This class always has existetl, and does still exist in all church establishments ; men, who by their pecuniary means and prominence in society, as well as by their official relations to the church and state, exercise a controlling influence. But it is equally certain, that the acts and doings of this class of (lersons cannot always be held to represent the views and wishes of a majoritij of the peoph'^ or even the unanimom approval of their own number, since even in the case we are considering, there were at least two dissenting voices. There were doubtless many more. But we have not now the means of ascertaining how many more would have voted against this transfer (which carried with it the whole of their valuable church property, as was proved by the event), had they been allowed and encouraged to deposit their votes. That there would have been a considerable number of these protestauts is probable, for this, among other reasons.

"John Coutant, who died in the year 184K, at the age of t)C, informed me several years before his death, that there was considerable dissatisfaction among the French Hugenot families in New Rochelle, and many comi)laints of unfairness, in the course pursued by the conformi^ts in this transaction. By it. not only was their church property taken away from them, under the new charter or grant of Queen Anne, and their ancient form of worship abolished by the adoption of that established in the English church ; but, as they could not conscientiously adopt the form of religious service and worship, -- they [who decline to conform] were left without any place of worship, and deprived of the ministrations of their own chosen pastors." '