LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 173 



satisfaction as I can. As to the other, the gen- 

 tlemen of the society are able to give it me, and 

 I hope they will. In the mean time, till I can 

 give a more positive answer, you may please to 

 tell the gentlemen, that, though I would not 

 have been the first adviser of such a combina- 

 tion as this is, yet now that they are actually 

 entered into it, and for good ends as I verily 

 hope, they shall meet with no discouragement 

 from me, so long as their methods are regular, 

 and their proceedings modest, and "prudent, and 

 inoffensive. Nay, further, I shall be ready to 

 give them the best assistance and direction I 

 can, if they think me worthy of being con- 

 sulted with. 



** I could wish that their first lecture, which is 

 designed to be preached by you on the second 

 Tuesday in February, might be put off till I had 

 an account of the constitution of their society, 

 and the laws they have agreed upon. But if 

 these be uneasy to the gentlemen that are con- 

 cerned, I do not forbid you to preach at the 

 time and place they desire. 



" I desire you to present my service to them. 

 I am, with hearty wishes of their and your 

 happiness, 



" Sir, 

 "■ Your affectionate brother, 



*' Jo. Ebor." 



