USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 27
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"We are full of anxiety to hear from you to learn the state of your health, your reception, your impressions, your enjoyments and the drawbacks upon them. But much of this, perhaps, we ought not to expect till your return. We then at least look for such ac- counts as no one from this country has ever had an opportunity of giving. I hope that you will find such pleasure in your journey as to make you wait with patience for the expiration of the time you proposed, and though your absence on every account is so much felt and particularly by those to whom you are near and dear, ] should regret still more that you should not enjoy the full benefit of so difficult and painful an undertaking.
" Jane wishes to be affectionately remembered to you.
"Your affectionate friend,
"WILLIAM BERRIAN. " 1
Mr. Rufus King, then United States Minister to the Court of St. James, furnished the Bishop with several letters of introduction, and apparently with one to the
1 Berrian MSS.
301
Letter from Mr. Wilberforce
1823]
great Wilberforce, who wrote the following reply to the Bishop's letter of recommendation :
" Mr. Wilberforce presents his best respects to Bishop Hobart and feels it necessary in the first place to exculpate himself from the imputation which he would be very sorry to deserve, that of having been dilatory in replying to Bishop Hobart's obliging note. The delay which has taken place in Mr. W's replying to it, has been un- avoidable, arising in part from Mr. W's being on the eve of a journey and change of temporary residence, just when it reached him. Mr. W. is sorry that his absence from London prevents his immediately availing himself of the opportunity of paying his personal respects to Bishop Hobart. The precise time of Mr. W's return to Brompton is not yet fixed, but it will most probably be D. V. about Christmas. If Bishop Hobart should then be in London, Mr. W. will be happy to have the honor of waiting upon him. While Mr. W. is persuaded that Bishop Hobart's connections are such as to render the offer super- fluous, he cannot help adding both out of respect for Bishop Hobart himself and for his friend Mr. King's Recommendations, that it will give him pleasure if he can be of any use to Bishop Hobart during his stay in this country, or if he can in any way contribute to Bishop Hobart's convenience or comfort.
"As a proof of the disposition Mr. W. feels to render any the slightest good office in his power, he will take the liberty of men- tioning, as Bishop Hobart may have occasion to write to the Mem- bers of the two Houses of Parliament, that their Postage privilege except in the case of some privileged Persons, chiefly in high offices, is confined to Letters that are under the weight of one ounce. Mr. W. can truly assure Bishop H. that he would not have mentioned the circumstance, but for his consciousness that he himself in similar circumstances should have been thankful for such an intimation, and he trusts therefore that Bishop Hobart will do him the justice to ascribe the freedom to its true motive.
"Yoxall Lodge
"(The Revª Thomas Gisborne's) "N' Litchfield. " 28 Nov. 1823."
The Bishop's visit to Dr. Howley, Bishop of London, is well described in a letter of his to Mr. Berrian :
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" LONDON, NOV. 29, 1823.
"I wrote to you, my dear Berrian, a day or two after I arrived at Liverpool. I am still, as you see, in this endless city, detained here partly by a slight return of my chills and fever, and partly by Church matters, which have troubled me not a little. I am much pleased with my physician (or apothecary as they here call him,) who has attended me, and he advises my going north in the first instance. I expect therefore before the end of this week to go to Edinburgh, and to spend my Christmas in the Scotch Episcopal Church; after that I shall make all speed for Italy.
"I have already made some interesting acquaintances among the clergy here. Mr. Norris is more than I expected, though sensible and extremely learned, and I was going to say, all that I could possi- bly wish. The Rev. Mr. Coleridge, (nephew of the poet) the editor of the Christian Remembrancer, and secretary of the Christian Knowl- edge Society, and the Rev. Mr. Campbell, the editor of the British Critic, are most excellent men. The Bishop of London is, altogether, one of the most humble, unaffected, meek and modest men that I ever met with; and his wife, what shall I say of her? handsome in her fea- tures, expressive in her countenance and elegant in her person, gentle and soft, and entirely artless in her manners, yet truly dignified and at all times just what she ought to be, sensible and pleasing in her con- versation; altogether she is really a rare woman. She is above 40, I am told tho' apparently younger and the Bishop about ten years older. That you may not think me extravagant in what I say I will mention that Mr. Joshua Watson, (the Treas" of the National Education Society, and who bought and fitted up Ely Palace as a place of worship for the scholars, and who devotes his time and fortune to Church purposes) a sober and sedate man, observed after we left the Bishop's the day we dined there, that Mrs. Howley was a bewitching woman. They are the most interesting couple I ever met with. The contrast between their affability and humility, and the splendour of the palace and at- tendants at Fulham, was very striking. After dinner we passed into a large room where were Mrs. Howley and thirteen young people from three years of age to fifteen, healthy and handsome; two of them her . children, and the rest the children of her sister, Lady Carrington, lately - deceased. It was an interesting sight.
"I am also exceedingly pleased with the Bishop of Llandaff, Dr. Van Mildert. He is equally unassuming as the Bishop of London but more decided in his manners as he is said to be in his mind and char-
303
Letter from Lord Gambier
1823]
acter. The Archbishop of Canterbury is at his seat near Croydon. I called at Lambeth, but of course did not see him.
"The Rev. Mr. Coleridge, whom I have mentioned, called on me one day, and observed, that Mr. Southey was in the city, and desirous of seeing me, and of conversing with me respecting America, and of course I felt gratified with the opportunity of forming an acquaint- ance with him. He is very unaffected in his manners, and I was much pleased with him. He pressed me to visit him at Keswick.
"Tell Dr. Lyell that I have also received his letter. He is so kind as to mention that my daughters were at his house 'to-day,' but whether that day be some day in October 1823 or in the 'year before the flood ' I cannot tell as there is no date to his letter.
"My love to Jane and all friends, and believe me, "Most affectionately,
" J. H. HOBART."1
Lord Gambier, who afterwards befriended Bishop Chase so much, was equally cordial in his correspondence with Dr. Hobart.
"IVER GROVE 29 Nov' 1823.
" DEAR SIR
"I feel myself much honor'd by your letter of the 24th Inst and the printed note which accompany'd it: and beg leave to observe that the Station and Character which you so respectably hold in the American Episcopal Church is a sufficient introduction in every Country and to all Persons who honor and revere the Church of Christ. I shall be happy in any occasion that may occur in being personally acquainted with you; but as my constant residence is, not in London, and I seldom visit the Town, such occasion may not very soon offer, but if it should be convenient to you at any time during your continuance in this Country to do me the honor of a visit to this place I shall be happy in giving you the best accomo- dation that my humble residence affords.
" I have the honor to be Dear Sir "with much respect "your faithful humble Servant
" GAMBIER.
"If you should at any time find it convenient to honor me with your company here, I would beg the favor of a line intimating your ' No. 81, Berrian MSS.
--------
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intention that I may inform you whether I am at home; as I make an excursion occasionally, though not often, from hence.
" The enclosed note was, I conclude, put into the cover of your letter by mistake."
To which note the Bishop immediately penned the following acknowledgment :
"LONDON Dec: 1, 1823.
" MY LORD,
"Allow me to extend to your Lordship my acknowledgments for the very polite & kind note with which you have honored [me] & to make my apology for two circumstances which have occasioned me no small mortification. I was not aware of the limitation of the frank- ing privilege allowed to members of parliament until after I had sent a printed document to you, or I should not have been guilty of the indecorum of subjecting you, as I fear I have done, in a matter not immediately concerning you, to the payment of postage.
"And further in the hurry of inclosing & sealing up several letters & notes, I did not discover until my letter to you was sealed, & sent to the post office, that the note which you have been so attentive as to return was probably by some mistake put in the envelope to you.
"I do not expect to spend much of my time in England until the ensuing summer, when I shall endeavour to avail myself of the permis- sion which your Lordship gives me, of paying in person my respects to one who, though long known by reputation to me in the services of his country, has always been associated in my mind with those Chris- tian qualities which are so particularly interesting & influential where they adorn rank and station.
" I have the honour to be with great consideration,
"Your Lordship's faithful & obdt. Servt, " J. H. HOBART."
The Bishop of New York was much interested in the new system of education propounded by its founder, Dr. Bell.
Dr. Bell, by his wealth and influence, had popular- ized the ideas of Joseph Lancaster on education. These methods came to be known as the "Lancastrian" or "Madras " system.
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305
The Rabbi Herschel
1823]
The Bishop in the following note expresses his regret at not having been at home when Dr. Bell called.
"Bp Hobart presents his Compliments to Dr. Bell, & feels much mortified that he should have made a call on Dr. Bell, at the same hour that Dr Bell did him the honor of a visit.
" He happens to be engaged to-morrow, but on Friday if agree- able to Dr Bell, he will call on him between the hours of eleven & twelve. He mentions this time as it will be gratifying to him to attend worship at the Abbey which he understands takes place at twelve.
"He assures Dr Bell that he will esteem it a great honor & pleas- ure to form an acquaintance with an individual to whom so large a portion of the Christian world is indebted for improvements in educa- tion which may be considered as constituting an era in that most important art.
" Wednesday,
"Dec: 3."
The Bishop was anxious to meet Rabbi Herschel, who was then the Chief Rabbi of the Synagogue in London, and if possible to hear his lectures on Astronomy. This Herschel was not, that we know, any connection of the famous astronomer of that name.
A friend of the Bishop's, a Mr. Francklin, sends him the Rabbi's address and informs him under date of December 4th that he is expected shortly to lecture on Astronomy at the Institution, and hopes that this information will reach the Bishop in time before his departure for Scotland.
It was to his daughters that the Bishop sent the first full account of his impressions of England :
" YORK, Dec. 9, 1823.
" MY DEAR DAUGHTERS:
"I have directed this letter to Jane, but you are to consider it addressed to both of you, and to convey to you both my best affection and my thanks for your letters. I have written to your mother, or to some one of my friends in New York, by every packet; and by this time, I conclude, you have received the letters which I wrote on my VOL. III .- 20.
*
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arrival in Liverpool. Your mother and my dear family daily occupy my thoughts. I do not see any object which interests me, but I wish that they were with me to enjoy it; and in passing through this aston- ishing country, something constantly strikes you, which is a source of gratification. Even at this season, which in this country, from the haziness and cloudiness of the atmosphere, and the short time the sun remains above the horizon, is particularly gloomy-the fields present a cheerful aspect, and are as verdant as they are with us in the spring. This is owing to the great and constant moisture arising from the sur- rounding sea, which corrects and moderates the cold, which otherwise, from the higher northern latitude, would be greater than with us. The first day that I rode into the country from Liverpool, on my way to London, I seemed in a new world. The hedges, not then stripped of their leaves, which divided the farms into numerous compartments, verdant as the finest meadow is with us in the richness of the spring; the substantial and neat farm-houses, with their barns and other build- ings, their stacks of grain and hay arranged with a neatness of which our country affords no example; the large mansions of the gentry and nobility towering in an extensive and beautiful lawn studded with the stately oak and elm, among which you sometimes perceived the deer roaming; and even the humble cottage, with its little court-yard, some- times scarcely large enough to turn in, fenced with a hedge, and crowded with flowers and rose bushes, the ever-blooming rose appear- ing as full as the monthly rose does with us in the spring; the towns, with their thickly arranged buildings, which, from their antique appear- ance, brought to my mind the ages that were past long since; the stone churches, with their pointed arched windows and doors and their stately towers or lofty spires; and the rude hamlets with their thatched houses moss-grown, and which looked as if they were built centuries ago, with vines creeping along and covering their stone walls and con- cealing their Gothic windows, partly raised into their roofs, and the shrubbery and the grass-plot which almost invariably meet the eye :- this was the novel scene which struck me with astonishment and de- light: and if it be thus in the autumn and winter, when the beauties of the country are departed, what must those beauties be when shining forth in the light, and splendour, and richness of spring!
"London presented a scene entirely different. A mass of houses crowded together, and covering an extent of ground six miles long and I think three or four broad, so full of people that in the principal streets you are sometimes stopped by the crowd; rows of carriages often so close together that the horses go on a walk, and at times stand
307
Letter from Serjeant Sellon
1823]
still. Here again I was lost in astonishment. London, properly so called, neither in its public buildings nor its private exhibits any thing superior to New-York, the Cathedral of St. Paul's excepted. But the west end, which is called Westminster, has many streets wide and straight, and distinguished by handsome buildings; and Westminster Abbey, externally and internally, excited emotions to which before I was a stranger, but which have been exceeded by the awfully grand and magnificent Cathedral of this city. "
Serjeant Sellon grew to be one of the Bishop's staunch- est friends, as will be seen from these chatty and interesting letters.
" CHAPTER HOUSE, ST. PAUL'S, "Dec'r 12 1823
" MY DEAR SIR,
" I was much gratified at the Receipt of your Letter two Days ago, and with the kind and favorable Inclinations which you manifest towards me and mine. I can assure you that we are by no means be- hindhand with you, for equally friendly feelings are cherished on our part towards you. Your account of the Preachers that you have heard since your Departure only verifies our former observations of the Diffi- culty of meeting with any to our Minds, both as to Matter and Manner -if however I can only have one, I had rather it should be the Matter as I hold that good Soup out of an earthen Dish is better than bad Broth from a Silver one. I have made myself two Presents since you left me, one, Adam's Account of the Religious World (2 Vol. Oct). This lets me into the History of your American Groups, from Episco- palians, downwards, as of the various other existing Denominations, not forgetting Mahammedans and Pagans. It may be very well to know the discriminating Tenets, and for Divines it may be necessary, but for my own part I am weary of hunting after shadows, and much lament the time which I have wasted in pursuing the Will o' the Whisps through the Quagmires of Controversy.
"The other work is an antidote to the above. It is for a Pillow of Repose when my Head is worried by Sectarianism. I was induced to buy it by the Partiality which I thought You expressed towards it. I mean Bishop Horne's Works; with his Comment' on the Psalms I was well acquainted and have been again and again delighted; the Remainder of his printed Productions are 4 Vol Octavo by Jones of
1 Pp. 277-279, Berrian's Memoir.
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Nayland. I consider him to have been an orthodox pious Christian and a sound Divine. Nor do I dislike him for his Hutchinsonian Principles, altho' it brought upon him the Censure of many. They give a Seasoning of Spirituality to his writings. Jones's figurative Lan- guage of the Scriptures (probably you have got it) is a fine specimen of their Utility. The Analogy between Nature and Grace in a Variety of Instances is most striking. And altho' I consider God's Word as the Sun of Revelation I look upon his Works as the Moon shining with reflected Light.
You mentioned to me when I last saw you a Box which you would commit to my care. I have seen nothing of it. Did you leave any orders about it. I have not met with Bp. C. since your Departure. He called once & saw my Daughter: and told her he had been two or three Days at Lord G.'s who was very kind to him. I expect to see him to-morrow or the next Day and shall inquire Particulars.
"One thing I must beg leave to whisper to you before I conclude viz, That it is not the fashion here for a friend to pay postage for the letters which he sends and I mention this partly from Selfishness, be- cause I do not mean to follow the Example, but shall heap upon you Letter after Letter by way of punishment, if you are not punctual in your correspondence with
"yr sincere Friend,
"B. J. SELLON."
" MY DR SIR,
"Since writing a note to you this morning wh I have sent off by our Messenger I have seen my Daughter Brodie who says you dine with them today: I am happy that I am disengaged and shall be able to meet you, but you are really so quick in your motions that a poor phlegmatic Englishman like myself scarcely knows how to be a match for you. I will call upon you in Leicester Sq'e at { before 6 or somewhat sooner. Should you not be at home, I will meet you at Saville Row at six.
" Yrs truly, " B. J. SELLON."
The Bishop's first visit to London was only of a month's duration. He was advised to go north so as to avoid the fogs of the city. He accordingly went to Edin- burgh, being drawn to Scotland on account of his deep
.
309
The Bishop's Arrival in Edinburgh
1823]
interest in that Church which had given the Episcopate to America.
There were many reasons why Bishop Hobart should desire to visit Scotland at the earliest possible moment. When in charge of Connecticut, he had heard much of the primitive simplicity and faithful adherence to sound doc- trine of the once persecuted "Catholic remainder of the Church of Scotland."
The Churchmanship of Dr. Hobart was of the same stamp as that of the leaders of the Scottish Church. A fellow feeling therefore naturally drew him to visit Scot- land when his physicians advised him to go north before proceeding to Italy.
Owing to the short-sighted restrictions imposed on the American clergy by the " American Bishops' Act," George III., 28, Chapter 84, the Bishop of New York had been unable to preach in England. The courtesy extended to him, in the following cordial invitation, received on the very day of his arrival in Edinburgh, must, therefore, have been doubly welcome :
"Mr. Morehead presents his respects to the Right Revª Bishop Hobart, & takes the liberty of requesting him to preach at St. Paul's Chapel next Sunday Morning (when it is Mr. M's turn to preach)-if the Bishop is so kind as to agree to this request but would rather prefer the Afternoon-Mr. M is sure Mr. Akin will be very happy to accommo- date him. If Bishop Hobart has not engaged himself to take any part of the Communion duty elsewhere on Christmas, his assistance will be greatly esteemed at St. Paul's on that day likewise.
" HILL STREET, Dec' 16, 1823."
Immediately on his arrival in Edinburgh, Bishop Hobart wrote a very full letter to his friend Mr. Norris, explaining at length the reasons which led him to oppose Bishop Chase, and making the suggestion that it might : be well for him to publish some of his sermons so that
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History of Trinity Church
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English Church-people might understand from them that he was a preacher of Evangelical Truth, and not given up merely to the externals of religion. The following is a copy of the draft of this important letter as found in the Hobart MSS. :
" EDINBURGH, Dec: 19, 1823
" MY DEAR SIR,
"I am truly indebted to you for your letter, affording as it does another evidence in addition to the many which I have already re- ceived of your kind solicitude for me. Your friend Dr. Lloyd observed in a letter to you, which you shewed me that you knew every thing about all the churches in Christendom, & he might have added you were unwearied in your efforts to promote the welfare of them all, at least those which hold the faith once delivered to the Saints & the ministry that 'is called of God,' and it becomes me to add that no small portion of your care & attention is devoted to the promotion of my own official & personal interests & views. For all this you have my warmest gratitude. Would it not be well to furnish Mr. Canning & others who may be likely to be applied to, with the British Critic ? Is the Bp of Durham in possession of the merits of the case ?
"My plan to publish my sermons was formed after I saw you, & as you conjecture, was very principally influenced by the consideration which you state. I will tell you, however, exactly how the matter stood.
"I have been represented for several years past in publications which have been transmitted to this country & more or less circulated, as a cold & formal bigot zealous only for the externals of religion. On my landing at Liverpool I saw an English periodical publication devoted principally to American literature & theology, in which many pages are devoted to the purpose of making this impression of my character. I ascertained in London that communications had been made at various times from America calculated to effect the same object. I saw 2 vols of travel, very respectable, by a Mr. Dusier of Glasgow, in which the same views are exhibited of me. And finally, the letter from America appeared in the Christian Observer I reasoned with myself thus. Were I a private individual these at- tempts repeated and extensive as they may be to misrepresent my principles & views in a community with whom I am for some time to have social intercourse, unpleasant as they may be, might be
1823]
Letter to Mr. Norris
31I
passed by in the consciousness that being unjust they were not worthy of notice. But connected as I am with what I consider the cause of primitive truth & order, & represented as an active agent in support of this cause in the American Church I can not but be sen- sible that thro' me this cause is assailed in charges against my official character & conduct, the most serious which can be alleged, of indif- ference to all which constitutes the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation, & of zeal only for what is stigmatised the unessential externals of religion. But moreover & principally, the peculiar circumstances in which I am placed in England, rendered it eminently desirable that these charges should be put down at once.
"I am now from unavoidable circumstances before the public as adverse to attempts deemed highly inexpedient by the great body of the American Episcopal Church to enlist the interest in local work & the liberality of the people here in support of certain measures & plans which have not the sanction of that Church. The principal chance of success is with a party in the Church of England who, certainly are not to be despised in reference to their numbers their means or their influ- ence. Not to mention the Bishops who patronise them & the Cabinet ministers who also, to say the least, countenance them, some of the latter as well as many peers of the realm are among their prominent & active supporters. Their pecuniary means are drawn forth to a vast amount & of the Christian Observer devoted to their interests 5000 copies are printed monthly, and extensively circulated in this country & is re- printed among us, & such is their influence that it is admitted both parties in Parliament are somewhat afraid of them, & compelled to soothe them. I think also that many among them are disposed to patronise the American Episcopal Chh & are ready to contribute largely & liberally to this purpose. Now, should they believe that the representations made of me are correct, would they not see at once that their policy, & if they are conscientious in their views, their duty would be to withhold their influence & support from the Genl theo- logical school which situated as it is may be supposed to be very much under my influence, & to cast their patronage in the scale of the Ohio or some other project which they may be induced to suppose, will be more favourable to what they consider the cause of evangelical truth ?
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