| (seq. 41)[fol. 1r]
No. 16. Dorchester, July 1st, 1796.
My dear friend,
In your last, (tho, by the way, I have
written since,) you inquire, "Are the days of your minis-
tration at Milton accomplished?" I am now fully prepared
to answer the question. And what do you think, it will be?
Will you suppose, that your raw inexperienced friend has unit-
ed that divided, tho respectable town? Or, on the other hand, do
you imagine him silenced by a large & formidable oppo-
sition? I can hardly tell you, wh is nearer the truth.
As you may hear an inperfect account of the affair, &, may
wish to ascertain the fact, I will make no other apolo-
gy for relating it. Sabbath before last the church met &
gave me a unanimous call, one only excepted, who stood
neuter. He had not objection against the man; but thought
it a very unsuitable time to settle a minister. Last Monday
the town met, & influenced by the arguments of the aforesaid
gentleman, who is a person of influence, one quarter of
them non-concurred with the vote of the church. My warm-
est friends then said, it was best to proceed no further, if they
could not be more united. They accordingly reelected their for-
mer committee for supplying the pulpit. I was first applied to
for continuing longer. It was represented, that the minority
sincerly wished it. Indeed, one of them took pains to
inform me, that, if I would tarry a little longer, he did
not doubt, they would soon be unanimous for settling me;
for he had conversed with them, & found them better pleas-
ed with me than with any one. &c. &c. &c. As for the pres-
ent, they would not settle the best man alive. &c. &c. &c.
But as passive, as I am, & as few as my pretentions to
independence are, I was not to be triffled with in this
manner. As soon, as I ascertained the proceedings of the
town, I very composedly took my hat, shook off the dust
| (seq. 41)No. 16. Dorchester, July 1st, 1796
My dear friend,
In your last, (tho, by the way, I have
written since,) you inquire, "Are the days of your minis-
tration at Milton accomplished?" I am now fully prepared
to answer the question. And what do you think, it will be?
Will you suppose, that your raw inexperienced friend has unit-
ed that divided respectable town? Or, on the other hand, do
you imagine him silenced by a large & formidable oppo-
sition? I can hardly tell you, {which} is nearer the truth.
As you may hear an inperfect account of the affair, &, may
wish to ascertain the fact, I will make no other apolo-
gy for relating it. Sabbath before last the church met &
gave me a unanimous call, one only excepted, who stood
neuter. He had not objection against the man; but thought
it a very unsuitable time to settle a minister. Last Monday
the town met, & influenced by the arguments of the aforesaid
gentleman, who is a person of influence, one quarter of
them non-concurred with the vote of the church. My warm-
est friends then said, it was best to proceed no further, if they
could not be more united. They accordingly reelected their for-
mer committee for supplying the pulpit. I was forst applied to
for continuing longer. It was represented, that the minority
sincerly wished it. Indeed, one of them took pains to
inform me, that, if I would tarry a little longer, he did
not doubt, they would soon be unanimous for settling me;
for he had conversed with them, & found them better pleas-
ed with me than with any one. &c. &c. &c. As for the pres-
ent, they would not settle the best man alive. &c. &c. &c.
But as passive, as I am, & as few as my pretentions to
independence are, I was not to be triffled with in this
manner. As soon, as I ascertained the proceedings of the
town, I very composedly took my hat, shook off the dust
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EN