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188
The Autobiography of Archbishop Thomas Seeker
FOLIO 87 (1767)
I expressed to the Bishops: under the news from London [London
Chronicle, XXII (1767), p. 618] appeared the following: "Saturday last
being St. Stephen's day, eighteen of the Bishops dined with his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth."
Bp Moss: Charles Moss (1711-1802), a Cambridge graduate who,
through the patronage of Bishop Sherlock, moved rapidly through a
series of promotions. He was bishop of St. David's 1766-74 and then
translated to Bath and Wells in 1774. Moss was "much esteemed
through his diocese for his urbanity and simplicity of manners, and
reverenced for his piety and learning" (D.N.B.).
Bp of London: Richard Terrick.
Mr Whitefield: George Whitefield (1714-1770), who had earlier been a
colleague of John and Charles Wesley in the methodist movement, but
had separated from them through theological differences. Seeker's
S.RG. sermon of 1741 led to an acrimonious correspondence with
Whitefield (L.P.L. MS 1123, Pt. 1, fols. 24-38), whom the archbishop
never liked. In December 1764 Whitefield had petitioned the governor
of Georgia for a grant of 2,000 acres of land for the establishment of a
college at Bethesda. The petition had the approval of the Georgia
assembly and the governor submitted it to the British government,
promising his support. When Whitefield memorialized the King, asking
that a charter "upon the plan of the New Jersey College" be granted,
the project seemed likely to succeed. However, Seeker and Lord
Northington insisted that the charter require both an Anglican headship
and liturgy, and Whitefield finally dropped the project (D.A.B.).
Ld Dartmouth: William Legge (1731-1801), who had succeeded as
second earl in 1750. He had been president of the board of trade 1765-66
but did not hold office under the Grafton ministry. He seldom spoke in
the Lords, and was characterized as "entirely without any administrative
capacity." He was an amiable, pious man (in Cowper's phrase "one
who wears a coronet and prays") and through his strong attachment to
the methodists, he was nicknamed "The Psalm-singer." Dartmouth
college, incorporated in 1769, was named in his honor (D.N.B.).
FOLIO 89 (1767)
Dr Stennet: Samuel Stennet (1728-1795), son of Joseph Stennet, a wellknown
Baptist minister. After some years as his father's assistant in a