" In the latter part of the year 1773, and the beginningof 1774, 1 strongly suspected that the leaders of the opposition to government in America were aiming at Independence, and the Eastern Provinces, at the subversion of the Church, likewise:'' and that in pursuit of those ends, they would, if possible, influence the people to a revolt ; but when the first Congress approved the rebellious resolves of the County of Suffolk in Massachusetts Bay, I had no longer any doubt of their intentions. In this state of things, therefore, I did every thing that lay in my power, by preaching, reading the Homilies against Rebellion, and by conversation, to give my parish and others, a just idea of the sacred obligations laid upon us by Christianity -- to be good and peaceful subjects, even if it had been our lot to have lived under wicked and oppressive rulers, and much more so, as Providence hath blessed us with one of the wisest and best of princes. This, I chose to do before any blood was shed-- while people's tempers were yet cool ; lest if the instruction had been deferred till some Mow was struck, the acts of misrepresentation, which had been used from the beginning, might influence their passions and hurry them into criminal acts before reason could resume its

a Society's abstract from 31st February, 1772, to 19th February, 1773.

6 ditto ditto from 17th February, 1775, to 16th February, 1776.

e Ditto ditto from 16th February, 1776. to 21st February, 1777.