Part 2 (2/2)

Which Pet.i.tion or Memorial He ordered his Secretary to copy out on two Pieces of Parchment. And then he, the Bishop, sent them to me to carry them to the Paris.h.i.+oners to be signed; and directed me at the same time to desire some of the paris.h.i.+oners to attend him at his Palace, which was on a Sunday Evening; And in their and my Presence he wrote the following words at the Bottom of one of the Pet.i.tions:

”I see no objection against the Division of the Parish above mentioned, and hope the Gentlemen, whose Consent is necessary, will agree to it, since the Inhabitants are the best judges, what is for their own Convenience: and it is a matter of very little Concern to any but them.--Jo. BRISTOL.”

Likewise when the Fields, which lay contiguous to the intended Church, were to be purchased, he went to see them, and then and there declared in my hearing, and, as far as I can recollect, in the hearing of several persons there present, viz. Messrs. King, Harrison, &c., That he would purchase them for the use of the intended Church, as soon as ever Sir Abraham Elton, the then Proprietor, could dispose of them.

Also He ordered me, at different times, to bring him a List or Account of all the monies advanced, or engaged for: And I always put down his name with 400 pounds opposite to it, which he approved of.

Moreover, in the preamble of the Act of Parliament, drawn up by Mr.

Pearson his Lords.h.i.+p's Secretary, under his Direction, there are these words:

”And the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Durham (late of Bristol) for promoting so good a design is disposed and ready to give the sum of 400 pounds towards the Endowment of the new intended Vicarage, &c.”

Which words in the first copy ran thus, ”And the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Bristol, &c.,” He being then Bishop of the See of Bristol; And I have heard his Lords.h.i.+p repeat those words in perusing the said Copy.

Farther; upon the Coming of the present Lord Bishop of Bristol to this See, He ordered me to draw up a short State of the Case relating to the new intended Church, and the Several Expences necessary for completing the Design, which Paper was afterwards shown to the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for building the said Church, And they Requested, That it might be printed. But before it was sent to the press, I transmitted a Copy to the late Lord Bishop of Durham, then in London, to know if his Lords.h.i.+p approved of the Publication of it, and whether He would please to make any alteration. His answer was, That he saw no need of Alterations, and thought that the Printing and Dispersing of it might be of service to the charity.

I then directed Mr. Oliver the Printer to call upon his Lords.h.i.+p for the Ma.n.u.script, which he did; and after printing the same, He carried fifty Copies to his Lords.h.i.+p for his own use; One of which Copies was sent to a pious and charitable lady, but whether by his Lords.h.i.+p, or his Secretary, I cannot say; The Issue of which was, A Benefaction of 200 pounds sent to his Lords.h.i.+p, To be disposed of either for the building or the Endowment as his Lords.h.i.+p thought fit. Now in the printed paper above mentioned, there are the following remarkable expressions--

”The late Lord Bishop of Bristol, now of Durham, and the Right Wors.h.i.+pful the Mayor and Corporation of Bristol, _have contributed_ large Sums for carrying the said good Purposes into Execution, &c.”

And upon all times and occasions, after he had Purchased the contiguous Grounds above mentioned of Sir Abraham Elton for the sum of 375 pounds, He used to say, That the purchase was for the use of the new Intended Church, and did wish, That some little adjoining Tenement might be found, to be purchased with the remaining Sum of 25 pounds in order to make up the even money of 400 pounds.

Also when I waited on his Lords.h.i.+p last in London, I was desired by Mr.

Willoughby, the treasurer for the said Church, to ask his Lords.h.i.+p, How he would please to have the rents of the purchased Grounds disposed of, as some rents were then become due, viz. whether to be applied towards the endowment--or the Building. And his answer was, That the rents, being the Interest of the money allotted for the Charity should be applied to the charity, as well as the Princ.i.p.al: But whether towards the Endowment or Building He was not yet determined: He believed, the Endowment: but would fix his answer, when he came down to Bristol.

And after his coming down, He several times said, that he would give orders concerning that affair.

He also sent to me one time to acquaint me, That he had a Benefaction put into his hands of 200 pounds (the benefaction above mentioned), And was pleased to desire my advice, Whether it should be applied towards the Endowment,--or the Building. My answer was, That as the Building was so far advanced, There was not much danger, but that Contributions might be raised to finish it,--Either by voluntary Subscriptions,--or a General collection round the city,--or by both methods together. But it would not be found so easy a matter to raise Contributions for the Endowment.

And the Sums. .h.i.therto procured were very far from being a Competency for a _Resident_ Minister. I then mentioned his Benefaction of 400 pounds, and the 400 pounds from Q. Ann's Bounty, as being a sum which might be depended on,--Also the benefaction of 200 pounds in his Lords.h.i.+p's Hands; which possibly might obtain 200 pounds more from the Bounty;--So that the whole Sum, to be reckoned upon, even with the supposed addition of 200 pounds from the Bounty, would only amount to 1200 pounds, which at 3 per cent., would make an Income of 36 pounds a year.

His Lords.h.i.+p was pleased to approve of this Reasoning upon the Case, and said, The 200 pounds should go towards the Endowment: And as his own was a bad Life, the Benefaction should be enrolled in the name of Mr.

Pearson, in order to try to obtain 200 pounds more from Q. Ann's Bounty.

All these particulars I am willing to testify upon Oath.

THE END.

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