He further remarks to the Society, " I have lately been in the Government of Connecticut, where I observe some people well aiFecied to the church, for those that are near come to ray parish on Sabbath days ; so that I am assured an itinerant missionary might do great service in that province. Some of their ministers have privately told me that had we a bishop among us, they would conform and receive holy orders, from which as well as on all the continent, the necessity of a bishop will plainly appear."'!

"In these visits and in every effort for the good of the church, Mr. Muirson was heartily supported by Colonel Caleb Heathcote,

» Rep. of Propagation Soc.

b N. Y. Hist. Collections, New Series, vol. i. 455.

e Hawkins' Hist. Not. of Col. Church, vol. ii. MS. letters, No. 34.

d Hawkins' Hist. Not. of Col. Church, p. 277.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 59

who also wrote to the Society on the subject, confirming the account of the opposition which the missionary had encountered, and stating thai the justices had forbidden him to preach, and even threatened to put him and all his hearers in jail.

Of his own parish, Mr. Muirs-on reports, " I have baptized about two hundred yomig and old, but most adult persons, and am in hopes of initiating many more into the church, after I have examined, taught, and find them qualified. This is a large parish ; the towns are far distant ; the people were some duakers, some Anabaptists, but chiefly Presbyterians and Independents: they were violently set against our church, but now (blessed be God !) they comply heartily, for I have now above forty communicants, and had only six when I first administered that holy sacrament. I find that catechising on the wjek days in the remote towns, and frequent visiting is of great service, and I am sure that I have made twice more proselytes by proceeding after that method than by public preaching. «=