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Description
Bexley offers his continued support for Chase's institution and provides an update on the slow progress of the Episcopal College in London.
Date
8-18-1829
Keywords
Mr. Caswall, Lord Kenyon, Mr. Marriott, Episcopal College in London
Recommended Citation
Bexley, Lord, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1829). Philander Chase Letters. 807.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/807
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Transcript
Foots Cray Place
18 Augt. 1829
Dear Sir
Mr. Caswell did me the favor to call with your very kind letter of the 19th of June from Philadelphia at my house in Great Georgestreet, but as it was after I had removed into the country, & he remained only a few days in London himself, I had not the pleasure of seeing him. The details which he could have furnished respecting the progress of Kenyon College were however in some degree supplied by your letters to Lord Kenyon & Mr. Marryot [sic], which they were so obliging as to put into my hands. Your English friends have deeply sympathized with the trying disappointments & difficulties you have experienced, & have marked with gratitude the working of a gracious Providence in providing supplies here when they failed in America; & thus offending unexpected support to an undertaking dedicated to the honor of God & the improvement of Mankind. I trust that the work now so far advanced will proceed to its complication without further obstacles of a serious nature & that the sentiments of your Legislature will have become decidedly favorable.
We are far from making a rapid progress with the Episcopal College in London. The difficulty of obtaining a proper site in a closely built metropolis & the feelings arising out of a violent political contest have contributed to delay the work; but the ground is now cleared at Somerset Place & the plans nearly settled.
Lord Kenyon (as I suppose you have heard) is gone abroad for some time, & indeed both his mind & body greatly need the recreation of a change of scene. WIth the severe domestic afflictions with which he has been visited you are no doubt acquainted; but he was also deeply affected by the issue of our Parliamentary struggle. Whether the evils which he, & which I, have apprehended from the late proceedings of the Legislature will be averted by that Providence which can bring good out of evil it is yet too early to judge. It is our duty to pray that they may & to cultivate the spirit of loyalty & peace, & especially to promote to the utmost of our means & influence the diffusion of scriptural knowledge as the only effectual remedy for that spirit of religious indifference [?] so much is to be feared, & which so easily assumes the inviting mask of liberali[?] & love of freedom. In America as well as in Europe I am afraid its progress is most formidable; but when I look to the success of your institution, & the efforts of good men in various parts of the world I see strong grounds of hope, & great consolation is observing that the two great branches of the English race are so eminently distinguished in these exertions.
My sister desires her kindest remembrances. She has lately had the misfortune to break her arm but is recovering favorably. She takes the [liviest] interest in all that concerns you personally, as well as in your pious & benevolent plans & I beg to assure you of the sincere regard & friendship of your affectionate
Bexley