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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Burton thanks Chase for his visit and wishes him well on his journey to America. He wishes he could go with Chase but has too much to do with the Church of England. However, he asks Chase to let him know if there is anything he can do to help and says that he might "come over and help" sooner than expected. Burton also asks Chase to persuade Mr. Wiggin to attend his ministry and to put in a good word for him with Lord Kenyon.
Date
7-10-1824
Keywords
Mr. Wiggin, voyage to America, Church of England, Lord Kenyon
Recommended Citation
Burton, Charles, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1824). Philander Chase Letters. 325.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/325
Rights Statement
Transcript
Groton Hall, 10th July 1824
My dear Father in Christ,
Having heard from your steady friend Mr. Wiggin of the shortage of the time you have to remain in England, & your keeping engagements, I almost despair having any more the pleasure of seeing you. I cannot however refrain from assuring you that you leave this country with my best & warmest affections. I believe I shall sooner cease to remember there is a continent of Americas, than lose the recollections of your company. We took sweet converse together; we communed as the children of one heavenly Parent, & I have no doubt though Atlantic’s waves may sever us for a season, we shall reunite before the throne of the Lamb. The private communications we had on the subject of Ohio, & Indiana, [etc.] have often caused anxious hours, & ardent Prayers, & I assure you, there has not been a clergyman in all Britain, who has been more deeply convinced of your important undertaking; & I rejoice that in the earliest stays of your plans I might have been able to encourage your perseverance with expectations which have only been realized in the manner I fairly anticipated. But only the Good Hand of Jehovah has been signally displayed in your behalf. I have found my heart so wedded to yourself and your cause that I could gladly have shared with you the difficulties [often] encountered in establishing an Episcopal Church in Western America. But I am so bound hand & foot with my Church which has cost me ￡13,5000, that to leave it would be, under any [?] circumstances, almost ruinous. I have suffered extremely. The whole of my fortune & more has been expended in the Cause of the Church of England, & I have gone thro’ greater difficulties for 3 years last [?] than can be conceived. However, all will end well, with God’s blessing; but time & patience are indispensable. When you are once again settled in your infant Diocese, let me be honoured with a line from you. If things bear such an aspect that my labours could be indeed preeminently subservient to the Redeemer’s Cause among you, a time may come perhaps sooner than expectation, when I might “come over & help you.” And, at all events, it may occur that I may visit your country. Would to God I might hope to be a blessing there such as you have been to us. I take the liberty of presenting to you some of my little publications. They may be trifling mementos. I have no other hope in laying them before you. Before I conclude I would just hint, that if your influence with the Wiggins might induce them to attend my Ministry it might be the means of furthering the good you have so manifestly been instrumental in conferring. I know that this ordinary place of worship is not, what you would ardently [?] for them. I rejoice to find Lord Kenyon has become so warmly attached to you. He is a noble character. God bless your communications with him. He is a stranger to me entirely, having now taken just with the more Evangelical class. Perhaps you might render me a good service (as he is much connected with this neighbourhood) by speaking of me in such a way as you may most approve. My sentiments being anti-Calvinistic, our views wd. coincide. A recommendation to so gracious a nobleman might be a great blessing. And now, Dear Bishop, I thank my God on your behalf. Let your blessing rest upon me. The Lord send me your heavenly spirit. May God give you a favourable voyage — a happy meeting with your relations, & a glorious [harvest] in your Diocese. & may you ever pray that the Blessing of God may be with, Dear, Bishop, your faithful friend,
Charles Burton
P.S. if your stay be, one day, protracted, pray me remember your kind promise to revisit Gorton.