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professors; the proceedings of which board shall be subject to the decision of the next Convention.

It is also recommended, that the board of trustees enter into a correspondence with the standing committees of the diocesses of Maryland and North-Carolina, in order to ascertain whether the members of our Church in those states are disposed to co-operate with us in this important measure.

In recommending these resolutions, the committee think proper to declare, that they do not intend any opposition to the general seminary established by the General Convention. On the contrary, we cordially desire to see the prosperity of an institution so vitally connected, as that is, with the reputation and interest of our Church. But as there are peculiar circumstances which render it necessary to cherish a seminary in the southern district, we consider the duty of attempting it, as coming within the scope of the resolution made by the House of Bishops, which declares its intention, "not to interfere with any plan now contemplated, or that may be hereafter contemplated, in any diocess or diocesses, for the establishment of theological institutions or professorships."

Therefore, resolved, That Mr. John Nelson, jun. delegate from St. James's parish, Mecklenburg county, be appointed to solicit subscriptions throughout the diocess for the above purpose.

Resolved further, That the Board of Trustees be authorized, in case of death or resignation of the above collector, to appoint another for the said purpose, and generally to give such instructions and directions as shall, in their judgment, be proper.

The following appointments were then made by the Convention :

Standing Committee:-The Rev. William H. Wilmer, D.D. the Rev. John Dunn, the Rev. Oliver Norris; the Honourable Bushrod Washington, and Edmund J. Lee, and George Taylor, Esqs.

Delegates to the General Convention: The Rev. William H. Wilmer, D.D. the Rev. John S. Ravenscroft, the Rev. William Meade, the Rev. Simon Wilmer; and Philip Nelson, William Mayo,

Hugh Mercer, and Edmund J. Lee, Esqs.

The following address was delivered by the Bishop, and entered on the Journal, according to the Canons:

Brethren,

Another year has revolved since we last assembled in Convention, to deliberate upon the affairs of the Church, and to take sweet counsel together. An account of the discharge of our clerical duties, since that period, has been recorded in heaven; may that record bear witness to our fidelity to God, and to our watchfulness over our respective flocks.

The advances of our communion have been such as to call for our gratitude to heaven. The clergy continue to manifest their zeal in the cause of religion, and their attachment to the principles of the Church. Their best efforts have been used in the discharge of their ministerial duties, and there appears to exist among them the strongest disposition to fulfil their sa cred obligations. To make the least ́discrimination in the expression of my confidence in their integrity, would be painful to my heart, at a time in which I have reason to believe, that the utmost energies of all have been exerted in promoting the prosperity of our Zion.

Fettered, as I am, with the weight of a parish, in addition to that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches, it is impossible to make those exertions which could be effected with ease were I released from parochial obligations. The necessity of ministering to the wants of my congregation, in Richmond, renders my pas toral visits to the churches too much hurried. It prevents me from improving them to the best advantage, and precludes the possibility of acquiring that knowledge of the members of our connexion so indispensably necessary. Instead of passing a few days in each parish, and forming an intimatę acquaintance with the individuals of the different congregations, I appear among them, not as the spiritual father of the whole family, but as a stranger, and am obliged to pass with such ra

pidity from one place to another, that I am only known to a majority of the people of my charge in my official cha

racter.

The Convention of the Church in this diocess, alive to these considerations, have pressed, with great wisdom and energy, the subject of an independent support for the Episcopate. As the emoluments, arising from the source to which I allude, would never equal the amount of my present living, I cannot be charged with indelicacy in urging the principle as a matter of primary importance. If the wealthy members of the Church would contribute but a small portion of their worldly goods to this object, it could be effected with the greatest ease; the claims of the whole diocess would then be equally imperative upon the Bishop; he would have it in his power to travel as far and wide as the circumstances of the Church would require, and would discharge the duties appertaining to his appointment as the chief pastor of the flock. Should I not live to address you again upon a conventional occasion, I must entreat you to bear in mind, that I consider the subject of a support for the Episcopate as a matter of leading importance, and earnestly supplicate you to make that provision for my successor contemplated and embraced in the above remarks.

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Since the last Convention I have preached and administered the Lord's Supper in the county of Chesterfield. I have visited Dinwiddie, and officiated in the church once filled by that pious şervant of God, the Rev. Devereaux Jarratt, and also twice in the town of Petersburg. In October I made an excursion into the upper country, visited the county of Orange, but was prevented from officiating by the inclemency of the weather. I crossed the Blue Ridge, and visited Staunton, in the county of Augusta, in which place I preached twice, to large and overflow ing congregations, and confirmed 18 persons. The church in Staunton appears to be in a flourishing condition, and is blessed with the faithful services of the Rev. Mr. Stephens. After leaving Staunton I again crossed the Blue Ridge, and, agreeably to appointment,

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met several of the clergy in Charlottesville. On Sunday morning I preached to a very large congregation, and, in connexion with the clergy who were present, administered the Lord's Supper. On Monday I rode to the Green Mountain, upon which day I read: prayers, and Mr. Meade preached; and, on Tuesday, Mr. Wydown read prayers, and I preached and administered the Lord's Supper to a number of de vout communicants. From the Green Mountain I repaired to Mr. Hugh Nelson's; and, on Wednesday, preached and administered the Lord's Supper in Walker's Church, and admitted the Rev. Mr. Marshall, of Culpeper, to the holy order of the Priesthood

In November I left home on a visit to the Northern Neck of Virginia; and, on the 15th of the month, preached twice in Fredericksburgh. I then passe ed on to Port Royal on the 16th, in which place I read prayers and preached; on the 17th I read prayers and preached at Vauter's Church, in the county of Essex; on the 18th I rode to Tappahannock, and read prayers and preached-I then crossed the Rappahannock River, and, on the 19th, I read prayers and preached at Richmond Court-House; on the 20th I read prayers and preached at WhiteChapel Church; on the 21st I read prayers and preached at Lancaster Court-House; on the 22d I read pray ers and preached in Christ Church, Lancaster county, and, in the evening, lectured at Mr. Armistead Currie's; on the 23d I rode to Northumberland, and officiated in Wicomico Church; on the 25th I read prayers and preached in the Court-House in Northumberland; on the 26th I officiated in the church at Mattox Bridge, Westmoreland county, and also administered the Lord's Sup per; on the 27th I rode to King George Court-House, and there officiated; on the 28th I read prayers and preached in the Old Church, in King George county I then rode to Port Conway, and lectured the same evening at the house of Mr. Turner; on the 29th I crossed the Rappahannock to Port Royal, in which place I performed the funeral service, and then bent my course toward Richmond.

On this

tour I rode, in 18 days, 360 miles, and officiated 17 times.

I have been, this month, in Mecklenburg county, and preached and administered the Lord's Supper, in Mr. Ravenscroft's parish, to a large and attentive assembly. I have also visited the county of Halifax, and preached in the church, near the Court-House, to an attentive congregation under the care of the Rev. Mr. Wingfield.

Thus, Brethren, have I endeavoured to fulfil the important duties intrusted to my care, and it is with pleasure I inform you, that I discover, in every district I visit, the strongest attachment to the Church. In the Northern Neck of Virginia, in particular, I observed. such striking evidences of the affection of the people to the Church of their fathers, as has deeply affected my heart. In that region, occupying a space of more than 100 miles, they have not one clergyman of the Church to officiate regularly among them in their churches. They appear to be an affectionate people; and, I have no question, would render the life of a virtuous clergyman happy, who would reside among them. Were I a young man, I should not hesitate to throw myself into their arms, and administer to their spiritual necessities. Accept, my beloved Brethren, every expression of my pastoral regard, and may the Lord be with you all.

A list of the officiating Clergy of the diocess of Virginia, attached to the Journal of the above Convention, contains the names of the Bishop, and thirty-one Clergymen,

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James's Church, Stanton; and an ap proprite sermon and address by the Rev. Richard D. Hall, Rector of Trinity Church, Wilmington.

The Rev. Robert Clay was chosen Chairman, and Mr. George Read, jun. Secretary.

The Parochial Reports handed in. according to the Canons, furnish the following aggregate:-Baptisms (adults 88, children 145, not specified 10) 248 Marriages 44-Burials 54 Commu nicants 200.

From the Treasurer's account it appears that his receipts, together with a. former balance, were $61 75 cents, out of which there had been paid for printing, and other expenses, $36 54 cents, leaving a balance of $25 21 cents.

The following gentlemen were elected delegates to the General Convention: The Rev. Robert Clay, the Rev. Richard D. Hall; George Read, sen. John Cummins, J. Tenant, and Dr. Allan M'Lane.'

The following gentlemen were elected the Standing Committee of the dio cess:-The Rev. Robert Clay, the Rev. Richard D. Hall; George Read, jun. and John Rumsey.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be, and they are hereby presented to the Rev. Mr. Hall, for his very excellent and appropriate sermon delivered before the Convention this morning.

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On motion, the thanks of the Convention were given to the President and Secretary for their services.

Convention of this diocess be held at Resolved, That the next annual Dover, at the stated time, the first Sa⇒ turday in June, 1822.

The Convention was closed with prayer, by the Rev. Purnell F. Smith, of Maryland.

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support to the professors, the students, the missionaries, and all who may in any way be connected with the institution; that they may severally be enabled to discharge their allotted duties, and especially be preserved from all heresies, and divisions, and party views; and that they may maintain an adherence to primitive truth and apostolical order, joined to holiness of life and unwearied labours of love, being the best evidence that God is with them, and the surest pledge of his blessing. Next followed a thanksgiving for the Christian zeal displayed in the present age; more especially for the labours of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; for his Majesty's most gracious letter, authorizing them to collect the contributions of the charitable throughout England; for the munificent aid received from other religious societies and public bodies; for the liberality of the supreme government of India; and for every manifestation of good-will to the work; praying that the same zeal and benevolence may be continued, and that the Almighty may raise up to the institution a long succession of benefactors, whose memory shall be blessed for ever. His Lordship next offered a prayer for the Church of England, in whose Christian zeal the institution has originated; for the King and Royal Family; for the Clergy, and the congregations committed to their charge; for the Honourable the East-India Company; for the Marquis of Hast ings, and the members of council; for the judges, the magistracy, and other Europeans in India; that all of them may endeavour to advance the happiness of the natives; and that no habitual deviations from evangelical holiness, in those who profess the faith of Christ, may do dishonour to their holy calling; for all who may be called and sent to preach to the heathen; and, finally, for the persons then assembled, that a participation in such works of charity might tend to engage them more deeply and surely in the service of God. An elegant Latin inscription, engraved upon a brass plate, is deposited under the foundation stone. It pays a handsome tribute of acknow

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ledgment to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Church Missionary Society, for their munificent donations. The information of the grant voted by the Bible Society had probably not reached India. The plate being deposited, the first stone was laid by the Bishop, pronouncing-" In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one God blessed for ever, I lay this the foundation stone of the, Episcopal Mission College of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to be commonly called and known as Bishop's College, near Calcutta." His Lordship then proceeded" O Father Almighty, through whose aid we have now commenced this work of charity, we bless thee that we have lived to this day. O prosper the work to its conclusion: and grant that so many of us as thy Providence may preserve to witness its solemn dedication, may join together in heart and in spirit in praising thy name, and in adoring thy mercy, and in supplicating thy favour to this house evermore: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The assembly were then dismissed with the Bishop's blessing.

The college will consist of three piles of building in the plain Gothic style, disposed to a quadrangular form, the fourth side being open to the river. The principal pile will comprise a chapel to the east, divided by a tower from the hall and library on the west; and the wings, or side buildings, will form dwellings for the professors, with lecture-rooms and dormitories for the students. May the blessing of God rest upon the undertaking!

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, for August, 1821.

The Forgers. "LET us sit down on this stone seat," said will tell you a tale of tears, concerning the my aged friend, the pastor, "and last inhabitants of yonder solitary house, just visible on the hill-side, through the gloom of those melancholy pines. Ten years have passed away since the terrible and I know not how it is, but methinks, catastrophe of which I am about to speak: whenever I come into this glen, there is something rueful in its silence, while the

common sounds of nature seem to my mind dirge-like and forlorn. Was not this very day bright and musical as we walked across all the other hills and valleys; but now a dim mist overspreads the sky, and, beautiful as this lonely place must in truth be, there is a want of life in the verdure and the flowers, as if they grew beneath the darkness of perpetual shadows."

As the old man was speaking, a female figure, bent with age and infirmity, came slowly up the bank below us with a pitcher in her hand, and when she reached a little well, dug out of a low rock all covered with moss and lichens, she seemed to fix her eyes upon it as in a dream, and gave a long, deep, broken sigh.

"The names of her husband and her only son, both dead, are chiselled by their own hands on a smooth stone within the arch of that fountain, and the childless widow at this moment sees nothing on the face of the earth but a few letters not yet overgrown with the creeping timestains. See! her pale lips are moving in prayer, and, old as she is, and long resigned in her utter hopelessness, the tears are not yet all shed or dried up within her broken heart a few big drops are on her withered cheeks, but she feels them not, and is unconsciously weeping with eyes that old age has of itself enough bedimmed."

The figure remained motionless beside the well; and, though I knew not the history of the griefs that stood all embodied so mournfully before me, I felt that they must have been gathering together for many long years, and that such sighs as I bad now heard came from the uttermost desolation of the human heart. At last she dipped her pitcher in the water, lifted her eyes to heaven, and, distinctly saying, "O Jesus, Son of God! whose blood was shed for sinners, be merciful to their souls!" she turned away from the scene of her sorrow, and, like one seen in a vision, disappeared.

"I have beheld the childless widow happy," said the pastor, "even her who sat alone, with none to comfort her, on a floor swept by the hand of death of all its blossoms. But her whom we have now seen I dare not call happy, even though she puts her trust in God and her Saviour. Her's is an affliction which faith itself cannot assuage. Yet religion may have softened even sighs like those, and, as you shall hear, it was religion that set her free from the horrid dreams of madness, and restored her to that comfort which is always found in the possession of a reasonable soul."

There was not a bee roaming near us, nor a bird singing in the solitary glen, when the old man gave me these hints of a melancholy tale. The sky was black and lowering, as it lay on the silent hills, and enclosed us from the far-off work, in a

sullen spot that was felt to be sacred unto sorrow. The figure which had come and gone with a sigh was the only dweller here; and I was prepared to hear a doleful history of one left alone to commune with a broken heart in the cheerless soli tude of nature.

"That house, from whose chimneys no smoke has ascended for ten long years," continued my friend, "once showed its windows bright with cheerful fires; and her whom we now saw so wo-begone, I remember brought home a youthful bride, in all the beauty of her joy and innocence. Twenty years beheld her a wife and a mother, with all their most perfect happiness, and with some, too, of their inevitable griefs. Death passed not by her door without his victims, and, of five children, all but one died, in infancy, childhood, or blooming youth. But they died in nature's common decay-peaceful prayers were said around the bed of peace; and, when the flowers grew upon their graves, the mother's eyes could bear to look on them, as she passed on with an unaching heart into the house of God. All but one died -and better had it been if that one had never been born.

“Father, mother, and son, now come to man's estate, survived, and in the house there was peace. But suddenly poverty fell upon them. The dishonesty of a kinsman, of which I need not state the particulars, robbed them of their few hereditary fields, which now passed into the possession of a stranger. They, however, remained as tenants in the house which had been their own; and, for a while, father and son bore the change of fortune seemingly undismayed, and toiled as common labourers on the soil still dearly beloved. At the dawn of light they went out together, and at twilight they returned. But it seemed as if their industry was in vain. Year after year the old man's face became more deeply furrowed, and more seldom was he seen to smile; and his son's countenance, once bold and open, was now darkened with anger and dissa, tisfaction. They did not attend public worship so regularly as they used to do; when I met them in the fields, or visited them in their dwelling, they looked on me coldly, and with altered eyes; and I grieved to think how soon they both seemed to have forgotten the blessings Providence had so long permitted them to enjoy, and how sullenly they now struggled with its decrees. But something worse than poverty was now disturbing both their hearts.

"The unhappy old man had a brother who at this time died, leaving an only son, who had for many years abandoned his father's house, and of whom all tidings had long been lost. It was thought by many that he had died beyond seas; and none doubted, that, living or dead, he had been

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