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Lewis Morris the Chief Justice of this Province has ordered a Writ of Mandamus for collecting thearrearages of the Minister’s Salary, Notwithstanding these orders they say, if the Constables offerto collect it upon the Warrants the Justice have given pursuant to the Writ aforesaid, they willscald them; they will stone them; they will go to Club law with them and I know not what.
* THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Jamaica Feby 11th 1719.
Hon d Sir
I made no doubt of your being informed of the death of the Rev d M r Bridge late pastor of theChurch at^Rye and that the Honb le Society have ordered another to succeed him.
I am just returned from serving that Church in my turn according to an agreement between theMinisters of this Province and cannot but acquaint you that most of the inhabitants some communi-cants are doing what they can to pull down what the established ministers [have built up]; theyhave resolved to call one M r Buckingham a Dissenting Minister and have accordingly sent to acquainthim of it. I was then at Rye in company with a great many of them and did all that I could tobring them into a better mind in that respect after which they told me their resolution was this, thatthey were so well satisfied with me and my conduct that they would call no other than myself andthat if I could not accept of their call, they knew one, naming the aforesaid M r Buckingham thatwould ; so they desired my answer and I told them I would write home to the Hon ble Societyabout it the first opportunity (not at all expecting to meet with this Ship that I thought sailedsome weeks ago) and I questioned not but they would Order me to Rye, on which I find they haveresolved to call me; had I known of this Ship in those parts, I would have got the Church War-dens and Vestry called and sent it herewith, but expect this per next conveyance.
I have not time now to write to my Lord of London my much hon d Diocesan but pray that thismay be communicated to him, and that what is necessary from the Venerable Society and that wor-thy Lord in order to removal be sent me per the next opportunity.
I trust there are none of my most honoured Patrons do entertain so hard a thought of mq as tobelieve I have any prospect of a temporal advantage by this removal. No God knows I have not,Indeed I must say that I cannot have, for besides that Jamaica is a much pleasanter place where I have abundantly better conversation than can be had at Rye and that the allowance fromthe County for the Minister is £10 per annum more here than there, I assure you if riches weremy aim I had invitations enough and between £400 and 500 per ann: offered me if I would haveremoved from hence into the West Indies but these arguments powerful enough to induce some Ithank God have not been able to prevail with me to leave the Church (over which though most un-worthy I was thought fit to be appointed Overseer) in so much trouble, its nothing but the peaceof the Church that has inclined me to listen to the frequent requests of the people at Rye, theyhave promised me if I would come to them they would be united in their affections and one and allcome to hear me.
May the Lord Jesus Christ the great & good master of the flock make me under him a happyinstrument in uniting the people in making up the divisions among them and quenching the flamesthat blaze out.
I present my utmost duty to my ever hon d patrons heartily earnestly and constantly prayingfor them and to beg Sir you’ll please to excuse this haste and to send an answer per firstopportunity to Hon d Sir
Your humble Serv‘
Tho s Poyer.