Acceptance [or rejection?] of an honorary degree from the College of Rhode Island by “S. P.,” c. 1790s [not Samuel Pearce].

To the President & other Fellows of the College at Providence on Rhode Island.

Gentn

         Whatever Sentiments I entertain of my own unworthiness, it would be unnatural to deny, and disingenuous to conceal the pleasure which tokens of Respect afford me, especially when communicated by those whom men of science acknowledge Great, and men of piety embrace as Good. Suffer me then to assure you, that I am neither insensible of the honor you confer, nor destitute, of, at least, a desire to deceive them; Happy beyond measure shall I be, if by my exertions and Influence, I may assist the Interests of Religion, of Liberty, and of Science; but chiefly the Interests of True Religion, witht which Talents are Trifles, and existence is vain.

         That you Gentlemen, & those on whom you condescend to unite may be adorned with all the Graces of evangelic Piety in life enjoy its distinguish’d Consolations in death & reap its transcendent dignities in the world to come is the warm desire & sincere prayer of Gentn

                                             Yr humble Servt

                                                                     S. P.

Address: none

Postmark: none

Text: John Rippon Letters, British Library, Add. Ms. 25388, fol. 325.  This document is accompanied by the printed announcement of Richard “Citizen” Lee’s book of religious poems, Flowers from Sharon (London, 1794).  The “S. P.” in the above document remains unidentified, but the document is placed alphabetically between “Palmer” and “Price” in vol. 3 of Rippon's Letters. Given the precise nature of the alphabetized letters in these volumes, it seems improbably any one other than Rippon placed them in the order in which they now appear in the volumes.