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Description
Lord Bexley tells McIlvaine to expect little material support for the College from England, claims Montgomery West is the primary cause of Bishop Chase's misfortunes.
Date
4-4-1833
City
New York
Keywords
letter, McIlvaine, Chase, Bexley, Montgomery West
Recommended Citation
Bexley, Lord, "Letter to McIlvaine" (1833). Charles Pettit McIlvaine Letters. 390.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/mcilvaine_letters/390
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Transcript
Great George Street
4 April 1833
My dear Sir
I have been requested by Mrs. Marriott to relieve her from the painful task of acknowledging your letter of the 28th February last which came to her hands after the decease of her late husband my excellent co. trustee in the Ohio trust. Nor is his loss the only one we have to deplore. Lord Gambier has since followed him to a peaceful grave, after a life spent for the most part in active warfare, but guided by Christian principles, & in its latter years, wholly devoted to piety & charity.
I have read your letter with my remaining co. trustee Lord Kenyon; but I fear the information we can have to communicate must be of an unsatisfactory nature. We cannot learn that there is any money intended for Kenyon College, or for the Diocese of Ohio remaining in England: nor do we know of any books given to the Library;but in case any offer of that kind should be made, I should be glad to know how they might most conveniently be sent, & to what duties they would be subject on arrival in the States. With respect to your question respecting a visit to England, I can only assure you of the pleasure with which we & your other friends should receive you; but I am compelled to say that we do not think that, under the present circumstances of this Country, it would materially promote the interests of the College. It is true that some years ago Bishop Chase’s personal appeal produced considerable effect; but there was not at that time that feeling of political excitement & uneasiness which at present absorbs every other feeling, especially such as relate to any foreign object. Even our domestic charities, though supported by men of all parties, are suffering from its effects. I have personally to thank you for a copy of your address. Lord Gambier’s is also in my hands & shall be forwarded to Lady G. & Ld. Kenyon desires me to return his thanks. If Mr. Bates’ comes to me I will endeavor to forward it to him. It may remind him of the College, & revive his liberal intentions towards it but I fear there is little reliance to be placed on the steadiness of his purposes, & that the expectations which his unsettled conversation raised in the mind of that vain and sanguine young man, Mr. Montgomery West, have been among the principal causes of Bishop Chase’s misfortunes. It is a great satisfaction to us to hear that he has so far recovered his health & spirits as to be capable of resuming active & useful employments. It would be an additional satisfaction to his friends if he should be nominated Bishop of Michigan - not only on account of the gratification it must afford to his feelings, but as adding another Diocese to the Episcopal Church of America. Believe me dear Sir, with great esteem
Yours sincerely
Bexley