1789J REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 299 



Committee to prepare an address of thanks to the Most Reverend 

 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for their good offices in 

 procuring the consecration of the American Bishops. 



The actual work of preparing the addresses fell to Dr. Smith, 

 and before the Convention finally adjourned both documents were 

 ready for the signatures of the members, and were signed. We 

 now crive both documents as Numbers I. and II. To the former — 

 which Bishop Provoost, Dr. Smith and certain other gentlemen 

 were requested to present to the President, we append the Presi- 

 dent's answer. Bishop White, Dr. Smith and other gentlemen 

 were appointed to forward the address to the Archbishops, which, 

 no doubt, they did. 



Address No. I. 



Jo ihe President of the United States. 



Sir : — We, the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal 

 Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

 Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, in General Convention assem- 

 bled, beg leave, with the highest veneration, and the most animating na- 

 tional considerations, at the earliest moment in our power, to express our 

 cordial joy on your election to the chief magistracy of the United States. 



When we contemplate the short but eventful history of our nation ; 

 when we recollect the series of essential services performed by you in the 

 course of the Revolution ; the temperate yet efficient exertion of the 

 mighty powers with which the nature of the contest made it necessary to 

 invest you ; and especially when we remember the voluntary and mag- 

 nanimous relinquishment of those high authorities at the moment of 

 peace ; we anticipate the happiness of our country under your future 

 administration. 



But it was not alone from a successful and virtuous use of those extra- 

 ordinary powers, that you were called from your honorable retirement to 

 the first dignities of our government. An affectionate admiration of 

 your private character, the impartiality, the persevering fortitude, and 

 the energy with which your public duties have been invariably performed, 

 and the paternal solicitude for the happiness of the American people, to- 

 gether with the wisdom and consummate knowledge of our affairs, mani- 

 fested in your last military communication, have directed to your name 

 the universal wish, and have produced, for the first time in the history 

 of mankind, an example of unanimous consent in the appointment of the 

 governor of a free and enlightened nation. 



To these considerations, inspiring us with the most pleasing expecta- 

 tions as private citizens, permit us to add, that, as the representatives of 



