ICO LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1783 



Gentlemen : — I have attentively considered the paper intitled "A 

 declaration of certain Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Protest- 

 ant Episcopal Church of Maryland." And as every denomination of 

 Clergy are to be deemed adequate Judges of their own Spiritual Rights, 

 and of the Ministerial commission and authority necessary to the due 

 administration of the Ordinances of Religion among themselves, it 

 v/ould be a very partial and unjust distinction to deny that Right to 

 the respectable and learned Body of the Episcopal Clergy in this State; 

 and it will give me the highest happiness and satisfaction, if, either in 

 my individual capacity, or in the public character which I now have the 

 honour to sustain, I can be instrumental in advancing the interests of 

 Religion in general, alleviating the Sufferings of any of her Ministers, 

 and placing every branch of the Christian Church in this State, upon 

 the most equal and respectable footing. 



I am, 



Gentlemen, 



Your most obd't, humble Servant, 



William Paca. 



In due time every concession needed from the State was ob- 

 tained. Some, at first thought needful, were declared by sufficient 

 authority to be unnecessary; and the Protestant Episcopal Church 

 in Maryland succeeded to every desirable right of the old Church 

 of England in the Province. 



In all these operations Dr. Smith was not only the main-spring 

 but the machinery and regulator also. It is impossible, I think, to 

 look at his efforts in re-establishing the church in Maryland, after 

 it had been laid in ruins by the war of the Revolution, without a 

 lively feeling of gratitude to his memory. 



One of the memorable acts of this convention was the election 

 of Dr. Smith to the office of Bishop of Maryland. He moved 

 into the place by the force of gravitation ; by the power which 

 moves all inferior men to look up to and respect one of abilities 

 entirely transcending their own. He was directed to proceed to 

 England for consecration, the convention recommending that the 

 various parishes should take up collections for the purpose of pay- 

 ing his expenses. 



The following is a copy of his testimonial * intended to be given 

 to the Bishop of London, if the Bishop-elect should think fit to 

 ask for consecration : 



"•■■ Manuscript in Dr. Smith's papers. 



