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making myself acquainted with their condition; and in performing such of ficial duties as seemed to be the most immediately pressing. But I find that much still remains to be done; and that I have still much information to acquire, before I can pronounce concerning the general prosperity of the Church, or offer to you any general remarks, concerning its present state and prospects, which are not already familiar to the most of you. I shall, therefore, only give a brief detail of the Episcopal duties which I have performed, and add a few observations on such subjects as seem to me to be most essential to the welfare and prosperity of the Church in this diocess.

My first official act was to admit Mr. Edward Rutledge, of Charleston, SouthCarolina, to the holy order of deacons. This was performed in Christ Church, at Middletown, on the 17th of November last. He had passed the regular probation of a candidate in this diocess, and exhibited to me all the requisite testimonials. On the 13th of January last, in Christ Church, at Norwich, I admitted the Rev. Peter G. Clark, a deacon, to the holy order of priests.

On the 24th of November I consecrated the new church in Sharon, by the name of St. Paul's Church. This is a very neat and commodious brick building; well finished, and furnished with all the requisite appendages. It is, at the same time, an evidence of good taste, and of the pious zeal which distinguishes the people of that parish. On the following day I consecrated the church in Kent, by the name of St. John's Church. The congregation in this place seems to be rising from the state of depression in which it has languished, and, together with the other congregations composing the cure of the Rev. Mr. Andrews, appears to be deriving much benefit from his assiduous labours.

There are several other churches ready for consecration, which, by permission of Divine Providence, will be visited by me in the course of the pre

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In St. Paul's Church, Sharon, to 46; St. John's Church, Kent 35; parish of New-Preston, Washington, 22; St. John's Church, New-Milford, 34; St. John's Church, Brookfield, 15; Trinity Church, Newtown, 53; St. John's Church, Bridgeport, 28; St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, 24; Christ Church, Norwich, 6; parish of Poquatannock, Preston, 9; Christ Church, Hartford, 21; Christ Church, Middletown, 35; Trinity Church, New-Haven, 24; in all 352 persons.

In addition to the foregoing duties I have also visited the following parishes, viz. Litchfield, Stratford, Derby, EastWindsor, New-London, Granby, Simsbury, Brooklyn, Cheshire, and Glastenbury. In all of these parishes I have preached, and in several of them I have administered the holy communion.

On my visit to Norwalk, I instituted the Rev. Reuben Sherwood to the rectorship of St. Paul's Church, in that place; and I cannot help regretting that a service so well calculated to impress upon the minister and his congregation their mutual, intimate, and solemn relation to each other, should have fallen into such general disuse in this diocess. I would recommend it to the Convention to examine whether any canonical provision, on this subject, may be expedient or practicable.

Several changes have taken place in the diocess since the meeting of the Convention in October last. Among these, none can have excited a deeper sympathy among my clerical brethren, than the death of the Reverend and ve nerable Dr. Mansfield. After a laborious life, extended to a period which seldom falls to the lot of man, his exit has followed close upon that of the venerable layman,* his equal in years, whose name "is in the Churches," and who has stood pre-eminent for his usefulness in the state. Their memories will long be held in veneration, for their names are associated with those interesting events and circumstances, by which the Church in this diocess has been raised to her present comparative prosperity and enlargement; from that

* Dr. Johnson.

state of depression which was at first occasioned by the religious prejudices of the original settlers of this country, and afterwards aggravated by the pas sions of the revolution. They have gone, as our charity would trust, to that "rest" prepared for the people of God. Let it be our care to "be also ready;' and so to discharge all the duties enjoined on us by our divine Master, that "with all those who are departed hence, in the true faith of his holy name, we may have our perfect consummation and bliss in his eternal and everlasting glory."

The Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, late the Rector of Christ Church, Hartford, has received letters dismissory from this diocess, and now fills the station of Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, New-York: and the Rev. Nathaniel S. Wheaton, from the diocess of Maryland, has been appointed to the vacancy in Hartford. Under his ministrations the Church in this city appears to be eminently prosperous.

The Rev. Aaron Humphrey, lately employed as a missionary by the " Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge," has received an appointment to the Church in Lanesborough, in the Eastern Diocess; and we shall henceforth be deprived of his services in a station which he has filled with great faithfulness and usefulness. The Rev. Joseph M. Gilbert, and the Rev. Edward Rutledge, deacons, have received letters dismissory from this diocess, and have gone to that of SouthCarolina. The Rev. Nathaniel F. Bruce, M. D. from the diocess of NewYork, has resided in Hartford during the last winter, and, since the 15th of April, has been employed as a missionary in the vacant parishes of this dio

cess.

The Rev. Calvin White, with the consent of the parish of Derby, has resigned his station as Assistant Minister there: and having given my official assent to the dissolution of the connexion, that parish is now vacant.

The parish of Brooklyn, in the county of Windham, has also become vacant, by the expiration of the term of service agreed on with the Rev. George S. White.

The Rev. Mr. Mills has relinquished the charge of the parish of Glastenbury, and henceforth confines himself wholly to that of Chatham; and the Rev. Nathan B. Burgess has taken the temporary charge of the parish of Glastenbu ry, in connexion with that of Middle, Haddam.

The parish of Warehouse-Point, East-Windsor, is again re-organized, after several years of depression; and now bids fair to be a united and pros perous parish. The yestry have made an arrangement, by which the Church is supplied with regular ministrations, and in addition to the appropriations necessary for this purpose, the congre gation have, with great liberality, furnished their house of worship with a good bell and clock. Few parishes were, six months since, in a less prosperous state than this, but they have given to the Church a noble example of what may be done when the ability possessed, instead of being suffered to lie dormant, is brought into exercise by a well directed zeal.

The associated parishes of Simsbury and Granby have also made respectable exertions for the re-establishment of the ministry and ordinances of the Gospel among them, and having raised a sufficient sum for the support of a clergyman, they have presented a call to the Rev. Samuel Griswold, of GreatBarrington, in the Eastern Diocess.

There are several parishes in the diocess now vacant; which, I am per suaded, possess the ability to support public worship; and which I hope soon to see animated with a zeal which shall overcome their present embarrassments and impediments, and supply them with the refreshing ministrations and ordinances of the Gospel

The following persons are, at present, candidates for holy orders in this diocess; viz. Daniel Somers, Lemuel B. Hull, David Botchford, Bennet Glover, Shadrach Terry, William Shelton, and John M. Garfield. The last named person was admitted as a candidate in the diocess of New-York, and has been transferred to this diocess by letters dis missory from the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart. Ambrose L. Todd, late a candidate for orders in this diocess, has

received letters dismissory, and now resides in the state of New-York.

In the month of April last I visited the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire, and attended during a part of one of its quarterly examinations. The young men acquitted themselves with reputation, and I am happy in being able to bear my testimony to the industry and fidelity of the teachers in that institution.

In travelling through the different parts of the diocess, and witnessing the number of vacant parishes, and the depressed state of others, which are only supplied with occasional services; and observing the opportunities of forming new parishes in places where there are scattered Episcopal families, I could not but deeply feel the want of additional missionary services. The col lections made through the "Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge," are utterly inadequate to the wants of the Church; and I am sorry to find that the treasurer of that society has received returns from so few of the parishes which were called upon to make their collections in the months of January and February last. Though the sums to be expected from many of these parishes must necessarily be small, yet these small sums, if duly collected, would form an aggregate which would be highly useful to the Church. The light contributions obtained in this way impoverish no one; and so far from taking any thing that would otherwise be devoted to the support of the minister, their natural tendency is to make his support the more liberal, by creat ing in his congregation an additional interest in the concerns of the Church. I cannot but hope that a society, which embraces objects so well calculated to advance the interests of religion and the prosperity of the Church, will not be stinted in its exertions by any want of Tiberality in the public, or any supineness on the part of those whose duty it is to make the collections.

Among the subjects of general interest to the Church, I cannot forbear to recommend the universal establishment of Sunday schools, for the religious instruction of the young. I believe, indeed, that they are already very gene

rally established throughout the diocess; and much praise is due to the clergy, and others who have promoted them, as well as to those generous individuals who have taxed their charity with the labour of instruction. To withdraw the young from profane amusements, or a thoughtless indolence on the Lord's day; to assemble them together for religious worship; to store their minds with the elements of Christian knowledge; to excite in their hearts devout affections; and to familiarize them to the pious and evangelical services of our liturgy, are objects which may well call forth the charities of the friends of religion. I trust there may always be found such, in every parish, who will cheerfully devote themselves to this. "labour of love."

I have attended the late meeting of the General Convention of our Church, in Philadelphia, and am happy to inform you, that the greatest harmony prevailed among the members, and that all important questions were decided with singular unanimity.

Among the proceedings most interesting to the Church at large, were the establishment of a "General Missionary Society," and the transfer of the "Theological Seminary" from the city of New-York to New-Haven.

Missionary efforts, in our Church, have heretofore been confined to local institutions. The General Society is not designed to supersede these institutions; but, by the united support of the Church, to send missionaries through our extensive western regions, and to co-operate with the Christian world, in the more universal diffusion of the blessings of the Gospel.

The Theological Seminary is an object of paramount importance to the Church. Without a learned, as well as a pious ministry, it is impossible that her character can be maintained, or her boundaries enlarged. The state of our country now demands higher theological attainments than our candidates have an opportunity of acquiring. In the institutions at Andover and Princeton, examples are presented to us of what a communion is capable of effecting, when its zeal and resources are consentrated on a common object.

I feel confident that neither ability nor liberality are wanting in our Church, to establish such an institution as her exigences require, and I trust there will not be wanting either unanimity or zeal to bring her resources into the most efficient operation. The high salaries necessary to support competent professors in New-York, and the inability of most young men to support themselves during a three year's course of study, in so expensive a city, rendered necessary an amount of funds altogether beyond the reasonable expectations of the friends of the seminary ;-especially while there existed, in various parts of the union, such strong objections to its location. Influenced by these considerations, and by the consideration of the more moderate habits which the students would be likely to form in such a place as New-Haven, as well as by various other motives of preference, the vote of the Convention for transferring the Seminary to Connecticut was almost unanimous. While this removal appears likely to prove highly beneficial to the Church at large, it seems especially calculated to be useful to the Church in this diocess, and throughout New-England, where so large a portion of the clergy of the Episcopal Church have been born and educated. But a great responsibility is thrown upon this diocess; as both its clergy and its laity will naturally be expected to take the lead in the patronage and support of the institution. I trust that neither will be found wanting in their duty in so important a matter. And among the small means calculated to produce great and beneficial results, permit me to recommend the establishment of societies throughout the diocess, for the assistance of such students in the institution as may be unable to support themselves. A small sum, annually collected in this way from each parish, will be found to have impoverished no one, and will, in the course of a few years, be seen to have produced the most beneficial effects. My Brethren of the Clergy,

Though the interests of religion demand the united support of clergy and laity, yet they are confided by Providence to our especial care. Let us, then,

constantly bear in mind our great responsibility, and cherish a deep sense of our "high calling" in the church of Christ. That minister who is indolent or unfaithful, or who contradicts by his example the precepts which he delivers from the pulpit, becomes a stumblingblock to the ignorant, and a jest to the wicked. He brings a stigma upon his profession, and on his brethren, and reproach upon the cause of his divine Master. Let us, then, "take heed to our ways"-" giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed." Let us often ponder upon the import of our solemn vows of ordination, and often supplicate the Throne of Grace for assistance in fulfilling them. Let us ever keep in mind the great and leading objects of our ministry-to persuade sinners to embrace the way of salvation by the blood of Christ, and to build up his church in the most holy faith. While then, we "shun not to declare the whole council of God," let "Jesus Christ, and him crucified," constitute the chief theme and subject of our preaching.

My Clerical and Lay Brethren,

Let us now proceed to the business of the Convention in the spirit of brotherly kindness and Christian holiness. And may "he who did preside, by his holy Spirit, in the councils of the blessed Apostles, and who has promised, through his Son Jesus Christ, to be with his Church to the end of the world," be present with us. May he guide us by his Spirit, secure us from error, and prosper all our consultations to the advancement of his own glory, and the good of his Church.

T. C. BROWNELL.
Hartford, June 7th, 1820.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention be presented to the Bishop, for his sermon and address, delivered before them this day."

(To be continued.)

(From the Calcutta Journal, of Dec. 16.) Suttee at Sulkeah.

SUTTEES, So often and so justly deprecated by every Christian spectator, as disgraceful to India, are still unfortunately of no uncommon occurrence. A rite of this kind which took place

at Sulkeah last Thursday in the person of a young Hindoo female, immolated on the same pile as her deceased husband, need only to have been witnessed, not merely to arouse heart rending sympathies, but most unequivocally to exemplify a case of the cruellest murder. I was informed that the deceased had fallen a victim to cholera some time during the preceding night; and his infatuated widow, determining to become a Suttee, the corpse had been brought some miles from the interior to mix in ashes with its living partner by the river's side. This zeal, by the bye, appeared rather extraordinary, as all the parties concerned were of very inferior casts. The devotee was a good looking woman of 17 or 18 years of age, and on this occasion, as many others, regardless of maternal feelings, had left an infant child at home to come to the awful pile. Their first care on arrival, about 9 o'clock in the morning, was to take measures to procure legal authority for this pious saerifice, and as some delay occurred in consequence, an opportunity was offered to several European gentlemen who were attracted to the spot to endeavour, if possible, to prevail on her to relin quish her rash design; but her mind appeared already so fortified with religious bigotry, so bewildered and occupied with the phantome of a terrified and disordered imagination, that no persuation could prevail, because none, however forcible, could be understood. -The jarring emotions of her soul had created such a degree of frenzy or madness, that she already seemed to belong to another world. Yet when a gentleman present observed to her, that in giving her life to be destroyed, she was not only acting contrary to the will of God, but also doing an injury to society by leaving her child unprotected, she evinced the most poignant anguish that can possibly be conceived. With a look of wild and pitiable distraction, she said, "Speak not of my child Why do you wound my bosom with the idea?" Then relapsing into superstitious ravings, she added, "But that child no longer belongs to me-I am not its mother, or wherefore did I suffer this death four times before at this age;

shall I not 'complete my immortality; and I know that I am doomed to crimination twice again after regeneration."-So powerful is bigotry over the noblest affections of nature!

Amidst this scene of sorrow and misery, it may not be amiss to glance for a moment at the behaviour of the surrounding mob. Here nothing but merriment, laughter, noise, and obscenity, abounded in all directions. Not a man or woman amongst them seemed to have a heart to pity, or understanding to judge. One sally of wit set the whole audience a laughing for half an hour, and gave occasion to many more good jokes." Come on," cried a wag, "ye women of Sulkeah, as many as are fond of fire and husbands, now is your time to hug and to burn." Another, on the importunity of the unfortunate wretch who was the subject of their merriment, to be put out of misery as quickly as possible, tauntingly replied, "Dont be so impatient, my dear, you will be among the faggots soon enough."-Indeed, so far was any religious solemnity from being attached to the occasion, that no levity, confusion, and indecency, could have been, greater than were exhibited in the conduct of both Hindoo and Mussulman spectators.

At length, about 6 o'clock, it was announced, that the sanction of the magistrate had arrived. The writer of this article now again approached the devotee, and endeavoured, by exciting a love of life, to induce her to renounce her intention. He told her that if she had any fear of future poverty or distress, all the gentlemen present pledged themselves to provide comfortably for her, and that they would immediately give her 100 Rs. I had noticed, with some hope, the gradual decay of her resolution as time elapsed, and I was sanguine in believing she might be recovered. Still to the very edge of the pile, she was deaf to all entreaty. Her last words, however, betrayed much secret vacillation. She said, "How can I go back?" The expression, with the look and action which accompanied it, immediately struck me as importing, "how can I suffer the shame and reproach of such impiety."

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