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MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN STUART, D. D.

Stuart having applied to the Commissioners for permission to open school. A careful examinationof their minutes does not shew any such application. Indeed under the circumstances of thetimes, it is doubtful whether a Latin school could have been supported at Schenectady . But hisapplication is represented as having been subsequent to the confiscation of the glebe, and tins isstated to have taken place in May, 1781. “As a last resource lie then proposed to open a LatinSchool .” Now, he applied for, and obtained leave to emigrate in March, 1781—and we haveseen that he had determined to emigrate in Nov. 1780. How then can it be stated that lie intendedto open a school after he had not only resolved to leave the country, but actually had in his posses-sion Gov. Clinton’s permission to depart ?

The Society finally represents that this permission was obtained with much difficulty only ongiving a bond to send “ a rebel colonel” in exchange. Now, the exchange was not confined to anofficer of this grade. M 1 Stuart, himself, admits that he had the choice of four officers, from aColonel to a Lieutenant inclusive. Truly, we cannot well see how Gov. Clinton could have gonelower in the scale of exchanges consistently with the respect due to the rank of a Minister ofReligion.

M r Stuart set out with his family, then consisting of his wife and three small children, on his longand tedious voyage, on the 19 th September 1781 and arrived at St Johns on the 9 lh of the followingmonth—thus accomplishing in three weeks a journey which is now performed in twelve or fifteenhours. As there was no opening for him to exercise the duties of his profession at Montreal , he tookcharge of a public school which, with his commission as chaplain to the Royal Yorkers, gave himboth employment and support. In a letter to D 1 White dated Montreal October 14 th 1783, lie giveshis prospects in, and impressions of) his new home :—

“ I have no reason hitherto to dislike my change of climate, but as a reduction must take place soon, my emoluments willhe much diminished, neither have I any flattering prospect of an eligible situation in the way of my profession as there are(as yet) only three protestant parishes in this Province, the pastors of which are Frenchmen , and as likely to live as I am."We promise ourselves a change of the present form of government but that is a contingency and may be further distant thanour expectation **. This season has been uncommonly rainy and we have had frost in July and could.sit very comfortably at agood fire early in August or even some times in June. This you will think pretty cold;—But as people of our description aresupposed to have some warm particles in our composition wc must let the heat and the cold combat and balance each otherHowever the climate and the soil are extremely fertile affording the necessaries of life in great abundance.”

M r Stuart now set about establishing himself permanently in Canada . He selected the antientSettlement of Cataraqui distant 60 leagues from Montreal , whither many of the refugees had alreadypreceded him, and which possessed a garrison the chaplaincy of which he expected with a salaryof one thousand dollars a year. “ I can preserve the Indian Mission in its neighbourhood (lie con-tinues) which with other advantages will afford a comfortable subsistance—altlio’ I wish it laid inMaryland .” 1

The position of the Protestant Episcopal church in these States, unconnected with the parentcountry and any resident Bishop by whom Holy orders could be conferred, and the succession of theclergy kept up, had now for some time engaged the attention of the leading members of thatdenomination. To obviate the difficulty under which they labored, the Rev d M r White came outwith a pamphlet entitled, “ The Case of the Episcopal Churches considered ,” in which he proposedamong other tilings, a temporary organization conferring on a Convention composed of representa-tives, to be elected from the Vestry or congregation of the several churches within a given district,the power to choose a permanent president, with other clergymen to be appointed by the body who

1 Letter to Bishop "White, X Feb. 1784.