riving their authority in direct and unbroken succession from those Scotch Bishops who were consecrated by Prelates of the Church of England, at Westminster, in 1661. He therefore contended, that the continuance of the separation was wholly causeless. But continues he, causeless separation from a pure Church is the sin of Schism, an offence, of which it is impossible that any pious and enlightened Christian can think lightly. The Rev. Dr. Sandford then proceeds to point out the advantages both to clergy and laity, of an Episcopal body having an Episcopal head; and then concludes his short but powerful address in this energetic manner:-" I have studied this important subject for a considerable length of time, with the utmost attention. I shall be happy to converse with any of my congregation, who may wish to know, in greater detail, the reasons, upon which I have formed my judgment on a question no less interesting to them than to myself. But it is my serious and settled conviction, that it is only by my submission to the Primus of the Episcopal College, the Bishop of Aberdeen, (who, during the present vacancy of the Diocese of Edinburgh, is my Diocesan) that can satisfy my own conscience; that I can act agreeably to the awful responsibility which I bear as a Minister of the Gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour; or discharge my duty towards those for whose spiritual welfare I am bound, by the strongest obligations, to be solicitous." The consequences were such as Mr. Stevens had fore

"It is contrary to Christian unity to separate ourselves from a Church which follows the doctrine and ordinances of Christ and his Apostles, and answers every good end of Christian worship and Christian fellowship." A Short Catechism by the Right Rev. Thomas Burgess, Lord Bishop of St. David's.

seen would arise from prudent, mild, and conciliatory measures; and which, by his regular correspondence with Bishop Skinner, (of which I am in possession by the kindness of that excellent person) he was always enforcing; for several of the most respectable of the English ordained Clergy, with their congregations both in Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland, acceded to the proposed union of the two Episcopalian parties, and put themselves under the spiritual authority of the Scottish Bishops; and their example has since been followed by almost all their brethren. Another most important advantage arising from this measure has been, that the worthy Bishop, who had presided over the Diocese of Edinburgh for many years, having, on account of his great age, (being upwards of fourscore years) requested leave to resign his Episcopal functions, the Right Rev. Dr. Sandford, above mentioned, has been elected and consecrated to the spiritual office of a Bishop, with the charge of the Diocese of Edinburgh: and the writer has the satisfaction to add, that at the time when he writes this, not above five congregations so far forget the unity so desirable in every Episcopal Church, as to resist the union with those who have the spiritual right to rule over them. I have been the more diffuse in this account, because it must be a matter of great curiosity to the student in ecclesiastical history; because Mr. Stevens was continually consulted upon the proper measures to be adopted; and he was indefatigable in his consideration and correspondence upon the subject: and because this very union led to still further exertions of this good man's benevolence, both in his personal labours and pecuniary bounty, for the comfort and happiness of the ecclesiastical members of that body.

Delightful as it was to all good men, who feel

how joyful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, to behold such a schism so nearly healed; yet it was matter of great lamentation to the laity to see their Bishops and Pastors, who are not excelled by any Clergy in piety and learning, and exemplary behaviour, unable to support that decent rank in society to which they are so well entitled, and which is so necessary to give weight to their characters, and effect to their public ministrations. Inasmuch therefore as all income arising from the State was cut down at the Revolution, these reverend persons, Bishops as well as Priests, had nothing to rely upon but the emoluments arising from their congregations, which were often so limited in number, and in such narrow circumstances, that the stipends of many of these pious and exemplary men did not exceed the wages of a common day-labourer! It could not, therefore, but be matter of regret to every well disposed Christian, indeed to every feeling heart, to see those who had had a liberal education, and who filled the distinguished station (whatever the worldling may think) of Ambassadors of their blessed Master, with such pitiful incomes. It was also a circumstance worthy of remembrance, that not a complaint of the narrowness of their pecuniary means ever escaped from the lips of these excellent men; but they proceeded through evil report and good report, in hunger and thirst, faithfully and contentedly discharging all the duties of their sacred calling. It seemed, therefore, upon the removal of the penal laws, and upon this union being effected, that to make some improvement in their worldly circumstances, was an object well deserving of attention. It therefore occurred to some valuable members of the Episcopal persuasion at Edinburgh, in the foremost rank of whom stood the late great, because the good, Sir William Forbes, to form a fund for making a moderate addition to the incomes

of all the Bishops, and most necessitous of the inferior Clergy *.

Accordingly the Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh and Sir William Forbes set the subscription on foot in Scotland by large contributions, and the latter being about to be removed for the reward of his virtues to a better world, added to his original subşcription of 2007. a legacy of 2007. more. No sooner was this most laudable plan commenced in that country, to which it more particularly applied, than the friends of Episcopacy in England, desirous to do every thing in their power to forward the pious designs of those in Scotland, in favour of this long depressed, though pure portion of the Christian Church, immediately formed themselves into a Committee, in order to collect subscriptions, to suggest plans, and in short, to co-operate with the Scottish managers in every way in which their services for so good a cause might be required. This Committee originally consisted of James Allan Park, Esq. the Chairman; the very Rev. Gerrard Andrewes, Dean of Canterbury; the Rev. Dr. Gaskin; William Stevens, Esq.; the Rev. Robert Hodgson, Rector of St. George's, Hanover-square; John Bowdler, Esq.; and John Richardson, Esq.;

*This subscription was to be entirely of a private nature. It included no idea of the slightest connection between the Episcopal Church of Scotland and the State. With regard to the established Presbyterian Church, its most conspicuous members are well known to be men of most enlightened minds, who know too well the merits of the Episcopal Clergy, and their obscurity also, without power or influence, to entertain any jealousy of them. Indeed, it is but justice to say, that upon occasion of this subscription being set on foot, as well as of the application to Parliament for the relief to those of the Episcopal persuasion, the most ready consent to, and approbation of, both measures were afforded by some of the most eminent members of the establishment in Scotland.

and, it will be observed, that of them, three were of the old Committee for procuring the repeal of the Penal Statutes. This Committee, jointly and individually, were most anxiously sedulous in the discharge of this voluntary trust; Mr. Stevens was indefatigable in endeavouring to procure subscriptions: his own purse was ready and open, as usual, upon this occasion; and he was himself the first English subscriber of 100%.; and he had before his death (which happened in two or three months after that of Sir William Forbes, of whom, and Mr. Stevens, it may be said, they were lovely in their lives, and in their deaths were not long divided) the satisfaction of seeing that this work of faith, this labour of Christian benevolence, was meeting with a degree of encouragement, worthy of its importance in the scale of humanity and charity*,

Notwithstanding all the exertions of the Committees in both countries, and notwithstanding the liberal donations of many of the dignified Clergy in England, and a vast body of the laity, yet the funds have only enabled the Managers to allot 100l. per annum to the Bishop residing in Edinburgh, 60l. to the Primus, and 50l. to each of the other Bishops, 15l. to a very few, and 10l. to also a very few of the inferior Clergy. But the Committees, both in London and Edinburgh, do not remit their zeal and ardour: they attribute much of the backwardness to subscribe, which they discover, to the situation of the Scottish Episcopal Clergy not being known, and if known, not understood; and to the very quiet and unobtrusive manner in which the subscription has been, and must be, carried on. They still trust, and earnestly hope, that the great, the rich, and the virtuous part of the community will enable them to do much more for those who stand in so near a relation to the Founder of our Holy Faith; and they rely confidently at least, that all those who stand in the same relation to him in the Church of England, and who have the means, will recollect that though the outward splendour and territorial possessions of Scottish Episcopacy are no