A large frontier town where most of the people are Dutch, who have from Amsterdam a Dutch Minister, one M-^ Lydius, out there are some Enghsh families, besides a garrison of soldiers, who are a considerable congregation. A church of England Minister liere will, in all probability, do signal service not only by setting up a public worship to the joy & comfort of tlie English, who impatiently desire a minister, and persuading the Dutch and others to conform, but also in instructing the Indians wliich come, in great numbers thither.

Mr ]\Ioore missionary to the Mohawks, is coming to settle here for sometime by the directions of his Excellency, my lord Cornbury, who gives Mm great encouragement, and has been'particularly pleased to promise him presents for the Indians.

COL. HEATHCOTE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.

[ Hawk's Church Rec. ]

Manor of Scarst'ale, Nov. 9, 1705.

Sir:

I am indebted to you for your's of the ll*h Jan. & 9th April, and am wonderfully surprized that the Society should make choice of me for one of their members. It was a very great satisfaction to me, that any thing I could offer was acceptable to them, and should ^ery joyfuUy embrace any opportunity of doing service to the Chiu'ch, and I bless God for it, I am not conscious to myself of ever having shpt one fair occasion therein, wheii

118 STATE OF RELIGION.

government would give me leave. I beg of you, Sir, to present my most humble duty to that honourable body and thank them for the honour they have been pleased to do me, and may assure them that I shall not only endeavour to give them satisfaction as to any thing they shall desire of me ; but if any new matter occurs, which I believe may be of service to the Church, I will not fail laying it before them for their consideration.