It is likely that the letter refers to the recent (July 8, 1843) ordination of Arthur Carey in New York. Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk of New York presided over the trial of Arthur Carey (June 30, 1843) on charges of Romanism for his involvement in the Oxford Movement. Carey was exonerated and subsequently ordained as a deacon.
Address panel to "Rt. Rev. Bishop Hopkins / Burlington / Ver't."
Written from Jubilee College, founded by Bishop Chase and located outside Peoria, Illinois.
Docketed on verso "Robinsnest, Ill / Aug. 17."
Part of a 12-volume collection of Autographs and Manuscripts of Bishops of The Protestant Episcopal Church (MA 364-375). The arrangement of the collection is by Bishops in the order of their consecration and chronological within their portion of the collection. Letters in this collection have been described individually in separate catalog records; see collection-level record for more information.
Thanking him for his concern over his "anxiety in behalf our beloved Church at this eventful Crisis. I get little sleep & my heart aches in the nightwatches even unto bursting. Little did the gentlemen in N. York think they were about when they admitted a Romanist into our Holy Church. With such as one, however, well dressed in his moral deportment, we have nothing to do except to drive him out as quick as we can & shut the door upon him & frown indignantly on those were so mistaken as to admit an Enemy in the disguise of a Friend."