"That as soon as said books are remitted to Philadelphia, the numbers and names of said library may be put upon record, to be preserved there as a constant library for the use of foresaid minister or ministers successively for ever." Is the first church in Philadelphia in possession of that library or of any part of it? The public records of that city of 1708 or 1709, will no doubt furnish its catalogue.

LETTER VIII.

Mr. Makemie's travels in different parts of this continent, and, in the summer of 1704, to Europe.-About the time of his return, probably with him, two other Presbyterian ministers came to this country.-A more particular account of Mr. Makemie's persecution in New York, by Lord Cornbury, &c.

REV. SIR,

In my last letter, I alluded to Mr. Makemie's travels. He appears not only to have been much attached to the Rev. Mr. Andrews of Philadelphia, but familiar with the condition of the people of his charge. He visited New York, New England, and the West Indies, how frequently I know not, but the persecution which he suffered from the bigotry of the universally detested Lord Cornbury, proved, that he used those journeys for the good of souls. He must also have preached in the island of Barbadoes,* for he there complied with the terms of the toleration act, which he could have done for no other purpose, except to qualify himself to preach as a dissenting teacher.

In the summer of 1704, he went to Europe, where it seems he remained until the autumn of the succeeding year. I say he went to Europe,t because,

* See Appendix B. 2d paragraph.
† See Appendix B. 3d paragraph.

that was his own expression, but that he visited the United kingdom there can be little doubt. The year before he had contemplated a voyage to England, which he did not perform. In Ireland he had near relations-two brothers and two sisters,* if no more, and from the length of his stay we may conclude, that his old fashioned principles of "elective affinity," or some other consideration, drew him to Scotland. That visit had, no doubt, relation in part to his commercial transactions, but from the character of the man, we must be persuaded, that the interests of the infant churches which he had left behind him, were not forgotten. This conjecture has strong support. Shortly after his return to Virginia, indeed so shortly, that they might have crossed the Atlantic in the same vessel that brought him, two Presbyterian clergyment from Ireland, had arrived and were labouring among those dissenters who were noticed in my sixth letter.

Mr. Makemie was a bold man ; and it would seem that he was willing to endure all things for the elect's sake, that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. I have heretofore alluded to the persecution, which he suffered in New York. He reached that city in the month of January, 1707. From the season of the year, we conclude certainly, that he made the journey by land, and not coastwise; and from the missionary spirit

See Appendix B., the part of his will which relates to his kindred in Ireland.

† See Appendix D.

of the man, there is no doubt, he preached the truth all along the way. He was accompanied by the Rev. John Hampton, afterwards the settled pastor of the church at Snowhill. There were at that time, in New York, Dutch and French Calvinists, Episcopalians, and Irish Presbyterians. The Presbyterians had neither meeting-house nor minister. Messrs. Makemie and Hampton had, with the consent of the congregation, or their representatives, preached certainly once, perhaps many times, in the Dutch church; but on a particular Sabbath-day, Mr. Makemie preached in a private house with open doors,* and Mr. Hampton preached at New Town. By the order of the governor, they were both arrested the same week at New Town, and carried before his lordship, who reprimanded them severely, but they withstood the ferocity of his temper and manner with undaunted firmness. The charge preferred against them was, that they had violated those British statutes which relate to dissenters and dissenting teachers. Mr. Makemie replied with great power to the arguments of the attorney general, and proved conclusively, that those obnoxious laws were not intended for that province, and therefore did not extend to it. His lordship replied, that they had nevertheless committed an offence against his instructions, and accordingly committed them to prison to await the return

* I have seen it stated somewhere, that he also baptized a child. I have no evidence of the fact. It may have been mentioned in the pamphlet referred to in my last letter; but it was not noticed in the prosecution afterwards instituted against him,

of the chief justice from New Jersey. When they were arraigned before the court, the governor becoming convinced that the indictments found could not be sustained, changed entirely the character of the offence charged. They gave bail for their appearance at the next term of the supreme court, and were discharged after an imprisonment of almost seven weeks duration. The grand jury which next acted upon the case, found no bill against Mr. Hampton; but on the 6th day of June in the same year, Mr. Makemie was tried upon an indictment, the substance of which was in the following words: "That Francis Makemie pretending himself to be a Protestant dissenting minister, contemning and endeavouring to subvert the queen's ecclesiastical supremacy, unlawfully preached, without the governor's license first obtained, in derogation of the royal authority and prerogative; and that he used other ceremonies and rites than those contained in the common prayer-book; and lastly, that he being unqualified to preach, did preach at an illegal conventicle." The two last charges were said to be contrary to the forms of the statutes. The people took deep interest in the trial; for very precious rights were involved, and the most learned and eminent members of the provincial bar were engaged in it. The court favoured the prosecution, but the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty." Notwithstanding his acquittal, his bail was not discharged until he had paid the whole cost of the prosecution, amounting to the sum of eighty-three pounds seven shillings and sixpence !