JOHNSON's character. This discovered itself in all companies, and on all occasions. It was not confined to his friends, or to people of one denomination only, but extended to the whole human race without exception, and even to the brutal part of the creation. He had an affection for every thing that God has made, according to its nature and qualities; and he took an exquisite pleasure in communicating or increasing happiness, whenever and wherever he had an oppor tunity. Had it been in his power, he would have made every human creature completely happy; and as far as it was in his power, he never failed of doing so in the most effectual

manner..

He scarcely ever suffered a day to pass with out doing to others some good offices, relating to their temporal or spiritual affairs: with regard to the former, either relieving, or assisting, or advising them; and with regard to the latter, instructing, or exhorting, or encouraging them, as the cases required. These benevolent employments were his chief relaxations from study, or from public business; and he always returned from them more vigorous than if he had indulged himself in any vain or useless amuse ments.

His desire and study was to do all possible good to his fellow creatures in general; yet, without breaking in upon this plan, some were the objects of his peculiar attention. This may justly be said of the younger Clergy, and of can. didates for Holy Orders, who were always sure to experience in him the kindness of a father.. His seniority, and his superior influence, natu» rally placed him at the head of the Episcopal Clergy in Connecticut, and gave him frequent opportunities of doing them good offices; which he performed with as much pleasure to himself as they produced to others. For near fifty years there was not, I believe, a single candidate for Holy Orders in the colony who did not apply to him for his advice and direction, or who ven tured to go to Europe without his recommenda tion, or who did not owe his success, in a great measure, to his patronage. To those of them who needed pecuniary assistance for the voyage to England, he gave generously and cheerfully, in proportion to his abilities. After their return, they commonly waited upon him for his further direction, both with regard to their studies and the manner of performing clerical and parochial duties. His own improvements as a scholar, as a divine, and as a clergyman, abundantly quali

fied him for this direction; and no one ever followed it without finding his account in doing so.. Besides giving them suitable and friendly advice, it was his practice to recommend, and then lend to them the most useful books, of which he had. a large and valuable collection.

I have here spoken of Dr. JOHNSON as being at the head of the Clergy in Connecticut. That he was really so in an equitable sense, must have appeared from the course of this history; and that the Clergy themselves wished him to be so in a legal sense, is evident from their unanimous request, first to Dr. GIBSON, and afterwards to Dr. SHERLOCK, that he might be appointed the Bishop of London's COMMISSARY, with jurisdiction over them. In answer to the first application, Bishop GIBSON says of the appointment requested, in a letter to Dr. JOHNSON of September 6, 1743: This, I think, would be right, or "at least deserve consideration, if a new commis❝sion were to be granted upon the death or re"signation of Mr. PRICE; but I care not to res "voke any part of what I have granted, without "his consent. In the mean time you will com"municate this to your neighbouring Clergy, "whom, together with yourself, I commend to "the divine protection." Bishop SHERLOCK'S

answer to the like application, is in a letter to the Doctor, dated January 23, 1749. "I received," says his Lordship," a letter from the Clergy of "Connecticut, dated the 5th of September last. "I agree with the Clergy, that it is highly proper "and convenient to have a distinct Commissary ❝for that colony; and it is a great satisfaction "to me to find that they have so worthy a per66 son as yourself amongst them, under whose “care and inspection they unanimously desire "to be placed. I shall make no difficulty of "sending a commission accordingly to you, as

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soon as I take a proper authority from the "King, which I have hitherto delayed, in hopes ❝of seeing another and better settlement of ec "clesiastical affairs in the country. It will not "now be long before I shall be able to write "more distinctly." Accordingly, in September following, he wrote again to Dr. JOHNSON, enclosing a copy of his circular letter to the late Bishop of London's Commissaries, in which he says, "I have been far from neglecting the af "fairs of your churches, and have been solicit"ing the establishment of one or two Bishops “to reside in proper parts of the plantations, "and to have the conduct and direction of the “whole. I am sensible for myself, that I am

"capable of doing but little service to those dis"tant churches, and I am persuaded that no "Bishop residing in England ought to have, or "willingly to undertake, the province. As soon "as I came to the see of London, I presented a "memorial to the King on this subject, which ❝he referred to his principal officers of state to "be considered." We see here the only reason why Dr. JOHNSON was not appointed the Bishop of London's Commissary because Dr. SHERLOCK took not a proper authority from the King to appoint one; and that excellent prelate refused to take a patent from the crown for the exercise of jurisdiction in the plantations, because he was persuaded that no Bishop residing in England was able to do justice to the Church in the American colonies, or ought to have the charge of it. His Lordship continued in this opinion, and never was properly vested with ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the colonies. However, he consented till better provision could be made, to ordain our candidates, and to take such care of the interests of our Church as he could, consistently with the inspection and government of his own large diocess at home. But with regard to America he says, in another letter of April 21,1752, “I think myself at