Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 507

ing them. According to the Intimation I gave you in my
Letter of the 15^th Inst a Bill for the better Regulation of the
Clergy was not only framed in the Lower House but was also
assented to by the Upper on Condition it should not have any
Effect till next March before which time they apprehended His
Ldp might be able to consider it or take Advice thereon & if
he disapproved thereof to declare it null & void, nevertheless
as it was a Bill of quite a new nature & I knew not what may
be His Ldp's Sentiments with regard to regulating the Clergy
by any Law whatever or establishing any Visitatorial Authority
over them in the Province I took the liberty to lay the Bill
aside when it was presented to me in the usual manner for
my Fiat, which has been sometimes done by former Governors
with respect to any Bill about the propriety of which they
were in doubt, but as it will certainly be revived at the next
Session I hope it will be thoroughly considered before that
time & that His Ldp's pleasure will be fully made known to
Me on the Subject. The Truth is that there are among the
Clergy of this Province some very immoral Men in particular
a M^r M^cCullum in Dorchester County who by reason of his
Sottishness has for many years been absolutely unable to
officiate in the Church or to discharge any part of his Duty:
Another whose Name is Lendrum is said to be not only an
habitual Drunkard but also to live in Adultery, another whose
name is Brown was lately accused of murdering one of his
Slaves & actually fled thereupon to Virginia where he remained
several Months till his Son who could be the only positive
Witness against him could be ship't away thence to Scotland
so that the Coroners Inquest tho Circumstances were very
strong against him wanted Proof sufficient to charge him with
Murder, as this added to his Behaviour on many other occa-
sions made his Parishioners consider him as a very bad Man
none of them will even yet attend Divine Service at his Church,
about which indeed he is said to be extremely indifferent.
These were all Rectors of the Parishes they now hold before
my Arrival in the Province & I hope there are no others so
scandalous but there are I am afraid several that do not make
a Conscience of discharging their Duty & by that means the
Presbyterians & other Dissenting Congregations increase in
many parts of the Province notwithstanding they are subjected
to a double Burthen viz the Payment of their own Ministers
as well as of the Thirty p^r Poll for the Support of the Estab-
lished Clergy. That something is necessary to be done cannot
be denied but what & after what manner I really cannot tell
so that both the Laity & Clergy may be satisfied & His Ldps
Charter Rights be effectually preserved. It seems to have
been the opinion of the Framers of this Bill that while His

Letter Bk. V