Sib:-- I preached at Salem, in the Upper District, on Sunday, the 22d of February last, to a very large congregation ; and the poor people scattered about in the wilderness, are, I am informed, concerting measures to build a small church, as a private house will seldom contain the people that went to church when I preach among them -- which is as often as the duties of my extensive mission will permit."*

The next year, Mr. St. George Talbot, a liberal benefactor of the Church in this county, thus addresses the same :

TO THE SECRETARY.

(Extract.)

"Barn Island, July 10, 1763. " On my return from Connecticut I desired Mr. Dibblee to accompany me to Salem, where he preached the first Sunday in Trinity to a large congregation ; notwithstanding it was a very rainy day, too many to be accommodated in a private house, and gave the communion to about thirty persons, who behaved very decently. There they have built and almost covered a church ; this is in the Province of New York, which people Mr. Dibblee hath taken principally care of for several years. This church at Salem is about four miles from Ridgebury, to the west, and seven miles from Ridgefield, where they have raised a church, &c."b

The church to which Mr. Talbot alludes, in the foregoing letter, was built on land given for that purpose by Stephen de Lancey, in 1763, and appears to have been first opened for Divine worship on Sunday the 31st of August, 1766, by the Rev. Ebenezer Dibblee ; who, a few months later, sends the subjoined communication to the secretary : --