charge, he would do every thing in his power to promote their good intentions.'

In this state of negotiation the subject of American Episcopacy remained for some time in England.

In America, meanwhile, the almost total want of proper information on the subject, and the consequent embarrassment of the Episcopalian clergy, are very strongly pointed out in a letter of Dr. Franklin lately published. Two young men had come over to England to be ordained, but were refused ordination on account of the oath required by the Act of Uniformity; and they then applied to Dr. Franklin at Paris, to know in what manner they were to proceed. Franklin was totally at a loss. He inquired of the French bishops, who replied, "that they could not ordain, unless the candidates swore allegiance to the Archbishop of Paris." He next consulted the pope's nuncio, who could not consent to their ordination, unless they would also profess the Roman Catholic faith*.

In this embarrassment, he advised the young men to inquire if they could be ordained by the Bishops in Ireland; and finally put the case to them, "in what mode they would think it right to proceed if England were swallowed up in the sea." This was in July 1784.

That able politician had not yet directed his attention to ecclesiastical concerns; but he unexpectedly found the information and the aid that * Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL. D., &c.

were wanting for his country, in the hereditary church-learning of Mr. Sharp. The progress of

Granville's useful instructions to the Americans appears in a correspondence, maintained by him with several eminent persons here and in America. His principal correspondents were, the Rev. James Manning, president of the college of Providence, in Rhode Island; Dr. Franklin; and Dr. Rush. Το the first of these he wrote in considerable detail on the impending question, and particularly on the subject of the Scottish Church. To Dr. Franklin he recommends religion in general, on the grounds of political wisdom; and then proposes the establishment of Episcopacy, as the best guardian of morals in a Christian society, together with some particular regulations in the service of the church. Some of these letters require insertion in this place.

To his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq.

"Dear Sir,

[EXTRACT.]

"17th June, 1785.

"The book which I have sent you contains a distinct tract on Episcopacy, as being necessarily connected with the rights of a Christian society; and, however you and I may differ upon some points of religious knowledge, yet I trust we shall both agree, that true religion is more compendiously efficacious for the forming of useful citizens and sincere patriots, in every state, than any other principle that can be inculcated; and of all the various modes of professing it, there is none (I am thoroughly convinced by the example of primitive times) that would be so effectual

for the maintenance of sound doctrine and purity of manners in a Christian society, as the primitive Apostolic form of Episcopal government, provided that the ancient freedom of election to ecclesiastical offices were amply restored and duly maintained.

"I have been informed, that, several years ago, you revised the Liturgy of the Church of England, with a view, by some few alterations, to promote the more general use of it. But I have never yet been able to see a copy of the form you proposed. Our present public service is certainly, upon the whole, much too long, as it is commonly used; so that a prudent revision of it, by the common consent of the members of the Episcopal Church in Ame rica, might be very advantageous; though, for my own part, I conceive that the addition of one single rubric from the Gospel, would be amply sufficient to direct the revisers to the only corrections that seem to be necessary at present I mean, a general rule, illustrated by proper examples, references, and marks, to warn the officiating ministers how they may avoid all useless repetitions and tautology in reading the service. As, for instance, after the Lord's Prayer has been read in one of the offices, the minister should be directed to omit it in all the others; though, perhaps, the solemn repetition of it by the communicants, after returning from the Lord's table, may be deemed a proper exception to the general rule;-that the Collect of the day should not be read in the first office, but rather in the second service, or vice versa, at the minister's discretion, but by no means in both, as it occasions too plainly a vain repetition. In like manner every other prayer, that contains nearly the same petition in substance as any of those that have already been read in the first office, ought to be omitted in the subsequent offices. And it will require a very careful and attentive revision of the

whole Liturgy, to discover all the repetitions, and to point them out with marginal notes of reference, that the officiating clergyman may be more easily enabled to avoid tautology. Such a prudent abridgment of the service, if it were done by common consent, to preserve order and uniformity, would afford great relief to the clergy, as well as to their congregations; and both would be better enabled to fix their attention to their duty during the service; because the human mind is not easily restrained for any long time together from wandering, or absence of thought so that nothing can be more pernicious to devotion than long prayers and needless repetitions. This opinion is sufficiently justified by an injunction of our Lord himself respecting prayer; which, therefore, I purpose as the one additional rubric necessary to direct us in the use of our Liturgy-viz. When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking: be not ye, therefore, like unto them.'

"The repetitions, and consequent unnecessary length, of our Church Service, are faults, however, which ‘have crept in unawares,' and without design, by an inconsiderate use of several offices in immediate succession, which seem to have been originally intended for separate times of assembling. But in every other respect, the Liturgy of the Church of England is an excellent form, both for expression of the most exalted piety, and for general edification in point of doctrine: for, after the most careful examination, I am thoroughly convinced that it is strictly conformable to "the faith once delivered to the saints," which we ought to "hold fast."

"I remain, with great esteem and respect,

"Dear Sir," &c. &c.

"G. S."

Dr. Franklin to Mr. Granville Sharp.

"Dear Sir,

[EXTRACT.]

Passy, July 5, 1785.

"I like your piece on the election of Bishops. There is a fact in Holinshed's Chronicle, the latter part relating to Scotland, which shows, if my memory does not deceive me, that the first Bishop in that country was elected by the clergy. I mentioned it in a letter to two young men lately, who asked my advice about obtaining ordination, which had been denied them by the Bishops in England, unless they would take the oath of allegiance to the King, &c.; and I imagine, that, unless a Bishop is soon sent over, with a power to consecrate others, so that we may have no future occasion of applying to England for ordination, we may think it right, after reading your piece, to elect also.

"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. Those I abridged, by retaining of the Catechism only the two questions, What is your duty to God? What is your duty to your neighbour? with their answers. The Psalms were much contracted, by leaving out the repetitions (of which I found more than I could have imagined), and the imprecations, which appeared 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 was retrenched, that approbation could hardly be expected; but I think