T783] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D . lOI 



Annapolis, Maryland, August i6, 1783. 



My Lord : — Whereas the good people of this State, and in con- 

 nection with the Church of England, have long labored, and do still 

 labor, under great difficulties, through the want of a regular clergy to 

 supply the many poor parishes that have for a considerable time been 

 vacant. 



To prevent, therefore, and guard against such an unhappy situation 

 for the future, we, the Convention, in meeting of the Clergy of the 

 Church of England, have made choice of, and do recommend, our 

 brother, the Rev. Dr. William Smith, as a fit and proper person, and 

 every way well qualified to be invested with the sacred office of a 

 Bishop, in order to perpetuate a regular succession of clergy among us. 

 We do with great confidence present unto your Lordship this godly and 

 well-learned man to be ordained and consecrated Bishop, being per- 

 fectly satisfied that he will duly execute the office whereunto he is called, 

 to the edifying of the Church and to the glory of God. 



Your Lordship's well-known zeal for the Church and propagation of 

 the Christian religion induces us to trust that your Lordship will com- 

 passionate the case of a remote and distressed people, and comply with 

 our earnest request in this matter. For without such a remedy, the 

 Church in this country is in imminent danger of becoming extinct. 

 That your Lordship may long continue an ornament to the Church is 

 the hearty prayer of, my Lord, your very dutiful and most obedient 

 servants, 



*i745. John Gordon, St. Michael's, Talbot county. 

 1 75 1. John Macpherson, William and Mary Parish, Charles co. 

 1750. Wm. Thomson, St. Stephen's, N. Sassafras Parish, Cecil. 



1760. Samuel Keene,"|" Dorchester and Great Choptank Parishes, 



Dorchester. 



1 761. William West,! St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore. 



1766. George Goldie, King and Queen, St. Mary's. 

 1770. John Bowie, f St. Peter's, Talbot. 



1748. Walter Magowan, St. James' Parish, Ann Arundel county. 



1764. John Stephen, All Faith, St. Mary's. 



1774. Walter H. Harrison, f Durham Parish, Charles. 



1772. Wm. HANNA,f St. Margaret's Westminster, Ann Arundel co. 



1772. Joseph Messenger, St. Andrew's Parish, St. Mary's county. 



1767. Thomas John Claggett,! St. Paul's Parish, Prince Geo. co. 

 Thomas Gates, St. Ann's, Annapolis. 



1767. John Andrews,! St. Thomas', Baltimore county. 



1773. Francis Walker, Kent Island, Queen Anne county. 



* The3e are the dates of the respective ordinations of the clergy. 



f Natives of the States — two natives of Virginia and three of New York. 



