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cessful discharge of his ministerial duties, hapin the confidence and affection of his people, and honoured by the respect and veneration of all who were able to appreciate his worth, till it pleased the Master whom he served to suspend his labours, by bodily indisposition, from which he never recovered. During the last nine years of his life he was unable to perform any publick duty. In the month of August, 1765, he was called from his labours and sufferings on earth, we trust, to the enjoyment of that rest which remaineth for the people of God. The Rev. Mr. Caner, minister of King's chapel, who preached his funeral sermon, sums up his character in these words: "In short, our departed friend was a wise, a learned, and pious man, a good Christian, a faithful steward of the mysteries of God, a tried soldier and champion of Jesus Christ; who, in prospect of the recompense of reward that was set before him, despised the frowns and flatteries of the world, maintained his great Master's cause with undaunted courage and steadfast resolution, and is now, we trust, entered into the possession of the joy of his Lord."

During the illness of Dr. Cutler, bis desk was supplied by the services of the neighbouring clergy, particularly Messrs. Caner and Troutbeck, till the year 1759, when the Rev. James Greaton was employed as his assistant. In this capacity,

Mr. Greaton continued till the doctor's death. In December, following this event, a committee, appointed by the proprietors of the church for that purpose, addressed a letter to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, informing them of the decease of Dr. Cutler, their missionary, and requesting that the Rev. Mr. Greaton might be appointed to succeed him in their mission to this church. This request, after a delay of nearly two years, occasioned by misrepresentations communicated to the society, by a few disaffected members, was complied with. Mr. Greaton, however, not being so happy as to unite the congregation in his favour, and apprehending that his services could not be useful to the church, voluntarily resigned his charge, shortly after his appointment. This circumstance was communicated to the venerable society, in a letter, dated August 31, 1767.

At a meeting of the proprietors of the church, on Easter Monday, 1768, the wardens and vestry were empowered and instructed to make application to Mr. Mather Byles, at that time settled as a Congregational clergyman in New London, Connecticut, to become their minister. In answer to this communication, Mr. Byles writes, April 22, "Yesterday, with great difficulty and I obtained an honourable dismission from the first ecclesiastical society in this place. I

expense,

now look upon myself at full liberty to enter into a communion which I conscientiously prefer, and to accept of the invitation you have given me. I accordingly, this day, declare my acceptance; and most sincerely pray the great Head of the church, that our union may be for his glory and our mutual advantage, in time and to eternity."

On the 29th of the same month, he arrived in Boston, in order to proceed to London, to obtain Episcopal ordination. Having been furnished by the proprietors with the requisite testimonials to the bishop of London, and also with a letter to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, soliciting the continuance of their mission to this church in the person of Mr. Byles, on his admission to holy orders, he embarked for England in May following. Having obtained Episcopal orders, and an appointment as missionary to this church, he returned the latter part of September, the same year. What success attended his ministerial labours, I have found no means of ascertaining. It appears, by the records, that he continued his services till April, 1775, when he resigned his charge, for what reason does not appear, and accepted an invitation from the church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. From this time, the church was closed till August, 1778, when it was again supplied by the services of the Rev. Stephen Lewis. Mr. Lewis continued to

officiate till the year 1784, or 1785. At what particular time, or for what reason, he discontinued his services, the records do not inform us.

At a meeting of the proprietors, on Easter Monday, 1786, it was voted, that Mr. William Montague be employed, on trial, as lay reader, for six months. At the expiration of this term, the engagement was renewed. In June, 1787, Mr. Montague, at the request of the congregation, obtained holy orders, and continued his services, with some interruptions, till May, 1792, when he declined officiating any longer as their minister.

On the 29th of the same month, the Rev. William Walter, D. D., who for some time previous had officiated at the church in Cambridge, and occasionally in this church, was unanimously appointed its rector. This appointment was accepted by the doctor, and in this relation he closed his earthly labours. Dr. Walter was the son of the Rev. Nathaniel Walter, a Congregational clergyman in Roxbury. He was born in 1737; was educated at Harvard college, and received the honours of that university in 1756. He was ordained by the bishop of London; was appointed assistant minister of Trinity church, in this town, under the Rev. Mr. Hooper, at whose decease he succeeded to the rectorship, which he held until 1776, when, on account of the troubles of the revolution, he was induced for a season to leave the country.

In 1784, the honorary degree of doctor in divinity was conferred on him by King's college, Aberdeen. He returned to the United States in 1791.

On the 5th of December, 1800, in the 64th year of his age, he was called to give an account of his stewardship. The Rev. Dr. Parker, rector of Trinity church, preached his funeral sermon. His remains were deposited in the family tomb under this church, in which, during the last eight years of his ministry, he faithfully dispensed the word of life. On the day subsequent to his death, the following respectful notice of the event appeared in one of the publick newspapers. "Yesterday departed this life, in the 64th year of his age, after a short illness, sustained with the most exemplary resignation and fortitude, the Rev. William Walter, D. D., rector of Christ church, in this town. In the death of this truly valuable minister, religion mourns the loss of one of her most obedient children and brightest ornaments; the church, over which he presided, a zealous pastor, and her great glory; humanity, a firm friend; literature and science, a scholar and support; his disconsolate children, a fond, instructive, and dignified parent; his other relations and acquaintance, a most faithful counsellor; and the poor, an upright steward and benevolent almoner. So exemplary