he accepted the Presidency of William and Mary College. During his ministry the old church was enlarged and the present church built, and the congregation increased manifold. Of Dr. Wilmer I have already spoken in one of the articles on Williamsburg. I will only add that the congregation could not have been supplied with one better calculated to build it up, whether we consider his zeal, prudence, or ability for the work, in private or public. During his residence in Virginia he was always sent to the General Convention, and when there chosen to preside over its deliberations. With his pen he defended Protestantism against Romanism, and moderate views of the Church and Sacraments against certain extravagant ones which were at that early period finding their way among us. At the resignation of Mr. Wilmer, the Rev. William Jackson was chosen, but did not enter upon his duties until February, 1827. Most acceptably and usefully did he labour in this congregation, until his resignation in June, 1832, when he accepted a call to St. Stephen's Church, New York. He left St. Paul's and the diocese of Virginia with the deep regrets of all who knew his amiable character, heard his excellent sermons, and had opportunity to appreciate his great worth. The Rev. James T. Johnson was then elected, and entered upon his duties in the fall of 1833, and continues the minister until the present time, 1857.

I find one or two things on the records of this parish which are worthy of insertion. Bishop Madison was applied to to consecrate the first St. Paul's Church, but declined on account of collegiate duties, and requested Bishop Claggett to perform the office, which was done promptly and much to the gratification of all. An instance of liberality deserves also to be inserted. The first St. Paul's Church was bought on credit for the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars. In the year 1813, Mr. Daniel McLean, one of the vestry, paid the amount and made a deed to the vestry for it. The second church so exceeded the first in size and expense as to cost twenty-six thousand dollars.

CAMERON AND SHELBURNE PARISHES.

Cameron parish was cut off from Truro parish in 1749, and until 1769 included Shelburne parish. A few words will suffice for all the information I have to communicate concerning it. In the year 1758 the Rev. John Andrews was its minister; whether before or after this, or how long, is not known. Whether he was the minister who was subsequently the professor at Williamsburg, and after the war discontinued the ministry and moved to Philadelphia, is not

known. He was ordained in 1749, and the Rev. Archibald Avens, who probably succeeded him in Cameron parish, in 1767. In the years 1773, 1774, and 1776, the Rev. Spence Grayson was the minister; whether before or after, or how long, not known. We hear nothing of this parish after the Revolution. There was a church in it near the Gumspring, the traces of which are yet to be seen. There was, I think, another not far from the junction of the roads from Georgetown and Alexandria to Leesburg.

In addition to this brief notice of Cameron and Shelburne parishes, we are able to furnish the following facts concerning the latter, taken from an old vestry-book, or rather fragment of one, commencing in 1771 and ending in 1806. On the 10th of April, in the year 1771, the churchwardens-John Lewis and Thomas Shoreare directed to employ some minister to perform divine service once in every three months during pleasure, and that the preference be given to the Rev. Mr. Scott, and that the minister employed do preach at Leesburg and the other chapel (called the Mountain Chapel) in the parish, as also at some convenient place near the gap of the Short Hill, to be fixed on by the churchwardens. On the 27th of July of that year, at the meeting of the vestry, it appears that the Rev. Archibald Avens, who was no doubt the minister in the parish of Cameron in the year 1769, two years before, when Shelburne was cut off from it, and who was living in the part which was assigned to Cameron, had moved into Shelburne and claimed to be its minister. This the vestry resisted, and advertised for a minister in the Virginia Gazette. In the month of August of the same year we find the following entry:

"Mr. William Leigh, a student of William and Mary College, having been warmly recommended to this vestry by the president, masters, and professors of said college, as a young man of sound learning, unfeigned piety, and unexceptionable morals, we do hereby undertake and agree to receive him as minister of this parish, provided it should continue vacant till he returns from Great Britain in Holy Orders, unless he should by some misconduct forfeit the good opinion we entertain of him."

At a meeting in November of the same year, five thousand three hundred and twelve pounds of tobacco were leviel for the Rev. James Scott, who had been officiating for them. He was doubtless the minister of Prince William parish, of whom we have formerly written, and who had been engaged to visit this parish during the last six months.

In the next month we find the Rev. David Griffith elected and unanimously recommended to the Governor for induction, which

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was a striking proof of their confidence in him. Five thousandweight of tobacco were added to his salary in place of a glebe,— there being none at that time. Mr. Griffith continued their minister until May, 1776. During that year he engaged in the Revolutionary struggle as chaplain. There is no record of any meeting of the vestry after May the 22d, 1776, until April 27, 1779 In 1780 the vestry advertise for a minister. From 1776 to 1792 the vestry was unable to obtain a minister. Indeed, it was impossible to collect any thing for that purpose. The glebe which had been. purchased for Mr. Griffith was rented out during that time for a very small sum. In the year 1794 the Rev. Alexander Jones is minister for one year on a salary of fifty pounds. In 1796 the Rev. Alexander McFarlan becomes the minister, on the written condition that he may be removed at any time according to the canons of the Church of Virginia. He engaged to preach two Sundays at Leesburg, one at the Pot-House, and one at Middleburg. In the year 1801, Mr. McFarlan, in a letter to the vestry, resigns the parish and gives up the glebe, on the express condition that they choose the Rev. John Dunn as his successor. The vestry accept his resignation, adding that they have no regard to his conditions, which he had no right to make. They, however, elect Mr. Dunn, who was their worthy minister until his death in 1827. He was ordained Priest by Bishop Madison. Mr. Dunn was suddenly seized with paralysis while performing service in Middleburg, and died in Leesburg shortly after.

He

I was called to witness his happy, triumphant death, and after some time to make an improvement of both his life and death in a funeral discourse, which was published. Had I a copy of it, I would make use of some parts of it in order to convey to my readers the impressions then resting on my own mind and on that of the The text was, community concerning this excellent man. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." And seldom has it ever been so true of any of the frail children of men. was in all things a most sincere and upright man, "speaking the truth from his heart." He was a man of a most humble and contented mind. He lived on his glebe, and, though not much of a farmer, and a very easy master to the few servants belonging to himself or Mrs. Dunn, lived on its proceeds, receiving little or nothing else, until perhaps the last few years of his life. I can never forget his words or looks when, walking about his premises, he told me that he had nothing to wish for more; that he had corn enough in his granary to last until Christmas, and some hay, and

was out of debt; "and what do I want more?" he emphatically asked. Mr. Dunn was a man of sound views of religion and an honest. preacher of them. From the time of the first efforts for the revival of religion in Virginia until his death, he was a member of the Standing Committee of the diocese and punctual in his attendance, though living at some distance from the place where its meetings were held.

He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Jackson, who continued for three years to fill the place with ability and great acceptableThe Rev. Mr. Cutler then spent a year in the parish, and, at the end of that time, removed to his present charge in Brooklyn, New York.

ness.

The Rev. George Adie took charge of it in 1832, and continued in it until his death, in 1856,-being its faithful, laborious, and beloved minister for nearly twenty-four years,—and has been succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Adie, for many years connected with his charge at Leesburg regular though infrequent services at Upperville, Middleburg, and Aldie. He also acted as chaplain to the female school at Belmont, a few miles from Leesburg, kept by Miss Margaret Mercer. For a faithful and deeply-interesting account of this remarkable woman we must refer our readers to the little volume by Dr. Caspar Morris, of Philadelphia, than which there are few biographies more just, more edifying, or more pleasing. Miss Mercer still lives in the memories and affections of her numerous pupils, who are scattered over the land. For some years the Sunday afternoon services of Mr. Adie were held in the large hall at Belmont; but, as there were many poor in the neighbourhood, Miss Mercer, at her own expense, put up a neat little chapel a short distance from the house, for their benefit. I have spent some interesting seasons in this house of God, preaching and administering Confirmation. Miss Mercer was then and there to be seen in her highest glory and happiness, in the midst of her pupils and the poor. At her death, a tomb was erected in the churchyard by a general contribution from her pupils, with the following inscription:

"Sacred to the memory of Margaret Mercer, born July 1, 1791; died September 17, 1846. Her remains repose beneath the chancel of this church, built by her own self-denying labours. This monument is erected by her pupils, as a testimony of their admiration of her elevated Christian character, and of their gratitude for her invaluable instructions."

The history of the churches in Shelburne parish, as seen on the vestry-book, is amusing. For some years before the war, the

record states that various places were determined upon and ther abandoned, various plans agreed upon and then changed. Twice was it ordered that a church be built at a place belonging to George William Fairfax, once on the land of Colonel Tayloe, then at the fork of the road leading to Noland's Ferry; sometimes it was to be of wood, then of stone, sometimes of one size, then of another. I am unable to designate either of the places. The war came upon them while thus divided in sentiment, and settled the question in favour of none. It was not until the second war with England that an Episcopal church was begun in Leesburg, on its present site. Services were held by Mr. Dunn in the old Presbyterian church in Leesburg, and the free church in Middleburg.

A few words concerning the old glebe in this parish will not be without interest to the present generation. About the year 1772, a tract of land containing four hundred and sixty-five acres, on the North Fork of Goose Creek, was purchased, and, soon after, a house put upon it. When Mr. Dunn became minister, in 1801, an effort was made by the overseers of the poor to sell it, but it was effectually resisted at law. At the death of Mr. Dunn, in 1827, the overseers of the poor again proceeded to sell it. The vestry was divided in opinion as to the course to be pursued. Four of them-Dr. W. C. Selden, Dr. Henry Claggett, Mr. Fayette Ball, and George M. Chichester-were in favour of resisting it; the other eight thought it best to let it share the fate of all the others. It was accordingly sold. The purchaser lived in Maryland; and, of course, the matter might be brought before the Supreme Court as a last resort, should the courts of Virginia decide against the Church's claim. The minority of four, encouraged by the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of the Fairfax glebe, determined. to engage in a lawsuit for it. It was first brought in Winchester, and decided against the Church. It was then carried to the Court of Appeals, in Richmond, and, during its lingering progress there, three out of four of the vestrymen who engaged in it died, and the fourth was persuaded to withdraw it.

List of the Vestrymen of Shelburne Parish from the year 1771 to 1806.

William Smith, Thomas Lewis, James Hamilton, Francis Peyton, Josias Clapham, Levin Powell, John Lewis, Thomas Ousley, Thos. Shore, Thompson Mason, Stephen Donaldson, Craven Peyton, Colonel Wm. Bronaugh, Colonel John Alexander, Joshua Gore, Thos. Respass, Jos. Combs, Colonel Symon Triplett, Thomas Kenner, J. Daniel, Benjamin Grayson, Joseph Lane, Stephen Thompson Mason, Matthew Rust, Wilson C. Selden, Chas. Bennett, A. B. T. Mason, William Bronaugh, Jr., W. H. Powell, William