Samuel Johnson to Peter Jay, 24 September 1762
Samuel Johnson to Peter Jay
King’s Coll. N.York Sept. 24 1762—
Dear Sr.
In a Letter I had lately from the Archbishop of Canterbury,1 he expressed some Wonderment that the Ch[urc]h at Rye had never applied to the Society for another Minister since the Death of Mr. Wetmore. This is indeed to be wondered at if they have not done it; at least to thank them for their past favour, & desire the Continuance of it, & l[e]ave to nominate one themselves, & to be looking out for one they may be pleased with. As yr. Son is going home I tho’t I would write a line to you, & desire your Information that I might the better know what answer to make to his Grace.2
On this Occasion I cant but express to you my Satisfaction in the proficiency & Conduct of your Son. I have good reason to hope, (as I pray God) he may be an Honour & Comfort both to you and me, as well as a Blessing to his Country, With our Complements to Mrs. Jay, I remain Dr. Sr. yr. affectionate Friend & humble Servant
Sa. Johnson
ALS, UkLLPa, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (London): Letters, Series C (EJ: 13110).
1. Johnson’s letter from Thomas Secker (1693–1768), Archbishop of Canterbury, has not been located. After the death of James Wetmore (1695–1760), the Anglican congregation at Rye remained without a minister for more than two years. Unbeknownst to the Rye parish, Johnson had already written the S.P.G. in April 1762, recommending Solomon Palmer (1709–71), pastor of the church at Litchfield, Connecticut, for the Rye post. On 15 Oct. 1762 the society appointed Palmer to the vacancy at Rye. Franklin D. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College (New York, 1845), 1: 336–38; Samuel Johnson to Daniel Burton, 25 Apr. 1762, UkLLPa, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: Letters, Series B, 2, 250; Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: Journals, 15: 257–58.
2. In his reply to Johnson, PJ explained that since Wetmore’s death, the parishioners had been divided in their choice of minister, with some supporting Wetmore’s son. Consequently, they did not feel it proper to solicit the S.P.G.’s help. In September 1762, Ebenezer Punderson (1705–64), pastor of the Anglican mission at New Haven, preached at Rye and so impressed the parishioners that the vestrymen and churchwardens immediately invited him to take charge of the congregation. The parish was reconciled under Punderson’s leadership. PJ to Samuel Johnson, 28 Sept. 1762, UkLLPa (EJ: 13117); Vestry and Churchwardens of Rye to Solomon Palmer, 21 Feb. 1763, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: Letters, Series C.