I received the Books you were so kind as to send me by Mr. Drown. Please to accept my hearty Thanks. Your Writings, which always have some Public Good for their Object, I always read with Pleasure. I am perfectly of your Opinion with respect to the salutary Law of Gavelkind, and hope it may in time be establish’d throughout America. In Six of the States already, the Lands of Intestates are divided equally among the Children if all Girls; but there is a double Share given to the eldest Son, for which I see no more Reason than in giving such Share to the eldest Daughter; I think there should be no Distinction. Since my being last in France I have seen several of our eldest Sons, spending idly their Fortunes by residing in Europe; and neglecting their own Country; these are from the Southern States. The northern young Men stay at home and are industrious useful Citizens, the more equal Division of their Fathers Fortune not enabling them to ramble and spend their Shares abroad, which is so much the better for their Country.

I like your Piece on the Election of Bishops. There is a Fact in Hollinshead’s Chronicle, the latter Part relating to Scotland, which shows, if my Memory does not deceive me, that the first Bishop in that Country was elected by the Clergy: I mention’d in a Letter to two young Men lately who ask’d my Advice about obtaining Ordination, which has been deny’d them by the Bishops in England, unless they would take the Oath of Allegiance to the King, &c. and I imagine that unless a Bishop is soon sent over, with a Power to consecrate others, so that we may have no future Occasion of applying to England for Ordination, we may think it right, after reading your Piece, to elect also.

The Liturgy you mention, was an Abridgement of the Prayers made by a noble Lord of my Acquaintance, who requested me to assist him by taking the rest of the Book, viz. the Catechism and the reading and singing Psalms. These I abridg’d, by retaining of the Catechism only the two Questions, What is your Duty to God? What is your Duty to your Neighbour? with their Answers. The Psalms were much contracted by leaving out the Repetitions (of which I found more than I could have imagined) and the Imprecations, which appear’d not to suit well the Christian Doctrine of Forgiveness of Injuries, and doing good to Enemies. The Book was printed for Wilkie in Paul’s Churchyard, but never much notic’d. Some were given away, very few sold, and I suppose the Bulk became Waste Paper. In the Prayers so much was retrench’d that Approbation would hardly be expected; but I think with you, a moderate Abridgement might not only be useful but generally acceptable.

I am now on the Point of Departing for America, where I shall be glad occasionally to hear from you and of your Welfare, being with sincere and great Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant