This  indiscreet  and  undignified  interference
with  the  affairs  of  another  denomination,  was
condemned  by  all  impartial  persons :  and,  in-
deed, the  authors  of  the  letter  themselves  had
scarcely  dispatched  it,  before  they  became  sensi-
ble of  the  impropriety  of  their  own  conduct,  and
wished  it  recalled.  The  reception  which  it
met  with  from  the  Archbishop  was  such  as
might  have  been  expected.  No  answer  was  re-
turned ;  and  the  letter  soon  found  its  way  into
the  public  prints,  accompanied  with  such  com-
ments as  were  natural,  and  not  wholly  unmerit»
ed.  When  the  Synod  convened  in  Philadel-
phia the  next  year,  they  found  this  unfortunate
letter,  followed  with  severe  strictures,  printed  in
the  form  of  a  pamphlet,  and  circulating  very
generally  among  the  citizens,  under  the  title  of
"  The  Eighteen  Presbyterian  Ministers."  And
not  unfrequently,  when  walking  the  streets,  were


St.  Georges.  10?

their  ears  assailed  by  the  shrill  notes  of  the  haw-
kers of  small  books  and  pamphlets,  crying-,
"  Eighteen  Presbyterian  Ministers  for  a  groat."
These  circumstances  afforded  a  subject  for  much
merriment,  and  severe  remark,  not  only  on  the
part  of  Mr.  Me  Clenachans  episcopal  opponents ;
but  also  on  the  part  of  those  members  of  the  Sy-
nod who  were  still  denominated  Old-side-men  ;
and  who  had  declined  having  any  thing  to  do
with  the  letter  to  the  Archbishop.
