Some Remains (hitherto unpublished) of Joseph Butler, LL.D. | Page 8

Consequence of such Application, was to
this Effect, that they highly approved of the pious and charitable design,
but disliked the particular Scheme of erecting a Chapel of Ease to the
Church of St. Philip and Jacob, as this would not answer the good
purposes his Lordship intended; and therefore proposed a Division of
the Parish, and the Erection of a new Parish and parish Church.
His observations on this Proposal were the following,--That the
intended Chapel in Kings Wood would not have been a Chapel of Ease
to Saint Philip and Jacob, but distinct from it, as the Incumbent would
have had nothing farther to do with the Chapel, or the income of it, but
barely to nominate the Curate, who from thence forward would have
been independent of him: However he thought the Scheme of erecting a
new Parish to be much preferable in itself, but was attended with more
difficulties; and therefore gave up his own Scheme with pleasure, if the
Parties concerned would join their Endeavours to Execute the other.
Upon this occasion He not only permitted, but ordered me to say to all
Persons, and in all Companies, that he had allotted a Benefaction of
400 pounds for that Use. And when some of the principal Parishioners
had fixed upon the Boundaries of their new intended Parish, and had
presented a kind of Petition or Memorial to him, To have those limits
specified in the intended Act of Parliament, they used the following
expressions. "Whereas it hath been made known unto Us,--That your
Lordship hath proposed to endeavour to obtain an Act of Parliament for
Dividing the said Parish of St. Philip and Jacob, and for erecting and
endowing a Church for the said Parishioners,--And that you have been
pleased to offer a large Subscription thereto, We therefore with
grateful Hearts humbly take this opportunity of tendering you our

hearty thanks for this your pious and charitable Intention, and being
very desirous that the same may be executed, beg leave to assure your
Lordship, that we will use our best Endeavours for promoting the same,
&c."
Which Petition or Memorial He ordered his Secretary to copy out on
two Pieces of Parchment. And then he, the Bishop, sent them to me to
carry them to the Parishioners to be signed; and directed me at the same
time to desire some of the parishioners to attend him at his Palace,
which was on a Sunday Evening; And in their and my Presence he
wrote the following words at the Bottom of one of the Petitions:
"I see no objection against the Division of the Parish above mentioned,
and hope the Gentlemen, whose Consent is necessary, will agree to it,
since the Inhabitants are the best judges, what is for their own
Convenience: and it is a matter of very little Concern to any but
them.--Jo. BRISTOL."
Likewise when the Fields, which lay contiguous to the intended Church,
were to be purchased, he went to see them, and then and there declared
in my hearing, and, as far as I can recollect, in the hearing of several
persons there present, viz. Messrs. King, Harrison, &c., That he would
purchase them for the use of the intended Church, as soon as ever Sir
Abraham Elton, the then Proprietor, could dispose of them.
Also He ordered me, at different times, to bring him a List or Account
of all the monies advanced, or engaged for: And I always put down his
name with 400 pounds opposite to it, which he approved of.
Moreover, in the preamble of the Act of Parliament, drawn up by Mr.
Pearson his Lordship's Secretary, under his Direction, there are these
words:
"And the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Durham (late of Bristol) for
promoting so good a design is disposed and ready to give the sum of
400 pounds towards the Endowment of the new intended Vicarage,
&c."

Which words in the first copy ran thus, "And the Right Rev. the Lord
Bishop of Bristol, &c.," He being then Bishop of the See of Bristol;
And I have heard his Lordship repeat those words in perusing the said
Copy.
Farther; upon the Coming of the present Lord Bishop of Bristol to this
See, He ordered me to draw up a short State of the Case relating to the
new intended Church, and the Several Expences necessary for
completing the Design, which Paper was afterwards shown to the
Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for building the said
Church, And they Requested, That it might be printed. But before it
was sent to the press, I transmitted a Copy to the late Lord Bishop of
Durham, then in London, to know if his Lordship approved of the
Publication of it, and whether He would please to