that country with a bishop, if a suitable person should be presented, whatever might be the number of resident presbyters, and even if there be none. There was the further reason, that if it should be thought convenient to unite with a western diocess the western counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia; and if there should be the consent of the church in each of the said states, there might be a temporary provision for the purpose, consistent with the integrity of the church in each state.

The second canon makes a clergyman's renunciation of the ministry a cause of admonition, or of suspension or of degradation.

The third canon provided, that in the case of expulsion from the communion, and information given to the bishop as required by the second rubric before the communion service; if the expelled party make no complaint, there shall be no inquiry instituted. The bishop on receiving complaint, is to institute an inquiry, and the notice given by the minister is a sufficient presentation.

A pastoral letter was again drawn up by the house of bishops, and read in the house of clerical and lay deputies.

When the convention adjourned, Philadelphia was appointed to be the place of the next meeting. S.

2. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

AND

REMARKS.

A. Page 7. Of the Question of American Episcopacy, as agitated in the Colonies.

THERE were two periods, which were especially productive of pamphlets and newspaper essays on this subject. The first of these periods, was about the time of the civil controversy, which arose on the occasion of the stamp act. The question of American Episcopacy was brought forward in a pamphlet by the Rev. East Apthorp, missionary at Cambridge, Massachusetts; a native of that province, but afterwards possessed of several considerable preferments in England. His production was answered by Dr. Mayhew, a congregational minister of Boston. Several others engaged in the dispute; among whom was Abp. Secker; although his name was not prefixed to his pamphlet, which has been since printed in his works.

The other period was a few years before the revolutionary war; when the Rev. Dr. Chandler of

Elizabeth-Town, New-Jersey, made an appeal to the public, in favour of the object of obtaining an American Episcopate. There were various answers to the pamphlet and defences of it, in other pamphlets published by the Doctor and others. In addition to these, the newspapers abounded with periodical and other productions. The author of the present performance was at that time a youth: but from what he then heard and observed, he believes it was impossible to have obtained the concurrence of a respectable number of laymen, in any measure for the obtaining of an American Bishop. What could have been the reason of this, when there was scarcely a member of the Episcopal Church, who would not have been ready to avow his preference of episcopacy to presbytery; and of a form of prayer, to that which is extemporary? It is believed to have been owing to an existing jealousy, that American Episcopacy would have been made an instrument of enforcing the new plan of civil government, which had been adopted in Great Britain; in contrariety to original compact and future security for freedom: a regard to which was as prevalent among episcopalians, as among any description of their fellow-citi

zens.

Perhaps these sentiments may be supposed to be contradicted by the circumstance, that during the revolutionary war, a considerable number of the American people became inclined to the British cause; and, that of them, a great proportion were episcopalians. But this is not inconsistent with the

sentiments expressed. On the subject of parliamentary taxation, it would probably have been impossible to have found in any city, town, or vicinity of the colonies, such a number of persons not vehemently opposed to it, as would have been sufficient to form a congregation. Out of the sphere of governmental influence, there was scarcely a man of that description. When the controversy became ripened into war, some fell off from the cause, from danger to their persons and their properties; others, from the sentiment that the public evil hazarded, might prove worse than that intended to be avoided; and others perhaps, although very few, from scruples of conscience. They who were influenced by these, had stopt short at the taking of arms; for which, the passion was general. To find freedom in this step, and yet to withdraw while the cause of so important a measure existed, may have been the dictate of prudence, but could not have been that of conscience. All the aforesaid circumstances operated with increased vigour, when the question of independence was forced on the reluctant public. Had the British arms succeeded, and thus the right of parliamentary taxation been established-for there was no offer of relinquishment of it, until after the alliance with France-a membership of the Episcopal Church would have been little more than a political mark, to distinguish those who should advocate claims hostile to American interests.

To persons who may give their attention to the colonial history, the question may occur-Why did