@54 Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVI. 



ficial view of the progress of science in America 

 without immediately recognising the extent and 

 the utility of their labours. 



The controversy respecting the introduction 

 and support of bishops of the episcopal church in 

 the American colonies may be considered as 

 forming an important epocha in the literary his- 

 tory of the country. Every inquiry which in- 

 duces men of learning and talents to write, and 

 which contributes to form good writers, deserves 

 to be considered as an era in the progress of lite- 

 rature. The controversy above mentioned was 

 certainly useful in both these respects. It called 

 into action latent talents, and by rousing the pub- 

 lic attention, and interesting the feelings of some 

 of the most learned men in the country, it gave 

 rise to a number of publications, and no doubt 

 extended the taste for inquiry and reading. In 

 this controversy, the principal Avriters were Dr. 

 Jonathan Mayhew *, Dr. Charles Chauncey f , 



* Dr. Mayhew was pastor of the West Church in Boston. H^ 

 was a man of distinguished learning and talents. His principal 

 work on tliis subject was written in 176 k 



■\ Dr. Charles Chauncey was born in Boston in the year 1705 ; 

 graduated at Harvard college in 1721; was installed pastor of 

 the first church in Boston in 1727 ; in which station he continued 

 till 1787 ; when he was removed by death. Dr. Chauncey was 

 descended from the celebrated man of the same name, who, in 

 the days of archbishop Laud, came to New England, became 

 president of Harvard college, and was much celebrated for his 

 erudition, and especially for his acquaintance with oriental lite- 

 rature. His descendant, of whom we are speaking, was also a 

 man of strong mind and extensive learning, and eminently di- 

 stinguished for his firmness and integrity. Beside several things 

 "which he wrote on the American episcopate, he published a 

 treatise on The Benevolence of the Deity, 1784 j Ywq Diaserfa- 



