders by the Latter and Recommended
FOR them by him — BisHop Seabury's great Satisfaction with the
Candidate — Church Convention in Maryland, a. d. 1785 — Death of
Dr. Charles Ridgely, a Brother- in-Law of Dr. Smith — The Rev,
John M. Languth — Death of GENER^fL John Cadwalader, a Nephew
of Dr. Smith by Marriage — Dr. Smith Preaches at the Funeral —
Letter of Dr. Smith's Wife referring to the Deaths of Dr.
Ridgely and General Cadwalader — Maryland Convention of 1787 —
Ordination of Dr. Smith's Kinsman, Richard Canning Moore —
Efforts to have the Charter of the College at Philadelphia
Restored — Dr. Smith to Dr. West 241

CHAPTER L.

The Proposed Book not so well received as might have been reason-
ably expected — The cause of this thus explained — Proposed by a
Convention before the Church was properly Organized by the
presence of the Episcopal Order — The New England Clergy alarmed

BY A WRONG IMPRESSION OF THE PURPOSE OF DR. WhITE'S " CaSE OF

the Episcopal Churches in the United States Considered" — The
Alterations not Agreeable to all — Bishop Seabury's statement of
some of the grounds of dislike— State Pride and Jealousy as much
a cause for the Non-reception as any better reasons — The work

TOO HASTILY DONE — LETTER TO Dr. WEST 256

CHAPTER LI.

The Convention of 1789, A great Ecclesiastical Council — Dr. Smith is

CALLED ON UNEXPECTEDLY TO PrEACH ON ITS OPENING, AND SOON AFTER-
WARDS ON THE SUDDEN DEATH OF Dr. GRIFFITH, BiSHOP-ELECT OF VIR-
GINIA— A Memoir of Dr. Griffith — The Convention delicately situ-
ated IN REGARD TO BiSHOP SfABURY — BiSHOP PrOVOOST'S SOMEWHAT
ECCENTRIC course IN RECiARD TO THIS EMINENT AND PIOUS PRELATE

Dignified course of Bishop Seabury — Dr. Smith, along with Bishop
White, accommodate matters between Bishop Seabury and the
Convention — The Validity of Bishop Seabury's Episcopal Orders, on
motion of Dr. Smith, fully Recognized by the Convention — The
Convention temporarily Adjourns in order to give time for further
Consultation — Correspondence between Dr. Smith and Bishop Sea-
bury— The latter, with Representatives from New Hampshire and
Maine, comes into the Adjourned Convention — A General Union
effected a. d. 1789, in Philadelphia, in the same room in the State

CONTENTS. 7-

House where Independence was declared in 1776, and the Constitu-
tion OF THE United States signed in 1787 — Happy Conclusion of

MUCH LABOR AND OF MANY SOLICITUDES 264

CHAPTER LII.

The Convention now becomes Bi-Cameral — Both Houses sit in the
State House; the Clerical and Lay Deputies, over whom Dr.
Smith is elected to preside, in the Chamber of Independence —
Strange Vicissitudes in Dr. Smith's Life — The History of the
Formation of the Book of Common Prayer of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the United States of America — The House of
Bishops consists of Bishop Seabury and Bishop White, Bishop Pro-
voosT absent — The Selection of Psalms — Some Comparison of the
Proposed Book with the new Book of Common Prayer — Prospects
of the Church — Alterations of the Prayer Book deprecated unless
IN conjunction with the Church of England, and unless the Books
OF the two Churches are made nearly or quite alike — Dr. Smith
writes an Address ordered by the Convention to President Wash-
ington AND ONE TO THE ENGLISH ARCHBISHOPS 287

CHAPTER LHI.

Restoration by the State of Pennsyla^ania of the Charter of the
College of Philadelphia, Unjustly taken away in 1779 — An Anec-
dote Illustrative of Dr. Smith's ready humor — He takes leave
OF the Convention in Maryland — Bishop White's Tribute to his
Services to the Church and Otherwise in that State — Dr. Wroth's
Account of Washington College — Dr. Smith's return to Philadel-
phia, July ist, 1789 — Proposed Inscription upon his College — Pro-
ceedings in the different branches of the Reconstruction — First
Commencements, Medical, and in the Departments of Arts, since
THE Restoration — Union of the College of Philadelphia with the
University of the State of Pennsylvania under the name of the
University of Pennsylvania — The Rev. John Ewing elected Provost
— The new institution languished and continued to languish for
many years, and until the Provostship of Dr. Stille — Dr. Smith
preaches before the Cincinnati, July 4TH, 1790 — Engagement and
I\L\.rriage of his son Charles with Miss Yeates — Death of his

DAUGHTER, MrS. GoLDSBOROUGH — BEAUTIFUL INSCRIPTION ON HER TOMB

— Letters in connection with her Death 305

CHAPTER LIV.

Death of Franklin — Impromptu thereon at a Dinner Party by Dr.
Smith — Capped by Mr. Thomas Willing — Franklin's Funeral — Dr.
Smith to Dr. West — The Same to the Same — Dr. Smith's Eulogy
ON Franklin — Une Anecdote de Famille — Dr. Odel's Verses on the
Franklin Stove — Franklin a Natural Philosopher and not a
Statesman , 324

8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER LV.

Dr. Smith appointed by the Masonic Order of Pennsylvania to Pre-
pare AN Address to President Washington, which he does — He
Receives an Answer from the President — Dr. Smith to Jonathan
Williams, Esq. — Marriage of Dr. Smith's Daughter, Rebecca, with
Mr. Samuel Blodget, of Boston — Mrs. Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely,
giving an Account of the Wedding, etc .'.... 347

CHAPTER LVI.

The Yellow Fever of 1793 in Philadelphia — Mr. Mathew Carey's
Account of it — Advertisements and Communications in the News-
papers ABOUT IT — Extracts from Dr. Smith's Diary during the Pes-
tilence— De.'vth of Dr. Smith's Wife — Address and Exhortation by
the Clergy of Philadelphia, etc 365

CHAPTER LVn.

The Eight Sermons on the great Visitation of Pestilence remarked
on — Distinguished, even above the Author's other Pulpit Discourses,
BY Seriousness and Solemnity — Extracts from several of them 381

CHAPTER LVni.

Dr. Smith Devotes Himself to Internal Improvement through the
Union Canal Scheme — His Half-brother, Thomas Smith, Appointed
TO THE Bench of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania — Death of John
Penn — Dr. Smith Preaches on the Subject of Itinerant Missions —
Also at Funeral of Col. Joseph Rudulph — Also before the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania — General Convention of 1795 — Consecration
TO the Episcopate of South Carolina of Dr. Robert Smith — Dr.
William Smith Preaches the Consecration Sermon, also that of
Edward Bass— Birth of Richard Penn Smith 407

CHAPTER LIX.

Dr. Smith III at Lancaster— Letter to his son, William Moore
Smith— Death of Governor Mifflin— Dr. Smith preaches a Guarded
Funeral Sermon upon him — Gilbert Stuart makes a Portrait of Dr.
Smith— General Convention of 1801 — Builds and Inscribes a Mauso-
leum— His last Will 4"

CHAPTER LX.

Dr. Smith begins to publish his Works— Only two volumes printed 421

CHAPTER LXL

Dr. Smith's last illness— Dies— Is buried in his Mausoleum— His
funeral 446

CHAPTER LXII.

Causes of Dr. Smith not being consecrated Bishop of Maryland— Con-
clusion 450

APPENDIX 467

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Dr. Smith Preaches in the Churches near the Valley Forge — His Cat-
tle AND Horses are taken for the Army, but Restitution or Com-
pensation IS Honorably made by Order of General Washington —
Makes Observations, along with Rittenhouse and other Men of
Science, on an Eclipse of the Sun — Preaches on St. John's Day, before
Washington and the Society of Free Masons.

As the reader will remember, the last chapter of Volume I. of
this work left the British in the possession of Philadelphia, and
Dr. Smith and part of his family residing on Barbadoes Island,
seventeen miles above the city, within an hour's ride of the Valley
Forge. On some occasions during the winter he preached in the
churches in the Valley and at Radnor ; both churches, as all others
in the State, having been vacated permanently or temporarily b\-
their rectors. The Rev. Mr. White, afterwards the Bishop, who
was chaplain of Congress at Yorktown, the Rev. Mr. Blackunell,
afterwards the well-known Dr. Blackwell, who was chaplain to the
First Pennsylvania Regiment and surgeon to one of the regiments
at the Valley Forge, and my ancestor. Dr. Smith, were, at this
time, I presume, the only three Episcopal clergymen in the State.
Mr. Currie, in Chester county, had been for some time pretty much
superannuated, and was now, I think, not in the Commonwealth.
Mr. White was with the Congress, during the occupation, at York-
town. Mr. Blackwell, in his double office of spiritual and bodily
physician, was closely occupied on the hills and in the huts of the.

9*

lO LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17/8

Valley Forge. So that the only person who could perform any-
thing like parochial duty was the subject of our biography.

I find but little of Dr. Smith's correspondence during the winter,
and but little of his personal history of interest to the reader,
except that Michael Rudulph and certain of the troops drove off
some of Dr. Smith's cattle and his best /lorse, which was taken for
the use of his friend, General Porter. However, upon an applica-
tion to General Washington, his cattle were returned and he
received pay for his horse.

On the 28th of March, Dr. Smith was present at a meeting of
the people, held at Forty Fort, Wyoming, in regard to the claims
of Connecticut to lands in Pennsylvania ; a question which long
and deeply agitated a portion of the State. Samuel Sutton was
chairman, and Dr. Smith reported to the meeting that he and Dr.
Ewing had succeeded in having the " Confirming Law" repealed.

On the 24th of June, assisted by his old scientific friends of the
"Transit" day — Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. Lukens, and Mr. Owen
Biddle — he made for the Philosophical Society the observations of
an eclipse of the sun. The result of these observations from the
manuscript of Dr. Smith, is published entire in the Appendix of
"Barton's Life of Rittenhouse."

On the loth of July, 1778, Dr. Smith preached in Oxford
Church, on the first opening of the churches after the evacuation
of the city by the British.

From the 28th of June, 1777, to the 25th of September, 1778,
there were no public meetings of the Board of Trustees of the
College. The affairs of the institution during the occupation of the
city by the British had a great advantage from a supervision of
them by the Honorable Thomas Willing, one of the trustees, who
remained in the city during that term ; a gentleman whose patriot-
ism was never questioned, although he voted steadily against the
Declaration of Independence. His very high personal character
saved him from any molestation by either side.

Ebenczer Kinnersley died on the 4th of July, in the year last
mentioned ; his health, which a residence of considerable length
in the islands of the West Indies did not re-establish, having been
for a good while before enfeebled. On the 15th of December of
this same year, the minutes of the College tell us that " Dr. Smith
informed the board that some years ago Mr. Kinnersley had made

1778] 2iEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. II

an offer to the College of his electrical apparatus and the several
fixtures belonging to it, upon a valuation to be made by some
proper judges; that the trustees were then disposed to accept of
the proposal, but that through the disturbance of the times the
business had not been completed; that Mr. Kinnersley being since
deceased, the apparatus, by order of his executors, had been
valued at about five hundred pounds, was now in complete order,
and perhaps equal to any apparatus of the kind in the world, and,
therefore, proper to be kept as it stands, for the use of the College."

" The trustees who are present," continued the minutes, " are of
opinion that the said apparatus should be taken at the valuation
set upon it for the use of the College, and that it be inserted in the
notices to be given of next meeting ; that money is proposed to be
laid out in order to have a full authority for this purchase."

At the meeting thus called, and which was held December 23d,
1778, it was agreed "that the treasurer may pay Mrs. Kinnersley
on account of the College for the electrical apparatus, as the same
has been valued by Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Bringhurst, and that
the inventory thereof be procured and inserted in the minutes."

On the 28th of December, 1778, the anniversary of St. John, the
Evangelist, the grand and subordinate lodges of Masons deter-
mined to celebrate the day with a procession and sermon. They
appointed a committee to wait upon the Grand Secretary, Dr.
Smith, and request him to deliver the sermon, and to personally
wait on " Brother George Washington, and request his excellency
to attend the procession." Dr. Smith, having agreed to preach
the sermon, waited upon the General, who courteously promised
to take part in the procession. Accordingly, at nine o'clock in
the morning of St. John's Day, nearly three hundred of the breth-
ren assembled at the College, and at eleven o'clock went in regular
procession thence to Christ Church to attend divine service.

The order of the procession was as follows, viz. :

1. The Sword Bearer.

2. Two Deacons, with blue wands tipt with gokl.

3. The three orders, Dorick, lonick and Corinthian, borne by three
brethren.

4. The Holy Bible and Book of Constitutions, on two crimson velvet
cushions, borne by the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary.

5. A reverend brother.

12 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M7^

6. Four Deacons, bearing wands.

7. His Excellency the illustrious Brother George Washington,
Esq., supported by the Grand Master and his Deputy.

8. The two Grand Wardens, bearing the proper pillars.

9. The Past Masters of the different lodges.

10. The present Masters of lodges.

11. The Senior Wardens, "\

12. The Junior Wardens, ^ ,, j.^^ , •.11

„, ;!, y of the different private lodges.

13. 1 he Secretaries, [

14. The Treasurers, J

15. Brother Proctor's band of music.

16. Visiting brethren.

17. The members of different lodges, walking two and two, accord-
ing to seniority.

The procession entered the church in the order of their march,
and the brethren took their seats in the pews of the middle aisle,
which were kept empty for their reception. Prayers were read by
the Rev. Mr. White, and the following anthem was sung in its
proper place by sundry of the brethren, accompanied by the organ
and other instrumental music, viz. :

A GRAND SYMPHONY.

CHORUS.

Behold now good and joyful a thing it is, brethren, to dwell together

in unity.

SOLO.

I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord ! with my whole heart
secretly among my brethren, and in the congregation
will I praise Thee : I will speak the marvel-
lous works of Thy hands, the Sun,
the Moon, and the Stars,
which Thou hast
ordained.

SOLO.

The people that walked in darkness hath seen a great light, and

on them that dwelt in the land of the shadow of

death doth the glorious light

of Jehovah

shine.

1778] Ji^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I 3

SOLO.

Thou hast gathered us from the East, and from the West, from

the North, and from the South ; Thou hast made us

companions for the mighty upon earth, even

for princes of great nations.

TRIO.

O ! I am ! inspire us with wisdom and strength, to support

us in all our troubles, that we may worship Thee

in the beauty of holiness.

After which Dr. Smith preached a well-adapted sermon. The
text was taken from the 1st Epistle of Peter, 2d chapter, and i6th
verse. The brethren requested a copy of the sermon for publica-
tion, and the profits were applied to the use of the jjoor.

After divine service the procession returned to the College ; the
musical bells belonging to the church and the band of music
playing proper Masonic tunes. The brethren being all " new
clothed," and the officers in the proper jewels of their respective
lodges, and their other badges of dignity, made, we are told, " a
genteel appearance."

The brethren afterwards departed to their respective lodges,
where they dined together. The sum of ^^^400 was collected in
the church, among the brethren and others, for the relief of the
poor.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Ox THE Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, Dr. Smith returns
TO the City, and begins the Work of Re-establishing the College —
His Great Services of every sort. Literary, Fiscal and of Business
Generally, herein — The College Finances put upon as good a Foot
AS Practicable in the Supremacy of Continental Paper — Instructors
p ought back, and Degrees again Ordered to be Conferred.

Upon the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British forces. Dr.
Smith immediately returned to that city and began to make
arrangements to again open the College, Academy and Schools.
The opening took place early in January of this year. It at once
showed that the character and good fame which the institution
had acquired before the war began was still possessed by it.

14 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE {.^779

" Pupils," says Dr. Stille, " soon flocked to the schools ; though
the greater portion of them was in the lower departments."

Political spirit, of course, still ran high. Arnold was in com-
mand of the city, and under his permission the worst portion of a
party, downright and profligately Tory, was insolently asserting
itself Such a nest brought discredit and insult from the common
people to a very different class of persons, and, indeed, to some
degree to all who had ever belonged to the ancient proprietary
party. Any man who had not been violent in denouncing George
III., and equally violent in approving of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, exactly as and when made, was a target for the arrows of
every illiterate and malignant fellow. Dr. Smith came in for a
good share. He had hardly got back to the city before an igno-
ramus, named Cress, who, as Xhcjin-at showed, was unable to write
his name, published in the newspapers an affidavit as follows :

Deposition of Petsr Cress.

Pennsylvania ss.

Before me, Plunket Fleeson, Esquire, one of the Justices of the Peace,
&c., comes Peter Cress of the City of Philadelphia, Saddle and Harness
maker, and being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, That on the day on
which the attack was made by the Vigilant on the fortification at Mud
island, Doctor William Smith, Provost of the college of Philadelphia,
with a number of other people of the City of Philadelphia, was on the
banks near the mouth of the river Schuylkill, viewing the attack with a
large Spy-Glass or Telescope. That after the firing from the Round
Tops of the Vigilant began and was returned from the fort, he, the said
Peter Cress, was standing behind and very near the said Doctor Smith,
and heard him, the said Doctor Smith, say, that " if they (the men in
the Fort meaning) do not surrender they ought every man of them to
be put to the Sword," or words to this effect. And further the deponent
saith not. his

PETER X CRESS,
mark

Sworn before me at Philadelphia this twentieth day of March, A. D.
1779. PLUNKET FLEESON.

Dr. Smith replied to this by a publication in the same paper, in
which he denied ever having spoken the words alleged against
him, or that he had said anything that could be construed as mean-
ing what they did. Of course nothing came of the matter except
to show that " Peter Cress, of the City of Philadelphia, Saddle and
Harness maker," was a super-serviceable ass.

1/79] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 5

• We now were beginning to feel severely the calamity, which
Dr. Smith had foreseen, of entering on war before we were at all
prepared for it, and the consequent issue of paper money beyond
our ability to redeem it on demand. The crisis, indeed, had not
yet come. We were only on the swelling, or rather on the hugely
swollen tide of a paper money system. But this was worse than
the crisis which soon after did occur. The extravagant deprava-
tion of morals was frightful. Arnold was in command of the city,
and peculation, speculation, debauchery, and fraud of every kind
prevailed. It is set forth in a paper by Mr. F. D. Stone, read in May,
1879, before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, entitled, " Phila-
delphia a Century Ago, or the Reign of Continental Money."*
The minutes of the Board of Trustees show that on the 25th of
March, 1779, both Dr. Smith and Dr. Alison represented to the
Board that their receiving, " in the present currency," only double
the nominal sums of their former salary was no way adequate to
the increased price of necessaries, and prayed that the fact might
be taken by the Trustees into consideration. The Board ordered
that in the notices of next meeting it should be inserted that the
disposition of money would be part of the business before it. At
this next meeting the salaries were raised.

The work of the College now goes on, though it is to some
degree the work of reconstruction. Dr. Smith and Dr. Alison, at
a meeting of May 4th, 1779, informed the Board that they had
examined one Mr. Cochran, who offered himself as an usher in
the Latin School at the rate of ;^400 per annum ; and that they
were of opinion that, though he had not for some time been
employed in teaching the classics, yet by diligent study he might
supply an usher's place. It was therefore ordered that he be
received on a quarter's trial.

Dr. Smith's universal usefulness exhibits itself now even above
what it did in earlier times. He was requested by the Board to
visit the tenants on the Perkasie Manor, and to report the state
of the farms ; to give the tenants notice that their leases being
expired they must come to Philadelphia and enter into new agree-
ments for rents in wheat, or the price thereof as it may be at
Philadelphia, yearly, when the same becomes due. This, with an

* See The Pennsylvania Journal of Biography and History, Vol. 3., p. 361

l6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l779

authority " to employ some person to collect the old rails scattered
on the different parts of the Norriton Plantation, and enclose the
meadows as soon as possible to prevent them being damaged
further by cattle and swine," was rather strange business to put
upon the Provost of the College, he too a Reverend Doctor of
Divinity by diplomas of Oxford, Edinburgh, and Dublin. How-
ever, disdaining no office in life where he could be useful to
science and letters. Dr. Smith went at it all cheerfully and did it
all effectively.

A controversy arose Avith Colonel Bull about the lands which,
we have mentioned in our first volume, were sold by him to Dr.
Smith, at or near Norristown, and which Dr. Smith had transferred
to the College ; Colonel Bull claiming certain small islands or
sand-banks, which he pretended had not passed by his grant to
Dr. Smith, while Dr. Smith and the College, on the strength of a
map which accompanied the deed, asserted that they had ; and,
moreover, that as certain parts of the estate, undeniably granted,
were w'holly useless and incapable of being in the least enjoyed,
unless the parts claimed by Colonel Bull passed also, that they
were absolutely appurtenant and had been well conveyed. Col-
onel Bull finally relinquished his claims.

He visited the farms belonging to the College in Pcrkasie
Manor, and, in the presence of witnesses whom he took with him,
Mr. John Heany and Colonel Smith, one of the members of
Assembly for Bucks county, received the proposals of the tenants
for new leases, and appointed them to attend the Board of Trustees
at a meeting to be held May i8th. The tenants accordingly
attended at the proper time, and, being called in one after another,
the terms of their future leases, for seven years from the 25th of
March, 1779, '^vere settled with them severally, and leases were
ordered to be executed to them under the seal of the Corporation,
and the counterparts duly executed to be deposited with the
treasurer. With respect to the year, from 25th March, 1778, to
25th ]\Iarch, 1779, which they have severally held over their
former term, it was mutually agreed to take a note of hand from
each of them for the like payments in wheat or its value on the
15th of September next, as they were severally to pay for each
year of their new term. Certain trespassers — Clark, Painter, and
others — on the Woodlands on Rockhill, by making settlements

I779J ^EV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1/

without leave, were ordered to move off in three months from the
day of notice given them by Dr. Smith, and to remain accountable
for the damages and waste they had committed. It was further
ordered that no persons should be allowed, for the future, to settle
on the said Woodlands, but that that portion of the estate be
reserved for the supply of the other plantations* now leased, in
such manner as the Trustees or their agents should direct. Lastly
it was ordered that a power of attorney should be given to Mr.
Heany, in whose neighborhood they were, to superintend the
plantations now leased in order to prevent waste and breach of
covenant.

The vigilant and effective agency of Dr. Smith extended itself
over every part of the estates of the College. We find him at this
same meeting acquainting the Board that part of the " New Build-
ings" having been rented by him, at the desire of the Trustees, to
one Mr. Dancer, at the rate of ^30 per quarter, either party to
have the liberty of giving the other a quarter's notice for dissolv-
ing, and the value of money being now greatly altered, he had
given notice to Mr. Dancer more than three months ago, that he
could not continue at that rent ; and that Mr. Dancer had never
yet paid any rent. It was accordingly ordered that he be called
upon for his past rent, and that he deliver up the house unless he
comes to a new agreement for a larger rent.

How completely, indeed, every detail — even those of the most
homely and unappropriate kind — were thrown upon the Provost in
these days of war and desolation appears from the records of a
meeting of the Trustees, held June ist, 1777, when Mr. Dancer,
having been ejected from the premises for which he would pay
only in "bankruptcy" the rent that he had promised to pay in
bullion, it was ordered that an inventory be taken of the kitchen
f limit arc, and that Dr. Smith and Dr. Alison direct the same to be
sold at public vendue, and these gentlemen were to agree with
another person, one Monsieur Marie, for one quarter's rent of the
house. However, in the midst of all these disgusting details, the
care of which would have been better consigned to a real-estate
agent — if, indeed, one who had the capacity, the zeal, the fidelity,
and the humility of Dr. Smith could have been found — it is

* They were fourteen in number.

1 8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}779

refreshing to discover an entry or two in tlie College minutes
which show that the groves of the Academy still existed, and that
masters and scholars sometimes could refresh themselves in its
pleasing walks.

At a meeting of the 28th of June, 1779, "The Provost repre-
sented," say the minutes, " that the following gentlemen who have
been educated in this Seminary and took their Bachelor of Arts
degree with great approbation, had applied in due time and man-
ner to be admitted to the degree of Master of Arts, for which they
are of standing, and qualified according to the rules of the Institu-
tion, viz. : Messrs. Benjamin Chew, Jr., John Mifflin, William
Moore Smith, James Abercrombie, Thomas Duncan Smith, and
Jacob Hall." The names of these gentlemen were accordingly
ordered to be inserted in the mandate for admission to the degree
aforesaid.

The minutes of September 14th, 1779, show equally the zeal
of the Trustees and the Provost in getting the College under its
ancient and full course of usefulness. He is directed to " advertise
for an English and Latin usher, and also to write to Newcastle to
engage a gentleman who teaches a Latin school in that place and
formerly offered his services as an usher."

CHAPTER XXXVni.

The Abrogation of the College Charter by President Reed and the Legis-
LATiRE OF Pennsylvania — A Truthful and Eloquent History of the
'Jransaction by the Provost Stille — The Transaction Characterized
and Condemned — The Episcopal Academy Founded in Consequence of
the Injustice done to the College — Dr. Smith left without means of
LIVING — Final Repeal in 1789 of the Act of Abrogation as Repugnant
to Justice, Unconstitutional, and Dangerous to Chartered Rights.

We come now to the histor)^ of a great event in the life of Dr.
Smith, in the annals of the College, and, as we may add, of the
State ; the abrogation of the College charter by the President and
Legislature of Pennsylvania in the year 1779, on the alleged
ground of disloyalty to the new State of Pennsylvania, and of an
undue devotion to the interests of the Church of England.

1779] RE.V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I9

We have stated in our former volume,* upon Dr. Smith's own
authority, that, from private animosity towards Dr. Smith, and
pohtical disHke of the Penns, who were hberal patrons of the Col-
lege, Dr. Franklin, while in England, in 1764, had represented to
sundry dissenters that the College was " a narrow, bigoted institu-
tion," put into the hands of the Proprietary party as an engine of
government; that the dissenters had no influence in it — although,
as Dr. Smith observed, all the professors in it but himself were
Dissenters — that the College had no occasion to ask assistance
from abroad, and that the country and province would readily
support it if it were not for the things above stated ; and that Dr.
Franklin, w^ith virulence, had made many other representations
grievously reflecting upon the principal persons concerned in the
Institution.

I have shown how false and how much inspired by personal and
political animosities were these statements of the great philosopher.

Coming from a man so well known and regarded by so many
persons as one of impartiality, the statements were not without a
pernicious and, as we shall see, a lasting effect ; one, indeed, as we
may admit, greatly beyond — both in the matter of duration and
effect — what Dr. Franklin himself — whose object was doubtless
confined to thwarting Dr. Smith and to injuring the Penns and
their friends in Philadelphia — at all designed or anticipated.

At the outbreak of the Revolution the Trustees of the College
were composed of a body of gentlemen, the very first in point of
birth, property, education, intelligence, integrity, and honor to be
found in the city of Philadelphia. While they were not hast}' in
rushing into a revolution, they were just as far, as a whole, from
aiding, abetting, or approving the illegal acts or purposes of the
British ministry. And this same state of disposition, it may be
affirmed with truth, characterized the body of the best people of
Philadelphia.

But there was in Pennsylvania a violent party, distinguished by
a proscriptive policy, in the eyes of which every man who was not
ready to rush into revolution was a Tory, and which, to use the
language of Horace Binney, " implicated every such person in a
lesser or greater treason, like the bye and the main of Sir Walter
Raleigh and his friends."

* Vol. I., p. 336.

20 LIFE AND CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE 1^779

President Reed was one of this bitterly prescriptive party; none
of the Trustees of the College were, and none of the professors ;
though most of both bodies were true patriots, distinguished by
consistent fidelity, not less to the country and the country's cause
than to every interest committed to their charge.

On the outbreak of the Revolution Dr. Smith was awake to the
perils to which all institutions having property were subjected ; and
so early as 1776 and during the sittings of the P'^irst Republican
Convention of the State, a meeting was held at his house of promi-
nent gentlemen interested in maintaining the inviolability of the
rights and possessions of religious and scientific corporations. Dr.
Franklin, President of the American Philosophical Society, in
which many members were suspected of Toryism, was among
them, and promised to propose (as he afterwards did) to the Con-
vention an article securing all chartered rights. It is probable
enough that he thus sought to repair to the College the possible
injury which his remarks on it in England were likely to do to it.
The article was adopted by the Convention, and was an article of
the Constitution subsisting at the time of which we are about to
speak.

Three only of the twenty-four trustees which composed the Col-
lege Board had refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new
State of Pennsylvania ; and different vacancies, which had occurred
after the Declaration of Independence, were filled by such men as
Robert Morris, Francis Hopkinson, Alexander Wilcocks, E>dward
Biddle, John Cadwalader, and James Wilson. Dr. Smith was the
only member of the Church of England in the Faculty, and though
a majority of the trustees belonged to that church, no undue prefer-
ence had ever been shown to its members, nor the least effort to
inculcate its doctrines.

It has been commonly supposed, I think, that the action of
President Reed and of his political friends was aimed against Dr.
Smith and the ancient trustees. The Provost Stille, as we shall
see, regards Dr. Smith as having been the chief object of attack.
Bishop White, however, tells* us — and his authority, on every
account, is of the highest value — that /lis opinion was, in the
beginning, and so always remained, " that what principally gave

■" Life 1)V Wilson, n. f-n — i/n/r.

1/79] ^^"^' U'lLLIAM SMITH, D. D. 21

offence was the political complexion of the trustees lately chosen.
They were gentlemen," adds the Bishop, " prominent in the Revo-
lution,' but, in the politics of the State, opposed to those who gov-
erned it;" that is to say, opposed to President Reed and some of
his friends. They were not of that " popular party " to which
President Reed belonged ; though they were Republicans and the
faithful and uniform friends of Washington, which it would be hard
to prove that President Reed hmiself ever was.*

The interests of the College were defended against this unjust
attack with great ability, by James Wilson and William Lewis,
two of the ablest and most upright lawyers whom the United
States have produced.

But I forbear to give in my own words a particular account of
this matter, since the history has been succinctly, fearlessly,
truthfully, and well told by the Provost Stille, in a recital of it
which no man can improve. The Provost says :

On the 23d of Februar)-, 1779 — more than two hundred pupils
having already flocked to the Schools — the Assembly of the State passed
the following resolution :

''Ordered that Mr. Clymer, Mr. Mark Bird, Mr. Iloge, Mr. Gardiner, and Mr.
Knox, be a Committee to inquire into the present state of tlie College and Academy
of Piiiladelphia, its rise, funds, etc., and report thereon to the House, and that they be
empowered to send for persons and papers."

This Committee was met by a Committee of the Board of Trustees,
who, on the i6th of March, 1779, delivered to them an elaborate state-
ment prepared by Dr. Smith, containing a complete history of the Col-
lege. It was designed to meet, and it did meet fully, every objection
which had been made against the Institution by ill-disposed persons.
On all points it seems to me most satisfactory, and, therefore, I have
made free use of it in the present Memoir. This Committee of the
Assembly, so far as I have been able to discover, never made a Report.
The matter seems to have been allowed to sleep until July of the same
year, when it was mentioned in the Board of Trustees that the President
of the State, General Reed, had intimated that it would be improper to
hold a public Commencement at that time, some of the Trustees, in the

* See his letter of 1776 to Charles Lee, in the dark days preceding the battle of
Trenton (Lee's Memoirs, p. 178), and his letter to General Gates in the darker days
of Conway's Cabal, of November, 1777, ni the History of the Republic, by John C.
Hamilton, Vol. L, p. 368. The latter letter, which, I think, was not in print until
printed by Mr. Hamilton (after the Biography of President Reed by his grandson
was publislied), is not given in the Biography. The former, which is, was in print before.

22 LIFE AXD COR RESPOND EXCE OF THE \}770

opinion of the Council, being under legal disqualifications. To this
strange menace the Trustees made the very proper reply, that there was
a very simple means of ascertaining whether any of them were disquali-
fied, and if on that account the Board had lost its chartered rights, and
that was, by a judicial inquiry, the matter being wholly out of the
province of the President or his Council. The Trustees, however,
thought it advisable "to defer to the Executive part of the Govern-
ment," and no Commencement was held.* In September, a newly-
elected Assembly met, and the President of the State, in his message of
the 9th of that month, brought the subject of the College before them
in the following terms:

"The principal Institution of learning in this State, founded on the most free and
catholic principles, raised and cherished by the hand of public Ijuunty, appears Ijy its
Charter to have allied itself so closely to the Government of Eritain by niakmg tlie
allegiance of its Governors to that .State a pre-requisite to any official act, that it might
well have been presumed they would have sought the aid of Government for an
establishment consistent with the Revolution, and conformable to the great changes of
policy and government. But whatever may have been the motives, we cannot think
the good people of this .State can, or ought to, rest satisfied, or the protection of Gov-
ernment be extended to an Institution framed with such manifest attacliment to the
British Government and conducted with a general inattention to the authority of the
State. How far there has been any deviation from the liberal ground cf its first
establishment, and a pre-eminence given to some societies in i^rejudice to otliers
■equally meritorious, the former inquiries of your Honorable House will enable you to
determine,"

The subject was referred to a Committee of the Plouse, and before
the end of September a majority of the Committee (three out of five)
made a report which was a mere echo of the message of the President.
They conclude by recommending that a Bill should be brought in
" effectually to provide suitable funds for the said College (remodelled),
to secure to every denomination of Christians equal privileges, and
establish said College on a liberal foundation, in which the interests
of American liberty and independence will be advanced and promoted,
and obedience and respect to the Constitution of the State preserved."

* The following was the Minute and resolve of the Trustees of the College :

"College of pHiLADELrniA, July 8th, 1779.

"As the President of the State has thought proper to inform this Board, through
some of its members, tliat certain legal objections lay to the exercise of some of their
rights under their charter, and to advise the not holding a commencement at the time
appointed, the Board have, for the present, deferred holding the commencement from
?.n expectation that some mode will be speedily adopted on the part of Government to
draw such their rights into question in a legal way, when this board will take the
proper steps to defend their charter according to law.

"Resoh'L'ti, That Mr. Willing, Mr. Powell, and Mr. Hopkinson be a committee to
communicate the sense of the Board on this subject to the President."

1779] '^^^' ^^'ILLIAM SMJ'IH, D. D. 23

-O

The minority of the Committee reported tliat "no evidence had arisen
during the inquiry to support the same, but that much the contrary had
appeared." The House refused a motion that the evidence upon which
the report was founded should be laid before it, and also voted against
taking the opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court upon the legal
questions involved, although they had been summoned for that purpose.

A Bill was accordingly brought in, and on the 27th of November,
1779, was enacted into a law, declaring the charter of 1755 void, dis-
solving the Board of Trustees and the Faculty, and vesting the College
estates in a new Board of Trustees composed of certain State officials, of
the senior Clergyman of each of the principal religious denominations
in the City, and of sundry other persons who were conspicuous members
of the political party which at that time controlled the State. The Act
provided also that the Council should reserve for the use of the new
Institution, which was called "The University of the State of Pennsyl-
vania," ^1500 a year from the proceeds of the confiscated estates.

As this Act of the Legislature was the severest blow which the higher
interests of learning in this State ever received (as no one who has read
the foregoing account of Dr. Smith's services, and who knows anything
of the history of the Institution during the years which followed can
doubt"), and as it appears on its face to be a simple act of spoliation,
transferring the property of one set of men to the pockets of another,
we must examine somewhat minutely the reasons given for this extra-
ordinary proceeding. Upon looking at the Preamble of the Act, v»-e
find the most frivolous and unfounded of all the pretexts which had
been alleged in the report of the Committee and the message of the
President as reasons for the abrogation of the Charter, made the basis
of the Assembly's action. It is there stated that the Trustees by a vote
or by-law adopted June 14, 1764, " departed in the management of the
Institution from the free and unlimited Catholicism of its original
founders." On turning to the by-law referred to we find that it was
the fundamental Declaration adopted by the Trustees in regard to the
use of the money then recently collected by Dr. Smith in England, the
very object and intention of that Declaration, as has been before stated,
being to perpetuate the "free and unlimited Catholicism" of the
Founders of the College.''' Anything more i)reposterous than such a
reason for so grave an act (strangely ranked by the biographer of
President Reed as a trophy of his administration of the government
with the Act abolishing slavery in Pennsylvania) it would be difficult
to conceive.

The only other cause of incapacity alleged in the Act against the
Trustees was that provision in the Charter of 1755 which required them
before entering upon their office to take certain oaths of allegiance.

* See Vol. I., pp. 350, 351— II- ^^'- ^-

24 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE 1^7/9

But these oaths were precisely the same which had been exacted of
every one called to fill any civil office in the province prior to the
Revolution, and their obligation was always understood to have ceased
upon the establishment of a new government. The Trustees were
therefore precisely in the same position as any one who had ever held
office under the Crown. Test oaths, and oaths of allegiance, are, as we
all know, favorite devices in revolutionary times. The Assembly, as a
means most probably of discovering the disaffected, directed on the
13th of June, 1777, that every white person above the age of eighteen
should take an oath of allegiance to the State, and by another act
passed on the first of April, 1778, enacted that all Trustees, Provosts,
Professors, and ?.Iasters (among others) .should take the same oath
before the first of June of that year, or forfeit their offices. The follow-
ing is the form of tlie oath :

"I, A. B., do swear that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George III., King
of Great Britain, liis licirs and successors, tliat I will be faithful and bear true alle-
giance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a free and independent State, that I
will not at any time do or cause to be done any matter or thing that will be prejudicial
or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof as declared by Congress ; and
also that I will discover and make known to some one Justice of the Peace of said
State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies which I now know or hereafter may know
to he formed against this, or any other of the United States of America."

Twelve of the Trustees, the Provost, and all the Professors, took this
oath as required by law, before June i, 1778. By November, 1779,
when the Charter was taken away, the Board was full, and twenty-one
out of the twenty- four Trustees had previously taken the oath, the three
who had not done so being Richard Penn, William Allen, and Dr.
Bond. It is a little remarkable as showing how different were the real
reasons for taking away the Charter from those which were assigned in
the Act, that notwithstanding his alleged disqualification. Dr. Bond
was named in it as a Trustee of the new corporation, as were also three
others, who had not only never taken the oath to the State, but had just
before taken it to the King, one of whom had served as Chaplain in the
British Army while it occupied Philadelphia.

The grounds upon which the Assembly proceeded, as stated in the
Act itself, being thus wholly without foundation, it is only necessary to
add that the action it took was expressly forbidden by the provisions of
the Constitution of the State, in regard to property held for the use of
churches, colleges, and hospitals, by the well-known doctrine that, no
misconduct of a Trustee can work a forfeiture of his trust, and by the
equally well-settled rule that, alleged infractions of a Charter are to be
determined by judicial proceedings, and not by the Legislature,

It has been sometimes said that, although the abrogation of the
Charter was made without legal authority, yet that it may have been

1/79] ^^^'- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 2^

justifiable at that period of the Revolution for reasons of State policy.
Before admitting such a plea as a safe criterion in this case, we must
remember that the College Charter was in existence, and the College
itself was in full operation at the time of the adoption of the Constitu-
tion, which was subsequent to the Declaration of Independence, and
that the Convention, with a full knowledge of its organization, solemnly-
guaranteed the protection of its property and franchises. Nor had any
change taken place since, either in the men who controlled it, or in the
system of instruction, which could, in any way, be construed as un-
favorable to the principles of the Revolution. The vacancies in the
Board of Trustees since the Declaration of Independence had been
filled by Robert Morris, Francis Hopkinson, Alexander Wilcocks,
Edward Biddle, John Cadwalader and James Wilson, and no Penn-
sylvanian need be told that these were among the most eminent patriots
of the Revolution. The system of instruction was also wholly un-
changed, and as if nothing should be wanting to prove that the act was
one of simple spoliation, that system, and every one of the Professors
of the old College, in both Faculties, except Dr. Smith and Dr. Alison
(who had died during the controversy), were transferred to the new
institution.

We are, therefore, compelled to conclude that the conduct of the
Assembly rested upon no legal authority, nor upon the broader ground
of an overruling necessity; but that it is the most striking instance of
the baneful effects of an unscrupulous party-spirit recorded in our State
history. Its object was to strike down and disfranchise the purest and
best men in the community, associated in an undertaking which had
brought nothing but honor and advantage to the State. To conciliate
the unthinking masses, and as some apology for the spoliation, a pre-
tence was made of establishing a new Institution upon a broader basis
than the old, and the cheap device was resorted to of endowing it with
the proceeds of the confiscated estates. One of the complaints against
the old College had been, that it had never applied to the State author-
ities for money, and it was thought that the prosperity of the new was
certainly assured by the Legislative grant of ^1500 a year. But it
never prospered. The original taint of its birth seems to have poisoned
all its sources of growth, so that on the 22d of August, 1791, just before
its dissolution, when the College estates had been restored to their
rightful owners, its debts are stated in a minute of that date to be
^^5187, nearly all due to the Professors for arrears of salary, while its
resources from its income were: "Debts recoverable by next March, say
^2000; due from the State, ;!^375."

But there were other sources of decay, inherent in the scheme itself,
and rapidly developed by the influences surrounding it, which must
have soon proved fatal to it. Of all human institutions, it may be most
truly said of Colleges and Universities, that they "are things that grow,

26 LIFE AXD CORKESPONDEXCE OF THE [1/79

and arc not made." A popular error prevails that a large endowment,
an extended cun-iculuin, and an imposing array of Professors, are all
that is necessary to insure the permanent success of a newly-founded
College. Such an opinion is contradicted by universal experience.
Both in Europe and in this country, institutions of learning which have
gained reputation and success have all had their day of small things,
and their present strength is only the natural development of a slow
but steady and healthy growth. There have been thousands of failures,
where the greatest zeal, aided by large endowments, has established
Colleges. Defects in the most brilliant projects have been brought to
light by experience, or the soil in which they were planted has not
proved kindly to their nurture. Such was the case with the short-lived
"University of the State of Pennsylvania."

He must indeed have been a bold and sanguine man who thought it
possible to establish, with any chance of success, a new College in this
State in the year 1779. In the very crisis of the Revolution, with the
fortune of every man who had been engaged in trade ruined by the
worthlessness of the currency, with the cost of living increased in the
proportion of sixty to one, with every nerve strained to keep up the
sinking fortunes of the war, with dissensions among the best men in
the State more bitter than their hatred of the common enemy; with
the belief among nearly all who had been real supporters of learning
that the Charter had been taken away from party malice, and that the
new institution would be managed in such a way as to subserve party
ends; above all, with the ever-present consciousness that the money
they were using did not belong to them in law or morals, it is not to be
wondered at that the projectors of the new establishment soon found
that they had been building upon the sand. There was certainly but
one man living in this State, at that time, who could have carried even
an old College successfully through the dangers which threatened the
interests of learning during the Revolution, and for ten years after-
wards, and that was the very man whom a blind party-zeal had driven
from his post. When we consider what Dr. Smith did for those inter-
ests during the twenty-five years in which they had been in his special
charge, we may form some estimate of the loss sustained, both by the
College and the State, by the forced employment of the remaining
twenty-five years of his life in other pursuits.

As the removal of Dr. Smith was, no doubt, the great object aimed
at in the abrogation of the Charter, so he was the chief victim of that
measure. He had to mourn not merely, in common with all his
friends, that the work he had been so long painfully building up was in
ruin, and that the pledges which he had given as to the management
of the funds which He had collected were shamefully violated, but he
was ejected from his office, and without the means of su]Dporting his
family. But it was not in the man's nature to despond. Feeling that

1779] ^^^' ^VILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 27

he could hope for no redress in Pennsylvania, as its Government was
then constituted, he went to Chestertown, in Maryland, and became
Rector of a church there. He found at that place an Academy with
a few pupils. He was made Principal of it, and in a short time one
hundred and forty scholars were in attendance. He then applied to
the Legislature of Maryland for a Charter, erecting this Academy into
a College, modelled upon the plan of the College of Philadelphia, to
be called "Washington College." The charter was granted in the
spring of 1782, and within one year from that time this indefatigable
man collected, principally from the planters of the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, nearly ten thousand three hundred pounds towards its
endowment. General Washington contributed fifty guineas, and Gen-
eral Cadwalader headed the Maryland subscriptions. This was, of
course, before the close of the Revolutionary war, and it is very evident
that these gentlemen did not hold the opinion entertained by the party
in power in Pennsylvania in regard to Dr. Smith's disaffection to the
American cause.

But that party ceased to reign in 1783, and Dr. Smith lost no time in
seeking justice at the hand of those who took its place. At the Sep-
tember session, 1784, the Trustees and Dr. Smith presented their
petition to the Assembly, asking that so much of the Act of 1779,
which took away their estates and franchises, should be repealed. The
Committee to whom the matter was referred made a report favoring the
application, and brought in a bill granting it. But when the bill was
about to pass, the minority left the House (in modern phrase, ^^l)olted^^),
and thus dissolved the Assembly. The matter lingered for several years,
and until March 6, 1789, when the Assembly passed the bill, the pre-
amble to it stating as the reason for its action that the Act of 1779 was
"repugnant to justice, a violation of the Constitution of this Common-
wealth, and dangerous in its precedent to all incorporated bodies, and
to the rights and franchises thereof."

'&'

But of all this I shall speak at the proper time.

The act of confiscation, u^hich the Provost Stille describes, has
been justly considered a stigma upon the Revolutionary Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania, and still more so upon the name — now much
better remembered than are those of most in the Legislature — of
General Joseph Reed, the President of the State. Along with his
much-suspected disloyalty to his Commander-in-Chief, and his
being charged by that patriotic man, General Cadwalader, in a
printed pamphlet — of a disregard of truth, that offence which ends
the character of a gentleman, and which, truly considering, was
the gist of Cadwalader's accusation — this his conduct in regard to

28 LII-E AND CORRESrOXDEACE OF THE [^779

the old College of Philadelphia conspired to bring about that con-
dition of feeling towards him described by Mr. Binney in his
" Leaders of the Old Bar of Philadelphia," * in which tract the
author, speaking of President Reed's inability to do to one of his
young /yrott'^L's of the bar any great professional service, says:

President Reed's political ardor during his term of office, and an
embittered opposition to him which had been kindled among men of
business and of importance in Philadelphia, did not make his return to
the Bar in 17S1 very easy or agreeable; nor, as I have heard Mr. Inger-
soll say, did his mind return willingly to the pursuits of the law. The
patron, therefore, must have been more willing than able to assist him,
and in a short time Mr. Reed's health gave way, and after visiting
England, in 1783, he returned towards the close of 1784, and, without
attempting to resume his profession, died on the 5th of March, 1785.

While speaking thus of President Reed's malevolence towards
those politically opposed to him, and of the want of sincerity
which distinguished his character, I am not insensible to his many
endearing domestic traits, to his considerable abilities, and to his
not less considerable accomplishments. We may concede, too,
that both by wisdom in council and conduct in action he promoted
essentially the Revolution in America; and his want of success in
the great struggle of life, after much labor, many privations, and
many misfortunes, giv^e, too, to his memory a title to our pathetic
regard. But with all this, and after all the efforts that his grand-
son and biographer has brought to redeem his reputation.f I look
upon the judgment of those who were among the most intelligent
of his contemporaries as true — that his talents were more than
equal to his integrity; and that in few acts of his life did this un-
enviable preponderance appear more manifest than in the trans-
action that the Provost Stille above describes. Of few political
events of the Revolution did the late Bishop White speak with
more emphatic disapprobation. It roused the indignation of the
w^iole Episcopal Church, and was followed at once by the estab-
lishment of the Episcopal Academy; an institution still existing in
honor, after a century of useful labors. The biographer of the
President — one of his grandsons — while defending every act that

* Page 84.

t Life and Correspondence of President Reed, by iiis Grandson, William B. Reed,
2 vols., 8vo. Phila., 1 847.

1780] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 29

was defensible in his ancestor's public life, and one which was
much the reverse, glosses over this, but defends it not; indeed,
while palliating, is compelled to condemn it* I do not, of course,
forget that the times in which President Reed chiefly figures were
times of revolution; that party-spirit had risen to a great height
and exhibited itself in scenes of violence ; that in the very Congress
of the country there were, at this same date, men who, like Rush,
Conway, Gates, Lovell, and others, seemed to hate Washington
and his friends as fully as they did the common enemy. The best
excuse for President Reed is found in his own language in1;he last
letter which he ever wrote, " I was thrown into turbulent times,
which did not leave me at liberty to speculate, was obliged to act,
and too often without time to consider or advice to guide me."t

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Dr. Smith interests himself ix having General Washint.ton made a Grand
Master over all the Masonic Lodges formed or to he formed in the
United States.

We have noted in our former volume, as a feature of Dr.
Smith's mind, and one tending to prove its high order, that no
matter in what troubles he might be involved or in what exciting
scenes engaged, his mental faculties and his power to use them
seemed always undisturbed. Even in such trials as we have de-
scribed in the preceding chapter, when his very means of living
were taken or about to be taken from him, he interests himself
vividly in the affairs of the Masonic Society, and in an endeavor
to have General Washington elected a Grand Master over all the
Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in these United States.
We give some of his correspondence on this subject:

Dr. Smith to Joseph Webb, Esq.

Philadelphia, August iglh, 17S0.
Sir: I do myself the honor to address you, by order of the Grand
Lodge of Ancient York Masons, regularly constituted in the City of

* Life and Correspondence of President Reed, by his Grandson, William B. Reed.
Vol. IL, pp. 169-172.
f Lip. 417.

30 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [178O

Philadelphia. This Grand Lodge has under its jurisdiction in Penn-
sylvania and the States adjacent, thirty-one different regular Lodges,
containing in the whole more than one thousand brethren. Enclosed
you have a printed abstract of some of our late proceedings, and by
that of January 13th last, you will observe that we have, so far as de-
pends on us, done that honor which we think due to our illustrious
Brother, General Washington, viz., electing him Grand Master ov'er all
the Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in these United States, not
doubting of the concurrence of all the Grand Lodges in America to
make this election effectual.

We have been informed by Col. Palfrey that there is a Grand Lodge
of Ancient York Masons in the State of Massachusetts, and that you are
Grand Master thereof; as such, I am, therefore, to request that you will
lay our proceedings before your Grand Lodge, and request their con-
current Voice in the appointment of General Washington, as set forth
in the said Minute of January the 13th, which, as far as we have been
able to learn, is a Measure highly approved by all the brethren, and
that will do honor to the Craft.

I am, etc., William Smith, Grand Secretary.

To Joseph Webb.

Reply to the Preceding Letter.

Boston, September 4th, 17S0.

Sir: Your agreeable favor of the 19th ult., I duly received the 31st,
covering a printed abstract of the proceedings of your Grand Lodge.
I had received one before, near three months, from the Master of a
travelling Lodge of the Connecticut line, but it not coming officially,
did not lay it before the Grand Lodge, but the evening after I received
yours, it being Grand Lodge; I laid it before them and had some debate
on it, whereupon it was agreed to adjourn the Lodge for three weeks, to
the 2 2d instant, likewise to write to all the Lodges under this jurisdic-
tion to attend themselves if convenient by their Master and Wardens,
and if not, to give instructions to their proxies here concerning their
acquiescence in the proposal.

I am well assured that no one can have any objections to so illustrious
a person as General Washington to preside as Grand Master of the
United States, but at the same time it will be necessary to know from
you his prerogative as such; whether he is to appoint sub-grand or
Provincial Grand Masters of each State: if so, I am confident that the
Grand Lodge of this State will never give up their right of electing
their own Grand Masters and other officers annually. This induces me to
write to you now, before the result of the Grand Lodge takes place, and
must beg an answer by the first opportunity, that I may be enabled to
lay the same before them. I have not heard of any State except yours
and this that have proceeded as yet since the Lidependence to elect
their officers, but have been hoping that they would.

1780] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 3 1

I do not remember of more Grand Masters being appointed when we
were under the British Government than South Carolina, North Caro-
lina, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, but now it may be
necessary.

I have granted a Charter of Dispensation to New Hampshire till they
shall appoint a Grand Master of their own, which suppose will not be
very soon, as there is but one Lodge in their State. Inclosed I send
you a list of the officers of our Grand Lodge, and have the honor to be,
with great respect and esteem.

Your affectionate Brother and humble servant,

Joseph Webb, Grand Master.

This communication was laid before the Grand Lodge of Penn-
sylvania, at a special Grand Communication on the i6th of October;
and a committee, consisting of Dr. Smith and Colonel Palfrey, was
appointed to prepare an answer, which was as follows :

\Niiiiam Smith, D. D., to Joseph Webb, Esq.

Philadelphia, October 17th, 1780.

Respected Sir and R. W. Bro. : Your kind and interesting letters
of the 14th and 19th, by some delay in the Post-office, came both to
my hands together, and that not before the loth inst. They were both
read and maturely considered at a very full Grand Lodge last evening,
and I have it in charge to thank you and all the worthy members of the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for the brotherly notice they were pleased
to take of the proposition communicated to you from the Grand Lodge
of this State.

We are happy to find that you agree with us in the necessity of
having one complete Masonic jurisdiction under some one Grand Head
throughout the United States. It has been a measure long wished for
among the brethren, especially in the army, and from them the request
came originally to us, that we might improve the opportunity which our
central situation gave us of setting this measure on foot. From these
considerations, joined to an earnest desire of advancing and doing
honor to Masonry, and not from any affectation of superiority or of
dictating to any of our brethren, we put in nomination for Grand
Master over all these States (and elected, so far as depended upon us)
one of the most illustrious of our brethren, whose character does honor
to the whole Fraternity, and who, we are therefore persuaded, would be
wholly unexceptionable. When our proposition and nomination should
be communicated to other Grand Lodges, and ratified by their concur-
rence, then, and not before, it was proposed to define the powers of
such a Grand Master General, and to fix articles of Masonic union
among all the Grand Lodges, by means of a convention of committees
from the different Grand Lodges, to be held at such time and place as

32 LIFE AND CORRESFONDENCE OF THE [l/SO

might be agreed upon. Such convention may also have power to notify
the Grand Master General of his election, present him his diploma,
badges of oftice, and instal with clue form and solemnity.

To you who are so well learned in the Masonic Art, and acquainted
with its history, it need not be observed that one Grand Master General
over many Grand Lodges, having each their own Grand Masters, is no
novel institution, even if the peculiar circumstances of the Grand
Lodges in America, now separated from the jurisdiction from whence
they first originated, did not render it necessary. We have also a very
recent magnificent example of the same thing in Europe which may
serve, in respect to the ceremonies of installation, as a model for us. I
will copy the paragraph as dated at Stockholm, in Sweden, the 21st of
March last, as you may not perhaps have seen it.

"The igih of this month (Mnrch, 17S0) will always be a memorable day to the
Freemasons established in this kingdom, for on that day the Duke of Sundermania
was installed Grand Master of all the Lodges throughout this kingdom, as well as those
of St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Brunswick, Hamburg, etc. The Lodge at St. Peters-
burg had sent a Deputy for this purpose, and others had intrusted the diploma of the
instalment to Baron Leyonhrefrud, who had been last year to Copenhagen and in
Germany on this negotiation. Tliis instalment was attended with great pomp. The
assembly was composed of more than four hundred members, and was honored \\ith
the presence of the king, who was pleased to grant a charter to the Lodge, taking it
under his royal protection, at the same time investing the new Grand Master with an
ermined cloak ; after which he was placed upon a throne, clothed with the marks
of his new dignity, and there received the compliments of all the members, who
according to their rank were admitted to kiss the hand, sceptre, or cloak of the new
Grand Master, and had delivered to them a silver medal, struck to perpetuate the
memory of this solemnity, which passed in Exchange I Tall. It is said the king will
grant revenues for the Commanderies, and that this Royal Lodge will receive of each
an annual tribute. This solemnity hath raised the Order of Freemasons from a kind
of oblivion into M'hich they were sunk.''

What the particular authorities of the Grand Master of these United
States M^ere to be, we had not taken upon us to describe, but (as before
hinted) had left them to be settled by a convention of Grand Lodges or
their deputies. But this is certain, that we never intended the different
Provincial or State Grand Masters should be deprived of the election
of their own Grand Officers, or of any of their just Masonic rights
and authorities over the different Lodges within the bounds of their
jurisdiction.

But where new Lodges are to be erected beyond the bounds of any
legal Grand Lodges now existing, such Lodges are to have their war-
rants from the Grand Master General, and when such Lodges become a
number sufficient to be formed into one Grand Lodge, the bounds of
such Grand Lodge are to be described, and the warrant to be granted
by the Grand Master aforesaid, who may also call and preside in a
convention of Grand Lodges when any matter of great and general

1780] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 33

importance to the whole United Fraternity of these States may require
it. What other powers may be given to the Grand Master General,
and how such powers are to be drawn up and expressed, will be the
business of the convention proposed.

For want of some general Masonic authority over all these States, the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, ex necessitate, have granted warrants
beyond its bounds to the Delaware and Maryland States, and you have
found it expedient to do the same in New Hampshire, but we know that
necessity alone can be a plea for this.

By what has been said above, you will see that our idea is to have a
Grand Master General overall the United States, and each Lodge under
him to preserve its own rights, jurisdiction, etc., under him as formerly
under the Grand Lodge of Great Britain, from whence the Grand
Lodges in America had their warrants, and to have this new Masonic
constitution and the powers of the Grand Master General fixed by a
convention of committees aforesaid.

Others we are told have proposed that there be one Grand Master
over all these States, and that the other Masters of Grand Lodges,
whether nominated by him or chosen by their own Grand Lodges,
should be considered as his deputies. But we have the same objections
to this that you have, and never had any idea of establishing such a
plan as hath been suggested before.

This letter is now swelled to a great length. We have therefore only
to submit two things to your deliberation :

First. Either whether it be best to make your election of a Grand
Master General immediately, and then propose to us a time and place
where a committee from your body could meet a committee from ours
to fix his powers and proceed to instalment ; or,

Second. Whether you will first appoint such a place of meeting and
the powers of the proposed Grand Master, and then return home and
proceed to the election, and afterwards meet anew for instalment. This
last mode would seem to require too much time, and would not be so
agreeable to our worthy brethren of the army, who are anxious to have
this matter completed.

As you will probably choose the first mode, could not the place of
our meeting be at or near the headquarters of the army, at or soon after
St. John's day next? At any rate, you will not fix a place far north-
ward on account of some brethren from Virginia who will attend, for
we propose to advertise the business and the time and place of meeting
in the public papers, that any regular Grand Lodges Avhich we may not
have heard of may have an opportunity of sending representatives.

Your answer as soon as possible is requested under cover to Peter
Baynton, Esq., Postmaster in Philadelphia.

I am, etc., William Smith, Grand Secretary.

To Joseph Webb, Esq., Grand Master of Massachusetts.
3

34 LIFE AND CORRESPOiYDENCE OF THE [1780

This efiort of Dr. Smith's to cstabhsh a General American Head
over all the Lodges in this country seems to have been the only
one made in Pennsylvania; and when the project has been advo-
cated by other Grand Bodies, the \'oice of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania has been invariably against it. From this action, in
1780, arose, undoubtedly, the widespread appellation of the title
of General Grand Master to Washington — an historical error which
has not vet been eradicated from the minds of all Masons.

CHAPTER XL.

Dr. Smith goes to Ciiestertown, Kent Couxty, Maryland, and estaki.ishes
HIS School, which finally became Washington College — Takes charge
OF a Parish there — Preaches a Thanksgiving Sermon for the Estab-
lishment OF Peace and Independence, July 4TH, 1780 — Assembles the
Church in Convention, November qth, 1780— The First Church Con-
vention IN Maryland — Address of the Parishes to the General
Assembly of the State — The Name "Protestant Episcopal Church"
first given to the Church of England at this Convention.

As we have seen by the concluding part of our extract from the
Provost Stille's narrative of the Legislative attack on the College,
the year 1780 found Dr. Smith in Philadelphia without any situa-
tion, with a young family depending upon his exertions for their
daily bread, and with the opposition of the Presbyterian and
"Constitutionalist" parties to contend with. The labors of twenty-
six years of his life were laid in the dust, together with his official
honors. But as the Provost whom we have just named truly says,
he was not a m.an to be dismayed ; he looked realities in the face ;
and at once left everything, and with his wife and children moved
to Chestertown, Kent county, Marybnd, to found and set in ope-
ration a village school or academy. He was here offered charge
of the Parish, and was to receive as his compensation no money —
but 600 bushels of wheat. Such, too, were the discouraging pros-
pects of reward that it took one hundred and twenty-two persons
to agree to contribute before this amount of wheat could be prom-
ised. His first sermon was a Thanksgiving Sermon for the
Establishment of Peace and Independence in America. It was
preached in Chestertown Church, July 4th, 1780, the text being
from Isaiah lii. 10.

1780] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 35

So vigorously did Dr. Smith set himself to work at his new
enterprise that ere the close of the year he had also charge of the
Kent County School, combining it with his own private class — a
CQmbination out of which grew Washington College, two years
afterwards.

Immediately upon his going to Maryland he took a marked
position and influence in regard to the whole Episcopal Church in
that State. From Dr. Ethan Allen's invaluable history of the
Church, we learn that before the year 1776, the Parishes numbered
forty-four, each having its rector, and many of these his curate
or assistant, of which tliere were ten or more. But before the
4th of July ensuing four of the clergy had abandoned their Par-
ishes; it being no longer safe for them to remain, and had gone to
England.

On the establishment of the State government in that year the
Bill of Rights deprived the clergy of their legal support, which
they had enjoyed for three generations, and left them without it.
Not long after, followed an oath required of them, which, if they
had taken it, would have been, says Dr. Allen, a violation of their
ordination vows. Under these restrictions nine of them gave up
their cures and went to England. Six went to Virginia; one (Dr.
John Andrews) to Pennsylvania; one to Delaware; one to Elkton;
one to his estate in Charles county; one to his seat in Prince
George's; two to their estates elsewhere, and two or three to
teaching. In the meanwhile about seven had died, and three
new Parishes had come into existence under the Act of 1770.

In 1779 the General Assembly of Maryland had passed an Act
for electing vestries in the existing Parish^, and, when elected,
giving to such vestries, in fee simple, the glebes, places of worship
and other church property, and the appointment of ministers for
their respective Parishes, but making no provision for their sup-
port, saving what might be voluntary. This prompted the move-
ment of the succeeding Conventions.

Such was the condition of the Church in Maryland when Dr.
Smith went into that State.

The Parishes, however, were still numerous, and I suppose had
never been legally destroyed: and in 1780 there were at least six
clergymen, including Dr. Smith, in the State. Dr. Smith set
himself at work immediately to assemble the churchmen of Mary-

3^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/So

land in convention and to raise up the Church from the ruin into
which the Revolutionary war had laid it.

A Convention — the first, wc may perhaps say, in the State of
Maryland — was accordingly assembled at Chestertown, Kent
county, November 9th, 1780.

There were present :
Rev. Samuel Keene, Rector of St. Luke's, Queen Anne's county.
Rev. William Smith, D. D., Rector of Chester Parish, Kent county.
Rev. James Jones Wilmer, Rector of Shrewsbury Parish, Kent county.
Col. Richard Lloyd, Vestryman of St. Paul's Parish, Kent county.
Mr. James Dunn, " " " " «'

Mr. John Page, " '' " '' "

Mr. Richard Miller, " " '' " "

Mr. Simon Wickes, " '• " " ««

Dr. John Scott, Vestryman of Chester Parish, Kent county.
Mr. John Bolton, " " " " ''

Mr. J. W. Tilden, " " " " ''

Mr. St. Leger Everett, " " " "

Mr. James Wroth, " " " " "

Mr. John Kennard, Church Warden of Chester Parish, Kent county.
Mr. Sturgess, '•' " " " " "

Mr. Christopher Hall, Vestryman of Shrewsbury, S. Sassafras, Kent.
Mr. George Moffett, " " <« . <£

Mr. William Keating, " " " ''

Mr. C , Church Warden, *< " "

Mr. John Brown, Vestryman of St. Luke's, Queen Anne's county.
Mr. Downs, " " " " "

Dr. William Bordly.
Dr. Van Dyke.
Col. Isaac Perkins.
Mr. Charles Groom. ♦
Mr. William Keene.
Mr. James Hackett.

Dr. Smith was appointed President of this Convention.

A petition to the General Assembly of Maryland for the support
of public religion was read and approved, and ordered to be sent
to each vestry in the State ; and if by them approved, after obtain-
ing signatures in their respective Parishes, it was carried up to the
Legislature. The petition, which I presume was from the pen of
Dr. Smith, was as follows :

I /So] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 3/

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Maryland :
The petition of the Vestry and Church Wardens of the Parish of

, county, humbly sheweth that it is manifest from reason

as well as the clear light of revelation, that the worship of the Almighty
Creator and Governor of the universe is the indispensable duty of his
dependent creatures, and the surest means of preserving their temporal
as well as eternal happiness, that where religion is left unsupported,
neither laws nor government can be duly administered; and as the ex-
l^erience of ages has shown the necessity of providing for supporting the
officers and ministers of government in all civil societies, so the like
experience shows the necessity of providing a support for the ordinances
and ministers of religion, because if either of them were left wholly de-
pendent on the benevolence of individuals, such is the frailty of human
nature and the averseness of many to tlieir best interests, that the sordid
and the selfish, the licentious and profane would avail themselves of
such liberty to shrink from their share of labor and expense, and thereby
render that which would be easy where borne by all, an intolerable bur-
den to the few whose conscience and principles of justice would not
permit them in this or in any other case to swerve from their duties,
civil or religious.

That our pious ancestors, the worthy and respectable founders of this
State, convinced of the foregoing truths, and declaring that "in every
well-grounded commonwealth matters concerning religion ought in the
first place to be taken into consideration, countenanced and encouraged
as being not only most acceptable to God, but the best way and means
of obtaining his mercy and a blessing upon a people and country"
(having the promises of this life and of the life to come), did frame and
enact sundry laws for erecting churches and places of public worship, the
maintenance of an orthodox clergy, the support and advancement of reli-
gion, and the orderly administration of its divine and saving ordinances.
That the delegates of this State at the great era of our independence
in free and full convention assembled for the purpose of establishing a
new constitution and form of government upon the authority of the
people, appearing in their wisdom to have considered some parts of the
said laws as inconsistent with that religious liberty and equality of as-
sessment, which they intended of their future government, did by the
33d section of the Declaration of Rights abrogate all such laws thereto-
fore passed, as enabled any Courts on the application of Vestrymen and
Church Wardens to make assessments or levies for the support of the
religious establishments, but not with a view of being less attentive than
their pious ancestors had been to the interests of religion, learning and
good morals. On the contrary, by the very same section, an express
recommendation and authority are given to future legislatures, "at their
discretion to lay a general and equal tax for the support of the Chris-
tian religion" agreeably to the said declaration.

38 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/So

That your petitioners are sensible of the many urgent civil concerns
in which the honorable and worthy Legislatures of this State have been
engaged since the great and trying period, and how much wisdom and
deliberation are at all times necessary in framing equal laws for the sup-
port of religion and learning, and more especially amidst the horrors
and confusion of an expensive and unrelenting war. But they are
sensible at the same time (and persuaded the Honorable Assembly arc
equally sensible) that where religion is left to mourn and droop her
head while her sacred ordinances are unsupported, and vice and im-
morality gain ground, even war itself will be but feebly carried on ;
patriotism will lose its animating principle ; corruption will win its way
from the lowest to the highest places ; distress will soon pervade every
public measure; our graveyards, the monuments of the piety of our
ancestors, running into ruin, will become the reproach of their pos-
terity. Nay, more, the great and glorious fabric of public happiness,
which we are striving to build up and cement with an immensity of
blood and treasure, might be in danger of tumbling into the dust as
wanting the stronger cement of virtue and religion, or perhaps would
fall an easy prey to some haughty invader.

Deeply impressed with these momentous considerations, and con-
ceiving ourselves fully warranted by our constituents in this applica-
tion to your honorable body, having advertised our design without any
objection yet notified to us, your petitioners "therefore most earnestly
and humbly pray.

That an act may be passed agreeably to the aforesaid section of the
Declaration of Rights, for the support of public religion by an equal
assessment and laws, and also to enable the vestry and church wardens
of this parish, by rates on the pews from time to time, or otherwise,
as your wisdom shall think fit, to repair and uphold the church and
chapel and the churchyard and burying-ground of the same. All which
your petitioners conceive may be done not only for this parish, but at
the same time, if thought best, for any other parish within this State
(which it is believed earnestly desires the same), by a single law in a
manner perfectly agreeable to the liberty and wishes of every denomi-
nation of men, which would be esteemed good Christians and faithful
citizens of the State.

And your petitioners, as bound, shall ever pray, etc.

On motion, it was resolved that the church formerly known in
the province as the Church of England, should now be called "the
Protestant Episcopal Church."*

Dr. Smith has had the credit of having given this name to the
church ; but if a statement made by the Rev. James Jones Wilmer be
correct, it is apparently without sufficient foundation. In a letter

178 I ] REV. WILLIAAI SMITH, D. D. 39

dated May 6, 18 10, from the Rev. Mr. Wilmer to Bishop Claggett,
he writes : " I am one of the three who first organized the Episcopal
Church during the Revolution, and am consequently one of the
primary aids of its consolidation throughout the United States.
The Rev. Dr. Smith, Dr. Keene and myself held the first conven-
tion at Chestertown, and I acted as secretary." He also states in
this letter that " he moved that the Church of England as hereto-
fore so known in the province be now called The Protestant Epis-
copal Church, and it was so adopted." — See Md. Archives.

CHAPTER XLI.

Dr. Smith Freaches a New Year's .Sermon in St. Teter's Church, Philadel-
phia— Proposes General Washington as a Member of the American
Philosophical Society — General Washington's Lp:tter of Acceptance
TO Dr. Smith — Dr. Smith to C^sar Rodney — Dr. Smith Preaches a
Funeral Sermon at the Burial of Mrs. Coudon — Preaches, in x^Iay,
1781, A Fast Sermon in Chestertown, and in December of the same
Year a Thanksgiving Sermon — E.\.tracts from tjiese Two Last —
Death of John Wemyss — Extract from the Minutes of the Grand
Lodge— The Ahiman Rezon.

Notwithstanding his new enterprises in Maryland, Dr. Smith
maintained, in continuing strength, his old attachments in Phila-
delphia, and his diary tells us that on the ist of January, 1781, he
was in that city, by appointment, to preach a New Year's sermon
in St. Peter's Church, the church of his consecration, as we may
call it, and even beyond Christ Church of his special love. His
text seems to have had a special suggestion from his own lately
eventful history. It was in those striking verses in St. James'
Epistle General :

"Go to now, ye that say to-day or to-morrow we will go into such a
city, and continue there a year and buy and get gain ; whereas, ye
know not what shall be on the morrow. Fur what is your life? it is
even a vapor, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away. For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live and do
this or that."*

* Chapter IV., verses 13, 14, 15.

40 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sl

While in Philadelphia, he attended a meeting of the American
Philosophical Society, on January 19th, and proposed General
George Washington as a member; the General was elected, and
Dr. Smith was appointed to notify to him the fact. The General
soon afterwards thus politely acknowledges the honor :

General Washingion to Dr. Smith.

Head-Quarters, Passaic Falls.*

Sir: I am particularly indebted to you for the obliging manner in
which you have executed the trust reposed in you by the American
Philosophical Society. An excuse for the little delay that attended it
could have only found a motive in your politeness.

All the circumstances of the Election are too flattering not to en-
hance the honor I feel in being distinguished by the fellowship of a
Society so eminently respectable.

I warmly unite with you in the wish that the happy period may

speedily arrive which will enable all the members to devote themselves

to advancing the objects of this most useful institution.

I am, Sir, with very great respect,

V Most Obedient Humble Servant,

Geo. Washinxton*.
To Rev. William Smith.

Returning in a short time to Maryland, we find Dr. Smith
engaged in his work of corresponding, preaching and teaching.

Dr. Smith to Gcesar Rodney, President of the State of Delaware.

CllESTERTOWN, Maryland, Feb. Slh, 1781.

Sir : When I had last the honour to wait on your Excellency at New
Castle, I informed you that I had left in the hands of Mr. Mc-
William, Jr., the Draft of a Bill for the Wilmington Lottery. As
Mr. Read, on whom we chiefly depend for getting this Bill forwarded,
may be engaged in the House wlien the Post passes through New Castle,
and not so easily found as your Excellency, I have taken the Liberty to
request that if it be not too much trouble for yourself to inform me the
State and Progress of the Bill by return of tliis Post. You will be
pleased to desire or direct Mr. Booth to do me that favour.

I thank your Excellency for that gentlemanlike, liberal and candid
regard which I am well informed you have been pleased to pay to my
good name, when called in (jucstion by prejudiced or narrow-minded

* This letter, which is in the collection of Colonel Frank Ettin^, is not dated ; but,
as the election was on the 19th of January, 1781, the letter must have been written
soon afterward.

178 1] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4I

men. I wish it may ever fall in my way to do any part of that justice
to your public character which it so eminently merits. This little quiet
town produces no news.

I have the honour to be

Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant,

William Smith.
To His Excellency C^sar Rodney, Esq., New Castle.

On February 9th he preached a funeral sermon at Chestertown,
Maryland, on the burial of Mrs. Rachel Coudon, wife of the Rev.
Joseph Coudon, a clergyman of that diocese.*

A second convention of the church was held April 5th, 1781,
at Chestertown. We have no journal of it. It was probably but
a small assemblage, and its proceedings were perhaps but few.
Its object apparently was to petition the General Assembly of the
State to pass an Act for the maintenance of the Gospel agreeably
to the new Constitution of Government.

In the beginning of the year 1781 the Congress of the United
States recommended Thursday, May 23d, as a day of general
Fasting, humiliation and prayer; and on the day appointed Dr.
Smith preached a Fast sermon accordingly in Chester chapel.
The text was from —

Isaiah Iviii. 3: " Wherefore have we Fasted, say they, and thou seest
not ? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no
knowledge ! ' '

* jfoseph Condon, A. M., a native of Maryl.Tiid, hronqht up in tlie Church — ordained
1781 by Bishop White, and became Rector of North Elk, Cecil, where he had been
Lay Reader, and in charge of the Academy; in 1789 he added Augustine Parish,
Cecil. He was a member of the General Convention and of the Standing Committee.
He died in 1792, set. 51. — Alletis History.

The Rev. Ethan Allen, D. D., to whom I am indebted for the preceding sketch and
for those various notices of the Maryland Clergy which I have used in this work, as
well as for other most valuable information in every part of what relates to the Church in
Maryland, is a native of Massachusetts. He was brought up a Congregationalist, but,
coming into the Church, was ordained in 1819 by Bishop Kemp, and became Rector
of St. John's Parish, Prince George county, Maryland, and in 1S23 of Washington
Parish, Washington City. In 1830 he removed to Ohio, and in 1S47 returned to
Maryland and became Rector of St. John's, in the valley — now Western Run Parish —
Baltimore county, and in 1S55 of St. Thomas Homestead, in the same county. In
1854 he was a member of the Ecclesiastical Court. In 1855 he preached the Conven-
tion sermon, and was put into the Standing Committee and became the Agent for
Diocesan Missions. He was an editor of the "Theological Repertory," and has pub-
lished seven sermons and addresses, "A History of St. Ann's Parish," "The Early
History of Maryland," and some sixteen Biographical Memoirs. Pie enjoys deservedly
the reputation of a learned and most amiable man.

42 LIFE AA'D CORRKSrONDENCE OF THE [l/Sl

We 2"ive some extracts from the discourse :

fcj'

Frequent have been the days of humiliation and the fasts which our
Rulers, in their Piety, have recommended during a few years past, and
once at least every year (if not oftenerj hath beheld the inhabitants of
these States, in consequence of such recommendation, assembled and
])rostrated, before the Lord, in Prayer and Fasting: and now at length,
through the impatience of our tempers, the deceitfulness of our hearts,
and the weakness of our faith, we are ready, perhaps, to take up the
complaint of the Jews, and in the language of despair, instead of the
voice of Godly sorrow and repentance, to argue the matter with our
great Creator, and to question his goodness and justice in the words of
my text.

Tliese questions in this text are awful questions, and which He only
to v>liom they are addressed can answer. And therefore, since, by
his holy prophet, he has vouchsafed an answer to these and such like
questions, to the desponding Jews, in circumstances not unlike to our
own ; we cannot better employ our time, on this solemn occasion, than
by considering —

First — The answer given by the prophet to these questions of the
Jews, and the reasons of the Almighty for the frequent rejecting of their
fasts.

Secondly — How far our fasts may be chargeable with the like defects
in the sight of a just and all-seeing God? And how, through His
grace, our Prayers and Fastings, our Praises and Thanksgivings, may be
rendered more acceptable to Him?

Although we have the Gospel in our hand, as the fulness of Divine
Light and Knowledge, to wliich no addition can be made in our mortal
state ; yet we are to adore that Providence which has given us the Old
Testament also, wherein is contained an account of the dealings of the
Ahnight}'. in ancient times, with his own chosen people; and from
whence lessons are to be derived, that with profit may be applied to the
instruction of mankind in all succeeding ages.

Let us then consider the situation of the Jews, after they had been
first spoiled by the Assyrians, and afterwards by the Babylonians, as set
forth in the forty-second chapter of this prophecy, now claiming at-
tention. And truly melancholy and miserable it was.

"This people (saith the prophet) is robbed and spoiled. They are
all of them snared in holes, and hid in prison-houses ; They are for a
prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, restore. Who
among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear? Who
is there that, by the present judgments, will take warning, and strive to
avert the like judgments in the time to come."

Think not that these judgments spring up from the dust, or have
come upon you without a cause. " For who was it that gave Jacob for

17S1] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 43

a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord? He against
whom we have sinned?" And for what reason did the Lord thus
deliver his people to be robbed and spoiled by their enemies? The
prophet answers plainly — "Because they would not walk in his ways,
nor be obedient unto his Laws — Therefore he hath poured upon them
the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle — and it hath set him
on fire round about, yet he knew it not " — That is, all the horrors and
fury of war, and their very city and temple burnt to ashes by the
Chaldean army, did not lead them to consider and turn again unto the
Lord whom they had offended. They still continued in their sins,
despised the Law of God, nor from all His visitations would they learn
the righteousness.

'Tis true that so far as outward professions would go, so far as having
the name of religion in their mouths, and claiming the privileges prom-
ised and covenanted by God to their Fathers for keeping the Law — so
far as outward professions and claims of peculiar favour would go, they
continued zealous before God — Nay, so far as days of solemn Fasting
and Humiliation, on special visitations and calamities, might be thought
a duty, they were not backward in the appointment and observation of
them. But what sort of Fasts they were, we shall soon learn from the
Sermon of the prophet, in the chapter from which my text is taken.

The first verse is an awful command to him to go among the people
on the solemn Fast-day; and to warn them of their sins — " Cry aloud
and spare not ; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people
their transgressions, and the House of Jacob their sin." That is to say
— In the boldest and most public manner, with all the freedom becom-
ing a prophet and messenger of God, concealing nothing through Fear
or Love, declare to the people their many transgressions, and especially
their open hypocrisy, and "the iniquities of their Holy things."

For to all their offences they add this provoking aggravation, namely
— high professions and shew of religion — "They seek me daily," or
draw nigh to me in all outward ordinances, as a nation that would be
thought to delight in knowing my ways and performing righteousness;
and they ask of me the ordinances of justice, the rewards promised to
holiness ; and, wondering that they do not receive an immediate answer
to their Prayers and Fastings, they cry out in the midst of every
adversity —

"Wherefore have we Fasted, and thou seest not? Wherefore have
we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? "

Attend, therefore. Brethren, to the Prophet's answer to these most
important questions ! Astonished at their blindness to their own faults,
and their expecting an immediate answer of favour from God, in all
their religious apj^roachcs to Him ; the Prophet reminds them that they
are taught from their own scriptures, "that the sacrifices of the wicked
are an abomination in God's sight; and that he will not hear sinners"

44 LIFE AA'D CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sl

(though they call to Him in distress) without Repentance and Amend-
ment of life.

" Behold, says the prophet, in the day of your Fast, you find pleas-
ure and exact all your labours" — Amidst all your pretended Humilia-
tions before me, you still find a way of gratifying your own Passions
and Covetousness, grieving and oppressing the Poor, and exacting
every labour of those over whom you rule — Nay, instead of fasting from
the Love and Fear of God — " Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and
to smite with the fist of wickedness." Your Fasts have only an out-
ward appearance of devotion, while their true design is to promote some
selfish or party view, or to sanctify in the sight of men some enormous
wickedness; for such was the conduct of Jezebel, who, having deter-
mined to destroy Naboth, and rob him of his vineyard, ordered a fast
to be proclaimed, and to have him falsely arraigned and condemned of
blasphemy, as a part of that day's solemnity.

But, saith the Prophet, all this is abomination; and if you would
truly Fast, it shall not be as you Fast this day, to make your " Voice to
be heard on high," as if noise and outward vehemency could supply the
place of true humiliation of soul and inward piety — Instead of having
the fear and love of God reigning in your hearts; instead of bending in
humble adoration before his throne ; purging away the dross of your
iniquity, and setting your whole affections, your hopes of relief and
deliverance, on the most High, "You Fast to appear righteous before
men, and to promote your own unjust views." But, continues the
prophet — "Is it such a Fast as this that the Lord has chosen — For a
man to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and
ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a Fast, and an acceptable Day
unto the Lord? " These are all vain pageantries and insignificant cere-
monies of themselves, and no way tending to renew and purify the heart.

But, continues our sublime Prophet, would you know the true Fast
which the Lord hath chosen, is it not this? —

" To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens ; to
let the oppressed go free, and to break evei-y yoke? Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are out cast
to thy house? When thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and
that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh."

Here is a glorious catalogue of Virtues, a divine frame of Soul to
bring with us in our humble a])proaches to God. For, without this
divine frame of Soul, what are all the Mortifications of the flesh ; what
are all the penances inflicted on the Body, what is bowing down the
head to the earth, the prostrating ourselves on sackcloth, the wallowing
in ashes, or any outward rite or performance compared to this holy,
humble and benevolent frame of mind, and those deeds of Virtue,
B^Mieficence, Mercy and Justice which Isaiah prescribes as the true
Requisites of a fast?

1781] JiEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D.D. 45

As far as Heaven is exalted above the earth, so far the latter tran-
scends the former ! and all Bodily Abstinences and Humiliations are of
no other value, than as they tend to Purify and Spiritualize the Inner
Man.

What would it avail us, on this solemn day, to have abstained from
our usual food and labours? What would it avail us to have humbled
ourselves and bewailed our sins, and to have prayed to God to avert
His anger from us, and to deliver us from the judgments with which we
are threatened, unless we resolve to " loose every band of wickedness;
and to do away every unjust burden which we can remove from our
fellow-creatures?" Of this we maybe assured, that nothing but our
own sins can stand between us and the propitious smiles of Heaven.
When these are done away, through the mercies of Christ leading
us to repentance and amendment, we shall no longer "fast and the
Almighty not see — we shall no longer afflict our souls, and He take no
knowledge."

For what purpose God has thought fit to permit a continuance of our
present calamities, whether in judgment or mercy, or both, is a matter
which it becomes every man to consider in his own conscience. I hope
but few of the crying offences for which the Jews were reduced to the
extreniest misery, and delivered over to the power of their enemies,
can be justly chargeable to the people of this land ; nor can we poor
short-sighted mortals pretend to open the mysterious volumes of Provi-
dence and read its future purposes either of mercies or judgments
towards ourselves — Nor am I fond of ascribing every striking dispensa-
tion of Providence to any particular Interposition of its power. It is
sufficient for us that we consider ourselves always under its general
government — and that we look upon our own fortunes as suspended at
all times in the uplifted hand of the Almighty!

And therefore such questions as the following will never be improper
— viz. Whether an incorruptible spirit prevails in all our public
measures? Whether the cries of the Widow, the Orphan, the helpless,
never ascended, unpitied and unredressed, among us? Whether no
rapacious and extortionate men, lifted into power by us, have sought to
heap up wealth for themselves at the expense of their bleeding and
suffering country? —

But I forbear these and the like questions; because, as I believe, the
guilt of none of these things can be chargeable to any who now hear
me; so neither is the Redress of such evils so immediately in our power;
and a thorough Redress, there is reason to think, will be endeavoured by
the proper authorities —

What chiefly concerns us is, Repentance, accompanied with earnest
endeavours to amend our Lives, and fervent Prayers for Grace to enable
us to resist Temptation, "to overcome the world," and to turn from all
Iniquity. For this we may be assured of that nothing but our own

46 LIFE AND CORRESPOXDENCE CF THE [l/Sl

Sins and Unworthiness can come between us and the propitious smiles
of our merciful Creator. When these are done away, through the
Grace of God, leading us to Repentance and Amendment — "We sliall
no longer Fast, and the Almighty not sec — Wc shall no longer afflict
our souls, and He take no knowledge," or pity of our distress. We
shall be raised from Sorrow, and receive the blessing promised to the
Jews, on the like conduct — "Our light shall break forth as the morning,
our Health (or political salvation) shall s[)ring forth speedily; our
Righteousness shall go before us, and the glory of the Lord shall be our
Rere-ward. We shall call, and the Lord shall answer: We shall cry,
and He shall say. Here I am! If thou take away from the midst of
Thee the Yoke, the putting forth of the Finger and speaking Vanity;
If thou draw out thy soul to the Hungry, and satisfy the afflicted Soul ;
then shall thy Light rise in (or out of) obscurity, and thy darkness be
as the noon-day: The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy
thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: Thou shalt be like
a watered Garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not —
They that shall be of you (or remain of you, your reformed and happy
posterity) shall build the old waste places (that is, the Houses and
Cities, that have been destroyed and made desolate, shall again be built
up, and become the joyous dwellings of a happy people, by dependence
upon God and turning to the ways of his commandment, as warned by
his late visitation of you in judgment). Ye shall yet be raised up, as
the foundations of many generations — Millions shall spring from your
loins to possess an immense and happy country; and every Hero, every
Patriot, every Wise and Good Man v/ho contributes his share towards
the promotion of the general welfare shall be called the Repairer of
the Breach, the Restorer of paths to dwell in."

Great and gracious God! Grant that by thus following the advice of
the Prophet to the Jews, for keeping a True Fast, and especially for
"hallowing the Sabbath Day, not doing our own ways, nor finding our
own pleasure, nor speaking our own words, but delighting in Thee, we
may receive the promised reward, and be fed with and preserved in the
Heritage of our Fathers; " and to Thy Name, with Thy blessed Son and
Holy Spirit, One God, Let the Glory and Praise be ascribed forever
and ever ! Amen !

There may be, perhaps, nothing very remarkable in this dis-
course. It is in the good old-fashioned style of the Church of
England. It is certainly solid, serious and true. The topic being
one so very often well treated by others, I should not have made
so considerable extracts from it except to follow it by like extracts
from a sermon in contrast with it — a sermon preached in the same
Chester Chapel, Maiyland, after the capture of Cornwallis, at

I /Si] rev. WILLIAM smith, d. d. 47

Yorktown, which was in fact the end of the Revolution, and when
the Congress prescribed the 13th of December, 1781, as a day of
general Thanksgiving and Prayer throughout the United States.
This latter sermon, I think, is in one of Dr. Smith's best styles : a
style, at all events, one of his most natural and easy.
The text was from Exodus xv. i :

" I will sing unto the Lord: for He hath triumphed gloriously."

After a few words de circonstancc the preacher breaks forth :

Songs, or Hymns of praise and triumph, addressed to the great
Creator of Heaven and earth (or to the Divinities considered by the
nations that knew not the true God, as the supreme benefactors of man-
kind), were among the oldest and most exalted compositions of Poets,
and other writers, inspired as well as uninspired.

There is something in Poetry and Music admirably suited to divine
and lofty subjects; and it is natural for the soul of man, when struck
with anything surprisingly great, good, or marvellously new, to break
forth beyond the ccmaion modes of speech, into the most rapturous
strains of expression, accompanied with correspondent Attitudes of
Body and Modulations of Voice. Even the untutored savages around
us furnish proofs of this !

Hence it arose, that Poetry and Music were originally appropriated
and confined to the worship of the Supreme God, or the divinities of
the nations, to whom He was not known ; and the best and wisest men
of all ages have had recourse to divine Hymns and Spiritual Songs in
the effusions of the soul to the almighty Lord of heaven and earth.

Ere yet temples were built, or fixed hours of devotion set apart ;
when the voice of Conscience could be heard, and the busy scenes of
Art had not seduced away the attention of Man from the grand scenes
of Nature; the great Progenitors of our Race, and Patriarchs of Man-
kind, as they tended their flocks onward from pasture to pasture, as
they beheld the refreshing Rains descend, and the Sun, in his turn,
pour down his refulgent beams, to vivify and fertilize the earth, and to
rejoice tlie heart of man and of every living creature; or when they
v/ere struck with any more surprising effect or manifestation of Almighty
Power and Goodness, kindling their admiration and gratitude — that
auspicious moment they embraced, as the Tongue or Organ of Praise
for the whole Animal Creation on earth, and rapt into sacred extasy,
poured forth their unpremeditated strains to that adorable God, the
author of all this bounty, who formed the earth, the Sun and INIoon
which they beheld; that poised the clouds in air, that enriched their
bosoms with treasure and bade them drop down in fatness, to rejoice
herb, and beast, and man.

48 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1781

These divine emanations of the soul, in strains of praise and gratitude
to heaven, are surely nothing less than the express inspirations of God
himself, through the secret agency of his grace, and the power of his
works, in the hearts of men, in those first ages of simplicity and love;
and, as this was the first origin of Poetry, Music, and Songs of praise
before God, it were to be wished that, among all our other improve-
ments, we had not too much improved away this pure primitive inter-
course with the Father of Light and Spirits ! Yet still, we are to reflect
that this is a world of imperfection; and that, as there are advantages,
there are also inconveniences, to every stage of its progress, from origi-
nal simplicity to its last stage of improvement and refinement.

But to proceed; some of the most beautiful pieces of divine poesy are
left us by the eastern nations, and especially by the Hebrews; in whose
compositions of this kind we are more directly concerned, as they are
recorded for us in our Bibles. One of the most exalted of these is the
Song of Moses, from which I have taken my text — composed in a trans-
port of joy, admiration and gratitude, when he beheld the Mighty One
of Israel divide the great deep before his people, and lead them through
on dry ground ; while the waters closed with irresistible fury behind
them, and whelmed their proud pursuers in the bottom of the sea !

This was a subject marvellous indeed, and astonishing beyond a par-
allel ! At the blast of the nostrils of the God of heaven, the course of
Nature was controuled. A mighty ocean divided itself before the
Lord. The waters left their channel in the heart of the sea. They
were gathered up on either side, wave on M-ave, heap on heap, and
stood arrested or congealed in liquid mountains at the nod of the
Almighty! The children of Israel passed through on dry ground.
Immediately the waters closed with irresistible fury; and the hosts of
their proud pursuers were covered, overwhelmed, consumed — as a stone
that sinks to the bottom.

"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day, out of the hand of the
Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore —

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this Song unto the
Lord, saying — I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed glori-
ously. The Lord is my strength and my Song; and he is become my
salvation. He is my God and I will prepare Him an habitation; my
father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war ; the
Lord is his name." *

In such strains as these did the raptured leader of Israel, and all his
host of followers, celebrate the God of their fathers, on their deliver-
ance from the rage of Pharaoh ; leaving an example for all succeeding
ages on the like grand occasions.

A like sacred example we have in the great festival sacrifice and

* Exodus, chapter xv.

1 781] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 49

thanksgiving of David, on receiving back the Ark of God, the great
pledge and deposition of the civil and religious privileges of his nation.
On that happy occasion* "He and all the Elders of the people, and
the Levites, and the Captains over thousands, appeared in solemn pro-
cession, with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals,
and the sound of the cornet and of the trumpet, and the lifting up the
voice with joy; and David himself came singing and dancing before
them, as a testimony of his true piety and gratitude; though Saul's
daughter, beholding out at a window, and not animated with the same
godly rapture, despised or laughed at him in her heart as guilty of
levity."

But why should I mention more examples? The same Reason that
calls us to humble ourselves before God, on the marks of his Dis-
pleasure, calls us to rejoice before Him, with Thanksgiving, on the
marks of his Favou'-. For a series of years past we have had many
days of weeping and sorrow and fasting; and the hardest heart must
bleed to recount the scenes of suffering and anguish and distress which
we have beheld. In every city, in every village, nay, in every private
house and family, long hath the voice of sorrow been heard, for heroes
slain in battle; kindred hands imbrued in kindred blood; fathers de-
prived of sons; sons of fathers; wives of husbands; brothers of brothers;
and friends of friends.

But we are this day called to express our gratitude to God on events
of a more pleasing nature, the Success of the allied armies of these
United States, almost in every quarter of our country, by land and by
Sea ; the blessing the fruits of the earth, and giving us plentiful har-
vests ; and, particularly, the capture of a General f of the first rank,
with his whole army, under the direction of our illustrious commander-
in-chief; yielding us the happy prospect of a speedy restoration of our
former peace and tranquillity, upon solid and lasting foundations.

Although we dare not call this deliverance a miracle in our favour, or
in any degree comparable to the miracle for which the song in our text
was offered to the God of Israel ; yet when we reflect on the gloomy
prospect which lay before us a few months ago ; when we expected the
war at our doors, and all its concomitant ravages and distress; when we
beheld our Fields waving with Plenty, and almost despaired of reaping
them in Peace, or enjoying their Fruits in Safety; can we forbear
praising the Lord of Hosts, the God of our salvation, for the deliver-
ance he hath wrought for us, and the security we enjoy? Can we for-
bear to adore that Providence, which, by means almost unexpected to
us, "on the me day; nay almost at the same hour, brought Fleets
from the South, and Armies from the North, for our protection and
aid?" Can we cease to admire that magnanimity and steady perse-

* I Chronicles xv. 16, etc. f Lord Cornwallis.

50 LIFE AXD CORRESrONDEXCE OE THE [1781

verance, which enabled our allied forces to accomplish this great
deliverance ; almost without any bloodshed of their Enemies ; and to
exercise all the Virtues of Moderation and Christian Heroism, even
amidst the Triumphs of Victory?

This great event hath already been celebrated in Camps, in Cities,
in Towns and Villages, by separate and voluntary marks of joy and
gratitude — But we are this day called to join, with one voice, through-
out all these United States, as a people connected in one great and
common interest to celebrate this goodness of the Almighty; and the
ministers of the altar, by their sacred office, are to stand as the mouth
or organ of the people, to offer up and convey their public gratitude to
the throne of the Omnipotent !

The joy of this day, therefore, Brethren, must not be that noisy and
tumultuous joy, which consists in outward actions ; the glare and pom])
of victory; the display of the spoils of War and Enemies ; Shouts of
Triumph ; Illuminations ; Feastings, and carnal Mirth. It must be a
Religious Joy; the Joy of the Heart before the Lord ; mixt with a holy
and reverential Fear. We are to rejoice in our prosperity, but yet
chiefly as we consider it to be the means of Peace and Safety; and,
therefore, while the final issue of things remain undetermined, althougli
we may rejoice, we must rejoice with fear and trembling; lest our future
Unworthiness should provoke the Almighty to withhold his promised
blessings, and lengthen out the day of our visitation for the further cor-
rection of our sins, and the manifestation of his power and goodness.

Thus did Israel rejoice on their great deliverance, referred to in our
text.

For, " Israel saw that great work, which the Lord did upon the
Egyptians ; and the people feared the Lord, and his servant Moses. —
Who, said they, is like unto Thee, O Lord, amongst the Gods? who
is like unto Thee ; glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing
wonders ? ' '

In this spirit runs the proclamation for this day's solemnity, which
has been recited above.

Let us therefore lift up our voices to God, who, for our deliverance,
'' hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath he thrown
into the sea. The Lord is our strength and salvation, and he shall be
the subject of our song. He is our God and we will prepare Him an
habitation ; our father's God, and we will exalt Him. The right hand
of the Lord is become glorious in power, and hath dashed in pieces the
enem). They said, we will pursue, we will overtake, we will divide the
spoil." — But the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of
proudest man — When his people were but few, and strangers in a foreign
wilderness; when they went from nation to nation in search of a settle-
ment for themselves and their unborn posterity, the Lord suffered no
man to do them wrong; yea He reproved even Kings for their sake.

I781] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 5 I

" Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for ever and ever : and all the
people said Amen, and praised the Lord ! "

Be these great examples of Praise and Thanksgiving followed by us
this day; for surely whoever would be called a subject of these states,
and is content to hold his Liberty and Property under their protection,
could never desire to see their peace, however dear, established on
Conquest or Force, by any power upon earth ; and therefore we must
rejoice when the Almighty in his providence appears to blast and defeat
the most powerful reiterated attempts for reducing a free People, to a
Government at will, and unconditional Submission.

After the days of mourning which we have beheld, the short period
of about nine months hath produced such a series of favourable events,
for these infant states, as astonishes ourselves; and, among our pos-
terity, will scarcely be believed. Had the incidents which have taken
place been but proposed to our hopes a twelve-month ago, by any person
living, we should have thought that he mocked our Credulity, or in-
sulted our Distress. But all things are possible with God ; and when
the affairs of a People are at the worst, then is often the time when the
mighty One of Israel is pleased to interpose, and therein to " triumph
gloriously."

In such cases, it is our indispensable duty to mark the manifestations
of his power with humble reverence ; and to rejoice before him exceed-
ingly; but still, as was said before, we must "rejoice with trembling,"
because the same almighty Power which raised us up in our low estate,
can dash us to the ground again, if, like the proud Assyrian of old, we
begin to boast ourselves, and say that our own Hand, or the strength of
our own Arm, got us the victory.

Wherefore, Brethren ! let me, in conclusion, as is my duty, earnestly
exhort you, in your best and most prosperous estate, to be clothed with
Humility, and the Fear of God, in the fulness of his Love ; ascribing
only to Him all power and glory and victory.

When we come to give Thanks unto God, for blessings received, or
to Pray to Him for success in our undertakings, it must be with a con-
viction that all the Events of this world, and the fortune and fate of all
the People and Nations in it, are in his supreme disposal ! Let us,
therefore, be persuaded that the People and Nations, who most fervently
and earnestly follow His holy I^aws, and support the Purity and Majesty
of that Divine Religion, which he hath made known to them, will most
effectually serve their country, by obtaining His favour.

In the present moment of trial, all who profess to love their country,
would certainly wish to shew that Love by their Courage and Heroism,
when duly called upon to exercise them. But these glorious qualities
can stand upon no foundation but a Conscience at Peace with God, and
a Conviction that we are engaged in His divine Cause. I trust that we
have long since satisfied our own Reason and Conscience, that the cause

52 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [1781

in whicli we are engaged is not grounded on tlie wicked passions of
Ambition, Malice, Revenge, Cruelty, and the like; but that, in sight
of Men and Angels, and of Him, who is above all the quires of Angels,
we contend for the security of those sacred and unalienable Rights,
which the good Providence of God called us to inherit. These we are
never to desert, but to strive for them, at every peril, with a holy and
unquenchable Zeal ; persevering, if need be, even unto Death. Every
People and Country have native and essential Rights, which neither in
conscience, nor in duty to God and themselves, they can tamely sur-
render. When Liberty is invaded, when Property is insecure, when
Devastation, and Plunder, and all the Horrors of War, are around a
People, it is their sacred Duty, by every brave and heroic Exertion, to
repel such Iniquity ; and to seek for the Re-establishment of Peace and
Safety, by every means in their power, hostile or otherwise. In such
cases, Resistance is the voice of Nature, and of God. We have resisted
— and Resisted even unto Blood; and through the blessing of God,
have repelled the danger, and opened the Prospect of future Safety —
opened it so far indeed, that, as already observed, our i)resent Hopes,
compared with our former Fears, in the short period of about nine
months, have converted a kind of temporary Despondency into a well-
grounded Confidence, in the Strength of the Almighty

Lost, therefore, to every sentiment of religious Gratitude should we
be, if we did not this day, adore that Providence which has accom-
plished such a mighty Salvation for our country ! And especiallv, let
us remember, as I hinted before, to temper our Joy, with the consider-
ation, that even the best Fruits of Victory are beset with thorns ; and
that what are days of Rejoicing to some, are but days of Mourning to
others, whose dearest Relatives, have given their lives, as a sacrifice, in
the Contest. This world is a chequered scene, and we are to expect no
pure Bliss in it. But let us act the part of good Citizens, good Men and
good Christians ; and then we may safely trust the Issue to the Direction
of that Almighty Being, who is supremely, just, wise, and holy!

Dr. Smith entertained for his family connections in general a
warm regard, and in the event of their death, usually made some
record of the fact. I find in his " Diary" this entry, May 3d, 1781 :

'•John Wemyss died at this date, at Glasgow, Scotland. He was a
Lieutenant in the 42d Royal Highlanders, 2d Battalion, now 73d." *

* I infer that this John Wemyss was a relative of Dr. Smith's wife, as she (as will be
seen hereafter) was connected with the family of the Earl of Wemyss. Lieutenant
John Wemyss had served in America with Bouquet, and had been an ofificcr in Mont-
gomery's Highlanders. He had also furnished Dr. Smith with much of the matter out
of which he compiled his acccnint of the ex[)edition against the Ohio Indians. James
Wemyss, who was an uncle to Dr. .Smith's wife, was also with this expedition. He
was stationed in New York', but returned to Scotland and became the Fifth Earl of
Wemyss.

I /Si] rev. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 53

During the year 1781 Dr. Smith, who had been elected Grand
Secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, was re-
quested to prepare for the press a new edition, in an abridged form,
of the " Book of Constitutions." This he did, making also a Preface
to the work. The minutes of a meeting held November 22, 1781,
give us these records :

The Abridgement of the Book of Constitutions being read, the same
was unanimously approved of, and ordered to be printed; and also, that
the Thanks of this Grand Lodge be given to our beloved Brother, the
Reverend William Smith, D. D., Grand Secretary, for the great Care
and Attention he has bestowed in revising and abridging the said Book
of Constitutions.

Resolved, That the Mason's Arms be engraved as a frontispiece for
the book, and in case our beloved and illustrious brother Gen' Wash-
ington permit it to be dedicated to him, that his Excellency's arms be
engraved and prefixed to the dedication.

The Dedication to General Washington is found in the book.
It is thus :

To his Excellency Gtorge Washington, Esq., General and Commander
in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America:
In Testimony, as well of his exalted Services to his Country, as of
that noble Philanthropy which distinguishes him
among Masons.
The following Constitutions of the most ancient and honour-
able Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, by
Order and in Behalf of the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania, (Sic, is
dedicated,
By his Excellency's most humble Servant,
and faithful Brother,
William Smith, Grand Secretary.
June 24, 1782.

The Preface to the book, as we have said, is from Dr. Smith's
pen. It is curious as illustrating the range of his information and
interests. To those readers who take pleasure in the recondite
subject of Free Masonry, it will Ijave perhaps attraction. For them
chiefly I give it here :

The design of the following work (according to the appointment of
the Grand Lodge) is only to extract, abridge and digest under distinct
heads, the several parts of Ahiman Rezon, so as to be most intelligible

54 LIl'E AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sl

and useful to operative Masons in America. The officers of Lodges,
and those members who wish to be more completely learned in the
grand science and sublimer mysteries of Ancient Masonry, will think it
their duty, as opportunities offer, to furnish themselves, or their Lodges,
with at least one copy of all approved and dul/ authorised books of
INIasonry, which may be published by the learned Lodges, or illustrious
brethren, in different languages and countries of the world, from time
to time.

Upon this plan, therefore, it will not be necessary to detain the reader
with any long account of the antiquity of the Royal Art. Certain it is,
that when the first man was formed in the image of God, the principles
of Masonry, as a divine gift from heaven, were stamped upon his heart
by the great Architect of the universe. The same principles were after-
wards renewed and placed upon everlasting foundations, by the wisdom
of his glorious Son; and they are daily cultivated in every soul that
delights in order, harmony, brotherly love, morality and religion,
through the grace and goodness of his divine Spirit — thrice blessed
Three, in one eternal God-head !

Thus instructed from above, the sublime operative and mechanic part
of Masonry was practised by Adam in the bowers of Paradise, and
propagated among chosen men of his posterity, in a lesser or greater
degree of perfection, through the different nations of the world (as
learned brethren have fully shewn% nor was the noble art lost by the
Israelites either during their peregrination in Egypt, or journeyings i.i
the deserts of Arabia. For there it pleased the supreme Architect to
inspire those great Master Masons, Bezaleel and Aholiab, and to put
"wisdom and understanding into their heart, and to teach them how
to work all manner of work, for the service of the * Sanctuary, and
erecting that most glorious Tent or Tabernacle, wherein the divine
Shechinah vouchsafed to promise a special residence; which, although
not of stone or brick, was framed by Geometry, a most beautiful piece
of architecture (and afterwards the model of Solomon's Temple) accord-
ing to the pattern that God had shewn to Moses in the Mount."

And thus Moses, a man supremely skill'd in all the Egyptian learn-
ing, who, to his other titles, added that of King of Jesurun, being
divinely taught in the art of building, became Grand Master-mason or
Builder among the Israelites, "and often marshalled them into a regular
and general Lodge, while in the wilderness ; and gave them Avise charges
and orders, had they been but well observed." — But of this no more
must be mentioned.

We pass on to speak more particularly of Solomon's Temple, at the
building of which, under the divine direction, were displayed, in an

* Exodus xxxvi.

1 781] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 55

unparalleled degree, all the glory, beauty and sublimity of Masonry;
there being no fewer than * three thousand six hundred Master Masons,
eighty thousand Fellow Craftsmen, and seventy thousand Labourers,
employed in this magnificent and Heaven-conducted work.

But above all the rest, our Grand Master Hiram shone superlatively
great, as chief Director, and the most accomplished Mason upon earth.
For to this character of him the holy Scripture gives testimony, in the
recommendatory letter which Hiram, King of Tyre, sent with him to
King Solomon, — "And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with
understanding, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan ; and his
father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold and in silver, in brass,
in iron, in stone and in timber, in purple, in blue and in fine linen, and
in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every
device which shall be put to him with thy cunning men and with the
cunning men of my Lortl David, thy Father." "j"

Thus we see that our great Master Hiram was accomplished in almost
every art and science then known upon earth ; as all those should aspire
to be, who wish to become useful Masons, the- Masters of Lodges, and
the Rulers or Instructors of others. It is here further to be observed,
that so highly was this Chief of Masons honoured by his master the
King of Tyre, that in all probability he had called him Hiram, or
Huram, after his own royal name.

It would be foreign to our present design (as already hinted) to men-
tion the illustrious Masons that in all ages, from the building of Solo-
mon's Temple down to the ages of general darkness and barbarity, have
adorned the different countries of the world ; as Syria, Mesopotamia,
Assyria, Chaldea, Babylonia, Media, Persia, Arabia, Africa, lesser Asia,
Grecia, Rome, &c., «Scc. The remains of temples, pyramids and mighty
towers, yet declare their builders' glory; and, even in Gothic ages, the
chief monuments of taste and grandeur are to be seen in the works of
Masonry and Architecture.

Seven hundred years ago, AVilliam, called the Conqueror, built the
Tower of London; his son, William Rufus, built Westminster Hall;
which, as one room or Lodge, is said to be the largest in the known
world; — which grand monuments of Gothic Architecture were all raised
in the taste and spirit, delivered down from those ancient Craftsmen
and learned Masons sent into England, at the request of the Saxon
Kings, by Charles Martell, King of France, more than one thousand
years ago.

But I'or the further instruction of the reader, concerning the founda-
tion and antiquity of what is called York Masonry, the following record,
written in the reign of Edward IV. of England, viz., three hundred

* I Kings V. 15; 2 Chion. xi. iS. i 2 Chron. ii. 13, 14.

56 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sl

years ago, is here inserted ; which, with another famous record, pub:
lished by the great Philosopher John Locke, Esq. ; (and likewise herein
after inserted) will be enough on this subject.

"Although the ancient records of the brotherhood in England were
many of them destroyed or lost in the wars of the Saxons and Danes,
yet it is known that King Athelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great,
who was a mighty architect, the first true King of England, and who
translated the holy Bible into the Saxon tongue, when he had brought
the land into rest and peace, built many great works, and encouraged
many Masons from France, who were ai)pointed overseers thereof, and
brought with them the charges and regulations of the Lodges preserved
since the Roman times. These Masons likewise prevailed with the King
to improve the Constitution of the English Lodges according to the
foreign model, and to increase the wages of working Masons.

"The said King Athelstan's youngest son Edwin being taught
Masonry, and taking upon him the charges of a Master Mason, for the
love he had to the said craft, and the honourable principles whereon it
is grounded, purchased a free charter of his father; giving the Masons
a right of correction among themselves (as it was anciently expressed)
or a freedom and power to regulate themselves, to amend what miglit
happen amiss, and to hold an Yearly Communication, or General
Assembly.

" Li virtue of this charter, Prince Edwin summoned all the Masons in
England to meet him in a congregation at York ; who accordingly at-
tended his summons, and composed a General Lodge, of which he was
Grand Master; and having brought with them and collected together
all the writings and records which were extant concerning Masonry
(some in Latin, some in French, and other languages) from the con-
tents of the whole, that Assembly or grand Congregation did frame the
Constitution and Charges of the English or great ancient Yor'k Lodge ;
and made a law to preserve and observe the same in all future time,
ordaining likewise good pay for working Masons. — And the said con-
stitution, charges and laws, having been afterwards seen and perused by
Henry the VL and by the Lords of his Council (most of whom were
Masons) were consented to and allowed to be right, good and reason-
able to be holden, as they w^ere thus drawn out and collected from the
records of ancient times." The great Philosopher, Mr. Locke, already
mentioned, likewise tells us that the famous manuscript, on the an-
tiquity of Free Masonry, found in the Bodleian Library (herein after
published) is said to have been originally in the "hand-writing of the
same King Henry."

'Tis true, while this Prince was an infant, and his Parliament, it is
believed, not very wise (learning being then deemed a crime, and
Geometry passing for Conjuration), a law was passed which dei)rived
Masons of some of their ancient charter privileges, by forbidding them
"to confederate themselves into Chapters and Congregations."

I /Si] rev. WILLIAM smith, d. d. 57

"Whereas (says the law) by yearly Congregations and Confederacies,
made by the Masons in their General Assemblies, the good course and
effect of the statutes for labourers be openly violated and broken, in
subversion of the law, and to the great damage of all the commons, our
Sovereign Lord the King, willing in this case to provide a remedy, by
the advice and assent aforesaid, and at the special request of the com-
mons, hath ordained and established that such Chapters and Congrega-
tions shall not hereafter be holden ; and if any such be made, that they
cause such Chapters and Congregations to be assembled and holden, if
they thereof be convict, shall be judged for felons, and that the other
Masons that come to such Chapters and Congregations be punished by
imprisonment of their bodies, and make line and ransom at the King's
will." — G;. Inst. 3.

But, as was said before, this Parliament does not seem to have been
made up of many wise heads, and tradition informs us also that they
were too much influenced by the ignorant Monks and illiterate Clergy
(not like those of modern days, or of the early ages, who were many of
them eminent Masons and friends to Masons) but a sett of men, who
thought they had a right to know all men's secrets, by means of confes-
sion \ and therefore hated the Masons, and represented them as danger-
ous to the state, because they kept their own secrets, and made no use
of Confessors at all. But the King, when he came to man's estate, ap-
proved the Masonic Constitution, as above set forth, without any regard
to the said Act of Parliament; which the great Lord Coke tells us is
now of no effect — "For," says he, "all the Statutes concerning labour-
ers, whereunto this act doth refer, are repealed by the Statute V. Eliz.
Chap. IV. ; whereby the cause and end of making this Act is taken away,
and consequently this act is become of no force or effect ; for ccssante
ratione Legis, cessat ipsa Lex. And the indictment of felony upon this
Statute must contain, that those Chapters and Congregations were to the
violating and breaking of the good course and effect of the Statutes of
labourers; which now cannot be so alledged, because these Statutes be
repealed." This quotation is thought to confirm the tradition that this
most learned Judge really belonged to the ancient Lodge, and was a
faithful Brother.

We read further, that Queen Elizabeth once entertained some con-
siderable prejudices concerning the truly ancient and honourable body
of Free Masons. We know it was part of this Queen's character, among
all her rare and princely virtues, to be of a jealous temper, with a great
curiosity to be Mistress of all secrets, and an enemy to all meetings or
assemblies of her subjects, whose business slie was not duly apprized of.
Being told by some of her ignorant and busy meddling Courtiers, that
the Masons had secrets that could not be revealed to her, and altho' as
a woman, she could govern a Nation, yet she could not govern a Lodge,
nor be made Grand Master (or Mistress) of Masons; she therefore sent

$8 LIFE AND CORRESrONDEXCE OF THE [1781

an armed force to break up the annual Grand Lodge at York, on St.
John's Day, December 27th, 1561. Sir Thomas Sackville, then Grand
Master, instead of being dismayed at such an unexpected visit, gallantly
told the officers that nothing could give hnn greater pleasure than see-
ing them in the Grand Lodge, as it would give him an opportunity of
convincing them that Free Masonry was the most honourable institution
that ever was founded, and truly consonant to Laws both divine and
moral. The consequence was that he made the chief men Free Masons;
who, on their return, made an honourable report to the Queen, so that
she never more attempted to dislodge or disturb them, but esteemed
them as a peculiar sort of men, that cultivated peace and friendship,
arts and sciences, without meddling in the affairs of Church or State.

Thus hath Masonry flourished through different ages in the old world,
and hath obtained a very noble and solid foundation in this new or
American world. Were it necessary, we might proceed to shew that
from this ancient Fraternity, "the Societies or Orders of Warlike
Knights, and even some religious Orders and Societies, have borrowed
many of their wisest institutions and most solemn usages. For none of
them were better instituted, more decently installed, or did more sa-
credly observe their Laws and Charges, than the Free and Accepted
Masons have done; and therefore their whole body, thus cemented, re-
sembles a strong and well-built Arch, having as its members and parts,
for time immemorial. Princes and Nobles, Gentlemen, Clergymen,
learned Scholars and Artists of the first rank, in all countries."*

Three dozen of the books of the Constitutions were presented
to Dr. Smith " for the great care and attention which he has had
in revising the same." This "Ahiman Rezon" is still known as
"Smith's." It has a beautifully engraved frontispiece, and is a
book much valued by collectors. The preface to it has been the
subject of eulogy in my hearing by the accomplished chair-
man of the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. C. E. Meyer, for the skill with which it states matters
long the subject of difference between certain Grand Lodges.

* The title page is thus : "Ahiman Rezon | abridged and digested : | as a | Help to
all that are, or would be | Free and Accepted Masons. | To which is added | A SER-
MON, I Preached in Christ-Church, Philadelphia, | At a General Communication, |
Celebrated, agreeable to the Constitutions, on | Monday, December 28, 1778, | as the
Anniversary of .St. John the Evangelist. | Published by order of | the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania, ] By William Smith, D. D. | Philadelphia : | Printed by Hall and
Sellers. | m,dcc,lxxxui."

178 1] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 59

CHAPTER XLII.

Dr. Smith preaches a Funeral Discourse on the Rev. Hugh Neill, of

WHOM SOME ACCOUNT IS GIVEN — DeATH OF MrS. BlACKWELL, WiFE OF THE

Rev. Mr. Blackwell — Notice and Elegiac Stanzas upon her Death

ATTRIBUTED TO Dr. SmITH — ThE CONVENTION OF 1 782 IN MARYLAND —

Success of Kent County School, and Development of Washington
College, Maryland — Death of William Moore, Esq., of Moore Hall.

In the account which we have given in our former volume of
St. Paul's Church, in Third street, Philadelphia, the matrix of the
low-church parishes in Pennsylvania, we refer to the Rev. Hugh
Neill, one of the most respectable of the clergy of this Methodis-
tical side of the Episcopal body. Mr. Neill was born in New
Jersey, and had been bred a Presbyterian, and preached in that
sect in his native State until 1749, when he went to England and
took orders in the Church, and was licensed by the Bishop of
London for Pennsylvania, March 26th, 1750. He was sent,
however, by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, to
Dover, in Delaware, which, indeed, then made a part of Pennsyl-
vania, and here he remained until 1760, when he was transferred
to Trinity Church, Oxford, Pennsylvania, preaching on Sunday
evenings at Germantown. In 1765 he officiated in Philadelphia at
St. Paul's, and in 1766, having received from Governor Sharpe, of
Maryland, an induction as rector of the parish of St. Paul's in
Queen Anne county, he left Philadelphia for that charge, having
refused to receive any pay for his services. In order to show their
appreciation of this kindness, the vestry of St. Paul's, Philadelphia,
presented him with a piece of plate bearing the following

inscription :

The Gift of

St. Paul's Church in Philadelphia

to

the Rev. Hugh Neill,

in gratitude for his disinterested ministerial

services to that Church.

A. D. 1766.

6o LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

In 1773, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the new Gov-
ernment, he left his charge. He returned, however, in 1780. By
his last will he left the above-mentioned piece of silver plate to St.
Paul's Church. He ministered at St. Paul's, in Queen Anne county,
Md., ^xteen or' seventeen years. Though he was, as I suppose,
of the school of Wesley and Whitfield, and though Dr. Smith,
according to Mr. Neill's own account, treated him, on one occasion
at least, very roughly,* he had so many good qualities of personal
character, that Dr. Smith came at last to entertain for him a
sincere regard, and apparently did so even while he was in Phil-
adelphia and connected with St. Paul's there, a parish in ^^'hich Dr.
Smith was no more a favorite than were any other regularly be-
haved clergy of the Church of England. After Dr. Smith went to
Maryland, he met often his ancient acquaintance of Philadelphia,
and at his death preached, January 23d, 1782, an affecting sermon
at his funeral. Dr. Smith's text, from Genesis xv. 15 — "Thou
shalt go to my fathers in peace ; thou shalt be buried in a good
old age " — suggests that Mr. Neill at his death had attained to
venerable years.

We have mentioned in our first volume the interest which Dr.
Smith took while in Philadelphia in " the mission at Gloucester,"
as it was called ; a mission in New Jersey, of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel. With the mission at Burlington
(N. J.), occupied by Dr. Smith's accomplished and much valued
friend. Dr. Jonathan Odell, it was one of the important mis-
sionary stations of New Jersey, especially in its aspects to the
Church in Philadelphia. The Rev. Nathaniel Evans, a favorite
pupil of Dr. Smith, and a graduate of the College at Philadelphia,
a young man of singular talents, accomplishment and piety, had
been the first occupant of it, entering upon the mission in 1765,
and dying there two years afterwards, in 1767, deeply lamented by
all who knew him.f Dr. Smith edited his literary remains, thus
showing his regard for him. Dr. Smith was thus a frequent
visitor at Gloucester, where he became intimately acquainted with
the most important families of the region, including more
particularly among them that of Mr. Joseph and Ann Harrison.
Dr. Smith took much pains to re-establish the missions after Mr.

* See Perry's Historical Collections of Pennsylvania, page 319.
•f For a sketch of, see vol. ist, pp. 434, 479.

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 61

Evans' death. The Rev. David Griffith, afterwards Bishop elect
of Virginia, was in it; only, however, for a short time. The Rev.
John Lyons also occupied it for a short time, but neither with
effect. In 1772 the Rev. Robert Blackwell entered into charge —
a young gentleman of high integrity, amiable disposition, sound
sense, solid learning and unquestioned piety. These excellent
qualities made him a favorite with all who knevv^ him, and espec-
ially with Dr. White and Dr. Smith.* Mr. Blackwell remained
at Gloucester until the mission was broken up by the Revolution,
when, becoming a chaplain in the army, he went to the Valley
Forge, and during the winter of 1777-78 — which Dr. Smith pas.sed
close to him at Norristown — the two clergymen were, of course, in
more or less consultation as to the exercises of their office ; Dr.
White being at Yorktown with the Congress, as we have already
stated in an early part of this volume. In 1 78 1 Mr. Blackwell became
one of the ministers of the United Churches of Christ and St. Peter's,
in Philadelphia, a post which he occupied with much dignity
and usefulness for thirty years, and in which, as in the College of
Philadelphia, of which he was afterwards a trustee, he was of
necessity in frequent relations with Dr. Smith. While at
Gloucester, he became attached to Miss Rebecca Harrison, a
daughter of the family of which we have spoken, and for which
Dr. Smith had cherished a high regard ; — a young lady of un-
usual attractiveness and merit. She died on Monday, the 25 th
of February, 1782, a year or two after her marriage, in giving birth
to a daughter, who survived. An obituary notice of her and some
elegiac stanzas addressed to her sister, and attributed to Dr.
Smith, may properly be here inserted as an illustration alike of
his sympathetic heart and ever-ready and accomplished pen.
Such things are indeed in one sense of no great value. Never-
theless, like a good deal that I have sought to preserve in my
volumes, they show a refinedness of feeling in our early society,
and an elegance in our early ephemeral literature which it would be
well for our own day if they had descended in a more abundant
measure to it.

Deaih of Mrs. Rebecca Blackwell.

On Monday morning last, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Blackwell,
Assistant Minister of the United Churches, Philadelphia, was safely

* For a sketch of this respected gentleman, see Appendix No. I.

62 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

delivered of a daughter at his house in Gloucester to the great joy of
his family and friends. But the pleasing hopes arising from the liappy
event were soon changed to the deepest sorrow on perceiving an
alteration wliich indicated her approaching dissolution ; and, notwith-
standing that the best medical assistance was procured, she expired
about four o'clock the same afternoon.

Her remains were deposited on Thursday, attended by a great
concourse of friends and acquaintances to pay the last melancholy
offices to a character so deservedly esteemed and beloved.

Blessed by nature with a comprehensive understanding and most lively
fancy, she had improved the one by an excellent education, and refined
the other by a solidity of judgment uncommon to her sex. With the
former she ever promoted the cause of virtue, and with the latter made
folly ridiculous, and put vice out of countenance. Adorned with
every social virtue, she felt the most exalted sentiments of friendship;
and with a delicacy peculiar to herself, selected such to share her
confidence as were capable of the same refined ideas, while the tender-
ness of her heart melted at the tale of woe, and from the child of want
her face was never turned aside. When the voice of nature and of
reason dictated a change of condition, she did not place her affections
on pomp or wealth, but bestowed them on one whose propriety of
sentiment and purity of morals were consonant to her own. And
the happiness of both was such as might be expected from a union
where kindred merits and mutual esteem had ripened friendship into
love. Thus, though in possession, yet from a conviction of the
instability of human happiness, she had remembered her Creator in the
days of her youth, and devoted herself to the practice of those essential
duties of religion without the performance of which no true felicity can
be enjoyed here, or a happy immortality be hoped for hereafter. Thus
living and thus beloved, by a stroke unexpected to her friends, but not
sudden to herself, whose lamp was always burning, on the 25th of
February, 1782, and in the 25th year of her age, was this amiable
pattern of Christian virtues, to the unspeakable grief of her relations, and
the irreparable loss of her husband, removed from this transitory scene.

Not to be affected with and lament a blow so severe, would discover
a want of those feelings which constitute the dignity of human nature.

TO STELLA.«-

trPON A LATE MELANCHOLY ]!EREAVEMENT.

No more my fancy charms, ye dreams
Of earthly bliss: More awful themes

Demand a serious strain.
Your grief sublimer thoughts inspire
Than trifling mirth or vain desires,

Or pleasure's gayest scenes.

* Miss Sarah Harrison, I suppose; sister to ]Mrs, Llackwell. — II. \V. S.

1782]

REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 63

The solemn spectacle is o'er,

Yet, bowed with grief, you still deplore,

With pining anguish, mourn.
Forever flow your streaming eyes.
Your bosom heaves, with deepest sighs.
For her who can't return.

She is no more ! The fatal blow
Filled every breast with poignant woe.

Then what must Stella feel !
Whose heart, by strong affection swayed.
With fond affection was repaid,

And friendship's warmest zeal.

On her was every grace bestowed.
Soft from her lips persuasion flowed,

And charmed each listening ear.
Like music through the veins it thrilled.
Each breast with sweetest rapture filled,

And smoothed the brow of care.

But now to parent earth consigned,
Oh ! where shall we her equal find,

The joys of life to crown !
Her loved remains in dust reposed.
Her radiant eyes forever closed.

Where mildest influence shone.

Oh, could the grateful Muse's strain
Console the grief, assuage the pain.

Which fills your tender breast —
From sorrow could she draw a smile.
Or keen affection's pangs beguile.

The thought would make her blest!

Yet can, dear maid, Religion charm
Death of its stinii, despair disarm:

n>

spa

To THAT RESOURCE APPLY.

Religiox calms the pangs of grief,
In HER alone we find relief,
When all we value die.

But turn, oh, turn your weeping eyes
To where her lovely infant lies

That claims a mother's care !
A mother's care she'll never know.
But Stella will that love bestow,

And guard her infant years.

Sweet, smiling babe ! Oh, may thy brec.st
With peace and harmony be blest !
And may thy Friend, thy parent see
Thy mother's graces bloom in thee,
And all HER virtues share.*

* This prayer was abundantly granted. The child, who survived, became, some-
where I suppose about the year 1800, the wife of Mr. Georr^e Willing, and lived till
the year 1852, I think; honored and beloved by as many as ever knew her.- -H. W. S.

64 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/^2

Not long after this event, on the 30th of May, 1782, died Dr.
Smith's own relative — his father-in-law — William Moore, Esq., of
Moore Hall, Chester county, Pennsylvania. I have spoken of
hipi, and described some incidents in liis life, in my former vol-
ume.* He belonged to a class of men in Pennsylvania who con-
stituted the most thorough gentry that the Province or State ever
had; but whose fame, and indeed whose very names, have almost
wholly disappeared from its popular history. Their biographies,
however, have been v/ritten — written only, however, in that kind
of ink called "invisible." It is an ink not more legible than water
when first put to paper. It lasts, however; and when that sort of
fluid, which gave at once its full black force to the eye, has grown
dim and finally faded quite away, // will, I think, grow moie and
more bright and strong, and present a history full of interest. I
venture to offer, in an Appendix,! the embryo of a chapter to
v/homsoever shall be the future collector of these annals of our
ancient gentility.

In April, 1782, a third Convention of the Church in Maryland
was held. This one was held in Baltimore. We do not learn —
there not having been a journal — who were present. We know
only that the Rev. Dr. West, of St. Paul's, and the Rev. Mr. John
Andrews, of St. Thomas and St. John's, Baltimore county, a cler-
gyman well known of former days in Pennsylvania, were added to
the number before present. The presence of Mr. Andrews, how-
ever, shows that it must have been after his return to Maryland,
in April of 1/82, from Pennsylvania. From his general activity
in affairs of the Church, and especially from his capacity in its
councils, we can hardly doubt that Dr. Smith was present. If so,
he probably presided.

Such had been the success of Dr. Smith in the charge of the
Kent County School, at Chestertown, that there were now one
hundred and forty students, with prospects of increase. The vis-
itors, therefore, asked the Legislature that the School might be
incorporated a College. This was granted, and the name given
it of W^ashington College, at the April session, in honorable and
perpetual memory of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of
the Army.

* See pages 168-174, 194, 574, 11. -j- See AppenJix, No. II.

1/82] ■ REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 65

The College was soon organized, with Dr. Smith as President;
Cohn Ferguson, A. M., Vice-President; Samuel Armer, A. M.,
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Logic; together with two
Tutors, a French teacher and others ; one of whom was Mr. Coudon,
the former head of the school. Two of these gentlemen, Mr. Cou-
don and Mr. Ferguson, immediately became lay readers in vacant
parishes, and in due time, with a third, entered into Holy Orders.

It was still a time of i'cvoliition, of desolating war. The popula-
tion of the State had decreased 80,000. Money had become ex-
ceedingly scarce, ^200,000 only being the estimated amount in
circulation in the State; yet on the Eastern Shore ;^io,300 were
contributed for the College, and a brick building had been erected
for it, 160 feet long and three and a half stories high, capable of
containing 200 students. The names of its trustees showed the
high standard it aspired to. General Washington headed the list,
and then follow those of the Hon. John Henry, the Hon. Samuel
Chase, Governor Paca, Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Samuel Keene, Rev.
William Thomson, Robert Goldsborough, William Perry, Nichol-
son, Scott, Bordlcy, Perkins, Gale, and seven others, all of whom
were churchmen, prominent and leading men, liberal donors to its
funds, and pledged to its interests.

In our next chapter we give a more particular account of this
College.

CHAPTER XLIII.

Dr. Smith's account of Washington College — Address to the Inhabitants
OF Maryland in regard to the College — List of the Subscriptions —
Dr. Smith and Peregrin Lethbury to the Assembly of Maryland —
Address of the Visitors to the Assembly — Dr. Smith in behalf of the
Visitors to General Washington — General Washington to Dr. Smith in
REPLY — Proceedings of the Assembly of Maryland.

The following account of the College is from the pen of Dr.
Smith. We append to the account such documents and letters
as assist in giving a true impression of an institution founded
under circumstances, as will be seen from what we have stated at
the close of our last chapter, of a most unusual kind.

Dr. Smith's Account, etc.

In that extent of territory which, through the Providence of God, is
5

66 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

now the sovereign Domain of the United States of America, an
attentive observer cannot but behold the foundations of an Empire
laid, which promises to enlarge itself to vast dimensions, and to become
the happy means of diffusing Knoiuledge, Liberty and Happiness, through
every other part of this American continent.

In a commercial vieiv, it is almost needless to mention the great and
growing importance of these states; on account of their rich variety of
soil and produce, their length of sea-coast and other conveniences of
navigation, both internal and external. From this variety springs like-
wise one of the first of earthly blessings — a blessing, perhaps, not known
in an equal degree by any other people, living in the same commu-
nity or foederal union, throughout the globe — We have the staff of life
— Bread in abundance, not only for ourselves, and the immense num-
ber of industrious settlers, constantly flowing in among us from different
parts of the old world ; but likewise for exportation to supply the wants
of others, and to multiply the sources and channels of our trade. Nor
is there a probability, under the favour of Heaven, and a due exertion
of our skill and industry (as the experience of near two hundred years
can tell us) that we shall ever suffer, through scarcity or want. For, in
such an extended country, and with such variety of soil and climate, if
the productions of one kind, or of one part of the country should fail,
there will remain a sufficiency of the other kinds, and those the far
greater part, unless (thro' the direction of Providence for its own wise
purposes) a revolution of seasons should take place, whereof neither
past experience or memory can suggest any example or precedent.

Nor are the soil and climate thus favourable to the productions of the
earth only; but likewise to all the best powers, both of body and mind,
in the human species ; nursing up a race of bold and hardy men ; who
in the vindication and establishment of their native rights and inde-
pendence, have given the most illustrious proofs of their wisdom, valour
and magnanimity during a long and arduous contest with one of the
most powerful nations upon earth. And with the like exertions of
virtue and public spirit, looking up to God as our protector and Guide,
we need have but little to fear from any future wars of the old world or
the new — should war, in ages hence, continue to be the unchristian
mode of arbitrating the differences of Christian nations !

But, we may trust, the time is not distant when "Violence shall no
more be heard upon earth ; when nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more." As a prelude to
tliat happy period, which (we are assured) shall yet come, may not these
American States, even now, "beat their swords into plough-shares, and
their spears into pruning-hooks?" Remote as we are in situation, may
Ave not keep ourselves alike remote in our inclination, from the intrigues,
the ambition and the quarrels of the other powers of the world ; yielding
c.s great a proof of moderation in peace as of magnanimity in war?

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 67

The idea is truly animating, and in the hope of its being realized, a
friend to mankind cannot but adore that Providence which (in portion-
ing out the countries of the new world among the nations of the old)
gave that part of America, which seems ordained to preheminence of
improvement above the rest, to an enlightened and civilized people —
professing themselves the votaries of knowledge and freedom in their
purest and most improved state. For however flattering it may be to
consider the growth of these rising States as tending to increase the
wealth and commerce of the world ; they are to be considered in ano-
ther more serious view, as ordained to enlarge the sphere of Humanity.
In that view the great interests of civil liberty, the parent of every
other social blessing, will not be forgotten; but every true citizen of
the States will consider himself as a chosen instrument for supporting
her cause in the new world, at a time when drooping or decaying in the
old ; and will accordingly rejoice to water the tender plant that hath
taken root among us, and to rear and shelter it from the storm, till it
shoot up into a great tree, "sending forth its boughs unto the ocean,
and its branches to the utmost rivers." But in this great work, we are
not to trust to the most successful struggles either against foreign or
domestic enemies, nor yet to the best constituted forms of government
for the preservation of our civil or religious rights. We must strive to
maintain our own virtue — We must avoid the snares of luxury, venality
and corruption among ourselves. We must regard the great concerns
of religion and another world. We must attend to the rising genera-
tion. The souls of our youth must be nursed up to the love of liberty
and knowledge; and their bosoms warmed with a sacred and enlight-
ened zeal for everything that can bless or dignify their species.

In short, lasting provisions must be made by good education, for
training up a succession of Patriots, Lawgivers, Sages and Divines ; for
liberty will not deign to dwell, but where her fair companion knowl-
edge flourishes by her side ; nor can governinient be duly administered
but where the principles of Religion, Justice, Virtue, Sobriety, and
Obedience for conscience-sake, are upheld.

Every well-regulated Seminary of Learning, therefore, that promises
to exalt the genius of our country, and to become the means of diffusing
useful knowledge still further and wider over this great continent,
should be an object of general regard, wheresoever it is founded ; for
in this respect, we have but one common interest to pursue.

It is hoped, then, that we may now have leave to mention " Wash-
ington-College in the State of Maryland," as an institution of this
kind, well worthy of the encouragement of the public in its present
infant-state, and more especially of the inhabitants of the Peninsula for
whose more immediate advantage it is founded.

Altho' some considerable provision had been made by former Legisla-

63 LIFE AND CORRESrONDENCE OF THE [1782

tures of Maryland for the rudiments of learning in county schools, yet
the State had been long without any public seminary of universal learn-
ing for the benefit of youth, as is set forth more at large in the act for-
founding this College ; a copy of which follows, viz. :

AN ACT FOR FOUNDING A COLLEGE AT CHESTER, IN

MARYLAND.*

Whereas Institutions for the liberal education of youth in the prin-
ciples of virtue, knowledge, and useful literature, are of the highest
benefit to society, in order to raise up and perpetuate a succession of
able and honest men for discharging the various offices and duties of
the community, both civil and religious, with usefulness and reputation ;
and such institutions of learning have accordingly merited and received
the attention and encouragement of the wisest and best regulated States.

And Whereas former legislatures of this State have, according to
their best abilities, laid a considerable foundation in this good work, in
sundry laws for the establishment and encouragement of county schools,
for the study of "Latin, Greek, Writing, and the like; " intending, as
their future circumstances might permit, to engraft or raise, on the
foundation of said schools, more extensive seminaries of learning, by
erecting one or more Colleges or places of universal study, not only in
the learned languages, but in philosophy, divinity, law, physic, and
other useful and ornamental arts and sciences.

And Whereas this great and laudable undertaking hath been retarded
by sundry incidents of a public nature, but chiefly by the great difficulty
of fixing a situation on either shore of this State, for a seminary of
universal learning, which might be of equal benefit and convenience to
the youth of both shores ; and it having been represented to this Gen-
eral Assembly, that it would probably tend most to the immediate
advancement of literature in this State, if the inhabitants of each shore
should be left to consult their own convenience, in founding and freely
endowing a College or seminary of general learning each for themselves,
under the sanction of law ; which two Colleges or seminaries, if thought
most conducive to the advancement of learning, religion and good
government, may afterwards, by common consent, when duly founded
and endowed, be united under one supreme legislative and visitatorial
jurisdiction, as distinct branches or members of the same State
University, notwithstanding their distance of situation.

And Whereas Joseph Nicholson, James Anderson, John Scott,
William Bordley, and Peregrine Lethbury, Esquires, William Smith,
Doctor in Divinity, and Benjamin Chambers, Esquire, the present
Visitors of Kent county school, in the town of Chester, have represented

* The important features of this Statute were no doubt suggested by Dr. Smith; and
probably its exact language. — H. W. S.

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 69

to this General Assembly, " Tliat the said school hath of late increased
greatly by an accession of students and scholars, from various parts of
the Eastern Shore of this State, and the neighbouring Delaware State;
there being now about one hundred and forty students and scholars in
the said school, and the number expected soon to increase to at least two
hundred, — and that the Latin and Greek languages, English, French,
Writing, merchants' accounts, and the different branches of Mathema-
tics are taught in the same, under a sufficient number of able and
approved Masters; that sundry of tlie students are preparing, and
desirous, to enter upon a course of philosophy, and must repair to some
other State, at a very grievous and inconvenient expence, to finish their
education, unless they, the said Visitors, are enabled to enlarge the plan
of the said school, by engrafting thereon, a system of liberal education
in the arts and sciences, and providing necessary books and apparatus,
with an additional number of Masters and Professors." And the said
Visitors have further expressed their assurance, that if they were made
capable in law of erecting the said school into a College or general
seminary of learning, for the Eastern Shore or Peninsula between the
bays of Chesapeake and Delaware, (maintaining the original design of
the said school, as a foundation not to be violated) very considerable
sums could be raised in a few years within the said Peninsula, by free
and voluntary contributions, for the establishment and support of such
seminary. And have accordingly prayed, that a law may be passed to
enable them, the said Visitors, to enlarge and improve the said school
into a College, or place of universal learning, with the usual privileges.

Now this General Assembly taking the said petition into their serious
consideration, and being desirous to encourage and promote knowledge
within this State, have agreed to enact, and be it enacted by the
General Assembly of Maryland, That the said Joseph Nicholson, James
Anderson, John Scott, William Bordley, Peregrine Lethbury, William
Smith, and Benjamin Chambers, the present Visitors of Kent county
school, and their successors, shall have full power and authority to erect
the said school into a College or Seminary of universal learning, and to
increase the number of Visitors and Governors thereof to twenty-four,
in manner following ; that is to say.

First. The said Visitors of Kent county school, and their suc-
cessors, for and during the term of five 3-ears next after the passing
of this act, are hereby empowered and niade capable to receive con-
tributions and subscriptions for the said intended College or Seminary
of universal learning, of any person or persons v/ho may be willing to
promote so good a design ; and in case any number or denomination
of contributors in any county of the Eastern Shore of this State, or of
the Peninsula aforesaid, in the neighbouring States, shall subscribe and
engage to pay towards the founding and supporting the said intended

70 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

College, any sum not less than ^^500 current money, payable in Spanish
milled dollars, or tlie value thereof, as the same may be at the times
of payment, in good merchantable wheat or tobacco, the said Visitors
i.nd their successors, may covenant and agree with such subscribers and
contributors, that there shall be one Visitor and Governor of the said
College, chosen for ever out of such county, for every ;^5oo of specie
so subscribed and paid, or secured to be paid, towards founding and
supporting the said College, and that the first election of every such
county Visitor and Governor of the said College, shall be made by the
subscribers and contributors in the county, within three months after
the sum of ^^500, or the value thereof, shall be subscribed and paid, or
secured to be paid as aforesaid ; and due notice of the time and place
of election shall be given to the subscribers and centributors in every
county, in such form and manner as shall be agreed upon by the
Visitors of Kent county school, and set forth in the preamble of the
subscription papers, which the said Visitors shall send into the several
counties for obtaining subscriptions towards founding and asupi^orting
the said College.

Secondly. If the Visitors of any county school on the said Eastern
Shore, for the more effectual advancement of useful knowledge, and the
better promoting the good purposes for which such county schools were
originally founded, shall be desirous to engraft and consolidate the
funds and estate of such county school, or any part or parts of the same
with the funds and estate of the said intended College, the Visitors of
Kent county school, for and during the term of five years next after
passing this act, (unless the said College is sooner established agreeably
to the tenor hereof) and the Visitors and Governors of the College, at
any time after the same shall be so established, shall have full power
and authority to treat and agree with the Visitors of such county school,
and to allow one Visitor and Governor of the College, to be for ever
chosen from among the inhabitants of such county, for every ^^500
which any such county schools may contribute towards founding and
supporting the said College, the first choice to be in the Visitors of such
county school ; or in consideration of the said ;^5oo contribution, or
of any sum or estate of greater or less value, that may be thus given by
any county school, towards the said College ; any other privileges and
advantages, in respect to the education of the youth of such county
in the College, may be fixed and agreed upon, as shall be judged
reasonable between the Visitors and Governors of the College, and the
Visitors of such county school, instead of fixing any Visitor and Gov-
ernor to be for ever chosen from the said county. And all contracts
and agreements truly and fairly made for founding and supporting the
said College as above set forth, shall be good and effectual in law,
according to the yjlain intent, and the true and legal construction of the

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. "J I

same ; Provided always, That the whole number of Visitors and Gov-
ernors of the said College, shall never be more than twenty-four at one
time, nor under seventeen ; and that not less than seven of them shall
have their usual residence in Kent county, and within seven miles of
the town of Chester, aforesaid.

Thirdly. When any of the first Visitors and Governors of the said
College chosen as aforesaid on the part of any county, or any of the
Visitors and Governors in general, shall die, or remove out of the
county for which he was chosen, or absent himself from four succeeding
quarterly meetings, without such excuse or plea of necessary absence as
shall be deemed reasonable by a legal and just quorum of the said
Visitors and Governors, duly assembled at a quarterly visitation of the
said College, such quorum so assembled, shall proceed by a new election
to fill up the seat and place of such deceased, removed or absenting
member ; having special regard that in the room of a deceased, removed
or absenting Visitor and Governor, from any particular county, another
of the same county be always chosen in his room and stead.

And be it enacted. That when ten Visitors and Governors of the
said intended College shall be chosen as aforesaid, in addition to the
seven Visitors of Kent county school for the time being, and when
the said seventeen Visitors and Governors shall, by an instrument of
writing under their hands, to the General Assembly of this State,
directed and duly delivered, declare, that they are willing and desirous
to take upon them, and to discharge, the trust of Visitors and Gover-
nors of the said intended College, and that an estate, or sum and sums
of money, not less than ;^5ooo current money, or the just value
thereof (including the estate of the said Kent county school) is in their
hands, or so secured to be paid to them that they will answer for the
value thereof, and the application of the same towards founding,
endowing, and supporting the said intended College, according to their
best judgment, and the tenor of this act ; Provided always. That such
instrument of writing be lodged with the General Assembly as afore-
said, within five years after the passing of this act ; that then and in
such case, the said seventeen Visitors and Gevernors, and such other
person and persons as they shall choose to make up and perpetuate the
number of twenty-four, agreeable to the tenor hereof, shall be, and are
hereby declared to be, one community, corporation and body politic,
to have continuance forever, by the name of "The Visitors and Gov-
ernors of Washington College, in the State of Maryland," ni honour-
able and perpetual memory of his excellency General Washington, the
illustrious and virtuous commander-in-chief of the armies of the United
States ; and by the same name they shall have perpetual succession ;
provided nevertheless, that seventeen of the said Visitors and Gover-
nors, shall always be residents on the Eastern Shore of this State, but

72 LIFE AND CORRESPOXDENCE' OF THE [17S2

that the seven additional Visitors and Governors (to make up and
perpetuate the number of twenty-four) may be chosen from this, or any
part of the adjacent States, if they are such persons as can reasonably
undertake to attend the quarterly visitations, and are thought capable,
by their particular learning, weight and character, to advance the
interest and reputation of the said Seminary.

And be it enacted. That the said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, by the same name, shall be able and capable in law, to pur-
chase, have and enjoy to them and their successors in fee, or for any
other lesser estate or estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities,
pensions or other hereditaments, within this State, by tlie gift, grant,
bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, confirmation or devise
of any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable to make
the same ; and such lands, tenements, rents, annuities, pensions or
other hereditaments, or any lesser estates, rights or interests of or in the
same, (excepting the estate of the said Kent county school) at their
pleasure to grant, alien, sell and transfer, in such manner and form, as
they shall think meet and convenient for the furtherance of the said
College ; and also that they may take and receive any sum or sums of
money, and any kind, manner or portion of goods and chattels that
shall be given, sold or bequeathed to them, by any person or persons,
bodies politic or corporate, capable to make a gift, sale or bequest
thereof, and employ the same towards erecting, setting up and main-
taining the said College, in such manner as they shall judge most neces-
sary and convenient for the instruction, improvement and education of
youth, in the vernacular and learned languages, and generally in any
kind of literature, arts and sciences, which they shall think proper to be
taught for training up good, useful and accomplished men, for the ser-
vice of their country in Church and State; and youth of all religious
denominations and persuasions, shall be freely and liberally admitted to
equal privileges and advantages of education, and to all the literary
honors of the College, according to their merit, and the standing rules
of the Seminary, without requiring or enforcing any religious or civil
test whatsoever upon any student, scholar or member of the said Col-
lege, other than such oath of fidelity to the State as the laws thereof
may require of the Visitors, Governors, Masters, Professors and Teach-
ers in schools and seminaries of learning in general ; nor shall any
preference be given in the choice of any Visitor and Governor of the
said College, or of the Principal, Vice-Principal or any Professor or
Master, on account of his religious persuasion, but merely on account
of his literary and other necessary qualifications to fill the place for
which he is chosen.

And de it enacted. That tlie said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, by the name aforesaid, shall be able in law, to sue and be

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 73

sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court or courts, before any judge,
judges or justices within this State and elsewhere, in all and all manner
of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands, of whatsoever
kind, nature or form they be ; and all and every other matter and thing
therein to do in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or
persons, bodies politic or corporate within this State, or any of the
United States of America, in like cases, may or can do.

And be it enacted, That the said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, shall have full power and authority to have, make, and use
one common and public seal, and likewise one privy seal, with such
devices and inscriptions as they shall think proper, and to ascertain, fix
and regulate the uses of both seals by their own laws, and the same seals,
or either of them, to change, break, alter, and renew at their pleasure.

And be it enacted. That the said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, from time to time, and at all times hereafter forever, shall
have full power and authority to constitute and appoint, in such manner
as they shall think best and most convenient, a Principal and Vice-
Principal of the said College, and Professors, with proper Tutors and
Assistants, for instructing the students and scholars of the said Seminary,
in all the liberal arts and sciences, and in the ancient and modern
tongues and languages ; who shall be severally styled Professors of such
arts, sciences, languages, or tongues as they shall be nominated and
appointed for, according to each particular nom.ination and appoint-
ment ; and the said Principal, Vice-Principal, and Professors so con-
stituted and appointed from time to time, shall be known and distin-
guished forever as one learned body or faculty, by the name of "The
Principal, Vice-Principal and Professors of Washington College, in the
State of Maryland," and by that name shall be capable of exercising
such powers and authorities as the Visitors and Governors of the said
College, and their successors, shall, by their ordinances, think necessary
to delegate to them for the instruction, discipline and government of
the said Seminary, and of all the students, scholars, ministers and ser-
vants belonging to the same ; and the said Principal and Vice-Principal,
Professors, students, scholars, and such necessary ministers and servants
as give constant attendance upon the business of the College, shall be
exempted from all rates and taxes on their salaries, and from all military
duties, except in the case of an actual invasion of the State, and when
general military law is declared.

And be it enacted. That the clear yearly value of the messuages,
houses, lands, tenements, rents, annuities or other hereditaments and
real estate of the said College and corporation, shall not exceed six
thousand pounds current m.oney, to be reckoned in Spanish milled dol-
lars, at the present rate and weight ; and all gifts, grants and bequests
to the said College and corporation, after the yearly value of their

74 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/82

estates shall amount to six thousand pounds as aforesaid, and all bar-
gains and purchases to be made by the said corporation, which may
increase the yearly value of ,said estate, above or beyond the sum
aforesaid, shall be absolutely void and of none effect.

And be it enacted, That the said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, shall meet at least four times in every year, in stated quar-
terly meetings, to be appointed by their own ordinances, and at such
other times as by their said ordinances they may direct, in order to
examine the progress of the students and scholars in literature, to hear
and determine on all complaints and appeals, and upon all matters
touching the discipline of the Seminary, and the good and wholesome
execution of their ordinances ; in all which examinations, meetings and
determinations, such number of the said Visitors and Governors, duly
met, (provided they be not less than seven) shall be a quorum, as the
fundamental ordinances at first, or any time afterwards duly enacted by
a majority of the whole Visitors, shall fix and determine.

And be it enacted, That a majority of the said Visitors and Gov-
ernors for the time being, when duly assembled at any quarterly, or
other meeting, upon due notice given to the whole body of Visitors and
Governors, shall have full power and authority to make fundamental
ordinances for the government of the said College, and the instruction
of the youth as aforesaid, and by these ordinances to appoint such a
number of their own body not less than seven, as they may think proper
to be a quorum for transacting all general and necessary business of the
said Seminary, and making temporary rules for the government of the
same ; and also by the said fundamental ordinances, to delegate to the
Principal, Vice-Principal and Professors, such powers and authorities as
they may think best for the standing government of the said Seminary,
and the execution of the ordinances and rules of the same ; provided
always, that they be not repugnant to the form of government, or any
law of this State.

And for animating and encouraging the students of the said College
to a laudable diligence, industry and progress in useful literature and
science, be it enacted, that the said Visitors and Governors, and their
successors, shall by a written mandate, under their privy seal, and the
hand of some one of the Visitors and Governors to be chosen annually
as their President, according to the ordinance to be made for that pur-
pose, have full power and authority to direct the Principal, Vice-Princi-
pal and Professors, to hold public commencements, either on stated
annual days, or occasionally as the future ordinances of the said Semi-
nary may direct ; and at such commencements to admit any of the
students in the said College, or any other persons meriting the same
(whose names shall be severally inserted in the said mandate) to any
degree or degrees in any of the faculties, arts and sciences, and liberal

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 75

professions to which persons are usually admitted in other Colleges or
Universities in America or Europe ; and it is hereby enacted that the
Principal, or in case of his death or absence, the Vice-Principal, and in
case of the death or absence of both, the senior Professor who may be
present, sha.ll make out and sign with his name. Diplomas or certificates
of the admission to such degree or degrees, which shall be sealed with
the public or greater seal of the said corporation or College, and deliv-
ered to the graduates as honorable and perpetual testimonials of such
admission ; which diplomas, if thought necessary for doing greater
honor to such graduates, shall also be signed with the names of the
different Professors, or as many of them as can conveniently sign the
same ; provided always, that no student or students within the said Col-
lege, shall ever be admitted to any such degree or degrees, nor have
their name inserted in any mandate for a degree, until such student or
students have been first duly examined and thought worthy of the same,
at a public examination of candidates, to be held one whole month pre-
vious to the day of commencement in the said College, by and in the
preference of the said Visitors and Governors, or of such quorum of
them, not less than seven, as the ordinances of the College may
authorize for that purpose, and in the presence of any other persons
choosing to attend the same ; and provided further, that no person or
persons, excepting the students belonging to the said Seminary, shall
ever be admitted to any honorary or other degree or degrees in the
same, unless thirteen of the Visitors and Governors (of whom the Presi-
dent shall be one) by a mandate under their privy seal, and signed by
the hands of the whole thirteen, to the Principal, Vice-Principal and
Professors directed, have signified their approbation and authority for
the particular admission of such person to said degree or degrees.

And be it enacted. That the Visitors of Kent county school may
set aside and appropriate ten acres of the land belonging to the said
school, where they shall think most convenient, for erecting necessary
buildings for carrying on the said College, and laying out gardens and
grounds for the recreation ar.d refreshment of the youth, and other
suitable exercises. And the remainder of the grounds belonging to the
said Kent county school, may and shall be leased out by the Visitors of
the said school for the time being, and by the Visitors and Governors
of the said College, after the same shall be established, in leases for
lives, or ninety-nine years, or on any other leases that may be judged
most beneficial for advancing the cause of learning, and promoting the
said College agreeable to the original design for which the said Kent
county school was founded, and for which the said school-lands were
■purchased.

And be it enacted, That the ordinances which shall be from time
to time made by the Visitors and Governors of the said College, and

76 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

their successors, with an account of their other proceedings, and of the
management of the estate and monies committed to their trust, shall,
when required, be laid before the General Assembly of Maryland, for
their inspection and examination ; but in case at any time hereafter,
through oversight or otherwise, through misapprehensions and mistaken
constructions of the powers, liberties and franchises in this charter or
act of incorporation granted or intended to be granted, any ordinances
should be made, by the said corporation of Visitors and Governors, or
any matters done and transacted by the corporation contrary to the
tenor thereof. It is enacted. That although all such ordinances, acts
and doi-ngs, shall in themselves be null and void \ yet they shall not,
however, in any courts of law, or by the General Assembly, be deemed,
taken, interpreted or adjudged into an avoidance or forfeiture of this
charter and act of incorporation, but the same shall be, and remain
unhurt, inviolate and entire unto the said corporation of Visitors and
Governors, in perpetual succession ; and all their acts conformable to
the powers, true intent and meaning hereof, shall be, and remain in
full force and validity, the nullity and avoidance of such illegal acts to
the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

And be it enacted and declared, That this charter and act of
incorporation, and every part thereof, shall be good and available in aU
things in the law, according to the true intent and meaning thereof,
and shall be construed, reputed and adjudged in all cases most favorably
on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of the said Visitors
and Governors, and their successors, so as most effectually to answer
the valuable ends of this act of incorporation, towards the general
advancement and promotion of useful knowledge, science and virtue.

And be it enacted. That no person shall act as Visitor and Gov-
ernor, or as Principal or Vice-Principal, or as Professor in the said
College, before he shall take the oath of fidelity and support to this
State required by the constitution, or by the laws of this State.

The foregoing Charter or Act of Incorporation having duly
passed the General Assembly, at their Spring-sessions, 1782, a
meeting of the seven Visitors and Governors named in it was
held, and the Rev. Dr. Smith, their President, at the request and
by the appointment of the Board, undertook to visit the different
counties on the Eastern shore, in order to open the subscriptions
for founding the Seminary, agreeably to the tenor of the law.
On his own horse, he went from country-seat to country-scat, and
almost from farm to farm, seeking personally the means of build-
ing the new seminary. The following was the preamble to the
different subscription-papers :

1782] HEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 7/

Jo the inhabitants of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, &c.

Gentlemen : — By the foregoing Act for founding a College on this
Shore, an Opportunity is offered, which good and wise men have long
wished for, of making a provision for the future education of your
Youth, in the liberal Arts and Sciences, and all the branches of useful
and ornamental Knowledge.

Colleges and Schools of general learning have, long since, been
founded in most of the Sister-States, and the advantages which our
Youth have derived from them, have been manifested in all the late
and former trials of the wisdom, virtue and magnanimity of America.
The Youth of Maryland have been particularly distinguished among the
rest ; but have been obliged, at a very grievous and unequal expence, to
prepare themselves for public life by repairing, for their education,
either to Great Britain, or to some of the neighboring American States.

The inhabitants of this Shore and Peninsula, for whose benefit this
Foundation is more immediately designed, are descended from some of
the most ancient families and settlers in America, and would undoubt-
edly wish, by good education, to support the rank of their posterity,
and to give them their full consequence in this rising Empire, — Further
arguments Avould be needless.

The Visitors of Kent County School wish to discharge the important
trust committed to them by the foregoing Act, with zeal and integrity,
according to their best abilities. The school and valuable estate under
their care, want only a little public assistance and countenance, to place
them on a footing with the most respectable Colleges or Universities in
America, being little inferior to any of them in the present number of
scholars and students.

The distance of the town of Chester from alarms in time of war, its
healthful situation, and convenience of accommodation for Youth, have,
by general agreement, pointed it out as the best place for a Seminary of
universal Learning on this Shore.

Being persuaded, therefore, that the present opportunity, which hath
been so long desired, will be cheerfully embraced, for founding a Col-
lege on this Shore, under the auspicious name with which the Legisla-
ture have dignified it ; We, the Visitors aforesaid, in execution of the
trust and duties committed to us, by the said act, propose the following —

Articles to be mutually binding on the Visitors of Kent County School,
and the Subscribers and Contributors towards founding and sup-
porting "Washington College, in the State of Maryland."
I. Every subscription shall be made in s})ecie of gold and silver, and

payable (as the Act directs) in Spanish milled Dollars of the usual

weight, or the value thereof, as the same may be at the times of payment,

in good merchantable Wheat or Tobacco.

78 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

II. For the greater ease of the Subscribers, the payments shall be
made in three equal parts; one-third part on the first Monday in Janu-
ary, 1783; another third part on the first Monday in January, 1784;
and the remaining third on the first Monday in January, 1785 ; which
several payments shall be made to the Treasurer of Kent County School,
till the College is established according to law, and afterwards to the
Treasurer of the College, as nominated by the Visitors and Governors
thereof; and the hand-writing of every particular subscriber shall be
binding in law on himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, for
the sum subscribed, or the value thereof, with legal interest, if not paid
when clue ; and the receipt of the Treasurer aforesaid shall be a sufficient
discharge for all subscfiptions and contributions.

Within three months after the sum of ;^5oo shall be subscribed by
any number of contributors or persons in any county, or district of a
county, in sums not less than £^<) or £^i per annum for three years, by
single subscribers or contributors, and the same shall be notified by any
three of the subscribers to the Visitors of Kent County School, accom-
panied with an authentic list of the subscribers, the said Visitors, agree-
able to the foregoing Act, will fix a convenient time and place for such
subscribers and contributors of fy and upwards, to meet within the
county, for electing one person as a Visitor and Governor of the Col-
lege for such county, or district of the county ; and will cause written
or printed notices of the time and place of election, to be fixed up at the
Court-House and different Parish Churches within such county, at least
ten days before the day of election, that all persons concerned may duly
attend.

In less than three months the subscription-papers were filled up
by subscriptions in the different counties on the Eastern Shore,
and on the 26th of November, 1782, were delivered to the General
Assembly, agreeably to the Charter or Incorporating Act of the
College. They were thus :

Subscriptions, &c.

His Excellency George Wash- £. s. d.

ington, Esq., General and Amount brought up I92 17 10
Commander in Chief of the

Armies of the United States, John Page 25 o o

as an Earnest of his Good- John Lambert AVilmer 30 o o

will, Fifty Guineas £?>'J 10 o Richard Graves 30 o o

Robert Buchanan 20 o o

Kent County. Thomas .Smyth 30 o o

jT. s. d. William Dunn 900

John Cadwalader 50 o o Simon Wickes 900

William Slubey 55 7 10 James Claypoole 900

Amount carried forward ;i^i92 17 10 Amount carried forward ^354 17 10

1782]

REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

79

£■

S.

d.

Amount brought over

354

17

10

Thomas Van Dyke

II

5

0

Horntio Belt

9

0

0

William Houston

9

0

0

Thomas Kemp

9

0

0

Robert Blake

9

0

0

John Wickes

9

0

0

John Harragan

9

0

0

Joseph Formau

30

0

0

Isaac Perlcins

20

0

0

William Bordley

iS

0

0

Robert Anderson

15

0

0

John Lorrain

15

0

0

Joseph Williams

9

0

0

Philip Brooks

9

0

0

Richard G. Smyth

30

0

0

Joseph Nicholson

18

0

0

James Anderson

30

0

0

William Smith

18

0

0

Benjamin Chambers

18

0

0

John Scott

18

0

0

James M. Anderson

9

0

0

Barney Corse

9

0

0

Edward Wright

9

0

0

Simon Wilmer

15

0

0

Edward Worrel

9

0

0

John Sturgis

9

0

0

Peregrine Lethrbury

9

0

0

Josias Ringgold

15

0

0

John Bolton

9

0

0

James Piper

9

0

0

Anne Deane

15

0

0

Anthony Banning

15

0

0

Emory Sudler

18

0

0

St. Leger Everett

10

0

0

Charles Groom

9

0

0

William Emliletou

10

0

0

John Kennerd

10

0

0

James Smith

9

0

0

Marmaduke Medford

II

5

0

James M'Clean

25

6

7

Luke Griffith

9

0

0

Rasin Gale

9

0

0

Thomas Smith, jun.

18

0

0

John Blakeway

9

0

0

Edward Scanlan

9

0

0

Daniel Matzler

10

0

0

John Wilson, jun.

15

0

0

Thomas Medford

10

0

0

Robert Constable

10

0

0

Robert Cruckshank

ID

0

0

Richard Lloyd

20

0

0

James Lloyd

15

0

0

Amount brought up

William Wilmer

Arthur Miller

William Ringgold, jun.

Joseph Wickes

Simon Wickes, jun,

Richard Hinson

Morgan Brown

John Sutton

Richard Spencer

Charles Tilden

Marmaduke Tilden, jun.

James Frisby

John Moore, jun.

James Williamson

Jere Nichols

Richard Ricaud

Richard Miller

William Gale

Arthur Bryan

James Dunn

James Hodges

John Williamson

Joseph Brown

Morgan Hurt

Robert Dunn

John Carvil Hinson

Samuel Gott

William Frisby

John Day

William Maxwell, jun.

James Pearce

Isaac Freeman

Nathaniel Comegys

Isaac Spencer

John Wallis (Morgan's Creek)

John Brooks

William Hanson

Malachi Ambrose

Samuel Davis

James Hinson, jun.

Alexander Baird

John Gleaves

William Geddes

William Wilson

Ebenezer Massy

Thomas Boyer

George Wilson

Robert Roberts

Nathaniel Kennard, jun

Marmaduke Tilden

£■ s. d.
1046 14 5

9

24
10

9
12

9

9

9

15

16

9
10

9

9

IS
12

9
10

5
15

9
IS

9

9
12

9

9

9

9

IS

IS

12

12

12

10

9

9
10

IS
9

IS
10

30
9
9
9

IS
9
9

IS

o o
o o

o
o
o

o
o

Amount carried forward ^ 1046 14 5

Total Amount of
County at the Elect
October, 1782

Kent ^
tions, >

o
o

o o
o o

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o

5
o
o
o
o
o

o o
o o

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

o
o
o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o o

o
o
o

o o
o o

o
o

^1599 19 5

Note. — The subscriptions, of course, in pounds, shillings and pence are not sterling
money, but money of Maryland.

80

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

[i;82

Queen Anne's County.

L-

s.

d.

William Paca

50

0

0

Edward Tilghman

50

0

0

William Hemsley

50

0

0

J. Beale Boidley

50

0

0

Edward Coursey

32

10

0

Richard B. Carmichael

20

0

0

Alexander Lawson

20

0

0

Robert Dawson

9

0

0

Richard S. Earle

30

0

0

Walter Jackson

18

0

0

Joseph Nicholson, jun.

30

0

0

C. J. Wederstrandt

9

0

0

James Earle

15

0

0

William Bruff

12

0

0

S. Clayton

9

0

0

Thomas Wright

32

10

0

Arthur Emory, jun.

22

10

0

Thos. Emory of Arthur

10

0

0

Edward Downes

9

0

0

William Hacket

9

0

0

James Liayland

9

0

0

William Wright

12

10

0

Turbutt Wright

30

0

0

Richard Emory

9

0

0

Robert W'ilson

9

0

0

James Seth

10

0

0

Clement Sewell

18

0

0

Richard Tilghman

18

0

0

William Ringgold

9

0

0

Thomas Marsh Eorman

18

0

0

J. W. Clayton

9

0

0

William Thompson

10

0

0

Charles Troup, a Certificate

for ;^200, valued at

60

0

0

John Brown

15

0

0

Samuel Ridgeway

18

0

0

James Bordley

15

0

0

Jacob Ringgold

9

0

0

William Smyth

9

0

0

Vachel Downes

9

0

0

James 0' Bryan

15

0

0

John Fisher

9

0

0

James Hacket

9

0

0

Samuel Thompson

15

0

0

John Thompson

20

0

0

M. Hawkins

9

0

0

Griffin Fount Le Roy

18

0

0

Robert Walters

20

0

0

Joshua Seney

13

0

0

Robert Wright

30

0

0

James Kent

9

0

0

John Dames

9

0

0

James Gould

9

0

0

Samuel Scney

9

0

0

Elijah Bishop

12

0

0

£■ s. d.

Amount brought up 990 o o

John Foreman lo o o

Richard B. Lloyd 50 o o

Total Amount of Queen '
Anne's County at the
Election of two Visit-
ors, October, 1782.

^1050

Talbot County.

Edward T^loyd
Robert Goklsborough, jun.
Howes Goldsborough
William Frazier
William Marsh Catrup
John Roberts
Richard Grason
Peregrine Tilghman
Richard Tilghman, jun,
Matthew Tilghman
William Hindman
Alexander M'Callum
W. Goldsborough, jun.
William Tilghman
William Bordley
Joseph Brufif
William Goldsborough
Thomas Gordon
James Hindman
John Brac:o

Samuel Lloyd Chamberlaine
William Hay ward
William Perry
Rev. John Bowie
Robert Lloyd Nichols
Rev. John Gordon
John Coates
John Troup
Charles Gardiner
Richard Skinner
John Needles
Isaac Gilpin
Charles Crookshanks
Nicholas Co.x

The Visitors of Talbot free
School

I-
60

30

18

15

9

12

9

20
20

30
II
12
12

20

d.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

o o
o o

5
o

o

o

17 10

12

35
10

15
15
27
21
20
15
15

9

9

9

9

9

ID

9
18

Total Amount of Talbot
County

};^97

I i:

Dorchester County.

Robert Goldsborough
William Ennalls
Henry Ennalls, jun.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

o o
o o

o
o
o
o
o

400 o o

jT. s. d.

100 o o

60 o o

75 o o

Amount carried forward £990 o o Amount carried forward £~ll

1782]

REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

8i

£■

s.

(/.

Amount brought over

235

0

0

Somerset

Count'

£■

s.

d.

James Murray

50

0

0

John Henry

50

0

0

Rev. Samuel Keene

30

0

0

Francis Jenkins Henry

9

0

0

Henry Hooper

15

0

0

Levin Gale

50

0

0

John Dickinson

9

0

0

Henry Jackson

25

0

0

Joseph Dattin

30

0

0

Samuel King

20

0

0

Henry En nails

9

0

0

John Denwood

9

0

0

John Stevens

9

0

0

Nehemiah King

37

0

0

Wm. Ennalls Hooper

9

0

0

Lambert Hyland

9

0

0

Levin Kirkman

15

0

0

John Dashiell

9

0

0

Willis Newton

9

0

0

R. Waters

10

0

0

James Shaw

20

0

0

Ez. Gillis

9

0

0

John Smoot

20

0

0

John Winder

9

0

0

James Sullivan

30

0

0

Thomas Sloss

20

0

0

Archibald Patison

40

0

0

George Dashiell

25

0

0

Joseph Richardson

15

0

0

William Davis Allen

15

0

0

John Marshal

9

0

0

John Done

9

0

0

Thomas Bourke

9

0

0

Thomas Maddux, jun.

9

0

0

Robinson Stevens

15

0

0

John Stewart

25

0

0

Henry Murray

36

0

0

Esme Bayly

9

0

0

Henry Maynadier

15

0

0

Henry Handy

9

0

0

Henry \Vaggaman

12

0

0

William Horsey

9

0

0

Gustavus Scott

22

0

0

William M'Bryde

9

0

0

Eartholomew Ennalls, jun.

9

0

0

George Day Scott

20

0

0

James Gordon

9

0

0

William Winder

15

0

0

William Wheland

9

0

0

James Houston

9

0

0

Richard Stanford

9

0

0

George Handy

9

0

0

John Hooper

9

0

0

Ebenezer Waller

9

0

0

William E. Hicks

9

0

0

Gilliss Polk

9

0

0

Alexander Smith

9

0

0

William Adams

25

0

0

Levin Travers

9

0

0

John Adams

25

0

0

Bartholomew Ennalls

9

0

0

Henry Lowes

40

0

0

Tho. Ennalls (Bhickiaater)

9

0

0

John Waters

15

0

0

George Bonwill

9

0

0

Hamilton Bell, jun.

9

0

0

John M. Anderson

12

0

0

Wm. Dashiell, sen.

9

0

0

Robert Evving

9

0

0

A. Cheney

10

0

0

Thomas Jones

9

0

0

John Evans (of N'ic/io/as)

9

0

0

Anne Muse

30

0

0

Alexander Roberts

9

0

0

Elizabeth Ennalls

30

0

0

Thomas Bruff

9

0

0

John Goldsborough

20

0

0

—

John Le Compte

15

0

0

Total Amount of S(

3mer- "(^

^616

r\

r\

Moses Allen

15

0

0

set County

J

\j

*-*

Pritchet Willey

9

0

0

John Owens

9

0

0

Worcester

Count

l-Y.*

Anne Steel

15

0

0

£■

s.

d.

Levin Woolford

9

0

0

Joseph Dashiell

25

0

0

Thomas Lockerman

9

0

0

Peter Chaille

2t;

0

0

Robert Griffith

9

0

0

Benjamin Burnell (of

MaUhezo) 15

0

0

John Keene

9

0

0

Charles Bennet

9

0

0

Arthur Whiteley

30

0

0

Solomon Long

18

0

0

Stanley By us

15

0

0

Philip Quinton

10

0

0

James Steel

15

0

0

William Purnell
Robert Done

25
15

0

0

0
0

Total Amount of Dorches- ~|
ter County j'

*u

/1021

0

0

Amount carried forward

£^A2

0

0

* The original manuscript of this subscription is now in the collection of Wm. Kent
Gilbert, M. D.

o2

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

[1782

£. s. d.

Amount brought over 142 o o

William Selby 10 o o

James Quinton 900

John Maiiin, jun. y o o

George Fruitt, jun. 15 o o

Dr. JBishop 15 00

Thomas Martin 12 o o

Jethro Bovvin 900

John Parramore 10 o o

"William Holland 10 o o

Levin Davis 10 o o

Levin Blake 15 00

Levin Hill 900

M. Downes 900

Henry Ayres 900

John Ayres 900
Joshua Townsend [Indian

Town) 15 00

William Handy 12 00

John Selhy 15 00

John Warner 12 00

John Neill 900

Moses Chaille 900

James Martin 900

Isaac Houston 900

Parker Selhy (of Parker) 900

William Allen 30 O o

Henry Dennis 50 o o

Robert Dennis 900

Thomas Purnell, sen. 25 o o

William Morris 15 00

Zadock Purnell, sen. 45 o o

Samuel Handy 18 o o

John Pope Mitchell 15 00

Thomas Purnell (W. N.) 18 o o

Total Amount of Worces-
ter County

};^626

CcEciL County.

£■

The Visitors of the free School 150
Amount carried forward -f I'^o

o

£■

s.

d.

Amount brought up

150

0

0

Michael Earle

20

0

0

John Miller

15

0

0

Rev. John Lewis

9

0

0

Sidney George

20

0

0

John Leach Knight

20

0

0

John Carnan

9

0

0

Daniel Charles Heath

60

0

0

Henry Ward Pearce

50

0

0

Joshua George

20

0

0

Perry Ward

18

0

0

John Ward Veazey

10

0

0

James Louttit

20

0

0

John Ward (Son of Perry)

9

0

0

John Cox

20

0

0

John Hall

9

0

0

William Rumsey

15

0

0

John Rumsey

12

0

0

William Ward

10

0

0

John Ward

9

0

0

Thomas B. Veazey

9

0

0

John Dochery Thomson

12

0

0

William Matthews

'5

0

0

Total Amount
County

of Coecil

};^54l

Caroline County.

Mathew Driver
Charles Dafiin
William Hopper

£■

s.

d.

30

0

0

30

0

0

35

0

0

;^95 o o

Accomack County.

( Viiginia.)

George Corbin
George Stewart
5. d. Skinner Wallop
o o
. Virginia Money

£. s. d.

30 o o

20 o o

10 o o

£^0 o

A''. B. The Subscriptions in Caroline County, and in Accomack and Northampton
Counties, in Virginia, as well as the upper Part of Coecil County, are yet left to be
completed, together with the additional Subscriptions proposed to be opened in the
other Counties of the Eastern Shore. '-

* These subscriptions I am not able to give from any memoranda of Dr. Smith's
just now accessible to me. They arc supposed, however, to have been considerable;
although those above given show Dr. Smith's wonderful services in the cause of letters.
— H. W. S.

1782] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D . 83

The Instrument of Trust.

To the Honorable the General Assembly of Maryland.

We, the subscribers, agreeable to our appointment by " the Visitors
and Governors of Washington College, in the State of Maryland," and
on their behalf, beg leave to present and deliver to the General Assem-
bly, the instrument of writing, or declaration of trust, required by law,
as the condition upon which the operation of their charter is to
commence.

The very numerous and liberal subscriptions which have been
obtained towards founding and supporting this College, in the different
counties to which our applications were directed, are a proof of the zeal
of the subscribers for the advancement of knowledge, virtue and public
spirit. By that zeal, the Visitors of Kent county school have been
enabled to give existence to a Corporation for the advancement of liter-
ature, in less than five months, for which they were allowed five years
by the indulgence of law. We trust, and are assured, that such exer-
tions of individuals, for the public emolument, do not only merit, but
will receive the most public approbation, as well as future protection
and encouragement of the Legislature. Together with the Declaration
of Trust, and list of subscriptions, we beg leave to present to the Gen-
eral Assembly, copies of a letter from the Visitors of Kent county school
to his Excellency, the illustrious Commander in Chief of our armies, on
the subject of this College, and of the answer which they had the honor
to receive from him. The exalted and patriotic sentiments which it
contains can only be truly conveyed to the public by the letter itself.

We would further humbly pray the General Assembly, that the several
papers and subscription lists herewith presented may be preserved among
their journals and printed with the same ; that the names of the first
founders, benefactors and patrons of this seminary may remain on
perpetual record. The names of future benefactors will be reported
and recorded as occasion may require.

William Smith.
Pere. Lethbury.

November 26, 1782.

Declaration of the Visitors and Governors.

To the Honorable the General Assembly of Maryland.

We, the subscribers, " Visitors and Governors of Washington College,
in the State of Maryland," beg leave to declare, that, agreeable to the
act, whereby we are incorporated, entitled, "An Act for founding a
College at Chester Town," there are ten visitors and governors duly
chosen in different counties of this shore, upon subscriptions of ^500
each, in addition to the seven visitors of Kent County School ; and
that "we are willing and desirous to take upon us and discharge the

84 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M'^'2'

trust of visitors and governors of the said College, and that an estate or
sum and sums not less than Five Thousand Pounds current money
(including the estate of Kent county school) is so secured to be paid to
us, that we will answer for the value thereof, and the application of the
same, towards founding, endowing and supporting the said College,
according to our best judgment and the tenor of the said act," which is
our Charter. And we further declare that a sum of money, exceeding
^^5,000, (exclusive of the estate of Kent county school) and amounting
to ^^5,992 14^-. 5^/.,* is subscribed towards the said College, as will
appear by the subscription lists herewith delivered ; and that we will use
our best endeavors, and have no doubt to obtain a due collection of the
whole of the said subscriptions, and will faithfully apply the same, as
far as obtained, towards founding, endowing, and supporting the said
College ; and also all future benefactions, subscriptions, and contribu-
tions that may come into our management and power —
This we declare this 15th of Oct., 1782, under our hands, having first
taken the oaths of fidelity and support to this State, according to
the direc';ion of our said charter of incorporation.

' William Smith, President.
Jos. Nicholson,
James And^^rson,
John Scott,
William Bordley,
Pere. Lethbury,

Oct. 15th. <J Benjamin Chambers,
John Page,

Robert Goldsborough,
Wm. Perry,
Peter Chaille,
James Lloyd,
Joshua Seney.

Oct. 2 2d. Thomas Smyth, jun.

Nov. 8th. Samuel Keene.

Nov. 13th. Wm. Paca.

Nov. 19th. Wm. Thomson.

The following correspondence makes a proper part of the
narrativ^e :

* Tills was the Amount at the Time of delivering the List of Subscribers to the
General Assembly. But as the List stands above, added to what was produced by the
Sale of Leases of Ninety-nine Years for Sixty-three Lots of Ground, hereinafter men-
tioned, the whole Capital raised for the founding this Seminary of Learning from the
Time of passing the Charter in May, 17S2, to the first Commencement in May, 17S3,
was about ^10,300. Considerable Benefactions have been since received, and a much
larger Number soon expected, which will be laid before the World, in a future
Publication. (Original note by Dr. Smith. — IL W. S.)

1782] REV. WILLI A Af SMITH, D. D. 85

The Visitors of Kent County School, to General Washington.

Chester in Kent County, Maryland, July 8, 1782.
May it please your Excellency,

By order and in behalf of the Visitors of Kent County school, I have
the honor to enclose to your Excellency, an act of the General Assem-
bly of Maryland, for erecting a College at Chester, for the benefit of
the Eastern Shore, or Peninsula between Chesapeak and Delaware Bays,
which they have dignified with the auspicious name of "Washington
College, in the State of Maryland, in honorable and perpetual memory
of his Excellency General Washington, the illustrious and virtuous
Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States."

In every possible way, your country wishes to erect public monuments
to you, even while living, and posterity, without doubt, will greatly
increase the number; but none, it is believed, can be more acceptable
to you, than a seminary of universal learning expressly dedicated to
your name, with a view of instructing and animating the youth of many
future generations to admire and to imitate these public virtues and
patriot-labours, which have created a private monument for you in the
heart of every good citizen.

As this College is to be instituted upon the foundation of Kent
county school, the Visitors of the said school are by law honored with
the great trust of carrying the design into execution. They have already
been favoured with very liberal subscriptions, under the auspices of your
name ; and have no doubt of speedily receiving such farther subscrip-
tions, payable in three equal yearly payments, as will amount to the
estimate in the law, and enable them, the next spring, to build the
necessary school rooms for lectures in the sciences, and to furnish them
with books and philosophical apparatus.

The Visitors hope to obtain your Excellency's permission to place
your name at the head of the seven additional Visitors and Governors
of the College, which the law allows to be chosen from any of the
neighbouring States, to make up the number twenty-four, as you will
observe in the perusal thereof. They further hope, that the time is not
very remote, in which this infant seminary may salute you in person,
and, like a dutiful child, as one of its first works, present the olive
wreath and other emblems of peace to its father, guardian and protector.

I have the honor to be, in behalf and by order of the Visitors of Kent
county school, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble
servant, William Smith.

General Washington's Answer.

Headquarters, Newburgh, i8th August, 1782.
I have had the honor to receive your favour of the Sth ult. by Colonel
Tilghman, who arrived here about ten days ago, and to whom I have
committed the charge of forwarding this answer.

S6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1782

To the gentlemen who moved the matter, and to the Assembly for
adopting it, I am much indebted for the honor conferred on me, by-
giving my name to the College at Chester. At the same time that I
acknowledge the honor, I feel a grateful sensibility for the manner of
bestowing it ; which, as it will remain a monument of their esteem, can-
not but make a deep impression on my mind, only to be exceeded by the
flattering assurance of the lasting and extensive usefulness of the Seminary.

If the trifling sum of Fifty Guineas will be considered as an Earnest
of my wishes for the prosperity of this Seminary, I shall be ready to pay
that sum to the order of the Visitors, whenever it is their pleasure to call
for it — It is too trifling to stand in any other point of view — nor would
I wish it to do so.

With much pleasure should I consent to have my name enrolled
among the worthy Visitors and Governors of this College; but con-
vinced as I am that it will never be in my power to give the attendance
which by law is required, my name could only be inserted to the exclu-
sion of some other, whose abilities and proximity might enable him to
become a more useful member.

When that period shall arrive when v/e can hail the blest return of
peace, it will add to my pleasure, to see this infant seat of learning
rising into consistency and proficiency in the sciences, under the
nurturing hands of its founders.

I have the honor to be. Reverend Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

George Washington.
To THE Rev. Dr. Smith, at Chester, in Kent County, Maryland.

The following proceedings in the House of Delegates, of Mary-
land, November 27th, 1782, will conclude our narrative of the
establishment by Dr. Smith of Washington College ; a narrative
somewhat long we fear, but necessary fully to exhibit the abilities
of Dr. Smith and his undisturbed equanimity and courage under
trials and adversities, which would have driven most men into
despondency or recklessness:

The Address in behalf of the Visitors and Governors of Washington
College and their Declaration of Trust, with the list of subscriptions
towards founding and supporting the said College, and copies of the
letter from the Visitors of Kent County School, to his Excellency
General Washington, and his answer, being read.

Resolved, That- the Visitors of Kent County School have exerted
themselves with a laudable diligence and address in the execution of the
trust committed to them for founding the said College.

Resolved, That the numerous subscribers towards founding this Col-

17S3] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 8/

Ijge have given an exemplary proof of their zeal for the honor and
interest of their country, by contributing so freely and liberally toward
the establishment of a general Seminary, lor the advancement of
knowledge, virtue and public spirit.

Resolved, That the Declaration of Trust by the Visitors and Govern-
ors of the said College is an acceptable pledge and assurance that they
will continue to exert the utmost zeal and abilities to carry on and com-
pleting the establishment of a Seminary so successfully begun, and which
promises to be of public utility to the present and future generations.

Resolved, Thar their exertions merit the approbation of the Legisla-
ture, and (when circumstances will permit) ought to receive their public
encouragement and assistance.

Resolved, That the exalted and patriotic sentiments contained in the
letter of his Excellency General Washington, in answer to the letter of
the Visitors of Kent County School, and the polite manner in which he
hath been pleased to accept the honorable intentions of the General
Assembly, in dignifying the College with his name, are proofs of that
goodness and greatness of soul by which he is actuated in all his conduct.

Resolved, That the several papers upon which these resolutions are
founded be entered on the journals of the Assembly, and be published
with the same, in honor of the first founders, benefactors and patrons
of this Seminary.

CHAPTER XLIV.

First Commencement of Washington College, May 14, lySj^^LiST of Gradu-
ates— Corner-Stone Laid — Convention at Chestertown, May 12, 17S3 —
Petition the Assembly — Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White — Convention at
Annapolis, August 13, 1783 — Petitions to the General Assembly of
Maryland — Declaration of Rights — Notice of Rev. Thomas Gates— Dr.
Smith Chosen for Bishop of Maryland — Clergy of Maryland Give
Recommendation of him for Consecration to the Bishop of London —
Notices Of the Rev. Dr. Gordon and of the Rev. Dr. West — Marriage
of Dr. Smith's Eldest Daughter. ■

On Wednesday, the 14th of May, 1783, was held the First Com-
mencement in Washington College for Degrees in the Arts and
Sciences. The scene was new and interesting, not only to the
inhabitants of Chestertown, but to those of the State in general.

We have the following contemporary account of the event :

At ten in the forenoon, a procession was formed Yrom the place where
the schools were kept, to the Church, in the following order, viz. i
1st. The body of Scholars and Students, two by two. •
2d. The Candidates for Degrees, in tlie like order.

88 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

3d. The Faculty of Professors, with the Rev. William Smith, D. D.,
President of the Visitors and Governors, who acted, by appointment, as
Principal pro Tempore, at their head.

4th. The corporation of Visitors and Governors, his Excellency
William Paca, Esq. ; Governor of the State, and one of the said
Visitors and Governors, at their head.

When the procession arrived at the Church door, the scholars, stu-
dents and candidates for degrees filed off to the right and left, forming
a lane through which the Faculty and Corporation of Visitors and Gov-
ernors marched into the Church, followed by the candidates, and then
the students and scholars according to their classes and seniority.

The company being seated, the Principal pro Tempore (Dr. Smith)
opened the business of the day with a solemn Prayer and Address to
the SUPREME BEING; and afterwards a short Latin oration to the
learned and collegiate part of the audience, as custom seems to require.
The candidates then proceeded with the public exercises as follows, viz. :

1 . A Latin Salutatory Oration, by Mr. John Scott.

2. An oration in French, by Mr. James Scott.

'3. A Latin Syllogistic Dispute — "■Nam ^tennfas Pcenarum contra-
dvcit divinis Attributis l'' Respondent Mr. Charles Smith;* Oppo-
nents Messrs. William Barrol and William Bordley.

4. An English Forensic Dispute, — " Whether the state of nature be
a state of war?" The speakers were • Messrs. John Scott, William
Barrol, William Bordley and James Scott.

5. The Degrees Avere conferred by the Principal as follows:

1^ Charles Smit;h, "|
j James Scott, j

Messrs. I John Scott, > Bachelors of Arts.

! William Barrol, !
(^ William Bordley, j
Mr. Samuel Kerr, Honorary Bachelor of Arts.
Mr. Colin Ferguson, Master of Arts.

Mr. Samuel Armor, Master of Arts of the College of Philadelphia,
admitted ad eundcin.'\

6. An English Valedictory Oration, which concluded with a striking
and prophetic copy of verses on the progress of the sciences and the
growing glory of America — By Mr. Charles Smith.

* This Charles Smilh was the third son of Dr. Smith. He was born in Philadel-
phia, March 4th, 1765, and baptized in Christ Church in that city by the Rev. Mr.
Stur<,'eon on the 2lst of August of the same year, John Moore, Esq., and Charles
Smith, his uncles, being sponsors. He was President Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas of Franklin and Cumberland counties, and afterwards, when the District Court
of Lancaster was created, he became its first President Judge, and the author of a val-
ual)le annotated edition of the Laws of Pennsylvania.

f The last two gentlemen were the senior or chief Professors in the Arts and Sciences,
and Mr. Kerr one of the Masters in the Grammar School.

1783] ^^V- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 89

7. The Principal then closed the business of the Commencement,
with an affectionate and pathetic Charge to the Graduates, respecting
their future conduct in life ; and what was to be expected from them, as
the first or eldest sons of this rising seminary ! —

The different speakers were honored with the justest applause of the
audience, for the propriety of their delivery and many masterly strokes
of eloquence in the different languages which they spoke, viz. : Latin,
French and English. — The Valedictory Oration in particular, from the
nature of the subject, as well as beauty of the delivery, had a very
striking effect upon all who were present. —

In the evening of the same day, Dr. Young's Tragedy of the Bro-
thers, notwithstanding the difficulty of the composition, was acted
with the greatest applause before a vastly crowded and discerning audi-
ence, by the graduates and some others of the students. Messrs. Charles
Smith and John Scott, who had before distinguished themselves in
Tamerlane and Bajazet, as well as in some principal characters in other
performances, during the last years of their education, concluded their
scholastic labours in this way, by shining in the characters of the Two
Brothers !

The day following (viz.: on Thursday, May 15th) the Visitors and
Governors, the Masters, Students and Scholars, accompanied by a great
number of gentlemen from the neighboring counties, went in procession
to the hill where the new College is to be built; and after Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Foundation Stone was laid, with the proper
ceremony, by his Excellency, Governor Paca, who was saluted on the
occasion by thirteen discharges of cannon. Orations in French were
delivered by Messrs. Thomas Worral and Ebenezer Perkins ; and a
Pastoral Dialogue was spoken by three of the younger scholars, in shep-
herds' dresses, viz.: Messrs. Richard Smith,* Robert Buchanan and
Joseph Nicholson. The performance being too long, perhaps, to insert
at large, we give a few lines from the beginning and conclusion —

" When Athens flourish'd with the Grecian reign.
And Chiefs and Heroes liv'd — a God-like Train !
When by her Arms each neighbouring State was sway'd,
And Kings an Homage to her Warriors paid —
Ev'n then those Chiefs, who all the World subdu'd,
Lower'd their proud Faces to the Eearn'd and Good:
Nor with less Glory in the Rolls of Fame
Shines every Sage's, than each Hero's Name."

This happy Day we glory in a Scene,

Which Athens Self enraptur'd would have seen ;

Science triumphant and a Land refin'd,

Where once rude Ignorance sway'd th' untutor'd Mind ;

-"r

Dr. Smith's youngest son.

90 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE Sjl^l

The Wise, the Good, the Fathers of the State,
Conven'd with Joy to fix the Muse's Seat ;
To lay a fast Foundation-Stone, which shall
Be only mov'd when sinks this Earthly Ball !
Auspicious Day ! no more the Muses mourn,
But hail their Parent Peace on her Return —
Heav'n gives the Word, and bids Mankind repose,
Contending Nations blush that they were Foes;
Old Warriors now shall glow with Rage no more.
But reap the Fields their Valour sav'd before.
Hail Goddess Peace ! in thy celestial Mien
Sweet Happiness and ev'ry Grace are seen ;
O'er thy smooth Brow no rugged Helmet frowns,
An Olive Wreath thy shining Temple crowns.
Let now the Muses hasten to explore
The tawny Chief on Erie's distant Shore,
Or trace his Steps among the Forests wide.
That deep imbrown the vast Ontario's Side ;
And bid him quick his deadly Bow unbend.
For now destructive War is at an End ;
Let mighty Mississippi, as he runs,
Proclaim aloud to all his swarthy Sons,
That to Earth's Ends fair Science shall encrcase.
And form one Reign of Learning and of Peace !

The rapid and great success of Washington College, not less
than his ovv^n commanding powers as an orator, writer and execu-
tive agent in every department, had by the year 1783 made Dr.
Smith a conspicuous and influential person of the Church in Mary-
land. And as he' abated nothing of his more youthful activity in
ecclesiasti:.il affairs, his agency soon began to show itself in that
new State of his residence, with obvious results.

The effect of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of
July, 1776, and of different Acts of the Legislature of the State
passed about the same time, left in an uncertain and precarious
condition the property of the different parishes of the Church of
England in the new commonwealth. Soon after going to Mary-
land, therefore, and even during the war. Dr. Smith prepared and
caused to be signed by laymen of several parishes and by those
few of the clergy who then remained, a petition to the General
Assembly of the State seeking to have the matter of church-rights
established. The document was thus :

1783] ^^"r. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 9I

To THE Honourable the General Assembly of the State of Maryland,
THE Petition of the Vestry and Church-Wardens of the Parish of

, COUNTY,

Humbly Sheweth, That it is manifest from Reason, as well as the
clearer Light of Revelation, that the Worship of the Almighty Creator
and Governor of the Universe, is the indispensable duty of his depend-
ent Creatures, and the surest means of procuring their temporal as well
as eternal Happiness : That, where Religion is left unsupported, neither
Laws nor Government can be duly administered ; And, as the expe-
rience of ages has shewn the necessity of a provision for supporting the
Officers and Ministers of Government, in all civil Societies; so the like
experience shews the necessity of providing a support for the Ordinances
and Ministers of Religion — because if either Religion or Government
were left wholly dependent on the benevolence of individuals, such is
the frailty of human natsre, and the averseness of many to their best
Interests, that the Sordid and Selfish, the Licentious, and Prophane,
would avail themselves of such Liberty to shrink from their share of
labour and expense, and thereby render that, which would be easy when
borne by All, an intolerable burden to the Few, whose conscience and
principles of Justice would not permit them in this, or any other case,
to swerve from their Duties, Civil or Religious.

That our pious ancestors, the worthy and respectable Founders of
this State, convinced of the foregoing Truths, and declaring that, "In
every well-grounded Commonwealth, matters concerning Religion
ought, in the first place, to be taken into consideration, countenanced
and encouraged ; as being not only most acceptable to God, but the
best Way and Means of obtaining His Mercy, and a Blessing upon a
People and Country," (having the Promises of this Life and of the Life
to come) did frame and enact sundry Laws for erecting Churches and
Places of Public Worship, the maintenance of an orthodox Clergy, the
Support and advancement of Religion, and the orderly Administration
of its divine and saving Ordinances.

That the Delegates of this State, at the great ^ra of our Independ-
ence, in free and full Convention assembled, for the purpose of estab-
lishing a new Constitution and Form of Government, upon the author-
ity of the People, appearing in their Wisdom to have considered some
parts of the said laws as inconsistent with that Religious Liberty and
Equality of Assessment, which they intended as the basis of their future
Government, did, by the 33d Section of the Declaration of Rights,
abrogate all such Laws theretofore passed, as enabled any County Courts,
on the Application of Vestrymen and Church-Wardens, to make Assess-
ments or Levies for Support of the Religious Establishment; but not
with a View of being less attentive than their pious Ancestors had been,
to the Interests of Religion, Learning, and Good Morals. On the

92 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1783

contrary, by the very same Section, an express Recommendation and
Authority are given to future Legislatures, "At their discretion, to lay a
general and equal Tax, for the support of the Christian Religion,"
agreeably to the said Declaration.

That your Petitioners are sensible of the many urgent civil concerns,
in which the honorable and worthy Legislatures of this State have been
engaged, since the commencement of the present great and trying
period ; and how much wisdom and deliberation are at all times neces-
sary in framing equal laws for the Support of Religion and Learning,
and more especially amidst the horrors and confusions of an expensive,
cruel, and unrelenting War. But they are sensible, at the same Time
(and persuaded the honorable Assembly are equally sensible), that where
Religion is left to mourn and droop her head, while her sacred Ordi-
nances are unsupported, and Vice and Immorality gain Ground, even
War itself will be but feebly carried on, Patriotism will lose its most
animating Principle, Corruption will win its Way from the lowest to the
highest Places, Distress will soon pervade every public Measure; our
Churches, our Grave-Yards — the Monuments of the Piety of our Ances-
tors, running into Ruin, Avill become the Reproach of their Posterity;
nay more, the great and glorious Fabric of public Happiness which we
are striving to build up, and cement with an Immensity of Blood and
Treasure, might be in Danger of tumbling into the Dust, as wanting the
s-tronger Cement of Virtue and Religion, or perhaps would fall an easy
Prey to some haughty Invader !

Deeply impressed with these momentous Considerations, and conceiv-
ing ourselves fully warranted by our Constituents, in this Application to
your honorable Body, having duly advertized our design without any ob-
jections yet notified to us — your Petitioners, therefore, most earnestly and
humbly pray that an Act may be passed, agreeably to the aforesaid Section
of the Declaration of Rights, for the Support of public Religion, by an
equal assessment and tax, and also to enable the Vestry and Church-
Wardens of this Parish, by rates on the Pews, from time to time, or
otherwise, as in your Wisdom you shall think fit, to repair and uphold
the Church and Chapel, and the Church-Yards and Burying-Grounds of
the same; all which, your Petitioners conceive, may be done, not only
for this Parish, but at the same time, if thought best, for every other
Parish within this State (which, it is believed, earnestly desires the same)
by a single Law, in a manner perfectly agreeable to the Liberty and
Wishes of every denomination of Men, who would be deemed good
Christians and faithful Citizens of this State. And your Petitioners, as
bound, shall ever pray, «S:c.

In the foregoing Petition, as my readers will have observed, no
exclusive privilege was prayed for; but only "that a law may be

i;33] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. g$

passed agreeably to the Bill of Rights, and to the liberty and
wishes of every denomination of men, who would be deemed
good Christians and faithful citizens of this State." However,
some of the vestries that presented the petitions, finding the public
difficulties increasing, were apprehensive that injury might be done
to the Church by pressing the petition, and soon afterwards signi-
fied their desire to the General Assembly that further considera-
tion of the matter might be postponed to a time of less distress
and danger.

On the establishment of peace, Governor Paca, who had' been a
pupil of Dr. Smith's (a graduate in the year 1759 of the College
at Philadelphia), and between whom and the Provost there ever
subsisted a warm attachment, with a paternal and pious care for
the concerns of religion, as inseparably connected with the interest
of the State, was pleased, May 6th, 1783, to revive the business,
in an address to the General Assembly. He said, speaking for
himself and his council :

"It is far from our Intentions to embarrass your deliberations with a
variety of objects ; but we cannot pass over Matters of so high Concern-
inent as Religion and Learning. The Sufferings of the Ministers of
the Gospel of all Denominations, during the War, have been very con-
siderable ; and the Perseverance and Firmness of those, who discharged
their sacred Functions under many discouraging Circumstances, claim
our Acknowledgments and Thanks. The Bill of Rights and Form of
Government recognize the principle of public Support for the Ministers
of the Gospel, and ascertain the Mode. Anxiously solicitous for the
Blessings of Government, and the Welfare and Happiness of our
Citizens, and thoroughly convinced of the powerful Influence of Relig-
ion, when diffused by its respectable Teachers, we beg leave most
seriously and warmly to recommend, among the first Objects of your
Attention, on the return of Peace, the making such Provision, as the
Constitution, in this case, authorizes and approves,"

A copy of this address, about a week after it was delivered to
the Assembly, came into the hands of Dr. Smith and others of
the Episcopal Clergy of Maryland, most of whom were assembled
at the commencement in Washington College in May, 1783,
of which we have already spoken. Dr. Smith, finding the
concerns of religion so strongly recommended by the executive
to the legislative part of government, thought it wise that

94 /.//'£• AND CORRESrOXDEA'CE OF THE [l/Sj

there should be a council or consultation of clergy held imme-
diately for the purpose of considering " What alterations might
be necessary in our liturgy and service ; and how our church
might be organized and a succession in the ministry kept up, so
as to be an object of public notice and support, in common with
other Christian churches under the Revolution." A convention
accordingly assembled in the hall of Washington College, May
12-15, ^7'^'!i\ D''- Smith presided.

It was considered by this convention that some legislative
interposition or sanction might probably be necessary in the
course of this business ; for as our church derived her liturgy
from the Church of England, and was formerly dependent on the
same church for. a succession in her ministry, and had certain
property reserved to her by the constitution of Maryland, under
the name of the Church of England, it became a question
whether, if any alterations should be made in the liturgy, or in
the mode of succession in the ministry, she could any longer be
considered as the church described in the constitution of this
State, or entitled to the perpetual use of the property aforesaid.
An incorporating act, or charter, was also deemed necessary to
enable the clergy, or some representative body of the church, to
raise and manage a fund for certain charitable and pious pur-
poses ; such charters having been granted to Christian societies
of every denomination in other of the neighboring States, wher-
ever they had been prayed for.

Dr. Smith, who, with the Rev. Mr. Thomas Gates,* had been
appointed a committee, with extensive powers, accordingly now
prepared another petition. It was thus :

To THE Honourable the General Assembly of the State of Maryland,
THE Memorial and Petition of the Subscribers in Behalf of Them-
selves AND others, the CLERGY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES,

Sheweth — That the happy termination of War, the establishment
of Peace, and the final recognition and ackno\vledgment of the Sover-
eignty and Independence of these United States among the Powers of

* Thomas Gates, D. D. — a native of England; brought up in the church. He
was ordained in England. In 1781 he became rector of St. Ann's, Annapolis; in
1785, of St. Peter'.-;, Talbot, a member of the Standing Committee. In 1789 he
removed to South Carolina, and there continued till his death in 1832. (Allen's
History.)

1783] JiEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 95

the World, yield a favourable occasion (which this State in particular
hath long desired) of making some permanent Provision, agreeably to
the Constitution, for " the Ministers of Religion," and the advance-
ment of useful Knowledge and Literature, through this rising American
Empire.

That, in respect to the Episcopal Churches in this State (to the
Communion of which so large a proportion of the good people of
Maryland belongs) the following things are absolutely necessary, viz.:

ist. That some alterations should be made in the Liturgy and Service,
in order to adapt the same to the Revolution, and for other purposes of
Uniformity, Concord and Subordination to the State.

2d. That a plan for educating, ordaining, and keeping up a succes-
sion of able and fit Ministers or Pastors, for the service of said churches
agreeably to ancient practice and their professed Principles, as well as
that universal Toleration, established by the Constitution, be speedily
determined upon and fixed, under the public authority of the State, and
with the Advice and Consent of the Clergy of the said Churches, after
due Consultation had thereupon.

Your Petitioners, therefore, humbly pray —

That the said Clergy may have leave to consult, prepare and offer to
the General Assembly, the Draft of a Bill, for the good Purposes
aforesaid — and your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall pray, &c.

WILLIAM SMITH.
THOMAS GATES.

The prayer of the foregoing petition was granted.

A convention of the clergy was now accordingly called to be
held at Annapolis on the 13th of August, 1783. Prior to this
convention being assembled, we have the following interesting
letter from

Dr. Smith to Dr. White.

Chester, August 4lh, 1783.
Dear Sir : The Clergy in Maryland are to meet (in pursuance of the
sanction obtained from the Grand Assembly) on the 13th of this month:
but as M^ Gates and myself were to call this meeting we found upon
consulting our nearest brethren that they did not think it proper, nor
that we were authorized to call any Clergy to our assistance from the
neighboring States; that the Episcopal Clergy of Maryland were in
some respects peculiarly circumstanced, and ought in the first instance
to have a preparatory convention or conference to consider and frame
a Declaration of their own Rights as one of the Churches of a separate
and independent State; to agree upon some articles of Government and
unity among themselves; to fix some future time of meetnig by adjourn-

96 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sj

meiit; to appoint a committee to bring in a plan of some few altera-
tions that may be found necessary in the Liturgy and Service of the
Church; and by the authority of this first meeting to open a correspond-
ence on the subject with the clergy of the neighboring States, and to
have some speedy future and more general meeting with the clergy of
these States, or Committees from them, to unite if possible in the altera-
tions to be made which many among us think cannot have a full Church
Ratification till we have decided on some plan or another; the three
orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons to concur in same. What State
or civic ratification may be necessary, or whether any, is a question yet
to be determined. In Maryland I presume a few words of a Declara-
tory Act that a Clergy ordained in such a form, and using a Liturgy
with such alterations as may be agreed upon, are to be considered as
entitled to the Glebes, Churches and other property declared by the
Constitution to belong to the Church of England for ever. I say such
a short act as this, or the opinion of the Judges that such act is not
necessary, is, I conceive, all that will be wanted.

I am, &c.,

William Smith.
To Rev'd Dr. White.

One part of the proceedings of this Convention of August 13th,
1783, held at Annapolis, was to nominate a committee " To prepare
the draft of an Act or Charter of Incorporation, to enable the
Episcopal Church of this State, as a body corporate, to hold
goods, lands and chattels, by deed, gift, devise, etc., to the amoimt

of per annum, as a fund for providing small annuities to the

widows of clergymen, and for the education of their children, or
any poor children in general, who may be found of promising
genius and disposition, for a supply of ministers in the said church,
and for other pious and charitable uses."

We here see Dr. Smith's hand again. This was with him an old
scheme introduced nearly fifteen years before into Pennsylvania,
New York, and New Jersey, and still beneficially existing in all
these States, but in Pennsylvania especially.* He now applied it
to Maryland, where, we believe, it still exists with valuable results.

Other business of this Convention was to deliberate concerning
the mode of obtaining a succession in the ministry, the choice of
fit persons for the different orders of the same, and some funda-
mental articles for future uniformity, concord, and good govern-

* Described by us. Vol. I., page 423.

1 78 3] HEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 9/

ment, for which purpose the following were unanimously agreed
upon and subscribed, viz. :

A Declaration of certain fundamental Rights and Liberties of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland, drawn up and subscribed,
viz.

Whereas by the Constitution and Form of Government of this State
— "All persons professing the Christian Religion are equally entitled to
protection in their Religious Liberty, and no person, by any Law, or
otherwise, ought to be molested in his person or estate, on account of
his Religious Persuasion or Profession, or for his Religious Practice;
unless, under colour of Religion, any man shall disturb the good Order,
Peace, or Safety of the State, or shall infringe the Laws of Morality, or
injure others in their Natural, Civil, or Religious Rights:" And
whereas the Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Independence of the different
Religious Denominations, Societies, Congregations, and Churches of
Christians in this State, necessarily follows from, or is included in, their
Civil Independence.

Wherefore we, the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
Maryland (heretofore denominated the Church of England, as by Law
established) with all duty to the civil authority of the State, and with
all Love and Good-will to our Fellow-Christians of every other Re-
ligious denomination, do hereby declare, make known, and claim, the
following, as certain of the Fundamental Rights and Liberties inherent
in and belonging to the said Episcopal Church, not only of common
Right, but agreeably to the express Words, Spirit and Design of the
Constitution and Form of Government aforesaid, viz.,

I. We consider it as the undoubted Right of the said Protestant
Episcopal Church, in common with other Christian Churches under the
American Revolution, to complete and preserve herself as an entire
Church, agreeably to her ancient Usages and Profession, and to have
the full enjoyment and free exercise of those purely Spiritual Powers,
which are essential to the being of every Church or Congregation of
the faithful, and which, being derived only from Christ and his Apostles,
are to be maintained independent of every foreign or other Jurisdiction,
so far as may be consistent with the civil Rights of Society.

II. That ever since the Reformation, it hath been the received
Doctrine of the Church whereof we are Members ("and which by the
Constitution of this State is entitled to the perpetual Enjoyment of
certain Property and Rights under the denomination of the Church of
England) "That there be these three Orders of Ministers in Christ's
Church: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons," and that an Episcopal
Ordinatio7i and Commission are necessary to the valid Administration of
the Sacraments, and the due Exercise of the Ministerial Eunctions in the
said Church.

qS life and cor respond exce of the [1783

III. That, without calling in Question the Rights, Modes, and Forms
of any other Christian Churches or Societies, or wishing the least
Contest with them on that subject, we consider and declare it to be an
essential Right of the said Protestant Episcopal Church to liave and
enjoy the Continuance of the said three Orders of Ministers forever, so
far as concerns Matters purely spiritual ; and that no Persons, in the
Character of Ministers, except such as are in the Communion of the
said Church, and duly called to the Ministry by regular Episcopal
Ordination, can or ought to be admitted into, or enjoy any of the
"Churches, Chapels, Glebes, or other Property," formerly belonging
to the Church of England in this State, and which, by the Constitution
and Form of Government, is secured to the said Church forever, by
whatsoever Name, she the said Church, or her superior order of
Ministers, may in future be denominated.

IV. That as it is the Right, so it will be the Duty, of the said
Church, when duly organized, constituted, and represented in a Synod
or Convention of the different Orders of her Ministry and People, to
revise her Liturgy, Forms of Prayer, and public V/orship, in order to
adapt the same to the late Revolution and other local Circumstances of
America; which it is humbly conceived, may and will be done, with-
out any other or farther Departure from the venerable Order and beauti-
ful Forms of Worship of the Church from whence we sprung, than may
be found expedient in the Change of our Situation from a Daughter to
a Sister-Church.

August 13th, 178

J-

William Smith, President, St. Paul's & Chester Parishes, Kent
County.

John Gordon, Rector of St. Michael's, Talbot.

John M'Pherson, Rector of William and Mary Parish, Charles
County.

Samuel Keene, Rector of Dorchester Parish, Dorchester County.

William West, Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore.

William Thomson, Rector of St. Stephen's, Coecil County.

Walter Magowan, Rector of St. James's Parish, Ann-Arundel
County.

John Stephen, Rector of All-Faith Parish, St. Mary's County.

Thomas John Claggett, Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Prince George's
County.

George Goldie, Rector of King and Queen, St. Mary's County.

Joseph Messenger, Rector of St. Andrew's Parish, St. Mary's
County.

John Bowie, Rector of St. Peter's Parish, Talbot County.

Walter Harrison, Rector of Durham Parish, Charles County.

William Hanna, Rector of St. Margaret's, Westminster Parish, Ann-
Arundel County.

1783] R^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 99

Thomas Gates, Rector of St. Ann's, Annapolis.

John Andrews, Rector of St. Thomas's Parish, Balti-)

more County
Hamilton Bell, Rector of Stephney Parish, Somerset

Signed

County. ' ' M"ne23d,

Francis Walker, Rector of Shrewsbury Parish, Kent
County.

17S4.

The foregoing declaration of rights being made and subscribed,
a copy of the same was presented to his Excellency the Governor,
with the following address, prepared, undoubtedly, like most or all
of the other documents in the case, by Dr. Smith :

To HIS Excellency William Paca, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief,
&c., &c., OF THE State of Maryland.

We the Protestant Episcopal Clergy of the said State, at a Meeting
or Convention held at AnnapoHs this 13th August, 17S3 (in pursuance
of a Vote of the House of Delegates passed at their last Session), in order
to consider, make known and declare those fundamental Christian
Rights, to which we conceive ourselves entitled, in common with other
Christian Churches ; Do hereby, in the first Place, return your Excel-
lency our most sincere and hearty Thanks for your great Concern and
Attention manifested for the Christian Church in general and her
suffering Clergy of all Denominations. We trust and pray that your
Excellency will continue your powerful Intercession till some Law is
passed for their future Support and Encouragement, agreeably to the
Constitution.

We herewith lay before your Excellency an authentic Copy of a
Declaration of certain Rights, to which, according to our best knowl-
edge of the Laws and Constitution of our Country, we think ourselves
entitled, in common with other Churches. Should your Excellency,
from your superior knowledge of both, think that the Declaration we
have made stands in need of any further Sanction, Legislative or other-
wise, we are well persuaded that a Continuance of the same Zeal and
Regard which you have formerly shown, will at Length produce the
happy Effect which you so anxiously desire.

Praying for a continued Encrease of your Excellency's public Use-
fulness, and that you meet the reward thereof in the World to come,

We are, &c.

[Signed by all the Members, as the above Declaration of Rights was
signed.]

To this Governor Paca was pleased to return the following
answer, viz.:

ICO LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1783

Gentlemen : — I have attentively considered the paper intitled "A
declaration of certain Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Protest-
ant Episcopal Church of Maryland." And as every denomination of
Clergy are to be deemed adequate Judges of their own Spiritual Rights,
and of the Ministerial commission and authority necessary to the due
administration of the Ordinances of Religion among themselves, it
v/ould be a very partial and unjust distinction to deny that Right to
the respectable and learned Body of the Episcopal Clergy in this State;
and it will give me the highest happiness and satisfaction, if, either in
my individual capacity, or in the public character which I now have the
honour to sustain, I can be instrumental in advancing the interests of
Religion in general, alleviating the Sufferings of any of her Ministers,
and placing every branch of the Christian Church in this State, upon
the most equal and respectable footing.

I am,

Gentlemen,

Your most obd't, humble Servant,

William Paca.

In due time every concession needed from the State was ob-
tained. Some, at first thought needful, were declared by sufficient
authority to be unnecessary; and the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Maryland succeeded to every desirable right of the old Church
of England in the Province.

In all these operations Dr. Smith was not only the main-spring
but the machinery and regulator also. It is impossible, I think, to
look at his efforts in re-establishing the church in Maryland, after
it had been laid in ruins by the war of the Revolution, without a
lively feeling of gratitude to his memory.

One of the memorable acts of this convention was the election
of Dr. Smith to the office of Bishop of Maryland. He moved
into the place by the force of gravitation ; by the power which
moves all inferior men to look up to and respect one of abilities
entirely transcending their own. He was directed to proceed to
England for consecration, the convention recommending that the
various parishes should take up collections for the purpose of pay-
ing his expenses.

The following is a copy of his testimonial * intended to be given
to the Bishop of London, if the Bishop-elect should think fit to
ask for consecration :

"•■■ Manuscript in Dr. Smith's papers.

T783] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D . lOI

Annapolis, Maryland, August i6, 1783.

My Lord : — Whereas the good people of this State, and in con-
nection with the Church of England, have long labored, and do still
labor, under great difficulties, through the want of a regular clergy to
supply the many poor parishes that have for a considerable time been
vacant.

To prevent, therefore, and guard against such an unhappy situation
for the future, we, the Convention, in meeting of the Clergy of the
Church of England, have made choice of, and do recommend, our
brother, the Rev. Dr. William Smith, as a fit and proper person, and
every way well qualified to be invested with the sacred office of a
Bishop, in order to perpetuate a regular succession of clergy among us.
We do with great confidence present unto your Lordship this godly and
well-learned man to be ordained and consecrated Bishop, being per-
fectly satisfied that he will duly execute the office whereunto he is called,
to the edifying of the Church and to the glory of God.

Your Lordship's well-known zeal for the Church and propagation of
the Christian religion induces us to trust that your Lordship will com-
passionate the case of a remote and distressed people, and comply with
our earnest request in this matter. For without such a remedy, the
Church in this country is in imminent danger of becoming extinct.
That your Lordship may long continue an ornament to the Church is
the hearty prayer of, my Lord, your very dutiful and most obedient
servants,

*i745. John Gordon, St. Michael's, Talbot county.
1 75 1. John Macpherson, William and Mary Parish, Charles co.
1750. Wm. Thomson, St. Stephen's, N. Sassafras Parish, Cecil.

1760. Samuel Keene,"|" Dorchester and Great Choptank Parishes,

Dorchester.

1 761. William West,! St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore.

1766. George Goldie, King and Queen, St. Mary's.
1770. John Bowie, f St. Peter's, Talbot.

1748. Walter Magowan, St. James' Parish, Ann Arundel county.

1764. John Stephen, All Faith, St. Mary's.

1774. Walter H. Harrison, f Durham Parish, Charles.

1772. Wm. HANNA,f St. Margaret's Westminster, Ann Arundel co.

1772. Joseph Messenger, St. Andrew's Parish, St. Mary's county.

1767. Thomas John Claggett,! St. Paul's Parish, Prince Geo. co.
Thomas Gates, St. Ann's, Annapolis.

1767. John Andrews,! St. Thomas', Baltimore county.

1773. Francis Walker, Kent Island, Queen Anne county.

* The3e are the dates of the respective ordinations of the clergy.

f Natives of the States — two natives of Virginia and three of New York.

102 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1783

1774. Hamilton Bell,* Stei>ney Parish, Somerset county.
1763. Leonard Cutting, Ail Hallows', Worcester county.

Will Smith, Stepney Parish, Worcester county.
1774. Ralph Higinbotham, St. Ann's, Ann Arundel county.
17S4. Edward Gantt,* Christ Church, Calvert.
1785. Hatch Dent,* Trinity, Charles county.

The Convention agreed that until a regular ordination of clergy
could be obtained, there should be three clergymen appointed on
each Shore, in order to examine such young gentlemen as might
offer themselves candidates for Holy Orders in our churches : such
examiners to report their moral character, their knowledge in
the learned languages and divinity, and their attachment to the
doctrines of the Christian religion as professed and taught in our
Church; and to recommend such candidates as upon examination
might be thought worthy to serve as readers in any parish that
might think proper to employ them, leaving such parishes, as to the
administration of the sacraments and other proper functions of the
clerical character, to the more immediate direction of such neigh-
boring clergymen as might agree to visit them occasionally for the
purpose.

Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. Gordon,t and Dr. Samuel Keene were
appointed for the Eastern Shore, and the Rev. Dr. West, | Dr.
Thomas John Claggett, and Dr. Thomas Gates, for the Western.

On the 15th of May of this year an important event took place
in the domestic affairs of Dr. Smith : his eldest daughter, Wil-
liamina,§ was married to Charles Goldsborough, Esq., of Horn's

* Natives of the States — two natives of Virginia and three of New York.

f John' Gordox, D. D., a native of Scotland, brought up in the Church, ordained
in 1745. On coming to Maryland became the incumbent of St. Ann's, Annapolis; in
1750, of St. Michael's, Talbot; a Whig of the Revolution; after 1776 had a school
at his residence ; published three sermons ; died in 1790, aged upwards of 70. — Al.LEN.

\ William West, D. D., a native of Virginia, brought up in the Church, ordained in
1761. Coming from Virginia in 1763, he became the incumbent of Westminster Parish,
Ann Arundel county; in 1767 of St. Andrew's, .St. Mary's; in 1772 of St, George's,
Hartford, and in 1779 Rector of St. Paul's, Baltimore. A Whig of the Revolution;
successively Secretary and President of the Maryland Convention, and member of the
examining, superintending, and standing committees, and delegate to the General
Convention. He died 1791, ret 54. — Allen.

\ The portrait of this lady (which accompanies this volume) is taken from a minia-
ture in a ring, which tradition says was painted by the unfortunate Major Andre, at
the time of the Meschianza, in which she participated. The ring is now the property
of Thos, P. Cradock, Esq., of Marvland, to whom I am indebted for its use. — II. \V. S.

I

t

WILLIAMINA SMITH.

JSni: 16.

1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. lO

J

Point, Dorchester county, Maryland. The ceremony was per-
formed in the homestead at Chestertown, by the Rev. Samuel
Keene, in the presence of Governor Paca, and a large assembly
of the first people of the State, who had been called together by
the laying of the corner-stone of Washington College, and the
Convention of the Church. Mr, Goldsborough was the son of
Robert Goldsborough, Barrister-at-Law ; had been brought up a
lawyer; born Nov. 21st, 1761, died June 22d, 1801.

CHAPTER XLV.

Dr. White, Dr. Blackwell of Pennsylvania and Dr. Beach of New Jersey
Desirous of a Continental Convention — Dr. Smith in Maryland
Assists the Project — Dr. Smith to Dr. White — A Church Conference is
Made at a Meeting of the Clergy to Re-establish the Corporation for
the Relief of the Widows and Children of the Clergy, Founded, 1769
— Ecclesiastical Convention of Pennsylvania, May 25TH, 17S4 — Declara-
tion BY IT of Principles — Ecclesiastical Convention of Maryland, June
22D, 1784 — Dr. Smith's Sermon at it — Declaration by it of Principles
Sufficiently Harmonious with those of the Pennsylvania Convention —
Convention of Several States in New York, October 6th, 1784 — Dr.
Smith Presides — Fundamental Principles Declared by it, and Proceed-
ings End — Dr. Smith Chairman of Committee to Frame an Ecclesias-
tical Constitution and to Frame and Propose a Proper Substitute for
the State Prayers — Dr. Smith Elected President of the Corporation
for the Relief of the Widows, etc.

While Dr. Smith was thus actively engaged in the work of
education in Maryland and in re-establishing the church in that
State, his brethren in Pennsylvania, Dr. White and Dr. Blackwell,
were equally active not only in re-establishing the Church in
Pennsylvania, but also in the further work of endeavoring to
assemble the clergy of all the States in what was called a " Conti-
nental Convention." The efforts of the respective parties — orig-
inated probably by the Reverend Abraham Beach, D. D., at one
time a minister of Trinity Church, New York, but more lately
resident in Brunswick, N. J. — were natural to their positions.

Dr. Smith had been driven from Pennsylvania by an embittered
and proscriptive political faction, and found in the quiet shades of
Chestertown a retreat from their gross and exasperating injustice.
Maryland, he supposed it probable, might thenceforth become Jus

I04 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784

home ; and tlicre the scene of whatever usefulness, in the order of
Providence, it might be allotted to him to be the means of.
White, on the other hand, as chaplain of the Congress, and Black-
well as chaplain in the main army, for some time close to the
Congress, were brought into intimate relations with the represen-
tatives of the church from all parts of the country, and like most
of the men by whom the liberties of the country were achieved on
the field, were ev^er in favor of Union ; of a corporate dignity — both
in the State and in the Church. Though now in Pennsylvania,
Blackwell's family — an influential one — was of New York, while
his first ministerial duties had been in New Jersey, over the wliole
of which province he had received a license from the Bishop of
London in 1772 to act. These men therefore naturally extended
their views over all the States, and were desirous of having a
General Convention.* But a General Convention was a hard
thing to accomplish. Fears, by some, of what might be resolved
on in such a body — the ambitions, probably, of others who, in the
church, as was afterwards the case with some in political affairs,
knew that their purposes could best be accomplished, and their
views best carried out, by the supremacy of State organization —
put obstacles in the way.

White, Smith, Blackwell, Magaw, Beach, Frazer, Provost,
Moore, Wharton, and indeed most of the clergy, so far as I know,
of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Marj'land,
while clear upon the necessity of dioceses, of which the States
would in that day be the natural limit, were equally desirous of a
" Federal Union," as we may call it ; a union by which the church
should be made one in organization as it was one in faith. The first
efforts at a general convention came from New Jersey, operating
upon Pennsylvania and New York ; and a representation from
even so many States was brought about, not by any announce-
ment that the affairs of the church were to be considered, but by a
call upon the clergy and laity w^ho were the trustees of that useful

* I ought probably to include with the names of White and Blackwell that of the
Rev. Dr. Samuel Magaw, of Philadelphia. But while everything which I ever heard
of him is to his honor, we have so little biographical account of him, that I am notable
to say with confidence much about him. He was undoubtedly the personal friend of
White and of Blackwell, and I l)elieve, generally sjieaking, a coadjutor with both in
most that relates to the church. A bioj^raphy of him is much needed.

1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 05

and now opulent corporation for the relief of the widows and chil-
dren of clergymen — which we have described much at large in our
former volume,* and which was a corporation, it will be remem-
bered, of the three States just named — to assemble at New Bruns-
wick, in New Jersey, to consider the best means to save its
property, which had been much endangered by different fiscal
operations of the Congress and the States, from further peril, and
to put the institution again into active and stable operation.

This call brought together certain gentlemen of the clergy, to
wit :

From Pennsylvania, Dr. White, Dr. Magaw and Mr. Black-
well.

" New Jersey, The Rev. Messrs. Beach, Frazer and

Ogden.

" New York, The Rev. Messrs. Bloomer, Benjamin

Moore and Thomas Moore.

The affairs of the church in the lately British Provinces gener-
ally was a natural subject of consideration ; and there happening
to be at the time in New Brunswick — though there by public
business of a civil kind — some gentlemen of the laity from New
York and New Jersey, who were represented by the clergy from
those States as taking an interest in the welfare of the church, tliey
were requested to join the meeting of the clergy. These gentle-
men of the laity were John Stevens, Richard Stevens, John
Dennis, James Parker, Colonel Hoyt and Colonel Furman. And
thus was formed, of clergy and laity, the embryo of the General
Convention of the church in America. Dr. Smith was not pres-
ent at this meeting. The corporation for the relief of the widows,
etc., in behalf of which the meeting was called — a Pre-Revolution-
ary Corporation — was not a corporation of Maryland, although
after going there in 1780, Dr. Smith originated and caused to be
there established a similar organization. His name therefore does
not appear in any way in this first convention ; if the accidental
meeting is to be called " a convention " in any sense in which
the word, in connection with the church, is now commonly used.
Dr. White presided at this meeting ; and opened it with a sermon.

* Pages 423-432.

I06 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \j-7^A

Beyond discussing principles of ecclesiastical union little was done
here. But before the clergy parted, it was agreed to procure as
general a meeting as might be, of representativ^es of the clergy and
laity of the different States, to be held in the city of New York, on
the 6th of October following ; that is to say, the 6th of October,
1784. The gentlemen of New York were to give notice to their
brethren eastward, and those >{ Philadelphia wer^ to do the same
by their brethren southward. Dr. Smith had been apparently in-
formed during the session of this meeting of its general purpose;
and though as we have already seen* he was desirous not to have
the identity or separate existence of Maryland, ecclesiastically
obliterated, we find him immediately doing what he could to
advance the matter of a general or a " continental convention," and
a combined organization of the church throughout the whole
country. The following is a letter addressed by him to influential
members of Trinity Church, Oxford, Philadelphia — the parish
where he had once served while a resident of Pennsylvania, under
the appointment of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

Dr. Smith to Messrs. Cotman and Johnson.

Chestertown, Maryland, May 23d, 17S4.
To Messrs. Benj. Cotman and Benj. Johnson.

I know not what can be done at your meeting of vestries. This, at
least, I wish, that a clergyman or two, and about two vestrymen may be
appointed a committee to meet committees from the neighboring States
at some convenient place, about next October, to fix a general plan for
all our Churches, both in respect to Discipline and our Church service.
Something fundamental ought also to be agreed upon respecting ordina-
tion, &c., similar to what was done in Maryland, a copy of which I
gave to Dr. JSIagaw, declaring that Episcopal ordination is an indispen-
sable qualification for every person who may be desirous to hold any
living in our Church. Certainly none else can hold any of the Churches
heretofore established or built under the Society for the Propagating of
the Gospel, nor the Glebes, where any are. There will be committees
from several of the Southern States, especially Maryland and Virginia,
but they can hardly be got together till toward the end of September.
I hope they may be induced to meet as far North as conveniently may
be; perhaps at Philadelphia, or Brunswick, or Wilmington, in Delaware

State.

William S>nTH.

* Supra page 95, Letter to the Rev'd Dr. White.

1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 10/

This letter as appears from an indorsement on the original, yet
preserved, was read by Dr. White before the committee at their
meeting in Christ Church, Philadelphia, May 25th, 1784.

Bishop White, in his Memoirs,* says of this meeting (May 25th,
1784,) at New Brunswick, "that notwithstanding the good humor
which prevailed at it, the more Northern clergymen were under
apprehensions of there being a disposition on the part of the more
Southern to make material deviation from the ecclesiastical system
of England in the article of Church government." He adds, for
his own part, that "at the same time he wondered that any sensi-
ble and well-informed persons should overlook the propriety of
accommodating that system, in some respects, to the prevailing
sentiments and habits of this country, now become an independent
and combined commonwealth."

The clergy of Pennsylvania — doubtless in view, alike of quieting
the alarms of the Northern churchmen and of guarding against
the adoption of some of the very low church principles, or rather,
the no church principles, at all, that had a certain prevalence in
Virginia and South Carolina — met with lay representatives in
convention in Christ Church, Philadelphia, May 24th, 1784, and
agreed upon certain matters of the fundamental sort ; which, as
"instructions" should bind a standing committee, which the con-
vention appointed with power to correspond and confer with re-
presentatives from the Episcopal Church in other States, or any of
them, to assist in framing an Ecclesiastical Government. The
fundamental principles as then declared in Pennsylvania were
these : f

First. That the Episcopal Church of these States is, and ought to be,
independent of all foreign Authority, ecclesiastical or civil.

Secondly. That it hath, and ought to have, in common with all other
religious societies, full and exclusive Powers to regulate the Concerns
of its own Communion.

Thirdly. That the Doctrines of the Gospel be maintained as now
professed by the Church of England ; and Uniformity of Worship be
continued as near as may be to the Liturgy of the said Church.

Fourthly. That the Succession of the Ministry be agreeable to the
Usage which requireth the three Orders of Bishops, Priests and

* Second Edition. New York, 1836. Page 79.
f Wilson's Life of Bishop White, page 100.

I08 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784

Deacons ; that the Rights and Powers of the same respectively be ascer-
tained ; and that they be exercised according to reasonable Laws, to be
duly made.

Fifthly. That to make Canons or Laws, there be no other Authority
than that of a representative Body of the Clergy and Laity conjointly.

Sixthly. That no Powers be delegated to a general ecclesiastical Gov-
ernment, except such as cannot conveniently be exercised by the Clergy
and Laity in their respective Congregations.

Soon after this convention of the clergy and laity of Pennsyl-
vania had taken place, Dr. Smith invited a convention of the
clergy and laity in Maryland. He was in Philadelphia so late as
the 1 8th of June, and probably present, tliough not as a delegate,
at the convention on the 24th of May. It is obvious that between
him and Dr. White there was a good understanding, and that the
two persons were acting as co-workers to one end.

The Convention of Maryland met in that State, at Annapolis,
on the 22d of June, 1784, and declared among other things:

According to what we conceive to be of true Apostolic Institution,
the duty and office of a Bishop differs in nothing from that of other
Priests, except in the Power of Ordination and Confirmation, and in
the right of precedency in Ecclesiastical meetings or synods. And if
any further distinctions and regulations in the different orders of the
ministry should afterwards be found necessary for the good government
of the Church, the same shall be made and established by the joint
voice and authority of a representative body of the Clergy and Laity
at future Ecclesiastical Synods and Conventions.

Ecclesiastical State Conventions of S)nods of this Church shall con-
sist of the Clergy and one Lay Delegate or Representative from each
Vestry or Parish, or a majority of the same.

There was thus a general accord between the churches in the
two important States of Pennsylvania and Maryland. And this
was an important fact. These two churches made, in terms gen-
erally similar, and in moderate but yet firm pretensions, a great
and fixed class of principles to which the very lozv churches
south of Mayland, and the quite high ones north and east of
Pennsylvania, could perhaps find something on the respective
sides to attach themselves to, and so make one and a connected
body; though there would be confessedly a considerable difference
in the aspect of one extremity of it from the aspect of the oppo-
site extremity.

1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. IO9

At the Convention of June 22d, 1784. in Maryland, Dr. Smith
presided, and preached the opening sermon. The text was those
well-known verses from the Second Epistle of Timothy, chapter
i., verses 13, 14; chapter iv., verses 3, 4.

Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love
which is in Christ Jesus — that good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their
own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn
avv'ay their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

The preacher's mode of treating the text shows the heats of
which there was danger, in the discussion of those matters which
the times demanded should be considered both in State conven-
tions and in conventions at large. He opens the discourse in a
vein of sarcasm, in which he not unfrequently indulged in political
discussion or conversation, and in which he there found a power-
ful weapon, but which his high sense, both of dignity and consist-
ency, prevented much use of in the pulpit. He was here, however,
speaking as he was to the Convention of Maryland, at home and
inter SILOS — more at liberty ; and it was perhaps the most effective
way to cure some among them affected with stiffness in their
cervical vertebiw. Thus the Bishop-elect begins :

In this very adventurous and inquisitive Day, when men spurning
their kindred-earth, on which they were born to tread, will dar^, on
airy wing to soar into the regions of the sky; were it the pleasure
of our Almighty Creator to purge any of us mortals of our terrestrial
dross, and to place us, in good earnest, upon some distant orb, from
which Avith clear and serene view, corporeal as well as intellectual, we
could survey this world of ours^what a s^ange scene would it appear?
Itself in the rank of worlds, dwindled into a small mole-hill; and men,
the little emmets upon it, bustling and driving and crossing each other,
as if there were no settled walk of life, no common tie, or "Form of
sound words to be held fast of all, in faith and love which is in Christ
Jesus?"

In our intellectual view, from this eminence of station, we should
behold one set of men, who boast of the ali-suiTicient and transcendent
power of Reason, as their rule and guide ; but yet all wandering
through different tracts, although in the same pursuits of Happiness
and Peace ! Another set of men would be seen who call themselves the
Special Favourites of Heaven, and say they are guided by a glorious
Inward Light, communicated immediately from the everlasting Foun-

no LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784

tain of all Light ! yet we should not see them walking together in unity,
or pursuing any common path or way ; but fiercely contending con-
cerning their Inward Light ; some calling their's the good Old-Light,
and others calling their's the true New-Light. To whom an old
divine of our church, (the venerable Bishop Andrewes,) were he now
living, would say — " There is no Light among you — the Devil hath
blinded you all."

But, Thirdly, we should find another set of men, and those of truly
respectable and venerable name, professing themselves guided only by
a sure and written Form of Sound Words, revealed and given to them
for their Listruction, their Guide, and their Salvation, by their
Almighty Creator himself — Yet, alas ! they would be seen, perhaps,
almost as irregular and eccentric in all their motions as the rest !

This is a sad view of things — and as the Poet says —

" In Pride, in reasoning Pride, the error lies,
All quit their sphere, and rush into the skies ! "

And would to God, therefore, that, in all Religions and in all Sciences,
this accursed root of Bitterness and Contrariety could be wholly plucked
out of the Christian world. For until Humanity and divine Charity
can have their sway, until our Faith is exercised in Love, and the
Truths of God are held in Righteousness of Life, there will never be a
total harmony among men !

However strong our Reason, however enlightened our Souls, however
ardent our Faith; unless that spirit of Love and Humility be in us,
which was in Christ Jesus, all besides will be of little value.

With good reason, therefore, does St. Paul admonish his beloved
Timothy to let his Faith be exercised in Love, and "to hold fast the
Form of sound Words which he had heard of him ; " for even in those
early days, some had begun to depart from the foundation laid by
Christ and his Apostles; following "vain babblings," being like
withered leaves, sticking to the tree, only to be blown away by the first
wind of doctrine; still desiring to hear some new thing ; led by the ear
and not by the heart, or as it is strongly expressed in my text, " heap-
ing to themselves Teachers, having itching Ears," &c All

other marks of our faith, therefore, are vain and delusive, unless we
have that Scripture mark of hearts glowing with Love — a transcendent
Love, flowing forth in fervent Piety towards God, and universal good-
will towards Man !

Faith, therefore, according to my text, cannot be a mere empty
assent to truth, but the holding of truth in love. It is love that shews
the true nature of faith. By this it must work ; and by this only can
God be pleased. For love flowing from faith is the hand-writing of
God on the heart. Whatever proceeds from it thus, will bear His

1784] ^'^^'■- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. Ill

image and superscription. He will know it as His own, and at the last
day openly acknowledge it as such before men and angels — This fruit
of Love is the mark which our Apostle everywhere gives for the trial of
faith and of spirits. The fruits of the spirit are "Love, Joy, Peace,
Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Temperance, and the
like.''"

He thus speaks of the so-called " evangelical party," whom
Whitefield had raised up to disturb the peace of Zion ; part of which
apostatized into Methodists, and part of which, while abandoning
'(ki^ principles of the Church, still remain ostensibly within its pale.

Too many, letting go their hold of the form of sound words, and
substituting, or mistaking, mere mechanical motions — the fervours of
heated imagination — for the true and active signs of Grace, those living
impulses of God on the soul, are often carried into the wildest extrava-
gances. Fetching the marks of their religion from the notions of
visionary or mystical men, instead of looking for them in the life and
Gospel of Christ, they set their passions to work, and at length
persuade or terrify themselves into all those experiences and feelings,
which pass, in their Creed, as the evidences of Salvation.

Buoyed up by such strong delusions, they think " they have built
their mansions among the Stars, have ascended above the Moon, and
left the Sun under their feet;" while they are still but like their
Kindred Meteors which, having scarce mounted to the middle regions,
are precipitated downwards again by their own gross and earthly
particles ! A devotion worked up by fervour, whatever proceeds from
the mere force of animal spirits, is of the Earth, earthy ; in no manner
like to that true Spirit of Regeneration which is of the Lord from
Heaven, and begets the divine life in the souls of men. This true
celestial warmth will never be extinguished, being of an immortal
nature ; and when once vitally seated in the heart, it does not work by
fits and starts, but expands itself more and more, regulating, purifying
and exalting the whole inward man 1

But he deals equally with the mere formal observers of religion.

Although it is of great importance, that we adhere to the Form of
sound words, as our text directs us ; yet we must not halt at Forms, or
fundamental Principles and Doctrines ; but we must strive, with all our
might and zeal, through the grace given us, " to go on to Perfection."
Our Faith must not be a mere empty assent to the truth, but the Hold-
ing the Truth in Love. It is Love that shews our Faith to be genuine.
By this it must work, and by this only can God be well pleased. For
Love flowing from Faith is the Hand-writing of God on the heart.

112 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17S4

Whatever proceeds from it will bear his Image and Superscription. He
will know it as his own, and openly acknowledge it as such, before
Men and Angels, at the last day.

This Fruit of Love is what St. Paul everywhere holds up for the trial
of our Faith and Spirits — "The Fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy,
Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Temperance,
and the like." All other marks of the Soundness of our Faith, except
these Gospel-marks, namely, the Fruits of the Spirit, are only a danger-
ous ministration of fuel for inflammable tempers, or of despair to those
of a contrary frame.

Come we now to his immediate subject. He continues :

Why need I spend more of your time in applying the doctrine of my
Text to the present occasion of our meeting? — an occasion (I will only
add) on which if you could be indulged to hear the voice of an Apostle
or Angel from God, he would preach to you Love and Unity.

Consider that you are members of a Church, which is acknowledged
by all the Christian World to teach the doctrine of the Gospel, and to
hold fast the Form of sound Words, the Faith once delivered to the
Saints — a Church which has given to the world a long and illustrious
list of eminent Divines, pious Preachers, and even glorious Confessors
and Martyrs for the Truth, as it is in Jesus.

But in this country at present, such is her state that she calls for the
pious assistance and united support of all her true Sons, and of the
friends of Christianity in general. Besides a famine of the preached
word, her sound Doctrines are deserted by many, who "turn away
their ears from the Truth," as taught by her, and heap to themselves

Teachers as described in the Text Too many more are spoiled

or staggered in their Faith by what is called the Free and Philosophic,
but more truly, the loose and libertine principles of the present day.*
Many others, from a selfish and niggardly spirit, or from a dissipation
of their substance in luxury and intemperance, will not, or cannot,
yield the mite which is necessary for supporting the Ordinances of
Religion. Thus they become ashamed to appear in the place of God's
Worship, leaving the burden of all upon a fev/, whose conscience and
the awful dread of an account to be given hereafter, will not suffer them
to desert their Master's Gospel, to renounce their Baptism, and trample
under foot the Blood of the Covenant wherewith they are sanctified.

Hence religion mourns, and the houses and altars of God, erected by
the piety of our Forefathers, are deserted and running into ruin. The
tempests beat and the winds howl through the shattered roofs and moul-

* Even in 1784 tlie pernicious infidelity of the French Revolution was beginning to
show itself.— II. W. S.

1 7 "4] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. II

J

dering walls of our places of Worship ; while our Burying-grounds and
Church-yards, the graves, the monuments, and the bones of our Fathers,
Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Children and Friends, are left open and un-
protected from the Beasts of the field ; as if all our care was only to
succeed to the honours, the estates and places of emolument which
belonged to our Friends and Ancestors, without any regard to their
Memories or venerable Ashes !

In the late times of war, distress and confusion, there might be some
plea for this reproach of our Christian name; but now, with the blessed
prospects of Peace, Liberty, Safety and future Prosperity before us, I
trust this reproach will be speedily done away; to which nothing can
so eminently contribute as Love and Union among ourselves, joined to
a rational and enlightened Zeal and public Spirit. For, in all our pur-
suits, we must rest at plain and practical points at last, which are few in
number, and in Religion come to little more than Solomon declared,
viz. that "the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments is the
whole duty of Man;" or, in all the Sciences, what another wise man
declared to be the Sum of all his inquiries — that

Temperance is the best Physic,
Patience the best Law,
Charity the best Divinity !

O Heaven-born Charity ! what excellent things are spoken of thee !
What a transcendent rank was assigned thee, when the Saviour of the
World gave thee as the badge of his holy Religion; and his inspired
Apostles enthroned thee as the Queen of all Evangelic Graces and Vir-
tues ! Could the tongues of men or of angels exalt thee more than
this — declaring — " That neither the Martyr's Zeal, the Self-denial of
the Saint, nor all Knowledge, nor any Virtue besides, can profit or
adorn the Man, who is unadorned with thy sweet celestial Garb! But
he who is thus adorned is the most august human spectacle upon earth —
whom even Angels behold with delight, as clothed in that peculiar
Garb which Christ vouchsafed to wear here below, and which shall not
need to be put off above: and therefore, if on every slight occasion, or
indeed on any occasion, we cast off this Garb, we are none his true
Disciples !

Wherefore then. Brethren, put on this most excellent gift of Charity.
Try the Faith that is in you by this great Test — Hold fast the Form of
sound Words, the holy Scriptures, the pure Doctrines, the excellent
Forms of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, drawn from Scripture by
our Church — Hold them fast in Faith working by Love. Take them
for your perfect rule and guide — They will make you wise unto Salva-
tion— Whatever is imagined more, or beyond Scripture— all that is
beside final Perfection and Salvation, count it vain and superfluous.
8

114 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784

Seek not to be wise above what is written, nor establish any vain imagi-
nations of your own for tlie sure Form of sound Words. What you
have received, hold fast with a fervent and enlightened, but with a holy
and charitable, Zeal. Add nothing, diminish nothing; but let this
Lamp of God shine among you till the Day Dawn, till the Morning of
the Resurrection; and walk ye in the Light of it, not kindling any
Sparkles of your own to mix with its pure and hallowed Lustre.

Let not your best State too much elevate, nor your worst too much
depress, you. Whereunto you have attained, walk ; yet sit not down
with attainments, but forgetting what is behind, press still forward,
having perfect Holiness in your eye and purpose.

" Remember that Faith without Works is dead. Remember that God
commands Works, Grace establishes them, Christ died to confirm
them, the Spirit is given to influence them; and that, without a holy,
humble and peaceable Life, we annul the Law, abuse the Gospel, tram-
ple upon Grace, frustrate the end of Christ's Death, grieve the Spirit,
dishonour God, and give the lie to our holy Profession." If one com-
ing as an Apostle or as an Angel from Heaven, were to preach to you
any other Gospel than you have received, I trust, you would say, let
him not be believed.

Thus, with the Truth in our Heads and Love in our Hearts; with
Zeal and public Spirit; with a concern for Liberty, Civil and Religious ;
with Industry and Economy ; with a strict care for the Education of
Youth, and their nurture and admonition in the Fear of the Lord; this
American land shall become a great and glorious Empire ! —

Hasten, O blessed God, hasten this glorious period of thy Son's
Kingdom, which we know shall yet come! And, O ye, who now enjoy
the blessed opportunity, be ye the happy means of hastening it. Adorn
by your lives the Divine doctrines which you profess with your lips;
that the Heathen and Unbeliever, seeing your good Works may be the
sooner led to glorify your Father who is in Heaven ! *

Bishop White, in a passag-e of his memoirs, which we quote
here, often speaks of the great service done to the church by the
last two conventions in Maryland, to which we have referred, and
which he rightly says " were chiefly originated and conducted by
Dr. Smith."

* This sermon was published at the time with the following dedication :
To his Excellency | William Paca, Esquire, | Governor and Commander in Chief
of the State of | Maryland, &c. | The following Sermon | is inscribed, | in sincere
testimony and acknowledgment, | as well of his public zeal and regard | for the | in-
terests of Religion and Learning, | as of | the private friendship and esteem, | with
which, I from an early period of his life, | hath subsisted between him, | and his most
affectionate, | old preceptor, | and obedient servant, | the Author. |

1784]

REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

115

The churches of Maryland and Pennsylvania being now, as we
have said, in sufficient accord, and their principles such, in the
main, as churchmen could generally admit, the general conven-
tion, which the clergy and laymen who had been at New Bruns-
wick in May had recommended should take place at New York,
on the 6th of October, 1784, now took place. There came to this
Convention

From Massachusetts and f

Rhode Island,
Connecticut,

New York,

\

The Rev. Samuel Parker.

M

Pennsylvania,

New Jersey,

Delaware,
Maryland,

The Rev. J. R. Marshall.

The Rev. Messrs. Samuel Provoost,
Abraham Beach, Benjamin Moore,
Joshua Bloomer, Leonard Cutting,

' and Thomas Moore, with the Hon,
James Duane and Marinus Millet

^and John Alsop, Esquires.

The Rev. Drs. White and Magaw,
the Rev. Mr. Joseph Hutchins,
\ with Mathew Clarkson, Richard

I Willing, Samuel Powcl and Richard

(^Peters, Esquires.

{The Rev. Uzal Ogden, John De
Hart, Esq., John Chetwood, Esq.,
with Mr. Samuel Spragg.

{The Revs. Sydenham Thorn and
Charles Henry Wharton, with Mr.
Robert Clay.

The Rev. Dr. William Smith.

The Rev. David Griffith (afterwards Bishop-elect of Virginia)
was present by permission, but not as a delegate — the clergy of
Virginia, by laws of that State then in force, being restricted from
sending delegates.

Of this body, Dr. Smith was chosen President ; the Rev. Benja-
min Moore, afterwards the excellent and honored Bishop of New
York, being the secretary.

The body recommended to the clergy and congregations of their
communion in the States represented as above, and proposed to
those of the other States not represented, that as soon as they
should have organized themselves in the States to which they
respectively belonged, agreeably to such rules as they should

Il6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784

think proper, they should unite in a General Ecclesiastical
Constitution on the following fundamental principles :

I. That there shall be a General Convention of the Episcopal Church
in the United States of America.

II. That the Episcopal Church in each State send Deputies to the
Convention, consisting of Clergy and Laity.

III. That associated Congregations in two or more States may send
Deputies jointly.

IV. That the said church shall maintain the Doctrines of the Gospel
as now held by the Church of England, and shall adhere to the Liturgy
of the said Church as far as shall be consistent with the American
Revolution and the Constitutions of the respective States.

V. That every State where there shall be a Bishop duly consecrated
and settled, he shall be considered as a member of the Convention,
ex-officio.

VI. That the Clergy and Laity assembled in Convention, shall delib-
erate in one Body, but shall vote separately ; and the concurrence of
both shall be necessary to give validity to every measure.

VII. That the first meeting of the Convention shall be at Philadel-
])hia, the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael next ; to which it is
hoped, and earnestly desired, that the Episcopal Churches in their
respective States will send their clerical and lay Deputies herein
proposed for their Deliberation.

A committee was appointed to essay the-fundamental principles
of a general constitution.

The following gentlemen were appointed : The Rev. Dr. Smith,
Rev. Dr. White, Rev. Mr. Parker, Rev. Mr. Provoost, Mr. Clarkson,
Mr. De Hart, Mr. Clay, Mr. Duane ; and they were likewise
desired to frame and propose to the Convention a proper substitute
for the State prayers in the liturgy, to be used for the sake of
uniformity, till a further review should be undertaken by general
authority and consent of the Church — Dr. Smith was chairman of
this important Committee.

While at this Convention of the Church, in October, 1784, Dr.
Smith, with its other trustees, continued the good work, which
had been begun in May of the same year, of re-establishing the
corporation for the relief of the widows and children of the clergy.
The historian of the corporation says :*

*John Willinm Wnllace, LL. D., in "A Century of Beneficence— 1769-1869."
Philadelphia, 1869, pp. 41, 42, 43.

1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. . WJ

"The late president, Dr. Peters, having died July loth, 1776, and it
being now proposed to appoint a chairman to open business, Dr. Smith
was chosen for that purpose. The Rev. Benjamin Moore, afterwards
the venerable Bishop Moore, of New York, acted as the secretary. The
first thing was the appointment of a committee of three clerical and
three lay members — Drs. Smith, White and Provoost, being appointed
from the former, and Messrs. Duane, Peters and Livingston, from the
latter — ■' to examine into the affairs of this Corporation since the last ^
meeting at Philadelphia, on Tuesday after the feast of St. Michael, in
the year 1775, and to report thereon as soon as may be.' Having
adjourned to attend divine service at St. Paul's Church, New York, on
Wednesday the 6th, where the annual sermon was preached by Dr.
Magaw, the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, the Corpora-
tion then afterwards proceeded to ballot for twenty-nine new members.
Their names appear upon the roil of corporators, under the date of
1784. It is interesting to note the names of General Alexander Ham-
ilton, then in his 27th year, and of John Jay, among those from New
York, and of both Robert and Gouverneur Morris, among those from
Pennsylvania. Officers were also elected ; Dr. Smith, now venerable
for his years, and deserving such honor from his long and great service
to the Society, was appointed president ; and the Rev. Benjamin
Moore, already mentioned, secretary. The treasurers were, for New
York, John Alsop ; for New Jersey, Joshua Maddox Wallace ; and for
Pennsylvania, Samuel Powel — this last reappointed. Standing com-
mittees of correspondence, and for obtaining an alteration and confir-
mation of the charter, were also elected — Dr. White and Mr. Peters,
for Pennsylvania; Messrs. John Stevens and J. M. Wallace, for New
Jersey ; and Messrs. Duane, Robert R. Livingston, with the Rev. Mr.
Provoost, for New York — the first and second named gentlemen in
regard to the charter, and the first and third as a standing committee.

" Dr. Smith, after the adjournment of the meeting at New York,
remained behind in that city to preach there on the following Sunday,
both morning and afternoon, which he did with so good effect as to
have added ^112 igi". \od. to the corporate moneys."

Il8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

CHAPTER XLVI.

Convention of the Church in Seven States, held a. d. 1785, at Christ
Church in Philadelphia — Dr. Smith Chairman of a Committee to make
A Review of and Further Alterations, with Additions to the Lit-
urgy— The Thirty-nine Articles Presented in a Condensed Form —
The Alterations, Additions and Condensation Adopted by the Con-
vention— The Whole Ordered to be Printed in a Book — The Proposed
Book — Dr. Smith Requested to Preach a Sermon at the Close of the
Convention suited to the Solemn Occasion — He does so — Extracts
FROM THE Sermon — Dr. White, Dr. Smith and the Rev. Mr. C. H.
Wharton, at this time of New Castle, Delaware, but better known
afterwards as Dr. Wharton, of Burlington, N. J., appointed a Com-
mittee to see the Proposed Book through the Press.

As will have been observed by the reader, the fourth funda-
mental article adopted by the Convention of 1784* laid down as
a principle that the church in America should adhere to the liturgy
of the Church of England, so far as should be consistent with
the American Revolution and the constitutions of the respective
States ; and the power entrusted by the same Convention, to the
committee of which Dr. Smith was chairman, was confined, of
course, to framing and proposing a proper substitute for the State
prayers, to be used for the sake of uniformity till a further review
should be undertaken by general authority and consent of the
church.

Dr. Smith, I think it probable, was the person chiefly desirous
of a further considerable review, and the person chiefly active in
bringing on a discussion concerning the change, and in suggesting
and introducing the particulars of it. The prospect which was
held out, in the language by which the committee was constituted,
led, no doubt, after the adjournment of the Convention of New
York, October 6th and 7th, 1784, to a good deal of consideration
and conversation upon the subject by churchmen who were pre-
sent and assisted at that convention, before the next convention
was held; that is to say, before the 27th of September, 1785, when
this next convention met in Philadelphia.

* See supra, p. 107.

1785] JiEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I I9

This Philadelphia Convention of 1785 appointed a committee,
of which Dr. Smith was again the chairman, "to considei of and
report such alterations in the liturgy as shall render it consistent
with the American Revolution and the constitutions of the respec-
tive States, and such further alterations in the liturgy as it may be
advisable for this Convention to recommend^

This committee, which was in part clerical, and in part lay, was
thus composed :

^ ^-. ^j f The Rev. Mr. Provoost and the Hon.

For New York, ■{ t,. y^

' \ Mr. Duane.

" New Jersey, The Rev. Mr. Beach and Mr. Dennis.

" Pennsylvania, The Rev. Dr. White and Mr. Peters.

,. T^ fThe Rev. Dr. Wharton and Mr.

' Delaware, - ^ i.

I oyKCs.

,, ,fl. f The Rev. Dr. Smith and Dr.

^^^^'^^^^' i Cradock.

" Virginia, The Rev. Mr. Griffith and Mr. Page.

u a r- i The Rev. Dr. Purcell and the Hon.

South Carolina, <^ ^^^ ^^^^_

This committee made frequent reports. It having been resolved
by this Convention that the 4th of July should be forever ob-
served as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the in-
estimable blessings of Religious and Civil Liberty vouchsafed to
the United States of America, a committee, consisting of the Rev.
Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. Magaw, the Rev. Dr. Wharton and the
Rev. Mr. Campbell, were appointed to prepare the proper form of
prayer and thanksgiving.

The alterations which, according to a record left us by Bishop
Wliite in his Memoirs,* were resolved on, and the alteration pro-
posed and recommended by the General Convention of 1785 —
General we call it, though no churches from the New England
States were represented — were these. They were made after
reports from the committee :

I. Alterations agreed on and confir7}icd in Cotivention, for rendering the
Litutgy conformable to the pri7tciples of the American Revolution, an
the constitutions of the sc7<cral States.

* Second Ediliun. New York, 1836, page 363.

rT

I20 LIFE AND COKRESPOADENCE OF 1 HE [1785

ist. That in the suffrages after the Creed, instead of

O Lord, save the King,
be said :

O Lord, bless and preserve these United States.

2d. That the prayer for the Royal fanilly, in the morning and
evening service, be omitted.

3d. That in the Litany the 15th, i6th, 17th and i8th petitions be
omitted, and that instead of the 20th and 21st petitions, be substituted
the following :

That it may please Thee to endue the Congress of these United States, and all
others in authority, legislative, executive, and judicial, with grace, wisdom and under-
standing, to execute justice and to maintain truth.

4th. That when the Litany is not said, the prayer for the high court
of Parliament be thus altered :

Most gracious God, we humbly beseech Thee, as for these United States in general,
so especially for their delegates in Congress, that thou wouldest be pleased to direct
and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy
Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people, that all things may be so
ordered and settled by their endeavors upon the best and surest foundations, that peace
and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for
all generations, &c., to the end.

And the prayer for the king's majesty, altered as follows, viz.:

O Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost
from thy Throne behold all the Dwellers upon Earth; we most heartily beseech thee,
with thy Favour to behold all in Authority, legislative, executive and judicial in these
United States; and so replenish them with the Grace of thy holy Spirit, that they may
alway incline to thy will and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously vi'ith heavenly
Gifts, grant them in Health and Wealth long to live and, that after this Life, they may
attain everlasting Joy and Felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

5th, That the ist Collect for the King in the Communion Service
be omitted : and that the second be altered as follows — instead of

The hearts of Kings are in thy rule and governance,
be said :

That the hearts of all Kwlers are in thy governance, &c. ;

and instead of the words

heart of George thy servant,
insert,

so to direct the Rulers of these States, that in all their thoughts, &c. —
changing the singular pronouns to the plural.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 121

6th. That in the answer in the Catechism to the question,

Wlat IS thy duty towards thy neighl)our?

for,

to honour and obey the king,

be substituted

to honour and obey my civil rulers, to submit myself, &c.

7th. That in the Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea, in the Prayer
'• O eternal God, &c.," instead of these Words,

unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord King George and his Kingdoms,

be inserted the Words,

to the United States of America ;

and that instead of the Word " Island " be inserted the Word " Coun-
try; " and in the collect "O Almighty God, the Sovereign Command-
er," be omitted the Words, " the Honour of our Sovereign," and
the Words "the Honour of our Country" inserted.

8th. That instead of the observation of the 5th of November, the
30th of January, the 29th of May, and the 25th of October, the follow-
ing service be used on the 4th of July, being the Anniversary of
Independence.

Service for the 4fh of July.

With the Sentences before Morning and Evening Prayer.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us, he shall bless them that
fear him, both small and great. O that men would therefore praise the Lord, for his
goodness, and declare the wonders that he doelh for the children of men.

Hymn instead of the Venite.

My song shall be aUvay of the loving kindness of the Lord : with my mouth will I
ever be showing forth his truth from one generation to another. Psal. Ixxxix. i.

The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works : that they
ought to be had in remembrance. Psal. cxi. 4.

Who can express the noble acts of the Lord : or show forth all his praise. Psal.
cvi. 2.

The works of the Lord are great : sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Psal. cxi. 2.

For he will not alway be chiding : neither keepeth he his anger forever. Psal.
ciii. 9.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us according to our wicked-
ness. Verse 10.

For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth ; so great is his mercy
toward them that fear him. Verse II.

Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children : even so is the Lord merciful unto
them that fear him. Verse li.

122 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

Thou, O God, hast proved us: thou also hast tried us, hke as silver is tried. Psal.
Ixvi. 9.

Thou didst remember us iu our low estate, and redeem us from our enemies : for thy
mercy endureth forever. Psal. cxxxvi. 23, 24.

Proper Psalms, cxviii. except v. 10, li, 12, 13, 22, 23, and to conclude with v. 24.

I. Lesson, Deut. viii. 2. Lesson, Thess. v. verses 12-23 ^'^^^'^ inclusive.

Collect for the Day.

Almighty God, who hast in all ages showed forth thy power and mercy in the won-
derful preservation of thy church, and in the protection of every nation and people
professing thy holy and eternal truth, and putting their sure trust in thee ; we yield thee
our unfeigned thanks and praise for all thy public mercies, and more especially for
that signal and wonderful manifestation of thy providence which we commemorate
this day; wherefore not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be ascribed
all honour and gloiy, in all churches of the Saints, from generation to generation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for the Day, to be said after the General

Thanksgiving.

O God, whose name is excellent in all the earth, and thy glory above the heavens;
who as on this day didst inspire and direct the hearts of our delegates in Congress, to
lay the perpetual foundations of peace, liberty, and safety ; we bless and adore thy
glorious Majesty, for this thy loving kindness and providence. And we humbly pray
that the devout sense of this signal mercy may renew and increase in us a spirit of love
and thankfulness to thee its only Author, a spirit of peaceable submission to the laws
and government of our country, and a spirit of fervent zeal for our holy religion, which
thou hast preserved and secured to us and our posterity. May we improve these ines-
timable blessings for the advancement of religion, liberty and science throughout this
land, till the wilderness and solitary place be made glad through us, and the desert
rejoice and blossom as the rose. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our
Saviour. Amen.*

II. Alterations in the Book of Common Prayer and Administration
of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, ac-
cording to the use of the Church of Englattd, proposed and recommended
to the Protestant Episcopal Church iti the United States of America.

Ill the Order for Morning and Evening, service Daily throughout the
Year.

1st. The following Sentences of Scripture are ordered to be prefixed
to the usual Sentences, viz. :

The Lord is in his Holy Temple; let all the Earth keep Silence before him. Ilalj.
ii. 20.

* The Epistle and the Gospel were added by the Committee, after the Convention
had adjourned, agreeably to an authority which they conceived to be vested in them,
in the appointment made by the Convention of them to see the proposed book through
the press.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 23

From the Rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the Same, my Name shall
be great among the Gentiles; and in every Place Incense shall be offertd unto my
Name, and a pure Offering : for my Name shall be great among the Heathen, saiih
the Lord of Hosts. Mai. i. il.

Let the words of my Mouth, and the meditation of my Heart, be alway acceptable in
thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Psal. xix. 14.

2d. That the Rubric preceding the Absolution be altered thus :

A declaration to be made by the Mmister alone, standing, concerning the forgive-
ness of sins.

3d. That in the Lord's prayer, the word "who" be substituted in
lieu of "which;" and that "those who trespass" stand instead of
"them that trespass."

4th. That the "Gloria Patri" be omitted after the " O come let us
sing, &c.," and in every other place, where, by the present Rubric, it
is ordered to be inserted, to "the end of the" reading psalms; when
shall be said or sung "Gloria Patri, &c.," or, "Glory be to God on
high, and in earth peace and good will towards men, &c.," at the dis-
cretion of the Minister.

5th. That in the " Te Deum" instead of

honourable

it be

adorable, true, and only Son,
and instead of

didst not abhor the Virgin's womb,
it be

didst humble thyself to be born of a pure Virgin.

6th. That until a proper selection of Psalms be made, each Minister
be allowed to use such as he may choose.

7th. That the same liberty be allowed, respecting the lessons.

8th. That the article in the Apostles' creed " He descended into hell"
bs omitted.

9th. That the Athanasian and the Nicene creeds be entirely omitted.

loth. That after the response "and with thy spirit," all be omitted
to the words "O Lord show thy mercy upon us;" which the Minister
shall pronounce, still kneeling.

nth. That in the suffrage "make thy chosen people joyful," the
word "chosen" be omitted; and also the following suffrages, to "O
God, make clean our hearts within us."

12th. That the Rubric after these words "and take not thy Holy
Spirit from us," be omitted. Then the two collects to be said : in the
collect for grace, the words "be ordered," to be omitted; and the
word "be" inserted, instead of "to do alway that is."

124 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

13th. In the collect "for the Clergy and People," read —

Almighty and everlasting God, send down upon all Bishops and other Pastors, and
the Congregations committee, &c., to the end.

14th.*

15th. That the Lord's prayer after the Litany, and the subsequent
Rubric be omitted.

1 6th. That the short Litany be read as follows:

Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant us thy peace. O Christ,
hear us. Lord, have mercy upon us and deal not with us according to our sins,
neither reward us according to our iniquities.

After which, omit the words — " Let us pray."

17th. That the "Gloria Patri," after "O Lord arise, &c.," be
omitted ; as also " Let us pray," after " we put our trust in thee."

1 8th. That in the following prayer, instead of

righteously have deserved,

it be

justly have deserved.

19th. That in the ist warning for the Communion, the word "damna-
tion," following these words "increase your, &c.," be read "condemna-
tion ; " and the two paragraphs after these words "or else come not to
that holy table," be omitted ; and the following one be read :

and if there be any of you, who by these means, cannot quiet their conscience, &c.

The Avords "learned and discreet," epithets given to the ministers, to
be also omitted.

20th. In the exhortation to the communion, let it run thus :

For as the benefit is great, &c., to drink his blood, so is the danger great, if we re-
ceive the same unworthily. Judge therefore yourselves, &c.

2ist. That in the rubric preceding the absolution, instead of

pronounce this absolution,
it be

Then shall the minister stand up, and turning to the people say, &c.

22d. That in the baptism of infants, parents may be admitted as
sponsors.

23d. That the minister, in speaking to the sponsors, after these words

* Here is an erasure from the manuscrijit : the article being found a repetition of part
of the 4th. ]'ide White's Memoirs, p. 367, where " 13th" is si misprint for !' 4th."

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 2$

''vouchsafe to release him," say, "release him from sin." In the
second prayer, instead of

remission of his sins,

read

remission of sin.

24th. That in the questions addressed to the sponsors, and the an-
swers, instead of the present Form, it b: as follows:

the sinful desires of the flesh.
25th.

Dost thou believe the articles of the Christian faith, as contained in the Apostles'
creed, and wilt thou endeavour to have this child instructed accordingly? Answer: I
do believe them, and, by God's help, will endeavour so to do.

Wilt thou endeavour to have him brought up in the fear of God, and to obey God's
holy will and commandments? Answer: I will, by God's assistance.

26th. That the sign of the cross may be omitted, if particularly de-
sired by the Sponsors or Parents, and the prayer to be thus altered (by
the direction of a short rubric) :

We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock ; and pray that here-
after he may never be ashamed, &c., to the end.

27th. That the address, ''seeing now dearly beloved, (S:c.," be
omitted.

28th. That the prayer after the Lord's prayer be thus changed :

We yield thee hearty thanks, &c.,

to

receive this Infant as thine own child by baptism, and to incorporate him, &c.

29th. That in the following exhortation, the words "to renounce the
devil and all his works," and in the charge to the sponsors, the words
"vulgar tongue" be omitted.

30th. That the forms of private baptism and of confirmation be
made conformable to these alterations.

31st. That in the exhortation before matrimony, all between these
words "holy matrimony," and "therefore if any man, &c.," be omitted.

32d. That the words "I plight thee my troth" be omitted in both
places; and also the words "with my body I thee worship;" and also
"pledged their troth either to other."

33d. That all after the blessing be omitted.

34th. In the burial service, instead of the two Psalms, take the fol-
lowing verses of both, viz. : Psalm xxxix., verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, and
Psalm xc, to verse 13. In the rubric, the words "unbaptized or" to
be omitted.

126 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M'^5

For the Declaration and form of interment, beginning " Forasmuch
as, &:c.," insert the following, viz. :

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise Providence, to take out of
this world the soul of our deceased brother (sister) lying now before us; We therefore
commit his (her) body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; (thus
at sea — to the deep to be turned into corruption) looking for the general resurrection
in the last day, and the life of the world to come, thro' our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose
second coming in glorious Majesty, to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give
up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed,
and made like unto his own glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby
he is able to subdue all things unto Himself.

In the sentence "I heard a voice, &c.," insert "who" for "which."

The prayer following the Lord's prayer to be omitted. In the next
collect, leave out the words "as our hope is, this our brother doth."
For "them that," insert "those who."

35th. In the visitation of the sick, instead of the absolution as it now
stands, insert the declaration of forgiveness which is appointed for the
communion service ; or either of the collects, which are taken from the
Commination office, and appropriated to Ash Wednesday, may be used.

In the Psalm, omit the 3d, 6th, 8th, 9th, and nth verses. In the
Commendatory prayer, for "miserable and naughty," say "vain and
miserable." Strike out the word "purged."

In the prayer "for persons troubled in mind," omit all that stands
between the words "afflicted servant," and "his soul is full, &c.,"
and instead thereof say " afflicted servant, whose soul is full of trouble,"
and strike out the particle "but," and proceed, "Q merciful God, &c."

36th. A form of Prayer and visitation of Prisoners for notorious
crimes, and especially persons under sentence of death, being much
wanted, the form entitled "Prayers for persons under sentence of
death, agreed upon in a Synod of the archbishops and bishops, and the
rest of the clergy of Ireland, at Dublin, in the year 1711," as it now
stands in the book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland, i^s
agreed upon, and ordered to be adopted, with the following alterations,
viz. :

For the absolution, take the same declaration of forgiveness, or either
of the collects above directed for the visitation of the sick. The short
collect " O Saviour of the world, &c.," to be left out ; and for the word
"frailness," say "frailty."

37th. In the Catechism, besides the alteration respecting the civil
Powers, alter as follows, viz. :

Q. — What is your name ?

y/.— N. M.

Q. — When did you receive this name?

A. — I received it in Baptism, whereby I became a member of the Christian church.

17S5] ^^^'- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 12/

Q. — What was promised for you in Baptism ?

A. — That I should l)e instructed to believe the Christian faith, as contained in the
Apostles' Creed, and to obey God's holy will, and keep his commandments.

Q. — Dost thou think thou art bound to believe all the articles of the Christian faith,
as contained in this creed, and to obey God's holy will and keep his commandments?

A. — Yes, verily, &c.

Instead of the words "verily, and indeed taken," say — "spiritually
taken."

Answer to Question " How many sacraments ? " " Two, Baptism and
the Lord's Supper."

38th. Instead of a particular Service for the churching of women and
psalms, the following special prayer is to be introduced, after the
General Thanksgiving, viz. : This to be said, when any woman desires
tc return thanks, &c.

O Almighty God, we give thee most humble and hearty thanks, for that thou hast
been graciously pleased to preserve this womr.n, thy servant, through the great pains
and perils of childbirth. Incline her, we beseech thee, to show forth her thankfulness,
for this thy great mercy, not only with her lips, but by a holy and virtuous life. Be
pleased, O God, so to establish her health, that she may lead the remainder of he
days to thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Avten.

39th. The Commination office for Ash Wednesday to be discontinued,
and therefore the three collects, the first beginning — "O Lord, we
beseech thee," — 2d, " O most mighty God," — 3d, "Turn us, O Good
Lord," shall be continued among the occasional prayers; and used
after the collect on Ash Wednesday, and on such other occasions as the
minister shall think fit.

///, Ariicles of Religion.

I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.

There is but one living, true, and eternal God, the Father Almighty;
without body, parts or passions ; of infinite power, wisdom and good-
ness ; the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible :
and one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, begotten of the Father before
all worlds, very and true God ; who came down from heaven, took
man's nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin of her substance, and
was God and man in one person, whereof is one Christ ; who truly
suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us,
and to be a sacrifice for the sins of all men ; He rose again from death,
ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he shall return to judge the
world at the last day: and one Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,
of the same divine nature with the Father and the Son.

y.. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.

Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation : so that
whatsoever is not read therein : nor may be proved thereby, is not to

128 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the

Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name

of the Holy Scriptures we do understand the canonical books of the
Old and New Testament.

Of the names and numbers of the eanonical Books.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges,
Ruth, The ist Book of Samuel, The 2d Book of Samuel, The ist Book
of Kings, The 2d Book of Kings, The ist Book of Chronicles, The 2d
Book of Chronicles, The ist Book of Esdras, The 2d Book of Esdras,
The Book of Hester, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes or Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets
the greater, Twelve Prophets the less.

And the other books the Church doth read for example of life, and
instruction of manners ; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any
doctrine ; such are these following :

The 3d Book of Esdras, The 4th Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias,
The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book cf Hester, The Book of Wis-
dom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the
three Children, The Story of Susanna, Of Bell and the Dragon, The
Prayer of Manasses, The ist Book of Maccabees, The 2d Book of
Maccabees.

All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received,
we do receive and account them canonical.

3. Of the Old and Nf.w Testament.

There is a perfect harmony and agreement between the Old Testa-
ment and the New ; for in both, everlasting life is offered to mankind
by Christ, who is the only mediator between God and man ; being both
God and man : and altho' the law given by Moses, as to ceremonies
and the civil precepts of it, doth not bind Christians : yet all such are
obliged to observe the moral commandments which he delivered.

4. Of Creeds.

The creed, commonly called the Apostles' creed, ought to be received
and believed : because it may be proved by the Holy Scripture.

5. Of Original Sin.

By the fall of Adam, the nature of man is become so corrupt, as to
be greatly depraved, having departed from its primitive innocence, and
that original righteousness in which it was at first created by God. For
we are now so naturally inclined to do evil that the flesh is continually
striving to act contrary to the Spirit of God, which corrupt inclination
still remains even in the regenerate. But tho' there is no man living

I7C5] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I29

who siiineth not ; yet we must use our sincere endeavors to keep the
whole law of God, so far as we possibly can.

6. Of Free-Will.

The Condition of man after the fall of Adam, is such that he cannot
turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works
to faith and calling upon God : Wherefore we have no power to do
good works, pleasing and acceptable to God, without the grace of God
by Christ giving us a good will, and working with us, when we have
that good will.

7. Of the Justification" of Man.

We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus (Christ by faith, and not for our own works, or
deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith only, is a most
wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.

8. Of Good Works.

Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of Faith and follow after
Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's
judgment ;. yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ,, and
do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by
them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a Tree discerned by
the Fruit.

9. Of Christ alone without Sin.

Christ, by taking human nature on him, was made like unto us in all
things, sin only excepted. He was a lamb without spot, and by the
sacrifice of himself once offered, made atonement and propitiation for
the sins of the world ; and sin was not in him. But all mankind
besides, tho' bxiptized and born again in Christ, do offend in many
things. For if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.

ro. Of Sin after Baptism.

They who fall into sin after baptism may be renewed by repentance -
for tho' after we have received God's grace, we may depart from it by
falling into sin ; yet thro' the assistance of his Holy Spirit, we may by
repentance and the amendment of our lives, be restored again to his
favour. God will not deny repentance of sins to those who truly
repent, and do that which is lawful and right ; but all such thro' his
mercy in Clirist Jesus, shall save their souls alive.

II. Of Predestination.

Predestination to Life, with respect to e\ery man'"s salvation, is the

everlasting purpose of God, secret to us: and the right knowledge of

what is revealed concerning it, is full of comfort to such truly religious

Christians, as feel in themselves the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the

9

130 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

works of their flesh, and their earthly affections, and raising their
minds to heavenly things. But we must receive God's promises as they
be generally declared in Holy Scripture, and do his will, as therein
i; expressly directed; for without Holiness of Life no man shall be
saved.

12. Of Obtaining Eternal Salvation only by the Name of

Christ.

They are to be accounted presumptuous, who sa)', that every man shall
be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent
to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. For
Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ,
whereby men must be saved,

13. Of the Church and its Authority.

The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men,
wherein the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments are duly
administered, according to Christ's ordinance in all things necessary
and requisite : And every Church hath power to ordain, change and
abolish rites and ceremonies, for the more decent order and good gov-
ernment thereof, so that all things be done to edifying. But it is not
lawful for the Church to ordain anything contrary to God's word ; nor
so to expound the Scripture, as to make one part seem repugnant to
another; nor to decree or enforce anything to be believed as necessary
to salvation, that is contrary to God's holy word. General Councils
and Churches are liable to err, and have erred, even in matters of
Paith and Doctrine, as well as in their ceremonies.

14. Of Ministering in the Congregation.

It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public
preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before
he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we
ought to judge lawfully called and sent, who are chosen and called to
this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the
congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard.

15. Of the Sacraments.

Sacraments ordained of Christ, be not only badges or tokens of
Christian men's profession : but rather they be certain sure witnesses,
and effectual signs of Grace, and God's good will towards us, by the
which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but
also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.

There are Two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the
Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

1705] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I31

16. Of Baptism.

Baptism is not only a Sign of profession and mark of difference,
wliereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christened;
but it is also a sign of regeneration or new Birth, whereby as by an In-
strument, they that receive Baptism rightly, are grafted into the Church;
the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our Adoption to be the
Sons of God, by the Holy Ghost, are visibly sign'd and sealed ; Faith
is confirm' d, and Grace increas'd by virtue of prayer unto God. The
Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church,
as most agreeable with the Institution of Christ.

17. Of the Lord's Supper.

The Supper of the Lord is not only a Sign of the Love that Chris-
tians ought to have among themselves one to another ; but rather is a
Sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death : Insomuch that to such
as rightly, worthily and with faith receive the same, the Bread which
we break, is a partaking of the Body of Christ : and likewise the Cup
of Blessing, is a partaking of the Blood of Christ.

Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and
Wine) in the Supper of the'Lord cannot be proved by Holy Writ ; but
is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature
of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.

The Body of Christ is given, taken and eaten in the Supper of the
Lord only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean
whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith.

18. Of the one Oblation of Christ upon the Cross.

The offering of Christ once made, is that perfect redemption, pro-
pitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original
and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone.

19. Of Bishops and Ministers.

The Book of Consecration of Bishops and Ordering of Priests and
Deacons ; excepting such part as requires any oaths or subscriptions in-
consistent with the American Revolution, is to be adopted as containing
all things necessary to such consecration and ordering.

20. Of a Christian Man's Oath.

The Christian Religion doth not prohibit any man from taking an
oath, when required by the Magistrate in testimony of Truth; But all
vain and rash swearing is forbidden by the Holy Scriptures.*

* These articles, though now superceded by the original thirty-nine articles of the
Church of England, adopted by us in 1789, may still, /d';7/(7/j, I rather take it, be re-
ferred to as explaining these last when not clear. — H. W. S.

132 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}7^l

IV. The Table of Holy Days.

The following Days are to be kept Holy by this Church, viz. :

All the Sundays in the year in the Order enumerated in the Table of Proper Lessons
with their respective Services.
Christmas.
Circumcision.
Epiphany.

Easter Day, Monday and Tuesday.
Ascension Day.
Whit-Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

The following Days are to be observed as Da3-s of Fasting, viz. :

Good Friday and Ash Wednesday.

The following Days are to be observed as Days of Thanksgiving, viz. :

The 4th of July, in commemoration of American Independence.
The First Thursday in November as a Day of General Thanksgiving.

After the alterations, abridgments, additions and modifications
in the Liturgy which we have spoken of ftbove, under our Head II,
had been agreed to by the Convention, they Avere proposed and
recommended to the Church in those States from which there were
deputies to the Convention; and the Articles of Religion as pre-
sented in their new form were recommended to the Church to be
by them adopted in the next General Convention. Nothing as
yet was in print ; but the new Liturgy being transcribed and
having been read, Divine Service according to it was held in
Christ Church, Dr. White saying the prayers and the Rev. Dr.
Smith preaching a sermon, as he had been requested by the
Convention to do, " suited to the solemn occasion of the Conven-
tion." This proceeding took place October 7th, 1785. The text
is from St. Luke, chap, xiv., ver. 23 :

And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

The earlier part of the discourse probably had not been written
for this special occasion, and may have been used merely as a
suitable introduction for more particular matter. The preacher
begins :

In the parable, of wliich the words of my text are a part, the unspeak-
able happiness of the kingdom of God, as begun in the hearts of
believers in this world, and to be consiunmated in the world to come,
is represented under, the figure of a great Feast, or Supper, to wliich

1785] P^EV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 33

multitudes were bidden ; and the excuses, which they off^r for not
coming, strongly describe the various obstructions which the Gospel
would meet with in its reception among men ; from the time of its first
promulgation, to that blessed period when the dispersed among the
highways and hedges of remotest nations shall hear its Divine call, and
" all the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord, and
of his Christ ! "

After speaking of certain methods of bringing men to the
Heavenly Feast, which the Gospel will not justify — such as
external compulsion, or what was as unscriptural, the dressing out
the pure religion of the Gospel in a way that offers salvation with-
out obedience to its moral precepts, and strives to persuade men
that they may become Christians on easier terms than Christ hath
appointed, the preacher, coming to the more joyous branch of
his subject, says: "The consideration of those methods which the
Scriptures not only justifies but com.mands ; whereby all, both
clergy and laity, may be instrumental, through the help of God, in
compelling others to the profession of the Gospel, and the prac-
tice of its Divine precepts." " This," he says, "we may do —

" 1st. By special instruction and exhortation;

" 2dly. By living example ; and

" 3dly. By the decency, devotion, fervency and solemnity of
our forms of public worship, and by embracing ev^ery opportunity
of their further improvement."

Having treated, in a forcible way, the first two modes above,
mentioned, he comes to the one which prompted the discourse.
He says :

This brings me to my third and chief head on this great occasion ;
which was to show that another powerful method of compelling men to
come in, is by the decency, devotion, fervency and solemnity of our
forms of Public Worship ; using every endeavour in our power for their
further improvement. For this good purpose, the representative body
of our Church, from a number of these United States, are now assembled
or convened.

Arduous was the work that lay before us. When we took up our
Liturgy with a view to certain necessary alterations, wa were struck with
the utmost diffidence. We contemplated our Church service as an
august and beautiful fabric — venerable for its antiquity — venerable from
the memory of those glorious, and now glorified. Luminaries, Saints
and Martyrs, who laid the foundations of our Church on the rock of
ages. We stood arrested, as it were, at an awful distance — It appeared

134 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/SS

almost sacrilege to api)roach the porch, or lift a hand to touch a single
part, to polish a single corner, or to clear it from its rust of years.

When, on the one hand, we looked back to the days of the first refor-
mation in Religion, the progressive steps by which those pious worthies
broke down the enormous pile of rubbish and error, which for ages had
been built up to obscure the ancient foundations laid by Christ and his
Apostles ; when we considered the difificulties whfch they had to
encounter — the powers of this world combined against them — the
strength of ancient habits and prejudices — the ignorance of the age
(learning and philosophy being then at a low ebb, and chiefly engrossed
by those whose interest it was to support the former error;) when we
considered these things, we were rather astonished that they had gone
so far than that they went no farther — but, we were encouraged to pro-
ceed, by considering, on the other hand, that we had none of those
difficulties to deter us.

Blessed be God, we live in a liberal and enlightened age, when Re-
ligion, if not so generally practised as it ought, is never' 'eless generally
better understood ; and when nothing can be considered as deserving
the name of Religion, which is not rational, solid, serious, charitable,
and worthy of the nature and perfections of God to receive, and of free
and reasonable creatures to perform — Nor had we to contend against,
nor suffer from, the rulers of this world. Blessed be God again, they
yield us that best protection and assistance which Religion can receive
from earthly powers — perfect and equal liberty to worship God accord-
ing to that sense of holy Scripture which our reason and conscience
approve ; and to make such alterations and improvements in points of
decency, order, government and edification, as the general body of the
Church, from time to time, may judge most expedient.

Favourable to our wishes, therefore, was the present ^era. Through
the wise ordering of Providence, we had just become a sovereign and
separate people among the nations of the earth ; independent of all
foreign jurisdiction, in matters ecclesiastical as well as civil. With vast
labour and application our forms and constitutions of civil government
had been built up and established upon the purest principles of political
wisdom and liberty; in consequence of which, certain changes in our
ecclesiastical constitutions became necessary, as well as in our forms of
Prayer for the "powers that be;" considering them "as ordained of
God."

These alterations being once made, an occasion was offered (such as
few Churches before us have ever enjoyed) of taking up our Liturgy or
public Service, for a Review, where our former venerable reformers had
been obliged to leave it ; and of proposing to the Church at large,
such further alterations and improvements, as the length of time, the
progress in manners and civilization, the increase and diffusion of

1785] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I

JO

charity and toleration among all Christian denominations, and other
circumstances (some of them peculiar to our situation among the high-
ways and hedges of this new world) seem to have rendered absolutely
necessary.

Ardent, and of long continuance, have been the wishes of many of
the greatest, wisest and best Divines of our Church, for some alterations
and improvements of this kind. Among these we have a Whitby,'''

* The judgment and wishes of some of those great Divhic^, which could not so con-
veniently be delivered in a Sermon, I have collected into the following notes, for the
further information of the reader:

"If our rulers (says iJr. Whi;by) would he pleased to change the present Liturgy r.s
mucli from what it is, as it is altered from what it was, in the days of Edward the Vlth,
I verily believe that alteration would render it acceptable to many, who do now refuse
submission to it. The Church of Christ hath judged it fit to alter many things whicli
were first instituted by the blessed Apostles themselves, or by the primitive age of llic
Church [namely the kiss of charity and some other usages;] yet I hope this tempteth
no man to suspect the wisdom of the Apostles of our Lord, or of the primitive profes-
sors of Christianity. Why, therefore, should a like jiractice tempt any to suspect the
wisdom of our first reformers? We have already altered many things, \vhich were
allowed and done by them. They at first retained chrism, prayer for the dead, bap-
tism by women; and many other things of a like nature. And if these things might
be reformed, without reflection on their wisdom, why may not other things be so? "

"The serious and speedy review of the Liturgy," says Bishop Gauden (in the year
1661), "much desired by some, and not much opposed by others, may be of good use
for explaining some words and phrases which are now much antiquated, obscure and
out of vulgar understanding; which is no news after an hundred years, in which, lan-
guage, as well as all things under heaven change. This work, once well and wisely
done, may, by God's blessing, much tend to the satisfaction of all sober Christians; — -
for as one d^^y teacheth another, so there may be (as in all outward forms of Divine
Worship) both harmless additions, and innocent variations ; yea, and sometimes in-
offensive defalcations of some redundancies, according as men and times, and words
and manners and customs, vary."

Bishop Sanderson (in a visitation Sermon, 1641), speaking of our reformation, al-
though he says " he had a great esteem for the moderation of it, and a great veneration
for the instruments employed by God in it, and a great love of that wholesome way
of doctrine, life, devotion and government; yet he was not such a formalist, but that he
wished for alterations, though he judged that all alterations, in such grand and estab-
lished concerns as Religion, should be done by the public spirit, counsel and consent
of the Prophets, Prince and People."

"Nothing," says Bishop Beveridge, "was anciently more usual with the Churches
of God, than when times and necessity recjuired it, to change the laws made by them-
selves; to abrogate old ones, anil substitute others and perhaps different ones, in their
stead." "And," says Bishop Kennet, "let us hope and pray that whatever addition
can be made to our hajipiness, God in his time will add those things unto us. Li the
Churches of Corinth and Crete, planted by an Apostle, there were some thin'^s want-
ing, to be afterward set in order."

Bishop Burnet " wishes some things may be taken away, and others softened and
explained. Many things were retained at the reformation, to draw the people the
more entirely into it; which was at that time a lawful consideration, but is now at an
end," &c.

136 LIFE AXD C0RRESP02:DENCE OF THE [1785

Tillotson, Saunderson, Stillingflcct, Burnet, Beveridge, Wake, Tennison,
Hales, and innumerable other;; of venerable name among the Clergy;
and among the Laity a multitude more, at the head of whom may
be placed the great Lord Bacon, the father of almost all reformation
and improvement in modern philosophy and science.

Eight different times, from the days of Edward the sixth, when our
Liturgy was first framed, to the year 1661, has it been revised and
altered by public authority. And, says Archbishop Tennison, some
who have well considered all the alterations and amendments which
were then made (viz. in 1661), and which amount to the number of
six hundred, are sufficiently convinced that if there was reason for those
changes at that time, there is equal, if not greater reason, for some fur-
ther improvements now.

Our Church, in the preface to our common prayer, allows the ex-
pediency and necessity of such alterations from time to time. Even
our language itself is fluctuating, and receiving frequent improvements ;
and in what concerns Religion, and its various forms, rites and cere-
monies, no Church on earth can claim perfection. This belongs only
to the Church of the first born in Heaven \

But the greatest and most important alterations and amendments were
proposed at the Revolution, that great sera of liberty, when in 16S9,*
commissioners were appointed, among whom were many of the great
divines already mentioned ; of v/hom, and of those who were nomi-
nated for the like great work before the revolution. Archbishop Wake
says — "They were a set of men, than whom this church was never, at

*The preamble to the commission in 16S9, was as follows, strongly setting forth the
need of alterations from time to time, viz.:

" Whereas the particular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies ap-
pointed to be used therein, are things in their own nature indifferent and alterable and
so acknowledged; it is but reasonable that, upon weighty and important considerations,
according to the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes and altera-
tions should be made therein as to those that are in place and authority should from
time to time seem either necessary or expedient."

Arclibishop Wake, lamenting the miscarriage of the great and good design of this
commission, declares it to have been as follows, and makes some other strong remarks
upon tlie whole proceedings, with which I shall close these notes.

"The design," says he, "was in short to improve, and, if possilile, to enforce our
discipline, to review and enlarge our liturgy, by correcting of some things, by adding
of others, by leaving some few ceremonies, confessed to be indifferent in their nature,
as indifferent in their usage. No alterations were intended, but in things declared
alterable by the church itself. And if things alterable, be altered upon the grounds
of prudence and charity; and things defective be supplied; and things abused be re-
stored to their proper use ; and things of a more ordinary composition be revised and
improved, while the doctrine, government and worship of the church, remain entire in
all the substantial parts of them; we have all reason to believe that this will be so far
from injuring the church, that on the contrary, it shall receive a very great benefit
ihereljy." — Speech o.n Sacheverell's Trial.

1 7^5] HEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 3/

any one time, blessed with either wiser or better, since it was a church."
They set earnestly about the great work committed to them ; making
many important and necessary alterations in the morning and evening
service ; revising the various collects throughout the year, and render-
ing them more suitable to the epistles and gospels ; striking out un-
necessary repetitions in the service, and also such psalms and lessons of
the Old Testament, as appeared less suitable to the worship of a Chris-
tian church ; altering and amending the offices of baptism,, confirma-
tion, matrimony, visitation of the sick, and burial of the dead, in all
things justly exceptionable ; so that the whole service might thus become
more connected, solemn and affecting.

This great reformation was, however, lost through the heats and
divisions which immediately followed, both in church and state, under
King William; and such hath been the situation of things that it
hath never since been resumed in the mother church, by any public
authority.

Cut singularly to be admired and adored are the ways of Provi-
dence ! At the commencement of a new aera in the civil and religious
condition of mankind in this new world, and upon another great
Revolution about an hundred years after the former, all those proposed
alterations and amendments were in our hands ; and we had it in
our power to adopt and even to improve them, as might best suit our
circumstances in that part of our church, which the Lord hath planted
and permitted to flourish among the highways and hedges of this im-
mense continent !

To embrace such an occasion, we are certain that multitudes in the
mother church would rejoice ! And for us, not to have embraced it,
would have been ungrateful to our God, unjust to ourselves and our
holy religion, and unpardonable by our posterity. It hath been
embraced ! — And, in such a manner, we trust, as will carry our Church
through all the shoals of controversy, and conduct her into a safe and
quiet harbour !

What glories will shine upon the heads of our Clergy whom God
hath made instrumental in this good work ! How much shall our laity
be venerated for the candor, liberality, and abilities, which they have
manifested on this great occasion. Looking back upon the wonderful
things which God hath of late done for them, and forward upon the
long tract of glory which is opening before them as a people ; they
could not but consider that, after all their illustrious toils for the civil
happiness of their country, they had done but little for their posterity
if the great concerns of Religion were neglected ; knowing that right-
eousness only exalteth a nation, and that empires and kingdoms can
rise and flourish upon no other foundation, than Religion and Virtue.

What now remains, lies with the body of our Church at large;

138 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17S5

namely, to receive, with the like temper of liberality, gravity and
seriousness, as in the sight of Almighty God, what is now offered to
their acceptance and use by their Church representatives or deputies.
One part of the service you have just heard, and have devoutly joined
in it. Here the alterations are but few, and those, it is hoped, such as
tend to render it more solemn, beautiful and affecting ! The chief
alterations and amendments are proposed in the various offices, viz. :
of Baptism, &c., as hath been observed to you before, with the addition
of some new services or offices ; namely, for the 4th day of July, com-
memorative of the blessings of Civil and Religious Liberty ; the first
Thursday of November as a Thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth ;
and an office for the visitation of persons under the sentence of death ;
of all which you can only form a true judgment, when they shall be
published and proposed to you in the new prayer book.

Brethren ! I am not a stranger to you in this pulpit ! But some
years have elapsed since I have addressed you from hence ; and a few
years more will close my lips forever ! This may possibly be my last
Sermon to you ; and, therefore, I would exhort you again to receive,
and examine, with a meek, candid, teachable and charitable temper of
mind, what is proposed to you on this solemn occasion; as a work
intended holy for the advancement of Religion and the maintenance of
Peace and Unity in our Church to latest posterity. Let all prejudices and
prepossessions be laid aside. Consider seriously what Christianity is !
Vv'hat the truths of the Gospel are ! And how much it is our duty to
have them set forth and promulgated to the Christian world, and also the
Heathen world around us, in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and
majestic manner ! Let them never be obscured by dark and mysterious
sentences and definitions ; nor refined away by cunningly devised fables,
or the visionary glosses of men, thinking themselves wise above what is
written. Were our blessed Saviour now upon earth, he would not
narrow the terms of communion, by such ways as these ; and it is our
duty, as it hath been our great endeavour in all the alterations pro-
posed, to mak-,' the consciences of those easy who believe in the true
principles of Christianity in general, and who, could they be made easy
in certain points no way essential to Christianity itself, would rather
become worshippers as well as labourers, in that part of Christ's vine-
yard, in which we profess to worship and to labour, than in any other.
And what good man or Christian, either of the Clergy or Laity, can
object to this? If we are Christians, indeed; if the love of truth and
of one another, the true signs of the peace of Christ, prevail in our
hearts; there will be no disputing or gainsaying, in m.atters of this
kind. In all things, fundamental and necessary to salvation, we
' shall speedily find a decision in the word of (iod ; ' and as to things
speculative and unnecessary, 'not finding them written there,' we will

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 39

seek for their decision, by suffering them to glide smoothly down the
stream of mutual forbearance, till at length they be discharged into the
unbounded ocean of Christian love, and be there swallowed up and lost
forever !

Let us not, therefore, repeat former errors ; nor let the advantages
now in our hands slip from us. If we become slack or indifferent in
the concerns of Religion ; if we discourage every endeavour for refor-
mation,* "not only departing from the Law but corrupting the covenant
of Levi, so as to make men stumble at the Law; the Lord our God hath
said that he will make us base and contemptible among the people, and
all our flock shall be scattered." God will be provoked to remove his
candle from us, that glorious light which he hath revealed to us ; and
we shall fall back again into the former grossness and superstition !

If, Brethren, in the present work any thing be offered or done, with
less clearness, precision, purity, or elevation of thought and expression,
let it be considered calmly, judged of by Christian methods, and pro-
posed for future amendment with singleness of heart ; imitating the
meekness and love of our master Jesus ! Thus shall we approve our-
selves his disciples ; and be justified in our endeavours for the purity of
our Religion, not only in the sight of men and angels, but of Him
especially, who will be our sovereign Judge, and sits enthroned above
all the choirs of angels.

Thus also shall men be compelled to join in our worship, and our
Sabbaths become more and more sanctified. Our very hearts and flesh
will long for the courts of God's house — for the return of every Sab-
bath, as a blessed remainder, yet left us, of our original bliss in para-
dise, and a happy foretaste of our future bliss in the paradise that is
above — a day of grace whereon our heavenly King lays open the courts
of his palace, and invites us to a more immediate communion with
himself! ....

Wherefore, then. Brethren, let our Sabbaths be remembered, and
more and more sanctified. The Scriptures encourage us to look for a
time when there shall be an universal diffusion of the gospel throughout
this land ; when they who dwell in the Wilderness shall bow down be-
fore the Lord, when among the highways and hedges to the remotest
part of the Continent decent places of worship shall be erected — vil-
lages, towns and great cities arise — and the service and worship of our
church as we have introduced it, be not only adopted, but through the
blessings of God, become happily instrumental in compelling the fulness
of the Gentile world to come in.

O Time, may thy wheels move quickly round, until the approach of
the blessed sera, till there be a fulness of spiritual food through every
part of this new world ; and all nations, kindreds and tongues have

* Mai. Ch. II. ver. 8, 9.

I40 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

access with us unto one God, and be sealed with us unto the day of
Redemption, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

As we have already said, nothing was yet in print. Certain of
the alterations — those not rendered necessary by the Revolution —
had been agreed on, proposed, and recommended, but all the
alterations alike — as well those resolved on as those proposed and
recoinvicnded — were yet on the journal and in manuscript, and
without much shape or finish. Dr. White, the President of the
Convention, Dr. Smith and Dr. Wharton were now appointed " to
p2iblis]i a Book of Common Prayer, with the alterations, as well
those now ratified in order to render the Liturgy consistent with
the American revolution and the constitutions of the respective
States, as the alterations and new offices recomjuended to this
Church," and it was resolved "that the book be accompanied with a
proper Preface or Address, setting forth the reason and expediency
of the alterations ; and that the Committee have the liberty to
make verbal and grammatical corrections ; but in such a manner
as that nothing in form or substance be altered."

It was also resolved that the same Committee be authorized to
publish, with the Book of Common Prayer, such of the reading
and singing Psalms, and such a calendar of proper lessons for the
different Sundays and holidays throughout the year, as they
might think proper.

It was further ordered thdii the said Committee be authorized to
dispose of the copies of the Common Prayer when printed ; and
that after defraying all expenses incurred therein, they remit the
neat profits to the treasurers of the several corporations and
societies for the relief of the widows and children of deceased
clergymen in the States represented in this Convention — the
profits to be equally divided among the said societies and corpo-
rations.

It was agreed by the Committee that the " Proposed Book," as
it was now called, should be printed at PInladelpJna ; and by Hall
and Sellers. Dr. White was to see the proofs, and to send them to
Dr. Smith, who would communicate with Dr. Wharton, who was
residing in Delaware, the rector of Emanuel Church, Newcastle.
This led to a good deal of correspondence between Dr. White and
Dr. Smith, with occasional letters to and from Dr. WHiarton. W^e

1785] ^E^'- ^VILLIAM SMTilI, D. D. I41

give the most of this correspondence. It will be seen that the Com-
mittee construed liberally the leave given them to make verbal and
grammatical alterations — more liberally than Dr. White himself
quite approved.*

CHAPTER XLVII.

Correspondence between Dr. Smith and Dr. White, with a Letter from
Dr. Wharton to the latter while the Copy of the " Proposed Book "
WAS going through the Press, including Dr. White's " Hints for a
Preface," and Dr. Smith's Preface— Dr. Smith to the Rev. Samuel
Parker.

We proceed to give the correspondence referred to in our last
chapter relating to the publication of the Proposed Book. For
the preservation of it, we are indebted, in former years, to Bishop
White and Dr. Smith, in later ones to the excellent archseolocrist
of our church, Dr. Perry, now Bishop of Iowa, who first gave it
to the publicf

The Rev. Dr. White to the Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, October 19, 1785.
Dear Sir : The first proof-sheet will accompany this and I expect
to send you another by Saturday's post to Baltimore. I think we have
fallen into an error, which Mr. Hall says we can easily correct, and our
brethren here join with me in wishing it corrected. It is the making
the Litany a necessary part of the Morning Service. The way I would
propose to correct it is thus: In the rubric let it be "The Litany, etc.,
to be used on Sundays and other holidays, appointed to be observed by
this Church." After the prayer, " We humbly beseech thee, O Father,
etc.," let there be this rubric, "But when the Litany is not used, the
three following prayers shall be said instead thereof;" then insert the

■"Bishop White, in his Memoirs (Second edition, p. 109), referring to the fact that
the Committee had been authorized to make verl:)al aherations, but were re-<trained
from departing in either form or substance from what had been agreed on by the
Convention, says that " the imperfections evidently remaining on some points by reason
of haste [in the Convention], and which could have been remedied had tliey been
attended to, and, added to this, the importunities of some of the clergy who pressed the
Committee to extend their powers pretty far, in full confidence that the liberty would
be acceptalile to all, were such that, in the end, ihey were drawn on to take a greater
latitude than ought to be allowed in such a work."

•j- In presenting it, in ]irint, in this volume, I have avoided the contractions in or-
thography, which Bishop White, following a custom of his youth, continued through
his life.

142 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

prayers "for the Congress," "for other civil rulers," and "for all
conditions;" then let there follow the General Thanksgiving, St. Chry-
sostom's Prayer and the Benediction. To prevent repetition in the
Evening Service, insert after the prayer against the dangers of the
night, the following rubric :

Then shall be said the prayer for the Congress and the other prayers which follow
it in the Morning Service to the end thereof.

There will be occasion for a rubric at the head of the Collects, Gos-
pels and Epistles, directing the use of the Collects for each Sunday and
holiday until the next Sunday or holiday; after the suffrages, at morning
prayer when the communion service is not said ; and always at evening
prayer.

Quaere. — Will it not be best to place the two invitations to the com-
munion at the end of that service? At present they make an awkward
break.

Please to mention these matters to Dr. Wharton, to whom I desire
my affectionate remembrances.

I am, your affectionate humble servant,

W.M. White.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

October, 17S5.

Dear Sir: I am favored with yours of the 19th, enclosing the first
sheet of the Prayer Book, and shall expect a second sheet at Baltimore
on Tuesday

On Wednesday last Dr. Wharton came to my house in Chester.
Thursday being a storm, we sat down in the morning, and devoted the
whole day to those parts of the Prayer Book, yet left to be prepared
for the press.

ist. As to the office of Thanksgiving for the Fruits of the Earth, we
Avish to change one of the lessons, and also to make some additions to
the Thanksgiving prayer, which will give it a little more animation ; by
taking something from prayers on the same subject, which Dr. Wharton
thinks are to be found as well in the Roman Missal, as in the works of
Bishop Wilson, of Sodor and Man — both which he will consult on his
return to New Castle, in sufficient time for the press.

But our great business on Thursday was to read over the Psalms, tak-
ing, as we went along, your very judicious selection or rather rejection
of particular Psalms and parts of Psalms. We propose rejecting some
parts more, which may have escaped your notice, and retaining some
few passages which you have proposed to reject ; for by taking the Bible
translation some of these passages are truly beautiful ; and therefore in
going over the work, we constantly compared the Bible translation with
that of the Prayer Book, and find that out of both, sometimes using

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 143

the one and sometinnes the other, sometimes in whole Psahns, and some-
times in particular verses, we shall greatly improve the reading Psalms
in general ; but by our plan there will not so many be retained upon
the whole, as you have left standing. On my return from Baltimore,
I shall send you, or more probably bring to Philadelphia this part of the
work; and then by counting up the whole number of verses retained
and dividing them by thirty, we can average the number of verses (a
few over or under as the sense may require) which we shall have for
daily service. Out of the reading Psalms to be retained in our book,
it will be easy to make a selection of the best metre translations, of the
best Psalms, to which there may be an addition of some of Watts' best
Psalms, and hymns for the festivals and other occasions, which may be
got from sundry authors — I hope some may be offered by members of
our own Church in America, who are distinguished for their poetical
talents, and not ashamed to exert them on the lofty themes of religion.
But I am wandering and have no time to write what I wish on this par-
ticular topic.

Dr. Wharton left me on Friday, crossed over to Annapolis, and by
the good offices of Governor Paca and Mr. Chase, settled all his private
concerns with the intendant, and returned time enough to preach for
me in Chester this afternoon. He leaves me to-morrow, but I expect
a day from him on his return from Talbot, when we shall take up the
calendar, in which I believe you have not left us much to do.

I now proceed to answer your letter, respecting the first proof-sheet.

I do not think it an error, that the Litany is made a part of the
Morning Service. I think that service would be very incomplete in
the essential parts of prayer, and would lose much of its beauty if left
without the Litany. Although it is directed to be used every morning,
yet the use of it is not made so necessary, but that, where a clergyman
is weak in body, the v/eather severe, or for any other good reason, it
may not be omitted.

But I submit to your consideration, whether as you propose to alter
the rubric, viz., "The Litany to be used on Sundays and other holi-
days"— Wednesdays and Fridays will be considered as holidays. And
surely in large towns and cities (of which America will have many in a
hundred years more) the good old custom of week-day prayers will not
be laid aside. But, without the Litany, Wednesday and Friday prayers
(there being no sermon^ would not draw many to church. Let not our
abridgments be too great, at least till we see how what hath been done
will be received. I think, then, there will be no harm in leaving the
rubric before the Litany, as it now is ; only striking out the word
"every" — and after the prayer, "We humbly beseech thee, etc.," you
may add the rubric which you propose, viz : ^'But 7ohcn the Litany
is not used, the t]irce foUozving prayers shall be said instead thereof —

144 LIFE AND CORRESPOXJ)ENCE OF THE [l/^^

which (as the latter rubric may be supposed to explain the former)
will at least imply a discretionary power in the minister to omit the
Litany even in Morning Service, when in his discretion he thinks it
necessary.

If the place of the two exhortations to the communion is to be
altered, Dr. Wharton and myself are of opinion that they should not
be placed at the end of the Communion Service ( for it would appear
very awkward to have an exhortation to an act of worship, standing
after the act itself) but at the beginning, viz., before the prayer, ^'■Al-
mighty God unto whom all hearts be open," etc., with a rubric separating
them from the Communion Service, and directing that they be read
when the notice is given, viz., on the Sunday or some holiday before
the communion.

The proof-sheet is returned. You will see the corrections proposed
by Dr. Wharton and myself on the margin ; and the reasons will be
obvious. Thus in the Litany — "/// all time of our tribulation :" a semi-
colon— yet it is connected with '■'■Good Lord deliver us" — but at the
end of the sentence, after the words '■'■Day of Judgment'''' there is only a
comma, and so in all the preceding sentences, each of which should
have a semi-colon at the end of the sentence, as well as in the previous
division of the different members of the sentence.

After a proof-sheet or two more, I would not wish to give you the
trouble of sending the remainder to me, unless you have any alteration
to propose ; in which we must be very delicate, in consideration of the
great trust committed to us. Dr. Wharton's best compliments. He
sits by me while I subscribe myself,

Yours, etc.,

Wm. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, October 21, 1785.

Dear Sir : I expect to send you by this opportunity the two first
proof-sheets.

Lest you may have left Chester before the return of Wednesday post,
I must repeat the substance of my former letter.

We are all here of opinion that the Litany ought not to be a neces-
sary part of the Morning Prayer. The alteration, if you approve of
it, may be made as follows : let the rubric before the Litany say, "to be
used on Sundays and other holidays appointed by this Church." After
the Litany with its attendant Prayers, insert this rubric — "And when
the Litany is not said, the three following Prayers shall be used instead
thereof," setting down the prayers for the Congress, for the other
rulers, and for all conditions. Then set down the General Thanksgiv-
ing, etc. In the Evening Service, after the Prayer for Protection

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 145

during the Night, let there be a reference to the Morning Prayer for
the residue.

There is wanting a rubric at the head of the Collects, Epistles and
Gospels, enjoining the use of the proper Collect in the Morning Prayer
when used separate from the Communion Service, and always in the
Evening Prayer.

Qucere. Will not the two Exhortations in the Communion Service
stand better either in the beginning or the end ? At present they make
an awkward break.

Quaere, the propriety of introducing a rubric before the Prayer for
our Rulers, in the Communion Service, specifying that the same is to
be said, when that service is not used with the Morning Prayer. The
clergy here wish for it ; and many of our hearers wish that we had been
as tender of repetition here, as in the case of the Lord's Prayer.

I hope to hear from you by return of the post, and am

Yours, etc.,

Wm. White.

P. S. — I observe that the second proof-sheet has a rubric, expressing
that the Prayer for Congress, etc., shall be said in the evening and at
other times when the Litany is not said ; this removes my objection in
part, but the two rubrics are contradictory. I think you will prefer the
arrangement I have proposed.

1 hope you have attended to the Psalms and Lessons. I recollect in
the case of the Venite, we agreed to strike out the Latin ; accordingly
I have done it in the proof-sheet to the other Latin introductions.
For the same reason (/. e., its being agreed on in the case of the Venite)
I have erased the unnecessary provisions against repetition.

Mr. Hall keeps the second proof-sheet so long on its second coming
from the press, that I have no time to review it ; and indeed I have
reviewed the other but imperfectly. I hope your accuracy will render
another reading unnecessary.

Bev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, October 23, 1785.
Dear Sir: Similar proof-sheets to the enclosed were to have been
sent by Saturday's post ; but owing to the press, they were a few min-
utes too late, and are now in the office with my letter. I determined
to take the chance of the stage, but knowing the uncertainty as to the
delivery of letters, shall let mine remain with the sheets in the post-
office.

Yours, etc.,

Wm. White.

P- S. — I have altered the arrangement in this proof-sheet according ta.'
the plan proposed in my letter — merely for your inspection.
10

146 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sj

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

PHILAUELI'HIA, Octobcr 25, 1 785.

Dear Sir : Owing to the press, I was a kw minutes too late for the
last post. 1 sent proof-sheets by the wagon, which I consider as an
uncertain mode of conveyance.

In the letter which encloses the proof-sheets by this opportunity,
instead of three prayers read four ; I wrote from memory and forgot
that for the clergy.

I enclose you extracts from the constitution ; to prevent errors of the
transcriber you will compare it with the originals ; I would do it now,
but am in great haste.

Please to express at the head of the letter to the Bishops, that the
original goes by the " Harmony," Captain Willet, from Philadelphia.

I wish my affectionate respects to such of our brethren at the Conven-
tion as I have the pleasure of being acquainted with.

I am

Yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Ealtimore, October 28, 1785.

Dear Sir : I gave you my thoughts so fully in my letter from
Chester last post concerning the alteration of rubric before the Litany,
that I need not add anything further on that head. As the number of
country congregations in America exceed those in towns, I may say fifty
to one, and cannot have the Litany but as part of the Morning Service
(and which, with the abridgments now proposed, would appear very
short and incomplete without the Litany), and as for these reasons the
Convention agreed that the Litany should be printed /«, and as a part
of, the Morning Service, it would not be proper for us to make so mate-
rial an alteration as to put four prayers just after the Litany, as a sub-
stitute for the same, and which will be considered as an invitation to
indolent or lukewarm readers of prayers to cut the people generally out
of their general supplication. Of these sentiments are the Convention
here, whom I consulted on this point, but without intimating to them
that any such change was proposed by us of the Committee, but that it
had been mentioned by some as a matter worthy of consideration at
some future general convention.

The four prayers stand very properly where they now stand as an
essential part of the Evening Service at all times, and would not stand
so properly in the Morning Service, where they are only proposed as a
conditional part ; that is when the Litany is not used, and when that
condition takes place it is very easy to turn forward one leaf to read

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I47

them. Besides this the Evening Service would appear quite naked
witliout them. But 1 need not have written half so much to you on
this subject, only from a desire that we should by a candid exchange of
sentmients go through the great work committed to us, with the same
prefect agreement with which it hath hitherto been conducted ; and I
know you will make no change from what was done in Convention ;
unless in the exercise of the discretionary power given us, we can all,
as a Committee, agree upon the expediency of such change.

As 1 said in my former letter, then, let the word " every" be struck
out of the rubric before the Litany, and let the rest of the rubric stand
as it is printed in the enclosed proof; and let the four prayers, and
indeed the whole Evening Service, stand also just as they are in the
same enclosed proof; with their several rubrics as they are, and there
will be sufficient latitude for any minister when necessary to omit the
Litany, and supply its place from the Evening Service ; which last
Service will look much better in this form. You will be pleased to
attend to such corrections as I have made, and particularly in the
prayer for "all sorts and conditions of men." The words "good
estate of the Catholic Church " have been objected to by our Convention
here, ist, because "good estate" maybe considered in a worldly sense,
and if taken in any other is but an awkward or antiquated expression ;
and 2dly, the word "Catholic" although intelligible enough to many,
yet it is not approved of by many others, on account of the vulgar
application of it to one particular Church. Now as this prayer for
"all sorts and conditions" is a general prayer, never to be used when
the Litany is used, why may not the Church be prayed for in the same
words here as in the Litany, viz.: "thy holy Church universal?"
And then the prayer will be, " more especially we pray for thy holy
Church universal, that it may be guided," etc. Or if you think it will
run better — "more especially we pray that thy holy Church universal
may be so guided," etc.

One or the other of these corrections is desired by our Convention,
and I have given you their reasons, and if you will agree to the altera-
tion, I heartily concur with you, and think it will be approved by all
our body.

I expect to hear from you by next week's post. Direct to me at
Chester by the Eastern Shore post. I have a great many people talking

round me, and write in haste.

Yours,

Wm. Smith.
Rev. Dr. White.

P. S. — Your two packets by post have just come to my hand. What
you propose as a rubric for the use of the Collects is proper. The other
parts of your letters are either answered in this and my former letter.

148 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/SS

or shall be on my return to Chester, for which place I am just setting
off, via Annapolis. I say no more about the Litany. Dr. West, etc.,
and some more clergy, Mr. Cutting in particular, who have come here
since our Convention adjourned, and who are now with me, all concur
in this letter, and that no alterations be made respecting the use of the
Litany, which they all say must continue a necessary part of the Morning
Service, unless dispensed with by any minister in his discretion, for
want of health, shortness of time, such as riding ten or twelve miles to
read prayers and preach twice in the same day. A future Convention
may consider further upon the whole, in the mean time we do our duty
in letting it remain as agreed upon by the body from which we derive
our power as a committee.

Dr. West and a few more are about raising the money from this State
for the book, but wish to have at least one thousand copies for Maryland
alone, so that Mr. Hall, if not too late, should be told that four thou-
sand copies will be too few. He may venture on five or si.x thousand,
if he has paper enough ready.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, October 29, 1785.

Dear Sir : I expected to have sent you the third half sheet by this
post, but it will be not quite ready. Mr. Hall intends to proceed
quicker hereafter.

We expect the paper this evening ; on receiving the proof-sheets from
you (which I suppose will be on Monday), we shall have one sheet
ready for the last impression.

I say the less as I consider it uncertain whether this will reach you in

Baltimore. Yours, etc.,

Wm. White
Rev. Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith to Dr. White.

Chester, October 30, 17S5.

I have just got back to Chester from Baltimore by the way of Annap-
olis, which last place I left yesterday afternoon. By the date you will
]>erceive that I write on Sunday, a rainy morning, service put off till
the afternoon. As soon as service is over, I must go to Dorset, to
attend the baptism of my grandson, and bring Mrs. Smith home, who
has been waiting for me more than a week past. My present letter will
therefore be short ; nor is there occasion for a long one. Mr. Bryson
writes me that he delivered to you my letter from Chester by last week's
post. To both your letters which I received at Baltimore, I left an
answer to go by yesterday's post, which I hope you will receive to-mor-
row, containing the general sentiments of the clergy of our late Con-

1785] JiEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 49

vention, agreeing with what I wrote you from Chester and have repeated
from Baltimore, concerning the Litany, etc.

By your last letter you seem to have attended to the rubric before the
prayer for Congress, Avhich in my first letter (not received by you at the
time of writing) I wished you to notice, as it would remove your objec-
tions, etc. You say it has removed them in part, but leaves a contra-
diction between the two rubrics. This too you will find removed by
striking out the word "every" before the word ''morning" in the
rubric prefixed to the Litany, so that comparing the two rubrics to-
gether, sufficient latitude will be left, without either disbanding the
Litany, or putting a rubric and substitution of prayers after it, which
would stand as an invitation to the lukewarm or lazy, always to pass
over the Litany, which in the idea of all the clergy I have seen was
considered by the Convention as a part of the Morning Service, in-
dispensable except for some good reasons, and it hurts their feelings to
think the use of the Litany should be thought a burden, or that our
service could be complete without this excellent part. Of all this I have
written fully, candidly and more than enough, and only repeat lest my
Baltimore packet miscarry. All things will stand well, at least in this
first edition of our book, and till next Convention, in the order in
which we fixed them at Philadelphia, and as they are in the proof-sheets
you have sent me, only striking out the single word "every" in the
rubric before the Litany.

I have no time to read critically the proofs, farther than I did in a
few minutes at Baltimore. They will be very safe in your hands, with
one or two readings. Let them be worked off as fast as possible, and a
thousand copies or two more than we thought of at first (which I think
was four thousand) if paper can be got. The book will be in great.*

Baltimore alone a subscription is on foot, and Dr. West will

speedily remit a large part of the ^100, if not more than the whole, to
which I shall add considerably from this shore, as soon as I return from
Dorset, which I hope will be in three or four days at farthest.

If my letter from Baltimore is not come to your hand, you will attend
to the following corrections which I made in the proofs of the second
sheet enclosed therein.

At the end of morning and evening prayer, viz., " Here endeth the
order of morning [evening] prayer" — Dele words "order of" — lest it
should be implied that something might yet be prayed which is dis-
orderly— prayer for clergy, instead of "«// bishops and other ministers,
and all congregations" insert "the congregations," to avoid a repeti-
tion of the word all so near the first all. But I think the whole sen-
tence might be better altered thus — "send down uj^on the bishops and
ministers of thy church and all congregations," etc.

* Manuscript imperfect.

I50 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OP 'J I IP [l/^S

In the end of the rubric entitled " Prayers and Thanksgivings upon
several occasions" — to avoid the words "prayers" and "prayer,"
occurring in the space of one line, let the word "service" be put for
the word "prayer" and read "two final prayers of morning and even-
ing service."

In the prayer for "all sorts and conditions" please to make the cor-
rection proposed by the Baltimore Convention, as in my said letter
from thence, and read thus : " More especially we pray for thy holy
church universal, that it may be so guided," etc. Or, "We pray
that thy holy church universal may be so guided." This will agree
with the prayer for the church as in the Litany, instead of which this is
to be used, and rids us of the exceptionable word too many, viz.,
"Catholic," and also the awkward words "good estate of the church,"
by which some will say we mean good Glebes and salaries or estate
merely temporal. These little alterations are in our power, and not
improper when desired by any respectable number of our brethren.

Our Convention read over with general approbation the proposed
improvements and alterations; but stormy weather and that bay which
often renders business precarious, made our meeting thin, and we
adjourned to meet at Annapolis in April, or sooner if called by me as
President.

Next week my copy of the Address to the Archbishops, etc., will go
by a ship from Baltimore or Annapolis. I wish the sentence, " That
these States should become _/r^(?, sovereign," etc., had been expressed
"separate Empires, States or Governments." It seems to insult, or at
least to rennu old complaints that we were not free before. Can an
alteration be made in the other copies? I could yet have it made in
mine by a letter to London per patket New York. I beg another copy
of said Address, for I was obliged to send mine, on an hour's notice,
without taking a copy. Governor Paca and our other friends in
Annapolis, except as above, approve the address, and it will be easy to
get a certificate from the Executive of the State that granting the
prayer of it can give no offence, but is perfectly consonant to the Con-
stitution. I shall be at Philadelphia time enough for the Psalms, Les-
sons, Calendar, Preface, etc., to save this voluminous writing, for I find
I cannot make my letters short. In two or three weeks, perhaps sooner
if the bank will assist us, I shall see you.

Yours,

W. Smith.

Rev. Dy. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, November 2, 1785.
Dear Sir : I have received yours of the 28th, which I have sent to
the press in the manner you approve of, having first r3viewed and com-

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. l^\

pared the pointing of it with an Oxford edition of the Prayer Book
printed in 1775, and adjusted it accordingly. This I think you cannot
bill approve of, as the said edition appears to have been made on great
deliberation in that seat of letters. I observed that wherever you had
altered the pointing in the proof-sheet, you had done it conformably to
the same book. I intend to bestow the same pains on all I shall send
to the press.

I expect to send by this opportunity a proof-sheet, containing the
greater part of the Communion Service, which will come to me the
second time from the press ; another is also in hand. I mentioned to
you in a letter which I sent with the Sermons by Thursday's stage (and
which do not appear to hare come to hand when you were setting out
for Annapolis) that some of our brethren, supported by remarks of the
people, thought the prayer for the civil rulers an unnecessary repetition
in the Communion Service ; and that the evil might be avoided by a
rubric dispensing with it, provided the Morning Service had been used
immediately before. I told them I doubted of our right to alter it, and
therefore merely mention it to you as information.

Mr. Provost has enclosed to me a copy of a letter from the President
of Congress to the Minister at the Court of Great Britain. After stat-
ing our late proceedings and the political hindrances on a former occa-
sion, he says, that if our application to the bishops should come before
the King and Ministry, it is the wish of "the Church of England Mem-
bers of Congress," that Mr. Adams may assure them of our right to
take the said step and that the granting our petition would not be an
intermeddling in the affairs of these States.

You give me leave to go on with the press alone, after the first sheet

or two. But it is a liberty I shall never use, unless the press should be

like to stop without it ; which is not a probable case. At any rate, I

shall not venture on any alterations without consent.

I am,

Yours, etc.,

W. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

I shall direct three thousand copies,

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, November 2, 1785.

Dear Sir : I have received yours from Chester, and indeed all which
you mention to have written hitherto.

I shall attend to the alterations you propose; all which I approve,
except the word Ministers for Pastors in the prayer for the clergy, which
you only seem to throw out for consideration.

152 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

The latter word is used in all the other places and was that approved
of by the Convention.

I am sorry I made it necessary for you to write so much about the
Litany; it is fixed to your mind and I am satisfied.

I shall do all you desire in respect to advertising, etc., except that it
cannot be in this day's paper, which came to my house before your
letter.

What you propose respecting the letter to the bishops is too late ; or
I should not object to the alteration. The original is gone by Willet,
and I suppose the other copy goes to-day from New York by the
packet, and will probably (as the packets sail fast) be delivered before
any subsequent letter can reach England. I will send you another
copy, but cannot transcribe it for this day's post.

I am, in haste,

Yours, etc.,

W. White.
Communion Service.

Quaere, the insertion in the rubric before the exhortation, the words
"or so much thereof as he may think convenient." I have taken the
liberty but can easily expunge.

QuEere, the leaving out these words in the rubric before the collect
"so that the ordinary, etc." Probably it will be thought the ordinary
need have nothing to do, without complaint from the person forbidden.

In the sentences, quaere the propriety of inserting those which relate
to the support of the ministers of the gospel, it is expressly said the
money shall be given to the poor.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, November 16, 1785.
Dear Sir : After you left me, I thought it best to continue the
consideration of the subject which had been before us. Accord-
ingly I corrected, in the way of private memorandum, to the end
of the Psalms. Afterwards, finding that the Psalms contained 2,498
verses, and that they would be reduced about one-third by our
review, I made my division ; in which I have taken care to make the
portions as equal as the analogy of the subjects, and sometimes the
extraordinary length of single Psalms permitted. In some places I
have omitted a few verses of what we had retained, as not suiting the
preceding and following. I send you the fruit of my labor, hoping you
will review it and send me such alterations as may occur to you ; which
you may easily do (as I have with me a copy) by merely alluding to my
subdivisions. I will then fairly fix the book, pasting from an old Bible
huch verses as we prefer of that translation.

1/85] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 153

The press began on Monday, and Mr. Hall assures me it shall work

constantly; and that when the assembly shall rise, he will set two

presses agoing.

I am, yours, etc.,

W. White.
Dr. Smith.

I suppose it will be best in the Ash Wednesday Service to omit the
Commination Psalm, which may be read on that occasion in the proper
place; and to introduce the prayer immediately after the collect, with
a rubric, directing the reading of them after the Litany and imme-
diately before the General Thanksgiving.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, November 23, 1785.

Dear Sir: No letter came to hand from you to-day, which I suppose
is owing to your visit to Annapolis ; and that on your return you will
carefully revise the Psalms and examine the division I have proposed.

On looking over the offices as they stand prepared in the Prayer
Book, I determined to propose the following matters to your considera-
tion :

1. In the Baptismal Service, will it not be best to omit the command
to kneel at the latter part of it, this being often inconvenient, espe-
cially in private houses? As we have shortened the printing of the
private baptism, by referring to the public for all that follows the
declaration, "We receive this child," etc., may it not be further
shortened by reference as follows? viz. : after the address, "I certify
you," etc., insert this rubric —

Then shall follow the gospel from St. Mark x. 13, with the exhortation and prayer
following the same, as in the form of Public Baptism.

2. In the beginning of the Marriage Service, we have changed the
word congregation into the word company. Quaere, is not either word
improper, as there used, if it be in a private room, and will it not be
better to speak only of our being in the sight of God ?

jdly. In the Burial Service, this verse was struck out, " Lord, let me
know my end," etc. But as it stands in the Burial Service is it not
unexceptionable, and will it not be the best introduction of the Psalm?

4thly. In the Forms at Sea, there are two Thanksgiving Psalms. I
think one (viz. : the last) will be sufficient.

I was in hopes of having for you the fifth form from the press, but
am disappointed. The two enclosed forms will be finally struck off this

week.

I am, yours, etc.,

W. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

154 LIPE AM' CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smitti.

Philaueli'HIA, November 30, i7tS5.

Dear Sir : I suppose you have not returned from the Western shore,

from my not hearing by this day's post. . . .

The fifth form was sent to me on Saturday, and is now working.

The sixth is not ready. I regret, however, your not seeing them in

proof; the less however as it is plain sailing and there can be no errors,

unless typographical, which I shall endeavour to prevent.

I am, yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Wharton to Rev. Dr. White.

New Castle, November 29, 1785. — At night.
Dear Sir: .... I have looked over the lessons which you have
retained or adopted — can see no objection to any of them, unless you
should deem it more proper to adopt some of the exhortations to
repentance I'rom the Prophets, instead of the lessons from Genesis for
the Lent Sundays. Perhaps the prophecy of Daniel would be no
improper lesson or lessons as preparatory to the completion of the
Christian sacrifice. Your idea of suiting the lessons to the several sea-
sons of the Ecclesiastical year agrees perfectly with mine. The selec-
tion which you have made, I think, meets this idea. I observe but
one lesson from Daniel, nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, cap. three.
Now I conceive the seventh, eighth and ninth chapters, containing the
prophetic history of the four great Empires and of the coming of Christ,
to be very interesting. As I observed before, they would suit well the
season of Lent, at least the ninth. chapter. As to the general calendar,
I apprehend the committee has power to alter it, as the Convention
judged proper t-o omit the Saints' days. I would be for retaining,
however, tlie names of a few such as Lady-day, Michaelmas, All Saints',
with the Apostles' days — St. Stephen and Innocents. These last three,
being Scripture festivals, should not be omitted — I mean a commemo-
ration of Scriptural persons and martyrs. All Saints' days of more
modern date should be expunged. No mention, I suppose, will be
made of fast or abstinence days.

Yours entirely,

C. H. Wharton.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, December 6, 1785.
Dear Sir : My last three letters, lately written to you and which you
had not seen when we parted, contain so much matter for your considera-
tion that I ought not perhaps to burden you with more until those points

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 55

are settled. But thinking you may possibly wish to have the Table
of Lessons before you at the same time, 1 herewith send it, together
with a proposed rubric for the Psalms. I wish you to attend particu-
larly to the note written lengthwise of the paper on the Table of Lessons
and containing a new arrangement which I have proposed in conse-
quence of an observation of Dr. Wharton's after examining the said
table here enclosed ; which he says he approves of after an attentive
consideration.

I am, yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

P. S. — Since writing the above, it came into my head to draw up a
few hints towards a preface. If you think they will be not useful
towards that purpose, throw them into the fire.

Hints Towards a Preface.

This Church, following the example of the Church of England in
times past, as is set forth in the preface to the Book of Common Prayer,
hath upon weighty considerations made such alterations in the form of
divine worship, as seem at this time either necessary or expedient.

The alterations, to which her attention was in the first place drawn,
were such as had become necessary in the prayers for our civil rulers.
These have been accommodated to the Revolution, which, in the course
of divine Providence, has taken place in the United States ; and the
principal care herein has been to make them conformable to the proper
end of all such addresses, " That we may lead quiet and peaceable lives
in all godliness and honesty." And whereas it has been the practice
of the Church of England to set apart certain days for the rendering
of thanks to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for signal mercies
vouchsafed to that Church and Kingdom, it has in like manner been
now thought to tend to godliness, that there should be two annual
solemn days of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the dis-
tinguished blessings of the land in which we live ; in order that we may
be thus moved to gratitude for these mercies of his good Providence,
which might otherwise be the occasions of licentiousness.

The alterations of the Morning and Evening Prayer are chiefly,
either for the avoiding of repetition, or for the disuse of such words as
have varied from their former meaning, or for the arranging of the
prayers in a method more easy for the worshipper. \\\ the Apostles'
Creed, one clause of uncertain meaning, which was introduced into the
Church by the Council of Aquileia about 400 years after Christ, is
omitted.

As the Psalms are a considerable part of the Morning and Evening
Prayer, it may be proper to mention in this place the reason of their
being so considerably shortened. *'A11 Scripture is given for doctrine

156 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

and instruction in righteousness." Yet it is supposed that all parts
thereof were not indited for Christian worship; and that the Church
hath a latitude to select such parts as she shall judge best suited thereto.
Therefore such portions only of the Psalms are retained as were thought
the most beautiful and affecting. In order to add to the propriety
and sublimity of the psalter, the translation in the Bible has been pre-
ferred, where it was thought to have a stronger tendency than the other
to raise devotion. A new division became necessary in consequence of
the preceding changes ; and it was supposed that the excellence of this
part of the service would be still more increased, by the permission to
combine it with that ancient doxology somewhat shortened — the Gloria
in Excelsis.

In regard to the reading of the Holy Scripture at Morning and
Evening Prayer, the same reasons which occasioned a select Table of
First Lessons for Sundays and other holy-da3's seemed to extend in favor
of the making a table of Second Lessons also ; which is accordingly done.
Those for the morning are intended to suit the several seasons ; and
yet without a repetition of the portions of the Gospel included in the
Communion Service; and those for the evening are selected in the
order of the sacred Books. Besides this, the Table of First Lessons has
been reviewed ; a few new chapters are introduced from the supposition
of their being more edifying than the old ; and transpositions have
been made where they seemed to suit the lessons more to the season of
the year. It has been thought that a calendar is unnecessary ; and that
the managing the lessons for the ordinary days agreeably to the civil
year is not so expedient as the making them correspond, like the others,
with the ecclesiastical year. Accordingly the minister is left to his dis-
cretion in the choice of lessons for the intermediate days, with the
expectation that such will be taken as the most nearly suit those selected
for the Sundays and other holy-days.

The Offices for Baptism have undergone some change. The requiring
other godfathers and godmothers than the parents is dispensed with, if
the same be desired ; and thus regard is still maintained for an ancient
and useful institution ; and yet the complaint avoided, that in some
cases, especially among the poor, it is difficult to provide sponsors,
unless such as will most probably neglect the duties of that relation, to
the great hazard of their own souls. The sponsors, instead of answer-
ing in the name and person of the infant, now answer for their own
discharge of the obligation they have come under. The sign of the
cross is retained, from a conviction of its having been used in the
earliest ages of the Church as expressive of the being devoted to the
service of Christ, who for our sake, " endured the cross, despising the
shame." Nevertheless in tenderness to those who may entertain con-
scientious scruples concerning the use of this venerable rite, the minister
is to dispense with it, when desired, by the sponsors.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMiril, D. D. 1 5/

The alterations made in the Catechism and the Service for Confirma-
tion are such as became necessary to make those offices correspond with
the Forms for Baptism; except the change of a few words of the service
which was thought to be not sufficiently clear, in that part of the Cate-
chism which relates to the Holy Communion.

It was thought that the Office for Matrimony could bear considerable
shortening; Avhich is accordingly done.

The Visitation of the Sick is nearly as in the old service. But a few
verses in the Psalm have been omitted, as not appearing altogether
applicable to the occasion ; and the absolution has given way to what
was conceived to be the more scriptural form used in the Communion
Service.

In the Burial Service it was thought proper to omit some inapplicable
verses in the Psalms ; such expressions as seem to pronounce too posi-
tively concerning the state of the deceased ; and the thanking of God
for an event in which resignation only is required.

None of the Form for "the Churching of Women" is retained,
except the Thanksgiving Prayer, which is placed among the other occa-
sional Thanksgivings : it being supposed that many parts of the daily
service are equally applicable to that occasion with what is omitted.

Such parts of the Commination Service, as were thought calculated to
produce Christian penitence, are inserted after the Collect for Ash-
Wednesday; except the Psalm, which is appointed to be read for the
day.

The Forms to be used at Sea have undergone very little change, other
than what arose from adapting it to the Revolution.

The case of such unhappy persons as have forfeited their lives to the
laws of their country claimed the consideration of this Church : which
has therefore adopted into her Liturgy the Form for Visitation of Prison-
ers under Sentence of Death — passed by the Convocation and Parlia-
ment of Ireland.

The Articles of Religion have been reduced in number. Yet it is
humbly conceived, that the doctrines of the Church of England are
preserved in their full extent ; as being thought agreeable to the Gospel.
It is therefore foreign to the intention of this Church to alter anything
which appeared to be essential to the true sense and meaning of the
Thirty-nine Articles; nevertheless, some variation has been made in the
expression ; and such parts omitted as were evidently adapted either to
the time when the Articles were composed, or to the j^olitical constitu-
tion of England.

From the Psalms translated in metre by N. Brady amd N. Tate, there
have been selected only such a number as were thought to make a
sufficient variety for divine worship, and the parts selected are arranged
under heads, agreeing with the subjects of them respectively: which it

158 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

was thought would tend to the judicious use of them both in public and
in private.

This Church, therefore, having gone through the important work of
accommodating her Service to her new situation ; it is hoi)ed that the
divine blessing will attend the same to the promoting of Piety in her
children, and to the influencing them to live in peace and love with all
Mankind.

The above " hints " are endorsed in the handwriting of the
Rev. Dr. Smith, as follows :

Proposed by Dr. White.

N. B. — The Preface has been composed upon another plan by AV. S.,
who has made use of some of the within " hints."

Dr. Smith's Preface as finally made, after a few suggestions as
to small matters from Dr. White,* came forth in the following
form. Dr. White, it is agreeable to know, liked this Preface both
in plan and execution. He could hardly do otherwise. It is
undoubtedly a grand document, in point, alike, of strong common
sense, of argumentative force, of the presentation . of authorities,
and of literary elegance and effect :

The Preface.

It is a most invaluable part of that blessed " liberty wherewith Christ
hath made us free" — that, in his worship, different forms and usages
may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the faith be
kept entire; and that, in every church, what cannot be clearly deter-
mined to belong to doctrine must be referred to discipline; and, there-
fore, by common consent and authority may be altered, abridged, en-
larged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most con-
venient for the edification of the people, "according to the various
exigencies of times and occasions."

The Church of England, to which the Protestant Episcopal Church
in these States is indebted, under God, for her first foundation and a
long continuance of nursing care and protection, hath in the preface
of her book of common prayer laid it down as a rule, that — " The par-
ticular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies appointed
to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifierent and
alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable that, upon weighty
and important considerations, according to the various exigencies of
times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made there-
in, as to those who are in place of authority should, from time to time,
seem either necessary or expedient."

*See infia, page 179 and 181.

1785] 2iEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 59

This is not only the doctrine of the Church of England, and other
Protestant Churches, but likewise of the Church of Rome ; which hath
declared, by the Council of Trent* — "That the Church always had a
power of making such constitutions and alterations in the dispensation
of the Sacraments, provided their substance be preserved entire, as,
with regard to the variety of circumstances and places, she should judge
to be most expedient for the salvation of the receivers, or the veneration
of the Sacraments themselves."

The Church of England has, not only in her preface, but likewise in
her articles f and homilies, J; declared the necessity and expediency of
occasional alterations and amendments in her forms of public worship;
and we find accordingly, that seeking to " keep the happy mean between
too much stiffness in refusing and too much easiness in admitting varia-
tions in things once advisedly established, she hath, in the reign of
several § princes, since the first compiling of her liturgy in the time of
Edward the Vlth, upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto
moving, yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as in
their respective times were thought convenient : yet so as the main
body and essential parts of the same (as well in the chiefest materials,
as in the frame and order thereof) have still been continued firm and
unshaken."

" Her general aim in these different reviews and alterations hath been
(as she further declares in her said preface) to do that which, according
to her best understanding, might most tend to the preservation of peace
and unity in the Church ; the procuring of reverence, and the exciting
of piety and devotion in the worship of God ; and (finally) the cutting

* Declarat (sancta synodus) hanc potestatem perpetuo in ecclesia fuisse ; ut in sacra-
mentorum dispensatione, salva illorum substantia, ea statueret vel mutaret qiice suscip-
ientium saluti, seu ipsorum sacranientorum venerationi, pro rerum, temporum et loco-
rum vaiietate, magis expedire judicaverit. — Sess. 21, cap. 2, Concil. Trident. And
agreeably to this, their Breviary and Missal have been frequently reviewed; the
Breviary heretofore three times in the short space of sixteen years only.

I " It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly
alike, for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the
diversity of countries, times and manners; so that nothing be ordained against God's
word ; [And therefore] eveiy particular or national Church hath authority to ordain,
change and abolish ceremonies or rites of the Church, ordained only by man's author-
ity; so that all things be done to edifying." — Art. 34.

J «' God's Church ought not, neither can it be so tied to any orders now made, or
hereafter to be made and devised, by the authority of man, but that it may, for just
causes, alter, change or mitigate — yea recede wholly from, and also break them," etc.
And again — " The Church is not bound to observe any order, law or decree made by
man to prescribe a form of religion; but hath full power and authority from God to
change and alter. the same, when need shall require." — Hoviily on Fasting, Part I.

\ Tie liturgy, in sundry particulars, hath been reviewed, altered and amended about
eight different times, from its first publication, according to act of parliament in 1594 >
and its last review was in 1661, as it now stands, according to the Act of Uniformity.

l6o LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/SS

off occasion, from them that seek occasion, of cavil or quarrel against her
liturgy." And the necessity and expediency of the several variations
made from time to time (whether by alteration, addition, or otherwise)
she states chiefly under the following heads, viz. :

ist. For the better direction of them that are to officiate in any part
of divine service; which is chiehy done in the Calendars and Rubrics.

2d. For the more proper expressing of some words or phrases of an-
cient usage in terms more suitable to the language of the present times;
and the clearer explanation of some other words and phrases that were
of a doubtful signification, or otherwise liable to misconstruction ; or

3d. For a more perfect rendering (or translation) of such portions of
holy Scripture as are inserted into the liturgy (and made a part of the
daily service) ; with the addition of some Offices, Prayers and Thanks-
givings, fitted to special occasions.

If, therefore, from the reasons above set forth (namely the change
of times and circumstances, and the fluctuation of our language itself),
so many different reviews, alterations and amendments, were found
necessary in the first hundred and twelve years after the Reforma-
tion ; it could not be expected, but (the same causes and reasons still
operating) some subsequent reviews, alterations and amendments would
not only be found necessary, but be earnestly desired by many true
members of the Church, in the course of at least one hundred and
twenty years more. And we accordingly find that in less than thirty
years after the last review in 1661 (viz., on the 13th of September,
1689), a commission for a further review of the liturgy and canons,
etc., was issued out to a number of bishops and other divines; "than
whom (it hath been truly acknowledged) the Church of England was
never, at any one time, blessed with either wiser or better, since it was
a Church."

The chief matters proposed for a review at that time, and which have
been since repeatedly proposed and stated under the decent and modest
form of queries, are included under the following heads :

ist. Whether the public service on Sunday mornings be not of too
great length, and tends rather to diminish than increase devotion,
especially among the lukewarm and negligent?

2d. Whether it might not be conveniently contracted, by omitting
all unnecessary repetitions of the same prayers or subject-matter; and
whether a better adjustment of the necessary parts of the three different
services, usually read every Sunday morning in the Church, would not
render the whole frame of the service more uniform, animated and
complete?

3d. Whether the old and new translations of the Psalms ought not to
be compared, in order to render both more agreeable to each other and
to their divine original ; so as to have but one translation, and that as
complete as possible?

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 161

4th. Whether all the Psalms of David are applicable to the state and
condition of Christian societies, and ought to be read promi.icuously as
they now are; and whether some other method of reading lliem might
not be appointed, including a choice of psalms and hymns, as well for
ordinary use, as for the festivals and fasts, and other special occasions
of public worship?

5th. Whether the subject-matter of our psalmody or singing psalms
should not be extended beyond those of David, which include but a few
heads of Christian worship, and whether much excellent matter might
not be taken from the New Testament, as well as some parts of the Old
Testament, especially the Prophets ; so as to introduce a greater variety
of anthems and hymns, suited to the different festivals and other occa-
sions of daily worship, private as well as public?

6th. Whether, in particular, a psalm or anthem should not be adapted
to, and sung at, the celebration of the Eucharist, as was the primitive
practice, and that recommended in our first Liturgy?

7th. Whether all the lessons which are appointed to be read in the
ordinary course are well chosen ; and whether many of them may not
be subject to one or more of the following objections, viz. : i. Either
inexpedient to be read in mixt assemblies ; or, 2. Containing genealo-
gies and passages either obscure, or of little benefit to be read in
our congregations; or, 3. Improperly divided ; sometimes abrupt and
unconnected in their beginning, as having respect to something that
hath gone before ; and sometimes either too short or too long, and
apocryphal lessons included among the number ?

8th. Whether our epistles and gospels are all of them well selected ;
and whether after so many other portions of Scripture they are neces-
sary, especially unless the first design of inserting them, viz. : as intro-
ductory to the Communion, should be more regarded, and the Com-
munion be again made a daily part of the service of the Church ?

9th. Whether our collects, which in the main are excellent, are
always suited to the epistles and gospels ; and whether too many of
them are not of one sort, consisting of the same kind of substance?
And whether there is any occasion of using the collect for the day twice
in the same service?

loth. Whether the Athanasian creed may not, consistently with
piety, faith and charity, be either wholly omitted, or left indifferent in
itself?

nth. Whether our catechism may not require illustration in some
points and enlargement in others ; so that it may not only be rendered
fit for children, but a help to those who become candidates for confir-
mation ? And whether all the other offices, viz. : the litany, the com-
munion office, the offices of confirmation, matrimony, visitation of the
sick, churching of women, and more especially those of baptism, buriaE
II

1 62 J.JFF. AXn COh'RKSl'OXDEXCE OJ'' 'J-JIE [l/^S

and communion, do not call for a review and amendment in sundry
particulars?

1 2th. Whether the calendars and rubrics do not demand a review
and better adjustment ; and whether any words and phrases in our
common prayer, which are now less intelligible or common, or any way
changed in their present acceptation from their original sense, should
be retained? And whether others should not be substituted which are
more modern, intelligible, and less liable to any misapprehension or
misconstruction ?

13th. Whether the Articles of Religion may not deserve a review;
and the subscription to them and the common prayer be contrived after
some other manner, less exceptionable than at present ?

These are the principal matters which have been long held up for public
consideration, as still requiring a review in the book of common prayer;
and although in the judgment of the Church, there be nothing in it
"contrary to the word of God, or to sound doctrine, or which a godly
man may not submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible, if allowed
such just and favorable construction as in common equity ought to be
allowed to all human compositions;" yet, upon the principles already
laid down, (namely, "the promoting of peace and unity in the church,
the exciting of piety and devoti n, and the removing, as far as possible,
of all occasion of cavil or quarrel against the liturgy,") the pious and
excellent divines Avho were commissioned in 1689, proceeded to the
execution of the great work assigned them. They had before them al'l
the exceptions which had, since the act of uniformity, been at any time
made against any parts of the church service, which are chiefly set forth
in the foregoing queries. They had likewise many propositions and
advices, wliich had been offered at several times by some of the most
eminent bishops and divines upon the different heads in question.
Matters were well considered, freely and calmly debated ; and all was
digested into one entire* correction of everything that seemed liable to

* It will, without doubt, be agreeable to the members of our Church, and those who
esteem our liturgy and public service, to have at least a general account of the altera-
tions and amendments which were desired and designed by such great and good men
as Archbishop Tillotson and others, whose names are in the following account taken
from Bishop Burnet, who was also in the commission, and from Dr. Nichols :

" They began with reviewing the liturgy ; and first they examined the calendar; in
which, in the room of the apocryphal lessons, they ordered certain chapters of canon-
ical Scripture to be read, that were more for the people's edification. The Athanasian
creed being disliked by many persons on account of the damnatory clause, it was left
at the minister's choice to use or change it for the Apostles' creed. New collects were
drawn up more agreeable to the epistles and gospels, for the whole course of the year,
and with a force and beauty of expression capable of affecting and raising the mind in
llie strongest manner. The first draught was by Dr. Patrick, who was esteemed to
h.ive a peculiar talent for composing jirayers. Dr. Burnet added to ihcm yet further
force and spirit. Dr. Stillingfleet then examined every word in them with the exact-

1785] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 163

any just objection. But this great and good work miscarried at that
time, and the civil authority in Great Britain hath not since thougiit it
proper to revive it by any new commission.

But when, in the course of divine providence, these American States
became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical
independence was necessarily included; and the different religious de-
nominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal
liberty to model and organize their respective churches and forms of
worship and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most con-
venient for their future prosperity, consistently with the constitution
and laws of their country.

The attention of this Church was, in the first place, drawn to those
alterations in the liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for our
civil rulers, in consequence of the revolution ; and the principal care
herein was to make them conformable to what ought to be the proper
end of all such prayers, namely, that "rulers may have grace, wisdom
and understanding to execute justice and to maintain truth; and that
the people may lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and
honesty."

But while these alterations were in review before the late Convention,
they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occasion
which was offered to them (uninfluenced and unrestrained by any
worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further review of the public ser-
vice, and to propose to the Church at large such other alterations and
amendments therein as might be deemed expedient ; whether consisting
of those which have been heretofore so long desired by many, or those
which the late change of our circumstances might require, in our re-
ligious as well as civil capacity.

By comparing the following book, as now offered to the Church, with

est judgment. Dr. Tillotson gave them the last hand, by the free and masterly touches
of his flowing eloquence. Dr. Kidder, who was well versed in the oriental languages,
made a new translation of the Psalms, more conformable to the original. Dr. Tenni-
son, having collected the words and expressions throughout the liturgy, which had
been excepted against, proposed others in their room, which were more clear and plain.
Other things were likewise proposed, as that the cross in baptism might be either used
or omitted at the choice of the parents; and it is further added from other certain ac-
counts, "that if any refused or scrupled to receive the Lord's Supper kneeling, it may
be administered to them in their pews; that a rubric be made, declaring the intention
of the Lent fasts to consist only in extraordinary acts of devotion, not in distinction of
meats; that the absolution may be read by a deacon; the word priest io be changed
into viinisler ; the Gloria Patri not to be repeated at the end of every psalm, but of all
appointed for morning and evening; that the words in the Te Deuni, Thine honorable,
Inte and only Son, be changed into Thine only begotten Son; that the Benedicite be
changed into the 128th Psalm, and other psalms appointed for the Benedietus and A"unc
Dimittis ; that if any desire to have godfathers and godmothers omitted, their children
may be presented in their own names," etc.

164 LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE [1785

this preface and the notes annexed, it will appear that most of the
amendments or alterations, which had the sanction of the great divines
of 16S9, have been adopted, with such others as are thought reasonable
and expedient.

The service is arranged so as to stand as nearly as possible in the
order in which it is to be read. A selection is made both of the reading
and singing psalms, commonly so called. Wherever the Bible-transla-
tion of the former appeared preferable to the old translation, it hath
been adopted ; and in consequence of the new selection, a new division
and considerable abridgment of the daily portions to be read became
necessary; and as the " Glory be to the Father," etc., is one said
or sung before the reading of the psalms in Morning and Evening
prayer, it was conceived that, in order to avoid repetition, the solemnity
would be increased by allowing the minister to conclude the portion of
the psalms which is at any time read, with that excellent doxology
somewhat shortened, " Glory to God on high," etc., especially when it
can be properly sung. With respect to the psalmody or singing psalms,
for the greater ease of choosing such as are suited to particular subjects
a id occasions, they are disposed under the several metres and the few
general heads to which they can be referred; and a collection of hymns
are added, upon those evangelical subjects and other heads of Christian
worship, to which the Psalms of David are less adapted, or do not
generally extend.

It seems unnecessary to enumerate particularly all the different alter-
ations and amendments which are proposed. They will readily appear,
and it is hoped the reason of them also, upon a comparison of this with
the former book. The calendar and rubrics have been altered where it
appeared necessary, and the sam.e reasons, which occasioned a table of
first lessons for Sundays and other holy-days, seemed to reciuire the
making of a table of second lessons also, which is accordingly don«.
Those for the morning are intended to suit the several seasons, without
any material repetition of the epistles and gospels for the same seasons;
and those for the evening are selected in the order of the sacred Books.
Besides this, the table of first lessons has been reviewed ; and some new
chapters are introduced on the supposition of their being more edifying;
and some transpositions of lessons have been made, the better to suit
the seasons.

And whereas it hath been the practice of the Church of England to
set apart certain days of thanksgiving to Almighty God for signal mer-
cies vouchsafed to that Church and nation, it hath here also been con-
sideni as conducive to godliness that there should be two annual
solem.i davs of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God set apart,
viz.: -^^ f lurth day of July, commemorative of the blessings of civil
and -iMis liberty in the land wherein wc live; and the first Thurs-

1786] I?EV. WILLIAM SAIiril, D. D. 165

day of November for the fruits of the earth : in order that we may be
thereby stirred up to a more particular remembrance of the signal mer-
cies of God towards us; the neglect of which might otherwise be the
occasion of licentiousness, civil miseries and punishments.

The case of such unhappy persons as may be imprisoned for debt or
crimes claimed the attention of this Church ; which hath accordingly
adopted into her liturgy the form for the visitation of prisoners in use
in the Church of Ireland.

In the creed commonly called the Apostles' creed, one clause* is
omitted, as being of uncertain meaning; and the Articles of Religion
have been reduced in number ; yet it is humbly conceived that the
doctrines of the Church of England are preserved entire, as being judged
perfectly agreeable to the gospel.

It is far from the intention of this Church to depart from the Church
of England any farther than local circumstances require, or to deviate
in any thing essential to the true meaning of the Thirty-nine Articles;
although the number of them be abridged by some variations in the
mode of expression, and the omission of such articles as were more
evidently adapted to the times when they were first framed and to the
political constitution of England.

And now, this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is
hoped the whole will be received and examined, by every true member
of our Church and every sincere Christian, with a meek, candid and
charitable frame of mind, without prejudice or prepossessions; seriously
considering what Christianity is, and what the truths of the Gospel are;
and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing
every endeavor for promulgating them to mankind in the clearest,
plainest, most affecting and majestic manner, for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour.

We now resume the correspondence.

77?^ Rev. Dr. White to the Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, January 4, 17S6.

Dear Sir : I sc. J you the sheets as far as finished, and have corrected
the proofs as far as to the beginning of the Burial Service.

I have just now delivered to Mr. Hall the offices of the Fourth of July
and for November; as they will be gone on with to-morrow. I kept

* The clause meant is "Christ's descent into hell," which, as Bisliop Burnett,
Bishop Pearson, and other writers inform us, is found in no creed, nor mentioned by
any writer, until about the beginning of the fifth century; and in the first creeds that
have this clause or article, that of Christ's burial not being mentioned in them, it fol-
lows that they understood the descent into hell only of his burial or descent into the
grave, as the word is otherwise translated in the Bible. The Nicene creed hath only
the burial, and the Athanasian only the descent into hell.

l66 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^786

them to the last with the hope of hearing from you, but there was no
post this week.

In preparing said offices for the press, it occurred to me that their
wanting gospels and epistles made them not harmonize with the rest
of our service. Our brethren here were unanimous in advising me to
add them ; and I was the more encouraged by Dr. Magaw's saying that
it was not thought of in the committee. The passages chosen are
Philippians iv. 4-8, with St. John viii. 31-37 ; and St. James i. 16,
with St. Matthew v. 43. The lessons, taken by the same advice for the
first Thursday in November, are Deuteronomy xxviii. to verse 15, and
St. Matthew vii. 7.

I am sorry that I have been obliged to do these things without wait-
ing for your approbation \ but I hope they will still merit it.

The post is just going, so that I can only write myself.

Yours, etc., W. White.

Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, January 17, 17S6.

Dear Sir : I have lost no time in making provision for inserting a
few tunes in the prayer book. We have selected some which I send you
the names of on an enclosed paper. Mr. Hopkinson* is beginning to
copy them for the engraver, and I expect they will be done with
sufficient speed.

It was natural for me, when on this subject with a gentleman of Mr.
Hopkinson's taste, to communicate to him our arrangement respect-
ing the psalms. He objected, as indeed has almost every one to whom
I have mentioned it, to the running the psalms into one another. The
issue of the conference with Mr. Hopkinson was his suggesting a plan
of which I give you a sketch on an enclosed paper, and which I think
on the whole will be the simplest and most elegant. Unless you disap-
prove, I will execute it on this plan, although I shall have lost some
labor of transcribing; in doing of which, however, I became more and
more dissatisfied with the running of psalms into one another; and
indeed in this way, I find that many fine passages must be lost, or else
such a repetition made as in tlie same psalm would be improper and
disgusting. I expect your draft of a preface by next post and am

Yours, etc., Wm. White.

Rev. Dr. Smith.

P. S. — On Mr. Hopkinson's plan, the insertion of the term chapter
will be unnecessary.

* The Hon. Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania, and appointed by Washington
judge of the District Court of the United States for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
See the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. H., page 314.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. iGy

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Sunday niglit or Monday morning, January 23, 17S6.

I received your last letter of 17th of January, and observe what you
say concerning the objections which have occurred as to running our
collection or selection of singing psalms into one another. You know
this arrangement was proposed for the convenience of clerks and of the
people for finding any proposed sum. We could not then think of any
better mode. I have no attachment to any particular arrangement that
appears best. But I could see no impropriety, nor can yet see any in
making one chapter or psalm of all those different parts of different
psalms which are selected on the same subject and in the psalm metre ;
for except in metre ist, and in psalms of praise, etc., none of them
would be very long in this way ; and I know not how you can make
your breaks in the same metre, so as to close the service without running
many of them into one another. P'or of some psalms only a verse or
two are taken, and surely so small a portion cannot stand by itself.
All the reading psalms for a morning or evening service, although not
arranged under different heads as the singing psalms, are nevertheless
run into one another, without inconvenience. On the contrary it
appears a beauty. The same has been done in choosing psalms for
particular services even by our Mother Church.

But I have no objection to the method now proposed. As far as I
can understand it from your short scrip, it was what we first proposed,
although some difficulties then occurred. Mr. Hopkinson's judgment
will always have great weight with me, especially on a subject of elegance
and taste. I am happy that he has agreed to devote a few hours to the
psalmody. Under his hand it will become a most acceptable addition
to the Prayer Book, and with the hymns to be annexed will recommend
the purchase of it to many, and I hope greatly increase their love both
of public and private devotion.

With the assistance of our organist Mr. Limburner, our clerk, and
some other gentlemen of this town, I have examined the tunes which
are to be engraved and we generally approve of them ; except Canter-
bury, which is too flat and inanimate. St. Anne's, though good, is too
difficult for singers in general. These two might be exchanged for some
more popular tunes, which you have omitted, such as Brunswick and
Stroud tunes. We also wish to have in the collection the tune ....
and St. Peters is adapted to that noble hymn .... published among
the collection of hymns —

When all thy merties, O my God, etc.

In addition to the tunes which are proposed in your list, we would
offer the six which are enclosed, or such of them as you think may vary
most from those of the same metre which you retain. I should wish to

1 68 LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE \}7^^

see the first proof-sheet of the singing psalms before it is worked off.
I hope Mr. Hall is now upon it, and I wish not to delay him.

I enclose you a collection of hymns to follow the psalms, and which
I have every reason to believe will be a great recommendation of our
Prayer Book to multitudes of our most serious and religious members.
The Methodists captivate many by their attention to Church music, and
by their hymns and doxologics, which, when rationally and devoutly
introduced, are sublime parts of public and private v/orship. I have
arranged the hymns under proper heads, have chosen the best I could
possibly find, and have spent several whole nights this last week in
copying them for the press, abridging them where it could be done,
and correcting some of them in a few places. I shall be happy if they
meet with your approbation and save you some trouble in this part, as
you have had far more than your share in other parts, which it was not
in my power to ease you from, on account of my many late calls from
home.

The number of hymns is more than I expected when I sat down to
collect them ; but I see none that I could wish to leave out. On the
great festivals of the Church, there should be some variety, at least
three or four, and of different metres, to complete the psalmody of the
day.

There are about eight hymns yet wanting, which I hope to send you
r.ext post, viz. : Hymns or Psalms for a Public Fast, Meditational
Hymns on Death, Funeral Hymns, a Hymn on the Last Judgment, and
a Hymn on Immortality, exhibiting a Glimpse of the Kingdom of
Glory. But on these last two awful and exalted subjects, I know not
where to choose. They far transcend the power of our common class
of poets, and those of the greatest genius have left them unsung, at least

in that kind of verse which is proper for psalmody singing

psalms, that those portions of them of hymns, are adapted

to particular occasions of service, thanksgiving, etc., as July 4th, the
first Thursday in November, etc., are not to be printed in their place
with the other psalms, which are selected for common use. Should any
of them be chosen on any other occasion than those to which they are
adapted among the hymns, the clerk and congregation can turn to them
where they stand. The hymns and psalmody both together will not be
near so long as the former psalmody by this plan, unless your new
arrangement should lengthen them somewhat. The hymns will not
require two half sheets, but were it more, they will pay for themselves in
the sale of the book and in the satisfaction which Christians in general
will derive. Few will grudge a dollar if, with the addition of hymns
and tunes, etc., we think that should be the price. You Avill not forget
to take Addison's 23d Ps. from Spectator No. 441 — his nineteenth from
No. 465, to be inserted among the psalms under their proper metres.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 169

You will also take his hymn, on Gratitude, from No. 453 to be inserted
among the hymns where I left a blank in copying, for want of time.

As I do not know in what order you have arranged the metres in
publishing the singing psalms, I must beg you to fill up the blanks I
have left for the metres of the Gloria Fatfi, so as to answer to our
select psalms, for it will not do to say as formerly — such a metre as Ps.
25, Ps. 123, Ps. 148, etc., as our psalms and metres will not now
answer to those numbers, but to metre first, second, third, etc., as you
may place. I believe I said before (but have not time to look back)
that 1 beg to see the first proof-sheet of the singing psalms before it goes
to the press, I hope by next post — I will try by that time to send you
the preface or address nearly upon the plan you have sketched. You
speak in some former letter of collecting for the feasts and fasts some
passages of psalms to supply the place of the Venite on different festi-
vals. Will not this take too much from the reading psalms of those

days? Might of Scripture in the Old and New Testament

• Easter Day the substitute for the Venite is wholly so . . .

such a choice as this may interfere with the lessons, and the epistles and
gospels of the day. There are difficulties both ways, I leave to your
own judgment. And where anything we had before (as the old Venite
a little altered) will do, I would not introduce, for the present at
least, any very great alterations. All the hymns, etc., except a few
from Watts and Addison, have long been in use in the Church in the
supplement to Tate and Brady's Psalms and other collections, printed
with different prayer books, by religious societies, etc. The hymns,
therefore, are only a more copious collection, arranged more properly,
of such as have been long in use, for even some of Watts's are not new
in our Church, and you know Dr. Johnson gives them a high name in
his "Lives of the Poets." I wish I could have found more than about
six or eight of Watts's to introduce, or that I could glean from him
what is yet wanted on the last Judgment and the Kingdom of Glory.
I know not where else to look. If you know of any on those subjects,
I wish you to point them out. I have got two or three funeral hymns
to be copied out in my next, and also hymns proper for the service of
the Church at Sea and after Storms, etc., etc.

It is now four o'clock in the morning. I am drowsy and half-blind —
cannot stay to read what I have written — believe I have forgot nothing
material. I shall be ruined if the packet does not come safe to your
hand. I have no copy, nor even a list or table of the hymns which I
intend should be added at the end, after we know the pages to which
we must refer. This may be done by the printer. You will therefore
not fail to acknowledge the receipt of them by the return of post. If I
have no letter, I shall conclude you have not receivetl them, and be
very unhappy till I hear that you have.

Yours, with great regard, Wm. Smith.

I/O LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE [l/S^

The hymns must be printed in a smaller letter, as many of the metres
are long. Attend well to the note at bottom of page 38.

Bev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

I'Hii.AnEi.ruiA, January 25th, 1786.

Dear Sir : I have received your letter with the enclosed hymns ; of
which the time admits my saying no more at present, but that I make
no doubt of their being unexceptionable. If I have any remarks to
make, you shall have them in my next.

As you have no objections to the method last proposed respecting the
psalms, I shall do whatever on a re-examination appears to our friends
here the best.

I am afraid your proposals, concerning the tunes, are too late to be
accomplished without either spoiling what has been done or making an
addition in this article; which, by-the-by, will be much more expen-
sive than you imagined. However I shall accommodate it to your
ideas, as much as I should think you would yourself, were )ou on the
spot.

I expect we shall finish the reading psalms this week, and that we
shall have the first sheet of the singing psalms ready for next post.
The wailing for it can be no injury in regard to the composing part,
but for the press work (which Mr. Hall considers as the principal), it
may put us back a little.

In regard to the selections, instead of" the Venite, I believe they had
better stand as they are. You know the design is to introduce such
portions respecting the Messiah as could not be agreeably retained in
their old places; now the including some Scriptural sentences must
either supersede some of said portions or make this part of the service
too long ; at least this would be the case on Good Friday and Christmas
day. With regard to the reading psalms of those days I mentioned to
you, and reqi:sted you to look at them, that I had in a rubric at the
end referred to one portion of the Psalter to be read on all these festi-
vals at morning prayer, another at evening prayer, another for the
morning of the fast days, and another for the evening of the same.

I have been considering the daily calendar ; and do not find that we
have any power given us on this head. Nevertheless the reading the
Apocrypha has been so old an objection to our Church, that I believe it
would be taken well if we were to substitute others. My plan for this
is to divide so many of the longer chapters as will make up for the
number to be expunged, which I find on examination may easily be
done. Perhaps, too, it might be well to divide as many chapters of the
Gospels and Acts as may be suited to the reading them over twice in-
stead of thrice in the year. Those from the Ejjistles may very well
stand as they are. I must request your opinion on this head.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 17I

On another review of my plan of proper lessons I am fully satisfied
witli it.

I know of no suitable hymns on the subjects you have named.

I do not think it will be necessary to print the hymns in a smaller

type than the rest, and if not necessary, you will agree with me that it

will not look so well.

I am, yours respectfully and affectionately,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. W. Smith.

P. S. — I hope to send you per next post the Psalter complete.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

January 30th, 17S6.

I enclose the remaining hymns. The Psalms of David, unless where
tortured by versifiers, have but few evangelical subjects, and stood much
in need of a supplement, which our Church has allowed from time to
time and we have full power to offer, as neither the psalms which we
have selected nor this supplement of hymns are more than an exercise
of our best discretion in the work committed to us, and not an essential
part of our reformed liturgy.

You will find the hymns all upon evangelical subjects and practical
Christianity, viz. : On the Nativity, on the Passion, Resurrection, As-
cension, Gift of the Holy Ghost, The Holy Communion, Time, Life,
Death, Hymns at Sea and various Occasions of Life, in Sickness, in
Time of Public Calamity, Thanksgivings for Mercies received, On State
Days, as July 4th, November ist, Thursday, etc., concluding with
Christ's commission to preach the Gospel, two hymns which, when we
have ordination of ministers at home, may be properly sung in time of
public worship. The subjects you see are numerous, and not more than
two or three hymns at most on any subject. The hymns are generally
short, too. Should you think that any of them might be left out, I
could wish to know which of them. There is the greatest number for
the Nativity and for Funerals, but here we ought not to be too sparing.
In the enclosed collection. Hymns 36, 39, 40-43 are particularly and
beautifully applicable to their subjects. In short, I have taken great
pains to collect and adapt them, giving nothing of my own, and I think
the number, as they are generally short (although amounting to fifty),
is not too great, as the Psalms of David are greatly abridged, and many
of them taken out of the places where they stood promiscuously with
other psalms, and placed as hymns under the heads to which they
belong, so that you will take care not to print these particular passages
of the psalms with the singing psalms. Let me hear particularly from
you next post on this whole subject. I am more and more pleased with
the arrangement of the singing psalms under the different heads to
which they will apply, which are but four or five, and finding hymns

1/2 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

founded on other Scriptures, as we .... worship. Clergy and laity
here are greatly .... to purchase books.

You will please to put the proper numbers to the pages of the enclosed
hymns, as I have forgot at what my last week's copy closed, and there-
fore have marked or paged them A, B, C, etc., which you will expunge
when you put the numbers. Please to put Hymn 25 on Recovery
from Sickness in the former copy next after Hymn 40 of this enclosed
copy, being on the same subject ; and alter the numbers of the hymns
accordingly from No. 25 to No. 40, inclusive.

Next post shall answer all the unanswered parts of your former letters,
send you the preface, and conclude this business, with great thankful-
ness to God who hath enabled us to carry it forward, with so great har-
mony and satisfaction to ourselves, and I trust it will be to the full
satisfaction of our constituents and the public. Write me fully this
week, as I am to cross the bay next Sunday evening.

Yours,

W.M. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, February ist, 1786.

DE.A.R Sir : I have received yours by this day's post ; and, agreeably
to your desire, sit down to write to you particularly on the subjects
of it.

I send you (with the Psalter) the first proof-sheet of the psalms. You
will see that I have divided them. You objected to this in your former
letter that it will become necessary to leave out parts of psalms for
want of enough to make one division. I answer that it will not happen
if we allow that to be enough which may suffice for one time of the
clerk's singing. You also took notice that the other plan was adopted
in respect to the reading psalms. I answer that the same reason does
not hold in the singing psalms, viz. : their being used together. Our
brethren here are clear for dividing them and authorize me to say so,
and Mr. Hopkinson thinks the other plan very exceptionable. I beg
you to weigh the matter once more ; and if after all you should continue
in your present mind I will execute it accordingly, provided you will
take your pen and set down precisely what psalms shall follow one
another, so as to be a guide to the printer. In doing this you will
probably (like myself) be tired of the idea of running them into one
another: if not, I will perform my promise. You will observe that I
have put the rubric mark. I thought this proper to make it harmonize
with the other parts of the liturgy, and to show with what view the
psalms are introduced. In the old book they were no part of the com-
mon prayer, but were only used by the royal permission. With us, as
I conceive, they are to be part of the liturgy.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 73

In regard to the form of the hyrnns I have to remark that I think
they should be introduced like the psalms, with the rubric mark before
them, with a similar direction in regard to the discretion of the minis-
ter, leaving out the word " Supplement," because they will be nearly, if
not quite, as large as the collection of psalms. I would change the
Latin Gloria Patri to English and call it Hymn i.

In the collection sent up last week (I do not think the other admits
the same criticism) there are some lines which I wish for your consent
to alter, under the condition of Mr. Hopkinson's joint approbation.

Well may the sun as hell be black.

I wish for a substitute for this.

See streaming from th' accursed tree,

may be thus altered,

Behold, fast streaming from the tree, etc., etc.

Mr. Hopkinson thinks, with me, that it is altogether improper to
transfer psalms to the head of hymns, merely to change their names ;
and we think that they may very well stand in their proper places to be
applied discretionately, except where some considerable changes in the
composition to accommodate it to the occasion may apologize for the
transposition ; or else a collection be made from different psalms.

The psalms applied to the Ascension must be taken in so strained a
seiise as not to consist with the liberty allowable in composing a hymn.
The two hymns which conclude your second collection, and which refer
to Christ's command to preach the Gospel, would suit admirably well
for this festival.

I enclose you a little essay of Mr. Hopkinson for the Fourth of July
and the first Thursday in November. He desires me to mention that
he is conscious of having left out in the latter some fine portions of the
second psalm from which it is taken ; but it was to make it a reason-
able portion for singing at one time. He thinks one for each occasion
sufficient, and that for the other time of singing, a portion might be
taken at discretion from the psalms. But if you choose two for each
occasion, you have got one for November against which there can be
no objection unless that the sentiments are the same v.ith those of
Psalm 65. As to the very fine parts of Psalm 68, I foresee many objec-
tions to the making it a stated part of our service for the day. Besides
the delicacy of our situation, as well as on account of the prejudice of
our brethren at our present application to England, it may well be
questioned whether the use of such expressions be not inconsistent with
the sentiments which should take place with peace, however proper
"flagranti Bel!o." Even the line.

Their proud oppressors' righteous doom.

174 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/86

in (perhaps) the best verse of the psahii is rather too strong. I would
prefer something from Psahns 89 and 18, of which I shall send you a
sketch on a piece of paper.

I forgot to mention when writing of the psalms, the order in which I
had arranged them. You know the four general heads we fixed on were,
Psalms of Praise, etc. ; Psalms of Prayer, etc. ; Psalms of 'J'hanksgiving,
etc. ; and Psalms of Instruction, etc. I found all would range under these
heads except a few, which I have thought best to put at the end under
these two heads : Prophetical Psalms, applied in the New Testament to
the character of the Messiah — and psalms composed during the want
of an opportunity of the public worship of God. If you propose any
alteration of this order, you will be pleased to set down minutely, the
psalms that suit any new heads you may propose. Notwithstanding the
impatience of the public (and I may add my own desire of having this
business out of hand) I very willingly stop the press this week, to com-
ply with your desire of seeing the first sheet of the psalms, before it be
worked off. Mr. Hall says it will be to no purpose to gp on composing,
as the preparing a sheet will not take him half the time of working it
off. The week, however, will not be wholly lost ; as to prevent it, I
have given him the tables for finding the holy days ; which take up just
a form. The Table for Easter I have adjusted to two Cycles of the
moon, adding the Epacts, Golden Numbers and Dominical Letters; the
present year begins a Cycle and the second ends at 1823. This space
makes a convenient page with our letter. I have omitted in this table
all the holy days besides Easter; because that being known, the next
table shows the others. In all other respects I shall print the said
tables, agreeably to Dr. Franklin's book,* which has them in the neat-
est way of any I have seen. This form will be our week's work.

'^ The title of the book is as follows:

"Abridginent of the Book of Common Piayer, and Administration of the Sacra-
ments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to tlie use of the
Church of England, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David. Pointed as they
are to he sung or said in Churches. London, Printed in the Year MDCCLXXIII."

Dr. Franklin, in replying to Mr. Granville Sharp, who had written to him making
some inquiry as to the character of this book, thus writes:

Passy, July 5, 17S5.
"Dear Sir: .... The liturgy you mention was an abridgment of the prayers,
made by a noble lord of my acquaintance, who requested me to assist him by taking
the rest of the book, viz., the Catechism and the reading and singing psalms. Tliose
I abridged, by retaining of the Catechism only the two questions, What is your duty
to God? J !7/dt is yotir duty to your )!ero-///>or ? w'nh Xhe'w an?.\vi:rs. The psalms were
much contracted, by leaving out the repetitions (of which I found more than I could
have imagined), and the imprecations, which appeai-ed not to suit well the Christian
doctrine of forgiveness of injuries, and doing good to enemies. The book was printed
for Wilkie, in Paul's Churchyard, but never much noticed. Some were given away,
very few sold, and I suppose the bulk became waste paper. In the prayers so much

T786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 75

I have the table of proper lessons ready ; and have taken more pains
with this than with any part of the book.

As to the Calendar with the table of common lessons, I believe all
we can do with it is so to divide the long lessons as to afford the ex-
punging of the Apocrypha. I have minuted the lessons which may be
so divided ; omitting in my way a very few lessons, the public reading
of which appears indecent : and more than a few we cannot dispense
with, without spoiling the design of having the Bible read through in
the course of the year.

I rejoice with you on our having so nearly finished the business with
so much harmony, and am

Yours, affectionately,

W.M. White.

Pray do not cross the Bay without writing to me particularly. I have
written you a very disorderly and I suppose incorrect letter; but I Avrite
in haste and yet wish to be full.

Respecting the tunes.

I have contrived to substitute Brunswick for St. Ami' s.

The hymn tune and those you sent up would take up very consider-
able room and therefore I mention what follows.

Mr. Hopkinson had so fitted his tunes as to occupy an half sheet on
both sides; besides which, he is desirous of inserting a page of chants;
and if I comply with this, it will be to gratify him, as he has taken so
much trouble in the matter. Now the half sheet only will be a very
expensive matter. The ruling press alone (if Mr. Leacok's proposals are
reasonable, and he says he has made them lower than he would for any
but a charitable purpose — however I shall consult judges) will be a
demanci on us for ;^62 loi-. When the book comes out it will be some
time before remittances of cash are made from the other States, and in
the mean time I shall have to settle with the printer, bank, etc. Mat-
ters being thus circumstanced, I wish to add no more to the music.
You know tunes may be sung besides those printed. For my part, I
am convinced, that no one circumstance impedes singing in our
churches so much as great diversity of tunes.

N. B. — Mr. Hopkinson thinks the tunes sent up very bad and desti-
tute of melody.

was retrenched, that a]ipri)l)ation could hardly be expected ; but I think with you, a
moderate abridgment migiit not only be useful, but generally acceptable.

" I am, dear Sir, etc., etc.,

" B. Franklin."

176 LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE [1786

Rev. Dr. Smith io Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, February 6, 17S6.

I hope, as yon have ordered matters, there will be no great delay at
the press. I received by your sending me these proofs, the psalmody.
It was only that I might have a specimen with me across the Bay as far
as the book is printed. If you have attended fully to what I wrote in
my former letter, I tliink I left you at liberty to follow the arrangement
you have made of the psalms, provided enough could be had from
every one psalm, for a short portion to sing, which from memory I did
not apprehend would be the case, as from some of the reading j^salms
but one or two verses were retained ; and these I thought must either
be rejected in the singing psalms or joined with some other psalms.
After all I see no difference in this mode, for all that comes under the
first metre, on praise and adoration, stands exactly in the same order it
would have done in the other mode, and would have made but thirty-
five verses as one chapter or psalm. But I am very well satisfied as it
is: only as in the rubric prefixed, all of them are said to be "selected
from the Psalms of David" — the name of David need stand at the
head of each particular new psalm or selection. Might it not be
Psalm I [from 8th,] and yet it seems as well as you have it — so I have
no more to say on this head.

I think the substitutes for O come let us sing, etc., on Christmas, Ash
Wednesday, etc.. Good Friday, etc., as well as the old one for Easter,
in all future editions, had better be inserted with their proper titles in the
place where they are to be read, that is just after the daily Venite or O
come, etc., to save the trouble of turning the book and to be consistent
with the rest of our arrangements. There is a precedent for this in the
Communion Service, where all the Prefaces for these particular days are
collected into the place where they are to be said or sung. If you
approve this, it is easy to alter the rubric prefixed to these new Veiiites
accordingly. That for Ascension Day might have concluded with the
eighth verse. The following verses, especially from Psalm 2, might
have better been for Whit-Sunday with some other verses which are now
set apart for it. But I do not now wish to alter the press, except in the
rubric aforesaid, if you approve the transposition of all the substitutes
into one place with the daily Venite in future editions.

The line "See streaming from th' accursed tree" — is by taking it
from the original author, Watts. 'Tis altered thus in the Magdalen
Collection from which you recommended in your note:

See, streaming from theyi?/rt/ tree —

And the other line —

Thou sun as deepest night lie lilack.

I can see no more impropriety in transferring the singing psalms into

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I//

hymns under the heads to which they apply, than in the method we
have taken to transfer them under the three proper heads of praise, etc.,
as now to be pubHshed. Tiie few passages that relate to the Cruci-
fixion, to the Ascension, etc., can stand no where so well as among the

hymns under those heads. They would psalms, or under any

of the few heads which the taken by Tate and Brady in versi-
fying the psalms and the composition of some other parts of Scripture.
I pay great regard to the judgment of Mr. Hopkinson and my other
respected friends, the clergy of your city; but we have clergy of some
judgment Jiere whom I consult also, and in this arrangement and col-
lection of hymns, something of which kind has been long wished. I
have some dependence on my own judgment also, and should be happy
if you and the other gentlemen could agree to have the specimen of
hymns offered to the public with as few deviations as possible from the
plan which upon great deliberation I have submitted to you, and Dr.
Wharton, if he can be consulted.

I cannot conceive for what reason you say the psalms applied as
hymns for the Ascension must be taken in strained sense to apply to that
occasion. Are they not the 24th and 47th, the very same which you
have applied instead of the Vcnite for that day? The two hymns in
the conclusion do not apply better to the Ascension than to Whitsun-
day, or some other days. Christ's commission was delivered to his
Apostles while on earth, and the gifts which he sent from on high to
enable them to go forth in his name were not on the Day of Ascension.
They seem to stand very well where they are either to be used on the
occasion as suggested, or any other to which they will apply. I think
less than two hymns for any one festival or occasion would not do.
You have forgot to enclose Mr. Hopkinson's psalm or hymn for July
4th. What you propose may, if you will, be added to July 4th, but
the few verses I have taken of Psalm 6Z, I think might stand. The
wor^?, proud oppressor you may alter, and the five lines which I hinted
at in my note and which are in the following part of the psalm, you
know I never intended to be made part of our stated service for the
present at least.

Please to finish the calendar as you propose. You have taken so much
pains with it that unless I could find time to take equal pains in the
examination it would be wrong to interfere. I think your plan good,
only do not make any of the lessons unreasonably long, and contrive
the introductions and breaks suitably.

Enclosed you have my essay of a preface; the post is just setting off.
The preface or address which was a matter particularly entrusted to the
committee I have ever considered as a matter of great importance, as
the first impressions on the introduction of the book may be of serious
concern. Of this the Church was sensible in Charles 2d's time, on the
12

17^ LIFE AND CORRESroXDENCE OF THE [1786

last review, when they wrote their several prefaces, giving a full account
of the reasons of all the alterations, the abolition of Ceremonies, etc.
I have therefore interwoven much of that preface, and rather than to
set forth what we have done ourselves, which indeed is but little, have
given an account of what the wisest and best members of the Church
of Eno-land have long wished to have done, in order to show that we
are not pretending to be leaders in reformation, but follow them and
remain connected with them. This will state our work quite in a light,
wherein few consider it, and give a historical information with which
the people in general of our communion will be pleased, apd be made
able to give an answer to gainsayers.

I have also interwoven the chief part of your preface; but found it
unnecessary to give the reason of every particular alteration, but rather
following the example of the old preface, to pay the necessary mark of
complaisance to the reader by observing that a comparison of the old
book with the new would sufficiently [show] both the alterations and
the reason of them. The preface should be set in a small and hand-
some letter. It will not altogether be so long as the old preface to our
common prayer, the treatise and ceremonies and other notifications
which were found necessary to preface to that book ; and our reasons
for being particular are at least as strong as the Church of England in
1662. Many will strive to make the people believe we are wholly de-
parting from the Church of England — nay treating her as a corrupt and
erroneous church, by setting up a reformation of our own. But I hope
this preface will obviate and confute these and all such like misrepresen-
tations, especially, when it has undergone your judicious and sober
revisal. You must not, /. <?. , I hope you will not, regard a fev.- pages
or sentences more or less in the lei.gth of this important part, nor the
little additional expense of the psalms. The book will sell as readily
at IS. 6d. as at c^s.

You apprehended some haste and incoherence in your last to me.
You have all that in this letter, the last part of which has been written
in the office while the mail was closing, having been very late this
morning before I got the preface concluded. I hope now we have
nearly done, and so without vaoxo. prefaces or conclusions,

I remain, etc.,

Yours affectionatelv,

Wm. Smith.

Bev. Dr. White io Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, February 10, 1786.
Dear Sir : I received yours of the 6th with the preface. As you
seem not fully satisfied as to the propriety of leaving out the words "of
David" I have left them stand. Your criticism respecting part of the

1/86] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1/9

2d Psalm was so evidently just, that I have giv^en Mr. Hall the trouble
of transposing the verses from the end of Ascension Day to the begin-
ning of Whitsunday. The transposing of the substitutes for the Venite
to the Morning Prayer seems to me not quite so proper, as the placing
them as we have done in the case of the 4th of July, etc., and the
collects for Ash Wednesday, to services appropriate to the respective
days ; besides which, it would make a break in the Morning Prayer,
which at present stands just as it is to be read. The prefaces in the
communion being continuations and part of the sentence of what pre-
cedes them, could not have been otherwise placed without confusing
the officiating minister. You do not lay stress on this, and it stands as
before.

I give up my sentiment respecting the hymnifying the psalms; and
shall only observe, that in mentioning the opinion of our brethren of
this city, my intention was not to undervalue yours, or that of our
brethren whom you have an opportunity of consulting ; but only to be
a counterpoise to that deference I entertain for your judgment which
might otherwise have made me sacrifice my sense of the matter rather
more easily than my duty in the present business would warrant.

I enclose you Mr. Hopkinson's hymns of which I request your opinion.
I intend executing this matter agreeably to your desires. You seem to
have left a little liberty with regard to verbal alterations: If I am wrong
you will correct me. I wish you could get rid of "the Spoil of Armies
once their dread," as applied to Ascension Day.

I shall be attentive to the Calendar. It is not within our appoint-
ment; and yet I believe we shall be thanked for so dividing the lessons
as to serve the triple purpose of shortening the service, expunging the
Apocryphal chapters, and getting rid of some the public reading of
which may seem immodest. I fear we must let the New Testament
lessons stand as at present : and yet the Gospels and Acts might be
very well worded so as to be read twice instead of thrice in the year.
As to the table of proper lessons, I have taken great pains with it and
hope it will meet your approbation.

I like your preface both in plan and in execution. The particularities
in mine are rendered unnecessary by the articles you have inserted as
proposed at the Revolution. A few observations that occurred to me
in the reading I have noted in a separate paper and will enclose.

You seem to have applied what I said on the article of expense to the
printer's business instead of the psalmody. I approved highly of your
proposal in this respect; but should begrudge the money, if much were
to be inserted. You seem to have been as little versed as myself in the
costs of this business.

You speak of $ i for the book. I thought of the same ; but find
some are of opinion, that it will be considered z.% forcing money for our
funds. It is an objection that should have no weight, but for our read-

l8o LIFE AND CORRESrONDENCE CF THE [1786

ing psalms, which will make the purchasing of new books indispensably-
necessary to the joining in our service: and we might have some regard
to those of middling condition who would wish a Prayer Book to be in
the hands of every member of their families.

On the other hand, it is natural for us to wish to see our labors in this
business productive of some fruit to the widows and the orphans.
I only throw out the above for your consideration, and am

Your affectionate humble servant,

W. White.

P. S. — I request you to consider whether it will not be best to bring
in Addison's Translations '■'The Lord my pasture shall prepare,'' and
'■^Tlie spacious firmafuent, etc.,''' among the hymns. They are not strict
translations. The latter at least can come in no other way as it is in
the same metre with Tate and Brady's Translations of the 19th Psalm.
It will not be too late to decipher this by return of post.

P. S. — The December packet informs of Willet's arrival : by whom
went the original letter to the bishops.

Some Queries on the Preface to the Common Prayer. (Dr.

White.*)

Page 2d. Quaere the propriety of saying anything about the Church
of Rome.

Page 10. Protestant Episcopal Churches. Would it not be better in
the singular number — at least it should be so when we speak of the acts
of the late Convention, ia order to harmonise with the phraseology of
the Constitution.

Page 12. The apology for not reviewing the collects, etc., appears to
me exceptionable, ist, because the pleading the want of time seems an
improper excuse in business of this magnitude and holds out the ex-
pediency of another review; 2dly, because we do not know that the
Convention would not have given the necessary powers to the com-
mittee as is insinuated, and 3dly, because there are other alterations
alluded to which we have not adopted. I wish the expression to be
more general; thus — "it will appear that almost every amendment,
etc." Ibid. It is said, that the service is so arranged as that we need
not turn backwards and forwards. This being not exactly true, I wish
the explanation modified.

*The Qiitzries of Dr. White are, of course, upon the preface by Dr. Smith, as orig-
inally ivrillen. Dr. Smith adopted some of the suggestions and not others. The force
of Dr. White's suggestions, of course, do not so clearly appear in the case of those
adopted; since, in the preface as given supra, (pp. 158-165), the original language of
Dr. Smith disappears m the new words adopted. — II. W S.

lor Dr. Smith's views upon Dr. White's Quaries, see infra, pp. 188-I90.

1/86] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. l8l

Page 13. "For the greater ease of the clerks, etc." This rubric
says they are to be sung at the discretion of the minister. It may be
corrected by putting the words "of choosing" instead of "of the
clerks."

Page 14, in the note. I have here two remarks to make. i. It seems
hardly worth while to quote Bishop Burnet for what is to be found in
so many writers. 2dly. The explanation will militate against the whim-
sical ideas of some persons grounded as they conceive on holy writ.
We should avoid touching of principle as much as possible; and the
footing on which (I think) we should rest the omission of the clause
with the persons alluded to, is that even supposing their opinion true,
yet, being grounded on a few controverted passages, it ought not to be
made part of so very concise and general a confession of our faith.

Page 15. '■'■Son of the Church" — say "Member,'''' lest we may seem
to deny the right of female judgment.

Quaere. Ought not some reason to be given for omitting the creeds?
The reason might be that we did not judge the Athanasian to tend to
edification, and that the Nicene was a repetition.

And ought not a reason to be briefly given for "the Visitation of
Prisoners?" if it were only to make an honest acknowledgment of our
debt to the Church of Ireland.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, February 6, 1786.
Dear Sir : I had written you a long letter, to send by the Western
Shore post: but missed the opportunity from not knowing that the
office had changed the days. Another post goes to-morrow morning,
but as you may have left Annapolis, I have thought it best to reserve it
for the Eastern Shore on Wednesday. If, however, I should have a line
from you at Ann's informing of your stay there this week, I will repeat
the substance of what I have written, although there is nothing requir-
ing an immediate answer.

So I shall say no more at present, except to acknowledge the receipt
of the preface, and to express my approbation of it, and that

I am, yours affectionately,

W. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Baltimore, Fel)ruary 25, 1786.

Dear Sir: As Mr. Green, by his newspaper, knew the different

places where I was to be every day during my late tour for holding the

election of Visitors and Governors of St. John's College, he forwarded

your short letter of February 12th to Upper Marlboro' where it met me

1 82 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [l/S^

the 22d instant on my way to this town; and gave me the great satis-
faction of hearing that you had received the preface, and that it hath
met with your approbation. By our appointment, among other things,
we were directed to "accompany the Prayer Book with a ^xo'^q.x Preface
or Address, setting forth the reason and expediency of the alterations,
etc." This, therefore, was a very important part of the great trust
committed to us, and I was exceedingly anxious that it should be dis-
charged in the fullest and yet least ostentatious manner possible, hold-
ing forth this leading idea through the whole, that we were not attempt-
ing any novel reformations or the least departure from wliat has been
the general sense of the greatest and best men in our Church for a
century past. If our address has the effect intended, it will procure a
ready acceptance of the book, and that not upon the mere authority
of the Convention, but upon principles carrying conviction to every
rational mind, and enabling them as I hinted in my last to give a
reason, etc., to all who may call in question any part of the alterations
or improvements, which are offered. In this view, the preface is a neces-
sary and essential part of our work, and I hope will not be thought too
long as I cannot see in what part it could well be abridged without
injury. I speak this from my own wish to have had it shorter: for you
do not seem to make any objection to its length, or to anything else in
it, which as I said before gives me great satisfaction. I think I men-
tioned in my last letter that if printed in a smaller letter it will not
take more room than the different prefaces before the old Prayer Book,
which are three or four (exclusive of the Act of Uniformity), viz. : ist.
The General Preface; 2d. Concerning the Service of the Church; 3d.
Of Ceremonies, etc. ; 4th. How the Psalter and Scripture are to be
read. I beg your attention to the punctuation, both of the hymns and
preface, as I never read them over with a view to punctuation, and you
have only such stops or points as fell from my pen in a hasty transcrip-
tion.

Please to direct the bookbinder to prepare half a dozen copies of the
best and first binding in his power for my use, as I have engaged them
to some persons of distinction, friends and patrons of our great under-
taking.

Our Convention meets the 4th of April. I hope we shall not be dis-
appointed in our five hundred books; some of which ought to be dis-
tributed in the different parishes before that time. You will give all
dispatch possible. Dr. West gives you his best compliments. He is
just elected by Baltimore Town, a Visitor and Governor of St. John's
College. We meet for the first time, as a body corporate at Annapolis
on Tuesday next; and on Wednesday, March ist, I hope to cross the
Bay to Chester and to receive your several letters which may wait for

me there Have you yet heard anything from England?

Yours, etc.,

Wm. Smith.

I/oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 83

Bev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

March 17th, 17S6.

Dear Sir: Yours of the 15th does not require a long answer. I have
hastily, since my last, run over the metre psalms; but except some cor-
rections in the punctuation, which I think might be made to advantage
in sundry passages, I see little that needs alteration ; and even these are
too insignificant, to require a table of Ei-rata. A candid reader will
easily see they are but little oversights, and I have seen no impression
of the psalms or indeed of the Prayer Book in general, more free from
typographical errors, for which we are indebted to your indefatigable
attention to the sheets, joined I am persuaded to some considerable
care and attention in Messrs. Hall and Sellers.

In the hymns enclosed to me in your last are a few lines I could have
wished to amend, but hope they are now printed off, and so they must
stand as they are at present. You objected in your letter of February
ist upon receiving the copies of the hymns, to a line in the 4th hymn
(viz., for Good Friday), '■^Well 7nay the sun as hell be black,' ^ also in
your letter of February i6th you objected to the expression, "Spoil of
armies once their dread,'''' in the 2d Hymn for the Ascension, being
Hymn X. I thought both your objections well grounded, and readily
proposed substitutes; the last of which on Ascension Day (as I wrote
you) I considered as a great improvement; but as I had not kept copies
of the original hymns which I transmitted to you, I made the altera-
tions or substitutions, from what my memory retained of them and in
both cases changed the person, viz., putting the second person for the
third; instead of

" Tliou sun as darkest night be black,"

It should be '■'■The sun, etc.,''' and perhaps "deepest night'" for "darkest
night. ' '

Again in Hymn X, the second for the Ascension, in stanzas 5 and 6, .
the second person should be everywhere changed into the third person,
not only on account of the rhyme in the 5th stanza, as " Thou " does not
rhyme to "captivity," but also on account of the sense and beauty of
connection, which, as I said before, I could not so well perceive in
offering the amendment from memory. The hymn is in double rhymes,
and the two stanzas, viz., 5th and 6th, should run thus:

5 Ascending high, in triumph, He

Hath gifts receiv'd for sinful men ;
And captive led captivity,

That God may dwell on earth again.

6 Ev'n Rebels shall partake His grace

And humble proselytes repair,
To worship at His dwelling-place,
And all the world pay homage there.

184 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

And in Hymn IX (the first for the Ascension) which I consider as
one of the most beautiful and animated in the whole collection — nay,
even sublime — the first and second verses taken from Psalm xxiv, and
connected with verses that follow, which follow in double rhymes, should
for uniformity, had it been attended to in due season, have been changed
into double rhymes also, which might easily have been done as follows,
viz., for the words '■'■ eternal gates,'" in the first line, putting ^'■eternal
domes,'" and for the words " his foes" in the third line of verse second
putting " his foe," which would have been much stronger in the singu-
lar number than the plural, in making it applicable to the one great foe,
whom Christ came to subdue. As the hymns are of different metres,
they might have been marked as such; but being all I think of the first
and second metre, the clerks cannot well mistake them. I would ob-
serve too that in singing or metre psalms, instead of putting the num-
bers of the psalms, as the running title at the top of each page, the top
of the page, or running title, had perhaps better have been the subjects
or heads under which they are classed, as '■^Psalms of Praise and Ador-
ation," ^^ Psalms of Prayer," etc. Thus at every opening of the book,
the clerks or ministers would know the subject, without turning back to
the title or heads at the beginning of each class or set of psalms; and
these titles would have stood in as little room at the top of each page
as " Psalms II. III. — Psalms V. VI," which are of little use on the fop,
as a glance of the eye shows the number, in the body of the pages. But
all these little amendments (the last of which is an afterthought) are
too late for the present, even if they should be deemed amendments.

In that part of the preface which speaks of the failure of the great
work of the review at the Revolution in 1689, I would have wished to
have said a little more concerning the reasons of that unhappy failure;
and that in the words of Dr. Warner, from the preface to his commen-
tary on the Common Prayer, a very excellent and judicious work to
which I had not attended when I drew up the preface to our bock. It
might yet be added in a note upon the word '■'■miscarried" in the fol-
lowing paragraph of the preface, which you can easily find. In my
rough copy it runs thus, which is all that is said, viz. :

But this great and good work miscarried at that time; and the civil authority of
Great Britain hath not since thought proper to revive it by any new commission.

The note on the foregoing is as follows, or it might have been inter-
woven with the text, or stood altogether instead of the paragraph just
quoted, viz. :

After giving an account of the alterations intended at the Revolution,
much as I have stated them from the same authors, as he had to follow,
he concludes thus :

But while this important affair was carrying on, the p.irty which was now at work
for the abdiialed King, took hold on this occasion to inlLune men's minds. It was

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 85

pretended that the Church was to be demolished, and Presbytery set up. The trumpet
of sedition was sounded as usual from the pulpits. The Universities took fire, and
began to declare against the commission and against all who promoted it, as men who
intended to undermine the Church. So that it was very visible that the temper of men
was not cool or calm enough to encourage the further prosecution of this great and
good design, which would have been so much to the improvement of our public wor-
ship, to the interest of the Protestant religion, and to the honor of the Church of Eng-
land : and thus it was defeated by the turbulency and restless spirit of ignorant and
factious and evil-minded men. Why it has not been resumed in the days of more
knowledge, more candor and Christian charity, is a question which many good men
have often asked with seriousness and zeal, buP which no great men, upon which it
lies to do it, I believe, have ever answered.

I say that if I had adverted to this paragraph in time, I should prob-
ably have inserted it at large instead of the few general lines which I
have quoted in the two last lines of the foregoing page, and the first
line of this; or have thrown it in a note at the bottom as now proposed.
Had it stood in the body of the preface, it would come in very well;
for after Dr. Warner's words, "which no great men, upon whom it lies
to do it, I believe, have ever answered," the next paragraph of our
preface beginning, "But uiJien in course of his divine Providence, etc.,''^
would just as well have followed, as it does the few words I have said
on the subject. But I submit wholly to you, whether it may be proper
now to insert it by way of note, or in the body, or to leave the preface
just as it is v/ithout entering more particularly into the reasons of the
miscarriage at the Revolution in England. I would not wish to draw
any opposition to what has been done in our Church; and yet I fear
the quotation above from Dr. Warner will yet be necessary (though it
maybe left out for the present,) to show, if any opposition arises among
us, it will be from the same principles as that in England, a dislike to
our American Revolution. I v/ould not ascribe the opposition or rather
disapprobation which I find in some of my friends to this principle,
because I believe they are well satisfied with what Providence has per-
mitted to take place respecting American independency; but they
object strongly to setting the State so much above the Church, for which
you bear much of the blame on account of your old pamphlet,* and

* " The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States considered, etc.," a tract
misunderstood at the time and very unjustifiably used by certain low Churchmen since.
Dr. White took pains in a note to his charge of 1S07, to put himself right by showing
that at the time he wrote the tract the Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania — so far as
the events of the Revolutionary War could be anticipated — was in danger of annihila-
tion, if we had to waii for consecration by the English 'Bishops. The moment that
there came a prospect of peace he called in and destroyed all copies of the tract that
he could easily procure. He also left a manuscript produced, in fac simile quite lately,
by his great-grandson, Mr. T. \\. Montgomery — a gentleman, I may add, to whom our
Church is much indebted for illustrations of its history — in which he again vindicates
l;iimself against the ideas which some low churchman, by reprinting his tract, sought

1 86 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/86

Strenuous efforts at our last general Convention to bring that clause
forward respecting the control of the laity over the appointment of
bishops, and which may be made a handle of to prejudice many against
other parts of our proceedings.

My learned but zealous high church little friend and relation (as he
says), Mr. Smith, of Somerset, writes me as follows — which perhaps he
did not yet wish me to communicate to you, although I believe he cares
not who sees what he writes, yet you will keep it to yourself till I can
see him, which will be in two, weeks — but I lose the thread of my dis-
course— I say Mr. Smith, who says he has just received a long letter
from Bishop Seabury on the same subject, with an account of their
Connecticut Constitution, writes thus :

I have been looking all this while for a sight of the Prayer Book altered, and by a
letter from Dr. White I understand it is hurrying on. A passage in that letter I did
not and do not now perceive the propriety of — it is this — " I suppose you have heard
of our application to the English Bishops, the Convention was far from wishing to show
any disrespect to the Scots Episcopacy, etc."

And so he gives me a long extract of your letter, and then writes as
follows :

These modes of proceeding may be consentaneous with the wisdom of this world,
but ill accords with that wisdom, who hath said — My kingdom is not of this 7vorld —
Yc are not of the world, etc. To the account the Dr. (White) gives of Bishop Sea-
bury's failure (as he is pleased to call it) I shall only say thus much. That the case
of the Church in all the States, or in any individual one at present, is perfectly as a
single diocese without a centre of unity, the presbyters of which have an unquestion-
able right to nominate a bishop, without the interference of any diocese having a
bishop or not having one. Bishop Seabury's failure then, on ecclesiastical principles,
is not owing to his being sent by presbyters acting in their private capacity — Certificates
from the ruling powers is without a precedent in any Christian Church in the universe.
This is fi.xing the Church under the power of the State for ever and ever with a wit-
ness. It is making Jesus Christ make obeisance to Caesar ! ! ! Reigning, powers grant-
ing certificales ! Tell it not in Gath ! publish it not to the world lest we publish our
own infamy. The Church in America to derive her power, nay her existence from
temporal auth ..\:y — perish the idea! Her charter from the hands of the eternal runs
thus: ^'■As my Father hath sent me, etc." "All power is given to me in Heaveit." Let
us render unto Caesar, etc. The Church and the State are by God constituted separate,
and let no man join what he hath separated. The sword of the Cherubim and Ccesar's
are of different metals, the one pointing to the victim which should prevent the effu-
sion of human blood by his own, the other occasioning multitudes of garments rolled
in blood and the infinite number of the slain. " May the Church rest always on its
own true foundation Jesus Christ, and the throne of Empire on its proper basis — Mercy.
Adieu. May God direct you and those who sit in Moses' seat, etc."

to put upon him. His plan acknowledged the necessity of Episcopal ordination in
every case where it could be obtained; but until it could be, proposed to follow its form,
awaiting the consummation of the substance. Dr. Smith, it is certain, held to the same
ideas that Dr. White did on the subject of ordination. See my former volume, page
402. And it is equally certain that those views can be justified by some of the most
autlioritalive writers uf the Church of England. See Appendix, No. IV. — II. W. S.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 8/

You will meditate on all this and do with the proposed addition in
the preface as 3'ou think best, only do not delay it for sending me

proofs In the paragraph of the preface beginning "When in

the course of divine Providence, it pleased Almighty God that these
American States, etc.," a few lines afterwards you have the words
"these States" a second time, dele the repetition of "these States."
You will supply all the omissions of words, etc., in this letter, for as
usual I put off sitting down to write you till within an hour of the post

going of.

Yours, etc.,

Wm. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, March, 17S6.

With respect to our friend Mr. Hopkinson's hymns, that for first
Thursday in November is only another arrangement of some of the
verses of the same psalms which stand in my collection for the same
day, and whether for the better or worse, you only can'tell, as I have no
copy of those I sent you before, and to which you have given your
general approbation. If this hymn of Mr. Hopkinson's collection is all
he intends for first Thursday of November, it is very defective, or at
least, as there will be psalmody twice if not oftener on that day, we
should have more than one hymn ; and I leave the matter wholly with
you, if the 'business is not already finished, being persuaded that you
will not break in upon the arrangement I had (with great application)
made without some good purpose in view.

As to the Fourth of July. The hymn offered by Mr. Hopkinson is in
many parts far too flat for the great occasion, and no way equal to what
I have taken from Psalms 81 and 68. Thus — Wax darkening slX the
land — God brings nations to decay — Willing ratrcy Jiew — Yiow good i\\Q.
Lord has been — and also in the hymn for November — "Grass for our
cattle to devour ^^ — although taken from Tate and Brady, does not read
clever : it represents the poor animals as ravenous and dying of hunger,
so as to devour z\\ before them, instead o{ feeding happiiy said contentedly
upon plenty.

The lines from Psalm 81 (for July 4th), which are in the collection I
sent you, ending thus —

Your Ancestors with lurongs oppress'df

To me for aid did call,
With pity I their Sufferings saw —

And set them free from all —

have far more in them than all that is proposed in their room (if it is to
be in their room) or if to be added, would be superfluity. There can
be no objection to the words " with wrongs oppressW^ — for it is stronger

188 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

Still in Mr. Hopkinson's, viz. : "/<? rescue frotn oppressive rage " — and
in the former, the beautiful reference to "Ancestors" will ages hence
continue to be used with a noble propriety. However, if these hymns
can come in without tearing the whole texture of the others, and if it
be Mr. Hopkinson's wish to have them, I am satisfied, for unless I had
the whole before me, as proposed to be altered, I cannot take upon me
to judge properly, and must leave that to you. Only I wish you to save
an exact copy, or the whole originals of the hymns as I sent them to
you.

As we have kept the collects, epistles and gospels, for about twenty-
two holy days, beginning with St. Andrew, and ending with All Saints',
it will be necessary to mark in the calendar, as heretofore, the days of
the month, on which these holy days fall, and to retain the table of
lessons for those days, as the churches which think it proper will still be
as ready to observe those days, or some of them, as occasion may
require.

I know you have taken great pains with the table of lessons, and I am
persuaded I shall have much reason to approve of what you have done ;
which will be best considered when the whole is taken together ; and it
would be wrong to judge by piece-meal, of anything which the necessity
of the case has made the work of one alone, and on which his particular
attention hath been bestowed, taking the whole in one large and
consistent view.

The same is the case with respect to the preface, on which, as a most
material part of our trust and commission, I had determined from the
beginning to bestow every convenient and possible attention, and it
gives me the highest satisfaction that you " like it both in the plan and
execution." I have no exact copy of it, only notes and sketches of the
principal parts, so that I can make no use of your reference to pages in
your remarks ; but still can answer them in substance, so as to enable
you to correct it, if not too late for the press. In my last from Balti-
more I wished you to attend to punctuation, etc., both in the hymns
and preface, as I had not read either of them over with a view either
to the niceties of language, grammar or stops. I proceed to your
remarks.*

I. I think the little quotation from the Council of Trent, exceeding

proper to show that all churches agree with the Church of England in

the doctrine of her prefaces, respecting the necessity of alterations,

according to times and exigencies. In Maryland we have many Roman

Catholics, who are even already questioning some of our weak members,

and charging us with novelties, and still further departures from the

Catholic faith. The answer is ready in the quotation from a Council

of their own Church, especially that of Trent.

. i

"'^ See these, supra, pp. 1S0-181.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 89

2d. Protestant Episcopal Churches should be in the singular num-
ber; and yet if all our New England brethren should not join us,
they niay say we take too much on us to call seven or eight States
the whole Protestant Episcopal Chnrch of America. I do not remem-
ber the connection of the paragraph; but if it be churches, in the
plural, some such idea must have been in my head; or it is a mistake
of the pen. Make this and other like things consistent according to
your best judgment; for I know you will not Aitkenise'^ anything,
being too judicious to put a patcJi that would not consort with the gar-
ment at large.

3d. Page 12. The apology for not revising the Collects may be
omitted in this preface. Yet not for fear of hinting the probability of
further reviews, but because there were other things besides the Collects
which the Church of England at and before the Revolution had in con-
templation to review, and which we have not yet touched upon ; and
therefore every reader may be left to his own conclusion, as to the
necessity of future reviews, by a comparison of our book on the whole,
with the intended alterations at the Revolution, and I think the credit
of our work will rise on the comparison.

Ibid — You may say "The service is arranged so as to stand as nearly
as possible in the order wherein it is appointed to be read, without the
necessity of turning backwards and forwards, etc."

Page 13. Say "for the greater facility of choosing Psalms adapted to
particular subjects and occasions of divine worship;" or some such
amendment.

Page 14 — in the note — Bishop Burnet, being a great name, and the
expositor of the articles, seems to me very proper to be mentioned, and
I should think, it being only a note, there is no need of leaving it out.
There is no alteration made in the whole book, which is like to create
so much difficulty as the omission of the descent into hell; and yet wher-
ever I have had occasion to explain the matter as in the note alluded
to, it seems to have given content. I would not give any reasons for
omitting the two other creeds. The Athanasian seems freely to be parted
with on all hands, and as to the Nicene I would say nothing concerning
it in this edition of the Prayer Book; because I believe some whole
States will agree with the three New England States, in having it inserted
at their next Convention, and left optional either to be used, or to use the
Apostles' Creed, although not both in the same Morning or Evening Ser-
vice; while others (I fear much from Virginia) will be for no creeds at all,
and also for striking out the Trinitarian introduction to the Litany. Yet,
I hope, calmness and sound argument, through the blessing of God, may
reconcile all, and preserve the unity of the faith in the bond of peace.

* A reference, doubtless, to Robert Aitken, a Philadelphia printer of some note at
that time.

190 LIFE AND COKRESrONDENCE OF THE V^l'^^

Page 15. "Son" of the Church maybe made "member," and I had
no more idea of excluding the "daughters" of the Church, than 1 have
every Sunday, when I say '■'Dearly beloved brethren^ Something may
be added, in a few words, in acknowledgment to the Church of Ireland,
for the office adopted from her. You will know where to insert it.

I hope, now, my good Sir, we have wholly done; and it will ever
give me pleasure to testify the great satisfaction I have had in the pro-
gress of this laborious work, and how much it hath been made easy to
me (amidst the avocations I have had, and my distance from the press)
by the candor and judgment which you have shown, the punctuality of
your correspondence, and the great pains you have taken in digesting,
transcribing, examining, correcting the press, etc., etc.

I wish to know whether Mr. Hall's calculation of the price of his
work and paper was not on twenty sheets, and whether there will be
any addition to the price on his account? Or on the bookbinder's? If
none the only additional price will be the engraving and printing the
tunes. You know it is part of our appointment to fix the price of the
book, direct the distribution thereof, take care that it be sold only for
money and the profits applied to the widows and fatherless. I cannot
think a dollar will be too much. Had we suffered any printer here to
do it on his own account, he would have asked a much greater price.
You know what they charged for small imported Prayer Books, and the
very smallest School Books. Yet for the reasons you suggest, I wish it
to be as cheap as possible, so as to have some savings; for you may be
assured that there will be money lost, or with great difiiculty col-
lected out of the hands of some to whom the books may be sent for
distribution or sale.

I had almost forgotten your objection to —

" The spoil of armies once their dread,"

as applied to the Ascension. You know it is Tate and Brady's, and
hath long stood among our psalms, but is easily altered thus, which I
think will bring it nearer to the evangelical sense as well as sublimity
of the original, which is Psalm 68, v. 18 :

In triumph, Thou, ascending high,

WcCiX. gifts received for sinful men,
An i captive led captivity,

That God may dwell on earth again !

This I think will be very proper for the Ascension.

I have preserved and endorsed all your letters, and wish you to do
the same with mine. They may refresh our memories at some future

1/86] ^/iT. IVILLTAM SMITH, D. D. I9I

day, or show our children after us what honest and conscientious labor
we bestowed on the work committed to us.

Yours,

Wm. Smith,

Bev. Dr. Whiie fo Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, March 8, 17S6.

Dear Sir :....! send you the sheets finished ; besides which there
is another form prepared for press containing the residue of the psalms
and the first Nativity Hymn : besides which other hymns are prepared
in a detached way, but cannot be put in form for want of quadrats re-
maining in the preceding forms; as these latter cannot be broken until
the receipt of some paper hourly expected from mill. We have not
yet suffered for want of it. I lament our delays but cannot help them.
I will review the hymns to which your remarks or Mr. Hopkinson's
relate and endeavor to settle them to your satisfaction. The only
liberty (so far as I recollect) that I have taken with the others is the
leaving out some verses in one of the hymns at sea respecting the blas-
pheming after a storm which appeared to me too much like the language
— "/ cvn not as this Publican.'''' If you dislike this omission, I can still
retain the verses. I have also put the Glory be to the Father, etc.,
immediately after the psalms before the notification that the hymns
begin : as it is meant to be a part of a psalm to convert it into a Chris-
tian hymn, but not itself commonly known under the term hymn.

The paper I have prepared for the press relative to the holy days has
the extra holidays just as you desire. You have omitted answering me
on a very important question respecting the calendar lessons. On the
one hand I find that by our taking it in hand, these three important
points may be gained: the shortening of the daily service, the getting
rid of the Apocrypha, and the omitting two or three lessons very offen-
sive (in public reading) to modest ears. On the other hand it is not
within the letter of our appointment, so that I should not like to accom-
plish what I think best on this subject without your concurrence.

I shall continue the preface to your satisfaction. As to the punctua-
tion of this and the hymns, I had presumed from a general glance over
the points that you had attended to them ; but if any appear improper
in the proof-sheets I will correct them.

It gives me great pleasure that you are satisfied with the execution
of my part of the trust on this occasion ; especially as I can with great
sincerity make a similar acknowledgment ; and as I shall ahvay allow
you more credit on the score oi judgment than you ought to allow me,
so also there is nothing you can say on that of candor and temper which
I sliall not as freely and fully say of you.

You are right as to Mr. Hall's estimate of sheets, and as to the price
of binding nothing more has past. Mr. Woodhouse has lialf the num-
ber prepared for the covers and is impatient to begin.

192 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

If yoii are clear as to the proposed price I have no objection.

It now becomes a matter of serious consideration, whether we shall
avail ourselves of the copyright, for which (as I am told by a gentleman
interested on these subjects) there are laws lately passed in other States,
making ten States in all. I think the mode of doing it should be for
Messrs. Hall and Sellers to enter it in their names, first executing to us
an acknowledgment of trust, and so leaving the matter to the next Con-
vention, which may order a conveyance of the right to the several cor-
porations for widows, etc.

I will send you by the next post my opinion of the manner in which

we should proceed in regard to the sale of the books; and shall only at

present say on that head, that as the Maryland Convention is the first,

all the copies that can be got ready for their use shall be devoted to

them in preference to any demands on the spot.

I am, yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

P. S. — I shall carefully and with pleasure observe your desire respect-
ing preserving your letters; but had I foreseen you would have be-
stowed the same attention on mine, I should not have sent you such
hasty scrawls.

Bev, Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Dear Sir : I am happy to find that yours of the 8th instant leaves
me nothing to write by this post, except to repeat my solicitations that
the printers may be pressed to use all the dispatch possible with the re-
mainder of the book; otherwise it will come too late for our Maryland
Convention; and it is of considerable consequence that it should have
a ready reception, with the sanction of the Church at large in this State
upon its first appearance. Send me by this post as many of the remain-
ing sheets and proofs, as you can get from the press.

I imagined that in my last I had given what you would consider as a
sufficient answer to your "important questions" concerning the calen-
dar, on which subject you had also written in some former letters. The
arranging the calendar in the manner you mention, and which I had
approved of when I saw you last in Philadelphia, is a work of great
labor, requiring the reading over almost the whole Bible, and many
collations and comparisons of different portions thereof. You had
taken that labor upon you and I am assured have bestowed much atten-
tion and judgment upon it, while I have been either engaged in some
other parts of the work, or called from home, as I have been for the
greatest part of the past winter. Unless, therefore, I could have time
to read all the proposed portions of Scripture, with the same attention
which you have bestowed (for which time is not left, even if I had an

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D I93

exact copy of the calendar as proposed) it would be wrong for the rea-
sons given in my last letter to interpose, lest by judging of that by
parts, which you had under review in the whole, I should injure the
texture, etc. These sentiments I wished you to consider as an answer
to your question concerning the calendar; being sensible also that you
muet have been possessed of the same way of judging and giving your
approbation to some parts which fell to my share in carrying on our
work. By just hinting to you not to forget the place of the Apostles',

etc., or extra holy days, I imagined that you would conclude

that I could depend fully on your execution of part, viz., the

of lessons, as you have bestowed so much attention upon

them. Yet, still I apprehend that I have not with sufficient clearness,
expressed what I wished about inserting in the calendar the days to
which I referred in my last. I did not mean that they should stand in
a separate table or paper, but in the monthly calendar, as they now
stand. Thus in January, the Circumcision is ist day, Epiphany 6th,
Conversion of St. Paul the 25th. These are all which should stand for
that month. The rest, as Lucian P., Hilary Bishop, Prisca V., and
other legendaries, Fabian, Agnes, Vincent, and even King Charles
Martyr, all expunged, and thirty of the rest, of the other months, in
order that when the minister casts his eye on the monthly calendars, he
may be reminded when any of those days happen on Sunday, or on
Prayer Days, that he may take the Collects and Lessons, with the Epis-
tles and Gospels accordingly; if he thinks it proper ox desired by his
hearers, especially the female part, on Wednesdays and Fridays. I
think we must not make our service too naked, nor will these days, viz.,
St. Paul, the Johns, Andrew, etc., be parted with all at once nor does
it seem necessary. A proper use of those days tends to edification,
and gives some further knowledge of the History of the Bible.

On casting my eye on the singing psalms, I perceive some typo-
graphical errors. Psalm 28, v. 2.

When tJioii to seek thy glorious face
Thou kindly, etc.

The first ''thou'''' is "■us'''' in the original, and would be better " fiie.''^
As it now stands, the first thou makes nonsense. Again, Psalm 38, v.
1st, line third wants 2ifoot, viz., the word "the" before cherubs. How
many little errors typographical of this kind may be, I have not ex-
amined ; but will spend a few hours in looking over the whole book,
that if the errors be of any consideration, we may put a little table of
corrections at the end. Psalm 21 does not seem to stand under any
metre at all. I see some parts of the psalms appropriated for particular
days as hymns, as 104 — also some verses applicable only to the cruci-
fixion, are in the general collection — which will make some repetitions;
but as they are but a {q.\n verses I would not have anything omitted, in.

13

194 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

the hymn on this account. I will this week if possible, look further at
tlie calendar, but do not delay anything on that account. I know I shall

approve what you have done, as will the not exactly within

the letter of our authority.

N. B. — The first lesson for the first Sunday in Lent, on reading it,
appeared to hurt me in some parts the Sunday before last. It is aft in-
structive lesson on the whole, if we could leave out part of a chapter,
or pass over verses, viz., where Lot offers his virgin daiigiitcrs to the men
to do with them as they pleased. If the calendar is in proof, pray
send it, but still I beg no stop on my account.

I must conclude hastily and am as ever,

Yours,

Wm. Smith.

P. S. — My letters have been as much scrawled in haste as yours; but
both of us may review and correct any hasty escapes of the pen, etc.

Bev. Dr. V\lhik to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, ^^a^ch 15th, 1786.

To the best of my recollection the inclosed are the proper continua-
tion of the sheets: if not, and there be a chasm, you will inform me
and I will supply it by next post. ^

Besides these, I have corrected two proof-sheets for the press, so that
I expect we shall have the hymns fully composed some time to-morrow.

Then going backwards from the Morning Prayer, we have a form
composed containing the tables for finding the holy days. Two more
forms will be taken up with the Tables of Feasts and Fasts, of proper
lessons, and of the lessons according to the calendar. The preface will
occupy another form, besides part of it being thrown forward to be on
the same form or part of form with the Title Page. In short, by this
day week, I hope to have the whole composed: which being done, they
may finish at their leisure the press work of these few remaining forms,
only striking off some for the bookbinder to begin.

There is nothing you mention as you wish (in yours of this day) con-
cerning the calendar, but what is prepared agreeably to it. I should
not have troubled you further on this subject, but that I understood
what you had before written, as applying to the proper lessons only.
But the chapter you mention, I have thought best to omit wholly.

I am sorry for the typographical errors and hope you will perform
your promise of going over the whole book. Such slips will easier
attract your eye than mine, which has already run over these sheets,
both in the preparation and in the execution.

I am yours, etc. ,

Wm. White.
I>jt. Smith,

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I95

P. S. — I have not yet heard a word from England, but hope that the
January packet will bring some information.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, April i, 1786.
Dear Sir: Mr. Woodhouse will send you by this opportunity six
setts of the Proposed Book including (as I expect) all except the re-
viewed forms. The preface will not be in its proper form; but as I
intend sending by the next post the sheets necessary to complete the
book, you will please to leave directions at Annapolis concerning them,
if you should leave it before their arrival.

I beg my affectionate compliments to such of our brethren at the
Convention as I have the pleasure of knowing, and am

Yours, affectionately,

Wm. White.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, Maryland, April 3, 1786.
Dear Sir: .... On the other sheet you have some corrections,
which I wish in the preface and which I think will appear to you for the
better, if you can make out to read them. Send me title page, calen-
dar, preface, etc., by this post. The printers need only work a few of
the titles and prefaces, till you hear from me next week. A few will
keep the bookbinder at work.

I am yours, etc.,

Wm. Smith.

Corrections. . . . Preface.

Paragraph ist. For the words "whatever cannot be clearly deter-
mined,'''' say ^'■zvhat cannot, etc."

Paragraph 2d. For "laid down as a rule" say "laid // down, etc."

Paragraph 4th. After the words "too much stiffness in refusing," in-
sert, "and" so as to read, "too much stiffness in refusing and too much
easiness in admitting, etc."

In the paragraph beginning "3d. For a more perfect rendering,''' after
the word ^'liturgy'''' and before the word '■'made''' in the parenthesis
insert '■'and,''' so as to read "are inserted in^^ the liturgy (and made a
part of the daily service)."

In the 6th quaere. Beginning "Whether in particular a psalm or
anthem should not be adapted and sung, etc.," insert the word ''to''
after adapted, and read "adapted to, and sung at the celebration, etc."

In the 8th quaere. Relating to the Epistles and Gospels, after the
word "especially" strike out the word "as" and insert "unless," and
it will read "especially unless the first design of inserting this, viz., as

196 LIFE AND CORRESFONDEA-CE OF THE [17S6

introductory to the communion, etc.," putting a comma after the word
communion.

In the nth quaere. The word ^^ Baptism'' should not be distinguished
by italics from the other offices which are printed in Roman.

There are several other things of this kind, which neither the printer
nor we perhaps have now time to notice.

In the paragraph beginning "But while these alterations, etc.," alter
the whole so as to read thus :

But Vi'hile these alterations were in reviezv before the late Convention, they could
not but with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occasion which was offered to them
(uninfluenced and unrestrained by any worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further
review of the public service, and to propose to the Church at large such other altera-
tions and amendments therein as might be deemed expedient, whether consisting, etc.
(as It now stands).

In the next paragraph — in the last line — strike out the words "«/
that time'''' and read "thought reasonable and expedient.'" In the follow-
ing paragraph, "speaking of the 'Glory to God on high'" after the
"etc.'" insert "which may be said, unless" before the words "when it
can be properly sung," the whole to read thus, "Glory to God on high,
etc., which may be said, unless when it can be properly sung." In the
paragraph which speaks of July 4th, for "Blessing" insert "Blessings
of civil and religious liberty."

In the last paragraph, strike out so as to make it read "be received
and examined, etc.," as it now stands, to the end.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, April 5, 1786.

Dear Sir : Several of the corrections which you propose

in the preface, I had previously made ! The rest shall also be made.

I hope you will not think of altering the title page, after some are
binding. It will be attended wath the following inconveniences: ist.
Mr. Smith must give two certificates different from each other, for the
act requires the title to appear in the certificate.* 2d. Several will
have gone (before the change) into quarters, where you will not wish
such inconsistency to appear — to Boston for instance where the Con-
vention of Massachusetts and Rhode Island meet on the 27th instant —
and wish to have the whole before them. 3d. The persons who sliall
purchase the first copies will think themselves defrauded. And after
all, there is nothing that can be so easily amended in future editions,
the very nature of the present niaking a peculiarity necessary in the
title.

I expect to have this evening the second page, with Mr. Smith's

* Dr. White here refers to the certificate of copyright by J. B. Smith, prefixed to the
Proposed Book.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 19/

certificate and the table of contents, and to-morrow morning the re-
viewed forms. Tiie intervention of the newspaper has delayed them.

I am yours, etc.

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Smith io Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, April 9, 1786.

Dear Sir : We had a considerable majority of all our

clergy (not many of the laity) at our Convention, and have agreed to
receive and recommend to public use the new book, as far as the power
of our State Church may be supposed to extend in our present unorgan-
ized State. A few alterations are proposed to be offered to the next
Convention. The Nicene Creed to follow the Apostles', with an "or
this.''^ A little alteration, or rather discretionary power in the admin-
istration of baptism, where the minister may have great numbers to
baptize together, and an addition to the consecration prayer at the holy
sacrament, for a blessing on the elements, which being only a few
words, and those extremely proper, and agreeable to the practice of all
other Protestant Churches, as well as what was in the first liturgy of
Edward VI. hath perfectly reconciled Mr. Smith* to our service and
will prevent any further division between us and the numbers of clergy
coming among us from Bishop Seabury and the Scots' Church.

In the Scots' and Edward VI's liturgy the prayer was exceptionable
and leaning much to transubstantiation in these words: "Vouchsafe to
bless and sanctify these thy creatures of bread and wine, that they may
be unto us the body and blood, etc." The Scots' still stronger, viz.,
"that they may become unto us the body and bloods The alteration as
we propose it is thus, beginning at the words in the consecration prayer,
"Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee, and
vouchsafe so to bless and sanctify these thy creatures of bread and wine,
that we receiving them according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's
holy institution, in remembrance, etc.," as it now stands. This reads
as well as before, pleases all sides, and is certainly an improvement, as
there was before no invocation of a blessing on the sacred elements.
When you send the book to Mr. Parker, of Boston, before their ensuing
Convention, send him as from me, with the compliments of the Mary-
land Convention, the foregoing proposed addition in the consecration
prayer, and also notify our agreement with our New England brethren
in the restitution of the Nicene Creed.

I beg by post at least one complete book. I have none at present.
The title I have not seen, and do not wish to alter, but it should cor-

*The Rev. William Smith, of Stepney Parish, Somerset county, alluded to, supra,
page 186. See a sketch of him, by an able hand, infra, page 274.

198 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE {M"^^

respond also with the title in the eleventh page of the journal of Con-
vention. When shall we have books ? Our clergy and laity complained
much that they should have been obliged to judge of the book on a
hasty reading, during the sitting of a Convention.

Yours, W.M. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, April 12, 17S6.

Dear Sir: I think the proposed alterations of your Con-
vention will render our service more complete.

With this I shall send you the sheets that were wanting when you went

down. Mr. W -will furnish a parcel this week. As there is a vessel

soon to sail for Charlestown, you will approve sending to the most dis-
tant States first. Be assured, you shall have a parcel, before a single
book is sold here.

I am yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Dr. Smith.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, April 17, 17S6.

Dear Sir : In the preface at the bottom of page 4, there is

an error, viz., "construction" for "misconstruction." It is the last
word of the page, and is a capital mistake indeed ! I think it could
not have been in the copy. In the last page of the preface, second
paragraph, "Visitation oi prisons,'' should be '■'■ piisoneis.''' I believe
there is little else to be observed in the preface, although I cannot say
I have read it critically, yet it seems to read sufficiently correct for the
present. I shall before June next take the whole book, and make every
correction which I think may be necessary in future editions, and lay
them before the Convention.* I hope you and perhaps others of our
brethren will do the same.

I Avish you had taken my advice respecting David's 114th Psalm,
which stood before as our 21st, and only have made a note at the end
of the book that the psalm was misplaced, and ought in future editions
to come in under its proper metre, as Psalm 16, and that the metres of
148 and 149 should be exchanged if such correction be necessary; for
it is merely arbitrary which we call 5th and which the 6th metres, if
the Gloria Patri's be arranged accordingly.

As you have taken our 24th Psalm or David's 149th from the sheet
Gg and placed it Ff, the mere reprinting that one sheet Ff (which you

* Dr. Smith's own copy of the Proposed Book, with the manuscript corrections re-
ferred to in this letter, is now in the library of the Right Rev. William Bacon Stevens,
D. D., of PhiLidelphia, to whom it was given by the present writer. — H. W. S.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 99

have sent me), will not complete the book. You will have the first
leaf of the sheet Gg to reprint, or else the whole sheet, if the book-
binder does not choose the trouble to cut out a leaf in every sheet and
paste it in the book which is immense trouble, and will occasion much
delay. For you will observe, that after the sheet Ff (which is reprinted)
the 4th, 5th, 6th, yth, etc., verses of David's 148th Psalm must come
in the sheet Gg, where his 149th now stands, and the beginning of his
96th or our 25th. This, as I said, will be great trouble and delay,
which I am sorry for, as the people are become exceedingly impatient
for copies of the book, and the more so as they have more experience
of its use. My congregations were exceedingly pleased with the two
Good Friday hymns, which, as they had not books, were first read and
then sung, and also the two Easter hymns. No. VII and No. VIII, but
what above all seemed to make the greatest impression was the two
Communion hymns, viz., No. XVII, beginning "J/y God, a?id is thy
tabic spread,'' sung after sermon as an invitation to the Sacrament, and
No. XVIII, beginning ^'And are we now drought near to God, etc.,'''
sung after the communion. It adds a solemnity which they confessed
they had not experienced before. The hymns are indeed beautiful and
every line of them applicable to the blessed occasion. Have you yet
introduced them in this way? When you do you will find it of use to
read them for the first time yourself, from the place where you are, the
desk or communion table. Every communicant will, before another
day, have them by heart as I believe was the case here, between Good
Friday and Easter Sunday, as the book was sent for and sundry copies
taken in writing, I mean of Hymns 17 and 18. I beg I may have at
least one complete book this post. I gave all away at Annapolis, except
the loose sheets which I had from time to time as proofs. You will take
care to have receipts from the stage masters, skippers, etc., to whom
you deliver books for distant places making them accountable for the
number, and make the clergy to whom you address them accountable

for the price — one dollar.

W. S.

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, Md., April 24, 17S6.

Dear Sir: I am favored with your short note by last post, in which
you just mention the receipt of mine by last post; but as it appears had
not time to notice its contents. The two corrections in the preface,
and a proper adjustment respecting the sheets in the singing psalms
which you have thought necessary to reprint, have not, I trust, escaped
your notice, as it will be a conclusion of the great attention and labor
which the press has cost you. The post rider, I imagine, called on you
to have some prayer books for his own disposal, on commission from
sundry of his subscribers. But unless he gets them from booksellers in

200 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [17S6

Philadelphia who may be some time hence intrusted with the sale of
copies, it will occur to you that neither he nor any other person from
the neighboring States can have any copies at present. The proportion
for each State must be sent, agreeably to our plan, to some one or more
of the clergy in each State, who are to be responsible for the money
arising from the copies, as well as an equal distribution of the books in
the proportions agreed upon in their several Conventions. In Mary-
land we have fixed on three copies out of every five for the Western
Shore; and two copies for the Eastern, the former to Dr. West's care,
the latter to mine. And you will yet have the trouble to take receipts
for the books of the post or stage carriers, or skippers, etc., obliging
themselves to deliver parcels or boxes as directed. The expense of
package, and carriage, etc., to be paid out of the profits of the sale, to
make the price equal in all places, for Philadelphia should have no
superior advantage in the price, by lying near the press. The book
should be $1 to a purchaser in Philadelphia as well as in Charlestown,
Carolina; and the stages, where they go by stage, will not take them
without the pay advanced, though if they could be got to take them
and be paid on the delivery at New York, Baltimore, Alexandria, etc.,
giving their receipt to you, it would perhaps insure their care of the
parcels the better, not to have the money till the service was done.
Your local situation will still throw all this care and trouble upon you,
but I know you will not decline it, any more than you have heretofore
in the prosecution of this work. The bookbinder should get all the
help he can. I hope Mr. Marshal,* of Boston, has a few complete
copies including the preface, calendar, etc. If he had them not in a
bound book they should be sent in sheets, that they may have the
whole before them, and especially the preface giving them what I hope
will be a satisfactory account of the reasons, and expediency, etc., of
all the proposed alterations.

Of the first five hundred copies for Maryland, let Mr. West have
three hundred, which may go twice, viz. : one hundred and fifty in a
box not to risk all at once, and to make it more convenient, for the
binder. I should be glad of about twenty copies this week by our
post, and if I cannot agree with him for a reasonable price for the re-
mainder, I will order them by water to Duck Creek, and send for them
from thence.

I am affectionately yours,

Wm. Smith,

* Doubtless a clerical error for "Parker," the Rector of Trinity Church, Boston.
The Rev. John R. Marshall, A. M., of Connecticut, attended the primary meeting in
New York in 1784, but his name is not found in connection with any subsequent
proceedings.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 20I

Rei). Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, April 29, 1786.

Dear Sir : I have received twenty-two copies (two in morocco) of
the Prayer Book. I had to pay at the rate of five shillings per dozen
carriage to the post, which will not do in future. There is a stage now
set up from Philadelphia to this town, an acquaintance of mine of New-
castle, a Colonel Derby, at the head of it. I expect him here by next
Wednesday's stage, which will be the second trip, and shall agree with
him to bring the books and to do other business for me, as he has also
a stage boat to Newcastle from Philadelphia and he will have a sufficient
authority from me to produce to you when he calls for the remainder
of our Eastern Shore complement of books, which I hope may be ready
next week, as the few we have has only increased the demand of many,
while some old persons do not show much desire to exchange the old for
the new book. But all I hope in good time, and without much uneasi-
ness, especially if there be no appearance of authority or compulsion in
the case.

I wish there could be a little note of the principal errata pasted on
the blank leaf at the end. They are not many; but "construction" for
";;«>construction" is one of some consequence, and yet a candid
reader need hardly be told of it.

I am yours,

Wm. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White to Rev. Dr. Smith.

Philadelphia, May 6, 1786.

Dear Sir : I received your note directing the books by the

Newcastle stage : in consequence of which I now send you fifty, two of
which are morocco; and these are the most that can be spared at
present, consistently with our duty to the other States, none of which
(I am sure) you would choose to have neglected. The Eastern Shore
proportion of the whole is (as I understand) eight in the hundred; and
you may rely on that proportion being always ready.

Perhaps on consideration you will not think it proper to print a table
of errata at present, for these two reasons: ist, because so many of the
books are already out ; and 2dly, because it is probable more errata
may appear, which will seem intended, because not included in the
table. The errors you allude to are so evidently typographical, that
they cannot be otherwise taken.

I am yours, etc.,

Wm. White.
Rev. Dr. Smith.

202 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \j-7'^^

This ends the correspondence between Dr. White and Dr. Smith
on the subject of giving the alterations, etc., in the old Prayer
Book, ordered by the Convention of 1785, such form in print as
should best carry out the general purpose of that body.

A single letter additional of Dr. Smith to a gentleman who, as
Bishop of Massachusetts, subsequently became eminent, though
he died within three months after his consecration, shall conclude
what I have of my ancestor's correspondence on the Proposed
Book, while it was yet going through the press.*

Dr. Smith to the Rev. Samuel Parker.

Chester, Kent County, Maryland, April 17, 17S6.

Dear Sir : Dr. White having a more ready communication witli you
than I could have, he has at the desire of our committee for the press,
sent you the sheets of our revised Prayer Book, and I hope you will
have the whole complete by the meeting of your Convention, which
Dr. White writes me is to be about the end of this month. I trust that
after a serious and candid consideration of what we have done, it will
have the approbation of the worthy body, clergy as well as laity, who
are to meet you in convention ; or that if there be some things, which
you may judge could have been done otherwise, or better, we can in
future editions come to an easy agreement on this head, as would cer-
tainly have been the case had we been so happy as to have had your
advice and assistance as we expected at the last Convention. I think
there are few alterations which you did not wish. As chairman of the
grand committee for revising, etc., I had the alterations which you had
proposed in your last meeting, put into my hands the first day of our
sitting, and you will see that I paid a full attention to them, and that
we have agreed with you almost in every matter, except only respecting
the Nicene Creed, and our Convention in Maryland which met last
week have recommended the restoring that creed also, so that either it
or the Apostles' may be read at discretion, provided both be not used
in one service. The Maryland Convention have proposed also an addi-
tion in the consecration prayer in the holy communion, something
analogous to that of the liturgy of Edward Vlth and the Scots' liturgy,
invoking:; a blessing on the elements of bread and wine, which was left
out at the first review of the English liturgy, it is said, at the instance
of Bucer, and otherwise because the invocation favored the doctrine of
transubstantiation and it does now in the Scots' liturgy praying to bless
and sanctify the elements that they may becoine the body and blood, etc.

* The Rev. Samuel Parker, consecrated Bishop (for Massachusetts) September 141I1,
1804, died December 6th, 1804.

1/86] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 203

We have proposed to retain the prayer and yet avoid the exceptionable
part, and it will run thus :

Hear us, O Merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and with thy word and
Holy Spirit vouchsafe so to bless and sanctify these thy creatures of bread and wine,
that we receiving the same, according to thy Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ's holy in-
stitution, etc.

This I think will be a proper amendment, and it perfectly satisfies
such of our clergy and people as were attached to the Scots' ^nd other
ancient liturgies, all of which have an invocation of a blessing on the
elements, as is indeed most reasonable and proper.

I am anxious to write you by this post to have a chance of your re-
ceiving this before the meeting of your Convention. I have therefore
no time to be more particular. Where Ave have gone further than was
hinted in the alterations you formerly sent us, viz., in the arrangement
of the reading and singing psalms, the calendars and rubrics, the col-
lection of hymns on evangelical subjects as a supplement to the de-
ficiencies of David's Psalms and other matters, which we have set forth in
the preface, I say in all this I know you will exercise a candid and liberal
judgment, and let me hear from you. We can only in the different
States receive tlie book for temporary use, till our churches are organ-
ized, and the book comes again under review of conventions having
their bishops, etc., as the primitive rules of Episcopacy require.

Excuse this hasty scrawl from

Your affectionate brother, etc.,

Wm. Smith.

P. S. — I shall write to Bishop Seabury next post.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

The " Proposed Book " — Absurd Pretensions of the so-called " Reformed
Episcopal Church," that the Schism of their Sect found Support in
IT — History of the Formation of the Book — Dr. Smith chiefly en-
titled to the Credit of it — Some Description of the Respective
Ecclesiological Characters and Tastes of Dr. Smith, Dr. White and
Dr. Wharton, as applied to this Subject — Dr. Smith's Services in
Procuring the Episcopal Succession — Adjourned General Convention
of 1786 at Wilmington — A Partial Compliance with the Suggestions
of the English Archbishops — Dr. White, Dr. Provost and Dr. Griffith
Recommended to the English Bishops for Consecration — Maryland
Convention of 1786 — Attestation by his Parish Officers in Maryland
of Dr. Smith's Fitness for Consecration.

■ The correspondence in the last chapter runs through two years
(1785-86) ; therefore this chapter does the same.

204 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

I have already observed * that a reh'gious consociation, calHng
itself the Reformed Episcopal ChurcJi, upon its first departure from
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, adopted
temporarily as its liturgy the Proposed Book of 1785. It made
omissions from it; which, if not made, would have struck a fatal
blow to some of the new sect's grounds of schism, and it made
at once an announcement of its purpose to subject the book to
revision fti its portions left ; a revision to be made in accordance
with certain principles which the "General Council" of the sece-
ders set forth, and which, in fact, were at variance not only with the
spirit of the Proposed Book, but with some of its letter also.f This
schismatical party soon found that the Proposed Book — which
indeed itself declared in terms, that it was "far" from the inten-
tion of the Church which promulged it to depart from the Church
of England any further than local circumstances required — could
not be managed by them at all ; and sailing on the broad and un-
charted sea of their own ignorance, audacity and error, before
long threw the Proposed Book bodily overboard. Disregarding,
however, the fact that no point of doctrine in the Church of Eng-
land was denied by the new book, they have sought, by praising
it, to convey the idea that the book justified their schism ; and
during the time that their conventicles did use it, they spoke of it
— as they have also done since — by way of giving to it a weight
which they could not give to it themselves, as "Bishop White s
Prayer Book;"| a mode of speaking of it which I have already

* Supra.

f See the edition of the Proposed Book reprinted in 1873, under the authority of
George David Cummins. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick which is found in
the original Proposed Book is wholly omitted from the reprint; and if the ideas of the
so-called Reformed Church were well based were omitted with reason, since that order
retains the English rubric directing that the sick person shall be "moved," i. c, shall
be recommended, urged or prevailed on, " to make a special confession of his sins, if
he feel his conscience troubles him with any weighty matter," after which confession a
declaration of absolution is to be made to him.

\ Bi.shop Nicholson, in his " Reasons why I became a Reformed Episcopalian," says,
in speaking (p. 26) of the service book of the new sect :

" It is in most things essentially the same as that known as Bishop White's Prayer
Book, in the making of which were associated with the Bishop such men as Wharton,
and Smith, and Provost, and Washington, and Jay."

Was ignorance ever more audacious than this ? As will sufficiently appear hereafter,
Dr. White never cordially liked the new book. Washington had nothing under heaven
to do with it, and Mr. Jay no more. Jay was not a member of the Convention of
Sept. 1785, which made the book, any more than was Washington.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 205

called "audacious" and which undoubtedly, so far as it conveyed
an assertion of exclusive authorship or compilation by that emi-
nent person, had no foundation in fact.

It is not easy for me at this late day clearly to show to whom,
in its particular composition, we principally owe the Proposed
Book ; a volume having some deficiencies no doubt, having some
excellent points too, and entitled, under any circumstances, to the
admiration of the people of America, as the basis on which was
in part constructed the Book of Common Prayer set forth and
ratified in 1789; a work nearly perfect, and one v/hich, in view
of the difficulties under which the Church in America — after our
severance of obligation to the King of England, as the temporal
head of the Church ; to the Bishop of London as diocesan of our
colonies, and to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel as
the source. of support to many country churches — was placed by
the independency, in law, of every parish of every other, and of
every common superior, must be contemplated with gratitude and
praise. The journal of the Convention of 1785 shows nothing
particular of importance on the subject of the respective authors
or makers of the book. Bishop Perry* rightly says that "a more
guarded and incommunicative record could hardly be found," and
we can learn from it neither the reasons for the changes proposed
by the committee nor the reception that they met with from the
members of the Convention. I think, however, that to Dr. Smith
more than to any one else the formation of the book is due.

It is sometimes popularly supposed from the fact that Dr.
White, Dr. Smith and Dr. Wharton were the persons by whom
the copy for the Proposed Book was fitted for the press and pub-
lished— that those three gentlemen were the persons who com-
posed or framed it. This is a great mistake. What we find in

Another of these Reformed gentlemen — the Rev. Benjamin Johnson (Correspond-
ence with the Rt Rev. Dr. Beckwith, Bishop of Gcorgi.T, p. 21) — asks with similar
ignorance :

" Would Bishop Wliite, whose recovered Prayer Book so clearly exposes, etc."

The Rev. Mason Gallagher, in like style in " The Book of Common Prayer, Re-
vision a Duty and Necessity," p. 54, says:

" The revision of Bishop White was in use but four years."

The book referred to was not the revision of Bishop White, and it was never in any
general use at all.

*"Half Century of Legislation," Vol. III., page 100.

206 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

the Proposed Book was made, in its substance, and in its main
form also, in and by tne Convention of 1785; and the service as
set forth in the book had been actually used at the conclusion of
that Convention before the book was itself in prmt at all. It had
been all brought into the Convention by a committee, the names
of whose members we have already give-n;* men who, both as re-
spects the clerical and the lay part of it, were men who, in general,
thought and acted for themselves, though a spirit of conciliation
towards each other, no doubt, on this occasion, largely prevailed
among them. It is impossible, therefore, to say that the book
was the work of any one man or of any three men. All that the
committee, consisting of Dr. White, Dr. Smith and Mr. Wharton,
did — so far as we know with certainty — was to carry out, with a
liberal interpretation of their powers, the business of fitting the
work for the press. Nevertheless, I do, as I have said, suppose
that to my ancestor. Dr. Smith, as chairman of the committee in-
trusted with the work of the alterations, and as the person who
reported them to the Convention, is due much of the frame-work
of that book. Dr. White was President of the Convention and
took no part in debate there upon the book except on a single
occasion ; which was to oppose the introduction of one feature — a
service of thanksgiving for the 4th of JuLy.f The work of the
large committee appointed by the Convention was done in a sub-
committee, of which Dr. White was not a member. The work
of the sub-committee was not debated in the full committee, nor
much in the Convention.^

From the first coming of Dr. Smith to this contment he had a
profound conviction of its great destinies; and he expressed, early
and often, these convictions both in poetry and prose. At a later
day, 1790, embodying some of them, he writes:

In my expanded view these United States rise in all their ripened
glory before me. I look through and beyond every yet peopled region
of the New World, and behold period still brightening upon period.
Where one continuous depth of gloomy wilderness now shuts out even
the beams of day, I see new States and Empires, new seats of wisdom
and knowledge, new religious domes spreading around in places now

* Supra, page 1 19.

■)■ •' White's Memoiib." Second Edition, pp. 104-105.

X Id., 103.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 20/

untrod by any but savage beasts or man as savage as they. I hear the
voice of happy labor and behold towery cities growing into the skies.

How remarkable, too, is that passage in a letter of his, written
A. D. 1785, nearly a century ago:

Surely in large towns and cities (of which America will have many
in a hundred years more) the good old custom of week-day prayers will
not be laid aside.

Did he foresee Chicago ? Was De Koven, the Rector of
Racine, revealed to him ? Thank God, the day which he waited
for — though he died without the sight — has arrived ; and from
churches everywhere in our land, and most of all from the very
church which he dedicated,* and that elder one in which he
oftener preached, f the voice of confession, and prayer, and thanks-
giving, and praise now ascend every morning and evening daily
throughout the year.

So soon, therefore, as the Church in America became indepen-
dent of the Church in England, which — since and so long as that
latter Church was a part of the State and under the control more
or less of a British Parliament and British statutes — deprived of
its independence — its wings clipped and its limbs manacled — our
said Church in America necessarily did become — Dr. Smith con-
templated it "in all its ripened glory" before him! He saw the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
spread over the whole continent ; half of Mexico already annexed,
and all of Canada soon to be. What were the English bishops —
lords of parliament though they were — to that consecrated host
which assembles in our upper ecclesiastical house? What the
English laymen — in no office whatever, ecclesiastically speaking —
to our body of lay representatives in General Convention with
clergy triennially assembled ? Dr. Smith had no idea of subjecting
the Church in this New World to a liturgy, to orders of service,
or to articles which had been made in England only under the
greatest difficulties ; which were a temporary compromise between
extreme parties on opposite sides ; which had never proved satis-

* St. Peter's, Philadelphia, in which, by the efforts of the then youthful Odenheimer
(now with God), the daily service and frequent coramunions were established.

•}• Christ Church, Philadelphia. Indeed through the zealous work of the present
Rector, Dr. P'oggo, that church is now open all through the day for either public or
private prayer.

208 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

factory to all of either the Church's clergy or its laity in England,
and which would have been long before reformed and altered in
England itself but for political heats and for the accidents of the
day. He meant, therefore, to have the Church in America have
its own Book of Common Prayer; one founded on Scriptural
usage and compiled from primitive liturgies, so much as might
be ; leaving the Church in the little and vanquished isles of Great
Britain to imitate and adopt it when she saw fit.

Notwithstanding that the United States declared themselves in-
dependent of Great Britain in 1776, and were acknowledged by
her in 1783 to be so, it was a long while before, in many respects,
we ceased to be colonies and to be really independent. We are
so indeed only since the suppression, by the Federal arms, of the
late Rebellion, and the complete success of our Great Exhibition
of 1876. The leaders of the Federal party — men like Hamilton,
Gouverneur Morris, Marshall, and some others — would at once
have made us truly a nation of the earth, but some of the men of
New England, and even those further south, were not able, for
years, wholly to emancipate themselves ; while the Democratic
party, under the lead of Jefferson, Monroe, Gerry, and others, went
at once into a state of absolute vassalage to France; a vassalage
which continued pretty steadily to the time of Napoleon the bas-
tard, sometimes called Napoleon III.; when we saw in him the
lago of the plot of our late rebellion, and were disenchanted.
Dr. Smith, so soon as our political independence was acknowledged
— indeed so soon as he saw that it was achieved — comprehended
the whole situation. He saw at once, and with the glance of intui-
tion, what many men did not see for about a century — indeed hardly
see now, some of them — and he meant to make independence, at
once, a fact, instead of a dream. Even in 1785, as we have seen,*
on the first motion of a review of the Prayer Book, he hopes that
hymns for the festivals and other occasions " may be offered by
members of our own Church in America, who are distinguished
for their poetical talents." He anticipated by half a century a
hymnal which includes the strains of Muhlenburgh, of Henry
Ustick Onderdonk, and of the elder Doane.

With what zeal he entered upon the subject of the alterations

* Sltpra, p. 143.

1785 J J?EV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 2O9

in the liturgy, and to what extent they were agreeable to liim,
may be inferred, not only from the already quoted sermon before
the Convention of 1785, but from the ably written Preface to the
Proposed Book which contains the alterations, and in which, as
in notes to the sermon, he shows how necessary some alterations
really were ; how long they had been considered necessary in
England by many of its soundest divines, and how especially
desirable it was that any changes in the liturgy of the Church
in America should be made now when — uninfluenced and unre-
strained by any worldly authority whatsoever — they could so be
made as to promulgate to mankind Christianity and the truths of
the Gospel in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and majestic
manner.

Dr. Smith, it must be remembered, was a Scotsman, not an
Englishman. He was not a parochial minister who had been
reading daily all his life the morning and evening prayers of the
English Church, but was the head of a college where all the rest
of the faculty were dissenters, and several of them dissenting
clergymen, and where probably he was continually urged and
sometimes compelled to use forms not to be found in the book of
common prayer. He was, moreover, frequently called upon as a
preacher for public occasions and ceremonies where religious ser-
vices were used, but where neither the order for daily morning
prayer, nor the order for daily evening prayer, of the book of
common prayer could be used without modifications. Neither
his education nor profession, therefore, gave him blind preposses-
sions or prejudices in favor of the liturgy of the Church of Eng-
land, as adopted in 1660 ; only one of five forms which that Church
had been using in the short term of about one century. Inde-
pendently of all this, his mind was rich and imaginative. His
conceptions of what best produced effect were somewhat the-
atrical. His own style of oratory was high and orotund ; oc-
casionally perhaps a little turgid, but oftener grand and sometimes
even majestic.

Detesting, as matter of taste and of divinity also, we may
believe, " the way of Romaine," and all the sweetened mud of
the Methodist preachers of his day* — corresponding largely to

* See Vol. I., page 423.
14

210 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^785

" the low church " of a later and of ours — he yet wanted a body
of hymns introduced into our prayer book ; writing to Dr. White
that " the Methodists captivate many by their attention to church
music and by their hymns and doxologies," which, as he says,
" when rationally and devoutly introduced, are sublime parts of
public and private worship," and again writing.

The Psalms of David, unless where tortured by versifiers, have but
few evangelical subjects.

And writing again when Dr. White desired to leave the Litany
a part of the service separable from the order for daily morning
prayer :

Let not our abridgments be too great. Without the Litany, Wednes-
day and Friday prayers would not draw many to church.

And again as to certain prayers :

The service would appear quite naked \\\'(\\o\\\. them.*

A hymn, suggested by Dr. White, composed by Francis Hop-
kinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Smith
finds "too Jlai for the great occasion."

We can readily conceive that the simplicity in the style of parts
of the English liturgy — its pure and little sonorous Saxon, and its
merely self-abasing terms with which its liturgy opens — did not
quite come up to the grandeur of thought, and the sonoritc of
utterance, and the impressiveness of spectacle, which the mind
and eye and ear of Dr. Smith affected and indeed required.

To illustrate what I mean :

The Church of England begins her service with sentences
purely penitential, and inviting to confession of sin, and the Ex-
hortation which adverts to these " sundry places " thus put before
the people in which the Scripture moveth them to confess their
manifold sins and wickedness and assures them of the forgiveness
of the same, if those sins and wickednesses are rightly confessed,
we shall, by God's infinite goodness and mercy, obtain. But
there was no asceticism nor any vast humility in Dr. Smith's com-
position ; while there was always an awful sense of God's presence
and greatness. To Dr. Smith, therefore, have been generally

^Sce SMj>rtj, pp. 143, 147, 16S, iri.

1785] R^V. WILLIAAI SMITH, D. D. 211

ascribed and I presume rightly those two grand verses first found
in the Proposed Book.

The Lord is in his holy temple : let all the earth keep silence before
him. — Hab. ii. 20.

From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same,
my name shall be great among the Gentiles ; and in every place incense
shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering : for my name shall
be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. — Mai. i. 11.

And this third one — meant to have been put there, though from
accident apparently omitted — very appropriate to a person coming
into God's house, but not a penitential sentence :

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
alway acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.*
— Psalm xix. 14, 15.

I suppose too that to Dr. Smith's liking of an enriched ritual,
and to the fact that he habitually used the communion service as
one separate from the morning prayer, we owe that fine introduc-
tion from the communion into the daily service, as an anthem, of
the Glo7-ia in Excclsis Deo, instead of the Gloria Patri ; and some
other changes of a like kind.

In addition to this rich and decorated style of taste which char-
acterized the subject of our memoir, we may observe that there
was nothing archaic in his literary tastes. Paying to them great
respect, and sometimes quoting them, he was never enamored of
the old divines of the Church of England, nor of any antique ex-
pressions in them. Indeed, he mentions what we can well under-
stand, that " in his situation " his reading had only been a dipping
into books as occasion required and time would permit, " and that
he did not remember " his ever having read any regularly through
without skipping from place to place, except, perhaps, Robinson

* These sentences are so grand and impressive that they are retained in our present
Book of Common Prayer, notwithstanding the penitential character of all those that
succeed, and with the reference to them only, in the exhortation of the minister, which
follows. If Dr. Smith could have given perfection to his idea, I rather apprehend
that he would have considered his three verses as something apart from and precedinof
the order of daily morning service, and in the way in which the metre psalms and
hymns are now allowed to be suilg in (not by') all congregations before morning and
evening prayer. What a grand Processional the three verses would make ! What a
Ttapaffxfxj?;, or preparation for confession of sins and absolution of them in the holy
temple of the Lord ! The Prayer Book of the " Reformed Church of England " does,
indeed, somewhat thus use the first of these three verses.

212 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

Crusoe, Thomson's Seasons, and Young's Niglit Thoughts, at a
time, as they appeared."* It is, therefore, under Dr. Smith's sug-
gestion that those old words, " the good estate of the Cathohc
Church," which, in these days when old furniture has been hauled
out of garrets to decorate the parlors, enchant our ecclesiologists,
disappear. The churchmen in Maryland, he feared, would see in
them the likeness of " glebes," and of a three-fold crown. f From
this same wish to make the book acceptable to the people, Dr.
Smith made and was energetic in introducing the form of thanks-
giving for the 4th of July ; a service which as the people of the
United States valued their independence of Great Britain, and if
they did really value it, he felt no doubt was not only proper for
tliem but obligatory on them to use ; however little it might be
appropriate to. such of the clergy and to such of the congrega-
tions committed to their charge as had been loyal in act or feeling
to Great Britain ; a class of persons, he well knew, not numerous
in 1785, daily growing smaller and in a few years certain to dis-
appear altogether. To Dr. Smith and to his distastes for all un-
necessary polemical and conjectural divinity — that light bread
which satisfieth not — we apparently owe the Articles of Religion
as given, ^•//'/r^, pages 1 27-1 31, and the omission of such meta-
physical dogmas as are contained in them as found in the old
Prayer Book of the Church of England, and as have been re-
instated in our own of 1789. They were not, however, in their
new form, Dr. Smith's own work, but were taken for the most
part from a book of an anonymous English Church Reformer.

It is quite certain that the articles in their present form, like
some parts of the English liturgy, are put in with such " cunning"
language as to mean things almost directly opposite, according as
you read them with a point or without a point, or as the hearer or
reader may choose to listen to them or fancy that they are read.
They are the ''Ibis Pcribis non Rcdibis," given as answer by the
old oracles, to the inquirer, who sought to know if he might safely
go to the wars ; an answer which, if the pause was made after the
.second word, meant that he should be slain ; but, if after the
third, meant the opposite, and that he should return in safety.
These passages of the old Prayer Book are " the dark and mys-

'-^ Dr. Smith's W.jiks. Maxwell's Edition. Vol. II., page 487— note.
^ See supra, page 150.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 213

terious sentences," which Dr. Smith in the sermon that we have
already referred to, preached before the Convention of 1785, hopes
that " the truths of the Gospel may never be obscured by." The
purpose of this cunning device of the Church of England was no
doubt good. , It was to keep within that Church those who were
nearly Puritans and those who were nearly Papists ; but were not
wholly either. The Reformed Episcopal Church — a body of
schismatics existing now both in England and America — and the
defection to Rome of such men as Wilberforce, Manning and
Newman — with the unseceded body of so-called " Ritualists " — a
mild form, in their more advanced developments, of Romanists —
show that complete success has not attended the well-meant effort.
And what food have not such expressions with the very subtle
distinctions of some of the Church of England articles, not min-
istered for most learned and most curious disputations ; dividing
the Church into parties to-day, and never thought of when the
day had gone. Where are now the two volumes, engendered in
the Church by the 17th article, of ''Comparative Views of the Con
trove rsy beiiveen the Calvinists and the Arminians, by William White,
D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal CJuirch in the Common-
iveaWi of Pennsylvania^' published so late as r8i7; one of the
most laborious and learned, one of the strongest and most acute,
one of the most logical and dispassionate controversial works ever
written, and till lately a text-book in the general Theological
Seminary of the Church ? Gone — gone — almost as much as the
years beyond the flood. Where will be in less than half the time
that has elapsed since 18 17 the fiery feuds in England and Amer-
ica, and the heated proceedings of some of our late Church Con-
ventions, on the subject of the Eucharistic and Sacerdotal party
that we have just spoken of and called (improperly enough) the
Ritualists ? Gone — gone — to follow them. Both I am ready to
concede likely to come back in the encyclicity of those parties,
whom our articles and liturgy in their present shape will ever keep
alive, but which Dr. Smith, by the Proposed Book, sought to send
away for ever from the Church. And by the rejection of a stum-
bling-block in the ministration of baptism — a word which though
explained by a general Convention, was still a terror to those once
thoroughly affrighted — he \\o\x\d, perhaps, have saved from apostacy
a portion of the Church which can argue with some plausibility —

214 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

though not at all v/ith truth — that it carried away in its schism,
that high portion of its orders which the Wesleys and Coke had
never been able to detach. He explains his purposes and hopes
when he says, in the sermon of 1785 already quoted:

Were our blessed Saviour now upon earth, he would n'ot narrow the
terms of communion, by such ways as these ; and it is our duty, as it
hath been our great endeavor in all the alterations proposed, to make
the consciences of those easy who believe in the true principles of Chris-
tianity in general, and who, could they be made easy in certain points
no way essential to Christianity itself, would rather become worshippers
as well as laborers, in that part of Christ's vineyard, in which we pro-
fess to worship and to labor, than in any other.

Dr. Smith had already declared " that ever since the Reforma-
tion it had been a received doctrine of the Church," of which he
was a member, " that there be these three orders of ministers in
Christ's Church — Bishops, Priests and Deacons — and that an
Episcopal Ordination and Commission are necessary to the valid
administration of the Sacraments and the due exercise of minis-
terial functions in the said Church." * This, we may infer, he
would have regarded as among "the true principles of Christianity
in general," and not in any way or ever to be surrendered. These
are different ideas from those of the apostate " Reformed Episcopal
Church," and indeed from what we ;/^ta call " low churchmen;"
men still in the Church. Such, I say, were. Dr. Smith's ideas and
purposes. A clear and deep conception of what the Church was,
lay, no doubt, at the base of all his plans and all his work. But ar-
tificial, complicated and metaphysical formularies, articles or rites,
however venerable or however wonderful, he looked upon as essen-
tially of human elaboration and structure, and the more perfectly
they were worked out in theological operation and detail, the more
plainly did he see man's work and man's character stamped upon
them. His mind, in its natural structure, rejoiced in "that elder,
wider and wiser view which contemplates Revelation only, as the
fullness of and assurance of a grace previously developed in natural
religion — a view which shuts not out, but rather gathers in the
glory of the open universe;" though, of course, he considered too,
that without the Church's interpretation, the refining beauty of

* See sttpra, page 97.

1785 J REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 21 5

this beneficent nature could never be unsphered to us ; and through
that Church's mighty and long enduring ministration he sought,
therefore, to reveal the iris-lustre inherent in the common day,
but there invisible.*

That the purposes of Dr. Smith in his Proposed Book were
good is undeniable. That the book itself — unlike the book of the
so-called " Reformed Episcopal Church " — did not carry the re-
view of the English Book of Common Prayer " into essential
points of doctrine," has been uniformly admitted both by the Eng-
lish and the American bishops and other clergy. How far the
plan of the Proposed Book would have secured the purpose which
it had in view — since the book was never adopted as the liturgy
of the Church in America — no man in this day can do more than
conjecture.

To Dr. Smith, too, aided considerably by Dr. Wharton, we owe
the system adopted in the Proposed Book, of leaving out psalms now
in the Psalter, or verses of particular psalms that are inappropriate
for public service; and of joining parts or verses of one psalm to
those of another so as to make a uniformity of thought and feel-
ing, and then of dividing the whole into parts of suitable length. f
Both of these gentlemen — Dr. Smith being, doubtless, the more
operative agent — could not but see the inappropriateness of people
reading in the public worship psalms and verses, some of which
— unless before they came to church they had read an Exposition
of the Psalter — were wholly unintelligible ; and others of which,
even if they did understand them, were entirely inappropriate ;
expressing sometimes high states of exultation, and at others
deep despondency — feelings, which — as common to them all, and
whether one or the other — could hardly exist in any congregation
of worshippers whatsoever.

The plan — though executed in the Proposed Book with great
skill and great good taste — was subject, no doubt, to objections
of more sorts than one. And the '^Selection of Psalms," as made
in our present book and than which no arrangement or use of the

* See "Art and Scenery in Europe," by the late Horace Binney Wallace, of Phila-
delphia; Second Edition, page 78; some of whose language I here quote.

f This plan has been adopted in his "Family and Private Prayer" — a beautifnl
manual of family worship — by the late Rev. William Berrian, D. D., Rector of Trinity
Church, New York.

2l6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

Psalter can be more beautiful or appropriate, is, in my own opinion,
the better plan ; if our clergy zuoiild only use the selections. But
unless they purpose to deliver a longer sermon than usual, or
happen to be pressed for time, when they sometimes give us the
Sixth Selection — a very short one — they rarely do use the selec-
tions ; and we arc left by the present book exactly where we were
by the Church of England, whose use of the whole Psalter, we
meant to decline as, in parts, inappropriate for public worship.

To Dr. Smith, exclusively or nearly so, I assume, that we owe
the hymns in the Proposed Book, fifty-one in number, which are
the basis of the great variety of hymns now in use ; and he proposed
to add more. In fact, as will be seen by his letter to Dr. White,
he had anticipated the Hymnal of the Christian year and of our
modern service, and adds that :

On the great festivals of the Church there should be some variety ;
at least three or four and of different metres, to complete the Psalmody
of the day.*

He sought, it is evident, through the hymns, to make the
Church a Holy Catholic Church — a holy Church universal — and
to make its liturgy a book of prayer for all people, as its temples
were houses of prayer for them also. He writes to Dr. W'hite in
April, 1786:

My congregations were exceedingly pleased with the two Good Fri-
day Hymns, and also the two Easter Hymns, but what above all seemed
to make the greatest impression was the two Communion Hymns, No.

XVII beginning,

My Ciod, and is thy table spread?

sung after the sermon as an invitation to the Sacrament, and No. XVIII
beginning,

And are we now brought near to God ?

as sung after the Communion. It adds a solemnity which they confessed
they had not experienced before. The hymns are indeed beautiful,
and every line of them applicable to the blessed occasion. Have you
yet introduced them in this way?f .... Every communicant will,
before another day, have them by heart.

* Supra, page 16S.

■j- Of course the Proposed Book did not contain a rubric, such as is found in the
Book of Common Prayer, which introduces a hymn, or a part of a hymn as a portion
of the Eucharistic service. And as a matter of taste I think that the hymns had l^etter
have been left as the Proposed Book left them.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 21/

Dr. White was a person quite different in most respects from
Dr. Smith. Indeed, between the two men we may say that there
was an absolute contrast. Dr. White had been bred by pious
parents in childhood in the Church ; and every recollection of his
earliest life must have been associated with the very words of all
its liturgy.* We have no reason to think that if he could himself
have controlled the thing he would have had the Convention of
1785 make any considerable departures from the old service books
of the mother Church, but those required by the Revolution,
and by that moderate review in some of its offices suggested by
an obvious propriety.

As to any further review, he desired it, so far as he desired it at
all, in order to satisfy weak brethren, who, he thought, might
otherwise at some future day triumph in numbers and make alter-
ations dangerous or heterodox. He foresaw even at that day what
two different parties in the Church are now doing : both remain-
ing in the fold, but both in different ways misrepresenting its doc-
trines, violating its rubrics, and departing from or corrupting its
practices ; one, in a disregard of services appointed for her saints,
and holy days ; in a substitution for hers of irregular prayers ; in
the constant violation, year after year, of a plain and positive
rubric, which makes it the duty of the minister of every parish
diligently, upon Sundays, holy days, or other convenient occa-
sions, openly in the Church, to catechise children sent to him in
the Churclis catechism ; in the low views of her great Eucharistic
service ; in the obliteration in all discourses from the pulpit of the
Church's distinctive character and high office — and in other mat-

* The Bishop nlludes lo this affectingly in an address at the Consecration on the
25th of October, 1827, in Christ Church, of Bishop H. U. Onderdonk :

"He feels the full weight of an occasion, reminding him of his near approach to
the end of the ministry in which he has been so long a laborer; and when during the
transaction in which we have been engaged, he occasionally permitted his eye to rest
on the spot [his paternal pew, now his own] and within the distance of a few feet, where,
in the days of his boyhood, he joined in religious services within these walls; when
from that spot his attention was transferred to the pulpit at his elbow, from which,
though not unfavored by domestic instruction and encouragement, there sunk into his
youthful mind the truths of the ever-blessed Gospel, and from which, for the space of
fifty-five years, he has been proclaiming the same truths — with what effect will not be
known until the day which shall try every man's work of what sort it is, but certainly
v^ with effect far short of his wishes and of his prayers — there results from these recollec-

tions and from others, a most weighty sense of the responsibility on which he has been
so long acting."

2l8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

ters also reducing that Church to a Methodist level ; and the other
by a disregard of the rubrics just as blameworthy as that prac-
tised by the Methodistical party in our Church, and by constrained
and unjustifiable interpretations of our present prayer book, or by
a professed adherence to the usages of the Church of England, as
set forth in some of her earlier service books,* betraying her chil-
dren by every insidious way into the hands of that " Bishop of
Rome," whose unscriptural observances our Church departed from
at the Reformation, and from whose "tyranny," and whose " detest-
able enormities," the litanies of those same earlier service books
prayed that the good Lord would deliver us.

Speaking of the Convention of 17S5, Bishop White saysif

When the members of the Convention first came together very few,
or rather it is believed none of them, entertained thoughts of altering
the liturgy any further than to accommodate it to the Revolution. |

And Bishop White assigned a reason, which, with his nice
sense of honor, would have been potential why none should be
made, a reason which applied to delegates from all the States
except Virginia. It is thus expressed by him:

* The books of King Edward VI.

f Memoirs, pnge I02.

J Dr. Stevens Perry, after quoting not quite fully the passage from Bishop White's
Memoirs, to which I refer, and after giving some proofs which he thinks sufficient, has
concluded that this idea of the Bishop was unfounded. I have the greatest respect for
the judgments, as also for the historical learning of the present Bishop of Iowa.
Nevertheless, I must think that Bishop White was likely to know from their own mouths
and from other testimonies, what thoughts the members of the Convention of 1785
entertained about altering the old liturgy; more likely even than Dr. Stevens Perry or
any man whatever now living is upon the same topics. Are not Dr. Perry's evidences
after all but letters addressed chiefly to Bishop White himself, and letters from persons
in States not represented in the Convention of 1785 at all ? At any rate Bishop White
knew what thoughts he himself entertained on the matter, and when he says that it is
believed that "none" of the members "entertained thoughts of altering the liturgy
any further than to accommodate it to the Revolution," it would seem certain that he
did not. I am quite aware that at a later date, as is shown by the journals of the Con-
ventions of 1826, and by his own memoirs, Bishop White, yielding, perhaps, to the
views of Bishop Hobart, did desire that the Morning Service might be shortened by
making the use of the Litany optional except in seasons or on days specially peniten-
tial. But even here, I am not certain that so far as his own particular views were con-
cerned he would have so had it. (See " Bishop White's Memoirs," pages 52, 53, 251,
259.) It is absolutely certain that he never varied from the observance of what was
prescribed by rubrics; those, with his honoralile integrity, he would have observed,
however little he might have either liked or approved what they enjoined.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 219

There being no express authority to the purpose,* the contrary was
implied in the sending of Deputies on the ground of the recommenda-
tion from New York, which presumed that the book, witlr the above
exception, should remain entire. f

He proceeds, a little further on :

Every one, so far as is here known, ivished for alterations in the differ-
ent offices. But it was thought at New York, in the preceding year, that
such an enterprise could not be undertaken until the Church should be
consolidated and organized. Perhaps it would have been better if the
same opinioti had been continued and acted on.

The Bishop afterwards goes on showing how little hand he him-
self had in making the book in its substance. He says :

The alterations were prepared by another sub- division of the General
Committee than that to which the author belonged. When brought
into the committee they were not reconsidered, because the ground
w.ould have been to go over again in the Convention. Accordingly he
cannot give an account of any arguments arising in the preparatory state
of the business. Even in the Convention there were but iQ\N points can-
vassed with any material difference of principle.

The Bishop notices these few points. The only ones where a
change in the old book was made, and the only ones important
therefore to be here noticed, are these :

One about a form of Thanksgiving for the 4th of July, the
introduction of which was displeasing to him, the Bishop tells us ;
and to oppose which he availed himself of a privilege which he
had reserved on his acceptance of the Presidency of the Conven-
tion, to deliver his opinion.

A second, the alteration of the old 17th Article, about Pre-
destination. The Bishop says about this :

Some wished to get rid of the new article introduced concerning Pre-
destination without stating anything in its place. This, it is probable,
would have been better than the proposed article which professes to say

something on the subject, yet, in reality, says nothing Although

no one professed scruples against what is there affirmed, yet there seemed
a difficulty in discovering for what purpose it was introduced. The
author never met with any who were satisfied with it.

* Given by the different State Conventions to the Delegates, I suppose the Bishop to
mean.

f See the recommendation referred to by the Bishop, supra, page 1 16.

220 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/^5

He continues:

Less prominent debates on the articles are not here noticed. What-
ever is novel in them was taken from a book in the possession of the
Rev. Dr. Smith. The book was anonymous, and was one of the pub-
lications which have abounded in England, projecting changes in the
established articles.

It might, too, on other grounds, be set down almost for certain
that Dr. White did not like some of the alterations themselves.
He was, no doubt, as I have already intimated, a theologian dis-
tinguished by acuteness as much as by solidity of mind. But he
was nothing of a rhetorician. His style, though perfectly accu-
rate, and often in the expression of feeling deeply affecting, is to
the general reader, frequently, at first reading, obscure, and some-
times, until thoroughly comprehended, rather ineffective. As for
what we call elegance, or richness of thought or diction, he had
little of either; and so far as effects merely decorative constitute a
part of worship, he had but a slight perception of them, if indeed
he had any at all. He rather abhorred them as not fit agencies
of the sanctuary. I am not meaning to say that he was not deeply
imbued, in religious worship, with a sense of the true, the appro-
priate and the becoming. Undoubtedly he was deeply imbued
with them all. But his conceptions and his expressions tended to
plain and simple forms, rather than to rich and decorated ones.
The same thing, I think, was true in regard to that part of public
worship which engaged Dr. Smith's feelings so largely; the part
so much assisted by music. We have, in historical collections of
music, some compositions which we know that Dr. White liked.
But my impression is that scientific musicians have not admired
them highly. As for " captivating people by the art of Psalm-
singing," Dr. White would have, I doubt not, resiled, with some-
thing like horror, from the idea. He never himself gave out more
than two, or at most iJwee, verses of a metrical psalm. And as for
hymns — except perhaps at Christmas — one might defy the oldest
parishioner of the United Churches to cite an occasion where he
ever gave out one, unless where, as in communion, the rubric
obliged him to do so.* Could he have regulated absolutely the
subject of singing the metrical p.salms, he would have affixed

* See " White's Memoirs," 2d edition, p. 256. — Note N. N

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 221

a tune to each psalm ; the same tune ahvays to be sung to that
psalm ; and not more th^n from twelve to twenty tunes to be ever
heard in the Church.*

Undoubtedly he was extremely averse to changes in the church
music or to any cxiiibitions from the organ loft. He had two of
the finest musicians, Raynor Taylor and Benjamin Carr, both
Englishmen, bred in the cathedral style, that ever graced the
musical science of Philadelphia, in one of his own churches, St.
Peter's ; but he kept its music, as he did that of Christ Church,
and of St. James' after it was built and became one of the United
Churches, down to a plain, old-fashioned Church of England
standard ; and even had a book prepared whose tendency was to
limit the chants and tunes for the metrical psalm or hymn to the
comparatively small number already stated, and these of a simple
kind — Mcar, Wells, Philadelphia, ^ Old Hundred, St. Martin s, St.
MichacVs, and other ancient English airs. Pergolesi, Palestrina,
and the Italian school generally, found no favor in his ears.
Little of this was after the ideas of Dr. Smith, whose taste
in music was high and artificial. I ought, perhaps, to add,
while I say what I do, that I make no doubt that such com-
positions as Bishop White did deem appropriate, he would

* See his "Thoughts on the Singing of Psalms and Anthems," printed A. D. 1808.
One of the ministers of the United Churches, Dr. Abercrombie, was fond of hymns,
particularly of the hymn, not then in our collection,

" yesu. Saviour of my soul !''

And on ending a sermon on one occasion began with that line, letting the choir —
under a prearrangement, of course — take it from his mouth and proceed with the rest
of the hymn. This was rather effective, and would probably have been after Dr.
Smith's taste. Bishop White, the Rector, desired that such a thing might not be
repeated, and it never was in his presence. The doctor, who was not easily controlled,
defended his action and the necessity of hymns, and the beauty of this hymn. "As
for me," said the Bishop, " whatever thoughts or feelings I want to express, whether
of praise, of gratitude, of penitence, or of joy, I can find them all in the Psalms of
David." Dr. Abercrombie answered that the new dispensation rendered necessary
something more than the Psalms of David would give us. "What, sir," replied
Bishop White, " do you make of the inspiration and the prophetic character of David ?
And as for the hymn which you specially admire, I must say. Dr. Abercrombie, that
its expressions of devotion are not expressions of that sort of devotion which our
Church approves." It is noteworthy that in the correspondence, already given in the
body of this book, when Dr. Smith asks Dr. White if he knows of any suitable hymns
on the Last Judgment and the Kingdom of Glory, Dr. White replies that he knows of
none [supra, p. 171.) I am quite avrare of course of what Bishop Doane, of New Jersey,
states of the Bishop's last hours, and of the two hymns then read to him.
•j- A tune, by his friend, Mr. Hopkinson.

222 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

have had richly performed. I never heard of his objecting to
music as he heard it in the cathedrals, chapels-royal and collegi-
ate churches of England. On the contrary, he tells us himself
that at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was invited to go to
hear the music — which appears to have been especially fine at that
college — " the music was as delightful as can be imagined." No
doubt he would have had music just like it if he could have had
it in our own larger churches ; and would have said :

''There let the pealing organ blow
To the full-voiced quire below,
In service high and anthems clear
As may with sweetness through mine ear
Dissolve me into ecstasies
And bring all Heaven before mine eyes."

What he abhorred were the attempts so common in our churches
to perform, with means wholly incompetent to produce them, great
concerted pieces that only made the organ-loft sometimes ridicu-
lous, sometimes disgusting, and sometimes distressing, and which
tended almost of necessity to such indecent and irreverent per-
formance as profaned the service of the sanctuary.

Indeed, while, no doubt, Dr. White ardently desired the ex-
tension of the Church, his means of extending it were never of
any very popular sort. The Church, though it grew surely and
fairly well, did not grow rapidly in his day. I think that he con-
sidered "that what made our Church so slow of growth was in its
favor, and that what accommodates so many in the Roman, Metho-
dist and other dissenting churches, was not in favor of theirs."
No greater mistake has been made by the low churchmen of this
day than to suppose that because his temper was sweet and his
manners and character lovely, and because in matters of mere
taste or feeling he was always ready to give way, rather than to
create a disturbance, therefore he was a man of accommodating
tempers in the larger and more important concerns of the Church.
Like the great Chatham, in all that concerned great principles,
either of religion, or morals, or public polity, he was as ?/;/accom-
modating as he was original, and we might add that the features
of his mind had "the hardihood of antiquity."

The character of Dr. White has been described by the late Dr.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 223

Rufus Wilmot Griswold in his "Republican Court; or, American
Society in the Days of Washington." The description, in my
opinion, is, in the main, so just that, though in part it has sHght
relation to our immediate subject, I here present it entire. He is
speaking now of Philadelphia, and says:

At the head of the clergy stood Dr. White, as he was commonly
called, the well-known first Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Penn-
sylvania. His ecclesiastical character has, in recent times, been greatly
mistaken by both the extreme High and the extreme Low divisions of
his own denomination. He was what in England would be called a
historical low-churchman as distinguished from the ultra school of Laud
and Philpotts, but was very far removed from what have been called
low-churchmen in this country. Even in his day, when the Episcopal
Church was extremely feeble, and concessions and compromises with
other denominations were matters to which the temptations were ex-
treme, Bishop White defined what he regarded as the just limits of both
with a distinctness and precision which have made them their safest
limits since. To him and to his moderate views and conciliatory
temper we must ascribe the fact that, while the ecclesiastical establish-
ment of England and the very name of Bishop had become odious in
this country, the Protestant Episcopal Church departed so very little in
form, while not departing at all in doctrine, from the Established
Church of England. As a preacher he was earnest and persuasive, but
he seldom fulminated threats or judgments, and had very decided views
of the limits of clerical responsibility. He shrank from no proper
responsibility, but he had too high a sense of courtesy and too just a
regard for even the most delicate of rights to invade with freedom the
atmosphere which every gentleman feels and acknowledges as a proper
circle for himself and others. He was the man of his time for his
position. His prudence saved what the zeal of others might have lost ;
and in the midst of political and ecclesiastical difficulties of the most
discouraging kind, he founded that establishment which has grown to
be one of the most majestic structures of the religion of the republic.
His character will grow larger as the perspective becomes more truly
fixed by time, and if it were separated from religious parties, posterity
would probably place his name after the names of Washington, Mar-
shall and Hamilton alone. He belonged to the same order of men,
differing but in the sphere of his action from either.

It might be inferred from the correspondence between Dr. White
and Dr. Smith, already given, that Dr. White in all respects ap-
proved of the book. I understand only that, being placed by the
convention of 1785 upon the committee to put the book into form

224 LfFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

for the press and to publish it, he gave his hearty effort to this
object, rendering an ahiiost exclusive work in what was done in
the alterations in Calendar and some assistance also in the adapta-
tion of the Psalter, in the way preferred by Dr. Smith and Dr.
Wharton, to popular reading in the churches, by rejecting psalms
or parts of psalms incomprehensible to any reader, clerical or lay,
except after he had sought information of the circumstances under
which the psalm was written — and dividing them so as to shorten
that part of the service. But he did not, as we know from his
" Memoirs," himself approve of this plan. His poaposal was to
take the whole psalms, select such as fall in with the general
subjects of divine worship, and leave the officiating minister his
choice among those which should be selected. The plan finally
adopted by the majority of the committee, and in executing which
Dr. White, after it was fixed against his view, co-operated cordially,
will hereafter appear. Dr. White's liking of all parts of the book,
or of it in the main, is not to be inferred from his endeavors to
make it throughout as effective as possible. He disliked, and
strongly disliked, the service for the 4th of July. Yet by select-
ing appropriate lessons, etc., he made it more effective than the
convention and Dr. Smith had left it.* It was enough for him
that the convention liked the book, and he carried out, with abso-
lute honesty, the purpose which the convention had in appointing
him, with Drs. Smith and Wharton, a committee to get it impres-
sively before the churches for adoption, if they liked it. With his
perfect candor and perfect integrity of nature, he could not have
done otherwise. But it is quite plain that he desired the book to
be considered at first only as a proposed book ; and that if it ever
should become the Liturgy of the Church in the United States, it
should become so only upon full consent of all the churches de-
liberately and authentically expressed.

The key to what I suppose were Dr. Wliite's feelings and action
about the alterations, so far as they were now made, are to be
found in his desire to make what — adopting terms from our political
system — we may call a Federal Church as distinguished from a
variety of State chiirclics. He writes to the Rev. Mr. Parker,
August 6th, 1787 :t

■"■ See supra, page 166.

f Perry's "Hnlf Century of Le^i'^l.'^tion." Vol. I., pp. 35, 36.

1785] A'^r. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 225

I am most sincerely desirous of seeing our Church throughout these
States united in one Ecclesiastical Legislature, and I think that any
difficulties which have hitherto seemed in the way might be removed by
mutual forbearance. If there are any further difficulties than those I
allude to, of difference in opinion, they do not exist with me : and I
shall be always ready to do what lies in my power to bring all to an
agreement.

In the great opportunities for observation which his chaplaincy
to the Congress had given him, he had seen the immense injury
which the nation suffered prior to 1789 from the want of an effec-
tive general government, and he had seen, too, the immense diffi-
culties, arising from local aims and jealousies, of effecting such a
government. He saw the same exact two things in the Church,
and therefore, in his mind, the first thing to be accomplished, and
this even before the consecration of any bishop, was an Union of
all the churches.

He has explained the matter himself* "Certainly," says he,
" the different Episcopalian congregations knew of no union before
the Revolution except what was the result of the connection
which they had in common with the Bishop of London," and he
adds :

The authority of that Bishop being withdrawn, what right had the
Episcopalians in any State, or in any part of it, to choose a Bishop for
those in any other? And till an union was effected, what is there in
Christianity generally, or in the principles of this Church in particular,
to hinder them from taking different courses in different places as to all
things not necessary to salvation ? which might have produced different
liturgies, different articles, episcopacy from different sources, and, in
short, very many churches, instead of one extending over the United
States ; and this without any ground for schism, or of the invasion of
one another's rights.

When Dr. White looked at South Carolina, he saw a church
called Episcopal with what he rightly calls "an opposition to the
very principle of episcopacy," and which made it a condition of
coming into the church convention of 1785 that no Bishop should
be settled in that State.f When he looked at Virginia, he saw a
commonwealth whose House of Burgesses, most of whose mem-
bers professed to be churchmen, not long before the Revolution
thanking different writers who sought to prevent the consecration

* Memoirs, page 98, 2d edition. \ White's Memoirs, pp. 95, 96.

15

226 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

of a Bishop for any part of America — " for the wise and well-timed
opposition they had made to the pernicious project for introducing^
an American Bishop." * In Maryland was my ancestor, Dr. Smith,
a man of strong individual views, a man who could hardly be ex-
pected to submit his great powers and large experience to one
twenty years his junior, whom he remembered as his pupil at the
age of seven years and till his adolescence, and who, in his recent
tract of the " Episcopal Churches Considered," had himself, from
accidental circumstances, been viiicJi misunderstood, and was sup-
posed by some to be endangering that Episcopal government,
which ivc well know that it was one of the greatest desires of his
life to save and perpetuate. In New Jersey was the Rev. Uzal
Ogden, an ambitious, troublesome man; never a churchman but
in profession, and who at last, ceasing even a profession, became a
Presbyterian outright; while close beside him, in the same State,
the Rev. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, who had declined a Bishop-
ric from Great Britain, a churchman as high as Laud, and with
quite as much zeal and far more abilities than that diminutive
Archbishop of Canterbury ever possessed. Finally, in Connecti-
cut was " Samuel," soon to be " Samuel, Bishop of Connecticut,-'
with his mitre and all the accessories of an English prelate — a
glorious specimen, indeed, of a churchman — but no doubt, as Mr.
Burke said of Admiral Keppel, "though never shewn in insult to
any human being, sovietliing high,'' with ideas that the whole
South would scout at and rebel against. How was the sober sense
and faithful allegiance to his views of Benjamin Moore, in New
York, and Abraham Beach and William Frazer, in New Jersey,
and of Robert Blackwell and Samuel Magaw, in Pennsylvania, to
solve and make mingle these elements apparently so immiscible ?
Dr. White, therefore, was ready to give up any mere forms, how-
ever much he liked them, to any one, if thereby union among all
the churches could be attained. He was ready to retain any forms
possible to be retained, if thereby that same result could be se-
cured. It was with White and the Church as it was with Lincoln
and the Union. The martyr President would continue slavery if
it kept us one nation. He would declare emancipation if that
secured the blessed end.f Hence when " Samuel, Bishop of Con-

* See Vol. I., page 388.

f The same heavenly temper was exhibited by the Bishop in 1836 on .nnoiher

1785 J REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 22/

necticut" writes to Bishop White, in 1787, "proposing a personal
interview with him and Bishop Provoost previously to any decided
steps being taken respecting the Liturgy and Government of the
Church, and mentioning the old Liturgy as the most likely bond
of union," Bishop White, May 21st, 17S7, with a foresight that in
his day seems prophetic, replies :

There is nothing I have more at heart than to see the members of our
communion, throughout the United States, connected m one system of
Ecclesiastical government ; and if my meeting of you, in concurrence
with Bishop Provoost, can do anything towards the accomplishment of
this great object, my very numerous engagements shall not hinder me
from taking a journey for the purpose

If it should be thought advisable by the general body of our Church
to adhere to the English Book of Common Prayer (the political parts
excepted) I shall be one of the first, after the appearance of such a dis-
position, to comply with it most punctually.

Further than this, if it should seem the most probable way of main-
taining an agreement among ourselves, / shall use my best endeavors to
effect it. At the same time, I must candidly express my opinion, that
the review of the liturgy would tend very much to the satisfaction of
most of the members of our communion, and to its future success and
prosperity. The worst evil which I apprehend from a refusal to review
is this, that it will give a great advantage to those who wish to carry

^ - ~~ _

occasion. A young man, the Rev. John Waller James — burning with apostolic zeal —
had lately been invited to become Assistant Minister in Christ Church. The church
was an ancient church, with high, old-fashioned square pews, and the congregation was
composed of the aristocracy of Philadelphia. Mr. James had never ministered in any
large city. In Christ Church, Meadville, where he had been before, was a young,
very active, enthusiastic congregation. Mr. James was rather disappointed not to find
exactly the same sort of spirit in the venerable cote of which he was now to take
charge. He attributed what he thought a lack of zeal in part to the great high, old-
fashioned pews of which we speak. At any rate, he thought them unsuited to modern
necessities, and was earnestly desirous to change them to those common in the present
day. A considerable portion of the congregation were of his inclination. He pro-
posed to remodel the interior of the church. We can well conceive, after reading the
passage which we have quoted {supra, page 217 — note), describing his early connec-
tions with the pews and pulpit of this church, how such a pro]iosition must have
affected the venerable Bishop. But he made no opposition to the change. If it was
thought by those around him to promote the spiritual interests of the congregation, he
was ready to make it, however painful to his own feelings. The alterations were
begun in the summer of 1836, but during their progress both Bishop White and Mr.
James died. Neither ever saw the completion of them. As it turned out, the alter-
ations did nothing to change the condition of the parish. Under such a man as Mr.
James any parish, sooner or later, would have prospered, irrespectively of whether
the parishioners sat in pews with high backs or pews with low one^

228 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

the alteration into essential points of doctrine.* Reviewed it will un-
questionably be in some places, and the only way to prevent its being
done by men of the above description is the taking it up as a general
business. f I have been informed that you, sir, and our brethren in
Connecticut think a review expedient, although you wish not to be in
haste in the matter. Our brethren in Massachusetts have already done
it. The Churches in the States southward of you have sufficiently de-
clared their sentiments; for even those which have delayed permitting

* This sort of alteiation is exactly the sort which the authors of the so-called " Re-
formed Episcopal Church" who vouch Bishop White as authority for their liturgy,
have made in their service-book as last adopted. Of what pertinence to their case,
then, would it be — were it true, which it is not — that the Proposed Book was the
work of Bishop White solely or chiefly; that book, by universal concession, never hav-
ing carried the alterations into any such points; and, on that account, having been
abandoned by the so-called " Reformed Episcopal Church."

What Bishop White would have thought of the Episcopate of the said "Church"
may be inferred from a passage in that great charge of his, " On the Sustaining of the
Unity of the Church, in Contrariety to Disorder, Disunion and Division," page 13. It
was delivered in 1 83 1, in his sunset of life, when mystical lore enabled him fully to
see those coming events which, even then, cast their shadows before. He says :

" There is sometimes, in conversation, proposed the question whether in the event
of a consecration performed by one bishop only, the act would be valid ? That with
us, such a bishop would do what is contrary to the obligations under which he has
placed himself in a solemn appeal to God for his sincerity and in a pledge given for
the same publicly to the Church, and that the recipient of what is stipposed to be of the
character conveyed is a partaker of the crime, is obvious.

" Still there may be thought to remain the question of validity, and may be antici-
pated with apprehension as what, at some future time, may be found an easy expedient
for the introducing of division into the Church.

"Although the enormity has not been practised by any bishop of this Church, yet
there cannot be denied the possibility that it may occur hereafter, either with the
avowed abandonment of religious and moral principle or by the operation of that sort
of professed piety wJdch, in pursuance of zvhat is stipposed to be a righteous end, con-
siders it as siipcrsediiig the claims of integrity and truth. What would be the effect,
then, of the form of consecration? In answer, the opinion is confidently expressed
that it would be A NULLITY.

. ..." In certain supposable circumstances, the act of consecration by a single
bishop, disengaged from provisions not in themselves essential, is valitl. But if a
bishop of our Church, wliich requires the concurrence of two of his brethren, should
set the requisition at defiance, in violation of his promise, pledged with an invocation
of the notice of the all-seeing eye of God, there is no hesitation in expressing the
opinion that the only effect would be the guilt attached to it."

f Exactly the same views were expressed by the Bishop forty-five years later. (See
his charge of 1831, "On the Sustaming of the Unity of the Church in Contrariety to
Disorder, Disunion and Division," p. 18.)

" It is also probable that extreme tenaciousness and reluctance to moderate alteration
will give vigor to the opposite extreme of ill-digested projects for reform without
measure and without end. We may foresee that if such a spirit should be dominant
in our Church it will be promotive of confusion and of every evil work. It should,

1785] f^£^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 229

the use of the new book, did it merely on the principles of the want
of Episcopal order among them.*

W-^ thus see the relations of Dr. White to the matter of altera-
tions in the liturgy. The only part of the Proposed Book which
we know that he actively opposed was, as we have already said,
the introduction of a form of Thanksgiving for civil and religious
liberty, to be used on the 4th of July. And this apparently on a
moral ground, because that service put some of the clergy, who
had conscientiously opposed the Revolution, into an attitude which
compelled them to utter sentiments which they did not feel. We
have quoted in our former volume f what he has recorded on that
topic. At the same time we know that he speaks of his "frequent
collisions" with Dr. Smith, J which, as their general relations were
apparently harmonious and even affectionate, we must rather infer
had relation to Dr. Smith's urgency for alterations in the Liturgy,
and to his modes of effecting them, and of getting them intro-
duced into the churches.

Mr. Charles Henry W^harton — the committee's third member —
so well known now as Dr. Wharton, of Burlington, N. J., was a
person different every way from either Dr. Smith or Dr. White.
He was born in Maryland, of a family distinguished in the Church
of Rome, and was educated at St. Omer's, in France, for the
Romish priesthood, into which he was ordained and for some time
officiated. He was converted to the Protestant faith, as his Rom-
ish enemies -alleged, by a beautiful woman, whom he afterwards
married.§ He had no special affinities nor tastes for the liturgy
of the Church of England. He says in one letter :||

I think the simplifying of the liturgy should be among the first objects
of the Convention. Whatever was left with a view of reconcilinar
parties at the period of the Reformation, or retained as suitable to

therefore, be guarded against not only by the vigilance and the discountenance, but
also by the moderation of all who take pleasure in the peace and prosperity of our
Zion."

* Perry's " Half Century of Legislation," Vol. I., pages 346, 347.

t IXi,^e 575.

X See Wilson's " Life of White," page 20.

§ This lady, who is buried in the grounds of St. Peter's Church, became insane;
a judgment the papists — who dealt damnation round the land, on each they judged their
foe — alleged for his apostacy from Rome. His argmnen/s they left unanswered.

II Perry's " Half Century of Legislation," Vol. L, page 107.

230 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785

Cathedral service, may safely be omitted by the American Church. Per-
haps such an opportunity never occurred since the days of the Apostles
of setting a rational, unexceptionable mode of worship.

He adds in another : *

If no alterations in the liturgy are to be made but such as the Revo-
lution requires, there is little need to think much upon the subject, unless,
perhaps, omissions be not deemed alterations. My decided opinion is
that our prayers are too numerous as well as the repetitions. I shall
draw up a motion on this head which I mean to make at the Conven-
tion, if you should approve it.

However, though a sound thinker in the main ; a very finished
scholar, a true and elegant gentleman, and an able controversial
writer, Dr. Wharton was no debater at all, nor, unless provoked,
was his spirit in the least militant. The habits of the cloister clung
somewhat about him all his life, and his part in the Convention I
do not suppose to have been very active. f

We hardly pardon him — who lived long at Worcester, England,
and must have often enjoyed the service at its fine Cathedral —
writing :

Whatever was retained (in the English liturgy) as suitable to Cathe-
dral may safely be omitted by the American Church.

Why? were not services exactly those of the Cathedral and
differing from the humblest parish church only in their choirs, to
be performed in America ? And were not Cathedrals themselves
— the Bishop's Church — soon to be demanded by the voice of the
Church throughout our dioceses? J

* Perry's "Half CenUiry of Legislation," Vol. I., page 108.

fSee Sprague's "Annals of the American Pulpit," Vol. V., page 335.

\ On this very 26th of May, 1879, ^s I write, I open the Livvig Church, a journal
of Illinois, and read from the Western Church, a journal of Chicago, this passage :

" The American Church longs for the constitutional fatherly government of its
Fathers in God. In manifold w^ays the heart of the Church demands it. It wants a
true Bishop's Church in the See city, in which the educational, charitable and mission-
ary work of the See is to centre. It needs for its cathedral chapter, a body in which
every diocesan interest shall be represented, the diocese at large, the institutions, the
missionary work, the city parishes, the cathedral clergy, the laity as well as the clergy.
It needs the Bishop at the head of the chapter, the informing factor, the guiding prin-
ciple, the Father of his Flock, the Bishop in the truly ordered See."

This would have been the language of Dr. Smith; and his pen, I should think,
would never have stricken out that ancient rubric of our mother Church —

"In choirs and places where they sing, here followelh the anthem."

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 23 1

Nevertheless, he was not incHned to see the old Prayer Book
reduced to the dead level of modern American low churchmen.
By an accident apparently, the Convention had obliterated all the
Saints' days. In writing to Dr. White, he says :

Your idea of suiting the lessons to the several seasons of the ecclesi-
astical year agrees perfectly with mine. ... As to the general Calendar
I apprehend the Committee has power to alter it as the Convention
judged proper to omit the Saints' days. I would be for retaining,
however, the names of a few, such as Lady Day, Michaelmas, All Saints,
with the Apostles' Days, St. Stephen s and Innocents. These three last
being Scripture festivals should not be omitted, I mean a commemora-
tion of Scriptural persons and martyrs. All Saints of more modern date
should be expunged."

I have gone thus at large into the history of the Proposed Book
and of the parts which different people had in its composition, be-
cause of the great ignorance prevailing and of the gross misrepre-
sentations made on the subject. How completely all the great,
essential doctrines of the Church of England are presented in it,
and how little ground the preachers of the so-styled Reformed
Episcopal CJmrcli, who have referred -to it as justifying their schism,
have had for their reference to it, will appear sufficiently in these
pages.

In addition to his great labor in the matter of the Proposed
Book, Dr. Smith was chairman of the two other principal com-
mittees appointed by the convention of 1785; one of them being
to prepare a draft, the form of an Ecclesiastical Constitution
for the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of
America; the other for preparing and reporting a plan for ob-
taining the consecration of Bishops, together with an Address to
the Most Reverend the Archbishops and the Right Reverend the
Bishops of the Church of England for that purpose.

We may reasonably infer, too, that, perhaps, with some reduction of force, it might
have, expressed the views of Bishop White, who, in his charge of 1S31, after saying
that, in his view, a Bishop should not be made to take full charge of any parish, and
that a third part of the parochial duty of any church of which a Bishop was Rector
should be performed by an assistant, says :

" But when there are taken into the account our rapidly increasing population with
which we may hope for a proportionate increase of our Church, it cannot be useless
to keep in view a ?natured system of a Iiigher grade than our present provisions, and
to be accomplished by degrees, although the full accomplishment be so distant that the
youngest among us may not be expected to witness it, while they may subserve it by
incipient measures."

232 LIFE AXD CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE [1785

Though the labor of preparing and drafting the Ecclesiastical
Constitution did not fall largely upon Dr. Smith, he was bound,
of course, as chairman of his committee, to give to it his intelli-
gent thought and care; and though, in the other committee, a
large, perhaps the larger, share of labor was borne by others, we
have, in petitions drafted by his own pen, the record of his work.
The first address to the English Bishops was drawn by Dr. White.
Its date is October 5th, 1785. The Proposed Book had not yet
been seen by the English Bishops, and reports had got abroad
exaggerating the alterations that had been made and misstating
some matters of importance. The English Bishops, in a commu-
nication to the clerical and lay members, dated London, February
24th, 1786, and filled with expressions of kindness, stated that, while
they were disposed to make every allowance for the difficulties
which embarrassed the Convention of 1785, they could not help
being afraid that in the proceedings of that convention some altera-
tions in the Liturgy had been adopted or intended which those
difficulties did not seem to justify. They proceed :

Those alterations are not mentioned in your address ; and as our
knowledge of them is no more than what has reached us through private
and less certain channels, we hope you will think it just both to you
and to ourselves if we wait for an explanation. For while we are
anxious to give every proof not only of our brotherly affection, but of
our facility in forwarding your wishes, we cannot but be extremely
cautious least we should be the instruments of establishing an ecclesias-
tical system which wnll be called a branch of the Church of England,
but afterwards may possibly appear to have departed from it essentially
either in doctrine or in discipline.

Dr. Smith drafted a reply, although before being sent it was
considerably modified by Mr. Jay, one of the convention, never
much of a churchman, we may add, and of a disposition possibly
somewhat jealous,* who thought its terms rather obsequious.

* See Mr. Jay's Remarks on " Induction "' — " Life of John J.iy," vol. I., pp. 434-
442; and his correspondence with Judge Peters on the subject of Hamilton's relations
to the formation of Washington's Farewell Address. Nothing, I think, but some
latent jealousy of the gre.it first Secretary of the Treasury could have induced so un-
fortunate an argument as that contained in Mr. Jay's leUer to Judge Peters of March
29th, 181 1 — an argument completely demolished by the great pinper of Horace Binney
on the formation of the Farewell Address. See " Memoirs of the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania," vol.!., page 249, and Mr. Pinney's Essay.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 233

The body of its ideas were retained. We give it here, more es-
pecially as it shows that Dr. Smith was not obstinately set in
favor of his new book, but was ready to receive, as he afterwards
did receive, and at once adopt many suggestions for its im-
provement.

To the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Fathers in God, the Arch-
bishops and Bishops of the Church of England :

Most Worthy and Venerable Prelates !

The clerical and lay deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary-
land, Virginia and South Carolina, this day assembled in Convention
in Christ Church, Philadelphia, had the honour to receive your letter
dated London, February 24th, 17S6, in answer to their address of
October 5th, 1785.

Your Christian condescension and goodness, on this occasion, have
filled our hearts with the most lively sentiments of gratitude ; and we
desire to offer our thankful acknowledgments to your venerable Body,
for having taken the earliest opportunity of attending to our address,
with that true and affectionate regard which you have always shown to
that branch of the Episcopal Church planted by your great and pious
Predecessors in America. We are, moreover, greatly encouraged by
the fatherly assurance you give us that "nothing is nearer your heart
than the wish to promote our spiritual welfare ; to be instrumental in
procuring for us the complete exercise of our holy religion, and the
enjoyment of that ecclesiastical constitution which we sincerely believe
to be truly apostolical, and for which (we trust) the most unreserved
veneration will ever be maintained by our Church in America." We
are also happy to be further assured that, on your "parts, you will use
your best endeavours (which you give us hopes will be successful) to ac-
quire a legal capacity of complying with the prayer of our address."

The Joy which we feel on this occasion would therefore be complete,
were it not for the apprehensions you, our venerable Fathers, have sug-
gested to us, " that in the proceedings of our last convention some
alterations may have been adopted or intended which the difficulties of
our situation do not seem to justify; " but we are greatly comforted, at
the same time, by the kind assurance which you give us, and our firm
dependence on your goodness, "that you are disposed to make every
allowance which candor can suggest for those difficulties ; and that you
think it just, both to yourselves and to us, to wait for an explanation."

Nevertheless, while we regret that any difficulties have arisen from
misrepresentations of our proceedings through any private or uncertain
channels; we are, at the same time, greatly edified with the caution
exhibited to us, by those whom we revere as the chief Guardians and

234 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17S5

Depositories, under God, of the doctrines of the Church, whereof we
profess ourselves members.

From those doctrines no essential deviations were intended by the
convention, and we are confident it will appear that none have been
made in the book which hath been proposed, and which we thought it
but just and candid to publish to the world, and particularly to have it
presented to your Lordships before any Clergyman nominated to the
office of a Bishop among us should be sent to you for consecration.
In the meantime it was to be our endeavour to remove as far as possible
every objection that might remain or be apprehended among our Civil
Rulers ; to which we believe nothing could more contribute than an
open and candid publication of the Alterations which seemed necessary
or expedient, either in a civil or religious view. We conceived, more-
over, that this declaration of our doctrines and public worship would
contribute effectually to do away any prejudices against our Church,
which may still be found among our fellow-citizens at large \ these
prejudices, we are persuaded, are few and inconsiderable. For some
time past they have happily been subsiding, and your Lordships will
undoubtedly approve of every measure which a sister Church can adopt
towards completing the circle of Christian Charity and forbearance.

Some alterations became necessary upon the principles set forth in
the preface to the proposed Book of Common Prayer ; but we apore-
hend that there are none such as can induce your venerable Body to
consider us as having adopted "an ecclesiastical system which will be
called a branch of the Church of England, but which may appear to
have departed from it essentially either in doctrine or discipline." We
have already expressed our hope that there is no such departure, or,
should it appear to your Lordships that there is any, we shall be happy
to have it pointed out to us.

Our book is only a proposal, although we must say it is a very ac-
ceptable one to those of our Church who have had the greatest oppor-
tunity of being made acquainted with it. But we have not established
it, nor do we consider ourselves as having authority so to do in the
Churches of any of these States till they are fully organized and have
their Bishops in Council and Government with them. When those
shall be sent for consecration to the Church of England, they Avill be
informed in what points, if any, there may appear to be essential devia-
tions either in doctrine or discipline; and they, as well as the Conven-
tions in the different States, will undoubtedly pay all that deference to
your exalted characters which we know to be necessary for maintaining
a perpetual harmony and union with the Church of England in all
essentials.

We therefore Pray, That as our Church, in sundry States, hath already
proceeded with nominations of Bishops and in others may soon proceed
with the same ; you will be pleased to give us as speedy an answer to

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 235

this, our second address, as in your fatherly regard you were pleased to
give to our former one ; as it is our wish that some at least of the per-
sons nominated should embark for England, so as to put themselves
under your protection and patronage, against the meeting of Parliament
next winter. We. are with great and sincere Respect

Most worthy and venerable Prelates.

It is no part of our purpose to give an ecclesiastical history of
the day further than as Dr. Smith was connected with it. Suffice
it, therefore, to say that when the Proposed Book was received in
England — while the Bishops expressed their regret at several ver-
bal alterations of the necessity or propriety of which they were not
satisfied, and saw with grief that the Nicene and Athanasian creeds
had been omitted — they did not deny that the essential doctrines
of the faith, common to the two churches, had been retained.
Strange to add, the principal thing faulted apparently by the
Bishops was the omission of the passage in the Apostles' Creed
which affirms the descent of Christ into Hell — an affirmation con-
fessedly inserted but as a contradiction of an early heresy and
without Scriptural authority beyond the passage in the First
Epistle of St. Peter iii. 19, 20, speaking of Christ's preaching unto
the spirits in prison; a passage considerably involved in obscurity,
as all will agree. It subsequently appeared, moreover, that even
this ground of objection was much urged apparently by no one
but the Bishop of Bath and Wells ; a venerable prelate, we may
indeed admit, eminent as well for his theological learning as for
his exemplary life and conversation ; but not one who should have
had power to enforce an objection, the least weighty of several,
none of which were very weighty, that might have been made.

The changes chiefly desired by the English Bishops (except an
adoption of the Athanasian Creed) were made by the convention
almost Slid sponte upon the suggestion of them, and our Bishops
were consecrated while the Proposed Book thus altered was be-
fore the Church for adoption, if the respective dioceses liked it.

While Dr. Smith was at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where he
owned a large body of lands which he had gone to look after, Dr.
White received from England communications from the two
Archbishops expressing the regrets above mentioned, but withal
giving a general assurance that the desired consecration would be
given; expressing their hope that a change on the subject above
mentioned as unsatisfactory would be made.

236 LIFE AXD CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE [1786

Dr. White immediately by letter informed Dr. Smith of the
communications received from the two Archbishops, and that the
Committee of Correspondence, to whom power had been given to
call a General Convention, had called it to meet at Wilmington,
in Delaware, on the loth of October, 1786. Dr. Smith replies as
follows :

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Lancaster, August iSth, 1786, 4 o'clock v. m.

Dear Sir: At Carlisle, on my return from Juniata, on the 15th
instant, I received your letter giving me an account of the last com-
inunications from the two Archbishops of England. I had never any
doubt but that on seeing our Book, such great and liberal Prelates as
they are known to be would take a pleasure to protect and patronize our
Church, as a great and growing branch of their own.

I presume any advice I could give concerning the calling of the Con-
vention would be now too late, as a majority of the Committee have
approved the measure. If that be the case, I can have no objection
either to the time or place of meeting. But I can see little use in giving
the Convention the trouble to meet in pursuance of anything which you
have mentioned to me from the letter of the Archbishops. There can
be no doubt of a general compliance Avith the alterations they recom-
mend (the Athanasian creed excepted) whenever any new edition of the
Prayer Book shall be directed by a convention having ecclesiastical and
spiritual authority to ratify a book for our Church. And till such con-
vention can be had (which certainly will not be next October) ^ye have
already determined not to enter upon the consideration of any amend-
ments or alterations whatever. Should we take up those hinted by the
Archbishops, how shall we refuse to go upon those also which have been
proposed by different State Conventions? And may we not then at the
end of next Convention, at Wilmington (could we possibly get seven
States together in October), leave our Book in a far more exceptionable
point of view with those Prelates, and many of our own Church, than
it now is? For I think it stands now with as few objections to it both
in America, and for what appears, in England, as ever it will. There
are also some things proposed or recommended by the Archbishops
which cannot be complied with by some States at all, or at least not
without calling their conventions, and perhaps altering some part of
their ecclesiastical constitutions, all which would require more time
than to October, and probably would be productive of much confusion.

However, you and the other members of the Committee will find me
ready to meet every difficulty, and to do my utmost for the general
good of the Church, but I think we have no difficulties left unless we
create them among ourselves.

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 237

Much do we owe to the two worthy Archbishops. I need not write

more. I am ])ushing to be home on Sunday, and will strive to be at

Philadelphia about Wednesday next, the 23d instant

In haste, yours, Wm. Smith.

Rev. Dr. White.

After receiving intelligence from Dr. White of the letter from
the Archbishops, two letters came by the same packet: one to Dr.
White and one to Dr. Smith, from the Rev. Alexander Murray,
prior to the Revolution a missionary of the S. P. G., and who,
though returning to England on the Declaration of Independence,
ever felt a warm interest in the ecclesiastical welfare of the col-
onies. Both letters were under cover to Dr. Smith. The one to
Dr. White, and a letter from Dr. Smith to Dr. Wharton enclosing
it, here follow :

Rev. Dr. Murray io the Rev. Dr. White.

London, July 28, 1786.
Dear Sir : Your favor of 4th April I received the 5th instant, via
Liverpool, with the remaining parts of your liturgy; but I had before
then, just as the June packet was ready to sail for New York, taken the
liberty to remind the Archbishop of your Church concerns, and he wrote
you accordingly by that opportunity which made it unnecessary for me also
to advise you that your consecration bill had at last been passed, though
late, owing to your own delays. This you had' besides announced in
all our newspapers by the packet. I waited then to send you the act
printed. I pressed it twice a week, and with some threats. In the end
I expect it in a few days. But as the " Mediator," for your port, is to
sail to-rnorrow I thought it proper in the meantime to give you the
material parts of the act, which is that it gives authority to either of our
Archbishops to consecrate Bishops for foreign nations, "who profess the
worship of Almighty God according to the principles of the C'hurch of
England, they having the good learning, soundness of faith, and purity
of manners of the candidates ascertained to them," (the Bishops.)
The other parts of the act are much the same with that for consecrating
priests, which I sent you. I need hardly remark the liberal catholic
spirit the act is stamped with. It leaves room for admitting local differ-
ences in lesser matters which affect not the vitals of our holy religion
and the constitution of our Apostolic Episcopal Church.

Yours affectionately,

Alexander Murray.*
Rev. Dr. White.

* For a sketch of this minister of our Colonial Church, see Appendix No. III.

238 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1786

Rev. Dr. Smith to Rev. Dr. White.

Chester, September 11, 1786.
Dear Sir : The enclosed is from Dr. Murray, but I suppose can con-
tain nothing new, as mine which accompanied it is of an older date than
our last from the Archbishop of Canterbury. If you have anything
further of importance to communicate, or when you have I shall expect
to hear from you. I shall go over to Annapolis next week, which, being
at the election of the Senate, will give me an opportunity of doing some
necessary business with gentlemen whom I could not otherwise meet till
November. I would wish to have a little time before the General Con-
vention to think of what may be proper to be done, or can with pro-
priety be done, respecting the requisitions of the English Bishops.
You know my apprehensions, etc. I hope you will bestow your serious
thoughts upon the business, viewing it in proper lights.

Yours, William SMirii.

Rev. Dr. White,

Rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia.

The Convention called for Wilmington, assembled there, as in-
vited, on the lOth of October, 1786. It lasted but two days.
The letters of the English Archbishops being taken into consider-
ation, The Descent into Hell — the expression of a belief in which
had been omitted from the Apostles' Creed as given in the Pro-
posed Book — was restored by a majority, to the liturgy. The
Nicene Creed was restored by unanimous vote. The Athanasian
was voted against — seventeen votes to three. The States were
rather curiously divided on the subject of the admission of this
last creed. In New Jersey the only persons favoring its readmis-
sion were laymen, Henry Waddell and Joshua Maddox Wallace,
Esqs., voting for its admission against the clergy of the State —
Mr. Uzal Ogden and the excellent William Frazier, of Amwell.
In Delaware its support came from one clergyman, the Rev.
Sydenham Thorne; he voting against the laity and the Rev. Dr.
Wharton. The vote of Pennsylvania, clergy and laity alike, went
solidly against the restoration. Maryland took no part in any of
these questions from the fact of not being represented in this Con-
vention.

In this Convention, Dr. White, Dr. Provoost and Dr. Griffith
were recommended to the English Bishops by the members of this
Convention for consecration to the Episcopal orders. Little or no
mention is made of Dr. Smith in the proceedings of this short

1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 239

assembly, beyond his appointment (after Dr. Provoost, who was
President of the Convention) on a committee, a majority of which
had power to call a General Convention to meet in Philadelphia,
and beyond what is disclosed in the following extract from the
minutes themselves :

It was moved and seconded, that a Committee be appointed to draft
a letter from this Convention, to the Archbishops of England, in an-
swer to their late letters.

And the following gentlemen were appointed accordingly — Dr. Smith,
Dr. Wliite and Dr. Wharton.

This Committee retired, and after some time returned and reported
a letter, which, after a few amendments, was agreed to as follows :

TO THE ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY AND YORK.

Most Worthy and Venerable Prelates:

la pursuance of your Graces' communications to the Standing Committee of our
Church, received by the June pacl^et, and the letter of his Grace the Archbishop of
Canterbury of July the 4th, enclosing the Act of Parliament " to empower the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, or the Archbishop of York, for the time being, to consecrate to
the office of a Bishop, persons being subjects or citizens of countries out of his
Majesty's dominions," a General Convention, now sitting, have the honor of offering
their unanimous and hearty thanks for the continuance of your Christian attention to
tliis Church, and particularly for your having so speedily acquired a legal capacity of
complying with the prayer of our former addresses.

We have taken into our most serious and deliberate consideration the several matters
so affectionately recommended to us in those communications, and whatever could be
done towards a compliance with your fatherly wishes and advice, consistently with our
local circumstances, and the peace and unity of our Church, hath been agreed to, as,
we trust, will appear from the enclosed Act of our Convention, which we have the
honor to transmit to you, together with the Journal of our proceedings.
We are, with great and sincere respect,

Most worthy and venerable prelates,

Your obedient and very humble servants,
(By order) Samuel Provoost, President.

In General Convention :
At Wilmington, in the Stale of Delaware,
October II, 1786.

What I suppose to be the original draft of this document thus
signed, which is before me, is in the handwriting of Dr. Smith,
Chairman of the Committee.

On the 24th of October, 1786, a Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in Maryland met at Annapolis, in that State,
and chose Dr. Smith its President. The following instrument of
writing was laid before the Convention, and is entered among its
proceedings, viz. :

240 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}7^^

State of Maryland, Chester Parish, Kent County,
In Vestry, 19th of October, 1786.
To Whom it may Concern:

W/iercas, the Rev. William Smith, D. D., rector or minister of this
Parish, and Principal of Washington College, in the same, hath com-
municated to us an instrument of writing certifying his nomination or
election to the office of Bishop by his brethren, the Protestant Episco-
pal clergy of this State, in Convention met, and due notice hath been
given of the same in our Parish Church, immediately after Divine Ser-
vice on the Lord's Day, to the intent that if any notable cause or im-
pediment, touching his sufficiency in learning, soundness in the faith
and purity of manners, could be shown why he should not be conse-
crated to that sacred office, the same might be made known to us. Now
we do think it our duty, in the most solemn manner, hereby to declare
and testify that no such cause or impediment hath been made known to
us: and further, that the said William Smith hath for six years last past
been personally and intimately known to us as the minister of this
parish, during which time he hath been regarded and distinguished
among us as an orthodox, learned and truly evangelical preacher, yield-
ing us both satisfaction and edification by his ministry, doctrine and
conversation. We further testify that during that period he hath also
acquitted himself with such zeal and abilities in the general service of
the Church, and in laying permanent foundations for the advancement
and support of religion and learning in this State, that we consider him
as a benefactor to our country and worthy of its regard and esteem.

John Scott,

R. Buchanan,

Jere. Nichols,

St. Leger Everitt, ^ Vestry.

Simon Wilmer,

Jno. Tilden Kennard,

Marmaduke Tilden.

John Sturges, Church-Warden.

The Convention then adjourned to meet at Chestertown, on the
fourth Tuesday in May, 1787.

1784] HEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 24I

CHAPTER XLIX.

Matters Contemporaneous with and Collateral to the General Eccle-
siastical Councils — The Proposed Book, etc. — Church Convention in
Maryland, 1784 — Efforts to Prevent the Apostacy of the Methodists
• — Second Commencement of Washington College — General Washington
Honors it with his Presence— Dr. Smith to Dr. West about the Funds
for the College — Christian Frederick Post — His Death and a Notice
of him — A Friendly Letter from Dr. Muhlenberg to Dr. Smith —
Ordination by Bishop Seabury of a Pupil of Dr. Smith Prepared for
Holy Orders by the Latter and Recommended for them by him —
Bishop Seabury's great Satisfaction with the Candidate — Church
Convention in Maryland, a. d. 1785 — Death of Dr. Charles Ridgely,
a Brother- in-Law of Dr. Smith — The Rev. John M. Languth — Death
of General John Cadwalader, a Nephew of Dr. Smith by Marriage —
Dr. Smith Preaches at the Funeral — Letter of Dr. Smith's Wife re-
ferring TO THE Deaths of Dr. Ridgely and General Cadwalader —
Maryland Convention of 1787 — Ordination of Dr. Smith's Kinsman,
Richard Channing Moork— Efforts to have the Charter of the Col-
lege AT Philadelphia Restored — Dr. Smith to Dr. West.

Not to interrupt the unity of a narrative of some length about
the General Conventions, Proposed Book, etc., we have compre-
hended two or three years in the last preceding chapters, without
much reference to other matters. But with Dr. Smith's active
mind and active hands and active frame, there were always works
collateral to his main work, and these, operating on the sides of
his opus magnum, whatever this last might be, he was always
carrying on as steadily as he was the great work itself

To a few of these in the years 1784, 1785 and 1786 we will now
advert. On the 26th of October, 1784, a Convention of the
Clergy and Lay Delegates of the Episcopal Church in Maryland
was held at Chestertown, in Maryland. Dr. Smith presided, and
the Rev. William West acted as secretary. The Rev. Messrs.
Andrews, Keene, Thompson and McPherson were present. The
following additional Constitutions respecting the future discipline
and government of the Church in Annual or General Conventions
were agreed upon, viz. :

I. General Conventions of this Church, consisting of the different
16

242 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE 117^4

orders of clergy and laity duly represented (agreeably to the Fourth
Constitution aforesaid) shall have the general cognizance of all affairs,
necessary to the discipline and good government of this Church, in-
cluding particularly the following matters, viz. : The power and author-
ity necessary for receiving, or excluding from Church privileges, scan-
dalous members, whether lay or clerical, and all jurisdiction with regard
to offenders ; the power of suspending or dismissing clergymen from the
exercise of their ministry in this Church ; the framing, approving of,
or confirming all canons, or laws, for Church government; and such alter-
ations, or reforms, in the Church service, liturgy, or points of doctrine,
as may be afterwards found necessary or expedient, by our Church in
this State, or of the United States in General Convention. And in all
matters that shall come before the Convention, the clergy and laity shall
deliberate in one body; but if any vote shall be found necessary, or be
called for by any two members, they shall vote separately ; that is to
say, the clergy in their different orders, according to their own rules,
shall have one vote ; and the laity, according to their rules, shall have
another vote ; and the concurrence of both shall be necessary to give
validity to any measure.

II. Future Conventions shall frame and establish rules, or canons,
for receiving complaints; and shall annually appoint a committee, con-
sisting of an equal number of clergy and laity (including the bishop,
when there shall be one duly consecrated, among the number of the
clergy), which committee shall have standing authority, government,
and jurisdiction, agreeably to such rules as may be given them for that
purpose, in all matters respecting the discipline and government of the
Church, that may arise or be necessary to be proceeded upon, during
the recess or adjournment of General Conventions : all which rules shall
be framed, and jurisdiction exercised in conformity to the Constitution
and Laws of this State for the time being.*

The reader will have already noted how broad and comprehen-
sive was the cast of Dr. Smith's churchmanship. We have seen
in our first volume f that he was inclined to bring into the Church
— if the Bishop of London approved of the idea — the whole of the
Lutheran clergy in Pennsylvania. He was equally desirous, and

* In the copy of these additional constitutions in the collection of early journals in
the possession of the present Bishop of Iowa— Dr. Perry— which, though evidently in-
serted after the rest of the pamphlet was printed, is continuously paged with the pre-
ceding sheets, the words " or general " in the heading, and "the following matters,
viz.," in paragraph I. are omitted ; the parenthetical clause " (of all orders) "' is added
to the assertion of "the power of suspending or dismissing clergymen; " and the words
"or rule" :ippended at the close of the paragrajih. There are several variations in
typography, which, as they do not at all affect the sense, it is hardly important to notice.

tPage4JD3.

17^4] ^^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 243

even more so, to prevent the divisions made by the Wesleys from
becoming permanent. While he could not see in the state of the
English Church even in the days of those zealous souls, any justi-
fication or even any excuse for their conduct, and although no
schism was then yet contemplated, he could not fail to discern how
that the then existing state might naturally enough induce such
"experience and practice" as they had brought about. And as
America seemed the field on which the Wesleys, Whitefield, Coke,
and Asbury were likely to reach their greatest success, and as our
untutored thousands — black and white — were a class in more dan-
ger of being captivated than the better instructed, even if too
much neglected, people of England — Dr. Smith watched, with
the most lively attention, all that the leaders of this sect were
doing, and earnestly sought to effect a return to a state of junc-
ture with them ; if, without a sacrifice of the great principles of
the Church, such a return could be accomplished. The follow-
ing letter illustrates his interest in the matter. Its writer was
the Rev. John Andrews,* a native of Maryland, but v/ho gradu-
ated at the College of Philadelphia under Dr. Smith, v/as after-
wards a tutor in the grammar school of the institution, and was
now the worthy rector of St. Thomas' parish, Baltimore county,
in the State of Maryland.

Ihe Rev. John Andrews to Dr. Smith.

Baltimore, December 31, 17S4.

Dear Sir: I promised to give you some account of what should pass
at our proposed conference with Dr. Coke. It is an account, however,
which I fear will be no ways interesting, and from which at any rate
you can derive little satisfaction.

At the appointed hour, which was six in the evening, he did not fail
to attend us ; and brought with him Mr. Goff ana Mr. Asbury. We
drank tea, and conversed on indifferent subjects. The doctor was full
of vivacity and entertained us with a number of little anecdotes not
disagreeably. At length I took occasion to observe, that we had seen
Mr. Wesley's letter of September last addressed to Dr. Coke and Mr.

* In the year 1785, having received the degree of a Doctor of Divinity from his old
master's new college — Washington — at Chestertown, Dr. Andrews returned to Philadel-
phia, where, at a later date, he was made at first (a. d. 17S9) a Professor in the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, afterwards (a. D. 1791) Vice- Provost, and finally (a. D. 1810)
Provost of the same. He continued in that office till February, 1813. He died on
the 29th of the following month.

244 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/84

Asbury; as also a book entitled, "The Sunday Service of the Metho-
dists:" that we were happy to find from these publications that the
people called Methodists were hereafter to use the same liturgy that we
make use of, to adhere to the same articles, and to keep up the same three
orders of the clergy ; that these circumstances had induced us to hope,
that the breach which had so long subsisted in our Church might at
length, in America at least, be happily closed : that we could not think
so unfavorably of the gentlemen who were at the head of that society,
as to suppose they could persist in separating from us, merely for the
sake of separating; or cherish in tlieir breasts so unkind a spirit, as
would not suffer them even in doing of the very same things that we do,
to have any satisfaction without doing them in a different manner; with
such variations in point of form and other circumstances, as may create
an invidious distinction where there is no real difference: that the plan
of Church government which we had instituted in this State, was a very
simple, and, as we trusted, a very rational plan : that it was to be exer-
cised by a convention consisting of an equal number of laity and clergy;
and having for their president a bishop elected by the whole body of
the clergy : that this bishop was to differ from a common presbyter in
nothing else than in the right of presiding in the Convention, of or-
daining ministers, and administering confirmation after baptism to as
many as desired it : that such an episcopacy, at the same time that it
possessed all the powers requisite for spiritual purposes, would not upon
any occasion or to any person be either dangerous or burdensome. It
could not be said to cntatigle men more than Mr. Wesley's episcopacy
C7itangled them. AVhat occasion then could there be for a separation
from us on the score of government ? And as to articles of faith and
form of worship, they already agreed with us. If it would not be so
grateful to them to have their preachers ordained by a presbyter taken
from among us and consecrated a bishop, what hindered but that Dr.
Coke might be so consecrated ? We could see no impropriety in having
two bishops in one State, one of which might always be elected from
among the people called Methodists, so long as that distinction should
be kept up among us.

To all this Dr. Coke made the following reply: That indeed he scarce
knew what answer to give us; as such an address had neither been fore-
seen nor expected : that any propositions, however, that we should
think proper to make on the subject he could transmit to Mr. Wesley.
Perhaps we were strangers to their itinerant and circuitous maxims: that
it was not proposed that any of their ministers should ever have a fixed
residence : and that for his own part he was inclined to think that our
two churches might not improperly be compared to a couple of earthen
basins set afloat in a current of water, which, so long as they should
continue to float in two parallel lines, would float securely: but the mo-
ment they began to converge were in danger of destroying each other.

1784] REV- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 245

Mr. Asbury was pleased to add — that the difference between us lay-
not so much in doctrines and forms of worship as in experience and
practice. He complained that the Methodists had always been treated
by us with abundance of contempt ; and that for his own part, though
he had travelled over all parts of this continent, there were but four
clergymen of our Church, from whom he had received any civilities.
In expressing these sentiments, however, he did not mean to throw any
reflection upon Mr. West and myself, whom, from the accounts he had
received concerning us, he regarded as worthy characters.

Mr. West begged it might be well understood, that in holding this
discourse with them, we acted altogether in a private capacity, wholly
unauthorized so to do by Hie Church to which we belonged ; and that in
his opinion, the only material point to which it concerned us at present
to enquire into was simply this — Was the plan upon luhich the Methodists
were now proceeding to act, irreiwcably fixed? Dr. Coke answered, that
there was no po'son who took more time than Mr. Wesley to deliberate
upon his plans, and none 7vho after he had deliberated upo?i them was
more prompt and decided in the execution of thcni.

Upon this the subject was dropped, and in a short time after they
took their leave of us.

A day or two after I took the liberty to wait on Dr. Coke at his lodg-
ings. I expressed a wish, that they could be induced to give rise to
their orders in a regular manner; and this I observed they might do,
and yet still continue to manage their own affairs, and remain as
distinct a body from us as they might think proper. If they did not
esteem it unlawful to connect the succession, I contended, that it was
their duty to connect it, from motives of charity and of policy. By
such compliance their departure from their brethren would be less con-
siderable, and they would have fewer prejudices to encounter with.

Dr. Coke did not hesitate to acknowledge, that it would be more con-
sistent indeed, and more regular to connect the succession ; and that the
time was when the Methodists might have been gained by a little con-
descension. But it was now too late to think of these things, when
their plans were already adopted and in part even executed ; that he
himself had received ordination agreeably to this nezv system, and con-
ferred it on others. He set forth in his turn the great contempt and
aversion with v.'hich the Methodists had always been treated in England,
by the generality of the bishops, as well as by the laity and clergy; that
when one of their preachers had an inclination to come over to this
country with Lord Cornwallis' army under the character of a chaplain,
Mr. Wesley could not prevail on the Bishop of London to ordain him ;
that some clergymen of the Church of England, who had ventured to per-
form service in the Countess of Huntingdon's chapel had been prose-
cuted in the Court of Arches; that Bishop Newton in his last dying charge
to his clergy solemnly enjoined them, that they should never cease to

246 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^A

oppose the Methodists : and upon the whole that such was the temper
of the English prelates, that they would much rather choose that the
whole body of the Methodists in England, though so very numerous,
should be lost to the Church by a total separation, than that they should
continue any longer with it.

To those particulars I made the best reply that I was able, apologized
for the great trouble I had given them, and then took my leave of them
in the most friendly and affectionate manner.

Thus ended our negotiation which served no other purpose tlian to
discover to us, that the minds of these gentlemen are not wholly free from
resentmeftt, and it is a point which among them is indispensably neces-
sary that Mr. Wesley be the first link of the chain upon which their Church
is suspended.

Although, as Dr. Andrews observes, Dr. Smith could not derive
much satisfaction from a letter which revealed nothing so much
as the fact that the estrangement of Coke from the Church was
likely to become a schism, — one, too, founded on the spretce injuria
forma; much more than on an earnest contention for any faith ever
delivered to the saints — this effort at reunion was not without re-
sults of a permanently historic kind. The feelings of these gentle-
men— whose separation was so much animated by "personal re-
sentment"— came under the influence of that great physician Time.
Before many years they were "pricked in their hearts" and went
to a friend of Smith to inquire "what they should do."

The following letter (of 1791) of Mr. Coke to Bishop White, is
a memorable document indeed ; its confessions and aspirations but
the scqiielcB of the efforts made in 1784 and narrated as above, by
the Rev. Mr. Andrews :

Richmond, April 24, 1791.

Right Reverend Sir: Permit me to intrude a little on your time
upon a subject of great importance.

You, I believe, are conscious that I was brought up in the Church of
England, and have been ordained a presbyter of that Church. For
many years I was prejudiced, even I think, to bigotry in favor of it: but
through a variety of causes and incidents, to mention which would be
tedious and useless, my mind was exceedingly biassed on the other side
of the question. In consequence of this, I am not sure but I went
further in the separation of our Church in America than Mr. AVesley,
from whom I had received my commission, did intend. He did indeed
solemnly invest me, as far as he had a right so to do, with Episcopal
authority, but did not intend, I think, that our entire separation should

1784] Ji£V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 247

take place. He being pressed by our friends on this side the water for
ministers to administer the sacraments to them (there being very few
clergy of the Church of England then in the States), he went farther,
J am sure, than he would have gone if he had foreseen some events which
followed. And this I am certain of — that he is now sorry for the
separation.

But what can be done for a re-union, which I wish for ; and to accom-
plish which Mr. Wesley, I have no doubt, would use his influence to the«
utmost? The affection of a very considerable number of the preachers
and most of the people is very strong towards him, notwithstanding the
excessive ill usage he received fi'om a few. My interest also is not
small; and both his and mine would readily and to the utmost be used
to accomplish that (to us) very desirable object; if a readiness were
shown by the bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to re-unite.

But there are many hindrances in the way. Can they be

removed?

1. Our ordained ministers will not — ought not to — give up their right
of administering the sacraments. I do not think that the generality of
them, perhaps none of them, would refuse to submit to a re-ordination
if other hindrances were removed out of the way. I must here observe
that between sixty and seventy out of the two hundred and fifty have
been ordained presbyters, and about sixty deacons only. The presbyters
are the choicest of the whole.

2. The other preachers would hardly submit to a re-union if the pos-
sibility of their rising up to ordination depended on the present bishops
of America. Because though they are all, I may say, zealous, pious and
very useful men, yet they are not acquainted with the learned languages.
Besides, they would argue. If the present bishops would waive the
article of the learned languages, yet their successors might not.

My desire of a re-union is so sincere and earnest that these difficulties
almost make me tremble, and yet something must be done before the
death of Mr. Wesley, otherwise I shall despair of success; for though my
influence among the Methodists in these States, as well as in Europe, is
increasing, yet Mr. Asbury, whose influence is very capital, will not
easily comply — nay, I know he will be exceedingly averse to it.

In Europe, where some steps had been taken tending to a separation,
all is at an end. Mr. Wesley is a determined enemy of it, and I have
lately borne an open and successful testimony against it.

Shall I be favored with a private interview with you in Philadelphia?
I shall be there, God willing, on Tuesday, the 17th of May. . . .

In the meantime permit me with great respect to subscribe myself,

Ps.ight Reverend Sir,

Your very humble servant in Christ,

Thomas Coke. ,
Right Rev. Father in God, Bishop White.

248 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17^5

On the 28th of April, 1785, the second commencement of Wash-
ington College was held. George Washington was present at it.
The degree of A. B. was conferred upon the following gentlemen :
Lawson Alexander, Daniel McCurtin,

William Hemsley, Samuel Keene, Jr.,

Eben. Perkins, Robt. Goldsborough,

. Thomas Worrel.

The second degree, that of A. M., was conferred upon
Charles Smith, John Scott,

William Bordley, William Banoll,

Rev. John Bowie.
The degree of D. D. was conferred upon

Rev. John Gordon, Rev. William Thomson,

Rev. Samuel Keene, Rev. John Carroll,*
Rev. Thos. J. Claggett, Rev. John Andrews,
Rev. William West, Rev. Chas. Henry Wharton,
Rev. Patrick Allison.
The salutatory of this year was published with this title:

ORATIO SALUTATORIA

Super. Ampliss. Facult Philos.

Pr/Eside Viro Celeber,

DOMINO GULIEMO SMITH.

Habita

In Alma Acad., Wash.,

Die decimo Quarto Mail

Anno Dom. M.DCC.LXXXIIL

WILMINGTONI :

Impressa a Jacobo Adams.

M.DCC.LXXXV.

While giving honors of the College, Dr. Smith was active in
laying a strong basis for his distinctions in a college well endowed.
We give a letter not dated — as it comes to us — but apparently of
about this epoch.

* This gentleman was subsequently Archbishop of Baltimore.

1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 249

Dr. Smith to Dr. West

My Dear and Rev. Sir: Mr. Bowly will shew you the Baltimore
Subscription Paper, begun here for the college. Yourself, the Rev. Mr.
Sewell and Daniel Bowly, Thomas Yates, Thomas Russell, Luther Mar-
tin and David McMechin, Esqs., are nominated to take subscriptions
and depute others in your town and county, in conjunction with Dr.
Allison and Mr. Sterret, who are two of the agents, and have a right to
open subscriptions themselves and to add any other persons they may
think proper to those already named. The form of deputation Dr. Al-
lison will see at the end of the subscription paper already began, and
signed by Richard Ridgely, Daniel Bowly, Luther Martin, Thomas
Yates. Mr. McMechin has subscribed the paper which was signed in
the Senate and House of Delegates. Near two thousand pounds are
subscribed in this town in twenty-four hours. Baltimore, no doubt, will
far exceed any other place, nay, perhaps half this shore.

Considerable alterations were made in the plan first settled by Mr.
Carroll, Dr. Allison and myself, respecting the nice provisos amongst
different denominations in proportion to their subscriptions. The paper
was printed off before I came over. But I was told by Carroll of Car-
rollton, Mr. Sprigg, etc., that the alterations were made in concert with
Dr. Allison. I am satisfied, as I hope all our society will be, with the
plan as it now is, and as I would have agreed it should originally have
been, as I know that a. few grains of mutual confidence and benevolence
among different denominations of Christians will be better than splitting
and torturing a design of this kind with all the provisos possible.
Christian good will is not to be weighed out by drains and scruples. It
should be iinconfined and universal.

Please to deliver two of the blank subscriptions to Dr. Allison, and as
Mr. Bowly is setting off, give the Doctor the perusal o^ this letter, as I
cannot find time to write to him myself. Give the Rev. Mr. Sewell a
subscription paper. Tell him that Mr. Digges will write to him, I be-
lieve, by Mr. Sprigg to-morrow, as I shall to Rev. Mr. Andrews. Car-
roll of Carrollton, Mr. Digges, etc., have subscribed liberally, as it is
expected the rest of that society will do. I am, in haste.

Your affectionate brother,

William Smith.
Rev. Dr. VVm. West.

On May 5th, 1785, Dr. Smith mentions in his diary his having
attended the funeral of his old friend, Christian Frederick Post, at
Germantown ; returning to the city with Dr. White in his chair.*

*This reverend mnn, the most adventurous of Moravian missionaries employed
among the North American Indians, was horn at Conitz, Polish Prussia, in 1710. He
emigrated to this country in June, 1742. Between 1743 and 1749 he was a mission-

250 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S

We have now a letter from an old friend remaining in Penn-
sylvania :

Dr. Muhlenberg to Dr. Smith,

New Providence, Penna., May 7th, 1785.
ViRO Maxime Reverendo,

DocTORi Smidio, Fautori Suo Honoratissimo,
S. Pi. D. H. M. P. T. Candidatus Mortis.

To my comfort, your worthy son. Juris Consultus, isque nobilissimus,
condescended to see me at my journey's end, being no more fit to con-
verse with learned gentlemen, because I have almost lost the orgaua
sensoria and spiritus vitalis. I am glad to understand that your noble
son intends to reside here in our neighborhood, since it may, as often
I shall see him, revive my memory with gratitude to remember the
benevolence of his honorable parents towards me in times past.

In the month of October last I received a letter from the Rev. Dr.
Wrangel, dated at Sahle in Sweden, in which he demandeth of me as
follows :

If ihe Rev. Dr. Smith liveth, present my liest compliments to him. I have wrote
to him several times. I translated his sermon into Swedish on the beginning of the
war, and presented it to His Majesty the King, who read it with much pleasure and
called it a masterpiece, nicely handled.*

ary to the Moravian Indians in New York and Connecticut. He first married Rachel,
an Indian of the Wampanoag tribe, and after her death, Agnes, a Delaware. Having
become a widower a second time, he in 1751 returned to Europe. Hence he sailed
for Labrador in 1752, engaging in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the Gospel to the
Esquimaux. Having returned to Bethlehem in 1754, he was sent to Wyoming, where
he preached to the Indians until in November of 1755. In the summer of 175S Post
undertook an embassy in behalf of Government to the Delawares and Shawanese of
the Ohio country, which resulted in the evacuation of Fort Du Quesne by the French,
and the restoration of peace. In September of 1761 he engaged in an independent
mission to the Indians of that distant region, and built him a hut on the Tuscarawas,
near Bolivar, in Stark county, Ohio. John Heckewelder joined him in the spring of
1762. But the Pontiac war drove the missionaries back to the settlements, and the
project was abandoned. Impelled by his ruling passion. Post now sought a new field
of activity in the southern part of the Continent, and in January of 1764 sailed from
Charleston, via Jamaica, for the Mosquito coast. Here he preached to the natives for
upwards of two years. He visited Bethlehem in July of 1767, returned to Mosquito,
and was in Bethlehem, for the last time, in 1784. At this date he was residing with
his third wife, who was an Episcopalian, in Germantown. Here he died May 1st,
1785. On the 5th of May his remains were interred in the Lower Graveyard of that
place, Rev. William White, D. D., of Christ Church, saying the funeral service. The
following inscription is upon his tombstone :

"In Memory of | the Rev. Christian Frederick Post, | Missionary for Propngatinp |
the Gospel among the Indians | in the Western Counti-y, on the Ohio, | at Labrador
and the Mosquito | Shore in North America. | After laboring in the Gospel forty-five
years | with distinguished Zeal, Prudence and Fidelity, | He departed this Life | on
the first day of May, 1785, | Aged 75 years."

* Dr. Muhlenberg here refers to the sermon of 1775 on " The Present Situation of
American Affairs," of which we have given a full account on pages 507-523 of Vol. I.

1785] HEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 25 1

So you see, dear sir, on one side you are beloved and praised, and on
the other side hated and envied, in order to keep and preserve your
head and heart straight and upright — Veritas odium parit. In mine an-
swer to Dr. Wrangel I enclosed all your printed proceedings in Mary-
land, etc., which I had collected, especially the Apostolic-spirited
sermon, etc., and did send them along with due respects and esteem to
your whole honorable house. I remain.

Reverend Sir, your most humble servant,

Muhlenberg.
To the Rev. Dr. William Smith, in the State of Delaware.

On the 14th of November, 1784, the Rev. Samuel Seabury was
consecrated Bishop for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, the
first bishop in America since the Declaration of Independence.*
On the 3d of August, 1785, having returned to America, he was
received by the clergy of Connecticut in convocation, and held
the first ordination of the Protestant Episcopal Church on this
Continent; the candidate — who was a son of Mr. Colin Ferguson,
Vice-President of Dr. Smith's new college — having been a student
of Dr. Smith's and prepared for Holy Orders under the direction
of that gentleman and by him recommended for them. In a letter
to Dr. Smith from Bishop Seabury, soon after the ordination, the
Bishop says :

I cannot omit to mention the particular satisfaction Mr. Ferguson
gave, not only to me but to all our clergy.

I can find no evidence of any Convention of the Episcopal
Church of Maryland being held in the spring of 1785, and there
may have been none ; but Dr. Smith leaves a note of being at
the 2d Annual Convention of the Church in Maryland on the
25th of October, 1785, and of there being present the following
persons : Dr. Thomas Cradock, Samuel Johnson, Thomas Bond,
Nicholas Merryman, Richard Wilmott, and Francis Holland,
Esqs.

On the 28th of November, 1785, Dr. Smith preached at the

* As the Rev. George Morgan Hills, D. D., Rector of St. Mary's Church, Burling-
ton, N. J., has made an interesting argument to show, there was at least one Bishop in
America before Bishop Seabury, namely, Johti Talbot, Rector of St. Mary's Church,
Burlington, N. J., a saintly man, consecrated by a non-juring Bishop, in or about the
year 1722. A monument, with a. fac siviite of his Episcopal seal, is erected to his
memory in olit St. Mary's Church, Burlington. See "The Pennsylvania Magazine of
Biography and History," Vol. HI., page 32.

252 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/86

funeral of his brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Ridgely,* who had died
on the 25th instant. He was buried at Dover, Delaware.

On the 5th of December of this same year Dr. Smith's diary
says :

Received a letter from John M. Langguth at Bethlehem, in regard to
the establishment of a school for the education of the German youth,
such a plan having originated years ago by Dr. Muhlenberg and my-
self. I sent him all the plans as proposed at that time.!

* The fullovving account of Dr. Ridgely is taken from an old Bible belonging to
the family :

" Charles Greenberry Ridgely was bom near Salem, N. J., January 26th, 1738. lie was
baptized by Mr. John Peirson; godfathers. Dr. Philip Chetwood and William Prazer,
Esq. At his becoming of age he omiued the Greenberry, and wrote his name Charles
Ridgely. He was an eminent physician. He acquired his cla<;sical and medical edu-
cation at Philadelphia, practised his profession in Dover, Delaware, with great success
and reputation, and. deservedly obtained the esteem and confidence of his countrymen.
He was many years a member of the Legislature, before the Revolution, and during the
whole period of the contest, and a short time after its termination he was a member
of the Convention of the State of Delaware which framed the Constitution of 1776.
He departed this life Friday, November 25th, 17S5, aged 47 years. Pie was buried
on the 28th of the same month, in the Church burying-ground at Dover. His funeral
sermon was preached by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Dr. William Smith."

•)• This interesting man was the son of a Lutheran clergyman settled at Walschleben,
and born there in October of 1718. While at Jena he acted as tutor to young Zinzen-
dorf. In 1739 he united himself to the Brethren at Herrnhaag. In 1745 he was
adopted by Frederic, Baron of Watteville, a friend of Zinzendorf, into his family, and
soon after received Imperial letters patent of nobility. Among the Brethren he was
known as " Brother Johannes." In 1746 he married Benigna von Zinzendorf. Prior
to his visitation of the Brethren's settlements and missions in North America, he was,
in June of 1747, ordained a Bishop. He arrived at Bethlehem in September of 1748;
thence he visited the Indian missions in Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut.
In April of 1749 he sailed for St. Thomas. Soon after bis return to the Provinces, in
July of that year, he repaired to Philadelphia to hold an interview with heads and
deputies of the Six Nations, on which occasion he renewed a covenant of amity,
which his father-in-law had ratified with that confederation, in August of 1742. He
sailed for Europe in October, 1749. During this visitation. Bishop de Watteville pre-
sided at three Synods of the Church, baptized a number of Indians, laid the corner-
stone of a church at Gnadenhiitten on the Mahoning (Lehighton, Carbon county, Pa.),
and reorganized a number of Moravian congregations.

After Zinzendorf's decease, in May of 1760, his son-inlaw for a time directed the
affairs of the Church. In 1764 de Watteville was elected to the Directory, and in 1769
to the Unity's Elder's Conference. While a member of this body he visited North
America a second time, inspecting the Brethren's settlements and churches, both North
and South, in the interval between June of 1784 and June of 1787. By aulhoriiy of
the above-mentioned board, he sanctioned the transforming of Nazareth Hall into a
Boarding School for boys and the erection of a Boarding School for girls at Bethlehem
in October of 1785.

Bishop de Watteville died at Gnadenfrey, Prussia, in October, 1788.

1/86] A'£F. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 2$ 3

On February i ith General John Cadwalader died at his seat in
Kent county, Maryland, in the 44th year of his age. He was
sincerely valued by Dr. Smith, to whose splendid abilities he in
turn looked up with admiration. Dr. Smith followed his remains
to the old Parish Church at Shrewsbury, at which place he was
buried; and here the Doctor preached a funeral discourse upon
him. It is a matter which I much regret that the manuscript
has not come down to my hands. The following inscription
is upon General Cadwalader's tomb :

In Memory of
GENERAL JOHN CADWALADER,

Who departed this life the nth of February, 1786, aged 44
Years, i month and i day.

The following character was given him by Thomas Paine, who, during
his life-time, had been his violent political enemy:

" His early affectionate patriotism will endear
His memory to all the true friends of the American
Revolution. It may with the strictest justice be
Said of him that he possessed a heart incapable
Of deceiving. His manners were formed on the
Nicest sense of honor, and the whole tenor of his
Life was governed by this principle — the companions
Of his youth were the companions of his manhood.
He never lost a friend by insincerity' nor made
One by deception. His domestic virtues were truly
Exemplary, and while they serve to endear the
Remembrance, they embitter the loss of him to all
His numerous friends and connections."

This stone is placed by his affectionate children to mark
The spot where his remains are deposited.

We are rendering our volume perhaps too much of a family
diary by the insertion of facts and letters relating chiefly to
domestic events. But such letters bring us into the best portion
of a great man's life, and the letter which follows, from the wife
of Dr. Smith to their son, may, I trust, be inserted without more
apology, referring as it does to the two distinguished persons
whose deaths I have so recently chronicled.

254 LIFE AND CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE [l/^Z

Mrs. Smith to her son Charles.

Chestertown, Md., March 12, 1786.

My Dear Son : I have had a melancholy time since last I

saw you. Our dear Mrs. Cadwalader, since July last, has buried two
sons; but had that been all, a surviving son and daughter, as lovely
children as ever were born, would have enabled her to bear the loss with
patient resignation. A much severer blow was to be submitted to — her
worthy husband departed this life the loth of last month. At all these
scenes I was a sorrowing witness.

Your poor Aunt Ridgely too has lost a most tender and indulgent
husba'd. But in his children she is blessed. Nicholas practices the
law at Dover and pays her every attention; and Charles lives with her.

Your dear Aunt Bond is really a woman of sorrow. This last stroke
must be almost too much for her to bear. My heart bleeds for her.
Do, my dear son, if anything is in your power, relating to her affairs,
do for her as I am sure you would do for me; and depend upon it a
blessing will attend your righteous endeavor. Cruel fate has separated
her from the only son.* She was ever a mother to him ; and such a
son, oh my dear child, when I think of him I offer up my ardent prayers
to the throne of mercy, and as one of the greatest blessings ask X.\\a.t you
may prove, what I ever thought him.

Say for me to your dear wife, to her sweet little ones, and to your ever
worthy imcle (Judge Thomas Smith) that while I have life they will be
remembered with affection by their ever most tender and anxious friend,

Your mother,

Rebecca Smith.
To Charles Sm'ith,

Student at Law, Carlisle.

On the 27th of May, 1787, another Convention of the Church
in Maryland was held at Chestertown, Dr. Smith being chosen to
preside. Seven of the clergy and five laymen assisted. Beyond
the appointment of Dr. Smith as a clerical deputy to attend the next
General Convention — the one held at Philadelphia in 1789 — I
know of nothing worthy of special record. Two months after-
wards his diary contains this record :

July — . My dear wife's kinsman, Richard Channing Moore, was this
day ordained by Bishop Provoost, of New York.

This gentleman was the person afterwards well known as Bishop
Moore, of Virginia.

I find no very various evidences of Dr. Smith's activity during

* Phineas Bond, afterwards British Consul at Philadelphia.

1788] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 255

the year 1788. The violent party by which the cliarter of the old
College of Philadelphia had been taken away, had itself now, after
a life not long, come to a sudden and complete and rather igno-
minious end; and Dr. Smith devoted no small portion of his time
and labor to having a repeal of the unjust enactments by which
the chartered rights of the institution which he had founded and
built, were so unjustly taken away by it in 1789; "a repeal," says
Bishop White, in speaking of Dr. Smith, " which but for his labors
and perseverance would probably never have been effected, not-
withstanding the justice of the case." * Much of Dr. Smith's time
therefore was spent in Philadelphia; and he published in that city
in 1788, by the respectable firm of Robert Aitken & Son, " An
Address to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, in the Case
of the Violated Charter of the College, etc., of Philadelphia;" a
powerful document, which I regret that my space prevents my here
inserting.

But his Masonic friends at home were not forgotten. On the
29th of August, it being the feast of St. John the Baptist, he
preached in the hall of Washington College, at the desire cf the
Grand Communication of the Maryland lodges.

The following letter has reference to the rights of St. John's
College and of the Maryland churches. I am not able to explain
it particularly from other sources, and therefore leave it to explain
itself:

Rev. Dr. Smith to the Rev. Dr. West.

Annapolis, December 11, 17S8.

Dear Sir: I should have been much pleased if you had pursued
your journey to Annapolis, as Mr. Hanson and the other gentlemen
visitors of St. John's College are exceedingly desirous of a meeting, or
a conference at least of as many of their Board as possible, but neither
Clagget, Baines or Thomas have yet appeared, and Mr. Chase and my-
self are left to act by ourselves in behalf of our Church also, but we
shall be sufficient, as we have drawn up a clause, preserving all our
former rights, and under the vestry laws, and entitling our vestries, on
the footing of equal liberty, to the like extension of their property,
viz., 4000 bushels of wheat per annum, and to take by deed, gift,
devise, etc., as other vestries, with a new clause also, viz. : that if by
neglect or failure of an election on any Piaster Monday, a vestry has

*" Wilson's Life of White," page 19.

256 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^9

heretofore, or shall hereafter expire, or be in danger thereof, the min-
ister may call a meeting on the first Monday of any month follow
[sic], an 1 hold a new election to revive and continue the vestry and the
minister to be a member as heretofore. Dr. Carroll and Dr. Allison
went with me into the Senate and delivered the clause, declaring that
on the insertion thereof, we were all agreed to the bill.

I have done the best with Mr. Chase's usual good offices and the bill
will be taken care of in its passage through the House of Delegates by
Chase, W. Tilghman, and other members of our Church, but I cannot
return the minutes of our Convention by the bearer, as they are neces-
sary to Mr. Chase and myself to show our authority. I shall take care
of them till next Convention, and am in haste,

Yours, William Smith.

P. S. — To-morrow I shall hope to return to Chester and would wish
to hear from you as often as convenient.

The bill thus spoken of passed the Senate and was reported to
the House, but there it failed to be acted upon and for the time the
matter dropped.

CHAPTER L.

The Proposed Book not so well received as might have been reasonably
EXPECTED — The cause of this thus explained — Proposed by a Conven-
tion before the Church was properly Organized by the presence of
THE Episcopal Order — The New England Clergy alarmed by a wrong
impression of the Purpose of Dr. White's "Case of the Episcopal
Churches in the United States Considered" — The Alterations not
Agreeable to all — Bishop Seabury's statement of some of the grounds
of dislike— State Pride and Jealousy as much a cause for the Non-
reception as any better reasons — The work too hastily done — Let-
ter to Dr. West.

Although, as we have said, the "Proposed Book" was univer-
sally admitted to contain no doctrines not those of the Church of
England, and to promulge in form more or less explicit all that
were clearly expressed in the old book as undeniably hers, and in
several respects to make valuable improvements upon this old
book, the volume did not give general satisfaction.

The New England Churches — under the guidance of the able,
upright and fearless Seabury — had some notions of churchmanship
that were perhaps rather too tightly drawn to be universally ac-
knowledged as the only view allowed by the Church of England,

1789] J^EV. WILLIAM SMI III, D. D. 257

Those churches were disinclined to have the laity have any vote in
the councils of the Church; and as for any conventions in which
the Episcopal order was not represented, undertaking to remodel
and to settle anew its liturgy — in many cases the exponents of its
doctrines — even though at the time the Episcopal order did not
exist among us, and it was uncertain how soon exactly we would
get it — the idea struck them as only short of impious. They con-
sidered that in attempting to organize the Church before a head
had been obtained, the Convention of 1784 had begun and those
of 1785 and 1786 had been working at the wrong end; that with-
out a Bishop the churches resembled the scattered limbs of a
body without any common centre of union or principle to animate
the whole. An Episcopate according to their idea was necessary
to direct their motions and by a delegated authority to claim
their assent. They held to the constant application and under
every circumstance, of the maxim — true no doubt in the abstract
and the general — Sine Episcopo, nulla est Ecclcsia.

However unexceptional in itself, then, the Proposed Book might
hav^e been regarded by them, they resiled from it as coming from
a wrong source; just as they would from the Prayer Book made
by a heretic or an infidel. An eccentric English nobleman, assisted
by Dr. Franklin, had in fact made a Prayer Book — which in
some respects the Proposed Book followed, and which some
persons professed to like exceedingly. But would the Church
accept a liturgy from such a source? Assuredly not. There
were laymen in the Conventions of 1784, 1785 and 1786, whose
faith in particular parts of the Church's teaching was as question-
.able as was Dr. Franklin's in those points and in many more of it.
The Church was then to be governed only as it was governed
in ancient times; by its clergy, the Episcopi beir.j in the highest
seats, and where they could overlook the whole. And this view
— which had great force in it — was not the view of the New Eng-
land clergy alone. It had advocates, in the Middle States, and
nowhere a more sincere and powerful advocate than in Nev/
Jersey, where Thomas Bradbury Chandler, D. D., who, long before
the Revolution, had been endeavoring to have an Episcopate in
America, and had been battling in opposition to the great Pres-
byterian, Dr. Chauncy, was acting only in consistency with his
long maintained view. No doubt, too, the pamphlet of Dr..
17

258 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Sp

White, the President of the Convention of 1785, wliich had
framed the Proposed Book, did greatly alarm even th(xse who
could be called no more than conservative churchmen.''' Our
means of intercourse in that day were few, and information
traveled slowly. As the true history of the publication became
known, the fears, so far as they arose from any views of Bishop
White — than whom the land never had any truer churchman, if
Ave may take Hooker as an exponent of what a churchman is —
departed.

The Proposed Book was, however, open to some objections in
their nature intrinsical. While no heterodoxy was alleged against
the book it is perhaps the fact that some true doctrines were left
rather unguarded, and that some of the offices were so far lowered
as that, in a measure, they would lose their influence. The omis-
sions of particular psalms or parts of psalms as undesirable to be
read was regarded by some as treating the Scriptures irreverently;
and the uniting of different psalms into one portion for each daily

•5'- " The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Considered." Dr.
Stevens Perry — to whose labors in advance of me, in the department of our Church
history, I have already, as I must here again, express my acknowledgments for much
that constitutes the value of my book, and to whose gracious and real aid many authors
besides myself, as I know, acknowledge their obligations — has reprinted this pam-
]5ldet in the third volume of his truly useful " Half Century of the Legislation of the
American Church." Having made in that work many explanations of things in the
volume by reprinting large passages from Bishop White's writings, he has made, in my
opinion, an omission (unavoidable, perhaps, from the size and cost of his book) and
clone injustice (unintentional, I am sure, if it does do injustice) to Bishop White, in not
reprinting after or before " The Case of the Episcopal Churches," etc., the Bishop's
history of the circumstances under which that pamphlet was issued, a history to which
we have already alluded (see supra, pages 185, 1S6) as twice — we might have said
thrice — made by the Bishop, with an emphasis — brought about by the misrepresenta-
tions of low churchmen in regard to his opinions — which disarms it of harm as any
expression of opinion on Church polity; a harm which Dr. Perry's publication in an
unexplained form perhaps tends and will assist to perpetuate. I assume, of course,
that so learned a writer upon the history of the American Church and who seems to
have been in close intimacy with the present diocesan of Pennsylvania, was not igno-
rant of the A]ipendix to Bishop White's charge of 1S07 to the clergy of Pennsylvania;
'though in this I may be mistake:^. Bishop White — who was the most modest of men,
and as little as any man who ever lived, thought of his own fame either during life or
posthumously — took no pains to preserve for consultation, by either his contemporaries
or those who should come after him,liis own sermons and fugitive pieces. The Phila-
delphia Library Company — where most Philadelphians deposit their own writings, at
least — has scarce any of these pieces. The charge of 1807 is what Bibliophiles call
'• rare," and possibly may be absent from even the large and, as I suppose, generally
coiiiplcte collections of Dr. Perry. See Appendix No. IV.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 259

service, was objected to as calculated to break their connection,
especially of such as were prophetical. Some thought the verbal
alterations too numerous ; and there were not a few, to whom
nearly every word in the book was endeared by so many affecting
associations that they desired no change whatever, but what the
Revolution made imperative, and what in regard to a very few
passages a change in modes of speaking seemed to make decorous.
This part of the matter is set forth with so much force in a let-
ter of Bishop Seabury to Bishop White, written in June, 1789,
that I cannot forbear to quote it at large:*

Was it not that it would run this letter to an unreasonable length, I
would take the liberty to mention at large the objections that have been
here made to the Prayer Book published at Philadelphia. I will con-
fine myself to a few, and even these I should not mention but from a
hope they will be obviated by your Convention.

The mutilating the psalms is supposed to be an unwarrantable liberty,
and such as was never before taken with Holy Scriptures by any Church.
It destroys that beautiful chain of prophecy that runs through them, and
turns their application from Messiah and the Church to the temporal
state and concerns of individuals.

By discarding the word Absolution, and making no mention of Re-
generation in Baptism, you appear to give up those points, and to open
the door to error and delusion.

The excluding of the Nicene and Athanasian Creed has alarmed the
steady friends of our Church, lest the doctrine of Christ's divinity
should go out with them. If the doctrine of those creeds be offensive,
we are sorry for it, and shall hold ourselves so much the more bound to
retain them. If what are called the damnatory clauses in the latter be
the objection, cannot these clauses be supported by Scripture? Whether
they can or cannot, why not discard those clauses, and retain the doc-
trinal part of the creed?

The leaving out the descent into Hell from the Apostles' Creed seems
to be of dangerous consequence. Have we a right to alter the analogy
of faith handed down to us by the Holy Catholic Church ? And if we
do alter it, how will it appear that we are the same Church which sub-
sisted in primitive times? The article of the descent, I suppose, was put
into tlie Creed to ascertain Christ's perfect humanity, that he has a
human soul, in opposition to those heretics who denied it, and affirmed
that his body was actuated by the divinity. For if when he died, and
his body was laid in the grave his soul went to the receptacle of de-
parted spirits, then he had a human soul as well as body, and was very
and perfect man.

"" See Perry's " Half Century of Legislation," Vol. III., page 386.

26o LIFE AS'D CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^9

The Apostles' Creed seems to have been the Creed of the Western
Church •, the Nicene of the Eastern ; and the Athanasian, to be de-
signed to ascertain the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, against all op-
posers. And it always appeared to me, that the design of the Church
of England, in retaining the three Creeds, was to show that she did
retain the analogy of the Catholic faith, in common with the Eastern
and Western Church, and in opposition to those who denied the Trinity
of persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence. Why any departure
should be made from this good and pious example I am yet to seek.

There seems in your book a dissonance between the offices of Bap-
tism and Confirmation. In tlie latter there is a renewal of a vow,
which in the former does not appear to have been explicitly made.
Something of the same discordance appears in the Catechism.

Our regard for primitive practice makes us exceedingly grieved that
you have not absolutely retained the sign of the cross in Bajjtism.
When I consider the practice of the ancient Church, before Popery had
a being, I cannot think the Church of England justifiable in giving up
the sign of the cross, where it was retained by the first Prayer Book of
Edward the VI. Her motive may have been good; but good motives
will not justify wrong actions. The concessions she has made in giving
up several primitive, and I suppose apostolical usages, to gratify the
humors of fault-finding men, shows the inefficacy of such conduct.
She has learned wisdom from her experiences. Why should not we also
take a lesson in her school ? If the humor be pursued of giving up
points on every demand, in fifty years we shall scarce have the name of
Christianity left. For God's sake, my dear sir, let us remember that it
is the particular business of the Bishops of Christ's Church to preserve
it pure and undefiled, in faith and practice, according to the model left
by apostolic practice. And may God give you grace and courage to
act accordingly !

In your burial office, the hope of a future resurrection to eternal life
is too faintly expressed, and the acknowledgment of an intermediate
state, between death and the resurrection, seems to be entirely thrown
out ; though, that this was a Catholic, primitive and apostolical doc-
trine, will be denied by none who attend to this point.

The Articles seem to be altered to little purpose. The doctrines are
neither more clearly expres^'^d nor better guarded.; nor are the objec-
tions to the old articles obviated. And, indeed, this seems to have
been the case with several other alterations ; they appear to have been
made for alteration's sake, and at least have not mended the matter
they aimed at.

That the most exceptionable part of the English book is the Commun-
ion office may be proved by a number of very respectable names among
her clergy. The grand fault in that office is the deficiency of a more
form.al oblation of the elements, and of the invocation of the Holy

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 261

Ghost to sanctify and bless them. The Consecration is made to consist
merely in the priest's laying his hands on the elements and pronouncing,
'■'■This is my body,'''' etc., which words are not consecration at all, nor
were they addressed by Christ to the Father, but were declarative to
the Apostles. This is so exactly symbolizing with the Church of Rome
in an error ; an error, too, on which the absurdity of transubstantiation
is built, that nothing but having fallen into the same error themselves,
could have prevented the enemies of the Church from casting it in her
teeth. The efificacy of Baptism, of Confirmation, of Orders, is ascribed
to the Holy Ghost, and His energy is implored for that purpose; and
why He should not be invoked in the consecration of the Eucharist,
especially as all the old liturgies are full to the point, I cannot conceive.
It is much easier to account for the alterations of the first liturgy of
Edward the VL, than to justify them; and as I have been told there is
a vote on the minutes of your Convention, anno. 1786, I believe, for
the revision of this matter, I hope it will be taken up, and that God
will raise up some able and worthy advocate for this primitive practice,
and make you and the Convention the instruments of restoring it to
His Church in America. It would do you more honor in the world,
and contribute more to the union of the Churches than any other alter-
ations you can make, and would restore the Holy Eucharist to its an-
cient dignity and efficacy.

In addition, one of the "fundamental principles " set forth in the
Convention of 1784, inviting a General Convention of the Episcopal
Church ni the United States of America, was:

IV. That the said Church shall maintain the doctrines of the Gospel
as now held by the Church of England, and sliall adliere to the Liturgy
of the said Church as far as shall he consistent with the American Revolu-
tion and the Constitutions of the respective States.

It could therefore fairly be argued that the alterations suggested
in the Proposed Book were an implied violation of the call by
which the Convention of 1785 which suggested them was assembled;
and as made ultra vires of the Body making them, were absolutely
of no authority.

But with all this, the opposition with some was more perhaps of
a personal kind than from considerations better entitled to weight.
In the Church as in the Congress and country the fault and cor-
ruption of the nature of every State engendered of its supposed
original independence — an independence which never existed in
fact — by the extremes of the doctrine of " State Rights " — a doc-
trine wholesome within proper limits — was of its. nature inclined to

262 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M'^9

evil; so that the infection remained, yea, even when the regenera-
tion of a Union was sought for; personal interest lusting always
contrary to the general good, and not subject any more than origi-
nal sin either to the law of common sense or to the law of God.

The State Conventions were jealous of the authority of a General
Convention. A mere proposition to them — a simple rccovimcnda-
tioii — they would tolerate; and would probably adopt. Anything
that had the semblance of going beyond alarmed them, and set
them at once into a state of militancy. The matter is set forth
with perfect intelligibility by Bishop White in his Memoirs. He
says :'■'

The Convention (of 1785) seems to have fallen into two capital errors,
independently on the merits of the Book.

The first error was the ordering of the printing of a large edition of
the Book, which did not well consist with the principle of a mere pro-
posal. Perhaps much of the opposition to it arose from this very thing,
which seemed a stretch of power designed to effect the introduction of
the book to actual use in order to prevent a discussion of its merits.

The other error was the ordering of the use of it in Christ Church,
Philadelphia, on the occasion of Dr. Smith's sermon at the conclusion
of the session of the Convention. This helped to confirm the opinion
of i-s being introduced with a high hand.

The Bishop tells us further that the Book was used by the
Philadelphia clergy on assurances given to them by gentlemen
from other places that they would begin it in their respective
churches immediately on their return; a thing which the greater
number of them never did ; some being prevented because some
influential members of their congregations were dissatisfied with
some one of the alterations ; " a fact," says the Bishop, " which shows
very strongly how much weight of character is necessary to such
changes as maybe thought questionable." The Bishop, it is plain,
had he been left to his own course would not have had the book
printed for any general use at all, until the alterations had been
received and approved in the different States.

But in the nature of things how could a work done in a public
assembly, so hastily and with comparatively small consideration,
fail to require further consideration? The Convention of 1785 met
on Tuesday, the 27th of September, and adjourned on Friday, the

* Memoirs, 2d edition, page 107.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 63

7th of October, ten working days ; and it had other important
subjects to attend to besides this work of revising the Liturgy.
No such review could give satisfaction to all, nor, perhaps, on re-
flection, entirely to any one. It was not expected that it would ;
nor was more expected than that which Dr. Smith expressed when
he expressed in behalf of the Convention the hope that it would
be "received and examined by every true member of our Church
and every sincere Christian with a meek, candid and charitable
frame of mind; without prejudice or prepossessions; seriously con-
sidering what Christianity is and what the truths of the Gospel are."

In the nature of things, the subject would come further before
the Church in the next Convention — that of 1789 ; a General Con-
vention for all the States where the Church existed, as it proved
to be, and competent therefore to speak with a wiser and more
impressive authority.

Indeed, it is remarkable — considering how much Dr. Smith had
had to do with the making as I suppose of the Proposed Book,
how much time he bestowed upon fitting it for the press, and how
desirous apparently he was of seeing it introduced into general
use, that so soon as he perceived that it was not universally ac-
ceptable, he went right to work, without the least amour propre
d'aittcur, or the least tenacity to preconceived wishes, to make such
a work as would be acceptable to all. He thus writes to Dr. West,
one of the clergy of his own State, who obviously had net been
well satisfied with the Book. It tends to disprove the allegation
which in his lifetime was sometimes made against him that he
was unreasonable and dictatorial, and impatient of any opposition
to his views or wishes. It is quite true that he did not " suffer
fools gladly " even though he himself was wise. But where he
was dealing with men of sense no one was more patient or more
open to conviction. The following is the letter to Dr. West :

Dr. Smith to Dr. West

Chester, Kent County, June 16, 17S9.

De.\r Sir: I beg that you may not forget to give me your whole and
unreserved sentiments and advice respecting our Church affairs, and
every alteration, amendment or reservation respecting our Prayer Book,
which you judge will tend most towards peace and uniformity, and a
general acquiescence — nay, a cordial and pious acceptance and use of
the book. Yours, etc., Wu.liam S^UTH.

The Rev. Dr. West.

264 LIFE AXD COKKESPOXDliXCE OF THE \}7^9

CHAPTER LI.

The Convention of 17S9, a great Ecclesiastical Council — Dr. Smith is

CALLED ON UNEXPECTEDLY TO PrEACH ON ITS OPENING, AND SOON AFTERWARDS
ON THE SUDDEN DeATH OF Dr GRIFFITH, BlSIIOP- ELECT OF VIRGINIA — A

Memoir of Dr. Griffith — The Convention delicately situated in re-
gard TO Bishop S; abury — Bishop Provoost's somewhat eccentric course
IN rec;ard to this eminent and pious prelate — Dignified course of
Bishop Seaburv — Dr. Smith, along ■with Bishop White, accommodate
matters between Bishop Seabury and the Convention — The Validity
of Bishop Seabury's Episcopal Orders, on motion of Dr. Smith, fully
Recognized by the Convention — The Convention temporarily Adjourns
in order to give time foPv. further Consultation — Correspondence be-
tween Dr. Smith and Bishop Seabury — The latter, with Representa-
tives from New PIampshire and Maine, comes into the Adjourned
Convention — A General Union effected a. d. 17S9, in Philadelphia, in
the same room in the State House where Independence was declared
in 1776, and the Constitution of the United States signed in 17S7—
Happy Conclusion of much labor and of many solicitudes.

The year 1789 makes an epoch in the history of the American
nation. It was the year in which an United Church was consti-
tuted out of separated and somewhat discordant ecclesiastical
bodies; as well as the year in which "the United States of
America" gave to us from differing States that unity, of govern-
ment which constitutes us one people. Nor was there much less
difficulty in effecting an unity in the Church than there was in
effecting an unity in the nation. We shall speak of these matters
further on.

Since the Convention of 1786, Dr. White and Dr. Provoost had
been consecrated Bishops. But Dr. Provoost was indisposed, and
did not come to this Convention of 1789. Bishop Seabury had
not, as yet, in any way united himself to his Southern brethren.
The Convention met — all orders of the clergy and the laity — as
one body; Bishop White presiding. At the opening of the Con-
vention, Dr. Smith was^ called upon by it, in a way whicli put to
proof his ready powers and his amiable disposition; and which
manifested equally the reliance which was had by the members of
the body upon both.

1789] ^EV. WILLIAM SMLTH, D. D. 265

On the adjournment of the Convention of 1786, Dr. Provoost
had been requested to preach before the Convention of 1789. It
assembled July 26th of that year. But Bishop Provoost was not
there. Dr. Smith, upon one day's notice, was requested to preach
instead. He did so. He had hardly delivered this sermon before
he was called on for another. The Rev. David Griffith, who had
been elected Bishop of Virginia and was now attending the Con-
vention, died suddenly at the house of Bishop White, on Monday,
the 3d of August. Dr. Smith was at the same short notice of a
single day requested to preach a funeral sermon. Both sermons
are good productions ; the former, — which, for some reason not
known to me, was not included in the edition of Dr. Smith's
Works, begun by Maxwell of Philadelphia, a. d. 1803 — was one,
I should say, of the best of his sermons which we have. It was
published however at the time at the request of the Convention,
and from it I make a single extract. The topic of the sermon is
Christian Perfection ; the opening passage of the text, — which
embraces the first twelve verses from the 6th chapter of the Epistle
to the Hebrews — " Therefore, leaving the principles of the doc-
trine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." Having developed
this fine theme in the true spirit of the Gospel, the preacher
concludes :

Above all, my brethren, in the great work now before us, where the
honor of our Church, the purity of our worship, true vital religion, and
the consequent happiness and salvation of millions, perhaps yet unborn,
are the awful and important subjects of deliberation — let us proceed with
candour and care, keeping the venerable sanction of antiquity and the
infollible word of God always in our view; not lightly given to change,
nor too rigidly stiff in matters unessential to the true substance of the
"faith once delivered unto the saints." In all our proceedings, however
much we may desire the wisdom of the serpent, let us also in a special
manner seek the harmlessness of the dove also; — adorning every other
acquisition with the clothing of humility and that excellent gift of charity.

But I will detain you no longer. Ha\'ing put on that most excel-
lent gift; trying the faith that is in us by tests and marks already laid
down and laboring daily after greater attainments in holiness, we shall
at length arrive to that state of spiritual health and perfection which is
the end of all the outward and visible ordinances of Religion ; even that
" love of God which fulfilleth all things in us through Christ Jesus,
giving us to eat of spiritual meat and drink of the waters of health and
life everlasting freely."

266 LIFE AND CORKLir^rONDENCE OF THE [iJSQ

Feed ns then, O blessed God, we pray; feed us and nourish us more
and more, with this heavenly meat and drink daily ! and bring us at
last to feed and live upon it eternally ! And now, etc..

Better counsel, more necessary prayer, could no man offer, at
the opening of this the greatest council that the American Church
has held !

Dr. Griffith, on whom the other sermon was preached, was a
native of New York and born a. d. 1742. He was educated
chiefly in England and graduated in London as a student of med-
icine; a profession which, returning to America, he practised for
some time in the province of New York. In 1770 he entered the
ministry, being ordained by Bishop Terrick, then Bishop of Lon-
don. After a short residence in Gloucester, New Jersey, as
Missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel —
where he succeeded the gifted young Nathaniel Evans, of whom
we have spoken so much in our former volume — he went to Vir-
ginia; and being highly recommended by the Governor of that
State, took charge of Shelburne Parish, Loudon county, Virginia.
Here he continued till May, 1776, when he entered the army as
Chaplain to the Third Virginia Regiment, and was at the battle
of Monmouth and I suppose at other battles. He remained in
the army till 1779. In 1780 he entered into the rectorship of
Christ Church, Alexandria, a church which is known as the one
in which Washington worshipped. This illustrious man was his
parishioner. In May, 1786, he was elected by the Convention of
Virginia to be Bishop of the Church of that State, and his testi-
monials h iving been signed by the General Convention at Wil-
mington, Djiiware, of the same year, it was expected both by the
English Bishops, and by Doctors White and Provoost that he
would proceed to England and be there consecrated ; so that there
should be three bishops in America deriving consecration through
the Anglican line. This, however, he was unable to do, and, soon
after, he resigned to the Virginia Convention the honor proffered
to him. He was a man of sincere piety, and of much usefulness
in the Church, and was in the General Conventions (as we may
call them to distinguish them from those of Virginia) of 1784,
1785, and 1786. He received his doctorate from the University
of Petmsylvania in the last-named year. He died, as we have
already said, in Philadelphia while attending the Convention of

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 267

T789. His funeral proceeded from the house of Bishop White to
Christ Church; the clergy of all denominations in Philadelphia
being invited to attend it. The senior clerg -men of the deputa-
tion of each State attended as pall-bearers ; Bishop White and
Mr. Robert Andrews, lay deputy from Virginia, walking as chief
mourners and the other members of the Convention as mourners.
The sermon was from those well-known verses of the 5th chap-
ter of the 2d Epistle of Corinthians :

1. For we know, that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which
is from heaven.

3. If so be that being clothed, we shall not Ije found naked.

4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened ; not for that we
would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Dr. Smith thus opens his discourse:

Brethren: Upon this sad and solemn occasion, which hath assem-
bled us at this place and tinie ; gloomy indeed would be oin- reflections,
and inconsolable our condition, were it not for the joyful assurance
which our text holds up for the renovation and support of our sickly
faith.

Behold, in full view before us, that yawning grave! On its brink, is
deposited the breathless clay, the earthly house, of a venerable brother,
a servant and minister of Christ! It is for a moment deposited, to give
us pause for reflection, and vent for the tribute due to the memory of
virtue and worth. That pause ended, the steadfast grave will do its
part; and embracing, in firm hold, what we commit to its keeping,
would leave the awakened tear to flow forever, sorrowing over our
mortality, did not St. Paul come to our aid ; teaching us to wipe that
tear away, and to console ourselves with the joyful assurance, that the
earthly deposit before us, from a tabernacle of clay, shall yet rise up a
building of God, a house not made with hands, capacious of immortal
glory, honor and immortality !

Unprepared and disinclined, on the present sudden and interesting
occasion, to enter upon a critical explication of this difficult, yet com-
fortable, text (in whatsoever sense considered), I shall not detain you
to enquire from it. Whether the body or earthly house of our present
mortal tabernacle shall, upon its divorce from the soul by death, be
immediately clothed upon with some other more celestial and incor-
ruptible body; or whether it shall continue naked and unclothed upon,
till the morning of the resurrection.

It was the doctrine of the illustrious Plato, who (without the external
and revealed light of Christianity) reasoned so well concerning immor-

268 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

tality and a world to come, that the soul, or heavenly spark within us,
could not s".bsist of itself, nor act without some kind of body or vehicle ;
and therefore the followers of his doctrine contend for an intermediate
state between death and the resurrection, and think that the body, upon
its dissolution by death, is immediately clothed upon, or changed into
some other fit vehicle for the soul.

St. Paul, however, gives no countenance to this doctrine, in the text.
The celestial clothing, which he speaks of, is something peculiar to the
saints who shall be with the Lord ; and not to be looked for till after
the redemption of the body, and that blessed period of the resurrection,
"when this mortality shall be swallowed up of life; — when the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, and this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

Most comfortable to us, when we go to the house of mourning, is
either of those doctrines; but we are to understand St. Paul in the
latter sense, and then by the due use of reason, enlightened by the
blessed considerations and doctrines of our text, after the example of
the apostles and saints, and pure professors of Christianity in every age;
death might be disarmed of his sting and spoiled of his victories. For,
however terrible death may appear to the sinner with all his engines of
destruction about him ; yet to those who have sought and found an in-
terest in Christ Jesus, death hath lost his mighty terrors : and although
the grave itself, which (considered as the door of another world, the en-
trance into eternity) appears so gloomy and awful to mere flesh and
blood; yet to the just, — to those who live by faith, earnestly longing
and groaning to be clothed upon with their heavenly house, the grave
appears more beautiful than the gates of paradise itself; for at the gates
of paradise, upon the banishment of our guilty first parents, the angry
cherubim, with his flaming sword, was placed to forbid all future en-
trance to any of mortal race ; but angels of peace and love stand round
the graves of the just, to shield them from harm and conduct them to
glory. ...

We are now assembled to pay the last funeral honors to a minister of
the altar, who has for many years been conspicuous in his station, both
in public and in private life; and much might be said as applicable to
the sudden and melancholy occasion of his death. And though the sus-
picion of flattery too often accompanies the funeral characters of the
present day, yet it is for the interest of virtue and mankind that they
should not be brought wholly into disuse. The tribute of our praise and
thankfulness to God is due for those who have, in some degree, been of
benefit to the world, either in a civil or religious capacity, and who may
be truly said not to have " lived to themselves but for their country —
her rights, her laws, and her liberties, religious and civil; and, there-
fore, at whatever stage of life they have died, they have died unto the
Lord." They have died for us also, so far as we may improve their

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 269

death to the great public and pious purposes, for which such holy-
solemnities, as the present, were first appointed by the wisest nations.

For —

I St. They were appointed for the express purpose of commemorating
the public virtues of the dead, nay even their crimes; for if they liave
been injurious to mankind, they may be held up to censure, with the
great intent of leading mankind to imitate the former, and to ablior and
shun the latter.

2dly. Such solemnities are intended to bring us into a proper famil-
iarity with ourselves and our mortal condition; that we may be prepar-
ing for death, and enabled, through the grace offered us, to overcome
his terrors !

Upon each of these heads, I shall beg leave seriously to address you
on the present occasion.

After having expressed himself fully on the first head, the
orator coming to the second, proceeds :

I come now more particularly to speak of commemorating the virtues
of the dead, for the example and benefit of the living. This is an ad-
vantage, as I said before, which in tiiese days is seldom improved.

The ancient Christian:;, besides the solemnity of their funerals, were
wont to meet at the graves of their martyrs and saints and holy men, to
recite the history of their sufferings and triumphs, and to bless God for
their holy lives and happy deaths, offering up also their prayers for
grace to follow their good example. And for this they seem to have
had St. Paul's express authority, and especially respecting the preachers
and teachers of the word of God. For he exhorts the Hebrews to
" remember them who had spoken unto them the word of God, whose
faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

In this important light, we must long remember our worthy and
venerable brother, who hath been called suddenly (but, we have every
ground to believe, not wholly unprepared) to exchange his pulpit for a
coffin, his eloquencL for silence, and his eminent abilities in doing good
for darkness and the grave.

In the service of his country, during our late contest for Liberty and
Independence, he was near and dear to our illustrious commander-in-
chief — he was also his neighbor, and honored and cherished by him as
a pastor and friend.* When, on the conclusion of the war, he returned
to his pastoral charge, and our church in these States, in the course of
divine Providence, were called to organize themselves, as independent
of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiastical, he was from the begin-
ning elected the chief clerical member to represent the numerous

*At Alexandria in Virginia.

2/0 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [l/^Q

churches of Virginia in our General Conventions; and highly estimable
he was amongst us. He was a sound and able divine, a true son, and
afterwards a father, as a bishop-elect, of our church ; with his voice
always, with his pen occasionally, supporting and maintaining her just
rights, and yielding his constant and zealous aid in carrying on the great
work for which we are assembled at this time.

Full of a devout desire for the final accomplishment of this work at
the present time, he came to this city; but it hath pleased the sovereign
goodness otherwise to dispose of him, and to call him, as we trust, to
become a member of the church triumphant in Heaven.

With Christian patience and fortitude, though at a distance from his
family and his nearest relatives and friends, he sustained his short but
severe illness. Friends, nevertheless, closed his e}'e3. Friends and
brethren now accompany him to the grave, mournful as to the flesh, but
joyful and thankful to God in soul and sj^irit for his past usefulness and
example. . . .

Let us not question the dispensations of Providence, nor murmuring,
ask. Whether it were not to be desired, that men endued with eminent
talents to serve their country and families, should be long preserved in
health of body and vigor of mind ; and that the hour of their death
should be protracted to the latest period of old age ? Say we not so.
For the commander of an army best knows when to call the sentinel
from his post. Every man in this world hath his office and station
assigned by Heaven, and continueth therein so long as it pleaseth the
supreme Ruler; and he that performeth his part best and liveth well,
may be said to live longest.

Seeing, then, my brethren, that, by the faithful discharge of our civil
and religious duties, we may overcome death, be prepared for eternity,
and leave our names sweet to the world behind us ; let us take for our
example the virtue and goodness of our departed friends, and be pur-
suaded that there is no honor, no happiness to be acquired here on
earth, equal to that vv'hich we derive from acting our part with dignity;
steadfast in the practice, as well as profession, of our holy religion ;
zealous for the happiness of our country and mankind, and always
delighting in acts of love and goodness. The regard which is paid to
such characters as these, will grow w-ith their growing years ; and when
they come at last to take leave of this world, whether at an earlier or
later period of years, as they have lived the life of the righteous, their
latter end will be like his. . . .

It is a grand description which is given of the angel in the book of
Revelation, who came down from Heaven to proclaim destruction to
time. " He had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right
foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud
voice, as when a lion roareth : and when he had cried, seven thunders
uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their

1789] J^EV. WILLr.-lM SMITH, D. D. 27 1

voices, I was about to write ; and I heard a voice from Heaven saying
unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and
write them not. And the angel, which I saw stand upon the sea and
upon the earth, lifted up his hand to Heaven, and sware by him that
liveth forever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein
are, and the eartli, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the
things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.'''' But far
greater is the true Christian in the act of death. He sets one foot in the
grave, and the other in the very porch of Heaven ; being enabled,
through Christ, to proclaim destruction to death and the grave. "Oh,
death, I will be thy plagues: oh, grave, I will be thy destruction. Oh,
death, where is now thy sting ! Oh, grave, where is now thy victory \ "
Then, too, can he add, without fear, "Farewell, my body, my mortal
part! Why shouldst thou, my soul, be loth to part with thine old com-
panion, to leave thy clay cottage, and to be without a body? Behold, thy
Maker, and the spiritual and heavenly inhabitants, have no gross bodies
such as thine ! Hast thou ever seen a prisoner, when his jail doors were
broke open, and himself manumitted and set loose at liberty? — and have
you then heard him complain to take leave of his prison-house, and
refuse to forego his fetters? Or, hast thou seen a wave-worn mariner,
who has long been tossed and troubled on his stormy voyage, when
arrived in sight of his native port, refuse to strike sail and enter in ;
choosing rather to launch back again into the perilous main? Why
then, my soul, shouldst thou be thus fear-stricken and discomforted, at
parting from this mortal bride, thy body? It is but for a time, and
such a time as the body shall feel no need of thee, nor thou of her; and
thou shalt again receive her back more goodly and beautiful, purified and
perfected by absence, like unto that crystal which after the revolution
of some ages, is said to be turned into the purest diamond ; now, unto
him who by his apostle, hath assured us after " our earthly house of this
tabernacle shall be dissolved" and moulder into dust, we have a build-
ing of God, an house not made with hands, "eternal in the heavens," —
unto Him be glory and dominion and praise forever! Amen.

In the Convention it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to the Rev. Dr.
Smith for his sermon preached at the funeral of the Rev. Dr. Griffith,
and that he be requested to furnish the Convention with a copy for
publication.

We have said that one United Church was first constituted out
of the separated ecclesiastical bodies in the States in 1789: and
that to effect this happy state of unity was a work of difficulty.

The Proposed Book, Dr. White's tract, *' The State of the Epis-

2/2 LIFE AND COKRESPONDEiXCE OF THE [I/Sq

copal Churches in the United States Considered," the presence
of the laity voting in councils of the Church, and especially the
introducing them into trials of an ecclesiastic — which it was
wrongly supposed by some that it was the purpose of Bishop
White and Dr. Smith to do — with some things done in the Con-
ventions of 1784, 1785 and 1786, had caused dissatisfaction and
anxiety with the northern clergy, and some estrangement.

But there was another matter of importance. Bishop Seabury
had been consecrated by Bishops of the Church in Scotland; the
English Bishops having declined to consecrate him from reasons
of political prudence only. His personal fitness — indeed his emi-
nent personal fitness — even for the high and sacred office of a
Bishop, no one that I have heard of, ever disputed. He stands
forth and will always stand forth as one of the great, the heroic
characters of the Church in America.

No man was more able to appreciate the value of this great
churchman and bishop than Dr. Smith ; none more able to vindi-
cate his right to the high orders which he claimed. As a Scots-
man, too, and a churchman alike, he felt a pride in doing so.
According!}', immediately after the arrival in America of Bishop
Seabury, with whom he had long maintained an intercourse of a
free and friendly character, he wrote to him informing him of what
had been doing in Maryland in his absence, etc., and receiving
from him the following interesting and authoritative statement
of the reasons why he had accepted Scottish orders rather than
English. Bishop Seabury, writing to him on the 15th of August,
1785, says as follows:

The grand difficulty that defeated my application for consecration in
England appeared to me to be the want of an application from the
State of Connecticut. Other objections were made, viz. : that there was
no precise diocese marked out by the civil authority, nor a stated
revenue appointed for the Bishop's support. But those were removed.
The other remained — for the civil authority in Connecticut is Presby-
terian, and therefore could not be supposed would petition for a bishop.
And had this been removed, I am not sure another would not have
started up : for this happened to me several times. I waited, and pro-
cured a copy of an Act of the Legislature of Connecticut, which puts
all denominations of Christians on a footing of equality (except the
Roman Catholics, and to them it gives a free toleration), certified by
the Secretary of State ; for to Connecticut all my negotiations were

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 2/3

confined. The Archbishop of Canterbury wished it had been fuller,
but thought it afforded ground on which to proceed. Yet he afterwards
said it would not do; and that the Minister, without a formal requisition
from the State, would not suffer the Bill, enabling the Bishop of London
to ordain foreign candidates without their taking the oaths, to pass the
Commons, if it contained a clause for consecrating American Bishops.
And as his Grace did not choose to proceed without parliamentary
authority — though if I understood him righ.t, a majority of the Judges
and Crown Lawyers were of opinion he might safely do it — I turned
my attention to the remains of the old Scots Episcopal Church, whose
consecrations I knew were derived from England, and their authority in
an ecclesiastical sense, fully equal to the English Bishops.

But the succession through the English line was preferred by
most churchmen in America; and in the establishment of the
Church on this great continent all the clergy of the Middle and
Southern States were desirous to have it if it could be had. When
Dr. White and Dr. Provoost sailed for England to receive conse-
cration it was expected, as we have already said, that Dr. Griffith,
of Virginia, would accompany them, so that we should then have
three Bishops; the number required by a rule of the Church of
England — and thought wise by ourselves — to perform any new
act of Episcopal consecration; and all three coming through the
Church just named. But as we have also said circumstances pre-
vented Dr. Griffith going to England, and he then or afterwards
finall}' resigned his honors to the Convention of Virginia.

W'hen, however, Bishops White and Provoost received their
consecrations it was understood, though never in terms, that I
know of, agreed on, by the English Bishops and by the two per-
sons then consecrated, that before any acts of consecration should
be performed by these two, Dr. Griffith or some other third person
would come from America and be consecrated in England by the
English Bishops; ^o that any new Bishop consecrated in America
should have as consecrators tJirce Bishops deriving their Episcopal
orders through the Anglican line. Indeed in the Convention of
1786 the body was barely organized when Dr. Robert Smith, of
South Carolina, moved :

That the clergy present produce their letters of orders or declare by
whom they were ordained.

This motion was aimed at the Rev. Joseph Pilmore, a native of

iS

2/4 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

Scotland (long the venerable Rector of St. Paul's Church, Phila-
delphia), who had received orders from Bishop Seabury, and at
the Rev. William Smith, of Stepney Parish, Somerset county,
Maryland, who had been ordained in Scotland,* by a Bishop of
the Church from whence Seabury had obtained consecration.
The application of the previous question moved by my ancestor,
Dr. Smith, and seconded by Dr. White, precluded the discussion
which it was anticipated would grow out of this motion, and the
resolution itself was lost.

Dr. Provoost, not satisfied with this expression of the will of
the Convention, then moved directly:

That tliis Convention will resolve to do no act that shall imply the
validity of ordinations made by Dr. Seabury.

Again the previous question cut off discussion and the main
question was determined in the negative; New York, New Jersey
and South Carolina alone supporting it. But Bishop Provoost
would not let the matter drop. In a Convention of New York,
held November 5th, 1788, and in view of the General Convention
of 1789 now at hand, it was resolved:

"" The Rev. Thomas F. Davies, originally of the State of Connecticut, but long and
now the honored Rector of St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, well known in that city,
not only as one of its ablest theologians, but also as among its most learned ecclesias-
tical historians, responding to my solicitations has been kind enough to give n^e, in a
friendly note, the following sketch of this eminent divine, already referred to by me,
supra, pages 186, 197 :

" The younger Dr. William Smith was a fellow-countryman and townsman of your
distinguished ancestor, and was born at Aberdeen in 1754. He came to this country
in 1785, after his admission to Holy Orders, and was for two years minister of Stepney
Parish, Maryland. Most of his ministerial life, however, was passed in New England,
where he was successively Rector of St. Paul's, Narragansett ; of Trinity Church,
Newport, R. I., and of St. Paul's, Norwalk, Connecticut. He was subsequently ap-
pointed Principal of the Episcopal Academy, Clieshire. He is remembered v\ the
Church as the compiler of the Institution Office, which was approved by the General
Convention in 1804, and was again set forth with some slight modifications in 1808,
and also as the author of a work which attracted much attention in its day, on Church
Music, Chanting and Metrical Psalmody.

" He preached the sermon at the consecration of Bishop Jarvis in 1797, a copy of
which is preserved in the library of St. Peter's Church.

" He was a man of eminent and versatile talents, of extensive learning, of soundness
in the fiiith, and of most exemplary life. Had his knowled-'O o'f mankind been in any
way equal to his scholastic attai.iments, Iiis usefulness had been greater and his fame
more lasting. He pa-.sed the ever-ng of his days in re'.iicment at Norwalk, and died
i« New York in 182 1, in lire 69th year of his age."

1789] liEV. WILLIAM SMLTH, D. D. 275

That it is highly necessary in the opinion of this Convention that
measures should be pursued to preserve the Episcopal succession in the
English line.

That the union of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America is of great importance and much to be desired, and
that the delegates of this State, in the next General Convention, be in-
structed to promote that union by every prudent measure, consistent
with the constitution of the Church and the continuance of the Epis-
copal succession in the English line.

These resolutions it appears were worded at the particular request
of Bishop Provoost. Though a man of true Christian character,
Bishop Seabury was one also of high spirit and could not but feel
such resentments as were allowable to a Christian and a gentle-
man. He held himself off from any organization in which Bishop
Provoost was to be a leader or very potential person ; if any such
organization there was to be. He writes, June 20th, 1789, to
Bishop White, who had written to him to urge his coming to the
Convention:

For my own part gladly would I contribute to the uniformity of all
our Churches; but while Bishop Provoost disputes the validity of my
consecration, I can take no steps towards the accomplishment of so
great and desirable an object. The point, I take it, is now in such a
state that it must be settled either by your Convention or by an appeal
to the Christian world. Bat as this is a subject in which I am per-
sonally concerned, I shall refrain from any remarks upon it; hoping that
the candor and good sense of the Convention will render the further
mention altogether unnecessary.

The matter was the more important since as Bishop Seabury
went so would go not only Connecticut but other, perhaps, of the
New England States. The case required both vigor and circum-
spection. To counteract this dangerous conduct and motions of
Bishop Provoost, Dr. Smith wrote to Bishop Seabury just before
the Convention assembled urging him, as Bishop White had done,
to come to the Convention; Dr. Smith offering to him the hospi-
tality of his house.

Bishop Seabury replies to Dr. Smith.

New L(jndon', July 23, 1789.
.... The wish of my heart, and the wish of the clergy and of the
Church people of this State, would certainly have carried me, and some

276 LIFE AND CORRF.SrONDENCE OF THE [l/Sp

of the clergy, to your General Convention, had we conceived we could
have done it with propriety. The ground on which Bishop Provoost
('isputes the validity of the Scotch Episcopal succession can best be ex-
plained by himself: I know not what it is. And the ground on which
the letters of orders were called for from every clergyman, in a former
Convention at Philadelphia — if I have been rightly informed — is order
to make a distinction between English and Scotch ordinations, they can
best explain who were concerned in it. As I know not precisely how
this matter ended, I shall say no more about it. But while this matter
stands as it does, and there is a resolve on the minutes of the New York
Convention strongly reflecting on Bishop Seabury's Episcopal character
— while by your own constitution no representation of clergymen can
bj admitted without lay delegates, and no church can be taken into
-our union without adopting your whole plan, I leave you to say
whether it would be right for me, or for my clergy, to offer ourselves at
a Convention where we could be admitted only in courtesy? Should
we feel ourselves at home? or, as being on an equal footing with the
other ministers?

The necessity of a union of all the Churches, and the disadvantages
of the present disunion, we feel and lament equally with you: and I
agree with you, that there may be a strong and efficacious union between
Churches where the usages are different. I see not why it may not be
so in this case, as soon as you have removed those obstructions which,
while they remain, must prevent all possibility of uniting.

My joining with Bishops White and Provoost in consecrating a luurth
Bishop was some time ago proposed to Bishop White, and by him de-
clined. His noncompliance has had a bad effect here. It has raised a
jealousy of attempting an undue superiority over the Church of Con-
necticut, which, as it at present consists of nineteen clergymen, in full
orders, and more than twenty thousand people, thev suppose as respect-
able as the Church in any State in the Union.

Before I wrote to Bishop White I took the most deliberate pains to
obtain the sentiments of both clergy and laity; and I should not now
think myself at liberty to act contrary to their sentiments, even did not
my own coincide with theirs. I have, however, the strongest hope that
all dififaculties will be removed by your Convention — that the Connect-
icut Episcopacy will be explicitly acknowledged, and that Church
enabled to join in union with you, without giving up her own inde-
pendency.

A great deal, my dear sir, will depend on the part you now act. The
dread of alterations in the liturgy here arises from the observation, tliat
every review of the liturgy has set the offices of the Church lower, and
departed further from primitive practice and simplicity. The book you
published was a remarkable instance of depreciating the offices, and we
hope to see it remedied. To enter into particulars after what I have

i;'89] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 2//

written to Bishop White will be useless. But if a uniformity of worship
be aimed at, I know of no other method besides the one I mentioned
to Bishop W nite — to leave the matter to the bishops and the clergy. It
is their business; and if your laity will not consent to it, they interfere
out of their sphere *

Dr. Smith, now in the Convention, on the application which had
been made by the clergy of Massachusetts and New Hampshire
for the consecration of the Rev. Mr. Bass, as their Bishop, offered
to the Convention, which had then resolved itself into a Commit-
tee of the Whole the following resolves:

'fc>

ist. That a complete order of Bishops, derived as well unoer the
English as the Scots line of Episcopacy, doth now subsist within the
United States of America, in the persons of the Right Rev. William
White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State
of Pennsylvania, the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D., Bishop of
the said Church in the State of New York, and the Right Rev. Samuel
Seabury, D. D., Bishop of the said Church in the State of Connecticut.

2d. That the said three Bishops are fully competent to every proper
act and duty of the Episcopal office and character in these United
States, as well in respect to the consecration of other Bishops, and the
ordering of priests and deacons, as for the government of the Church,
according to such rules, canons and institutions, as now are, or hereafter
may be duly made and ordained by the Church in that case.

3d. That in Christian charity, as well as of duty, necessity and ex-
pediency, the churches represented in this Convention ojght to con-
tribute, in every manner in their power, towards supplying the wants,
and granting every just and reasonable request of their sister churches
in these States; and, therefore,

4th. That the Right Rev. Dr. White and the Right Rev. Dr. Pro-
voost be, and they hereby are, requested to join with the Right Rev.
Dr. Seabury, in complying with the prayer of the clergy of the States
of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, for the consecration of the Re\-.
Edward Bass, Bishop-elect of the churches in the said States; but that,
before the said Bishops comply with the request aforesaid, it be pro-
posed to the churches in the New England States to meet the churches
of these States, with the said three Bishops, in an adjourned Convention,
to settle certain articles of union and discipline among all the churches,
previous to such consecration.

5th. That if any difficulty or delicacy, in respect to the Archbishops

* From the original MS. preserved among the Bishop White papers. As (his letter
is mutilated more or less on every page, omissions have been supplied from the first
draft contained in Bishop Seabury's Letter Book.

2/8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [I/SQ

and Bishops of England, shall remain with the Right Rev. Drs. White
and Provoost, or either of them, concerning their compliance with the
above request, this Convention will address the Archbishops and Bish-
ops, and hope thereby to remove the difficulty.*

These resolves were unanimously agreed to, as the report of the
Committee.

The Committee, having finished the business committed to
them, rose and reported to the Convention the above resolves.

On motion of Dr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Andrews, this report
was unanimously agreed to.

Soon after this the Convention was adjourned till the 29th of
September, in order to allow an opportunity to Bishop Seabury to
assist in effecting a complete union. Dr. Smith now immediately
wrote to Bishop Seabury; sending at the same time a letter drafted
b)' him (Dr. Smith), and signed by a most respectable committee.
We give both from original drafts in Dr. Smith's handwriting:

Bev. Dr. Smith to Bislwp Seabury.

August 16, 17S9.

Right Reverend and Dear Sir: I was happy to receive your letter
of 23d July, in answer to mine of the i3t]i, from New York, which
came to hand at a very critical moment, viz. : tlie first day of our Con-
vention, and enabled me to be more effectually instrumental in project-
ing and prosecuting, I trust, to a nobler issue, the plan of an ti/iwii of
all our churches, than your letter of a prior date to Bishop White, gave
us room to hope. The hea Zing and charitable idea oi "an efficacious
union and communion in all essentials of doctrine, as well as discipline,
notwithstanding some differences in the usages of churches," in which
your letter as well as mine agreed, and which was at the same time
strongly held up in the address of the Churches of Massachusetts and
New Hampshire, and also in Dr. Parker's letter, gave an opening at
last, as well by a new clause, viz., the second in our ecclesiastical con-
stitution, as by five resolves unanimously passed, to lay the foundation
of an union, whereon a superstructure may be raised, against which
even the gates of Hell shall never prevail.

The fourth of those resolves, inviting you through the door so widely
opened, to meet us in the Convention at Philadelphia, adjourned for

* This resolution had reference to the fact ah-eady mentioned in the text, that when
Dr. White and Dr. Provoost were consecrated at Lambetli, the English Bishops were
told that Dr. Griffith would follow them, and the English Bishops, as well as our own
then consecrated, expected that he would, and so that there would be three Bishops
ia America under the Anglican title.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITL/, D. D. 279

that end to September 29th, is the preliminary article of this union;
and I scarce entertain a tloubt but that the great Head of the Cb.urch
will by His blessed Spirit, so replenish our hearts with love, and so
bless our joint councils, that we shall attain a perfect uuijonnity in all
our churches: or, what is, perhaps, alike lovely in the sight of God, a
perfect harmony and brotherly agreement wherever, through local cir-
cumstances and use, smaller differences may prevail.

You will see from our printed journal herein enclosed, that, in a com-
mittee of the whole, the business of the Eastern Churches engaged our
attention for the first five days of our sitting, and though a desire of
union was everywhere evident among the members, yet much difficulty
and variety of sentiment and api)rehension prevailed as to the means,
in so far that there appeared more than a probability of coming to no
conclusion. In this stage of the business, I requested a postponement
for one night, on the promise of proposing something against next
morning which might meet the apprehensions of all; as we all hatl but
one great object of union in view: and I shall ever rejoice in it as the
happiest incident of my life, and the best service I have ever been able
to render to our Church, that the resolves which were offered the next
morning were unanimously and almost instantly adopted, as reconciling
every sentiment, and removing every difficulty which had belbre ap-
peared to obstruct a general union.

Bishop White, whom 1 consulted in framing the resolves, and Dr.
Moore, of New York, and Mr. (now Dr.) Smith, of South Carolina,
were particularly zealous in whatever tended to promote this good work ;
and I am well assured that you are in some mistake respecting Bishop
White's ha\-ing declined a " proj^osal " for your joining witli him and
Bishop Provoost in consecrating a fourth Bishop. He has assured me
and also declared in Convention, that no such proposal was ever made
to him ; and I believe he has written, or will write to you on this sub-
ject. His Avhole conduct, wherever your name and Episcopate have
been mentioned, does him honor, and is perfectly agreeable to his well-
known excellent temper, and zeal for the peace and unity of the Church.
It was Dr. White who seconded, on a former occasion, my motion for
not suffering any cjuestion in Convention, which might imply even a
doubt of the validity of your consecration, and that at a time when
admitting a doubt of that kind was considered by some as a good means
of forwarding his own and Dr. Provoost's consecration.

Now, I cannot have the least doubt of your attending the adjourned
Convention, according to the truly respectable invitation given you. I
must again repeat the invitation, that you Avill make my house your
home, or place of residence, during your stay in Philadelphia. The
Rev. Dr. Moore, of New York, will be my other and only guest, in the
chamber adjoining yours, and he will accompany you from New York
or Elizabeth to my house in Philadelphia, as you may agree: and I

28o LIFE AXD CORRESTOXD EXCE OF THE [1789

trust you will be with us a day or two before the 29th of September,
rather than a day after, as we shall be pressed in respect of time. . . .
The C'oUege of Philadel])hia have, on Dr. White's recommendation
and mine, granted the degree of D. D. to the Rev. Mr. Bass and Mr.
Parker, which we thought a proper compliment to the New England
Churches. We are sorry we forgot to pay the same compliment to the
venerable old Mr. Leaming, of the Connecticut Church. I hope he
will accompany you to Philadelphia and receive that compliment from
us in person, if he has nowhere else received it before.
I remain, Right Reverend and Dear Sir,

Yours, etc.,

\\':lliam Smith.

777^ Commiiiee io Bishop Seabury,

PniLADELPlIIA, August 16. 1789.

Right Reverend Sir: Your letter to the Right Rev. Bishop White,
and also yours of a posterior date to the Rev. Dr. Smith, were laid
before the General Con\-ention of our Churches, and read with that
deference and regard which are due to the communications of the
Bishop and Pastor of a respectable sister Church,.

As we "feel equally with you the necessity of a general union of all
our Churches in the United States, and lament whatever may occur as
tending towards the. continuance of disunion." those parts of your
letters which had any reference to this important point became the
immediate subject of the most affectionate, candid and serious discus-
sion ; leaving every other part, either to future joint deliberations or to
be noticed in the answers of the gentlemen to whom your letters were,
in part, personally addressed.

.\s a committee appointed for that ])urpose, we herewith transmit to
vou the printed proceedings of our Convention, and also a co])}' of our
Address to the Archbishops and Bishops of England. By those docu-
ments you will readily perceive, that nothing hath been left unattempted
on our part, which we conceived to be conducive, either towards the
basis or superstructure of an union, so seemly and needful in itself, and
so ardently desired by all.

By the second Article of our printed Constitiuion (as now amended)
you will observe that your first and chief difficulty respecting lay rep-
resentation is wholly removed, upon the good and wise principles
admitted by you as well as by us, viz.: "That there may be a strong
and efficacious union between churches, where the usages are in
some respects different." It was long so in the different dioceses of
England.

By the Article of our Constitution above mentioned, the admission
of yours and the other Eastern Churches is provided for upon your oicn

1789] liEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 28 1

principles of representation ; while our Churches are not required to
make any sacrifice of theirs; it being declared

That the Cliurch in each State shall be entitled to a representation either of clergy,
or laity, or of both. And in case the Convention [or Church] of any State should
neglect or decline to appoint their deputies of either order, or if it should be their rule
to appoint only out of one order; or if any of those appointed should neglect to at-
tend, or be prevented by sickness, or any other accident, the Church in such State
[district or diocese] shall, nevertheless, be considered as duly represented by such
deputy or deputies as may attend, of either order.

Here, then, every case is intended to be provided for, and experience
will either demonstrate that an efficacious union may be had upon these
principles; or mutual good will, and a further reciprocation of senti-
ments will eventually lead to a more perfect uniformity of discipline as
well as of doctrine.

The representation in those States where the Church appoints clerical
deputies only, or chooses to be wholly represented by its Bishop, will
be considered as complete ; and as it cannot be supposed that the clergy
will ever neglect to avail themselves of their voice and negative, in
every ecclesiastical decision, so neither can the laity complain in those
States where they claii^i no representation, and still less where they are
declared to have a voice, and claim a representation, but neglect to
avail themselves of their claim; which latter is too likely to be the case
in some of the States within our present union, where it is difficult to
procure any lay representation, although earnestly solicited by some of
the clergy, who are fully sensible of the advantages derived to our for-
mer Conventions, from the wise and temperate counsels, and the re-
spectable countenance and assistance of our lay members.

As to the second point, respecting your own consecration and the Scots
Episcopacy, we are persuaded that you have fallen into some misappre-
hension concerning an entry made in the Journal of a former Conven-
tion, or have been misinformed of the circumstances attending it.
Nothing was ever agitated in that Convention concerning the Scots
Episcopacy, but the contrary. You may perceive by the Journal, that
the Convention refused to come to any resolution which would imply
even a doubt of the validity of your consecration ; and the proceedings
of the present Convention upon that subject, we are persuaded, will be
more than sufficient to remove every obstacle of our future union, which
might have been apprehended on that score.

As the last and greatest proof which we could give of respect for our
sister Churches, and our desire of their assistance in the completion of
our ecclesiastical system, we have postponed everything except what was
intended immediately to open the door of union : and have adjourned
our Convention till the 29th day of September, in the full confidence
of then meeting a representation from all the Churc)ies of the Eastern

282 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [I/SQ

States, for tlie purpose of devising and executing such measures as,
through the blessing of God, may concentre all our future labors in the
promotion of truth and rigliteousness, and for preserving our Church in
the unity of the Spirit, and the bond of peace.

We hope that the time to which the Convention had adjourned may
be found convenient to you and to your Churches. An early day was
necessary, as the members from some of the Southern States could
neither be detained long from home, nor return to their respective
charges, with any prospect of attending at any more remote day, dur-
ing the present year.

The day to which the adjournment was made, viz., Tuesday, Septem-
ber 29th, falls one week before the annual meeting of the Corporation
for the Relief of the Widows and Children of tlie Clergy, for the States
of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, of which you are a mem-
ber; and the very existence of that pious and charitable institution de-
pends upon our obtaining a full board for the explaining and amending
some of tlie fundamental laws. It was, therefore, proper to make the
adjournment of the Convention a week earlier than the meeting of the
Corporation, that the business of both might be better transacted with-
out interference: and the City of Philadelphia is the place where, ac-
cording to Cliaricr, the Corporation is to meet this present year, and,
exclusive of this consideration, Philadelphia was considered as more
central and convenient, as well as less expensive, perhaps, to the mem-
bers, than New York during the sessions of Congress, and the present
concourse of strangers to that city.

We have now only to request your acknowledgment of the receipt of
this Address as soon as convenient after it comes to your hand, with
which we doubt not to have the agreeable assurance of meeting you
(and such representation of your Church as your own rules may provide)
in our adjourned Convention at Philadelphia, on the said 29th of Sep-
tember nt.\r. We are, with all respect,

Your affectionate brethren and humble servants,

AViLLiAM White,
William Smith,
Samuel Magaw,
Francis Hopkinson,
Tench Coxe.

Letters so evincive of a Christian spirit found a ready response
in the noble Seabury's heart. He writes, at once:

I will, God permitting, most willingly join you at your adjourned
Convention on the 29th of September next.

The adjourned meeting of the Convention assembled in Christ
Church September 30th, 1789. The minutes say:

1789] ^EV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 283

The Right Rev. Dr. Samuel Seabury, Bishop of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in Connecticut, attended, to confer with the Convention,
agreeable to the invitation given him, in consequence of a resolve
passed at their late session; and the Rev. Dr. Samuel Parker, Deputy
from the Churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the Rev.
Mr. Bela Hubbard and the Rev. Mr. Abraham Jarvis, Deputies from
the Church in Connecticut, produced testimonials of their appointment
to confer with the Convention, in consequence of a similar invitation.

On the next day a Committee, of which Dr. Smith was the
Chairman, was appointed to confer with the Deputies from the
Eastern Churches on the subject of a proposed union with those
Churches.

The reader will remember that one principal ground of opposi-
tion by Bishop Seabury and his friends to a union was the pro-
vision in the General Ecclesiastical Constitution made by the Con-
vention of 1785, which made the Convention consist of but a sin-
gle House or Chamber, and made a Bishop but a member of a
Deputation sent from his State. Bishop Seabury and his friends
desired that the Bishops should form an independent House with
power completely to negative the action of the laity, if laymen were
to vote in the councils of the Church at all, as the churches in
Pennsylvania and elsewhere South absolutely insisted that they
should do.

The negotiation required great self-control, firmness and insinua-
tion, with dispositions to conciliate, and readiness to yield in all mat-
ters where concessions could be safely made. Dr. Smith, if old
John Adams' account of him, already quoted by us, be correct, was
eminently suited for the diplomatist of the Convention.* He met
the Right Reverend and the Reverend gentlemen of the North,
and things were made harmonious. On Friday, October 2d, 1789,
he reported as follows :

That they have had a full, free and friendly conference with the deputies
of the said Churches, who, on behalf of the Church in their several
States, and by virtue of sufficient authority from them, have signified
that they do not object to the Constitution which was approved at the
former session of this Convention, if the third article of that Constitu-
tion may be so modified as to declare explicitly the right of the Bishops,

* See our Vol. I., p. 334. Adams characterizes him as "soft, polite, insinuating,
adulating, sensible, learned, industrious, indefatigable."

284 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^9

when sitting in a separate House, to originate and propose acts for the
concurrence of the other House of Convention, and to negative such
acts proposed by the other House as they may disapproi'e.

Your Committee conceiving this alteration to be desirable in ifself, as
having a tendency to give greater stability to the Constitution, without
diminishing any security that is now possessed by the clergy or laity;
and being sincerely impressed with the importance of an union to the
future i^rosperity of the Church, do therefore recommend to the Con-
vention a compliance with the wishes of their brethren, and tliat the
third article of the Constitution may be altered accordingly. Upon
such alteration being made, it is declared by the Deputies from the
churches in the Eastern States that they will subscribe the Constitution,
and become members of this General Convention.

This report was accepted by the Convention with a single modi-
fication to the effect that though the Bishops, when there should
be three or more, should form a separate House with a right to
originate and propose acts for the concurrence of the House of
Deputies composed of clergy or laity, and that when any proposed
act should have passed the House of Deputies, the same should be
transmitted to the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies
should have a negative thereupon, provided that the proposed act
should not be negatived by the Bishops if adhered to by fonr-fiftlis
of the other House.

As the States which had been in the Convention up to this
time were but seven,* and as those that now desired an absolute
right in the House of Bishops to negative any proceedings were
three,t it was practically impossible to have four-fifiJis of the
House of the Deputies carry any measure without the concurrence
of these three. The qualification made in the amendment of the
Report presented by Dr. Smith was probably made to " let down "
in as easy a manner as possible some of the very low churchmen
of the South, and it was disarmed of the last remnants of danger
to the views of Bishop Seabury and his friends, — which in reality
were the views also of Bishop White and Dr. Smith — by a
resolution in these words :

That it be made known to the several State Conventions that it is pro-
posed to consider and determine in the next General Convention on

* New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South
Carolina.

I Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

1789] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 285

the propriety of investing the House of Bishops with a full negative
upon the proceedings of the other House.*

The minutes of the Convention go on to tell us that the General
Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as now altered
and amended, was laid before Bishop Seabury and the Deputies
from the Churches in the Eastern States for their approbation and
consent, and that after a short time they delivered the following
testimony of their assent to the same :

October 2, 1789.
We do hereby agree to the Constitution of the Church, as modified
this day in Convention.

Samuel Seabury, D. D., Bishop of the Episcopal

Church in Connecticut.
Abraham Jarvis, A. M., Rector of Christ Church,

Middletown.
Bela Hubbard, A. M., Rector of Trinity Church,

New Haven.

State of Connecticut.

Samuel Parker, D. D., Rector of Trinity Church,
Boston, and Clerical Dt;puty for Massachusetts
and New Hampshire.

The minutes add :

After subscribing as above, the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, and the
Clerical Deputies aforesaid, took their seats as members of the Conven-
tion.

Thus was the Uniox of the Church in America, through the
good efforts of Bishop White and Dr. Smith, achieved ! For this
inestimable service, even more than for their other great services
to her, their names should ever be honored by the children of the
Church.

It is a remarkable fact that this great act of what we may call
national ecclesiastical independence, and of a more perfect ecclesi-
astical union was achieved in that very Hall where, on the Fourth
of July, 1776, — John Hancock placing his bold signature in the
front, — was made our national political independence ; that same
Hall where, on the 17th day of September, 1787, — "George Wash-

* With this full negative the House of Bishops was invested by the Convention of
1808.

286 LIFE AXD CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE [17B9

ington, President and Deputy of Virginia," leading the illustrious
band, — was signed the Constitution of the United States of America.
Inviolable remain forever and separated from all common uses the
spot thus politically and ecclesiastically consecrated ! *

The Convention of 1789, as I have mentioned in the text, first
met in Christ Church, and sat there during the whole of the origi-
nal session, and our General Conventions have usually sat in a
church as do almost always our Diocesan Conventions.

But in the case of the Convention of 1789, on the ist of October,
the day before the union was effected, the minutes say :

The meeting in Christ Cluirch heing found inconvenient to the members in several
respects, it was resolved that the Rev. Dr. William Smith and the Hon. Mr. Secretary
riopkinson l)e appointed to wait upon his Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Esquire, the
President of the State, and request leave for the Convention to hold their meeting in
some convenient apartment in the State House.

At a later hour of the same day the entry is :

Tlie Rev. Dr. William Smith and Hon. Mr. Hopkinson reported that the President
of the State had very politely given permission to the Convention to hold their meet-
ings at the State House in the apartments of the General Assembly until they shall be
wanted for the public service.

Adjourned to meet at the State House to-morrow morning.

* I am quite aware that the Carpenters' Company have, lately, pretended — for it is
only within a few years that any such pretension has been made — that the Federal Con-
vention of 17S7 sat in their Hall. The pretension is the result of ignorance and as-
sumption. The Official Journal of the Federal Convention, Chief Justice Yates's pri-
vate minutes, contemporary newspapers, the motion of Dr. Franklin for prayers, June
28th, 17S7, and his remarks at the close of the Convention about the rising and the set-
ting sun on the back of the Speaker's chair, all show that the Federal Convention was
held in the State Hou5e, just as a tablet in that edifice records; and the remarks of Dr.
Franklin, on his motion for prayers, when read in the light of contemporary historical
facts, show also (as indeed probably do his remarks al)out the rising and the setting sun
on the back of the Speaker's chair) the very room; to wit, the Hall of Independence.
Equally unfounded is the legend on one of the walls of the Hall that the eloquence of
Adams, Haneock and Henry there inspired the patriots of the Revolution. The only
Congress that sat in Carpenters' Hall was that of 1774, and Hancock was not in it.
And both these pretensions are as void of truth as the one put forth by the orator of the
Hall (Mr. Betts) to the Governors of the nine States, assembled there October iSth,
1879, on their way to Yorktown, that the Supreme Court of the United States sat there
during the time that Philadelphia was the seat of the Federal Government. The min-
ute-books of that Court, all preserved at W.ashington, show that the Court sat in the
still-existing handsome south room (obviously made for a court-room) in the second
story of the City Hall, at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Fifth streets, with one
or two exceptions, when it sal in the Stale House or in the Council Chamber.

1789] J^^y. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 28/

CHAPTER LII.

The Convention now becomes Bi-Cameral — Both Houses sit in the State
House; the Clerical and Lay Deputies, over whom Dr. Smith is
elected to preside, in the Chamber of Independence — Strange Vicissi-
tudes in Dr. Smith's Life — The History of the Formation of the
Book of Common Prayer of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States of America — The House of Bishops consists of Bishop
Seabury and Bishop White, Bishop Provoost absent — The Selection of
Psalms^ Some Comparison of the Proposed Book with the new Book
of Common Prayer — Prospects of the Church — Alterations of the
Prayer Book deprecated unless in conjunction with the Church of
England, and unless the Books of the two Churches are made nearly
or quite alike — Dr. Smith writes an Address ordered by the Conven-
tion to President Washington and one to the English Archbishops.

On the union of the Churches in the New England States with
those in the Middle and Southern by which the Bishops thus far
consecrated for America (Seabury, White and Provoost) were
made members of the Convention, the Convention divided itself
into two chambers : that of the House of Bishops and that of the
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. The Bishops, we are told
in the Journals, "withdrew." They retired, I presume, to the
room in the upper part of the State House, which was long used
by the Governor and Council ; while the Clerical and Lay Depu-
ties remained on the ground floor, in that chamber, on the east
side of the edifice, formerly known as the Assembly Room of the
Province, and since as the Chamber of Independence.

Immediately on the retirement of the Bishops, Dr. Smith was
elected President of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and
was conducted, no doubt, to that same historic chair occupied, for
some years before the Revolution, by the Speakers of the Colo-
nial Assembly, in 1776 by John Hancock, and in 1787 by George
Washington. Dr. Smith was not a vain-glorious, nor a self-elating
man ; but I should suppose that in such a moment — called on as
he now was, to preside over an ecclesiastical assembly which might
fairly be called august — seated in that chair which the Speakers of
the old Quaker Legislature had once so self-complaccntly filled, he

288 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE {M'^9

could not have done other than recall the scene in that identical
room some thirty years before, when, summoned before the Legis-
lature of Friends — then the dominant power of Pennsylvania — for
what iJicy called a libel on the Government, he was insulted by
these Broadbrims, and with contempt for his ecclesiastical orders
and his academic distinctions alike, was convicted without evi-
dence ; and by a sentence unwarranted by the charge made against
him, sent to the cells of the gaol at Walnut and Fifth streets.

We have mentioned elsewhere, that Smith's life seems filled with
dramatic incidents. This, perhaps, is one of them. So does the
whirligig of time bring about its revenges. Well does it behoove
every man in power to remember the poet's precept:

^quam memento in rebus arduis
Servare mentem, non secus in bonis
Ab insolenti temperatam
L?etitia. moriture Delli !

But Dr. Smith had not much time just now for meditation and
moralizing. He had to go to work at once with important busi-
ness.

The Proposed Book had not been adopted ; and a review of
"The Book of Common Prayer and administrations of the Sacra-
ments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church, according to
the use of the Church of England," was now, of course, in order.

Instead of appointing one large committee to do the work of
review and alteration for the whole book — the plan adopted in the
Convention of 1785 for the Proposed Book — the work of altera-
tion and review in the Convention of 1789 was parcelled out
among several committees — some of the committees being ap-
pointed in the House of Bishops and some in the House of Cler-
ical and Lay Deputies.

Those appointed in the latter House, and, as I suppose, by the
President, Dr. Smith, were these: one to which was given the
preparation of a morning and evening service; a second, to which
was given the preparation of the Litany, with occasional prayers
and thanksgivings; a third, to which was given the preparation
of a Calendar and Table of Lessons for Morning and Evening
Prayer throughout the year; a fourth, to which was given the
preparation of an order for the administration of the Holy Com-
munion; a fifth, to which was given the duty of reporting in what

1789] ^'^■^'- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 289

manner the Psalms should be used. Other parts of the Prayer
Book were taken in hand in the House of Bishops — we can hardly
say were placed in charge of committees, since the House con-
sisted of but two persons, one of whom, Bishop Seabury, presided,
and the other, Bishop White, constituted the body, where motions
were made, seconded and carried; he being the "be-all" and
"end-all" of everything outside of the Bishop presiding.* Bishop
Provoost kept himself away from the Convention. He had been
"indisposed" — indisposed, perhaps, to come to it — at the original
Convention. He became more and more "indisposed" with the
prospects of "Dr. Cebra's" presidency and powers, and almost
threatened a secession, which, however, he never executed prior
to 1 80 1, when he sought to resign his Episcopate, a resignation
which was not deemed admissible nor accepted.!

The Bishops in their " House" renewed, if I remember, the ser-
vice for the Public Baptism of Infants; made alterations in the
English form of the solemnization of Matrimony, in the Order for
the Visitation of the Sick, in the Order for the Communion of the
Sick, in the form for the Visitation of Prisoners, in the Order for
the Burial of the Dead, alterations in the Catechism and in the

* While the Convention sat in Christ Church, the "House of Bishops" sat in its
" Vestry Room," a small place on the north of the pulpit, and about seven feet wide by
twelve long. The "House" was a very small one, no doubt, but still large enough
for the two persons who composed it, and their Secretary, the Rev. Mr. Clarkson.

•}■ The feeling between Bishop Seabury and Bishop Provoost threatened at one time
serious results. Bishop Provoost did not even call upon his Right Reverend Brother
while the latter was in New York. He openly denied the validity of- the Bishop of
Connecticut's Episcopal orders, and in private letters wrote of him as " Bishop Cebra,"
an inexcusable impropriety if meant for an indignity, though lessened by the fact that
there was a family on Long Island where Bishop Seabury had once been that thus
wrote their name. The fact was that Bishop Seabury had been an avowed Tory — a
Chaplain, during the war, in a British regiment, and after the war a recipient of half-
pay. Bishop Provoost had been a strong Whig from the beginning, and is said, on the
occasion of a sudden attack by the British, to have himself taken up arms. Dr. Smith,
seeing the dangerous consequences which such a state of relations between two Bish-
ops— from whatever cause arising — threatened to the infant Church, sought at the
earliest date to bring the two gentlemen into harmonious intercourse. He spoke on
the subject to Bishop White, who responded to all his anxieties and wishes. Other
common friends were brought into council, and Dr. Smith suggested that Bishop Sea-
bury should make a visit to Bishop Provoost, the latter agreeing to be at home to re-
ceive it. Bishop Seabury agreed to make the visit. Bishop Provoost received the
visit cordially, and asked Bishop Seabury to dine with him on the same day, inviting
Bishop White, Dr. Smith and others to meet him. The invitation was accepted, and
from that time relations of harmony were restored. His efforts to bring about this happy
reconciliation Dr. Smith considered among the good acts of his life..

19

290 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

Oi'der of Confirmation. This House, too, prepared a Form of
1^'amily Prayer, the form and the manner of setting forth the
Psahns in metre, a Ratification of the Thirt}'-nine Articles, with
the exception of the 36th and 37th, and put other parts of the
Book into shape.

The Prayer Book, as now used in the American Cliurch, was
thus very completely the joint work of the two Houses, each
House doing its full share; each acting freely upon the work of
the other, but each with perfect respect, good-will and good man-
ners toward that other, although we know that the House of
Bishops did not fully approve all that was finally agreed on;
it agreeing to all, however, as in nothing essentially wrong. Dr.
Smith's preface to the old Proposed Book, shortened and slightly
altered — but with its essential thoughts and much of its exact
language retained — made the preface to the new volume.

I ought not here perhaps to omit a little anecdote, illustrative
of what I state just above, and which comes to me in a private
letter from that well-known and much-honored divine of our
Church, the Rev. Thomas W. Coit, D. D., derived by him from
the lips of the late Dr. Samuel Farmar Jarvis, and given to Dr.
Coit as Dr. Coit himself says, with that gentleman's characteristic
interest when relating anything of vital consequence pertaining to
the history of our American Prayer Book. "I presume," says Dr.
Coit, "that Dr. Jarvis had it from his father, who may have been on
the spot at the time of its occurrence." Dr. Coit continues:

Bishops Seabury and White constituted the House of Bishops when
our present Communion Office was about to be proposed to the House
of Deputies for their adoption. The two Bishops preferred the Scotch
Communion Service to the English, and after they had sent // to the
House of Deputies felt anxious and timid about the result; and well
they might, when the Athanasian Creed had been ignored, the Nicene
treated with ominous neglect, and even the simple Creed of the Apostles
submitted to tinkering — a blemish inflicted on it which, even to this
late day, our Church has not had the courage to erase !

The Bishops sent for Dr. Smith, then President of the House of
Deputies, for a private conference. They frankly admitted that they
had gone to the Scotch Communion Office for a material portion of
tlieir labors. But as Dr. Smith was a born Scotchman, this was a com-
pliment to his country, which subdued his prejudices, if he had any.
He agreed to introduce the new office to the House of Deputies and

1789] ^''-^^^ WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 29I

recommend it for adoption. The next day he informed the House of
the document entrusted to him, and of its variations from the better
known office of the Church of England. A storm began to brew, and
hoarse whispers about popery reached his ears. He rose in his place,
and, exclaiming, "Hear — [pronouncing it Heyrc\ — before ye judge,"
began to read. Dr. Smith was a superb reader and withal had just
enough of a Scotch brogue to make his tones more musical and his em-
phasis more thrilling. He soon caught attention, and read his paper
through without a single interruption, his hearers becoming more and
more absorbed and charmed. When he had finished, the new office
was accepted with acclamations. Wherefore, if there is anything in
our Communion Office which Churchmen of the present day delight in,
not to say glory in, they should hold the memory of Dr. William Smith
in cherished admiration. If he had not read the office into the accept-
ance of the House over which he presided, a cold, hard vote might
have consigned it, with the Athanasian symbol, into what the Orientals
used to call "The Castle of Oblivion."*

The whole book was finally ratified by both Houses; and a
committee, consisting of Dr. Smith, Dr. Magaw, Dr. Black well
of the clergy, with Francis Hopkinson and Tench Coxe of the
laity (Bishop White, of the House of Bishops, consenting to ad-
vise with the committee), were appointed to superintend the print-
ing of the new book, either in octavo or in folio, or in both, and
also to have an edition published "to contain only the parts in
general use and the Collects of the day v/ith references to the
Epistles and Gospels."

The preparation of a Selection of Psalms, to be used instead
of the Psalms for the day, at the discretion of the minister, origi-
nated in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies ; and, I presume,
was suggested by Dr. Smith, who, knowing that the Psalter as
arranged in the Proposed Book was not acceptable to Bishop
Seabury, Dr. Chandler and some other persons — and adhering to
his own opinion that the Psalms for the day as fixed in the Psalter
were confessedly not always appropriate for a mixed assembly —

* This anecdote, in substantial form if not in circumstantial variety, receives con-
firmation— if, indeed, coming to me from the source which it does, it needs any con-
firmation— in what Bishop White tells us. He states that "the great change made in
restoring to the consecration prayer the oblatory words and the invocation of the Holy
Spirit, left out in King Edward's reign ; " met, in the House of Clerical and Lay Depu-
ties, with the disposition, in a few gentlemen, to oppose it, " which was counteracted by
some pertinent remarks of the President." (Memoirs, 2d edition, page 154.)

292 LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE {}7^9

fell on this happy idea, a happy one I must myself call it; al-
though I am aware that in so far as it makes selections of verses
from Psalms instead of selections of Psalms from the Psalter —
which it does in the case of about one-third of the Psalms selected
— it is open, to a certain, though far inferior degree, to the objec-
tions made to the Psalter as given in the Proposed Book. No
doubt some beautiful Psalms are not in the selections. But the
Psalms of the regular Psalter for many days are free from objec-
tion. So the omission of certain verses in certain Psalms — except
that brevity was sought for — may be called, as it has been called,
capricious; the verses omitted being in themselves as appropriate
nearly or quite as others left. But brevity was one object of the
Selections. The seventh and eighth Selections were suggested
by Bishop White. Certainly — with all that may be suggested
against them — the Selections are distinguished by great beauty.
The choice and the arrangement are indicative alike of a knowl-
edge of the Psalter and of rich and exquisite taste. I have al-
ready expressed my great surprise that the clergy so seldom use
these selections — which if they object to any omission of any
verse in any Psalm they can still do, for some of the selections are
of Psalms in their entirety; but on the contrary, with a dull for-
mality, worthy of the compilers of an almanac, stick doggedly to
"days of the month," and force upon their parishioners as " Psalms
of David " compositions some of which are not David's Psalms at
all ; and others of which, whether so or not, are certainly incom-
prehensible to the common readers, even when understood —
which they are not always — by the minister. I find no fault with
the clergy; but only with their forcing upon mixed congregations
certain Psalms which they should never make a mixed congrega-
tion read anywhere but in their own closets, and with the com-
mentaries of Bishop Home and the more ponderous and partner-
ship volumes of Drs. Neale and Littledale as expositions.

I am not disposed to institute any comparisons between the
Proposed Book and the Book of Common Prayer as now in use
in the United States. In some particular respects I prefer, and I
think that churchmen in this day generally would prefer, Avhat we
find in the former book. In its abbreviation of the beautiful,
tender and sublime conclusion of the Bencdictus (St. Luke ii. 68)
I think the Convention of 1789 made a great mistake. What can

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 293

be more beautiful than the eight verses in the Proposed Book in
sequence to the four in our present book from which they are cut
off? What more beautiful especially than these concluding ones:

And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for
thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare liis ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people : for the remission
of their sins.

Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the Day-spring from
on high hath visited us;

To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of
death : and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

I think that the Convention of 1789 made as bad mistakes or
worse in supplying the Magnificat and the Nunc Dc mitt is of the
early Church and retained in the Proposed Book, by anything
whatsoever: I think that the same Convention made an equal
mistake in making as part of the Litany or penitential supplication^
a general Thanksgiving with the prayer of St. Chrysostom and
the minor Benediction, accompanied by a right to the minister
officiating to introduce one, two, or any number of special prayers
and special Thanksgivings, and leaving it discretionary with him
to omit some of the grandest and most affecting parts of the
true and real Litany; down, I mean, to the prayer, "IVc Jinmbly
beseech thee!' I think that in taking away the exhortations to the
Communion from the place where, acting by Dr. Smith's sugges-
tion, the committee in charge of the Proposed Book put them —
that is to say, at the very beginning of "The Communion" — and
restoring them to the place where they now are, after the prayer
for Christ Church militant — and so dividing the service (one ser-
vice rightly viewed) into the "ante-Communion" and "the Com-
munion,"— the term "ante-Communion," a term not found, I think,
in the Prayer Book — thus encouraging the departure of the parish-
ioners from the great service of the Church — they have lowered
that office to such a degree that in a measure it loses its proper
influence.*

* Led on by this error — I speak it reverently — of the Convention of 1789, some of
our low-Church clergy — after having got, from those who do not communicate, their
money, which, if there is a coviinuuion, the Church contemplates should be the offer-
ing of those who do — that is to say of all adults present — persons whom the Church
supposes are baptized and confirmed— pronounce, with no authority whatsoever, the
minor Benediction in the midst of the Communion ; so, in fact, dismissing the whole

294 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M'^9

And I do not know that on the whole, in and by and for itself,
the Prayer Book, as set forth by the Convention of 1789, has
given more satisfaction than would have been given by the Pro-
posed Book.

We know, at least, that at all times, many of the low-church
clergy have taken pretty much what liberties — in one direction —
they liked with it; violating its express rubrics, omitting of it
what they disliked, inserting, of their own, what they liked better,
and sometimes exhibiting a manifest disrelish for the whole Prayer-
Book by meetings, morning and evening, for prayer, where the
orders for morning and evening prayer, daily throughout the year,
were completely set aside. We know, too, that animated and
encouraged by the example set by this low-church party, and

congregation; first, however, some of these clergy at least, interpositing in a way the
most unauthorized, an address of their own, telling the people whom they are about to
dismiss, with the grace of the Lord, that "our Church invites everybody who loves
the blessed Saviour — of whatever Christian denomination — to draw nigh and unite
in the Holy Communion : " an invitation which is unwarranted by any rubric in the
service, which is directly in the face of that one appended to the order of Confirma-
tion declaring that " there shall be none admitted to the Holy Communion " until such
time as he be confirmed or be ready and desirous to be confirmed ; which is discoun-
tenanced by the first rubric in the ministration of baptism of those of riper years, and
which proceeds, I presume, on a misconception of what the Church means in the priest's
address to those who come to receive the Holy Communion. Do the clergy who inter-
polate the Holy Office with such addresses of their own, regard it as any part of " God's
commandments " that people should be baptized, or be certified by the laying on of
hands, of God's favor and gracious goodness towards them ?

Suppose some respectable person, educated in the Society of Friends — a Friend still
in reality, though not attending " Meeting " much, nor liking the total disregard of
forms which the sect imposes on its members, but still undoubtedly as he or she be-
lieves "loving the blessed Saviour" and looking upon a participation in the Commun-
ion as an afi'ecting ceremony — a very proper way of testifying publicly that love — but
looking on it in no other way and not at all as a means of grace — were to come to the
Communion habitually, in a church where such a speech as I have mentioned is habit-
ually made. The minister would, in due time, I suppose, call on the person, inquire
if lie or slie had been confirmed, or was ready and desirous to be so. The answer would
be, " No, I do not believe in Confirmation. Besides, I have never been baptized in
thy way. I do not believe in water-baptism. I never mean to be baptized with water.
With the Spirit I trust I have been baptized." The clergyman, if he did his duty,
would reply : " Sir, or Madame, or Miss, if such are your views and such your pur-
poses, I am l)ound to let you know that a rubric of the Church declares that you shall
not be admitted to the Communion." The replication would be, "Ah, indeed, that's
new to me! I thought that thou saidst at thy Chancel, that thy Church cordially in-
vited all who loved the blessed Saviour — of whatever name or sect — to come." What
would be the rejoinder of this priest? The Church, assuredly, never disparaged its
sacrament of Baptism and its holy rite of Confirmation, as these of its clergy, by their
unauthorized interpolations into its most solemn office, make her do.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 295

"bettering the example," — so far as making a worse result is con-
sistent with the meaning of the phrase — an opposite class in the
Church have committed pretty much the same violence on the
Book; fraudulently embellishing tlicir proceedings with various
sorts of Romish ceremonial and infusing through the whole so
considerable a quantity of Romish doctrine and discipline, that
if Rip Van Winkle was a Churchman, and, after his long sleep,
happened to go into some of the Protestant Episcopal Churches
of New York called " Ritualistic," he certainly would 'never believe
in what sort of a Church he was. He would look amazed, in-
deed, when he was told that this was the exact Church of Samuel
Provoost, and Benjamin Moore, and John Henry Hobart, and
Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk, and Jonathan Mayhew Wainright;
and be very apt to doubt when he was really yet awake and in his
right senses at all.

Then to come to people very different indeed from the two
parties, one of whom would carry the Church to the Methodists
and the other to Rome, did not the House of Bishops itself, in the
General Convention of 1826, almost, if not altogether, unanimously
agree to reform the Book in a most sweeping way — to leave out
on all days, but on those especially appointed for humiliation, the
whole Litany; to allow two alterations in the office for Confirma-
tion; to allow alteration, at the minister's discretion, upon what
are called "prayer days" in the lessons; to give to the minister
on all days a permission, both in the morning and evening ser-
vices, to exercise discretion as to the number of Psalms and to the
portions of lessons; provided only in regard to each lesson that
there be at least fifteen verses. This was bringing things back
again in some respects to the Proposed Book ; and if we may
credit, as I rather think we may, the statement made in that en-
tertaining and instructive " Life of the First Bishop of Vermont"
(at the time that I am speaking Rector of Trinity Church, Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania), by his son, the Rev. John Henry Hopkins,
it was only through the ready powers of debate of that remark-
able first-named person — in whom legal knowledge, powers of
argument and the resources of sarcasm were united in a high
degree as in a rare conjunction — that the thing was defeated by
the negative of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

Still, I am not insensible to the great value of the Prayer Book

296 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^9

of 1789; nor, taken as a whole, do I deny its superiority to the
"Proposed Book." The length of the Morning Service and some
few matters qiias incima fiidit,^ are the greatest objections that I
think of to it. I am certainly ready to admit that in so far as
in its weight and body, the new liturgy comes nearer to the Book
of Common Prayer of the Church of England, than did the Pro-
posed Book, a great point for the future is gained. The Church
in America and the Church in Great Britain and Ireland, and over
the vast colonial possessions of the latter nation are made by it
really one. United in doctrine it is most desirable that they be
united in that which largely with most people, and with many,
entirely, both explains and preserves doctrine. The present
"Common Prayers" of the Church of England and of our Church
— each having the same articles of religion — do, in the main,
unite the two churches. Perhaps each would do well never to
seek to make an union more complete. The subject assuredly
ought never to be thrown open to motions and debate in any large
bodies, nor to be agitated by newspaper or other form of popular
and prolonged discussions, nor in any form calculated to be a
dangerous one. The remarks of a well-known representative in
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, f A. d. 1834, when it was pro-
posed to review the then very good Constitution of the State,
apply with force to the subject which we are now considering.

The right of the people to alter their government in such a manner
as they may think proper, is a right not to be questioned. But it is a
right which a people having a government under which theyenjov great
happiness and great prosperity, ought to call into exercise with extreme
caution. No system of government will be satisfactory to all ; and

* I need not refer to that almost shocking one in the administration of the Lord's
Supper, by which, through the interposition of a word or two in the part of our " In-
vocation," imported from the " Prayer of Consecration," used by the Church of Scot-
land— the latter of which reads, "beseeching thee \\\'\\. 'whosoever shall be partakers
of this Holy Communion," while ours is, " beseeching thee that we and all others
who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion" — makes us, by adhering literally
to the rest of the prayer of the Church of Scotland, ^.rclude the parties ofiering the
prayer from the benefits meant to be invoked ! The omission in the Prayer Book of
1789 of the directions contained in the rubric of the English Book, how, in the Morning
Service, the First Lesson is to be read, — " distinctly, with an audible voice ; he that read-
eth so standing and turning himself as best to be heard by all present " — makes sense-
less the rubric in our book, that the Second Lesson is to be read "in like manner."

f The late John Bradford Wallace, Esq., of Philadelphia, representing at the time
the county of Crawford, in the northwestern part of Pennsylvania.

I7S9] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 297

when we begin to change it who shall say where the changes shall end ?
Sound wisdom has therefore adopted it as a maxim tha^ it is better to
endure some small defects in a good system, than to endanger the sys-
tem by throwing it open to change. If it could be practically required
that every point upon which a change was desired should be acknowl-
edged by a majority of the people to be an evil, and a concurrence of
the same majority in establishing a remedy, there would be no great
danger in attempting the alteration. But the danger is this: One man
is dissatisfied with a particular provision in the constitution. A second
is content with that, but dislikes another. A third person approves
both those provisions; but thinks some other very objectionable, and so
on to a great extent. Each prefers the constitution to stand as it is,
with the exception of only the particular part which he objects to.
Passions are excited, prejudices are strengthened: and eventually all
make common cause, and each to obtain his own alteration, unites with
the others to obtain theirs: And thus a majority is obtained for many
alterations, when the judgment of the same majority is opposed to the
adoption of any one, and, of course, of every one of them.

Still, the eye of hopeful anticipation cannot but sometimes fancy
that it sees a pleasing sight in future days. The Church of Great
Britain and the Church in America have come of late years into an
intercourse both close and frequent. Our Bishops will soon out-
number the English Bishops. Perhaps they do so now. In the
writings of such men as Seabury, White, Dehon, Hobart, H. U.
Onderdonk, Ravenscroft, Hopkins, Doane, DeLancey, Whitting-
ham and Odenheimer among the Bishops, and of Dr. Chandler,
Dr. Smith, Dr. S. F. Jarvis, Dr. S. H. Turner, Dr. Coit, Dr. Bow-
den, Dr. Chapman, Dr. Dorr, and many others, probably, not
known to me, in the lower orders of the ministry, we have made
contributions to a common theology which recall the days of Sher-
lock and Horseley and Seeker and Porteus. Our Bishops are con-
stantly visiting England and deriving new inspirations from what
they see in that ancient land. The mitred lords of England are
coming often here, and, seated in honor in our Conventions, are
gaining for themselves and their Church hardly less than we hav^e
got from England.

I look forward to the day when the Church in England shall be
disestablished and relieved from that onerous tribute which she
now pays to the State. When that occurs — and each church is an
ecclesiastical body alone — we shall surely come more closely
together. Even as things are, we could perhaps dp so ; and pos-

298 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

sibly — in what is purely ecclesiastical — practically and in fact, be
the same. It our Liturgy is ever reviewed again, let it be done
by a committee of our own Bishops and clergy in conjunction with
Bishops and clergy of the Church of England, and then submitted
and adopted or rejected by our Convention and their Convoca-
tion or Parliament, without debate. I see no reason why, except
in the matter of the State Prayers, the services should not be
wholly consentaneous. Indeed, if the Preface of our Books — that
of the Proposed Book and that of the Book of 1789 alike — cor-
rectly say — as I think they do say correctly — that the " proper end
of all prayers for civil rulers should be that they may have grace,
wisdom and understanding to execute justice and to maintain
truth, and that the people may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all
godliness and honesty " — why shall not the Prayer Books of
England and America be absolutely identical ? Some things
which America prefers, as the Bomnn est Confitcri and the Bcncdic,
Aninia Mca, to be retained along with the English originals of the
Magnificat and Nujic Dimittis, with an option for the minister to
take any one of the three songs, anthems, or whatever else they
may be, instead of either of two. And so generally; giving what
each nation prefers, and a liberty of choice. Rome's boast that
the voices of her ministers alone are heard ever ascending in the
language of one Liturgy from the whole circle of the round world
— a boast never founded in fact — could no longer be made. " The
Church of England," " The Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States in America," one and the same body, — " The
Catholic Church Reformed " — with but diversity in name, would
henceforth in the people's estimation, as in the gospel's truths
they now are, be the Catholic Church of Christ. Hasten, O God,
if it be thy good will, this happy day ! that as we have one Lord,
one faith and one baptism, we may, under one shepherd, be more
completely than ever, one, thy own blessed Fold !

Among the early acts of the Convention which was still sitting
in the form of a single Convention was the appointment of Dr.
Smith, the Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D., and the Rev. Uzal Ogden,
to prepare an address to the President, George Washington, who, a
few months before, had entered upon the untried duty of Chief
Magistrate of the United States. And Dr. Smith, the Rev. Abra-
ham Beach, D. D,, and Robert Andrews, Esq., were appointed a

1789J REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 299

Committee to prepare an address of thanks to the Most Reverend
the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for their good offices in
procuring the consecration of the American Bishops.

The actual work of preparing the addresses fell to Dr. Smith,
and before the Convention finally adjourned both documents were
ready for the signatures of the members, and were signed. We
now crive both documents as Numbers I. and II. To the former —
which Bishop Provoost, Dr. Smith and certain other gentlemen
were requested to present to the President, we append the Presi-
dent's answer. Bishop White, Dr. Smith and other gentlemen
were appointed to forward the address to the Archbishops, which,
no doubt, they did.

Address No. I.

Jo ihe President of the United States.

Sir : — We, the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, in General Convention assem-
bled, beg leave, with the highest veneration, and the most animating na-
tional considerations, at the earliest moment in our power, to express our
cordial joy on your election to the chief magistracy of the United States.

When we contemplate the short but eventful history of our nation ;
when we recollect the series of essential services performed by you in the
course of the Revolution ; the temperate yet efficient exertion of the
mighty powers with which the nature of the contest made it necessary to
invest you ; and especially when we remember the voluntary and mag-
nanimous relinquishment of those high authorities at the moment of
peace ; we anticipate the happiness of our country under your future
administration.

But it was not alone from a successful and virtuous use of those extra-
ordinary powers, that you were called from your honorable retirement to
the first dignities of our government. An affectionate admiration of
your private character, the impartiality, the persevering fortitude, and
the energy with which your public duties have been invariably performed,
and the paternal solicitude for the happiness of the American people, to-
gether with the wisdom and consummate knowledge of our affairs, mani-
fested in your last military communication, have directed to your name
the universal wish, and have produced, for the first time in the history
of mankind, an example of unanimous consent in the appointment of the
governor of a free and enlightened nation.

To these considerations, inspiring us with the most pleasing expecta-
tions as private citizens, permit us to add, that, as the representatives of

300 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

a numerous and extended Church, we most thankfully rejoice in the elec-
tion of a civil ruler, deservedly beloved, and eminently distinguished
among the friends of genuine religion — who has happily united a tender
regard for other churches with an inviolable attachment to his own.

With unfeigned satisfaction we congratulate you on the establishment
of the new Constitution of government of the United States, the mild
yet efficient operations of which, we confidently trust, will remove every
remaining apprehension of those with whose opinions it may not entirely
coincide, and will confirm the hopes of its numerous friends. Nor do
these expectations appear too sanguine, when the moderation, patriotism
and wisdom of the honorable members of the Federal legislature are duly
considered. From a body thus eminently qualified, harmoniously co-
operating with the Executive authority in constitutional concert, we con-
fidently hope for the restoration of order and of our ancient virtues, —
the extension of genuine religion, — and the consequent advancement of
our respectability abroad, and of our substantial happiness at home.

We devoutly implore the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to preserve
you long in health and prosperity, — an animating example of all public
and private virtues, — the friend and guardian of a free, enlightened, and
grateful people, — and that you may finally receive the reward which will
be given to those whose lives have been spent in promoting the happiness
of mankind.

77?^ President's Answer.

To the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaioarc, Mary-
land, Virgi7iia, a7id South Carolina, in General Convention assembled.

Gentlemen : I sincerely thank you for your affectionate congratula-
tion on my election to the chief magistracy of the United States.

After having received from my fellow-citizens in general the most lib-
eral treatment — after having found them disposed to contemplate, in the
most flattering point of view, the performance of my military services,
and the manner of my retirement at the close of the war — I feel that I
have a right to console myself, in my present arduous undertaking, with
a hope that they will still be inclined to put the most favorable construc-
tion on the motives which may influence me in my future public trans-
actions.

The satisfaction arising from the indulgent opinion entertained by the
American people, of my conduct, will, I trust, be some security for pre-
venting me from doing anything, which might justly incur the forfeiture
of that opinion. And the consideration that human happiness and moral
duty are inseparably connected, will always continue to prompt me to
promote the progress of the former, by inculcating the practice of the
latter.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 3OI

On this occasion it would ill become me to conceal the joy I have felt
in perceiving the fraternal affection which appears to increase every day
among the friends of genuine religion. It affords edifying prospects in-
deed, to see Christians of different denominations dwell together in more
charity, and conduct themselves, in respect to each other, with a more
Christian-like spirit than ever they have done in any former age, or in
any other nation.

I receive, with the greatest satisfaction, your congratulations on the
establishment of the New Constitution of Government ; because I be-
lieve its mild, yet efficient, operations will tend to remove every remain-
ing apprehension of those, with whose opinions it may not entirely coin-
cide, as well as to confirm the hopes of its numerous friends ; and be-
cause the moderation, patriotism, and wisdom of the present Federal
Legislature seem to promise the restoration of order and our ancient vir-
tues— the extension of genuine religion — and the consequent advance-
ment of our respectability abroad, and of our substantial happiness at
home.

I request. Most Reverend and respectable Gentlemen, that you will
accept my cordial thanks for your devout supplications, to the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe in behalf of me. May you, and the people whom
you represent, be the happy subjects of Divine Benediction both here
and hereafter !

George Washington.
August 19, 1789.

Address No. II.

kn Address to the Most Reverend the Archbishops of Canterbury

and Yorli.

Most Venerable and Illustrious Fathers and Prelates :
We, the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, impressed with every sentiment
of love and veneration, beg leave to embrace this earliest occasion, in
General Convention, to offer our warmest, most sincere, and grateful
acknowledgments to you, and (by your means) to all the venerable
Bishops of the Church over which you preside, lor the manifold
instances of your former condescension to us, and solicitude for our
spiritual welfare. But we are more especially called to express our
thankfulness for that particular act of your fatherly goodness, whereby we
derive, under you, a pure Episcopacy and succession of the ancient Or-
der of Bishops, and are now assembled, through the blessing of God, as
a Church duly constituted and organized, with the happy prospect before
us of a future full and undisturbed exercise of our holy religion, and its
extension to the utmost bounds of this continent, under an ecclesiastical

302 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}7^9

constitution, and a form of worship, which we believe to be truly apos-
tolical.

The growing prospect of this happy diffusion of Christianity, and the
assurance we can give you, that our churches are spreading and flourish-
ing throughout these United States, we know, will yield you more solid
joy, and be considered as a more ample reward of your goodness to us,
than all the praises and expressions of gratitude which the tongues of
men can bestow.

It gives us pleasure to assure you, that, during the present sitting of
our Convention, the utmost harmony has prevailed through all our de-
liberations ; that we continue, as heretofore, most sincerely attached to
the faith and doctrine of the Church of England, and that not a wish
appears to prevail, either among our Clergy or Laity, of ever departing
from that Church in any essential article.

The business of most material consequence which hath come before
us, at our present meeting, hath been, an application from our sister
churches in the Eastern States, expressing their earnest desire of a gen-
eral union of the whole Episcopal Church in the United States, both in
doctrine and discipline; and, as a primary means of such union, pray-
ing the assistance of our Bishops in the consecration of a Bishop elect
for the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We therefore
judge it necessary to accompany this address with the papers which have
come before us on that very interesting subject, and of the proceedings
we have had thereupon, by which you will be enabled to judge concern-
ing the particular delicacy of our situation, and, probably, to relieve us
from any difficulties which may be found therein.

The application from the Church in the States of Massachusetts and
New Hampshire is in the following words, viz. :

The good providence of Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, having lately
hlessed the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, by supply-
ing it with a complete and entire ministry, and affording to many of her communion
the benefit of the labors, advice and government of the successors of the Apostles:

We, Presbyters of said Church in the States of IMassachusetts and New Hampshire,
deeply impressed with the most lively gratitude to the Supreme Governor of the uni-
verse, for his goodness in this respect, and with the most ardent love to his Church,
and concern for the interest of her sons, that they may enjoy all the means that Christ,
the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, has instituted for leading his followers into the
ways of truth and holiness, and preserving his Church in the unity of the spirit and
the bond of peace, to the end that the people committed to our respective charges
may enjoy the benefit and advantage of those offices, the administration of which be-
longs to the highest order of the ministry, and to encourage and promote, as far as in
us lies, a union of the whole Episcopal Church in these States, and to perfect and
compact this mystical body of Christ, do hereby nominate, elect and appoint, the Rev.
Edward Bass, a Presbyter of the said Church, and Rector of St. Paul's in Newbury-
port, to be our Bishop; and we do promise and engage to receive him as such when
canonically consecrated, and invested with the apostolic office and powers by the
Right Reverend the Bishops hereafter named, and to render him all that canonical

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 303

obedience and submission which, by the laws of Christ, and the Constitution of our
Church, is due to so important an office.

And we now address the Right Reverend tlie Bishops in the States of Connecticut
New York and Pennsylvania, praying their united assistance in consecrating our said
brother, and canonically investing him with the apostolic office and powers. This re-
quest we are induced to make from a long acquaintance with him, and from a perfect
knovvle;1ge of his being possessed of that love to God and benevolence to men, that
piety, learning, and good morals, that prudence and discretion, requisite to so exalted
a station, as well as that personal respect and attachment to the communion at large in
these States, which will make him a valuable acquisition to the Order, and, we trust, a
rich blessing to the Church.

Done at a meeting of the Presbyters whose names are underwritten, held at Salem,
in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the fourth day of June,
Anno Salutis, 1789.

Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston.

T. FiTCil Oliver, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead.

John Cousens Ogden, Rector of Queen's Chapel, Portsmouth, New Hampshire,

William Montague, Minister of Christ Church, Boston.

TiLLOTSON Brunson, Assistant Minister of Christ Church, Boston.

A true copy.
Attest: Samuel Parker.
At the meeting aforesaid,

Voted, — That the Rev. Samuel Parker be authorized and empowered to transmit
copies of the foregoing Act, to be by him attested, to the Right Reverend the Bishops
in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania ; and that he lie appointed our agent, to
appear at any Convocation to be holden at Pennsylvania or New York, and to treat
upon any measures that may tend to promote an union of the Episcopal Church
throughout the United States of America, or that may prove advantageous to the
interests of the said Church. Edward Bass, Chairman.

A true copy.
Attest: Samuel Parker.

This was accompanied with a letter from the Rev. Samuel Parker, the
worthy Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, to the Right Rev. Bishop
White, dated June 21st, 1789, of which the following is an extract :

The Clergy here have appointed me their agent, to appear at any Convocation to
be held at New York or Pennsylvania ; but I fear the situation of my family and parish
will not admit of my being absent so long as a journey to Philadelphia would take.
When I gave you encouragement that I should attend, I was in expectation of having
my parish supplied by some gentlemen from Nova Scotia, but I am now informed they
will not be here till some time in August. Having, therefore, no prospect of attend-
ing in person at your General Convention next month, I am requested to transmit you
an attested copy of an act of the Clergy of this and the State of New Hampshire, elect-
ing the Rev. Edward Bass our Bishop, and requesting the united assistance of the
Right Reverend Bishops of Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut, to invest him
with apostolic powers. This act I have now the honor of enclosing, and hope it will
reach you before the meeting of your General Convention in July.

The clergy of this State are very desirous of seeing an union of the whole Episco-
pal Church in the United Stales take place ; and it will remain with our brethren at the
southward to say, whether this shall be the case or not — -whether we shall be an united
or divided church. Some little difference in government may exist in different States,
without affecting the essential points of union and communion.

304 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

In like spirit, the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, Bishop of the Church in
Connecticut, in his letter to the Rev. Dr. Smith, dated July 23d, writes
on the subject of union, etc., as followeth : •

The wish of my heart, and the wish of the Clergy and of the Church people of this
State, would certainly have carried me and some of the Clergy to your General Con-
vention, had we conceived we could have attended with propriety. The necessity of
an union of all the Churches, and the disadvantages of our present dis-union, we feel
and lament equally with you; and I agree with you, that there may be a strong and
efficacious union between churches, where the usages are different. 1 see not why it
may not be so in the present case, as soon as you have removed those obstructions
which, while they remain, must prevent all possibility of uniting. The Church of Con-
necticut consists, at present, of nineteen clergymen in full orders, and more than
twenty thousand people they suppose, as respectable as the Church in any State in the
union.

After the most serious deliberation upon this important business, and
cordially joining with our brethren of the eastern or New England
Churches in the desire of union, the following resolves were unanimously
adopted in Convention, viz. :

Resolved, — 1st. That a complete Order of Bishops, derived as well under the English
as the Scots line of succession, doth now subsist within the United States of America,
in the persons of the Right Rev. William White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the Stat^ of Pennsylvania; the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D.,
Bishop of the said Church in the State of New York ; and the Right Rev. Samuel
Seabury, D. D., Bishop of the said Church in the State of Connecticut.

2d. That the said three Bishops are fully competent to every proper act and duty of
the Episcopal office and character in these United States ; as well in respect to the con-
secration of other bishops, and the ordering of Priests and Deacons, as for the govern-
ment of the Church, according to such Canons, Rules, and institutions as now are, or
hereafter may be, duly made and ordained by the Church in that case.

3d. That in Christian charity as well as of duty, necessity, and expediency, the
Churches represented in this Convention ought to contribute, in every manner in their
power, towards sup]ilying the wants, and granting every just and reasonable request of
their sister churches in these States; and therefore resolved, —

4th. That the Right Rev. Dr. White and the Right Rev. Dr. Provoost be, and they
herel)y are requested to join with the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury in complying with the
prayer of the Clergy of the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, for the con-
secration of the Rev. Edward Bass, Bishop elect of the churches in the said Slates ; but
that, before the said Bishops comply with the request aforesaid, it be proposed to the
churches in the New England States to meet the Churches of these States, with the
said three Bishops, in an adjourned Convention, to settle certain articles of union and
discipline among all the churches, previous to such consecration.

5th. That if any difficulty or delicacy, in respect to the Archbishops and Bishops of
England, shall remain with tlie Right Rev. Drs. White and Provoost, or either of
them, concerning their compliance with the above request, this Convention will address
the Archbishops and Bishops, and hope thereby to remove the difficulty.

We have now, most venerable Fathers, submitted to your considera-
tion whatever relates to this important business of union among all our

1789] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 305

churches in these United States. It was our original and sincere inten-
tion to have obtained three bishops, at least, immediately consecrated by
the Bishops of England, for the seven States comprehended within our
present union. But that intention being frustrated through unforeseen
circumstances, we could not wish to deny any present assistance, which
may be found in our power to give to any of our sister churches, in that
way which may be most acceptable to them, and in itself legal and
expedient.

We ardently pray for the continuance of your favor and blessing, and
that, as soon as the urgency of other weighty concerns of the Church
will allow, we may be favored with that fatherly advice and direction,
which to you may appear most for the glory of God and the prosperity
of our Churches, upon the consideration of the foregoing documents and
papers.

Done in Convention this eighth day of August, 17S9, and directed to
be signed by all the members as the act of their body, and by the Presi-
dent officially.

CHAPTER LIII.

Restoration by the State of Pennsylvania of the Charter of the Col-
lege OF Philadelphia, Unjustly taken away in 1779 — An Anecdote
Illustrative of Dr. .Smith's ready humor — He takes leave of the
Convention in Maryland — Bishop White's Tribute to his Services
TO the Church and Otherwise in that State — Dr. Wroth's Account
OF Washington College — Dr. Smith's return to Philadelphia, July
1ST, 1789 — Proposed Inscription upon his College — Proceedings in the

different branches OF THE RECONSTRUCTION — FiRST COMMENCEMENTS,

Medical, and in the Departments of Arts, since the Restoration —
Union of the College of Philadelphia with the University of the
. State of Pennsylvania under the name of the University of Penn-
sylvania— The Rev. John Ewing elected Provost — The new institu-
tion languished and continued to languish for MANY YEARS, AND UNTIL

THE Provostship OF Dr. Stille— Dr. Smith preaches before the Cin-
cinnati, July 4Th, 1790— Engagement AND Marriage of his son Charles
with Miss Yeates — Death of his daughter, Mrs. Goldsborough —
Beautiful Inscription on her Tomb— Letters in connection with her
Death.

The last chapter ends Dr. Smith's ecclesiastical history for the
year 1789. But for the year he had in addition one which was
collegiate and personal. He had labored so perseveringly and
with so much ability to have the old College of Philadelphia re-
stored to its rights that in the end he succeeded ; and on the 6th
of March, 1789, the Assembly of Pennsylvania, declaring the Act
20

3o6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}7^9

of 1/79 I'epugnant to justice and in violation to the Constitution
of the State, restored the ancient charter, with all its privileges.
His position as Provost, if he chose to occupy again the place,
which for the mere vindication of his honor it was supposed that
he would, was at his command.

In connection with his efforts to procure the passage of the re-
pealing act we may mention a piece of the Provost's ready wit.
On the morning of passing this Act, while the members were col-
lecting themselves, and before the Speaker took the chair, Dr.
H , a good-natured man, but a great politician and of abdomi-
nal dimensions more than aldermanic, came into the Committee
Room, and offered to a member a paper by way of a Rider to the
engrossed Bill, requesting him to present the same to the House.
The member handed it to Dr. Smith, who happened to be near.
Dr. Smith hastily looked over it, and finding its purport was to in-
demnify what was called the University from any particular ac-
count of their expenditure of the College stock and property
during their usurpation of eight years and upwards, returned it to

the member, who went into the House, and Dr. H after him.

Dr. Smith got a piece of paper and wrote cxtcjnpore as follows:

The Rider.
I.

"On mischief bent, by Ewing sent,*
With Rider in his hands,
Comes Doctor Guts, with mighty struts,
And thus of Smith demands :

2.

'•' ' This Rider, sir, to save all stir.
By Master Ewing's will,
I bring in haste, pray get some pa.:te,
And tack it to your Bill.'

3-
" Smith lifts his eyes — ' Hoot ! mon,' he cries,
' Take back your stupid stuff,
Our answer's brief, the crafty thief
Has ridden lang enuff. ' "

* Dr. Ewing, the Provost of the University of Pennsylvaiiiii who had supplanted Dr.
Smith, was a Trcsbyterian.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 307

This being privately thrown on the table of the Speaker, who
was a man of humor, it was soon handed to some of the nearest
members, and spread through the House with a laugh which did
more to smother the poor Rider in cunabulis than many long
speeches could have done.

On the 2d of June the Sixth Annual Convention of the Episco-
pal Church of Maryland was held in Baltimore, Dr. Smith was
elected President.

Before it finally adjourned he made known to it that he was
about to retire from the State and return to Peimsylvania. The
Convention was deeply affected by the intelligence, and directed
its Secretary to assure him that " their minds were strongly im-
pressed with a grateful sense of the services he had rendered to
learning and religion by his attention to those important concerns
and to return to him their sincere thanks."

We need not specify the great services which Dr. Smith did to
both the Church and to literature in Maryland during his resi-
dence there. Bishop White, after speaking of the perils to which
the Church in that State had been exposed by the Legislature,
which, though consisting of men of various denominations, " took
up," he says, " the subject of organizing the Church, and particu-
larly of appointing ordainers to the ministry," — and of the two
Church Conventions of August, 1783, and June, 1784, by which
they were counteracted, says :*

The proceedings of these conventions, with measures taken at other
times and in other matters by the clergy of that State, were chiefly ori-
ginated by the Rev. Dr. Smith, who in his residence there, during the
seizure of the charter-rights of the College of Philadelphia, exerted his
excellent talents in these and in other public works.

In every state of life to which God was pleased to call him, he
learned not only to be content, but at once was highly useful.

We may say, indeed, with some confidence, that but for the ac-
tivity and executive powers of Dr. Smith, it would have been im-
possible to have got the Church in the Southern States into a right
condition for the great work of union, which through his. Bishop
White's and Bishop Seabury's united efforts — and in the face of

* White's Memoirs, p. 92. Second Edition.

308 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDEAXE OF THE [1782

some inexplicable conduct of Bishop Provoost's, took place in
1789.*

It was with feelings of a touching kind that Dr. Smith took
leave of his affectionate parish and devoted College at Chester-
town. He left the former in the possession of the Rev. Mr.
Robinson, of Virginia, as Rector, and the latter in that of the
Rev. Colin Ferguson as President. Both parish and college were
left in eood hands, but neither in hands like those which now sur-
rendered the possession.

I may here perhaps insert a letter giving some facts in regard to
Washington College before I finally take leave of the subject, it
is from the venerable Peregrine Wroth, M. D., a well-known
physician of Maryland :

Easton, Talbot Co., October 23d, 1872.
Horace Wemyss Smith, Esq.

Dear Sir: .... I send you a view of the old College, the one
burnt down in 1827. It was rebuilt in 1846 m three separate buildings
— all of which are not equal in size to the old College.

I should not forget to add that to the back of the common hall was
built (to tlie old College) a chapel sixty feet square, joined to the com-
mon hall and to the two wings — the whole building in front about one
hundred and twenty feet from end to end, and sixty feet wide. I'he
endowment was ^1,250 annually. And it was thus — about 1798-99 —
the State Legislature took away ^750 of the fund, and in 1800 or 1801
the- whole balance, leaving us to the tuition money of the students as our
only support. We at once were obliged to dismiss all our Professors but
one, and when the College was burnt we rented a house in town and
kept up the school there in name, but greatly fallen off. When the fmid
was first lessened by our State Legislature, Mr. Daniel McCurtin, Pro-
fessor of the Dead Languages, one day gave my class, then the head
class in his department, a history of the endowment of the College.
Before the Revolution, when Lord Baltimore was Lord Proprietor, he

* Bishop Sealnny, with whom Dr. Smith's relations, as we have already said, were
then friendly, though^, indeed, that in defining the office and duties of a Bishop ("see
siLpra, p. 108) as St. Jerom defined them, my veneral)le ancestor had rather loo much
lowered them. But Dr. Smith knew the churchmen of Maryland better than did Dr.
Seabury. He raised them to as high a point as it was at that time possible to raise
them, and had lie attem]-)ted to force Dr. Seabury's high views upon them, there would
have been an utter collapse and break down in his beneficent efforts. lie laid a foun-
dation strong enough for the best superstructure; one which has sustained a church in
which Claggct and Kemp and Stone and Wuittingham have filled the highest
office.

1789] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 3O9

gave the Legislature ^40,000 on condition that they would pay ;;/^3,ooo
annually to two Colleges — should such be built — one at Annapolis, the
metropolis of the State, and the other at Chestertown, on the eastern
side of Chesapeake Bay — ;C'^,1S° ^'^ that on the western shore and
^^1,250 to that at Chestertown, on the eastern shore. During the war
(of the Revolution) the money was used by the State, and when, by the
great exertions of the Rev. William Smith, who travelled through the
whole eastern shore on Jiorscback for that purpose, the necessary fund for
building the College was raised, the Legislature imposed a tax on
" Hawkers and Pedlars and Marriage Licenses," and paid to Washing-
ton College ^1,250, founded in 1782, and to St. John's College, at
Annapolis, built about 1783 or 1784, the annual sum of ^1,750. It
was made by Act of Legislature a perpetual endowment ! How they
could have a right to take it away afterwards is a question.

The above statement, spoken of afterwards so often by my class and
others, was indelibly impressed on my mind, and, I believe, every word
of it. But I confess that though I made many efforts years ago to verify
it, I have not succeeded.

Before the College was founded, Dr. Smith, as you are probably
aware, was principal of a large and fine school in Chestertown, and
Rector of the parish of L U., built in 1767 in Kent county. The
church in Chestertown, built in 1772, was then a chapel of ease. He
was Rector of both when the College was built. He was elected Prin-
cipal, and continued so until he returned to Philadelphia, about 1790.
Personally, of course, I was unacquainted with him, being born in i 786 ;
but I have always heard him spoken of as eminent both as a scholar
and as a minister of the Church. The life-size portrait, which I had
taken from a small engraving, is hanging in the Library at Washington
College, and when painted was pronounced by two aged and intelligent
ladies who remembered and admired him, as a good likeness.

Of course I can know nothing personally of your renowned ancestor.
I may have seen him, for he baptized me in 1786, when I was but a few
days old. I was not entered at Washington College (of which I am an
Alumnus) until 1794, after your ancestor had been called to Philadelphia,
and I left college in 1803, the year of his death.

Please excuse this note. It would not have been written to trouble
you, but I feel personally interested in the success of your researches ;
having been educated at the College he founded, since that a vioitor of
it and Professor of Chemistry in that institution, slwA feeling it is my
duty to render any assistance I am able.

I remain very respectfully yours,

P. Wroth.*

* See Appendix, No. V.

3IO LIFE AXD CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE [l/^Q

On the 1st of July, 1789, Dr. Smith, with his wife and children,
returned to Philadelphia, and went to reside upon his family-seat
at the Falls of Schuylkill. And now — singular incident — as the
village clock chimes the hour of twelve to usher in the morn of
July 1st, 1879, I, his great-grandson, am preparing upon the same
estate this record for the printer; ninety years from the time he
returned to it. As I write, my mind reverts to the closing para-
graph of Ids preface to the works of Nathaniel Evans, which he
had collected and published as a labor of love. He there says :

The task he left to be performed was a mournful one ; but it has
been executed with that fidelity, which the writer of this would wish
might be extended to any performance of his own, that may be thought
worthy of the public eye, by that true friend into whose hands it may
fall, when he himself shall be no more ! *

In anticipation of the formal surrender of the College of Phila-
delphia— ''My College" as he rightly called it — to him, he pro-
posed that the following inscription, which is the same which
was set in Queen's College, Oxford, on the Restoration, should be
engraved upon the front of the edifice :

" DIVINA

OPE MISERICORDIA ET PROVIDENTIA

COLLEGIUM HOC

A CAPTIVITATE QUADAM BABYLONICA

EREPTUM

INTEGRIS ET LEGITIMIS SUIS MEMBRIS

CONSTITUITUR."

The first meeting of the Trustees of the College was held at the
house of Dr. Franklin, now an aged man, upon notice given by
Dr. Smith. There were fourteen Trustees surviving, all of whom
were present:

Benjamin Franklin, LL. D., Dr. John Redman,

Benjamin Chew, \ John Laurence, "j

Edward Shippen, >Esqs, Thom.\s Mifflin, > Esqs.

Thomas Willing, j Samuel Powel, j

* See Vol. I., page 481.

1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 3II

Rt. Rev. Wm. White, D. D., George Clymer, ^
Robert Morris, \p James Wilson, VEsqs.

Francis Hopkinson, / ^^^' Alex. Wilcocks, j

The only surviving members of the Faculty of Arts were Dr.
Smith, the Provost, and Mr. James Davidson, Professor of
Humanity and Latin and Greek Languages.

At a subsequent meeting, held April 28th, 1789, the Treasurer,
Mr. Bingham, and Col. Miles were appointed a committee to read
and report concerning the condition of the Norristown estate and
mills on the Schuylkill, of which we have already spoken. The
vacancies, ten in number, of Trustees were supplied by the choice
of the following gentlemen:

'fc> t>^

Thomas Fitzsimons, William Lewis,

Henry Hill, John Nixon,

Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D., Robert Hare,

Samuel Miles, Caspar Wistar,

William Bingham, Richard Peters.

The committee made the inspection, and on the 28th of May
reported. They had viewed the estate, but so unfavorable was
their statement of its condition that it was the opinion of the
Trustees that it would be to the interest of the institution to sell it
as soon as possible, and to invest the proceeds thereof in ground-
rents or some other real estate productive of a certain undimin-
ished revenue for the support of the institution. The committee
was continued, in order to advertise the estate for sale, and to
report some plan for selling it in such manner as would be agree-
able to justice as well respecting the then tenant, as the engage-
ments of the Trustees to Dr. Smith, at the time of the purchase
of the estate from him in the autumn of 1776.

Under date of the i8th of August, 1789 (Dr. Smith having
offered to take so troublesome a burden from the College), the
minutes of the Trustees continue :

At a meeting held this day it was Resolved, that ^4,300 be the sum
demanded for the Norriton estate, exclusive of the town; ^1,200 to
be paid on or before the ist day of April and before the signing of the
deed, and that the pre-emption at that price be now offered to Dr.
Smith. An offer was made to Dr. Smith at the Board, agreeably to the
above resolve, and the Doctor accepted of the same ; and the security to
be given for the remainder of the payments, to be as may be concluded

312 LIFE A. YD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1789

on by the Committee, viz. : the Treasurer, Col. Miles, and Mr. Bing-
ham, formerly appointed for the advertising the estate for sale.

When the restitution of its rights to the College was made, the
Professors in the medical schools came again to their places.
These Professors were Dr. William Shippcn, Jr., Professor of
Anatomy and Surgery; Adam Kuhn, Professor of I^otany and
Materia Medica; and Benjamin Rush, Professor of Chemistry.
Being waited upon by a committee of the Trustees, they severally
expressed their satisfaction upon the renewal of their connection
with the Trustees of the College, and their restoration to their
Professorships under them in discharging their duties, of which,
as heretofore, it was their wish and intention to continue :*

It was determined to confer no longer the degree of Bachelor
of Medicine. The reason for this course was "that it would not be
for the honor of the College or the advancement of sound litera-
ture to continue the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, lest young
and inexperienced men under the sanction of that degree and of
their collegiate education, assuming the name of Doctor, might be
tempted to impose upon the public, by a too early practice. It has,
therefore, been determined that the degree of Doctor in Medicine
shall be the only medical degree conferred in this seminary."

On the 17th of November, 1789, the following rules, of which
the original manuscript is in Dr. Smith's handwriting, respecting a
medical education, having been passed by the Trustees, were
published:

1. No person shall be received as a candidate for the degree of Doc-
tor in Medicine until he has arrived to the age of twenty-one years, and
has applied himself to the study of Medicine in the College for at least
two years. Those students and candidates who reside in the city of
Philadelphia, or within five miles thereof must have been the pupils of
some respectable physician for the space of three years, and those who
may come from the country and from any greater distance than five
miles, must have studied with some reputable physician thereof at least
two years.

2. Every candidate shall have regularly attended the lectures of the
following Professors, viz. : of Anatomy and Surgery; of Chemistry and

*Dr. John Morgan, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Pliysic, was not at the
time within the State. The Trustees considered him reinstated and entitled to
continue in his office until his return.

I/QO] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 313

the Institutes of Medicine; of Materia Medica and Pharmacy; of the
Theory and Practice of Medicine; the Botanical Lectures of the Pro-
fessor of Natural History and Botany; and a course of Lectures in
Natural and Experimental Philosophy.

3. Each candidate shall signify his intention of graduating to the
Dean of the Medical Faculty at least two months before the time of
graduation ; after which he shall be examined privately by the Profes-
sors of the different branches of Medicine. If remitted to his studies,
the Professors shall hold themselves bound not to divulge the same; but
if he is judged to be properly qualified, a medical question and case
shall then be proposed to him ; the answer and treatment of which he
shall submit to the Medical Professors. If these performances are ap-
proved, the candidate shall then be admitted to a public examination,
before the Trustees, the Provost, Vice-Provost, Professors and students
of the College. After which he shall offer to the inspection of each of
the Medical Professors a Thesis written in the Latin or English lan-
guages (at his own option) on any medical subject. This Thesis, if ap-
proved of, is to be printed at the expense of the candidate, and defended
from such objections as may be made to it by the Medical Professors, at
a commencement, to be held for the purpose of conferring degrees in
Medicine on the first Wednesday in June every year.

Bachelors in Medicine who wish to be admitted to the degree of Doc-
tor in Medicine, shall publish and defend a Thesis agreeably to the rules
above mentioned.

The different Medical Lectures shall commence annually on the first
Monday in November, the lectures in Natural and Experimental Philoso-
phy about the same time, and the lectures on Botany on the first Monday
in April. Benjamin Franklin,

President of the Board of Trustees.
William Smith,
Provost of the College and Secretary of Board of Trustees.

On the 8th of June, 1790, the Commencement in the Medical
Department of the College took place. Dr. Smith, not forgetting
the recent act of restoration, sent the following polite invitation to
His Excellency the President and the Supreme Executive Council
of Pennsylvania:

College of Philadelphia, June 7, 1790.
His Excellency the President and Supreme Executive Council of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are requested to honor the College with
their company at the Medical Commencement, to be held in the College
Hall to-morrow, at 10 o'clock a. m. William Smith,

Provost of the College.

314 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE . [179O

On the 17th of July the Public Commencement in the Depart-
ment of Arts took place, and Dr. Smith sent the following:

Ooliege of Pennsylvania fo the Supreme Executive Council of

Pennsylvania.

College of Philadelphia, July 15, 1790.
The Trustees and Faculty of the College of Philadelphia request to
be honored with the company of his Excellency the President and Su-
preme Executive Council, at a Commencement to be held in the College
Hall on Saturday morning next, at 9 o'clock.

William Smith, Provost, etc.

The graduates in the Department of Arts were Robert Andrews,
Gerardus M. Clarkson, James Coxe, of Sunbury, Henry Hutchins,
William T. Meredith, William Wilson, and Benjamin Wood.

But while in one sense the triumph of Dr. Smith was complete
with the restoration ot the college charter, in all others, that is to
say, in a practical and pecuniary sense, the victory was a barren
one.* By the long cessation of its name and proper functions,

* I do not mean to say that Dr. Smith himself considered his triumph a " barren
one." On the contrary, he looked upon the day of his victory as the proudest day of
his life. He tells the following curious story, which he found in " Percy's Anecdotes,"
to illustrate the fate of political persecutors, and applies it to his own case.

" Lord Carnarvon in Charles Second's time is said to have never spoken in the House
of Lords, but b^ing heated by wine in the company of the Duke of Buckingham, and
excited by him not to remain always a dumb Lord, he was provoked to declare before
he went up to the House, that he would speak on any subject that should offer. The
subject happened to be the prosecution of the Lord High Treasurer Danby. Accord-
ingly, Lord Carnarvon stood up and delivered himself thus — ' My Lords ! 1 understand
but little of Latin, but a good deal of English, and not a little of English history, from
which I have learned the mischiefs of such kinds of prosecutions as this, and the ill
fate of the prosecutors. I could bring many instances, and those very ancient, but I
will go no farther hack than the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign. At that time
the Earl of Essex was run down by Sir Walter Raleigh, and your Lordships know very
well what became of Sir Walter Raleigh. My Lord Bacon, he run down Sir Walter
Raleigh, and your Lordships know what became of my Lord Bacon. The Duke of
Buckingham, he run down my Lord Bacon, and your Lordships know what happened
to the Duke of Buckingham. Sir Thomas Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford,
he run down the Duke of Buckingham, and you all know what became of him. Sir
Harry Vane, he run down the Earl of Strafford, and your Lordships know what be-
came of Sir Harry Vane. Chancellor Hyde, he run down Sir Harry Vane, and your
Lordships know what became of the Chancellor. Sir Thomas Osbourn, now Earl of
Danby, run down Chancellor Hyde, but what will become of the Earl of Danby your
Lordships best can tell. But let me see the man that dare run down the Earl of Danby,
and we shall soon see what will become of him.'

"This speech, being pronounced in an extraordinary tone and manner, the Duke of
Buckingham, both surprised and disappointed, crimed out : ' The man is inspired, and
Claret has done the business! ' "

i79o]

JiEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

315

the college had been injured past power of any Restoring or Re-
pealing Act to remedy. The University of the State of Pennsyl-
vania was still in existence; a concurrent, indeed, a rival institu-
tion. Both could not surviv^e — that much was plain. It was
doubtful if even one could live. An union was agreed on. A
new Board of Trustees — one-half from the Board of each institu-
tion; and so in 1791 the union was effected. Dr. Smith drawing
with his own hand the charter by which they were to be consoli-
dated.

The Trustees were these :

FROM THE COLLEGE.

The Rt. Rev. Wm. White, D. D.,

The Rev. R. Blackwell, D. D.,

Edward Shippen,

William Lewis,

Robert Hare,

Samuel Powell,

David H. Conyngham,

William Bingham,

Thomas Fitzsimons,

George Clymer,

Edward Burd,

Samuel Miles.

FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

Thomas McKean,

Charles Pettit,

James Spraat,

Frederick Kuhl,

John Bleakly,

John Carson,

Jonathan Bayard Smith,

David Rittenhouse,

Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant,

David Jackson,

James Irwin,

Jared Ingersoll.

The new institution was called the University of Pennsylvania.
I do not know that Dr. Smith desired the Provostship of it. The
new institution bore plainly within it the seeds of weakness and
long-continuing inefficiency. With every effort to make homo-
geneity in the Board there was none; as any one acquainted with
the history of families and men in old Philadelphia will see as he
compares the columns above given. In the column from the Col-
lege he sees the old aristocracy of the province and the old
Church of England, in the other Presbyterianism and the Revolu-
tion— with some exceptions, the Democratic side of both. More
than all, a long and bitter conflict had been endured, and

" Never could true reconcilement grow

Where wounds of deadly hate had pierced so deep."

Whether Dr. Smith would have accepted the Provostship or not,
Dr. Ewing was elected to it. The connection of the former with

3l6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ^i/QO

the principal seat of learning in Pennsylvania thus ceased; it having
continued for nearly thirty-seven years. The Provost Stille remarks,
in speaking of the University:

" What he made it I have endeavored to show; to what reputation
and influence it might have reached had lie been permitted to remain
in charge of it, it is of course impossible to say. My own conviction
is that the University is suffering to this day from the HI effects of his un-
timelv removal. And certainly no one can doubt that had we now at its
head a man with something of his broad and generous cuhure, of his
wonderful capacity for organization, of his indomitable energy, of his
large public spirit, of his perfect faith in the future of his College, and
of his zealous devotion in advancing its interests — the University would
soon become what its prototype was before the Revolution — inter ignes
Luna niinores.

" That he made some mistakes and many enemies in the methods he
adopted for doing his share in this great work, there can be no doubt.
In all his schemes he was thoroughly in earnest, and believed that he
always saw clearly the end from the beginning. Hence he became, as
all earnest men are apt to become, self-willed and impatient of opposi-
tion. Such men are not conciliatory, and, therefore, are often unpopu-
lar ; but we must remember that the real work of the world is after all
mostly done by them. Dr. Smith's prodigious energy and his large and
liberal spirit secured the confidence of the best men of his time, and
made him their natural leader. No better proof can be given of this
than the uniform support and sympathy he received from the Trustees
of the College through all the stormy scenes of his career. They felt,
no doubt, that they had to do with a live man, who, whatever might be
his errors, had his whole heart in the work before him, and hence their
trust in him never wavered."

I

Again the Provost says:

'' Towards his enemies. Dr. Smith was unsparing, but as far as I can
see, never vindictive. He assailed those who stood in his way, not to
secure a mere personal triumph, or to gratify a desire for revenge, but
because he saw in them a malignant force striving to ruin some great
public interest, the success of which he had at heart. When fully
roused he was a most dangerous adversary. He forgot himself in the
cause with which he was identified, and he never hesitated to forsake
his best friends if he found them engaged on what he considered the
wrong side. He was a man of singularly frank and open temper, with-
out any disguise as to his opinions, and too fearless to think of the i)er-
sonal consequences of any line of conduct which he thought it his duty
to follow. It is easy to discover the failings of such men, but it is not

1790] ^^^. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 317

SO easy to find the grand qualities which were associated with them, and
which in any fair estimate of his character should make us forget them."

It gave Dr. Smith no pleasure to observe, nor does it give me
any to record, that the union of the two institutions produced
under Dr. Smith's successor no good effect. The University lan-
guished. Its graduates in different years are numbered thus:

In 1794 •••5

" 1797 3

" 1801 5

" 1802 5

In 1803 6

*' 1826 8

" 1830 7

In 1830, therefore, the University had one single graduate more
than the old College under Dr. Smith had at its first Commence-
ment in 1757; while in 1794, 1797, 1800, 1802 and 1803 it never
had as many; and in 1797, and at a date when Philadelphia was
the national metropolis, but half as many. And what sort of men
sent it forth at its first Commencement in 1757? Here are their
names:

Jacob Duche, Samuel Magaw,

Francis Hopkinson, John Morgan, M. D.,

James Latta, Hugh Williamson,

Paul Jackson.

Of these seven graduates there was not a single one who did
not become eminent either in the State, in the Church, in science,
or in letters.

The Provost Stille rightly says in the paragraphs above quoted
the University was suffering from the loss of Dr. Smith's services
to it up to the time at which he himself was writing; that is to say
up to the year 1875 — yet it always had for Provosts men of ability.
Dr. Ewing himself was this. Dr. John McDowell was the same.
In Dr. Frederick Beasly, the institution had an acute thinker and
a finished scholar and a writer much above the common. In
Bishop DeLancey one of the most able, elegant, dignified, thought-
ful and accomplished gentlemen that our country, and I may say
that any country, ever has produced. And the praises of the re-
spected Ludlow are yet in the mouths of many. The rest of the
Faculty has been worthy of their Provosts; an assertion which is
proved enough to all when I say that among this rest have been

3l8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^790

James Davidson, Robert Patterson, Robert Walsh, Charles Willing
Hare, Thomas Say, Robert Adrain, Samuel B. Wylic, the Rev.
Edward Rutledge, the Rev. Christian Cruse, Henry D. Rogers,
Henry Vcthake, the Rev. Roswell Park, Alexander Dallas Bache,
Henry Reed, and many others of hardly less if of any less abilities
at all.

The Board of Trustees has ever comprised men of the first im-
portance in this great city. Yet till the day of the Provost Stille
himself the College has ever languished. It is only in ]iis day, by
the curing efforts of that great physician Time, and by Dr. Stille's
own ever-active, well-directed, and most efficient labors — the devo-
tion, the consecration I might even say — for he has made it a high
and religious work — the consecration of all his best years to it —
that the College is now, in i88o, beginning to be worthy of what
it was when Dr. William Smith left it. William Smith was the
Fiindator, Charles J. Stille is the Rcstilutor. Each as much as the
other has been a Conditor. The institution with such a Provost
and with a Faculty like that now there, thank God, exalts its
towery head.*

Notwithstanding that Philadelphia was now the Capital of the
nation and that its Congress and pulpits were filled with eloquent
men from every State in the new Union, Dr. Smith was still the
favorite orator of the time, especially in the eloquence of the pul-
pit. The 4th of July, 1790 — the second "Fourth" since the opera-
tion of the Constitution — fell on Sunday. Accordingly, at a
meeting of the standing committee of the Pennsylvania Society
of the Cincinnati, held at the house of General Walter Stewart,
June 28th, 1790, it was

Resolved, That as the Fourth of July would be on Sunday next, a ser-
mon be delivered in celebration of American Independence in lieu
of an oration ; and that the Rev. Dr. William Smith, rrovost of the
College of Philadelphia, be requested to prepare and deliver one before
the Society on said day.

*It is with sincere regret and with great anxiety for the future welfare of the Col-
lege that just after writing these lines, I learn that there is a jjrobability that Dr. Stille
— worn down, as it is stated, by his unintermitted and great labors, and wishing to re-
fresh himself with European travel — desires to be relieved from his Provostship. The
loss of such a man will not, at this moment, be easily supplied.

1790] ■ REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 319

General Stewart* and Colonel Francis Johnston were appointed
to wait on Dr. Smith for this purpose.

Though the notice was a little short, Dr. Smith, who was mni-
quani non paratiis, and ever ready to oblige, preached in Christ
Church, Philadelphia, before the Society agreeably to their request.
The subject of his discourse was " Temporal and Spiritual Salva-
tion," from the text from Isaiah iii. 12.

The thanks of the Society were afterwards given to him, through
Governor McKean, General Walter Stewart and the Rev. Dr.
Rogers, who obtained from him his manuscript of the serm.on, in
order to have it printed.

This sermon (published in Maxwell's edition of Dr. Smith's
Works) is a fine sample of his abilities. Parts of it have fre-
quently attracted attention. I do not recall the name of any man
who seems to me to have beheld in truer vision, though the
vision then, of prophecy — the expansion over this continent of the
glories of civilization, religion and learning. What a remarkable
passage, for example, to have been written A. d. 1790, two years
or less after the adoption of the Federal Constitution, is this ! We
have quoted it once already, in another place. It will bear a repe-
tition in this for a different purpose :

Transported at the thought, I am borne forward todays of distant re-
nown ! In my expanded view these United States rise, in all their
ripened glory, before me. I look through, and beyond, every yet peo-
pled region of the New World, and behold period still brightening upon
period. Where one continuous depth of gloomy wilderness now shuts

* General Walter Stewart died in 1796. He was a native of Ireland, and was born
in Londonderry. He came to America while young, and was earnest in the American
cause. He was appointed a captain in one of the four battalions of Pennsylvania
troops for the Continental service, January 5th, 1776. He became colonel of the Thir-
teenth Pennsylvania Battalion, and served during the greater part of the war. The
Thirteenth was afterward consolidated with the Second, and Colonel Stewart remained
in command of the organization under the latter title. After the Revolution he resided
in Philadelphia, and lived in ease on the north side of High street, between Fifth and
Sixth streets — nearly opposite the house occupied during the time that the Government
was in Philadelphia by President Washington. He married Deborali, the daughter of
Blair McClenachan — a beautiful woman, and a leader of society. He succeeded Major
General James Irvine as Major-General of the First Division at Philadelphia in 1794,
and had command in the city and county during the absence of Governor Mifflin wiili
the regular troops during the Whiskey war. General Stewart was reputed to be one of
the handsomest men of his day. He enjoyed the friendship of General Washington in
a marked degree.

320 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE {M9^

out even the beams of day, I see new States and empires, new seats of
wisdom and knowledge, new religious domes spreading around. In
places now untrod by any but savage beasts, or men as savage as they,
I hear the voice of happy labor, and behold towery cities growing into
the skies !

The general sentiments in this address Dr. Smith tells us in a
note to the address, had been published by him in a poem near
fifty years before, and had been occasionally introduced into former
public addresses by him, but had not before been published at
large or in the present form.

After the passage above quoted, Dr. Smith concludes his sermon
as follows:

Lo ! in this happy picture, I behold the native Indian exulting in the
works of peace and civilization ! His bloody hatchet he buries deep
under ground, and his murderous knife he turns into a pruning hook, to
lop the tender vine and teach the luxuriant shoot to grow. No more
does he form to himself a heaven after death (according to the poet)
in company with his faithful dog, behind the cloud-topped hill, to enjoy
solitary quiet, far from the haunts of faithless men ; but, better instructed
by Christianity, he views his everlasting inheritance, a house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Instead of recounting to his offspring, round the blazing fire, the
bloody exploits of their ancestors, and wars of savage death, showing
barbarous exultation over every deed of woe ; methinks I hear him pour-
ing forth his eulogies of praise to the memory of those who were the
instruments of heaven in raising his tribes from darkness to light ; in
giving them freedom and civilization, and converting them from violence
and blood to meekness and love !

Amongst those who shall be celebrated as the instruments of this great
work, I hear the names of every good citizen and Christian who is a
friend to mankind, and to the gospel of Jesus Christ ; and especially,
methinks, I hear your names, ye illustrious patriots ! who, having asserted
your own and your country's rights, cheerfully join in every laudable
endeavor for conveying those rights to posterity, and bringing "the
utmost ends of the earth to see the salvation of our God."

Hasten, O Almighty Father, hasten this blessed period of thy Son's
kingdom, which we believe shall come ; and the praise and glory shall
be to tliy name, forever and ever ! Amen.

We come now to a highly interesting event in Dr. Smith's
domestic history: the engagement of marriage between his son
Charles with Mary, the daughter of the Hon. Jasper Yeates, a lady
of education, intelligence and amiable disposition. The letter

1790] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 32 1

which follows is a pleasing illustration of Dr. Smith's courtly-
manners, and is a tribute to his son Charles' good conduct, of which
that son may have well been proud :

Dr. Smith to Jasper Yeates.

riiiLADELPHiA, September 3, 1790.

My Dear Sir : On my return from Lancaster to Philadelphia my son
Charles informed his mother and me that, having been successful in his
addresses to your amiable daughter, and farther happy in obtaining
yours and Mrs. Yeates's consent to their being united in wedlock at
some convenient time, which he hoped might not be very remote, it
was his wish that his mother and myself might assure you of our appro-
bation, as we now readily do, and also of our desire to contribute all in our
power to render the young couple permanently happy. I wish that
Charles could have so far overcome his bashfulness as to have communi-
cated himself to me on the Saturday evening after I was in company with
you. I should certainly, in that case, have waited on you according to
your invitation to breakfast on Sunday morning, when a few moments
conversation on this business would have been better between us than any-
thing by way of letter; and it may seem disrespectful to your family that
on a supposition of my being acquainted with the matter, I should leave
Lancaster without waiting upon you to express the sense I have, not only
of your former partiality to my son, and the advice and protection with
which you favored him from his first appearance at the Ba?; but espe-
cially this last instance of your favor to him ; a greater than which you
have it not in your power to give. And I trust that such is his sensi-
bility, and such will be his gratitude and returns of duty to you as well as
of tender affection for your daughter, that you will never have cause to re-
pent of your good offices and predilection for him. As for myself, I
can only add that he is justly a favorite son, and has never in his life, by
any part of his conduct, given me cause of pain, but always of much
pleasure, and in no part of it more than on tlie present occasion of his
attachment to a young lady of such amiable manners and good educa-
tion, who is willing and happily qualified to accommodate herself to his
situation either in a village or a city, a farm-house or a mansion, as
future circumstances may require. I have done what my present situa-
tion will allow to add to his independence. If nothing adverse happens,
he will have something further to expect upon the death of his mother
and myself.

I have enclosed the Cincinnati sermon which you wished to see, and
as a token of my affection, have inscribed it with your daughter's name.

I am with great regard and esteem.

Your most obedient humble servant, Williaji Smith.

To Jasper Yeates, Esq., Lancaster.
21

322 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \j-79^

But these domestic events were not always events of joy. Dark
clouds follow bright sunshine. On the 19th of December in this
same year Dr. Smith was called on to mourn the loss of his eldest
and much loved daughter Williamina, wife of Charles Goldsbor-
ough, Esq. The following inscription — upon a handsomely carved
tombstone in the church-yard at Cambridge, Md. — is no doubt from
the pen of Dr. Smith himself:

In Memory of

Mrs. Williamina Goldsborough,

Wife of Charles Goldsborough, Esq.,

Of Dorset County, Maryland,

Daughter of Dr. William Smith of

Philadelphia, and Rebecca, his wife. ■

. She died December 19th, 1790,

Aged 28 years.

Call'd from this mortal scene in bloom of life,
Here lies a much lov'd daughter, mother, wife,
To whom each grace and excellence were given,
A saint on earth, an angel now in heaven.
Bereaved parents come to speak their woe ;
To grave it deep on monumental stone,
And with a husband's sorrows mix their own —
But ah ! no further trace this tablet bears,
Line after line is blotted with their tears.

Her mournful parents inscribe this tablet.

The poet Pope has given us many poetical epitaphs, some of
which have been long admired of scholars. I recall none more
graceful and pathetic than this which an aged father puts upon his
daughter's tomb. The two letters which follow are in proper
sequence to the sad events which we have been commemorating :

Dr. Smith fo Charles Goldsborough.

Philadelphia, January 17, 1791.

My Dear Distressed Sir : How shall I take my pen in hand to write
to you? For many days past, although urged by every tie of affection,
and solicited by your mother at every interval of her deep affliction to
write to you, yet I attempted it in vain. Inconsolable myself, un-
manned, and I fear almost unchristianed, with the mother, sister and
brothers of the angel we have lost, all in the like condition around me,
what consolation could I impart to you? Yet still there is consolation,

I791] KE.^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 323

not only in Christianity, but in the reason and nature of things. She
who was loving to all, and by all beloved, is now a saint in the bosom of
everlasting love ! She whose delight was to make others happy, is gone
where universal happiness prevails !

Let her precious memory be your consolation, and let it be preserved
in those dear pledges — those sweet infant images of herself, whom she
hath left behind ! While you behold them, you never can forget her;
and, I trust, will even exert yourself to supply, as far as in your power,
the irreparable loss which their education Avill sustain by the loss of her.
Your endeavors will be assisted by your mother and myself during the
^ " short remainder of your lives, and therefore we wish to see and consult
with you in Philadelphia as soon as your health and the situation of your
family will admit. In the meantime we are persuaded that your good
Aunt Ennalls will not be wanting in her best advice to you, and kind
offices to the children, and especially the dear orphan last born. The
many kindnesses of Mrs. Ennalls to our dear departed child, will never
be forgotten by us. We acknowledge them with the sincerest gratitude,
and those of Mrs. Caroline Goldsborough. In token thereof, please
communicate them this letter, and particularly to your aunt, to whom I
hope to write a few lines by your brother Richard.

Your mother is now able to sit up for part of the day, but I fear will
never recover from the severe visitation she has sustained, but will go
"mourning all the days of her life," even if longer than we can in any
degree hope. I am sincerely and affectionately yours, etc.

William Smith.
Mr. Charles Goldsborough,
Homes Point,

Dorset County, Maryland.

Dr. Smith to Henry Ennalls, Esq.

Philadelphia, November 14th, 1791.

Dear Sir: The bearer, Mr, Davidson, I have engaged to go to Cam-
bridge as a tutor to my two grandsons, children of Mr. Charles Golds-
borough. I beg your notice of him so far as to put him in tlie way of
getting across the Bay to Cambridge as soon and with as little expense
as possible. The Cambridge packet, if in the way, will be his best con-
veyance. Your kind services to him will oblige Mr. Goldsborough and
Your most obedient servant, William Smith.

On the 3d of March, 1791, Dr. Smith's son Charles, of whose
engagement of marriage with Miss Mary Yeates, daughter of the
Hon. Jasper Yeates, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we have spoken,
was married. The ceremony was performed at the house of the
lady's father by the Rev. Henry Muhlenberg. The following ex-

324 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QO

tract from the Yeates family Bible may not be without interest in
connection with this event :

Jasper Yeates, son oi JoJin and Elizabeth Ycatcs, born April, 1745;
died March 14th, 1S17.

Sarah Biird, daughter oi James and Sarah Bitrd, born January ist,
1749; died October 25th, 1829.

The above were married December 30th, 1767.

Issue: Mary Yeates, Ijorn at Lancaster, March 13th, 1771; died
August 27th, 1836.

John Yeates, born June 29th, 1772; died January 7th, 1844.

Elizabeth Yeates, born April 4th, 1778; died August 3d, 1867.

Margaret Yeates, born April 24th, 1780; died February ist, 1855.

Catharine Yeates, born December ist, 1783; died June 7th, 1S66.

CHAPTER LIV.

Death of Franklin — Impromptu thereon at a Dinner Party by Dr. Smith —
Capped by Mr. Thomas Willing — Franklin's Funeral — Dr. Smith to
Dr. West — The Same to the Same — Dr. Smith's Eulogy on Franklin
— Une Anecdote de Famille — Dr. Odel's Verses on the Franklin Stove
— Franklin a Natural Philosopher and not a Statesman.

On Saturday, April 17th, 1790, died, in the 88th year of his
age, the philosopher, Benjamin Franklin. On the evening of
his death a company of gentlemen were seated at the dinner
table of Governor Mifflin, at the Falls of Schuylkill. It con-
sisted of Thomas McKean, Henry Hill (a private gentleman of
rank in old Philadelphia), the Hon. Thomas Willing,* David Rit-
tenhouse, and Dr. Smith. During the dinner a great thunder-
storm arose, and Primus, a favorite negro body-servant of Dr. Smithy
brought to Governor Mifflin's house the news just received from
the city at Dr. Smith's of the event. Dr. Smith, under the impulse
of the moment, wrote the following lines without leaving the
table :

Cease ! cease, ye clouds, your elemental strife,
Why rage ye thus, as if to threaten life?
Seek, seek no more to shake our souls with dread,
What busy mortal told you " Franklin's dead?"
What, thoui^h he yields at Jove's imperious nod,
With Rittenhouse he left his magic rod.

*For some notice of this eminent citizen of Philadelphia, see Appendi.x No. VI.

1790] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 325

Mr. Willing, not to be outdone by Dr. Smith, immediately wrote
the following :

What means that flash, the thunder's awful roar —
The blazing sky — unseen, unheard before ?
Sage .Smith replies, "Our Franklin is no more."
The clouds, long subject to his magic chain.
Exulting now their liberty regain.

On Wednesday, the 21st of April, Dr. Franklin's remains were
interred in Christ Church burying-ground, at the corner of Arch
and Fifth streets. The funeral procession was large, and the
streets through which it passed were crowded with a concourse of
spectators, the number of whom were computed at twenty thou-
sand. The mourners were preceded by all the clergy of the city,
including the readers of the Hebrew congregation. The corpse
was carried by citizens. The pall was borne by Governor Thomas
Mifflin, Chief-Justice McKean, Thomas Willing, president of the
Bank of North America, Samuel Powell, the mayor of the city,
William Bingham and David Rittenhouse. Bells were tolled and
minute guns were fired during the time that the procession was
passing. In the line of the procession were the Supreme Execu-
tive Council, the General Assembly of the State, the Judges of
the Supreme Court, members of the bar, the corporation of the
city, the printers of the city, with their journeymen and appren-
tices, the Philosophical Society, the College of Physicians, the
Faculty and students of the College of Philadelphia, and various
other societies, besides a numerous and respectable body of
citizens.*

*The following bills for the funeral charges of Franklin's burial, which have been
preserved by his family, may interest the reader. Dolby was the sexton ( f " the United
Churches" — Christ Church and St. Peter's.

April 2ist, 1790.

The estate of Mr. Benjamin Franklin to Jos. Dolby, for his burial :

To ground £0 15 o

To pall I o o

To minister's attendance o 6 o

To clerk's ditto o 4 o

To muffling the bells 4 10 o

To invitations 3 7 ^

To grave o 10 o

^10 12 6

326 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [M^P

The American Philosophical Society determined that one of
their members should prepare and pronounce an oration com-
memorative of the character and virtues of their late worthy
president. Dr. Smith was appointed to this office.

We now give two letters indicative of Dr. Smith's still continu-
ing active discharge of the details oi business, notwithstanding
that years were beginning to come heavily on him.

Dr. Smith to Dr. Wesi.

Philadelphia, April 5, 1790.

Dear Sir : By Mr. Levering, who takes this letter to you, you will
receive the fifty copies of the Journal of Convention for the Western
Shore, which you will distribute among the clergy and vestries at nine-
pence each Journal. I shall be at Chester at the Commencement of
Washington College, the third Tuesday in May. I am fearful that I
shall not be able to stay in Maryland till the fourth Tuesday, to meet
you at Talbot Court House.

Yours, etc., William Smith.

Rev. Dr. West,
Baltimore, Md.

Dr. Smith to Dr. West.

May 21, 1790.

Dear Sir : I have been informed, but have not seen the advertise-
ment, that the Visitors and Governors of St. John's College have de-
clared their intention of filling up the office of principal of that College
at the May ineetiug (viz. : next Tuesday) if any person of eminent abili-
ties shall offer, and that it hath been notified that a preference would be
given to a stranger or some gentleman of great character from Europe.
Character in literature is often found to be deceitful, and a mere literary
character, without experience in teaching and governijig, will not be suf-
ficient ; nor will it be easy, even among those who have both great
literature and experience abroad, to choose such as may truly suit the
genius of America.

But, I doubt not, the worthy and respectable Visitors and Governors

Philadelphia, July lOth, 179I.
Mr. Richard Bache.

Bought of David Chambers.
A marble tombstone for the grave of his Excellency, Benjamin Franklin,

Esq ;^i8 o o

To engraving thirty letters at two pence per letter o 5 o

Porterage o i 10

;^i8 6 10

1790] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 327

of St. John's will duly consider every circumstance in their choice. I
have the interest of that Seminary and its future success much at heart.
I hope you will attend the meeting and inform me early on whom the
choice shall fall, if a choice should now be made. It would have been
well if the Assembly had restored the funds previously to an election.
But, I trust, there will be no danger of their not being restored next
November sessions. I am happy to hear that the number of students in
the College increases, and I am persuaded that if a proper choice of a
head be made, and the Legislature continue their nursing hand, the
Maryland College will be an ornament to the State. The College of
Philadelphia flourishes greatly, but we received back our funds in such
a deranged state that I have almost repented my removing back to Phila-
delphia, and were I not too far advanced in years I am not certain
whether I might not have offered my services once more as the head of
one of the Maryland seminaries. But my family is attached to Penn-
sylvania, and, by a renewal of my former exertions, I hope yet to get
the funds of the College of Philadelphia restored to their former foot-
ing. We have an application before the Legislature for the purpose.
My sentiments respecting the choice of a Principal for St. John's, you
may hint to Dr. Clagget and Mr. Sprigg, but not as expressing any
doubt of the prudence and zeal of any of the worthy Visitors and
Governors, nor as if I had any further wish to interfere than barely to
express my hasty thoughts to you in our familiar way.

I write these lines hastily at Wilmington, where I heard from Mr.
Condon, for the first time, that the election was to be on Tuesday next.
Dr. Andrews has some wish, had he known in time, to offer himself for
some place in one of your colleges, where his salary might be better
than what we can yet give at Philadelphia.

I am yours affectionately, William Smith.

To the Rev. Dr. Wm. West,

Rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore.

The union of the University with the College, and Dr. Smith's
retirement from the Provostship, left him without stated employ-
ment, as also without any salary except the i?200 allowed him by
the Trustees of the old College. And being now arrived to ad-
vanced years, his pecuniary condition v/as in some danger of being
straitened; for although he had a large amount of real property in
several parts of Pennsylvania, and his wife was also in possession
of some landed estate, a large portion of their joint estate was
unproductive, and was held in this condition in the well-founded
hope of advancement in price with the improvement of the countiy.

It was probably with a knowledge of the convenience which

0

28 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l79I

stated employment with a money compensation would give to him,
that the General Assembly of Pennsylvania having, on the 13th
day of April, 1791, passed an act relating to the opening and im-
proving of certain roads, rivers, and navigable waters in Pennsyl-
vania, and there being requisite to the accomplishment of the work
a Commission of Inquiry, that Governor Mifflin, on the loth of
the following May, appointed Dr. Smith, David Rittenhouse and
William Findley joint "agents of information" relating to the
work. It seems strange that a clergyman, the late head of two
colleges, the president of all the ecclesiastical councils of his
church, should be put upon such a Commission, and especially that
he should be made chairman of it. But to no one could the office
have been more properly entrusted. As owner of large quantities
of land in Huntingdon county — long the Ultima Tlmlc of our
civilization — and by his natural tastes as well, few men of the day
were better acquainted with the geography, hydrography and
geology of Pennsylvania. His great physical strength, which had
not yet failed him, his large acquaintance with the leading men in
every part of the Commonwealth, his winning manners — when he
had no cause to make them the reverse of winning — and his fine
powers of business of every kind, rendered him eminently fit to be
the head even of a Commission which would have been so little
congenial to the disposition or capacities of most of the clergy.

In the course of his official duty Dr. Smith had many opportu-
nities of seeing lands in different parts of the State which he was
certain would rise in value. Some of these, at a later date, he ac-
quired, and this without the least breach of official trust, for the
acquisition of bodies of land for the State or for any body in it,
was no part whatever of the purposes of his appointment.

We have already mentioned that on the death of Dr. Franklin,
who was President of the American Philosophical Society — an
institution of which Dr. Smith was a founder at its institution in
1769, and the secretary of which he had been from that date — the
Society requested Dr. Smith to pronounce a commemorative dis-
course upon their honored chief officer. If any man could have
had a right to refuse the office. Dr. Smith could have done so.
For, united with Thomas Willing, William Allen, the Tilghmans
and others of the very best men in Pennsylvania, he had been for
many years in political opposition to Dr. Franklin, and Dr. Frank-

179 1] ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 32^

lin had suffered his poHtical opposition to pass into personal ma-
h'gnancy. But such things made httle impression on Dr. Smith.
If sometimes angry, as no doubt he justly was, in his anger he
sinned not. The sun never went down on his wrath. MaHce,
hatred, or even the h'ghter kinds of uncharitableness, if we can
judge by his conduct, never rested in his heart. With the utmost
readiness he compHed with the Society's request, and his eulogy
on Franklin may be taken to be one of the most skilful efforts of
his oratory. It is at this day one of the most agreeable short
biographies that we have of Franklin, and though published long
before Dr. Franklin's autobiography, in some sort anticipates it.

The eulogy was delivered on the ist of March, 1791, in that
grand edifice of old Philadelphia, the German Lutheran Church,*
on Fourth street above Arch. Great efforts were taken by the Philo-
sophical Society to make the scene impressive. The ceremonies
were attended by the President and Mrs. Washington, the Vice-
President and Mrs. Adams, by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States, by the Governor and Legislature
of Pennsylvania, and by a large number of distinguished citizens.
The American Philosophical Society was there in corporate dig-
nity, and a special place was given to the brotherhood of printers.

The orator having ascended the pulpit, opens in a grand melo-
dramatic fnguc, worthy — had the performance been a musical
one — of Sebastian Bach himself; a fit exordium to the memory of
the man who tore lightning from heaven, and a sceptre from
tyrants :

Citizens pf Pennsylvania ! Luminaries of science ! Assembled fathers of
America !

Heard you not that solemn interrogatory ?

Who is he that now recedes from his labors among you?

What citizen, super-eminent in council, do you now deplorep

What luminary, what splendid sun of science, from the hallowed walks
of philosophy, now withdraws his beams?

What father of his country, what hero, what statesman, what law-
giver, is now extinguished from your political hemisphere, and invites
the mournful obsequies ?

Is it he — your Franklin ? It cannot be ! Long since, full of years,

*This fine historic building was pulled down in 1875.

330 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QI

and full oi honors, hath he submitted to the inexorable call, and pro-
ceeded on his fated journey.* From west to east, by land and on the
wide ocean, to the utmost extent of the civilized globe, the tale hath
been told — that the venerable sage of Pennsylvania, the patriot and
patriarch of America, is no more. . . .

It seldom happens that they who are first called to give celebrity to
the actions of great men, are placed in that exact situation, either in
respect to time or point of view, which may enable them to delineate a
whole character, in all its proportions and beauty. This is a work, of
all others, the most difficult in the performance ; nor is the difficulty les-
sened by the acknowledged lustre and eminence of the character in view.
And from hence it hath happened, perhaps, that in eulogy and panegy-
ric, but few of the moderns, and not many of the ancients have been
successful. While they have been striving to weave the garlands of
others, their own laurels have withered and dropped from their brow.

Yet, neither the risk of character, nor the difficulties of the subject,
ought to deter us from attempting, at least, to pay the honors due to
transcendent merit. . . .

The desire of fame and posthumous glory, "grasping at ages to
come," as it bespeaks the native dignity of the soul of man, and anti-
cipates his existence in another world, is also the most powerful incen-
tive to moral excellence in this world. It is for the interest of mankind
that so divine a passion should be cultivated, rewarded, and held up for
imitation. The neglect of it would have an unfriendly influence on vir-
tue and public spirit. The wisest and most renowned nations have not
only voted thanks and triumphs to their illustrious citizens while living,
but have celebrated them in eulogies when dead, and have erected altars
of virtue and monuments of honor to perpetuate their names to suc-
ceeding ages and generations. . . .

And circumstanced as the people of these United States now are, and
as our posterity, for ages to come, must be in building up and com-
pleting the glorious fabric of American empire and happiness, it might
be a wise institution if we should make at least an annual pause, and
consecrate a day to the review of past events, the commemoration of
illustrious characters who have borne a share in the foundation and
establishment of our renown, and particularly those of whom we may
have been bereft during each preceding year.

In that view, how many patriots, statesmen and philosophers would
now pass before us? A Livingston, a Bowdoin, a Franklin ! . . .

In the earliest stages of life, he had conceived the mighty idea of
American empire and glory ; but like Hercules in the cradle, he was
ignorant of his own strength, and had not conceived the achievements
and labors which awaited him. He had not conceived that he was, one

* He died April 17, 1790.

1791] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. -u

OJ

day, to contend with kings and potentates for the rights of his country;
to extort from them an acknowledgment of its sovereignty, and to sub-
scribe with his name the sacred instruments* which were to give it a pre-
eminent rank among the nations of the earth, and to assure its liberty
and independence to the latest ages !

He was content in his humble, but honorable station of an useful pri-
vate citizen, to cherish in his own bosom, and in distant view, the idea
of American greatness ; and he cherished those also in whom he dis-
covered ideas congenial to his own ! . . .

As the respect due to the public bodies, which compose such an illus-
trious part of this assembly, forbids me to trespass too long upon their
precious time, I must forbear entering upon a full detail of the life and
actions of this great man in those several relations, and shall, therefore,
touch but briefly on such parts of his character as are either generally
known in America, or have been already detailed by his numerous
panegyrists, both at home and abroad. . . .

Descended from parents who first settled in America above an hun-
dred years agojf he was born in Boston, in January, 1706. The
account of his education, which was such only as the common schools
of tliat day afforded, the various incidents of his younger years, and the
different occupations and professions for which his parents seemed to
have intended him, before he was apprenticed to his brother, in the
printing business, at the age of twelve years, although recorded by him-
self, and full of instruction, I shall leave wholly to his biographers, till
his arrival at Philadelphia, about the eighteenth year of his age, to which
city he came from the city of New York, partly by water, and partly by
land on foot, his stock of clothes and cash at a very low ebb, to seek for
employment as a journeyman printer. But by industry and the applica-
tion of his great natural talents to business, he soon was enabled to pro-
cure a press, and to stand upon his own footing.

This account of his low beginnings, it is hoped, will not scandalize
any of his respectable fraternity. No, gentlemen •,% but you will exult
in it when you consider to what eminence he raised himself, and raised
his country, by the right use of the press. When you consider that the
press was the great instrument which he employed to draw the attention
of Pennsylvania to habits of virtue and industry ; to the institution of

*The Declaration of American Independence, by the Congress of the United States,
the treaties of amity and commerce, and of alliance with France ; the definitive treaty
of peace with Great Britain, acknowledging the independence of America, etc.

fHis father, Josiah Franklin, settled in New England in 1682, and his mother,
Abiah Folger, was the daughter of Peter P^olger of Nantucket, one of the first settlers
of that country.

\ This part was more immediately addressed to the printers of Philadelphia, who
attended as a body, at the delivery of this oration.

332 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QI

societies for the promotion of agriculture, commerce, and the mechanic
arts; to the founding of schools, libraries, and hospitals, for the diffu-
sion of useful knowledge, and the advancement of humanity — when you
consider this, you will "go and do likewise;" you will, with profes-
sional joy and pride, observe, that from the torch which Franklin
kindled by the means of his press, in the New World, "Sparks have
been already stolen which are lighting up the sacred flame of liberty,
virtue and wisdom over the entire face of the globe."* Be it your part
Still to feed that torch by means of the press, till its divine flame reaches
the skies !

For the purpose of aiding his press, and increasing the materials of
information, one of the first societies formed by Dr. Franklin was in
the year 1728, about the twenty-second year of his age, and was called
the Junto. It consisted of a select number of his younger friends, who
met weekly for the " Discussion of questions in morality, politics, and
natural philosophy." The number was limited to twelve members, who
were bound together in all the ties of friendship, and engaged to assist
each other, not only in the mutual communication of knowledge, but
in all their worldly undertakings. This society, after having subsisted
forty years, and having contributed to the formation of some very great
men, besides Dr. Franklin himself, became at last the foundation of the
American Philosophical Society, now assembled to pay the debt of
gratitude to his memory. A book containing many of the questions
discussed by the Junto was, on the formation of the American Philoso-
thical Society , delivered into my hands, for the purpose of being digested,
and in due time published among the transactions of that body. Many
of the questions are curious and curiously handled ; such as the
following : . . .

'C5

Dr. Smith here gives several of them.

These and such similar questions of a very mixed nature, being pro-
posed in one evening, were generally discussed the succeeding evening,
and the substance of the arguments entered in their books.

But Dr. Franklin did not rest satisfied with the institution of this
literary club for the improvement of himself and a few of his select
friends. He proceeded, year after year, in the projecting and estab-
lishing other institutions for the benefit of the community at large.

Thus, in 1731, he set on foot the " Library Company of the City of
Philadelphia," a most important institution to all ranks of people;
giving them access, at a small expense, to books on every useful subject;
amounting in the whole to near ten thousand volumes, and the number
daily increasing. The affairs of the company have been managed from
the beginning by directors of the most respectable characters. Their

* The Abbe Fauchet.

I/pl] ^'^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 333

estate is now of very considerable value ; they have erected an elegant
house, and over the front door of the building have prepared a niche
for the statue of their venerable founder; who, after the establishment
of this company, still proceeded to promote other establishments and
associations, such as fire-companies ; the nightly-watch for the city of
Philadelphia; a plan for cleaning, lighting and ornamenting the streets ;
and an association for insuring houses against damages by fire ; to which,
as collateral, he soon afterwards added his plan for improving chimnies
and fire places, which was first printed at Philadelphia in 1745, entitled
"An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvania Fire Places; " which
gave rise to the open stoves now in general use, to the comfort of thou-
sands, who, assembled round them in the wintry night, bless the name
of the inventor which they yet bear !

The next institution, in the foundation of which he was the principal
agent, was the academy and charitable school of the city of Philadel-
phia; the plan of which he drew up and published in the year 1749, as
"suitable to the state of an infant country; " but looking forward, as
he did in all his plans, to a more improved state of society, he declared
this academy to be "intended as 3^ foundation for poste/ify to erect into a
college or seminary of learning more extensive and suitable to future
circumstances;" and the same was accordingly erected into a college
or seminary of universal learning, upon the most enlarged and liberal
plan, about five years afterwards.

The Pennsylvania Hospital is the next monument of his philanthropy
and public spirit ; for the establishment and endowment of which he
Avas happily instrumental in obtaining a legislative sanction and grant,
by his great influence in the general assembly, in the year 1752.

These various institutions, which do so much honor to Pennsylvania,
he projected and saw established during the first twenty years of his
residence in this State. Many more must have been his good offices
and actions among his friends and fellow-citizens during that period,
which were done in secret, and of which no record remains ; but they
went before him to another world, and are written in durable characters
by the pen of the recording Angel.

A life so assiduously employed in devising and executing schemes for
the public good could not fail to aid him in his political career. He
first became clerk of the general assembly, and then a member of the
same for the city of Philadelphia, for the space of fourteen years succes-
sively.

In 1744 a vSpanish privateer, having entered the bay of Delaware,
ascended as high as New Castle to the great terror of the citizens of
Philadelphia. On occasion of this alarm, he wrote his first political
pamphlet called Plaint Truth, to exhort his fellow-citizens to the bearing
of arms, which laid the foundation of those military associations which
followed, at different times, for the defence of the country.

334 Z/i^^ AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^791

His popularity was now great among all parties and denominations
of men. But the unhappy divisions and disputes which commenced in
the provincial politics of Pennsylvania in the year 1754 obliged him
soon afterwards to choose his party. He managed his weapons like a
veteran combatant ; nor was he opposed with unequal strength or skill.
The debates of that day have been read and admired as among the most
masterly compositions of the kind which our language affords ; but it is
happy for us, at the present day, that the subject of them is no longer
interesting; and if it were, he who now addresses you was too much an
actor in the scene to be fit for the discussion of it. Dr. Franklin, by
the appointment of the general assembly, quitted the immediate field of
controversy, and in June, 1757, embarked for England, to contest his
point at the court of Great Britain, where he continued for several years
with various success in the business of his agency. In the summer of
1762 he returned to America; but the disputes which had so long agi-
tated the province, far from being quieted by his former mission, continued
to rage with greater violence than ever, and he was again appointed by
the assembly to resume his agency at the court of Great Britain. Much
opposition was made to his re-appointment, which seems greatly to have
affected his feelings, as it came from men with whom he had long been
connected both in public and private life, "the very ashes of whose
former friendship," he declared, "that he revered." His pathetic
farewell to Pennsylvania on the 5th of November, 1764, the day before
his departure, is a strong proof of the agitation of his mind on this
occasion.

"I am now," says he, "to take leave (perhaps a last leave) of the
country I love, and in which I have spent the greatest part of my life.
Esto perpetita .' I wish every kind of prosperity to my friends, and I
forgive my e?iemies.^''

But under whatsoever circumstances this second embassy was under-
taken, it appears to have been a measure pre-ordained in the councils
of heaven ; and it will be forever remembered, to the honor of Pennsyl-
vania, that the agent selected to assert and defend the rights of a single
province at the court of Great Britain became the bold asserter of the
rights of America in general; "and, beholding the fetters that were
forging for her, conceived the magnanimous thought of rending them
asunder before they could be riveted."* And this brings us to consider
him in a more enlarged view, viz. :

Secondly — As a citizen of America, one of the chief and greatest
workmen in the foundation and establishment of her empire and renown.

But on this head little need be said on the present occasion. The
subject has been already exhausted by his eulogists, even in distant

countries. His opposition to the Stamp-Act, his noble defence of the

t

* Abbe Fauchet.

1 790 RE^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 335

liberties of America, at the bar of parliament, and his great services,
both at home and abroad, during the revolution, are too v»ell known to
need further mention in this assembly, or in the presence of so many of
his compatriots and fellow-laborers in the great work. I hasten, there-
fore, to consider Iiim in another illustrious point of view, viz. :

Thirdly — As a citizen of the world — successfully laboring for the
benefit of the whole human race, by the diffusion of liberal science and
the invention of useful arts.

Endowed with a penetrating and inquisitive genius, speculative and
philosophical subjects engaged his early attention; but he loved them
only as they were useful, and pursued them no farther than as he found
his researches applicable to some substantial purpose in life. His stock
of knowledge and the fruits of his investigations, he never hoarded up
for his own private use. Whatever he discovered — whatever he con-
sidered as beneficial to mankind — fresh as it was conceived, or brought
forth in his own mind, he communicated to his fellow-citizens, by
means of his newspapers and almanacs, in delicate and palatable mor-
sels, for the advancement of industry, frugality and other republican
virtues; and, at a future day, as occasion might require, he would
collect and digest the parts, and set out the whole into one rich feast
of useful maxims and practical wisdom.

Of this kind is his celebrated address, entitled "77/<' Way to Wealth,^''
wiiich is a collection or digest of the various sentences, proverbs and
wise maxims, which, during a course of many years, he had occasionally
published, in his Poor Richard' s Almanac, on topics of industry, fru-
gality, and the duty of ?niiiding one' s otun business. Had he never
written any thing more than this admirable address, it would have in-
sured him immortality as — TJie Farmer'' s Fhilosopher, the Rural Sage,
the Yeoman' s and Feasant' s Oracle.

But greater things lay before him ! Although as a philosopher, as
well as a politician, he remained unconscious of the plenitude of his
own strength and talents, until called into further exertions by the mag-
nitude of future objects and occasions.

There is something worthy of observation in the progress of science
and human genius. As in the natural w^orld there is a variety and suc-
cession of seeds and crops for different soils and seasons; so (if the
comparison may be allowed) in the philosophical world, there have
been different aeras for seed-time and harvest of the different branches
of arts and sciences; and it is remarkable that, in countries far distant
from each other, different men have fallen into the same tracks of
science, and have made similar and correspondent discoveries, at the
same period of time, without the least communication with each other.
Whether it be that, at the proper season of vegetation for those difterent
branches, there be a kind of intellectual or xwQXXtVil farina disseminated,
which falling on congenial spirits in different parts of the globe, take

33^ LIFE A.VD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QI

root at the same time, and spring to a greater or les3 degree of perfec-
tion, according to the richness of the soil and the aptitude of the
season ?

From the beginning of the year 1746; till about twenty years after-
wards, was the eera of electricity, as no other branch of natural philoso-
phy was so much cultivated during that period. In America, and in
the mind of Franklin, it found a rich bed : the seed took root and
sprung into a great tree, before he knew tliat similar seeds had vege-
tated, or risen to any height in other parts of the world.

Before that period, philosophers amused tlicmselves only with the
smaller phenomena of electricity; such as relate to the attraction of
light bodies; the distances to which such attraciion would extend-; the
luminous appearances produced by the excited glass tube ; and the fir-
ing spirits and inflammable air by electricity. Little more was known
on the subject, than Thales had discovered 2,000 years before; that
certain bodies, such as amber and glass, had this attractive quality.
Our most indefatigable searchers into nature, who in other branches
seemed to have explored her profoundest depths, were content with
what was known in former ages of electricity, without advancing any-
thing new of their own. Sufficient data and experiments were wanting
to reduce tlie doctrine and phenomena of electricity into any rules or
system; and to apply them to any beneficial purposes in life. This
great achievement, which had eluded the industry and abilities of a
Boyle and a Newton, was reserved for a Franklin. AVith that diligence,
ingenuity, and strength of judgment, fcr which he was distinguished in
all his undertakings, he commenced his experiments and discoveries in
the latter part of the year 1746; led thereto, as he tells us, by follow-
ing the directions of his friend, Peter Collinson of London, in the use
of an electric tube, which that benevolent philosopher had presented to
the library company of Philadelphia. The assiduity with which he
prosecuted his investigations, appears from his first letter to Mr. Collin-
son, of March 28th, 1747:

For my own part, says he, I never was before engaged in any study that so totally

engrossed my attention and my time, as this has lately done. For, what with making

^experiments, when I can be alone, and repeating them to my friends and acquaintance,

who, from the novelty of the thing, come continually in crowds to see them, I have

for some months past had leisure for little else.

He had a delight in communicating his discoveries to his friends;
and such was his manner of communication, with that winning modesty,
that he appeared rather seeking to acquire information hiniself than to
give it to others; which gave him a great advantage in his way of
reasoning over those who followed a more dogmatic manner.

"Possibly," he would say, "these experiments may not be new to
you, as, among the numbers daily employed in such observations on
your side the water, it is probable some one or other has hit on them

I/Ql] ^^?' WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 337

before." From the beginning to the end of his life, he observed the
same modest and cautious method of communication. The first philo-
sophical paper inserted in his collection, in 1756, is entitled "Physical
and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures and Suppositions;" and
his last at Passy, in 1784, are of a similar title, viz. : " Meteorological
Imaginations and Conjectures. Loose Thoughts on an Universal
Fluid," and the like.

But I return to the account of his electrical labors, and the materials
on which they were grounded. Von Kliest, about the latter end of the
year 1745, had accidentally discovered some of the powers and proper-
ties of what is called the Leyden-phial, and sent an account of the
same to Lieberkhioi at Berlin, which soon made this branch of science
more interesting. As soon as the account of this discovery reached
America (together with Mr. CoUinson's tube), it excited no less
curiosity here, than it had done in Europe; and Dr. Franklin writes to
his friend CoUinson in September, 1747, "that no less than one hun-
dred large glass tubes had been sold in Philadelphia, in the space of
four months preceding." But although Von Kliest had discovered
some properties of this phial, and Muschenbroek, to his cost, had ex-
perienced others (by which the phial, or bottle received his name) it
remained for Dr. Franklin to discover its true principles, and how, by
means of it, to accumulate, retain, and discharge any quantity of the
electric fluid, with safety. The account of this discovery and of the
experiments on which it was founded, he communicated to Mr. CoUin-
son, in his letter of September i, 1747, with his usual caution and
modesty, in the following terms :

The necessary trouble of copying long letters, which, perhaps, when they come to
your hands may contain nothing new, or worth your reading (so quick is the progress
made with you in electricity) half discourages me from writing more on that subject.
Yet I cannot forbear adding a few observations on M. Muschenbroek's wonderful
bottle.

In this letter, he discloses the whole magical powers of this bottle ;
by proving that it would receive an accumulation of the electric fluid
on the inside, only as it discharged an equal quantity from the outside.
This discovery gave him the greatest advantages over all the electricians
of Europe. It put into his hands (as it were) the key which opened
. into all the secrets of electricity, and enabled him to make his succeed-
ing experiments, with a sure aim, while his brethren in Europe were
groping in the dark, and some of them falling martyrs to their experi-
ments.

He was the first who fired gun-powder, gave magnetism to needles of
steel, melted metals, and killed animals of considerable size, by means
of electricity. He was the first who informed electricians, and the
world in general, of the power of metalline-points, in conducting the
electric fluid; acknowledging at the same time, with a candor worthy
22

338 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M9'^

of true philosophy, that he received the first information of this power
from Mr. Thomas Hopkinson,* who had used such points, expecting
by their means to procure a more powerful and concentrated discharge
of the Leyden-phial; but found the effect to be directly contrary. It
was, undoubtedly, the discovery of this wonderful power of metalline-
points, in carrying off and silently dispersing the electric fluid when
accumulated, and the similarity and resemblance which he observed
between the effects of lightning and electricity, which first suggested to
him the sublime and astonishing idea of draining the clouds of their
fire, and disarming the thunder oi its terrors; flattering himself at the
same time with the pleasing hopes of gratifying a desire, long before
become habitual to him, of rendering this discovery in some manner
useful and beneficial to his fellow-creatures. This appears by his notes
of November 7, 1749, when enumerating all the known particulars of
resemblance between lightning and electricity, he concludes with saying :

The electric fluid is attracted h-^ points. We do not know whether this properly he
in lightning; but since they agree in all the particulars in which we can already com-
pare them, it is possible that they agree likewise in this: Let the experiment be made.

Difficulties, without doubt, occurred in making this experiment, both
as to the manner and least expensive way of reaching the clouds with
his points ; for we do not find that he accomplished his grand experi-
ment, till in June, 1752. In a letter to his friend Collinson, not dated,
but probably written in 1749, he communicates his "Observations and
suppositions towards forming a new hypothesis, for explaining the
several phenomena of thunder-gusts;" which was followed in July,
1750, by another letter to the same, containing "Opinions and conjec-
tures concerning the properties and effects of the electric matter," and
giving particular directions for determining whether clouds containing
lightning are electrified or not; for ascertaining of which, his idea at
this time was, "the placing a pointed iron rod on some high tower or
steeple, and attempting to draw sparks from it," there being at that
time no lofty spires in Philadelphia. But his ever-inventive genius,
which could derive lessons of philosophy even from the play cf children,
soon furnished him with a more simple and less expensive method: For
in June, 1752, he took the opportunity of an approaching thunder-storm,
to walk into a field, where there was a shed convenient for his purpose.
Dreading the ridicule which too commonly attends unsuccessful at-
tempts in science, he communicated his intended experiment to no per-
son but his son, who assisted him in raising a kite, which he had pre-
pared of a large silk handkerchief, extended by two cross sticks. After

*".This pawer of points, to throw off the electrical fire, was first communicated to
me by my ingenious friend, Mr. Thomas Hopkinson, since deceased; whose virtue
and integrity, in every station of life, public and jirivate, will ever make his memory
dear to those who knew h'm, and knew how to value him."

I791] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 339

waiting for some time, and almost beginning to despair of success, he
drew the first spark with his knuclcle from a key suspended to the string
of the kite. Another and another succeeded ; and as the string became
wet, he collected fire copiously. What must have been his raptures on.
the success of this grand experiment ; leading him to anticipate that
happy and beneficent application of the principles of electricity, to the
saving of life and property, which alone would have recorded his name
among the benefactors of mankind ; even if his discoveries of those
principles could never have been extended or applied to any other use-
ful purpose in the world. Similar must his raptures have been to those
of a Newton, when by applying' the laws of gravitation and projection
first to the moon, he was enabled to extend them to the whole solar
system, as is beautifully described by the poet :

What were his raptures then ! how pure ! how strong!
And what the triumphs of old Greece and Rome

With his compar'd When nature and her laws

Stood all subdued by Him, and open laid
Their every latent glory to his view.

All intellectual eye; our solar round
First gazing thro', he by the blended power
Of Gravitation and Projection saw
The whole in silent harmony revolve.
First to the neighb'ring Moon this mighty key
Of nature he applied — Behold ! it turn'd
The secret wards; it open'd wide the course
And various aspects of the Queen of Night;
Whether she wanes into a scanty orb
Or, waxing broad, with her pale shadowy light,
In a soft deluge overflows the sky.*

Dr. Franklin's letters, giving an account of his electrical experiments
and discoveries, and, among the rest, of this grand experiment of draw-
ing electricity from the clouds, were soon published in Europe, and
translated into different languages. "■ Nothing was ever written on the
subject of electricity," says Dr. Priestly, " which was more generally
read and admired in all parts of Europe, than those letters. Electri-
cians everywhere employed themselves in repeating his experiments, or
exhibiting them for money. All the world, in a manner, and even
kings themselves, flocked to see them, and all returned full of admira-
tion for the inventor of them."

Amidst this general admiration, Dr. Franklin himself continued to
communicate his knowledge and discoveries under the humble appella-
tion of conjectures or guesses : But no man ever made bolder or happier
guesses, either in philosophy or politics ; He was likewise a bold experi-
menter in both. He had by accident received a discharge of two of

* Thomson's poem to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton.

340 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QI

liis large electrical jars through his head, which struck him to the ground,
but did him no lasting injury. He had likewise seen a young woman
receive a still greater shock or discharge of electricity through her head,
which she had inadvertently brought too near the conductor, which
knocked her down ; but she instantly got up, and complained of
nothing further. This encouraged him to make the experiment on six
men at the same time, the first placing his hand on the head of the
second, and so on. He then discharged his two jars, by laying his
conducting rod on the head of the first man. They all dropped to-
gether; thinking they had been struck down, as it were, by some kind
of magic, or secret operation of nature; declaring when they rose that
they had neither seen the flash, nor heard the report of any discharge.

For his manner of delivering his philosophical opinions, under the
humble appellation of conjectures and suppositions, he makes the fol-
lowing apology, more humble still: " I own," (says he, in one of his
letters), "that I have too strong a penchant to building hypotheses:
They indulge my natural indolence." But indolence was no part of
his character; and his success in this method of philosophizing will res-
cue it from much of the reproach which has been too liberally cast upon
it. Without forming hypotheses, experimental philosophy would only
be a jumble of facts, ranged under no heads, nor disposed into any sys-
tem. Dr. Franklin, without troubling himself with mathematical specu-
lations, or showing any inclination towards them, nevertheless reasoned
v.'ith all the accuracy and precision of the deepest mathematician. And
although he might be sometimes mistaken where the truth could be de-
veloped only by the help of pure mathematics, yet he was rarely mistaken
in his mechanical and philosophical deductions.

Being on ship-board in the year 1757, an accident gave him occasion
to observe the wonderful effect of oil, in stilling the waves of the sea.
He immediately determined to make experiments to elucidate this new
property of oil, which he did with success; and the philosophical world
is indebted to him for being now fully acquainted with a fact, which,
although not unknown to Plutarch and Pliny, was for ages past known
only among the Dutch fishermen, and a few seamen of other nations.

His inquiries and discoveries were confined to no limits or subjects.
Through all the elements : In the Jii-e and in the water, in the air, and
in the earth, he sought for and he found new and beneficial kno7vIedge.

He discovered that unaccountable agitation of the two surfaces in
contact, when a quantity of oil floats on water in a vessel.

He found the pulse-glass in Germany, and introduced it into Eng-
land, with improvements of his own.

He discovered that equal and congenial bodies acquired different de-
grees of heat from the sun's rays, according to their different colors.

His improvements in chimnies, stoves, etc., have been already
noticed.

1791] R^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 34 1

He made experiments to show, that boats are drawn with more diffi-
culty in small canals, than in greater bodies of water.

He made and published experiments for improving the art of swim-
ming, and for allaying thirst by bathing in sea-water.

He published observations on the gradual progress of northeast
storms along the American coasts, contrary to the direction of the
wind ; and likewise to ascertain the course, velocity, and temperature
of the Gulf-stream, for the benefit of navigation.

He contrived experiments, and recommended them to the late Dr.
Ingenhauz, for determining the relative powers of different metals for
conducting heat, which were accordingly made.

He revived and improved the harmonica, or glassichord, and extended
his speculations to the finer arts ; showing that he could taste and
criticise even the compositions of a Handel !

He left behind him some very curious thoughts and conjectures con-
cerning "an universal fluid ; the original formation of the earth; and
how far, from attentive observations made during the summer, it may
be possible to foretell the mildness or severity of the following winter."
These were the fruits of some of his leisure hours at Passy, during his
ministry at the court of France, where his time in general was devoted,
with the greatest dignity, and the most splendid success, to the political
objects of his mission.

That success was much promoted by the high reputation which j-'e
sustained, as a patriot and philosopher, among the patriots and philoso-
phers of a generous and enlightened nation. Of this the fullest testi-
mony is to be found in the letters of condolence on his death,* from
the national assembly of that country, to the President and Congress of
the United States ; and the public mourning decreed on that occasion —
an honor, perhaps the first of the kind which has ever been paid by a
public body of one nation to a citizen of another. But all nations
considered themselves as being interested in him, and the homage was
therefore more justly due to his manes and his name ! .

Dr. Franklin, having taken leave of the court of France, left Passy
on the 1 2th of July, and arrived at Philadelphia, the 13th of Septem-
ber, 1785, where he Wcis welcomed with joy by his fellow-citizens of all
classes; and, in testimony of their heartfelt sense of his eminent vir-
tues and past services, he was unanimously elected bv them to the gov-
ernment of the commonwealth, for the three succeeding years; being
the longest term which the constitution of Pennsylvania then allowed.
During that term, he was also appointed a member of the general con-
vention, for forming and establishing a constitution for the United States

* The Duke de la Rochefoucault made him acquainted with the celebrated Turgot,
who wrote the memorable motto under his portrait :
" Fnpuit Coelo fulnien, mox sceptra Tyrannis."

342 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^791

of America; and on the iSth of September, 1787, that ilhistrious body
having concluded their labors, Dr. Franklin, in conjunction with his
colleagues of Pennsylvania, presented the result of the same, to the

Speaker and House of Representatives :

«

Sir: I have the very great satisfaction of delivering to you and to this honorable
house, the resttlt of our deliberations in the late convention. We hope and believe that
the measures recommended by that body, w'ill produce happy effects to this common-
wealth, as well as to every other of the United States.

He then presented, at the speaker's chair, the Constitution, agreed to in
convention, for the government of the United States. The remainder
of his term of office in the government, he devoted to the wise and
prudent administration of its duties; so far as the growing infirmities of
his years, and the painful disorder with which he had been long afflicted,
would permit. During the most excruciating paroxysms of that dis-
order, he strove to conceal his pain, that he might not give pain to
those around him ; and he would often say, that he felt the greatest
alleviation of his own pains, in the occasions which were offered him
of doing good to others; and which he never neglected to the latest
moments of his life.

One of the last public acts in which he was concerned, was to sanc-
tion with his name the memorial presented to the general government
of the United States, on the subject of the slave trade, by the " Penn-
sylvania society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief
of free negroes, unlawfully held in bondage." Of this society, he was
president; and the institution and design of it could not but be con-
genial to the soul of a man, whose life and labors had been devoted to
the cause of liberty, for more than half a century; ardently striving to
extend its blessings to every part of the human species, and particularly
to such of his fellow-creatures, as, being entitled to freedom, are never-
theless, injuriously enslaved, or detained in bondage, by fraud or
violence.

It was not his desire, however, to propagate liberty by the violation
of public justice or private rights ; nor to countenance the operation of
principles or tenets among any class or association of citizens, incon-
sistent with, or repugnant to, the civil compact, which should unite and
bind the whole; but he looked forward to that a^ra of civilized human-
ity, when, in consistence with the Constitution of the United States, it
may be hoped, there shall not be a slave within their jurisdiction or
territory ! Nay, he looked more forward still, to the time when there
shall not be a slave nor a savage, within the whole regions of America.
He believed that this sublime aera had already dawned, and was ap-
proaching fast to its meridian glory; for he believed in Divine Revela-
tion, and the beautiful analogy of history, sacred as well as profane !
He believed that human knowledge, however improved and exalted.

1791] REV- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 343

stood in need of illumination from on high ; and that the Divine
Creator has not left mankind without such illumination, and evidence
of himself, both internal and external, as may be necessary to their
present and future happiness.

If I could not speak this from full and experimental knowledge of
his character, I should have considered all the other parts of it, how-
ever splendid and beneficial to the world, as furnishing but scanty
materials for the present eulogium.

An undevout philosopher is mad. — YoUNG.

The man Avho can think so meanly of his own soul, as to believe that it
was created to animate a piece of clay, for a few years, and then to be
extinguished and exist no more, can never be a great man ! But Frank-
lin felt and believed himself immortal ! His vast and capacious soul was
ever stretching beyond this narrow sphere of things, and grasping an
eternity ! Hear himself, " although dead, yet speaking" on this awfully
delightful subject ! Behold here, in his own hand-writing, the indubit-
able testimony ! In this temple of God, and before this august assem-
bly, I read the contents, and consecrate the precious relic to his
memory ! It is his letter of condolence to his niece, on the death of
his brother ; and may be applied as a fit conclusion of our present con-
dolences on his own death :

We have lost a most dear and valuable relation (and friend) — But, 'tis the will of
God that these mortal bodies be laid aside when the soul is to enter into real life.
Existing here is scarce to be called life; it is rather an embryo state, a preparative to
living; and man is not completely born till he is dead. Why, then, should we grieve
that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their happy
society ?

We are spirits ! — That bodies should be lent while they can afford us pleasure, as-
sist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and
benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us
pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance, and answer none
of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a
way is provided, by which we may get rid of them — Death is that way: we ourselves
prudently choose 7i partial death, in some cases. A mangled, painful limb, which can-
not be restored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely,
since the pain goes with it; and he that quits the whole body, parts at once with all the
pains, and possibilities of pains and pleasures, it was liable to, or capable of making
him suffer.

Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure, that is to last forever.
His chair was first ready, and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently
start together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to fol-
low, and we know where to find him.

Yes, thou dear departed friend and fellow-citizen ! Thou, too, art
gone before us — thy chair, thy celestial car, was first ready ! We must
soon follow, and we know where to find thee ! May we seek to follow
thee by lives of virtue and benevolence like thine — then shall we surely

344 Z//^^ AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Ql

fmd thee — and part with thee no more, forever ! Let all thy fellow-
citizens; let all thy compatriots; let every class of men with whom
thou wert associated here on earth — in devising plans of government,
in framing and executing good laws, in disseminating useful knowledge,
in alleviating human misery, and in promoting the happiness of man-
kind— let them consider thee as their guardian-genius, still present and
presiding amongst them ; and what they conceive thou wouldst advise
to be DON'E, let them advise and do likewise — and they shall not greatly
deviate from the path of virtue and glory I

I hope that I make no reflection upon my ancestor, nor any, not
merited, upon Dr. Franklin, when in connection with this eulogy
I mention a little anecdote dc fainillc. At the conclusion of the
eulogy, which was delivered in Dr. Smith's best style, every one
was crowding him to offer to him congratulations upon the success
of his effort. When he got home, his daughter Rebecca — the
one whom I have described in Volume I.* as the inspiring sub-
ject of Gilbert Stuart's divine pencil, and whose wit was equal to
her beauty — was there to greet him. " Well, my daughter," said
the Doctor, " I saw you seated among the magnates at the church.
You heard me, I suppose?" "Oh, yes," said the girl, " I was
there and heard every word." "And how did you like the
eulogy, let me ask?" said the Doctor. "Oh, papa," said the
daughter, looking archly into her father's face, " it tcyzj- beautiful,
very beautiful, indeed; only — papa — only — only — " "Only
what?" replied the Doctor. "Only — papa — now }'ou wont be
offended — will you ? I don't think you believed more than one-
tenth part of what you said of old Ben Lightning-rod. Did
you ?" The Doctor, without either affirming or denying, laughed
heartily. If he had spoken, he would probably have said : " My
dear daughter, I was invited to pronounce an eulogy, not to ana-
lyze and describe a very complex character. In such a case you
must make a picture which shall owe its effects to the skilful
handling of lights ; not one which shall have the truth which
numerous and deep shades would give it. I have done that for
which I was appointed, and that which I was expected to do.
The dead can never vindicate nor defend themselves. Therefore,
of them, is given the counsel, ?iil nisi bonuvi!'

It must not be supposed, by anything that I say above or by

* Page 472.

1790 ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 345

the insertion of this pleasant memorandum about Dr. Smith, to
imply anything like want of sincerity on the part of my progen-
itor. In the course of their long opposition to each other in the
politics of Provincial Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith had dealt some
heavy blows at P'ranklin ; no man heavier ones. I am cjuite ready
to believe that now that the grave had closed over the remains of
one who had been his earliest friend in Pennsylvania and in his
latest years had not been his enemy, he desired to make even
more than reparation for unintentional injustice, if injustice, which
I do not believe, had ever been done.

In a note to this eulogy in Maxwell's edition of his works, Dr.
Smith meant apparently to give to others, including Jefferson and
Rush — par fratniui — the responsibility of some things which he
would, perhaps, as a clerical character, have hardly been willing
to assume for himself Specifying by page the contributions of
each, he says, as follows :

The assistance derived by the author in the composition of the fol-
lowing Eulogium, from the friendly communications of some of his
learned colleagues, among the officers of the American Philosophical
Society, requires his public acknowledgments to be made to them, viz. :

To David Rittenhouse, Esq., LL. D., president of the society, for
sundry papers, which have been digested into the account of Dr. Frank-
lin's electrical and philosophical discoveries, from page 64 to 71.*

To Thomas Jefferson, Esq., LL. D., one of the vice-presidents of
the society, and secretary of the United States, for his letter, concern-
ing Dr. Franklin's ministry at the court of France, pages 75 to 77.

To Jonathan Williams, Esq., one of the secretaries of the society,
for the original letter, pages 80, 81 ; and some papers in the appendix.

To Benjamin Rush, M. D., one of the council of the society, for
some sketches of Dr. Franklin's character, of which the author has
availed himself, page 50.

Dr. Franklin had been elected President of the American Philo-
sophical Society in 1769, and held the position until his death,
Dr. Smith being one of the Secretaries during the whole period.
In the latter years of his life many of the meetings were held at
Franklin's house, in a court running south from Market street
between Third and Fourth. Dr. P'ranklin was succeeded by
David Rittenhouse, elected January 7th, 1791, who also remained

*The reference in this extract to pages is to the pages in Maxwell's edition of Dr.
Smith's works.

34^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/9 1

in office until his death, June 26th, 1796. He was succeeded by
Thomas Jefferson, who was elected January 6th, 1797, and con-
tinued until his resignation in 18 1 5.

The eulogy has been printed several times ; first by order of the
society before which it was pronounced by Franklin's grandson,
Benjamin Franklin Bache. It is also found in Maxwell's edition
of Dr. Smith's works printed in 1 803. In that edition Dr. Smith
appends the following memorandum :

While this Eulogium was originally in the press, the following verses,
beautifully poetical and descriptive of the character of Dr. Franklin,
were found on Jhe writing-desk of my study; but whether dropped
there by some one of the nine muses, or by what mortal favorite of
theirs, I could not then learn. They were accompanied with a request,
that they might be annexed to the Eulogium ; but apprehending that
the publisher, Mr. Bache, who was Dr. Franklin's grandson, might
think it indecent in him to give circulation to the last two stanzas,
however much he might approbate the first three ; they were suppressed
at tliat time, and from a persuasion also, that, at a future day, they
might more easily be endured by the warmest of Dr. Franklin's sur-
viving friends.

The verses were found in the handwriting of my dear wife, and not
recollecting, at that time, ever to have seen or read them, and asking
from what original she had copied them, she laughed, as I thought, at
the scantiness of my reading on a subject so recent as the death of Dr.
Franklin, whose panegyrist I had been appointed, by a grave society of
philosophers. I replied, with a mixture of a little raillery in my turn,
that if she would not satisfy me respecting the author of the verses, or
from what source she had copied them, I should consider myself as
happily yoked to a very good poetess, and ascribe the composition to
herself, unless clubbed between her, and her dear friend, Mrs. Ferguson.
I knew either of them to be capable of the work, and from the spirit,
wit and manner of it, as well as from frequent hints in their conversa-
tion, concerning Dr. Franklin, whose genius and talents they both ad-
mired, I knew also that the last two stanzas, as well as first three ac-
corded well with their sentiments. I have discovered lately, by means
of my worthy friend, Benj. R. Morgan, Esq., that the Rev. Jonathan
Odell, formerly Missionary at Burlington, New Jersey, and now Secre-
tary of the British Province of New Brunswick was the real author. I
had indeed suspected him to be so, and questioned him accordingly
(for he dined at my house that day), but it seems that he joined with
the ladies to keep me in suspense, and in conveying a satirical hint, by
means of the verses, that I was a very warm panegyrist :

1791] ^-^f' WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 347

Like Newton sublimely he soar'd

To a summit before unattained ;
New regions of science explorVl

And the palm of philosophy gained.

With a spark that he caught from the skies,

He display'd an unparaliel'd wonder,
And we saw, with delight and surprise

That his rod could protect us from thunder.

Oh ! had he been wise to pursue

The path which his talents design'd,
"What a tribute of praise had been due.

To the teacher and friend of mankind!

But to covet political fame

Was in him a degrading ambition ;
A spark which from Lucifer came,

Enkindled the blaze of sedition.

Let candor then write on his urn —

" Here lies the renowned inventor,
Whose flame to the skies ought to burn,

Eut inverted, descends to the centre!"

CHAPTER LV.

Dr. Smith appointed by the Masonic Order of Pennsylvania to Prepare
AN Address to President Washington, which hf, does — He Receives an
Answer from the President — Dr. Smith to Jonathan Williams, Esq. —
Marriage of Dr. Smith's Daughter, Rebecca, with Mr. Samuel Blod-
GET, OF Boston — Mrs. Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely, giving an Account
OF the Wedding, etc. — Consecration of Bishop Claggett, of Maryland,
IN Trinity Church, New York — Dr. Smith Preaches at the Consecra-
tion E.XTRACTS FROM THE SeRMO.N ThE CONVENTION OF I792 OrDERS

AN ADDlfcSS ON THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS — An AdDRESS PREPARED

— Signed by Dr. S.mith — Authorship Uncertain.

On St. John's Day, the 27th of December, 1791, at a meeting
of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith and
the worshipful grand officers were appointed a Committee to pre-
pare an address to the illustrious Brother George Washington,
President of the United States, and they were requested to report.
Dr. Smith, at the next meeting, presented the following address,
which was adopted and forwarded :

January 2d, i 792.
To George Washington, President of the United States:

Sir and Brother: The Ancient York Masons of the jurisdiction of

Pennsylvania, for the first time assembled in General Communication to

348 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE 1^79^

celebrate the feast of St. John the Evangelist, since your election to
the chair of government of the United States, beg leave to approach
you with congratulations from the east, and, in the pride of fraternal
affection, to hail you as the great master builder (under the Supreme
Architect) by whose labors the temple of liberty hath been reared in the
west, exhibiting to the nations of the earth a model of beauty, order
and harmony worthy of their imitation and praise. Your knowledge of
the origin and objects of our institution — its tendency to promote the
social affections and harmonize the heart — give us a sure pledge that
this tribute of our veneration, this effusion of love, will not be ungrate-
ful to you ; nor will Heaven reject our prayer, that you may be long-
continued to adorn the bright list of master workmen, which our Fra-
ternity produces in the terrestrial lodge ; and that you may be late
removed to that celestial lodge where love and harmony reign tran-
scendent and divine, where the great Architect more immediately pre-
sides, and where cherubim and seraphim, wafting our congratulations
from earth to heaven, shall hail you brother.

By order and in behalf of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in Gen-
eral Communication assembled in ample form.

Signed by the Grand Master and officers.

" Dr. Smith," so says Hayden, in " Washington and his Ma-
sonic Compeers," " delivered this address in person." On the
5th of the following March, Dr. Smith reports to the Grand
Lodge the following reply from the President :

To tlie Ancient York Masons of the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania :

GentlEiMEN and Brothers: I received your kind congratulation with
the purest sensations of fraternal affection ; and from a heart deeply
impressed with your generous wishes for my present and future happi-
ness, I beg you to accept my thanks.

At the same time I request you will be assured of my best wishes and
earnest prayers for your happiness while you remain in this terrestrial
mansion, and that we may hereafter meet as brethren in the celestial
temple of the Supreme Architect.* George Washington.

On the 20th of January, 1792, there were elected into the
American Philosophical Society a number of foreigners in a body
— Count Paul Andreani, of Milan ; Rudolph Vall-Travers, of Ham-
burg; Anthony Renatus, Charles M. de la Forest, Joseph Ceracchi,
of Rome, a sculptor, but not a philosopher, nor indeed a man of
the highest character in all things; Palisot de Bcauvois, etc. I

*The oriiiinal of this letter is in the Temple at Philadelphia. It is addressed to Wil-
liam Moore .Smith, Esq., who was at that time Grand Master of Pennsylvania. — H. W. S.

1792] i^^r. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 349

am not able to say whether it was owing" to some dissatisfaction
about the election of one or more of these persons, or some cir-
cumstances connected with the mode of announcing the election
of officers, that we find the following rather distinct sort of letter
from Dr. Smith to Mr. Williams, a member of the society, related
to Dr. Franklin, the president, lately deceased:

Dr. Smith to Jonathan WilHams. Esq.

Philadelphia, February 5, 1792.

Sir : You had yesterday my determination about signing the certifi-
cates : it was that I could not sign them till my objections were heard
at a meeting of the society. The Rules require that certificates shall be
signed by all the officers. I am sorry for the delay, and if the secre-
taries will take it upon themselves to issue the certificates without my
name, rather than wait till the next meeting of the society, they may
have them for that purpose. Whatever Rules may be made at the next
meeting, or whatever may be found to have been the general usage, I
shall submit to, or else I shall resign my appointment, that there may be
no delays nor debates on my account in conducting the affairs of the
society, of which I was one of the original founders and for whose honor
and success I have long exerted myself. Whether the order of sub-
scribing be according to seniority in office, or the form of return at
election, according to the number of votes, in either case the present
mode of signing the certificates sent to me is wrong.

I should, however, have taken no notice at present of the thing if you
had not told me that you were blamed for the manner of publishing the
names of the officers according to the number of votes at the last
election, and that one of the vice-presidents had said that he would not
subscribe unless his name stood first. I know not on what his preten-
sions are founded, but I am sure neither on rule or usage; and I cannot
imagine that the secretaries of the society, upon any private conference
among themselves, had a right to determine this point. If there be a
special meeting on this business, the nature of it and the reasons for
calling it must be set forth in the notices. If you think proper, I will
wait upon you at Mr. Rittenhouse's to-morrow, concerning the special
meeting, or send the two certificates signed by myself in the present
order, provided that it be not made a precedent, and the other certifi-
cates may remain until some amicable order shall be taken at next
stated meeting.

I beg you to retain this in your hands until I have the pleasure of
seeing you.

I am, with great regard, your obedient servant,

William Smith,

To JO.NATHAN WiLLIAMS, ESQ.

350 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/92

On the loth of May, 1792, Rebecca, the daughter of Dr. Smith,
of whom we spoke a Httle way back, was married, by Bishop
White, to Samuel Blodget, Esq., of Boston.* A letter which fol-
lows will be of more interest, I fancy, to my readers of the fair
sex — if any such I shall have — than all other things which, up to
this time, I have given. And why shall such readers not be some-
times gratified even in the preparation of a life of a Provost and a
Doctor of Divinity? I leave my said fair readers of course to
translate any French word in the letter for themselves, hoping
only that meanings of some of them in the year 1792 were not
identical with meanings in 1880:

Mrs, Williamiim Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely.

Philadelphia, June 20, 1792.
My Dear Aunt : What shall I say to the girls about the bride, Becky
Smith's dress. She was dressed in a sprig'd muslin chemise, and wore
a bonnet with a curtain. The young ladies, her bridesmaids, had also
on chemises, but their hats ornamented. Did I write you that Miss
Ann Hamilton, Miss Meade, and Miss Keppele were her attendants;
and that she left town the Saturday following, and saw nobody on
Friday. There was great propriety both in her behavior and in all
other respects. Every thing was as it ought to be, without any affecta-
tion or parade. For our sweet girls I can only tell you, that they were
the most interesting creatures I ever saw, and that they were dressed in
white muslin, without any thing on their heads but a white ribbon run
through the hair. There was a monstrous company — forty-seven people
— at supper. That was perfectly elegant in every respect, and not even
a whisper or joke that could have raised a blush in a vestal. The young
men's delicacy and propriety to their wives charmed me. They did not
venture to speaker look at them the whole evening any further than
that, Archibald McCall spoke to Betsy, and Tom Ringold to Maria.
They had not seen them for ten days before the wedding. . . .

Yours affectionately,

W. Cadwalader.
To Mrs. Ann Ridgely, near Dover,

But we must pass from gay subjects to such grave ones as are
appropriate to our pen.

In 1792 was held in Trinity Church, New York, another Gen-
eral Convention of the Episcopal Church. The church of Rhode
Island — the last of the churches of the New England States to

* For an account of Samuel Blodget, Esq., see Appendix, No. VII.

Cm^o MIEBISCCDA miLOW QMT.

'Y/.

1792] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 35 1

come into the Ecclesiastical union, as the State itself had been the
last to come into the Federal — now sent delegates. The clergy
and laity, too, of North Carolina acceded to the union. Dr. Smith
was again elected President of the House of Clerical and Lay
Deputies.

At this convention an important and striking event occurred.
At the last convention, that of 1789, it will be remembered that an
indisposition existed on the part of Bishops White and Provoost
to proceed to consecrate Dr. Bass, who had been recommended by
the church in Massachusetts to the Episcopate — because those two
bishops considered that when they received consecration in Eng-
land, in 1787, it was understood that a third person would come
from America to receive consecration at the hands of the English
bishops before any bishop should be consecrated in America; a
consecration which till now had not been made. All difficulty was
now removed. The Rev. James Madison, D. D., of Virginia, had
been consecrated at Lambeth, England, in December, 1790, so
that we now had in America one bishop (Seabury) deriving Epis-
copal orders through the Bishops of the Church in Scotland, and
three (White, Provoost and Madison) deriving them through the
Church of England. Dr. Bass was not as yet quite ready to be
consecrated ; but the church in Maryland, understanding now
that Dr. Smith did not mean to ask for consecration, elected
the Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D., of Maryland, for their
Diocesan.*

A form and manner of ordaining or consecrating a bishop having
been agreed upon at the convention at Trinity Church, Monday,
the 17th of September, 1792, was fixed for the consecration of Dr.
Claggett; the consecration to take place in the edifice just named.
Never before had the consecration of a bishop been witnessed on this
continent; never before in any part of the world a consecration of
a bishop deriving his orders, as with the presence of the four

* Dr. Claggett was born in Prince George's county, Maryland, in 1743, was gradu-
ated at Princeton in 1764, and in 1767 was ordained by Dr. Richard Terrick, Bishop
of London. In 1768 he was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Rector-
ship of All Saints, in Calvert county, in which parish he continued till the beginning
of the Revolution, when he retired to his residence in Prince George's, remaining
without charge. He remained in this place and without charge until 1779, when he
began to officiate in St. Paul's, in the county just named. In 1780 he was elected its
Rector. His name appears in all kinds of early conventions of the church.

352 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/P^

American bishops was here the case, through the blended hnes
of Scotland and England.

Dr. Smith was invited to preach the consecration sermon, a high
compliment to him, indeed — with the presence of Seabury and
White, and Provoost and Madison, all of them of a higher grade
of orders — to ask oi Jdui to deliver the solemn charge needed by
the occasion.

His text was those verses from St. Paul's Second Epistle to
Timothy, chapter iv., verses i, 5, so often preached from upon
like occasions, but still ever fording a theme for new interest
when handled by a man of the abilities of Dr. Smith.

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the Quick and
the Dead, at his Appearing, and his Kingdom — Preach the Word: Be instant in
Season, out of Season; Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort with all Long-Suffering and
Doctrine.

For the Time will come, when they will not endure sound Doctrine ; but, after their
own Lusts, shall they Heap to themselves Teachers having Itching Ears. And they
shall turn away their Ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto Fables.

But Watch thou hi all things ; Endure A_fflictions ; Do the work of ait Evangelist ;
Make full Proof of thy Ministry.

He thus becfins:

fc>'

Right Reverend Fathers, Reverend Brethren, and Respected

Fellow-Citizens, here assembled :

While, in one point of view, I consider the Nature of the Holy
Solemnity and Work, upon which we are abaut to enter, and feel, as I
do, the Weight of the Part assigned to Me en the occasion ; I might
well be deterred in looking forward to my task ! But, in another point
of glorious view, I am encouraged to proceed, when I consider that I
have an Apostle, even St. Paul, the Prince of Apostles, as my leader and
guide. For his second Epistle to Timothy, from which my text is
taken, is nothing else but a Solemn Charge, and one of the first recorded
in the Annals of Christianity — applying, at all times, and under all cir-
cumstances, to every Preacher of the Gospel, of every rank and denomi-
nation— Ministers, Pastors, Elders, Bishops — by whatsoever name they
may wish to be called !

Thus guided and supported, I rise Avith some degree of Confidence;
animated, rather than deterred, by the Venerable, but Indulgent, Pres-
ence of my clerical Brethren and Fathers; likewise by the joyful at-
tendance, the exulting expectations, of the Lay Members of our own
Church, on an occasion so long desired, so devoutly prayed for by
them, as the present; together with the appearance of such a crowded
Audience, of various other denominations of professing Christians;

I79-J REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 353

drawn together, many no doubt for Instruction ; others, perhaps, from
Curiosity, to witness a new scene in America, namely: the First Con-
secration of a Bishop for a Protestant Church by an authority within
itself acknowledged to be valid, and sufficient to relieve it from any
future necessity of sending its young candidates for the ministry across
a vast ocean for receiving holy orders.

Therefore, thus guided and supported in my part of the duty, I rise
not only with some degree of confidence, but even with full hopes, from
the long experienced candor and indulgence of my brethren in the
ministry, that where I may fall short of their expectations, it will be
ascribed to the true cause, want of ability, rather than want of zeal, or
earnest endeavors to do better, were it'in my power.

To proceed, then, my first address should be to you, my venerable
brother, elected for the office of a bishop. A long acquaintance and a
happy intercourse with you, in the exchange of good offices for the
support of our church, and for strengthening the hands of our brethren
in the ministry, during my residence of eight or nine years in the State
of Maryland, as well as other good considerations, render it unneces-
sary for me to say much on this part of my subject.

Of what concerns the duties of a bishop, or a chief pastor, St. Paul's
Epistles to Timothy and Titus have been always considered as the true
primitive uncorrupted depositary; nay, indeed, the luminous source
of instruction to all preachers of the Gospel, at all 'times and under all
circumstances, as already suggested.

The preacher then made a paraphrase of part of the Second
Epistle to Timothy, from which the text is taken, and which, he
says, was written under peculiar circumstances, "near the close of
St. Paul's life, when he was a prisoner and in bonds at Rome —
called in question for the faith of Christ, before the cruel Nero, at
a time, too, when he saw persecutions springing up from without,
and divisions, heresies and corruptions from within the church;
and lastly, at a time when he saw and believed that his own de-
parture, or dissolution from the body, was near at hand;" he
therefore directs this last and parting charge, as a legacy of spir-
itual instruction, to Timothy, in the fulness of love and zeal for
his future prosperity and success in the propagation of the sound
doctrine of the Cross of Christ. . . . He then proceeds :

What a copious catalogue of evils does the anostle here prognosticate,
which would spring up in the world among .nen neglecting the gospel,
and not led by the power thereof. They have indeed sprung up, in
these latter days especially. Our own eyes have seen them ; and we
could enumerate the nations and people among whom they have chiefly

354 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^792

prevailed, and do now prevail, and which the preachers of the Gospel
are called by St. Paul to contend against. And he has taught us how
and with what weapons to contend, in his Epistle to Titus, which im-
mediately follows those to Timothy. It is indeed a beautiful and
luminous, although a short, epistle, teaching the doctrines to be
preached concerning civil and ecclesiastical affairs, order and submis-
sion in society; wliich, if they could prevail, would do away all the
disorders and iniquities which he had enumerated above. The preacher
then quotes largely from the Epistle to Titus. Such Epistles as those to
Timothy and Titus, read as Dr. Smith could read them, were deeply
impressive sermons. He proceeds :

Although my years — but not the station, which I have chosen to hold
in the church during the short remaining span of my life — might entitle
me to address you in the character of Paul to Timothy, or of a father to
a son, in the Gospel of Christ; yet, as that is not necessary, after ad-
dressing you as above, in the Apostle's own words, respecting all that
he tliought necessary to give in charge to one of the first primitive
bishops, consecrated by himself, under the authority committed to him
by Jesus Christ; yet 1 know you will bear to be reminded, or rather
forewarned, of many incidental obstructions, which, from the state of
things in the present evil days, you will have to contend against in the
discharge of your pastoral duty; and to this you will let me join the
fruits of my own experience, and study of the Holy Scriptures, to assist
you in your pious labors to struggle against infidelity and to propagate
the faith as it is in Christ Jesus, and was " once delivered unto the
saints."

In the discharge, therefore, of your great duty, you are to look be-
yond all the authorities and distinctions of men, civil or ecclesiastical ;
nay, and beyond the authorities of apostles, or even angels themselves,
any further than as you believe, after careful examination, that they
assuredly speak by divine inspiration. You will at the same time be
careful' to listen to the illuminations of the spirit of grace within you,
and to look up steadfastly to the supreme authority of our common
Lord and Master, Jesus Christ himself, in whose name St. Paul gave his
charges to Timothy and Titus; referring forward to that great day when
He, our said Lord Jesus, shall come to judge the world in righteousness,
to make up his jewels and establish his universal and everlasting
kingdom !

Here, then, I might close my notes and descend from the pulpit,
being persuaded that nothing more is necessary to be addressed to you,
my dear brother and bishop elect, now soon to be set apart for the
great office destined you. I shall only add, that your piety and learn-
ing in the Scriptures, your exemplary life and diligence in the pastoral
office, have been long known to me, long tried and approved in the
church and by the public.

1792] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 355

And thus, though I might here conclude, as I said before, yet custom
forbids such a perfunctory discharge of the task committed to me on a
day which we expect to be so propitious to all our church concerns.
There are reciprocal duties between pastors and people which require a
further detail and enforcement. There are, as enumerated before, dif-
ficulties to be encountered by the former, which can only be struggled
with and overcome, or in any degree rendered tolerable, by the aid and
succor of the latter.

Your greatest aid, however, you must derive from yourself; striving
to be strong, nay mighty, in the Scripture. For all Scripture, accord-
ing to our apostle, is given by inspiration of God; and, in your min-
istry, will be profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness ; — that the man of God may thereby, through
your care, be perfectly furnished unto all good works ; and, therefore,
since the time of my departure or death is so near at hand, and this may
be my last address to you, my beloved son in the gospel, I charge you
zealously to preach the word — preach Jesus Christ (as the word is often
understood). Be instant, in season and out of season, in public and in
private, as occasion may require, or necessity may call ; by day and by
night, in times of the peace and prosperity of the church, as well as in
times of her adversity and persecution ! Be not dismayed, or negligent
of the gift that is in thee. Repel false preachers and false doctrines.
Root out the tares from the wheat, with every weed, or new-fangled
thing, which springs up at enmity to the cross of Christ, and the truth
and spirit of his holy religion. But what need I add more, on a sub-
ject so fully treated of in sermons which I have delivered before many
of you, on former occasions, concerning the obstructions that fiiU in the
way to retard the success of a preached gospel.

I proceed, therefore, in addition to what I liave quoted from St. Paul,
to say something more concerning the peculiar and appropriated duty
of a chief pastor of a Christian church. And here I need only read the
charge you are speedily to hear, from the officiating bishop, before
"the laying on of hands," as it hath been collected from St. Paul, by
the pious and learned fathers of our church, at the time of the Reforma-
tion.

Give heed unto reading, exhortation and doctrine. Think upon the things con-
tained in this l)ook. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be
manifest unto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and to doctrine, and be diligent in
domg them ; for, by so doing, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf. Feed them, devour them not. Hold
up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost.
Be so merciful, that you be not too remiss. So minister discipline, that you forget not
mercy; that, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading
crown of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen.

In what a dignified point of view are pastors and bishops of the

35^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l792

Church of Christ spoken of in Holy Writ ! By whatever names they
are mentioned, their relation to Christ is always kept up.

If they are called "the salt of the earth," it is a salt that will not lose
its flavor through Christ.

If they are called "ministers," they are the ministers of Christ ; if
laborers, they are fellow-laborers with Christ in his own vineyard.

If they are called "watchmen," they are watchmen over the souls of
them whom Christ died to save.

If they are called "pastors," they are pastors of that flock whereof
Christ is the chief pastor, or shepherd.

If they are called "stewards," they are stewards of the mysteries of
God, and of Christ's word.

If they are called "ambassadors," they are ambassadors of Christ;
and hold their commissions from an authority that is paramount to all
human authority and power! They derive them from that power,
which governs all things in heaven, and on earth ; and are declared to
be " sent of God, as though God did beseech the world through them in
Christ's stead " — "Be ye reconciled unto God."

Having, therefore, such high and dignified names bestowed upon us ;
having our commission from such a supreme and divine authority with
such a promise annexed to it* — I say, having a sure promise, from our
omnipotent Master, that he will be with us, to support us in our duty,
amidst all trials and sufferings ; and that, as the reward of our perse-
verance, he will place us in the world to come, among those bright
luminaries of glory, who sit at his right hand, and rejoice in the beatific
vision of his refulgent presence forever and ever ! Let us be strong in
him.

Moreover, brethren, standing, as I think we may consider ourselves,
nearly on the same primitive foundation of purity and simplicity in
church government, and a free order of things among ourselves (under
our happy civil constitution), as the apostles and first Christians stood,
when they neither courted human authority, or human splendor, nor
were courted by them ; let us, I say again, be bold and diligent in the
name of the Lord, carefully to hear and obey the last part of the apos-
tle's charge, namely :

To watch and to be strong, ready to endure afflictions, and to make full proof of the
gospel ministry; and to convince men that it is from God, and will be supported by
him.

Thus, when it is seen that, according to the measure of grace which is
given them, and of their abilities, the pastors labor, with all holy zeal
and diligence, to watch over, to preserve, and duly to feed the flock,
committed to their charge ; it must naturally follow, as an indispensable

* " Go ye and teach all nation!?, and lo ! I am with you, unto the end of the world
They that turn many unto righteousness shall shine as the stars, forever and ever.'

1/92] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 35/

sacred duty on the part of the flock, on the other hand, that they listen
to the voice of the pastors ; that they strengthen their hands in their
labors for the good of the flock ; that they hear the voice of the shep-
herds with joy, and receive it as the voice of the Great Shepherd and
Bishop of their souls !

The flock, therefore, is to be under obedience and rule in this great
case. They are to keep in mind the words of St. Paul, speaking in the
character of a great and faithful pastor:

"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing, or
matter, that we shall reap of your carnal or temporal things? " For if
(by the grace of the gospel) the Gentiles have been made partakers of
these spiritual things, it is their duty also to minister unto them (the
pastors) in their carnal or temporal things ; while they call them to
happiness and salvation, in the language of God, from his great mercy-
seat : " Come up thither, and I will show thee the things that must be
hereafter. Come hither, and I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's
Wife."

My beloved brethren and hearers, pardon my zeal here, if it appears
warm ! It is by the joint efforts, bothof pastors and people, that the
chief obstacles to the advancement of religion and true practical holi-
ness, as taught by Christianity, can be overcome, and removed or sur-
mounted.

I am persuaded that I address no person here, who will say to the
seers, " See not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things
— speak unto us smooth things — prophesy deceits ! "

No, brethren, I know you love, and will endure, sound doctrine; and
that if any, even under the mask of an angel from heaven, were to
preach any other gospel to you than that into which you have been
baptized, and have received from Christ and his apostles through
divine revelation and the fathers of our church, according to its true
reformation, you would say, with St. Paul : " Let him be accursed ! "

I know likewise, that the plea of many for those itching ears, that
heaping up of teachers, that seeking after new doctrines and new gospels
is pretended by these seekers to be of a conscientious nature.

My charity forbids me to pry into the temple of another man's heart,
with the presumption of tracing what passes there ; I have only to say,
"Ye shall know them by their fruits." Nevertheless, it is not unchari-
table to inquire what may be the causes of the great difference in the
feelings and apprehensions of men, and whence spring the effects pro-
duced among them in hearing the preached word? Why it is that some
hear unto salvation, and others forbear unto destruction ?

The reason appears to be, "That the former have submitted their
spirits to the teaching of the Spirit of God ; but the latter are buoyed
up by the spirit of this world, and the pride of their own unhallowed
wisdom."

358 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}792

But when once the hearts of men are truly mollified, and brought to
a sense of their own corruption and danger through sin; and when, by
the grace of God, they are purged from the dross of pride and preju-
dice, they will fly to Christ, and submit to the operations of the Holy
Spirit, the witness within them. They will then embrace Him as the
Way and the Life; they Avill rejoice in hearing his Holy Word, and lay
hold of his blessed Gospel as the great charter of their salvation ; the
richest legacy or gift which heaven could give, or man receive.

Thus touched by God and convinced of sin, the soul will pant for
salvation,' in his own blessed way, according to the sound doctrine of
Christ and his apostles; not by cunningly-devised fables, not in man's
wisdom, disputing about the means and the mystery; not conferring
with flesh and blood; but by a strong faith, not wavering; an animating
hope, that maketh not ashamed, and a burning love, that never can be
quenched; silencing every doubt of carnal reason, and subduing the
whole spiritual man to the obedience of faith under grace.

Being now brought into this holy submission, the soul no longer re-
sists the drawings of the Father to the son; but receives that spirit of
adoption promised by God, whereby we become his children, and ob-
tain that new birth so often spoken of and so little understood; leading
us to delight in hearing the word, joy in all holy exercises, conscious of
the power of God in the soul, through Christ, sitting and ruling with
his sceptre of righteousness in the hidden man of the heart.

But it is not so with the unregenerated, whose souls are not brought
into this holy submission. Some of them are wholly listless, and loth
to hear, or examine for themselves. Others of more active and restless
powers, those men of itching ears already spoken of, must be doing
something, although it be often worse than nothing. But in their
doings they are unstable as the waves, and led, as they phrase it, to kill
precious time, running about, like the Athenians of old, to tell or to
hear some Jicw thing; flying from altar to altar, from teacher to teacher,
some of them teaching for doctrine, as St. Matthew expresses it, the com-
mandments of men, and some of them, as St. Paul says, "giving heed
to seducing spirits and the very doctrines of devils."

But, my beloved brethren, is this the way to learn or to know Clirist?
Alas ! it is far otherwise. He is not a divided Christ, nor are his doc-
trines either new or uncertain. It is time, and indeed more than time,
for all those who profess his blessed name, pastors as well as people, to
be united in those solid and essential truths which lead to salvation ; to
bid adieu to whatever is new fangled and conjectural ; and to deal no
more in that light bread which satisfieth not the soul, but in that bread
which came down from heaven, and strengtheneth a man's heart.

Could Christians be united thus, in love and in doctrine, the great
obstacles to the success of the preached Gospel would more easily be
removed. But although we cannot expect to arrive wholly to this point

1792] J^EV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 359

of perfection, yet the ministers of Christ's religion are to consider it as
the great end and scope of their labors, and to persevere accordingly,
with all long-suffering, diligence and patience, unto the end.

And now to conclude, let us devoutly join in ascribing

"Glory, thanksgiving and praise to the God of heaven and earth,
who in his own good time hath been pleased to relieve our church, in
this American land, from the ciistress under which she hath so long
mourned and bewailed herself; by supplying us with a complete Episco-
pate, and the means of continuing it in a necessary succession without
having recourse to any distant or foreign land; being now enabled,
under God, on sound evangelical principles, 'to ordain elders in every
city ; to send them forth to preach spiritual liberty to the miserable
captives held under the powers of darkness; and to open the prison-
doors and emancipate into the light of heaven those who are fast bound
in sin and the shadow of death.' "

In this establishment we see the whole Episcopate of the land from
whence many of us sprung, the English and Scots, happily united.

But, my venerable brother, although these circumstances are pleasing
to you and to us all, we are not to turn our sight from the ditificulties
yet remaining before us: An-! if we behold even hosts of foes encamped
in our way, we are to look up to our aid from on high, and the promise
often already mentioned, " that Christ will be with us unto the end."
Let us never forget that to contribute, and become the chief means of
civilizing and evangelizing savage nations, was one of the great pur-
poses, indeed among the greatest, for which God planted our fathers in
this land, then a wilderness, far distant from European scenes of felicity,
and improvements in arts and sciences.

Should we forget this, and begin to consider that this fertile land was
given us merely for our own secular uses — to eat and to drink out of its
abundance ; nay, unless we seek to maintain religion among ourselves,
to impress it on our children, and to diffuse it among our unenlightened
neighbors — all our other works, our zeal and struggles for liberty, civil
or ecclesiastical, all our boasted forms of government, the complete
establishment of our independence, acknowledged by, and giving us a
rank among, the nations of the earth — all these will be in vain ; for,
although they are great blessings and highly to be prized, when rightly
understood and enjoyed, we must remember that we are not independent
of God, who holds the fate of nations r.wfully suspended in the balance
of his justice and power, and can clearly see which scale preponderates
in virtue or vice — that, if we become remiss or negligent in the duties
assigned us on this immense continent. He can punish us for our in-
gratitude, by casting us out, as stubble, to be burnt; leaving us neither
root nor branch, and raising up other more worthy instruments for tlie
accomplishment of His own eternal purposes of love towards these yet
benighted nations.

360 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QS

But, my Christian brethren, I hope better things of you, although I
thus speak. I hope we have all pledged ourselves, both clergy and
laity, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and kingdom; that we will make full
proof of our zeal, and will persevere therein until the clouds of infidelity
shall be dispersed by the refulgent rays "of the Sun of Righteousness
arising with healing in his wings, enabling the servants of God to
tread down the wicked, who shall be as ashes under the soles of their
feet."

For myself, looking forward to this day-spring from on high, my
bosom always expands itself into divine rapture. And I now glow again
with a remnant of the warmth of more youthful days — days now half a
century fled, when I first visited this American world, and, in rising
prospect and poetical rhapsodies,* began to anticipate its future glories;
encouraged and animated with the view, even at that time, of the rapid
spread of divine knowledge; the thirst that prevailed for founding and
supporting seminaries of learning, in order to aid in the propagation
of true and rational religion, civil liberty, and all that can adorn or
exalt human nature, in the great scale of created excellence and ex-
istence in this new world.

I would not dip farther on this occasion into the depths of prophecy.
In other sermons, and according to the subjects, the line of my abilities
in this way hath been extended to its utmost length, and would not
now, in my feeble state, bear any further stretching.

I have only to add, then, by way of final exliortation, that you, who
are in the active stages of life, will consider yourselves standing, as it
were, in the midst of things ; called upon to be consi)icuous actors in
the most busy and important scenes of that great drama which the Al-
mighty is conducting towards its conclusion.

Looking forward, therefore, as well as backwaid, and listening to the
voice of Scripture, as well as considering the analogy of things, it must
appear to you that there is something more perfect and practically pow-
erful in Christianity, tending also to its more extensive propagation, yet
to be expected before the consummation of earthly things. — But as there
are prophecies relating to different ages of the church which cannot be
fully understood, and tlierefore not fully explained, until they are fully
accomplished, we pretend not to say at what period of the Christian
era this reformation or great change is to commence; nor how or by
what means it is to be effectuated. Here let conjecture cease. Let us
be silent l)efore God; for silence will be our best praise of his incom-
prehensible wisdom and goodness.

Amen ! and Amen !

* See verses spoken at the o]ieiiing of tlie College of Miiania, anil on the propaga-
tion of Religion, Kr.owledge and Liberty, chielly written about A. U. 1740.

1792] REV- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 36 1

It is obvious, from the rhetorical structure of all parts of this
discourse that it gave full scope for those elocutionary powers of
which Dr. Smith, even at the age of sixty-five years, which he
had now reached, remained a master. Beyond giving a venerable
aspect to his fine face and figure, time had produced but little
effect upon his frame or physical powers. The force, richness,
and other fine qualities of his voice remained unimpaired, and his
articulation was as clear, neat and distinct as it had ever been.
The sermon produced great effect. It made every one feel that,
even with Ashbel Green beside him, and the memory of Gilbert
Tennant's best days yet fresh. Dr. Smith was still what he had
been for forty years, the pulpit orator of Pennsylvania.

After the sermon, Dr. Benjamin Moore, afterwards the honored
Bishop of New York, in whose house Dr. Smith always lodged
during his occasional visits to that city, and with whom he was
now walking home, began to speak of the sermon, and to con-
gratulate Dr. Smith on the attention which it had drawn from the
very large and mixed audience which had been in Trinity Church.
"There is," said Dr. Moore, in his gayety and love of coining
words, "in your manner of delivery such a concernedness, such an
inlookingncss, such appearance of being in earnest, that I seek
nothing further to command my attention." "What," said Dr.
Smith, "do yoii not look for the glittering ring, the lily-white
hand and handkerchief as white, displayed and lifted up towards
heaven, with the right eye pursuing it aloft; and the gilt sermon-
cover in the other hand, stretching downwards towards the con-
gregation, with the left eye squinting after it, as if to ask, ' WJiat
tJiink you of this?' However," adds Dr. Smith, who records the
pleasant walk and talk, " we both agreed that the truth is that
neither kind of oratory, internal or external, can have any great
influence on the mind of rational and judicious auditors without
great care in the choice of subjects, a proper method and disposi-
tion of the matter, a correct and chaste style, and some degree of
elegance, or at least neatness, in composition on the part of the
preacher; things, all of them, to be felt equally by the learned and
the unlearned."

The convention of 1789 was the great organizing legislature of
the church, as the Congress of 1789 was the great organizing legis-
lature of the nation. Each made those organic acts by which the

362 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/92

system, wliich in that year was brought into being, first completely
moved, and yet continues so to move. In every act of one we see
the hands of Hamilton, Ellsworth and Gouverneur Morris; in the
other the hands of Seabury, White and Smith. The convention
of 1792 was therefore less important than the convention of 1789.
Nevertheless, important legislation was made at it. One of the
most important was an act for supporting missionaries to preach
the Gospel on the frontiers of the United States. This act recom-
mended to all the ministers of the church to preach annually a
sermon and to collect money, in order to carry out the charitable
design. Treasurers were to be established in each State, and a
general treasurer and secretary for all the States. The appoint-
ment of these last was placed with the Bishop of Pennsylvania,
and a standing committee to manage the charity. This committee
consisted of Bishop White, Dr. Smith, Dr. Magaw, Dr. Andrews,
Dr. Blackwell, Samuel Powell and John Wood, Esqs., and these
were directed to frame an address to the members of the church,
recommending this charitable design to their particular attention,
which address was directed to be read by every minister on the
day appointed for the collection.* Accordingly an address was
made by the Bishop and Standing Committee. The address was
sent forth in April, 1793. I am not able to affirm by what pen it
was prepared. I have seen it attributed to Dr. Smith, but it bears
no strong marks of his style, though the sentiments were un-
doubtedly such as might have well come from his mind. I cannot
affirm it to be from the pen of Bishop White. The style, like his
in the ma'n, strikes me as not quite like in particulars; nor is it
like Dr. Magaw, whose compositions were always elegant, but
usually somewhat artificial. It may come from the pen of Dr.
Blackwell or of Dr. Andrews. I give the address, from whose-
ever pen it came, or whether it be, as it may well be, a composi-
tion in which more than one pen participated:

When the congregations of our communion, a few years ago, by a

*I am not well informed of the subsequent history of this society. In the autumn
of 1816 "The Episco])aI Missionary .Society of Philadelphia" was made, Bishop
White being its president, and his particular friends its officers. It carried its work
into Ohio, Kentucky and the western region, and was the germ of " The Domestic and
Foreign Missionary Society" of the Church, established by the General Convention of
1S20; this last being succeeded, if I remember, by the Board of Missions in 1835.

1792] l^i^V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 363

separation from the former centre of their ecclesiastical union, had be-
come unconnected with one another, the first objects which engaged
the conventions, successively held, were : the reuniting of the compo-
nent parts of the body, the obtaining of the Episcopacy, and the
reviewing of the Liturgy — objects of so great magnitude and difficulty
that the measures most proper to be pursued could not be ascertained
without frequent deliberation, nor determined on without much time
and pains: although now happily carried into effect, with every ap-
pearance of stability, and, it is hoped, to general satisfaction and
edification.

Our Church being thus organized on those principles of doctrine,
discipline and worship, which we had inherited from the Church of
England, and which had been handed down to us, through her, from
the Apostles and the early fathers of the whole Christian church, it must be
seen that the principal object to be promoted by all, in their respective
stations, as the effect of so good a system, is an evangelical profession of
religion, manifesting itself in holiness of heart and life — an effect which
may be looked for wherever provision has been made for the stated
preaching of the word and the administration of the sacraments.

There are, however, many places in which no such provision can be
made by those who are to be benefited by it, owing to the difficulties
attendant on the first settlement of a country, and to the circumstances
of the settlers, which, in general, are barely competent to yield them a
subsistence. Of persons thus situated, there are very many on the ex-
tensive frontier of the United States, who, having been educated in the
faith and the worship of our Church, wish to have the benefits of its
ministry, but who are too few, in their respective neighborhoods, to
provide for it among themselves, or indeed to expect it at all, unless on
the itinerant plan now proposed; and that to be principally supported
by their richer brethren, who are also more advantageously situated for
a combined effort.

Under these circumstances, the convention have thought it a duty,
arising out of the trust committed to them by the Great Head of the
Church, to direct their attention to a people whose circumstances so
strongly claim it ; and to call on the pious and liberal members of
their communion to aid them in the undertaking which these sentiments
have suggested.

It has ever been held a duty, incumbent on every branch of the
Christian Church, not to neglect, as far as opportunity shall offer, the
publishing of the glad tidings of salvation, even to heathen nations.
Accordingly, it cannot but be the desire of every member of our com-
munion that something may be attempted by us, in due time, for as-
sisting in every laudable endeavor for the conversion of our Indian
neighbors, notwithstanding former disappointments and discourage-
ments. And it is the sincere wish and prayer of those who now address

364 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF I'HE [^792

you, that tlie day may not be far distant when Providence shall open
the door, and we shall avail ourselves of the opportunity for so good a
work. But if this be a duty, how much more so is the extending of aid
to those who are of one faith and one baptism with ourselves, but who,
from unavoidable causes, are without those means of public worship
whicli the Divine Author of our religion has accommodated to the
wants and weaknesses of human nature ; and which he saw to be, on
those accounts, necessary for upholding tlie profession of his name.

The promise of Christ, to be with his Church to the end of the world,
will never fail; and yet particular branches of the universal church may
either flourish or decline, in proportion to their continuing in a pure
profession and suitable practice on the one hand, and to their falling
into error, or indifference and unholy living, on the other. However
prosperous, therefore, the beginning of our Church in this new world
hath been, she will have little reason to look up for a continuance of
the Divine blessing if, when she contemplates so many members of her
communion "scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd," she does
not use her diligence to bring them within Christ's fold, and to secure
to them a stated administration of the ordinances of his religion.

Such was the care, in times past, of the bishops and of the most
eminent of the clergy and of the laity of the Church of England for the
fellow-members of their communion, when struggling with the difficul-
ties of settlement in the then infant colonies, now the independent
States of our confederated republic. The very existence of our Church
in some of these States must be ascribed, under the blessing of God, to
the aids, to wliich we here look back with gratitude. The degree of
her prosperity in every one of them must have been owing, more or
less, to the same cause: and therefore the example is what we ought, in
reason, to imitate; so as to consider our brethren on the frontiers as not
to be deserted because they are distant, but, from their remote situation,
as the especial objects of our concern.

In accomplishing that labor of love, which has been projected by the
convention, we shall be doing what may be expected of us, not only as
Christians, but as good citizens of a land of liberty and law, the best
security of both being moral principles and habits; which can only be
derived from the influence of religion on the minds of the people. For
however it may be contended by some, tliat the sense of religion is un-
connected with the duties of civil life, we owe it to God and to our
country to guard the members of our church against that licentious
principle, and accordingly to endeavor the extension of Christian
knowledge, as well with a view to temporal peace and prosperity as for
the securing of the immortal happiness of a better life.

Under the impression of these sentiments, we hope for the concur-
rence of all tlie members of our church in the undertaking now proposed
to them: and intending, with the Divine aid, to exert our best abilities

1793] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 365

for a fliitlifiil administration of the trust reposed in us by the conven-
tion, we subscribe ourselves,

\our affectionate Brethren,

William White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
William Smith, D, D.,
Samuel Magaw, D. D.,

John Andrews, D. D., [ committee ap-

RoBERT Blackwell, D. D., f pointed by the
Samuel Powel,
John Wood,
riiii.ADELrniA, April 22, 1793.

The standing

convention.

CHAPTER LVI.

The Yei.t.ow Ff.vf.r of 1793 in Philadelphia — Mr. Mathew Carfy's Account
OF IT — Advkrtisf.ments and Communications in the NEWbPAPtRb auout
IT — Extracts from Dr. Smith's Diary during the Pestilence — Death
OF Dr. Smith's Wife — Address and Exhortation by the Clergy of
Philadelphia — A Proclamation by the Governor — A Series of Ser-
mons in Christ Church by Dr. Smith, on the Cessation of the Pesti-
lence AND IN Reference to it — President and Mrs. Washington always
Regular Attendants on Divine Service at Christ Church, and early
Present on the Reopening of the Church, on the occasion of these
Discourses.

In the latter part of June, 1793, Philadelphia was terror-stricken
and desolated by that awful form of pestilence which has lately
visited a portion of our Southwestern States, and which is known
as the Yellow Fever. Dreadful as were its ravages recently in that
region which seems naturally, with its great swamps and low lands,
more open to the plague, they were no more dreadful than those
which befell the city of Philadelphia, in the summer and early
autumn of 1793. The state of affairs at the time is thus graphi-
cally told by the late noble-hearted Mathew Carey, who, during
the ravages of the pestilence, remained in the city, devoting him-
self to the necessities of the sick and dying :

The consternation of the people of Philadelphia at this period was
/;arried beyond all bounds. Dismay and affright were visible in almost
every person's countenance. Most of those who could by any means

366 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \}79'h

make it convenient fled from the city. Of those who remained, many
shut themselves up in their houses, being afraid to walk the streets.
The smoke of tobacco being regarded as a preventive, many persons —
even women and small boys — had cigars almost constantly in their
mouths. Others, placing full confidence in garlic, chewed it almost the
whole day; some kept it in their pockets and shoes. Many were afraid
to allow the barbers and hairdressers to come near them, as instances
had occurred of some of them having shaved the dead, and many hav-
ing engaged as bleeders. Some, who carried their caution pretty far,
bought lancets for themselves — not daring to allow themselves to be
bled with the lancets of the bleeders. Many houses were scarcely a
moment in the day free from the smell of gunpowder, burnt tobacco,
nitre, sprinkleci vinegar, etc. Some of the churches were almost de-
serted, and others were wholly closed. The coffee-house was shut up,
as was the city library and most of the public offices. Three out of the
four daily papers were discontinued, as were some of the others. Many
devoted no small portion of their time to purifying, scouring, and
whitewashing their rooms. Those who ventured abroad had handker-
chiefs or sponges, impregnated with vinegar or camphor, at their noses,
or smelling bottles full of thieves' vinegar. Others carried pieces of
tarred rope in their hands or pockets, or camphor-bags tied round their
necks. The corpses of the most respectable citizens — even of those
who had not died of the epidemic — were carried to the grave on the
shafts of a chair, the horse driven by a negro, unattended by a friend
or relation, and without any sort of ceremony. People uniformly and
hastily shifted their course at the sight of a hearse coming toward them.
Many never walked on the footpath, but went into the middle of the
streets, to avoid being infected in passing houses wherein people had
died. Acquaintances and friends avoided each other in the streets,
and only signified their regard by a cold nod. The old custom of
shaking hands fell into such general disuse that many shrunk back with
affright at even the offer of the hand. A person with crape or any
appearance of mourning was shunned like a viper; and many valued
themselves highly on the skill and address with which they got to wind-
ward of every person whom they met. Indeed, it is not probable that
London, at the last stage of the plague, exhibited stronger marks of
terror than were to be seen in Philadelphia from the 25th or 26th of
August till late in September. When the citizens summoned resolution
to walk abroad and take the air, the sick cart conveying patients to the
hospital, or the hearse carrying the dead to the grave, which were travel-
ing almost the whole day, scon damped their spirits, and plunged them
again into despondency.

While affairs were in this deplorable state, and people at the lowest
ebb of despair, we cannot be astonished at the frightful scenes that
were acted, which seemed to indicate a total dissolution of the bonds

I793J ■^^'^-"^''- iVILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 367

of society in tlic nearest and dearest connections. Who, without hor-
ror, can reflect on a husband, married perhaps for twenty years, desert-
ing his wife in the last agony — a wife, unfeelingly abandoning her
husband on his death-bed — parents forsaking their children — children
ungratefully flying from their parents, and resigning them to chance,
often without an inquiry after their health or safety — masters hurrying
off their faithful servants to Bush Hill, even on suspicion of the fever,
and that at a time when, almost like Tartarus, it was open to every
visitant, but rarely returned any — servants abandoning tender and
humane masters, who only wanted a little care to restore them to health
and usefulness — who, I say, can think of these things, without horror?
Yet they were often exhibited throughout our city; and such was the
force of habit that the parties who were guilty of this cruelty felt no
remorse themselves, nor met with the censure from their fellow-citizens
which such conduct would have excited at any other period. Indeed,
at this awful crisis, so much did self appear to engross the whole atten-
tion of many, that in some cases not more concern was felt for the loss
of a parent, a husband, a wife, or an only child, than, on other occa-
sions, would have been caused by the death of a faithful servant.

This kind of conduct produced scenes of distress and misery of
which parallels are narcly to be met with, and which nothing could
palliate but the extraordinary public panic and the great law of self-
preservation, the dominion of which extends over the whole animated
world. Men of affluent fortunes, who have given daily employment
and sustenance to hundreds, have been abandoned to the care of a negro,
after their wives, children, friends, clerks and servants, had fled away,
and left them to their fate. In some cases, at the commencement of
the disorder, no money could procure proper attendance. With the
poor, the case was, as might be expected, infinitely worse than with the
rich. Many of these have perished without a human being to hand
them a drink of water, to administer medicines, or to perform any
charitable office for them. Various instances have occurred of dead
bodies, found lying in the streets, of persons who had no house or
habitation, and could procure no shelter.

The same state of things is more than adumbrated by the ad-
vertisements and communications which we take at random from
a package of newspaper cuttings made by Dr. Smith at the time.

Preventative against the Raging Yellow Fever.

It has been suggested, with much appositeness of reasoning, by no
means unworthy of attention, that, to avoid being infected with the
epidemic malady now prevailing in this metropolis, it is necessary to
breakfast early, and that without those appendages of the tables com-
nionly called Relishes, whether of fish or flesh. To avoid lassitude and

368 LIFE AND CORRESrONDENCE OF 7 HE [^793

fatigue, as much as may be; and to dine moderately, on fresh animal and
vegetable food, about one o'clock in the day; drinking beer, cider, or
good brandy, respectively diluted with water, as the wholesomest bever-
age at meals. In the evening, tea or coffee may be drank, with simple
bread and butter, as in the morning; but suppers are to be avoided.
Dram-drinking (which some persons practise in the morning, and in-
deed at other times of the day,) is at all times an evil and destructive
habit; but at present, is doubly pernicious in its effects.

To 'iHE Citizens. — A supply of old shirts, shifts and linen, of any
kind, is much wanted at the hospital for the sick.

Those wiio have any to spare, are requested to send them to the State

House, where a person is appointed to receive them.

Matthew Clarkson, Mayor.
Sept. 13, 1793.

The Printers are requested to publish this advertisement for a few days.

Generous Wages will be given to persons capable and willing to
perform the services of Nurses at the Hospital at Buslihill, as the end
desired by establishing the hospital at Bushhill much depends on good
nursing and attendance. The citizens of Philadelphia will render es-
sential service to the sick, by aiding in procuring suitable persons for
this employment. Those who are willing to engage will please to apply
to Israel Israel, Thomas Wistar, or Caleb Lownes.

Edward Movston begs leave to inform his friends and the public,
that he will shut up his Coffee-House to-morrow, the fever now preva-
lent being in its vicinity; as well as on account of none of the mer-
chants having frequented the same for some days past — most of them
having retired to the country.

Sept. 13, 1793. d4t.

At this particular crisis, in which so many of the merchants and
others are absent from the city, the indisposition of two of the letter-
carriers renders it necessary to request all those who dwell south of and
in Chesnut-street, and in Front and Water, north of Market-street, to

call or send for their letters for a few days.

Sept. 13. dtf.

A Call for a Meeting. — At a meeting of a number of citizens, held
at the Court House, this evening, Sept. 13th, in consequence of a verbal
appointment of the Mayor and others convened at the City Hall, to
take into consideration the present calamitous state of the city and its
environs, having, in company with the overseers of the i)Oor, made in-
quiry into the situation of the poor and afflicted, are of the ojjinion
that, as it is not in the power of the overseers to afford the necessary

1/93] ^^V- iVILLJAM SMITH, D. D. 369

aid that the cases of the sick require, that the citizens be again con-
vened, that some effectual means may be adopted to mitigate and, if
possible, to afford relief to the afflicted.

Upon motion. Resolved, That the secretary be directed to publish the
foregoing minute, and to request the citizens to attend a meeting at the
City Hall on the 14th instant, at 12 o'clock; and that, in the mean-
time, Israel Israel, Thomas Wistar and Caleb Lownes be requested to
confer with the physicians appointed to the care of the sick, at Bush-
Hill, obtain information of their situation, and furnish the necessary
aid and relief in their power to afford.

Caleb Lownes.

In pursuance to this call, another meeting was held. On this
occasion it was reported that the hospital was without order or
supervision, that several superintendents and nurses were needed
there, that a sum of money ought instantly to be procured to aid
in obtaining necessaries for the sick, and that a large committee
ought to be appointed from the city, Northern Liberties and
Southwark, to aid the sick and distressed. Fifteen hundred dol-
lars were ordered to be borrowed, if possible, from the Bank of
North America, and a committee was appointed to transact the
whole of the business relative to succoring the sick, providing
physicians, nurses, etc.

Our honored city of Philadelphia, then the metropolis of the
nation, and where the President and Congress were so lately
assembled in power, became suddenly a terror and a by-word to
the people. Its sister cities were taking every precaution to pre-
vent the entrance within their limits of any one from Philadelphia,
and to eject such an one if in anyway he came within them. The
following proclamation from the then mayor of New York will
illustrate the state of things :

By the Mayor of the City of New York.

To THE Practising Physicians of the said City :

New York, Sept. 11, 1793.

Gentlemen : Great apprehensions are entertained by many of our
fellow-citizens that, notwithstanding every prudent and legal precaution,
the contagion of that distressing infectious disorder which now carries
off many of the citizens of Philadelphia, may be brought into this city,
by means of the open intercourse between the two cities, which cannot
lawfully be interrupted by any power in this State. You are therefore
hereby notified that the corporation of this city have taken measures-tO'
24

370 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

provide a proper place as a hospital for such persons as may unhappily
become subjects of that afflicting disease in this city.

And I do also hereby request each of you to report to me, in writing,
to be left at my office in King street, the names of all such persons as
have arrived or sJiall arrive from Pliiladclphia, or any other place, by
land or water, and now are sick, or may be taken sick, and be under
your care respectively, together with the number and street of their
respective residence, and the nature of the sickness, that such as may be
deemed to be subjects o{ infectious disease may be removed out of the city.

Richard Varick, Mayor.

We have some interesting notes on the subject of this pestilence

in the Diary of Dr. Smith. They are written at different times,

after August 28th, 1793:

September 10, 1793.

Nathaniel Blodget, Esq.,* was buried at Christ Church. The plague,
or so-called "Yellow Fever," has taken possession of the town. My
friend Thomas Miller has been buried some days. The physicians have
warned the people to care and cleanliness, to prevent the spread of the
contagion; and to mark the houses in which it has appeared. We still
stay in our town-house, as I consider it my duty as a clergyman to re-
main where I can be of some consolation and use. I advise my dear
wife to go to our son's, at Norristown, or to let my boy drive her to our
son Richard's, at Huntingdon, in the chair; but she is not willing to
leave my side. We daily burn gunpowder about the house, and Primus '\
makes smoke in the cellar. The Mayor has requested the churches to
cease the tolling of bells at funerals. Dr. Rush calls on us every day,
and for some days gave us gentle doses of salts ; but he now advises the
use of barks, or of calomel and jalap. In fact, he knows not what

to give.

September 13.

Francis Xavier Dupont, Consul of the French Republic, at Philadel-
])hia, died last night at his seat at Bensalem, Bucks county. He was a
firm patriot and an honest man.

.September I4.

Alexander Murray, my old friend from Aberdeen, died at this date.

He was buried in the evening. J

October 13.

No service in Christ Church and St. Peter's, on account of the illness
of the clerk and sexton of Christ Church and the sexton of St. Peter's.

* Nathaniel Blodget here mentioned was brother-in-law of Mrs. Snmiiel Rlodget, the
Doctor's daughter. He was in the navy, and had just returned from a voyage.

f The name of a favorite negro man whom the Doctor had brought with him from
Maryland.

J. Foranaccount o-f this gentleman, see Appendix, No. III.

1793] J^^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 371

October 18.
The Rev. James Sproat died.*

19th.

The churches still closed. I wrote to the Right Rev. Bishop White,

to prevail upon him to leave the city. He informs me that he has never

slept out of the city during this whole calamity. With others, I tell

him that we consider it as a great and needless risk.

October 20.

Dr. Blackwellf was taken with the fever to-day, and was removed
across the river, over to Gloucester, in the Jerseys. I pray God to
restore him to his life of usefulness.

Dr. George De Benneville| died at Branchtown.

* This was a respected clergyman of the Presbyterian Church. An inscription upon
a monument to his memory says of him :

Whatever is guiltless,

Candid and benevolent

In the human character.

Was conspicuous in him.

Amiable in domestic life,

Fervent in piety,

Mighty in the Scriptures,

Plain, practical and evangelical

In preaching,

Eminent in tenderness and charity for others.

Humble in his views of himself,

He was beloved and respected as a man.

Useful and venerable as a minister of Christ.

f Dr. Blackwell had a plantation in or among the pines of New Jersey, and to th '

pure and invigorating influence of the air prevalent in these woods he perhaps owed

his recovery. For a memoir of this estimable gentleman, a much respected friend of

Dr. Smith, see Appendix, No. I.

\ De Benneville's father was a Huguenot, who fled to England as a refugee from
persecution, and he was employed at court by King William. His mother was of the
Granville family, and died soon after he was born, in 1703. The orphan was taken
charge of by Queen Anne, was placed on board of a ship-of-war, being destined for the
navy at twelve years of age, and received his first religious impressions on the coast
of Barbary by beholding the exceeding kindness of the Moors to a companion wounded
by a fall. For fifteen months he was in a state bordering on despair, by reason of in-
ward doubting of his own salvation, and at the end of that period of suffering he was
brought into the marvellous light of universal restitution. Feeling it his duty to preach
this great truth in France, he opened his testimony in the market-house of Calais about
the seventeenth year of his age. He was taken before a magistrate and sentenced to
eight days' imprisonment for the offence. Notwithstanding the warning that a repe-
tition would endanger his life, he persisted for the space of two years in preaching in
France, mostly in the woods and mountains. In these labors Dr. Benneville had
equally zealous preachers in co-operation — a Mr. Durant being of the number, a man
of twenty-four years of age. At Dieppe these two ministers were seized, tried, and
condemned to death. Durant was hanged, and while preparations were being made to
behead De Benneville a reprieve arrived from Louis XV. He was imprisoned for a

37- Z//A' AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

But the pestilence was walking in darkness, and in a moment
was at the side of Dr. Smith himself. He was spared, but one
dearer to him than himself was stricken down in the destruction
of the noonday. The following letter to Dr. Rush gives us some
interesting particulars of the sad event. It would seem that Dr.
Rush, the family physician of Dr. Smith, had himself been taken
ill suddenly with the fever, and was therefore unable to attend
Mrs. Smith, though prior to her being taken ill he had been con-
stantly visiting Dr. Smith's house and prescribing for his family:

Dr. Smith to Dr. Rush.

PHIL.A.DELPHIA, October 23CI, 1793.

My Dear Friend: Indeed my only friend, whose own distress has
permitted him to mingle his cordials of consolation in my bitter cup
of affliction. How shall I thank you for your many sympathies — worthy
of a physician, and (what is above all) worthy of a Christian?

The severest dispensation of Providence is now past with me, and
blessed be God who has enabled me to sustain it. That dispensation
which shall lay me by the side of my dear departed inestimable treasure
in this life, will be but little felt, as I trust through the mercies of my
God and Saviour, it will call me to share with her, her treasure in an-
other and better life, where, as you so well express it, according to the
sacred oracles, Death and the grave, and hell itself shall be "swallowed
up in victory;" the genuine friendships of this life shall be revived,
and love and life and light and truth reign forever and ever.

But, oh ! busy recollections and memory asleep and awake, and the
many tender charities and offices due to my bereaved family and chil-
dren, who nearly adored the heavenly woman I have lost; the sight of
the numerous remembrances of her in the lonesome house; the letters
and written charges which she has left me, with the delivery of her keys
to me by the faithful little black girl after her funeral, judge, my dear
sir, nay feel — for your feelings are tenderly alive — how these circum-
stances thrill my nerves, which were never strong, and how they keep
my heart and limbs and whole body in such a palpitation and trembling

long time in Paris, and was finally liberated by the intercession of the (]ueen. lie
afterwards went to Germany, in which country he spent about eighteen years, preach-
ing extensively, devoting himself in the meanwhile to scientific studies. In the thirty-
eighth year of his age he emigrated to America, and was taken from the ship by Christo-
])her .Saner. On recovering from his illness, De Benneville established himself in Oley,
Bucks county, as a physician, and also temporarfly as a teacher. He also preached
and travelled much as a medical botanist among the Indian tribes in northern Penn-
sylvania. He intermarried with the Bartolet family, of Oley, and about 1757 removed
tu Mileslown, where he died in 1793, aged ninety years.

^793] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 373

that I fear the consequences. The scene of her funeral and some pre-
ceding circumstances can never depart from my oind.

On my return, with my wife, from a visit to our daughter — whom we had
been striving to console on the death of Mrs. Keppele — long familiar and
dear to both of us — my dear loving wife passing the gates of ChristChurch
Burying-ground, which stood daily open, led me through it to the graves of
the two children, and calling the old grave-digger, marked out a spot for
herself as close as possible to her children and the grave of Dr. Phineas
Bond, whose memory she adored. By the side of the spot we found
room and chose also one for me, as it was not permitted during the
sickness to open a grave once closed for the burial of another. We
therefore directed the grave-digger that this should be the order of our
interment, and pledged ourselves to each other that this order should
be observed by the survivor. But let me not be tedious to you. It
gives me some ease as my children are all absent, and cannot come near
me in town, to pour these circumstances into the bosom of a friend.
In melancholy mood we returned to our house. Night approached. I
hoped my dear wife had gone to rest, as she had chosen since her re-
turn from nursing her daughter through the fever to sleep in a chamber
by herself through fear of infection to her grandchild and me. But it
seems she closed not her eyes, sitting with them fixed through her
chamber window,* on Mrs. Keppele's house (who had died that day),
until about midnight, she saw her hearse and followed it with tearful
eyes as far as it would be seen. Two days afterwards, Mrs. Rogers, her
next and only surviving intimate friend, was carried past her window,
and by no persuasion could we draw her from thence, nor stop her
sympathetic foreboding tears, so long as her eyes could follow the
funeral, which was down Arch street, two squares from Fourth street, to
Second street, where, turning the corner to the Baptist Church, the
hearse disappeared. She threw herself on her bed and requested me,
who had stood by her side during the time of the funeral procession, to
leave her to her own reflections for a few minutes, and she would soon
be with me in my study, where I was writing letters to my friends and
family on business to the westward. She took her pen and assisted me
in copying some of them. It was Saturday; and we had persuaded our
daughter to set out for Norristown next day. My wife, though she in-
formed me on Saturday evening, that she was indisposed — and I am
persuaded was sure of the nature of her case — yet she charged me not
to inform her daughter, and sent me to hasten her out of town on Sun-
day morning, with an apology that she could not see her before she sat
out, finding it necessary to take a little physic for a slight indisposition,

* Dr. Smith's house, to which he refers, was that fine old-fashioned one still stand-
ing at the southwest corner of Fourth and Arch, about one hundred feet below the
east side of the grave-yard of Christ Church, Philadelphia,

374 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

and that if she would send the carriage back in two or three days, we
hoped to follow her to Norristown. While I was getting my daughter
ready and seeing her a few miles out of town, which was not until two
o'clock, on Sunday, my dear wife with her own hand, had written the
note which you must have in your possession, the contents of which, or
her apprehensions expressed in it, I can only guess. You know the
rest. My situation through the week following the Sunday evening, at
six o'clock, when in much agony by a sudden and unexpected turn,
after I had fondly written to all my distant family, and to my dear
brother that I believed her out of danger, she breathed her last, com-
posed and patient; her countenance appearing to brighten, as her pangs
and groans ceased, into the countenance of an angel.

Decently as the time would permit, my mournful family assisted only
by a worthy and pious black, Richard Allen,* she was laid in her coffin.
I approached with my dear grandchild in my arms, as near as the black
man would allow, to take my last view. Silent, but more awful and
instructive than all the funeral pomps in the world, and short the dis-
tance we had to go, I followed her, accompanied only by the coffin-
maker, and by Richard Allen, and my own weeping and faithful black
boy, to the spot she had chosen, about eight o'clock in the evening to
deposit all of her that was mortal.

Severe was the task that it remained for me, yesterday, to write to my
daughter and other children, and to good Mrs. Cadwalader, who loved
her aunt as her own parent. When these letters were finished, and an
express dispatched to my son, William, to take all prudent measures
possible to support his sister in her affliction. My messenger having
taken his course up the street, my anxious dutiful son came to my door
while I was visiting the grave to see if it had been properly covered in
the night. My black boy met my son at the door of my house, and
was obliged to answer his inquiry concerning his mother; that she was

*This was an excellent and well-known negro in his day in Philadelphia. He was
born A. D. 1760, and was originally a slave of Chief Justice Chew, as afterwards of a
Mr. Stokely, in Delaware. He cut wood, and was a laborer in brickyards. During
the war of the Revolution he was an army teamster. By habits of economy and thrift
he accumulated some money with which he purchased his freedom. He then learned
the trade of shoemaking, and for many years carried on business on the south side of
Spruce street below Fifth. He had several journeymen and apprentices constantly in his
employ. He owned and managed at the same time a small farm in the Neck, below
the city, and accumulated a considerable amount of property by various occupations.
With all these he exercised the office of a preacher, preaching among the Methodist
negroes. Though education had not lent her hand in his behalf, he had a capacity
that few of his color exhibit, and had unbounded influence over the people of his de-
nomination. He was eminently a humane man. In common with Absalom Jones,
another colored person, he rendered invaluable services to the citizens during the prev-
alence of the yellow fever, in 1793. Jones was long a servant of Dr. Blackwell, and
was afterwards ordained by Hishop White a minister of the Episcopal Church.

1/93] R£^"- ^VILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 375

no more. I soon came from the ground and saw my dear son leaning
against the wall, for he would not enter the house, nor amidst the dis-
tressing scene could we exchange a word, but such as expressed my
desire, and his ready obedience that he would fly to his sister and over-
take the messenger. This he did at eight miles distance from town.
I have heard no more, and I dread to hear from a daughter who loved
and knew the value of such a mother.

But much remains for me yet — my son Charles and his wife, my
brother and his wife, my son Richard at Huntingdon, in whose bosoms
she was equally precious. I can find no conveyance, and hard will be
my task to write if my spirits and health can be supported so long.

For that reason only, and a few more family matters not yet
arranged — especially a codicil which my dear wife's death makes neces-
sary to my will — if it will please God, I would pray for a few days con-
tinuance of health. Then as to worldly matters I shall be prepared, and
through the goodness of God I trust I am preparing, though we can never,
never be fully prepared (except in his mercy) in our spiritual matters.

If God continues me longer, my worldly concerns will be in a small
compass. His goodness having given me time to distribute a sufficient
inheritance to my children, acquired, I trust, honestly and industriously
without injury to any man, and I hope and believe from the goodness
of all my children, in whom I consider myself blest, they will use it
accordingly. For the rest of my days, and they cannot be many, I
would willingly devote them to discharge some public engagements by
assorting and leaving to the world some sermons and other writings.
But if they cannot have my last hand, my executors, to be named in my
proposed codicil, must suppress all, except what I have already published
and avowed.

My friend, Mrs. Cadwalader, and Mrs. Bond, press me with your
advise to take calomel and jalap, etc. — I know nothing of preventatives
— and then to move out of town, but I wish not to remove to a distance
from you for some days yet, nor until you advise. I trust you will soon
be so restored that you may have a personal interview. If moving for
a few days to my daughter's will change the scene a little, perhaps it
may be of use.

Thus, my good friend, I have poured into your bosom, confidenti-
ally, what may be of use to my family, for to none of them have I had
leisure, nor would it be yet proper to say so much. The name and mem-
ory of my dear wife I must commit to your friendly hand, who knew
her virtues so well, to say to the public what may be necessary ; but of
this nothing yet, as I would not have her name announced among the
dead, until I find means first to notify it to my distant family. Alas!
how shall I live without her? I never had a joy which became a joy to
me until she shared it. I never had a sorrow which she did not alle-
viate and participate. I never did an action which I would consider as
truly good, r.ntil she confirmed my opinion.

376 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/93

For my many failings and infirmities she had a friendly veil.

Her conversation was enlightened, and that with her correspondence
by letter during my many absences, have been my joy for thirty-five
years and more. My tears now stop my hand, and will relieve you from

reading more.

From your obliged and affectionate

William Smith.
To Dr. Rush.

Excuse inaccuracies, omissions of words, etc., for I cannot read over
or correct what has flowed from my heart and pen.

On the 1 8th of November, Dr. Smith prepared an address and
exhortation by the clergy of the city of Philadelphia to the citizens
of the same, urging them to set apart a day not only as a day for
Thanksgiving, but also one of confession, humiliation and prayer.
Though drafted so early as November, it was not published, as its
date shows, till December the iith. It having been the Avish of
Dr. Smith and Bishop White that it should be signed by some of
the clergy then absent from the city, but whose presence was then
daily expected. It appeared in the Federal Gasette, at the date just
above mentioned.

To THE Citizens of Pennsylvania:

The clergy of different denominations, in the city of Philadelphia,
having had under deep meditation the late awful calamity, with which
it hath pleased Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom, to visit and afflict
this city ; and devoutly considering the improvement which, as a
Christian people, it becomes us to make of the dispensations of his
Providence, "who doth according to his holy will in the armies of
heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth," have, with one heart
and voice, agreed and concluded it to be their indispensable and sacred
duty to recommend and request: —

That a day be set apart, and kept holy unto the Lord, not merely as a
Day of Thanksgiving for that, in all appearance, it- hath pleased liim,
of his infinite mercy, to stay the rage of the late malignant disorder
(when we had well nigh said, hath God forgot to be gracious ! ) but
also as a day of solemn humiliation, and prayer, joined witli the con-
fession of our manifold sins, and of our neglect and abuse of his former
mercies; together with sincere resolutions of future amendment and
obedience to his holy will and laws; without which, our prayers, praises
and thanksgivings will be vain.

In this solemn review of our past lives, and of the dealings of the
Lord with us and our forefathers, let us be serious with ourselves,
and search our wounds and sores to the bottom. For, although

1793] ^^-V. IVILLTAM SMITH, D. ' D. 37/

the Almighty may manifest himself to a people, in judgment as
well as mercy, by means of natural causes and with the same breath
that he bids the pestilence rage, he can bid its ragings cease; yet his
purposes in both are to be our chief consideration, and he hath told us,
"that when his judgments are in the land, the inhabitants should learn
righteousness."

On this great and humiliating occasion, the clergy consider it as
needless for them to remind the inhabitants of this land of what God
hath done for us, and the many instances of his divine favor and inter-
position, in the establishment of our civil liberties and independence,
together with the enjoyment of the pure doctrines of the Gospel of
Christ and the exercise of his holy religion, according to the rights of
conscience, under a government of laws, and wise civil institutions
of our own free and peaceable choice, there being "none to make us
afraid." But the clergy must consider it as a special and most weighty
part of their bounden duty to warn, to exhort, and to press the most
earnest inquiry — whether we have made a due improvement of those
innumerable blessings which the Almighty hath, in his goodness, even
heaped upon us? Have we at all times made use of our civil liberty
itself, as not seeking to abuse it? But, more especially, have we sought
in good earnest, and in the fear and love of God, to improve our precious
Gospel privileges, by striving to make the fruits of the same conspicuous
in our lives, and "in all holy conversation and godliness?" Or
whether, on the contrary, the worship of the true and living God, and
the sacred ordinances of the Gospel, have not been too much slighted,
or neglected, for the false pleasures of this world, its dissipations, its
follies, or perhaps the too eager pursuit of its goods and enjoyments? —
evils which, having their origin too generally among the gay, the rich,
and those in higher stations, have, by fatal example, spread themselves
downwards among all classes of our people, to the dishonor of God and
the unspeakable injury of their moral and religious character, as well as
the waste and ruin of their temporal substance and the distress and
poverty of their families !

Together with this retrospective view of our own conduct, and of the
calamity from which it hath pleased God to deliver us, who, through
his mercy, survive, let us not forget to mourn with those that mourn,
to sympathize with them in their distress, and to administer to their
comfort and relief. This will be a fruitful subject of devout medita-
tion; and, through divine grace, will awaken and make us feelingly
alive to all holy and religious impressions: while we recall to our memory
those melancholy days and nights when corps after corps of beloved
husbands and wives, dutiful sons and daughters, useful citizens, vener-
able pastors, in quick and almost uninterrupted succession, were borne
along our streets in the solitary hearse, with scarce a friend or relative
to follow them to the grave ! Oh ! let us now consecrate their dust

378

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

[1793

with our tears ; and, hoping that they have departed in the Lord, thus
supply the solemn rites of Christian interment which the hard necessity
of the times then forbade.

Thus, prepared and humbled by deep meditation, by confession and
repentance of our sins, and prayers for forgiveness and amendment —
then our praises and thanksgivings to God, for our late deliverance
and for stirring up the hearts of so many of our pious and benevolent
brethren throughout the United States to intercede for us in their
prayers, and to administer so liberally to the relief of our afflicted and
suffering poor, will ascend as a sweet incense to heaven, and be a holy
and acceptable sacrifice before the throne of grace, through the merits
and intercession of our blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Subscribed at Philadelphia,
November 18, 1793.

Wm. White,
Wm. Smith,
John Andrews,
Ashbel Green,
Robert Annan,
Henry Helmuth,
Samuel Magaw,
Joseph Pilmore,
Wm. Rogers,

Friedrick Schmidt,
John B. Smith,
John Dickins,
Joseph Turner,
Joseph Hutchins,
Robert Blackwell,
Christ. V. Keating,
Thomas Ustick,
Nicholas Collin,

Mathew Mage.

In the meantime the Governor of the State, General Mifflin, re-
quested Dr. Smith to furnish a draft for a proclamation of Thanks
to Almighty God for having put an end to the grievous calamity
that had recently afflicted the city of Philadelphia. The following
is an abstract of the proclamation prepared by Dr. Smith and issued
by the Governor on this great occasion :

Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God to put an end to the grievous
calamity that recently afflicted the city of Philadelphia; and it is the
duty of all, who are truly sensible of the Divine Justice and Mercy, to
employ the earliest moments of returning health in devout expressions
of penitence, submission and gratitude ; I have therefore deemed it
proper to appoint Thursday, the Twelfth day of December, to be holden
throughout this commonwealth as a day of general Humiliation, Thanks-
giving and Prayer ; earnestly exhorting and entreating my fellow-citizens
to abstain on that day from all their worldly avocations, and to unite
in confessing, with contrite hearts, our manifold sins and transgressions,
and in acknowledging, with thankful adoration, the mercy and goodness
of the Supreme Ruler and Preserver of the universe, more especially

1/93] ^^^- IVILLIAAI SMITH, D. n. 379

manifested in our late deliverance ; praying, with solemn zeal, that the
same Mighty Power would be graciously pleased to instil into our minds
the just principles of our duty to Him and to our fellow-creatures ; to
regulate and guide all our actions by his Holy Spirit' to avert from all
mankind the evils of war, pestilence and famine ; and to bless and pro-
tect us in the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, etc.

We come now to make mention of certain discourses found in
Maxwell's edition of his works, which were preached by Dr.
Smith in Christ Church in the last month of 1793 and the earlier
part of the following year — sermons suggested by the terrible
pestilence from which the city was at last, by God's mercy, de-
livered. The first of these sermons was preached on the day
appointed for the general humiliation, thanksgiving and prayer,
by the proclamation of which some abstract has just been given.
Dr. Smith, however, has himself given so interesting an account
of the origin of the sermons and of some particulars connected
with them, especially of President Washington's reverential at-
tendance and deportment in connection with their delivery, that I
offer to my readers an account all in his own language :

During the chief rage of the first great epidemic called the yellow
fever, in Philadelphia, in the year 1793 — ^^'^- '• froii"! the latter end of
September till towards the end of November — the churches had been
generally shut up, except Christ Church and St. Peter's, which had
been kept open by Bishop White and Dr. Blackwell, unless on the 13th
and 20th of October, when the illness of the clerk and sexton of Christ
Church and sexton of St. Peter's prevented their being opened. Bishop
White was preserved in tolerable health, and never slept out of the city
during the whole calamity, which some of his friends, myself among
others, told him they considered as a great and needless risk. Dr.
Blackwell was taken ill with the fever on the 27th of October, and re-
moved across the river, into the Jerseys, near Gloucester. After about
a month's severe illness he begun falmost beyond expectation) to appear
on the recovery, although with but little hopes of being able soon to
resume his pastoral duties in the churches. Those duties, therefore,
were like to fall heavy, at least for some time, on good Bishop White,
whose kind visits to myself and his other friends in the city were con-
tinued during the whole time of the affliction.

But the goodness of God now giving a prospect of a near termination
of the disorder, the Bishop paid me a short visit a few days before the
ist of December, and told me that on that day the churches under his
care, after the short interruption of a week or two, as mentioned above,
would be on the usual footing of public service twice a day in each

380 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793

church ; and with great delicacy and tenderness to me, in my mournful
situation, he hinted a wish for some temporary assistance from me, if I
was able, and that in preaching only : at the same time offering me my
choice of the tufti of duty. I told him that, so far as I was able, it
always gave me happiness to co-operate with him in any duty, but that
he must give me the choice of my subjects as well as of the turns of
duty; that none but melancholy subjects — themes of distress, notes of
woe — could accord with my feelings and then gloomy frame of mind.
His reply was with his usual look of complacency, intimating ap-
probation.

Nine Sermons from ist Thessalonians, chap, iv., verses 13-18 — on
Death, a Resurrection from the Dead, a Future Judgment, and an
Eternal World to Come, were the fruits of that period of melancholy
and deep reflection. The first was preached on Sunday, December ist,
1793, and the last on March 9th, 1794, in Christ Church, all in the
forenoon. This was understood to be according to the wish of the
President and his good lady. It is certain that they were present
at the delivery of all of them, and generally of every sermon
preached in Christ Church, in the forenoon, during the session of
Congress.

General Washington, exemplary in all his conduct, and anxious to
know when it might be safe for the citizens to resume their business and
stations in town, had officially consulted the physicians. Under-
standing by their answers to him, as well as to some of the clergy who
had consulted them also, that sundry of the churches, and particularly
Christ Church, where he and his lady always attended divine service,
would be opened on Sunday, the first of December, that day, or the
day before, he came from Germantown, and presented himself early
before God in the church on Sunday. His example was followed by
multitudes; and the church was more than usually crowded, before I
got into it. The scene was sadly solemn: all eyes were apparently cast
down in afflictive meditation. The deepest attention and silence pre-
vailed, during the morning service ; and at the delivery of the sermon,
not a cheek appeared dry ; for scarcely a man or woman was present,
who had not to mourn the loss of a dear friend or relative. The
preacher's duty was interesting. He was a fellow-sufferer and co-
mourner. He does not remember that ever he lifted his eyes from his
notes, which were drenched in tears. He was then, if ever, in the situ-
ation described by Luther, and impressed with the feelings of every
preacher, who, like Luther, is truly interested in his subject, and, so to
speak, weighed down with its truth and importance.

1793] ^^^' WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 38 1

CHAPTER LVII.

The Eight Sermons on the great Visitation of Pestilence remarked on —
Distinguished, even above the Author's other Pulpit Discourses, by
Seriousness and Solemnity — Extracts from several of them.

The visitation of pestilence, 1793, was an event in Philadel-
phia, at this time the metropolis of the United States, so awful;
its effects, by death, upon our then society so considerable, and
the terror which it continued to inspire, for some years so wide-
spread, that I may venture to refer somewhat fully to the sermons
of Dr. Smith upon the calamity.

We note primarily that, solemn and serious as most of Dr.
Smith's pulpit discourses are, these are characterized by solemnity
and seriousness beyond the common degree. He was now sixty-
seven years old. "Uncertain," he says, "of the number of days,
or months, or years remaining to me, but certain that they cannot
be many, and those attended with the decay of mental as well as
of bodily faculties," he naturally, after a life marked by such vicis-
situdes and such calamities as his had been, sought at the present
moment to lead his hearers into paths of righteousness, with no
thought whatever of the impression which he himself would make
on any one. In sermons upon occasions of ceremonious worship,
such as in the sermon before the Grand Master and Grand
Officers of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Ac-
cepted Masons of the State of Pennsylvania, celebrated on the
anniversary of St. John the Evangelist, we see bold and lofty
rhetoric. What exordium, for example, can be finer than the one
in his Masonic sermon of 1778?* Bishop Atterbury's celebrated
one upon the text from St. Matthew and St. Luke, "Blessed is he
that shall not be offended in ;;/r," where the Bishop at once breaks
out, "And can any one, blessed Lord, be offended in thee?" is not
more bold. It has no pretensions to rhetoric. Dr. Smith, in his
discourse before the Masons, is preaching from the text of i Peter

* Works, Vol. II., p. 43.

382 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793

ii. 16, ''As Free, and not usmg your Liberty for a cloak of licentious-
iicss."' He thus opens. With his figure, his voice, his natural
dramatic power, the experiment was safe, as probably it was in the
case of the Bishop of Rochester, but it would be perilous indeed
to the common preacher:

Liberty, evangelical and social ! Jewel of inestimable price! Thou
blessing, of all blessings the first! Wooed and courted by many; won
and wedded by few! Ever near us, yet often at a distance fancied.
Through all the modes of faith, by the saint pursued; and in every frame
of government by the patriot sought. Oh, thou celestial Good, or,
rather, Thou who art the Author of all good, terrestrial and celestial —
Supreme Architect of the universe; who, by our great and Spiritual
Master, thy Son, hast taught us the true Way of Liberty — the way of
being free and accepted through Him! May I now be enlightened
and enlivened by a ray from Thee !

But now, in the sermons upon the late awful epidemic, there is
nothing like this. He was "no actor here," though his style,
naturall}^ casting itself into rhetorical forms, still preserves its
habitual characteristics. His text is from a series of verses, that
is to say, from the 13th to the i8th inclusive, of the 4th chapter
of the First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians.
Every one remembers them:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that j'e sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you, by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and re-
main unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
Archangel, and with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the I^ord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Dr. Smith thus proceeds, solemnly and grand:

Yes, brethren and sisters! ye bereaved mourners for ])arents, hus-
bands, wives, children and dearest relatives, say a solemn Amen, and
"comfort one another with these words." For if there be consolation
in this world, amidst this suffering scene of man, here it is complete,
and revealed to us by a divinely illuminated apostle of Christ ; leading
our meditations forward through all the future changes and periods of
our existence and condition, as mortals and immortals, "to death, a

1793] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 383

resurrection from the dead, a future judgment, and an eternal world to
come." . . .

The impressions of the dreadful calamity, from which we, who are
alive, remain monuments of God's mercy in the midst of his righteous
judgments, must have awakened and alarmed the most secure and thought-
less among us, and have made us feelingly alive to every sober reflec-
tion that concerns our future state and condition, viz. : death, a resur-
rection from the dead, a future judgment, and the opening the heavenly
paradise — the everlasting kingdom of glory to the redeemed of God —
" to those who sleep in the faith of Jesus." For, amidst the shafts of
Providence, which have flown so thick around us and amongst us, where
is the man or the woman in this assembly whose bosom is not deeply
pierced, or whose tears do not this moment flow, for the loss of some
of those v/ho were lately nearest and dearest to him or to her— a hus-
band, a wife, a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a son, a daughter?
For me — ah! my throbbing breast — deep, deep have the arrows*
pierced ; yet be still, in just resignation to his unerring will, who gives
and takes away, by whom we live, move, and have our being — be still,
while we proceed in the further review of this mournful group of de-
parted friends and acquaintance ! Who is there among us who does
not recall to memory many younger and stronger than themselves, be-
tween whose summons from this life and their commitment to that long
home, the grave, few were the days or hours that intervened, while we
yet remain, with time and opportunity offered, to examine the past and
to think of the future.

To assist your meditations in this respect, and to mingle comfort in
our bitter cup of affliction, I have chosen the words of St. Paul, which
have been just read as our text ; a choice which I have the rather made,
as the whole volumes of inspiration contain no words more evangelically
comfortable or suitable to our present situation ; and, as I trust, the
same words and the reflections thereon arising, which, through God's
grace, I have found experimentally efficacious to pour balm into my
own wounds, while yet fresh and bleeding, will, through the same grace,
be acceptable and effectual among you, in tlie like circumstances !

The text naturally divides itself into the following heads, each of
which will afford subject-matter for at least one discourse:

ist. Considerations on death ; the nature and cause of his awful
terrors ; and how, through Divine assistance, to combat and conquer
them ; to allay our sorrows for our departed friends, and prepare for our
own departure.

2d. The certainty of a resurrection of the body from the grave ;
showing that death is but a temporary evil, and that our sorrow should

*The author lost a beloved wife, one of the most accomplished among women;
whose memory remains dear to all who knew her. She died October 23, 1793.

384 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M9'h

not be without hope, as others who have no belief in the resurrection
of the dead.

3d. The certainty of a future judgment, and the award of an eternity
of happiness to those who sleep in the Lord, or in the faith of the
Gospel — " For them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him, and
so we shall be forever with the Lord ! "

4ih. That, from all these considerations, the devout Christian may
not only overcome the fear of death in himself, but derive an abundant
source of consolation for the death of others, according to our apostle,
who, in the sweetest accents of evangelical sympathy and love, in the
last verse of our text calls us to " comfort one another with the hopes,
after death and a resurrection, of being forever with the Lord ! "

I proceed now to the first head of discourse as pointed out in the
text, namely: "Considerations on death, and how, through divine
assistance, to subdue and overcome his mighty terrors." And oh. Thou
almighty fountain of all wisdom and grace and heavenly fortitude, aid
me with thy divine spirit, that the great and awful subjects which I am
to handle may not suffer through my feeble endeavors ; but give me,
for the sake of Jesus and his Gospel, to follow, with clear and unembar-
rassed view, the steps and arguments of thy divinely enlightened
apostle, who is everywhere superlatively instructive and sublime, but
especially when he opens to us the prospects of a future world. Lo !
he stands, though with his feet on earth, his eye steadfast on heaven,
considering death, not as a tyrant sent to disturb our peace, but as a
messenger of God, employed to "dissolve our earthly house of this
tabernacle that we may be clothed upon with our house, which is from
Heaven."

"For we know," says he in another place,* "that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this (earthly)
house we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is from Heaven."

Brethren, when I read this passage from our blessed apostle, in con-
junction with our text, as well as many others expressive of the true
spirit of primitive Christianity, I am doubtful (as saith an old commen-
tator) whether most to admire the exalted temper of the apostles and
first followers of Christ, or to deplore the low and desponding spirit of
the modern professors of Christianity — so heavenly and magnanimous
were the former, so earthly and abject the latter ! The former were
always raising their affections to things above — to their "house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens ; " the latter too often immur-
ing themselves deeper and still deeper within the walls of their "earthly
house of this tabernacle ! "

"" 2 Cor. V. I, z.

1793] ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 385

And whence comes this difference between the truly primitive and
modern spirit of professing Christians? Whence, brethren, but from
what the apostle suggests ? The former considered the present life only
as a pilgrimage, and this whole world as but an inn, or short refreshing
place, in their way to the regions of immortality and glory ! They
looked upon their passage thither as a scene of perils — a passage through
a valley of sorrow and tears — and that, for the trial of their faith and
exercise of their hope, they were called to a constant warfare with ene-
mies both within and without them. The soul they considered as their
truly better and immortal part, worthy of all their care; the body but
as of an inferior nature — a tabernacle, a tent, a cottage, an earthen ves-
sel, a mere temporary abode, or rather the prison-house of the soul ; in
itself more brittle than glass, decaying and constantly mouldering away,
subject to diseases, pain and every vicissitude of the surrounding ele-
ments. And thus, daily considering the vanity and the emptiness of
earthly things, their affections were more and more weaned from this
world. They became impatient of the dross of body; their souls pene-
trated by faith through the clouds of this mortality; and they obtained
some foretaste of the immense good things laid up for them in a world
to come. They acquired some just and ravishing conceptions of that
building of God, that house not made with hands, that celestial body,
with which the soul was to be united (for the nourishment of their hope
and the exercise of their charity) in the mansions of glory; and, there-
fore, far from being awed or terrified at the separation of the soul from
the body, or apprehensions from the dissolution of their eartldy taber-
nacle, and of its dust mixing again with its kindred dust, they groaned
earnestly within themselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the re-
demption of the body, that they might be clothed upon with their
heavenly house, "and so be forever with the Lord."

But can we say, brethren, that this is the general temper of those who
call themselves Christians in the present day? Can we say that we are
always looking forward to our future end? Or rather, do we not keep
ourselves blind to the future, ignorant of our destiny, or without any
guesses concerning another world ? We rather wish to consider the
present as our only world, and death as an- everlasting sleep — a total'
annihilation of, perhaps, soul and body! Wherefore, if wc think of an
approaching dissolution, we sorrow, as men having no hope beyond the
narrow precincts of the grave. If any dark glimmerings of another
world intrude upon our quiet, we strive to stifle the divine sparklings in
the soul, and hate to converse with the God within us, or think of any
future state. And thus, far from rejoicing at the notices nature gives-
of an approaching dissolution of our mortal part ; far from groaning
carnestlv to be clothed upon with our immortal house, and meeting-
death in the full hope of glory, I may appeal to yourselves, whether the
very name cf death be not as a thunder-stroke to us ! We startle, we

25

386 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

turn pale, we tremble before him as the king of terrors, and at his ap-
proach we cling faster and still faster to this evanescent speck of earth,
loth to let go our hold. Few, too {ki^'N, consider death in the right
view, as a welcome messenger sent from God to summon the soul (if,
peradventure, prepared) to heaven and glory. Few consider that, al-
though his marks are sure, he shoots not an arrow but what is directed
by the wisdom of our adorable Creator. In this view we consider him
not ; but, on the other hand, we consider him as a cruel tyrant, come
to disturb our repose, to rob us of our joys and to separate us from all
that we hold dear. We look upon him as the merciless ravisher of
parents from children, and children from parents; wives from husbands,
and husbands from wives. We view him as the despoiler of our fortune,
breaking in upon all our busy projects and best prospects; tearing us
from our dearest friends and relatives, levelling our fame and proudest
honors with the dust, turning our beauty into deformity, our strength
into rottenness and our very names into oblivion. We behold him
dealing with others as with ourselves, neither sparing the young nor the
old, the feeble nor the strong, the rich nor the poor, the beggar in his
rags, nor the proudest ruler in his purple. We find him neither to be
regardful of our pride, nor to be soothed by our flattery, tamed by our
entreaties, bribed by our benefits, softened by our lamentations, nor
diverted by accident or length of time. His weapons of destruction
are numerous, and we are unable to draw one of them from his grip.
A thousand ministers of vengeance attend his call — sword, pestilence,
famine and fell disease; the air, the earth, the sea, the fire, and the
beasts of the field, are the executioners of his will against man; and,
more dreadful to tell, man himself — monstrous, depraved man — becomes
the minister of death against his fellow-man ! With scorns and with
wrongs, with imprisonments, with torments, with poisons and deadly
engines of destruction, man preys upon man, at thy call, O Death, and
heaps up thy vast triumphs ! Hence it is that thou art so terrible, and
that we startle at thy name, and tremble at thy approach. Yet still, by
the due use of reason, enlightened by the blessed considerations and
doctrines of our text, after the example of the apostles and saints and
pure professors of Christianity in every age, death might be disarmed
of his sting and spoiled of his victory!

If to die were only the lot of a few, we might repine and startle at
the partial decree. But since no age that is past hath been exempted
from his strokes, nor shall any age that is to come, why should we, with
unavailing sorrow and unprofitable stubbornness, think to oppose the
universal decree, "Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return?"
Let us think what millions have trod the path of death before us, and
what millions are yet to follow! Let us think of the instability of all
things, temporary and sublunary! Even kingdoms and mighty empires
have submitted to their fatal periods! Great cities lie buried in the

1793] ^^'^" WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 387

dust ! Proud towers and pyramids, the wonders of the world and the
pride of ages, are overthrown and trampled under foot ! Holy temples
and altars, and those also who have ministered before them, have shared
the general doom ! And this great fabric of the world itself, the sun,
the moon and the stars, shall submit to death, or a change similar to
death; yet, like the body of man, peradventure, to be renewed again,
and kindled up into fresh and everlasting lustre !

Since, then, the most solid and sumptuous works of man, and even
this glorious creation, the work of God himself, are doomed to changes,
to decay and to death, what are we, poor earthlings and creatures of a
day, to hope for an everlasting continuance amidst this transient and
perishable scene ? Or why should we be afraid when our change draws
near?

The true reason is, "Our want of faith in God and union with Christ
Jesus, through the grace of his divine spirit." We do not imitate those
blessed saints and first followers of Christ, who are described in our
text, by striving to disentangle our souls and thoughts from this world,
and to send them forward in earnest longings after heaven and immor-
tality. We do not seat ourselves by faith in the company of angels and
archangels ; nor seek to anticipate the joys of the life to come. Our
conversation is not in heaven, nor are we looking to our Redeemer
from thence ; nor do our souls thirst nor our flesh long after the living
God.

But, on the contrary, like unweaned babes, we hang upon the breasts
of this earth. We suck poison out of it to our very souls; we cleave to
it — we walk — nay, we grovel upon our bellies here, as unclean beasts,
instead of lifting our eyes to heaven with the holy pride and ambition
of angels !

Hence, then, comes our fear of death, because we seek to have our
portion in this world, and not in the world to come, never considering
what comfortable words Christ tells us, that " if any man keep his say-
ings he shall never see death;" for Christ hath slain death, and
''brought life and immortality to light by the gospel."

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the grave ; but
our union with Christ gives us the victory. If we die in the faith of
Jesus, death is only a sleep in his bosom, and the grave is only the
vestry-room, where we enter (as we said before) to put off the old rags
of our mortality, to be clothed upon anew, and to come forth, fresh and
refulgent, in the rich dress and embroidery of heaven.

It shall be my endeavor (ye mournful brethren and sisters), in my
subsequent occasional discourses before you, from this luminous text, to
examine and weigh, in the scales of Religion, Reason and Philosophy,
those good things, commonly so-called, by which too many are drawn
(as already expressed) to "hang upon the breasts of this world, and to
suck poison from them to their very souls." I shall further strive to

388 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

offer stich considerations as, under divine grace, may disentangle our
tlioughts, and wean our souls from too great an attachment to the
things of this world and send them forward to another world in earnest
longings after immortality; anticipating the joys above, and seating
ourselves by faith in the company of angels and archangels ; having our
conversation in heaven, looking for the coming of our Lord, and pant-
ing to be with him forever !

The next discourse seems to have been attended, in a more par-
ticular way, by the younger class of people. It is from the same
texts as the former one, and on the same general subject — " How,
through divine assistance, we may subdue the fear of death."
Passing over — as we must do for want of space — the earlier parts
of the discourse, we come to a special address to the young. Its
style recalls the full dress and form, with the gentility, unhappily,
with both too much departed, of days just remembered by our-
selves.

Oh, ye youth of these rising, and yet happy, American States ! for
whose admonition, instruction, and illumination the past and best part
of my life has been devoted, through a long term of years; receive, or
rather bear, the repetition of a lesson, perhaps the last, of old age !

Boast not, therefore, of your youth or strength or beauty, but in the
hopes you entertain, and the resolution you have formed of preparing
yourselves, to live a life of future usefulness, and to animate you in this
resolution, look forward to the glorious scenes in which you will be
called to act your part; and look back also "to the rock from whence
you were hewed, and the hole of the pit from whence you were
digged."* Think of the steps by which your virtuous and frugal
ancestors rose into consideration, and say whether you can find one of
their number that attained to any eminence but by virtue and industry.
in some settled calling or profession. Spurn from you, betimes, the
syren's sloth and idleness, and seek to come forth on the theatre
assigned to you, all energy and action, in the sight of mortal and im-
mortal powers, striving to fill your post with diligence and dignity —
abiding therein, luit abiding with God! Spurn from you also the love
of false pleasure, and seek to make a just estimate of that pleasure,
which God in his goodness has ordained as the true alloy of our cares,
and the reward of a virtuous course of action !

If you seek pleasure, let it be the pleasure of your whole nature and
existence, considered with respect both to time and eternity! And in
this view, the pleasure of a rational being, made in the image of his

* Isaiah li. 1.

1/93] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 389

Creator, ordained to bear his head on high, and to liold sacred inter-
course with the Father of all — is not to stifle the sigh for happiness im-
planted in his bosom, nor bury the vital principle of action, in the in-
ordinate pursuit of animal gratifications, which serve for little else but
to enervate the soul and depress its native aspirations after the divine
life. It is not to drink the deadly draught of poison, although served
up to us in a golden cup. It is not to dance the giddy round of noisy
revel, thoughtless whence we came, or whither we are going ! It is not
to riot in broad day, in practices which our sober fathers would have
blushed to witness in secret. It is not to pursue phantom after phan-
tom, like airy bubbles, bursting in the grasp. Nor is it to torture inven-
tion after invention, in contriving expedients to keep animal joy alive,
till the palled sense recoils, and refuses the hated load ! No, says the
wise Solomon, who spoke from experience, and had sought pleasure and
happiness through every avenue of life — no, says he — "Thou mayest re-
joice, O young man, and thy heart may cheer thee in the days of thy
youth, whilst thou walkest in the ways of thy heart; but for all these
things, know that God will bring thee into judgment" * — yea, certainly
judgment in another world, and probably judgment in this — for if we
take a step among the sons and daughters of worldly pleasure, though
all seems so gay and joyous without, yet how different if we could look
within ! What distraction, weakness and dissipation of thought? What
fretfulness, jealousies and heart-burnings of disappointed pride, dim-
ming the fair eye of fairest beauty? What incumbrances of fortune,
what embarrassments of business, what shame, remorse and painful re-
flections for neglected duties and deserted families; only to be avoided
by suppressing or drowning the voice of reason, conscience and religion
by a speedy return to the round of giddy revel, till at last health and
fame and the fair paternal inheritance are shipwrecked at their feet. I
tremble to speak the rest. What can we behold, then, but wretchedness
complete? "Ancestors disgraced, posterity ruined; behind, nothing
but guilt and shame, and before, nothing but inextricable misery! ..."

The true pleasures, the sacred, substantial never-fading bliss of all who
are born into this world — high and low, old and young, is to exert the
first efforts of their reason, guided by religion and revelation, to con-
sider for what end they were sent into it, and to discharge their part in
this life faithfully, seeking to prepare, and not afraid to take their de-
parture for a better, always bearing in mind that the short and transient
now bears on its fleeting wing an eternity of bliss or woe.

Let no age or condition of life thrust these serious truths from the
heart. Trust not to your youth or strength, ye whom I now more im-
mediately address. Look but a few months back, and consider how

*Eccl. xi. 9.

390 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

many of your age have in that short period been called to an eternal
world, and what a mournful cry would have been heard, what earnest
calls to repentance and sorrow for time misspent would have resounded
through this city, had it pleased God then to withdraw the veil, and
permit them to behold their sudden destiny.

Ye sons of pleasure, ye who glory in your health and strength, ^\■ho
laugh at sobriety, temperance and chastity, who count many days to
come, and set death not only at a distance, but even at defiance — if
any such can indeed remain among us after the late awful warnings —
think of these truths and suppose it possible, nay probable, that on
some day, not far distant, you may be called upon with all your unre-
pented sins about you, laid gasping in the burning heat of a mortal fever,
and make your shameful exit, a martyr to false pleasure, under the
dreadful curse which heaven has entailed upon intemperance.

With the impression of these truths, leaving the devotees of pleasure
and worldly joys among the young and gay for the present, I shall pro-
ceed in my next discourse to estimate the bliss of those of higher ranks
and ages, hoping the young also, if they hope for rank and age, will
continue among the number of patient hearers. Amen !

The next sermon was preached December 12th, 1793, on the
day which we have already spoken of as that for which Dr. Smith
drew a Proclamation at the request of Governor Mifflin, appoint-
ing it a day of general humihation, thanksgiving and prayer for
the public deliverance from the rage of the late calamity.

The text, which the preacher remarks is changed for the day's
solemnity, while the subject is not changed, is from Psalm Ixxviii.
verse 34, passim to verse 50 :

When He slew them, then they sought Him ; and they returned, and inquired early
after God : and they remembered that God was their Rock, and the High God
their Redeemer. Nevertheless, they did but flatter Him with their mouth, and they
lied unto him with their tongues : For their heart was not right with Him, neither were
they steadfast in His covenant. They turned back and tempted God — they remembered
not His hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy. Wherefore He
cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath and indignation and trouble, by send-
ing evil angels among them. He made a way to his anger, and spared not their souls
from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence.

"That there is a particular as well as a general providence," the
preacher remarks in this discourse, "over the affairs of individual
men, as well as whole nations; and that the Almighty holds their
fate subject to his own controlling power, and weighs it in the
tremendous balance of his unerring wisdom and justice, is a truth

1793] ^^'^^' ^yiLLIAM SMITH, D. D. 39 1

which will not be denied by any man who professes to believe in
the existence of God."

"In vain," he continues, "are we assembled on this solemn da}-,
if it might be considered by any that the civil ordinance which
convokes us is only a political engine or device to awe and con-
trol the vulgar mind, and not a certain unequivocal proof 'that, as
a people, we acknowledge a God over all ; supreme, almighty, and
enjoying all perfections.' It may be hoped, then," he proceeds,
" that the threshold of this holy place has not been profaned this
day by the unhallowed step of a man or a woman who doth not
believe in the heart, as well as approach to confess with the lips,
'that there is a God who governs the affairs of his creatures in this
world, and that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ment were graciously given, by his divine inspiration and authority,
to guide us in the right way through the intricate path of life and
the mazes of a mysterious Providence.'

"The dealings of the Almighty, therefore," he adds, "with a
people who acknowledge (as we do) the sovereign and uncon-
trollable power of God's special as well as general providence, in
ordering the affairs of men, will be a fit subject of our present
meditations; and the more to be chosen, as we shall have for our
guide a history authenticated on the records of Holy Scripture."

The preacher then traces the history of the Jews, upon which
his text, as he remarks, yields a prominent and irrefragable com-
mentary, as well as a striking similitude to our own history in
many great and leading circumstances.

He notes that the Jews had for many }^ears been without a gov-
ernment of their own, and sojourned in a foreign land, reduced to
a condition no better than that of the worst and most degraded
slaves; until, at last, the Almighty had compassion on their mis-
eries, and by the hand of Moses delivered them from the rod of
Pharaoh, and conducted them through the waves of the Red Sea,
and a perilous wilderness, to the land promised to their forefather
Abraham and his seed forever.* Like the Jews, our fathers were
conducted by the hand of God through a perilous ocean, and
penetrated into a wilderness to hew out for themselves settlements
and improve them into a Canaan for the benefit of their posterity.

■" See Gen. xiii. 14, and xxvi. 4, 5.

392 LIFE AA'D CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/93

By the arm of the Almighty, while they were yet a small people,
they were protected from surrounding dangers — the savages of the
wilderness became their friends, and they grew up and multiplied
into a great and prosperous people. How far we had followed the
example of the Jews, in our backslidings and forgetfulness of the
mercies of God, after wc became a nation, would appear from a
brief statement of their conduct, after they became a nation, in the
promised land. This history the preacher then traces.

"The Chronicles of their kings, rulers and judges were a stand-
ing testimony," says the preacher, "of their ingratitude and for-
getfulness of God, their inattention to his providence and neglect
of amendment; continuing hardened in their iniquity amidst his
various judgments and visitations, intended in mercy and long-
suffering to lead them to reformation. The prophecies of their
prophets — were they not all to the like purpose ? Either filled
with denunciations of judgments upon their apostasy from God,
promises of forgiveness upon their repentance and amendment, or
threatening of total ruin and destruction, unless they turned from
the evil of their ways, to do that which is lawful and right!

"Many and various," he adds, "were the judgments inflicted
on this people by the hand of Providence, for the punishment of
their transgressions; but the four sorest, in extreme cases, when
they became wholly hardened in their iniquity, were 'the Sword
and the Famine, and the noisome Beast (to infest a desolate land),
and the Pestilence, to cut off from it (by one dreadful visitation)
both man and beast.' *

"The first mentioned of those four sore judgments, the sword,
hath been sent," he observes, " upon us not only by the great
nation from which our fathers and many of ourselves originated,
but many a time likewise by the savage of the wilderness around
us." And giving way to an expression of Federal politics, and
to ancient dislike of France, now under Jacobin rule, more dan-
gerous than in the days of any Louis, he adds :

Nor is it foreign to our purpose, on this solemn day, to contemplate
the possibility, and even probability, of a sword against us from another
great nation, once gratefully caressed, and never ungratefully offended,
by us as a people.

* Ezck. xiv. 21.

1793] ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 393

Whether the great nation last mentioned hath in truth meditated any
measures inimical to our liberty and independence, it would be wrong
to pronounce absolutely in this sacred place. But we are justified in
declaring our apprehensions and fears on this head ; encouraged and
invited, as that nation hath been, to the attempt, by the wild principles
and restless conduct of their partisans here, impatient of all rule and
authority, always seeking innovations, and never content long with any
frame of government.

From the second and third of the sore evils by which the Jews
were sometimes punished, namely : the Famine and the noisome
Beast, and blast on the herbage and fruits of the earth, promotive
of famine, the Almighty had been graciously pleased hitherto to
spare us.

The fourth and last sore evil, the Pestilence, had indeed been
permitted, or ordained, by Providence to visit our metropolis, and
some others of the great towns and cities of the United States ;
but, in the present year, with a degree of seventy and extensive
calamity never experienced before. " Blessed be God," he says,
"its rage is now graciously stayed, leaving us, indeed, in copious
tears, to the memory of departed friends and relatives." "And, oh ! "
he adds, " let not those tears be too soon dried up, without deep
meditation and serious improvement of the warnings given us."

After a reference in several particulars to the history of the
Jews, the preacher says :

What history, ancient or modern, can exhibit a narration so concise
and dignified, so marked with authentic testimony of the special inter-
position of Go 1, in his wise providence, to punish whole nations,
rulers as well as people, even in this world, for the chastisement of their
sins, and for their reformation and amendment?

What has been already stated gives the fullest sanction to this day's
solemnity, and leads us directly to our main business and duty upon the
great occasion, namely: the most serious consideration and meditation
upon our own ways and works, and the improvement which, as a Chris-
tian people, it becomes us to make, of our deliverance from the late
awful calamity with which it pleased Almighty God, in his sovereign
wisdom, to afflict this city and its vicinity.

The means of improvement pointed out and recommended by public
authority,* and sanctioned by the voice and word of God, are :

* See an abstract of the Proclamation, p. 378.

394 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

The acknowledgment of his divine power and goodness, in the deepest humiliation
and abasement of soul ; the sincerest confession of our manifold sins and transgressions
of our duty; contrition and sorrow for the neglect and forgetfulness of God's former
mercies; earnest repentance and supplications for forgiveness, joined to sincere pur-
poses and steadfast resolutions of future amendment and obedience to his holy will
and laws.

Thus humbled, prepared and melted into love and gratitude, by a
due sense of "God's mercies and long-sufferings to us ward (He not
being willing that any should perish, but that all should come to re-
pentance*)," our prayers, praises and thanksgivings this day, we trust,
will ascend as a sweet incense and sacrifice, holy and acceptable before
the throne of his grace. But, without this preparation of the heart, if
we could pray and praise and give thanks with the tongue and voice of
angels, it would all be vain and empty — nothing more than as sounding
brass, or the tinkling cymbal. f

In this preparatory part of our work, therefore, let us in good earnest
enter into our own hearts, examine their plagues, as in the presence of
the Almighty, and not deceive ourselves, or think we can deceive him
(like the people in our text) by "flattering him with our mouth, and
lying unto him with our tongues, while our hearts are not right with
him, and we are not steadfast in his covenant," made with our
fathers, nor in our purpose of future obedience to his holy laws and
commandments.

But, more especially, this becomes the duty of those who appear as
the preachers of righteousnes.s— the ministers and messengers of God
(of every degree and denomination) — to stand forth, awfully impressed
with the weight of their subject, and not to be afraid of the faces of
men, but to speak boldly, even to authorities and dignities and
powers; not to deal treacherously, or seek "to heal the hurt of the
daughter of God's people slightly, with the enticing words of man's
eloquence, 'saying. Peace, Peace, when there is no peace; '| but to
probe the wounds to the bottom, by means of ' the word of God, which
is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.' " ||

But although it falls to our lot, in preaching repentance, on this great
occasion, more immediately to the inhabitants of the city of Philadel-
phia, who were among the primary and chief sufferers under the late
awful visitation of the Almighty ; and although great and manifold are
the sins for which, in his righteous judgments. He might have inflicted
this calamity upon us; yet it ought not to be considered that it was for
our reproof and sins only, but those of United America, that the Lord
chose us as among the first to speak to in his fierce anger. The appli-

*3 Peter iii. 9. f l Cor. xiii. I, J Jcr. vi. 14. || Ilcb. iv. 12,

1793] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 395

cation of our Saviour's doctrine, preaching repentance, upon the pun-
ishment of the Galileans and others,* may be allowed here.

"'Suppose ye,' says our Lord, 'that those Galileans, whose blood
Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, were sinners above all the Galileans,
because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the
Tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners
above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but except
ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Thus warranted by the preaching and doctrine of the great Author
of our salvation, to consider particular punishments as general warnings,
the remainder of my discourse will be addressed to the whole body of
citizens, rulers as well as people, in these United States. And to this
I consider myself as more especially called, being honored with an
audience so numerous and respectable, among whom I behold the
Father of these United States, and many other characters of the first
impression, Avhose exemplary virtue and piety must strike deep into the
future prosperity and glory of our rising American empire — an empire
which, under the protection and favor of divine Providence, has laid the
foundation of all that can adorn and dignify man in the present world,
and guide him forward in preparations for the acquisition and enjoy-
ment of glory, honor and immortality in a world to come !

The preacher now applies the teachings which the Scriptural
history of the Jewish nation gives as to our own country. And,
heaven knows, if my ancestor's remarks were applicable to the
United States in the apostolic days of Washington, one thousand
times more applicable are they in these licentious and degraded
times !

Keeping in view, therefore, the history of the people of Israel, and
taking up the parallel between God's providence and dealing with re-
spect to them and ourselves, I may be allowed to recall to your mind
those times when our ancestors were but a small people in this land ;
how the Almighty smoothed their passage to it through the dangers of
the stormy ocean ; how he planted and supported them in a wilderness,
and made the savage beasts, and men more savage than they, who were
able in a moment to destroy them, to become their friends ; command-
ing the solitary places to be glad around them, and the desert to rejoice
and blossom as the rose.

I might describe to you the progress of their civilization and happi-
ness, and show, that having brought the pure Word of God in their
hand, the legacy of the Gospel of Christ as their chief riches, they were

* Luke xiii. 1-5.

39^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

not ashamed of its doctrines, nor to acknowledge the goodness of the
Almighty, by promoting the ordinances of his religion; by making and
executing laws for its support, and for the orderly administration of jus-
tice, constantly striving, by the purity of their lives, the simplicity of
their manners, their love of truth and of one another, to give an ex-
ample to their children of their obedience to the divine laws and their
zeal for the prosperity of their country.

And when thus, for more than a hundred years, they had been pro-
ceeding from strength to strength, and flourishing under this simplicity
of manners and regard to true religion, I might lead your attention to
what the Lord did for us, their posterity, when we were called to
struggle through blood and to contend for our dearest and most sacred
rights. How numerous were the instances of his divine favor and in-
terposition, in the establishment of our civil liberties and independence,
assuring to us and our posterity every civil blessing, together with the free
exercise of our holy religion, according to the rights of conscience,
under a government of laws and a constitution of our own happy choice,
there being none to make us afraid.

But what has been our sense or improvement of those numerous and
invaluable blessings which the Almighty, with so liberal a hand, hath
even heaped upon us? Let us not be alarmed at the question, nor
shrink from the answer.

May it not be asked, then, of what avail is it that we boast of our
frames of government, and that we are blessed with civil liberty, accord-
ing to our highest conceptions of the name, if we know not how to
respect the laws, and to distinguish liberty from licentiousness? If there
remain those among us who, from pride, self-interest and the lust of
power, cannot rest contented with a wise and efficacious system of joint
government; but still pursuing something new, and adapted to their
own phantasies, seek rather no government at all, or a government of
such variant and discordant particles as to produce a Babel of confu-
sion, rather than a Jerusalem, or city of God, happy and united within
itself!

What avails it that God hath given us peace with all foreign states
and powers, if with difficulty we are to be restrained from rushing vol-
untarily into the horrid scenes of blood and devastation in the old
world from which God hath graciously set us at a distance; and where
our feeble strength Avould scarcely weigh a grain in either balance, but
might inevitably involve us in self-destruction?

What avails it that we are delivered from one late and great calamity,
if we are not delivered from sin, which is the greatest calamity of all?

What avails it that God hath blessed us with a fruitful country, a
happy climate and bountiful seasons, if, instead of industry, moderation
of mind, thankfulness to heaven and a due improvement of His bles-
sings, we are sapping the foundations of all our future happiness as a

1/93] ^i^^^- JVILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 397

people, by luxury, pride, idleness, dissipation and the eager pursuit of
false pleasure, with its never-failing attendants: inlidelity and the scan-
dalous neglect of religion, and profanation of the Lord's day!

This was one of the crying sins of the Jews, for which the severest
judgments were denounced against them: "I saw, in those days, in
Judah," says Nehemiah, "some treading wine presses on the Sabbath,
and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the
Sabbath day. And there dwelt also men of Tyre therein, who brought
fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath, to the children
of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of
Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and pro-
fane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God
bring all tliis evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet you bring more
wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath."*

But, notwithstanding all these judgments, this evil continued among
that people until our Saviour's days, who testified his indignation against
it by entering the temple, and, having made a scourge of small cords,
he drove them all out that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and poured
out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables. f

But what is all this to what we now behold? — the mere selling the
necessaries of life and the exchanging of money, which although re-
stricted by our laws, evils of a more aggravated nature are tolerated, or
at least not restrained or corrected ? The Sabbath by many is turned
into their chief day of idleness, recreation, parties of pleasure, sinful
sports and diversion, gaming, feasting, rioting and all manner of diver-
sion! Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not
my soul be avenged on such a people as this ?

Oh, ye rulers and judges of the land ! ye masters and heads of fam-
ilies, among whom, blessed be God, we have yet illustrious examples
of those who honor God's holy name and the places of his worship ! I
know you will bear with the expostulations, which the faithful discharge
of my duty requires on this solemn day !

If the Jews, when under the government of God himself, and es-
pecially instructed by his inspired messengers and prophets, came to
humble themselves under liis judgments, and to implore his mercy and
renew their covenant of obedience with Him; I say, if then they thought
it their duty to testify their sincerity with an oath, and to swear with a
loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets,
"That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of their fathers, whether
small or great, man or woman, should be put to death" — and if this
punishment was inflicted on those who continued in idolatry, which
was in some sort the acknowledgment of a god, or gods, although flilse

* Neh. xiii. 15-18. f John ii. 14, 15.

398 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/93

ones, what punishment can be due to those who not only discountenance
and refuse the worsliip of the true God, but openly profane, blaspheme,
or deny His holy name?

I know, my brethren, the nature of persecution, and, I trust, the nature
also of that civil and religious liberty which our happy constitution in-
sures to all. But the abuse of privileges, and that licentiousness, civil
or religious, which dissolves the bands of society and tends to the de-
struction both of soul and body, are certainly not the objects of tolera-
tion under any government. If it were possible for men of the most
abundant estate, or in the higher stations of life, and who claim the un-
restrained right of doing what they please with their own ; I say, if it
were possible for them to indulge every luxury, folly, vanity and vice,
which the corrupt heart and understanding could devise (taking their
chance of another world) ; I say again, if this were possible, without
poisoning society by their fatal example in the present world, there
might be some plea for their liberty of doing with their own fortune,
and with their souls and bodies, according to the lusts of their own will.
But would tliis consist with the dignity of a man, or the exercise of his
rational faculties, even if he could believe that there was no worlcKljutN^
the present; and that, after the longest life spent in the varnties here on )
earth, he was to lie down in the dust, like the beasts that perislvamL ''
that the trump of God would never rouse his sleeping ashes to a future
judgment? No! and I am well persuaded that I do not at present
address a man of this belief. On the contrary, I rather trust, that there
is not a person who now hears me that does not believe he was sent into
this world for nobler purposes than merely to vegetate, to rot, and to
die. Wherefore, then, let us all strive to fill the sphere assigned us
with dignity and diligence. If the supreme Wisdom has called us to
the inferior stations of bodily labor, we are therewith to be content. It
is honorable and subservient to virtue; for not the meanest calling but
hath a blessing promised of God, and not the most exalted but hath its
cares, its toils and temptations. Again, if, by the indulgence of heaven,
we are released from the necessity of bodily labor, yet not less is the
sphere of duty, nor less the joy attending the faithful discharge of it.
There are liberal and ingenuous employments suited to the highest parts
and estate — Go, order your affairs aright. Train up your ch.ildren in
the fear of God. Be an example of righteousness to your household
and to society. Husband your time and your fortune for the public
good. Minister out of your abundance to the necessities of others. Be
hospitable; be kind; be solicitous for the advancement of justice and
virtue, in all which you may be serious without gloom, cheerful without
levity, and active without dissipation. For our religion enjoins no duty
but what is for our own welfare, and denies no indulgence but what
would cross us in our way heavenwards.

True it is, that by the precepts of this religion men blest with fortune

1793] ^'^^'- ^VILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 399

and abilities to serve their country in its highest offices are forbidden to
waste their prime of life and talents in scenes of dissipation and folly;
they are exhorted to spurn from their bosom and their company the
profane talker, the debauchee, the gamester, the sharper ! But what is
all this, except to lead persons, born for worthy actions, to the noblest
twofold saving — a saving of time from degrading and unworthy conver-
sation (which might be better employed in the improvement of their
own faculties, and in planning for the public weal) ; and a saving of
expense (which might redeem a virtuous family from distress, and make
the widow's heart sing for joy).

To stimulate us, therefore, in such fair and noble pursuits, let us
always keep in view the great objects that lie before us — the career of
glory to which we are called as a people. Let us remember that it was
not by idle hands, nor by reclining in the lap of indolence, nor by the
pursuit of false pleasure, or vanities unsuited to their condition, that our
honorable ancestors subdued a wilderness, and left this goodly heritage
to their posterity ! nor is it by means like these that we can transmit
it safe and flourishing to our children and children's children.

It is always too soon when a people, even arrived at the meridian of
their glory, forget those virtues by which they were raised into im-
portance; but for us, who have not yet half-way reached our noon; for
us, whose sun of glory has but just raised his head above the cloudy
mountains ; for us, I say, to relax one jot of our industry and virtue, or
to loiter in the morning of our day — what sluggards might we be
deemed ! Above all, let us do away the evil thing, and check that
growing indifference to religion which is spreading, by fatal example,
even from many of our high places to the lowest ranks of our people,
and brings us under the reproach of Solomon, when he cries out:
" Wherefore is there a price set in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he hath no heart to it? "* " If Christ had not come and spoken
to us, we had not known sin; but now we have no cloak for sin."f
'•And better had it been for us never to have kn®wn the way of right-
eousness, than, after we have known it, to turn from the holy command-
ment delivered unto us."| Forbid it, gracious God, that we should
ever thus turn ourselves back from the truths made known to us in
Christ Jesus ! Our sins and ingratitude to thee, our great Creator,
having been in many respects like those of the Jews, let us follow their
best example, and not only resolve, but swear, as they did in the days
of good king Asa, that we Avill henceforth support the honor of our
Christian calling, nor suffer among us those who deny the being of their
Creator, who are enemies to the religion of their country, and trample
under foot its holy ordinances. Let us swear to amend our lives, to
walk for the future in true holiness before God ; to venerate and obey

* Prov. xvii. 16. f John xv. 22. + 2 Peter ii. 21,

400 JJFE AXD CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE [l793

his law:;, and tlie laws of our country; to support its constitution, and
defend our religious and civil liberties; to seek for health and wealth in
honest labor and virtue; to attend to the right education of our chil-
dren; to encourage and promote those arts and sciences which tend to
rear up good men and good citizens; to disseminate human happiness,
and to distinguish the civilized man from the barbarous savage, firmly
resolving to adorn our station, in all the relations of life, whether as
good magistrates, good fathers, good husbands, good brothers, faithful
friends, and, in a word, as honest men and useful citizens.

Are you ready to swear to this? Yea, I trust, you have sworn already,
and that we may now lift up our voice in songs of gratitude to God for
our full deliverance from the late calamity, and that our prayers, praises
and thanksgivings will be as a sweet incense, holy and acceptable before
Him!

" Wherefore, O Lord God, who hath thus wounded us for our trans-
gressions, by thy late heavy visitation, but now in the midst of judgment,
remembering mercy, hast redeemed our souls from the jaws of death, we
offer unto thy fatherly goodness ourselves, our souls and bodies, which
thou hast thus delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto Thee; always
praising and magnifying Thy mercies in the midst of the church, through
Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen.

One of the finest of the series of discourses of which we arc now
speaking is one upon the final destruction of the world. Our
author goes over the whole of the sacred Scriptures, showing from
the Old Testament, as from the New, that fire, a universal con-
flagration, is to be the terrible agency of the great Jehovah in this
awful consummation of all things. We have said elsewhere that
Dr. Smith was not learned in the dogmatic or polemical writings
of the Church of England. Indeed he was not so in that class of
writings of any church. His tastes, whether natural or cultivated,
did not incline to them; and his office of Provost did not call upon
him to make an enforced acquisition of any special sort of lore, in
oppugnancy to his natural and cultivated tastes. He was not a
teacher of theology. But if he lacked anything of fulness here,
he more than supplied it by a thorough knowledge of every part
of the Holy Scriptures ; the result, it must have been, of early,
long and continuous reading of them. The scrnion of which we
now speak, and which we commend to the reading of any one
who possesses Maxwell's edition of Dr. Smith's v.'orks, is an illus-
tration as full as any other of Dr. Smith's discourses of what wc
say. It is a discourse from which wc cannot well make extracts.

1/93] ■^^■^' ^VILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4OI

Though having fine outbreaks of eloquence and descriptive power,
it is as a whole that it is most remarkable, and remarkable chiefly
for the evidence which it gives of its author's wide and close read-
ing of the Scriptures, of his capacity to arrange his Biblical lore
with strength and effect, to bear upon his general proposition.

We pass, therefore, in conclusion, to a sermon upon the joys of
heaven; not that it is his greatest sermon, but because it is one
from which we can most easily make extracts. After some words
of preface he begins :

These joys are now to be our ravishing theme. But although we may
feel the consolations to be derived from the prospects and hopes of in-
heriting them, yet how shall we paint or describe that which "Eye*
hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man
to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for them that love
him ; but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit ; for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Some descri[)tion
of them may, however, be given from the experience of what gives gen-
uine pleasure or pain to us in this world, and especially from some pas-
sages of the inspired writers in sacred Scripture who were favored with
certain visions or short glimpses of the beatific bliss and glory.

The Apostle f has said many things generally concerning t!\e happi-
ness of heaven, as far as human language can go, as, for example, he
describes it, in comparison with all we have seen, or can see in this
world, as " a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." " For
our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the
things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen
are eternal." Here, then, is the great distinction. If the things which
men deem most valuable in this world were to be held forever, they
would be content to enjoy them here forever; but when they know that
they are perishable and temporal here, and that in heaven they will be
lasting and eternal, wise men must soon be determined in their choice.

Howsoever far any description of the joys of heaven may fall short
of the truth, it is hoped the souls of men may be animated by the pros-
pect of enjoying them, and be thereby persuaded to cast off every evil
habit that would render them unfit for that holy place, or stop them- in
their glorious progress thither ; for these joys are too spiritual and sub-
lime— too full of glory and goodness to be ever tasted by a man who
carries with him a heart wedded to this world and polluted with its
wickedness. It was the punishment inflicted upon Adam's first trans-

" I Cor. ii. 9, 10. Isa. iv. 4. \2 Cor. iv. 17; tS..

26

402 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793

gression, that " the* very ground was cursed for his sake; that in sor-
row he and his posterity should eat of it all the days of their lives; that
it should bring forth thorns and thistles; that in sorrow and in the
sweat of the face they should eat bread all the days of their lives until
their return to the groimd, from whence they were taken ; for dust we
are and unto dust we must return." "All things here," says Solomon, f
"are full of labor; man cannot utter it." "Man is born unto trou-
ble," saith Job,;}; "as the sparks fly upward." But in Christ's kingdom,
where sin cannot enter and divine righteousness must forever prevail,
there shall be a glorious and eternal rest from labor, both of body and
soul. There shall be no more anxieties nor cares concerning the future,
nor strifes, nor frauds, nor violence concerning the present ; but, instead
thereof, there shall be perpetual tranquillity of enjoyment ; attentive to
the voice of God, the harmony of the spirits of just men made perfect
and of the church triumphant in heaven.

And now, first, with respect to those who labor and are heavy-laden
in this world, and who may be ready to sink under their burden, heaven
is described as a rest from their labor. St. John, in the Revelation,
saith, " Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, for they rest from
their labors ;"§ "and there remaineth (saith St. Paul) a rest for the
people of God. Let us therefore strive to enter into that rest ; for it is
a glorious rest, saith the prophet Isaiah."

2. The happiness of heaven is also figured to us by the metaphor of
peace.

" Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that
man is peace. "j| " The righteous are taken from the evil to come, that
they may enter into peace."

This peace, to men who are born at enmity with God and all good-
ness, must be unspeakably desirous. To have our consciences quieted
against future apprehensions of sin, disobedience and punishment ; to
have our souls purified from all the fell passions and inclinations of de-
generate nature, from malice, anger, wrath, clamor, evil speaking ; to
have our hearts opened to the divine impressions and inexpressible
sweets of love and friendship, which unite the spirits of the just and
call them, with the accordant voice of joy and happiness, to pour forth
before the throne of God their unwearied anthems of adoration and
praise. This is happiness, indeed, to all who love peace and seek for
relief from discord, strife and care.

3. Again, the Scriptures, addressing the devotees of worldly riches
and wealth, represent the joys of heaven as a treasure — a treasure which
cannot Idb consumed, but shall ever abound and flourish — "a treasure
wliich neither moth nor rust can corrupt ; which thieves cannot break
through, nor steal.; which cannot take wings and fly away in our need,

* Gen. iii. 17, iS, 19. f Eccles. i. 8. JJobv. 7. ^ Rev. xiv. 13. || Ps. xxxvii. 37.

1793] ^^^ WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 403

and which shall remain our portion and inheritance forever." For, in
the "new Jerusalem we shall drink and be satisfied out of the rivers
that flow by the throne of God, whose waters are pure as crystal, and
shall eat the fruit of the tree of life, whose leaves heal the nations."*
Some there are, likewise, whose whole lives are devoted to the pursuit
of what tliey call pleasure. Now, to draw their attention, the happiness
of heaven is called "pleasures for evermore," nay, rivers of pleasure,
which do not cloy the taste, enfeeble the body, unnerve the very soul,
and generally terminate in poverty, shame, disease and death ; but tlie
pleasures of heaven, when we shall have put on immortality, instead of
weakening and wearying the powers of the soul, more and more inspire
it with renewed vigor, exalting it to the strength of angels, and a taste
for happiness as boundless and sublime as are the employments in which
we shall be engaged and the objects with which we shall be forever sur-
rounded.f

4. There are others again v/ho, in this life, consider power and do-
minion and worldly grandeur as the supreme happiness.

To them, also, the bliss of heaven is represented as glory, honor,
power and dominion eternal. " The upright shall have dominion over
the wicked in the morning of the resurrection — in that everlasting king-
dom which Christ shall establish, wherein they only who are rich in faith
shall be the joyous heirs." No outward enemy sliall ever be able to rob
or despoil the righteous of this honor and dominion, to which they shall
be exalted with the angels on high, in subordination to the King of
kings, to execute his high commands and to be hi 3 ministers of love
through the infinite bounds of his creation. We shall then have true
glory and dominion, eclipsing beyond comparison all the little pageantry
of what we call glory here. For we shall receive from Christ himself a
crown of life and diadem of glory. The veil of our present weakness
and ignorance shall be taken away; we shall behold with open face, and
in beatific vision, the glory of the living God ; and not only behold,
but be changed into the image of him, and advanced from glory to
glory, through endless duration.

But we must proceed a little farther in considering the circumstances
of this heavenly glory, to which wc are called to aspire. And it con-
sists not only in the perfection to which we ourselves shall be advanced,
but in the place, the company and the employ to which we shall be
admitted — even unto Mount Zion, the city of the living God — the
heavenly Jerusalem — the company of the innumerable hosts of angels ;
the delightful employment of rising and mixing and joining in their
songs of praise, in the instruction to be derived from their conversation,
whose faculties are enlarged beyond our present comprehension ; who

* Rev. xxii. i, 2.

f See a fine passage in Cudworlh's " Intellectual System," which led to this thought.

404 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l793

are filled with the knowledge of great and wonderful things, each of
them happy in himself and rejoicing in the happiness of each other.

If, therefore, love and friendship complete; if rest and peace undis-
turbed ; if treasure and riches which cannot decay; if power and do-
minio-n secure from every foe — if these can constitute a happy society,
with the everlasting God, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,
and the blessed Spirit of grace ruling at the head of all, and supplying
and diffusing new irradiations of love and goodness, and perfection
without measure, to all eternity — if this be happiness. But I am lost in
the contemplation and description of its immensity — in the joy to be
derived from the vision of God, the displays of his love, the fellowship
of spirits so highly exalted, the raptures of converse and union, with
intelligences so perfect and enlarged, so full of all that is great and good
and heavenly, having the whole works of God, and all the ways and
wonders of his Providence, which we now so little understand, as the
everlasting objects of their investigation and praise.

"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have
pleasure therein. How manifold are his works — in v.-isdom hath he
made them all." "This is the language of good men, even in this
world." But how s-mall a portion of his ways and works do we now
understand ! In the blessed world above it will not be so. Here, in-
deed, we may examine a little corner of this little speck of earth ; we
may strive hardly to analyze a plant, a flower, an animated substance,
and think to explain the laws of vegetable and animal motion. We may
assist our dim sight to view some planets and stars, which we call distant
and that traverse a small portion of universal space; but all that fills the
immeasurable tracts beyond lies hid from our keenest search.

Yet, still, if that little, which is subjected to our limited view, appears
so great, so beautiful, and wonderfully grand and harmonious to an in-
quisitive mind, with what rapture shall we be filled when, with faculties
more enlarged, we shall be enabled to survey all the works of God, to
have for our instructors and associates the angels that have surrounded
his throne from the morning of the creation ; to teach us on what the
foundations of the earth were laid ; from whence are the springs of the
sea, and the treasures of snow and hail ; what kindles the lightning's
blaze, and gives the thunder its loud and solemn voice; to count all the
stars and all the suns and planets that fill infinite space ; to understand
the laws by which they are balanced and suspended and guided in their
unerring revolutions ; and, when understanding this, to sing with those
morning angels of joy, as they did at the first creation, as we behold
world after world filled with hap])iness ; to take the harp, in company
with those that have overcome, and join in the song of Moses, the ser-
vant of God, and song of the Lamb — "Great and marvellous are thy
works. Lord God Almighty ! Just and truj are thy ways, thou King of
kings."

1793] ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4O.5

My Christian brethren ! — candidates for eternity ! — leave me not yet.
Stretch your imaginations still forward to greater objects and a more
ample field. If such be the joy in contemplating God's works as in a
glass, by reflected vision, what must it be to contemplate and draw near
to himself, when we shall be permitted and enabled to look on his re-
splendent countenance, to behold him as he is, and to see even as we are
seen ? What will it be to rise from the contemplation of created and
material worlds to the world of spirits, the history of their achievements,
and all the changes, revolutions and improvements of their condition ?
But on this subject I dare not venture a further sentiment that might
draw us from the contemplation of that final happiness, purchased for
us through the blood of our Redeemer — the consummation of which
happiness will consist in the pure vision and enjoyment of God himself,
who, if he is so good "to those whose hearts are perfect towards him on
this earth that his eyes run to and fro, to make himself strong for them;
if he withholds no good thing from those that love him in this world ;
if he openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every thing that
liveth," even where sin is mixed with our best services; how great will
be the happiness to see and feel his goodness when we are exalted into
his presence; to taste of his love flowing freely, when there is no sin to
come between our souls and his gracious countenance; "when we are
brought fully to understand and taste the depth of the riches, both of
his wisdom and knowledge, and also of his goodness and long suffering;
who brought us out of the mire and clay of our sins ; who set our feet
upon the rock of his promises, and ordered our goings, and comforted
us on our way, until he brought us into his own holy presence?"

Let me, then, exhort you to dwell often in the meditations of those
joys which I have endeavored to describe ; and whilst our eyes are thus
lifted towards heaven and glory, all that would fetter and bind us down
to the vain enjoyment of this world will disappear. Let us bear our
view constantly forward to that time when, washed and made white in
the blood of the Lamb, we shall stand before the throne of God and
serve him day and night in his Temple; when our happiness shall be
complete and without end; " when we shall neither hunger nor thirst
any more ; neither shall the sun light on us nor any heat ; for the Lamb
which is in the midst of the throne shall feed us, and shall conduct us to
living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe all tears from our eyes."

In treating of the awful mysteries, through which our text has led us,
and especially what relates to future events, and the changes and revo-
lutions in the destiny of man, which are yet to come, we may have erred
in part; and we can never be secure against error, in attempting the
explanation of those mysteries which Providence has been pleased to
open to us, as yet only in part; and which will never be fully under-
stood, till unveiled to us by the light, to which we shall be admitted in
the world to come.

4o6 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793

" In the meantime, let U3 faithfnlly, and with good conscience, ac-
cording to our best understanding, strive to retain the form of sound
words and doctrine, concerning the immortality of the soul; the resur-
rection of the dead, a judgment to come, the rewards and punishments
of a future life, over which Christ's throne will be established in ricrht-
eousness, and his kingdom and dominion be forever."

Tiie Christian religion has no fruits more precious than those which
sweeten our cup of affliction in life, exhilarate us to combat death, and
assure our hopes of a better world. Natural religion, and all the other
religions which have been professed among men, could go but a short
way even in teaching them how to live ; but in teaching them how to
die, there remained a dismal and dreadful blank. Before the Christian
revelation, death was only a leap into the dark, a wrench from the pre-
cincts of day, at which the astonished soul shuddered and recoiled.
But now the gospel lifts our eye to immortal scenes. It unlocks eter-
nity before us. It shows us a reconciled God, and Jesus the Mediator
seated on his right hand. It teaches, that through his merits, the just
shall live forever, passing from one degree of glory to another, and
entering still more deeply into the beatific vision and enjoyment of
God the Father, as their faculties are more and more enlarged and ex-
panded

And now, O blessed God ! Father, Son and Holy Ghost, guide and
assist us in our preparations for this celestial bliss ; and be our rock and
salvation through all the scenes we have to pass towards its attainment.
Amen !

These nine sermons are among the best of Dr. Smith's dis-
courses. They added to his fame already great. They exhibit
an intimate acquaintance with all parts of the Holy Scriptures :
and give evidence that his mental powers, with advancing years,
had in nowise decayed, but, as usually happens, where those
powers were originally good and where the moral principles and
conduct had been sound, only ripened and grew more worthy of
admiration and respect.

All these sermons, it is an agreeable fact for me to mention,
were preached by Dr. Smith not only gratuitously, but also with
the certainty that no pecuniary compensation would be received.
The desolation of the city, even after the plague had been stayed,
was, for a long time, great, and involved all pecuniary interests,
including those of the churches. Some of the principal parish-
ioners of the United Churches had died during the pestilence.
Universal leniency towards debtors was necessary, while the dc-

1794] HEV. WILLIAM SMirn, D. D. 407

mands upon the church funds for the persons reduced to want by
the death of fathers, brothers and friendly protectors, was greatly
increased. Dr. Smith, before preaching them, had been informed
that it was not in the power of the vestry to offer any expectation
of a reward : and he declared at once that he had no expectation
of any emolument ; and would cheerfully perform without pecu-
niary compensation his part of the duties required at the two
churches as should be agreed upon between him, the rector and
Dr. Blackwell.

CHAPTER LVni.

Dr. Smith Devotes Himself to Internal Improvement through the Union
Canal Scheme — His Half-brother, Thomas Smith, Appointed to the
Bench of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania — Death of John Penn —
Dr. Smith Preaches on the Subject of Itinerant Missions — Also at
Funeral of Col. Joseph Rudulph— Also before the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania — General Convention of 1795 — Consecration to the
Episcopate of South Carolina of Dr. Robert Smith — Dr. William
Smith Preaches the Coksecr.ation Sermon, also that of Edward Bass —
Occupied with the Proceedings of the Illinois and Ou.\chita Land
Companies, and with Introducing Supplies of Drinking Water into
Philadelphia — Presents a Bell to the County of Huntingdon for its
Court-House — Birth of Richard Penn Smith.

We have nothing of a striking or of a public character to record
for some time now in the life of Dr. Smith, and are compelled,
therefore, to give to the reader such small or fragmentary matters
as we can gather from Dr. Smith's memoranda.

Just before the breaking out of the Yellow Fever, he had been
devoting his attention to matters connected with the Union Canal
Scheme, in which he had largely interested himself, visiting the
several springs and waters, tributary to the canal, at their sources
and heights. He now sought, by working them out to their re-
sults, to give effect to his various studies and labors in this im-
portant public work.

His diary records, under date of January 31st, 1794, the ap-
pointment of his half-brother, the Hon. Thomas Smith,* to a seat
on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the State, an appointment

* For an account of Judge Smilli, see Appendix, No. VIII.

408 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/95

by which Dr. Smith seems to have been much gratified ; as he
may well have been by the credit wnth which this brother filled,
as he long continued to fill, this responsible and then, at least
when the tenure was for life, dignified position.

On the 9th of February he notes the death of his friend, the
Hon. John Penn,* at Pennsbury, Bucks county, Pennsylvania,
aged sixty-seven. Mr. Penn was buried in Christ Church, Phila-
delphia. Among the persons present at the funeral was the Prince
de Talleyrand ; at that time an exile in our country from France.

On the 6th of April, in the year 1795, Dr. Smith preached in
Christ Church, Philadelphia, a sermon from St. Mark, vi. 34, as
an introduction to a plan for the encouragement of itinerant
preachers or missionaries on the frontier settlements of the United
States, as agreed upon at a convention held in New York, in
September, 1792.

On the 7th of April he preached at the funeral of Colonel Joseph
Rudulph, at the Swedish church at Kingsessing.

This Joseph Rudulph was the father of Mrs. Ann Smith, wife
of William Moore Smith, Esq. He entered the army at the out-
break of the Revolution, took an active part in the South with
Lee, spent the winter of 1778 at Valley Forge, reached the rank
of colonel, and resigned his commission at the end of the war.
The account of the RudulpJi family, in the note below, is taken
from an old Bible belonging to the family.f

*This was not the Hon. John Penn, who had taken such an interest in Dr. Smith
and the college, in the years 1762-4. He was the eldest son of the Hon. Richard
Penn, and was born in England in 172S. He visited America in 1753 and also in
1773, and was the last proprietary governor. He married Ann Allen, daughter of the
Hon. William Allen, Chief-Justice of the Province. After the Revolution he retired
10 his seat at Pennsbury. His remains were subsequently transferred for interment to-
England. — Ed.

■\yokn Riichdp/i, born August 25th, 1719; died December loth, 1768.

Mary Rudulph, born August 13th, 1719; died March l6th, 1795.

The above were married January 20th, 1740, and had the following issue:

Joseph Rudulph (afterwards Colonel), born December 23d, 1741; died April 4th,

1795-

Jacob Rudulph, born May 28th, 1744; died March 14th, 1795.
Ann Rudulph, born November 12th, 1746.
John Rudu/ph, born June 3d, 1749; died September 3d, 1789.
Hannah Rudulph, iiorn June 6th, 1752.

Benjamin Rudulph, born May nth, 1762; died September 23d, 1762.
Colonel Joseph Rudulph married a Swedish lady liy the name Yocuin, and had issue:
Joseph.

T/95] I^E.V. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4O9

On St. John's day, the 24th of June, 1795, Dr. Smith preached
in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, before the Grand Lodge of
Communication. This was the last Masonic Sermon preached by
him. He seems to have given satisfaction to the fraternity, since
the minutes of the day record that after the discourse it was

Resolved, That the Committee of Arrangements be requested to wait
on our Reverend Brother, Dr. Smith, with the thanks of this Lodge, for
the discourse by him delivered on this day, and request the favor of a
copy of the same for publication, and that one thousand copies thereof
be printed at the expense of the Grand Lodge.

On the 8th of September, in this same year of 1795, the Gen-
eral Convention of the Episcopal Church met in Christ Church,
Philadelphia. Dr. Smith was unanimously chosen President.
Bishop Provoost preached the occasional sermon. At this con-
vention the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, who had been elected by the
church in South Carolina as their Bishop, was consecrated on
Sunday, September 13th. Dr. Smith (as he was requested to
do) preached the consecration sermon. On the next day it was
in convention

Resolved, unanunously, That the thanks of this House be presented
to the Rev. Dr. Smith for his sermon delivered at the consecration of
the Right Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, and that he be desired to furnish a
copy of the same to be printed.

The convention continued its sessions until the i8th of Sep-
tember, when it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this house be given to the President,
Dr. Smith, for his able and impartial management in his place.

Before the rising of the convention a standing committee was
appointed consisting of representatives from every State. Dr.
Smith was appointed to be its chairman, with power to call them
together.

During the year 1796 I find but little of interest in regard to
the subject of our biography. On Sunday, May 7th, he preached
in Christ Church, Philadelphia, upon the occasion of the conse-

Anti, born 1762; married William Moore Smith, and died 1846.

Elizabeth ; married Mr. Franks, of Reading, Pa.

y^cob,

Lydia, always lived with her sister, Mrs. Smith; died, unmarried, 1844.

4IO LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^799

cration of the Right Rev. Edward Bass, D.D., as Bishop of Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire. The reader will notice that this
was the third consecration of a Bishop in America, and Dr. Smith
preached on each occasion.

The latter part of the year found the hitherto healthy and vig-
orous subject of our memoir considerably broken in health. I
discover in it none of his correspondence and little of his manu-
script. He bemoans the loss of his friend Rittcnhouse, who had
died the 26th of June ; records the birth of a grandson (Samuel
Wemyss Smith, son of William Moore Smith), on the ist of Sep-
tember ; mentions the fact of his son William being elected Grand
Master of the Masons; and that the roof was burnt off the old
academy on Fourth street below Arch, on the night of Decem-
ber 30th.

I here, to some extent, lose sight of him for three years, during
which time he remained chiefly at the Falls of Schuylkill ; en-
gaged, I presume, in putting into order the title papers and maps
of his extensive landed estates in different parts of the Common-
wealth, and in making clear and intelligible accounts of what was
due him on the sales of them. During the year 1790 he gave to
the public a work in 8vo., entitled,

"An account of the Proceedings of the Illinois and Ouabache Land
Companies, in pursuance of their purchases made of the Independent
Natives, July 5th, 1773, and October i8th, 1775, with map of New
Jersey. ' '

This volume was printed in Philadelphia. He was also much
occupied with the subject of introducing water of the Schuylkill
river into Pliiladelphia, and in January, 1799, by request of the
Council of Philadelphia, he prepared and published a pamphlet on
this subject, entitled,

" Remarks on a Second Publication of B. Henry Latrobe, Engineer."
This was for distribution among the members of the Legislature.

In the same month of January, 1799, he presented a bell to the
borough of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for the court-house. It
was one of some size, weighing two hundred and fifty-four pounds,
and had inscribed upon it :

Cast by Samuel Parker, Philadelphia, 179S. William Smith, D.D.,
to the borough of Huntingdon, Juniata.

l800] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 41I

After being used on the court-house until May, 1848, it was
placed upon the public school-house, and remained in use there
until December 12th, 1861, on the morning of which day, a very
cold and frosty one, on ringing it for school, it was suddenly
cracked.

I now find in Dr. Smith's diary the following entry :

March 13th, 1799. The wife of my son, William Moore Smith, gave
birth to a son, whom they call Richard Penn, after his honor, Richard
Penn, Esq.

Of this grandson of Dr. Smith, so long a well-known citizen of
Philadelphia, my readers will, I trust, excuse a son's affection, if I
give, in the conclusion of this volume, some little sketch of his
life and literary labors;*

On June iith, 1799, the General Convention met again in
Christ Church, Philadelphia. Dr. Smith was again elected Presi-
dent, At this convention, however, he was too feeble to take an
active part. He was placed, nevertheless, upon a Committee to
draft a Course of Study, for candidates for holy orders. I find no
account of the committee having made a report. It is probable — •
indeed it would seem almost certain — that the Course proposed
by Bishop White at a subsequent convention, that of 1804, had
from his old friend and preceptor at least a general approval.

CHAPTER LIX.

Dr. Smith III at Lancaster— Letter to his son, William Moore Smith —
Death of Governor Mifflin — Dr. Smith preaches a Guarded Funeral
Sermon upon him — Gilbert Stuart makes a Portrait of Dr. Smith-
Several copies and engravings made of it— Bust made by Storke — Gen-
eral Convention of 1801 — Dr. Smith present at it, but too feeble to
take much part in it — Builds and Inscribes a Mausoleum — Death of his
Sister and his man Primus — IIis last Will,

The early part of this year ( 1 800) found Dr. Smith ill at the house
of his son, Charles, in the city of Lancaster. He makes mention of
this sickness in his will. We have a letter to one of his sons at

*See Appendix No, IX.

412 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Philadelphia, written at this time, and curiously indicative of his
sense of local order and of the care which he gave his papers. I
infer from the letter that the Doctor contemplated having some
alterations made in his study, or to have it papered or painted,
and was solicitous about keeping his "great chest" and "small
red trunk" together.

Dr. Smith to Witliam Moore Smith. ""

Lancaster, January 21st, iSoo.

My Dear Son: I wish you to ride out now and then to Schuylkill, to
see how my people there are going on ; and the first time you go out get
Bell (the Doctor's sister) to open rny room, and in the open closet by
the Avindow you will see a small red trunk containing MSS., sermons
and other papers ; also some books on the shelves. I wish them all to
be lifted out and laid on or by the great chest or trunk of papers, lest
they should be forgot. If any occasion should be (which I hope will
not be) to remove the large chest — or without your moving the little
red trunk and books out of the closet — they may stand, and it may be
sufficient if you put Bell in mind to move them if necessary to move
anything else. If you have any windows opened in the room, you will
see that they are again shut as I left them. Write to me, directing to
Chambersburg, where I shall remain with the judges till the mail
arrives. Your affectionate father,

William Smith.

While at Lancaster, Thomas Mifflin, long the Governor of Penn-
sylvania, died on the 25th of January. Resolutions were passed
by the Legislature expressive of his Excellency's merits and his
services as a soldier and a statesman, and providing for his inter-
ment at the public expense and for the erection of a monument to
his memory. Dr. Smith was requested by the new Governor, the
Senate and House of Representatives, to deliver a commemorative
sermon. This sermon was never published, and there was little
in it not of a general nature. While Dr. Smith, of course, could
not decline a public request to preach at least a " Regulation "
sermon on the death of a Governor of Pennsylvania, and especially
of one long his near neighbor and personal acquaintance, and
while he would have been very ready to admit the considerable
place that Governor Mifflin will always hold among the governors
of Pennsylvania — in early days the representatives of the Demo-

* In the fine collection of autographs of F. J. Dreer. Esq,

l800] • REV. WILL I m SMITH, D. D. 413

cratic party, a party to which Dr. Smith did not belong — he was
too well aware of the undeniably very large part that General
Mifflin had in the " Conway cabal," of his hostility to the Com-
mander-in-Chief, and of that commander's opinion of ///;//,* to go
into much eulogy either of Governor Mifflin's integrity or his
valor. Dr. Smith asks many questions, but answers none; he
states many general truths, but leaves the hearer to apply them if
he pleases. He is indeed amusingly cautious, saying very little
more about the subject of his discourse than this:

If we were called to power, rule and government over our fellow-
men, then shall it be known whether we bartered our favors away for
vile gain ! Whether we were open to the allurements of vi-ce, the blan-
dishments of flattery, and the snares or seductions of party ! Or whether
we made use of our influence and authority to support justice, to pro-
tect innocence, to encourage virtue and to reward merit.

I add no more. To this test of the use of power and exercise of gov-
ernment, I may leave the character of the deceased. The honor done
to his name by this public funeral, and the vote of a monument by the
Legislature, to perpetuate his memory, will rescue his public virtue from
public censure. Private frailties he had, as a man ; but if they were in-
jurious, it was only to himself — never to his friends or country!

Haste we, then, to commit his mortal part, with its mortal frailties,
to its destined place — that yawning grave, where they will at last find
rest — a safe asylum from worldly distress, the shafts of malice, and the
persecutions of party.

" His worth we seek no farther to disclose.

Nor draw his frailties from that dread abode —
Where they alike, in trembling hope, repose —
The bosom of his Father and his God." — Gray.

After the funeral Dr. Smith was removed to the Falls of Schuyl-
kill, where he remained, more or less incommoded by indisposi-
tion, during the year. It was at this time that Gilbert Stuart
painted his celebrated picture of him. This picture is now (1880)
in the possession of Dr. John Hill Brinton, of Philadelphia. It
has been copied a number of times on canvas. In 1820 two
copies were made in Lancaster, by an artist named Icholtz, for
Richard Smith, Esq., of Huntingdon. A copy was also made by
order of Dr. Perigrine Wroth, for Washington College, Chester-

* See Sparks's Writings of Washington, Vol. V., pp. 483-518; 371.

414 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [18OO

town, Md. In 1857 it was copied by Thomas Sully, for St. Peter's
Church, Philadelphia, and in 1 872 by E. D. Marchand, by order
of John Blodget Britton, Esq., for the University of Pennsylvania.*
I have been informed that there is also a copy at Stoke, England,
the residence of the Penn family. It has been engraved both on
metal and on wood, etc. The best engraving on metal is that
made by the great engraver, David Edwin, in 1803, for Maxwell's
edition of Dr. Smith's works ;t but a creditable one was made
lately by a young artist, George Herbert White, of Philadelphia.
I have also had a plaster bust modelled by a young Florentine
artist of rising fame named Carl Stork, which I have presented to
the University.

We have thus far seen Dr. Smith both an active and a principal
person in nearly all our early church conventions. But this ac-
tivity and this distinction was now soon to cease. The convention

* The following resolutions were adopted by the Board of Trustees of the University
of Pennsylvania, March 5, 1872, at a meeting before which was laid Mr. Britton's note
communicating his wish to offer the copy to the University :

Resolved, That the gift of a portrait of Dr. William Smith, the first Provost of the
College of Philadelphia — since the University of Pennsylvania- — which J. Blodget
Britton, Esq., proposes to make to the institution, by his letter of the loth ultimo, be
and the same is hereby gratefully accepted by the trustees.

Resolved, That the eminent services rendered by Dr. Smith, in the founding of the
institution, his extraordinary labors and success in procuring for it what in those early
days was a magnificent endowment, and the deep, affectionate, and abiding interest
which he continually manifested for its welfare and success, are deeply engraven in
the history of the University and in the heart of all who have been honored with ad-
ministration of its affairs.

Resolved, That the Provost of the University be requested to receive the portrait
of Dr. Smith, on behalf of the trustees, whenever it shall be ready for delivery, and
place the same in the chapel of the University.

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to Mr. Britton by
the Secretary of the Board, and that they also be published.

Cauwalader BiDiiLE, Secretary.

f David Edwin, an Englishman, born at Bath, in December, 1776, was the son of
John Edwin, a comedian. Young Edwin was apprenticed in his boyhood to Jossi, a
Dutch engraver, who at this lime was working in England, and who is said to have
been a very complete artist and draughtsman. Jossi returned to Holland in 1796, and
took David Edwin with him. The latter was a short time at Amsterdam, but left the
country in the year 1797 in a ship bound to Philadelphia, via Havre, which took five
months on the passage; and this conveyance Edwin obtained upon the vessel by work-
ing before the mast. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia, in December, 1797, he sought
employment, and the first work which he obtained was the engraving of music — work
given him by T. B. Freeman. Edwin became famous in after time as an engraver
of portraits, and he obtained the best work. He engraved many of Stuart's pictures,
and many portraits of public men. He died in Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1841, aged 63.

ISOI] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 415

of 1 80 1 met in St. Michael's Church, Trenton, on Tuesday, Sep-
tember 8th. Dr. Smith was at first disincHned to go to it; but
Dr. Biackvvell, his kind friend of ancient date, offering to take him
in his own carriage, he accompanied this excellent gentleman.
He was, however, in a feeble condition, and declined to act as
president. The Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D., of New Brunswick,
in New Jersey, was accordingly elected in his stead. While ob-
serving them intelligently. Dr. Smith took but little active part in
the proceedings, and his last act, in this the last convention in
which he ever assisted, was to propose a canon making an addition
to the first canon of 1795, on the subject of Episcopal Visitations.
The addition was read and adopted, and sent to the House of
Bishops, who immediately concurred in it. He was brought back
to Philadelphia by Dr. Blackwell, assisted by a Maryland friend,
the Rev. John Coleman,* at that time rector of St. Thomas
Church, Baltimore.

During the latter part of this year Dr. Smith prepared a mauso-
leum on his estate, at the Falls of Schuylkill, with the following
inscription over the door:

Anno Christi 1 801 Gulielmus Smith, S. T. P.

Tunc aetat. 75.

Hoc Parvulum Mausoleum Ixstituit

M. S.

Sui et conjugis cars Rebeccae.

Sobolisque Eorum.

Ouotquot hie jacent, Ouotquot alibi

Cognoscere Velles

Intra disces Lector.

Among Dr. Smith's papers I find the following inscription in
his handwriting directed to Mr. Latrobe, the architect, which I
suppose he had intended to use:

""John Coleman, a native of Virginia — ordained by Bishop White in 1787. He
became rector of St. John's, Baltimore and Harford counties; in 1799 of St. Thomas,
Baltimore county; in 1806 of St. James, Baltimore county, and of Christ Church, Har-
ford, also, which he erected. He was convention preacher in 1 795, member of the
Standing Committee seventeen times, and five times delegate to the General Conven-
tion. He published the autobiography and letters of Devcreaux Jarratt. Died 1S16,
'igcd 53-

41 6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180I

M. S.

GuLiELMi Smith, S. T. P.

Conjugis quoque ejus dilectae Rebeccae,

Scbolisque eorum quotquot hie inhumabuntur

Nomina intus discas.

Hanc domum Sept., 1800.

Ego G. S. tunc vivus aetat. 74 mihi et meis paravi

In qua mortui, spe Resurrectionis in Christo quiescamus

Ossibus nostris quisquis es Viator

Obsecro.

The new structure was not long without an occupant. On the
1st of February, iSoi, Isabella Smith, the much-loved sister of the
Doctor, died at the Falls, and on the following evening her body-
was deposited in the mausoleum.

The Falls soon had another visitation from "the grisly mon-
arch." On the loth of May, 1801, Pninus, the faithful body-ser-
vant of Dr. Smith, died. He was buried outside the mausoleum.
Dr. Smith had a great regard for Prijiius, whom he had bought as
a child in Maryland, in 1783, and who had been constantly by his
side for nearly twenty years. When he died, the Doctor remarked
that he had been so long Prinius in this world that he was not
likely to be Sccnndus, he thought, in the world to come.

These various deaths, which in different ways were so near to
him, were calculated to bring forcibly before the venerable subject
of our biography a likelihood that the great change would soon
overtake himself To one so deeply reflective, however, no such
warnings were necessary. His mind was always and fully awake
to the necessity both of spiritual and temporal preparation for the
"inevitable hour." He now made his will, a document which is
so interesting, and which reveals so much of his character, that I
venture to transcribe it entire:

The last will and testament of William Smith, D. D., of the North-
ern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia, and Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.

In the name of God. — Amen. I, William Smith, D. D. , formerly
and for many years Provost of the College Academy and charitable
schools of the city of Philadelphia, now resident on my farm at the
Falls of Schuylkill, in the Northern I-iberties of said city, and Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania, being devoutly thankful to Almighty God,

lS02] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 417

my great and gracious Creator, that amidst the many visitations of
sickness and mortality which I have been called to witness in the place
of my late residence, the city of Philadelphia, and the bereavements in
my own family during those visitations, He hath been pleased to spare
me to a very advanced age, and to raise me up and restore me so far
from a late dangerous sickness, in the borough of Lancaster, during the
months of January and February, 1800, and also a late severe sickness
in February, 1802, that I am now able (in respect to strength of body
and soundness of mind, the last of which he hath at all times graciously
preserved to me both in sickness and in health during the whole period
of my life) to set mv household in order and to stand prepared through
his grace for my great change. Therefore, I do make, publish and de-
clare this as my last will and testament.

In the first place, I recommend and bequeath my soul to Almighty
God, who gave it, trusting in him for the forgiveness of my sins and
salvation, through the merits and intercession of his blessed Son, Jesus
Christ, grounded on a firm belief of the truths of Divine Revelation as
contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament (and as I
have endeavored to teach and preach them through the grace given me)
with all zeal and fidelity, during a long period of near fifty years; striv-
ing for the propagation of heavenly knowledge and wisdom amongst all
the nations of the earth, and especially amongst those who yet sit in
darkness and the shadow of death through this American continent to
its remotest western bounds.

As to my body, whensoever God shall be pleased to call it from the
light of this world, and to close my eyes in death, I will it to a plain
Christian interment in the place and in the manner hereinafter
directed.

Concerning my worldly estate and goods with which it hath pleased
God to bless my lawful, and I trust honest, industry (being conscious
of no wrong done or intended to any man in the acquisition of the
same), I will and dispose of it as follows — that is to say:

First. My funeral expenses being first paid, I will and ordain that my
just debts (which are at present but few and small, the debt to my dear
brother Thomas excepted) be next, and as soon as possible fully and
fairly paid and discharged out of my personal estate, so far as it will
reach, and then, if need be, out of any part of my real estate, which I
empower them to sell and convey in fee for this purpose. Respecting
which, having always considered it to be the duty of a parent, after a
good and virtuous education of his children, according to his station in
life, as far as his abilities and a due measure of prudence will allow; and
having upon those principles given or conveyed to my children respec-
tively, with an equal and impartial hand, a considerable part of my
property, as they came of age (or as their settlement and advancement
in life seemed to require), and having confirmed the same by separate
27

41 8 LIFE AND CORRESrONDExYCr. OF THE [lS02

deeds or grants to each of them, with such limitations and reversions,
etc., respecting some parts of my estate as I thought proper, this my
present last will and testament needs therefore only to regard my
residuary estate as it may be at the time of my death; which I will and
ordain to be divided into five parts or shares as nearly of equal value
(quantity and quality considered) as can be estimated.

One sliare or fifth part of the same to my son William. One other
share or fifth among the children or legal representatives of my dear
deceased daughter Williamina, share and share alike. One other share
or fifth part to my son Charles in fee. One other share or fifth part to
my son Richard in fee. And the remaining fifth part or share to the
Hon. Thomas Smith, Esq., of the city of Philadelphia, the Right Rev.
Bishop White, of the said city, and the Hon. Jasper Yeates, Esq., of
the borouqrh of Lancaster, and to the survivors and survivor and the
heirs of such survivor, in trust for the use of my daughter Rebecca and
her children, or legal representatives, at the time of her decease, as set
forth more at large in my Deed of Trust to them.

And if such division cannot be made amicably by the devisees afore-
said, the same shall be made according to law on the application of any
one or more of them.

It having now pleased God to enable me to bring this my last will
towards a conclusion, although hastily, yet with a pure and sincere m-
tention to do equal justice to all my children and family, I recommend
them to the blessing of the Almighty, charging them that, from regard
to my memory, the education I have bestowed on them, my anxiety to '
provide for and assist them in gaining comfortable settlements in life,
they will always preserve a mutual affection one to another; and as I
have endeavored to express my intention clearly in this will, with equal
affection to all of them, I trust the said intention will be their guide
and Pole star in the interpretation of the same, and that no want of
legal form in the meaning or matter will ever be made a cause by any
of them to contravene that intention.

Item. I do hereby direct that my funeral may be plain and decent,
and that my body, wheresoever my death may happen, may be conveyed
(if it can be done with any possible safety and convenience) and de-
posited in the middle grave prepared by me in the small mausoleum and
cenotaph, which I have erected in my garden, near my present dwelling
house, at the Falls of Schuylkill, and that the ashes of my dear wife and
my two infant children, Phineas and Elizabeth (buried by her side in
Christ Church burying-ground), be taken up and enclosed in an urn
and deposited in the same grave with me during the next winter, if I
'' should not live to execute that mournful but sacred duty myself, in pur-

.suance of the promise which my good friend Bishop White hath given
me of obtaining leave to open the ground for that purpose when I may
tliink it convenient.

/■

lG02] REV. WILLIAM SM/TII, D. D. 419

I do further direct that the figure of the angel coming down from
heaven, having in one hand a Httle book, open, and setting his right
foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth, with the other hand lifted
up to heaven, in the act of swearing or proclaiming, etc. (as in Rev.
X.), proposed for the top of the mausoleum, be not forgot, and that
Mr. Rush, the carver, be expedited to finish and put up the same ac-
cording to hij promise; that the words " Time shall be no more " be
cut on the small marble, above the large marble containing the inscrip-
tion over the door on the outside; that the letters of the said inscription
be painted black, or some other color to make them easily legible from
the ground.

Item. I will and devise that a decent tombstone may be soon erected
over the grave of my dear deceased son, Thomas Duncan Smith, ex-
pressive of that parental affection which he enjoyed and deserved during
his life; and the singular estimation in which he was held as a physician
and the first magistrate elected by the inhabitants of the county of
Huntingdon after its erection, conducting himself with such benevo-
lence, assiduities, abilities and disinterestedness in both characters that
his memory continues and is likely to continue long precious to the
citizens of that county, and especially among the poor, whose civil
differences he generally reconciled without the rigor of legal process,
and to whose bodily ails and family affliction he administered comfort
and relief to the last moment of his short life, without charging, and
seldom ever accepting, a fee or emolument of office. Let all this be
expressed in simple and modest terms, for monuments of the dead are
too often like life itself — a short and transient vanity, unless they are
sanctioned by the public voice.

Item. I here ordain and direct that fourteen mourning rings, of the
value of twenty dollars each, be prepared and given by my executors ;
that is, one ring as a token of my love to each of the following persons:
my beloved relations or friends; that is to say, my dear sisters-in-law,
Mrs. Williamina Bond, Mrs. Ann Ridgely and Mrs. Letitia Smith;
Mrs. Ennals, of Shoal Creek, Dorset county, Maryland; my daughter-
in-law, Mrs. Mary Smith, of Lancaster; my daughter Rebecca; my
grand-daughter, Sarah Yerbury Goldsborough ; my three sons, William
Moore Smith, Charles Smith and Richard Smith, viz., one ring each;
my dear brother, the Hon. Thomas Smith, Esq. ; my dear friends, the
Hon. Jasper Yeates, Esq., the Right Rev. William White, Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, and Benjamin
R. Morgan, Esq., counsellor at law in the city of Philadelphia, one ring
each. Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear brother, the
Hon. Thomas Smith, Esq., of the city of Philadelphia, my worthy
friends, the Hon. Jasper Yeates, Esq., of the borough of Lancaster, the
Right Rev. William White, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the State of Pennsylvania, and Benjamin R. Morgan, Esq., counsel-

420 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF TJIE [l8o2

lor at law, of the city of Philadelphia, and the survivors and survivor
of them to be executors of this my last will and testament written in
eight pages.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this four-
teenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and two — hereby revoking all former wills, codicils, etc.

William Smith, D. D.

' Signed, declared and published as and for the last will and testament
of William Smith, D. D., in the presence of us wlio have subscribed our
names as witnesses in the testator's presence and at his request.

James Riddle,
Eliza Smith,
Wm. Rudolph Smith.

Codicil to the last will and testament of William Smith, D. D. :
Whereas, Since the execution of my said last will and testament,
bearing date July the fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and two,
1 have thought it proper, at the request of my executors therein named,
to relieve them from the trouble of executorship; wherefore I do hereby
revoke all that part of my said last will which constitutes and appoints
my dear brother, the Hon. Thomas Smith, Esq., of the city of Phila-
delphia, and my worthy friends, the Hon. Jasper Yeates, Esq., of the
borough of Lancaster, and the Right Rev. William White, Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, and the sur-
vivors or survivor of them, to be executors of my said last will and
testament. And in their room and stead I do hereby constitute and
appoint my dear sons, William Moore Smith, Esq., Charles Smith, Esq.,
and Richard Smith, Esq., together with Benjamin R. Morgan, Esq.,
counsellor at law, of the city of Philadelphia, and the survivors or sur-
vivor of them, to be executors of my last will and testament, before
written in eight pages.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tliird
day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and three, hereby revoking all former codicils, etc.

William Smith, D. D. \ l. s. [

Signed, declared and published as and for the codicil to the last will
and testament of William Smith, D. D., in the presence of us who have
subscribed our names as witnesses in the testator's presence and at his
request. Robert Kennedy,

Martin Whittem,
WiM. Rudolph Smith.

This will is entered in the usual form in the Rcfjistcr's office in
Philadelphia, in Will Book No. I., page 109.

1800] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 421

CHAPTER LX.

Dr. Smith fegins to execute a i-urtose formed in 17S9 and ArrROVF.n by the
General Convention of that year, kut !;y a variety of causes delayed,
to publish, in a collected form, his wokks— only i wo volumes tudlished
out of five, which he contemplated publishing— these two printed liy
Maxwell, a puislisher of Philadelphia during Dr. Smith's lieepime, but
not published until after his death.

So far back as the year 1789, on his return from Maryland, Dr.
Smith announced his intention to pubhsh, in a collection, his
sermons upon the most important branches of practical Chris-
tianity. This was made in the form of a communication to the
General Convention of the church in that year, which we now give

in this place.

Philadelphia, August 5, 1789.

To the Right Reverend and Reverend the Clergy, and the Worthy and
Honorable Lay Members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in
the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, now assembled in Gen-
eral Convention.

My Worthy Friends and Brethren :

The sermons and discourses, whereof the texts and titles follow, are
the result of the author's labors as a preacher of the blessed Gospel for
near forty years past. Sundry of them, which were composed and de-
livered on special public occasions, have been already printed, and have
passed through several editions, in Europe as well as America; but the
main body of them was composed and delivered at different times, in
the character of a parish minister, viz. : in the years 1764 and 1765 at
Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia; from thence-
forward to the year 17S0 in the churches of the Oxford Mission, in the
county of Philadelphia; and from the latter part of the year 1780 to
July ist, 1789, in Chester parish, Kent county, Maryland.

During the foregoing long period of ministerial service the author
hath frequently been solicited to print or to give manuscript copies of
sundry of the sermons, and hath, as his leisure would allow, so often
indulged some of his too partial friends and hearers in the latter way
that copies have been multiplied in manuscript and circulated in a con-
dition not only very incorrect, but wholly without those last improve-

422 LIFE AMD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

menls and touches which the best of them stand much in need of, and
which the author had always designed to bestow upon a few of them,
and bequeath them as a legacy to his surviving friends and hearers, if
health and opportunity should permit ; and if that should not be the
case, he had directed those few, together with the whole remainder in
the following list, to be suppressed from public view, as hasty and un-
finished compositions.

But the late change in the author's situation, the resignation of his
parochial as well as collegiate charge in the State of Maryland, and his
return to his former station in the College of Philadelphia (added ^o the
consideration of his advanced age) rendering it probable that he can
never again engage in any stated parochial duty; the applications of
some of his former friends and hearers have been renewed for the pub-
lication of sundry of those sermons which had long since been delivered
before them, and of which some of them had been supplied with copies
as aforesaid.

In some late conversations with judicious and worthy persons, both
of the clergy and laity, respecting the present state of our churches and
people in America, it hath been further suggested that the cause of re-
ligion and truth might be much promoted by the publication of a suf-
ficient number of sermons or discourses, digested, as nearly as possible,
into a system 01 body of divinity; comprehending the most useful and
important articles of the Christian doctrine; treated of in a Scriptural
and evangelical way; in an easy, affectionate and correct style; suited
to the minds and apprehensions of the young and those of mferior
capacity, as well as edifying to those of riper years and more miproved
understanding; not running out into learned niceties or debates, to
disturb common readers or hearers; but avoiding all speculative and
controversial subjects, or touching upon them only to improve them, as
far as possible, towards the purposes of practical godliness and vital
Christianity.

Although the author hath not the vanity to imagine that the following
sermons are wholly sufficient to this good design, yet they may lay the
foundation of a more perfect work ; and he finds, upon an arrangement
of them under proper heads, that in order to form a tolerably complete
system, only a few sermons would be wanting, and those chiefly upon
such speculative and controversial points as the author hath ever avoided
in the pulpit, but which (if thought necessary in a work of this kind)
might be selected from some of the ablest and most orthodox divines
of our Church.

Indeed, it may be said that a complete body of sermons and divinity
might be wholly selected or compiled in this way, and attempts of that
kind have been made with good effect. But, as every age and country
is best pleased with its own forms, compositions and phrases of speech,
the author flatters himself that if it should please God to enable him to

l8oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. ^2^

«

finish those sermons in the way he proposes, they will be at least ac-
ceptable to those who have desired the publication of any of them. He
further trusts that if his design should meet with that approbation and
countenance which he affectionately solicits from the members of the
convention, they will be of use to all well-disposed Christians, and es-
pecially to those of the following descriptions, viz. :

1. To heads of families who may think it their duty to devote the
evenings of the Lord's Day to the instruction of their own households.

2. To pious and well-disposed persons (remote from places of public
worship, or unprovided with ministers or pastors) who may wish to
collect their neighbors and friends to spend some parts of a Sunday in
public worship, and in reading sermons and books of devotion.

3. To young clergymen and preachers, who, being ill-supplied with
books, or a variety of sermons on proper subjects, may be assisted in
their earlier compositions by the present work, which it is proposed to
comprise in four or five octavo volumes, in the same sized paper and
letter as this address; two volumes to be published yearly, at the rate
of one dollar per volume on the delivery of the same, in boards, to the
subscribers. William Smith.

This communication was followed by a unanimous resolution
of the body, made on motion of Mr. J. Cox, a principal lay deputy
from New Jersey.

Resolved, iinaniinously, That the members of this Convention, being
fully persuaded that the interests of religion and practical godliness
may be greatly promoted by the publication of a body of sermons,
upon the plan proposed above, and being well satisfied of the author's
soundness in the faith, and eminent abilities for such a work, do testify
their approbation of the same, and their desire to encourage it by annex-
ing their names thereto as subscribers.

William White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church

in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and President of the

Convention.
Benjamin Moore, D. D., Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, in the

city of New York; now Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church

in that State.
Abraham Beach, D. D., now Senior Minister of Trinity Church, in the

city of New York.
Moses Rogers, Lay Deputy from the State of New York.
William Frazer, A. M., Rector of St. Michael's Church, in Trenton,

New Jersey.
Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, in Newark.
Henry Waddel, Rector of the churches of Shrewsbury and INIiddle-

town, now of Trenton, New Jersey.

424 LIFE AND CORRESrONDENCE OF THE [180O

George H. Spierin, A. M., Rector of St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy.

John Cox, Robert Strettell Jones, Samuel Ogden, Lay Deputies
from New Jersey.

Samuel Magaw, D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, and Vice-Provost
of the University of Pennsylvania; Robert Blackwell, D. D., Senior
Minister in Christ Church, and St. Peter's, Philadelphia; Joseph Pil-
MORE, Joseph G. J. Bend,* Clerical Deputies from Pennsylvania.

Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Powell, Tench Coxe, Gerardus Clark-
son, Lay Deputies from Pennsylvania.

Joseph Coudon, A. M., Siephen Sykes, A. M., Clerical Deputies from
Delaware.

James Sykes, Lay Deputy of Delaware.

Thomas J. Claggett, D. D., Colin Ferguson, D. D.,t John Bissett,
A. M.,J Clerical Deputies from Maryland.

Richard B. Carmichael, Wm. Frisby, Lay Deputies from Maryland.

Robert Andrews, Lay Deputy from Virginia.

Robert Smith, D. D., Rector of St. Philip's Church, Principal of
Charlestown College, Clerical Deputy from South Carolina.

W. W. Burrows, Wm. Brisbane, Lay Deputies from South Carolina.

The following named clergy of the city of Philadelphia of nearly
every denomination testified their approbation by annexing their
names as subscribers, viz.:

Francis Beeston, Rector of the Catholic Church of St. ]\Iary.
Nicholas Collin, D. D., Rector of the Swedish Church.
Henry Helmuth, D. D., Minister of Zion's and Michaelis
churches.

* Joseph Grove John Bend, D. D., a native of New York, ordained by Bishop Pro-
voost in 1787. He went to Pennsylvania, and was Assistant Minister of Chri-t Church
in 1789. He afterward removed to Baltimore, and in 1791 became Rector of St. Paul's
Parish, Baltimore county. He was preacher to the convention in 1808, and was always
Secretary to the Maryland Convention, member of the Standin;^ Committee, and dele-
gate to the General Convention. He published three occasional sermons, and edited
a number of works for distribution. He died in 1812, aged 53.

f Colin Ferguson, D. D., a native of Kent county, Md., brought up a Presbyterian,
ordained in 1785 by Bishop Seabury, of Connecticut, and became Rector of .St. Paul's,
Kent, which he resigned in 1799; was President of Washington College, Chestertown,
from 1789 to 1805. Died in 1806, aged 55. — Allen.

\ John Bissett, A. M., a native of Scotland, brought up in the church, ordained in
1786 by Bishop Seabury, and in 1787 became Rector of South Sassafras, Kent county,
Md.; in 1790 of North Sassafras, Cecil. He was Secretary to the convention, four
times member of the Standing Committee, and delejT.-rte to the General Convention.
Published two sermons. In 1793 removed to New York. Died in iSio, aged 48. — .
Allen.

l8oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 425

Casperus Weiberg, D. D., Minister of the German Reformed

Church.
George Duffield, D. D., Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church.
Samuel Jones, D. D., Pastor of the Baptist Church in Lower

Dubhn.
William Marshall, A. M., Minister of the Gospel to the Scots

Presbyterian Church.
John Meder, Minister of the United Brethren's Church.
John Andrews, D. D., Professor of Philosophy and Belles Lettres

in the College and Academy of Philadelphia, and Rector of St.

James's Church, Bristol.
James Davidson, A. M., Professor of Humanity in the College and

Academy of Philadelphia.
William Rogers, A. M., Professor of English and Oratory, and

of Practical Mathematics, in the College and Academy of

Philadelphia.

The Hon. Robert Morris, Esq., acting no doubt at the sugges-
tion of his brother-in-law, Bishop White — though he was quite
competent himself to estimate rightly the literary and ecclesiasti-
cal merits of Dr. Smith — opened and received subscriptions in
Congress. His subscription paper began thus:

George Washington,
John Adams,
William Grayson,
Ph. Schuyler,

William Patterson,
Robert Morris,
William Samuel Johnson,
Ralph Izard.

George Read.

Subscribers came in from every part of the country, indicating
how widely spread was Dr. Smith's fame as a pulpit orator. The
list from Maryland, in procuring which Mr. Justice Goldsborough
took much interest, was especially large, and with the names of
many persons in humble station, comprised the name of nearly
every gentleman of rank or education in the State. We give those
sent by Judge Goldsborough :

Hon. Robert Hanson Harrison, Esq., Chief Justice, etc.
Hon. Alexander Contee Hanson, Esq., Chancellor.
Hon. Robert Goldsborough, one of the Judges.
Benjamin Fred. Aug. Ca;s. Dashiell, Esq., Worcester county.

426 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Hon. Nicholas Hammond, Esq., Dorset county.

James Tilghman, Esq., Queen Anne county.

James Earle, Esq., Talbot county.

William Cooke, Esq., Annapolis county.

Gustavus Scott, Esq., Dorset county.

William Heyward, Esq., Talbot county.

William Barroll, Esq., Elkton, Cecil county.

David Kerr, Esq., Easton, Talbot county.

Mr. Jos. Haskins, Easton, Talbot county.

Edward Coursey, Esq., Queen Anne county.

Charles Blair, Esq., Dorset county.

William Hindman, Esq., Talbot county.

Edward Lloyd, Esq., Talbot county.

Pollard Edmiston, Esq., Talbot county.

Matthew Driver, Esq., Caroline county.

Robert Goldsborough, Jr., Esq., Dorset county.

Horatio Ridout, Esq., Annapolis county.

Dr. Charles Troup, Easton, Talbot county.

John Gordon, D. D., Rector of St. Michael's, Talbot count}^

Dr. John Lodman Elbert, Talbot county.

Henry Dickenson, Esq., Caroline county.

Richard Spriggs, Esq., Annapolis county.

The Rev. John Bowie, D. D., Dorchester county.

The following were subscribers in Albany, etc.:

Rev. Thomas Ellison, A. M., Rector of St. Peter's.

Rev. J. Basset, A. M., Jr., Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church.

Rev. Samu,l Smith, Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in

Saratoga.
Mr. Dudley Walsh.
Mr. Goldsborough Banyar, Jr.
Mr. P. S. Van Rensselaer.
Hon. Leonard Gansevoort, Esq.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., of Rensselaerwick.
Daniel Hale, Esq.
Barent Roorback, Esq., of Ballton.
Mr. Charles Martin, Schenectady.
John Tayler, Esq.
Mr. Daniel J. Hewson.

l8oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. £>. 42/

Dirck Ten Broeck, Esq.

John Bradstreet Schuyler, Esq., of Saratoga.

Mr. William Fryer.

Mr. William Shepherd.

I am not aware of the reasons why the publication was delayed.
The large operations in land, in which it is known that Dr. Smith
was engaged — although from my want of familiarity with their
particulars, I have not gone into any full statement of them — in
part absorbed his attention. But the Yellow Fever of 1793, and a
return of the pestilence, or something much like it, in 1795, and
again in 1797 — though in these two years, especially in the for-
mer, in forms less terrible than in the first-named year — was well
calculated, attended as it was in the case of Dr. Smith with losses
so near to him and so desolating, to arrest all enterprise in the
way of publication. He himself thus refers to the case:

The distresses that followed in my family — first, the loss of a favorite
son, blessed with every literary accomplishment, especially in his medi-
cal profession, and the delight of his acquaintance;* soon afterwards the
loss of an amiable daughter, in goodness approaching that of an angel
as nearly as a mortal condition would allow ;■!" and, more than all this,
the loss of a dear wife — a woman of whom the world was scarce worthy,
much less he whose many bereavements of this kind have brought his
gray hairs down with sorrow to the very brink of the grave — I say
these sad losses damped the preparation of the work for the public.
Little anxious to devote the melancholy moments that succeeded those
losses — especially the death of a beloved wife — to the review of old
writings and the superintending a press, my mind was carried forward
to more solemn subjects : the consummation of earthly, and the final
establishment of heavenly things; and my reading confined to such
books as I had at hand on those subjects.

However, in the year 1800 Dr. Smith began to arrange all his
writings for publication. Had he lived to see through the press
all that he thus arranged, we should have had five, if not six, Svo.
volumes with his name. As it is, we have but two — those two
from which we have made in our biography such copious ex-
tracts. We give the tabic of their contents.

* Thomas Duncan Smith, M. D. -j-Mrs. Williamina Elizabeth Goldsborough.

428 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

FIRST VOLUME.
PART I.

SERMONS ON DEATH, A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, A FUTURE JUDG-
MENT, AND AN ETERNAL WORLD TO COME.

SERMON PAGE

I. On the death of a beloved pupil, preached in Christ Church,
September i, 1 754, with copies of verses to his memory, by sundry

of his fellow-students - - - - - - i

II. At the funeral of the Rev. Robert Jenney, LL. D. , Rector of
Christ Church, and St. Peter's; preached in Christ Church, Jan-
uary 10, 1758 - - - - - - -22

III. At the funeral of David Griffith, D. D., Bishop elect of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia; delivered in Christ
Church, Philadelphia, on Monday, August 8, 1789 - - 38

IV. Death conquering and conquered ; the first of the sermons from
I Thess. iv. 13-18; preached the first Sunday in December of
1793, being the first of eight sermons on the great visitation by

the epidemical sickness, commonly called the Yellow Fever - 53

V. Preached December 8, 1793, on the same subject and text - 65

VI. Preached December 12, 1793, on Ps. Ixviii. 34, etc., being the
day set apart for a general thanksgiving for our deliverance from
the rage of the grievous calamity, commonly called the Yellow
Fever - - - - - - - -76

VII., VIII., IX., X., XL A continuation of the sermons from i
Thess. iv. 13-18 ... 105, 118, 140, 153, 178

XII. Funeral sermon on the death of Dr. Thomas Graeme - 195

XIII. Funeral sermon on the death of Col. Joseph Nicholson - 210

PART II.

I. An oration in memory of General Montgomery, and of the offi-
cers and soldiers who fell with him, December 31, 1775, before
Quebec; delivered February 19, 1776, in the great Calvinist
Church, Philadelphia, by the appointment and at the desire of
the honorable Continental Congress - - - - i

II. An eulogium on Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. ; delivered March
I, 1 791,, in the great Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, before, and

by appointment of, the American Philosophical Society - 42

III. "The Hermit," in eight numbers; first published at Phila-
delphia, in the America?i Magazine, from October, 1757, to
October, 1758, inclusive - - - - - 95

IV. A philosophical meditation and religious address to the
Supreme Being --.---- 153

l8oo] liEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 429

SERMON PAGB

V. A general idea of the College of Mirania, with an account of
the College and Academy of Philadelphia ; first published in
1753 - - - - - - - - 165

SECOND VOLUME.
TWO PREFATORY LETTERS.

PAGE

Letter I. On the Office and Duty of Protestant Ministers, and the
Right of exercising Pulpit liberty in the handling of Civil as well
as Religious subjects, especially in times of public danger and
calamity - - - - - - -i

Letter II. An earnest Address to the Colonies at the opening of the
Campaign, 175S. Drawn up and published at the request of
Brigadier-General Forbes - - - - -17

THREE MASONIC SERMONS.

Eermon I. On Brotherly Love, etc. ; preached on the anniversary
of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1755 - - - - 27

Sermon II. Preached on Monday, December 28, 1778, celebrated
as the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist. With an appen-
dix on the Character of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus - , - 43

Sermon III. Preached before the Grand Lodge of Communication,
on St. John the Baptist's day, June 24, 1795 " " "73

THREE FAST SERMONS.

Sermon IV. Preached May 21, 1756, on the Public Fast, appointed
by the government of Pennsylvania - - - - 90

Sermon V. Preached July 20, 1755, being on the first American
Fast, recommended by Congress - - - - 112

Sermon VI. Preached May 3, 17S1, on the recommendation of
Congress - - - - - --127

A THANKSGIVING SERMON. '

Sermon VII. Preached December 13, 1781, being a day set apart
by Congress for a General Thanksgiving - - - 141

SEVEN MILITARY SERMONS.

Sermon VIII. Preached April 5, 1757, at the request of Brigadier-
General Stanwix, to the soldiers under his command, previous
to their march, after Braddock's defeat, to suppress the ravages
of the French and Indians on our frontier settlements - - ^55

Sermon IX. Preached in the great Hall of the College of Philadel-

430 Z//'^ AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

PAGE

phia, April 10, 176S, as Chaplain pro tempore, appointed by
Colonel Wilkins, to the Eighteenth or Royal Regiment of Ire-
land, on the Christian Soldier's Military Duty - - - 179

Sermon X. Preached May i, 1768, on the same occasion and in
the same place - - - - - - -190

Sermon XI. Preached May 8, 1768, in the same place to said regi-
ment; to which was added the celebrated speech of a Creek
Indian against the immoderate use of spirituous liquors - - 201

Sermon XII. The Christian Soldier's Spiritual Duty, June, 1768 - 225

Sermon XIII. On the same subject, being the last, or farewell, to
the said regiment — then under marching orders - - - 235

Sermon XIV. Preached June 23, 1775, on the then alarming situ-
ation of American affairs, at the request of Colonel Cadwalader
and the officers of the Third Battalion of Volunteer Militia of
the city of Philadelphia - - - - - "251

CINCINNATI SERMON.

Sermon XV. On Temporal and Spiritual Salvation. Preached
July 4, 1790, before, and at the request of, the Pennsylvania
Society of the Cincinnati . . . _ . 287

TWO SERMONS

ON THE PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE SCIENCES AMONG THE

HEATHEN AMERICANS.

Sermon XVI. Concerning the Conversion of the Heathen Ameri-
cans, and final propagation of Christianity and the Sciences to
the ends of the Earth. Preached May 2, 1760, before a volun-
tary convention of the Episcopal clergy of Pennsylvania, and
places adjacent, and published at their joint request - - 308

Sermon XVII. On the same subject, preached before the Trustees,
Masters and Scholars of the College and Academy of Philadel-
phia, at the Anniversary Commencement, May, 1761 - - 337

A DEDICATION SERMON.

Sermon XVIII. On the Dedication and first opening of St. Peter's
Church for public worship. Preached in the said church, Phila-
delphia, September 4, 1761 . . . . . ^51

TWO INTRODUCTORY SERMONS,

BEFORE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS FOR THE INSTITUTION OF PUIILIC

CHARITIES.

Sermon XIX. Preached October 10, 1769, in Christ Church, Phil-

l80O] EEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 43 r

PAr.B

adelphia, at the first meeting of the Corporation for the Relief of
the Widows and Children of Clergymen in the Communion of
the Church of England in America; particularly in the provinces
(now States) of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania - 385

Sermon XX. Preached April 6, 1795, ^^ an introduction to a plan
for the Establishment and Encouragement of Itinerant Preachers,
or Missionaries, on the Frontier Settlements of the United
States; with a Supplement or Second Part, stating and warning
against the abominable tenets of the Illuminati, and the doc-
trines of the New Philosophy ----- 444

TWO GENERAL CONVENTION SERMONS.

Sermon XXI. Preached June 23, 1784, at Annapolis, Maryland, at
the first General Convention of the Episcopal Clergy in that
State, assisted by Lay Representatives - - - - 483

Sermon XXII. Preached October 7, 1785, at the request of, and
before, the General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy and Laity
of the Protestant Episcopal Church; on occasion of the first in-
troduction of the Liturgy and public service of said Church, as
altered and recommended for future use in the United States of
America - - - - - - - -524

A CONSECRATION SERMON.

Sermon XXIII. First preached September 17, 1792, in Trinity
Church, New York, before the General Convention of the
Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
at the Consecration of Thomas John Clagget, D. D., as Bisliop
Elect for the said Church in the State of Maryland. Preached,
in substance also, at the two following consecrations, viz. : of
Robert Smith, D. D., for South Carolina, September 13, 1795 5
Edward Bass, D. D., for Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
May, 1787. Both in Christ Church, Philadelphia - - 548

Dr. Smith also left this list of ninety-eight sermons, which, as
he arranged them — and throwing out certain ones marked with an
asterisk ( * ), which are printed in Maxwell's two volumes or else-
where— would have made four more volumes of sermons alone,
independent of his other works. A table of the subjects or prin-
cipal heads, and of the texts of the sermons, in the proposed order
of publication, was part of the document.

432 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE 180O

PART I.

Sermons I., II. On the Being and Attributes of God.

Ex. iii. 13, 14. — And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children
of Israel, and shall say unto them. The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you ;
and they shall say to me, What is his name ? what shall I say unto them ? And God
said unto Moses, I am that I am. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children
of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.

Sermon III. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are
the true Word of God, and a Complete Revelation of his Divine
Will to Man.

Heb. i. I, 2. — God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days sjioken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed the Heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

Sermon IV. The Folly of Infidelity.

Psalm xiv. I. — The fool hath said in his heart. There is no God.

Sermon V. The Wisdom and Reasonableness of Faith in God.

Heb. xi. 6. — Without faith it is impossible to please him ; for he that cometh to God
must believe thai he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Sermon VI. Of the Creation and Nature of Man, and the Immortality
of the Soul.

Psalm viii. 5, 6; Heb. ii. 7. — Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou
crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.

Sermon VII. Of the Old and New Covenant, the Law and the Gospel.

Heb. vii. 19. — For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Sermon VIII. Of the Difference between Legal and Evangelical Right-
eousness, or the Righteousness of Faith.

Rom. ix. 31-33. — But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not
attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by
faith, but as it were by the works of the law; for they stumbled at that stumbling-
stone, as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence,
and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Sermon IX. The Honor and Dignity of the Christian Ministry and
Profession.

Rom. i. 16. — I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the j)ower of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth.

Sermon X. The Grace and Holiness of the Christian Calling.

2 Tim. i. 9. — God hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus, before the world began.

l800] KEV. WILLIAM SMITJI, D. D. 433

Sermon XI. The Purity of the same.

Prov. XXX. 5, 6. — Every word of God is pure. He is a shield unto them that put
their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be
found a liar.

Sermon XII. On Hearing the Word of God.

John viii. 47. — He that is of God heareth God's Word.

Sernion XIII. On Doing the Word of God.

James i. 22. — Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves.

Sermon XIV. Of Steadfastness in the Faith.

[Preached at Annapolis, June 23, 17S4, before a convention of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in Maryland.]

2 Tim. i. 13. — Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Sermon XV. The Victory of Faith.

I John V. I, 4.- — Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
Whatsoever is Ixjrn of God overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that over-
cometh, even our faith.

PART II.
Sermon XVI. Christ the True and Promised Messiah. [In two Parts.]

[Preached on Christmas day.]

Luke ii. 10-14. — And the angel said unto them, F"ear not; for behold T bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ; for unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign
unto you : ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.

Sermons XVII., XVIII. Christ the True Shepherd.

[Preached on the fourth Sunday in Advent, and on Christmas day.]

Isa. xl. I, 2, 10, II. — Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak
ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that
her iniquity is pardoned. Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his
arm shall rule for him. Behold his reward is with him and his work before him.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the Iambs with his arm, and
carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Sermons XIX., XX. Christ's other glorious Titles.

[Preached on Christmas day, and the Sunday following.]

Isa. ix. 6. — For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given ; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the
Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Sermon XXI. Of the Universality and Extent of Christ's Kingdom.

[Preached on the Epiphany.]
Isa. ix. 7. — Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end*

28

434 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Sermon XXII. Concerning the Conversion of the Heathen Americans,
and the final Propagation of Christianity and the Sciences to the
Ends of the Earth. \\\\ two Parts.]

[Part I. Preached before a conveiuiou of Episcopal clergy in Christ Church, Phila-
delphia, May 2, 1760.]

[I'art II. Preached l)efore the Trustees, Masters and Scholars, at the ^lr^t Anniver-
sary Commencement, in the college there, to which is added a Charge to the first
Graduates.]

P.salm ii. 8. — Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Sermon XXIII. On the same subject.

[Preached on the dedication of Washington College, in the State of Maryland,
June 23, 1789.]

Malachi i. II. — From the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my
name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered
unto my name and a pure oflering; for my name shall be great among the heathen
saith the Lord of hosts.

Sermon XXIV. On Christ's Fasting and Temptation.

[Preached in Lent.]
Matt. iv. I-3. — Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be
tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was
afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be ihe
Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Sermon XXV. On the Institution of the Holy Sacrament.

[Preached on the Sunday before Easter.]
Luke xxii. 15, etc. — And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer; for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof
until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, etc.

Sermon XXVI. On the Sufferings and Death of Christ.

From the same text. [Preached on Good Friday.]

Sermon XXVII. On the same subject.

[Preached on Good Friday.]
Lam. i. 12. — Is it nothing unto you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see, if tlicre
be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath
afilicted me, in the day of his fierce anger.

Sermon XXVIII. On the Certainty of the Resurrection of Christ.

[Preached on Easter day.]
Job xix. 25, 26. — I know that my Redeemer livelh, and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth; and thou-gh after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in
my flesh shall I see God.

Sermon XXIX. On the Power of the Resurrection of Christ.

[Preached on Easter day.]
Phil. iii. 8, lo. — Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency
of the knowledge of Clirist Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but. dung — that I may know him, and the power of liis
resurrection.

l8oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 435

Sermon XXX. The Resurrection of Christ, the Pledge and Proof of
Man's Immortality, and a full Evidence of the Truth of Christianity.

Col. iii. 4. — When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with
him in glory.

I Cor. XV. 12-14. — If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some
among you that there is no resurrection of the dead ? But if there be no resurrection
of the dead, then is Christ not risen ; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preach-
ing vain, and your faith is also vain.

Sermon XXXI. On the Ascension of Christ.

Psalm xxiv. 7. — Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors, and the King of glory shall come in.

Sermon XXXII. On the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

[Preached on Whitsunday.]

John xiv. 16. — And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comfortei,
that he may abide with you for ever.

Sermon XXXIII. Of the Receiving of the Holy Ghost.

Acts xix. 2, 3. — He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since yfc
believed ? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be
any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them. Unto what then were ye baptized ?

Sermon XXXIV. On the Spirit of Adoption.

[Preached on Whitsunday.]

Rom. viii. 14, 15. — For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God ; for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have
ceived the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

re-

FOUR SERMONS ON THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.

Sermon XXXV. i. Prayer.

Rom. viii. 15 (latter part of the foregoing text). — Whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Sermon XXXVI. 2. Praise and Thanksgiving.

[Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, upon the introduction of the organ.]

Psalms xlvii. 7, and cl. 4. — Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving. Sing praise unto
our God upon the harp. Praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Sermon XXXVII. 3. Faith, Hope and Charity.

I Cor. xiii. 3. — And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the great-
est of these is charity.

Sermon XXXVIII. 4. Love, Joy, etc. Goodness, Righteousness and
Truth.

Gal. V. 22, 23. — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle-
ness, goodness, truth.

Epn v. 9. — The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

43(5 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [ 1 8oO

Sermon XXXIX. The Danger and Sin of Resisting the Spirit, and
falling away from Grace.

Heb. X. 2S, 29. — He that despised Moses's law, died without mercy, under two or
three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood
of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unlioly thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of Grace.

Sermons XL., XLI. The Safety and Happiness of Walking after the
Spirit and Loving God's Law.

Rom. viii. i. — There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Psahii c.xix. — Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend
them.

PART IIL

Sermon XLIL The Call or Invitations under the Law and the Prophets.

Isa. xlv. 22, 23. — Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am
God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself; the wortl is gone out of my
mouth in righteousness and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every
tongue shall swear.

Sermon XLIIL The Call or Invitations under the Gospel.

Matt. xi. 28-30. — Come unto me all ye that labour and iirc heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden
is light.

Sermon XLIV. The Duty of Hearing the Call ar.d drawing near to God.

Psalm Ixxiii. 28. — It is good for me to draw near to God.

Sermon XLV. Of the Fear of God, under the Law.

Job xxv. 2, 4. — Dominion and fear are with him. How can man be justified with
God ? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman ?

S-'r:^.ion XLVI. Of the Fear of God, under the Gospel.

z Tim. i. 7. — For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, bat of power, and of love,
si'id of a sound mind.

I John iv. iS. — There is no fear in love; but perfect love castcth out fear; because
fjar h.ilh torment in it. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Sermons XLVIL, XLVIII. Of Fear and Obedience, as the whole Duty
of ?»Ian under the Law.

Eccl. xii. 13, 14. — Let us hear the conclusion of the wliole matter. Fear God, and
keep his command.iicnts ; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be bad.

Sermons XLIX., L. Of Love and Vital Religion, as the whole Duty
of Man, under the Gospel,

l8oo] RLV. WILLIAM SMI III, D. D. 437

I John .ii. 23, 24. — This is his commandment that we should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment; ancl he
that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby -we
know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Sermon LI. Christ's Kingdom is not of this World.

John xviii. 36. — Jesus answered. My kingdom is not of this world.

Sermon LII. The Christian's Conversation is in Heaven.

Phil. iii. 20. — For our conversation is in heaven, from wiience also we look for ilie
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sermon LIII. Fellowship with God and the Works of Darkness
irreconcilable.

I John i. 5-7. — God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we
have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth : but if we
walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

PART IV.
Sermon LIV. Of Sin and the Duty of Confession.

I John i. 8, 9. — If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth
is not in us; but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sermon LV. The same subject, from the parable of the Prodigal Son,

viz. :

Luke XV. 18. — I will arise and go to my father, etc.

Sermon LVI. Of Repentance and Salvation.

Ezek. xviii. 27. — When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he
hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Sermon LVII. An Exhortation to Repentance and Good Works.

Isa. i. 16, 17. — Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before mine eyes, cease to do evil ; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the op-
pressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Sermon LVIII. Want of Consideration.

Isa. i. 3. — The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth
not know, my people doth not consider.

Sermon LIX. Against Presumption.

I Cor. X. 12. — Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

Sermon LX. On Redeeming the Time.

Rom. xiii. 12. — The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Sermon LXI. On Submission to the Will of God.

I Sam. iii. 18. — And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And
he said, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.

438 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Sermon LXII. Of St. Peter's Want of Faith.

Malt. xiv. 30, 31.— But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and be-
ginning to sink, he cried, saying. Lord save me. And immediately Jesus stretched
forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt ?

Sermon LXIII. St. Peter's Tears and Repentance.

Luke xxii. 60-62. — While he yet spake, the cock crew; and the Lord turned and
looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said
unto him, Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and
wept bitterly.

Sermon LXIV. An Exhortation to Prayer.

Luke xxii. 46. — Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Sermon LXV. Encouragement to Prayer and Seeking God.

Jer. viii. 22. — Is there .to balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician there? Why
then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ?

Sermon LXVI. Of the new Creature.

Gal. vi. 15. — For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor un-
circumcision, but a new creature.

Sermon LXVII. The Knowledge of God, the Christian's true Glory.

Jer. ix. 23, 24. — Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;
but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I
am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth ;
for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Sermon LXVIII. The Lord our Righteousness.

[An Advent Sermon.]

Jer. xxiii. 6. — In his days Judah shall, be saved and Israel shall dwell safely; aria
this is his name whereby he shall be called. The Lord our Righteousness.

Sermon LXIX. An Advent Sermon.

Matt. xi. 5. — The poor have the gospel preached.

THREE SERMONS ; OF RELATIVE DUTIES, VIZ. :

Sermon LXX. i. Of Husbands and Wives.

Col. iii. iS, 19. — Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit unto
the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them.

Sermon LXXI. — Part I. 2. Of Parents and Children.

Col. iii. 20, 21. — Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well jileasing
unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Part II. On the Education of Children.

Prov. xxii. 6. — Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he
will not depart from it.

l8oo] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 439

Sermon LXXII. 3. Of Masters and Servants.

Col. iii. 22, and iv. I. — Servants, obey in all things your masters, accordinjT to the
flesh; not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing Gud.
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also
have a Master in heaven.

Sermon LXXIII. On Destroying the Works of the Devil.

I John iii. 8. — For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.

Sermon LXXIA''. Of Diligence ia our Calling, both Temporal and
Spiritual.

I Cor. vii. 24. — Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Sermons LXXV., LXXVI. Of Sanctification and Redemption.

I Cor. i. 30, 31. — But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; That according as it is
written, He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.

Sermon LXXVII. Of Keeping the Sabbath Day.

Ex. XX. S. — Rememl;er the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Luke vi. 7-9. — And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal
on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew
their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand. Rise up and stand
forth in the midst. And he rose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing, Is it lawful on the Sabbath
days to do good, or to do evil ? to save life, or to destroy it ? And looking round about
upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And lie did so, and his
hand was restored whole as the other.

Sermon LXXVIII. The great Duty of Public Worship, and of Erecting
and Dedicating Proper Houses for that Purpose.

[Preached in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, September 4, 1761, being the day
appointed for the first opening and dedication of the said church ; with an account of
the service used on that occasion.]

1 Kings viii. 13, 27, 57, 60. — I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled
place for thee to abide in for ever. But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? Behold
the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how much less this house that I
have builded ! The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers ; let him not
leave us nor forsake us ; that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is
God, and that there is none else.

Sermon DXXIX. Of Love and Unity. Being a Farewell Sermon.

[Preached at All Saints Church, Philadelphia county, on occasion of the shutting
up the churches in the Oxford Mission, on the approach of the British army towards
the city of Philadel]ihia.]

2 Cor. xiii. 11. — Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of
one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

440 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Sermon LXXX. Of Joy Succeeding to Sorrow.

[Preached in July, 177S, in the three churches of the Oxford Mission, on the open-
ing of the said churches after the evacuation of the city of Philadelphia by the Ihitish
army.]

Psalm cxxvi. 3, 4, 5. — The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears
shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

THREE SERMONS AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT OF

THE lord's SUPPER.

Sermon LXXXI. i. On Self-examination,

I Cor. xi. 2S. — But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup.

Sermon LXXXII. 2. The Promise of Eternal Life to Worthy Partakers
of the Lord's Supper.

John vi. 54. — Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and
I will raise him up at the last day.

Sermon LXXXIIL 3 and 4. An Exhortation to Frequent Communion,
with an Answer to all Excuses, etc.

Luke xiv. 16, etc. — .\ certain man made a great supper, and bade many, and sent
his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are
now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said, etc.

Sermon LXXXIV, Of the Progress of our Time, and the Instability of
Life.

[A New Year's sermon, first preached January i, 17S1.]

James iv. 13-15. — Go to now, ye that say. To-day or to-morrow we will go into such
a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain ; whereas ye know
not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that you ought to say, If the
Lord will, we shall live to do this or that.

Jer. xxviii. 16. — This year thou shalt die; because thou hast taught rebellion against
the Lord.

FUNERAL SERMONS.

Sermon LXXXV. Personal Affliction and Frequent Reflection upon
Human Life, of great Use to lead Man to the Remembrance of God.

[Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, September i, 1754, on the 'leath of a
beloved pupil.]

Psalm xlii. 6. — O my God! my soul is cast down within me, therefore will I re-
member thee.

Sermon LXXXVL The Steward's Summons.

[Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, January 10, 1762, at the funeral of the
Rev. Robert Jenney, LL. D., Rector of that church.]

Luke xvi. 2. — Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer
steward.

l8oo] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 44I

Sermon LXXXVII. The Peaceful End of the Righteous.

[Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, September 6, 1772, at the funeral of
Thomas Grojme, Esq., M. D.]

Gen. XV. 15. — And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shall be buried in a
good old age.

Sermon LXXXVIII. Old Age a Crown of Glory to the Righteous.

Prov. xvi. 31.— The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way
of righteousness.

Sermon LXXXIX. Longing after Immortality.

[As it was preached before the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, on Tuesday, August 4, 1789, at the funeral of the Rev. David Griffith, D. D.,
a member of convention for the church in Virghiia, and formerly a bishop elect in
that church.] *

2 Cor. V. I, 2. — For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis-
solved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is from heaven.

Sermon XC. The Improvement of Time.

[Preached on sundry funeral occasions.]

1 Cor. vii. 29-31. — But this I say, brethren, The time is short. It remaineth that
both they that have wives, be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though
they weeped not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that
buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for
the fashion of this world passeth away.

Sermon XCI. Mourning better than Mirth.

[Preached on sundry funeral occasions.]
Eccl. vii. 2. — It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of
feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.

Sermon XCII. The Immortal Fruits of Affliction.
[Preached at the funeral of Colonel William Bordley, M. D., of Kent county, Md.

2 Cor. iv. 17. — For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Sermon XCIII. The Christian's Warfare and Crown.

[Preached in Chester Church, Maryland, February 9, 17S1, at the funeral of Mrs.
Rachael Condon, wife of the Rev. Joseph Condon, A. M.]

2 Tim. iv. 6-8. — The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day;
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

END OF THE FUNERAL SERMONS.

* This sermon, as it was at first composed, was preached January 23, 1782, at the
funeral of the Rev, Hugh Neill, A. M., Rector of Chester Parish, Queen Anne's county,
Maryland.

442 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [180O

Sermon XCIV. Of the Trembling of Felix, and the Witness of
Conscience.

Acts xxiv. 25. — And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to
come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, when T have more
convenient season I will call for thee.

Sermon XCV. The Certainty of the last Judgment, and of a Future
State of Rewards and Punishments.

2 Cor. V. 10, II. — We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

Sermon XCVI. Of the Manner of Christ's Coming to Judgment, and
the Resurrection of the Dead.

1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. — For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Sermon XCVII. Of the Dissolution of the World by Fire at the Last
Day; with an earnest Exhortation to Holiness of Life, and Prepara-
tion for Death and Judgment.

2 Pet. iii. 10, II. — The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of the Lord.

Sermon XCVIIL Of an Eternal World, and the different State of the
Righteous and the L^ngodly after Judgment.

Matt. XXV. 46. — And these shall go away unto everlasting punishment, but the
righteous unto life eternal.

END OF THE PAROCHIAL SERMONS.

Some of th^se sermons have been published. Many have not
been. Where those unpublished now are I am wholly unable to
discover; indeed cannot so much as conjecture. I sincerely grieve
that they cannot be collected and preserved. In such institutions
as the Historical Society of Pennsylvania we have now a place
where any manuscripts of value are arranged, indexed, bound, and
carefully preserved in fire-proof repositories. I earnestly appeal
to my numerous kinsfolk, if among any of them these precious
documents yet remain, to collect and deposit them in that or in some
other like institution, if any there be, where they will be of some
benefit to mankind. In private hands, even the best hands, they
are of little or none.

l802] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 443

But Dr. Smith contemplated, in case of his life being prolonged,
the publication of other volumes than these six of which I have
just written. These additional volumes were to contain his aca-
demical writings, together with many other matters, consisting of
fugitive and occasional pieces ; some of which had been printed in
separate pamphlets, some in newspapers, magazines, and other
periodical publications, and many yet in manuscript. Among these
productions were to be found:

1. Addresses, Letters, etc., etc., to the people of Great Britain
and Ireland, during two years and a half, while employed, under
the authority of Royal Brief, in the great collection, for the better
establishment and support of the colleges of New York and
Philadelphia.

2. Philosophical, Astronomical and Geographical papers, to be
found chiefly in the first volume of the Transactions of the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society; together with the Rules, Charter and
Laws for its first institution, and an oration before the society,

3. An account of Thomas Godfrey, of Philadelphia, with full
proofs of his being the original inventor of what has been unjustly
called Hadley's Quadrant.

4. Polemical writings, viz.: Cato's Letters, containing some re-
marks on Paine's " Common Sense." The Anatomist, in nineteen
numbers; contained in the second volume of "A Collection of
Tracts, on the subject of the residence of Protestant Bishops in the
American Colonies, and in answer to the writers who opposed it ; "
published in 1769, at New York, by John Holt. Theological
Lectures, delivered to the divinity students in the College of Phil-
adelphia; Correspondence with the Archbishop of Canterbury, in
the case of the Rev. Mr. Macclenachan ; Letter to the nineteen
Presbyterian ministers who advocated his cause.

Political writings, viz.: Brief State and Brief View of the Politics
of the Legislatures of Pennsylvania, in 1755-56, near and about
the time of Braddock's defeat. Preface to a speech by J. Dickin-
son, Esq., in answer to Dr. Franklin's protest in the House of As-
sembly of Pennsylvania, with sundry other political papers, in a
contest with that House, which will be noticed below.

5. Miscellaneous papers, viz.: The Rise, Progress and State of
the Canal Navigation of Pennsylvania ; sundry papers, addresses,
etc., to be found among the proceedings of the Society for Pro-

444 LIFE AKD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l802

moting Roads and Inland Navigation in the Middle States. Ex-
amination of the Connecticut claim to lands within the charter
bounds of Pennsylvania, with a large Appendix, containing copies
of charters, royal grants and other valuable documents ; a collec-
tion of papers, drawn up at the request of Judge Sullivan, and
transmitted to him by the Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering,
Esq., for discovering and ascertaining the true river St. Croix.

An account of General Bouquet's expedition to Muskingum,
with many papers relating to the Illinois, and the ancient boun-
daries between the English and French tribes.

To the above were to be added Dr. Smith's large share (which
would be distinguished as far as possible from the share of his
coadjutors) of tracts published in Colonel Bradford's American
Magazine of 1757-58, as follows:

6. The Planter, in twenty-two numbers.

7. The Antigallican, in seven numbers.

8. The Watchman, in eight numbers.*

9. An account of the very arbitrary proceedings of the Assem-
blies, or Legislatures, of Pennsylvania, of which we have men-
tioned in our Vol. I.,t which obliged Dr. Smith to undertake a
voyage to Great Britain, and which would contain many interest-
ing papers, supported by the authority of some of the greatest
characters that ever adorned the bar or the bench in the law
courts of England, namely: Pratt and Yorke, then Attorney and
Solicitor General, both of them afterwards Lord High Chancellors
of the nation.l

The publication was begun in an elegant way by Mr. ?vlaxwell,
a well-known publisher of Philadelphia at the beginning of this
century, of whom Dr. Smith says, in a prefatory note dated Falls
of Schuylkill, August 2, 1802 :

I have conveyed the copyright on easy terms, induced thereto on my
part by his attention to the correctness of his press, amidst the large
numbers of hands which he is obliged to employ, as well as by his at-
tention to myself, in attending me at my house in the country; to aid

* The " Hermit," which was first published in this American Magazine, is printed
in the concluding part of the first volume of Dr. Smith's Works, published by
Maxwell, in 1803.

f Pages 167-187; 203-209.

J By the names of Lord Camden and Lord Morden.

I802] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. ^.t^

my failing sight, in reading and correcting the proof sheets, especially
those taken from the manuscript copies.

He has taken the risk of the publication upon himself, and I hope
those friends who yet remain alive, who formerly lent their names to
encourage the work (many of them being, alas ! now no more), were
influenced by other motives than the expectation of seeing their names
prefixed to a book, in a subscription list ; and that whatever favor they
intended towards me may be transferred to my publisher, who, being
worthy of success, I pray he may be blest with it in every liberal and
just undertaking.

I have given in an Appendix* a list of such things of Dr.
Smith as I either know or suppose to be his, which were pub-
lished in his lifetime, from the year 1750 to the year 1803.

In September of this year Mrs. Williamina Cadwalader, writing
from the Falls of Schuylkill to her aunt, Mrs. Ridgely, of Dover,
says:

Dr. Smith is near his end. On last Sunday he preached for St.
John's Parish, in the city. I was with him, as he would have me, being
afraid to go with his servant alone. I do not think he will ever preach
again, at least not with my consent.

This, I have reason to think, was the last sermon which Dr.
Smith ever preached. The church now called St. John's Church,
Northern Liberties, was not admitted into the convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania until 18 16, nor or-
ganized in form until 18 1 5, when the Rev. George Boyd, D. D.,
was its rector. But the parish had a history much earlier than this;
so far back as June, 1772, Dr. Smith interesting himself in origi-
nating the identical parish which forty-three years afterwards took
corporate shape. f

* See Appendix, No. X.

j- This fact is made patent by a document in Mr. Robert Coulton Davis's possession.
It is a receipt, dated January 20, 1787, by "J. Booth," who promises to return it to Dr.
Smith "at the town of New Castle," for a document described as in these words :

June nth.
Whereas a certain lottery, called the Wilmington Lotteiy, in two classes, is set on
foot for raising £2,i,%\ Pennsylvania money, in which Richard McWilliam, Esq., and
Messrs. Jonas Stedham, George Evans and Joseph Stedham, of New Castle county,
are managers, who, it is declared in the scheme of the said lottery, that the money to
be raised thereby is to be divided as follows, viz. : Five-sixths of the net profits towards
the building and finishing St. John's Church, in the jVorthern Liberties of the city of
Philadelphia, and the remaining sixth part for public uses within the county of New
Castle, under the direction of the said managers, and of Rev. Dr. Richard Peters, Rev.

44^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1S03

CHAPTER LXI.

Dr. Smith's last illness one of some length — Reads the proof-sheets of
Maxwell's two volumes, at the Falls of Schuylkill, in April, 1803
— He is brought to his son's, William Moore Smith's, house, in town —
Dies there May 14, 1803 — Is buried in his Mausoleum at the Falls —
1 1 is last official act — Mrs. Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely— Account of
HIS funeral — Bills paid by his Executors — Dr. Smith's estate.

The commencement of the year 1803 found Dr. Smith in a
dying condition. The death of his sister and of his man Primus
had left him much dependent upon those whom in some senses
were strangers — strangers at least in comparison with those who
had been long about him and were acquainted with all his habits
and wants. His sons were affectionate; but one of them, William
Moore Smith, was about to embark for England, as agent for the
British claimants in America, and to take with him his own son,
William Rudulph Smith, who up to that time had been constantly
with his grandfather, and had been of great assistance to him in
the arrangement of his papers. Charles Smith was living in the
city of Lancaster, and engaged in public duties, and Richard was
in Huntingdon, a town then at a great distance, as respected any
ability to get to him readily, from Philadelphia. The only rela-
tives he had near him (in the city) were his daughter-in-law (Mrs.
Ann Smith), Mrs. Williamina Cadwalader, and his half-brother.
Judge Thomas Smith. These, with Bishop White and Benjamin
R. Morgan, Esq., were constantly by his side, and Judge Smith,

Dr. William Smith and Rev. Mr. Jacob Duche, of Philadelphia, and Rev. Mr.
Laurence Gerelius, of Wilmington; now, that there may be no future misunderstand-
ing relative to the disposition of the said sixth part, which, if the lottery is successful,
may clear about ;(^400, it is agreed that £^0 of the same be applied by us towards the
use of Trinity Church, in the borough of Wilmington, and the remainder towards the
public school now erecting in the borough of Wilmington, or in that proportion if the
said sixth part should prove more or less than as above estimated.
Witness our hands this llth day of June, 1772.

Richard Peters, Richard McWilliam,

William Smith, Jonas Stedham,

Laurence Gerelius, George Evans,

J, Stedham.

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 447

the Bishop and Mr. Morgan made such an arrangement that one
of them was with him every night. My grandmother (to whom I
am indebted for these facts) drove to the Falls of Schuylkill every
morning, leaving her little children to the care of her servants, at
her home, then at the southeast corner of Fifth and Chestnut
streets, in the city. Maxwell, the publisher, sent proofs of the
two volumes of his sermons daily to him, and these were cor-
rected by himself, though the books were not so entirely com-
pleted as that they could be published in Dr. Smith's lifetime.
In the earlier part of the year we find him writing to the painter,
Gilbert Stuart, a letter too characteristic and interesting to be

omitted in our memoir:

Falls of Schuylkill, February 28, 1803.

My Dear Sir: By Dr. Rush's order I am now wholly confined to
my bed-chamber; the doctor, my brother and my friends who have any
regard for me or business with me, visit me here. I grow every day
weaker; but, thank God, he keeps my mind sound and my intellect not
much impaired. I beg the pleasure and comfort of a short visit from
you in a day or two. My son, in two or three weeks, will embark for
England. I shall never see him again, as I believe. He has consented
to sit to you for his picture before he goes. I shall pay you cash down
as we may agree. An answer/^/- bearer is requested by

Your affectionate Wm. Smith.

To Mr. Gilbert Stuart.

In the month of April Mrs. Ann Smith,.assisted by Bishop White
and Mr. Morgan, brought the venerable sufferer from the Falls
of Schuylkill in a carriage, followed by a wagon containing his
"chest and red trunk " of papers, to her house, already mentioned,
at the southeast corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia,
where he died. May 14, 1803, at midnight, in the second story
front room; the same in which my father (Richard Penn Smith)
was born, and in which Washington had sat to Gilbert Stuart for
the portrait now in the Boston Athenaeum. Bishop White called
in the morning, and, in pursuance of a request which before death
had been made by his departed brother, took away the " red
trunk," containing the church papers, of which I have spoken.*

The following is the last letter I have ever found of Dr.
Smith :

* For account of these papers see Appendix, No. XI.

448 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

• Dr. Smith to Charles Smith.

Philadelphia, May 2, 1803.
Dear Charles : I write you this to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter and check. ... I get weaker every day, and am wholly confined
to my bedchamber, and cannot reasonably expect more than a very un-
certain and short time to live, and would not wish to give you a
moment's unhappiness. . . . My iu>o volumes of sermons, etc., are fin-
ished, and printed, but I feel I could not rest in my grave were my
wishes not carried out. But to you, my dear son, and your brother
William, I trust this matter, which is of so much import to me. . . .
Your wife and dear children, whom I never expect to see again, I love*;
I leave my blessing upon them.

Your affectionate father till death,

William Smith.
To Charles Smith, Lancaster.

The only accounts I have of the funeral of Dr. Smith are from
my grandmother and a letter from Mrs. Cadwalader. My grand-
mother informed me that Bishop White officiated at the mauso-
leum; that she and my father and uncle (Dr. .Smith's two grand-
children*) were the only members of the family who followed the
body to the vault. His children were all too far away to commu-
nicate to them the fact of his dissolution in time for them to be
present at the funeral. Mrs. Cadwalader, widow of General John
Cadwalader, was at this time residing on the estate at the Falls,
near Dr. Smith's dwelling-.

't>*

Mrs. Williamina Cadwalader to Mrs. Ridgely.

[Extract.]

Philadelphia, May 19, 1803.

I suppose Willey will tell you that Dr. .Smith died on Saturday last,
and was buried on Tuesday evening in his mausoleum, at the Falls.
He was carried in a hearse from his son William's house, attended by
sixteen carriages, six of them filled with clergy. He had none of his
children with him, but was attended affectionately by his amiable
daughter-in-law, Mrs. "William Moore Smith.

From your very affectionate

Williamina Cadwalader.

* The last official act of Dr. Smith in his position as a clergyman he make,s note
of thus :

"August I, 1802. — Baptized my two grandchildren, viz. :

" I. Samuel, who will he six years of age 1st September next.

"2, Richard, who was three years of age 13th March last."

l803j REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 449

In the office of the Register of Wills, in Philadelphia, I find the
following list of bills paid by the executors :

Dr. Benjamin Rush, medical attendance, ;^334. 34

James Traquair, inscription, etc., for vault, 60.94

David Edwin, for engraving portrait, 45- 00

Robert Haydock, stone work for vault, 120.00

Dr. Physick, medical attendance, 32.00

Dr. Bensell, medical attendance, 12.50

Subscription to road in Huntingdon for 1803, 10.00

Funeral expenses, 199- 14

For mourning rings, as per will, 280.00

The mausoleum erected by Dr. Smith was used by some mem-
bers of the family as a place of sepulture until the death of my
father, Richard Penn Smith, in the year 1854. This gentleman being
aware that at no distant day his estate would be sold for the purpose
of division, directed that a lot should be purchased in the cemetery
of Laurel Hill, which is in sight of the old homestead, and that the
bodies, now about fourteen in number, should be removed to that
place. This was supposed to have been done with all the bodies,
including that of Dr. Smith; but from the fact of their having
been buried in the vault, those of Dr. Smith were not discovered,
and so were not removed. They were subsequently disinterred
by me, and it is my intention to reinter them in the grounds
either of Christ Church, where he so often preached, or in those
of St. Peter's, which he dedicated.

Dr. Smith left a large landed property. It was in different parts
of Pennsylvania and New York, the largest part perhaps being in
Huntingdon county. Pa. He had made during his lifetime a
careful division among his children, who all received a fair estate,
indeed I may say a large one. His property at the Falls of
Schuylkill fell to the. portion of my grandfather, William Moore
Smith, and was in turn inherited by his son, Richard Penn Smith.
From him I received a portion of the same property, which will
in time be the portion of my son and my grandchildren.

29

450 LIFE AiVn CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

CHAPTER LXII.

Causes of Dr. Smith not being consecrated Bishop of Maryland — Conclusion.

We have said, in earlier parts of this volume, that in August,
1783, Dr. Smith was elected by the Ecclesiastical Convention of
Maryland — a body composed of the whole clergy of the State — to
be Bishop of their diocese. The body recommended him as "a
fit person and every way qualified to be invested with the sacred
office of a bishop;" the convention declaring itself "perfectly sat-
isfied that he will duly execute this office ... to the edifying of the
church and the glory of God." We have also stated that in 1786
the wardens and vestry of the parish in which he ministered for years
added to this, their emphatic testimony to the correctness of his
life and conversation.* With all this we know, however, that Dr.
Smith was never consecrated to the Episcopal order. I am not
able to say with certainty why this happened. While I think it
certain that Dr. Smith would have made an imposing figure had
his robe been sleeved with lawn; and indeed would have been in
many ways an efficient bishop, there were certain reasons which I
can conceive of as having been sufficient to cause some opposi-
tion to his consecration.

We know what transcendent qualifications are required by the
apostle of him who is to be ordained to this most sacred office.
With other qualifications he must be blameless, vigilant, sober,
not given to wine, patient, apt to teach, not only of good behavior,
but having a good report of them which are without. The apostle
plainly intimates, I think, that a man may be of good behavior ;
but, from the misrepresentations, including even those that are
slanderous, or from simple misapprehensions of others, may not
have a good report of them that are without. Such a man, how-
ever innocent — indeed, however holy — and though the report of
them that are without may be the result of wicked falsehoods and

* See these two documents supra, pp. 100, 240.

1803] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 45 I

malignant persecutions, the apostle declares to us should not be
made bishop. And the reason of the apostle's view is obvious.
The work of evangelizing the world is a work to be done among
the ignorant, the prejudiced, the obstinate, the wilful, the slander-
ous, the wicked and profligate of every sort, and among them only
or chiefly. It is a practical work. However blameless, vigilant,
sober, patient, and of whatever good behavior, the apostle's injunc-
tion would forbid us to appoint a man to this office who would be
politically obnoxious to any in his diocese, however much more
marked by obedience to the Scripture his political conduct might
have been than theirs; or to appoint one who, however fit by all
other qualities, by weight of years could not possibly be longer
"apt to teach."

In Dr. Smith's case his years alone were such as were likely to
make him soon unfit for "the office of a bishop." In 1789, only
three years after the earliest date at which he could have been
consecrated, he resigned, "on account of his advanced age," the
presidency of a society created largely by himself, in which for
thirty years he had been the most active, intelligent and efficient
administrator, and of which the duties in 1789 had ceased to be
laborious.* Moreover, there was no salary attached to the Epis-
copate of Maryland. Dr. Smith was too old to find one in the
rectorship of a parochial church. His productive property was
small. The means of sustaining life were therefore wanting to
him in the good work of a bishop's office.

2. Without doubt Dr. Smith had not favored a Revolution which
involved the separation of the colonies from the mother country.
He had both written and spoken against our declaring ourselves
independent ; and, in common with not a few of the most upright
and honorable citizens of Philadelphia, respected then and
venerated now, including names like those of the Willings,
the Tilghmans, the Chews, was looked upon with some dis-
favor during much of the whole war. The Church of England
had been so long and so intimately associated in popular estima-
tion with the Crown and the British army — which, in September,
1777, had landed on or near the soil of Maryland, had, by its

* The Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Children 'of Clergymen. See
Wallace's Century of Beneficence — 1769-1S79.

452 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

violence and robberies on its way to Philadelphia, left such horrid
impressions even in Maryland, the adjoining State to Pennsyl-
vania— that it would not have been wise to consecrate for the
Bishop of Maryland any man who had not been notoriously in
sympathy ^ith the popular cause. Bishop Provoost had hardly
any other special title to being selected for New York but that he
had been a warm Whig, and had borne arms against the British
invaders: and the influence even of the admirable Bishop White
was without doubt much increased in a republican community by
the fact that he had been a chaplain in the Congress of 1776, and
from the first a friend of Washington and a supporter of the
American cause.

3. A bishop, it is declared, must be "no striker." My ancestor,
some persons thought, did not satisfy this requisition. He never
threw the first stone. But if any one threw a first. stone at him,
he did not always stop with a second stone in return. He arrested
the throwing of stones from the enemy's quarter by throwing them
from his own side with such rapidity, force and well-directed aim,
that he who began the quarrel was soon obliged to retreat pre-
cipitately from the field. Thus he dealt with the Quaker Assembly
of Pennsylvania, long bearing and long forbearing; but when pro-
voked past measure, bearding them in their den, dragging them
across the ocean before the king in council, reversing all their
decrees, and then compelling them to assemble in their own juris-
diction and hear, in the presence of their constituents, the royal
record of their humiliation.* He acted in short, much like a man
who, having been bitten by some snarling whelp, takes him with
one hand by the back of the neck, and, holding his head in the
air, with a whip in the other, lashes him till the animal's sides are
so corrugated with welts that he never can be found again to
offend anybody. This was acting, no doubt, much in accord with
that good council which, while advising that a man "beware of
entrance in a quarrel," yet adds:

" But being in,
Bear it that the opposer may beware of thee,"

though not acting with that better teaching which tells us that
when smitten on one cheek we should turn the other for the

— —a, . .. -- ,, ■ . ■ . - — -, - , . — — — ■—-..— ■ ' ■ ■ ■ —

*See Vol. I., pp. 208, 209.

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH D. D. 453

same operation upon it. Dr. Smith's conduct, in short, was very
like that of a man; not quite so much hke that of a clergyman.

He had been, in fact, from his first advent into Pennsylvania, in
all the political controversies which agitated the Province. His
wit was terribly keen, and left deep wounds even when upon the
surface there seemed to be smoothness. Such a man might have
attained a high degree of grace, but there was still too large a
share of nature left behind in him. This militant spirit became
more and more subject to the law of the Gospel, with his advancing
life; and in the end the spirit of Christ, we would humbly hope —
indeed, we feel well assured— quite constrained him. But in the
decline of life his physical strength rendered him incapable of any
active work.

We ought to add, in this connection, that there was never any
root of bitterness in Dr. Smith's temper. His anger was not a
sinful anger. The sun went not down upon it. This was illus-
trated in regard to the very Quakers of whom we have been
speaking. They had acted toward him in 1757 with a dicta-
torial, unjust and persecuting spirit, and had greatly injured the
interests of the Province, and especially of his college and schools.
He put an end to their power to do mischief in this way, and put
an end to it energetically and with effect. Yet in 1777, when,
amidst popular insult, the Quakers were arrested and sent off to
Virginia in exile, because they would not promise to abstain from
communications with General Howe, Dr. Smith entertained them
on their way and ministered to their comfort with every mark of
kindness.

4. It was a notorious fact then, as now, that Dr. Smith had been
a great speculator in real estate. He bought large quantities of
land in many parts of Pennsylvania, looking forward to peopling
and improving them, and to a rise in coming time in their value.
In this there was nothing immoral. Indeed, the great Earl of
Verulam, Francis Bacon, who tells us that "the ways to enrich are
many, and most of them foul," reckons "plantations" — witliin
which term Dr. Smith's purchases and purposes came — as among
"ancient, primitive and heroical works; " and says also that "the
improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of riches,
for it is our great mother's blessing: the earth's; " though he tells
us that is " slow." As we have said, there was nothing immoral

454 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

in any part of this mode of acquiring wealth. Nevertheless, it did
tend to entangle him with the affairs of this life, and did tend to
prevent his applying himself wholly to that one great duty which
lies upon the bishop as well as upon the priest, and to his " draw-
ing all his cares and studies in that way."

It was doubtless to these tastes or pursuits of Dr. Smith that
Bishop White refers when, speaking of him, he says :

His talents are in no need of my recommendation, and had they been
devoted to literature, and not too much devoted to politics and specu-
lations in land, there is no knowing the measure of celebrity which
mi.t^ht be thoufrht too great to be attained.

5. All the reasons which I have enumerated why Dr. Smith was
not the best person for a bishop in a new, impoverished and highly
republican diocese, without doubt existed, and they were all good
reasons why he should not have been consecrated, though no one
of them fixed upon him the stain of immorality. A graver one
has been made. It is not exactly that he was "given to wine" —
sucJl a charge, in view of the strong attestations of good character
from his diocese and parish, the best witnesses of his daily life,
would have borne falsehood on its face — but that his habits being,
in accordance with those of most gentlemen in his day, somewhat
social, he was on one occasion, in the year 1785, so far overtaken
as to have transcended the limits allowable to the clergy. He
himself, we know, denied the charge and invited proof of it ; no
proof that was legal proof — by which I mean that a court of jus-
tice would have listened to — was ever, that I know of, given.
That nothing like habitual impropriety in this way was ever in-
dulged, or ever supposed to be, is shown, I think, conclusively, not
only by the attestations of this diocese and parish, above referred
to, but by the numberless appointments of honor and confidence
with which, after this time, he was invested up to his very dying
hours; the president of every house of clerical and lay deputies,
from the time of the constitution of such a chamber till his physical
infirmities rendered him incapable of presiding anywhere at all ;
the successively selected preacher year after year of all the church
at the consecration of her first three bishops consecrated in
America;* appointed on almost every important committee con-
stituted by the church conventions in his time, and usually their

* Clagget, Bass and Smith.

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 455

chairman; the friend and companion of the most virtuous and
most honored men of his age and country.

We may add, that no journal of the convention shows that Dr.
Smith ever desired consecration, whatever his friends and admirers
may have urged; and none of his correspondence which I have
seen, either in print or in MS., shows that he ever intended so to
apply. He preached, as we know, and with graceful alacrity, in
1792, at the consecration of Dr. Clagget to the Episcopate of
Maryland ; and, in the sermon then delivered, speaks before the
assembled bishops and clergy and lay deputies, of the humble
station which he himself had chosen to hold in the church during
the remaining space in his life.

I may add that Dr. Smith, from the year 1779 till the year
1789, when it was restored, had in view, notwithstanding his resi-
dence and activity in Maryland, one great object — dearer, far, to
him, I think, than a mitre — and that was the restitution to his
college of its charter. For this, wherever he was and in whatever
pursuit engaged, he was continually laboring. He never closed
his residence nor took from it its furniture, at the Falls of Schuyl-
kill, even when a citizen of Maryland, both as the head of a college
and as the rector of a parish there. He left it in charge of his
sister Isabella, a sister devoted to his fame, who kept it with care,
subject to his wishes and interests alone. He was constantly at
Philadelphia, laboring in his great object. In 1789, the year in
which the charter was restored. Dr. Smith had become so much
advanced in years, and ecclesiastical ambitions had so little hold
on his affections, that he seems to have been indifferent to the
subject.

I suppose that in times like these, when the church is agitated
with much discussion upon its proper characteristics, I shall be
expected to say something upon what will be called Dr. Smith's
"Churchmanship" — of what sort it was: high, low, or what else.

I have already said, in different parts of this book, that Dr.
Smith's cast of mind did not lead him into any of the subtleties
of divinity. He was not a recluse, nor by distinction a student of
divinity. H^ was not, except by occasion, and only then tem-
porarily, even a parish priest, bound to set before his hearers his
views upon topics important, no doubt, to be taught from the

456 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

pulpit, but not in their nature relating directly to practical duties.
His distinction, so far as preaching was concerned, was as a pulpit
orator, wherein he was, I think, the first of his time in Phila-
delphia; for, though his pupil Duche was, so far as mere elocution
was concerned, his equal, possibly his superior. Dr. Smith, in
mental power and richness of material, was so far above him that
no comparison could be made between them.

I may further say that nothing would have been so unwise in
Dr. Smith as to have been largely enforcing, during his time, any
one special class of views which good men in our church have, in
all its history since the Reformation, entertained, in opposition to
other views entertained by other men as good, and, in my view —
assuming the liturgy, the rubrics, the articles and the homilies, all
united, as expressing her views — as much within the church's pale
as they. It must be remembered that when Dr. Smith first came to
Philadelphia there was but a single church of the Church of Eng-
land in all the city — old Christ Church. The Quakers, still
writhing under the attacks of Keith, who had left them, were em-
bittered towards the very name of the Church of England. // was
the great object of their hatred, and Dr. Smith himself tells us
that it was by acting on the maxim Divide et impcra, that they
hoped to destroy it.*

At a later day came on the Illuminati, the infidelity of France
and the assaults of its revolution upon every sort of religion,
and even upon the existence of a God ; when all who named the
name of Christ were in some degree compelled to unite, the one
with the other, in order to preserve Christianity among the people
at all. How inappropriate in either epoch would have been dis-
cussions, elevate though they were, upon topics not in their nature,
perhaps, identical with those upon which "the others reasoned
high," of providence, foreknowledge, will and fate, fi.xed fate, free-
will, foreknowledge absolute, but ending, often much like theirs,
which "found no end, in wandering mazes lost."

Indeed, during most of Dr. Smith's term of clerical life there
v/as, if my ideas of church history are right, no great agitation

* See Vol. I. of this biography, page 220. We can in this day haPdly form an idea
cf the power of the Quakers in old Philadelp]iia. Think of Bishop White devoting
many months of his lile to writing an answer to Barcl.ay's Apology ! He considered
this ans.ver his ablest and most finished work.

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 457

anywhere on the particular class of topics which now disturbs us ;
not novelties, any of them, except in the degree to which they are
carried. The same class of topics, indeed, agitated the Church of
England in different degrees during the reigns of Elizabeth, Ed-
ward VI., James I., and Charles I. So they did in the days of
Charles II., William HI., and Anne. We may even say that they
were questions which embarrassed the Reformers themselves.
They are, some of them, questions of essential difficulty, and about
which those who think most, talk little, and dogmatize not at all.
But in the days of the first and second and third Georges, the agi-
tation had ceased. The first two were stolid Germans, and the
third, though a good man and a far better king than those who
believe in Byron think — not a schoolman or casuist. The theo-
logical writings of the day were of another complexion. The old
questions have now in the periodicity of things of course come
back. We have had the anabasis. We are now at the acme. The
decline will begin to-mcrrow.

But still I am asked by one, "Was not Dr. Smith a high-church-
man? " and by another, " Was not Dr. Smith a low-churchman? "
A^pov ! I am tempted to exclaim in response to one inquirer as to
the other. Tell me, first, what is " a low-churchman ? " What is
" a high-churchman ? "

In the days succeeding the English Revolution of 1688 the
matter was half a political question If a man adhered to the
Stuarts, he was a high-churchman. If to the House of Orange, a
low-cliurchman.

At a later day, with us. Dr. Seabury was opposed to having the
laity take any part in the governm.ent of the church, had a mitre,
wrote himself " .Samuel Connecticut," " Samuel, Bishop of Con-
necticut," and in every form, I believe, but that one which the
churches in the Southern and Middle States recommended bishops
to write themselves, in which the minutes of conventions in which
he sat described Jiivi, and in which he described the only bishop,
if I remember, that he assisted to consecrate. In popular idea
this made him a very high-churchman. Bishop White and Bishop
Provoost insisted on the admission of the laity, wrote their own
names more humbly, did not use mitres. This made them in
popular idea /c?r£/-churchmen ; not that between Bishop Seabury
and both the other bishops, so far as I know the views of Bishop

^SS LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

Provoost, distinctions of view better making the titles did not
exist.

Bishop Hobart was called a high-churchman and denounced
through all his life as such, not because he held to any view of
the Eucharist or of the ministry, or performed any services or
offices of the church in a way largely different from many of his
brethren, but because he enforced upon his clergy strongly, and
often with fervor and with eloquence, that the church founded by
the Saviour, and which he (the bishop) considered best represented
in this day by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America, subsisted under certain distinctive principles of
doctrine, ministry and worship, and not under all the shapes into
which fanaticism, ambition, ignorance, or interest might choose to
mould it. With no considerable difference of opinion from him
on this point, although his mode of teaching it was less fervid,
Bishop White was called a low one.

In 1826-27 we had in Pennsylvania a body of clergy whose
views and practices were unlike those of Bishop White. He then
took a strong distinction, showing in his mind great differences
between low-churchmen and low-churchmen. There were the
men known in history of Eiigland as low-churchmen, Tillot-
son, Burnet, and some others a little higher, perhaps, though
not any, lower than they, which class expressed, with more
or less precision, the Bishop's views. But those known at the
date we speak of as low-churchmen in Pennsylvania — with whose
theological opinions, though, happily, it may be reasonably
hoped, not with their tempers and practices, a part of the
clergy, I presume, remain in line — he repelled and renounced
in memorable language his affiliation with. One of them,
in a convention of the church, where the degrees of altitude
were strongly marked, alluded to the Bishop himself as being
a low-churchman — one of their party. " The gentle old man,"
says a narrator of the scene, "showed that, like flint, if struck hard
enough, he could flash fire. He rose at once, apologizing for such
an unusual thing on his part as interrupting a debate, but the per-
sonal allusion to himself must be his excuse. As the word was
used in England and a hundred years ago, perhaps it might not
be altogether incorrect to call him a low-churchman. ' But,' con-
tinued he, with an emphasis rare indeed as coming from his lips.

1803] HEV. VVirLTAM SMITH, D. D. 459

'as the word is understood in this country, you might as well call
me a Turk or a Jew.' "*

Some men are " high " on some points — " low " on others.

We have spoken in a note of Bishop Hopkins. From his first
entrance into the church he was a devoted reader, lover and ex-
positor of the fathers. Those called the apostolic ones I think he
could have said by heart. There was not a line of the Origincs
Sacra which he could not point to. Never did he find " ancient
authors" — by whom are meant the early fathers — to contradict
the Bible, whether in its parts new or old; but, on the contrary,
found in them the Bible's strong supports. In all the " wrought
gold" which decorates the clothing of the daughter of Zion he
delighted. The ornaments of the chancel, the dress of the priest-
hood, the fragrance of myrrh, aloes and cassia out of the ivory
palaces — all these things found interest in his beautiful tastes just
as much as did those higher things, in his deeper heart, which
make the church "all glorious within." These first are the mat-
ters which, in the estimation of many, make the alio, as in their
estimation do dislikes of them the basso. But Bishop Hopkins's
ecclesiastical views — his views of doctrine, discipline and worship
alike — were in many respects very high ; and they were got from
the early fathers, as from the Epistles and Gospels. It is not diffi-
cult to understand his views, many of which I admire. But it is dif-
ficult to assign him to any class of thinkers on the Episcopal bench.
Yet a party which was composed of the lowest churchmen that
ever were in Pennsylvania, were desirous to make him bishop of
its vast diocese, rather than to have Dr. Bird Wilson, the last
of men to carry anything but holiness of life into lofty pitch, or
than Henry Ustick Onderdonk, the greatest original thinker and
logician of the American church, but who, if his tract on Regen-
eration expressed his best judgments, which I hardly tliink it did,
was more like themselves than like any high expositor in the
Church of England.

* Life of Bishop Hopkins, by one of his sons, second edition, page loi. I know
from a person of indubitable authority yet living, and who was present in the conven-
tion where Bishop White's declaration is said to have been made, that this statement
of Bishop Hopkins's son is strictly accurate; and I have heard it also from another
of no less accuracy, who was present, but is now dead. I may add that from my own
recollections of what 1 heard from many persons, witnesses of the scenes, the account
ol all the proceedings of 1826 and 1827, as given in the Life of Bishop Hopkins, is
strictly true. But not the idea that Bishop White voted in 17S6 for his own election.

460 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

In this day, accepting, as tests, the standards of ordinary-
conversation, I am unable to say what high-churchmen and
what low-churchmen are. Indeed, if I had not certain old-
fashioned, but, as I think, very good charts, on which the "main
channel " and all important soundings are marked, I should
be unable to tell where, ecclesiastically, I am sailing — indeed,
whether to quicksands or the port. It is a good while, in the
political world, since I have found any body of men, large er.ough
to be called a party, in which I am willing to class myself I
begin of late to fear that I shall be in the same condition in mat-
ters far more important.

Until, therefore, my inquiring friends define for me their terms
a little better than they do, they must excuse my not answering
very categorically their inquiries.

On certain subjects, which some persons consider as distin-
guishing the degrees of ecclesiastical altitude, and which, if they
do not distinguish them in essence, are often more or less
identified with them, we need not attempt to " locate " Dr. Smith ;
for he has sufficiently " located " himself That he abhorred all
irregularities in the performance of divine service, the use of ex-
tempore prayers there — declaiming against any of the church's
doctrines, as Regeneration (in the sense in which the church uses
the term) — that there was not in him the least tincture of Metho-
dism or Calvinism ; all this can be inferred from the way in which
he speaks of the Rev. Mr. Macclanechan, the founder of St. Paul's
Church, Philadelphia. He is describing this reverend gentleman
to the Archbishop of Canterbury:

With a huge stature and voice more than stentorian, he started up
before his sermon ; and, instead of using any of the exeellent forms pro-
vided in otir Liturgy, or a form in the nature and substance of that
enjoined by the 55th Canon, he addressed the Majesty of Heaven with a
long catalogue of epithets, such as "sin-pardoning, all-seeing, heart-
searehing, reiji-ttying God. ' ' IVe thank thee that we are all here to-day,
and not in hell. Such an unusual manner in our church sufficiently
fixed my attention, which was exercised by a strange extempore rhapsody
of more than twenty minutes, and afterwards a sermon of about sixty-
eight minutes more. I have heard him again and again, and still we
have the same wild, incoherent rhapsodies of which I can give no ac-
count other than that they consist of a continual ringing of the changes
upon the words "Regeneration," "Instantaneous conversion," "Im-

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 46 1

puted righteousness," "The new birth," etc. But I find no practical
use made of these terms, nor does he offer anything to explain them,
or to tell us what he would be at.

What sort of respect Dr. Smith had for Episcopal authority and
for the " Induction," or, as we in our American church call it, the
" Institution " of ministers, may be inferred from his further ac-
count of the reverend gentleman just named:

Mr. Macclanechan spoke much of his popularity; the call he had
from the people to be their minister, which he pretends, gives the only
right title. The Bishop' s authority he spoke of very disrespectfully,
and said it could never bind the people. I replied that ... it was
certainly binding on him and me, who were of the clergy.*

In regard to the ministry Dr. Smith declares that the three
orders of bishops, priests and deacons are necessary to the
proper cst^ablishment of the church, and shows everywhere his
high appreciation of the threefold order.f And if, referring to
what had been enacted both by the Church and Parliament of
England, he suggested it to the Bishop of London to consider
whether anything could be done to bring into our church, without
other ordination than what they had, the German Lutheran clergy
of Pennsylvania, it must be remembered that he does not express
any opinion on the subject himself; but treats it as one which it
does not become him "any further to meddle with than just to
mention the facts and the great accession it might bring to our
church."! He considered possibly that as there was no bishop in
America who could have ordained these persons when they en-
tered on their work, and was none now, the case fell within an
exception recognized by many learned and pious men in the
Church of England who were considered sound churchmen,
and which, tJioiigJi wider very dijferent circumstances of fact, Dr.
White recognized as temporarily dispensing with regular ordination
in our own ministers. He knew that the Church of England
recognizes the validity of the Moravian, Swedish, and perhaps the
Danish orders. Wc havj noted the high respect paid in Phila-
delphia to the Lutheran body; Dr. Peters, the rector of Christ
Church, saying, in 1764, when preaching from one of its pulpits,

* See this work. Vol. I., p. 225. f Supra, p. 97. % Vol. I., p. 404.

462 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

that he had "a very sensible pleasure in being able publicly to de-
clare that between your church, the Swedish, and our own Epis-
copal Church there has always been, from the very first, a kind
and loving participation of divine service and brotherly love." At
a much later day, 1794, when the German Lutheran Church was
burned down, the corporation of Christ Church put their own
sacred edifice at the command, for one part of the day, Sundays
and week-days, of these brethren.* My ancestor may perhaps
have considered the German Lutheran body as standing in a favored
position. My ecclesiastical learning will not bear me out in de-
ciding how this may have been. Neither would it leave his
integrity in any way "off color," if we were to suppose that his
action in this respect — a mere suggestion to the Bishop of London
for him to consider the matter — was done through policy, at the
desire of Dr. Muhlenberg, or some other Lutheran clergyman,
whom he was willing to conciliate, and without expectation that
the Bishop of London would receive them.

Dr. Smith hoped to see in our large cities the churches daily
open, and morning and evening prayer said daily throughout the

year.t

He did not wish to see the services made too " naked, "| and we
may be sure, from what he had provided on several occasions of
religious solemnity, § that he would have enjoyed the choral ser-
vice— that form of service which, ever since the Reformation, the
Church of England has in her cathedrals, her chapels-royal and
collegiate churches, in her Temple church, and in the churches of
her Inns of Court — everywhere, in short, throughout her beautiful
land — would have enjoyed it, I say, to the very depths of his
soul.

In regard to the holy communion, he assisted Bishop Seabury
in making that which was a fuller consecration of the elements
than the ceremony which — yielding to the demands of Puritanism —
the Church of England of his day made and now makes: and was,
in fact, the person who carried through the lower House of the
convention of 1 789 the views called high-church, of the great
churchman and Bishop of Connecticut.|| He made, too, of that
service an imposing celebration.^ He enforced upon his parish-

* Dorr's History of Christ Church, p. 21S. f Stipr<7, p. 207. \ Supra, p. 2IO.
^ See Vol. I., p. 544; also Dr. Smith's Writings, Maxwell's ed., Vol. II... pp. 49, 67.
II Si//>i7, p. 290. ^ StiJ>ra, p. 199,

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 463

ioners the necessity of frequent communion; and, if we may argue
from his Preface to the Proposed Book, wished to have the daily
administration of it.*

Even in his Proposed Book — made in part, but in concession to
prejudices — he left that ancient rubric of the Church of England
which declares that a sick person, when visited by the minister of
the parish, shall "be moved to make a special confession of his
sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter; "
and while he did not leave the specific personal absolution of the
English book, he put a form which can hardly be called, and is
nowhere in our Prayer Book called, but "a declaration of absolu-
tion." The Church of England calls it an "absolution." Our
own church abstains from saying, in terms, exactly what " Or fhis"
is. *But Dr. Smith nowhere ever proposed to introduce this sort
of thing as a common practice in the church, or to make the ex-
treme medicine of a burthened dying soul the common daily food
of him that was in no near sight of death, and every morning and
every evening of his life, if the clergy did their duty and had the
churches open, could confess his sins publicly with the rest of
God's penitent people, in his holy temple, and receive full comfort
in the priestly declaration or act which follows.

Neither do we anywhere perceive, in that part of his writings
which are connected with the establishment of the church in
America, any such dangerous view as one which has been more
than adumbrated among us, that the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States of America is, in any essential respect of
doctrine, discipline or worship, a church different from that great
bulwark of Protestantism, the Church of England, and further re-
moved than it from Popish practices, whether complete, incomplete,
or inchoate, whether symbolized only or substantial, f Both in the
Preface, which was his entirely, to the Proposed Book — the book
of 1785 — and in the Preface to our Book of Common Prayer of
1789, which, if not his entirely, was based largely on what was
his, such a doctrine is repelled — repelled every way ; by the whole
course of the argument, which shows the propriety of occasional
alterations "in forms and tisages',' provided "the substance of the
faith is kept entire," and repelled by specific words which say,
that with all the alterations and amendments which have been

*See supra, pp. 440, 1 61. f See Appendix, No. XVII.

464 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1803

made "this Church is far from intending to depart from the
Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline,
or worship; or further than local circumstances may require."
Dr. Smith would not, in their hour of common peril, and when
beleagured by a common enemy, have turned his back upon his
" mother, the Church of England " — the church of Cranmer,
and Ridley, and Latimer, and of the whole glorious host of sons
who have fought for and maintained that faith for which they
died — in this way. He was far too wary, if he had not been too
sound-headed, ever to have made such a concession to the enemy;
one which surrenders the whole case to both our present enemies,
though each is more opposed to each other, than either is to us.

If the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England au-
thorizes, though but in latency, the practices of Rome, or, even in
their smouldering ashes, still preserves Rome's living doctrines; and
if they who made our prayer book did not intend — were far from
intending — to depart from that church in any essential point
of doctrine, discipline, or worship, or further than local circum-
stances require, how can we defend ourselves from the " Low
Papists " — sometimes called Ritualists — who are disturbing its
peace and misapplying, in a disingenuous, dangerous and unwar-
ranted way, its doctrines? And how, again, are we to answer the
authors of the so-called Reformed Episcopal Church ? They
assert exactly what this view admits, adding only to it what
the declarations of the Preface to our prayer solemnly affirm.
And both these parties, the semi-papists and radicals, enter our
citadel together! Our whole case is given up by such a position.
Non tali auxilio, nee defensoribiis istis, would Dr. Smith have
dealt with the parties who are taking us, one-half of them to the
gates of Rome, and the other to the shores of Geneva. He would
have said to them, and his position would have been true: "Our
church, by the changes which it has made in the English book,
coupled with the solemn assurances which it has given in the
new Preface, that it does not intend to depart from the Church of
England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship,
or further than local circumstances require ; tells you that you
misinterpret the rubrics, prayers, and other things in the book of
the Church of England ; that you 7vrest them from their proper
sense; and that rightly interpreted — interpreted by her articles.

1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 465

her homilies, her practice for generation after generation, and by
an intelligent consideration of those circumstances and difficulties
in her history under which all were made — circumstances which
presuppose both knowledge and moral and intellectual faculties
on the part of him who is to consider them, and which are not
of the class of things to be measured on a two-foot rule, or counted
on ten fingers — that thus interpreted the Church of England is
just as far from the doctrines and the practices of Rome as is her
daughter, the church in America.

And is not this argument from a change of rubric two-edged?
The English book directs that the reader of the lessons turn him-
self and read so as best to be heard of all. This direction is left
out of our rubric. Are Popish mumblings, with face averted, au-
thorized for us ? Again, that book declares that though the
elements in the Lord's Supper are to be received kneeling, no
adoration is intended to them, or to any corporal presence of
Christ's natural flesh and blood. Our book suppresses this declara-
tion, and makes a higher " consecration," May we adore the
elements and the corporal presence ?

I advert with more interest to other things. All will agree with
me, I think, that the life of Dr. Smith was a well-spent life, actively
devoted to useful and beneficent objects. Look at the number of
young men whom he trained in the early provincial days to re-
ligion, literature, the arts and statesmanship. We cannot begin to
tell them; but the names of William White, Jacob Duche, John
Andrews, Thomas Coombe, Thomas Hopkinson, Samuel Magaw,
James Abercrombie, among the clergy, come to our minds, as do
those of Francis Hopkinson, William Paca, Richard Peters, Alex-
ander Wilcocks, James Tilghman, William Bingham, Benjamin
Chew, and many others among our men of State, our lawyers and
our men of worth. Look at his early patronage of Benjamin West,
imbuing his mind with classical taste and assisting him to the
means of developing his extraordinary genius. Look, too, at his
disinterested and kind labor in bringing the works of young
Godfrey before the world and those of Nathaniel Evans, all the
profits of which he gives to the widows and children of the clergy.
Look at that most beneficent institution, the corporation for the
relief of these widows and children of his brethren — the long,
laborious work chiefly of his hands — still subsisting in wealth and
30

4^6 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE. \}^^l

diffusing blessings the extent of which it is hard to exaggerate.
Look at his labors in the pulpit for fifty years, and that great
series of sermons — making a cycle of Christian duty — which we
give in our preceding pages.* What a body of texts; what a field
cf thought to traverse ! See him ever ready to devote his splendid
powers to any cause in which he could subserve the interests of
humanity. He was the founder of the American Philosophical
Society, though Franklin, who was not in the country then, nor
for years afterwards, got the credit of it. An astronomer, a clas-
sical scholar, a statesman, an orator. How various his powers !
how high his accomplishments !

Of his labors in the councils of the church how can we speak
too highly? During much of the Provincial epoch he was its
one great character. To him more than to any other person, nay,
more than to all other persons in the Province, Pennsylvania owes
its deserved reputation for the sound, learned and pious clergy
which, unlike Virginia and some other States, it had before the
Revolution. And after the peace of 1783 no man but William
White — he the fruit of Dr. Smith's training from his scvcntli year
till his seventeenth — stands before or, in point of splendid accom-
plishments, near him. In the work of internal improvements in
Pennsylvania he was a pioneer. This State owes to his memory
a debt, with large arrears of interest, which she has never thought
of and will never discharge.

Of the University of Pennsylvania, now becoming a seat of
learning which may rank with the colleges of "Oxford" and of
Washington College, Maryland, to whose history " Ipswich" would
afford an unjust similitude, what shall I say ? How naturally the
poet's words flow from my pen :

Ever witness for him
Those twins of learning that he raised in you !

One of which fell with him,
Unwilling to outlive the good that did it;
The other, though unfinished, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still so rising
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.

* Pages 432-442.

APPENDIX.

No. I. — Page 6i.

The Rev. Robert Blackwell. D. D.

The Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D., as we learn from the "Annals
of Newtown, Long Island," a historical work by James Riker, Esq.,*
was descended from English ancestors of his own name. The ancient
importance in England of the family of Blackwell, itself, is indicated,
says Mr. Riker, by the fact that no less than six towns in that kingdom
bear the name. An engraving in Mr. Riker's book, from an ancient
seal, would indicate that the branch of this family from which the
subject of our notice came was that one long settled in the county of
Norfolk.

The great-grandfather of the Rev. Dr. Blackwell was named, like Dr.
Blackwell himself, Robert. We find him established, a. d. 1676, more
than two centuries ago, at Newtown, L. I., where he became owner of
valuable estates upon the East river, and with them of the island in that
water immediately opposite to New York, now and for two hundred
years past known as Blackwell's island. He married, a. d. 1676, Mary
Manningham, and died in or about the year 171 7.

The son of this Robert was Jacob Blackwell, born August 4, 1692.
He succeeded to his paternal estates, upon which he is supposed to
have erected the fine mansion which he long occupied, yet, or lately,
standing — directly opposite to Blackwell's island — and hereinafter
mentioned. f He married, loth of May, 1711, Mary, daughter of Cap-
tain William Hallet and Sarah, his wife, daughter of George Woolsey,
of Jamaica, L. I. Captain Hallet, by grants dated December i, 1652,
and August, 1654, acquired large possessions at Hell-Gate and upon
that portion of the island which now bears the name of Hallet's Cove.

* Page 354.

f Its position is indicated on Mr. Riker's map of Newtown as " The Old Blackwell
House, now Rev. J. L. Thomson's."

(467)

468 APPENDIX.

The father of Dr. Blackwell was Colonel Jacob Blackwell, born
November 20, 171 7, a son of the Jacob Blackwell just mentioned.
Colonel Blackwell succeeded to the family estates on Long Island and
on the East river, on the death of his father, December i, 1744. He
was a man of parts, and of liberal dispositions. In March, 1740, he
assisted to erect and liberally endow a church edifice for the main-
tenance of the services of the Church of England. A petition made by
him, and the other founders, to the royal authorities, for a charter, sets
forth :

That the petitioners have, at a very great expense, erected a decent church, and
dedicated the same to the worship of Almighty God, according to the rites and cere-
monies of the Church of England, as by law established, by the name of St. James's
Church, and have obtained about a quarter of an acre of land adjoining, for the use
of a cemetery, and were determined to make a suitable provision for the support of a
minister or pastor, that religious duties, for the time to come, may be duly and regu-
larly celebrated therein. But that they cannot carry on this good design to advantage
except they be incorporated.*

The petition was granted, and the church incorporated by letters
patent dated the 9th of September, 1761. The Rev. Samuel Seabury —
afterwards the honored Bishop of Connecticut — was the first rector of
the church. f

As early, too, it would seem, as 1759, along with his family connec-
tions of the name of Hallet, Colonel Blackwell was instrumental in
establishing at Hallet's Cove, near their common residence, a school,
where Greek and Roman literature should form a part of the ordinary
course of education. It was placed under the charge of an Englishman
named Rudge, from the city of Gloucester, in England, and who.
Colonel Blackwell and his relatives certify, in a public advertisement
of the school, had proved himself "a man of close application and so-
briety, and to be capable of his office. "|

Prior to the French and Indian war of 1756-63 this member of the
family of Blackwell had been appointed to a captaincy in the Newtown
militia. He was afterwards promoted to the grade of colonel. He was
early prominent in remonstrating against those measures of the British
Crown, the attempt to enforce which caused to Great Britain the loss
of her western empire. His landed interests, and his known attach-
ment alike to the principles of government and freedom, caused him to
be called, 29th of December, 1774, to preside at a convention of the
Freeholders of Queen's county, which expressed in a series of resolu-
tions, not surpassed as a declaration of true colonial po'ncy, the con-

* Riker's Annals, 249-251 ; 354, 35S. _ \ Ibid., 16. J Ibid., 167.

APPENDIX. 469

viction entertained in America of the impolitic and unjust character
of the ministerial measures. He was subsequently elected to represent
the important county just above named in the Provincial Convention
of New York, a body which exercised great influence at this crisis and
afterwards. While attending to his public duties in New York, his
estates on Long Island were seized by the commander of the British
forces, which had recently proved victorious in that region, and con-
fiscated. "At the venerable stone house in Ravenswood," says the
annalist of Newtown, Mr. Riker, writing a. d. 1852, "may still be seen
the mark of the broad arrow {^) branded upon the front door by the
British, denoting that it was the property of a rebel, and as such confis-
cated to the Crown. Colonel Blackwell, however, recovered his estates
a short time before his death ; an event which occurred October 23,
1780, and which," says Mr. Riker, "the privations and pecuniary
losses he suffered from the enemy are believed to have hastened."*

Colonel Blackwell married Frances, daughter of Joseph Sackett, Esq.,
of Queen's county, one of the Justices under the Crown for the Court
of Common Pleas, and Hannah, his wife, daughter of Richard Alsop.
By this marriage he had issue, the immediate subject of our notice.

The Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D., was born May 6, 1748. We
have no certain knowledge where he received his primary education ;
probably in part at the English and classical school, which we have just
mentioned that his father was instrumental in establishing. From the
work of the Rev. Samuel Davies Alexander, entitled "Princeton Col-
lege during the Eighteenth Century," we learn that he was graduated
in the venerable college just named, with a bachelor's degree, a. d. 1768.
King's College conferred on him, a. d. 1770, the same degree, and
Princeton again the Master's, a. d. 17S2. He seems to have been im-
bued with serious impressions from early years. His first studies, how-
ever, were apparently towards physic.

There was no theological school of the Church of England in the
colonies. It is probable that Mr. Blackwell may have read divinity
imder the care of Dr. Samuel Auchmuty, Rector of Trinity Church,
New York, or possibly under that of Mr. Seabury. While reading
divinity he appears to have passed about two years as a tutor in the
family of Colonel Frederick Philipse, a man of pre-eminent social im-
portance in the colony of New York, partly in virtue of merits all his
own, and partly from the vast wealth and political importance of his
father, long a representative in the General Assembly of the colony,
and proprietor by hereditary title of the Yonkers plantation, the whole

* Annals, 354-358 ; 175-181; 194.

47° APPENDIX.

manor of Philipsburg, in Westchester county, with the Upper Highland
patent of Philipstown, in Putnam county.*

During his studies of divinity young Blackwell apparently kept up
some of those studies in medicine and surgery which he began, as we
have supposed, at an earlier date. It is plain, from several evidences,
that Mr. Blackwell had considerable taste for the natural sciences. We
know, by what we remember of him, that he was fond of horticulture,
both the elegant branches of it and those merely useful, as he was also
of the culture of the finer varieties of fruit-trees. His garden, attached
to his city residence, was one of the largest in Philadelphia; even in its
earlier days, and up to the very close of his long life, it afforded to him,
in the rich collection both of plants and of fruits with which he had
stocked it, an unfailing source of interest. His library, too, which came
to his grandchildren imdispersed, has its very good collection of theo-
logical and classical books, largely varied by books of the physical
sciences, and especially by books on niatei'ia inedica, therapeutics and
surgery. It is obvious, too, that their owner read them.

The first mention which I have found of Mr. Blackwell in connection
with the sacred ministry is in a letter from Dr. Auchmuty to the vener-
able Richard Peters, D. D., at this time Rector of the United Churches
in Philadelphia. We give an extract:

New York, Sept. the 2d, 1771.
Rev. and Dear Sir :

The purpose of this letter is to introduce to your friendship and countenance the
bearer of it, Mr. Blackwell, a serious, good young man. He has been reading divinity
for some time, and I think I may venture to say that though he is not very showy, yet
he will make a solid and good parish minister. If you Philadelphians are zealous in
supplying Gloucester, I know of no one who would suit for that mission so well.-}- He
is a single man, and at his first setting off a small income will suffice him. He intends
a jaunt beyond Philadelphia, to explore the country and see if there are any vacancies.
He is solicitous to be employed, and we have no employment here for him. He will

* A large part of the estates of which we have spoken came to the Colonel Philipse
in whose family Mr. Blackwell was domesticated. But, on account of his loyalty to
the Crown during the war for independence, these and all his other estates were con-
fiscated Ijy the Legislature of New York, and upon the withdrawal of the British
troops from that State, in 1783, Colonel Philipse went to England, where he died in
the city of Chester, A. D. 1785.

f The mission at Gloucester, established by the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts, A. D. 1766, had recently (a. D. 1767) become vacant by the
death of the Rev. Nathaniel Evans, who had been a])pointed missionary there as far
back as 1765. In 1769 the mission seems to have been ofiered to "Mr. Lyon, of Taun-
ton." I am not aware that he performed any duty. In 1770, or early in 1771, Mr.
David Griffith — the same person who was elected, in May, 1786, Bishop of Virginia,
but relimiuished the appointment — filled it for a short time, but was never fixed there.

APPENDIX. 471

be recommended by the clergy here and Colonel Philipse; and the recommendation
will be no more than he deserves. 1 can easily procure him a letter from Governor
Tryon to Governor Martin, but would choose, as North Carolina is a bad climate, that
he should be more happily situated, as he is a good young man and deserves any good
offices that the clergy can do for him.* I think it would be worth while once more to
try to establish the mission at Gloucester (as it is so contiguous to your city), if there
is the least prospect of success ; and I know of no young man that in my opinion
will do more to gain the love and esteem of any people than the bearer. lie is a
lump of good nature, and very diligent when he has anything to do.

I am, dear sir,

Your affectionate brother,

S. Auchmi;ty.

Attached to the mission at Gloucester, as would seem, was the very-
ancient Parish of St. Mary's, Colestown, in old Gloucester county, ten
miles north of the town of Gloucester. And apparently ou Dr. Auch-
muty's suggestion, Dr. Peters (with whom perhaps was Dr. Smith) set
measures on foot for the re-establishment of the mission.

The mission, as defined by the society and left by Mr. Evans, covered
a territory of about sixty miles long by thirty wide, and a population
of six thousand persons, of whom more than half were Quakers, the
residue being people of the churches of England and Sweden, Luther-
ans and Presbyterians, all in about equal numbers. There was a church,
St. Mary's, at Colestown (founded, it is said, about the year 1740 —
very ancient, certainly — still standing), and in 1766 the two congrega-
tions took a house with twelve acres of land for a parsonage, on a lease
of five years.

The mission was now agreed to be re-established ; the people at
Cole's church promising verbally to pay to the support of the minister
a portion of the expenses. Up to this date Mr. Blackwell had not
been ordained even as a deacon. Before going to England for holy
orders, he was desirous of seeing where he could fix himself with cer-
tainty on his return, as a parish minister. In addition to which the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, into whose service as a mis-
sionary he proposed to enter, usually required, before establishing a
mission, that the people where it was to be established should agree to
contribute a certain sum towards sustaining it. The merely verbal
agreement — probably undefined both as to persons and amounts — led
to the letter which follows, from Mr. Blackwell to the clergy at Phila-
delphia who were desirous to re-establish the mission. It is singularly

* His Excellency, William Tryon, was at this time " Captain-General and Governor
of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice-
Admiral of the same."

472 APPENDIX.

characteristic of its author, as subsequently known during a long life
and in transactions of much larger scope; direct, candid and kind; but
decided in tone and full of integrity in matters of money. It is ad-
dressed to the Rev. Dr. Richard Peters, but was obviously intended for
him and some other person ; probably Dr. Smith. Thus it reads :

Newtown, L. I., April 20, 1772.
Reverend Gentlemen :

I have received your letter in answer to what Mr. Griffith wrote to Dr. Peters at my
request concerning the mission at Cole's church, though the answer is not so plain and
full as I could wish it.

You, gentlemen, are very sensible that the provision made in that parish for the sup-
port of a minister is, at best, but very small, and unless he could get the whole of what
the people promise to give, I am sure, though I am a single man, I should be unable
to stay among them. It never was my design to make money by the gospel. I always
had, as I hope, far better views. Yet it is my opinion that any one who is worthy of
that honorable and sacred character is also worthy of a comfortable maintenance from
the people he serves. I shall accept the invitation you have given me, but I have one
thing to request of you, which will be very easily performed by gentlemen of your in-
fluence; that is, that you will settle matters in such a manner with the people of Cole's
church that when I come among them (if it be God's will that I return in safety) we
may have no dispute about the payment of the salary. If they design to pay me, I
cannot conceive why they are so fearful of giving bonds ; for that is the usual way of
settlino' among us, and is found very advantageous in its effects. It leaves no room for
uneasiness on either side ; each know what they have to depend upon, and each are
contented with what they have agreed to.

Gentlemen, I know that you will do whatever lies in your power for the good of the
church. I rest in the assurance of your kind endeavors. I return you my sincere
thanks for your kind wishes towards me in a prosperous voyage and quick return.

I expect to sail in about a fortnight in the ship called the " Duchess of Gordon,"
Captain Winn, commander. I should have gone sooner, but our spring vessels have
just returned. Captain Miller has sailed for London some time since; but I had only
three days' notice, so that I was unable to get ready to go with him.

Reverend gentlemen, I remain your most obedient and humble servant,

Robert Blackwell.

Eighteen days previous to the date of this letter, Dr. Auchmuty had
written to Dr. Peters :

Blackwell has received your letters and is now preparing for his voyage. I hope he
will be despatched in a short lime. We shall give him ample testimonials. He is a
good lad, and will be useful.

On Thursday, the eleventh day of June, 1772 — that day being the
Feast of St. Barnabas — he was in England, at the little suburb of
London called Fulham ; and at a "special ordination," then and there
held, was, by the then Bishop of London, the excellent Richard Ter-
rick, "holding a special ordination, in the chapel of his palace at the

APPENDIX. 473

said Fulham, admitted into the Holy Order of Deacons, according to
the manner and form prescribed and used by the Church of England."

On the same day the newly ordained deacon, by a written document,
declared that he would "conform to the Liturgy of the Church of Eng-
land, as it is now by law established." He then received the Bishop
of London's license and authority to perform the office of "a minister
in Gloucester county or elsewhere within the Province of New Jersey in
North America." On the 14th follov.'ing he was ordained a Priest.

The reports of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For-
eign Parts now came to our aid. An abstract of the report for the year
1 774 says:

Mr. Robert Blackwell, missionary at Gloucester and Walerford, acquaints the society
that he performs duty not only at Gloucester and Waterford (which latter goes by the
n\me of Cole's Church) but also at Greenwich, about eighteen miles from Waterford,
where there is a 7iew church; not built purposely for the Church of England (the people
at that time having no hopes of a missionary), but where the ministers thereof are to
have the preference, and which Mr. Blackwell hopes will very shortly be an established
church.*

The families belonging to each of these churches were about forty in
number, many of whom, Mr. Blackwell notes, "were very ignorant,
particularly in respect to the sacraments as living in the midst of
Quakers, and destitute of the means of instruction. Appearances were,
however, now more favorable, and Mr. Blackwell hopes, by God's
blessing, to be an instrument of great good."

The grounds for the hope expressed by Mr. Blackwell that this new

* The " new church," to which Mr. Blackwell refers, was St. Peter's Church,
Berkeley, founded and endowed A. D. 1770, by Thomas Clark. It was not incorpo-
rated until April 28, 1835, when it received the charter-title of " The Rector, Church
Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Peter's Church in Berkeley." We find it in former
days sometimes called "the church at Sand-town;" sometimes the church at Green-
wich ; and of later days " the church at Clarksborough." In the course of generations
" the new church " of Dr. Blackwell's day became a very old one. It was resolved to
build a new edifice; and the village of Clarksborough, which had grown up a little to
the east of the church, though on ground originally of Thomas Clark, the founder of the
edifice, being the residence of most of the worshippers, the new edifice was built there;
a half of a mile, perhaps, west of the old situation, on the same street and same side
of it with the old one, and directly opposite to the parsonage. On Monday morning,
December 7, 1846, the venerable structure of Dr. Blackwell's day was reverently torn
down, and on the 17th of the same month the new one was consecrated by Bishop
Doane, under the charter name of " St. Peter's Church, Berkeley," in Clarksborough.
It is agreeable to know that under the faithful and judicious pastoral care of the Rev.
Jesse Y. Burk it is at this time one of the best ordered, flourishing and useful
parishes in the State of New Jersey.

474 APPENDIX.

church, "not built purposely for the Church of England," would very
shortly become an established church are interestingly disclosed in an
ancient manuscript book, placed, through the courtesy of the rector of
the church, in my hands by Mr, William Morris Cooper, of New
Jersey.

It seems that there being, prior to Dr. Blackwell's taking charge of
it, no prospect of any clergyman of the church entering upon the cure,
the church edifice, though built chiefly by contributions from members
of the Church of England, had not been built by them exclusively; but
that "Methodists" — hardly yet fully separated from the church — had
assisted to build it, with an understanding that their ministers might
preach in it, and that they themselves might use it for their meetings.
This was not agreeable to Dr. Blackwell, who, "though he highly re-
spected the character and motives of persons that composed other religious
denominations, honored their piety and zeal, had the utmost affection
for their persons, and was ever active in reciprocating the endearing
charities of social life, thought it best, for the good not less of other
religious bodies than of his own, that their religious operations should
be kept distinct."

The church at Greenwich was not incorporated, but by its deed of
foundation, dated November 29, 1770, was placed under the control
of certain managers. They were now, by Dr. Blackwell's influence,
assembled, and at a "regular meeting, held by appointment, June 30,
1774," this preamble and these regulations were agreed to:

1st. Whereas, It appears to the managers of this church, from sundry good reasons,
that it would be for the advancement of religion and piety, as well as productive of the
most salutary consequences, that the said church should be the property of some one
particular denomination or sect of Christians : And as it appears from the subscription-
paper that by far the greatest part of the monies laid out on said building was given by
persons who professed themselves members of the Church of England, and still desire
that this may be an Established church : We do therefore agree that it shall be so ;
and from the date hereof this House be an Established Church, according to the
Establishment of that part of Great Britain called England, and further that it may be
included in a charter with the church at Waterford and that which is to be built at
Gloucester.

2d. That if any person be dissatisfied with the above order of the managers, he, she
or they, by applying personally to Thomas Clark, Esq., any time in the month of Oc-
tober next, and only then, and letting him know they did not subscribe for an
Established church, neither are they willing that their money should remain for that
use, may have their subscriptions refunded.

3d. We further agree that no person whatsoever preach in this house except the
clergy of the Church of England ; unless he first obtain leave under the hand of Dr.
Bodo Otto, Jr., whom we appoint, during our pleasure, to inspect into the morals and
abilities of such persons as shall desire to preach in said church, and to .npprove or
disapprove of them as he thinks fit.

APPENDIX. 475

4th. We do appoint Mr. Gabriel D. Veber to keep the key of said church ; and it
is our desire that he open the church to no other preachers but such as have been
agreed upon.

5th. That there be no private meetings for Divine service in said church, but that
the doors be open for persons of every denomination who behave themselves with
decency and good order, and desire to hear our preaching.

6lh. That when there be an appointment by a minister of our clergy, there be no
other on that day but such as he shall please to make.

7th. Ordered that these resolutions be published in said church immediately after
Divine service ; that they may be known to the people : and that they be entered in
the Greenwich Church-book.

Robert Blackwell, one of the Managers, and

Clerk to the said meeting.

Present — Timothy Clark, Isaac Inskeep, Thomas Thomson, Samuel Tonkin, Jon-
athan Chew, Gabriel D. Veber, Bodo Otto, Jr.

Greenwich, July 31, 1774.

This day the above resolves were published, according to the order of the

Managers, by me.

• Robert Blackwell.

Greenwich, Sept. 13, 1774.
At an appointed meeting of the Managers of Greenwich Church, with Mr. Rankins,
Superintendent of the Methodists in these parts, and several of the heads of them,
living in Greenwich, it was agreed that the Regulations made by the Managers on
June 30, 1774, shall be observed by each party.

Robert Blackwell.

In 1775 Mr. Blackwell writes to the English society in whose em-
ployment he was, that the congregation at each of his churches is
somewhat increased, though he lost one of his best families by emigra-
tion. At Easter his communicants at Waterford were six, and at
Greenwich twenty-five.

In 1776 he writes of the great difficulty he has in settling a mission
in the general disturbance, and gives no very promising account of his
congregation.

An abstract of the society's report for the next year (1777) says of
the Gloucester mission, that "all is in confusion."

It is not surprising to find that a mission whose chief seat was
Gloticester, in New Jersey, should be all in confusion a. d. 1777, that
year memorable there and in all the country round about as the year of
the assault by Count Donop on Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, and of the
terrific siege of Fort Mifflin; of the marching and countermarching
under the Earl of Cornwallis, and General Varnum, and Sir Henry
Clinton, and General Maxwell, of hostile armies; and of constant naval
engagements in the Delaware, one of the severest having been just
below Gloucester, October 23, 1777, when the "Augusta" and the

476 APPENDIX.

"Merlin" — British sliips of war — encountering our navy, ex])lockd in
the midst of the engagement.

What part in the rupture of the British Empire Mr. Blackwell took,
may be surmised from the i)art which we have already said was taken
by his father, Col. Jacob Blackwell, in New York, and from the indig-
nities and injury suffered by him from the British invaders on Long
Island. The mission at Gloucester was of course at an end. The
Church of England in America had been laid prostrate by the war.
Not to be useless in his sacred office, Mr. Blackwell joined the Ameri-
can army as a Chaplain. He had preached before it, however, anterior
to his official connection with it. The venerable annalist of Phila-
delphia, John Fanning Watson, in a letter before me, dated June 23,
1854, says:

Dr. Robert Blackwell was once settled as a minister at an Episcopal church between
Haddonfield and Mount Holly,* and while there preached a sermon to the American
troops at Haddonfield, as was once told me by an elderly lady, one of his parishioners,
who said it was much approved.

Mr. Blackwell followed the fortunes of our war through the gloomy
winter of 1777-78, exercising the double office of both Chaplain and
Surgeon to the suffering troops at the Valley Forge. An original cer-
tificate in the handwriting of Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne thus
testifies to the fact, and shows that the surgical attainments of his
youth came — though, probably, in a way little anticipated by him when
acquiring them — to excellent and most Christian results. It thus reads:

I do certify that Dr. Robert Blackwell was Chaplain to the First Pennsylvania
Brigade, and Surgeon to one of the regiments in the year 1778, and that he took and
subscribed the oath as directed by Congress before me at the Valley Forge, in common
with other officers of the Line.

Given at Philadelphia, this loth October, 1783.

Anthony Wayne, B. G.

[Endorsed in Dr. Blackwell's handwriting.]

General Wayne's Certificate that R. B. hath taken the oath of allegiance.

We have no record testimony how long Dr. Blackwell's connection
with the army continued. As he was with it both as Chaplain and
Surgeon — "an officer of the Line" — in the year 1778, and at the Valley
Forge, we may assume, alrnost with certainty, that he followed it on its
sudden departure from Pennsylvania to overtake the flying British,
and was with it at Monmouth, and afterwards. Indeed, in the absence
of anything whatever to show that he left it before, the presumption

* Cole's Church answers this description.

APPENDIX. 477

would be that he stayed with it until the beginning of 1780, on the 17th
of January, in which year he was married. On the 23d of October,

1780, his father, Colonel Jacob Blackwell, died, and on the 26th of
March, 1781, he was residing "near Philadelphia," and then for the
first time, so far as we see, since the breaking up of his mission and his
joining the army, ready to enter into ordinary parochial work.

By the demise of his father, at the date above mentioned — October
23, 1780 — Dr. Blackwell succeeded to the possession of considerable
real estate in the East river and on Long Island, just opposite to New
York. An immense increase in its value, in connection with property
which passed to him in marriage, assisted to make him what for forty
years and more before his death he was; not only the richest of the
Episcopal clergy in the United States, but one of the richest men of his
day in Philadelphia.

Dr. Blackwell remained without a parochial cure, so far as we know
— though no doubt preaching frequently where an opportunity for being
useful offered itself — until the year 1781. In the spring of that year
began that connection with the United Churches which associates his
name inseparably with their history ; a connection long and honorable
to him, and beneficent to them.* It remained of an official sort till
181 1, and constant and ecclesiastical, though not official, till 1831 — a
term of half a century; Bishop White during the whole time being
Rector of the two churches.

The situation of the United Churches as respected political matters,
when Dr. Blackwell was called to them, in 1781, was delicate. It re-
quired great discretion on the part of their clergy, and conduct that
should be at once conciliatory and controlling, to keep the congrega-
tions in anything like ancient steadiness and place. The Church of
England had never been strong in Pennsylvania. Outside of Philadel-
phia its settled clergy had not been more than six. During the war
of the Revolution some had returned to England, f and some had died.
In 1781 they numbered only three: Mr. White, Mr, Magaw,- Rector
of St. Paul's, and Mr. Blackwell. The body of worshippers in the
United Churches — that is to say, the worshippers most influential in
point of education, wealth, social standing and moral worth, had not
been inclined to the Revolution, and had reluctantly acquiesced in it.

* His engagement, which, at the first, was "to assist Mr. White on Sundays," began
on Easter Day, April 14, 1781. At a meeting of the Vestry, held September 19,

1781, for the purpose of choosing " an Assistant Minister of Christ Church and St.
Peter's," he was unanimously elected to be such.

f Dr. Duche, Mr. Coonibe, Dr. Alexander Murray, Mr. Thomas Barton, and I sup-
pose others, returned to England.

478 APPENDIX.

Some of these were disposed to give but slender support to churches
which acknowledged a new allegiance, and bolh whose officiating min-
isters had been officially in the service of either the Congress or the
army. But the class called "the hot Whigs" were more difficult yet
to manage. They were intolerant and bitter ; and they were glad to
see excluded and departing from the churches every one who had not
been violent in the cause of the Revolution, and who was not as vindic-
tive as themselves. No men but men like Dr. White and Dr. Blackwell,
both of them gentlemen by birth — both of unquestioned devotion to the
cause of independence, and whose conduct was marked by decision,
candor, toleration, discretion and suavity of manner — could have kept
such elements of discord from breaking forth into political animosities
which, in the then state of the United Churches, would have been fatal
to the prosperity, and indeed perhaps to the existence of the parishes.
But the men were suited to the time as completely as they harmonized
with each other. The parishes remained united in fact as in name —
united to each other and united in themselves. The churches, largely
depopulated for some time after the occupation of the city by the Brit-
ish army, thus reacquired by degrees their ancient numbers.

Dr. Blackwell was ever faithful in the discharge of the various and, as
before long they became, onerous duties which they imposed upon him.

For thirty years he performed steadily or assisted to perform divine
service and to preach, not only twice a day on Sundays, but to perform
service also on Wednesdays and Fridays, and upon the festivals and
fasts recognized more particularly in the church ; upon all of which
days both Christ Church and St. Peter's, in accordance with what is
contemplated in the Book of Common Prayer, were opened, as they
also daily were in the holy season of Lent, for divine service. Regard-
ing the "Catechism " as an admirable compend of the Church's doctrine
and teachings, and looking at the Church's teachings as ever better than
his own, he was never neglectful of the rubric which makes it the duty
of the minister of every parish diligently upon Sundays and Holy Days,
or on some other convenient occasion, openly, in the church, to instruct
or examine so many children of his parish sent unto him as he should
think convenient, in some part of that excellent compend. And there
yet survive those who recall with animated feelings his venerable figure
and his air of sweet and paternal dignity as he would move before
the lines of little people arranged on both sides of the middle aisle of
Christ Church or St. Peter's; his Prayer Book, with his gold spectacles,
in one hand, while the other, left free, he would put, with affectionate
commendation, upon the head of some little innocent who seemed to
need encouragement or to deserve commendation. Plis private Registry

APPENDIX. 479

of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, in the archives of the Historical
Society of our State, and carefully treasured by it as among its more
precious possessions, exhibits a large amount of duties faithfully per-
formed for every class, including the poorest and most ignorant. And
they were all as faithfully recorded.

In parishes having a circuit so wide as had those of the United
Churches in Dr. Blackwell's day, and with parishioners so numerous,
the discharge of such external duties as make part of every clergyman's
office, imposed upon both their ministers constant labor and many
duties requiring the best qualities of a pastor's character. All these, in
Dr. Blackwell's case, were called into special requisition during those
visitations of contagious pestilence which desolated Pliiladelphia on
more than one occasion during his ministry, and one of which came
near, by his fidelity to his parochial duties, to involve his own life.
Dreadful as have been the visitations of the Yellow Fever of late times in
the southern parts of the United States, they do not appear to have been
more dreadful than those visitations of it under which Philadelphia
came in 1793 and 1797. The visitation of 1793 was perhaps the most
alarming. A letter before us from an eminent physician of Philadelphia
to a friend thus speaks of it :

Though every one is not confined, yet from the general diffusion of the contagion
through every street in the city, nobody is perfectly well. One complains of giddi-
ness; one of headache; another of chills; others of pains in the back, or stomach; and
all have more or less quickness of pulse and redness or yellowness in the eyes. No
words can describe the distress which pervades all ranks of people, from the combined
operations of fear, grief, poverty, despair and death. . . . Never can 1 forget the awful
sight of mothers wringing their hands, fathers dumb for awhile with fear and appre-
hension, and children weeping aloud before me; all calling upon me to hasten to the
relief of their sick relations. This is but a faint picture of the distress of our city. It
is computed that one hundred persons, on an average, have been buried every day
for the last eight or ten days. The sick suffer, not only from the want of physicians,
bleeders, nurses and friends, but from want of the common necessaries of life. Five
physicians, four students of medicine, and three bleeders have died of the disorder.
But the mortality falls chiefly on the poor, who, by vvorkmg in the sun, excite the con-
tagion into activity. Whole families of these have been swept away by it. . . . The former
sources of charity in money are dried up or carried into the country. There is little
credit now given for anything. Every service to the sick is purchased at a most ex-
orbitant rate. The price of bleeding is seven shillings and sixpence, and nurses' wages
are three dollars and three dollars and a half per day. Families who lived by the
daily labor of journeymen or day laborers suffer greatly from the death of persons by
whom alone their daily wants were supplied. My heart has been rent a thousand
times, in witnessing distress from that cause as well as from sickness. I have, in vain,
endeavored to relieve it. The resources of a prince would not have relieved one-half
of it. . . . Some of the wealthy are at last affected. Mr. Van Berkle, Mr. Powel,
Mrs. Blodget and Mrs. Clymer are at present confined by it. Mr. Van Berkle is in
danger. Continue, my dear friend, to pray for our distressed and desolated city.

480 APPENDIX.

It was in the midst of scenes like these that Dr, Blackwell, with his
fearless rector and associate, Bishop AVhite, was most active. Advising
their parishioners everywhere to flee to places of safety, neither was
willing himself to leave Philadelphia for a day. Dr. Blackwell was not
unfamiliar with spectacles of terror. For a long and dreadful winter he
had made his daily and nightly rounds through the hospitals of the
Valley Forge, ministering to the souls and bodies alike of ^he six thou-
sand sick and wounded soldiers who were there, without blankets or
clothes, freezing and dying in the wards. He saw, in the new scenes
of plague and pestilence, only new work which his Divine Master put
now before him. Clergy, not the Church's, might leave the city. The
Church, by solemn rubric, forbade any minister of Hers to do so; and
though, "for fear of the infection," the whole residue of the jjarish
should flee, and no neighbor be near, he was to remain, and, "upon
special request of the diseased, alone to communicate with him." In
his combined character of physician, priest and man, rich in this
world's goods, the entry of his house was filled night and day with ap-
plicants for aid; and, so long as he remained unattacked himself, few
went away without some benefit from their application. On the 20th
of October, 1793, having endured the rage of the pestilence unharmed,
at a moment when it seemed to exhibit some signs of approaching de-
cline, he was, in the midst of his active efforts to relieve others, himself
suddenly stricken down. Fortunately, he was taken at once to a
country residence, near Gloucester, and his restoration, for some time
despaired of, ultimately took place; though his constitution never re-
covered perfectly from the shock of this attack.

Dr. Blackwell's sermons were characterized by solid sense, abundant
scholarship, pious feeling, and a pervading tone of purity and sweet-
ness. On occasions and in passages they rose to high solemnity.
He uttered nothing crude, questionable or jejune. In conversa-
tion with the writer of this sketch, the late Horace Binney, who had
known him from childhood, and was for many years one of his parish-
ioners, spoke of them "as to him never uninteresting; " a higher tribute
than which, to the solidity of their merits, no sermons could receive.
Their structure had little of the arts of rhetoric. His voice was agree-
able and well modulated, but neither in it nor in his gestures was there
much elocutionary display. He addressed himself to the understand-
ings, the consciences and the hearts of his hearers; and the effects
which he produced were effects which endured, and to this day bring
forth good fruit.

Dr. Rufus Wilmot Griswoid, in his "Republican Court," refers to
him more than once as a conspicuous person of society in the days of

APPENDIX. 48 1

Washington. After speaking of him as "a man of large fortune, fine
appearance and singularly pleasant temper and manner," he says:

He was " a scholarly and sensible preacher of Ihe English University cast. His
sermons, of the homiletical kind, were, like those of the higher classes of the English
clergy in the last century, calculated for educated hearers more than to arouse an in-
different or slumbering congregation."

Dr. Griswold adds :

Being withal a man of unquestioned piety and great propriety of life, he maintained
a dignified position, and was extensively deferred to by an opulent ^nd worldly class,
who would probably have deferred to no one else less blessed with adventitious
influence.

At the distance of near a century since Dr. Blackwell was called to
minister in them, and of more than fifty years since he has been lying
in the grave beside St. Peter's, it is interesting to look at the condition
of the United Churches. It is a condition which testifies in part of his
work, and of what sort it was.

While almost all the Protestant churches which existed in his time in
the eastern part of Philadelphia have been demolished, or delivered over
to secular and sometimes to impious uses, the old United Churches re-
main in strength and usefulness, and are likely to remain. Their ancient
worshippers have disappeared; but worshippers in lines of straight suc-
cession still crowd their sacred aisles. The congregations of these old
churches at this day are as active as were those of earlier days in works
of charity and usefulness ; and as active in such works as any anywhere,
or of the newest.

Nor did this venerable gentleman confine his labors to offices sacer-
dotal or clerical only. In every department of religion — indeed in
every sphere of humanity or science where he moved — he verified, un-
consciously, the prediction which, A. D. 1770, in his early life Dr.
Auchmuty made of him, that he would be "useful."

He was among the first persons who set themselves at work to re-
establish the Episcopal Church after it had been prostrated by the war
of the Revolution ; one of those ten clergymen who, with six laymen,
met May 11, 1784, at New Brunswick, N. J. — he having been the per-
son to propose that time and to approve that place,* by whom were set
a-going measures for the purpose of forming a "Continental Represen-

* In a letter I received from Mr. Blackwell some time ago, he proposed Tuesday,
Ilth May, as a proper time for the meeting, and acquiesced with my jjroposal of
Brunswick for the place. — [LcUei- of ihe Rev. Abraham Beach to ihe Rev. Dr. While
of March 22d, 17S4, in Bishop IV. S. Perry's "Half Century of Legislation of ihe
American Church,'^ Vol. Ill,, p. ^.)

31

•482 APPENDIX.

tation " of the church, and for "the better management" of its con-
cerns. With his fellow-workers — Mr. White, Mr. Beach, Mr. Magaw,
Dr. Smith and others — he did faithful labor in this behalf: so faithful
and with such success that in one year afterwards, 1785, a convention
of seven out of ten of the States where the church was, was held,* the
first in the series of those great conventions which still continue to
represent triennially the church in her corporate dignity, and which, all
may pray, may continue to represent her in the future with as much
good result to the end of time.

Of the first convention Dr. Blackwell was a member, as he was of the
convention of 1786, one which like that composed representatives from
seven States; of that of 1789, the first of our General Conventions, in
the sense which included any States of New England ; and of those, its
successors, of 1795*, of 1799, of 1801, of 1804 and 1808, after which
date, retiring from parochial charge, he was no longer eligible
to any.

In all tliese conventions he was called upon for active service, and
placed in positions showing reliance on his learning, his intelligence
and practical wisdom. In the General Convention of 1789 he is ap-
pointed on various important committees ; on one to take into con-
sideration the proposed Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and to recommend such alterations, additions and amendments as the
committee should think necessary and proper; on another to prepare a
Morning and Evening Service for the use of the church ; on a third to
report what further measures were then necessary to perpetuate the
succession of Bishops in Am.erica ; on a fourth to superintend the
printing of the Book of Common Prayer as then adopted and still ex-
isting; and finally, on the adjournment of the body, on a Standing
Committee to act during the recess of the convention. f

In the General Convention of 1792 he is again appointed a member
of the Standing Committee ;t appointed also on the Committee for
Carrying into Effect an act or plan which the convention had previously
passed for Supporting Missions. ;f

In the convention of 1795 we find him presiding in Committee of the
Whole, to take into consideration the General State of the Church ;
appointed also at the same convention on a joint committee of the two
Houses, "to arrange the Canons and principal papers Jjelonging to the
Church ; causing them to be fairly transcribed in a properly bound book,

* This convention had representatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina.

f See Minutes of July 30, October 3, October 15, October 16, 1789.
% See Minutes of 19th September, 179?

APPENDIX. 483

in order that they may be faithfully preserved for the perpetual use of
the House of the General Convention of this Church, to recur
to as occasion may require;" appointed again on the Standing
Committee.*

In the convention of 1804 he is a member of a committee "to pre-
pare an office of Induction in the Rectorship of Parishes; " Chairman
of a committee to settle "a very unhappy difference," subsisting be-
tween the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D., and the then congregation of Trinity
Church, Newark, which appeared to threaten the existence of that
church, and which its vestry brought before the convention, asking it
"to devise some means for their relief;" Chairman "to manage, on
the part of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, a Conference with
the House of Bishops on certain points where differences of opinion
prevailed," but where perfect harmony was arrived at by patience and
learning of the committees of the respective bodies. f

He was Treasurer both of General conventions and of State conven-
tions; his plentiful fortune and his liberal disposition making him a
very acceptable officer in situations like these then were, and still are,
where funds were limited and demands upon them large.

For fifty-nine years he was an active and valuable member of that
beneficent corporation, now so opulent, but long very feeble, and for
some years after its organization scarce existent, "for the Relief of the
Widows and Clergymen in the Communion of the Protestant Episcopal
Church; " becommg a member of it a. d. 1773, and ending his services
to it only with his life. From the year 1S03 until 181 4 he was its
Treasurer, for Pennsylvania. As late as 1828 Bishop White, in an
address to the convention of the clergy and laity of his State, speaks
of the assistance which that "reverend brother, then present," had
rendered to him "after the shock received by the fund from the cur-
rency at the Revolutionary war," not only in reorganizing the society,
but also in rescuing the remnant of the fund from the further danger
into which it had fallen. He was a Trustee from its origin, a. d. 181 2,
of that useful institution of the church in Pennsylvania, the Society for
the Advancement of Christianity, and a constant contributor to its
funds.

He was a Manager of " The Philadelphia Dispensary," a beneficent
institution established a. d. 1786, and still beneficently existing for the
relief of the indigent sick, and early and long a contributor to its
funds; a "Visitor" — personally interesting himself — of the incorporated

* See Minutes of September 12, September 17, September 18, 1795.
f See Minutes of September 13, September 15 and September 18, 1804.

484 APPENDIX.

"Young Ladies' Academy of Philadelphia,"* one of the best schools
for young ladies which ever existed in Philadelphia; a Trustee of the
Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia ; a Trustee of the University of
Pennsylvania; a member of the American Philosophical Society, and
one of the Counsellors ;f a member of the Society for Political Inquiries,
a society established A. D. 1787, and composed of the first men of the
nation, and of such alone, or chiefly. | He was an earnest promoter
of that important institution of the church, The General Theological
of New York, and by his testamentary dispositions gave to it ^2,500 to
establish in it a scholarship. §

In 1 810, the city growing, even then, rapidly toward the west, St.
James's Church, in Seventh street above Market, was built and a !ded
to the ancient parishes as one of the United Churches. Dr. Blackwell
now availed himself of the claims of advancing years, and of health not
longer robust, to retire from official connection with the corporation,
whose enlarged form and wide circuit seemed likely to place upon
him duties that were more suited to youthful strength. We have
in the records of the United Churches|| a tribute to his services and.
worth both from the vestry of the two churches and from the venerable
rector of them, the first Bishop of this diocese, than whom no one
living had so good opportunities of knowing Dr. Blackwell's usefulness
and virtue.

The Minutes of the Corporation record that on the i8th of September,
1810, "the Right Rev. Dr. White read a letter which he had written to
the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, and Dr. Blackwell's answer thereto." The
Resolution mentioned in Bishop White's letter had been passed by the
Vestry on the 6th of August, 1810. The letter and answer are thus:

August 7, iSio.
Reverend and Dear Sir :

Last evening, agreeable to your desire, I informed the Vestry of your intended re-
signation, which produced the request expressed in the Minutes following:

* See " The Rise and Progress of the Young Ladies' Academy, at Philadelphia."
Philadelphia, 1794. l2nio., pp. i, 15, 1 17.

f January 19, 1788.

% This society was established February 9, 17S7, and was limited to fifty members.
Dr. Franklin, Major William Jackson, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Powel, James Wil-
son, William Bradford, Jr., John Nixon, George Clymer, Jared Ingersoli, Thomas
Fitzsimons, Robert Morris, Edward Shippen, Edward Tilghman, Gouverneur Morris,
William Bingham, and a few other persons were members. It met, except in the
summer months, and in deference to his age and eminence, at the house generally of
Dr. Franklin, who was its President.

\ The Blackwell Scliolarship; in the gift of the Bishop of the Diocese of
Pennsylvania.

II See the Rev. Dr. Dorr's History of Christ Church, jin. .'>;2j-223.

APPENDIX. 485

Atif;ust 6. The Right Rev. Dr. White informed the Vestry that the Rev. Dr. Black-
well had expressed his determination to decline his place as Assi>tant Minister in ihe
United Churches, whenever a suitable person can be obtained in his room. It was
further expressed that the cause of his resignation was occasional indisposition ; but
that he was willing to continue to officiate to allow sufficient time to choose another
minister. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Right Rev. Dr. White be requested to express to Dr. Blackwell
the regret with which the Vestry have received the foregoing intimation ; and more
particularly for the cause which has induced it; and that he at the same lime commu-
nicate to Dr. Blackwell the sense of the Vestry of the services rendered by him in the
discharge of tlie duties of his office, and acquaint him of the resolution of the Vestry to
take early measures for releasing him from his station by the election of a successor.

In performing the duty thus laid on me by the Vestry, I participate in the respectful
and affectionate sentiments which they have expressed ; and I further take the oppor-
tunity of mentioning that during whatever may remain to me of life, I shall reflect with
satisfaction on the harmony which has subsisted between us, and the friendly inter-
course in which we have trod, through so long a space of time, and that of our united
parochial ministry.

With my best wishes and my prayers for your happiness,

I remain, Reverend and dear sir.

Your humble servant,

Wm. White.
To the Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D.

[DR. BLACKWELL'S ANSWER.]

Right Reverend and Dear Sir :

When I look back on the long and happy connection that has for so many years sub-
sisted between us f.s ministers of the United Churches, the many kind attentions you
have shown me, and the affectionate behavior I have always experienced from you,
you may be assured that I am very sensibly affected at the dissolution of a connection
so happily begun, and continued so long with such uninterrupted harmony and good
will. I am fully persuaded that nothing will interrupt the friendly understanding that
now subsists between us; but that, as we pass down the vale of years, our brotherly
affection will know no change, but in its increase; and that, as we draw nearer the
close of life, our hopes of happiness will become brighter and brighter.

My dear sir, you will please to express to the Vestry the satisfaction I feel at the
kind and friendly notice they have taken of my past services; and assure them that
they were always performed with a willing heart, a sincere mind, and an ardent desire
'hat they might be useful and acceptable to the congregation.

It is my earnest prayer that their labors in promoting the interest and welfare of the
United Churches may be crowned with full success. My best wishes shall ever attend
them.

Right reverend and dear sir, with the highest esteem and veneration for your many
amiable and Christian virtues, and with the sincerest wishes for your long life, health
and happiness,

I am your affectionate friend and brother,

8th August, 1 8 10. Robert Blackwell.

The Right Rev. William White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the State of Pennsylvania.

486 APPENDIX.

On the 14th of May, 181 1, the Rev. Jackson Kemper (afterwards the
first Missionary Bishop of the West) was elected an Assistant in the
place of Dr. Blackwell; and we fix the termination of Dr. Blackwell's
official relation to the United Churches from that day. On the same
day the Vestry makes this request ;

The Vestry request that the Church Warden present their thanks to the Rev. Dr.
Blackwell for his past service, and at the same time express their hope that, notwith-
standing his resignation, he will occasionally favor them with his sermons when the
Rector or either of the Assistant Ministers may request.

In the year 17S8 Dr. Blackwell received from the University of Penn-
sylvania the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

Dr. Blackwell was twice married :

First, January 17, 17S0, by the Rev. William White, to Rebecca
Harrison, daughter of Joseph and Ann Harrison, of Gloucester county.
New Jersey. This lady died February 25, 17S2, aged 25 years. Family
affection has preserved an old manuscript which contains an account of
her death and some graceful elegiac lines to her memory. I am unable to
state with certainty the author of theni. They have been attributed,
not without some probability, to the accomplished first Provost of the
College of Philadelphia. \{ he was not the author of them, it is difficult
to say to whom in Philadelphia at that time we can assign them.
Second, November 2, 1783, to Hannah Benezet, relict of John Benezet,
Esq., and daughter of William and Mary Bingham. This lady died
December 16, 181 5.

■ No issue by the latter marriage survived. By the former. Dr. Black-
well left one child, a daughter, Rebecca Harrison, who became, No-
vember 26, I Sod, the wife of George Willing, of Philadelphia.

Dr. Blackwell's dwelling-house in Philadelphia was on the south side
of Pine street below Third, and within a hundred yards of the church
in which he most frequently ministered. At the distance of more than
a century from the time of its erection it still stands, shorn, indeed, of
its spacious and well-kept grounds, but, as respects the house itself, ab-
solutely unimpaired, we may say, in solidity or even in appearance ; a
conclusive evidence of the superiority of its materials and modes of
structure. The house, its occupant, the surrounding houses, and the
occupants of these, made in their day so considerable a feature of the
city that the local historian of Philadelphia, Mr. Thompson Westcott,
in a chapter devoted to "Notable Mansions in the City built between
1750 and 1776," gives us quite an extended mention of them. He
says : * ^

* History of Philadelphia, chapter ccxix.

APPENDIX. 487

In the year 1761 the Proprietaries, Thomas and Richard Penn, granted the whole
front on Pine street, from Second to Third, being four hundred and sixty feet in width
by one hundred and two feet in depth, to John Stamper, in consideration of ^i 100
sterling and a yearly quit-rent of five shillings. Stamper was an Englishman who had
been a successful merchant. He was a member of the Common Council and an alder-
man, and in 1759 was mayor of the city. After the purchase from the Penns he
bought forty feet of ground south of the original grant, which made his lot one hun-
dred and forty-two feet deep, to an alley, which was called, after him. Stamper's alley.
At this time Mr. Stamper lived in Second street, at the southwest corner of Stamper's
alley. Upon this large lot oh Pine street Mr. Stamper built, some time before the
Revolution, a fine three-story brick house, which was formerly No. 50, and which is
now known as No. 224. It will be readily distinguished by its red and blue glazed
brick, its ancient columnar doorway, and its low steps. The cornice and dormer win-
dows are fine specimens of old-fashioned woodwork. The interior of the house was
finished, according to the taste of the ante-Revolutionary times, with elaborate panel-
ing, wainscoting, surbases, heavy doors, etc., which still remain. The stable and
coach-house in Stamper's alley are also still standing. Stamper had two daughters.
One of these — Mary Stamper — married William Bingham the elder, and was the
mother of the Hon. William Bingham, afterwards Senator of the United States, whose
property finally went, through the marriage of one of his daughters, to the English
family of the Barings. Hannah, the other daughter, married, in second marriage, the
Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D., and, upon the division of her grandfather's (Stamper's)
estate, this fine house, running to within about thirty feet of Third street, passed into
the possession of Dr. Blackwell, who was one of the ministers of Christ Church and
St. Peter's. Dr. Blackwell lived in this until his death, which occurred in the year
1831 — nearly half a century. It is yet one of the best specimens of stately city archi-
tecture which now remains in Philadelphia.

On the west end of this lot Dr. Blackwell, before the marriage of his only daughter,
Rebecca Harrison Blackwell, with George Willing, built on the I'ine street front of
the lot the fine house formerly No. 64, now No. 238, in which Mr. Willing long lived,
and which is still standing. It is now inliahited by the Hon. J. R. Burden. It was
one of the best houses of the modern style, with chimneys against the sides, and with
folding-doors in the middle of the parlors. The garden attached to Dr. Blackwell's
house was filled with flowers, shrubbery and fruit trees, and was common to the
Blackwell and the Willing families.

At the southeast corner of Pine and Third streets Mr. Stamper built, before the
Revolution, a fine house for his son, Joseph Stamper, on the occasion of his marriage
with Miss Sarah Maddox, the granddaughter of Joshua Maddox, Esq., one of the
Justices of the Province. Mrs. Stamper, who survived her husband for many years,
remained in this old house until her death, which occurred about the year 1826. The
property was then bought by Dr. Philip Syng Physic, who pulled down the old house
and erected on the lot a row of houses facing upon Third street, which are still stand-
ing. They extended from Pine street to Stamper's alley.

At the southwest corner of Pine and Second streets another house, which is still
standing, was built about the year 1773, and was long owned by Dr. Blackwell. In
this house, at the time of the Revolution, there dwelt a Mr. Franklin, and here
boarded, during this period, Elias Boudinot, LL. D., at one time President of the
Continental Congress, Commissary General of prisoners during the Revolutionary war,
subsequently member of the Congress of the United Slates, and finally Director of the

488 APPENDIX.

Mint under President Washington. His memory is specially maintained in our local
annals by the bequest of lands bordering on the Susquehanna river, which he made to
the city of Philadelphia in trust for the purpose of supplying poor housekeepers with
fuel.

No. II. — Page 64.

William Moore, of Moore Hall, and his Origin.

As to the origin of the Moore family, of America, the first of whom
I have any information is Sir John Moore, who had for his family seat
Fawley, in Berkshire, England. This gentleman was passed to the
order of Knighthood by Charles I., King of England, on the 21st day
of May, 1627; probably as a reward for some iinportant services ren-
dered to the country and to the crown. The motto on his coat of arms
was: "Nihil utile quod non honestum."

He was, beyond a doubt, a monarchist in politics and a churchman
in religion, as he lost both his fortune and his life in those revolutionary
excitements — produced more by a blind and ignorant religious bigotry
than a love of rational liberty — which deprived the unfortunate monarch
of his crown, and brought him to an ignominious end upon the scaffold.
It was a sacrifice professedly made to establish the rights of his subjects,
and the freedom of conscience in religion. But the light which suc-
ceeding events have thrown upon the character of the agents, and of the
sufferers in that tragedy, has led many to contemplate it as a case of
martyrdom in the cause of God and his church.

Sir John Moore was succeeded by his son. Sir Francis Moore,
who was the father of John and James Moore, who came to America
and settled in South Carolina about 1680, where James remained
and became Governor from the year 1700 until 1703, when he was
deposed.

"Drake" informs us that in 1719 he undertook an expedition against
Florida, which was a failure. This expedition caused the first issue of
paper money in America, under the name of Bills of Credit.

John Moore, it appears, came with his wife and family to Philadel-
phia some time prior to 1700, and became the king's collector at that
port; this we know from his commission, which is before me, dated
1703, signed by Evelyn, etc. He had several children when he came
to Philadelphia, and as we are informed by his will, bearing date No-
vember 16, I 731, had seven at his death.

APPENDIX. 489

Upon his coming to Philadelphia it appears he bought a large tract
of land on "ye 2"^^ street," north of High or Market street, and built
his family residence at the corner of a small street running from Second
to the river, then known as Gardener's alley, now Coombe's. He was
a prominent member of Christ Church, being one of the vestrymen up
to the time of his death. I shall now give such an account of his chil-
dren as I have been able to obtain. His wife's name was Rebecca.

His eldest son, John Moore, was born in Carolina, in 1686; and at
an early age was sent to England to receive his education, and upon
his return to America settled in the city of New York, and became an
eminent merchant of that city in colonial times. He was an alderman,
for many years a member of the Legislature, and at the time of his
death, colonel of one of the New York regiments, and a member of the
King's council for the province. He died in 1749, at dT^ years of age.
He was the first person buried in Trinity churchyard, and the title of
the family vault is still in the name of the family.

Mr. John Moore married Frances Lambert, and was blest through
her with eighteen children, among whom were three pairs of twins.
The descendants of Mr. Moore married into the Bayard, Livingston,
Hoffman, Onderdonk, Bailey, Tredwell and Rogers families, which are
among the most respectable families of the North.

Steplien, the seventeenth child, owned West Point, which he sold to
the United States, and removed to North Carolina. Upon the invasion
of the Southern States by the British, in 1779, he commanded a regi-
ment of North Carolina militia. He was afterwards taken prisoner at
the first battle of Camden. Being exchanged, he returned to his beau-
tiful seat. Mount Tirza, in North Carolina, where he died, leaving in
that State a highly respectable family.

The seventh of the thirteen sons of John Moore was Lambert, who
married Elizabeth Channing. He was born in 1722 — was sent to Eng-
land for education, and was bred a scholar in Westminster school. At
twenty-one years of age he returned to his native country, and settled
in that part of the State of New York which was called the neutral
ground. Here he lost all his property amidst the devastation and plun-
der which desolated that part of the country. His house at West Point,
where he resided during the early part of the Revolutionary war, was
plundered by the Hessians, when the British took the posts of the
Highlands, and his family was turned out of doors in a destitute con-
dition. He removed thence to the city of New York, where he obtained
an appointment in the Customs, and lived in comfort until the conclu-
sion of the war. After this event he removed to his brother John's, in
Norwich, Connecticut, where he died of a pulmonary disease^ on the

490 APPENDIX.

19th of June, 1784, in the communion of the church. In the spring of
1785 his remains were removed to New York, and deposited in the
family vault in Trinity churchyard, by his son, Richard Channing
Moore, the late Bishop of Virginia, who then resided in that city.

The mother of Bishop Moore was descended of a highly respectable
family. Being left an orphan at two years of age, she was brought up
in the family of her uncle, John Pintard, Esq., one of the aldermen of
New York. She was an accomplished lady, having received the best
education which New York afforded, and was highly esteemed in the
best society of her native city. She was polished in her manners, of
the most amiable disposition and exemplary piety, and was remarkable
for sound judgment and strong good sense. To the early religious in-
structions, the prayers, and lovely and pious example of this exemplary
Christian mother. Bishop Moore often delighted to revert, with tears
of gratitude in his eyes, and a bosom swelling with filial affection and
reverence. To her early nurture and admonition in the Lord, he
ascribed, under God, all his happiness and usefulness in this world, and
his hopes of a blessed immortality in the next. She entered upon her
eternal rest at his house, on Staten Island, on the 7th of December,
1805, in the 7Sth year of her age.

Of the eleven brothers and sisters of Bishop Moore, our limits will
allow us only to say that they were all honorably connected in mar-
riage, were respectable, virtuous and useful.

Richard Channing Moore, the late Bishop of Virginia, was born in
the city of New York, on the 21st of August, 1762. He received a
liberal education, and was bred a physician; but after practising medi-
cine for several years, in 17S7 he resolved to devote himself to the
ministry of the Gospel of Christ, and was ordained by Bishop Provoost
in New York. The first two years of his ministry were spent at Rye,
in the county of West Chester, most acceptably to the congregation
among whom Lc labored, and usefully for the church at whose altar he
ministered. Thence he was called to a wider field of labor by the con-
gregation of St. Andrew's Church, at Richmond, on Staten Island.

Here Dr. Moore labored for twenty-one years with eminent success.
His faithfulness in all the departments of ministerial duty, his zeal in
the advancement of true religion, his love of his Divine Master and of
his work, his unaffected love of all men, his amenity of manners and
entire freedom from spiritual pride and all moroseness in his theological
views, gave him not only an unbounded popularity among his people,
but won for him their warm admiration and sincere attachment.

In 1809 Dr. Moore was called by God's providence to a still more
important sphere of usefulness in St. Stephen's Church, in the city

AFFENDIX. 49 1

of New York. Here he continued five years. His labors were very-
great ; but neither the strength of his fine constitution nor the ardor of
his zeal failed, and he was again, as on Staten Island, richly rewarded
for all his toils by the abundant bestowment of God's blessing on the
work of his ministry. He found a small congregation, and only about
thirty communicants. After a short nTinistry of five years he left a
crowded church and between four and five hundred communicants.
There is, I believe, to this day, in St. Stephen's Church, an honorable
monument to the zeal and efficiency of his ministry while there. When
the whole church had become crowded, every pew, not only in the
body of the church, but also in the galleries being occupied, a gentle-
man called on the rector and applied for a pew. " There is none," was
the reply. "Will you permit me to build one?" was the answer.
"Where?" said the doctor. "There, over the gallery, against the
wall," said the persevering applicant. "But how will you obtain ac-
cess to it?" said the doctor. "By cutting a small door in the wall, and
building a private stairway outside of the church," said the zealous
man; and there, I understand, high up against the wall, is that pew to
this day, a lasting memorial of pastoral zeal, fidelity and eloquence,
such as few ministers of Christ are cheered by.

The next important change which occurred in the life of Dr. Moore
was his call to the Rectorship of the Monumental Church, at Richmond,
and to the Episcopate of Virginia. These events occurred in the spring
of 1S14. The peculiar history of the church of which he now became
Rector is too well known to require more than the remark, that it was
built upon the site of the old theatre — the burning of which had caused
the death of more than a hundred persons, and involved Richmond in
the deepest distress.

Dr. Moore enjoyed all the real blessings of life to the last ; with un-
usual physical strength, and mental faculties but little impaired, except
his memory, he continued his duties even to the end. Two days only
before the last visitation on which he died, he officiated and preached
at a funeral. His address was ex tctJipore, and such was his energy,
animation and fervor, and such the influence of his exhortation, that an
old Christian of another Christian society said, "Surely this must be
his last, last message to Richmond." It was so; two days al'ter he
obeyed the call of duty, and commenced, in his 80th year, a journey
of one hundred and fifty miles, to Lynchburg, to perform Episcopal
functions. He arrived in Lynchburg on Thursday, the 5th of Novem-
ber. On Friday he attended Divine service in the forenoon; in the
afternoon he met at the Rector's house the candidates for confirmation,
and made them a very admirable address on the qualifications for that

492 APPENDIX.

holy rite; in the evening he attended service again, and after a sermon
by one of his presbyters lie made an address, which is represented to
have been characterized by pathos, animation and energy in the highest
degree. Eyes that seldom wept were suffused with tears; and some of
the most hardened in impenitency were softened when the old and
venerable servant of God, in tenderest accents, and with outstretched
and trembling hands, and fervent love, heralded for the last time the
good tidings of the Gospel, and entreated them for Christ's sake to be
reconciled to God. That night, after a day spent so usefully in his
sacred office, and only about three hours after his voice had proclaimed,
in the temple of God, the gracious invitations of his beloved Saviour,
the fatal shaft which no skill could extract pierced him. Feeling unwell
a little after midnight, he arose to call for help; but his strength failing
him, he fell on the floor, and lay there helpless for some time before
his returning strength enabled him to make himself heard. When
raised and placed on his bed, he was found to be laboring under a
violent attack of pneumonia. He lived for five days, suffering but very
little pain, and during most of the time none. Generally he was in a
profound stupor, but occasionally he roused up, and his eyes and coun-
tenance would for a little while resume their usual intelligent and
benevolent expression. When thus himself, he was resigned, calm, full
of peace and hope, and free from all fear. When asked whether there
was anything to be done in reference to his temporal affairs, he said no,
that everything had been attended to — that nothing remained but to
bid the Rev. Mr. Atkinson to bear his love to his dear children. When
told (by Mr. Atkinson, at whose house he died, and who, with his wife,
were son and daughter to him in the absence of his own children) tliat
death was at hand, he said, "It is well; I trust I am prepared either for
this world or the next." On Thursday, November lo, 1S42, at about
half past one a. m., after hours of entire freedom from pain, and in the
gentlest and most peaceful manner, without a struggle or a groan, this
good man died.

The second child of John and Rebecca Moore was Thomas, born in
Carolina, 1689; he was likewi.se sent to England for his education.
He graduated at Oxford, and took orders and became the Chaplain to
Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, one of the most eminent scholars
and celebrated preachers of his age. The well-known sermons of this
admired prelate were edited and published under the direction of Dr.
Moore. He died in Little Britain, in London, leaving a highly respect-
able family, among whom was Thomas Moore, D. D., rector of North
Bray, in Kent.

Daniel, sixth child of John Moore, of Philadelphia, was also sent to

APPENDIX. 493

England, and received his education at Oxford, and became an eminent
lawyer; made a large estate, and was a member of Parliament for many
years. His daughter, Fratues Moore, married the celebrated Lord
Chancellor of England, Erskine. "Burke" gives the following ac-
count of this union:

LINEAGE.

The Hon. Thomas Ersktne, born January 21, 1750, third son of Henry David,
fifth Earl of Buchan (see that dignity), having served both in the army and navy, de-
voted at length his talents to the l)ar, to which he was called in 1778. Gifted with the
most powerful eloquence, Mr. Eiskine attained at once the summit of his profession as
an advocate, in which capacity he continued until the year 1S06, when he was ap-
pointed Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, and elevated to the peerage, April 8th,
in the same year, as Baron Erskine, of Restormel Castle. His lordship married, first,
May 29, 1770, Frances, daughter of Daniel Moore, Esq., M. P., by whom (who died
December 22, 1 805) he had issue:

T. David Montagu, present peer.

II. Henry David, in holy orders. Rector of Kirby Underdale, York county; mar-
ried May 4, 1813, Mary Harriet, third daughter of John, firit Earl of Portarlington,
by whom (who died December 16, 1827) he has issue: i. Henry; 2. George; 3. Har-
riet; 4. Louisa-Lucy, married. May 21, 1S45, to the Rev. Thomas Frederick Rudston
Read; 5. Caroline; 6. Fanny-Louisa, married, September 16, 1S47, to Henry Linwood
Strong, Esq., barrister-at-lavv ; 7. Agnes; and 8. Julia-Henrietta, married, February 17,
1846, to Captain Broadley Harrison, Tenth Hussars.

III. Thomas (the Right Hon.), late one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas, born March 12, 178S; married, December 10, 1814, Henrietta-Eliza, only
daughter of the late Henry Trail, Esq., and has surviving issue :

I. Henry Trail, born December 25, 1815; 2. Thomas, born November 12, 1828;
3. Anne; 4. Julia.

IV. Esme-Stewart, Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, born in 1789, married, in 1809,
Eliza Bland, daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and by her (who married,
secondly, James Norton, Esq., and died in 1833) had issue:

I. Thomas, born March 29, 1810; 2. Esme-Stewart, born September 8, 181 1, died
in 1833; 3. Harry, born August 11, 1S14.

Colonel Erskine was Deputy Adjutant-General in the battle of Waterloo, where he
lost an arm. He died August 26, 1817.

V. Frances, married, in 1802, to the Rev. Dr. Holland, prebendary and ])recentcr
of Chichester.

VI. Elizabeth, married, in 1798,10 Sir David Erskine, Knt., and died August 2,
1800.

VII. Margaret.

VIJI. Mary, married, in 1805, to David Morris, Esq., who died in 1815.

Lord Erskine married, secondly. Miss Sarah Buck, by whom he also left issue. The
success of this eminent lawyer is, probably, the most remarkable upon record as to
promptitude; for almost immediately after he was called to the bar he was fortunate
enough to find an opportunity for the display of his extraordmary powers. Captain
Bailbe, who had been removed from the superintendence of Greenwich Hospital, by
the Earl of Sandwich, was proceeded against by that nobleman for the publication of a

494 APPENDIX.

libel, and the attorney general having to move the Court of King's Bench for his
lordship upon the subject, Mr. Erskine was retained by Captain Baillie to oppose the
motion ; upon which he displayed so much eloquence and spirit that he received, when
leaving the court, no less than thirty retainers from attorneys who happened to be
present. But of all Erskine's cases, those which raised the advocate's reputation the
highest were his splendid defences of Lord George Gordon and of Admiral Keppel.
He was likewise distinguished in an eminent degree for the prisoners in the memorable
state prosecutions against John Home Tooke, Hardy, etc.

His lordship died of inflammation of the chest, November 17, 1823,
at Amondell, near Edinburgh, the seat of his nephew, the Hon. Henry
Erskine. The following is the inscription upon the tomb of his wife :

Near this place lies buried
The Honorable Frances Erskine, ;

The most faithful and mos:
Affectionate of women.

Her husband.
Lord Thomas Erskine,
' An inhabitant of this parish,

Raised this monument

To her lamented memory.

A. D. 1807.

John Moore, the collector, left, as we see by his will, two daughters —
Rebecca and Mary. Of Rebecca I have been able to find no account,
and am led to believe she died unmarried. Mary became the wife of
Peter Evans, Esq., who was high sheriff of the city of Philadelphia.
He was born in the city of London, and was an attorney by profession.
He styles himself, in his will (May 13, 1745), "of the Inner Temple,
London." He died in Philadelphia, May 25, 1745, leaving four
children, viz. : John, Mary, Margaret and Ann. I find no record of
John. Mary married a Peter Robinson. Ann died a child, and Mar-
garet married Mr. David Franks, December, 1743, and had issue —

1. Abigail, born January 6, 1744-5.

2. Jacob, born January 7, 1746-7.

3. Mary, born January 25, 1747-8; died August 26, 1774.

4. Rebecca.

David Franks was British agent in Philadelphia as late as 1779. His
eldest daughter,

L Abigail married Andrew Hamilton, Esq., of the "Woodlands,"
near Philadelphia, January 6, 1768, and had issue as follows:

5. Margaret, born October 4, 1768.

6. Ann, born December 18, 1769; died 1798.

7. Mary, born August 21, 177 1.

APPENDIX. 495

8. James, born July 31, 1774; died July 20, 1S17.

9. Andrew, born November 6, 1776; died May 16, 1825.

10. Franks, born May 22, 17 79; died August 4, 1798.

11. Rebecca, born November 7, 17S3; died February 2, 1S42.

IV. Rebecca Franks married Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., for an
account of whom see "Burke's Peerage."

VI. Ann Hamilton married James Lyle, October 17, 1792, and
had issue :

12. Mary, born January 22, 1796; died November i, 1S29.

13. Ellen, born October 21, 1797; died February 8, 1852.

James Lyle was a broker of the firm of Lyle & Newman. He died at
Long Branch, August 10, 1826.

IX. Andrew Hamilton married Eliza, only daughter of the
Rev. D. H. LIrquhart, of Brondmayne, Dorset, England, June 11,
181 7, and had issue:

14. Mary Ann, born January 8, 1822; died January 24, 1S51.
Andrew Hamilton died in 1825, and his widow married Mr. John

Gardiner; she died March 12, 1834.

XI. Rebecca Hamilton married Francis Lewis O'Beirne, Novem-
ber 28, 1809, and had issue:

15. Thomas Ormsbv, born 1810; died October 25, 1839.

16. James Hamilton.

17. Rebecca Jane, died 1S39.

Francis Lewis O'Beirne was the son of the Lord Bishop of Meath,
who styles himself "of Arabraccan House, in the county of Meath, in
that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland, but now, 1S09, re-
siding in London." After marriage they resided at Fern Cottage,
Heston, near Southwell, in the county of Middlesex, England. In
1 81 8 Mrs. O'Beirne returned to America (Philadelphia), where she died
February 2, 1842. Francis Leivis O' Beirne died July 7, 1840. Their
son, Thomas Ormsby O' Bcirne, entered the English army, and became
a captain in the Twenty-fifth Regiment Bengal Native Infantry, "near
Shause," where he died, single, October 25, 1839, leaving a will which
is of record in the Register of Wills' office, Philadelphia.

XII. Mary Lyle married Henry Beckett, November 12, i8i8j
had issue :

i8. Mary Ann; died 1844.
19, Hamilton.

496 ■ APPENDIX.

Henry Beckett was the son of Sir Henry Beckett. See ** Burke"
(Hamilton).

XIII. Ellen Lyl6 married Hartman Kuhn, December 15, 1S18;
had issue:

20. Mary.

21. Ellen.

22. Elizabeth, born February 17, 1826; died April 2, 1S30.

23. James Hamilton (killed in the Rebellion).

24. Charles.

25. Rosalie, born April 23, 1829; died December 20, 1841.

26. Hartman, born February 22, 183 1.

27. Elizabeth (2d), born October 24, 1833.

28. Sophia, born June 5, 1835.

Hartman Kuhn was the son of Adam Kuhn, M. D., of Philadelphia;
he was born February 4, 1784; died November 6, i860.

XIV. Mary Ann Hamilton married Septimus Henry Palairet,
May I, 1843. ^y t'"*'^ marriage there was no issue.

Septimus Henry Palairet died June, 1854.

XVI. James Hamilton O'Beirne married Henrietta Francis ;
had issue:

29. Hamilton Kuhn, born January 8, 1S66.

30. Frances Stuart.

31. Lewis Ormsby.

32. Armine James.

33. Emily.

34. Charles Burgoyne.

35. William Henry De Lancey.

36. Eveline Fanny Amelia,

XVII. Rebecca Jane O'Beirne married Major Armine Simcoe
Henry Mountain, June 10, 1837; had issue:

37. Jenny (died an infant).

Major (afterwards Colonel) Armine Simcoe Henry Mountain was in
her Britannic Majesty's service, in the Twenty-sixth (Cameronian)
Regiment. Upon the death of his wife, in 1839, lie again married
Miss Charlotte Anna Dundas, and died February 8, 1854.

XVIII. Mary Ann Beckett married Sir Thomas Whichcote,
Bart. ; died May, 1844.

APPENDIX. 497

XIX. Hamilton Beckett married Sophia, daughter of Lord
Lyndhurst. — (^See " Burke.")

XX. Mary Kuhn married (her cousin) Hartman Kuhn (son of
Charles), February 3, 1842.

38. Frederick, born December 16, 1843; ^^^^ December 23, 1844.

39. William.

40. Marv.

41. Ellen.

42. Cornelius Hartman.

43. Charles.

XXL Ellen Kuhn married Manlius Evans.

44. Cadwalader.

45. Ellen Lyle.

46. Rosalie.

47. Hartman Kuhn.

XXIV. Charles Kuhn married Louisa, daughter of the Hon.
Charles Francis Adams, of Massachusetts.

XX VI. Hartman Kuhn married Grace McCarey.

Another son of John Moore was William Moore (known as of Moore
Hall), from his seat on the banks of the Schuylkill, above Valley Forge.
He was born in Philadelphia, May 6, 1699, and at the age of fourteen
was sent to England to finish his education. He graduated at the Uni-
versity of Oxford in 1719, and returned to America, where he married
Williamina, daughter of David, fourth Earl of Wemyss.* She had, to-

*A recent writer in " Frazer's Magazine" gives the following account of the
Wemyss of Fifeshire :

The Wemyss family has claims to great antiquity, being descendants of Gillimachus,
fourth Earl of Fife. Their great ancestor, the first Earl, is the Macduff of .Shakspeare,
whose important service to King Malcolm was rewarded by that monarch with the
Earldom of Fife. Three special privileges were also bestowed upon him at the same
period : First, that he and his successors should conduct the king to the chair of state
at coronations; second, that they should lead the van of the army in battle; and, third,
that unpremeditated murder on the part of any of Macduff's kin to the ninth degree
was expiable by certain fines or offerings at the cross of Macduff. " Our judicious
Skeen," as Sibbald calls him, thus refers to this curious privilege: "The croce of clan
Mackduff had privelege and liberty of girth, in sik sort, that when onie manslayer,
being within the ninth degree of kin and bluid to Mackduff, sometime Earl of Fyffe,
come to that croce, and gave nyne kie (cows) and an colpindach or young kow, he
was free of the slaughter committed be him." A dangerous privilege, it will be
thought, in those lawless times. Very little now remains of this famous cross.- There-

'498 ATPENDIX.

^ether with her brother James (afterwards fifth Earl of Wemyss), been
driven from Scotland in tlie year 1716, on account of their father having
t'spoused the cause of the Pretender.

" Burke," in his Peerage of Scotland, gives the following

LINEAGE.

This ancient family traces its origin to John, baronial Lord of Weems, whence the
;urname was probably derived, who was younger son of the celebrated Macduff, Thane
3f Fife, the vanquisher of the tyrant Macbeth.

Sir Michael de Wemyss was sent, according to Fordun, in 1290, with Sir Michael
Scot, to Norway, by the lords of the regency in Scotland, to conduct the young Queen
Margaret to her dominions; but her majesty unfortunately died upon the journey, at
the Orkneys. Sir Michael swore fealty to EcKvard I., in 1296, and he witnessed the
act of settlement of the crown of Scotland by King Robert I., at Ayr, in 1315. From
Sir Michael lineally descended :

Sir John Wemyss, of Wemyss, who married, fust, in 1574, Margaret, eldest 'laughter
of Wdliam, Earl of Morton, but by that lady hnd no issue; and, secondly, in 1581,
Anne, sister of James, Earl of Moray, by whom he had, with other issue.

Sir John Wemyss, of Wemyss, who was created a Baronet ^Lay 29, 1625 ; and elevated
to the peerage of Scotland, as ^(77 £>« Wemyss, of Elcho, A.-p\\\ i, 162S. His lordship was
advanced to the dignities of Earl of Wemyss, in the county Fife, and Lord EhJio and
Met/iel, June 25, 1633. This nobleman, although indebted for his honors to King
Charles I., took part against his royal master, and sided with the Parliamentarians.
He married, in 1610, Jane, daughter of Patrick, seventh Lord Gray, by whom he had
six children, and was succeeded in 1649 by his only son,

David, second earl. This nobleman married, first, in 162S, Jean, daughter of Robert
Balfour, Lord Burleigh, by whom he had an only surviving daughter,

Jane, who became, first, the wife of Archibald, Earl of Angus ; and, after his lord-
ship's decease, of George, Earl of Sutherland.

The Earl of Wemyss married, secondly. Lady Eleanor Fleming, daughter of John,
second Earl of Wigton, but by that lady had no issue. He married, thirdly, Margaret,
daughter of John, si.xth Earl of Rolhes (widow successively of James, Lord Balgony,
and Francis, Earl of Buccleuch), by whom he had an only surviving daughter, Mar-
garet, in whose favor his lordship, having resigned his peerage to the crown, obtained,
August 3, 1672, a new patent, conferring the honors of the family, with the original
precedency, upon her ladyship. He died in 16S0, when the baronetcy became dor-
mant, but the other dignities descended accordingly to his daughter,

can be no doubt that these early Earls of Fife exercised absolute and almost royal state
and jurisdiction within their territories, forming a kind of iiiipcriiim in iiiiperio. A
manuscript referred to by Sibbald says : " He had all his earldom (Fife) erected into
a principality, that is to say, to exime his tenants and subjects from all other courts
and judgement, and give justice to all his, in his own countries." Very likely it is
owing to this, rather than to its general wealth and importance, that the county, which
at that time included Kinross, Clackmannan, and portions of Perthshire and Stirling-
shire, came to be designated "the Kingdom of Fife." The Wemyss brar.ch of the
Macduffs broke off from the main stem at the fourth earl, in the twelfth century, and
the present Fife brancli of the family is descended from James, third son of the fifth
Earl of Wemyss. The diief of the blood is the Earl of Wemyss.

APPENDIX. 499

Lady Margaret Wemyss, as Countess of Wemyss. Her ladyship married Sir James
Wemyss, of Caskyerry, wlio was created, April 15, 1672, for life, Lord Burntisland^
having had previously a charter of the castle of Burntisland. The issue of this mar-
riage were ;

David, successor to the countess's honors.

Anne, who married David, Earl of Leven and Melville, and had issue.

Margaret, married to David, Earl of Northesk.

The Countess of Wemyss married, secondly, George, first Earl of Cromarty, but had
•no issue by his lordship; she died in 1705, and was succeeded by her only son,

David, fourth earl. This nobleman, who was appointed by Queen Anne, Lord
High Admiral of Scotland, sworn of the Privy Council, and constituted one of the
Commissioners for concluding the treaty of union, married, first, in 1697, Lady Anne
Douglas, daughter of William, first Duke of Queensberry, and sister of James, Duke
of Queensberry and Dover, and of William, first Earl of March, by whom he had one
surviving son,

James, his successor.

Williamina (afterwards Mrs. Moore).

There is a tradition in the family that the wife of David Wemyss died
in childbed, and, believing her expected child to be a boy, requested
that it be christened William, after William of Orange; being a girl, it
was christened Williamina.

David Wemyss married twice afterwards, but had no male issue. He
died March 15, 1720.

Upon his marriage, William Moore settled upon an estate presented
to him by his father, John Moore, which was situated upon the river
Schuylkill, some twenty-five miles from Philadelphia. This property
consisted of about twelve hundred acres of land, which he farmed with
the help of a large number of slaves and redemptioners. He built upon
it a large house (still, in 1880, standing). It was known as "Moore
Hall."

William Moore died at Moore Hall, May 30, 1782. His will,
which is written "with his own hand," is a singular document,
being mainly a tribute to his wife, to whom he gives his whole estate,
and of whom he says: "Never frightened by the rude rabble, or dis-
mayed by the insolent threats of the ruling powers — happy woman, a
pattern of her sex, and worthy the relationship she bears to the Right
Honorable and noble family from whence she sprang." He was a
staunch Royalist, but during the stay of the army at A^alley Forge he
invited Colonel Clement Biddle and his staff to make Moore Hall his
headquarters. Mrs. Moore survived him until December 6, 1784, when
the family removed to Philadelphia.

The following notice of the death of William Moore, Esq., appeared
in the Fennsylvania Gazette of June 18, 1782:

500 APPENDIX.

On Friday, May 30th, died at his seat in Chester county, William Moore, Esq,,
of Moore Hall, in the 84th year of his age, and was interred on the Sunday following,
in his family burying-ground, at Radnor churchyard. His funeral was attended by a
large concourse of his most respectable neighbors, and an excellent sermon was
preached by the Rev. William Currie. At an early period of his life Mr. Moore was
a member of the Assembly, a Colonel of militia, one of the Justices of the Peace, and
President of the County Courts of Chester, which last office he filled with great and
acknowledged abilities for about forty years. He has left a numerous family of chil-
dren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to bewail his memory; and more es-
pecially a mournful and beloved wife, with whom he lived upwards of sixty-one years
in the most perfect and uninterrupted conjugal felicity.

The following inscription is on a slab at Radnor Church, Delaware

county, Pennsylvania:

" To the memory of

William Moore, Esq., of Moore Hall, in the

County of Chester,

and of WiLLlAMlNA his wife.

He departed this life on the 30th day of

May, 1783, aged 84 years.

She died on the 6th day of December, 1784,

in the 80th year of her age.

" This venerable pair lived together in perfect love and unremitted
harmony and confidence for the long period of sixty-tliree years; dis-
pensing the best duties of life in ardent and uninterrupted zeal; beloved
by their children and by their friends, respected by the community in
which they passed their lengthened days. Benevolence and urbanity
beamed on all who sought their hospitable mansion; they administered
comfort to the worthy poor, protecting humble honesty though cursed
with poverty.

" He presided in the Common Pleas, Quarter Sessions, and Orphans'
Courts in Chester county for a great length of time. As a judge and a
magistrate he was indefatigable in executing the solemn charge of these
important stations, acquitting himself with intelligence, impartiality and
dignity. He was a kind father, a warm friend and an indulgent master.
She was one of the brightest patterns of excelling nature. Possessing a
bright and cultivated heart and understanding, she was mild, consider-
ate, kind and good; she was consequently distinguished by her amiable
disposition and unassuming manners. With calmness, but with resigna-
tion, she bore the heaviest afflictions, the severest trials of an uncertain
world, and placed her firm reliance upon a state of happiness beyond
the grave —

"'That place Celestial, where no storm assails,
No ills approach — where bliss alone prevails.'"

APPENDIX. 501

The foregoing inscription was written by Phineas Bond, a grandson
of the Moores. For a full account of the issue and descendants of
William and W-illiamina Moore, of Moore Hall, see Appendix XI.

No. III. — Page 237.

Alexander Murray, D. D.

[By John A. Childs, D. D.]

The Rev. Alexander Murray, D. D., was a native of Scotland,
born in 1727. He was educated in King's College, Aberdeen. After
his ordination to the ministry he was induced, it appears, most prob-
ably by the Rev. William Smith, D. D., who was a graduate of the
same college, on his visit to England, his native land, to come to
Pennsylvania, under an appointment by the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel. He arrived in Pennsylvania in i 763, and immediately
began his ministry at Reading and Morlatten. His ecclesiastical
views were of a very decided character, and his work as a missionary
very extensive. He laid the foundations of a church at Reading, called
St. Mary's, and the peopk of that town were very solicitous for the
continuance of his appointment by the society, and addressed the offi-
cers to that effect. During the agitation which existed previous to the
war of independence, he sympathized largely with the colonies, and in
1775 signed a paper, with a number of clergy, hoping and praying for
some method of conciliation, and satisfaction of a reasonably discon-
tented people.

When, however, a separation became not only imminent, but a
faii accompli to all intents, he refused to discontinue the prayers
for the royal family. He was threatened with some violence, and
thereafter sailed to London. He continued to reside there during
the Revolutionary war, and being always a strong advocate for an
Episcopate in the church in the colonies, he used his influence with the
Bishop of London, as well as with the Archbishop of Canterbury, in
seeking for the consecration of bishops in the United States. In ac-
complishing this he kept up a correspondence with the Rev. William
White, D. D., communicating the conditions under which consecra-
tion would be imparted. His advice and influence contributed to that
end, and deserved, as has been said, honorable mention and grateful
remembrance.

502 APPENDIX.

In 1 790 Dr. Murray returned to America, and continued to reside in
Philadelphia until his death, September 14, 1793. His body lies
interred with those of the Sims, Morgan, Evans and Clark families,
with which he was connected by marriage — families particularly promi-
nent in the early history of the church in Philadelphia. Upon his
decease he left by his will directions to found bursaries in connection
with the university at which he graduated.

No. IV.— Pages 185, 258.

77?^ Case of the Episcopal Church Considered.

[By Mr. Thomas H. Montgomery.]

Bishop White begins the concluding paragraph of his " Episcopal
Charge on the subject of Revivals, delivered before the Forty-eighth
Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and addressed to the Cleri-
cal Members of the Convention, printed by order of the Convention,
Philadelphia, 1832," with the following words:

Brethren, it is bordering on the half of a century since the date of the incipient
measures of your bishop, for the organizing of our church out of the wreck of the
Revolution.

On a copy of this charge in my possession the Bishop has added, on
the last blank pages, the following note :

''Those measures began with the author's pamphlet, entitled 'The
case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States considered.'
"The circumstances attached to that publication are the following:
" The congregations of our communion throughout the United States
were approaching to annihilation. Although within this city three
Episcopal clergymen, including the author, were resident and offici-
ating; the church over the rest of the State had become deprived of
their clergy during the war, either by death or by departure for Eng-
land. In the Eastern States, with two or three exceptions, there was a
cessation of the exercises of the pulpit; owing to the necessary disuse
of the prayers for the former civil rulers. In Maryland and in Virginia,
where the church had enjoyed civil establishments, on the ceasing of
these, the incumbents of the parishes, almost without exception, ceased
to officiate. Further south the condition of the church was not better,

APPENDIX. 503

to say the least. At the time in question there had occurred some cir-
cumstances which prompted the hope of a discontinuance of the war :
but that it would be with the acknowledgment of American indepen-
dence there was little reason to expect.

"On the 6th of August, 1782, the Congress, as noticed on their
printed journal of that day, received a communication from Sir Guy
Carleton and Admiral Digby, dated the 2d of that month, which gave
the first opening of the prospect of peace. The pamphlet had been
advertised for sale in the Pennsylvania Packet of the 6th, and some
copies had been previously handed by the author to a few of his friends.
This suspended the intended proceedings in the business; which, in the
opinion of the author, would have been justified by necessity, and by
no other consideration.

" It was an opinion commonly entertained, that if there should be a
discontinuance of military operations, it would be without the acknowl-
edgment of iniependence, as happened after the severance of the
Netherlands from the crown of Spain. Of the like issue there seemed
probable causes, in the feelings attendant on disappointed efforts for
conquest ; and in the belief cherished, that the successes of the former
colonists would be followed by dissensions, inducing return to the
domination of the mother country. Had the war ended in that way,
our obtaining of the succession from England would have been hopeless.
The remnant of the Episcopal Church in Scotland, laboring under
penal laws not executed, would hardly have regarded the bringing down
on themselves of the arm of government. Fear of the like offence would
have operated in any other quarter to which we might have had re-
course. In such a case, the obtaining of the succession in time to save
from ruin, would seem to have been impossible."

No. V. — Page 309.

Peregrine Wroth, M. D., of Baltimore, Md.

The great interest taken in this work by the late venerable Dr.
Peregrine Wroth, of Baltimore, in furnishing information in regard to
Dr. Smith's life in Maryland, prompted me to write to him to get some
of the particulars of his life, out of which to prepare a notice of him in
event of his death, which I felt sure would occur ere its publication. I
therefore give such extracts from his letters, which will be found entire

504 APPENDIX.

in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, as may tend to that purpose.
He says, under date April, 1877 :

It is a rather difficult task, especially to one whose life is not such as to serve as an
example for ihe imitation of others. But this I can say, that my family (in America),
beginning with James Wroth, Esq., who emigrated from England in or about 1660,
can trace back the name to one who bore the name of De Wrotham, in the reign
of King John.

The family in England held a very respectable rank in society, as a genealogy sent
to me by John Newton Lane, Esq., of King's Bromley Manor, near Lichfield, in
1854, informs me. Mr. Lane descended from Mary Wroth, the eldest daughter of
Sir Henry Wroth. I was of the fifth generation after James, and was born April 7,
1786, being now 91 years old on the 7th of this month. Before I left college 1 was
adopted by a cousin of my father, and intended as a student of law under Hon. James
A. Bayard, of Delaware, the grandfather of Hon. T. F. Bayard, now a Senator of the
United States, the office held by his father and grandfather. But he who had adopted
me dying before my father, I was persuaded to study medicine, and began to practise
in 1807, and after the age of 70 retired from public life, and, 1S68, removed to Balti-
more. Having been baptized by your distinguished ancestor, the first Principal of my
(Washington) college, I have always felt an interest in that college, and finished my
course there in 1803 under Rev. Dr. C. Ferguson, the second Principal, the successor
i)f your ancestor, then Provost (I think) of the University of Pennsylvania.

I practised fifty years, lacking two months. Of myself I can only say that I think I
held a respectable rank among ray contemporary physicians, and about 1840 or 184I
I'ublished a small volume under the title of "Clinical Aphorisms," /^r beginiiers. I
afterwards wrote Brief Memoirs of the twelve physicians of my county (Kent) who
were in practice before the act of " Incorporating the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty
of Maryland" was passed — at the request of the eminent Dr. George C. M. Roberts,
laie of this city, who contemplated a work on tliat portion of the faculty; but which
of course was not published.

Under date February 8, 1872, he says:

Your ancestor, Rev. William Smith, D. D., was Rector of I. U. Parish, Kent county,
the church in Chestertown being at that time a chapel of ease, where he regularly
preached, and lived in Chestertown. I have many, many times been in the house
where he lived, and almost feel as if I had been acquainted with him — having been
baptized by him and afterwards an alumnus of the college of which he was the first
Principal. I will here send you one or two anecdotes which, I am confident, are
authentic.

On some occasion a man from the country was in his house, and being in the
library with the doctor, and amazed at the great number of books, exclaimed, " My — •
my! Doctor, did you ever read all these books ? " The doctor replied : " Hoot, mon,
no; but I know what's in 'em." This was during the doctor's residence in Chester —
from about 1780 to — . Before that time he lived in Philadelphia. About the
commencement of the Revolution of 1776 the gentlemen of Philadelphia were in the
habit of meeting every day in the (jld City Hall, in Market street below Third. One
day the meeting had taken place, and after a while Dr. Smith entered the hall. Dr.
Benjamin Rush was there, and, walking up to the doctor, said: " Dr. Smith, we have

APPENDIX. 505

come to the conclusion that you are the author of " [PubHus, I think, an article

which had appeared in one of the newspapers). The doctor regarded Rush with a
glance of dignified contempt, and said: " Ben. Rush, I knew you when you were so
high," holding his hand about three feet from the floor. " You are no higher yet, mon."
No more was said on that subject.

These anecdotes I heard, I am almost sure, from Dr. Morgan Browne, an eminent
physician of Chestertown, and my preceptor, and had been a pupil of Dr. Smith, and
may be considered authentic. Of his daughter (I will not be sure of her name. If he
had another daughter living with him in Chestertown, it may not have been William-
ina), I heard from the same authority, I suppose, that she was walking in the street,
and the mud took one of her shoes off. She did not stop to take it up (at that time
the sidewalks for foot-passengers were not paved), but walked on, stepping on with
the foot which had a shoe on ; then, drawing up the shoeless foot to it, again advanced
the foot that had a shoe on, etc. After walking on in this way, she was met by a
friend, who asked: " What are you doing? " Miss Smith replied : " I'm putting my
best foot foremost."

These little things seem at first sight of little value, but they serve to indicate char-
acter. Such as they are, I offer them — to be used as you think proper.

I do not remember to have given you the history of the endowment of Washington
and St. John's Colleges — the former at Chestertown, the latter at Annapolis, Maryland.
If I have not, and such account shall be desired and in time for your work, I will send
it when you let me know.* I have the account, and will copy it off — to send as soon
as I hear that it may suit your plan — if I live.

Very truly yours, P. Wroth.

H. W. Smith, Esq.

Again he writes :

We have a life-size painting (bust) of Dr. Smith in the library at Washington Col-
lege. It was painted by W. W. McLane, from a print in a volume of Dr. Smith's
sermons, which belonged to vie, and very closely resembles, I think, the likeness you
sent me. The painting was retouched by Unger, a distinguished portrait painter of
Pennsylvania — a native of Prussia.

Dr. Wroth had been married four times. He died at Baltimore,
•June 13, 1879, in his 94th year.

No. VI. — Page 324.

The Hon. Thomas Willing, Esq.

It was my hope to be able to present a somewhat full biographical
sketch of this distinguished citizen of Philadelphia. I find myself,
however, unable to do so. The following genealogical notice, which is

* For this account see Vol. II., page 308.

506 APPENDIX.

understood to come from the papers of one of the most eminent gene-
alogists of our city, now for some years deceased, and who contem-
plated preparing, and did in part prepare, bestowing much labor on it,
"A Dictionary of our Philadelphia Genealogies," may in part supply the
loss; and I have the greater satisfaction in presenting it in these volumes
since a portion of it, the poetical tribute to an early member of the
family, is from the pen of my ancestor. Dr. Smith; whose ready talents,
often called on in this way, rarely found a worthier subject for their
exercise. The Willings belonged to the Proprietary party,* and until
Dr. Smith was displaced from the college by the confiscatory act of
1779, were munificent friends of that institution. On these accounts,
as for others, they were highly valued by Dr. Smith.

The Willings came into England from the neighboring district of
Wales. The name, which in its present form is not a common one
either in England or America, has been regarded, on traditional report,
as a change upon that of Wellyn, or Llewellyn.

Joseph Willing, of Gloucestershire, England, married, July i, 1672,
Elizabeth Plaver, by which lady (who died October 4, 1675) he had
issue :

(i) George, born September 12, 1673.

(2) Joseph, born September 22, 1675.

He married, secondly. May 24, 1676, Ava Lowle, of Gloucester, an
heiress of ancient family and of good estates, descended to her through
several generations from her Saxon ancestors. By this lady, whose
arms, in place of the proper arms of his own family, he took with her
estates, and who died December 31, 1717, he had issue, six children,
among whom were Mary, born June 3, 1678; married, October 11,
1705, to Stephen Burcomb, of Monmouth, by whom she had issue:

(i) Ann.

(2) Thomas, of whom presently.

(3) Richard, born May 26, 1681 ; died September 6, 1736, and is
buried in the Mayor's Chapel at Bristol; married, February 21, 1790,
Mary Syms, by which lady he had issue, three children, among whom
were

(i) Charles, born November 23, 171 2; married December 22,
1735, Chadery Tudsbury.

(2) Mary Syms, born May 2, 1725 ; died at Temple Cloud, in the

* Mr. Thomas Willing was one of the persons who, along with Lynford Lardner,
Richard Hockley, William Peters and some others, " applauded " when Dr. Smith,
A. D. 1758, had his great quarrel with the Quaker Assembly, and were arrested by
order of the Assembly for a breach of privilege. See Vol. I., p. 177.

APPENDIX. 507

city of Somerset, being the last survivor of her family of the name of
Willing in that district of country.

Thomas Willing, the oldest son of Joseph and Anne Willing, born
January 16, 1679-80, visited America with his younger brother
Richard, first in 1720. Returning to Bristol, England, he died in
that the city of his residence, 1760. He married, July 16, 1704, Anne,
granddaughter, on her paternal side, of Major-General Thomas Har-
rison, a lawyer of the Inns of Court, a member of the Long Parliament,
Major-General in Cromwell's time, one of the judges who sat on the
trial of King Charles I. ; also granddaughter on her mother's side, as
has been traditionally said, though this is not so certain, we believe, to
Simon Mayne (more properly written Meyn), a gentleman of Lincoln-
shire, a principal actor in Cromwell's time, and another of the persons
who sat on the trial of this unfortunate monarch. By this lady, who
was born in 1684 and died in 1747, and whose character, distinguished
by sweetness of temper, by great accomplishment, and by deep piety,
seems to have been "dulcified" in its flow of two generations from
"the hard, acidulous, metallic tincture" of its Puritan and military
spring, he had issue, among other children,
(i) Charles, of whom presently.

(2) Thomas, who resided in the Temple, London, and is hereafter
spoken of.

(3) Dorothy, married Hand, in England, where she remained.

Charles Willing, whom we may regard as the founder of the

American family (he having been the first who permanently resided
here), born May 18, 1710, was taken to Philadelphia, in the then
Province of Pennsylvania, at the age of 18, on a second visit to that
country by his father, who, during his previous residence of five years
there, had foreseen its rising greatness, and was determined to establish
his oldest son there, at Philadelphia, its metropolis. In this city the
subject of our notice pursued with great success and with noble fidelity
to its best principles, the profession of a merchant, in which career he
obtained, both at home and abroad, high and permanent consideration
by the scope, vigor and forecast of his understanding, by his great ex-
ecutive power, by his unspotted integrity, and by the amenity of his
disposition and manners. His enlarged and successful operations, and
his well-founded credit, assisted in early establishing with foreign coun-
tries a high reputation for American commerce; and contributed to
give to the city of his adoption, then the chief city of the confederacy,
and afterwards the seat of its Congress, that reputation for public honor
and for private wealth which it enjoyed at the opening of the Revolu-
tion, and which was of such eminent importance to the nation in its

508 APPENDIX.

negotiations with France and Holland in the struggles of that contest.
He was active in establishing the "Philadelphia Associators," in 1744,
and one of the founders and first trustees of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, a warden and active member of Christ Church. Towards the
close of his life he discharged with dignity, justice and efficiency the
important functions of Chief Magistrate of Philadelphia, in the Mayor-
alty of which city, now filling it for a second time, he died, not yet
having attained the age of 45 years, respected and lamented by a
whole community, November 30, 1754.

His death, in the bloom of life, was justly regarded as a civic
calamity to Philadelphia. The Pemisylvania Gazette of December 5,
1754, contains a tribute to his memory, with some elegiac stanzas, by
the Rev. William Smith, D. D., first Provost of the College of Phila-
delphia. They are in these words :

Last Saturday, after a short illness, departed this life, in the 45th year of his age,
Charles Willing, Esq., mayor of this city. As it may be truly said that this commu-
nity had not a more useful member, his death is justly lamented as a public loss to his
country, as well as an almost irretrievable loss to his family and friends.

In the character of a magistrate, he was patient, indefatigable, and actuated by a
steady zeal for justice. As a merchant, it was thought that no person amongst us un-
derstood commerce in general, and the trading interests of the Province in particular,
better than he ; and his success in business was proportionably great. \s a friend, he
was faithful, candid and sincere. As a husband and parent, few ever exceeded him
in tenderness and affection. Being himself a sincere Christian, he was strictly atten-
tive to the education of his children in every virtuous qualification ; and in a particular
manner he was remarkable in the discharge of that essential part of a parent's duty, so
little considered — a regular attendance, together with his numerous family, on the
public worship of God. And for this, accordingly, they will now have reason to bless
his memory ; since the impressions thereby received will go farther to teach them how
to bear their present heavy affliction, and recommend them to the favor of the world
(degenerate as it is), than all the external advantages — all the fortune, graces and good
nature he has left them possessed of.

ODE TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES WILLING, Esq.

1. Once more I seek the cypress shade,
To weave a garland for the dead,

Alone, dejected, wan !
Shall Willing quit this mortal strife.
And not a verse show him, in life

And death — An Honest Man ?

2. Forbid it every grateful muse —
The world itself will patriot-views,

With transient tears, commend;
But nobler far your task, ye Nine !
'Tis yours th' immortal wreath to twine,

And consecrate each friend.

APPENDIX. 509

3. Be present then — this boon bestow !
A friend is lost ! Now bind his brow

And bid each age proclaim
How first among th' illustrious band
That fix'd your mansions in this land,

Stands Willing's honor'd name.*

4. Bid helpless innocence reliev'd,
The widow's hopeless state retriev'd^

And orphan's right restor'd —
Tell how he graced the judgment seat,f
Still incorrupt and firmly great,

Alike to slave or lord.

5. How nicely he the various plan

Of bounteous commerce^ knew to scan.

And raise his country's weal —
Her trade by him enlarg'd, her good
Thro' every secret maze pursu'd,

To distant times will tell.

6. What more he did to bless the State,
And all the deeds of life complete,

Should any seek to know !
Bid them behold his num'rous race.
And read in each illumined face

"What language cannot show !

7. Bid them look up to Celia's eyes,
Where all the soul of softness lies,

And reason beams through truth.
Or, should this risk be deem'd too bold,
Bid them each manly grace behold,

Rip'ning in Damon's youth.

8. Damon, attend ! proceed to shine !
To fill a father's place be thine,

And soothe a mother's care !
This done — still mindful of his hearse.
Whose doom was sudden, write this verse,

And drop a filial tear.

EPITAPH.

If to be all the wise and good commend.
The tender husband, father and the friend ;
At home belov'd and blest, esteem'd abroad;
Studious to serve mankind, and please his God;
If this from death one useful life could save.
Thou hadst not read that Willing fills this grave !

* As a trustee of the Academy. f As a magistrate. J As a merchant.

5IO APPENDIX.

MORAL.

But ah ! what Ijoots it that, with ceaseless toil,
We court renown, or bask in fortune's smile?
In midst of all our fond enchanting dreams.
E'en while our souls are bent on patriot schemes,
Death lurks behind to cut life's thin-spun thread;
Then swift as noontide shadows all is fled !
One only thought remains to cheer the mind —
If human aims are just — " That Heaven is kind ! "

This Charles Willing built, a. D. 1749, the large and imposing dwel-
ling house, till lately standing, at the southwest corner of Willing's
alley and Third street, whose character and history is eloquently dwelt
on by Dr. Griswold in the "Republican Court." An engraving on
wood, giving a good representation of it and its spacious grounds, is in
"Watson's Annals," Vol. II., page 619, Hazard's Edition.

He married, in Philadelphia, January 21, 1730, Anne, daughter of
Joseph and Abigail Shippen, and granddaughter of Edward Shippen, a
man of pre-eminent consideration in the early history of Pennsylvania;
Speaker, in 1695, of the Assembly of the Province; appointed by its
charter, in 1701, first mayor of the city of Philadelphia ; President from
1702 to 1704 of the Governor's Council, and appointed by William
Penn, proprietary of the Province, to be one of the executors of his
will. By this lady, who was born in Philadelphia, August 5, 1710,
died in the same place, June 23, 1791, he had issue, eleven children,
among whom were :

(i) Thomas, of whom presently.

(2) Ann, born July 10, 1733, died January 2, 181 2; married,
February 8, 1762, to Tench Francis, of Philadelphia.

(3) Dorothy, born July 16, 1735 ; died in Scotland, 1782.

(4) Mary, born September 24, 1740, died March 28, 1S14; mar-
ried William Byrd, Esq., of Westhover, in Virginia.

(5) Elizabeth, born February 10, 1742, died 1830; married, August
7, 1769, Samuel Powel.

(6) Richard, born January 2, 1744, died January 30, 1798.

(7) Margaret, born January 15, 1753, died September 21, 1816;
married Robert Hare.

Thomas, the oldest son, was taken by his father, at a tender age, to
England, and educated in liberal studies at Bath, under the eye of his
grandmother, Anne Willing, already spoken of. He afterwards went
to London, where he was placed under the care of his uncle, Thomas
Willing, Escp, a gentleman of fortune, abilities and reputation, residii>g
0.1 the Temple. Under his uncle's supervision, the subject of our

APPENDIX. 5 1 1

present notice was entered a student of law in that venerable seat of
legal learning, and pursued for several months with great assiduity the
studies of a barrister. Returning to his native city, the opulence, pow-
erful connections and established reputation of his father's commercial
house, pointed to commerce as a profession. And on the death of his
father, in 1754, he assumed the exclusive control of that gentleman's
large concerns. He associated with himself the late Hon. Robert
Morris, Esq., afterwards well known as "the Financier of the Revolu-
tion," but separated himself from that gentleman upon Mr. Morris's
great enterprises of landed purchase, which, ending disastrously, clouded
the latter years of his distinguished and useful life. Mr. Willing was
in many places of public trust in the Province, occupying among them
a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court. He was among the
persons who early opposed the unconstitutional measures of Great
Britain. His name stands at the head of that great list of merchants
and traders who signed the non-importation resolutions of 1764. He
was President of the Provincial Meeting of Deputies, chosen by the
several counties of Pennsylvania, which met in Philadelphia, July 15,
1774, one of whose resolves was in these memorable words:

That, although a suspension of the commerce of this large trading Province with
Great Britain would greatly distress multitudes of our industrious inhabitants, yel that
sacrifice and a much greater we are ready to offer for the preservation of our liberties.
But in tenderness to the people of Great Britain as well as of this country, and in
hopes that our just remonstrances will at length reach the ears of our gracious sover-
eign, and be no longer treated with contempt by any of our fellow-subjects in England,
it is our earnest desire that the Congress should first try the gentler mode of stating
our grievances and malting a firm and decent claim of redress.

Mr. Willing was in the Congress of 1775, and in that one more cele-
brated, though composed of less able men, of i 776. He voted steadily
and fearlessly against the Declaration of Independence, considering
that he had not received power from the assembly, by whom he was
appointed a delegate, to vote for a revolution; and that, whether or not,
the time had not arrived in which Pennsylvania should come into the
measure. He remained also in the city during the occupation of it by
the British army. But when Sir William Howe sent a person to ad-
minister the oath of allegiance to George HI., he refused to take it.
For all this no one ever questioned his political integrity; though many
did that of men about him who were vigorous in declaring their devo-
tion to the cause of independence. During the session of the Congress
of 1774 he was in constant and confidential intercourse of the great
men who strove to make Great Britain yield to the solicitations of the

512 APPENDIX.

colonies, and repeal her obnoxious acts of legislation. John Adams,
after speaking, in his Diary, of numerous persons of great fame whom
he met in Philadelphia during the session of the Congress, says:

Sunday, ii October, 1774.

There is such a quick and constant succession of new scenes, characters, persons
and events turning up before me, that I can't keep any regular account. . . . Dined at
Mr. Willing's, who is a Judge of the Supreme Court here, and the gentlemen from
Virginia, Maryland and New York a most splendid feast again ; turtle and every-
thing else. Mr. Willing is the most sociable, agreeable man of all.*

When, in the year 1781, with a view of enabling the United States of
America to carry on the war for independence, the Bank of North America
was chartered by Congress — a time when our finances were almost des-
perate, when public credit was at an end, when no means were afforded
adequate to the public expense, when the money and credit of the United
States were at so low an ebb that some members of the Board of War de-
clared that they had not the means of sending an express to the army —
it was made a part of the enactment by that body, such was the confidence
had by it in his integrity, skill and solid wealth, that Thomas Willing
be the present President of the Institution. At a later day, March 26,
1782, when the State of Pennsylvania came to act on the charter, cer-
tain members of the Assembly opposed this feature of the enactment,
arguing that Mr. Willing had voted against the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, had remained in the city during the occupation, etc., etc.
"We think," said they, "that loading with honors a man who so lately
contributed what he could to enslave his country, is a discouragement
to the Whigs, is a wound to the cause of patriotism, and is trampling on
the blood of those heroes and martyrs who have fallen in the defence
of our liberty." But, upon the question being taken, the objectors —
country members, and mostly of the Deinocratic side — were over-
whelmed, and, by a vote of thirty-eight to sixteen, the Congressional
enactment left undisturbed. Mr. Willing entered at once upon the
Presidency of the Bank of North America, and until taken from it,
eight or nine years afterwards, to be placed in the higher office of
President of the Bank of the United States, then lately chartered by
the Federal government, administered it with the most satisfactory
results ; its dividends being for years of a magnitude previously unheard
of in the history of banks. The bank to this day maintains the highest
reputation. His administration of the Bank of the United States was

* Among "the gentlemen from Virginia, Maryland and New York," were George
Washington, Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph, William Paca, Samuel Chase, John
Jay and Philip Livingston. — Works, Vol. II., page 378.

APPENDIX. 513

not less beneficent; and when, in 181 6, having been hunted down by a
political party, its charter ceased and its affairs were wound up, it paid
in gold, during the prevalence of a paper currency which placed gold at
a high premium, ^116 for each ^100 of its capital.

We have not a sufficient acquaintance with the history of Mr. Thomas
Willing to give.any particular account of his enterprises in trade. They
were of the largest and most successful kind in that day, and we believe
chiefly with the Indies.

Mr. Morris has justly been called the Financier of the Revolution;
and it is not easy to overestimate his services to the country in the dark
days of 1780-81. But it was largely owing to the solid wealth, in-
herited and acquired, of his partner, Mr. Willing, put into the partner-
ship of Willing & Morris, by Mr. Willing; to the executive capacity of
that gentleman; to his great discretion and to the various qualities, not
always easily defined, but always easily perceived as surely felt, which
go to make up that combination which gives weight and influence to
men in the community where they live, that Mr. Morris was able to do
the great things that he did. The National Bank of North America
was the agent by which Mr. Morris produced his wonderful effects upon
the Revolution ; and of that bank Mr. Willing was the head, both
titular and real.

The following inscription is from the pen of the Hon. Horace Bin-
ney, upon a monument in the grounds of Christ Church, Philadelphia,
in which, along with both his parents, his wife and many of his de-
scendants, the subject of this part of our notice is interred :

" In memory of

Thomas Willing, Esq.,

Born 19th of December, 1731, o. s. : died 19th of January, 1821,

Aged 89 years and 30 days.

" This excellent man, in all the relations of private life and in various
stations of high public trust, deserved and acquired the devoted affec-
tion of his family and friends, and the universal respect of his fellow-
citizens.

" From 1 754 to 1807 he successively held the offices of Secretary to the
Congress of Delegates at Albany, Mayor of the city of Philadelphia, her
Representative in the General Assembly, President of the Provincial
Congress, Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, President of
the first chartered bank in America, and President of the first Bank
of the United States.

" With these public duties he united the business of an active, enter-
prising and successful merchant, in which pursuit, for sixty years, his.
life was rich in examples of the influence of probity, fidelity and perse-
verance, upon the stability of commercial establishments, and upon that.

514 AT FEND IX.

which was his distinguished reward upon earth, public consideration
and esteem. His profound adoration of the Great Supreme, and his
deep sense of dejjendence on his mercy, in life and in death, gave him,
at the close of his protracted years, the hope of a superior one in
Heaven."

The following obituary notice in '(\'\(t Pennsylvania Packet o{YQS:>rv:xxy
lo, I 781, is upon the wife of Thomas Willing, of the family name, v/c
believe, of McCall :

-5

On Monday last died, greatly and deservedly regretted, Mrs. Ann Willing, wife
of Thomas Willing, Esq., and her remains were, on Wednesday, interred in Christ
Church burying-ground, with tlie tribute of many a tear to her memory.

With every virtue that can adorn the female character, .she possessed ihe most
amiable and endearing manners. It is not the frail memorial, inscribed on the fugitive
page, th.1t can do her justice. A more durable monument of her virtue and her worth
is erected in the hearts of her surviving friends, stamped in such strong characters that
nothing but the passing hand of death can ever efface them.

I have seen some handsome lines to the memory of Anne Willing,
of the family name of Shippen, wife of Charles Willing and mother of
Thomas Willing, said to be from the pen of the well-known and ac-
complished Mrs. Ferguson, of Graeme Park. I regret not to be able to
recover them.

No. VII. — Page 350.

Samuel Blodgef, Jr.

[By Lorin Blodget, Esq.]

Samuel Blodget, Jr., who married Rebecca, the favorite daughter
of Rev. William Smith, in 1792, was the son of Samuel Blodget,* of
Concord, N. H., who was born at Woburn, Mass., but subsequently
resided at Concord, and was distinguished as a member of the expe-

* Samuel Blodget, Sr., of Woburn and Concord, was grandson of Thomas Blodget,
of London, merchant, who came over in the ship " Increase," in 1635, and who was
sworn in " Freeman" of Boston, March 3, 1635. He was accompanied by his wife,
Susanna, and his infant sons, Daniel and .Samuel, from whom are descended all bear-
ing this name in the United States. See Encyclopaedia Britannica, Johnson's Universal
Cyclopaedia, etc., for biographical notices of Samuel Blodget, of Woburn and Concord ;
also for notices of Benjamin Thompson, afterward Count Rumford, who was himself
a native of Woburn : bis mother, whose maiden name was Susanna Blodget, was a

AFPENDIX. 5 I 5

dition against Louisburg, in 1745, and as Judge in Hillsboro' county,
N. H. ; also as an extensive manufacturer at Blodget's Mills, near
Concord, during the Revolutionary war, and supplied the patriot ser-
vice with the product of his mills.

Samuel Blodget, Jr., was born at Woburn, in 1755, ^"^ ^^ ^^^ Ume
of the encampment of the patriot forces at Cambridge, in July, 1775,
entered into the military service, and became acquainted with the new
Commander-in-Chief, General Washington, with whom his father was
also personally intimate, and afterwards a correspondent. He was es-
pecially interested in the two favorite projects then entertained by Gen-
eral Washington, the founding of a "federal city," or national capital,
and the establishment of a national university; and after three years of
arduous service in the army, a part of the time on the staff of the
Commander-in-Chief, left the service in broken health in 17 78, and
engaged in the East India trade, in Boston, visiting Europe in 17S4,
and again in 1790. These visits and much of his time and efforts for
many years were devoted to the carrying out of the great enterprises
which enlisted his patriotism* early in the war, and subsequently brought
him to Philadelphia and to Washington, and induced him to invest his
entire fortune in the founding of the city of Washington and the estab-
lishment of a national university. The account of his earlier efforts in
this direction is briefly given in a work published at Washington in
1S06,* and he was almost alone among prominent citizens in the

daughter of Samuel Blodget, Sr. (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary; Bond's Genealogy
of Watertown, etc.)

S-imuel Blodget published A Prospective Plan of the Battle near Lake George,
on the Eighth Day of September, 1755, with an Explanation thereof; containing
a full, though short, History of that important affair. By Samuel Blodget, occasionally
at the camp when the battle was fought. Boston, N. E. : Richard Draper. MDCCLV.,
4to. Title, pp. 5. Plan. London : T. Jefferys. MDCCLVL 4to, pp. {2), 5.

* " The writer needed not the recommendation of his former commander to persuade
him to purchase, as he did in 1791, property to the amount of above 5ioo,ooo in and
adjoining the city, one day to become the noblest of the universe. Of the first pur-
chase he made he gave above 1,500 lots to the United States, or one-half of his
property, in common with other proprietors of the lands, on the site selected for the
permanent seat of the government." — (Economica, page 24.)

" From the time of the first mention of a federal city and a national university, every
opportunity to expand the mind of the writer has been embraced. The opportunities
for inquiry were but few, until when, in an impaired state of health, originating in the
army by the severe campaigns of 1775 to 1778, occasioned in 1784 a visit to Europe,
where no time was lost to search for such information as was deemed worth transport-
ing to America. After a second visit to Europe, the writer returned in 1791 ami
informed President Washington of the plans he had attempted from the best points
onlv of the ancient and modern cities of the old world, and adapted to his ideas for. a

5l6 APPENDIX.

Northern States to join liis fortunes to the enterprises on wliirli Wash-
ington had set his heart. At the time of the original action by Con-
gress, authorizing the establishment of the national capital on the
Potomac, no money was appropriated and no expenditure directed or
authorized by the general government itself. It was a permissive act
merely, providing that if the friends of the site on the Potomac should
found a city and erect public buildings there fit for the occupation of
Congress before the year 1800, then the seat of government should be
removed to and established at that city. Beyond this the work was
that of Washington, Jefferson, the States of Virginia and Maryland, and
their personal friends in the Northern States. The commissioners au-
thorized to conduct the negotiations began their work March 11, 1791,
and formed an agreement with the proprietors of the lands chosen as
the site of the city, March 31 of the same year, by which it was stipu-
lated that one-half of the lots and squares into which these lands should
be laid out, should remain the property of the original owners, and
one-half should become the property of the new city, and be sold to
raise money to erect the public buildings. Mr. Blodget at that time
purchased 500 acres, being one of the largest of the private properties
on the site, and it was duly laid out in squares and lots under the terms
of the agreement. He also purchased several hundred single lots at a
public sale of lots held for the benefit of the city, in October, 1791,
being much the largest individual purchaser at the sale, and bringing
to the new city several of his personal friends, from Boston, as pur-
chasers. The State of Virginia had appropriated $70,000, and Mary-
land $120,000, toward the cost of the Capitol and President's
House, but no money being obtainable from these State appropria-

federal heart or capital for his country. But his views for the university were what he
most prized, designed in part at the Hague, and completed at Oxford, where lie had
all the universities of ancient and modern times to guide his pencil."

The suggestion as to a national university was first made at the camp at Camhridge,
in October, 1775, "when Major \Villiam Blodget went to the quarters of General
Washington to complain of the ruinous state of the colleges from the conduct of the
militia quartered therein. The writer of this being in company with his friend and
relation, and hearing General Greene join in lamenting the then ruinous state of the
eldest -ieminary of Massachusetts, observed, merely lo console the company of friends,
that to make amends for these injuries, after our war he hoped we should erect a noble
university, at which all the youth of the world might be proud to receive instruction.
What was thus pleasantly said, Washington immediately replied to- ' Young tiiati, yoii
a>e a prophet, iuspired to speak what I am confident mill one day be realized.' " The
original of the design for this university is in the Library of Congress at Washington.
-{//'iV/., pp. 21-23)

APPENDIX. 517

tions,* a plan for a general loan of ^500,000 was proposed by Mr.
Blodget, and carried out in part by the commissioners: 500 bonds of
^1,000 each being prepared, and Mr, Blodget advancing ^10,000 of
his own money, t which sum was actually paid to them July 17, 1792.

At this time the plans for the President's House and Capitol were so
far matured that the foundations of each were begun, and, as it hap-
pened, these advances by Mr. Blodget were directly applied to that
purpose.!

During this and the following year Mr. Blodget gave his entire time
to the interests of the new city, buying very largely himself, and in-
ducmg many of his Boston friends to buy of the government lots sold
on October 8, 1792, for which the commissioners tendered liim their
thanks, officially, in letters to the President. Soon after this sale Mr.
Jefferson suggested to the commissioners the appointment of a Super-
visor, or General Superintendent of the work of erecting the public
buildings, naming Mr. Blodget as a suitable person, and on June 5^
1793, the commissioners duly appointed him Supervisor as follows:

" You are retained for one year, commencing the ist instant, as

Supervisor of the buildings and in general of the affairs committed to
our care, for which you are to receive ^600, payable in money or in
lots at their just value," etc.

In pursuance of this appointment, he entered at once on the most
active duties, the greatest difficulty existing in obtaining the money
appropriated by the States of Virginia and Maryland, only a small por'
tion as yet being received. In this emergency, and as the project of a
general loan on pledge of the real estate of the city had failed, owing

* Mr. Jefferson, then Secretary of Slate, writes to the Commissioners, May 11, 1792 :
" I had informed you that the catastrophe among the paper dealers would retard llie
completion of the loan. I now enclose you a letter from Mr. Blodget, by which you
will perceive its effect to be greater than he had at first supposed. He thinks that the
payment of June, which if the loan had been filled up, would have been of $50,000,
must now he thrown back and consolidated with that of November, except as to
;SlO,000 which he undertakes to pay on the 15th of June for eighty shares he takes
himself, and twenty shares he has disposed of. After consultation with the President
we concluded nothing better was to be done than to leave the matter in Mr. Blodget's
hands. I therefore yesterday delivered his 500 warrants for which I enclose his
receipt."

f See letter of Thomas Jefferson to the commissioners, dated at Philadelphia, July
II, 1792, in which he says: "I enclose you a letter received from him (Samuel
Blodget) this day, informing you that the deposit of $10,000 is made in the Boston
Bank, and will be paid to your orders."

\ See also letter of acknowledgment of the commissioners to Samuel Blodget, July
18, 1792, in which they accept the money, and advise him that the foundations of the
buildings will at once be entered upon.

5l8 APPENDIX.

to the general financial depression, the commissioners resorted to a
lottery, which was drawn in the latter part of the year, and yielded a
moderate sum for the use of the new city. A second lottery was less
fortunate, and it resulted in claims which embarrassed the commission-
ers and their agent for years afterwards. Mr. Blodget ascribes the
losses and misfortunes of the new city then and subsequently to the
refusal of Congress to guarantee any loans or make any appropriations
for erecting the public buildings or laying out the city. Even after the
seat of government was duly established there, in iSoo, the same neglect
continued, and Mr. Blodget found himself, as did other proprietors,
actually unable to continue the payment of taxes on the large number
of lots and squares, placed at a high valuation, but wholly unsalable.
He paid taxes on much the largest amount of property in the city from
1 79 1 to 1S07; most of the speculative purchases by Robert Morris,
James Greenleaf, Nicholson and others, were not kept up by the pur-
chasers, and ultimately reverted to the city, and other proprietors were,
as Mr. Blodget was, nearly ruined by the burden of carrying large
properties which could not be sold.*

At this time, or more particularly in 1804 to 1S06, Mr. Blodget pub-
lished several editions of a statistical and financial volume, which had a
wide reputation and was frequently quoted in standard European works.
This work was published in the completest form in 1806, under the
title " F^conomica; A Statistical Manual for the United States of Amer-
iea,'" pp. 202, with Appendix, containing the first general tables of
poimlation, commerce, industry and social statistics, prepared for gen-
eral circulation. This work has been frequently quoted as an excellent
authority for events of its time.f

From 1793 ^^ 1814 Mr. Blodget resided chiefly at Washington, al-
though he was much at Philadelphia, and had large business interests
there. He was active in promoting the business interests of both cities,
was a large stockholder in the first insurance company, marine and fire,
founded in Philadelphia, and which sustained heavy losses from the
French spoliations. He had an estate in Mantua, West Philadelphia,
which continued in possession of his family. In Washington the fine
mansion on his original purchase was located just north of the junction
of Rhode Island and Massachusetts avenues. Thirty-eight entire squares.

* The assessed value of his estate in Washington in 1803 was 57Sii99, embracing
5606.903 sfjuare feet of cily lots.

f At page 96 of this volume will be found a letter of President Washington to Samuel
r>lodgel, Jr., written about the time of his appointment as Supervisor at Washington,
complimenting him on his services to the city, and sending his good wishes to his
venerable father at Concord, N. 11.

APPENDIX. 519

twelve half squares, and 186 single lots were standing to his name on
the assessment books for many years, most of them so remaining in
1807.

In 1812 to 1814 his health was much broken, and further misfortunes
to his property interests, resulting from the war, induced his final return
to Pliiladelphia, in 181 4, where he died in April of that year. In
pursuit of his purpose of founding a national university, he made at one
time a large donation of his property in the city of Washington — 1,500
lots — and stocks in various companies were left to the same purpose in
President Washington's will, at his death, in 1799. The estimated
value of these stocks was $25,000, but in both cases the intended dona-
tion v/as not realized. Several thousand dollars were, however, de-
posited by Mr. Blodget in a bank at Georgetown, and a form of organi-
zation of trustees was maintained for many years afterwards, Judge
Bushrod Washington being the principal and last surviving trustee.

The enterprises and efforts which engaged his attention almost from
1775 to the day of his death were peculiarly difficult, and their success
doubtful or remote. But the city of Washington, which was looked on
as being impracticable at the time it was founded, and for which Con-
gress then absolutely jefused all aid, was actually prepared for occupa-
tion as the seat of government, in iSoo, in a great degree by his own
efforts and sacrifices. The records of the commissioners — Daniel Car-
roll, Thomas Johnson and David Stuart — are full of testimony to the
vital character of the aid rendered them at every step by Mr. Blodget,
and the money given by him personally was the first considerable
amount applied to the erection of the two most necessary structures, the
Capitol and the President's House.

With him it was a labor of love and a work of supreme patriotism to
aid in founding the city Washington had chosen, and Congress had
reluctantly permitted Washington and Jefferson to build, if they could,
in the comparatively remote locality on the Potomac. Other cities
looked on the effort as unwise, and opposed it as being injurious to their
interests; but the commissioners, without money, finally triumphed — a
few devoted friends of Washington, who became attached to him when
in New England, in 1775, came to their relief, and adhered to them to
the end. Mr. Blodget left four children (see genealogy). His portrait,
painted by Trumbull, is in existence. His remains are buried in
Christ Church ground, Philadelphia.

520 APPENDIX.

No. VIII.— Page 407.

The Hon. Thomas Smith.

My chief knowledge of this collateral ancestor of my own — a half-
brother of my great-grandfather, Dr. William Smith, the Provost — is
derived from an obituary notice of him in the Uniied States Gazette
of April, 1S09. I am not able to say who the author of it was,
possibly Mr. Enos Bronson,* long the editor of that paper: a gentleman
of talents at once versatile, strong and graceful, with an education
various and finished. This gentleman was an acquaintance and friend
of Judge Smith, as were almost all that high class of gentlemen, mem-
bers of the bar and leading Federalists of Philadelphia, who gave tone
to society in our city at that time: Edward Tilghman, William Rawle,
William Lewis, Joseph Hopkinson, Charles Willing Hare, Horace Bin-
ney, Charles Chauncey, John B. Wallace, William Meredith and others.
Mr. Bronson may very well have written it, though a literary friend
familiar with his style, as also with that of the late Chief Justice Tilgh-

* Enos Bronson, as we learn from Mr. Euger.e II. Munday's valuable Historical Sketch
of the A^orlh American and United Stales Gazette, was a native of Waterbury, Conn.,
and born March 31, 1774. He was graduated at Yale College, and afterwards began
the study of the law. He did not, however, long continue this pursuit. Removing to
Philadelphia, he became a teacher in the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
His tastes were towards literature and political acquisitions, etc. He soon afterwards
(a. D. 1801) purchased the Gazette of the United States, succeeding John Ward Fenno
in the editorship, and conducting the paper in the interest of Federal politics. About
the time of our declaration of war against Great Britain (a d. 1S12), party spirit ran
very high. In Baltimore a riot occurred, and the printing office of a Ferleral news-
]iaper was destroyed by a mob. The office of Mr. Bronson was threatened with a
similar fate if he did not cease from his unfavorable criticisms upon the administration
and its Democratic leaders. Mr. Bronson was not to be intimidated, nor to cease the
expression of his just political views at the dictation of ruffians. At last, however, the
threats of violence against his office took actual shape. He received intelligence from
a good source that on a night fixed the office would be sacked. On that same night
the late Nathaniel Chapman, M. D., Charles Chauncey, the Hon. Bird Wilson, John
B. Wallace, Horace Binney, Thom.as Biddle, with a few other gentlemen (all intimate
friends of Mr. Bronson), Federalists all, of vigorous strength, came to the office of the
Gazette with muskets well loaded with ball, bayonets set, and gave evidence of what
any b.iiid of ruffi.ans mis.'ht expect. The ringleaders of the mob came and looked;

APPENDIX. 521

man, suggests to me that a certain plainness of manner gives i*- rather
to the eminent Chief Justice of Pennsylvania just named, who was
warmly attached to his Associate, and was one of the executors, I think,
of his last will. Come from what source it may, it is worthy of preser-
vation in the biographies of the eminent Judges of Pennsylvania.

OBITUARY.

Hon. Thomas Smith was a native of North Britain, from whence he emigrated in
early life to this continent. On the 9th of February, 1769, he was appointed deputy
surveyor of an extensive frontier district, and established his residence at the town of
Bedford. In the execution of his ofificial duties he displayed integrity and abilities
which could not have been exceeded. His fidelity in this important and interesting
trust was so strongly marked that no individual has been able to complain of injury;
and exemption from law suits, and certainty of titles to property, have been almost the
invariable result. So high was his sense of honor, so inflexible his principles of jus-
tice, that he would never suffer even suspicion to cast a shade over his official char-
acter. His private interests yielded to the fumness of his mind; and although landed
property was then so easily to be acquired, he scrupulously avoided all speculation,
determined that the desire of gain should neither warp his rectitude nor give birth to
jealousy in others.

When the county of Bedford was erected, he received commissions from the then
proprietors to execute the offices of Prothonotary, Clerk of the Sessions, Orphans'
Courts, and Recorder of Deeds for that county; and such was the uniform tenor of
his conduct as to insure the respect, esteem and attachment of all who had any trans-
actions with him.

At the commencement of the late Revolution he zealously espoused the cause of his
adopted country, and at the head of his regiment of militia performed his tour of duty

looked again and went away. An hour or two after midnight they came again and
found the guard still on duty. They then disappeared, and never renewed their visits
or their menaces. While proprietor of the United States Gazette, Mr. Bronson pub-
lished several works, including " Roscoe's Life of Lorenzo de Medecis," and "Leo
X.," by the same author. They are beautiful specimens of typography. " Under much
coldness of manner, amounting almost to apathy, Mr. Bronson," said the Baltimore
Chronicle, when noticing his death, which occurred in April, 1823, " possessed a warm
and benevolent heart, alive to all tender impulses, blended with uncommon boldness
and decision. His facility in writing and his powers of abstraction were remarkable.
With his office filled with men like Joseph Dennie, Nathaniel Chapman, Thomas
Biddle and others, the wits and conversation men of Philadelphia at that day — talk-
ing, telling stories and laughing, he would hand sheet after sheet of his ready compo-
sition to the printer's boy, and read proofs in which not an error would be left."

Mr. Bronson married Mary, daughter of the venerable Bishop White. Two of his
seven children survive: one the widow of the late accomplished Prof. Henry Reed,
who was lost at sea on the ill-fated "Arctic;" the other the Rev. William White Bron-
son, a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, distinguished for his theological
learning and valued by all who know him for his devotion to the sick and poor and
suffering of every class who need his service. I owe to him my many thanks for ser-
vices rendered to me in the presentation of this work.

:522 APPENDIX.

in her service; and his attachment to the liberties and independence of these United
States was inviolable. By the citizens of his county he was chosen to represent tliem
in the convention wliich formed the first constitution of this commonwealth, but it is
■just to add, that instrument did not meet his entire approbation. As a member of the
Legislature, frequently elected, his talents were useful, his exertions and industry un-
remitted; and when, towards the close of the Revolutionary war, he was appointed to
represent this State in Congress, he carried with him into that body the same invaluable
qualities, the same firm and inflexible integrity.

The law was his profession, and he practised with industry and success, seeking to
do justice, but abhorring iniquity and oppression; never greedy of gain, he was mod-
erate in receiving the honorable revk'ard of his professional services. He was a father
to those who confided in him, however poor or afllicted. He delighted to encourage
merit and virtue wherever he found them ; but he exposed, with severity, violence,
fraud and iniquity, whether clothed in rags or shrouded behind the mantle of wealth
or influence. To those who sought it, he gave honest and sound advice in questions
of law, according to the best of his skill and judgment. He discouraged law suits, and
scorned to foment litigation for the sake of gain. He may have frequently erred —
more frequently may have been deceived by statements imposed upon him by clients j
but he never, knowingly, recommended the prosecution of an unjust cause.

When the judiciary department, under the present constitution of Pennsylvania, was
organized, he was appointed President of the district composed of the counties of
Cumberland, Miftlin, Huntingdon, Bedford and Franklin, in which office he continued
until, upon the resignation of Mr. Bradford, he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania. The arduous duties of both those stations he performed with
skill and integrity. He spared not himself in sickness or in health — he shrunk from
no labor or fatigue. Although his constitution was wearing away, his high sense of
duty foreclosed from his view his approaching danger; or, though he beheld it, it ap-
peared to him trivial in comparison with what he considered the obligations of con-
science. He never tasted the bread of idleness ; nor would he have touched the
emoluments of office if unable to perform its duties. But he sunk under this too
zealous attention to rigid duty, at an age not greatly advanced ; and when, by a little
indulgence and self-denial (most surely justifiable), he might yet have been spared to
his afflicted family.

The exprt--^sions of his features were apparently austere : his outward manners were
not marked w .ili grace or softness. In conversation, his sentiments were delivered
with blunt sincerity, and were sometimes supposed, by those who knew him, not to
designate the character of harshness — but his heart was replete with the finest qualities
which could adorn it — humane, lienevolent and just. — In his friendships ardent and
sincere, and his acts of friendship executed with peculiar delicacy and grace. In all
his dealings he was scrupulously exact, and there exists no man who can truly say he
has received from him an injury. Those who knew him well will not hesitate to ac-
knowledge the correctness of this brief eulogium on departed worth.

To his family his loss is irreparable ; as a husband and a father, he was affectionate,
mild, indulgent. The happiness of his family was the great object of his life. Do-
mestic harmony reigned in his household. His mansion was the abode of hospitality ;
long, very long will his loss be mourned; the memory of his virtues will remain as
their sweetest consolation ; but the deep felt sorrows of his afllicted widow and chil-
dren cannot recall the husband, father, friend.

APPENDIX. 523

The following are the inscriptions from the tombs in Christ church-
yard, Philadelphia, over the graves of Judge Smith and his family:

Thomas Smith,
One of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,

Rests beneath this marble.

He sustained various public offices with ability and fidelity;

His integrity was inviolable.

An affectionate husband and father. In his friendships

Benevolent and sincere.

He conscientiously discharged his public duties

Until the last day of his life with

Unremitted industry and zeal,

And died March 31, 1S09,

Aged 64 years.

Also

Letitia Smith,

Wife of the above, died March 8, 1811,

Aged 52 years,

Reposes here. Her last request prohibits more;

Let angels speak her praises.

Franxes Sophia Smith,

DauglUer of Thomas and Letitia Smith,

Died in Savannah,

Feb. 8, 1829,

Aged 50,
Reposes here.

Reisecca Smith,

Died March 16th,

1855.

Letitia Smith,
Died October 15, 1832.

George Washington Smith,
Died April 22, 1876. Aged 76.

George Washington Smith, whose name is the last upon the list
of Judge Smith's children, was the only son of Judge Smith. The fol-
lowing notice of him appeared in one of the papers of the day:

DEATH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH, Esq.

It is with sincere regret that we announce the death of Mr. George Washington
Smith, who expired on Saturday last, April 22, 1876, after an illness of some length,
at his residence, No. 911 Clinton street. Mr. Smith never having been in public
oflice, nor in the practice of a profession of any kind; having been a ^ood deal

524 APPENDIX.

reserved in general intercourse, and having, moreover, been a frequent traveller and
resident abroad, was not much known to the present generation of Philadelphians.
But he was well deserving of the honor and respect of them all. His father was the
Hon. Thomas Smith, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a
native of Scotland (born near Aberdeen), and half-brother of the able and accom-
plished Dr. William Smith, Provost, and in fact the founder, of the old College of
Philadelpliia, now the University of Pennsylvania, both being sons of Thomas Smith,
a man of property in Scotland.

Thomas Smith, coming to this country, went to Carlisle, Pa., where he practised law
successfully, and built the large house there afterwards occupied by Mr. Hamilton.
In 1790 he came to this city, and resided on the south side of Market street, between
Tenth and Elevtnh. He was apponited in 1794 a Judge of our Supreme Court, and
died in 1809, leaving the reputation of an able and most upright judge. He was de-
votedly attached to the Federal party — the party of Washington and Hamilton, of Jay
and Marshall; and he named his son after Washington, with whom he was on terms
of personal friendship. His wife, who, if a picture of her by the elder Peale, still
preserved, does not exaggerate her personal attractions, must have been distinguished
by beauty, was of the family name of Van Dearen.

Mr. George Washington Smith was born, as appears by a record in his own hand-
M'riting in our Historical Society, on the 4th of August, 1800. His motlier died while
he was a mere infant, and his father in 1809, before he had completed his ninth year.
He was then committed to the care of the late Chief Justice Tilghman and Edward
Shippen Burd, as his guardians, the actual guardianship being discharged by the
former, for whom Mr. Smith, in common with all who knew him intimately, ever
entertained the warmest affection and respect. He received his primary instructions
in classical literature from the well-known James Ross, the author of the Grammar,
and in 1818 graduated at Princeton, where the late gifted Joseph Mcllvaine, Esq.,
afterwards Recorder of this city and a Representative in the Legislature, was his
classmate. He studied law in the office of the late Hon. Horace Binney, and was in
due time admitted to the bar. But his circumstances were such as raised him above
the necessity of practising his profession, and he never did so. He, however, engaged
actively in matters of public interest, especially those relating to railroads, which then
occupied the attention both of practical and scientific men, Mr. Moncure Robinson,
yet surviving in honor among us, being in those days at the head of them. He was
also greatly interested in the subject of prison discipline.

Two papers signed with his initials, " G. W. S.," in the Vierus of Philadelphia,
published by the late Mr. Cephas Childs, give evidence of his ability in the discussion
of what is now known as Penology. He had already been abroad, and paid much
attention to the subject of railways in England and on the continent, and was often
before committees at Harrisburg, where it was remarked by the late John B. Wallace —
a leading member of the House of Representatives, and much interested in the subject
of mternal imjirovements, then representing, for about three years (from 1S30 to 1833),
one of our western counties in the Legislature—" that his information could always be
depended upon for its accuracy." During some years Mr. Smith afterwards resided
in Edinburgh and London, where he was engaged in vindicating before the Superior
Courts of England, and finally before the House of Lords, the rights of a sister, who
had married a Scotch gentleman of rank and fortune, to a large amount of pioperty
which, in his idea, sire had, in disregard of her rights, surrendered to her husband's
family, in the settlement of a family difficulty. The case came finally before the

APPENDIX. 525

British House of Peers, and is reported. The House adjudged, as we recall the
matter, that his views were correct; though a majority of the Peers, acting on an old
rule, made in the interests of family peace and harmony, that a family settlement will
not be disturbed, even though a party have surrendered rights, unless the case be very
grievous, refused to break up what had been once signed and sealed.

Of late years Mr. Smith had travelled much, not only in Europe, but also in Africa
and Asia, spending much lime in the regions which make the subject of Sallust's
Jugurthine war, exploring iis antiquities, and also in Palestine, where he sought to
widen and to deepen the foundations of a religious faith that from early life he ever
professed.

Mr. Smith, at the time of his death, was the senior Vice-President of the Histoiical
Society of Pennsylvania, of which, with Benjamin Horner Coates, he was in 1822 a
founder, and in which he ever took a deep interest. This he testified quite lately liy a
munificent donation of money. He was also a warden and a vestryman of Christ
Cliurch, in whose general welfare, and especially in the welfare of whose Sunday
schools — where he personally labored as a teacher — he took a deep interest. During
such time as his health allowed he was to be seen regularly in the ancient pew of the
family, near to that of the same as occupied by Washington while President of the
United Slates. He was for several years, and up to the very close of his life, a muni-
ficent benefactor of the Episcopal Hospital, devoting his large income to this and to
other objects of charily, religion, or literature, in the most unostentatious manner, and
without one charge upon it in his own favor for luxury, or avarice, or personal aggran-
dizement of any kind. In his politics, Mr. Smith belonged to the school of which his
father was a well-known advocate, and from the principles of that school he never
swerved. He was distinguished by a very high sense of political and personal honor;
and though, as we have said, not widely known in this city at this day, his death will
be lamented by a most respected class of persons among us.

Resolutions of respect to his memory were adopted by the Vestry of Christ Church
this iflorning. Mr. Smith was one of the vestrymen of that venerable church for more
than thirty years, and was one of its most liberal benefactors. For several years past
he had annually deposited in the basin at the offertory at Christ Church, on Thanks-
giving Day, for the benefit of the Episcopal Hospital, the sum of $5,000. He also
gave largely to the new parish building fund, and constantly gave to the current char-
ities and expenses of the parish, which will greatly feel his loss. The funeral of Mr.
Smith will take place from Christ Church on Wednesday morning.

No. IX. — Page 41 1.

Richard Penn Smith.

Richard Penn Smith was born at his parental residence, the vener-
able edifice still standing at the southeast corner of Chestnut and Fifth
streets, Philadelphia. He received his early education at Joseph Neif 's

526 APPENDIX.

grammar school, at the Falls of Schuylkill, with whom he remained
until he was ten years of age. He and his brother, Samuel Wemyss
Smith, were for some years under the care of a private tutor by the
name of Sanderson,* whom their father, William Moore Smith, Esq.,
had found reading the classics in the original upon one of his annual
tours up the Juniata. He took a fancy to him, and brought him to
Philadelphia as the tutor and companion of his two sons above
mentioned.

When Mr. Neif quit his school these boys were sent to one at Mount
Airy, kept by Mr. John T. Carre. After some years spent at Mount
Airy, Mr. Smith went to Huntingdon, Pa., and was placed under the
care of the Rev. John Johnson, a Presbyterian clergyman, who had
there established a school, and was for many years well known as a
successful teacher of the Greek and Latin languages. In 18 18 he re-
turned to Philadelphia and entered the office of William Rawlc, Esq.,
to study the law. His fellow-students in the office were David Paul

*John Sanderson, who was born in Carlisle in 1783, studied the classics with a
clergyman living some six or seven miles from his home, and in i£o6 came to Phila-
delphia as private tutor to the children of William Moore Smith. In 1808 he became
a teacher in Clermont Seminary, which was established near Frankford, the Principal
of which was John T. Carre. Afterward Sanderson married a daughter of Mr. Carre's,
and became a partner in the management of the school. He was a contributor to the
Fortfolio. While residing in the family of Mr. Smith he designed " The Lives of the
Signers of the Declaration of Independence," which was the first attempt to combine
their biographies. The first and second volumes of this book were written by John
Sanderson, assisted by his pupils. The life of Ilopkinson was written by Richard
Penn Smith, and that of Chancellor Wythe by William Rudulph Smith ; but the work
was not published until 1S20. The remaining seven volumes are attributed to Robeit
Wain, Jr., Henry Dilworth Gilpin, and others. Mr. Sanderson published, in 1826,
" Remarks on the Plan of a College to Exclude the Latin and Greek Languages."
His views were adverse to the establishment of such an institution. After the death
of Stephen Girard he advocated, in accordance with those opinions, the introduction
of the languages in the course of studies at Girard College. These arguments were
enforced through the medium of the press, in a series of letters signed " Roberjot."
He went to Paris in 1835, and remained there one year. His impressions were given
to the world in " Sketches of Paris, in Familiar Letters to his Friends, by an Anvvican
Gentleman. Two volumes. 1S3S; " "The American in Paris. Two volumes. 183S."
These are light, agreeable, and abounding in wit and humor. Theodore Hook sug-
gested the publication of this book in England. Jules Janin translated it into French,
and it was published in 1843. He commenced a work to l)e entitled " The American
in Paris," portions of which were published in the Knickerbocker Magazine. Upon
his return to Philadelphia he opened a private school, and when the High School was
established he was Professor of Greek and Latin. The writer was long his pupil. He
died in 1844.

APPENDIX. 527

Brown, Thomas White* (afterwards of Indiana, Pa.), and Thomas
S. Smith. He was admitted to practice as a member of the bar in
1820. He inherited from his family a taste for letters, and was early
distinguished for the extent and variety of his acquirements. His first
appearance as an author was in the columns of the Union, where he
published a series of letters, moral and literary, under the title of the
"Plagiary." About the close of the year 1822 he purchased the neAvs-
paper establishment, the Am-ora (which long before this date had lost
its violent political caste), from Mr. Duane, and assumed the arduous

* Upon tlie death of Judge Thomas White, which occurred in iSSo, the following
notice appeared in a Philadelphia paper:

A citizen of Philadelphia, through your journal, desires to offer a memorial tribute
to the late Judge Thomas White, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, who departed this
life at his residence on the 23d inst. The deceased was a worthy descendant of a
highly aristocratic family in Dublin, and born about 1799, in Sussex, England, where
his father was barrack-master in the British army. At a very early age he was brought
to our city, where he was raised and educated. Under the friendly auspices of the
late John Vaughan, Esq., he was entered as a student of law in the office of the
venerable William Rawle, where he graduated with his fellow-student, Richard Penn
Smith, in 1820, with flattering encomiums, and was admitted to practice. He soon
after settled in Indiana county, this State, in which circuit he rapidly rose to profes-
sional honors and wealth. Thus distinguished, he sought not political station, because
it was uncongenial to his nature. Imbued with literary taste, he was at home in his
well-selected library, and while he cultivated literature he also devoted his energies to
agriculture and to the breeding of blooded stock animals — thus blending the elegant
pursuit of letters and judicial learning with the useful science of modern farming.
Nothing more honorable can be said of Tiiomas White.

To delineate a character so amiable and pure as that of the deceased, wherein
eminent integrity was combined with all the domestic virtues of the husband, father,
brother and friend, may prove a task more difficult than the writer of this may wiih
propriety undertake, or truth unadorned can draw. The simplicity of his manners was
proverbial. He was guided by the fixed principles of religion and good morals. On
the election of Governor Ritncr, in 1834, he received the appointment of President
Judge for his district.

Governor Curtin — in view of his conservative but loyal predilections, and to avert,
if possible, an ultimate appeal to arms to sustain the Union cause — appointed Judge
White one of the cominissioners to the Peace Convention that assembled at Washing-
ton before the rebellious die was cast. Alas! his eloquent appeals were fruitless.

Domestic affliction during the latter part of Judge White's life did its work to en-
feeble his constitution. The sudden loss of an only daughter in the first liloom of
womanhood — the death of his eldest son, Colonel Richard White — the long captivity
of his son, Brigadier-General Harry White — with the additional loss of a very prom-
ising favorite grandson — so sapped his health and mind that he yielded at length his
harassed spirit to that Supernal Power that gave it sixty-seven years ago. His body is
buried in peace with his offspring — but his memory will live in the hearts of his widow
and his family.

528 APPENDIX.

and responsible duties of an editor. At this work he continued about
five years, when, finding it both wearisome and unprofitable, he aban-
doned it and resumed his profession. A good classical scholar, and a
tolerable linguist, with a decided bent for the pursuits of literature, his
mind was well stored with the classics, both ancient and modern; and
amid the vexations and drudgery of a daily newspaper, he wooed the
muses with considerable success. Perhaps to the discipline which
editorship necessarily imposes, and the promptness which it requires,
may in part be attributed the great facility he possessed in composition.
While engaged in the duties of a profession, generally considered un-
congenial to the successful prosecution of literary adventure, he pro-
duced a number and variety of pieces, both in prose and verse, which
showed considerable versatility of talent. His favorite study was the
drama, and with this department of literature he was thoroughly
familiar. With the dramatists of all nations he had an extensive
acquaintance, and in the dramatic history of England and France
he was profoundly versed. Perhaps there are few who studied the old
English masters in this art with more devoted attention, and with a
keener enjoyment of their beauties. But it is not alone in the keen
enjoyment and appreciation of others that he deserves attention. He
has given ample evidence that he possessed no ordinary power for
original effort in this most difficult department of literature.

We do not know how many plays he has produced, but the following,
all from his pen, have been performed at different periods, and in most
instances with complete success: "Quite Correct;" "Eighth of Jan-
uary;" "The Disowned; or, the Prodigals;" "The Deformed; or,
Woman's Trial;" "A Wife at a Venture;" "The Sentinels;" "Wil-
liam Penn;" "The Triumph of Plattsburg;" " Caius Marius;" "The
Water Witch;" "Is She a Brigand? " " My Uncle's Wedding; " "The
Daughter;" "The Actress of Padua;" "The Bravo."

As an evidence of his facility in composition, it may be mentioned
that several of his pieces have been written and performed at a week's
notice. The entire last act of "William Penn" was written on the
afternoon of the day previous to its performance, yet this hasty produc-
tion ran ten successive nights, drawing full houses, and has since been
several times revived. His "Deformed" and "Disowned," two dramas
which may be compared favorably with any similar production of this
country, were both performed with success in London.

In 1 83 1 Mr. Smith published a work in two volumes, called the
"Forsaken," the scene of which is laid in Philadelphia and the adjoin-
ing country during our Revolutionary struggle. Many years ago Ameri-
can novels — with the exception of Cooper's — were not received with

APPENDIX. 529'

the same favor as now; but a large edition of the "Forsaken" was
even then disposed of, and it obtained from all quarters strong
commendation.

In 1836 Mr. Smith wrote for Carey & Hart, of Philadelphia, a "Life
of David Crockett," and one of "Martin Van Buren," and also pub-
lished two volumes, entitled "The Actress of Padua, and other Tales,"
which have been eminently successful. As a writer of short tales, he
was natural and unaffected in manner, correct in description, concise
in expression, and happy in the selection of incidents. He possessed,
moreover, a quiet humor, and an occasional sarcasm, which make his
productions both pleasant and pungent.

Mr. Smith wrote much for the periodical literature of the day, both
political and literary, and his poetical pieces, if collected, would make
a large volume; but these appear to have been scattered abroad, without
any purpose of reclamation. His name is attached to a limited num-
ber, which are distinguished by a healthy tone of thought, neatness of
expression, and harmony of versification; but as, generally, they were
produced for some particular occasion, they have — most of them, at
least — passed into oblivion with the occasion that called them into
existence.

Mr. R. P. Smith married Mrs. Elinor Matilda Lincoln, on the 5th
of May, 1823, the ceremony being performed in Christ Church, Phila-
delphia, by the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie. Five children were the off-
spring of this union, of whom I am the only survivor. My mother died
September 16, 1833, and we were alone — he made me his companion.
Well do I remember how proud I was of him ; he took me with him
wherever he went, and his associates and companions (child as I was)
became mine. James N. Barker, Robert M. Bird, Joseph C. Neal,.
Edwin Forrest, James Goodman, Edgar A. Poe, Louis A. Godey, Wil-
liam E. Burton, Robert T. Conrad, Joseph R. Chandler and Morton
McMichael were the literary magnates of Philadelphia, and of all that
intellectual coterie wr father's star was the brightest, his wit the gayest,
and his sarcasm the most cutting ; as a writer he was admired ; as a
dramatist, at that day the most successful in the country, and with
some fame as a poet, he was beloved as a companion and a gentleman.

In 1836 my father again married, retired from active life and went
to reside upon the family-seat at the Falls of Schuylkill, near Phila-
delphia. Here he died, August 12, 1854.

His social qualities made him a great favorite among his acquaint-
ances, and the remembrance of his brilliant conversation will long pre-
serve his name from oblivion. His papers I carefully collected, which,
with a full set of his printed works, have been deposited in the archives.
34

530 APPENDIX.

of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, with the fond hope that he may
some day have a great-grandson to edit them and give them to the public.
James Reese, Esq. ("Colley Gibber"), in his "Life of Edwin For-
rest," the tragedian, speaking of my father, says:

There are numerous anecdotes related of Richard Tenn Smith, all of which display
the most ready wit and sarcastic humor. Indeed, he was so celebrated for repartee
and off-hand sayings that he was actually dreaded in company, and very few had the
courage to measure lances with him when wit was the prize. A few we give here:

Richard Penn Smith avowedly wrote for money, and he required something more
substantial than the blandishments of the Muses to tempt him to put his pen to paper.
If Green Room anecdotes are to be depended upon, he was blessed with a thicker skin
than usually falls to the lot of the genus irrilabile vatum. It is told of him that upon
one occasion he happened to enter the theatre during the run of one of his pieces, just
as the curtain was falling, and met with an old school-fellow, who had that day ar-
rived in Philadelphia, after an absence of several years. The first salutation was
scarcely over when the curtain fell, and the author's friend innocently remarked :
"Well, this is really the most insufferable trash that I have witnessed for some time."
" True," replied Smith, " but as they give me a benefit to-morrow night as the author,
I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you here again."

At another time a. friend met him in the lobby, as the green curtain fell on one of
his progeny, and, unconscious of its paternity, asked the author, with a sneer, what the
piece was all about. *' Really," was the grave answer, " it is now some years since I
wrote that piece, and though I paid the utmost attention to the performance, I confess
I am as much in the dark as you are."

When Mr. Smith was a young man, he was introduced by his father to a well-
known Philadelphian by the name of Wharton, who, from the fact of having a very
large nose with a wart on it, was called " Big-nosed Wharton," to distinguish him
from another gentleman of the same name. When out of hearing, the father said to
the son: "They call that gentleman Big-nosed Wharton." The son quickly replied :
"They have made a mistake; they should call him IVarton Big nose."

Upon going one day into a hotel in which some of his friends were holding an argu-
ment about the city of Dumfries, Scotland, they made an appeal to him to decide the
question. " I know nothing of the Dumfries of Scotland, but I know a Dunib-freas
of Germantown." Mr. Freas, of the Germantown Telcg7-aph, an excellent gentleman,
who was deaf and talked but little, was sitting within hearing at the time.

He was at a dinner given to the Judges of the Supreme Court by the Bar of Phila-
delphia, on the change of the constitution, in 1837. Mr. Smith had his health drank,
and when he arose to reply, a lawyer by the name of Lee, of a character almost in-
famous, and every way low, pulled him by the coat and urged him to toast him. As
Mr. Smith closed his remarks he said: "Gentlemen, you have toasted the Binneys,
the Chaunceys, the Rawles and Sergeants of the bar; allow me to offer the Lees of the
Philadelphia Bar." Mr. Lee did not see the joke, and replied, to the amusement
of all present.

Mr. Smith always raised his own pigs. On one occasion he had them killed on the

eighth of January (the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, where Sir Edward

Packenham was killed). The next day he met a friend, who remarked: "Smith,

yesterday was a fine day for killing pigs." "Yes," replied Smith, "but a bad day

. for. Packingrham."

APPENDIX. 531

The reader will excuse me for the insertion of some extracts from my
father's letters to me, but they tend to show his character as a parent.

To Horace W. Smith, Nazareth Hall, Pennsylvania :

Philadelphia, October 16, 1837.
My Dear Son :

You must not imagine that you are forgotten from my not having written to you ;
there is never a day passes but we talk about you. Your mother* is getting the
clothes made, that you require, and in a few days they shall be put in a box and for-
warded to you. We are at a loss to find a lid to any of the boxes about the house, as
you cut them all up to make ships and toys, so that you have occasioned unnecessary
trouble for want of thought. Before you throw away or destroy anything, you should
always reflect whether it will not be of use to you at some future day. A little reflec-
tion of this kind will save you a great deal of trouble throughout life.

We are all well, and little brother Richardf has grown to be a fine big boy. He
crows and laughs, and to-day we bought him a basket chair to teach him to sit alone.
Grandmother is well, and takes great interest in your letters. She keeps them, and
reads them over and over again. You must write to her without delay, and in your
letter say something to aunt Lydia, who loves you very much, as we all do, and feel
a deep interest in hearing a favorable report of your conduct and attention to your
studies.

Mr. Godey was a good deal amused at receiving a letter from you, and told me that
he would write to you. You should have borne in mind to have paid the postage on
that letter, as you wrote to him on your own business, alone ; but as it was to Mr.
Godey, it did not matter. However, make it a rule always to pay the postage when
you write to gentlemen on business in which you are solely interested. Your letter
was very well put together, and afi'orded us all much amusement.

Mr. Forrest has returned from England ; I went to see him, and he enquired after
you. . . . Mother laughs a good deal at your sending for a 7vhite satin vest, for she was
not aware that you owned one. You shall have a new black velvet one, out of my
old one.

I have but to repeat to you, to attend to your studies, and by correct and amiable
deportment endeavor to secure the esteem of your preceptors and schoolmates. If you
are unfortunately at any time placed under restraint, for neglect of your lessons or any
other cause, bear in mind that it is a temporary punishment for your own good, and
nistead of being annoyed at those who punish you, blame yourself, and endeavor to
avoid a repetition of the cause. Do not view your teachers as taskmasters, but be
grateful to them for the information they endeavor to impart, and set about all that is
required of you with a cheerful spirit.

Do not neglect to write to grandmother, and address your letter to me. Write
soon. Bless you, my dear boy; I wish to see you very much.

Your affectionate father,

Richard Penn Smith.

Give my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck.

* My stepmother — my father's second wife.

•j- This was my half brother, Richard Penn Smith, Jr. He took a prominent part in
the suppression of the late rebellion as Colonel of the California regiment.

532 APPENDIX.

Again :

Philadelphia, January 24, 1838.
Dear Son :

You have neglected to write to me since your return, and I find that I must write to
you, or remain ignorant of your health and condition. We expected to hear all about
your journey up, your safe arrival, and happy reunion with your teachers and school-
fellows ; but it appears that you have not a single word to say, though you spoke, when
here, in such high terms of the kindness you had received, and your perfect satisfac-
tion. You must repair this neglect, and write without delay, for we are all anxious to
hear from you, and grandmother is becoming quite impatient.

I have nothing new to communicate. Your uncle William is still at Washington,
and has not been here since he first went. There has been a remarkable exhibition at
the Walnut Street Theatre — a man seven feet eight inches high, from Kentucky, and
but twenty-one years old. Think what a creature ! he is half a yard taller than Mr.
Traquair, and you have never yet seen a man who could not walk under his arm-pits.
There was also a nice little man with him, scarcely a yard high, who is nearly twice
his age — a mere Liliputian. I went behind the scenes and had a conversation with
them both, to satisfy myself that there was no deception. The big man was feeble,
possessed but little muscular power, and his health was delicate. He had outgrown
his strength. lie told me that he grew thirteen inches in one year, during a great
portion of which time he was confined to his bed through rheumatism and weakness.
The little fellow was as brisk as a bee, and though twice as old, bids fair to outlive
his friend, "the man mountain." My dear son, nature, in her works, goes immeas-
urably beyond the extent of human comprehension; objects are daily presented to our
eyes, of whose magnificence our feeble intellects could form no conception, and we
pass them by without even noticing their beauty ; but when, as in the present instance,
she deviates from some well-established rule, our dull senses are shocked at the enor-
mity, we recoil from her works, and cry " Unnatural ! " Still it is her work ; for what
purpose thus formed — inscrutable ; but though disfigured, not the less entitled to
respect.

That which is coarse and grotesque seizes hold of the imagination of all ; it is the
lot of a chosen few to have a keen perception, and relish for the beautiful. I would
have you rather look for beauties than defects. Cultivate a taste of this kind, and it
will be an inexhaustible source of enjoyment to you. The world is full of beauty.
The sky, glittering with myriads of unknown worlds, the green fields, the flowing
rivers — I would have you love them all. They are mighty volumes, which God has
spread before all his creatures ; we see them daily, and ii is wicked to blindly turn
away, and refuse to read his works as illustrated there. Study and love these, my
son, and your mind will be as young and joyous as at present, even when your head
is gray.

We are all well, and send you a great deal of love. Your mother has been urging
me to write to you for several days, but I have been much engaged in my office, and
constantly writing. Say something to please grandmother, and write to her soon.
Your uncle Britton died on Sunday, and was buried yesterday in the city. I went to
the funeral. He had been sick for some time. Little brother Dick grows like a man,
and I hope will soon write you a letter. I am going to Trenton, New Jersey,
to-morrow.

Give my respects to Mr. Van Vleck, and tell him that whenever he thinks proper to
draw upon me for the amount of your bill for tuition, etc., he can do so, and it shall

APPENDIX. 533

be paid. Attend to your studies with diligence, and, above all, endeavor to do
nothing — not even the slightest thing — that will tend to humble you in your own
esteem. Respect yourself, and others will respect you. I scratch this hastily, with a
very incorrigible pen, and fear you will not be able to read it. God bless you, my
dear boy. Your affectionate father,

Richard Penn Smith.

Under date

Philadelphia, April 25, 1838.
My Dear Son :

Shortly after the receipt of your letter I procured a copy of the "Actress of Padua"
for you, and left it at the stage office; about two weeks after I called to ascertain
whether you had received it, and found that it had not been forwarded, but the clerk
promised to send it the next day, so I presume you have received it before this time.
You shall have your music book, but I fear it will be attended with similar difficulties
to transmit it.

The picture came safe, and your mother has had it handsomely framed and hung in
the parlor. The frame cost three dollars, so your present has been somewhat expen-
sive to me; but it was an evidence of your good feeling, and it afforded us all much
satisfaction. It looks quite flashy, I assure you.

Thomas wrote to you from Ilarrisburg, and doubtless mentioned Anne's marriage to
Mr. Hobart, and the melancholy death of poor David.* Within a few hours of his
dissolution he was talking cheerfully of his speedy recovery. We are truly in the
midst of death. My dear boy, you are but twelve years old ; and yet in the brief scope
of your memory how many of your friends and acquaintance, both younger and older
than yourself, have departed ! — within little more than one year, five or six of your
own immediate relatives. Think at times seriously upon this, but not with a gloomy
spirit. It is as much a condition upon which we receive life, as the necessity of
breathing, and remember that death is divested of all terrors to the enlightened
and pure in mind. It is the act of a wise man to live in such a way that the close
of life will become more cheerful, and hold out far brighter promises than even the
sunny days of his boyhood. In this manner I trust you will live

Your uncle William went to Sunbury a few days ago. His book on " Wisconsin "
has been published. Aunt Lydia is living with grandmother at the Falls. Why don't
you say a kind word to them in your letters? They are always tiiinking and talking
about you, and as soon as they learnt that you required new clothing, they both came
to me privately, and wished to pay for a suit. Our sources of gratification in this
world, my dear boy, are manifold, and not a few so newhat mysterious. It is beyond
your philosophy to understand what pleasure they could derive in spending their
money for you, when I cheerfully furnish you with everything necessary; but still it is
so, and when you have made some progress in metaphysics, you may amuse yourself
in tracing the motive to its pure fountain. You want your clothes by the time of the
examination, but you have not stated when it takes place, and really I do not know.
They shall be sent soon.

Little Dick grows finely. He has been very sick with a cold for three weeks, but
is recovering. He endeavors to talk, can shake day-day, and pushes a chair from one
end of the office to the other. lie looks very much like what you were, and has a
rousing big head. Mother scolded at your saying nothing to her in your last letter;

* David Conden, a bound boy, raised in the family of my grandmother.

534 APPENDIX.

she wished me to send you a dollar when she received the picture, but I thought I
could spend it better, so declined. She sends you a great deal of love.

Attend to your studies with diligence, for in four or five years your school-education
must terminate. I intend you for a man of business, for such are the most indepen-
dent and happy. To become such will require the attention of several years, so you
will perceive the importance of your time. I hope to see you industrious and provi-
dent. These are virtues enjoined upon us in the Sacred Writings, and their effects
are forcibly illustrated in the following passages : " The ants are a people not strong,
yet they prepare their meat in the summer; " " The spider taketh hold with his hands,
and is in kings' palaces."

I enclose you a dollar, which your mother insists must go this time. Our best re-
spects to Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck. We all send you our best wishes and love, and
hope you'll write soon. Affectionately your father,

Richard Penn Smith.

No. X. — Page 445.

Printed Works of William Smith, D. D.

From the year 1750 to the year 1803, so far as known, or supposed to exist, by me. —

H. W. Smith.

A Memorial for the Established or Parochial Schoolmasters in Scotland,
addressed to the great men in Parliament, etc. By William Smith,
as Commissioner of said Schoolmasters. LoJidoti, Jan. 31, 1750.

An Essay on the Liberty of the Press. Lo7idon, July, 1750.

A Scheme for Augmenting the Salaries of Established or Parochial
Schoolmasters in Scotland, dated at Abernethy, November 5, 1749.

Scotf s Magazine, October, 1750.

Essay on Education. Published in a Netu York paper, Nov. 7, 1752.

New Year's Ode. January i, 1753.

A General Idea of the College of Mirania. With some Account of its
Rise, etc. 8vo. J. Parker ^ W. Weyman, New York, 1753.

A Compendium of Logic, including Metaphysics, and one of Ethics,
by Samuel Johnson, D. D. ; with a Philosophical Meditation and
Religious Address to the Supreme Being, for the use of young stu-
dents in Philosophy, by William Smith, A. M.
Published in Phila., in 1753, ^y ^- Franklin, and in London, 1754.

APPENDIX. 535

Letter to Archbishop Herring, giving an Account of the Death of Sir
Danvers Osborne, Governor of New York.

London, Dec. 15, 1753.

Historical Account of the Charity for the Instruction of the Poor
Germans in America. Franklin, Phila., 1753.

Several Essays on Education were published during 1754 in the
Antigua Gazette.

Sermon preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, on the Death of a
Beloved Pupil, September i, 1754.

Pubiished by Benjamin Franklin, 1754.

A Sermon Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia, before the Ancient
and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. 8vo.

£. Franklin &" D. Hall, Philadelphia, 1755.

A Brief State of the Province of Pennsylvania. 8vo.

R. Griffiths, London, 1755.

A Brief View of the Conduct of Pennsylvania for 1755 : ^eing a sequel
to the last. 8vo. R. Griffiths, London, 1756.

The American Magazine, for 1757 and 1758. From October, 1757,
to October, 1758, with a supplement ; 13 numbers in all. 8vo.
. Win. Bradfo7-d, Philadelphia.

A Charge, delivered May 17, 1757, at the First Anniversary Com-
mencement in the College and Academy of Philadelphia, to the
Young Gentlemen who took their Degrees on that occasion, by
W. Smith ; to which is added an Oration in Latin, by Paul Jack-
son. i2mo.

Printed by B. Frankliji &^ D. Hall, Philadelphia, 1757.

A True and Impartial State of the Province of Pennsylvania, being an
Answer to the pamphlets entitled "A Brief State," and "A Brief
View." 8vo. W. Dunlap, Philadelphia, 1759.

Recommendation of William Smith, D. D., to the University of Oxford.
4to, large paper. (50 copies. Privately printed at Philadelphia,
1865.) London, 1759.

Discourses on Public Occasions during the War in America. 8vo.

Lo7idon, 1759.

A Discourse Concerning the Conversion of the Heathen Americans.
Svo. W. Dunlap, Philadelphia, 1760.

536 APPENDIX.

An Exercise, consisting of a Dialogue and Ode, sacred to the Memory
of his late Gracious Majesty George II. Performed at the Public
Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May 23, 1761.
The ode set to music and sung with the organ.

Philadelphia : Printed atul sold by Andrew Steuart, in 2d street,
and by Andrew Gaine, in New York.

Discourses on Public Occasions during the War in America. Second
edition. 8vo. London, 1762.

The Last Summons, a Sermon Preached in Christ Church, Philadelphia,
on January 10, 1762, at the Funeral of Robert Jenny, Rector of
the said Church. i2mo. A. Steuart, Philadelphia, 1762.

Exercise on the Accession of George III., at the College, i8th of May,
1762. 4to. Philadelphia, 1762.

Speech by John Dickenson, Esq., in Assembly of Pennsylvania, May
24, 1764; with Preface by William Smith. Phila., 1764.

Answer to Mr. Franklin's Remarks on a late Protest. 8vo.

Printed by William Bradford, Philadelphia, 1764.

Juvenile Poems on Various Subjects, with the Parthia, a Tragedy, with
some account of the Author and his Writings. 4to. By Thomas
Godfrey, Jr. (This was edited by William Smith, D. D., and an
account of the author inserted.) Henry Miller, Phila^ 1765.

Dialogue, etc., for the Commencement in the College, 30th of May,
1765. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1765.

An Historical Account of the Expedition Against the Ohio Indians, in
the year 1764, under the Command of Henry Bouquet. Illustrated
with a map and copper plates.

William Bradford, Philadelphia, 1765 ; at the London Coffee- House.
(This work was reprinted in London in 1766, in Paris in 1769, and
in Cincin7iati m 1868.)

Four Dissertations on the Reciprocal Advantages of a Perpetual Union
between Great Britain and her American Colonies; written for
Mr. Sargent's Prize Medal, to which is prefixed an Eulogium
spoken on the Delivery of the Medal. 8vo.

William dr' Thomas Bradford, Philadelphia, 1766.

An Exercise containing a Dialogue and Two Odes, performed at the
Public Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May 20,
1766.

Philadelphia : Printed by W. Dunlap, in Market street, 1766.

APPENDIX. 537

An Exercise containing a Dialogue and Two Odes, performed at the
Public Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, November
17, 1767.

PJiiladelphia : William Goddard, in Market street, 1767,

Some Account of the Charitable Association lately erected ; also a Ser-
mon Preached in Christ Church, October 10, 1769. 4to.

D. Hall &^ IV. Sellers, Philadelphia, 1769.

Cato's Letters, containing some Remarks on Paine's Common Sense, etc.

Published by Jolm Holt, New York, 1769.

Some Account of the Charitable Corporation, and also a Sermon
Preached in Christ Church. 8vo.

D. Hall ^ W. Sellers, Philadelphia, 1770.

An Exercise containing a Dialogue and Two Odes, performed at the
Commencement of the College of Philadelphia, June 5, 1770.

Printed by J. Cruikshank &= J. Collifis.

Works of Nathaniel Evans. lohn Diinlap, Philadelphia, 1772.

An Oration, delivered January 22, 1773, before the American Philo-
sophical Society. 4to. /. Dunlap, Philadelphia, \112,-

An Examination of the Connecticut Claim to Lands in Pennsylvania.
With an Appendix, containing Extracts and Copies from Original
Papers. 8vo. Joseph Cruikshank, Philadelphia, 1774.

A Sermon on the Present Situation of American Affairs, preached in
Christ Church, 1775. 8vo. J. Humphreys, Jr., Philadelphia, 1775.

A Fast Sermon and Prayer, at All Saints Church, Philadelphia, July
20, 1775, on Occasion of the first Fast appointed by the American
Congress. Philadelphia, 1775.

An Oration in Memory of General Montgomery, and of the Officers
and Soldiers who fell with him, December 31, 1775, before
Quebec. 8vo. J. Dunlap, PJiiladelphia, 1776.

A Sermon Preached in Christ Church (for the benefit of the poor), by
appointment of and before the General Communication of Masons,
on December 28, 1778. Dedicated to George Washington. Svo.

J. Dunlap, Philadelphia, 1779.

Ahiman Rezon, abridged and digested as a help to all that are or would
be Free and Accepted Masons, to which is added a Sermon (see
last pamphlet). Svo. Hall &> Sellers, Philadelphia, I'j^^.

538 ATPENDIX.

An Account of Washington College, in the State of Maryland, pub-
lished by order of the Visitors and Governors of the said College,
for the Information of its Friends and Benefactors. 51 pp., 8vo.

Philadelphia, 1784.

An Address to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, in the Case of
the Violated Charter of the College, etc., of Philadelphia. i2mo.

R. Aitken (s' Son, Philadelphia, 1788.

Two Sermons delivered in Christ Church. 8vo.

Dobson cr" Lang, Philadelphia, 17S9.

Eulogium on Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin Bache, Philadelphia, 1792.

An Historical Account of the Rise, Progress and Present State of the
Canal Navigation in Pennsylvania. Map. 4to.

Zachariah Paulson, Jr., Philadelphia, 1795.

An Account of the Proceedings of the Illinois and Ouabache Land
Companies, in Pursuance of their Purchases made of the Inde-
pendent Natives, July 5, 1773, and October 18, 1775. 8vo.

William Young, Philadelphia, 1796.

Remarks on the second Publication of B. Harvey Latrobe, Esq.

Z. Poulson, Philadelphia, i 799.

The Works of William Smith, D. D., late Provost of the College and
Academy of Philadelphia. 2 vols., 8vo. Portrait.

Hugh Maxwell, Philadelphia, 1802-3.

No. XI. — Page 447.

Account of Dr. Smith's Papers.

My respected friend, Mr. Thomas H. Montgomery, great-grandson
of Bishop White, is good enough to give me, at my request, the subse-
quent history of the papers of Dr. Smith taken by Dr. White upon the

death of the former.

** 2320 Spruce Street, Philadelphia,

" 14 November, 1879.
"Mv Dear Sir:

"The MSS. of Bishop White, composed of his correspondence and

other writings, which accumulated in his hands during the organization

APPENDIX. 539

of the American church, were lent by him to the late Rev. Dr. F. L.
Hawks, as an aid to that eminent historian in compiling his records of
our ecclesiastical history. With him they remained for many years, as
his work was a vast one and demanded time ; and Bishop White, it
appears, never sought to recover them, nor did his executors, after his
death, give the matter prompt atte.">tion. Both of the executors pre-
deceased Dr. Hawks by some years, and upon the death of the latter
the Bishop's descendants took steps to obtain the MSS. from Dr.
Hawks' s estate. When it was ascertained that since Dr. Hawks's death
they had practically been in the custody of the House of Bishops, Bishop
White's descendants, with entire unanimity, decided that it was emi-
nently proper they should remain in such custody; and under date of
15 October, 1868, presented the following Memorial to the Bishops:

" To the Right Reverend the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the
United States of America in Convention assembled :

" The Memorial of the undersigned, descendants of the late Right Rev. William
White, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, re-
spectfully show :

" That the said Bishop White, some few years prior to his death, loaned to the Rev.
Francis L. Hawks, D. D., LL. D., for the purpose of historical examination, the major
portion of his collection of MSS., consisting of correspondence between himself and
many bishops, clergymen and laymen, in this and other countries; as also other
papers, bearing principally on the establishment of the church in America, and being
of very great value. That these papers were in Dr. Hawks's custody at the death of
Bishop White, but were not claimed by the latter's executors, because of their under-
standing that Dr. Hawks had not concluded his investigations, and so remained with
Dr. Hawks until his decease, September 26, 1866, no claim having as yet been laid
to them for the reason above stated. That on the 27th of October, 1866, subsequently
to Dr. Hawks's death, a descendant of Bishop White, and agent of your memorialists,
called upon one of the executors of his estate, and there did make claim, to which
answer by letter was returned under date of November i6, 1866, by the said executor,
to the effect that he would be heard from in due time upon the subject ; that, notwith-
standing this reply, nothing further has been heard, nor was anything known as regards
these papers by your memorialists, until a few months since, when information was
received that they had all been placed by Dr, Hawks's executors in the custody of
your venerable body.

"Your memorialists further show that they represent all the descendants of the said
Bishop White, with the exception of two, who are now residents of distant parts of the
United States, and with whom your memorialists have put themselves in communica-
tion ; that they have every reason to believe, and do believe, that the assent and
ratification of the same will in due course be had to this action of your memo-
rialists, although it has been impossible up to this date to obtain it for presentation
herewith.

" Your memorialists therefore pray that your Reverend Body take into consideration
their claim to the said papers, and acknowledge the same, if in your wisdom it seems
just; and that they be permitted hereby to put upon record their wish to make a gift

540 APPENDIX.

of the same to the House of Bishops and their successors, when such gift can be per-
fected by all the parties interested therein.*

"This Memorial was, on motion of the Bishop of Pennsylvania, who
had presented it, referred to the Committee on Memorials and Peti-
tions, namely, the Bishops of Delaware, Virginia and Western New
York, who submitted the following report :

" The .Standing Committee on Memorials and Petitions, to whom was referred the
Memorial of the descendants of the late Right Rev. William White, D. D., Bishop of
the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and Presiding Bishop, setting forth that certain papers
of much historical interest had been loaned by their venerable ancestor to the late Rev.
Francis L. Hawks, D. D., LL. D., and upon the decease of Dr. Hawks had been
placed in the custody of the House of Bishops, asking of this House a recognition of
their right of property, and permission to put upon record their wish to make a gift
of the same to the House of Bishops, when such gift can be perfected by all the parties
interested therein, report the following resolutions :

"Resolved, That the House of Bishops hereby acknowledge that the right of property
in the papers loaned by the late Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, to the Rev. Francis L.
Hawks, D. D., LL. D., remains m the heirs and descendants of Bishop White.

''Resolved, That this House highly appreciate the generous proposal of the memo-
rialists to present to the Bishops the above-mentioned papers, and return their cordial
thanks for the promise of a donation of so much historic value.

" Which resolutions were on motion adopted. f

"At the meeting of the House of Bishops, in the General Convention
of 1 87 1, 'the Bishop of Pennsylvania presented a communication from
the descendants of the late Bishop White, together with a deed convey-
ing certain historical documents to the sole custody of the House,'
when, on his motion, it was

"Resolved, That the House of Bishops gratefully acknowledge the reception of the
deed of gift by the descendants of Bishop White, conveying to this House the papers
mentioned therein, and return to Thomas H. Montgomery, Esq., and through him to
all represented by that gift, the thanks of this House for the important trust now con-
fided to their sole custody. J

"In the interesting report of the Special Committee to the House,
in 1868, in the papers left by Dr. Hawks reference is first made to the
transcripts made in England, at the expense of the General Convention,
from original documents, ' in all eighteen folio volumes of historical
matter, the value of which cannot be too highly estimated.' The report
proceeds to say that, ' besides these important folios, this collection
comprises the correspondence of Bishop White, Bishop Hobart and
Bishop Ravenscroft, and the Rev. Drs. William Smith and Samuel
Peters. II

* Journal of the General Convention of 1868, pp. 216, 43I.
f Ibid., 1868, p. 227. X Ibid., 1871, p. 274. II Ibid., 1868, p. 228.

APPENDIX. 541

" Trusting that the above narration may afford you the desired state-
ment as to the destination which the valuable MSS. of your distin-
guished ancestor finally took,

"I remain, truly yours,

" Thos. H. Montgomery.
•' Horace Wemyss Smith, Esq., Falls of Schuylkill."

No. XII.

Genealogical Account of the Descendants of William Moore, Esq.,
of Moore Hall, Penna., whose Daughter Dr. Smith Married.

William Moore (known as of "Moore Hall") married William-
INA, daughter of David, fourth Earl of Wemyss,* 1722.

1. Rebecca, born at Moore Hall, February 21, 1724-5; died Janu-
ary 9, 1728.

2. William, born at Moore Hall, October 5, 1726.

3. WiLLiAMiNA, born at Moore Hall, February 21, 1727-8.

4. John, born at Philadelphia, October i, 1729; died February 2,
1730.

5. John (second), born at Moore Hall, January 21, 1730.

6. Rebecca, born at Philadelphia, February 21, 1732-3; died Oc-
tober 20, 1793.

7. Thomas William, born at Moore Hall, June 12, 1735.

8. Margaret, born at Moore Hall, March 26, 1738; died July 17,

1745-

9. Mary, born at Moore Hall, July 8, 1741.

10. Anne, born at Moore Hall, October 4, 1742; died December
20, 1810.

11. Frances, born at Moore Hall, March 10, 1744-5.

12. James Wemyss, born at Moore Hall, July 22, 1747.

HI. Williamina Moore married Phineas Bond, M. D., August
4, 1748.

13. Phineas, Jr., born July 15, 1749; died 1816.

14. Williamina, born February 26, 1753.

15. Ann, born August 5, 1756; died December 13, 1796.

* See pages 498-9.

542 APPENDIX.

1 6. Rebecca.

17. Elizabeth, died January 26, 1820.

Z?r. Phineas Bond was born in Virginia, in the year 1717 ; died in
Philadelphia, June 11, 1773.

IV. John Moore married Miss Ann O'Niel, December 3, 1758.

18. WiLLiAMiNA, born November 17, 1759.

VI. Rebecca Moore married William Smith, D. D., July 3,

1758.

19. William Moore, born June i, 1759 ; died March 12, 1821.

20. Thomas Duncan,* born November 18, 1760; died July 9, 1789.

21. WiLLiAMiNA Elizabeth, born July 4, 1762; died December 19,
1790.

22. Charles, f born March 4, 1765 ; died April 18, 1836.

23. Phineas, born January 31, 1767 ; died August 16, 1770.

24. Richard,! born January 25, 1769; died October r, 1823.

25. Rebecca, born April 11, 1772; died March 9, 1837.

26. Eliza, born May 16, 1776; died September 25, 1778.

VII. Thomas William Moore married Mrs. Anne, widow of
Dr. Richard Ascough, a surgeon in the British army, July 6, 1761.

27. Janet Forman.

28. Thomas William.

Thomas William Moore, Sr., was a merchant in New York city, of
the firm of Moore & Lynsen. He was admitted to membership in the
Chamber of Commerce, October 4, 1765, and in 1769 was made free-
man of the city under the appellation of gentleman. He died in
England.

X. Ann Moore married Dr. Charles Ridgely, June 2, 1774.

29. Williamina Moore, born February 20, 1775; died April 21,
1808.

30. Mary, born August 9, 1777 ; died March 9, 1855.

31. Henry Moore, born August 6, 1779; died August 6, 1847.

32. George Wemyss, born April 4, 1781 ; died at sea, 1800.

33. Ann, born February 12, 1784; died August 29, 1805.

Dr. Charles Greenbiiry Ridgely was born January 26, 1738; was
educated at the College of Philadelphia. He generally wrote his name
Charles Ridgely, dropping the Greenbury. He died November 25,
1785; he was buried at Dover; Dr. Smith officiated. For an account
of him see this volume, page 252.

* See Appendix No. XIII. f Ibid., No. XIV. % Ibid., No. XV.

APPENDIX. 543

XIV. Willianiina Bond married General John Cadwalader,
January 30, 1779.

34. Thomas, born October 29, 1779; died October 31, 1841.

35. Frances, born June 25, 1781 ; died March 25, 1843.

36. John, born May i, 1784; died July 10, 1785.

General Jo]in Cadwalader -was a son of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, born
in Philadelphia, January 10, 1742 ; died at Shrewsbury, Md., February
10, 1786, aged 44 years.

XVII. Elizabeth. Bond married John Travis, of Philadelphia,
1792.

37. Ann Bond, born August 8, 1793.

38. John Phillips, born April 18, 1795; died 1817.

39. Frances Bond, born September 4, 1797.

40. Elizabeth, born 1799.

41. WiLLiAMiNA Wemyss, bom 1802; died 1876.

XIX. William Moore Smith married Ann Rudulph, June 3,
1786.

42. William Rudulph,* born August 31, 1787; died August 22, 1868.

43. Samuel Wemyss, born September i, 1796; died January 6, 1819.

44. Richard PENN,f born March 13, 1799; died August 12, 1854.

XXI. Williamina Elizabeth Smith married Charles Golds-
borough, Esq., of Horn's Point, Dorchester county, Md., May 15,

1783-

45. Robert, born February 18, 1784; died June 22, 181 7.

46. William Smith, born September 26, 1786; died 1813.

47. Sarah Yeabery, born August 8, 1787; died 1862.

48. Williamina, born December i, 1790; died 1792.

Mr. Charles Goldshoroiigh was the son of Robert Goldsborough, bar-
rister-at-law. He was born November 21, 1761, and died June 12, 1801.

XXII. Charles Smith. | married Mary Yeates, of Lancaster,
Pa., March 3, 1791.

49. Jasper, born March 15, 1792; died November 19, 1823.

50

51
1848

52
53

William Wemyss, born March 20, 1795 ; died March 27, 1825.
Williamina Elizabeth, born October 3, 1797; died January 9,

Sarah Yeates, born March 24, 1802 ; died March 4, 1847.
Charles Edward, born March 6, 1804; died January 2, 1829.

* See Appendix No. XVI. \ See Appendix No. IX., page 525. | See Appendix No. XIV.

544 APPENDIX.

54. Mary Margaret, born October 16, 1806; died January 11, 1870.

55. Theodore Horatio, born January 20, 1809; died March 27,

1837-

56. Catherine Yeates, born December 31, 1810; died July 3, 1817.

Mrs. Alary Smith was the daughter of the Hon. Jasper Yeates, Asso-
ciate Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She was born
March 13, 1770, and died August 27, 1836.

XXIV. Richard Smith* married Letitia Nixon Coakley, of
Lancaster. No issue.

Mrs. Letitia Smith was the daughter of John Coakley and Letitia
Nixon, his wife.

XXV. Rebecca Smith married Samuel Blodget, Jr., Esq., May
10, 1792.

57. Thomas Smith, born August 25, 1793; died 1836.

58. Julia Ann Allen, born November 13, 1795 ; died July 26, 1S77.

59. Elinor Matilda, born 1797; died September 16, 1833.

60. John Adams, born December 28, 1799; died March 5, 1870.
For an account oi Samuel B/odget, Jr., see Appendix No. VII

XXVII. Janet Form.an Moore married Lieutenant Jacob
Jones, f of the navy.

61. Williamina.

62. Richard Ayscough.

XXVIII. Thomas William Moore, Jr., married (first) Mary,

* See Appendix No. XV.

f Commodore Jacob Jones was born about the year I770> near the village of Smyrna,
Kent county, Delaware. His father was an independent and respectable farmer. The
subject of our memoir was at first intended for the practice of medicine; accordingly
he graduated, but did not continue long in practice. The clerkship of the Supreme
Court of the State of Delaware was conferred upon him ; in this office he continued
for some time, but as it did not agree with his health, he resolved to enter as midship-
man in the service of his country. On the breaking out of the war with Tripoli he
was stationed on llie ill-fated " Philadelphia; " he was there taken prisoner, and kept
in confinement about a year and a half He was now promoted to a lieutenancy; he
was shortly after appointed to command the "Argus," and gave such entire satisfaction
that he was appointed a captain. In 181 1 he was transferred to the command of the
"Wasp," and distinguished himself in several engagements with the enemy's vessels;
he was afterwards captured and placed on his parole. In 1S21 he took command of a
squadron, in which he continued for three years. On his return he was ordered to
the command of the Baltimore station, in which capacity he served until transferred
as Post-Captain of the Harbor of New York. Commodore Jones died August 3, 1S50.,

APPENDIX. 545

daughter of George Gibbs, who died in 1813; married (second) Miss
BiBBY, of New York.
d^. Thomas Bibby.

XXX. Mary Ridgely married William Winider Morris, M. D.,
November 5, 1807.

64. William Ridgely, born January 23, 1811.

65. Emily Ridgely, born 1814.

66. Annie M., born 1819.

XXXI. Henry Moore Ridgely married Sarah, daughter of
John Banning, Esq., of Dover, Del., November 21, 1S03.

67. Ann, born February 21, 1815.
dZ. Henry, born April 15, 1S17.

69. Nicholas, born December 18, 1820; died December i, 1849.

70. Eugene, born May 4, 1822.

71. Williamina Elizabeth.

72. Edward, born January 30, 1831.

XXXIV. Thomas Cadwalader married Mary Biddle, 1804-

73. John, born April i, 1805 ; died January 26, 1879.

74. George, born May 16, 1806, died February 30, 1879.

75. Thomas, born August 27, 1808; died January 19, 1844

76. Henry, born January 21, 181 7; died July 2, 1844.

77. William, born October 2, 1820; died October 15, 1875.

Mrs. Mary Cadwalader vizs the daughter of Clement Biddle, Esq.,,
of Philadelphia. She was born January 6, 1781.

XXXV. Prances Cadwalader married David Montagu Ers-
KINE, of Restormel Castle, county Cornwall, England, 1800.

78. Thomas Americus.

79. John Cadwalader.

80. Edward Morris.

81. James Stuart. '

82. Frances.

83. Mary.

84. Sevilla, died March 12, 1835.

85. Stewarta.
Zd. Elizabeth.

87. Harriet.

88. Jane Plumer,

Lady Frances Erski?ie died March 25, 1843. ^^s lordship married*
35

546 API'EA'DIX.

(second) Ann Bond, daughter of John Travis, Esq., of Philadelphia,
she being first cousin to his first wife. No issue.

XXXV. Frances Travis married J. G. Williamson. No issue.

XL. Elizabeth Travis married William Greene Cochran, 1825.

89. Fanny Travis, born March 8, 1825.

90. Elizabeth.

91. Travis, born March 7, 1830.

92. William, born February 3, 1832.

93. Annie Bond, born October 10, 1834.

94. Henry, born January 9, 1836.

95. George, born April 14, 1838.

XLII. William. Rudulph Smith married Eliza Anthony,
March 16, 1809.

96. William Anthony, born November 13, 1809.

97. Thomas Duncan, born February 7, 181 2.

98. Henrietta Williamina, born May 2, 1814; died November 27,
1873.

99. Anne Amelia, born March 13, 181 6.

100. Algernon Sidney, born February 3, 181S; died October 10,
1818.

loi. Eliza, born October 27, 1820; died June 5, 1825.
Mrs. Eliza Smith was the daughter of Joseph Anthony, of Philadel-
phia, born August 12, 1789; died January 10, 1821.

XLII. William Rudulph Smith married Mary H. Vandyke
(second wife), October 25, 1S23.

102. Rudulph Vandyke, born September 5, 1825; died June 17,

1857-

103. Richard Moore, born October i, 1828.

104. Penelope Campbell, born August 2, 1830; died December 17,
1852.

105. John Montgomery, born October 26, 1834.

106. Letitia Nixon, born January 5, 1833; died February 24, 1833.

107. Maria Letitia, born September 10, 1836; died December 26,
1852.

108. Samuel Wemyss, born April 10, 1840.

109. Mary Eliza, born January 24, 1845.

no. Henry Hobart, born May 21, 1S48; died April 18, 1850.
.Mary Hamilton Vandyke, fourth daughter of Dr. Thomas James Van-

APPENDIX. 547

dyke, United States army, and his wife, Penelope Smith Campbell,
born at Maysville, Tenn., April 17, 1805.

XLIV. Richard Penn Smith married Mrs. Elinor Matilda

Lincoln, May 5, 1823.

111. Elinor Matilda, born September 13, 1824; died November
19, 1825.

112. Horace Wemyss, born August 13, 1825.

113. Duncan Moore, born September 15, 1827; died March 6,
1829.

114. Helen West, born May 9, 1831 ; died July 20, 1832.

115. Emma Matilda, born October 26, 1832 ; died 1834.
Mrs. Elinor M. Smith, see No. 59.

XLIV. Richard Penn Smith married (second) Isabella Strat-

TON KnISELL, 1836.

116. Richard Penn (second), born May 9, 1837.

117. Isabella Penn, born January 22, 1S39.

118. William Moore,") . , ^

^ . ^ twms, born January 4, 1841.

119. Eliza Arnold, )

120. Maria Lewis, born January 23, 1844; died April i, 1869.
Mrs. Isabella Stratton Smith was the daughter of Christopher and

Elizabeth Knisell, born November 27, 1812; died May 17, 1880.

XLV. Robert GoldsborOUgh married Mary Nixon, 1810.

121. Nicholas Locherman, born 1810; died December 5, 1850.

122. Louisa Nixon, born May 21, 1813.

123. Sarah Yeabury, born November 5, 181 5.

124. WiLLiAMiNA Elizabeth Ennals, born 1818.

Mrs. Mary Goldsborough was the daughter of the Hon. Charles
Nixon, of Dover, Del., and the niece of Nicholas Vandyke. After the
death of Robert Goldsborough (June 22, 181 7) she married Mr. Gard-
ner Baily, November i, 1825.

XL VII. Sarah Yeabury Goldsborough married Charles
Goldsborough, Esq., of Shoal Creek, Md., 1803.

125. Charles Yeabury, born 1805 ; died 1807.

126. John McDowell, born 1806; died 1807.

127. William Tilghman, born 1808; died 1876.

128. George Washington, born 1810; died 1812.

129. Charles McDowell, born 1811 ; died 1815.

130. Robert F., born 1814; died 1819.

131. Williamina E. E., born 1813; died 1865.

543 APPENDIX.

132. Mary TiLGHMAN, born 1816; died 1849.

133. Caroline F., born 1820; died 1854.

134. William Henry, born iSiS.

135. Robert F., born 1822; died 1824.

136. Sarah Lloyd, born 1S24; died 1825.

137. Richard Tilghman, born 1826.

138. Henrietta Maria, born 1828; died 1845.

139. Charles F., born 1830.

Charles Goldshorough, Esq., born 1765. He was a State Senator of
Maryland, member of Congress from 1804 to 181 7, and Governor of
Maryland in 1819; died 1834.

LI. Williamina Elizabeth Smith married Thomas B. Mc-
Elwee, Esq., February 6, 1S22.

140. Mary Rebecca, born May 14, 1823,

141. Charles John, born April 4, 1825; died January 7, 1850.

142. Sarah Yeates, born April 23, 1827.

143. Anna, born June 12, 1829; died May 15, 1842.

144. Catherine Yeates, born October 16, 1831.

Thomas B. McElwee v^as a member of the bar, born October 31,
1792; died August 2-;, 1S43.

LIL Sarah Yeates Smith married Leonard Kimball, Esq.,
January 29, 1823.

145. Charles Edmund, born December 22, 1S23.

146. Theodore Horatio, born June 17, 1825; died February 22,

1S74.

147. William Douglas, born February 14, 1827; died 1S38.
Leonard Kimball, Esq., son of Edmund and Rebecca Kimball, born

December 11, 1785, at Bradford, Essex county, Mass. ; was an attorney;
died at Philadelphia, January 28, 1847.

Lin. Charles Edward Smith married Miss Owen, of
Baltimore.

148. Mary Yeates, born 1S29; died in Baltimore, October 28,
1 85 4.

LIV. Mary Margaret Sniith married George Brixton, Esq.,
of Philadelphia, July 27, 1831.

149. John Hill, born May 21, 1832.

150. Mary Yeates, born November 22, 1S34.

151. Sarah Frederica, born January 23, 1S39.

152. Margaret Yeates, born August 3, 1843.

APPENDIX. ^ 549

George Brinton was the son of John Hill and Sarah Brinton, born at
Philadelphia, March 7, 1804; died June 30, 1858.

LVII. Thonias Smith BlOdget married Miss Anna Marshall,

153. An infant.

LVIII. Julia Ann Allen Blodget married John Brixton, Jr.,
of Philadelphia.

154. Ellen Matilda.

155. John Blodget.

156. Maria Louisa, died 1831.

157. Harriet Emily.

158. George Edward, born September 10, 1825; died July 3, 1861.

159. Isabella Smith, died 1854.

160. Mary Yeates, died 1853.

161. William Henry, died July 10, 1851.
John Britton, Jr., died January 20, 1838.

LIX. Elinor Matilda Blodget married Abel Lincoln, Esq.,
of Massachusetts, 1810.

162. William Smith, born November 10, 181 1.

163. Thomas Blodget, born 181 3.

164. Julia Maria, born February 7, 1816.

165. John George, born 1818; died 1842.^

Abel Liticoln, Esq., died of yellow fever in New Orleans, June 5,
1822. Mrs. Lincoln married Richard Penn Smith, as will be seen
under No. 44.

LX. John Adams Blodget married Nancy Fletcher, of Bed-
ford, Pa., 1825.

166. Rebecca Smith, born March 27, 1826.

167. Eliza Duncan, born 1828.

Mr. John Blodget was an attorney at law, and practised his profession
in Bedford, Pa. ; he died in Philadelphia, July 5, 1872.

LXIL Richard Ayscough Jones.

168. John M.

LXIV. William Ridgely Morris married Catharine Harris,
May 15, 1845.

169. Mary M., Lorn June 20, 1847.

170. Walter, born February 18, 1849.

171. Julia, born May 13, 1857; died 1858.

550 APPENDIX.

LXVI. Annie M. Morris married Judge Caleb S. Lavton.

LXVII. Ann Ridgely married Charles Irenee du Pont, Esq.,
May II, 1841.

172. Amelia E., born February 26, 1842.

173. Henry Ridgely, born November 19, 1848.

Charles Irenee du Pont was born in Charleston, S. C, March 29,
1797. He was the son of Victor du Pont and Gabrielle Josephine La-
fitte de Pelleport. His grandfather was Pierre Samuel du Pont de
Nemours; he was educated at Mount Airy, Germantown. In man-
hood he engaged in various manufacturing employments on the Brandy-
wine. He died January 31, 1869, aged 72 years.

LXVin. Henry Ridgely married Virginia Jenkins.

174. Ruth Ann, born June 28, 1848.

LXIX. Nicholas Ridgely married Mary Tilden, December 18,
1845.

175. Mary Tilden, born August 11, 1849.

LXX. Eugene Ridgely married M. A. Mifflin.

176. Daniel Mifflin.

LXXI. WilliaminaM. Ridgely marrie'd Alexander Johnson.

177. Henry Ridgely, born March, 1847.

178. Nicholas Ridgely.

179. Ann du Pont, born December, 1856.

LXXII. Edward Ridgely married Elizabeth Comegys.

180. Harriet Moore.

181. Edward du Pont.

182. Sarah Baning.

183. Henry.

LXXin. John Cadwalader, Sr., married (first) Mary, daugh-
ter of Hon. Horace Binney, of Philadelphia, October, 1828.

184. Mary Binney, born September 22, 1829; died May 26, 1861.

185. Elizabeth Binney, born September 22, 1831.

Mrs. Mary Cachvalader, born February 27, 1805; died 1830.

LXXIII. John Cadwalader married (second) Mrs. Henrietta
Maria McIlvaine, daughter of Charles N. Bancker, 1833.

186. Sarah Bancker, born 1834.

187. Frances, born 1835.

APPENDIX. 551

i88. Thomas, born 1837; died August, 1841.

1 89. Charles E., born November 5, 1839.

190. Anne, born 1841.

191. John, Jr., born June 27, 1843.

192. George, born 1845.

Hon. John Cadiualader \\d& born at No. 172 (old number) Chestnut
street, Philadelphia. He was educated at the University of Pennsyl-
vania, and graduated in the Department of Arts in 1821. He entered
the office of the Hon. Horace Binney, and was admitted to the Phila-
delphia bar September 30, 1825. He at once took a high position as a
lawyer, and was distinguished for the thoroughness, accuracy and variety
of his learning and his success as a counsellor. In 1855 he was elected
a member of Congress for the Fifth Congressional District, composed
of a portion of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, and served for
a single term, when he was succeeded by the late Owen Jones. Upon
the death of the Hon. John K. Kane, Mr. Cadwalader was appointed
to fill the vacancy in the United States District Court, by President
Buchanan. Judge Cadwalader died January 26, 1879.

LXXIV. George Cadwalader married Frances Mease,

193. Frances, died an infant.

General George Cadivalader was born in Philadelphia (see No. 74).
He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated at
that institution in 1823. He did not engage in any profession, but
became the assistant of his father. General Thomas Cadwalader, who
was the agent of the Penn estates — to which position he succeeded his
father.

He in early manhood manifested a taste for military affairs, and at
the age of 18 joined the First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry.
During the Mexican war General Cadwalader served in that country
under General Scott. He was breveted Major-General for gallant ser-
vice at Chapultepec. In 1861, at the breaking out of the rebellion, he
was assigned to a command under General Robert Patterson in the
Shenandoah valley. He continued in the service during the entire war,
and held a number of responsible positions. General Cadwalader mar-
ried Miss Fanny Mease, a daughter of Dr. Mease, of Philadelphia.

General Cadwalader died February 3, 1879. His wife died January
9, 1880.

LXXVIII. Thomas Americus Erskine married Louisa,
daughter of G. Newnham, Esq., of New Timber Place, Sussex, and
relict of Thomas Adlington, Cheshire, May 12, 1830.

55- APPENDIX.

LXXix. John Cadwalader Erskine, in the East India

C. C. S., Bengal, married Margaret, daughter of John Martyn, Esq.,
of county Tyrone.

194. William Macnaghten, born January 7, 1841.

195. Fanny Macnaghten.

LXXX. Edward Morris Erskine married Mrs. Caroline

LOUGHNAN.

LXXXII. Frances Erskine married Gabriel Shawe, Esq.,
1824.

LXXXIII. Mary Erskine married Herman Count de Baum-
GARTEN, of Bavaria, June 16, 1832.

LXXXIV. Sevilla Erskine married Henry Francis How-
ard, Esq.

LXXXV. Stewarta Erskine married Yates Brown, Esq., Oc-
tober 26, 1828.

LXXXVI. Elizabeth. Erskine married St. Vincent Keene
Hawkins Whitshed, Esq., only son of Admiral Sir James Hawkins
Whitshed, Bart., K. C. B., April i, 1832.

LXXXVII. Harriet Erskine married Charles Woodmass, Esq.,
of Alveston, county Warwick, August 29, 1833.

XCI. Travis Cochran married Mary, daughter of Isaac Norris,
Esq., of Philadelphia, April 30, 1857.

196. Mary Norris.

197. John Travis.

198. Isaac Norris.

199. Fanny Travis.

XCII. William Cochran married Eliza, daughter of John R.
Penrose, Esq., of Philadelphia, March 20, 1857.

200. William Greene, born December 27, 1S57.

201. Harriet Penrose, born November 5, i860.

XCIII. Annie Bond Cochran married Samuel L. Shober, No-
vember 16, 1858.

202. John Bedford.

203. Elizabeth Travis.

204. Samuel L.

APPENDIX. 553

205. Fanny Cochran.

206. Anne Bond.

207. Reginald.

XCV. George Cochran married Augusta, daughter of Andrew
K. Hay, Esq., of Winslow, N. J.

208. George Bond.

209. Elizabeth L.

XCVI. William Anthony Smith married Miss Rebecca C.
Bellas, of Sunbury, Pa., May 23, 1842.

210. William Bellas, born April 13, 1843; ^^^^ December 5, 1865.

211. Thomas Rudolph, born August 12, 1844.

212. Henry Hobart, born June 30, 1846.

213. Hugh Bellas, born March 23, 1850.
Mrs. Rebecca C. Smith died August 8, 1861.

XCVII. Thomas Duncan Smith married Miss Sarah W.
Barns, February 3, 1847.

214. Mary Barns, born November 27, 1847.

215. Thomas Duncan, born November 21, 1849; died December
31, i860.

216. William Rudolph, born October 13, 1851.

217. Catherine, born 1853; died 1855.

218. Sarah Wurts, born May 5, 1855.

219. Anne Hobart, born December 20, i860.

220. Henry A., born February 3, 1864.

XCVII I. Henrietta Williamina Smith married Robert
Enoch Hobart, of Pottstown, Pa., July 30, 1835.

221. William Smith, born April 4, 1836.

222. Sarah May, born March 2, 1838.

223. Eliza Anthony, born August 4, 1840.

224. Robert Enoch, born February 20, 1843; ^^^^ November 14,

1843.

225. John Henry, born September 25, 1844.

226. Henrietta, born May, 1847.

XCIX. Anne Amelia Smith married John Potts Hobart,
Esq., April 5, 1838.

227. Eliza Smith, born March 14, 1839.

228. Julia Biddle, born March 29, 1841; died June 13, 1879.

229. Joanna Holland, born February 12, 1843.

554 APPENDIX.

230. Mary, born February 3, 1845.

231. Nathaniel PoiTS.

232. Cecil, died 1877.

233. David McKnight.

Mr. John Potts Hobart is an attorney at law, son of Nathaniel P.
and Joanna Hobart.

cm. Richard Moore Sniith married Miss Frances Boyden,
January 3, 1856.

234. Penelope Eunice, born October 13, 1858; died January 23,
1859.

235. Mary Frances, born February 18, i860; died March 22, i86r.

CIV. Penelope Campbell Smith married William Henry,
Esq., August 2, 1848.

CV. John Montgomery Smith married Miss Antonia Hil-
debrand, October 14, 1S62.

236. William Hildebrand, born July 10, 1863; died January i,
1869.

237. Richard Montgomery, born April 21, 1866.

238. Henrietta Williamina, born July 14, 1867; died January 16,
1869.

Mrs. Antonia Smith died August 17, 1868.

CV. John Montgomery Smith married (second) Mrs. Jane
M, Crawford, November 23, 1870.

239. Hamilton Vandyke, born August 13, 1871; died March 24,
1872.

240. Frances Amelia, born July 24, 1872; died December i, 1872.

241. El ;a Milton, born September i, 1873.

CVIII. Mary Eliza Smith married George W. Dedrick.

CXI. Horace WemySS Smith married Rebecca, daughter of
Isaac Dorland, Esq., of Huntingdon, Pa., April 26, 1849.

242. Eleanor Matilda, born February 2, 1850; died April 20,
1865.

243. Richard Penn (third), born November 6, 1851.

CXVI. Richard Penn Smith* (second) married Lucy Piper,
daughter of John George and Mary A. Woods, of Pittsburgh, Pa.,
November 16, 1863.

* Commonly known as " Colonel''' Richard Penn Smith.

APPENDIX. 555

244. Richard Penn (fourth), born May 31, 1S65.

245. Mary Fleming, born August 17, 1867.

246. Morton Wistar, born June 23, 1872.

247. Edward Gould, born December 15, 1S75.
Mrs. Lucy Piper Smith, born May 5, 1S43.

CXVII. Isabella Penn Smith married James E. Fleming, April
2S. 1859.

248. Lizzie Schroder, born January 20, i860; died June 23, i860.

249. WiLLiAMiNA, born September 17, 1863; died January 27, 1864.

250. Maria Smith, born June 22, 1865, died July 11, 1S65.

251. Eliza Gould, born July 31, 1866; died August i, 1866.

252. Maria Lewis, born August 8, 1871.

253. Isaac Wistar, born November 17, 1875; died December 5,

1875-

CXVIIL William Moore Smith married Elizabeth Beede
Melville, August 4, 1865.

254. William Moore, born January 19, 1867; died January 7, 1877.

255. Isabella Knisell, born February 10, 1868.

256. Edna Gould, born May 7, 1874.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bee be Smith was born May i, 1841.

CXIX. Eliza Arnold Smith married Edward Wanton Gould,
December 24. 1861.

257. David James, born March 24, 1S63.

258. Edward Wanton, Jr., born November 5, i866.

CXXII. Louisa Nixon Goldsborough married William E.

Harrison, Esq., May 15, 1844.

259. William E., born May 3, 1845; ^^^^^ October, 1846.

cxxiii Sarah Yeabury Goldsborough married Mr. James

B. Steele, of Eldon, Md., 1S39.

260. Louisa Nixon.

261. WiLLiAMiNA E, E., born 1844.

262. Ellen Goldsborough, born December 12, 1846.

263. Sophia Isabelle.

264. Clarence.

cxxiv. Williamina Elizabeth Ennals Goldsborough

married Mr. Francis Jenkins Henry, 1S36.

265. Mary Nevitt, born 1837.

266. John Campbell, born 1840.

556 APPEND IX.

267. Nannie Ogle Buchanan, born 1842.

268. Elizabeth Nixon, born 1844.

269. WiLLiAMiNA G., born 1846.

270. Francis Jenkins, born 1847.

271. Robert G., born 1849.

272. Nicholas G., born 1852.

273. Hampton, born 1853.

cxxvii. William Tilghman Goldsborough married Miss

Ellen Lloyd, of Wye House, Talbot county, Md., 1838.

274. Charles, born 1839.

275
276

277

278

279

280

2S1

282

283

William Tilghman, born 1840.
Edward Lloyd, born 1843.
Ellen Lloyd, born 1848.
FnzKUGH, born 1849.
Nannie Lloyd, born 1852.
Sally Murray, born 1854.
Richard Tilghman, born 1855.
Alice Lloyd, born 1858.
Mary Lee, born 1863.

CXXXL Williamina Elizabeth Ennals Goldsborough

married William W. Laird, Esq., son of Rev. James Laird.

284. James Winder, born 1838; died 1864.

285. Charles G., born 1840; died 1840.

286. William Henry, born 1842.

287. Martha Pierce, born 1845.

288. Philip Dundrige, born 1846.

CXXXIL Mary Tilghman Goldsborough married William
Goldsborough, of Myrtle Grove.

289. Robert H., born 1841; died 1865.

290. Susan Elizabeth, born 1842.

291. William, born 1843.

292. Charles.

293. Mary T. , died 1849.

CXXXHL Caroline F. Goldsborough married Mr. P. P.

Davidson, of Virginia.

294. Mary F., born 1840; died 1845.

295. Nannie S., born 1842.

296. Philip P., born 1843.

297. Sarah G., born 1845.

APPENDIX. 557

298. Charles G., born 1846.

299. William F., born 1S48.

CXXXIV. William Henry GoldsborOUgh married Miss
Rosa J. Packard, daughter of Professor Packard, of the Theological
Seminary of Virginia.

CXXXVII. Richard T. Goldsborough married Miss Mary
Henry.

. CXXXVII I. Henrietta Maria Goldsborough married Mr.

D. M. Henry.

CXXXIX. Charles F. Goldsborough married Miss Char-
lotte A. P. Henry.

CXL. Mary Rebecca McElwee married J. M. Sleek, June
30, 1841.

300. Mary Rebecca.

301. George.

CXL. Mary Rebecca McElwee married (second) William J.

Rock, April 23, 1857.

302. Frederick Jackson, born 1857.

303. Wallace Shippen, born 1859.

304. Florence Katherine, born 1862.

305. Frank Marburg, born 1S66.

CXLii. Sarah Yeates McElwee married Townsend Whelen,

October 21, 1847.

306. Henry, born August 20, 1848.

307. Charles Smith, born July 28, 1850.

308. Kingston Goddard, born October 5, 1851.

309. Alfred Whelen, born June 9, 1854.

310. Sarah Yeates, born August 7, 1856.

Townsend Whelen, son of Israel and Mary Whelen, born in Phila-
delphia, April 3, 1822; died October 26, 1875.

CXLiv. Catharine Yeates McElwee married Evans w.

Shippen, November 25, 1852.

311. Frances Huidekoper, born November 18, 1853.

312. Catharine Yeates, born November 5, 1857.

313. Franklin, born September 9, 1865.

314. Herman Huidekoper, born September 4, 1869.

558 APPENDIX.

315. Harbert, born November i, 1870; died November 15, 1870.

316. Harry Houston, born February 12, 1872.

317. Mary Elizabeth, born November 23, 1873; died October 25,
1876.

CXLV. Charles Edmund Kimball married Miss Sigismunda
Stribling, daughter of Commodore Stnbling.

318. Theodore Horatio, born November 8, 1854.

319. William Ware, born August 3, 1857.

CXLVI. Theodore Horatio S^imball married Miss Elizabeth
Fuller, daughter of Richard Fuller, Esq., of Baltimore, April 13,' 1858,

320. Richard Fuller, born November 3, 1859.
Mrs. Ehzabcik Kimball died November 27, 1861.

CXLIX. John Hill Brinton, M. D., married Sarah Ward,
daughter of Rev. F. DeWitt Ward, D. D., of Geneseo, N. Y.

321. George, born April 11, 186S.

322. John Hill, born December 13, 1870.

323. Ward, | j born May 27, 1873.

324. Jasper Yeates, J ' |born May 27, 1873; ^^^^ September
22, 1876.

325. Jasper Yeates (second), born October 5, 1878.

CLI. Sarah Frederica Brinton married j. M. DaCosta,

M. D., April 26, i860.

326. Charles Frederick, born December, 1874.

CLII. Margaret Yeates Brinton married Nathaniel Chap-
man Mitchell, November 5, 1868.

327. Mary Brinton, born October 20, 1869.

328. John Kearsley, born October 15, 1871.

329. Elizabeth Kearsley, born October 31, 1877.

CLIV. Ellen Matilda Britton married Cornelius Moore,
M. D., of North Carolina.

CLIV. John Blodget Britton married Miss Fanny B. Horner,
daughter of Joseph Horner, Esq., of Warrington, Va., October i, 1874.

CLVII. Harriet Emily Britton married Mr. S. R. Bowen, of
the Eastern Shore of Maryland, August 15, 1844.

330. John Joseph, born December 13, 184S.

331. William Cornelius, born November 11, 1851.

APPENDIX. 559

CLXII. William Smith Lincoln married Mary, daughter of
Robert Given, Esq., of Centreville. Pa., December i, 1842. ^

332. John George, born October i, 1844.

333. Margaret Taylor, born January 26, 1S46,

334. Robert Given, born September 12, 1847.

335. Julia Matilda, born September 23, 1849.

336. William Smith, born September 25, 1851.

337. Elinor Matilda.

33S. Hattie Bell, born March 4, 1S56.

339. Harry, born 1858.

CLXIII. Thomas Blodget Lincoln married Sophia, daughter
of Michael W. Ash, Esq., of Philadelphia, March i, 1S35.

340. Elinor Matilda.

341. Harriet.

342. Sophia.

343. James Rush.

Mrs. Thomas B. Lincoln died at Belmont, Philadelphia, January,
1844.

CLXIV. Julia Maria Lincoln married Robert Williams, Esq.,
of Hollidaysburg, Pa., 1840.

344. Elinor Matilda, born April 19, 1841.

345. Robert Berkley, born July i, 1845.

346. Sarah Barns, born August 24, 1848.

347. William Lincoln.

348. Richard Currie, born June 10, 1855 ; died March 29, 1879.

CLXVI. Rebecca Smith Blodget married Samuel Calvin,
Esq., attorney at law, December 26, 1843.

349. Eliza Blodget, born November 27, 1844.

350. Matthew Calvin, born January i, 1847.

351. John Blodget, born April 24, 1853; died July 14, 1S53.

CLXVII. Eliza Duncan Blodget married Mr. Alfred Adams
Craine, June 24, 1853.

352. John Blodget, born March 5, 1854; died February 25, i860.

353. Rebecca Calvin, born July 31, 1859.

CLXIX. Mary M. Morris married Caleb S. Pennewill, June
17, 1869.

CLXXII. Amelia E. dU Pont married Eugene du Pont, July
5, i866.

560 APPENDIX.

354. Anne Ridgely, born April 22, 1867.

355. Alexis Irenee, born August 2, 1869,

356. Eugene.

357. Amelia.

358. Julia Sophia, born 1877.

CLXXIV. Ruth Ann Ridgely married Richard Harrington.

359. Henry Ridgely.

360. Samuel M.

CLXXVI. Daniel Mifflin Ridgely married Miss Ella Madden.

CLXXXIV. Mary Binney Cadwalader married William
Henry Rawle, September 13, 1849.

361. Mary Cadwalader, born December 12, 1850.

362. William, born September 3, 1855; died April 25, i860.
2fiTf. Edith, born April 29, 1861.

Mrs. Mary Bttiney Rawle died May 26, 1861.

CLXXXV. Elizabeth Binney Cadwalader married George

Harrison Hare, of the United States navy.
No issue.

CXC. Anne Cadwalader married Rev. Henry J. Rowland,
1878.

364. John Cadwalader, born February 10, 1879.

CXCI. John Cadwalader, Jr., married Mary Helen, third
daughter and child of Joshua Francis Fisher, of Philadelphia, April 1 7,
1866.

365. Sophia, born February 6, 1867.

366. Mary Helen, born March 19, 1871.

367. John, born February 24, 1874.

Mrs. Mary Ueiefi Cadwalader was born July i, 1844.

CCXVI. William Rudulph Smith married Elizabeth R.,
daughter of Dr. George Bailey, October 7, 1875.

368. Laura.

CCXVni. Sarah WurtS Smith married Alfred Whelen, Esq.,
April 21, 1876.

369. Townsend, born March 6, 1877 (see 309).

CCXXI. William Smith Hobart married Frances Laura,
daughter of Isaac Sanborn, Esq., of Peru, N. Y., January 5, 1865.

APPENDIX. 561

370. Mary Henrietta, born October 3, 1S68.

371. Robert Enoch Hobart, born June 15, 1874.

CCXXII. Sarah May Hobart married William J. Rutter.
Esq., of Pottstown, Pa.

372. Robert Hobart.

373. Jessie Ives.

374. Charles.

375. William Ives.

CCXXIII. Eliza Anthony Hobart married John W. Royer,
Esq., October 25, 1865.

376. Henrietta Hobart.

377. Sarah Whelen.

378. John W.

379. Eliza Hobart.

CCXXVII. Eliza Smith Hobart married John W. Hunt, M. D.

380. Myra.

CCXXIX. Joanna Holland Hobart married Mr. E. F. Cham-
bers Davis, of Pottsville, September, 1873.

381. John Hobart, born July 27, 1874.

382. George Linn Lachlan.

CCXXXI. Nathaniel Potts Hobart married Miss Anne Rose-
berry, October, 1875.

383. Blanche Roseberry.

CCXLIII. Richard Penn Smith (third) married Kate Cecelia,
daughter of Joseph Russell, of Philadelphia, April 28, 1874.

384. Richard Penn (fifth), born October 13, 1875.

385. Russell Moore, born January 26, 1877.
3S6. Edgar Wemyss, born September 2, 1879.

CCLX. Louisa Nixon Steele married Mr. Joseph Henry
Hooper.

387. Mary Meritt.

388. William Henry.

389. Harry Ennals.

390. Agnes Pitt.

391. MUNCY.

CCLXII. Ellen GoldsborOUgh Steele married Mr. J. D.
Richards, of Pennsylvania.
36

562 APPENDIX.

CCLXIII. Sophia Isabella Steele married Walter Mead
Buck, Esq., of England.

CCLXV. Mary Nevitt Henry married Mr. Selby Spence,
of AVorcester county, Maryland.

CCLXVI. John Campbell Henry married Miss Nannie Lake.

392. Bessy Tryon,

CCLXVII. Nannie Ogle Buchanan Henry married Mr. j.

N. Steele.

393. James.

CCLXVIII. Elizabeth Nixon Henry married William T.
Goldsborough.

CCLXix. Williamina Goldsborough Henry married Mr.

D. S. Meese.

394. Robert G.

395. Mary Nlxon, born September 10, 1877.

CCCVI. Henry Whelen married Eaura, daughter of William
S. Baker, Esq., of Philadelphia, October 21, 1875.

396. William Baker, born July 6, 1877.

397. Laura, born September 6, 1878.

CCCVIL Charles Smith Whelen married Mignonette,
daughter of William A, Violett, Esq., of New Orleans, January 14,
1880..

CCCVIIL Kingston Goddard Whelen married Miss Mary
Roberts Harbert, October 15, 1874.

398. Sarah Yeates, born December 21, 1875-

399. Rebecca Harbert, born May 25, 1877.

400. Virginia Harbert, born October 19, 1879.

CCCIX. Alfred Whelen, M. D., married Sarah Wurts Smith
(see No. 218).

CCCXL Frances Huidekoper Shippen married William
Robert Gill, Esq., May 3, 1875.

■cccxxxiir. Margaret Taylor Lincoln married Mr. w. b.

Watson, February 6, 1878.

APPENDIX. 563

CCCXXXIV. Robert Given Lincoln married Miss Martha
Campbell, of McConnellstown.

401. William Campbell.

CCCXLIII. James Rush Lincoln married Eliza x\ldridge,
daughter of Benjamin R. Blake, Esq., of Virginia, March 28, 1865.

402. Rush Aldridge Hunt, born April 8, 1866.
Mrs. Lincoln died May 12, 1866.

CCCXLIX. Eliza Blodget Calvin married George W. Smith,
M. D., of Hollidaysburg, Pa., April 16, 1874.

403. Rebecca Calvin, born January 7, 1875.

404. Mary McDonald, born March 16, 1876.

CCCLXL Mary Cadwalader Rawle married Frederjc

Rhinelander Jones, March 22, 1870.

405. Beatrice Cadwalader.

I have completed, so far as I have been able, the record through six
generations of the descendants of William and Williamina Moore, of
Moore Hall.

Of necessity, as in every case of a genealogy so long, and where the
progeny has been so numerous, there are many omissions, and I suppose
there must be some mistakes; but I have done the best that I could do
under the circumstances.

As to the character of these descendants,. the reader will have noticed
they intermarried with prominent and influential families of England
and America. Many have gained high and honorable places in the
learned professions, and others deserve a fair place in the ranks of
literature. I have known many, too, who, without any worldly emi-
nence, and with no distinctions which literary yi?;//^ gave to them, have
held a place which, in any true view, ranks more highly than the
highest of this poor earth; men and women, in private stations — some
in private stations that were but humble — who discharged through long
lives, and under many and trying vicissitudes, their duty to God and to
man, "having their eyes only on the Master's service, and looking forward
to 'the recompense of reward.' " They have not been borne to honors
on the corrupted currents of this world. Their reward will come where
there is " no shuffling," and " where the action lies in his true nature."

564 APPENDIX.

No. XIII.— Page 542.

Thomas Duncan Smith.

Thomas Duncan Smith, second son of Rev. William Smith, D. D.,
and Rebecca Smith, was born at Philadelphia, on the i8th of November,
1760, and was baptized by the Rev. J. Duche, the Rev. Dr. Peters and
Mr. Thomas William Moore being sponsors.

Of his youth we know but little. He was educated at the College and
Academy of Philadelphia, where, under the training and watchful care
of his father, he became an excellent classical scholar, and graduated
with honor at the commencement held in June, 1776. Upon leaving
college he studied medicine, and, having completed his studies, settled
himself at Huntingdon, then a small town on the Juniata river, which
had been laid out by Dr. Smith in 1767. It subsequently became and
still remains the county town of Huntingdon county, which was erected
in pursuance of an act of the Legislature on the 20th day of September,
17S7. The new county had formerly been embraced within the limits
of Bedford county, from which it was stricken off in compliance with
the necessities and demands of the people; but the measure met at that
day the most strenuous opposition, and it was only after a determined
struggle that it was accomplished. Immediately after the erection of
the county, ofhces were established for the transaction of the public
business, and appointments made to fill them. Among others, Thomas
Duncan Smith, of the town of Huntingdon, was duly commissioned one
of the Justices of the county on the 23d day of November, 1 787. Here
in his dual capacity as physician and magistrate he continued to reside
until his death, which took place, after a severe attack of fever, on the
9th day of July, 1789. As a young physician he is said to have been
very successful in his practice, and by his talents and deportment to
have enjoyed the confidence of all. As a magistrate he was firm and
decisive, requiring from all obedience to the laws, and often adjusting
difficulties among neighbors without legal process. A beautiful tribute
to his memory, by his father, may be seen in his will, on page 419 of
this volume, and his tomb may be found in the large cemetery on the
hill overlooking the town of Huntingdon, and from which, looking up
and down the Juniata river, can be had one of the finest views along its

APPENDIX. 565

whole course. During his short life he had passed through ''stirring
times," and not the least of them in that portion of our State where he
had located, and which was then becoming settled by a wild and adven-
turous population. He was a good and useful citizen, and died in the
prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness, deeply regretted by the
community in which he lived.

Cotemporaneous with the erection of Huntingdon county was the
framing of the Constitution of the United States, which was signed at
Philadelphia on the 17th day of September, 1787. Its adoption, as is
well known, met with much opposition in several of the States, and in
Huntingdon county became violent and riotous. The leader of the
opponents was General William McAlevy, who had acquired a military
title during the Revolutionary war, being mentioned as Colonel Mc-
Alevy in the records of that struggle, and in connection with the alarms
caused by the Tories and Indians. His residence was at McAlevy's
Fort, in Standing Stone valley, a place that still bears his name, and he
possessed much political influence among the people. The excitement
of the times led to attempts by large bodies of armed men to obstruct
the performance of public duty by the officials of the county, and to the
offering of the grossest indignities to them personally, of which Thomas
Duncan Smith came in for his share. Minute details of the events of
those days may be found in the " Colonial Records; " but to give some
idea of the feelings governing the people, I shall quote somewhat from
M. S. Lytle's "History of Huntingdon County: "

" Colonel John Cannan, member of the Supreme Executive Council
from Huntingdon county, was the first against whom there was any
manifestation of enmity. On the first day of the court, in March, 17S8,
a number of men, bearing bludgeons and carrying an effigy of Colonel
Cannan, entered the town. Justices Phillips and Henderson left the
bench, the courts being then in session, and met the mob at the upper
end of Allegheny street, and endeavored to dissuade them from a dis-
turbance of the peace, which they seemed to have in contemplation.
This effort, however, was unsuccessful. They marched down the street
to the house in which the courts were sitting. There they made so
much noise that it was impossible to proceed with business, and, after
they had been several times warned to desist from this outrage, the
sheriff was directed to arrest the one who seemed the most turbulent,
and commit him to prison. When he had been taken into custody
a riot ensued, and he was rescued by those who were acting with him
in this violation of the law. An indictment was immediately drawn
against the principals, presented to the Grand Jury, returned a true
bill, and entered upon the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions ;

566 APPENDIX.

but as preparations could not then be made for trial, the case was con-
tinued until the next sessions.

" In the following May a battalion of militia, which had been organ-
ized by Benjamin Elliott, Lieutenant of the county, was ordered to
assemble in Hartslog valley. Some of the riotous element was present,
and after falling into ranks made an objection to mustering under
Colonel Cannan and Major Spencer, two field officers who had been
commissioned when the battalion belonged to Bedford county, and
who, it was alleged, had not been fairly elected — Colonel Woods, then
lieutenant of that county, having obtained the return of such men as
pleased himself. An assault was made upon Colonel Elliott, and he re-
ceived many severe blows from several persons. A friend of his who
undertook to protect him and restore order, was treated in the same
violent manner. Elliott, in an account of this affair, says that ' they
met, some for the purpose of doing their duty, and others for the pur-
pose of making a riot, which they effected, about the Federal govern-
ment, in which riot I was very ill used by a senseless banditti, who
were inflamed by a number of false publications privately circulated by
people who were enemies of the Federal government.'

"A commander was then selected for the battalion, who, according
to previous arrangement, ordered that all who were unwilling to serve
under the field officers heretofore named should withdraw from the
ranks. More than one-third of those in line marched out and formed a
new line in front of the rest. Colonel Elliott and the field officers,
finding that the roll could not be called, and that to remain longer
would be unavailing, retired from the field, accompanied by that part
of the battalion which had shown a disposition to render obedience to
those who had a right to command them.

"A few days afterwards warrants were issued by Thomas Duncan
Smith, one of the justices, for the arrest of three of the leaders in this
demonstration. The prisoners were taken by the constable before
Thomas McCune, another justice, who merely required them to enter
into their own recognizances for their appearance in five days before
Justice Smith. In the meantime they gathered a large force of men,
and when they came before the justice on the day appointed, his office
was instantly filled by the crowd. They refused to give bail, and in-
sisted that they should be committed. As he was aware of their designs,
and as he was unwilling to give them a pretext for the commission of
further outrages, he declined to comply with their request. There was,
besides, no safe prison in the county, none having been yet erected.
He reminded them of this, that the jail was but a 'block house,' and
told them that, as two of them were owners of real estate, and that as it

APPENDIX. 56;

was but eight days until the June Sessions of the court, he would release
them without security. Finding that he was unalterable in his deter-
mination, one of them, who was subsequently discovered to have a cut-
lass concealed under his coat, grossly msulted him and threatened him
with violence.

"The accused and the crowd left the office and the town, and in the
afternoon, about one o'clock, returned, more than ninety in number,
sixty of them armed with rifles and muskets, and tlie remainder with
clubs, scalping knives and tomahawks. They marched down Allegheny
street to Second, up Second to Penn, up Penn to the Diamond, where
they formed into a circle. Justice Smith was then called into the
centre, and it was demanded that he would tear up the warrants upon
which the arrests had been made. He refused to do so; but, having
them in his pocket, he delivered them to one of the leaders. They
were then passed into the hands of a man who must have been the
greatest desperado of the party, as he had previously presented a rifle
three times to Justice Smith's breast, and was only prevented by the
interference of others from taking the Justice's life. He stepped from
the ranks, and tearing the warrants threw some of the pieces at the
Justice, saying, ' See now what it is to be a magistrate.'

"The Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions was next required to
deliver to them the indictment that had been found at the March Ses-
sions. It was also destroyed.

"Justices Smith and Henderson, having gone to the house on Alle-
gheny street in which the courts were held, were followed by a number
of armed men, who demanded possession of the Quarter Sessions docket.
On obtaining it they obliterated the record of the proceedings against
the rioters, the part which was obnoxious to them.

"The compliance of the officers with these demands was compelled
by intimidation and threats. The order-loving portion of the commu-
nity was completely overawed.

" Information was then brought to Smith and Henderson that per-
sonal injury was intended them. Both sought safety, the former by
secreting himself and the latter by flight. Their own houses and several
others were searched for them. The sheriff and David McMurtrie, the
latter of whom had incurred their enmity at the review, had gone from
town the day before, and avoided unpleasant consequences to them-
selves. Two constables were obliged to leave their homes to save their
lives. The sheriff could not with safety go into the country to serve
writs, and all kinds of business was affected by this unhappy state of
affairs.

"Another visit was feared, and on the 5th of June, 17S8, a full state-

568

APPENDIX.

mcnt of these occurrences was sent to the Council, with the assurance
that, without the interposition of the government, order could not be
preserved.

"The Council took action in regard to the matter on the 25th of
June. The chief justice and one of the judges attended, and a confer-
ence was held relative to these disturbances. The following were the
proceedings, as found in the minutes :

"A letter from two of the magistrates in Huntingdon county, stating that the daring
and violent outrages were committed by a lawless set of men, that the officers of the
government have been insulted and their lives endangered, and that part of the records
of the court have been destroyed and erased, was read, praying the support of the
government, etc. Thereupon,

'■'■Resolved, That the most proper and effectual measures be immediately taken to
quell the disturbances in Huntingdon county, and to restore order and good govern-
ment, and that the Honorable the Judges of the Supreme Court be informed that the
Supreme Executive will give them aid and assistance, which the laws of the State will
warrant, and shall be found necessary to accomplish this end.

"The language of this resolution was more vigorous than the action
which followed it. Nothing further was then done to suppress these
high-handed acts, approaching so nearly to a revolt that they can
scarcely be called by any other name.

"After the Council had been informed of them, and before the pas-
sage of the resolution, other violence had been committed. Samuel
Clinton, who had made himself notorious as a rioter, Abraham Smith
and William McCune, came into town at the head of about twenty men,
and beat Alexander Irwin, a citizen. The same party, joined perhaps
by others, assaulted the houses of the county officers at night with
showers of stones. The persons against whom there seemed to be the
greatest hatred were Robert Galbraith, President Judge of the County
Court of Common Pleas, etc., Thomas Duncan Smitli, Justice, Andrew
Henderson, Recorder of Deeds, etc., and Benjamin Elliott, Sheriff and
Lieutenant of the County.

" Threats were sent from all parts of the county that death, cropping,
tarring and feathering, should be inflicted upon these or any other offi-
cers who should attempt to enforce the laws. And these threats were
not made without an intention of carrying them into execution. Aboui
the middle of August, one hundred and sixty men, collected from all
parts of the county, some of them from Huntingdon, led by General
McAlevy, Abraham Smith, John Smith and John Little, paraded thr
streets, not armed as before, but with muskets secreted, as was sup])osed
by those who had reason to fear them. The officers and a few others,
who gave their support to the government under the constitution^ took

APPENDIX. 569

refuge in the house 01 Benjamin Elliott, and there, with arms, were de-
termined to defend themselves and to repel force with force. Thus
protected, no attack was made upon them. The enemy was content
with marching through the streets, under flying colors and to the music
of the fife. They met at William Kerr's house and elected delegates to
a convention to be held at Lewisburg. At this election all were per-
mitted to vote who had marched in the ranks that day, and all others
were excluded.

"This political animosity continued for more than a year. The
subject was again before the Council in June, 1789. On the 12th day
of that month a committee, to whom the matter had been referred,
made a report, whicli, if it had been published or preserved, would
have thrown greater light upon these transactions than can now be
obtained from any source. By order of Council, the next day was
assigned for further action upon the report. On the 13th the following
resolution was adopted :

"Resolved, That the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was re-
ferred the representation from llie Justices and others of Huntingdon county, relative
to some late disturbances in that county, be postponed.

"As the Council had delayed so long, and as the excitement had
subsided, perhaps no wiser course could have been pursued at that time.
This daring opposition to the execution of the laws, formidable as it
seemed, was not sufficiently powerful to accomplish its purposes, and its
interference with the functions of government in Huntingdon county
could not retard their progress elsewhere. Unassisted by similar com-
binations in other parts of the State or nation, its ultimate failure and
discontinuance were necessary consequences; and while it was the duty
of the Executive to protect the incumbents of places of trust in their
official capacities, and the lives and liberty of the people, yet it was
good policy to refrain from the employment of military power until it
became absoljjtely unavoidable. That the fury of this political tempest
would soon exhaust itself must have been apparent. It ended without
loss of life or limb, and with but slight personal injury to any. We
cannot excuse those who instigated and encouraged this unlawful con-
duct, but the civil authorities were competent to bring them to punish-
ment. We have not ascertained whether this was done. One of them
was under bonds in February, 1790, for his appearance at the next
Supreme Court in this county, but whether he was brought to trial, and
if so, whether it resulted in conviction, we are not informed.

" It has generally been stated and believed by those who have had
nothing but traditionary accounts of these occurrences, that the records
of the court were burned by McAlevy and his men, but there is no

570

APPENDIX.

official evidence that such was the case. There are in existence authen-
tic and reliable documents which seem to prove conclusively that some
of the records were torn and others obliterated by erasures. It has been
said that a copy of the Constitution of the United States was burned,
and this nuiv be correct, and may have given rise to the statement that
other papers were destroyed in the same way."

No. XIV.— Page 543.

Hon. Charles Smith.

Charles Smith, the //i/n/ son of Rev. William Smith, D. D., and
Rebecca Smith, was born at Philadelphia, on the 4th of March, 1765,
and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon; John Moore, Esep, and
Mr. Charles Smith, both of London, being sponsors.

His early education was under the care of his father, in Philadelphia,
and subsequently at Washington College, Maryland, where he grad-
uated at the commencement held on the 14th day of May, 1783, deliv-
ering the valedictory oration on that occasion.*

Having completed his collegiate education, he commenced the study
of the law with his eldest brother, William Moore Smith, at Easton,
Northampton county. Pa., and was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia
in June, 1786.

After his admission to the bar he opened his office in the town of
Sunbury, Northumberland county. Pa., where his industry and rising
talents soo! nrocured for him the business and confidence of the people.
He was elected a delegate, with his colleague, Simon Snyder, to the
convention which framed the constitution for the State of 'Pennsylvania,
adopted in 1790, and was looked on as a very distinguished member
of that talented body of men. Although differing in the politics of that
day from his colleague, yet Mr. Snyder for more than thirty years after-
wards remained the firm friend of Mr. Smith, and when the former
became the Governor of the State for three successive terms, it is well
known that Mr. Smith was his confidential adviser in many great State
matters.

Mr. Smith was married on the 3d day of March, 1791, to Mary,
daughter of Jasper Yeates, one of the Supreme Court judges of the

* See Maryland Journal, jxi^^ Baltimore Advertiser, July 8, 17S3.

APPENDIX. 571

State, and soon after removed from Sunbury to Lancaster, where Judge
Yeates resided.

Under the old Circuit Court system it was customary for most of the
distinguished country lawyers to travel over the northern and western
parts of the State with the judges, and hence Mr. Smith, in pursuing
this practice, soon became associated with such eminent men as Thomas
Duncan, David Watts, Charles Plall, John Woods, James Hamilton,
and a host of luminaries of the middle bar. Among them Mr. Smith
always held a conspicuous station, and his practice was consequently
lucrative and extended. The settlement of land titles at that period
became of vast importance to the people of the State, and the founda-
tion of the law had to be laid with regard to settlement rights, the
rights of warrantees, the doctrine of surveys, and the proper construc-
tion of lines and corners. In the trials of ejectment cases the learning
of the bar was best displayed, and Mr. Smith soon was looked on as an
eminent land lawyer. In after years, when called on to revise the old
publications of the laws of the State, and under the authority of the
Legislature to frame a new compilation of the same (generally known
as "Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania"), he gave to the public the result
of his knowledge and experience on the subject of land law in the very
copious note on that subject which may well be termed a Treatise on
the Land Laws of Pennsylvania. In the same work his notes on the
Criminal Law of the State are elaborate and instructive to the student
and the practitioner.

Mr. Smith was appointed, on the 27th day of March, 1819, President
Judge of the Judicial District composed of the counties of Cumberland,
Franklin and Adams, where his official learning and judgment, and his
habitual industry rendered him a useful and highly popular Judge.

On the erection of the District Court of Lancaster City and County,
he became the first President Judge, and was duly commissioned April
28, 1820, which office he held for some years. He afterwards removed
with his family to Baltimore, where he lived a few years, and finally re-
moved to Philadelphia, where he spent the last years of his life, and
died in that city on March 18, 1S36, aged 71 years. He was buried
from his residence. No. 12 Clinton square, in his family vault, in the
yard of the Church of the Epiphany.

572 APPENDIX.

No. XV.— Page 542.

Richard Smith.

Richard Smith, the Jiffh son of Rev. William Smith, D. D., and
Rebecca Smith, was born at Philadelphia, on the 25th of January,
1769, and was baptized in Christ Church, on the 19th of March follow-
ing, by the Rev. Dr. Peters, his sponsors being Dr. Smith and Richard
Hockley, Esq., Receiver-General of the Province of Pennsylvania.

His youth passed during the troublesome times of the Revolution,
and the early impressions then made upon his mind appear never to
have been forgotten. Carefully educated by his father, he soon became
a good classical scholar, and imbibed a love for literature which he re-
tained and enjoyed until the day of his death.

Soon after leaving college he commenced the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar in Philadelphia on the 27th day of February, 1792.
He subsequently located himself at Huntingdon, the seat of justice for
Huntingdon county, which had been erected in 1787; but the precise
time of his going there is not known. In the act erecting the county
and fixing the seat of justice, it recited "that the proprietor of said
town had agreed to lay off and set apart a proper and sufficient quantity
of grounds, for the site of a court house, county gaol and prison, and
hath engaged to give, assure and convey the same to the Common-
wealth, in trust and for the use and benefit of the said county;" there-
fore certain trustees were named and appointed to carry the same into
effect. On the 25th of August, 1791, in pursuance of the agreement
under which Huntingdon had been made the county seat. Dr. Smith
conveyed lot No. 41, on the east side of St. Clair (now Second) street,
to Benjamin Elliott, Eudwig Sell, George Ashman, William McAlevy,
Richard Smith and Andrew Henderson, Trustees, as a site for a county
prison.

The first appearance of Mr. Smith in the courts of the county seems
to have been in 1795, as he was there admitted as a member of the bar
in that year. He was regarded as a ripe scholar, an ornament to the
bar, and soon occupied a prominent position at it. Pie was personally
popular, and spoken of as being "the pride of the village." From 1797
to 1 801 he represented the district composed of the counties of Hunt-

APPENDIX. 5-3

ingdon, Bedford and Somerset in the State Senate in a manner highly
satisfactory to his constituents, and then resumed his professional duties.

He was married at Lancaster, Pa., on the 7th day of May, 1804, to
Miss Letitia Nixon Coakley, the marriage ceremony being performed
by the Rev. Joseph Clarkson, at the house of William Montgomery, Esq.
Then returning home, he settled down at the place he had selected for
his future residence, on the bank of the Juniata, about half a mile above
the town of Huntingdon, and well known as " Cypress Cottage." Here
he continued to reside until his death, which occurred suddenly, on the
ist day of October, 1823.

The ''cottage" stood upon elevated ground, a short distance from
the river, surrounded by shade and fruit trees, as well as shrubbery,
with its several out-houses and fences, all neatly whitewashed, present-
ing an air of comfort, and making it a most inviting spot. To the
right of the cottage a handsome lawn extended down to the bank of the
river, well shaded by large buttonwood and other trees, and which
became the resort of the young people of the town for their pic-nic
parties, and where, on each annual return of our national birthday, it
was duly celebrated in a most patriotic manner. Here the military and
citizens of the town marched in procession to hear the reading of the
Declaration of Independence and the usual oration, and then all par-
ticipated in a good dinner spread on a long table erected under the
shade of the grand old trees. The farm attached to the cottage as well
as the one on the island were both well cultivated, and about thirty feet
to the right of the dwelling stood a two-story building called "The
Study." In this was a large and well-selected library, and here, amidst
his books, Mr. Smith spent many happy hours, either quietly attending
to his business or perusing his favorite authors.

The walk along the river bank was a very pleasant one, and much
used by the young people. Calls were almost daily made (especially in
summer) at the cottage, where all were hospitably welcomed, as the
" latch-string was always out." And in return, it is but just to say that
"Uncle Richard " and "Aunt Lettie," as they were familiarly called
by all, were respected and loved by both old and young in the town.

Thus time passed on. Mr. Smith had inherited and also acquired
much landed property, but eventually, from various causes, found him
self financially embarrassed, and had to see much of his property sacri-
ficed to satisfy his creditors. The hard times following the war in 181 5,
the worthless paper currency then in circulation, and the depreciation
in real estate, can only be appreciated by those who witnessed the
scenes occurring at that day.

In February, 1821, Mr. Smith was appointed, by Governor Heister,

574 APPENDIX.

Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills for Huntingdon County,
which offices he accepted, and continued to discharge their duties until
the day of his death.

To add to his difficulties, he now found himself involved in a law
suit about the title to a piece of property in the borough of Hunting-
don, the amount involved not being large, according to the valuation
of property in the town at that day, yet he had come to consider it as
the great event of his life. He prepared for the trial with much anxiety
of mind, as if his future prosperity depended upon its result, or he
feared something serious would happen. At length the day of trial
came, and its progress was watched by him with the most intense in-
terest until its close, when the jury returned a verdict in his favor. A
motion was made by his opponent for a new trial, and this was argued
upon the second day after the rendition of the verdict. Upon the argu-
ment he was grossly insulted, and statements made by his opponent
which Mr. Smith promptly arose to deny. He was sternly ordered by
the court to sit down, when he slowly sank down in his seat, his head
fell forward and rested upon the counsel table, having been seized with
apoplexy. His nephew. General William R. Smith, one of the mem-
bers of the bar, caught him in his arms and had him carried to the open
air at the door of the court room, where Dr. Henderson immediately
attempted to bleed him, but all in vain, and in less than ten minutes
he was dead !

The consternation and confusion this event occasioned in court caused
it to immediately adjourn, and nothing further was done in the cause.
His funeral took place in a few days, his body being followed to the
grave by the members of the bar and a large concourse of citizens of the
town and county, among whom he had so long resided. The following
inscription covers his grave and that of his elder brother, by the side
of whom he was buried :

Sacred

To the memory of ^

Thomas Duncan Smith, M. D.,

Born Nov. i8, 1760,

Died July 9, 17S9;

And of

Richard Smith, Esq.,

Born Jan. 25, 1769,

Died Oct. i, 1823,

Sons of

"William Smith, D. D.

In life

United in brotherly love ;

In death

They are not divided.

APPENDIX. 5;75

In personal appearance Mr. Smith is described by those who knew
him "as a large, portly, fine-looking gentleman of the old school, pos-
sessing the most attractive social qualities, ajid all the elements of popu-
larity were combined in him."

His widow, Letitia Nixon Smith, was a refined and intelligent lady,
and continued to reside in Huntingdon for some years after the death
of her husband, devoting her time to the interests of education, Sunday
schools and the church. She finally removed to Athens, Tenn., and
spent the remainder of her days with her nephew, Thomas Nixon Van-
dyke, Esq. There she died and was buried, some thirty years or more
after the death of her husband.

Among the fugitive pieces written by my father, Richard Penn Smith,
I find the story of "My Uncle Nicholas," and no doubt he had his
uncle in view when it was written. As an evidence of his style of
writing, I here add it:

"MY UNCLE NICHOLAS.

" liY RICHARD PENN SMITH.

"'Call no man happy 'till you know the nature of his death; he is at l>est but for-
tunate.'— -Solon io Ciasus.

"Time eats the children he begets, and the memories of few men
outlive their monuments ; nay, myriads pass into oblivion even before
the elements have sullied their epitaph. My uncle Nicholas, notwith-
standing his deserts, has not escaped this order of things. I knew him
in the April of my years — the flower-time of my life; and as my mind
reverts to those sunny days, the first object it rests upon is the beloved
image of my uncle Nicholas.

"He was a placid being, overflowing with the best of humanities.
His heart and his doors were open to all his fellow-beings, and there
was not a creature endued with animal life towards which he did not
studiously avoid giving pain. His dogs loved him, and he could not
walk abroad into his fields but his cattle followed him, and fed out of
his hand.

" 'He was a scholar, a ripe and a good one,' at least I viewed him
as such in my boyhood. His mind was stored with good learning, but
his favorite companions were those hearty old poets who have retained
their freshness for centuries, and who possess a reproductive faculty that
will make them blossom through succeeding ages. With what delight
would he pore over the harmonious numbers of Spencer, and Drayton,
and Drummond, and the vigorous dramatists of those times ! and there
was scarcely a gem of the minor poets that he had not culled to grace

5/6 APPENDIX.

his memory. These he would recite with all the feeling and enthusiasm
of early life, and at times I imagined they were golden links that insep-
arably bound him to his boyhood. They appeared to possess the faculty
of making him young again.

"He was a quiet humorist, but with no more gall than might be
found in a dove. His face was ever mantling with some pleasant
thought, and his mind flowed on as gently as a secret brook, that ever
and anon dimples and smiles at its own babbling.

" He was married, and my aunt was one of the gentlest of creatures.
You might have searched the world without finding a pair whose hearts
and minds so perfectly harmonized. She was a delicately attuned in-
strument, ever breathing the softest music; never depressed to sadness,
and seldom exhilarated beyond a placid smile. If perchance she
laughed, it was at some jest of my uncle Nicholas ; not that it excited
her risible faculties, but that she perceived by the mantling of his coun-
tenance there was more intended than came within the scope of her
apprehension ; and she would laugh outright that he might more fully
enjoy the freak of his imagination. How they loved each other!

'•My uncle dwelt on a farm on the outskirts of a village. He had
selected it as a residence in early life, and had lived long enough to
see the primitive settlement assume something like a name on the map
of his country. He was identified with the spot; all the villagers in a
measure looked upon him as a patriarch, and even the children would
break off their amusements to salute him as he passed ; and he ever had
a kind word and a jest to bestow upon the humblest of the little troglo-
dytes. They all called him uncle Nicholas, and he was so kind to them
that many grew up in the belief that he was actually the uncle of the
whole village.

" His residence was a delightful spot. His farm was well cultivated,
and his buildings, while they afforded every comfort, were not so osten-
tatious as to awaken the envy of his less prosperous neighbors. A river
flowed beside it, and in the rear were shady walks of sugar maple, to
which the villagers would resort of a summer afternoon for recreation,
and few would fail in returning to stop at my uncle's cottage and par-
take of the hospitality of his board. Indeed he and his were looked
upon as common property.

"At these social gatherings all the belles of the village would rival
each other to secure my uncle's attention. He was ever the gayest
among the gay, while his gentle manners and playful fancy ministered
to the delight of all; and it was amusing to behold the quiet compla-
cency of my aunt as she gazed on his little gallantries, and to watch her
countenance gradually light up, as her mind would pass from the scene

APPENDIX. 577

before her to the halcyon days when he wooed and won her, and then
she would turn to her next neighbor and whisper, in a tone mingled
with pride and fondness, 'You see his winning ways have not yet left
him.' And then she would smile and look on in silence, as if life
could afford no delight like gazing on my uncle Nicholas when he was
happy.

"Happy! — the heavens themselves are never so bright and clear but
that a cloud overshadows some portion, and there lives not that man
whose mind is so free but that at some period a phantom pursues it,
from which he fears escape is impossible. My uncle's phantom was the
dread of poverty. He had lived generously, and from his habits and
tone of mind was ill calculated to increase his possessions. As he ad-
vanced in life he perceived that his property had imperceptibly wasted
away; and to increase his terrors, there was a lawsuit against him that
had been pending many years. He dreaded its termination would re-
sult in ruin, though convinced that justice was on his side; but the
boasted trial by jury is by no means as infallible as its encomiasts pre-
tend, for it is a difficult matter for one man who does not understand
his case to explain to twelve who frequently are incapable of compre-
hending the matter under any circumstances. And by this frail tenure
do we cling to our possession of liberty and life. The sword of Damocles
is a type of the trial by jury.

" It was a melancholy sight to behold the old gentleman, term after
term, attending court to learn the issue of his cause. It absorbed all
his faculties and sapped the very foundation of his mind. He was wont
to have a word and a cheerful smile for all he met, but now he would
pass his next neighbor without token of recognition. His little friends,
the children, no longer followed him. His favorite volumes remained
undusted on the shelves — their charm had passed away, and those vernal
fancies, that were wont to make his heart like a singing bird in spring,
had died and it sung no more.

" He would at times struggle to disengage his mind from the phan-
tom that embraced it with iron clutches, and affect more cheerfulness
in the presence of my aunt, for he perceived that his melancholy was
contagious. How tenderly she watched over him, and soothed him
and encouraged him ! God bless her! At one of those tender inter-
views, which were frequent, he appeared suddenly animated with hope
— the world was open to him — he was a man, and could labor like other
men — his countenance brightened, and he exclaimed, exultingly:

" 'The spider taketh hold with her hands and is in kings' palaces.'
He fondly looked into the recess of hi^ wife's heart through her glisten-
ing eyes, and continued: 'The ants are a people not strong.' He
37

578 APPENDIX.

paused, and finished the proverb in a tone scarcely audible — 'yet
they prepare their meat in the summer. Alas! the snows of many win-
ters are on my head.' A tear dropped from his eye on "the pale forehead
of the partner of his bosom. She consoled him no more that day.

"He had contracted various small debts with the tradesmen of the
village, among whom were some newcomers who had not known him in
his palmy days. And even if they had, the chances are that it would
not have altered their conduct towards him. Few men make an aegis
of the past to shield them from present evils. True, he has been as
liberal as the sun that shines on all alike without distinction, but how
soon do we forget the splendor of yesterday if the sun rise in clouds
to-morrow.

" His creditors became impatient, and "though there was some hesita-
tion in taking out the first execution, yet that being done, others fol-
lowed as regularly as links of the same chain. There was a time when
he felt as confident and secure among the villagers as in the bosom of
his own family; but now there was no longer safety for the sole of his
foot on his hearthstone. He was humbled, and he moved among
his neighbors, a broken down man, with fear and trembling, dreading
all whom he chanced to meet.

"At length his library was seized upon and sold. His books were
of no great value to any other than himself, but he prized them beyond
everything. He had bought them in his boyhood; to lose them was
to sever the chain that bound him to happier days, and as he beheld
them scattered one by one, he wept as if they had been things of life
that had abandoned him in his misfortunes.

" It was a melancholy sight to behold him after this event, seated in
his study, gazing on the empty shelves, and repeating various choice
passages from his favorite volumes. I witnessed him once, looking in-
tently on the vacant spot where a fine old copy of 'Herrick's Poems'
had stood for near half a century. I knew the place well, for at that
time it was my delight to delve for the pure ore of that 'very best of
English lyric poets.' A melancholy smile came over his bland counte-
nance, and he repeated, in a low tremulous voice:

" Call me no more,
As heretofore,

The music of the feast
Since now, alas !
The miith that was

la me, is dead or ceased.

APPExWDIX. 579

" Before I went
To banishment

Into the loathed west ;
I could rehearse
A lyric verse

And speak it with the best.

" But time, ah me !
Has laid, I see,

My organ fast asleep ;
And turn'd my voice
Into the noise

Of those that sit and weep.

" His eyes slowly moved along the empty shelves until they rested
upon a place that had been occupied by a collection of the old dramat-
ists. He smiled, though he shed tears:

"'Beshrew me, but thy song hath moved me.' I turned from the
window through which I was gazing, unperceived, and left him breath-
ing fragment upon fragment.

" My uncle was accustomed to rise with the sun, and continued his
habit to the last. But he no longer enjoyed the songs of the birds, the
babbling of the waterfall, nor the fresh breeze of the morning laden
with fragrance — their influence had departed from them; still, he ad-
hered to his custom, and would wander from his green meadows to the
maple grove, and from the grove to the river, as if in pursuit of some-
thing— he knew not what. On his return his usual remark was, ' Is it
not strange that the flowers should have lost their fragrance, and the
little birds their skill in singing ! ' In happier days how he would
praise the flowers and the birds !

"As term-time approached, his malady ever increased. His morning
meal would scarcely be over when he would adjust his dress, and call for
his hat and cane, and on being asked whither he was going, he would
invariably reply : ' To the village to see my friends. Of late they have
ceased to come here, and it is right that I should see them.' He would
for hours walk from one end of the village to the other, and bow to all
who accosted him, yet pause to converse with none; and on his return,
when my good aunt would inquire whether he had seen his friends, the
constant reply was, 'No, I have fallen in with none of them.' Alas!
my poor uncle, how thy brain must have been shattered to imagine that
a man in adversity can ever find his friends !

"At length the dreaded day arrived — his cause was marked for trial,
and in a few hours the result would be known. The matter in dispute
was not of such a great moment, but he had brooded over it until his

580 APPENDIX.

fears had magnified it to vital importance. His opponent was a coarse
and brutal man, and in tlieir protracted contest tlie abruptness of his
demeanor had awakened whatever latent asperity had found a hiding-
place in my uncle's bosom. He looked upon that cause, trifling as it
was, as the most important matter of his life. His daily thoughts and
irritated feeling had magnified it. Even the little ant, by constant ap-
plication, can create a mound altogether disproportionate to its size,
and there is not a column so beautiful that may not be defaced by the
trail of a slimy snail. My poor uncle feared the ant-hill, and recoiled
at the filth of the worm.

" The morning his cause was to be tried he dressed himself with un-
usual care, and my aunt, knowing the bent of his mind, exercised all
her little appliances to encourage him. He went to the court-house and
took his seat, a dejected man. He looked around as if in search of
some one to sit beside him to aid and sustain him, but none such were
present, and he sat alone.

"The caus was called, the jury empanelled, and the investigation
proceeded. Every question that arose, in its progress wrought up my
uncle's mind to painful intensities. In the ardor of his feelings he at
times interrupted the proceedings, and was rudely ordered by the court
to sit down and be silent. He obeyed, while every fibre of his frame
shook with passion and offended pride. His opponent smiled in tri-
umph as he beheld his confusion. He sat alone; no one approached to
sympathize with him, and he felt as if deserted by all. In consequence
of the distracted state of his mind, his defence, though a just one, had
been imperfectly made out. Facts had escaped his memory; papers
were missing that should have been produced, and the result was, the
jury returned a verdict against him without leaving the box. It fell
like a thunderbolt upon hmi ; he fancied the last business of his life was
over, and in the triumph of the moment his adversary taunted him, and
openly charged him with dishonesty. The old man rose to repel the
insult, while every limb shook with passion as if palsy-struck. All was
confusion. The judges interfered to preserve order. My uncle heard
them not. He was commanded to sit down, but still persisted to vin-
dicate his character. A second, a third time was he called upon to sit
down and be silent, which awakened him to a sense of his position.
He beheld his antagonist still smiling; he slowly sunk into his seat, and,
as if abashed, his head hung over his bosom, and gradually descended
until it rested on the desk before him. Order was again restored, and
the court proceeded in its business. A few moments after some
one approached my uncle, and on raising him he was found to be
dead !

APPENDIX. 5 8 I

"Thus died that good old man. There was a time when I looked
upon him being secure from the shafts of fate; but who may boast of
to-morrow ! He was wealthy, had health and friends, and his gentle
spirit made his home a paradise. His sources of enjoyment were bound-
less, for all nature, from her sublimest mysteries even down to the petals
of a simple flower, was one mighty minister, and he drew wisdom and
delight from all. And yet a single cloud was magnified until it over-
shadowed his heaven of happiness, and he died friendless and heart-
broken ; all had vanished that made earth beautiful. But is this
strange? — The flowers of life pass away as the flowers of the seasons,
without our being conscious of the cause of their decay, and there
breathes not that man, however prosperous, but, like my poor uncle,
hath his phantom, and in time discovers that 'even in laughter the
heart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is heaviness.' "

No. XVI.— P.\GE 551.
\Niiiiam Rudolph* Smith.

[By Richard Moore Smith.]

William Rudolph Smith, the eldest son of William Moore Smith,
Was born at La Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pa., on the 31st day
of August, A. D. 17S7. The family removing to Philadelphia in 1792,
he was placed at school under the tuition of Mr. James Little and his
ushers, this being at that time the largest and best preparatory school in
the city. In 1799 he was placed in the Latin school of the Rev. James
McRea; but soon afterwards the whole care of his education was as-
sumed by his grandfather, the Rev. William Smith, D. D., who received
him into the old family residence at the Falls of Schuylkill, where he
remained, under a rigid course of instruction, until April, 1803, when,
as private secretary, he accompanied his father to England, the latter
being one of the commissioners, under the 6th article of the Jay treaty,
to adjust and settle the demands of the British claimants.

During their protracted residence in England the father and son
travelled much together at various times, journeying along the south
coast from Dover to Falmouth, visiting all points of interest in the in-
terior of the south and west, and making frequent and extended jour-

* The Rudulph family spelt their name with a u. My uncle always spelt his
Rudolph.

582 APPENDIX.

neys into other parts of the kingdom. In London their time was
happily spent at the houses of many friends, and particularly at the
house of Charles Dilly, Queen's Square, so often mentioned by Boswell
in his life of Johnson. Mr. Dilly took great satisfaction in showing to
his guests the arm-chair in which Dr. Johnson always sat at his table,
and where he enjoyed himself, perhaps, more than at any other house
in London. It was at this hospitable table that Dr. Johnson met with
and learned to tolerate the great radical leader, John Wilkes.

In Mr. Dilly's house the young secretary had the gratification to
meet with the venerable Pascal Paoli, with Richard Cumberland, with
a brother of James Boswell, and with many of the literary celebrities
and other notorieties of the day. And Benjamin West, the President
of the Royal Society, in his attentions to the father and son, did not
forget the obligations which, in early life, he owed to his friend and
patron. Dr. William Smith.

In the home of Mr. West, in Great Newman street, and in the pic-
ture-gallery, young William Rudolph Smith met and formed friendships
with many of the great painters and artists of England and of the con-
tinent, for in those stirring times London was the city of refuge for the
emigres and for all classes of refugees seeking safety from the whirlwind
of strife then sweeping over every country in Europe. George Cadou-
dal, the great Vendean chief, and General Pichegrou, both afterwards
concerned in the attempt to assassinate Napoleon, were among the ac-
quaintances thus formed. These London days, teeming with the recol-
lections of Sarah Siddons, of John and Stephen Kenible, of the old
crazy King George III., to whom he had been presented at court, of the
Prince of Wales and Beau Brummel, of the soldiers and statesmen who
were then shaping the destiny of the civilized world, were the solace
of many an hour in after years, and, related in his inimitable way, the
delight of three succeeding generations of listening friends.

Intended by his father for the bar, young Smith, during his residence
in England, commenced a preparatory course of study under the direc-
tion of Thomas Kearsley, Esq., of the Middle Temple, and from this
period until the autumn of 1S08 he was a diligent student — for the first
two years after their return to America under the direction of his
father, at his country residence, five miles from the city, on the Old
York road, and afterwards in the office of James Milnor, in Philadel-
phia; in after years Mr. Milnor removed to the city of New York, and,
having taken orders, became a distinguished minister of the Episcopal
Church. In 1808 Mr. Smith was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia;
his examiners were Richard Rush, Thomas Ross and Peter A. Browne ;
the Judge was Jacob Rush. The following year he removed to Hunt-

APPENDIX. 583

ingdon, Pa., where he entered into the practice of his profession. On
the 17th of March, 1809, he was married to Eliza Anthony, of Phila-
delphia, who was descended on the father's side from the Rhode Island
family (jf that name, and on the mother's side from Michael Hillegas,
the Treasurer of the United States during the Revolution.

For the ensuing eleven years Mr. Smith led a busy life; assuming at
once a leadership in his profession, he soon became extensively known
as one of the most profound lawyers in the State. He was appointed,
in 1811, Deputy Attorney-General for Cambria County, under Walter
Franklin; he was reappointed to the same office by Richard Rush,
Attorney-General, and in 181 2 was again reappointed by Jared Inger-
soU, Attorney-General.

A boy's love for a military career had impelled Mr. Smith, in early
life, to connect himself with the Third Troop of Philadelphia Light-
Horse, and, whilst a member of this body, he had the satisfaction of
riding the same horse which had carried his father, when a member of
this same troop, in the expedition to suppress the celebrated Whiskey
Insurrection. His taste for military affairs strengthened with advancing
years, and caused Mr. Smith to study carefully the question of the
national defences and the organization of the State militia forces. He
devoted a large portion of his time to the study of field tactics, and was
active and energetic in the thorough organization and drilling of the
Pennsylvania militia, in which he served in various grades up to the
rank of major-general. In the war of 181 2-15 with England, he was
Colonel of the 62d Regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves, and com-
manded that regiment when ordered up to Erie to support General
Scott in the movement on Canada, which resulted in the victory at
Lundy's Lane. General Smith was in Baltimore during the siege of
that city; he witnessed the disaster at Bladensburg, the subsequent
occupation of Washington, and the burning of the Capitol by the
British.

In civil life General Smith filled with distinguished ability the various
offices to which he was, at intervals, elected or appointed. He served
in both branches of the Pennsylvania Legi^^lature, held many offices of
civil trust and honor, and in January, 1836, was admitted Counsellor
of the Supreme Court of the United States, at Washington

In January, 1821, General Smith lost his wife, her death occurring
very suddenly, after a brief illness of a few hours only. Three years
afterwards he married again, his second wife being Mary Hamilton Van
Dyke, whose family, originally from Delaware, had removed to and
settled in the State of Tennessee.

In 1827 General Smith removed from Huntingdon to Bedford counry.

5 84 APPENDIX.

M'here he continued to reside until the year 1837, when he was ap-
pointed Commissioner of the United States, in conjunction with Gov-
ernor Henry Dodge, to treat with the Chippewa Indians for the purchase
of their pineries on the Mississippi river and its tributaries. The journey
into the Northwest, in the fulfdment of this trust, forms an important
epoch in the life of General Smith. The wonderful resources of the
country in all that makes a nation happy, rich and great, impressed him
profoundly as a statesman; with prophetic vision he saw the sceptre
of Empire passing from the East to settle firmly in the grasp of the
Mighty West ; instantly he resolved to be one of those earnest pioneers
Avho turned heroically from the attractions of Eastern life to devote
their lives to the work of formulating the legislation and shaping the
destiny of these States of glorious promise. His letters to his brother,
Richard Penn Smith, afterwards published in Philadelphia, under the
title of "Observations on Wisconsin Territory," are filled with glowing
descriptions of this paradise for farmers. That the magic beauty of the
scenery deeply touched his poetic nature may be witnessed by the fol-
lowing lines dashed off in a moment of tender recollection :

All hail, Wisconsin ! Prairie land,

In summer decked with flowers,
As scattered by some fairy hand

'Midst sylvan shades and bowers.

Thy soil abundant harvests yields,

Thy rocks give mineral wealth;
And every breeze that sweeps thy fields

Comes redolent of health.

Perennial springs and inland seas

Give other beauties zest;
Long may thy dwellers live in ease,

Gem of the fertile West !

Returning to Pennsylvania, General Smith, in 1838, removed his
family to Wisconsin and settled in Iowa county, at Mineral Point. In
1839 he was appointed Adjutant General of the Territory of Wisconsin,
by Governor Dodge, which office he continued to fill, under successive
administrations, for more than twelve years. He also received from
Governor Dodge the civil appointment of District Attorney of Iowa
county, retaining this office also for many years. In 1840 he was called
to preside over the first Democratic convention that assembled at the
seat of government of Wisconsin Territory, and he drafted the address
sent forth by that body to the people. He was elected Secretary of the
Legislative Council of Wisconsin, and in 1846 was elected delegate to

APPENDIX. 585

the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin ; the
journals of that convention show that General Smith originated many
of the great legislative reforms that have since become law, not only in
Wisconsin, but have been widely adopted in other and older States of
the Union, notably the "Homestead Exemption Law," and the Rights
of Married Women to hold their own earnings and to own property,
independently of and beyond the control of their husbands. In 1849
General Smith was elected Chief Clerk of the Senate, and again in 1850
was re-elected to the same office, receiving a unanimous vote. In 1849
he, together with a few other citizens of kindred spirit and with similar
tastes, all deeply interested in collecting and preserving matters of his-
torical interest, founded the "State Historical Society of Wisconsin."
The immediate success of the society in this work induced the Legis-
lature to place the institution under State patronage. A room in the
Capitol was assigned for their use, and annual appropriations of money
made to carry out and enlarge the designs of the society.

By a special act of the Legislature, in 1852, General Smith was au-
thorized to compile a " Documentary History of Wisconsin from its
Earliest Settlement to the Present Time." To this work he devoted
several years of his life, and the first two volumes of the history were
published by the State in 1854.

In 1856 General Smith was elected Attorney-General of the State of
Wisconsin, and filled the office with marked ability for two years; then
having reached the ripe age of 71 years, he deemed it best to rest from
his labors and retire from active professional and political life, intending
for the remainder of his days to quietly enjoy his home, his library, and
the society of his family and intimate friends. Here for eleven years
more he was the delight of all who approached him, his ripe scholar-
ship and varied information, his sparkling wit and kindly disposition,
gave a charm to his conversation that will never be obliterated from the
memories of those who knew him. His reminiscences of Washington
and the statesmen of his day, and the leading incidents of those early
days of the republic, were related with dramatic effect; the hands of
Washington had rested upon his head, he had listened to the first read-
ing of the Farewell Address, and was present in the German Lutheran
church in Philadelphia when Major-General Lee, by the appointment
of Congress, pronounced the funeral oration of Washington. He was
present in the theatre on the night when the now national anthem of
"Hail Columbia" was first sung, and was witness to the enthusiasm
with which the song was greeted. It had been his strange fortune to
see every President of the United States from Washington to Lincoln;
these and similar recollections served to entrance a generation of listen-

586 APPENDIX.

ers who could look upon them as events belonging 'to, to them, almost
a remote antiquity.

In 1868 General Smith, still active and in good health, made the tour
of Wisconsin, visiting many of his old friends in the northern and east-
ern part of the State; then proceeding to Quincy, in the State of Illi-
nois, he finished his tour in a visit to his youngest daughter, residing in
that city with her husband, Mr. Robert H. Deaderick. And here, in
the fulness of years, this long and brilliant life came to a quiet and
peaceful close.

General Smith during all his life was an active and prominent Mason,
passing through all the degrees of that order, from the Blue Lodge to
the Royal Arch Chapter. He was several times made Grand Secretary,
and was twice Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. He
had a singular love and veneration for the order while he lived, and he
Was buried with Masonic honors on the 26th day of August, a. d. 1868,
at Mineral Point, Wis. A Masonic monument marks his place of rest.

No. XVII.— Page 463.

In asserting what I here do, I do not forget that in "The Form
of Prayer for the Visitation of Prisoners" it is said, in that part of the
form provided for " persons under sentence of death," that after a par-
ticular confession, by the person under sentence, of the sin for which he
stands condemned — which confession the visiting clergyman is to exhort
him to make — such clergyman shall 'Uieclare to him the pardoning mercy
of God, ill the form zvliich is used in ike comtnunion serz'ice;'' that form
being admitted by all to be one more capable of being interpreted to be
a form of "absolution" than any other in our Prayer Book. The infer-
ence drawn therefore by some is that the church here puts an interpre-
tation on that form generally, interpreting it wherever it occurs in the
Prayer Book as but "a declaration of God's pardoning mercy."

Conversing not long since with a layman of our church, whom I have
often consulted in the preparation of this biography, he made some
remarks of which what follows, so far as I remember, is the substance. I
adopt them as expressing my own views : •

1 do not consider that the church in this rubric says in terms exactly what these
words, brought from the communion service, are or do, except, perhaps, as when they

APPENDIX. 587

are said to a malefactor convicted of crime for wliich he has been judicially sentenced
to death, and who now, confessing the crime, admits his awful guilt. And I think
that the same words which are uttered at the communion-table over bishops, priests,
deacons and baptized laity professing to be religious — all presumably known to the
minister, and all presumably guiltless of heinous crimes — may properly be left to have
whatever meaning the said words have in themselves, or as read by the light of postures
prescribed, or by the light of other things existing in connection with them ; while
those same words may well be restricted in meaning by a rubric, when said to a male-
factor judicially sentenced to death for what may be the most dreadful crime known to
laws, both human and divine, which crime he now confesses that, with perhaps num-
berless others like it, he has perpetrated. The minister, we must remember, in visit-
ing the person under sentence of death, may have never seen or heard of him tintil the
morning of the execution, and just before the minister is about to utter over the wretched
man the commendatory " prayer for a person at the point of departure." In the sm-
cerity of repentance of such a person — a person whose whole life may have been marked
by atrocious crimes, and "who may be a most hardened sinner, having, besides, in thehope
oT'ar^ardon from the government, a motive to appear repentant when not so in reality
— the minister may utterly and rightly disbelieve. The convict, as yet, has not commu-
nicated, and he may wish never to cointnunicate.

The service for the Visitation of Prisoners is not in the English Prayer Book. It
comes to us from a form (somewhat altered, I doubt not) set forth by the Convocation
and Parliament of Ireland, and first appeared in the Proposed Book. That book oblit-
erated the word priest from its rubrics, substituting for it the word minister. This
word includes deacons. But as by the practice of the Church of England, deacons do
not pronounce " absolution," the Proposed Book characterizes as " a Declaration con-
cerning the forgiveness of sins " those same words which the English book calls " The
Absolution or Remission of sins." In the Visitation of Prisoners it therefore made its
rubric read thus :

"After his confession the minister shall declare to him the pardoning mercy of God"—

Adding —

"in the form which Is used in the Communion Service."

The Convention of 1789, ignoring very much the Proposed Book, used aS the basis
of its work, the English Prayer Book, and generally restored the word priest in the
rubrics, or, where it did not, as in the Visitation and Communion of the Sick, guarded
.the use of the word " minister " by references — " out." But, as I have said, this service
of the Visitation of Prisoners was not in the English Dook, and a service of the sort
being thought a most fit one to be in a Prayer Book, the Convention took it from the
Proposed Book ; the rubric above quoted, with its word " minister," coming in as part.

Most other services in our Book of 1789 were referred to committees, were reported
on, amended and discussed ; but about this one there vv^as no such advisement. It was
adopted on the last day of the Convention's session, "originating," as the minutes tell
us, in the House of Bishops, and being " passed " by the Deputies.

Haste and its usual concomitant, mistake, seems to be shown by what followed
as a result in the Prayer Book of 17S9, then made. Those same words which in
the daily and evening service that book allows the priest, alone, to say, and to say
onlv in a certain posture (that is, standing), and which the people are allowed to hear
only in a certain other posture (that is, kneeling), and which in the communion service

588 APPENDIX.

a Bishop (if a Bishop is present) alone may say, we here allowed a deacon to say, in
any posture, to a malefactor under sentence of death in any posture, the same or other;
the posture before the " declaration " of both parties having been, according to proba-
bilities, that of sitting. Indeed Bishop White himself tells us that the use of the word
"minister," in the book of 17S9, instead of the word "priest," must have been from
"oversight" (Brownell's Family Prayer Book, Ed. of 1875, p. 493).

This inconsistency was too great to be left, and in the standard Prayer Book of 1838
the rul^ric was changed by putting the word priest in the place of the word 7)iinisier.
This change of the word mmister to the word priest may perhaps of itself "tone up"
the word " declare " from a low meaning (as ex.gr,: "state" or "make known"),
to a higher one (as ex. gr. : " declare officially; " that is, "pronounce.") If it does
not do this, why was the change made ?

The Proposed Book prescribed " the form which s used in the communion service,"
instead of the form in the morning and evening service of the same book (the form of
the English book, and the first of the two forms in our book of 1789), from the impro-
priety, I suppose, of making a convict who is on the point of being executed praying
that " the rest " of his life ^^ hereafter " may be pure and holy, " so that at the last" he
may come to God's eternal joy.

The change made by the standard of 1838 leaves the rubric defective and awkwardly
mended. Is the " priest " alone, under it, to " visit " persons under sentence of death ?
Is "absolution," of any kind, to be given to one who has been confessedly a hemous
malefactor, and who has not communicated ? II no " absolution " is intended, why, as
I have already asked, do we not allow the thing to be said by a " minister," as of old?
I recognize, of course, the old distinction of absolutions declarative, precatory and ju-
dicial. But, under it, the form in the communion is not the declarative one.

The fact is that the committee who issued the standard of 1838 had a difficulty too
great for any committee not havii;j larger power than it had to manage. They were
trying to raise by the change of one word the tone of a rubric improvidently imported
from a book of a low plane of churchmanship throughout (the Proposed Book), and
with whose other rubrics this one was in unison, to a pitch which should accord with
the better considered rubrics of a book of a much higher plane of churchmanship (our
Book of Common Prayer of 1789), and with whose rubrics this rubric was not in uni-
son. If I remember, the committee had but power to change errors in typography.
I am not sure about this. But I am sure that in their present state, matters are not
fully enough stated to be clear. The thing, however, was a dangerous one to handle.

On the whole case, neither the old rubric nor the new one can be looked on as inter-
preting "the form which is used in the communion service" anywhere but in the ser-
vice of the Visitation of Prisoners itself, if, indeed, it interprets that form even there.

I may add, that even in the Proposed Book, except as this rubric there may so char-
acterize it, this form — the form, I mean, used in the communion service — is not char-
acterized as a "Declaration" of any sort, although another form, in language truly
declarative — though with an entreaty appended — and which other form the Church of
England calls " the Absolution, or Remission of Sins " — is.

For Dr. Smith's private declarations that the Proposed Book — which
went further in the way of reform of the English Prayer Book than does
our Prayer Book of 1789 — did not proceed on the idea that the Church
of England was in anything erroneous, see supra, p. 178.

INDEX.

Abeicronibie, Rev. Dr., I., 563; II., 221.
Academy, opened, I., 53.

account of, I., 54.

Episcopal, II., 28.
Adams's, John, character of Dr. Smith, I.,

266, 334.
Ahiman Rezon, II., 53.
Alexander, William, I.,449, w.
Allen, Dr. Ethan, II., 35, 41.

Rev. Richard, II., 374.
Allibone, Dr. S. Austin, I., 485.

great value of his Bibliographical
Dictionary, I., 485, n.

one of its merits, its history of the
lesser authors, I., 4S5, «.
Andrews, Rev. John, D. D., I., 365; II.,

243. 362.

Andrews, St., Society, I., 503.

Antes, Rev. II., I., 583.

Antill, Edward, I., 485, 498.

Archbishop of Canterbury, address to, I.,
269.

Archbishops and bishops of England, ad-
dress of, II., 232.
reply to, II., 233.

of York and Canterbury, address to,
II., 301.

Armor, Rev. Samuel, I., 469.

Arnold, Benedict, at Philadelphia, II., I4.

"Art and Scenery in Europe," by H. B.
Wallace, Esq., II., 215.

Articles, the Thirty-nine, II., 212, 219.

Attorney, power of, from the Royal Com-
missioners to Dr. Smith, I., 332.

Auchmuty, Rev. Samuel, commendation
of Rev. R. Blackwell, II., 470.

Bachelor of Medicine, degree of, II.,

312.
Barton, Rev. Thomas, I., 120, 132, 579,

(see letters).
Bass, Rev. Dr., II., 351.

consecration of, II., 410.
Beach, Rev. Dr. Abraham, II., 103.
Beckett, genealogies and marriages of
various persons of this family in
Philadelphia, II., 495-7.
Berrian, Rev. Dr., II., 215, «.
Beveridge, Bishop, II., 135.
Biddle, Owen, I., 438, 451 ; II., 10.
Binney, Hon. Horace, II , I9, 28, 235.
Blackwell, Rev. Robert, D. D., a memoir
of hmi, II., 469
his ancestry, on Long Island, N. Y.,

II., 467-
a graduate of Princeton, II., 469.
studies medicine in early life, II.,

469, 470.
studies divinity with Rev. Dr. Auch-
muty, or Rev. Mr. Samuel Sea-
bury, II., 470.
recommended as " a serious good
young man" by the former, II.,
470.
letter from Rev. Dr. Peters, II., 472.
ordained June, 1772, II., 473.
a missionary of the S. P. G., II., 473.
takes charge of the mission of Glou-
cester, N. J., II., 473-
desires no connection with Metho-
dists, II., 474.
enters, A. D. 1776, the army as chap-
lain and surgeon, II., 476.

(589)

590

INDEX.

Elackwell, Rev. Robert, D. D., becomes,
A. D. 1781, one of the ministers of
"the United Churches," II., 477.
is attacked by yelh)w fever, A. D.

1793, but recovers, II., 479.
his sermons characterized, II., 480.
a very useful man in the church and

otherwise, II., 481.
retires, A. D. 1811, from active minis-
terial service, II., 485.
action of the United Churches on the

event, II., 485.
domestic and famdy affairs, II., 486.
Thomson VVestcott's description of

his dwelling-house, II., 486.
various references to him in this
work, I., 366, 433, 466, n. ; II., 61,
103, 104, 362, 371, 379.
death and character of his wife, with
stanzas to her memory, II., 61-3.
Blodget, Mr. Samuel, II., 514.

Mrs., her wit and beauty, I., 472;
n., 344-
Bond, Phineas, writes inscription on Wil-
liam Moore, II., 500.
Book, the Proposed, II., 116, 118, 119,

132, 204-239, 256, 261, 463.
Bouquet, Colonel Henry, I., 368.
Bradford, Colonel William, I., 164.
Brief, the king's, I., 306.

layers, I., 306.
Bronson, Enos, Esq., his fine literary tal-
ents, and sketch of him, II., 520.
Wm. White, the Rev., his son, II., 521.
Brunholtz, Rev. Peter, I., 65.
Buchanan, Rev. Dr. E. Y., value of his
" History of O.xford Church," I.,
260,401.
thoroughness of his historical re-
searches, I., 260, 401.
Burke, Rev. Jesse Y., II., 473.
Burnet, Bishop, II., 135.
Bute, Lord, I., 302, 320.

Cadwalader, General John, II., 253.

genealogies, marriages, deaths, etc.,
of various descendants of his, II.,
550,551,560.

Cadwalader, Hon. John, II., 551.

Canal, the Union, II., 407.

Carey, Matthew, II., 365.

Carolina, South, condition of church in,
II., 225.

" Case of the Episcopal churches consid-
ered," II., 185, 258-271.

" Century of Beneficence," by Hon. J. W.
Wallace, LL. D., I., 425 ; II., 116.

Chambers, two of General Convention,
II., 287.

Chandler, Dr. Samuel, I., 40, 43, 315,

350-
Dr. Thomas B., I., 25, 386,413; II.,
226.
Chauncey, Dr. Charles, I., 387.
Chester Parish, testuiionial of, to Dr.

Smith, II., 240.
Childs, Rev. Dr. John A., his memoir of
Rev. Alexander Murray, D. D.,
II., 501.
Church, High and Low, II., 457.

English and American identical in

doctrine, H., 463.
Reformed Episcopal, II., 204, 228.
Cincinnati, Society of, II., 318.
City Tavern, meeting at, I., 493.
Claggett, Dr., elected Bishop, II., 351.
his consecration, II., 351.
sermon by Dr. Smith at, II., 352.
Club, Orpheus, I., 293, n.
Colestovvn, St. Mary's Church at, I., 434.
College of Philadelphia, Dr. Smith a
teacher at, I., 26.
Dr. Smith, Provost, I., 45.
its charter to confer degrees, I., 99.
commencement, 1757, I., 153.

1759. I-, 209.

1761, I., 276.

1762, I., 290.

1763, I., 330.
1765, 1., J63.

1766, I., 393.

1767, I., 408.

1770, I.,457-

1771, I., 469-

1775, L, 500.

1776, I., 563.

INDEX.

591

College of Philadelphia, closed, I., 571,

577-
medical department, I., 364.
Society of Alumni, I., 153.
vote of thanks of, to Dr. Smith, I.,

357-
no meeting of trustees of, II., 10.
work of reconstruction, II., 15.
attack upon, by President Reed, II.,

20.
minute of trustees, II., 22.
charter abrogated, II., 23.
repeal of act of 1779, II., 27, 255.
charter restored, II., 305.
College, Washington, of Maryland.

General Washington a subscriber to,

II., 78.
General Washington a trustee of, II.,

65.
sketch of, II., 65.

instrument of trust, II., 83.
declaration of visitors, II., 83.
visitors of Kent County School to

General Washington, II., 85.
answer to above, II., 85, 86.
proceedings of Maryland Assembly,

II., 86.
first commencement, II., 87-90.
see also II., 466.
"Comparative View," White's, II., 213.
Constitution, church, ratified by Eastern

clergy, II., 285.
Coombe, Rev. Thomas, I., 261, 394-5.
Conventions, church, 1760, I., 262.
1761,1., 277.
1764, I., 358.

1765,1., 385-
general, desires for, II., 104.

first steps towards, II., 104.

meeting of " Corporation for Re-
lief," etc., II., 105.

laymen consulted, II., 105.

meeting held May 25, 1784, II.,
107.

meeting called for October 6,
1784, II., 106.

sketch of convention of 1784,
II., 115.

Conventions, general, sketch of convention
of 1785, II., 119.

alterations in Prayer Book pro-
posed, II., 119./
committee to publish Prayer
Book, II., 140.
Convention, general, of 1789, II., 264,
361, 362.

adjourned, of, 1789, II., 29I.
»792, n , 350.
1795, II., 409.
1799, II., 411.
1801, II., 415.
Corporation of Christ Church and St.
Peter's become separate, I., 324.
for Relief of Widows, etc., I., 416,
423; II., 104, 105, 116,465.
Condon, Rev. J., II., 41.

Mrs., II., 41.
Council of Philadelphia, communication

to, I., 51.
Creed, the Athanasian, II., 238.
Cress, Peter, charges Dr. Smith with dis-
loyalty, II., 14.

Davies, Rev. F., D. D., Memoir by him
of "Dr. William Smith, of Step-
ney," II., 274, H.

Deane, Silas, I., 517.

De Benneville, George, II., 371,

De Lancey, Bishop, I., 27S, 565.
Governor, I., 27.

Dennie, Joseph, I., 346.

Denny, Lieutenant-Governor, I., 180.

Dickinson, John, I., 359.

Doctor in Medicine, qualifications for n,
II., 312.

Doddridge, Dr., I., 444,

Dorr, Rev. Dr. Benjamin, I., 277, 27S,
410; II., 297.

Duche, Rev. Dr., I., 75, 153,211,214,
215, 219, 229, 261, 263, 265.

Dupont, Francis Xavier, II., 370.

Eclipse of sun, A. d. 1776, II., 10.
English Bishops, address to, II., 232.
"Episcopal Church, The Case of. Consid-
ered," Bishop W'hite's tract, so en-

592

INDEX.

titled, vindicated from the charges
put upon it by American Low
Churchmen, II., 185, 25S, 271.

Episcopate, Colonial, I., 3S5, 413.

Erskine, Lord Chancellor, married Frances
Moore, II., 493, 494.

Eulogy on Franklin, anecdote of, II., 344.
memorandum on, II., 346.

"Europe, Art and Scenery in," II., 215.

Evans, Rev. Nathaniel, I., 326, 366, 434,
479; II., 60.

Ewing, Rev. Dr., I., 283; II., 306, 315.

Fever, the Yellow, II., 365, 479.
sermons on, II., 379.

Fire Company, Hand-in- Hand, Dr. Smith,
Bishop White, Dr. Blackwell, and
most eminent citizens of Philadel-
phia, members of, I., 465.

Foggo, Rev. Dr., II., 207.

Folhergill, Dr. John, of London, memoir
of, I., 590.

Francis, Tench, I., 54.

Franklin, Dr., applies to Dr. Johnson to
take headship of academy, I., 24.
approves of schools for Germans, I.,

25-

is a commissioner at Albany, I., 47.

seeks an intercourse with Dr. Smith,
I., 24.

opposes Dr. Smith, I., 128, 335.

claims Kinnerley's discoveries, I., 341.

misrepresents the college, I., 349.
Dr. Smith, I., 357.

made President of Philosophical So-
ciety, I., 464.

his bad character in Philadelphia, I.,

344, 587-

colonial agent, protests against his
appointment as such, I., 587.

his " Prayer Book," II., 474, 257.

death of, II., 324.

eulogy on, II., 329, 344, 346.
Franks, David (British Agent), his daugh-
ter marries Andrew Hamilton, II.,
494.

descendants of these, II., 494-497.
Funeral, Dr. Smith's, II., 448.

Garrick, I., 319.
Gates, Thomas, D. D., II., 94.
Gauden, Bishop, II., 135.
German, Education Society, I., 40.
trustees of, I., 64.
deputy, I., 71.
importance of, I., 97.
schools opened, I., 93.
Sauer opposes, I., 48, 68.
Godfrey, Thomas, I., 187, 389.
Goldsborough, Hon. Charles, I., 289.

Mrs. Charles, II., 322.
Gordon, John, D. D., II., 102.
Governor, address of convention to, I., 266.
Graeme, Miss Elizabeth, afterwards the
well-known " Mrs. Ferguson," I.,
289.
Thomas, I., 473.
Griffith, Rev. David, afterwards Bishop
elect of Maryland, II., 61, 238, 265,
266, etc.
Griswold, Dr. Rufus Wilmot, his charac-
ter of Bishop White, II., 223.
of the Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D.,
II., 4S0, 481.

Hall, Carpenter's, II., 286.
Hamilton, Andrew, marries Abigail
Moore, II., 494.
his descendants, II., 494-497.
Governor, I., 208, 325.
William, I., 293.

marriages and genealogies of various
persons of the family of the Wood-
lands of this name, II., 494-497.
Harrison, family of, at Gloucester, N. J.,

11., 60-63.
Hell, descent into, II., 165, 238.
Henricks, Captain, I., 541.
Henry, Mr. William, of Lancaster, the
person who first saw and patronized
the genius of Benjamin West, I.,

592.

Hermit, the, II., 444.

High churchmen and Low churchmen,
popular ideas about dislinctions be-
tween, unfounded and foolish, II.,
455> 465-

INDEX.

593

Hildeburn, Charles Riche, his talents and
acquirements as an antiquary, I.,
27S.

Hills, Dr. George Morgan, 11., 251.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, its
great services to the State spoken
of by Governor Hartranft, I., 369.

Hobart, Bishop, H., 458.

Hopkins, Bishop, W., 285, 459.
J. H. (D.D.),n., 459, «.

Hopkinson, Hon. Francis, I., 74, 293;
H., 166, 210.
Thomas, I., 54.

Hymns, Dr. Smith advocates them; Bishop
White does not, H., 210, 216, 220.

Illinois, land company of, II., 410.
Inscription, proposed by Dr. Smith on

College of Philadelphia at the

restoration of its charter, II., 310.
Inscriptions in St. Peter's churchyard, by

Messrs. Bronson and Hildeburn,

I., 278.

James, Rev. J. W., tribute to his worth,
by Christ Church, I., 399; II., 227.
Jauncey, Dr., his bequest, I., 287.
Jay, Dr. (Sir James), I., 300, 313.

Hon. John, II., 232.
Jefferson, Thomas, II., 345.
Jenney, Dr., baptizes William Moore
Smith, I., 214.
and Rev. W. Macclenachan, I., 216.
an invalid, I., 215, 221, 231, 263,

265.
his order to his congregation, I., 227.
not partial to the college, I., 337.
sketch of, death and burial, L, 286.
Johnson, Dr. Samuel, of Connecticut, his
intimacy with Dr. Smith, I., 24.
asked to take charge of academy, I.,

24.
his work on Ethics, I., 24.
his life, by Chandler and Beardsley,
I., 25.
Jones, Hon. Horatio Gates, Memoir of
Kinnersley, by him, I., 165, n.
Samuel, sketch of, I., 294.

38

Jordan, Mr, John, Jr. (Vice-President of
the Historical Society of Pennsyl-
vania), valuable information given
by him about the early life of Ben-
jamin West, I., 592, n.

Kinnersley, Rev. Ebenezer, memorial win-
dow in the University of Pennsyl-
vania raised to him by efforts of
Senator Horatio Gates Jones, an
alumnus, I., 341, 586.

his discoveries in electricity appropri-
ated by Dr. Franklin, I., 165, 340.

memoir of, by Hon. H. G. Jones, I.,
586.
Kuhn, genealogies and marriages of vari-
ous persons of this family in Phila-
delphia, II., 496, 497.

Langguth, John M., II., 252.

London, Bishop of, address to, I., 271.

Leech, Thomas, I., 178.

Letters, Dr. Andrews to Dr. Smith, II.,

243-
Antill, Edward, to Dr. Smith, I., 498.

Auchmuty, Rev. Dr. Samuel, to Rev.
Dr. Richard Peters, II., 470.

Barton, Rev. Thomas, to Dr. Bear-
croft, I., 133.

Do. to Dr. Peters, I., 580*

Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 120, 132, 489.

Dr. Bearcroft to Dr. Smith, I., loi,
163.

Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Robert, to Rev.
Dr. Richard Peters, II., 472.

Do. to Bishop White, II., 485.

Cadwalader, Mrs., to Mrs. Ridgley,
II., 350, 445, 448.

Chandler, Dr. S., to Dr. Peters, I.,

354-
to trustees of German Society, I., 40.
Circular (letter), to the counties of

Pennsylvania, I., 496.
Clergy of Philadelphia to Bishop of

London, I., 524.
Coit, Dr. Thomas, to Horace W.

Smith, II., 290.
Coke, Mr., to Bishop White, IL,,24J£l.

594

INDEX.

Letters, Colden, Cadwalader, to Dr.

Smith, I., 464.
college, trustees of, to D. Barclay &

Co., I., 285.
Do. do. to Dr. Smith, I., 313.
committee of general convention to

Bishop Seabury, II., 280.
convention, general, to Archbishops

of Canterbury and York, II.,

239-
Franklin, Dr., to David Barclay, I.,

591-
Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 23, 25, 28, 44,

464, 472.
Garrick, David, to Drs. Smith and

Jay, I., 319, «.
German Society to trustees of London

Society, I., 139.
Hall, David, to trustees of college,

L, 128.
Herring, Archbishop, to Dr. Smith,

I., 29, 100.
Jenney, Dr., to Archbishop of Canter-
bury, I., 185.
Do. to Rev. \V. Macclenacban, I., 232.
Do. to wardens and vestry of Christ

Church, I., 232, 233.
Johnson, Sir William, to Dr. Smith,

1.^421.
Johnson, William Samuel, to Dr.

Smith, I., 487.
Junius to Wesley, L, 521.
Llewelin, Dr., to Dr, Edwards, I.,

356-
London, Bishop of, to Dr. Jenney and

others, I., 234,
Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 362.
Maccleuachan, Rev. W., to Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, I., 237.
Madison, Rev. J., to Dr. Smith, I.,

566.
Maskelyne, Nevil, to Dr. Franklin,

I., 448.
Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 448.
Muhlenberg, Mr., to Dr. Smith, I.,

78.
Muhlenberg, Dr., to Dr. Smith, II.,

250.

Letters, Murray, Rev. Dr., to Dr. William

White, II., 237.
McKean, Rev. Mr., to Dr. Bearcroft,

I., 181.
Mcpherson, John, to Captain John

McPherson, I., 542.
Oliver, A., to Dr. Smith, I., 485, 490.
Oxford, Bishop of, to Dr. Smith, I.,

458.
Parker, Rev, Samuel, to Bishop

White, II., 303.
Parsons, William, to Dr. Peters, I.,

85.
Penn, Lady, to Dr. Smith, I., 503.
Penn, Messrs. Thomas and Richard,

to trustees of college, I., 353.
Penn, Thomas, to Dr. Smith, I., 351.
Do. to trustees of college, I., 352. ,
Peters, Smith and Duche, Drs., t®

Bishop of London, I., 412, 458.
Peters, Dr., to Dr. Smith, I., 320,

325-
Presbyterian ministers to Archbishop

of Canterbury, I., 235.
Priestley, Dr., to Dr. Franklin, I.,

519-
Reiger and Stoy to Dr. Smith, I., 84.

Riltenhouse, David, to William Bar-
ton, I., 448.
Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 445, 452, 454,

455-
Seabury, Bishop, to Bishop White,

II., 259, 275.

Do. to convention of 1789, II., 282.

Do. to Dr. Smith, II., 272, 275, 304.

Schuyler, General, to Captain Mc-
Pherson, I., 543.

Seeker, Bishop, to Dr, Samuel John-
son, I., 42-

Secker, Archbishop, to Rev. W. Mac-
cleuachan, I., 246.

Do. to Dr. Peters, L, 354.

Do. to Dr. Smith, I., 258, 396.

Do. to trustees of college, I., 350.

Senior class to trustees of college, I.,
126.

Smith, Dr., to Rev. T. Barton, I.,
110,463.

INDEX.

595

Letters, Smith, Dk., to Barton, William,

I., 444, 461.
Do. to Bearcroft, Dr., I., 141, 149,

273. 274, 288.
Do. to Biddle, Owen, I., 451.
Do. to Burd, Colonel James, I., 487.
Do. to Chandler, Dr., I., 45, 77, 96,

loi, 392.
Do. to college, trustees of, I., 26,

315-

Smith, Nixon and Mifflin, to commit-
tee of Boston, etc., I., 492.

Smith, Dr., to Cotman and Johnson,
II., 106.

Do. and Jay, to England, clergy of,

I-, 309-
Do. to Ennals, Henry, Esq., II., 323.
Do. to Gloucester, Dean of, I., 385.
Do. to Goldsborough, Hon. Charles,

II., 322.
Do. to Herring, Archbishop, I., 86,

iiS.
Do. to Johnson, Sir William, I., 391,

417-
Do. to Morgan, M., I., 162.
Do. to Parker, Dr., II., 202.
Do. to Peters, Dr., I., 49, 317, 467.
Do. to Reiger and Stoy, I., 81.
Do. to Rodney, Ctesar, II., 40.
Do. to Rush, Dr., II., 372.
Smith, Hamilton Allen, and others to

Rev. Mr. Schlatter, I., 92.
Smith, Dr., to Seabury, Bishop, II.,

278.
Do. to Seeker, Bishop, I., 183.
Do. to Sharpe, Governor, I., 162.
Do. to Smith, W^n. Moore, II., 412.
Do. to Society, Propagation, I., 29,

381, 384, 406, 407, 414, 416, 434,

457. 459. 460, 462, 465. 477> 490,

528, 538.
Do. to Stuart, Gilbert, II., 447.
Do. to Webb, Joseph, Esq., II., 29,

30. 31-33-
Do. to West, Dr., II., 249, 255, 263,

326.

Do. to White, Bishop, II., 95, 142,

146, 148, 167, 171, 176, 181, 1S3,

187, 192, 195, 197-199. 201, 236,
238.
Letters, Smith, Dr., to Williams, Jona-
than, Esq., II., 349-
Smith, Mrs., to Smith, Charles, II.,

253. 254-
Smith, Richard Penn, to his son,

Horace Wemyss Smith, II., 531-4.
Washington, General, to Grand

Lodge, II., 34S.
Do. to Smith, Dr., II., 40.
Webb, Joseph, to Smith, Dr., II.,

30. 31-

Wharton, Rev. Dr. C. II., to White,

Bishop, II., 154.

White, Bishop, to Blackwell, Rev.
Dr. Robert, II.,4S4.

Do. to Smith, Dr., II., 141, 144-146,
148, 150-154, 165, 166, 170, 172,
178, 181, 191, 194-196, 198, 201.

Wroth, Dr., to Smith, Horace W.,
II., 308, 504.
Low churchmen and High churchmen,
popular ideas as to distinctions be-
tween, unfounded and foolish, II.,
455-465-

Macclenachan, Rev. W., disturbs the
church, I., 215.
his disrespect to Dr. Smith, I., 263.
had been a " Dissenter in form," I.,

255-
rector of St. Paul's, Philadelphia, for

two years, I., 260.
fails to appear at convention, I., 277.
his letters and also the replies to
them, I., 236, 259; II., 460, 461.
Magaw, Rev. Samuel, D. D., I., 65, 261,

564; II., 104.
Magazine, American (Colonel W. Brad-
ford's, of 1757), edited by Dr.
Smith, I., 164, 172; II., 444.
Magazine, Pennsylvania, I., 368.
Martin, W. T., I., 73.
Maryland, conventions of, II., Tfi, 41, 64,
94, 96, 108, 239, 241, 254.
Convention of, to Assembly, II.. -7.
state of church in, A. D. 1780, II., ^'^.

;/3

INDEX.

IMaskelyne, Nevil, I., 448.

Masonic Lodge, address of and to, II.,

347, 409-
celebration, I., 107; 11., 11.
Mausoleum, Dr. Sinilli's, at Falls of

Schuylkill, II., 415, 449.
Mifflin, Governor, II., 378, 412, 413.
Mirania, College of, I., 21, 22, 23, 25.
Money, Continental, II., 15.
Montgomery, Mr. Thomas H., great-grand-
son of Bishop White; valuable con-
tributions to this work, II., 185,
502.
Moore, Richard Channing, Bishop, II. ,490.
Moore, William, of " Moore Hall," ob-
noxious to Quakers, etc., I., 167.
charges against, and counter address,

I., 168-172.
replies to, I., 172.
replies translated for German papers,

I., 172.
in custody, I., 172.
tried and sentenced, I., 173.
case disposed of in England by the
king in council, and Moore sus-
tained, I., 174.
memoir of, and of his ancestors and

descendants, II., 48S, 541.
death of, II., 64.
Muhlenberg, Rev. H., I., 66, 69.
Murray, Rev. Alexander, memoir of him
by Rev. Dr. Childs, II., 237, 501.

Neill, Rev. Hugh, I., 260; II., 59, 60.
Nicholson, " Bishop," his gross ignorance,

II., 204.
Norristown, sketch of, I., 568.
Norriton Manor, I., 567.
report on, II., 311.

Odell, Rev. Jonathan, author of well-
known verses on Dr. Franklin,
I., 456; II., 60.

Odenheimer, Rev. W. H. (D. D.), opens
St. Peter's Church for the daily
service, II., 207.

Ogden, Rev. Uzal, II., 226.

Onderdonk, Bishop Henry Ustick, the
great reasoner and logician gf the
American church, II., 459.

Paca, Governor, appeal of, in behalf
of religion, etc., II., 93, 99, loO,
114.

Penn, Hon. John, II., 408.

Penn, Lady Juliana, I., 65.

Penn, Thomas, his gifts to the College of
Philadelphia, I., 28, 65, 275, 306,

437-
welcomes Dr. Smith, I., 298.
advocates Philadelphia and New

York Colleges, I., 301.
visited by Dr. Smith in England, I.,

Perry, Bishop William Stevens, I., 88,

42S; II., 218, 242.
Peters, Rev. Dr. Richard, sketch of, I., 85.
sponsor of William Moore Smith, I.,

214.
Do. Thomas Duncan Smith, I., 262.
baptizes Williamina Elizabeth Smith,

I., 289.
Do. Richard Smith, I., 421.
rector of Christ Church and St.

Peter's, I., 322.
his churchmanship of an amiable

kind, I., 337.
wanted in England, I., 323.
his tribute to the Swedish churches,

I., 338; II., 462.
Petition for German schools, I., 70, 80,

81, 89-91.
of St. George's, Lutheran, to English

archbishops and Bishop of London,

I., 360.
of Maryland churches to General

Assembly, II., 91.
of Dr. Smith and William Gates to

General Assembly, II., 94, 95.
Philadelphia evacuated, II., 13.

address to citizens of, II., 376.
Pilmore, Rev. Dr. Joseph, I., 261 ; II., 273.
Prayer Book, committees on, II., 288.
adopted, II., 291.
criticisms upon, II., 292.

INDEX.

597

Press, Printing, German, I., 69.

Primus (Dr. Smith's slave), his death, II.,
416.

Proprietaries, the Honorable, address to,
I., 268.

Provoost, Dr., II., 238.

Provoost, Bishop, and Bishop Seabury,
II., 273, 274, 289.

Psalms, selections of, II., 215, 224, 291.

Publications, Dr. Smith's various, II., 534.

Publication Fund of the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania, its great service to
the Commonwealth, testified to by
Governor Hartranft, I., 368, 7{.

Queries, Bishop White's, on Preface to
Proposed Book, II., 180.

Reed, President, attacks the college, II., 20.

his character, II., 28.
Revere, Paul, bearer of the Philadelphia

resolutions, I., 494.
Ridgely, Dr. Charles G., II., 252.
Rights, Declaration of, by church in
Maryland, II., 97.

presented to Governor Paca, II., 99.

Governor's answer, II., 100.
Rittenhouse, David, I., 409, 438; II., lo,

345-
Roberdeau, Daniel, quarrels with Dr.

Smith, I., 129.
Rudulph, Joseph, II., 408.
Rush, Dr. Benjamin, II., 345.

Dr. Smith thanks him for sympathy

during the yellow fever, II., 372.
Dr. Smith's low estimate of his un-
derstanding, II., 504-505.

Sanderson, Bishop, II., 135.
Seabury, Dr., II., 226.

consecration of, II., 251.

Do. refused on political grounds by

England, II., 272 (see tit. Letters).
Scotch Bishops, succession of, recognized,

II., 277.
Schuylkill water, introduction of into

Philadelphia, assisted by Dr. Smith,

II., 410.

Seeker, Archbishop, his letters, ability and

virtue, I., 246-259.
Smith, James, father of Dr. William, I.,

17-
Smith, Hon. Charles (of Lancaster),

memoir of, II., 570.
Smith, George Washington (of Philadel-
phia), memoir of, II., 523.
Smith, Richard (of Huntingdon, Pa.),

memoir of, II., 572.
Smith, Richard Penn (5th), II., 561.
Smith, Russell Moore, II., 561,
Smith, Edgar Wemyss, II., 561.
Smith, Hon. Thomas, Judge of the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania, me-
moir of, II., 520.
Smith, Dr. William, birth and parentage
of, I., 17.

education and early writings, I., 21.

graduates at University of Aberdeen,
I., 20.

sails for New York, I., 21.

teaches in Academy and College of
Philadelphia, I., 26.

returns to England, I., 28.

is ordained deacon, I., 39.

is ordained priest, I., 39.

preaches in Scotland, I., 39.

returns to America and is elected
Provost, I., 45.

sermon on the death of W. T. Mar-
tin, I., 73.

issues a pamphlet on Pennsylvania,
I., 123.

charged with disloyalty, I., 126.

charge examined. Dr. Smith vindi-
cated, I., 127.

senior class acts and approves of his
loyalty to the Crown on the above
charge, I., 126.

Gazette of Franklin & Hall refuses to
print the report of the trustees, I.,
128.

sermon on condition of the colony,
I., 131.

visits Huntingdon, I., 132.

sermon to forces under General Stan-
wix, I., 161.

598

INDEX.

Smith, Dr. William, arraigned and im-
prisoned for an alleged libel on the
Quakers, I,, 174.

hears his classes in jail, I., 186.

liberated and re-arrested, I., 187.

address to colonies, I., 188.

marries Miss R. Moore, I., 193.

Thanksgiving sermon on campaign
of 1758, I., 193,

sends an appeal to the Crown, I.,

193-

sails for England; receives the de-
gree of D. D., I., 197.

returns to Philadelphia, I., 214.

mission to England in behalf of the
college, I., 283.

his instructions, I., 285.

sails for England, I., 29a.

appeal for college, I., 295.

reception by Mr. Thomas Penn and
Archbishop Seeker, I., 288.

visits Scotland, I., 313.

presented at court by Mr. Penn, I.,
322.

made D. D. by Trinity College, Dub-
lin, I., 330.

visits Mr. Penn, I., 331.

returns to America, I., 352.

vote of thanks by trustees of college,

I-. 357-
on Bouquet's expedition, I., 370.
purchases land at Huntingdon, I.,

397-
is rector of Trinity Church, Oxford,

I., 401.

lectures on natural philosophy, I.,
410.

in charge of Christ Church, Phila-
delphia, I., 410.

chaplain to i8th regiment, I., 411.

President of Corporation for Relief
of Widows, etc., I., 432.

retires from the above in 1789, 1., 433.

at an Indian conference, I., 435-

observes transit of Venus, I., 436,
456, 461,

founds the Philosophical Society, I.,
437-

Smith, Dr. William, visits South Carolina
in interests of college, I., 467.
address before Philosophical Society,

I., 483.
Do. on Colonial Grievances, I., 495.
his opinions on the Revolution, I.,

504, 539-

sermon on death of General Mont-
gomery, I., 540.

makes a large purchase of land, I.,

567.
observes transit of Mercury, I., 570.
warrant to arrest, as a Tory, I., 372.
comment on statement of Bishop

White, I., 574.
at Barbadoes island, II., 9.
Forty Fort, Wyoming, II., 10.
returns to Philadelphia, II., 13.
replies to charge of Peter Cress, II.,

14.
removes to Chestertown, Md., II.,

27.
Principal of academy, afterwards

Washington College, II., 27, 34, 64.
preaches at St. Peter's, Philadelphia,

11., 39-
proposes General Washington as

member of Philosophical Society,

II., 40.
sermon on Fast of 1781, II., 41.
Do. on capture of Cornwallis, II., 47.
at Gloucester Mission, II., 60.
elected Bishop of Maryland, II., 100.
testimonial to Bishop of London, II.,

lOI.

sermon before Convention of Mary-
land, II., 109.

presides at General Convention of
1784, II., 115.

favors extensive changes in Prayer
Book, II., 118.

sermon before Convention of 1785,
II., 214.

foresees our national greatness, II.,
207.

reply to English bishops, II., 233.

sermon before General Convention
of 1769, II., 265.

INDEX.

599

Smith, Dr. William, sermon at funeral of
Rev. Dr. Griffith, II., 267.
with Mr. William Henry, of Lan-
caster, one of Benjamin West's ,
earliest and most valuable patrons

Im 591-
proposes to leave Maryland, II., 307.
returns to Falls of Schuylkill, II., 310.
sermon before the Society of ihe Cin-
cinnati, II., 318.
appointed "An Agent of Informa-
tion," il., 328.
eulogy on Dr. Franklin, II., 329,
published sermons, II,, 421.
Do. titles of, II., 428.
his last sermon, II., 445,
his last will, H., 416.
his theological viewfs, II., 455-464.
his active, useful life, II., 465.
obituary notice of and verses upon

Charles Willing, II., 508.
his last official act, II., J.48.
his last illness, II., 44<i.
his funeral, II., 448.
his estate, II., 449.
why not consecrated ' IJ'ishdp'. for;

MarylaTid, II., 450. • • • • <

Dr. Wroth's anecdotes^ about, 11.,^

504-505. ; \ \,) ;

Smith, William, " of Stepney','' 11.) 274, «.'

Smith, William Moore, I., 214; II., 543.

Smith, William Rudolph (General, of

Wisconsin), memoir of, II., 581.
Smith, Hon. Charles -(of Lancaster'), II.,

320, 323, 57a
Smith, Elizabeth, I., 567.
Smith, George Washington (Senior Vice-
President of the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania), II., 523.
Smith, Isabella, II., 416.
Smith, Richard, I., 421 ; II., 572.
Smith, Richard Penn '(father of the au-
thor), I., 479; II., 411, 525.
Smith, Richard Penn (Colonel), II., 554,
Smith, Rebecca, I., 471 ; II., 35a
Smith, Hon. Thomas, Judge of the Su-
preme Court of Penna., II., 520.
Smith, Thomas Duncan, I., 269; II., 574.

Smith, Williamina Elizabeth, I., 289:
IL, 102.

Smith, William Moore, his birth, I., 214.
graduates, I., 501.
sketch of, I., 573; see II. , 446,

Spangenberg, L, 43.

Standing Stone creek, I., 397.

" State of the Episcopad Churches Consid-
ered," IL, 271,

State House, Convention of 1789 meets in,
II. , 386,

Stewart, General Walter, IL, 319,

Stillc, Provost of the college, his just ap-
preciation of Dr. Smith, as shown
in many ways ; a worthy successor
of him ; a R&stifKfor of the institu-
tion of which Dr. Smith was the
Fundator and first Conditor ; prob-
able loss which the university will
suffer by his retirement ; different
references to him, I., 24, 124, 125,

295' .•^35' 340; II-, ^L 27, 316,
318.
Stone, Xi . I'. D., his valuable essay on

Continental Paper, II. , 15.
-St-by,' WilRa-m; L', 84.
•Sti-inge/,' Rev.' William, I., 261, 423.
Stuart, Gilbert, I., 472; IL, 413, 447.
Stuv^t^on.' ?!lr.,>,I;, 265, 322, 323.
St. Andrew^s Society, L, 503,
St. John's Church, IL, 445.
St. Paul's Church, I., 259, 42:2, 423.
St. Peter's, dedication of, I., 277-282.
a separate coqooration, L, 324.
inscriptions in churchyard, I., 278.
Berkeley, Clarksborough, IL, 473, w.
Synod, Presbyterian, I., 217,

Talbot, "Rev. John, IL, 251.

Tavern, One Ton, I., 45.

Tennent, Rev. William, I., 129.

Title, Protestant Episcopal Church, 11.,

38.
Transit of Mercury, I., 570.

of Venus, I., 4361, 456, 46J.

Union of ch'urches effected, II. , 285.

6oo

INDEX.

University of Pennsylvania and College of
Philadelphia combined, II., 315.
languishes, II., 318.

Virginia, state of Church in, II., 225.

protesters in, against an American
Episcopate, I., 388.
Venus, transit of, I., 436, 456, 461.
Veto with House of Bishops, II., 284.

Wallace, Horace Binney, his "Art and
Scenery in Europe," II., 215.

Wallace, John Bradford, his report to the
Legislature of Pennsylvania on the
proposed change of the Constitution
of the State, II., 296.
other references to, II., 520, 524.

Wallace, John William, LL. D., President
of Historical Society of Pennsyl-
vania : his address in the New Hall,

I-, 97-
his " Century of Beneficence," I.,

425; II-) III- ' \cc c r t t

Wallace, Joshua ]\Iaddox, of Eurf.ngton,

N. J., sketch of, I., 408.
Washington, General, not Grand Maste'-

of Masons, II., 34.
no hand in making the Proposed

Book, as it is erjr^necusly allegeii

by Mr. Nicholson 'that' be had, II.,

204.
Waterford (N. J.), St. Mary's Church, II.,

471.473-
Wemyss, John, II., 52.

genealogy of this family, II., 498.
West, Benjamin, history of his early life,

I-. 591-
West, Dr. William, II., 102.

Wharton, Rev. Dr. C. H., II., 140, 229.

Whitby, Dr., II., 135.

Williams, Jonathan, II., 345.

Will, last, of Dr. Smith, II., 416.

executors of, II., 419.

Wilson, Dr. Bird, II., 459.

Wilson, Hon. James, I., 409.

White, Bishop, graduates, I., 365.

White, Bishop, his letter for Orders, I.,

458.

his " Case of Episcopal Churches

Considered," this tract vindicated,

I., 405; II., 185, 258, 502.

and Dr. Blackwell only clergymen at

one time in Pennsylvania, I., 403.
refuses to preach military sermons,

I., 561.
is President of Corporation for Relief

of Widows, etc., I., 434.
why called at one time " Doctor,"

instead of " Bishop," I., 389, n.
is Chaplain to Congress, II., 10.
and Dr. Blackwell desire and get a
General Convention, II., 103, 105.
on the meeting at New Brunswick,

II., 107.
uses the " Proposed Book," II., 132.
opposed to extensive changes, II.,

141, 217, 219, 224.
his " Hints towards a Preface " to
< ;• Proposed Book, II., 1 55.
on mu'sld and hymns, II., 220.
recommended for consecration, II.,

■23S. ■
his consecration, II., 264.
and Dr. Smith contrasted, II., 217.
his tribute to Dr. Smith, II., 307.
refuses 'to leave Philadelphia during

the yellow fever, II., 379.
and Benjamin R. Morgan with Dr.

Smith in his last illness, II., 446.
buries Dr. Smith, II., 448.
appointed by Dr. Smith to be one of

his executors, II., 419.
did not vote for himself as Bishop in

1786, II., 459-
expresses to Rev. Dr. Blackwell re-
grets at losing his services at the
United Churches, II., 485.
Willing, Charles, memoir of, II., 505, 507.
Willing, Thomas, memoir of, II., lo, 325,

505. 510-
Wroth, Peregrine, M.D., II., 503.
Wyoming, lands purchased at, I., 47.

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