are growing; that of Reading being commonly about 300, and at Newtown about 600. I baptize about 130 children in one year, and lately two adults. Newtown, and the Church of England part of Reading, are (I believe) the only parts of New England that have refused to comply with the doings of the Congress, and for that reason have been the butt of general hatred; but God has delivered us from entire destruction.

"I am now in the eighty-second year of my age, yet do constantly alternately perform service and preach at Newtown and Reading. I have been sixty years a public preacher, and, after conviction, in the Church of England fifty years; but had I been sensible of my insufficiency, I should not have undertaken it. But now I rejoice in that I think I have done more good towards men's eternal happiness than I should have done in any other calling. I do most heartily thank the venerable Society for their liberal support, and beg that they will accept of this, which is, I believe, my last bill, which, according to former custom, is due.

pray

"At this age I cannot well hope for it, but I God I may have an opportunity to explain myself with safety; but must conclude now with Job's expression-' Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends."'"

1

Six months after this Mr. Beach died, fairly worn out. He was a man of primitive faith, a true soldier of the cross; one who, through a long life, and in troublous times, never forgot his obligation to the Divine law, which directs to "Fear God and honour the King." His death is thus spoken of by the Rev. Bela Hubbard, himself an active and exemplary Clergyman:—

"July 19, 1782.

"We have to lament the loss of the great and good Mr. John Beach, who, for half a century, hath been a most worthy and dutiful Missionary from the Society at Newtown and Reading, where he deceased on the 19th March, 1782, in the 82d year of his age."

1 Original Letters, vol. xvii. 1. 50.

CHAPTER X.

NEW ENGLAND.

CONNECTICUT-RHODE ISLAND-MASSACHUSETTS.

Rev. Roger Price-Enumeration of Churches in New England-Number of Bishops and Clergy in 1844-Mission of Hebron-Loss of MissionariesRev. Peter Bours-Rev. Edward Bass-Mission of Salem-Rev. C. Brockwell-Whitfield and his Followers-Rev. J. Macsparran-Rev. S. Palmer -Rev. Mr. Macclenaghan-Rev. John Graves-Rev. W. Macgilchrist— Rev. E. Thompson-Allotment of Glebes-Endowments-Rev. Jacob Bailey-Rev. E. Punderson-Opposition of Dissenters-Rev. E. Winslow -Convocation at Boston.-Rev. Richard Mansfield-Vast extent of his Mission-Rev. Alexander Murray-Neglect of the Sacraments—Rev. John Tyler-Rev. Samuel Peters-Missionary Tour-Rev. E. Dibblee-Rev. Bela Hubbard-Political Troubles-Rev. M. Browne-Dispersion of the Clergy Rev. Dr. Caner - Rev. J. W. Weeks-Rev. Mather Byles Death and Character of Mr.Thompson-Letter of Colonel Peters-State of New England Churches-Rev. R. Cossit.

THE subject matter of the present work hardly admits of being treated in a very regular or systematic way, and this will account for the fragmentary and discontinuous character of our history. With this apology, we proceed to record a few brief notices of the other New England Missions. And here it may be convenient to insert the following enumeration of churches in New England, which was sent home in 1748 by the Rev. Roger Price, who held the office of Commissary to the Bishop of London for a period of twenty years; till increasing age, and an indisposition to public business, made him glad to accept the Society's Mission of Hopkinton :-

Nearly one hundred years have elapsed since this return was made; and although we are unable to state what has been the increase in the number of Churches within the New-England States, there were, at the close of the year 1844, five Bishops, and two hundred and twenty Clergymen. It is a cause of much thankfulness to every member of our communion, and in an especial manner to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the nursing mother of the Church in New England, to mark the increase of its ministers and members; and it is the sincere prayer of their brethren in the old country, that the Lord their God may "add unto" them, "how many soever they be, an hundred-fold."

The members of the Church at Hebron built a church, and gave a glebe in trust to the Society for the benefit of a Clergyman, earnestly requesting that one might as soon

* Original Letters, vol. ix. 1. 39.

as possible be sent; but as the Society, owing to want of means, was unable to comply with this request, they promised to allow a stipend of 30l. to Mr. Colton, if he would undertake the voyage to England and should be admitted to holy orders.

Mr. Colton had been educated for the ministry, and had for some years read the prayers of the Church and sermons to the people. He readily accepted the offer; went to England in 1752, and was ordained, together with Mr. Camp, who had been rendering similar service to the members of the Church in Middleton and Warwick, and with a like happy result; for his congregations also showed their anxiety for the blessing of a duly authorized Clergyman, by securing a glebe for his maintenance, and building a church.1 Mr. Colton, however, was not permitted to exercise his ministry in New England. On his voyage back he was seized with the small-pox, and died within seven days after landing in his own country. Hebron was singularly unfortunate in its attempts to procure duly ordained Missionaries; for, seven years prior to this, Mr. Deane, another graduate of Yale College, who was sent to England as a candidate for holy Orders, having been admitted Deacon, was, in returning, lost at sea, together, as is supposed, with all the passengers and crew, for the vessel in which they embarked was never afterwards heard of. A third candidate, Mr. Usher, son of the Rev. James Usher, the Missionary at Bristol, was taken prisoner by the French in his passage home in the year 1757, and confined in the Castle of Bayonne, where he died of the small-pox.

It is gratifying to find that, in spite of various discouraging circumstances, so many of the New England 2 Ibid. 1746, p. 42.

1 Report for 1752, p. 38.

congregations exhibited a hearty and spontaneous affection for their Church, by complying with the Society's rule in building a church and setting apart a glebe. This was done at Marblehead, where, on the petition of the inhabitants, Mr. Peter Bours, educated at Harvard College, was ordained to officiate in 1753. A like provision was made for the Missionary of Norwalk and Ridgefield. At Newbury the people built a second church, and undertook to pay a moiety of the assistant curate's stipend; the other moiety (201.) being furnished by the Missionary whom he was to assist. The person fixed upon was the Rev. Edward Bass, B.A., of Harvard College, the future Bishop of Massachusetts; and as nothing connected with the early history and character of the first American Bishops can be uninteresting, the following letter, introducing him to the notice of the Society, is inserted:

"Braintree, Feb. 1, 1752.

"Rev. Sir,-The bearer, Mr. Bass, is a young gentleman bred at Harvard College, and has preached for some time among the dissenters to good acceptance, but now, upon mature consideration, thinks it his duty to conform to the Church of England, and come over for holy orders, and to be appointed to the new church in Newbury. Both Mr. Plant and the people are highly pleased with him, and, indeed, he is universally well spoken of as a man of piety and sense, a good preacher, and of an agreeable temper. He brings full testimonials from the college, where he has lived, I think, about ten years, which are confirmed by the Clergy of Boston, &c. A person so qualified and recommended can never want your favour and assistance.

"There is one thing in particular wherein he desires your assistance-viz. that you would do what you can to despatch his business speedily, because he has never had the small-pox, which he is fearful of, it having proved fatal to many New England men in London; and besides, Mr. Plant's ill state of health is another reason for his returning as soon as may be.