are now building him a meetinghouse. In the same place, by giving now and then a lecture, you might, with equal ease, collect a congregation that would in a short time build you a church, if it should be agreeable to you. * * * And when you are well settled in a church of your own, your son may be qualified by years and experience to succeed you in the Academy; or if you rather choose to continue in the Academy, your son might probably be fixed in the church. * * * I acquainted the trustees that I would write to you, but could give them no dependence that you would be prevailed on to remove. They will, however, treat with no other till I have your answer. * * * There are some other things best treated of when we have the pleasure of seeing you. It begins now to be pleasant travelling. I wish you would conclude to visit us in the next month at furthest Whether the journey produce the effect we desire or not, it shall be no expense to you.
Dr. Peters wrote the same day to Dr. Johnson urging a visit and inviting him to his house:[1]
I am obliged to you for the honor you did me in your compliments to Mr. Franklin and Mr. Francis. * * * Though personally unknown to you, I must take the freedom, from a hint that such a journey would not be disagreeable to you, to give you an invitation to my house. Let me, good sir, have the pleasure of conversing with a gentleman whose character I have for a long time esteemed. * * * I can tell you beforehand, that can my friends or I find any expedient to engage your residence among us, I will leave nothing unattempted in the power of, Reverend Sir, your affectionate brother and humble servant, Richard Peters.
From Dr. Johnson's retention of his Stratford cure when he finally accepted the Presidency of King's College, we may see in this an obstacle in his way to coming to Philadelphia almost insuperable. Stratford was within easy stages of New York, where he would reside during College term. Franklin held out to him the hope of building up a new cure in Philadelphia, thus anticipating by ten years the formation of St. Peter's Church which grew out of Christ Church. But this would have been considered an intrusion, unless Dr. Jenney the Rector had made the way open for the effort; however, Dr. Peters was at that time in the Vestry and could have facilitated the assent of the Rector.
- ↑ Beardsley, 160.
