Scotch Church, as Christ Church was known as the English Church; although there were two Scotch Churches, namely, this and the St. Peter Street one, known as Mr. Easton's Church."—Question: "Was there, between these two Scotch Churches, any recognized distinction as to which particular denomination or body each was more especially identified with, or so reputed?" Answer: "The St. Gabriel Street Church was considered the Church which was attended by the higher classes of the Presbyterian community, and Mr. Easton's Church by the tradesmen and mechanics of the Presbyterian faith."

But while the new Church in St. Peter street may have attracted a majority of the families of the class indicated by Mr. Leslie, it certainly did not embrace them all, as the records of the St. Gabriel Street Church show that a fair proportion of all ranks and conditions in the community attended its services. Nor was the latter without a considerable sprinkling of Presbyterians from the United States. Nahum Mower, Nahum Hall, Cornelius Peck, Romeo Wadsworth, Nathan Pierce, John Westover, Jonathan Hagar, J. W. Northup, Zabdiel Thayer, Joshua Henshaw, Jacob De Witt, Jabez De Witt, Samuel Hedge and Elisha Lyman are, among other names, manifestly of New England origin, to he found in connection with St. Gabriel Street Church, long after the erection of the Church in St. Peter Street. Yet, doubtless, Mr. Leslie's recollections fairly represented the general character of the two congregations respectively.

Mr. Easton's Ministry in St. Peter Street Church continued until 11th July 1824, when the congregation, by a majority,voted themselves in connection with the Church of Scotland, taking the name of St. Andrew's Church. The people dealt handsomely by him on his retirement at that date, affording him an annuity of £150, which he received up till his death, in 1851. His name must ever be associ

ated with the planting of the first offshoot from the parent tree in St. Gabriel Street. The plant grew vigorously until, at the date named above, it threw off a shoot in turn, out of which has grown up the stalwart American Presbyterian Church of to day. But the St. Andrew's and American congregations are entitled to have a chapter to themselves, as influential factors in the history of the first century of Presbyterianism in Montreal.

CHAPTER XII.

Right Rev. John Strachan, Bishop Of Toronto—A Candidate For St. Gabriel Street Church In 1802—His Letter Of Application— His birth, Education And Position In Scotland His Relations To The Presbyterian Church—His Subsequent Career In Canada.

The date 1803 was, we have seen, an important period in the history of the St. Gabriel Street Church, involving almost a crisis in its affairs, by reason of the defection of three of the elders and a good many members, owing to the choice of Rev. James Somerville as minister, by the majority of the congregation, rather than of Rev. Robert Forrest, whom they favoured. It is an interesting fact, in the light of subsequent events in Canada, that a third candidate offered himself for the position on that occasion, although the communication from him came too late for action to be taken on it, the faith of the congregation having been already pledged to Mr. Somerville. This was no less important a personage than Mr. John Strachan, afterwards the Right Reverend the Bishop of Toronto. The letter was dated “Kingston, 21st September, 1802," and was addressed to Thomas Blackwood, who became afterwards so prominent in church circles in Canada. After some preliminary remarks, Mr. Strachan proceeds to define his ecclesiastical position :—

"I am not licensed to preach, but that would not occasion more delay than taking orders, the latter of which cannot be obtained in the Church of Scotland before a settlement is procured; whereas both can be obtained at one and the same time, were we agreeing in other respects. The most respectable method would be to take orders in Scotland, were the delay at

all admissible. This would not take up above four months at furthest; and, as I take it for granted that the members of the church would prefer one educated and ordained at home to a foreigner, this does not appear an objection of great magnitude, especially when I recollect that I could be ready before they could procure another from Scotland. If it should, however, appear improper to leave the church vacant so long, orders, I suppose, may be procured in this country, in a short time. You will oblige me in communicating what of this letter you think proper, to the committee, should they fail in their present solicitation, and it appear to you likely that I may succeed. * * * You will oblige me much

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by writing, as soon as you can, concerning the church, as it is probable by this time, the matter is determined one way or other; and you will easily conceive that a state of suspense is not very agreeable. If the gentleman has accepted their proposals, it will be unnecessary to mention anything about me. If not, I can appear personally and procure the necessary qualifications, as soon as their determination concerning me shall be known. I ask your forgiveness for so much trouble, and am,

"My dear sir, &c.,

"JOHN STRACHAN."

In a letter to the same correspondent, of "13th October, 1802," he expressed regret at his want of success in obtaining a settlement in this city. The following are his words:

"Montreal affords the advantage of a Library, a luxury unattainable in this Province. The excellent society was a second inducement of much weight, and even the expectation of a jaunt across the Atlantic is to a Scotchman, you know, a matter of no small importance. My engagement here expires in winter, but that is no bar to an immediate change, was a proper situation casting up."

Mr. Blackwood, in furnishing these extracts from the originals in his possession, which he had carefully preserved along with many other letters from Rev. Dr. Strachan, to Rev. Dr. Harkness of Quebec, in a communication dated "Montreal, 22nd January, 1828," makes this "N. B.":

"Before the letter of 21st September, (1802) came to hand, the Rev. James Somervi le had been recommended from Quelle, and had preached to the congregation, who had approved of him; so that according to Mr. Strachan's suggestion, no public mention was made of him, it being ‘unne

cessary.' However, certain of his speeches and writings of late years, now renders it proper to bring to light a circumstance which would otherwise, probably, never have been known, except to some of his particular friends and acquaintances.

"T. B."

Mr. Blackwood took the further precaution of having a notarial copy made of these letters, in the office of Mr. Griffin, N. P., of this city, so that they should remain of record.

The fact of the existence of these letters was made known at a time when Dr. Strachan, then Archdeacon of York, was fulminating at all the other denominations of the country in general, and, in particular, at the Presbyterians claiming connection with the Church of Scotland, who were demanding recognition as of equal status, in Canada, with the members of the Church of England, and as possessing as valid rights in the income from the Clergy Reserves. He was not a little disconcerted by the discovery of this correspondence, on the part of Hon. William Morris and others, who were waging a vigorous warfare against him, in defence of the claims of the representatives of the Church of Scotland in the Canadas, as may be gathered from the following extract from a speech made by him in the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, on the 6th of March, 1828, by way of explanation and apology:

"But I am accused of being an apostate from the Kirk of Scotland. Were this true, I need not be ashamed of doing what Archbishops Tillotson and Seeker, and Bishop Butler, have done before me, but my case is exactly this: My mother belonged to the Belief denomination, and was peculiarly mild in her religious opinions. My father was attached to the Non-Jurants, and although he went occasionally with my mother, he was a frequent hearer of the late Bishop Skinner, to whose church he was in the habit of carrying me. He died when I was very young, but not before my mind was impressed in favor of Episcopacy, and imperious circumstances separated me from my mother, who, nevertheless, lived to bless me on taking orders in the Church of England. My religious principles were well