Yesterday I deliverd a small Parcel of Books addressd to you, to the Care of Dr. Drown, a Student in     Providens in Rhode Island, who proposes soon to visit France before he returns to America. And I have taken the liberty to give him a Letter of Recommendation as he was very highly recommended to me by the President of the College        he was bred and of which he is now a Member.

The parcel Contains 3 Books, the first contains some Tracts against Slavery. And I have placed a paper of reference to a proposal of mine for the Book against Slavery in which is a proposal for of Gradually          of the Slaves in America.

The 2d Contains several Tracts on National Defence some of which I believe you may have alredy seen. But the 3d Tract in Congregational Courts is a new Work. (as I have been able for want of leisure to revise and finish the Index which it very much wants) tho’ I have alredy given away the greatest part of the Impression, may Copies of which have been sent to America and for to say the Truth my chief inducement to compile it was for the sake of the     American, to shew them the true foundation of the Common Law of the Ancestors and that it is essential Liberty and Justice and Common Right, security was well as for common security from foreign Enemies. It being realy the policy of the Commonwalth of Israel whilst under the Theocracy. 2 of the Tracts in this Book relate to the laying out new Settlements on uncultivated Lands a subject of importance Considering of the American States at present, for the security of their Frontiers. The mode of obtaining a multitude of useful Labourers, by a timely reservation of Common Law and of Cottage Lands round every Town is printd out in the said Tracts and should be con   with the proposal     mention for   gradual enfranchise of Slaves. And some general A    Land to    the extent of Landed Properties. The 2 Book also contains One    Tract on Episcopacy, as being necessary connectd with the Rights of a Christian Society and you and I may difer on some points of Religious Knowlege, yet I think we shall agree that true Religion, is the most effectual means forming useful Citizens and sincere patriots. I am thoroughly persuaded that no form of preservd sacred Doctrine and purity of Manners in a christian Society would be so effectual, as the primitive     form of Episcopal Government provident the freedom of Election to Ecclesiastical Offices, be restored and duly maintained.

I have been informed that several years ago you revised the Liturgy of the Church of England, with a view by some few alterations to promote the most general use of it. I have never yet been able to see a Copy of your proposed form. Our present public service is certainly upon the whole too long as it is commonly used: so that a prudent revision of it by the common consent of the Members of the Episcopal Church in America might be very advantageous. Tho for my own part I believe that those additions of a single Rubrick from the Gospel, woud be amply sufficient for the Correction of our Liturgy. The Officiating Minister, to avoid all useless repetitions and in reading the Service. For instance when the Liturgy proper has been read in one of the Offices it may very well be omitted in all the others and if the Collect 1 Day be read in the first Office, it ought to be omittd in the 2d Service at the Communion Table. In like manner every other Prayer that contains nearly the same petition as any of those that have already been read in the first Office, ought to be omitted in the subsequent Offices and it will require a careful previous perusal of the whole Liturgy, with    Notes and references to enable Officiating Clergyman to make these omissions with Judgment and propriety, that both Clergy and Congregation will   great benefit. We need no other     to enforce this than the injunction of our Lord himself “When you pray, use not vain repetitions as the Heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them”:! This length of the Repetitions and length of our however are the only     have crept in unawares and without design, a fault which seems originally intended to separate times of Assembling by using offices in immediate succession but in every other respect our English Liturgy is a most excellent form both for expression of the    piety and for general edification   in       after the most careful examination I am thoroughly convinced that it is strictly conformable to the Truth once delivered to the Saints, which we ought to “hold fast”