by an Apology for Apostolic Order, which I have long considered as the most condensed and luminous statement of the argument in support of that vital point of Christian theology that has fallen under my observation. Under the influence of this feeling, I was anxious to convey a pledge of it to you; and during the late unhappy differences which interrupted the friendly intercourse between this country and America, I availed myself of the return of Dr. Inglis to Nova-Scotia, to intrust him with a volume I had recently published, and which he felt confident he could find the means of conveying with safety from Halifax to New-York.

"The claims of that volume to your attention were merely the facts which it contained relative to a question, in the issue of which, not England alone, but, I verily believe, the whole world is interested-I mean that of the Bible Society; and I sent it to you, that you might have a body of evidence before you, which even here could only be obtained by the most vigilant and persevering inquiries, facilitated by peculiar circumstances most favourable to the investigation. The volume, it is highly probable, never reached you, and therefore I take the liberty of making you a renewed tender of it under a more auspicious state of things, which has freely opened the channels of communication; and, together with it, I enclose several publications, all treating upon the same important point-some as presents from their respective authors, and the remainder selected for the ability with which they are written, and for the information which they contain. I hope you will receive this little packet

as holding out the right hand of fellowship, and respectfully soliciting confidential intercourse, such as should subsist at all times between the several parts of the Church of Christ, and which is more than ever necessary, in my apprehension, at the present time, when a specious design is most actively prosecuting, of substituting the unity of indifference for the unity of faith, and incorporating the universe in one community, in which, by a solemn act of compromise, the various imaginations of men and the truth of God are to be blended together, and the Bible is to be received as the common text-book, equally authenticating them all.

"The strong feeling of my mind has long been, that the reformed Episcopal Churches ought to unite as the Primitive Churches used to do that professing our belief in the communion of saints, we should act up to the spirit of that profession. Under this impression, I hailed, last year, with a pleasure I cannot adequately convey to you, the proffered friendship and correspondence of the South-Carolina Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity, and I was delighted to see the interest with which the communication was read, and the eagerness expressed to embrace the proposition with cordiality, and to convey, in the most unqualified terms, the high sense which our Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge entertained of the alliance proposed, and the assurance that it would at all times cultivate the correspondence of its sister society with the utmost assiduity, from a powerful conviction that both

societies would thus materially promote the welfare of each other, and more especially of that just cause which in their respective spheres of action they were simultaneously exerting themselves to promote. I have had my thoughts bent upon a similar proposal to you for several years past, indeed, I may say, have had my pen in hand to execute it; the conviction, however, that I fill no station sufficiently ostensible to sanction the proceeding, has repeatedly induced me to forego my purpose; but I can refrain no longer, our mutual interests make it almost indispensable that this wall of partition should be broken down, that we should take sweet counsel together, and walk to the house of God as friends," as fellow-members of the body of Christ, as fellowsoldiers enlisted under one Captain of our salvation, and now, especially called upon to contend earnestly and in concert for the common faith. * * *. I am sure, that if in the other dioceses of America there are Episcopal Societies formed upon the model of ours, that is not liberalized according to the distempered charity of the day, we shall as heartily give them the right hand of fellowship, as we have given it to that of South-Carolina; and I am not without hopes that some sort of alliance might be effected with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in her missionary exertions. Of course we cannot look to your unestablished Church for pecuniary contributions, but must rather prepare ourselves for supplying your wants from our abundance; but, you might be able to supply men trained to endure the hardness which the missionary should be inured to, and withal sound in the faith

and economy of the Gospel; at all events, an interchange of sentiments and of information upon the religious phenomena of the day in our respective communions, might be established; and even this could not fail of being mutually beneficial in a very high degree.

"In Bishop Dehon's communication there was some mention of a library forming at Charleston for the benefit of the clergy. If I knew what books are already procured, and what were chiefly wanting, I might have it in my power to assist the Bishop in accomplishing his object; and I beg you to assure him, that I should have great pleasure in doing so. And in conclusion, I beg to assure yourself that I am, with much respect, and with every sentiment with which a subordinate clergyman should regard the Bishops of the Christian Church, Very faithfully yours,

66

“HENRY HADLEY NORRIS."

From Bishop Hobart to the Rev. John M'Vickar.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"New-York, June 7, 1818.

'It gives me unfeigned pleasure to hear, in various ways, of your increasing usefulness. I know no greater source of gratification than to view the progress of real piety, in connexion with the principles, the order, and the worship of our Church, and to perceive that this advancement is effected by those sober but zealous parochial labours which, in their ultimate success, far exceed the more noisy but less transient pretences of enthusiasm. May VOL. I.

27

your example, my dear Sir, long afford this gratifi

cation.

"I send you two pamphlets, the principles and views of which are the result of much serious reflection, and which I hope will accord with your judgment. I am extremely solicitous that you and your friends at Hyde-Park should unite with the friends of the Church at Poughkeepsie, in establishing a Dutchess Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, on the principles of that contemplated on Long-Island. ***. The Bible and Common Prayer Book Society in this city was established before the Bible Society, and it would be unfortunate if the Church people in this diocese should oppose the principles and views of that institution. Union among ourselves is an object, to effect which each one should be prepared to make some sacrifices of private opinion. * *

"Believe me,

"With much regard,
"Yours, &c.

"J. H. HOBART."

The following letter, which was written to myself on occasion of a contemplated journey to Europe, which it was thought expedient I should take for the recovery of my health, will furnish a proof of the kind and tender interest which the Bishop always felt in the welfare of his friends.

"New-London, August 26, 1817. "I received your letter, my dear friend, and the information of Bishop Dehon's death, at this place,