Encl. 2 in No. 2.
No. 2.
30
are as yet provided; and, also, you are to use your endeavours to render the laws in being more effectual by providing for the punishment of the aforementioned vices by presentment upon oath, to be made to the Temporal Courts by the Churchwardens of the several parishes at times of the year to be appointed for that purpose, and for the further discouragement of vice and encouragement of virtue and good living (that by such example the Infidels may be invited and persuaded to embrace the Christian religion) you are not to admit any person to public trusts or employments in the Island under your government whose ill-fame and conversation may occasion scandal, and it is Our further will and pleasure that you recommend to the Assembly to enter upon proper methods for the erecting and maintaining of schools in order to the training up of youth in reading, and to a necessary knowledge of the principles of religion. You are also, with the assistance of our Council and Assembly, to find out the best means to facilitate and encourage the conversion of Negroes and other slaves to the Christian religion.
(No. 65.) Sia,
No. 2.
Sir GUY CARLETON to Mr. TownSHEND.
in
New York, April 11, 1783. I INCLOSE a copy of a letter addressed to me by eighteen clergymen. It contains a plan for an Episcopate to be established in Nova Scotia, together with various reasons in its support, which appear to me to be very forcible, nor can I apprehend any impediment to the adoption of the Epíscopate proposed in this plan, divested as it is of titles, pomp, and temporal power. It has always appeared to me very extraordinary that the Established Church of England has never yet been allowed to possess, America, the means of its own increase, nor even of its continuance, without which it cannot, I think, be said to receive a perfect toleration; and considering the great distance of this country from England, and the hazards and expense of the voyage, I am confident that, if these expecta- tions are not speedily gratified, the point will notwithstanding be obtained in some way, disadvantageous perhaps to the public-interest and the National Church; I therefore with the greater earnestness refer the subject of this letter to consideration.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
&c.
The Right Hon. Thomas Townshend,
&c.
&c.
Encl. 1 in No. 2.
SIR,
Enclosure 1 in No. 2.
GUY CARLETON.
Mr. INGLIS and other Clergymen to Sir GUY CARLETON.
New York, March 26, 1783. AS we are very sensible that much will depend on the good temper, prudence, and ability of the gentleman who shall be appointed the Bishop for Nova Scotia, we take the liberty to recommend to your Excellency's notice the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, now in London. This gentleman is an American, and resided in America till compelled by the present commotions to take refuge in England. He is well-known and much respected through the Continent, and is well qualified to fill any Bishopric with dignity and
honour.
We have, &c. (Signed)
CHARLES Ixalis. SAMUEL SEABURY. Jeremiah Leaming.
Moses BADGER. JOHN BEARDSLEY. JONATHAN Opell.
JOHN SAYRE..
GEORGE PANTON. BENIN. MOORE.
His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton,
&c. &c.
&c.
(Signed)
CHARES MONGAN. IBAAC BROWN, GEORGE BISSET. JOHN H. ROWLAND. J. WALTER.
JOSHUA BLOOMER. JOHN BOWDEN.
H. ADDISON.
SIR,
31
Enclosure 2 in No. 2.
Mr. INGLIS and other Clergymen to Sir GUY CARLETON.
New York, March 24, 1783. IN conformity to your Excellency's desire, we now lay before you the following plan for an Episcopate in Nova Scotia, and please ourselves with the prospect of its succeeding under your Excellency's patronage.
The plan is simply this, viz.:-
That a Bishop be consecrated in England and sent to reside in Nova Scotia, to have the superintendence of the clergy, to ordain candidates for holy orders, and to confirm such of the laity there as shall desire confirmation, but not to be invested with any temporal power or authority whatever.
In support of this plan we think many strong reasons may be adduced, and against it, as we conceive, no objections of consequence can be made." Permit us to mention, as concisely as possible, the following reasons why our request should be complied with.
1st. Unless an Episcopate be granted the Church of England will be in a more disad vantageous situation in Nova Scotia than any other denomination of Christians. This has ever been the case with the Church in the Colonies. Other societies of Christians have had their constitution complete, and could reap every advantage of which it was capable in the management of it, while the Church of England could do little at any time without the special direction of her superiors at home, and before their direction could be obtained the opportunity was lost.
2nd. The proposed Episcopate will supply the province of Nova Scotia with a sufficient number of clergymen of the Established Church, and, without it, their number will never be equal to the wants of the inhabitants should they increase in proportion as other colonies formerly have done.
While Orders are only to be had in England, the danger of the sea, the expense of the voyage, and the difficulty of transacting business among strangers, will exer, as it ever has done, discourage the greater part of those gentlemen who would go into Orders, if the danger, expense and difficulty attending a voyage could be avoided." We do know that many (nearly a fourth part of those who have encountered this danger) have lost their lives in the attempt. We also know that many have been obliged to incur debts on this occasion, which the scanty subsistence they were obliged to return to has scarcely enabled them to discharge in many years. To this also it has in a great measure been owing that, while Dissenters have had ministers enough to satisfy every demand, and even to crowd into every place where they could possibly support themselves, the Church has never had clergy- men enough to supply the larger towns, and when any vacancy has happened it has been so long before another Incumbent could be procured, that the congregation has in a manner been dispersed, and the labours of his predecessor nearly lost.
3rd. The fixing of a Bishop in Nova Scotia, and the consequent supply of clergymen, will strengthen the attachment and confirm the loyalty of the inhabitants and promote the Bettlement of the province.
It is a point of great importance in civil society that the people should be attached to the State by means of its religion, for when they find that proper attention is paid to their spiritual concerns by their governors, they will have a stronger affection for that government than if they were left destitute of all religious instruction but such as they could provide for themselves.
Particularly with regard to Nova Scotia, it being an object of importance to Great Britain to have that province effectually settled, it must also be an object of importance to retain the inhabitants in their loyalty. To accomplish this end it appears to us absolutely necessary to establish the constitution of the Church of England among them fully, by sending & Bishop to reside there.
The inhabitants of that country are, and those that shall in future go thither as settlers will be made up of people of various religious persuasions. If the service of the Church be made the most convenient for them, by supplying them with ministers as fast as they are wanted, they will almost universally become members of the Church, and under its influence will be more strongly attached to the British Government than they would he under any other mode of worship.
To this plan of an Episcopate in Nova Scotia we think no reasonable objection can be made. Should it, however, be thought exceptionable, either as an expensive or an unseasonable establishment, to the former we answer-
That although we wish a decent and permanent support to be provided for the Bishop, yet we think it may be done without any burden either to the people of the province or to the nation. A portion of the unlocated lands in the province may be appropriated to that purpose, which, in a future time, would answer the end; und, iri the mean time, we under- stand that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has a fund appropriated to the support of American Bishops, more than adequate to the support of a Bishop in Nova Scotia.
As to the second objection, that the plan which we propose is unseasonable while the nation is engaged in war, &c., we beg leave to observe that the clergy of most of the colonies have been soliciting the appointment of American Bishops, at different times, for many years past, and the answer ever has been that the present, time was not a proper one, but a
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