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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
Marriott informs Chase of the death of his brother, John, and updates Chase on Bishop Hobart and others.
Date
4-17-1825
City
London
Keywords
G. W. Marriott, Bishop Hobart, St. David's, Ohio, Bishop of Durham, Lord Kenyon
Recommended Citation
Marriott, G.W., "Letter to Philander Chase" (1825). Philander Chase Letters. 449.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/449
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Transcript
[fragment]
Queen’s Square Sunday morn
17th April 1825
My dear and venerated Friend
Part of this sacred day is surely well employed in acknowledging your delightful letter of the 10th February, just received by me. My ceaseless duties on other days do not allow me time, and we write on what I would wish my Sabbath, or even dying, thoughts to dwell upon.
I must tell you first and foremost of the great loss we have sustained in the removal of my dear and most excellent Brother John from this transitory world. Our loss as a family, especially that of his four Orphan Children, and the Church’s loss, are great indeed. But God’s promises are commensurate, and more than commensurate, with all these deprivations. The fatherless Children already shew the gifts of their heavenly Father, and we are assured that no medical relief could have reached the disorder, even if it could have been ascertained before death. Two great ossifications on the skull, constantly pressing on the brain, and which must have been, it is thought, about two years in progress, produced first most painful nervous excitement, and ultimately a state of mental derangement with scarcely any intervals. It was melancholy indeed to compare the intellectual and spiritual privileges, which had been vouchsafed to him, with the miserable products of clouded reason and diseased imagination. But it is sweet, nay heavenly, to think of the unmixed joy and unclouded intelligence to which, we humbly but fully trust, he has now been removed, among the Spirits of the just made perfect. Blessed be God, who, though He has not spared us grief, “of which all are partakers,” has yet so abounded in consolations to His unworthy Servants, and opened our hearts to them! I must not omit that we are assured that neither collateral Relatives, nor children, have the least ground for apprehending family mischief of the same kind. We hear a good account of his successor in the important Curacy of Broadelist. It is not yet known who succeeds to the Rectory of Church-Lawford.
Such news from Ohio has been well-timed for our support in a day of trial. Such contrary results, from the unchristian and unnatural apposition which your unexceptionable and necessary measure was met with, are rightly attributed, I verily believe, to the controuling [sic] hand of God. May His Spirit still ever lead you, His power protect you, and His Cause prosper in your hands as an Instrument!
We are still without any new of Bishop Hobart, who was to have returned to England in February. If we ever see him again, I shall tell him my sentiments without disguise, and, if I can, without offence. I can sincerely thank him for an excellent collection of Sermons, and, as I never despair of seeing the mind rectified where there is such a foundation of principle to work upon, I will hope here. I believe the last opportunity is now given of retracing his steps with the English or American Church, as I do not think the little brotherhood of Snarlers, on either side the water, worthy of much notice, as exceptions to the general body who have taken a lively interest in the subject. The charitable and liberal will be disposed to attribute his former prejudices to a narrow and limited view of the Church’s true interests, rather than to a want of zeal and to the chilling effects of personal and selfish ends, if he now comes forward unequivocally in the spirit of conciliation and cooperation. I should rejoice indeed to witness this revolution. But I am not sanguine in my hopes, though very earnest in my wishes. I do not pretend to judge the Bishop’s motives of conduct, or to know them, but I well know what motives will be imputed to him by his fellow-men, if he does not pursue the course above specified.
You enquire how the good Bishop of St David’s received your letter. I can answer this most satisfactorily. But for the infirmity of his eye-sight, you would have known from him before you can know from me that he was exceedingly gratified with the mark of attention, and with the contents of your letter. I also heard the Bishop of Durham speak with much pleasure in reference to a letter he had received from you. The wonderful health of the latter Veteran begins to fail, but he has enjoyed a very extraordinary share hitherto. I mean to ask him for an Engraving to add to your collection of English Worthies. He considers the grant no slight favor, but he will not refuse it to you. I enclose a proof of the hearty good will of another Bishop, and of one who most people think will be one, and is now a Canon of Windsor. His letter was addressed to me. The Bishop’s was to Lord Kenyon.
You will hear from Mr Pratt respecting the Stereotype Plates…