John Adams himself, a leader of the former opposition, now, as American minister in London, did his best to secure for Bishops-elect White and Provoost the coveted consecration from English bishops.

The only hindrance now to this long-desired boon was in the supercilious dilatoriness of the English prelates and of the civil authorities to whom they were subordinate.

They were evidently in a sulky temper over the overwhelming defeat of the British arms.

If it had been in their power to blockade effectively the channels of sacramental grace, there is no sign that they would have consented to the American petition.
Happily there were other courses open.1.There was the recourse to presbyterial ordination, an expedient sanctioned, when necessary, by the authority of "the judicious Hooker," and actually recommended, if the case should require, by the Rev.William White, soon to be consecrated as one of the first American bishops.2.Already for more than a half-century the Moravian episcopate had been present and most apostolically active in America.3.The Lutheran Episcopal churches of Denmark and Sweden were fully competent and known to be not unwilling to confer the episcopal succession on the American candidates.4.

There were the Scotch nonjuring bishops, outlawed for political reasons from communion with the English church, who were tending their "persecuted remnant" of a flock in Scotland.