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exercise of the discipline of the Church, in admitting to the Holy Supper, and excluding from it, was to all intents an admission into the real and true Kingdom of Heaven, and an exclusion from it, — I should hold myself obliged, as an honest man, to tell my people that they acted like blind and ignorant enthusiasts in building and consecrating a church and retaining a minister, and that all the transactions in church were only a more solemn sort of theatrical exhibition."

This is the language of Bishop Seabury. This is one of his minions; and it was against this kind of usurpation that I levelled some part of my charge at Mr. West's ordination, and some part of my sermon at Mr. Morse's. I hope to send you one of the latter by next post.

I suppose the "Brethren of the Roll and Rose" will look sour at me for it. I think one of them does; but such arrogance, and even blasphemy, for it certainly approaches very near to it, ought to be checked; and our people ought to know what is the real and true ministerial character, and to distinguish it from all counterfeits. Adieu. My time is short. Love to Mrs. H.

Yours,

JEREMY BELKNAP.

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, May 28, 1789.

MY DEAR SIR, —I do not recollect having received a letter from you since my last. Mrs. Hazard has returned, and brought with her the happy pair, and Miss Breese, whom you formerly saw at my house. Mr. Morse is thinking of journeying eastward. He has been most villainously treated by his printer again. He intends to expect the whole sum stipulated for, after the expiration of two years. I fear you will have to do without the anecdote of Penn, after all. The gentleman has repeat

edly promised it, but has not leisure to look over his papers. He once promised to call at my house and give it to me verbally, but he has not done it. The following is the story, as nearly as I can recollect his first information upon the subject: That Pennsylvania was to be bounded by the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of north latitude; that Penn began to count from the 44th southerly, and found he should not reach the Delaware; that he supposed the land between him and the Delaware to belong to Lord Baltimore, who was in England, and knew little about the situation of his lands; that Penn, in short, determined to deceive Lord Baltimore (and I think had two different maps for the purpose), and get a most valuable tract of country for a song; that, at length, Penn brought Baltimore into his scheme, and immediately had writings drawn, conveying the land, and gave Baltimore his bond for a certain sum of money; that Penn afterwards found the land was within his own patent, and refused to pay, and Baltimore sued his bond, and recovered.

I shall give Fenno all the encouragement I can, for I think he deserves it. His paper is, in my opinion, the best calculated for general use of any I know. He goes upon a continental scale, and does not appear to be influenced by local politics.

I have lately heard from Dr. Gordon. He expects his first edition will all be sold in a few months, and that a second will be wanted. Dr. Ramsay is in treaty with printers about his. We have nothing new here. Congress go on slowly and harmoniously. Mrs. Washington has arrived, which doubtless adds to our good President's happiness. Love to Mrs. Belknap, in which Mrs. H. joins. I am, dear sir,

Your affectionate

EBEN. HAZARD.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, 30th May, 1789.

MY DEAR SIR, The sermon was delayed a whole week by the extreme diffidence of the gentleman who gave the charge, who was all that time considering whether he would give a copy of it or not; and it did not get to the press till yesterday morning.

You will see Mr. J. Adams's speech in this day's Centinel; and you will, I trust, entertain the same opinion of his "devout wish" that I do.

I suppose, by this time, Mr. Morse is on his way to Charlestown, and that by the end of next week we shall see him and his beloved.

Dr. Stevens is to preach for me to-morrow. His dear daughter, Mrs. Buckminster, it is feared is in a decline, having just produced a third child. The good Doctor is expecting, but yet hoping. He will transfer his affection to the grandchildren.

The large, undirected packet inclosed contains a few sermons for my friends in Philadelphia, which you will please to direct to Dr. Clarkson. The smaller is for W. Sargent, at Marietta.

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Mr. Morse told me of a Mrs. Belknap, an old maid in New York, of a pious and amiable character, a member of Dr. Rogers's church. I wish that one of the sermons may be given to her. I should send you more, but suppose you will receive some from Mr. Morse; and I have a numerous list of friends to whom I would wish to send on this occasion. I hope, ere this, that Mrs. Hazard has returned from Shrewsbury, and that you have received a new commission from Congress.

Adieu, and believe me ever yours,

JERE. BELKNAP.

* The Rev. Joseph Jackson, of Brookline, who assisted at the installation of Mr. Morse, at Charlestown, 30th April, 1789.- Eds.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, June 2, 1789.

MY DEAR SIR,- I have received no letter from you for several posts. I suppose you are very much engaged, as it must be about the time for you to be reappointed, as I hope and trust you will be. We had, yesterday, the artillery election, an account of which you will see in the papers. Washington's picture was exhibited, and his praises sung in Faneuil Hall with great ardor and sincerity. The most extraordinary part of the story is that Governor H. had a convenient fit of the gout, and could not appear on the Common, the usual place where the old officers resign and the new ones are invested. However, Lincoln proved himself an older general, by insisting on a personal interview, and actually entering the bed-chamber, where the ceremonies were performed under the inspection of the physician and nurse. Much risibility was thereby occasioned among those who know the real character of the popular idol.

The enclosed was inadvertently superscribed. If you put it into the office, it will be well enough. We are all well, through mercy; and I am

Your affectionate friend,

HAZARD TO BELKNAP.

J. BELKNAP.

NEW YORK, June 6, 1789.

DEAR SIR,Thank you for the sermon, but have not had time to read it yet. Shall send Miss Belknap's. I dare say she will be delighted upon the occasion. Mrs. H. has returned, as I think I have before informed you. Mr. and Mrs. Morse, I suppose, are at Woodstock to-night, and will be at Charlestown this night week.

What a diffident gentleman Mr. Jackson must be! Mr. A.'s "wish" is a good one. I have no great opinion of his devotion; and I think there is, even in the mode of expressing the wish, a Jesuitical hint of fear. There is something like, All's well that ends well.

Mrs. Langdon had told me of Mrs. Buckminster's situation about an hour before I received your letter. The information is really distressing. Should Mrs. B. die, I think it probable the good Dr. will not long survive her. No new commission yet, nor perhaps for some time; but I expect there will be one. How clever it is to have the

absolute command of the gout! If I had it, I need not be sitting now with both my feet on a pillow, and, like Adiniral Byng, "curiously wrapped in flannel," and carded wool, which is my present situation.

The bed-chamber scene must have been curious. would make a good subject for a caricature.

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Feet something better. Have read your sermon with the pleasure the productions of your pen always afford me.

BELKNAP TO HAZARD.

BOSTON, 6th June, 1789.

MY DEAR SIR,-Do you know the gentleman to whom the enclosed is directed? I send it open for your perusal, and beg the favour of you to have enquiry made at his brother's (where I have directed it), whether he is in New York, or has come on to Boston. If he has come, please to return the letter to me.

Having made a proposal to Spotswood about reprinting the "Foresters," he has made me an offer to "advance

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