17^ LIFE AND CORRESroXDENCE OF THE [1786 



last review, when they wrote their several prefaces, giving a full account 

 of the reasons of all the alterations, the abolition of Ceremonies, etc. 

 I have therefore interwoven much of that preface, and rather than to 

 set forth what we have done ourselves, which indeed is but little, have 

 given an account of what the wisest and best members of the Church 

 of Eno-land have long wished to have done, in order to show that we 

 are not pretending to be leaders in reformation, but follow them and 

 remain connected with them. This will state our work quite in a light, 

 wherein few consider it, and give a historical information with which 

 the people in general of our communion will be pleased, apd be made 

 able to give an answer to gainsayers. 



I have also interwoven the chief part of your preface; but found it 

 unnecessary to give the reason of every particular alteration, but rather 

 following the example of the old preface, to pay the necessary mark of 

 complaisance to the reader by observing that a comparison of the old 

 book with the new would sufficiently [show] both the alterations and 

 the reason of them. The preface should be set in a small and hand- 

 some letter. It will not altogether be so long as the old preface to our 

 common prayer, the treatise and ceremonies and other notifications 

 which were found necessary to preface to that book ; and our reasons 

 for being particular are at least as strong as the Church of England in 

 1662. Many will strive to make the people believe we are wholly de- 

 parting from the Church of England — nay treating her as a corrupt and 

 erroneous church, by setting up a reformation of our own. But I hope 

 this preface will obviate and confute these and all such like misrepresen- 

 tations, especially, when it has undergone your judicious and sober 

 revisal. You must not, /. <?. , I hope you will not, regard a fev.- pages 

 or sentences more or less in the lei.gth of this important part, nor the 

 little additional expense of the psalms. The book will sell as readily 

 at IS. 6d. as at c^s. 



You apprehended some haste and incoherence in your last to me. 

 You have all that in this letter, the last part of which has been written 

 in the office while the mail was closing, having been very late this 

 morning before I got the preface concluded. I hope now we have 

 nearly done, and so without vaoxo. prefaces or conclusions, 



I remain, etc., 



Yours affectionatelv, 



Wm. Smith. 



Bev. Dr. White io Rev. Dr. Smith. 



Philadelphia, February 10, 1786. 

 Dear Sir : I received yours of the 6th with the preface. As you 

 seem not fully satisfied as to the propriety of leaving out the words "of 

 David" I have left them stand. Your criticism respecting part of the 



