“Dr. Channing,
of Boston, in New England, is equally distinguished in his own country by the
fervour and eloquence of his preaching, and the primitive virtues of his life.
I take the liberty of introducing him to you, because you will feel yourself in
accord with him upon many of the most important points, and because I am very
desirous that he should see and converse with one who holds as high a rank in
Old England as he does in America. I have learnt from him with some surprise
that, under the name of Unitarianism, Arianism is the prevailing doctrine in
the Massachusetts’ states, and that he himself is of that persuasion. But
I have told him that he will find himself much more in sympathy with our clergy
than with the Dissenters, and this he already apprehends. He is in opulent
| 120 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 48. |
“I need say no more of him; his conversation and the truly Christian temper of his mind, notwithstanding the doctrinal errors which he holds, will sufficiently recommend him. But I feel the necessity of apologising for the liberty which I am taking with you. You will, I trust, impute it to the true cause, and not be offended, if, in excuse for it, I say to you that having had the good fortune once to hear you in the pulpit, and having since perused with the greatest satisfaction the series of your discourses, I earnestly wish that this excellent American should receive the most favourable impressions of the English Church. When I spoke of you to him last night, and put your volume into his hands, I did not know whether you were in this or in a better world. To-day, by mere accident, I learn that you have happily resumed your labours, and yielding to the first impulse I offered this introduction to Dr. Channing with as much pleasure as he manifested at receiving it.
“When you visit this your native county, you would gratify me greatly by giving me an opportunity of personally repeating an apology for this intrusion, and offering you such hospitality as my means afford.
