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64
The Autobiography of Archbishop Thomas Seeker
FOLIO 86 Material in the Popish Pamphlet, he acquainted me that
1767 his private Affairs did not allow him Leisure to proceed
further. I then sent to desire, that he would return so much
of my Papers as he had not used; which he did, though with Expressions
of Regret, because they might have contributed to an additional Letter
or Letters, in case the publick should call for a second Edition of his
Performance: which I believe was well received. About the same time he
wrote to desire my Assistance towards his getting the Place of Professor
of Modern History at Oxford, in Case of Mr Spences Death, which was
expected. I answered him very truly, that I was unable to serve Him, or
any Person, by any application at Court, in relation to such matters.
In the Summer, or Autumn, of 1 {6}767, came out another very bold
Popish Pamphlet, intitled, an Apology for the Roman Catholicks of
Great Britain & Ireland. No body seemed disposed to answer it: little
Notice was taken of it: the Ministry expressed no Indignation against it:
I had no Influence with them. So I said {best leave} not much about it.
My Return to the forementioned Inquiry about Papists was made,
several Days before the Session of Parliament.
FOLIO 87 Most of the Bishops sent theirs to Lord Shelburne soon
1767 after, But he did not lay them before the House, till the
Day, when they adjourned till after Christmass. Lord
Radnor mentioned nothing more to me concerning his Intention of
moving for this Inquiry, than that he thought a like one ought to be
made 7 or 10 Years afterwards, & the Results compared. On Dec. 26 I
expressed to the Bishops my Hope that if his Lordship had any Motions
to make in Consequence of the Returns, he would previously communicate
them to us. And Bp Moss of St Davids, allied to him by Marriage,
assured us, that he would. *)[But the Earl himself told the Bp of London
afterwds that he had only promised to acquaint the Bishops beforehand
on what Day he shd make his Motions, not what they shd be. And soon
after, he said the D. of Grafton, first Lord of the Treasury, had advised
him to make no Motion on this Subject in the present Session. Nor did
he, nor any one else.] The Lists of Papists in my Diocese, amounted to
271 men, women & children.
Sevl years ago Dr S. Chandler told me, that Mr Whitefield intended
to turn his Orphanhouse of Georgia into a College: on which Dr
Chandler told him, that a minister of the Church of England must be at
the Head of it; to which Mr Whitefield agreed. In 1765 or 1766 Ld
Dartmouth spoke to me on this Subject. I had in the mean time been
apprised by Dr Smith of Philadelphia, that Mr Whitefields Design was
to appoint a Number of Persons by Name for the Governors &
Managers of his College, who shd fill up Vacancies as they happend, &
that thus it wd probably become a Methodist College.