Though our record is concerned principally with the labours and services of the Clergy, it would be ungrateful not to mention the names of some of the more distinguished lay benefactors of the Church in America. Among these, Mr. St. George Talbot deserves special notice. He gave several handsome donations for the erection and endowment of churches in New York and Connecticut; and at his death, in 1767, left nearly the whole of his estate, both real and personal, to the Society. As the will, however, was disputed by the heirs-at-law, the executors, after some years spent in negotiation, agreed to accept 1,300l. currency, as payment in full of all demands of the Society. But Mr. Talbot shewed his good will to the Society not only by gifts of money, but by going round in company with the Missionaries to visit the several churches. In 1762, he made a tour with Mr. Dibblee, of whom he reports, that he was indefatigable in his endeavours to serve the interest of true religion and our holy Church,-“ whose services I find universally acceptable, and his life agreeable to his public character." He was surprised both at the number and devout behaviour of the people at North Castle, for the church could not contain them; but at Crompton, Peach Hills, and Croton, the state of religion, for want of a clergyman, was deplorable, and the people were left a prey "to various sectaries and enthusiastic layteachers," while those who were members of the Church had not the opportunity of joining in the Liturgy for years together. In 1763, he took another journey into Connecticut, and attended the Convention at Ripton, of which he gives the following brief account:-" The Rev. Dr. Johnson, being requested to preach, delivered an excellent, pathetical, spirited sermon, adapted to the occasion, and acceptable to the Clergy and all who had the pleasure to

hear him, pressing them to the utmost fidelity and diligence in doing the duties of their respective cures. Twelve Missionaries were present, who appear to be ornaments to their ecclesiastical profession, and very usefully employed, having had the opportunity to acquaint myself with the state of most of their respective Missions. Four or five promising young gentlemen, candidates for holy orders, were present." Among these he mentions Mr. Jarvis, of Middletown, who was afterwards Bishop of Connecticut.

Another eminent upholder of the Church was Sir William Johnson, already mentioned, who zealously exerted himself for the education and conversion of the Indian tribes. He also was among the most zealous in promoting the permanent establishment of the Church in America by the endowment of an episcopate. For this purpose he conveyed to the Society 20,000 acres of land in the neighbourhood of Schenectady, and on the 10th December, 1768, wrote as follows on the subject:-" We cannot have a Clergy here without an episcopate; and this want, as it has occasioned many to embrace other persuasions, will oblige greater numbers to follow their example; of which the dissenters are very sensible, and by pretended fears of an episcopal power, as well as by magnifying their own numbers and lessening ours, give it all possible opposition."

1 Original Letters, vol. xix. 1. 208.

2 Ibid. 1. 89.

CHAPTER XIII.

NEW YORK.

Rev. Samuel Seabury, Father and Son-Rev. S. Seabury, Jun.-Report of Flushing-Of Jamaica-Effects of Quakerism-Loss of two Missionaries at sea-Promotion of Mr. Seabury to West Chester- Political troubles-Escape to Long Island-Persecution and Sufferings of the Missionaries-Rev. L. Babcock-Rev. Dr. Auchmuty-Rev. Leonard Cutting-Rev. P. Reading-Rev. John Sayre-Rev. Dr. Smith-Rev. S. Tingley-Rev. J. Leaming-Rev. John Stuart.

SEABURY is a name well known in the history of the Anglo-American Church. The first connected with the subject of our record who bore it, the Rev. Samuel Seabury, appeared before the Society on the 21st August, 1730; and, after due examination and inquiry, was appointed Missionary to New London, in Connecticut, on a salary of 501. a year. It was agreed at the same time "that a library of 10l., five pounds' worth of small tracts, and one dozen of Ostervald's Catechisms be allowed him." The inhabitants of New London at this period were 600, of whom 100 belonged to the communion of the Church, but there were only fourteen communicants.' In a few years his congregation doubled, and very gratifying success attended his ministrations at some distant settlements, especially at Hebron, thirty miles off, where he was listened

1 Journal, vol. vi. p. 19.

to with great seriousness, and more than twenty families conformed to the worship of the Church.' The people of this township afterwards built a chapel, and petitioned the Society for a resident Missionary. They were, however, soon after this (in 1741), seduced into the wildest extravagance by some of the ignorant and fanatical followers of Whitfield. On the removal of Dr. Jenney to Philadelphia, in 1742, Mr. Seabury was appointed to the Mission of Hempsted, in Long Island. At the time of his leaving New London the population had grown to 1000, the members of the Church to 228, and the regular communicants to 39. It is, moreover, satisfactory to know that the Church people remained stedfast in the midst of the mad excitement of sectarians, who, on one occasion, assembled in large numbers in the public street on a Sunday, made a bonfire, and burned a great pile of books on divinity, including Bishop Beveridge's Thoughts on Religion.'

In 1748, Mr. Seabury informed the Society that at Huntington, a town about eighteen miles distant from Hempsted, a considerable number of people had conformed, and built a church for the worship of God according to the Liturgy of the Church of England; that he had frequently officiated there, and that, at their request, his son, who had been educated at Newhaven, read prayers and sermons for them, under his direction. Such being the case, he requested that his son, who would be recommended by the Commissary, might be appointed by the Society to be a Catechist, with some small allowance. The Society accordingly appointed Mr. Samuel Seabury, jun., to act in this capacity under the direction of his father, 2 Ibid. vol. ix. p. 117.

1 Journal, vol. vii. p. 79.

3 Ibid. p. 175.

and allowed him a salary of 10l. a year. Such was the modest commencement of a long series of services to the Church by the future Bishop of Connecticut-the first bishop of our own communion in the wide continent of North America.

In one of his letters, the elder Seabury describes the Church at Hempsted as "truly militant," being continually subject to attack by the enemies of revelation on one side, and wild enthusiasts on the other; nevertheless he states that his churches at Hempsted, Oyster-bay, and Huntington were crowded in fine weather. In 1756, he paid a visit to Duchess county, eighty miles distant, at the request of the inhabitants. The only provision which had been made for the spiritual wants of this extensive county, containing a population of 10,000, was to be found in the services of one Dutch and one Presbyterian minister, with one Quaker's meeting. This state of things he represented to the Society, who resolved to send a Missionary there as soon as a church and residence-house had been built."

Wherever a Clergyman was zealous in the discharge of his duty, many of those who had been educated in dissent conformed to the Church, and Mr. Seabury had the satisfaction of reporting in one year the baptism of eleven adults at Hempsted: one of them declared publicly "that it was after considering most other professions, and upon mature deliberation, that he had determined to make the solemn confession of his faith in the Church of England, and accordingly himself, his wife, and eight children were baptized."

Mr. Seabury died on the 15th June, 1764. The last "Notitia Parochialis" which he furnished to the Society,

1 Journal, vol. xi. p. 91.

3 Ibid. 1757.

2 Report for 1755.

+ Ibid. 1763.