the charges with the whole weight of opposition. Mr. Francis was a man of considerable abilities. He was a very superior classical scholar; and he was capable of laborious application. Strong resentment was a leading feature in his character. I have heard him avow this sentiment more openly and more explicitly than I ever heard any other man avow it in the whole course of my life. I have heard him publicly say in the House of Commons, Sir Elijah Impey is not fit to sit in judg ment on any matter where I am inter ested, nor am I fit to sit in judgment on him." A relation of the ground of this ill-will may be amusing. Mrs, Le Grand, the wife of a gentleman in the civil service of Bengal, was admired for her beauty, for the sweetness of her temper, and for her fascinating accomplishments. She attracted the attention of Mr. Francis. This gentleman, by means of a rope ladder, got into her apartment in the night. After he had remained there about three quarters of an hour, there was an alarm; and Mr. Francis came down from the lady's apartment by the rope ladder, at the foot of which he was seized by Mr. Le Grand's servants. An action was brought by Mr. Le Grand against Mr. Francis, in the Supreme Court of Justice in Calcutta. The judges in that court assess the damages in civil actions without the intervention of a jury. The gentlemen who, at that time, filled the situation, were Sir Elijah Impey, chief justice, Sir R. Chambers, and Mr. Justice Hyde. I was intimate with the first and the third from early life, having lived with them on the western circuit. On the trial of this cause, Sir R. Chambers thought that, as no criminality had been proposed, no da mages should be given; but he afterwards proposed to give thirty thousand rupees, which are worth about three thousand pounds sterling. Mr. Justice Hyde was for giving a hundred thousand rupees. I believe that Mr. Justice Hyde was as upright a judge as ever sat on any bench; but he had an implacable hatred to those who indulged in the crime imputed to Mr. Francis. Sir Elijah Impey was of opinion that, although no criminal in

tercourse had been proved, yet that the wrong done by Mr. Francis to Mr. Le Grand in entering his wife's apartment in the night, and thereby destroying her reputation, ought to be com pensated with liberal damages. He thought the sum of thirty thousand rupees, proposed by Sir R. Chambers, too small, and that proposed by Mr. Hyde, of a hundred thousand, too large; he therefore suggested a middle course, of fifty thousand rupees. This proposal was acquiesced in by his twe colleagues. When Sir Elijah Impey was delivering the judgment of the court, my late friend, Mr. Justice Hyde, could not conceal his eager zeal on the subject; and when Sir Elijah named the sum of fifty thousand rupees, Mr. Justice Hyde, to the great amusement of the byestanders, called out"Siccas, brother Impey,' which are worth eleven per cent. more than the current rupees. Perhaps this story may not be thought worthy of relation, but it gave occasion to that animosity which Mr. Francis publicly avowed against Sir Elijah Impey, and the criminal charge afterwards brought against him in the House of Commons, was the offspring of that animosity. I will follow up this anecdote by mentioning the consequences of the action brought by Mr. Le Grand. The lady was divorced: she was obliged to throw herself under the protection of Mr. Francis for subsistence. After a short time she left him, and went to England. In London she fell into the company of M. Talleyrand Perigord. Captivated by her charms, he prevailed on her to accompany him to Paris, where he married her; and thus the insult which the lady received from Mr. Francis, and the loss of reputation, which was, perhaps unjustly, the consequence of that insult, eventually elevated her to the rank of Princess of Benevento.

the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp, thirtyone Presbyters, ten Deacons, and LayDelegates from thirty-seven parishes.

The Convention was opened by Morning Prayer, conducted by the Rev. Henry L. Davis, D. D., Rector of St. Anne's Parish, Anne-Arundel county an appropriate discourse by the Rev. Jehu C. Clay, Rector of St. John's Church, Hagerstown, Washington county; and the administration of the Lord's Supper by the Bishop.

The Rev. William E. Wyatt, D. D. was chosen Secretary, and the Rev. George M'Elhiney Assistant-Secretary.

It was Resolved, That the thanks of the house be presented to the Rev. Mr. Clay, for his very excellent discourse delivered at the opening of the Convention.

The Bishop read to the Convention the following journal of his Episcopal transactions during the last year— My Reverend Brethren of the Clergy, and Gentlemen of the Laity,

The time has again come round, when, under the kindness of Divine Providence, we are permitted to assemble, and to unite our prayers and our exertions in promoting the welfare of our venerated Church. To those who view passing occurrences with an attentive eye and an interested heart, a year seldom passes without some events that deserve particular attention, and arrest the consideration of her true friends. When I have brought to your view what has been done by me, and what has occurred in the course of the last year, you will be able to judge what arrangements it may be necessary for you to make to give more energy and higher effect to rules and regula tions now in existence.

Soon after the Convention, on the 6th day of June, I held an ordination in St. Paul's, in the city of Baltimore, when Mr. Spencer Wall was admitted to the order of Deacons, and the Rev. Mr. Austin, and the Rev. Mr. Keech, to that of Priests.

I also received from the standing committee, testimonials in favour of Mr. Thomas G. Addison, and Mr. James Pilmore, and accordingly entered them

on the list of candidates for holy orders.

On the 13th day of June I crossed the bay to Chester-town, to visit the parishes in Kent county. On the day following I preached in the parish church of St. Paul's, to a very respectable congregation. This parish has been for some time without a Rector; and still there seemed to be a considerable number of persons who maintain. ed the principles, and cherished the love, of our Church. Mr. Lemuel Wilmer, a candidate for holy orders, now acts as a lay-reader in that parish.

On the 15th I preached in Shrewsbury Church, and held a confirmation. As there was then no Rector to perform divine service, and to prepare the young for confirmation, there were only three confirmed. Their church had been lately repaired, and they expressed a great desire to obtain a minister. The Rev. Mr. Smith has, since that time, settled among them, and, as far as I am informed, is doing much

good.

The 18th, being the Lord's Day, I devoted to the church in Chester-town. In the forenoon I ordained their minister, the Rev. Mr. Walker, a Priest. In this sacred service his parishioners seemed to take an interested and devout part. Mr. Walker was examined in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Bulkley, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, who as sisted in the service, and presented Mr. Walker. In the afternoon I confirmed thirty-three persons; and, at night, I addressed the Sunday Schools, which I found to be large and well conducted. Indeed, this day was a day of joy and spiritual elevation!

The next Episcopal service that I performed was to hold a confirmation in a school-house on Federal Hill. A congregation has been formed in that quarter of the city by the Rev. Mr. Pfieffer; seventeen persons were confirmed.

On the 26th of July I ordained the Rev. John Johns a Priest, in his own church in Frederick-town. The Rev. Mr. Clay, and the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, assisted at his examination, and presented him.

In the beginning of the month of

August I set out to visit the parishes in the counties of Somerset and Worces ter, on the eastern shore. I reached Green Hill Church on the 4th of the month, but the day was exceedingly rainy, and there was no congregation. On the day following I preached at Princess Anne, and confirmed sixteen persons.

I passed on to Snow Hill, when, on the 6th day of August, being the Lord's Day, I admitted the Rev. Mr. Henry B. Judah to the holy order of Priests, in his own church. The Rev. Mr. Wickes, and the Rev. Mr. Stratton, assisted at his examination, and presented him. Such was the impression made by this solemn and sacred service, in a place where perhaps it had never before been performed, that a pious and judicious layman remarked to me, that it would be of great service to the Church, to ordain ministers as of ten as I could in their own churches. And I was so fully convinced of the correctness of this remark, that I have, in every case, when circumstances would admit, and my own parochial duties would allow, yielded to such requests; and I mean to continue to yield to them whenever my obligations to my own people will authorise me. On the afternoon of the same day I confirmed twenty-six persons.

On Monday I visited St. Martin's, but the day was very rainy; still I confirmed fifteen persons.

On Tuesday I passed on to the parish under the care of the Rev. Mr. Stratton so long had this people been without a minister, that it was supposed hardly a vestige of attachment to the principles and the service of the Church remained among them: nevertheless, under their present Rector they have rallied around the Cross of Christ, and evinced in a manner highly creditable to themselves and their minister, that their religious principles and affections were easily awakened. In a chapel at Dividing Creek I confirmed thirty-five persons.

The next day was devoted to the parish church at Rehoboth. A large and respectable congregation attended, and twenty-four persons were confirmed. The same evening we returned to

the parish of the Rev. Mr. Wickes ; and, next day, in his parish church, at Mony, we had divine service, and eleven persons were confirmed.

Thus I finished my tour of duty in this district-and returned home with feelings of gratitude to the Great Head of the Christian Church, for the comforts that I had enjoyed in seeing the churches and chapels in pretty good condition, and the people, as far as I could judge, interested and devout.

On the 21st of September, in the parish church of Queen Anne, in Prince George's county, I ordained the Rev. Mr. Levin J. Gilless, minister of that parish, Priest. The Rev. Dr. Davis, the Rev. Mr. Williston, and the Rev. Mr. Austin, assisted on this sacred occasion: at the same time I confirmed thirteen persons.

On the 30th of September I visited St. John's Church, in Baltimore county. In as much as there had been a confirmation in this church, not long before, there were but few to be confirmed; still I administered this holy ordinance to nine persons.

On the day following I consecrated to the service of Almighty God, a new stone church near Belle Air, by the name of Christ Church, and at the same time confirmed forty-two per

sons.

This church is now under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Keech, toge ther with St. John's, and I was pleased to see an appearance of devout attention on the part of the congregation.

Soon after this, on the 12th of October, I consecrated a new church in St. James's parish, Baltimore county, by the name of Trinity Church. This chapel, together with the old parish Church, commonly called the Manor Church, have united under the care of the Rev. Mr. M'Elhiney. On the 14th of October I received from the standing committee a testimonial in favour of Mr. Frederick Schroeder, and consequently placed him on the list of candidates for holy orders. This young gentleman is now pursuing his studies at the Theological Seminary in NewHaven.

At the city of Annapolis, in St. Anne's Church, on the 26th day of October, I ordained the Rev. John For

man, of the state of Delaware, a Priest.

I held a confirmation in my own pa, rish church, in the city of Baltimore, on the 17th of December, when thirty persons were confirmed. The standing committee, on the 5th of April, 1821, granted a testimonial in favour of Mr. Lemuel Wilmer, and of course I placed him on the list of candidates for holy orders, and he now acts as a reader in St. Paul's Church, Kent county.

Mr. George B. Shaeffer was ordained by me a Deacon, in St. Paul's, in this city, on the 11th of April.

On the 15th of the same month I held a confirmation in Trinity Church, in this city, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Bartow, when fifty-three persons were confirmed.

May the 25th, I visited the parish in Anne Arundel county, under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Horrell. The day was unfavourable, and the notice had not been given in time; of consequence, there was no confirmation. Great exertions were making to establish Sunday Schools, and there was a prospect that much benefit would result from them.

On the following day I attended at All Hallows, in the same county, but it rained so heavily that there was no congregation: the Rev. Mr. Rafferty was examined for Priest's orders, in the presence of Dr. Davis, the Rev. Mr. Williston, and the Rev. Mr. Horrell.

On the next day, being the Lord's Day, I preached and held a confirmation in St. Anne's, in Annapolis: ten persons were confirmed. In the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Rafferty was ordained Priest.

Thus ended my Episcopal services for the year. During this spring I have been able to do but little in this way, inasmuch as an indisposition which I had in the winter, left some effects which rendered it prudent not to expose myself to cold: still I cannot hope, that, taking one year with another, I shall be able to visit the diocess more than I have in the present year.

Since the last Convention I have administered the holy ordinance of confirmation fifteen times, when 336 per VOL. V.

sons have been confirmed. I have consecrated two new churches; appointed one lay-reader; admitted four upon the list of candidates for holy orders; ordained two Deacons and eight Priests.

The following changes have taken place among the clergy during the last year :-The Rev. Mr. Addison has resigned his charge in Georgetown, and now officiates at Addison Chapel and Rock Creek Church, and the Rev. Mr. Tyng has succeeded him; the Rev. Mr. Austin has settled in St. Thomas's parish, Baltimore county; the Rev. Mr. Keith has removed from Georgetown to the diocess of Virginia, and has been succeeded by the Rev. Mr. M'Ilvaine; the Rev. John Armstrong has removed to the diocess of Virginia, and his son, the Rev. William Armstrong, is now in England on a visit to his relations-his cure in Montgomery is filled by the Rev. Spencer Wall; the Rev. Mr. M'Elhiney, from the diocess of Pennsylvania, has been elected into St. James's, Baltimore county, and the Rev. William Jackson has settled in the parishes of St. George's and Havre-de-Grace, in Hartford county; the Rev. Mr. Westerman has returned to the West-Indies, and the Rev. Mr. Lanston, from the diocess of Virginia, has returned to this state, but is not yet settled in any cure; the Rev. Thomas G. Allen, from the diocess of Virginia, has settled in Prince George's parish, and St. Bartholomew's, Montgomery county; the Rev. Mr. Smith, formerly of All-Hallows, Worcester county, has been called to Shrewsbury, Kent, where he now officiates; the Rev. Mr. Aisquith, from the diocess of Pennsylvania, has been duly settled in St. Paul's parish, Queen Anne's county, and the Rev. Mr. Spencer, from the diocess of Pennsylvania, has been appointed President of Washington Academy, in Somerset county.

It may not be improper here to mention the death of the Rev. Mr. Joseph Jackson, many years a pious and useful minister of this Church. This gentleman, while on a Missionary tour in the Western country, died at Bardstown, in the state of Kentucky, in the month of December last. His zeal and usefulness are manifest by the ef

35

fects produced in every parish where he lived: his piety is evinced by the many devotional addresses, for particular occasions, and in consequence of particular events, found among his papers and his strong attachment to the principles of our Church, and his anx iety for her prosperity, are indelibly recorded by his will.

:

The Prayer Book and Homily Society of Baltimore have applied their means principally in disseminating the Book of Common Prayer, which unquestionably stands next to the Holy Bible, and it cannot be doubted but, with a divine blessing, their exertions will be highly useful.

The Female Episcopal Tract Society go on with increased zeal and usefulness. Their Tracts are generally selected from the Cheap Repository of Mrs. Hannah More. This pious and distinguished lady, by her well conceived and excellently written Tales, has perhaps come nearer to the manner of our blessed Lord, in his teaching by parables, than any other writer either of ancient or modern times. And it seems to me that there is no way in which religion can be rendered so acceptable and so influential among the poor as by spreading these Tracts.

The Sunday Schools too continue to be conducted with great regularity and

success.

During last winter an agent came on from the General Theological Seminary to raise funds for its support in this diocess. Arrangements were made to effect this object, but it was thought prudent to decline the business until the pressure under which our city then laboured should pass away. Occurrences have since taken place, which will probably result in a call of the General Convention.

To my reverend brethren of the Clergy I have nothing now to add; inasmuch as a charge intended to embrace every thing that I wish to bring to their view is now in preparation.

To the gentlemen of the Laity I would beg leave to say, that the prosperity of the Church, and to a certain degree her character, depend greatly upon them. If they exert themselves to manage her temporal concerns in the

best manner, so as to make a comfortable support for the clergy; to keep their churches and chapels in good repair, and to encourage zealous and pious ministers, there can be no doubt but she will prosper. From her Divine Head grace will always flow to sanctify the exertions of her sincere members, and to render her the gate to heaven to many a soul.

In some of the parishes I have found that the churches are not regularly organized, nor the records correctly kept. This is a matter that deserves prompt attention. In all the old parishes, that were laid off before the year 1798, the records ought to be carefully examined, and put in a state of preservation. By an act of Assembly passed that year, called the Vestry Act, new parishes may be laid off by metes and bounds; and by the General Incorporating Act of 1802; congregations may be erected within the limits of parishes. But, whenever this is done, these new parishes and new congregations come inder the regulations of the Vestry Act, and their affairs are to be transacted agreeably to the provisions of that act. At every meeting of a vestry, stated, adjourned, or special, the minutes ought to be taken down by the Register, and afterwards correctly recorded. Records of the births, marriages, and deaths, in the parish, ought to be carefully kept, for these are of great importance.

I would also recommend it to every vestry to have a copy of the Constitution and Canons of the Church in the United States, as well as of the Church in this state, kept among the papers of the vestry. Some of the most important arrangements respecting the characters and settlement of ministers are placed in the hands of the vestries, and if these be either unknown or unobserved, great evils may ensue, and the character of our Church be depressed. In addition to these things, gentlemen, your wisdom will no doubt devise many plans that may be advantageous to your several parishes. I will, therefore, take the liberty to add only one thing more: it is this, you are, and you will be, expected to stand foremost among the parishioners for zeal, eor