222 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



plied. But they could not be said to want the opportunity of having the sacra- 

 ments ad minis! i to! i > their. ; yet 1 believe 20 of them had never received the com- 

 munion, nor half of them been baptized, as Mr. Muirson will more fully inform 

 you. And now i have given you an account of the state of that colony, what 

 will in the next place be naturally expected from me, is to know my opinion of 

 the best and most probable way of doing good amongst them. 



There is nothing more certain, than that it is the most difficult task the society 

 have to wade through. For the people are not only not of the Church, but have 

 been and are trained up with all the care imaginable to be its enemies. That to 

 make an impression under all those disadvantages is very difficult, though I hope 

 not impossible. And though, at first view, the prospect of doing any good upon 

 them is very little, yet no doubt but the most proper measures ought to be taken, 

 leaving the event to Almighty God. 



Now, to give you my thoughts in what way this great work may best be en- 

 deavored at, so as it may be done with little expense. I believe, for the first step, 

 the most proper way would be, that one of the ministers in this country were di- 

 rected by my Lord of London to inform himself where there are any in that gov- 

 ernment who profess themselves to be of the Church, and to know if they or any 

 of their neighbors have any children to baptize, or desire to partake of the sacra- 

 ment : and that he will come to the towns where they live, and after having giv- 

 en them a sermon, will perform those holy rites. There need, I think, no more 

 be done in this matter for the present. But the society may, if they please, leave 

 the rest to me ; and I w r on't only give him the best advice and directions I can 

 herein, but will, God willing, wait upon him in his progress, and persuade some 

 useful friends along with me. And when this essay has been made, I shall be 

 much better able to guess at the state of that government, and what is fitting to 

 be done next. Now the person that I would advise them to pitch upon by all 

 means for this expedition, is Mr. Muirson ; he being not only posted next those 

 parts, and so will look less like design, but he has a very happy w r ay of delivery, 

 and makes little use of his notes in preaching, which is extremely taking amongst 

 those people — and for argument, few of his years exceed him. 



The chief end I have in this projection, is to have the people of that govern- 

 ment undeceived in their notions concerning our Church ; there being, I believe, 

 fifteen thousand in that colony who have never heard, nor scarce seen a Church 

 of England minister. And I have the charity to believe, that after having heard 

 one of our ministers preach, they will not look upon our Church to be such a 

 monster as she is represented. And being convinced of some of the cheats, many 

 of them may duly consider of the sin of scliism. However, let the success be 

 what it will, to me the duty seems plain. I have not only mentioned this to you, 

 but in my letter to my Lord of London, and shall patiently wait for his and the 

 society's commands therein. 



I will now proceed in giving direct answers to the several queries mentioned 

 in yours. Having as yet, only spoke to the first, so shall now take the rest in 

 course. As for Mr. Moor's mission, you will undoubtedly have the account there- 

 of very fully by Mr. Talbot, whose place he supplies, having not thought it worth 

 the while to stay at Albany. As for my opinion in that matter, I thiuk it is too 

 heavy for the society to meddle with at present ; and would properly lie as a bur- 

 then upon the crown, to be defrayed out of the revenue here. For their being 



