PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

275

SIR W M JOHNSON TO REYD MESSRS COOPER & OGILVIE.

Johnson hall, March 1 st 1771.

Worthy Sirs. I have received your Joynt favor of the 18 th ult°. Concerning the Rev d M r . Griffith 1whom I perfectly recollect to have made me a visit about the time you mention. That Gentlemanwas I think then accompanied by M 1 ' Brown one of the principal Friends of the Church inSchenectady , and had some tolerable offers made to him in Case he inclined to that Mission & winchwere far superior to what may be expected from Glocester according to the description I have of it.however these offers he then thought proper to decline, and indeed seemed to think them inadequateto his views and expectations. Since which I have heard that he was appointed to the Missionwhich he has lately left. Whatever objections, on account of his family, or otherwise might haveinduced him to reject Schenectady must Certainly operate in as high a degree against this place,as it is not only more retired, but must in some degree depend upon myself, I am therefore at a Losswhat to say in favor of that Gentleman ’s present Desire as well from the Circumstances I havementioned, as from the Expectation I have of a Missionary for this place in consequence of aformer Letter from D r Burton who promised to have enquiry made (in case none Could be had fromEngland) for some person of Zeal It Piety who has received a Collegiate Education at Dublin .

I have pleasure to acquaint you that Mess' 73 Steward and Andrews, are much esteemed, andwill I persuade myself greatly promote Religion in these parts, and when aided by the appointmentsof Disinterested, and Indefatigable Men for this Mission & Conajoharee will much advance Christi-anity in Gen 1 and the Church of England in particular.

I am, with true esteem Gentlemen &c

Mess r3 Cooper & Ogilvie.

P. S. The great regard which I shall always pay to your Judgment & recommendation obligesme to observe that I drew my observations from what passed with respect to the SchenectadyMission, In which I may have been mistaken, for I have no objection to M r Griffiths Character orabilities, neither can I have any when supported by authority that have so much weight with me.

1 Rev. David Giumra, D.D. went to England for orders in 1770. On being ordained he returned to this country with anappointment as Missionary to Glocester, N. J. He relinquished this mission however, soon after, and moved into Virginia . InJuly 177G, he was appointed Chaplain and Surgeon to the 3d. Virg : Batalion: he being a person of “ uncommon merit.”(Amer ; Arch-, bth, Ser. i. 1588.) After the peace, we find him pastor of the parish of Fairfax, Va. of which State he waselected Bishop in 1786, but he was never consecrated. Owing to his poverty and the deranged state of his private affairs,he was unable to proceed to England for consecration. In 1789 he resigned the office, and on the 3d August of that year hedied in Philadelphia, at the residence of the Bishop of Penn. , having come to that city as a delegate to the EpiscopalConvention. “In his feelings and conduct” (says Dr. Hawks,) “he was thoroughly American; he thought the ColoniesWronged by the Mother Country, and throughout the struggle for Independence, he advocated their cause. He haddeliberately cast in his lot with the great majority of his countrymen, and in the alternations of storm and of sunshine, throughwhich they passed in the achievement of their liberties, he was ever found true to his principles. When he died the churchlost a useful and a worthy man.” Ed.. . ......