gy and others, members of the church of England in Pennsylvania, are at liberty to take such means as they may think proper for keeping up a succession of religious teachers-Provided only, that the means they adopt for this purpose do not induce a subjection to any foreign jurisdiction civil or ecclesiastical.

Given in council under the hand of the honourable Charles Biddle, Esquire, Vice President, and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twenty-fourth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and in the tenth year of the commonwealth

CHARLES BIDDLE, V. P.

(Attest) JOHN ARMSTRONG, Jr. Sec.

5. A certificate of his excellency Patrick Henry, Esq. Governor of Virginia.*

By his excellency Patrick Henry Esq. governor of the commonwealth of Virginia.

It is certified and made known to all whom it may concern-That the protestant episcopal church is incorporated by an act of the legislature of this commonwealth, for that purpose made and provided: that there is no law existing in this commonwealth, which in any manner forbids the admission of bishops, or the exercise of their office: on the contrary, by the 16th article of the declaration of rights, it is

*This copy of the certificate of the governor of Virginia, was sent to the author by the Rev. Dr. Griffith, bishop elect of that state, to be laid before the convention of October, 1786

provided in the words following, viz." That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence, and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all, to practice christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other," which said article is now in full force.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, this first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, and tenth of the commonwealth.

P. HENRY.

No. 17. p. 163.

GENTLEMEN,

From Richard Peters, Esq.

London, March 4, 1786.

I yesterday waited on the archbishop of Canterbury, who received me with great politeness. I delivered the parcels you sent by me, but he had previously received the originals. He opened the conversation by saying, that on receipt of the address from the convention, which was conceived in terms that gave great satisfaction, the bishops had determined at once to comply with it, if the government would enable them by passing a law for the purpose. But hearing a number of reports, which the committee had not put it in their power to clear

up, by sending them all the proceedings of the convention, they thought it their duty to act cautiously, and restrained their desire to meet our wishes, till they had more full information on the subject. He said it was unnecessary to enter into the various reports of alterations said to be made, or intended by our churches, for he did not give credit to common reports, which are often circulated without foundation. Some alterations however, it appeared, had been made, and what the rest were, could not be told until the whole was laid before them. That some alterations were necessarily brought about by the change of circumstances, and were therefore proper, he allowed; but he hoped there would be found none which rendered our church substantially dif ferent from theirs, of which he considered it as a branch, and the bishops were obliged to examine what church ours was, before, from their source, they established an episcopacy over a people, who might perhaps hold tenets opposite to theirs. He did not know or believe this was the case with respect to us, but it became them to inquire. He feared some of our business had been done hastily. He showed me the answer to the address, which he said had been sincerely felt by every bishop who had signed it. He seemed very desirous of removing any doubts about their firm intentions to comply with our wishes: showed me the original draft of the answer in his hand writing. I observed there were no alterations made in it, and among nineteen bishops, who were all that were in town at the meeting of Parliament,

there was not a dissenting voice. He hoped so unanimous an opinion, must evidence beyond a doubt, the great desire all had to grant our request. They all from the bottom of their hearts wished our prosperity, and would do all in their power to promote it. But before they had the necessary information, it would be imprudent in them to act. He said there would be no difficulties with government, and was happy that all embarrassments, with respect to the civil powers of the United States, were removed by the certificates and papers transmitted. He had spoke to the king, on the receipt of the address, who expressed great satisfaction in it, and was ready to do what was required of him. That administration would promote the law, when it was recommended by the bishops as proper. They therefore, being in a responsible situation, must proceed with caution. He desired nothing he had said, should be thought calculated to throw difficulties in the way; for there really was no disposition of that kind in the bishops, or members of the government. He hoped our convention at the next meeting, would consider the embarrassments too many alterations would throw in the way of their application here, and if any of them substantially deviated from the doctrines, or worship of this church, it would frustrate the views of our churches, by putting it out of the power of those here, who have every good disposition to serve us, to forward our application. He wished great care might be taken, of the character of those sent for consecration, as much depended on this. They should,

however, commit themselves to our discretion in this respect, and hoped they should have no reason to repent it. He declined answering the question I was desired by Dr. White to put to him, respecting the validity of Scotch consecrations, having first asked me whether the question came from the convention? I told him it was to satisfy private inquiries, which were made with no view of seeking consecration from that source.* I find we can have no bishop, until we let the prelates here see what church we have made. I think it would be prudent in our church, to put off any material alterations until we have bishops consecrated. If we make any substantial alterations, they will be carped at by those who will make the bishops uneasy; and to keep peace at home, they will refuse to meddle abroad, notwithstanding their strong desire to do what we wish.

I am, gentlemen,

With much esteem

Your very obedient servant,

RICHARD PETERS.

Rev. Dr. White, Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Mr. Provoost, Hon. James Duane, Samuel Powell, Esq.

P. S. Mr. Adams has been very attentive to the business of an address, with which he waited on the

* Notwithstanding the prudent reserve of the archbishop at this time, he is said to have given his influence in favour of the non juring bishops about three years afterwards; when, on the decease of the last pretender, they began to pray for the king on the throne, and some of them came up to London, to solicit the repeal of the penal laws made against them.