rather from our English Bishops, than from the Nonjurors of Scotland. I have good authority to say, that several of the English Bishops (and I have not the least reason to suspect that any of the rest entertain different sentiments on this point) are very desirous to promote the Episcopal Church of Christ in America, or elsewhere, upon true Christian principles, without any idea of acquiring the least ascendency thereby, which might be derogatory to the independence of free national churches; and though they are at present so unhappily bound by the Act of Uniformity that they cannot dispense with the oaths of allegiance and snpremacy, yet I am assured, on the best authority, that they will endeavour to obtain a due sanction or power to do so, even if an express Act of Parliament should be thought necessary to effect it, whenever a proper requisition shall be made to consecrate a Bishop, or Bishops, for America, provided the elected persons, sent from thence, bring with them the necessary testimonials of their ecclesiastical qualifications, morality, election, &c. (for the scriptural rubric is, to lay hands suddenly on no man'); and I have ample reason to think that all due attention will be paid to so just a demand*.”

In consequence of the repeated assurances, which Mr. Sharp had been thus authorised to give to the Convention of the Episcopal clergy at Philadelphia, of the readiness on the part of the English Church to consecrate proper persons, two Bishops were elected, Dr. White for Pennsylvania, and Dr. Provost

*The other parts of this letter also contain an interesting historical account of the Nonjuring Bishops in Scotland. -Correspondence.

for New York; and the requisition, proposed in his last letter to Dr. Franklin, was not long afterwards made to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

In a letter to his brother, Dr. Sharp of Durham, Granville expresses the gratification which his success had afforded him :

"Jan. 10, 1786.

"The Church of England is likely to take the lead, and to be gloriously established in America."

MS. Jan. 13, 1786.-Informed by Mr. Adams, 'American ambassador, that the convention of the

Episcopal Church of America (which included 'Carolina, the Jerseys, and Maryland, as well as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York), have ' written a letter to the two Archbishops, requesting 'them to consecrate a person whom they would send ; 'that the letter was enclosed to him, and delivered with his own hand.'

The next morning he waited on the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the result of his visit is thus stated:

G. S. to Dr. John Sharp.

66 January 31, 1786. "I do not remember whether I mentioned to you the late requisition to the two Archbishops from the Episcopal Churches of six or seven of the principal provinces in America, which met by deputation at Philadelphia, in a general convention, last September, requesting that they will consecrate three clergymen, whom they will send over, in order that they may be Bishops in America. The

Archbishop of Canterbury told me that the requisition is a very proper one, and expressed in very respectful terms; and assured me, that he is a sincere friend to what is proposed, and will promote it to the utmost of his power, provided they send persons duly qualified.

"I read to him the promise I had written to Dr. Franklin, and he highly approved of it, and said I had not at all exceeded what had passed between us, and that he would abide by what I had promised."

CHAP. VII.

AFFAIRS hitherto seemed to be in the most prosperous state of progress; but some circumstances now occurred, to bring in question the intended consecration of the American Bishops. The Archbishops of York and Canterbury had conceived some doubts respecting the orthodoxy of the Presbyterian students; and other obstacles had also occurred, allusions to which are found in a letter to the Rev. Dr. Findlay, in 1786.

[EXTRACT.]

"With respect to the Episcopacy of the Nonjurors in Scotland, I have already received from America an answer to mine on that head-viz. that a copy of it should be laid before the general Convention of Episcopal clergy and people (sent from several provinces) that was to be held at Philadelphia in September last. In that letter, I had stated several objections to the Nonjuring Bishops; and the consequence has been, it seems, that the Convention have resolved to make a formal requisition to the English Bishops. for consecration. This has alarmed the Cabinet here. If they grant the just and reasonable request, (which they cannot refuse without rebellion against the kingdom of Christ), the first American Bishop recovers a large sum of money, left by the late Archbishop Secker, as also by Mr. Boyle and some others, for the first establishment of an American Episcopate. And the same worldly spirit in the

Cabinet makes them afraid, it seems, to send a Bishop to the remaining dependent colonies in Nova Scotia (which they had once determined), lest the clergy there, when they no longer have occasion to come over to England for orders, should lose the leaven of time-serving, and promote independency and revolt. Dr. Franklin has approved my tract on Episcopacy, and is now an advocate for electing Bishops in America. In my letters, I had assured him, from very high authority, that our Government would certainly favour any requisition they should make for the consecration of their elected Bishops; but the worthy Prelate, who induced me to make such a promise, was not aware, it seems, of the power of the enemy, and the general temper of the times. The true Episcopal Church will probably find an asylum in America. The late very extraordinary American declarations in its favour, far exceed all human probability and expectation. There was not a single American, only twelve months ago, who would have conceived it possible that the adoption of Episcopacy would so rapidly and generally prevail, in so short a space of time, throughout that continent," &c. &c. "G. S."

Mr. Sharp, therefore, exerted himself to procure the most correct information that he could obtain on the subject, as well as to diminish the force of the obstacles which had arisen.

G. S. to his Excellency John Adams, Esq., Ambassador from the United States of America.

"Sir,

"21st January, 1786.

"I have had an opportunity of making some inquiries concerning the reports which I mentioned to your