Dallam, of Abington,) I sincerely beg yours and Dr. Magaw's pardon. I'll endeavor to amend. But, alas! I am a frail, weak creature. I will intrude no longer at present. One thing only I will claim from your candor-that if you have no thoughts of improving this proposal, you will burn this letter, and take no more notice of it (for it would be a pity to have us entirely alienated from each other, if we cannot unite in the manner my ardent wishes desire.) But if you will further negotiate the business, I will explain my mind still more fully to you on the probabilities of success. In the meantime permit me with great respect, to subscribe myself, Right Rev. sir, Your very humble servant in Christ, Richmond, April 24, 1791. The Right Rev. Father in God, Bishop White. You must excuse interlineations, &c. as I am just going into the country, and have no time to transcribe. Note. This letter scarcely needs any other remark than that it shows that Dr. Coke exceeded the authority given him by Mr. Wesley, and that Mr. Wesley disapproved of his pro. ceedings. But both it and the following one, show that Dr. Coke was very desirous of becoming a real Bishop, either in the Church in this country or of England. When a Methodist preacher accepts ordination in the Protestant Episcopal Church, every one understands it as an admission that his first ordination was invalid. Dr. Coke was willing to make this admission as to his Episcopal claims if he had any, and it is clear from the preceding letters, that he, and not Mr. Wesley, was the founder of Methodist Episcopacy. LETTER VI. Rev. Dr. Coke to Wm. Wilberforce, Esq. At Samuel Hague's, Esq. Dear and highly respected Sir, A subject which appears to me of great moment lies much upon my mind; and yet it is a subject of such a delicate nature, that I cannot venture to open my mind upon it to any one, of whose candor, piety, delicacy, and honor, I have not the highest opinion. Such a character I do indubitably esteem you, sir; and as such, I will run the risk of opening my whole heart to you upon the point. For at least twelve years, sir, the interests of our Indian empire have lain very near my heart. In several instances I have made attempts to open a way for missions in that country, and even for my going over there myself. But every thing proved abortive. The prominent desire of my soul, even from my infancy, (I may almost say,) has been to be useful. Even when I was a Deist for part of my time at Oxford, (what a miracle of grace!) usefulness was my most darling object. The Lord has been pleased to fix me for about thirty-seven years on a point of great usefulness. My influence in the large Wesleyan connexion, the introduction and superintendence of our missions in different parts of the globe, and the wide sphere opened to me for the preaching of the Gospel to almost innumerable large and attentive congregations, have opened to me a very extensive field for usefulness. And yet I could give up all for India. Could I but close my life in being the means of raising a spiritual Church in India, it would satisfy the utmost ambition of my soul here below. I am not so much wanted in our connexion at home as I once was. Our committee of privileges, as we term it, can watch over the interests of the body, in respect to laws, and government, as well in my absence as if I was with them. Our missionary committee in London can do the same in respect to missions; and my absence would only make them feel their duty more incumbent upon them-Auxiliary committees through the nation (which we have now in contemplation) will amply supply my place, in respect to raising money. There is nothing to influence me much against going to India, but my extensive sphere for preaching the Gospel. But this I do assure you, sir, sinks considerably in my calculation, in comparison of the high honor (if the Lord was to confer it upon me in His Providence and grace) of beginning or reviving a genuine work of religion in the immense regions of Asia. Impressed with these views, I wrote a letter about a fortnight ago to the Earl of Liverpool. I have either mislaid the copy of it, or destroyed it at the time, for fear of its falling into improper hands. After an introduction, drawn up in the most delicate manner in my power, I took notice of the observations made by Lord Castlereagh in the House of Commons, concern ing a religious establishment in India connected with the established church at home. I then simply opened my situation in the Wesleyan connexion, as I have stated it to you, sir, above. I enlarged on the earnest desire I had of closing my life in India, observing that if his Royal Highness the Prince Regent and the government should think proper to appoint me their Bishop in India, I should most cheerfully and most gratefully accept the offer. I am sorry I have lost the copy of the letter. In my letter to Lord Liverpool, I observed, that I should, in case of my appointment to the Episcopacy of India, return most fully and faithfully into the bosom of the established Church, and do every thing in my power to promote its interest, and would submit to all such restrictions in the fulfilment of my office, as the government and the bench of Bishops at home should think necessary-that my prime motive was to be useful to the Europeans in India; and that my second (though not the least) was to introduce the Christian religion among the Hindoos by the preaching of the Gospel, and perhaps also, by the establishment of schools. I have not, sir, received an answer. Did I think that the answer was withheld, because Lord Liverpool considered me as acting very improperly by making the request, I should take no further step in the business. This may be the case; but his Lordship's silence may arise from other motives: on the one hand, because he did not choose to send me an absolute refusal; and, on the other hand, because he did not see it proper, at least just now, to give me any encouragement. When I was in some doubt this morning whether I ought to take the liberty of writing to you, my mind became determined on my being informed about three hours ago, that in a letter received from you by Mr. Hey, you observed that the generality of the House of Commons were set against granting any thing of an imperative kind to the Dissenters or Methodists in favor of sending Missionaries to India. Probably I may err in respect to the exact words which you used. I am not conscious my dear respected sir, that the least degree of ambition influences me in this business. I possess a fortune of about 1200l. a year which is sufficient to bear my travelling expenses, and to enable me to make many charitable donations. I have lost two dear wives and am now a widower. Our leading friends through the connexion receive me and treat me with the utmost respect and hospitality. I am quite surrounded with friends who greatly love me; but India still cleaves to my heart. I sincerely believe that my strong inclination to spend the remainder of my life, in India originates in the Divine Will, whilst I am called upon to use the secondary means to obtain the end. I have formed an intimate acquaintance with Dr. Buchanan, and have written to him to inform him that I shall make him a visit within a few days, if it be convenient--From his house I intend Deo Volente, to return to Leeds for a day, and then to set off next week for London. The latter end of last November I visited him before, at Moat Hall, his place of residence, and a most pleasant visit it was to me, and also to him I have reason to think. He has been, since I saw him, drinking of the same bitter cup of which I have been drinking, by the loss of a beloved wife. I would just observe, sir, that a hot climate peculiarly agrees with me. I was never better in my life than in the West Indies, during the four visits I made to that archipelago, and should now prefer the torrid zone, as a climate, to any other part of the world. Indeed, I enjoy in this country, though sixty-five years of age, such an uninterrupted flow of health and strength as astonishes all my acquaintance. They commonly observe that they have perceived no difference in me for these last twenty years. I would observe, sir, as I did at the commencement of my letter, that I throw myself on your candor, piety, and honor. If I do not succeed in my views in India, and it were known among the preachers that I had been taking the steps that I am now taking, (though from a persuasion that I am in the Divine Will in so doing,) it might more or less affect my usefulness in the vineyard of my LORD, and that would very much afflict me. And yet, notwithstanding this, I cannot satisfy myself without making some advances in the business. I consider, sir, your brother-in-law, Mr. Stephen, to be a man of eminent worth. I have a very high esteem for him. I know that his yea is yea, and what he promises, he certainly will perform. Without some promise of confidence he might (if he were acquainted with the present business) mention it to Mr. with whom, I know, Mr. Stephen is acquainted. If Mr. was acquainted with the steps I am taking, he would, I am nearly sure, call immediately a meeting of our committee of privileges and the consequence might be unfavorable to my influence, and consequently to my usefulness among the Methodists. But my mind must be eased. I must venture this letter, and leave the whole to God, and under Him, sir, to you. I have reason to believe that Lord Eldon had, (indeed I am sure of it,) and probably now has an esteem for me.-Lord Sidmouth I do think loves me. Lord Castlereagh once expressed to Mr. Alexander Knox, then his private secretary in Ireland, his very high regard for me: since that time I have had one interview with his lordship in London. I have been favored on various occasions with public and private interviews with Lord Bathurst. I shall be glad to have your advice, whether I should write letters to those noblemen, particularly to the two first on the present subject; or whether I had not better sus. pend every thing, and have the pleasure of seeing you in London. I hope I shall have that honor. I shall be glad to receive three or four lines from you, (don't write unless you think it may be of some immediate importance,) signifying that I may wait on you immediately on my arrival in London. I have the honor, to be, with very high respect, My dear Sir, your very much obliged, T. COKE. |