USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
"The Clergy, your family & friends generally are well & await most anxiously the pleasure of again beholding your face.
" With great respect & affection,
" Rt. Revd & D. Sir, "Yr. ob Serv* | "THOS. N. STANFORD
"P. S. Dr. Milnor it is announced in the Papers has been elected a Trustee of the Princeton College ! ! ! "
The Chevalier Bunsen was at this time Charge d' Af- faires of the King of Prussia at Rome. The Chevalier had been tutor to Mr. William Astor, afterwards a Vestry- man of Trinity Parish, and in whose memory the reredos in Trinity Church was erected.
The Chevalier had travelled in Europe with Mr. Astor in 1813, and was consequently drawn to the Rector of Trinity Parish and Bishop of New York.
Baron Bunsen was a man of high intellectual ability, and devoted his life to the study of Comparative Philology and to the history of the Teutonic people.
He formed a warm friendship with Bishop Hobart,
390
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
not only on account of his abilities and winning person- ality, but also because he shared the sympathies of the Bishop for the Waldenses.
Among the Hobart MSS. there is yet a yellow-stained copy of the Appeal to the British Nation on behalf of the " Vaudois or Waldenses, Protestant subjects of the King of Sardinia, and natives of that region of the Cottian Alps, which is situated on the Eastern side of Mount Viso and Fenestrelle." After stating that contributions have been received from the Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia, it adds "but from Germany, Holland and Switzerland no contributions have yet been forwarded."
The Appeal goes on to recite :
"Since the Reformation, England has warmly interested itself from time to time in favour of this oppressed people. Charles the First sent two ambassadors to intercede with the Duke of Savoy in their behalf. The Protector Cromwell despatched an Envoy extraor- dinary to Turin for the same purpose; and in the year 1665 a collec- tion was made throughout the Parishes of this Kingdom for the relief of the Vaudois, which amounted to 382415 Ios 6d. Of this sum about 22000£ was remitted for their immediate use, and 16000f was put out to interest for the establishment of a permanent fund for their benefit. The fund was afterwards seized by Charles the Second, by which these poor people were deprived both of capital and interest.
" King William the Third granted annual stipends to the Vaudois Pastors, and Queen Mary left a bequest, upon the strength of which 266£ a year was paid by the British Government, under the name of the Royal Bounty, in pensions to the Waldensian Clergy of Piemont until the year 1797, when the remittances were suspended in conse- quence of the occupation of Piemont by the French troops, and have not yet been resumed. There is however, a small stipend of about 20£ still paid yearly to each of the Vaudois Clergy, by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, out of a fund raised by Parochial collections according to Royal Letters Patent in 1768, without which their condition would be almost intolerable, and they are now reduced to a state of the most distressing poverty, while their exemplary conduct, and great and incessant labours claim our most serious regard."
391
Letter from Chevalier Bunsen
1825]
The Appeal lays great emphasis as a reason why it should be generously responded to on the fact :
" There are authentic historical records to prove, that the Waldenses always suffering but never wavering, have continued to form a pure and independent Christian Church under the ecclesiastical Government of their own Bishops or Primates, since the ninth century, and that Wal- densian preachers began first to spread the doctrines, upon which the Reformers of Germany, Switzerland, France, and ENGLAND afterwards built their tenets."
The trustees named are Samuel Bosanquet, the banker, and the Rev. Anthony Hamilton, the Secretary of the S. P. G.
On leaving Switzerland the Bishop recrossed the Alps, and paid a visit to the Waldenses in the valleys of Pied- mont prior to his return to England.
The Chevalier Bunsen sent him prior to his departure from Rome letters of introduction to enable the Bishop to become acquainted with the principal leaders of the Waldenses.
" MY VENERABLE FRIEND
"I am particularly happy to have this opportunity of addressing you on this side of the Alps a few lines: the enclosed letter to the Prussian Minister, a zealous friend of the Vaudois, General Truchsess, will procure you every introduction & facility. The name of the Chief of the Vaudois is M. Malan at Turin : it is he who has written to Rome.
" If Count Truchsess should not be at Turin, the Chargé d'affaires will do the same.
"Should you not execute the plan you have only to throw away the letter.
" At Winchester you will find for you the ancient and most beauti- ful air for Veni Creator Spiritus which you told me you would like to possess. Dr. Nott besides will be able to give you any news from me.
"And, now, my most respected friend, may your blessing be upon me and may you yourself return with perfectly restored health to your
392
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
flock! I hope your sermons will soon be reprinted; I am very thank- ful for their communication.
"Ever yours most truly, " BUNSEN " ROME, 5th May 1825.
"Mrs. Bunsen sends her kind remembrances, and hopes you will not forget to give her love to her Uncle Mr. Joshua Waddington; to whom I beg you also to present my best compliments.
"Dr. Nott can tell in what way Mr. Astor is complicated in my fate."
With his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Dash, the Bishop left Rome in May, 1825. He visited the Apen- nines, Bologna, Ferrara, Mantua, Venice, where he stayed at the Arminian Convent on the island San Lazaro, and from there to Milan. He here separated from his friends to travel through the Alps. In a letter of June 22d he said :
"I have passed the Alps at the St. Bernard, been at the top of the Splugen, passed the Alps again at the Julier and Albula, and seen the most interesting part of the canton of the Grisons, reached the top of the High-Alps at the glaciers of the Rhine, and beheld what I consider among the greatest wonders of Italy, the Via Mala on the Hinter Rhein, and the defile and grotto of Pfeffers in the canton of St. Gall."
During the Bishop's stay in Switzerland he made Geneva his head-quarters. Thence he writes to his travelling companions :
" GENEVA, July 11th, 1825.
" You did right, my dear and excellent friend, not to regulate your movements by any regard to mine, which have taken longer time and been more extended than I expected. I arrived here only on Saturday, where I found your letter, and had the additional satisfaction of learn- ing from Mr. Durlour of your safe arrival at Paris. I have now no idea of meeting you there; as I contemplate an excursion to that interesting people, the Waldenses, and I shall probably not reach Paris till the end of the month. Do inform me, by a letter left for me at Martin Lafitte's,
393
Letter to Mr. Berrian
1825]
and to whose care I shall direct this, what are your movements and when I shall find you or hear of you in England.
"You will hear of me at Mr. John Miller's, No. 5 Bridge St., Blackfriars, London, or of the Rivingtons, St. Paul's Churchyard, to either of which places, (but in preference to the former), letters may be directed to me.
" If you sail from Liverpool, or elsewhere, I will come over to see you before you sail, but I do not think I shall be able to get ready to sail with you.
" I was induced to extend my journey among the Alps, as well by the high gratification afforded by their sublime scenery, as by the great improvement in my health; of which I can give you no better proof than the fact that in the space of three weeks I crossed the Alps, or ascended them, twenty times, and with the exception of 3 or 4 times, on foot; travelling for successive days on foot up and down these steep and sometimes precipitous mountains, between 20 and 30 miles daily, so that in this space of time I have travelled on foot near 300 miles. This is something to talk about. I assure you I often thought of you and Mrs. Dash and your children, and you are still often, very often, in my thoughts. I was delighted to hear of your improved health, and that you bear the fatigue of travelling so well. I shall make every ex- ertion to see you before you sail for New York, if I can only learn where to find you.
" My best regards to Mrs. Dash. Kiss Margaret and Daniel for me, and believe me,
" Most truly and affectionately, " Your friend,
" J. H. HOBART." 1
To Mr. Berrian he writes :
"GENEVA, July 12, 1825.
"I am really apprehensive that you will begin to think that your friend is not disposed speedily to return to his family, or his diocese; but the truth undoubtedly is, that had I done so at an earlier period, I could not have indulged the reasonable expectation that I should have been able permanently to enjoy my family, or to have discharged my duties to my congregations or to my diocese. My health, indeed, had been gradually improving through the winter, but I had still fre- quent and serious monitions that my complaints were not substantially
1 From the Schroeder collection.
394
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
removed. There were constant indications of a bilious tendency which compelled me according to the directions of Dr. Abernethy of London to have recourse to the mercurial pill,' and the symptoms of dyspepsia, tho' in a less degree remained, I had therefore every rea- son to believe that a return to the cares and duties which would press upon me at home, would bring on a renewal of my former complaints. I felt it a duty to make a decided and vigorous effort to renew my con- stitution, and I was induced to believe that exercise on foot and on horseback, among the Alps of Italy and Switzerland, would produce this effect. The winter, however, lingers so long in those high regions, as you know, that travelling there is not safe or practicable until June. For nearly this month past I have been among the Alps, and with the happiest effect on my health, of which I can give you no bet- ter proof than that, between the 16th of June and the 10th of this month, I have passed over, in different places, the Alps of Italy and Switzerland twenty times; have travelled about three hundred miles on foot, often several days successively between twenty and thirty miles up and down steep and lofty mountains; concluding this Alpine expe- dition by passing over the Great St. Bernard and round Mont Blanc to this place, where I arrived on Saturday last; and I now feel myself as well as I ever was. The fact is, that my complaints are of a nature only to be removed by a cessation of cares and duties for some time, and by that kind of exercise which I have taken, in which a succession of inter- esting objects agreeably occupies the mind. The only remaining ex- cursion which I am desirous of making, is to that interesting people, the Waldenses, with whose primitive character, as Christians, you are well acquainted, and for whom a collection was made in the English con- gregation at Rome last spring, on which occasion I preached. I must give up seeing much of Paris, through which as yet I only passed, and also many parts of England, which I was desirous of visiting. I take one of the packets next month from Liverpool for sweet home.
" After all, there is nothing like it, not even in Switzerland, which take the people and the country together, perhaps the most resembles our dear native land.
"I am sensible that for my protracted absence I need the indul- gence of the vestry, my congregations, and my diocese. Explain to the former when they meet, and to the latter as opportunity offers, the rea- sons of it. If these appear insufficient, I must throw myself on that kindness which has often overrated my exertions, and been lenient to
' The actual prescription is still among the Hobart MSS.
395
Letter from Rev. R. Bridle
1825]
my deficiencies and my faults, promising in the future an increased devotion to their interests, which ought certainly with me to be para- 'mount to all other considerations.
" The expense to which I have subjected the vestry, and which is certainly much greater than I would have wished, lies heavy on my mind, so much so that I do not like to think of it. In a letter which I wrote to Mr. Ogden I requested that I should be charged by the vestry with $2000 and that $500 per annum should be deducted from my salary till the same was paid.
"And now, my dear Berrian, you must not suppose that I have been unmindful of the additional duty and responsibility which my absence has imposed upon you. I trust and hope that you have not suffered by it, but that I shall find you, on my return, at least in your usual health. I think I am desirous, and I think I shall be able on my return, to do at least as much duty as I have ever done.
" Remember me most affectionately to all my friends, and especially to those you know I bear most on my mind.
"I am, my dear Berrian, most truly and affectionately yours "J. H. HOBART." 1
The Bishop returned to England in August where his friends were glad to greet him and have farewell visits from him. The Rev. R. Bridle, of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, whom he had met at Rome, sent him this entertaining epistle :
" ST. PETER'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE " Aug. 27, 1825.
" MY DEAR BISHOP,
"It was not till yesterday (when I received a letter from my curate, Mr. Veasey, who passed through London a few days ago, on his way to Brighton,) that I heard of your arrival in England, although Dr. Clark had given me some hopes of seeing you before I left London. It was, I can assure you, a very great disappointment to me, when I found, from Mr. Veasey's letter, that you were likely to leave London in a few days for America; but my feelings have been somewhat relieved by your letter of this morning, as it gives me an opportunity at least of com- municating with you before you leave the shores of Old England, and of expressing my sincere regret that it has not been permitted me to
1 Berrian MSS.
396
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
have the gratification of shaking hands with you before you set off. From the month of March (being the time you mentioned in your last letter when I might have had reason to expect you in London) till the middle of July, when I came down to Cambridge I was daily looking out for you most anxiously, and I may say, that after Dr. Clark's arri- val in London I was raised to the pitch of hourly expectation.
" As I am now deprived of a personal visit from you, be pleased, my dear Sir, to accept my most heartfelt congratulations on the re- covery of your health and spirits, and may you long live to enjoy that inestimable blessing in the midst of your family and friends; and if it should not be in my power to accept your kind and friendly invitation to visit you in New-York, (of which I have very great fears) be assured that I shall never forget that it was with the Bishop of New-York I ascended Vesuvius, ransacked the ruins of Paestum and Pompeii, and assisted at the solemn mummery of the Sistine Chapel.
"But our intercourse must not end thus. There is one subject at least upon which, I trust, we feel a common interest-I mean that of the poor Vaudois. You have preached a sermon in their favour at Rome; I have been appointed treasurer to the fund which is now raising in this country for their relief; this fund is now become considerable, and in the course of a fortnight I am going to London to attend the sub-committee, when I shall have the pleasure to report a further in- crease. It is a subject which has very much occupied my attention since Christmas last, and I have more to say upon it than can come into the course of an ordinary letter. I have written to the Rivingtons this evening, to request that they will send me your sermon, and I have no doubt that in the course of a few weeks I shall have the opportunity of transmitting a copy to our worthy friend Mr. Bert. Had I no other reason-but I have many-for writing to you at New-York, but to report the proceedings of our committee here, you may be sure to hear from me again before many months.
"That you may find Mrs. Hobart, and all your children in the enjoyment of health and happiness, is the earnest prayer,
" My dear Sir, " Of your faithful and affectionate friend
"R. BRIDLE." 1
When Dr. Schroeder was writing the Memoir of Bishop Hobart he received the following letter from the Bishop's
1 Berrian's Memoir, p. 321.
397
Letter from Bishop Inglis
1825]
old friend, Mr. Thomas N. Stanford ; but notwithstanding the positive assertion in it that the Bishop was presented to the King there is no record of any such event in the Correspondence.
"Wednesday Evening, "February 9th, 1831.
" REV. AND DEAR SIR;
"I am certain of the fact that Bishop Hobart was presented to the King at a drawing room held when he was in London, by some one high in power. I had the full particulars at the time, but cannot lay my hands upon any letter giving the account. The Bishop gave me the particulars in one of his letters, and also he mentioned that a seat had been assigned to him in the House of Lords, near that of the Lord Chancellor, where he sat when he occasionally visited the House. The fact is well known that the highest distinctions were paid the Bishop by noblemen and others; perhaps greater than were ever paid before to an American traveller.
"I have ascertained, likewise, that great attentions were paid to the Bishop in Scotland. He visited that country in the beginning of 1824, and preached for Bishop Skinner at Aberdeen several times. Of this I am sure.
" He visited, likewise, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other parts of Scotland, and was everywhere received with the utmost respect.
" Have you noticed the very affectionate and beautifully written letter of the Bishop in answer to the one of the Clergy of N. Y .? It is dated at Rome, January 15th, 1825, and may be found on the 156th page of the 9th. volume of the Church Journal.
" Hoping you will be able to finish the memoir in a few days, I remain, Dear Sir,
"Your Obedient servant, "THOS. N. STANFORD." 1
That the Bishop was present at the debates in the House of Lords we may assume from Lord Shaftesbury's letter to Mr. Norris; but if the following letter from the Bishop of Nova Scotia to Bishop Hobart during his last visit to London be carefully read, all that we are war- ranted in believing is that the Archbishop of Canterbury
1 Schroeder MSS.
398
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
arranged matters so that the Bishop of New York could see the King from a distance, which is a very different thing from a formal presentation.
" 200 PICCADILLY " Saturday
" MY DEAR SIR,
" I have not named to Dr Sumner your desire to see the King, be- cause this is a point on which you can touch more delicately, and less formally in conversation.
" His Majesty does not like to be looked at, but if there is a pos- sibility of seeing him I am sure Dr. Sumner will point it out to you.
"Mrs. Inglis has just received a note from Mrs. Norris, they are now and will remain till Thursday morning at the Revª Mr. Saw- bridge's, Wickham, near Newbury. Windsor is on the road to Newbury, and if possible I would particularly recommend your en- deavouring to see Norris. He will break his heart if you cross the Ocean before he has again taken you by the hand.
" Wickham near Newbury is not more than 55 miles from Town. "Yours with affectionate respect
"JOHN NOVA SCOTIA. " RIGHT REVD
" THE BISHOP OF NEW YORK."
" DROPMORE Aug. 25. 1825
"Lord Grenville presents his Compliments to Bishop Hobart, and will feel himself highly honoured, and gratified, by the opportunity which Bishop Hobart is so good as to afford him of making the acquaintance of a person of a character so highly distinguished: & who to his other claims to Lord Grenville's respect adds that of the friendship of Mr. Rufus King.
"Lord Grenville's health limits him to the hours of an invalid, & he is therefore not without hope that if he cannot prevail upon the Bishop to pass the day here, he will at least do Lady Grenville & him the favour of taking his dinner with them at the early hour of four. But the former of them would be much the most acceptable to them."
The Bishop accepted the invitation, apparently leaving this note in person :
" Bp. Hobart has the honor of receiving the very polite & kind note of Lord Grenville.
1
1825]
Letter to Mr. Rufus King
399
" He is a little in doubt whether Lord Grenville's health will admit of any intrusion at the early hour at which Bishop H. now calls. he is desirous, however, previously to the hour of dining of being per- mitted to enjoy the gratification of exploring the grounds of Dropmore, as he will be, under the necessity after dinner of depriving himself of the gratification of Lord & Lady Grenville's company & of prosecuting his journey."
That the Bishop did visit Dropmore is certain from the following letter to Mr. King. It is evident from this communication, and also from a lengthy and remarkable letter on the subject of theological education written July 24, 1820, that Dr. Hobart not only placed great value on Mr. King's ripe judgment in all matters but was most anxious to cultivate his good will.
" LIVERPOOL, Sep. 1, 1825.
" MY DEAR SIR: I am induced to mention this, because during the day which I passed with Lord Grenville, for whose very kind attentions I felt myself indebted to your introduction, he mentioned that either he had written or should write to you to pay him a visit at Dropmore, and I cannot help thinking that so delightful a place as Dropmore, & so highly interesting society as that of Lord Grenville would have the happiest effect on the health & spirits of an invalid. Do not think me impertinent in this suggestion.
"If I did not occupy a public situation in the Church, & were not exposed from various causes to much animadversion, I think I should not be solicitous about circumstances which now appear of some im- portance. It may happen that the little intercourse which I had with Lord Grenville may have led him to form not an unfavorable impres- sion of my character; & it may happen that he may think it worth while to state that impression in conversation with you. His name stands so high with us, that his favorable opinion might be used as a counterbalance to reports which perhaps may be circulated of my un- popularity in Eng. on account of the collision, in which I really think without any fault of mine, I was brought with Mr. Chase. Those re- ports would not be correct, for tho' the enthusiastic multitude may have considered me as the opponent of an 'apostolic & primitive man,' from the highest dignitaries of the Chh. & others I rec'd all the
400
History of Trinity Church
[1825-
attention wh. I could desire & more than I could expect. But should you bear on your mind any evidence on the part of Lord Grenville that he did not consider me as unworthy of your most favorable intro- duction, & would communicate this to Col. Troup, there is no person who would more sedulously use it to my advantage in New York.
"I think you will understand my views & feelings in this matter which, if I know myself are neither vain nor selfish, & therefore make no apology for thus troubling you with my concerns.
" And allow me in the sincerity of my heart to say, that for the restoration to health of one whose life is so invaluable to his family, his friends & the country that is so much indebted to him, the best wishes & prayers are offered of my dear sir, by
"Yr most respectful " & faithful & affec. "fd & sv't " J. H. HOBART." 1
On the same date, being the very day Bishop Hobart left for America by the packet Canada, he wrote a letter to the Poet Laureate, of which the following is a transcript of the copy which he carefully preserved :
" MR. SOUTHEY.
" MY DEAR SIR
"Liv: Sept: 1:1825.
"I trust yr numerous acquaintance & friends & yr important lity and other avocations have not pushed frm yr mind all recollection of the in- dividual who assures you that one of the most delightful days of his life & one to wh he will look back with the highest satisfaction & pride was that wh he passed with you at Keswick where he was honored with yr exceedingly kind attentions. In his prolonged rambles on the Con! he often thought of the short but interesting visit wh he made to one whose acquaintance & notice will always confer honor; and among his own country-men in presuming to say, that he hopes he enjoys the favorable regard of Mr Southey, he will secure to himself no small portion of congratulation.
"I am afraid I can present to you no motive to honor me with your correspondence even if yr important avocations afforded you the necessary leisure. But I beg you to believe that if in any possible
1 Rufus King: Life and Correspondence. Vol. vi., pp. 639, 640. See also pp. 350-352.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.