My Lord, it were no difficult matter for us who are thus calumniated to find proper and severe yet legal remedys against this Gentleman, and if wee were so inclined 'twere not impossible to make him very uneasy on the fore mentioned breach of the Church's charter, but, my Lord, we thank God (who has inspired us with a more Xtian temper than so to doe the work of our Adversary) that youi* Lordship can and we doubt not will use more etfectual methods for his and our preservation ; and indeed, My Lord oui' condition is deplorable, if while your L^'ship is with so great honour and success cultivating the arts of peace throughout all the world, our poor Cluirch alone should want the blessing of your Lordship's healing hand.

The state of the Church in General in this Province and of this place in particular being such as is before described. We were always of opinion that a steady adherence to its discipline and worship, a strict union and brotherly affection among its

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 443

members, and a constant conformity to the rules and directions of our Charter, were the best means to maintain our footing, and the most likely to Enlarge the Borders of the Church and disappoint the designs of our Enemys, being situated in the midst of great numbers of tliem. Wee submitt to yo'^ Lordships Judgement the consequences of M' Vesey's Conduct in proclaimeing ' in the ears of a dissenting world such as this is that the fitting up of the Queen's Cliappel in a decent manner which before was a Bear yard for the worship of Almig'nty God according to the usage of the Church of England was a Scliism ; how proper it is for any man that has the interest of our Church at heart to break through our Constitution, and by the help of a Vestry chiefly composed of the meaner sort of people (fur what other purposes God knows) trample upon our Rights, Whether any but an avowed Enemy could have done so much towards making an unhappy division between our Communicants as M"^ Vesey did the last Election of Chui-ch Wardens and Vestrymen, Saying as beforemenconed publicly in the Church, I hope you dont think to bring the officers of the ffort upon us ; it is true some of us have the honor to serve her Majesty, and there have been few years in which some of the officers have not been in the Vestry, but why that terme of Distinction was used wee doe not understand ; there were then in the Church not above three or four {our selves excepted) that were not of Mr.