 He also acted as a representative of the Diocese of Philadelphia at the council, in place of Bishop Conwell.He was later appointed the coadjutor of the Diocese of Philadelphia, which would have elevated him to the episcopate, with the expectation that he would eventually become Bishop of Philadelphia, but he declined the position and the elevation.Instead, Matthews expressed his desire to step down as vicar apostolic, and his term came to an end in 1829.