Which words in the first copy ran thus, “And the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Bristol, &c.,” He
being then Bishop of the See of Bristol; And I have heard his Lordship repeat those words in perusing the said Copy.
Farther; upon the Coming of the present Lord Bishop of Bristol to this See, He ordered me to draw up a short State of the Case relating to the new intended Church, and the Several Expences necessary for completing the Design, which Paper was afterwards shown to the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for building the said Church, And they Requested, That it might be printed. But before it was sent to the press, I transmitted a Copy to the late Lord Bishop of Durham, then in London, to know if his Lordship approved of the Publication of it, and whether He would please to make any alteration. His answer was, That he saw no need of Alterations, and thought that the Printing and Dispersing of it might be of service to the charity.
I then directed Mr. Oliver the Printer to call upon his Lordship for the Manuscript, which he did; and after printing the same, He carried fifty Copies to his Lordship for his own use; One of which Copies was sent to a pious and charitable lady, but whether by his Lordship, or his Secretary, I cannot say; The Issue of which was, A Benefaction of £200 sent to his Lordship, To be disposed of either for the building or the Endowment as his Lordship thought fit. Now in the printed paper above mentioned, there are the following remarkable expressions—
“The late Lord Bishop of Bristol, now of Durham, and the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Corporation of Bristol, have contributed large Sums for carrying the said good Purposes into Execution, &c.”
And upon all times and occasions, after he had Purchased the contiguous Grounds above mentioned of Sir Abraham Elton for the sum of £375, He used to say, That the purchase was for the use of the new Intended Church, and did wish, That some little adjoining Tenement might be found, to be purchased with the remaining Sum of £25 in order to make up the even money of £400.
Also when I waited on his Lordship last in London, I was desired by Mr. Willoughby, the treasurer for the said Church, to ask his Lordship, How he would please to have the rents of the purchased Grounds disposed of, as some rents were then become due, viz. whether to be applied towards the endowment—or the Building. And his answer was, That the rents, being the Interest of the money allotted for the Charity should be applied to the charity, as well as the Principal: But whether towards the Endowment or Building He was not yet determined: He believed, the Endowment: but would fix his answer, when he came down to Bristol.
And after his coming down, He several times said, that he would give orders concerning that affair.
He also sent to me one time to acquaint me, That he had a Benefaction put into his hands of £200 (the benefaction above mentioned), And was pleased
to desire my advice, Whether it should be applied towards the Endowment,—or the Building. My answer was, That as the Building was so far advanced, There was not much danger, but that Contributions might be raised to finish it,—Either by voluntary Subscriptions,—or a General collection round the city,—or by both methods together. But it would not be found so easy a matter to raise Contributions for the Endowment. And the Sums hitherto procured were very far from being a Competency for a Resident Minister. I then mentioned his Benefaction of £400, and the £400 from Q. Ann’s Bounty, as being a sum which might be depended on,—Also the benefaction of £200 in his Lordship’s Hands; which possibly might obtain £200 more from the Bounty;—So that the whole Sum, to be reckoned upon, even with the supposed addition of £200 from the Bounty, would only amount to £1200, which at 3 per cent., would make an Income of £36 a year.