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Description
Wiggin is worried the the new partnership scheme will interfere with the Ohio seminary goal.
Date
4-8-1824
City
Manchester, England
Keywords
England voyage, Bp. Hobart, Reverend Wheaton, Josiah Pratt, Lord Kenyon, George Marriott, Dr. Gaskin, Lord Gambier, Bartlett's Buildings Society, Mr. Wilberforce, Book of Common Prayer (American), Ohio, college, General Theological Seminary
Recommended Citation
Wiggin, Timothy, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1824). Philander Chase Letters. 307.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/307
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Transcript
Manchester April 8th 1824
My Dear friend
I wrote you yesterday in great haste without making remarks upon your last letter. I [infer] from your allusion to the difficulties that have arisen [since] the partnership scheme had been presented, and the wisdom required in managing all things so as to secure the esteem and support of the whole, without injuring the Ohio fund and Seminary, that you were inclined to accede to Bishop Hobart and Mrs Wheaton’s plans I [inclose] a letter to Mr Pratt for your [inspection] and desire you to hand it to him. It contains my opinions, and you will see that I consider the new scheme full of danger to the cause of Ohio. [If] I had not reason to suppose that it has met with the approbation of Lord Kenyon, Mr Marriot, Dr Gaskin, and Mr Pratt, who are all your sincere friends, I should have pronounced it at once, a crafty [maneuver] to destroy your plans by pretended kindness, now it is discovered that violent opposition has been ineffectual. Perhaps my conclusions are wrong, but as there must be doubts about the expediency of such a [change], I would consult Lord Gambier upon it. At present I am not fully acquainted with the scheme, but I am not willing you [should] concede more than you did in the minute of agreement, which was that the Ohio Seminary should be a Branch of the General Seminary that the friends of that General Seminary should reserve a right to present the wants of that Seminary to a favorable consideration of the Public at a future time and that Bishop Hobart now sanctioned the application of your friends for contributions on behalf of the Diocese of Ohio, unconnected with any other object of Charity. Can you or any one say that no new pretensions are set up or that your prospects of success are not more discouraging than they were under that agreement. I hope your friends at [Bartlett’s] buildings will give you their support, and consent to a p[?] of an application for New York and Connecticut. But if they should decline this, I should be willing to try the experiment in town first, without any pledge from you beyond that I am quite confident the scheme will not succeed in the Country. I cannot believe your new friends will refuse to support you unless you will consent to a measure that will blast your half formed fruit. I hope you will first ascertain what support and assistance you are likely to gain from your new friends and from [Bartlett's] buildings. I hope they will procure the support of Bishops and persons of great influence. Perhaps Lord Kenyon might aid you by causing these personages to meet on the subject and to give you their advice and support. Lord Gambier and Mr [Wilberforce] might perhaps do the same thing with their friends. If this could be done it would be a great gain. My own influence in London with wealthy individuals is too limited to be of service to your cause. I should recommend your calling at Mr Alexander Baring's house and leaving your card and address and after he has returned your call, I would hand him an appeal and make him acquainted with your friends, [supporters and success]. I hope these efforts will be attended with success but if all should fail, I would advise you to [?] the cause hither to [?], with any accession of strength I could acquire. In this way I doubt not you will succeed. In writing this my principal object is to inclose the letter to Mr Pratt for your perusal, and to hand you a copy of one from the Reverend Mr Hill Vicar of Chesterfield received since I sent you the last [parcel]. The letter begins with an apology for delay in an answer to your letter from York and with [expressions] of joy in the termination of the differences with the Bishop New York and then as follows
“I am much pleased by the proposal respecting a stereotype Edition of the American Prayer Book, and the result of my enquiries is [Derby] and Sheffield enable me to under take the disposal of about 40 copies supposing the [price] not to exceed 2/6 or 30 if it does not exceed 4/6.”
He hopes to see you in london early in May, and desires Mrs Hill, best respects. This letter I shall send you when I have occasion to send another parcel. The plan I have recommended for your intended [?] circular, has been the result of my reflections founded on my own experiences and I cannot but think that it would prove beneficial to your cause and aid those who may undertake to solicit contributions in future. Very little more will be collected here therefore it will not be necessary to consider Manchester in that circular, but if you should approve of a part or all you will do as you may think best. I hope you will not think I am presuming too much in suggesting these prints, and that you will excuse me for expressing a belief that Bishop Hobart has laid a [snare] for you which your friends have not discovered, but which I hope you will escape. Ever yours — T. Wiggin