Michael Houdin continued his labors here until October, 1766, when he departed this life. He was esteemed a worthy missionary, of considerable learning and irreproachable morals. His remains were interred by the side of his predecessors, Bondet and Stouppe, beneath the chancel of the old French church; but since the removal of this edifice, the ashes of these worthy and laborious missionaries repose in the highway, without a stone to mark the spot or commemorate their worth.

Mr. Houdin's funeral sermon was preached by his old friend and companion in arms, the Rev. Harry Munro, A. M., of Yonkers, from Hosea, iv. chap, and part of 12th verse, " Prepare to meet thy God."

The following extract is from a letter of the Rev. Mr. Auchmuty to the Secretary of the Venerable Society, written a few days after Houdin's death : --

" I beg the Society will not think of appointing another missionary to New Rochelle at present, the people really do not deserv e one ; not one farthing did they contribute towards the support of the two last, besides they are too small a number to be indulged with a minister to themselves-- and are distant from Eastchester church only four miles, from Westchester five, from Rye church five, and from Phillipsburgh church nine miles."6

From the death of Mr. Houdin until the period of the Revolutionary War, services were performed here by the Rev. Samuel Seabury, rector of the parish. The following extract, relating to New Rochelle, occurs in Mr. Seabury's first report to the Secretary on the 25th of June, 1767 : --