until this convention, that sufficient powers could be procured for the addressing of your lordships on this subject.

The petition which we offer to your venerable body isthat from a tender regard to the religious interests of thousands in this rising empire, professing the same religious principles with the Church of England, you will be pleased to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall be recommended by this Church in the several states here represented; full satisfaction being given of the sufficiency of the persons recommended, and of its being the intention of the general body of the Episcopalians in the said states respectively, to receive them in the quality of bishops.

Whether this, our request, will meet with insurmountable impediments, from the political regulations of the kingdom in which your lordships fill such distinguished stations, it is not for us to foresee. We have not ascertained, that any such will exist; and are humbly of opinion, that as citizens of these states, interested in their prosperity, and religiously regarding the allegiance which we owe them, it is to an ecclesiastical source only we can apply in the present exigency.

It may be of consequence to observe, that in these states there is a separation between the concerns of policy, and those of religion; that accordingly, our civil rulers cannot officially join in the present application; that, however, we are far from apprehending the opposition or even displeasure of any of those honourable personages; and, finally, that in this business we are justified by the constitutions of the states, which are the foundations and control of all our laws. On this point we beg leave to refer to the enclosed extracts from the constitutions of the respective states of which we are citizens, and we flatter ourselves that they must be satisfactory.

Thus, we have stated to your lordships the nature and the grounds of our application; which we have thought it most respectful and most suitable to the magnitude of the object, to address to your lordships for your deliberation, before any person is sent over to carry them into effect. Whatever may be the event, no time will efface the remembrance of the past services of your lordships and your predecessors. The archbishops of Canterbury were not prevented, even by the weighty concerns of their high stations, from attending to the interests of this distant branch of the Church under their care. The bishops of London were our diocesans; and the uninterrupted, although volun

tary submission of our congregations, will remain a perpetual proof of their mild and paternal government. All the bishops of England, with other distinguished characters, as well ecclesiastical as civil, have concurred in forming and carrying on the benevolent views of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts; a society to whom, under God, the prosperity of our Church is in an eminent degree to be ascribed. It is our earnest wish to be permitted to make, through your lordships, this just acknowledgment to that venerable society; a tribute of gratitude which we the rather take this opportunity of paying, as while they thought it necessary to withdraw their pecuniary assistance from our ministers, they have endeared their past favours by a benevolent declaration, that it is far from their thoughts to alienate their affection from their brethren now under another government; with the pious wish, that their former exertions may still continue to bring forth the fruits they aimed at, of pure religion and virtue. Our hearts are penetrated with the most lively gratitude by these generous sentiments; the long succession of former benefits passes in review before us; we pray that our Church may be a lasting monument of the usefulness of so worthy a body; and that her sons may never cease to be kindly affectioned to the members of that Church, the fathers of which have so tenderly watched over her infancy. For your lordships in particular, we most sincerely wish and pray, that you may long continue the ornaments of the Church of England, and at last receive the reward of the righteous, from the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. We are, with all the respect which is due to your exalted and venerable characters and stations,

In Convention,

Your lordships

Most obedient, and

Most humble servants.*

Christ Church, Philadelphia, October 5th, 1785.

The preceding address and consequent measures for obtaining the Episcopacy, were contemplated by the following plan of the convention, recorded on their journal. Ordered:

First, That this convention address the archbishops and bishops of the Church of England, requesting them to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall be

* Signed by all the members.

chosen and recommended to them for that purpose, from the conventions of this Church in the respective states.

Secondly, That it be recommended to the said conventions, that they elect persons for this purpose.

Thirdly, That it be further recommended to the different conventions, at their next respective sessions, to appoint committees, with powers, to correspond with the English bishops for the carrying of these resolutions into effect; and that, until such committees shall be appointed, they be requested to direct any communications which they may be pleased to make on this subject to the committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. White, president, the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Rev. Mr. Provoost, the honourable James Duane, Esq. and Samuel Powell and Richard Peters, Esqs.

Fourthly, That it be further recommended to the different conventions, that they pay especial attention to the making it appear to their lordships, that the persons who shall be sent to them for consecration, are desired in the character of bishops, as well by the laity as by the clergy of this Church, in the said states respectively; and that they will be received by them in that character on their return.

Fifthly, And in order to assure their lordships of the legality of the present proposed application, that the deputies now assembled be desired to make a respectful address to the civil rulers of the states in which they respectively reside, to certify that the said application is not contrary to the constitutions and laws of the same.

Sixthly, And, whereas, the bishops of this Church will not be entitled to any of such temporal honours as are due to the archbishops and bishops of the parent Church, in quality of lords of parliament; and whereas the reputation and usefulness of our bishops will considerably depend on their taking no higher titles or style than will be due to their spiritual employments; that it be recommended to this Church in the states here represented, to provide, that their respective bishops may be called, "The Right Rev. A. B. bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in C. D." and, as bishop, may have no other title; and may not use any such style as is usually descriptive of temporal power and precedency.

No. 6. Page 111.

Letter of the English Prelates.

London, February 24, 1786. To the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sundry of the United States of America. The archbishop of Canterbury hath received an address, dated in convention, Christ Church, Philadelphia, October 5, 1785, from the clerical and lay deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sundry of the United States of America, directed to the archbishops and bishops of England, and requesting them to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall be recommended by the Episcopal Church in the several states by them represented.

This brotherly and Christian address was communicated to the archbishop of York, and to the bishops, with as much despatch as their separate and distant situations would permit, and hath been received and considered by them with that true and affectionate regard which they have always shown towards their Episcopal brethren in America.

We are now enabled to assure you, that nothing is nearer to our hearts than the wish to promote your spiritual welfare, to be instrumental in procuring for you the complete exercise of our holy religion, and the enjoyment of that ecclesiastical constitution, which we believe to be truly apostolical, and for which you express so unreserved a

veneration.

We are therefore happy to be informed, that this pious design is not likely to receive any discountenance from the civil powers under which you live; and we desire you to be persuaded, that we, on our parts, will use our best endeavours, which we have good reason to hope, will be successful, to acquire a legal capacity of complying with the prayer of your address.

With these sentiments we are disposed to make every allowance which candour can suggest for the difficulties of your situation; but, at the same time, we cannot help being afraid, that, in the proceedings of your convention, some alterations may have been adopted or intended, which those difficulties do not seem to justify.

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, lest we should be the instruments of establishing an ecclesiastical system which will 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. In the mean time, we heartily commend you to God's holy protection, and are, your affectionate brethren,

To the Reverend and Honourable the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sundry of the United States of America, Philadelphia.

No. 7. Page 120.

A Memorial from the Convention in New-Jersey, to the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, to be held in the City of Philadelphia in June next.

The Memorial of the Convention of the said Church in New-Jersey, now held in the City of Perth-Amboy,

RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH,

That your memorialists have unanimously approved of the alterations in the liturgy as they appear in the new Prayer Book, to render it consistent with the American revolution and the constitutions of the respective states, as made and concluded on by the late General Convention of said Church, held at Philadelphia in September and Octo