1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 239 



assembly, beyond his appointment (after Dr. Provoost, who was 

 President of the Convention) on a committee, a majority of which 

 had power to call a General Convention to meet in Philadelphia, 

 and beyond what is disclosed in the following extract from the 

 minutes themselves : 



It was moved and seconded, that a Committee be appointed to draft 

 a letter from this Convention, to the Archbishops of England, in an- 

 swer to their late letters. 



And the following gentlemen were appointed accordingly — Dr. Smith, 

 Dr. Wliite and Dr. Wharton. 



This Committee retired, and after some time returned and reported 

 a letter, which, after a few amendments, was agreed to as follows : 



TO THE ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY AND YORK. 



Most Worthy and Venerable Prelates: 



la pursuance of your Graces' communications to the Standing Committee of our 

 Church, received by the June pacl^et, and the letter of his Grace the Archbishop of 

 Canterbury of July the 4th, enclosing the Act of Parliament " to empower the Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury, or the Archbishop of York, for the time being, to consecrate to 

 the office of a Bishop, persons being subjects or citizens of countries out of his 

 Majesty's dominions," a General Convention, now sitting, have the honor of offering 

 their unanimous and hearty thanks for the continuance of your Christian attention to 

 tliis Church, and particularly for your having so speedily acquired a legal capacity of 

 complying with the prayer of our former addresses. 



We have taken into our most serious and deliberate consideration the several matters 

 so affectionately recommended to us in those communications, and whatever could be 

 done towards a compliance with your fatherly wishes and advice, consistently with our 

 local circumstances, and the peace and unity of our Church, hath been agreed to, as, 

 we trust, will appear from the enclosed Act of our Convention, which we have the 

 honor to transmit to you, together with the Journal of our proceedings. 

 We are, with great and sincere respect, 



Most worthy and venerable prelates, 



Your obedient and very humble servants, 

 (By order) Samuel Provoost, President. 



In General Convention : 

 At Wilmington, in the Stale of Delaware, 

 October II, 1786. 



What I suppose to be the original draft of this document thus 

 signed, which is before me, is in the handwriting of Dr. Smith, 

 Chairman of the Committee. 



On the 24th of October, 1786, a Convention of the Protestant 

 Episcopal Church in Maryland met at Annapolis, in that State, 

 and chose Dr. Smith its President. The following instrument of 

 writing was laid before the Convention, and is entered among its 

 proceedings, viz. : 



