148 Assembly Proceedings, April 22-May 10, 1718.

U. H. J.

As Your Excellencys Zeal always Prompted you to do what-
ever in You Lay for the Advantage and Interest of the Church
of England so in a Perticular manner we think ourselves
under an Obligation of Gratitude for your Excellencys early
care for the Better Governm^t thereof Expressed in the Nomi-
nation of the two Rev^d Gentlemen Who now Act as Com-
missaries to the Right Rev^d Father in God John Lord Bishop
of London our Diocesan from whose prudent Care and In-
spection we hope to reap all the Advantages proposed & De-
signed by Your Excy

p. 51

Your Excellencys Concern for Removing all such difficulties
as through the Scituation of the Country & the Constitution
of the Province may in any way affect the Execution of his
Lordships Commission, is another Argument how much You
have the Interest of the Church at heart, as your Care for re-
dressing any Other Grievances which the Clergy in Generall
or Perticular may Labour under is An Undoubted Testimony
of your Affections to her Ministers.
Tis true we cannot hope to see the Ecclesiasticall Cannons
put in full force here, as they are in England, though we

Heartily Joyn with Your Excellency in your Wishes that

they might be so: yet as We have seen already things Ob-
tained for us by Your Excellencys means beyond our Expecta-
tion so we may hope for much greater if by Gods Providence
we shall be long happy under Your Government. But we
should think ourselves inexcusably Impertinent if in the
Proposall of means for the attaining these Pious Ends we
should offer anything which might be thought Improper for
Your Excy to do in Your Station
The Progress of Popery in this Province as it affects us
with the Deepest Sorrow so it Sufficiently Prompts us to
Diligence & Circumspection in the discharge of our Functions
Especially when by the Success We may Judge of the Number
and Vigilance of those Emissaries who go about Practising
their Insinuating Arts and Seducing the Unwary and Ignor-
ant. And as to ourselves we hope that Our Vigilance Zeal

p. 52

& Active Application to the Great Charge we have Taken upon
us will be Effectuall with Gods Blessing, to the reclaiming of
such as have gone astray and the Establishment of such as are
at Present firm, but we Leave it to Your Excys Wisdom to
think of such Methods as shall be Effectual to the restraint of
such Pernicious Practices for the future.
Your Excellencys Earnest Exhortation to Peace and Unity
Among Ourselves as it shews us Your Tender regard for the
true Interest & Prosperity of our most holy Religion so also
It is a Distinguishing mark of Your Excellency's Esteem and