SOME REMAINS(HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED)OFJOSEPH BUTLER, LL. D. 

SOMETIMELORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. 

 "I am more indebted to his writings than to those of any other _uninspired_ writer, for the insight which I have been enabled to attain into the motives of the Divine Economy and the grounds of moral obligation. "

_From a Letter of the late Bishop Kaye_, _of Lincoln_. 

LONDON:RIVINGTONS, WATERLOO PLACE. 1853. 

LONDON:GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE

PREFACE. 

It has long been a subject of regret that we should have so few remainsof so great a writer as the author of the "Analogy, " not only thegreatest thinker of his day, but one almost equally remarkable for hispersonal religion and amiability. 

The few fragments and letters which remain unpublished, derive from thiscircumstance a value wholly incommensurate with their extent, though, asto the few I have been able to recover, they seem to me worthy of noticeeven for their own sake. 

There can, I suppose, be no doubt but that many letters on subjectsconnected with their common pursuit, --the defence of religion by rationalarguments, --must have passed between Dr. Clarke and the "Gentleman inGloucestershire, " even up to the time of the former's decease; and thespecimen I am now able to exhibit certainly excites a wish that one couldrecover more of a series which it is most likely that Dr. Clarke at leastcarefully preserved. The three letters now printed were all addressed toDr. Clarke; the first and last, though little known, were published manyyears ago in the European Magazine. 

The second and third Fragments are printed as they were written, havingapparently been noted down from time to time as the ideas occurred totheir author; thus at the end of the first paragraph of the thirdFragment, the word "direction" was originally written "advice, " but wassubsequently altered in a different ink, being the same with that inwhich the sentences immediately following were written. I have notthought myself at liberty to make any attempt to reduce these Fragmentsto better consistency; indeed, their present disordered state seems to merather to add to their interest, as showing the mode in which the stoneswere gathered for building up such works as the "Analogy" and the"Sermons. " It will be observed that I have found a difficulty in readingthe last part of the third Fragment, and I am by no means sure that Ihave quite hit the sense intended; I should like it to apply either tothe Cross set up at Bristol, or to the famous Charge delivered at Durham. 

I have added a cotemporary notice of the buildings at Bristol, and ananecdote showing how they were thought of, as well as a statement, madeafter the Bishop's death, of his proceedings with regard to the church, which is now St. George's, near Bristol, in order to establish the factof the separation of the property there mentioned from the bulk of hisestate;--showing his desire to do something for the benefit of the peopleof Kingswood, a district the moral degradation of which had alreadyattracted the attention of Whitefield and Wesley. 

The following extract has been kindly communicated to me from the Diaryof Dr. Thomas Wilson, the son of the great Bishop of Sodor and Man; and Iprint it here more especially to invite the attention of all who take aninterest in these things to the fact, that a copy may have been made forthe King of the sermon there mentioned, and may possibly even yet be inexistence somewhere; if so, it cannot but be worth the trouble ofrecovery and publication. 

 1737, December, Friday, 23rd. "The Master [_i. E. _ Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls] told me that the King desired that Dr. Butler, Clerk of the Closet to the late Queen, might preach before him in the Princess Amelia's apartments. He preached upon the subject of being bettered by afflictions, which affected His Majesty so much that he desired the sermon, and assured him that he would do something very good for him. The Master desired that it might be known publicly, it was told him by the Bishop of Oxford [Seeker]. The Master seemed mightily pleased, and was in hopes it would be of great service to the public as well as his private family, which will be a pleasure to every body, and make even the death of Her Majesty (so great a seeming loss) of advantage to the nation. "

I have been mainly induced to publish these Remains by the pleasure withwhich some copies I had given away privately have been received, and Iconfess that the fruit I should be most gratified to see, would be therecovery of some longer work, not less worthy of its Author's reputation. 

EDWARD STEERE, LL. D. 

University College, London, 1st September, 1853. 

FRAGMENTS. 

From the autographs of Bp. Butler now in the library at the BritishMuseum. [Add. MS. 9815. ]

I. 

God cannot approve of any thing but what is in itself Right, Fit, Just. We should worship and endeavour to obey Him with this Consciousness andRecollection. To endeavour to please a man merely, is a different thingfrom endeavouring to please him as a wise and good man, _i. E. _endeavouring to please him in the particular way, of behaving towards himas we think the relations we stand in to him, and the intercourse we havewith him, require. 

Almighty God is to be sure infinitely removed from all those humanweaknesses which we express by the words, captious, apt to take offence, &c. But an unthinking world does not consider what may be absolutely dueto Him from all Creatures capable of considering themselves as HisCreatures. Recollect the idea, inadequate as it is, which we have ofGod, and the idea of ourselves, and carelessness with regard to Him, whether we are to worship Him at all, whether we worship Him in a rightmanner, or conceited confidence that we do so, will seem to implyunspeakable Presumption. Neither do we know what necessary, unalterableconnexion there may be, between moral right and happiness, moral wrongand misery. 

Sincerity is doubtless the thing, and not whether we hit the rightmanner, &c. But a sense of the imperfection of our worship, apprehensionthat it may be, and a degree of fear that it is, in some respectserroneous, may perhaps be a temper of mind not unbecoming such poorcreatures as we are, in our addresses to God. In proportion as we areassured that we are honest and sincere, we may rest satisfied that Godcannot be offended with us, but indifference whether what we do bematerially, or in the nature of the thing abstracted from our way ofconsidering it, Good and Right, --such indifference is utterlyinconsistent with Sincerity. 

No person who has just notions of God can be afraid of His displeasureany further than as he is afraid of his own Character, whether it be whatit ought: but so far as a man has reason to fear his own character, sofar there must be reason to fear God's displeasure, or disapprobation;not from any doubt of His Perfection and Goodness, but merely from thebelief of it. 

Is it possible that people can be Scepticks in _Opinion_, and yet withoutany doubtfulness, or solicitude about their _Actions_ and _Behaviour_?

II. 

What a wonderful incongruity it is for a man to see the doubtfulness inwhich things are involved, and yet be impatient out of action, orvehement in it! Say a man is a Sceptick, and add what was said ofBrutus, _quicquid vult valde vult_, and you say, there is the greatestContrariety between his Understanding and his Temper that can beexpressed in words. 

* * * * *

In general a man ought not to do other people's duty for them; for theirduty was appointed them for their exercise; and besides, who will do itin case of his death? Nor has a man any right to raise in others such adependance upon him as that they must be miserable in case of his death, tho' whilst he lives he answers that dependance. 

* * * * *

Hobbs' definition of Benevolence, that 'tis the love of power is base andfalse, but there is more of truth in it than appears at first sight; thereal Benevolence of men being, I think, for the most part, not indeed thesingle love of power, but the love of power to be exercised in the way ofdoing good; that is a different thing from the love of the good orhappiness of others by whomsoever effected, which last I call single orsimple Benevolence. How little there is of this in the world may appearby observing, how many persons can bear with great tranquillity that afriend or child should live in misery, who yet cannot bear the thought oftheir death. 

Good men surely are not treated in this world as they deserve, yet 'tisseldom, very seldom their goodness which makes them disliked, even incases where it may seem to be so: but 'tis some behaviour or other, whichhowever excusable, perhaps infinitely overbalanced by their virtues, yetis offensive, possibly wrong; however such, it may be, as would pass offvery well in a man of the world. 

III. 

Shall I not be faithful to God? If He puts a part upon me to do, shall Ineglect or refuse it? A part to suffer, and shall I say I would not if Icould help it? Can words more ill-sorted, more shocking be put together?And is not the thing expressed by them more so, tho' not expressed inwords? What then shall I prefer to the sovereign Good, supremeExcellence, absolute Perfection? To whom shall I apply for direction inopposition to Infinite Wisdom? To whom for protection against AlmightyPower?

Sunday Evening, June 13, 1742. 

Hunger and thirst after Righteousness till filled with it by being madepartaker of the Divine nature. 

Ad te levo oculos meos, qui habitas in coelis. Sicut oculi servorum_intenti sunt_ ad manum dominorum suorum, sicut oculi ancillae ad manumdominae suae; ita oculi nostri ad Deum nostrum, donec misereatur nostri. 

As all my passions and affections to my Reason such as it is, so inconsideration of the fallibility and infinite deficiencies of this myReason, I would subject it to God, that He may guide and succour it. 

Our wants as Creatures: our Demerits as Sinners. 

That I may have a due sense of the hand of God in every thing, and thenput myself into His hand to lead me through whatever ways He shall thinkfit; either to add to my burden, or lighten it, or wholly discharge me ofit. 

Be more afraid of myself than of the world. 

To discern the hand of God in every thing and have a due sense of it. 

Instead of deluding oneself in imagining one should behave well in timesand circumstances other than those in which one is placed, to take careand be faithful and behave well in those one is placed in. 

That God would please to make my way plain before my face, and deliver mefrom offending the scrupulousness of any {11}, or if not, O assist me toact the right part under it!

LETTERS. 

I. 

From a Copy formerly belonging to Dr. Birch, and now in the library atthe British Museum. [Add. MS. 4370. ]

REV. DR. 

'Twas but last night I received your letter from Gloucester, having leftthat place three weeks since. It revived in my mind some very melancholythoughts I had upon my being obliged to quit those studies, that had adirect tendency to divinity, that being what I should chuse for thebusiness of my life, it being, I think, of all other studies the mostsuitable to a reasonable nature. I say my being obliged, for there isevery encouragement (whether one regards interest or usefulness) now-a-days for any to enter that profession, who has not got a way ofcommanding his assent to received opinions without examination. 

I had some thoughts, Sir, of paying you my acknowledgments in person forthat surprising air of candour and affability with which you have treatedme in the Letters that have passed between us. But really I could notput on so bold a face, as to intrude into a gentleman's company with noother excuse but that of having received an obligation from him. I havenot the least prospect of ever being in a capacity of giving any morethan a verbal declaration of my gratitude: so I hope you'l accept that, and believe it's with the utmost sincerity I subscribe myself, Sir, Your most obliged, most obedient humble servant, J. BUTLER. 

Hamlin's Coffee-house, Tuesday Morning. 

II. 

The original of this Letter with the answer, which is roughly written onthe blank leaf, is, I believe, now in the library of Oriel College, Oxford. I am indebted for my copy to the kindness of the Rev. J. H. Newman, D. D. , formerly of that College. 

REV. SIR, I had long resisted an Inclination to desire your Thoughts upon thedifficulty mentioned in my last, till I considered that the trouble inanswering it would be only carrying on the general purpose of your Life, and that I might claim the same right to your Instructions with others;notwithstanding which, I should not have mentioned it to you had I notthought (which is natural when one fancies one sees a thing clearly) thatI could easily express it with clearness to others. However I should byno means have given you a second trouble upon the subject had I not hadyour particular leave. I thought proper just to mention these thingsthat you might not suspect me to take advantage from your Civility totrouble you with any thing, but only such objections as seem to me ofWeight, and which I cannot get rid of any other way. A disposition inour natures to be influenced by right motives is as absolutely necessaryto render us moral Agents, as a Capacity to discern right motives is. These two are I think quite _distinct_ perceptions, the _former_proceeding from a desire inseparable from a Conscious Being of its ownhappiness, the _latter_ being only our Understanding, or Faculty ofseeing Truth. Since a _disposition_ to be influenced by right motives isa _sine qua non_ to Virtuous Actions, an Indifferency to right motivesmust _incapacitate_ us for Virtuous Actions, or render us in thatparticular not moral agents. I do indeed think that no Rational Creatureis _strictly speaking Indifferent_ to Right Motives, but yet there seemsto be somewhat which to all intents of the present question is the same, viz. _a stronger disposition to be influenced by contrary or wrongmotives_, and this I take to be always the Case when any vice iscommitted. But since it may be said, as you hint, that this strongerdisposition to be influenced by Vicious Motives may have been contractedby repeated Acts of Wickedness, we will pitch upon the _first ViciousAction_ any one is guilty of. No man would have committed this firstVicious Action if he had not had a _stronger_ (at least as strong)_disposition_ in him to be influenced by the _Motives of the ViciousAction_, than by the _motives of the contrary Virtuous Action_; fromwhence I infallibly conclude, that since every man has committed somefirst Vice, every man had, _antecedent_ to the commission of it, a_stronger disposition_ to be influenced by the _Vicious_ than the_Virtuous_ motive. My difficulty upon this is, that a _stronger naturaldisposition_ to be influenced by the Vicious than the Virtuous Motive(which every one has antecedent to his first vice), seems, to allpurposes of the present question, to put the Man in the same condition asthough he was _indifferent to the Virtuous Motive_; and since an_indifferency to the Virtuous Motive_ would have _incapacitated_ a Manfrom being a _moral Agent_, or _contracting guilt_, is not a _strongerdisposition_ to be influenced by the _Vicious_ Motive as great an_Incapacity_? Suppose I have two diversions offered me, _both_ of whichI could not enjoy, I like both of them, but yet have a _stronger_inclination to one than to the other, I am not indeed strictly_indifferent_ to either, because I should be glad to _enjoy both_; but amI not exactly _in the same case_, _to all intents and purposes ofacting_, as though I was _absolutely indifferent_ to that diversion whichI have the _least_ inclination to? You suppose Man to be enduednaturally with a _disposition to be influenced by Virtuous Motives_, andthat _this Disposition is a sine qua non to Virtuous Actions_, both whichI fully believe; but then you _omit_ to consider the natural Inclinationto be influenced by Vicious Motives, which, _whenever a Vice iscommitted_, is at least _equally strong_ with the other, and in the firstVice _is not affected by Habits_, but is as _natural_, and as much _outof a man's power_ as the other. I am much obliged to your offer ofwriting to Mr. Laughton, which I shall very thankfully accept of, but amnot certain when I shall go to Cambridge; however, I believe it will beabout the middle of the next month. 

I am, Rev. Sir, Your most obliged humble Servant, J. BUTLER. 

Oriel, Oct. The 6th. 

THE ANSWER. 

Your objection seems indeed very dexterous, and yet I really think thatthere is at bottom nothing in it. But of this you are to judge, not frommy assertion, but from the reason I shall endeavour to give to it. 

I think then, that a _disposition to be influenced by right motives_being what we call _rationality_, there cannot be on the contrary(properly speaking) any such thing naturally in rational creatures as a_disposition to be influenced by wrong motives_. This can be nothing butmere _perverseness of will_; and whether even that can be said to amountto a disposition to be influenced by wrong motives, _formally_, and assuch, may (I think) well be doubted. Men have by nature stronginclinations to certain objects. None of these inclinations are vicious, but vice consists in pursuing the inclination towards any object incertain circumstances, notwithstanding _reason_, or the naturaldisposition to be influenced by right motives, declares to the man'sconscience at the same time (or would do, if he attended to it) that theobject ought not to be pursued in those circumstances. Nevertheless, where the man commits the crime, the _natural disposition_ was onlytowards the _object_, not formally towards the doing it upon wrongmotives; and generally the very essence of the crime consists in theliberty of the will forcibly overruling the _actual disposition towardsbeing influenced by right motives_, and not at all (as you suppose) inthe man's having any _natural disposition to be influenced by wrongmotives_, as such. 

III. 

From the original, now in the library at the British Museum. [Add. MS. 12, 101. ]

REV. SIR, I had the honour of your kind letter yesterday, and must own that I donow see a _difference_ between the nature of _that disposition which wehave to be influenced by virtuous motives_, and _that contrarydisposition_, (or whatever else it may _properly_ be called, ) which isthe _occasion_ of our committing _sin_; and hope in time to get athorough insight into this Subject by means of those helps you have beenpleased to afford me. I find it necessary to consider such very abstrusequestions at different times and in different dispositions; and havefound particular use of this method upon that abstract subject of_Necessity_: for tho' I did not see the force of your argument for the_unity of the Divine Nature_ when I had done writing to you upon thatsubject, I am now _fully satisfied_ that it is conclusive. I will onlyjust add that I suppose somewhat in my last letter was not clearlyexpressed, for I did not at all _design_ to say, that _the essence of anycrime consisted in the man's having a natural disposition to beinfluenced by wrong motives_. 

I was fully resolved to have gone to Cambridge some time in this Term, not in the least expecting but that I might have the Terms allowed therewhich I have kept here, but I am informed by one who has been there thatit is not at all to be depended upon; but that it's more likely to berefused than granted me. My design was this; when I had taken the Degreeof Batchelor of Arts at Cambridge, (which I would have done to have thePriviledge of that Gown, ) to take that of Batchelor of Law a yearafterwards, but if I cannot have the Terms I have kept for Batchelor ofArts allowed there, it will be highly proper for me to stay at Oxford totake that degree here, before I go to Cambridge to take Batchelor of Law. I will inquire concerning the truth of what the gentleman told me, and ifI find he is mistaken and that I can take the degree of Batchelor of Artsat Cambridge next June, which is the time I shall be standing for it, andBatchelor of Law a year after that; I will make bold to accept of yourkind offer to write to Mr. Laughton, and will acquaint you with it assoon as I am satisfied, otherwise I will give you no further trouble inthe matter; and indeed I am sorry I should have given you any alreadyupon it, but I thought I had sufficient reason to be satisfied, and hadnot the least suspicion in the world that there was any uncertainty aboutgetting the Terms allowed, so I hope you will excuse it. 

I am with the greatest respect and gratitude for all your favours, Rev. Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, J. BUTLER. 

Oriel Coll. , Oct. 10, 1717. 

I should have written yesterday, to prevent your trouble of writing toMr. Laughton, but I was not informed of what I have mentioned before lastnight. 

* * * * *

This Letter, as well as the one immediately preceding, appears to havebeen intended by Dr. Clarke for publication, as in both the concludingpassages relating to private matters have been struck through, and on theback of this last is written, "These to be added to the next edition ofLeibnitz's Letters. " I believe those Letters never reached a secondedition. 

PRAYERS. 

From a Copy in Bp. Butler's handwriting, now in the library at theBritish Museum. [Add. MS. 9815. ]

O Almighty God, Maker and Preserver of the world, Governor and Judge ofall creatures, whom Thou hast endued with understanding so as to renderthem accountable for their actions and capable of being judged for them;we prostrate ourselves as in Thy presence, and worship Thee the SovereignLord of all, in Whom we live and move and have our being. The greatnessand perfection of Thy Nature is infinitely beyond all possiblecomprehension, but in proportion to our capacities we would endeavour tohave a true conception of Thy Divine Majesty, and to live under a justsense and apprehension of it: that we may fear Thee and hope in Thee aswe entirely depend upon Thee: that we may love Thee as supremely good, and have our wills conformed to Thy will in all righteousness and truth:that we may be thankful to Thee for every thing we enjoy, as the gift ofThine hand, and be patient under every affliction as what Thou sendest orpermittest. 

We desire to be duly sensible of what we have done amiss, and we solemnlyresolve before Thee, that for the time to come we will endeavour to obeyall Thy commands as they are made known to us. 

We are Thy Creatures by Nature; we give up ourselves to be Thy servantsvoluntarily and by Choice, and present ourselves, body and soul, a livingsacrifice to Thee. 

But, O Almighty God, as Thou hast manifested Thyself to the world byJesus Christ; as Thou hast given Him to be a Propitiation for the sins ofit, and the Mediator between God and Man; we lay hold with all humilityand thankfulness on so inestimable a Benefit, and come unto Theeaccording to Thine appointment in His Name, and in the form and mannerwhich He has taught us. 

Our Father, &c. 

MORNING PRAYER. 

Almighty God, by whose protection we were preserved the night passed, andare here before Thee this morning in health and safety; we dedicate thisday, and all the days we have to live to Thy service; resolving, that wewill abstain from all evil, that we will take heed to the thing that isright in all our actions, and endeavour to do our duty in that state oflife in which Thy Providence has placed us. We would remind ourselvesthat we are always, wherever we may go, in Thy presence. We would bealways in Thy fear; and we beg the continuance of Thy mercifulprotection, and that Thou would'st guide and keep us in all our waysthrough Jesus Christ our Lord. 

EVENING PRAYER, Almighty God, whose continued providence ordereth all things both inHeaven and Earth; Who never slumberest nor sleepest; but hast divided thelight from the darkness, and made the day for employment and the nightfor rest to Thy creatures the inhabitants of the earth: we acknowledgewith all thankfulness Thy merciful preservation of us this day, by whichwe are brought in safety to the evening of it. We implore Thyforgiveness of all the offences which we have been guilty of in it, whether in thought, word, or deed; and desire to have a due sense of Thygoodness in keeping us out of the way of those temptations by which wemight have fallen into greater sins, and in preserving us from thosemisfortunes and sad accidents, common to every day, and which must havebefallen many others. We humbly commit ourselves to the same goodprovidence this night, that we may sleep in quiet under Thy protection, and wake, if it be Thy will, in the morning in renewed life and strength. And we beg the assistance of Thy grace to live in such a manner, thatwhen the few days and nights which thou shalt allot us in this world bepassed away, we may die in peace, and finally obtain the resurrectionunto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

* * * * *

Almighty God, Whose tender mercies are over all Thy works, who feedestthe fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, and hast given unto usall things that pertain unto life and godliness, we desire to have oursouls possessed with a due sense of Thy blessings, and to show forth ourthankfulness by moderation and temperance in the use of them, by beingkind and compassionate to those who are in distress, and by all thosegood works which Thou hast appointed us to walk in. And we humbly hopewe shall at last experience all Thy goodness to us consummate in thatfuture state, which Thou hast prepared for them that love and fear Theethrough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

EXTRACT FROM THE MS. COLLECTIONS

_From the MS. Collections of the Rev. W. Cole_, _now in the Library atthe British Museum_. _Vol. _ 10, _p. _ 92, _taken at Bristol in the year_1746. 

Having done with what is in the Cathedral, let us just step into theBishop's Palace on the south side of it: and here we cannot helpobserving the generous Temper of the present worthy prelate; who in apoor Bishoprick of about 500 pounds per ann. Has already laid out onbuilding an entire new Palace in the room of the old one which was goneto decay, above 3000 pounds. The small Chapel belonging to the old oneis standing; but entirely new fitted up, furnished in an elegant Tasteand newly wainscoted and a Tribune from one of his Lordship's rooms tolook into it at the west end, over the door which is entirely new. Thealtar piece is of black marble inlaid with a milk white cross of whitemarble; which is plain and has a good effect. In the East window over itis a small Crucifix with the B. Virgin and St. John under the Crossweeping, of old glass; and not very curious. Over the new Door into theChapel from the Hall, in a void space made on purpose, is a very old Coatof Glass of the Arms of Berkly ensigned with a mitre: and this is anotherreason to make one think that the old Abbey of Bristol gave these arms totheir Founder, for their own Coat. I was pleased to find the presentBishop paid such a regard to the memory of the Ancient Abbey and itsFounders, as to preserve this old memorial of them with so much care andprecaution. A pattern worthy to be imitated in an age, that to myknowledge, in certain places, has not only had such marks of theirbenefactors taken away in order to get up modern crown glass; but hasalso given away and destroyed such memorials of them, as the care oftheir predecessors for 3 or 400 years have with the utmost gratitude andveneration preserved. 

Over the hall chimney-piece, which is preserved with equal care by hisLordship, are the arms of Bishop Wright impaled by his See, and a mitreover them, and R. W. On each side of them; as also Wright impaling perPale unde six martlets countercharged for Fleetwood. 

I don't see his Lordship's Arms in any part of the Palace, which has sojust a title to have them in every part of it; but however, I shall givethem a place here in gratitude to his memory who so well deserves of thisplace, which, though I have no concern in, nor no acquaintance with hisLordship, yet one always has a value for a grateful and benevolent mind. 

The arms of Joseph Butler, Lord Bishop of Bristol and Dean of St. Paul's, are: A. Three covered Cups on Bend S, inter two Bendlets engrailed G. 

His Lordship was, on the decease of the late Lord Bishop of Hereford, byhis Majesty appointed Clerk of the Royal Closet; and it is said that hehas also a promise, on the next vacancy, of a translation to the rich Seeof Durham, which will be well bestowed on a person of his Lordship'slarge and universal benevolence. 

* * * * *

From the same. 

Dr. Freeman, speaking of the chapel in the palace at Bristol, told methat he was mentioning the neatness and elegance of it to Bishop Young atTherfield, who told him, that however he might admire the decency andelegance of it, yet upon his waiting, upon some occasion or other, on myLord Hardwick, his Lordship spoke to him of it, and asked him whether hehad not a design of pulling down the cross of marble over the Altar, which he thought was offensive; to which the Bishop replied, that it wasprobable that he should not have set it up there, but that he should notchoose to have it said that Bishop Young had pulled down what BishopButler had erected. 

STATEMENT CONCERNING THE CHURCH AT KINGSWOOD. 

From a MS. In the British Museum. [Add. 9815. ]

When the late Lord Bishop of Durham first intended to have a place ofDivine Worship erected in Kings Wood, his Scheme was, --To solicitSubscriptions for building a Chapel, and to give 400 pounds towards theEndowment of it, in order to get the like Sum from the Governors of Q. Ann's Bounty. And he was pleased to lay his Commands upon me to makeApplication to persons the most likely to contribute to that good Work. 

The report I brought him in Consequence of such Application, was to thisEffect, that they highly approved of the pious and charitable design, butdisliked the particular Scheme of erecting a Chapel of Ease to the Churchof St. Philip and Jacob, as this would not answer the good purposes hisLordship intended; and therefore proposed a Division of the Parish, andthe Erection of a new Parish and parish Church. 

His observations on this Proposal were the following, --That the intendedChapel in Kings Wood would not have been a Chapel of Ease to Saint Philipand Jacob, but distinct from it, as the Incumbent would have had nothingfarther to do with the Chapel, or the income of it, but barely tonominate the Curate, who from thence forward would have been independentof him: However he thought the Scheme of erecting a new Parish to be muchpreferable in itself, but was attended with more difficulties; andtherefore gave up his own Scheme with pleasure, if the Parties concernedwould join their Endeavours to Execute the other. 

Upon this occasion He not only permitted, but _ordered_ me to say to allPersons, and in all Companies, that he had allotted a Benefaction of 400pounds for that Use. And when some of the principal Parishioners hadfixed upon the Boundaries of their new intended Parish, and had presenteda kind of Petition or Memorial to him, To have those limits specified inthe intended Act of Parliament, they used the following expressions. "Whereas it hath been made known unto Us, --That your Lordship hathproposed to endeavour to obtain an Act of Parliament for Dividing thesaid Parish of St. Philip and Jacob, and for erecting and endowing aChurch for the said Parishioners, --And that _you have been pleased tooffer a large Subscription thereto_, We therefore with grateful Heartshumbly take this opportunity of tendering you our hearty thanks for thisyour pious and charitable Intention, and being very desirous that thesame may be executed, beg leave to assure your Lordship, that we will useour best Endeavours for promoting the same, &c. "

Which Petition or Memorial He ordered his Secretary to copy out on twoPieces of Parchment. And then he, the Bishop, sent them to me to carrythem to the Parishioners to be signed; and directed me at the same timeto desire some of the parishioners to attend him at his Palace, which wason a Sunday Evening; And in their and my Presence he wrote the followingwords at the Bottom of one of the Petitions:

 "I see no objection against the Division of the Parish above mentioned, and hope the Gentlemen, whose Consent is necessary, will agree to it, since the Inhabitants are the best judges, what is for their own Convenience: and it is a matter of very little Concern to any but them. --Jo. BRISTOL. "

Likewise when the Fields, which lay contiguous to the intended Church, were to be purchased, he went to see them, and then and there declared inmy hearing, and, as far as I can recollect, in the hearing of severalpersons there present, viz. Messrs. King, Harrison, &c. , That he wouldpurchase them for the use of the intended Church, as soon as ever SirAbraham Elton, the then Proprietor, could dispose of them. 

Also He ordered me, at different times, to bring him a List or Account ofall the monies advanced, or engaged for: And I always put down his namewith 400 pounds opposite to it, which he approved of. 

Moreover, in the preamble of the Act of Parliament, drawn up by Mr. Pearson his Lordship's Secretary, under his Direction, there are thesewords:

 "And the Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of Durham (late of Bristol) for promoting so good a design is disposed and ready to give the sum of 400 pounds towards the Endowment of the new intended Vicarage, &c. "

Which words in the first copy ran thus, "And the Right Rev. The LordBishop of Bristol, &c. , " He being then Bishop of the See of Bristol; AndI have heard his Lordship repeat those words in perusing the said Copy. 

Farther; upon the Coming of the present Lord Bishop of Bristol to thisSee, He ordered me to draw up a short State of the Case relating to thenew intended Church, and the Several Expences necessary for completingthe Design, which Paper was afterwards shown to the Commissionersappointed by Act of Parliament for building the said Church, And theyRequested, That it might be printed. But before it was sent to thepress, I transmitted a Copy to the late Lord Bishop of Durham, then inLondon, to know if his Lordship approved of the Publication of it, andwhether He would please to make any alteration. His answer was, That hesaw no need of Alterations, and thought that the Printing and Dispersingof it might be of service to the charity. 

I then directed Mr. Oliver the Printer to call upon his Lordship for theManuscript, which he did; and after printing the same, He carried fiftyCopies to his Lordship for his own use; One of which Copies was sent to apious and charitable lady, but whether by his Lordship, or his Secretary, I cannot say; The Issue of which was, A Benefaction of 200 pounds sent tohis Lordship, To be disposed of either for the building or the Endowmentas his Lordship thought fit. Now in the printed paper above mentioned, there are the following remarkable expressions--

 "The late Lord Bishop of Bristol, now of Durham, and the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Corporation of Bristol, _have contributed_ large Sums for carrying the said good Purposes into Execution, &c. "

And upon all times and occasions, after he had Purchased the contiguousGrounds above mentioned of Sir Abraham Elton for the sum of 375 pounds, He used to say, That the purchase was for the use of the new IntendedChurch, and did wish, That some little adjoining Tenement might be found, to be purchased with the remaining Sum of 25 pounds in order to make upthe even money of 400 pounds. 

Also when I waited on his Lordship last in London, I was desired by Mr. Willoughby, the treasurer for the said Church, to ask his Lordship, Howhe would please to have the rents of the purchased Grounds disposed of, as some rents were then become due, viz. Whether to be applied towardsthe endowment--or the Building. And his answer was, That the rents, being the Interest of the money allotted for the Charity should beapplied to the charity, as well as the Principal: But whether towards theEndowment or Building He was not yet determined: He believed, theEndowment: but would fix his answer, when he came down to Bristol. 

And after his coming down, He several times said, that he would giveorders concerning that affair. 

He also sent to me one time to acquaint me, That he had a Benefaction putinto his hands of 200 pounds (the benefaction above mentioned), And waspleased to desire my advice, Whether it should be applied towards theEndowment, --or the Building. My answer was, That as the Building was sofar advanced, There was not much danger, but that Contributions might beraised to finish it, --Either by voluntary Subscriptions, --or a Generalcollection round the city, --or by both methods together. But it wouldnot be found so easy a matter to raise Contributions for the Endowment. And the Sums hitherto procured were very far from being a Competency fora _Resident_ Minister. I then mentioned his Benefaction of 400 pounds, and the 400 pounds from Q. Ann's Bounty, as being a sum which might bedepended on, --Also the benefaction of 200 pounds in his Lordship's Hands;which possibly might obtain 200 pounds more from the Bounty;--So that thewhole Sum, to be reckoned upon, even with the supposed addition of 200pounds from the Bounty, would only amount to 1200 pounds, which at 3 percent. , would make an Income of 36 pounds a year. 

His Lordship was pleased to approve of this Reasoning upon the Case, andsaid, The 200 pounds should go towards the Endowment: And as his own wasa bad Life, the Benefaction should be enrolled in the name of Mr. Pearson, in order to try to obtain 200 pounds more from Q. Ann's Bounty. 

All these particulars I am willing to testify upon Oath. 

THE END. 

GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON. 

Footnotes

{11} I have been quite unable to decipher the original of this; by theletters it seems to make "from offendimtum of Scrupleousness. "