APPENDIX. 539 



of the American church, were lent by him to the late Rev. Dr. F. L. 

 Hawks, as an aid to that eminent historian in compiling his records of 

 our ecclesiastical history. With him they remained for many years, as 

 his work was a vast one and demanded time ; and Bishop White, it 

 appears, never sought to recover them, nor did his executors, after his 

 death, give the matter prompt atte.">tion. Both of the executors pre- 

 deceased Dr. Hawks by some years, and upon the death of the latter 

 the Bishop's descendants took steps to obtain the MSS. from Dr. 

 Hawks' s estate. When it was ascertained that since Dr. Hawks's death 

 they had practically been in the custody of the House of Bishops, Bishop 

 White's descendants, with entire unanimity, decided that it was emi- 

 nently proper they should remain in such custody; and under date of 

 15 October, 1868, presented the following Memorial to the Bishops: 



" To the Right Reverend the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the 

 United States of America in Convention assembled : 



" The Memorial of the undersigned, descendants of the late Right Rev. William 

 White, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, re- 

 spectfully show : 



" That the said Bishop White, some few years prior to his death, loaned to the Rev. 

 Francis L. Hawks, D. D., LL. D., for the purpose of historical examination, the major 

 portion of his collection of MSS., consisting of correspondence between himself and 

 many bishops, clergymen and laymen, in this and other countries; as also other 

 papers, bearing principally on the establishment of the church in America, and being 

 of very great value. That these papers were in Dr. Hawks's custody at the death of 

 Bishop White, but were not claimed by the latter's executors, because of their under- 

 standing that Dr. Hawks had not concluded his investigations, and so remained with 

 Dr. Hawks until his decease, September 26, 1866, no claim having as yet been laid 

 to them for the reason above stated. That on the 27th of October, 1866, subsequently 

 to Dr. Hawks's death, a descendant of Bishop White, and agent of your memorialists, 

 called upon one of the executors of his estate, and there did make claim, to which 

 answer by letter was returned under date of November i6, 1866, by the said executor, 

 to the effect that he would be heard from in due time upon the subject ; that, notwith- 

 standing this reply, nothing further has been heard, nor was anything known as regards 

 these papers by your memorialists, until a few months since, when information was 

 received that they had all been placed by Dr, Hawks's executors in the custody of 

 your venerable body. 



"Your memorialists further show that they represent all the descendants of the said 

 Bishop White, with the exception of two, who are now residents of distant parts of the 

 United States, and with whom your memorialists have put themselves in communica- 

 tion ; that they have every reason to believe, and do believe, that the assent and 

 ratification of the same will in due course be had to this action of your memo- 

 rialists, although it has been impossible up to this date to obtain it for presentation 

 herewith. 



" Your memorialists therefore pray that your Reverend Body take into consideration 

 their claim to the said papers, and acknowledge the same, if in your wisdom it seems 

 just; and that they be permitted hereby to put upon record their wish to make a gift 



