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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/lettertobishopofOOcass 
 
A' 
 
 LETTER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 BISHOP of LONDON. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A CHARGE of FORNICATION 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 EDWARD, LORD THURLOW, 
 
 Lord High Chancellor of England. 
 
 WITH 
 
 His LORDSHIP's dt btne efft DEFENCE. 
 
 By CASSANDRA. 
 
 Ta fM? iroKuiy.a u&i tofM\<; tain/ oiri) exaj-foj txxAouri ovvupokoynaav tttpiaBi- 
 la^MEyoij la o~t v-aha. xcttlx o'txaaoc <t>Y2EI ecI^.—— PLATO. 
 
 L N D Ni 
 
 Piinted for the Author; and Sold by Ridgway, oppoiite 
 
 Sackville-Street, Piccadilly ; and by all the Bookfcllers 
 
 id die Kingdom. 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 5A 
 
 A 
 
 LETTER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 BISHOP of LONDON. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 rejoice that I have the Honor of foliating your Lordfhip's 
 Attention to a Bufinefs of final Moment to the Morals of 
 the People, and to the Authority of our molt Holy Church. 
 
 The venerable Bench, of which your Lordfhip is fo bright 
 an Ornament, are undefervedly expofed to the Obloquy and 
 Contempt of the Multitude, who triumphantly declare you 
 patronize Iniquity, and permit the Speaker of the Houfe of 
 Lords to lead an abandoned, profligate Life. 
 
 I urge in Reply, that your Lordfhips are ab drafted from the 
 World by devotional Habiis, that you commit the moral Eco- 
 nomy of the Diocefs to Men of fober and difcreet Report, 
 and that it is a Libel on the Protefiant Religion to allege your 
 Knowlege of the Chancellor's Immorality. 
 
 But I am anxious, my Lord, to vindicate more effeftuallv 
 the Dignity of your facied Order, to filence the Clamors of 
 the infidel World, and to confirm the vibrating Affections of 
 the Faithful. And I am happy to afford vour Lordfhips an 
 Opportunity of manifefting your Indignation at a Sin, which 
 you are profanely fufpefteq to countenance, by pre fen ting the 
 
 B 2 Right 
 
 5-45368 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 Right Honourable Edward, Lord THURLOW, Lord Hig'n 
 Chancellor of England, for Fornication with MARY ED- 
 MONDS, and I do pray your Lordfhip to adjudge fuch a 
 Penance, as in your Wifdom fhall be deemed molt conducive 
 to the Good of the f aid Edward's Soul. 
 
 Let us ufe the utmofl Circumfpeclion, my Lord, that the 
 noble Delinquent may have no Plea either to the Form, or 
 the SubfUnce of our Suit. In the Ordo Judiaorum, Til: 139, 
 de Forma profequendi per Inquifitionem, it is exprefsly de- 
 clared, Si ad aures Epifcopi, five FAMA PUBLIC A referente, 
 five ex relatione Perfonarum Fide dignarum pervenerit, quen- 
 quam fuce Dicecefios aliquod Crimen notorium commififfe 
 (quamvis tale Crimen non merit per Inquifitores detec'tum aut 
 praefentatum) Epifcopus POTEST CITARI mandare delia- 
 quentem ad comparendum perfonaliter coram eo in Loco folito 
 Judicially certis Articulis Animas fuae Salutem concernentibus 
 & fibi objiciendis refponfururm 
 
 We are here armed with fufhcient Authority to commence 
 the Procefs. I have but one Remaik, my Lord, on the Word 
 Perfonarum — It is in the plural Number. — before you difpatch 
 your Letter vrijjive. to his Lordfhip, it will be proper to obtain 
 additional Tefrimony : and in Purfuance of this Idea, 1 refer 
 you to the Right Honourable Sir LLOYD KENYON, Bart. 
 Mailer of the Rolls. His Evidence will corroborate public 
 Report, and give a legal Qualification to the Charge. 
 
 Suppofe his Lordfhip fhould join us in IlTue of FacT, avail 
 himfelf of his Privilege, and remove the Libel, by Writ of 
 certiorari, from the Confiltory to the Stewards Court ? By the 
 eleventh of the Conftitutions of Clarendon, you are privileged, 
 as Lords of Parliament, to fit in Judgment qucufque pervematur 
 ad Diminutionem Membrorum vel ad A'lortem, but I hazard a 
 Praediclion, my Lord, that no Bilhop will henceforward be 
 fummoned to a Steward's Court. 
 
 In the Event of Conviction our noble Tranfgreffor muff 
 fuhmit to the Cenfures of the Church, and it is no fmall 
 Confolation, that the Virtues of the Sovereign will re- 
 fift every Application for a Pardon ; but I fear the Fail will 
 not be afcertained. The Lord High Steward, indeed, is 
 bound to interpret the Laws of the prcper Forum, and the 
 temporal Lords are as well fkilled in practical Fornication, as 
 any Men in the World, yet the Proof of the Fac\. the Onus 
 
 indagandi 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 inda<randi is fo peculiarly ecclefiaflic, that we are afTured in 
 the Commentaries, no other Court will interfere, the Evidence 
 required by clerical Law being " too immodcjl for a Lay Tri- 
 bunal. 
 
 Were his Lordfhip to commit himfelf to the Decifion of a 
 full Parliament, I have no Doubt but the Eloquence and In- 
 fpiration of the fpiritual Lords would eftablifh his Guilt. At 
 the fame Time the uncandid Conclufion in the above PafFage 
 would lofe its Force ; becaufe, in popular Acceptation, a 
 Jury of Matrons and a Btnch of BifJwps are convertible 
 Terms. 
 
 Suppofe the illuftrious Cafuift fhould admit the Fa&, but 
 plead to its Quantity of moral Turpitude ? Will it not be pru- 
 dent, my Lord, to anticipate, (de bene rjje) the Outlines of 
 his Defence, that we may be prepared to repel his Cenfure?, 
 and confute his Sophillry ? 
 
 DEFENCE. 
 
 3 3 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 The DEFENCE. 
 
 T N Compliance with the Mandate of the Bifhop of London, 
 Ji. I am this Day to fhew Caufe why Judgment of Excom- 
 munication ihouid not be palled upon Mrs. Edmonds and my- 
 felf for the " Sin of Fornication.'' 
 
 It is with me a Maxim, mv Lord Judge, of the higheil Efti- 
 mation, that, every Procef's inllituted by the executive Power 
 have fome determinate Object, of Redrefs, and purfue fome 
 Action or Courfe of Conduct, which in legitimate Application 
 to a Law of NATURE, to a Law of REVELATION, or to 
 a Law of the REALM, conftitutes a Crime. 
 
 I admit the Cohabitation ftated in the Libel, and I chear- 
 fu'Hy join IfTue on the Quantity of the Offence. 
 
 The Commerce of the Sexes, my Lord Judge, is founded 
 on a Law of NATURE. No Rule of civil Life can fuper- 
 fede it's Authority. It's final Caufe is the Propogation and 
 Maintenance of the Species. My Obedience in this Refpeft 
 is not in Oueftion. 
 
 Have I violated any Law of REVELATION ? Shew me 
 that Law. The High Prieft of Nature bleft our original Pa- 
 rents, and commanded them to multiply and replenifh the 
 Earth. Have I been inattentive to this divine Command ? 
 The revealed Law, in this Inftance, is founded on the Law 
 of Nature; and Obedience to the One, is Evidence of Com- 
 pliance with the Other. 
 
 I proceed to the Laws of the REALM, It is not my De- 
 fign to palliate my Conduct., my Lord, or extenuate my Guilt. 
 I am, fl acknowlege) in negative Oppofition to a civil Infti- 
 tiite. I ehofe to decline the Services of the Prieft, and to 
 (tibia it to the Penalty of the Precept — my Wife is deemed a 
 Whore, and my Children are Baflards. 
 
 The 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 The Views and Sentiments, indeed, which dictated thofe In- 
 vectives, I pity and defpife. But they are the Alternative of 
 the Statute ; and I now demand, by what Analogy of Law or 
 Equity am I now arraigned for the fame Offence ? The Sal- 
 vation of the Soul is a pious Plea, but unfortunately the Im- 
 pofition is fo very flagrant, it has loft all it's Credit. Even 
 under the Torpor and Supefaclion of the Papal Hierarchy, 
 it was fhrewdly fufpefted, that the Fees of the Pnefthood 
 were the Object of the Penance. 
 
 A pofitive Injunction has Dominion over the Confcience, as 
 far as it is declaratory of a Law of Nature, or a Law of Reve- 
 lation. Now give me Leave to afk, whence does our Mar- 
 riage Ceremonv derive it's Importance ? Is it declaratory of 
 a Principle of Nature ? No. The attachments of Nature a*e 
 
 are folemnized by Confummation. Is it a Tranfcript horn 
 
 Holy Scripture ? No. The Benediftion pronounced on our 
 common Anceflors is final. It's Influence will remain till the 
 Current of Time is ingulphed in Eternity. Have the Good- 
 nefs, my Lord Judge, to inform me how the Nuptials of 
 Abraham and Haiah, Peter and Jofeph, Edwin and Alfred 
 were celebrated ? I admit that matrimonial Ceremonies are 
 not forbidden in holy Writ, but I contend they are not en- 
 joined ; and where there is no Law, on the Authority of St. 
 Paul, there is no Tranfgreffion. In fine, whatever be the 
 Event of the Controverfy, I (hall be confoled with the Re- 
 flection, that I enjoy the united Suffrages of Antiquitv, and a 
 flattering Coincidence of Sentiment with every modern Ci- 
 vilian of Name. 
 
 I afk no Indulgence, my Lord Judge, for what I have hither- 
 to advanced. It is confonant with the plained Dictates of 
 Reafon and Law, it carries it's own Evidence with it, and 
 can give no reafonable Offence to any Man. If my fubfe- 
 quent Remarks have an Afpeft lefs favorable to the Honor 
 and Interefis of Prelacy, I muft entreat your Lordfhip to ac- 
 cept my Apology. My Situation is critical. It would be un- 
 pardonable if I did not avail myfelf of every Argument, 
 which offers to my View. 
 
 The Clergy contend for the Privilege of administering cer- 
 tain Rights antecedently to Union. I am unable to fee the 
 Divinity, or the Policy of the Claim. I hold the Ritual of a 
 Chriftian Pontiff, and the Aufpices of an heathen Augur, in 
 equal Estimation. I am not an Advocate for promifcuous 
 
 Inter- 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 Intercouife: I abhor the Idea. Nor ami in Opinion with 
 the Poet that 
 
 Love, fret as Air, at Sight of human Ties, 
 Spreads his light Wings and in a Moment Jlies* 
 
 I rather concur with Montefquieu, a " legal Engagement", is 
 rteceffary to the Order and Well-being of Society. The civil 
 Condition of Man would degenerate into a State of Anarchv 
 and Ruin, if a licentious Congrefs were authorized by Law. 
 
 In early Life, I offered my Hand to Mifs Edmonds — She 
 did me the Honor to accept it. I had chearfully led her to 
 
 the Altar to record my Attachment if 
 
 will your Lordfhip grant me Forgivenefs ? if the Ceremony 
 were not INDECENT and ABSURD. The Woman who 
 hears it without Terror and Confufion is — DEBAUCHED. 
 
 If the Clergy are fo very Poor, that the Fees annexed to 
 this Service are neceffary to their Sublicence, allow them a 
 more generous Stipend. Do not compel them to refort to fuch 
 dilhonorable Expedients for Support. Suffer them no longer 
 to arrogate a concurrent Power with Deity. Their Permiflion 
 is not requifite to fan&ify his Commands, and their Infiruc- 
 tions as to the Agenda of the Marriage Bed are abfurd. 
 If Contributions muft be impofed' on wedded Love, the 
 Exigencies of the State claim our firft Regard. In a Woid, 
 the prefent is an Age of Light and Information. In the gen- 
 tleft Terms, the Syftem of Power affumed by the Priellhood 
 is but of apocryphal Authority. Every Relic of the pontifical 
 Dynafty is in Danger of univerfal Annihilation. May fome 
 gieat and fuccefsful Effort accelerate its Fate, and complete 
 the Triumphs of this Land of Freedom. 
 
 The patient Acquifcence of the People in the Tyranny and 
 Superftsiion, which continue to tarnifh the Glory ot our na- 
 tional Character, muft be attributed to the Opinion which ob- 
 tains of the Immutability of our Church Eftablifhment : an 
 Opinion which the Clergy feduloully inculcate in the lower 
 Orders of Life : but which no Bifhop in Convocation or Par- 
 liament will have the Temerity to affert : if he did, I would 
 impeach that Bifhop, and expofe him to the Pains and Penal- 
 
 * Pope 
 
 ties 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 ties of a praemunire* The ecclefiaftical Polity of this King- 
 dom is a civil Arrangement : the Triune Voice of the Confuta- 
 tion can amend, or diflolve it in a Moment. 
 
 Some of the temporal Lords may be vaftly delighted with 
 an Opportunity to treat me as an Heretic, and deliver me over 
 to the Devil for my political Offences. But let noble Lords 
 look to themfelves. The immediate Effe£f. of my Defeat is 
 trifling, but the remote and incidental Confequences will be 
 important and alarming. Not a Peer who has broken his 
 Marriage Vow, or declined the Benediction of the Prieft, 
 (hall efcape my juft Refentments. Noble Lords may hope to 
 
 conciliate a Reciprocity of Protection and Good-will 
 
 but I am apprized of the Powers affigned me by the Confti- 
 
 tution. The Bifhop, who dares to interfere by VVrit of 
 
 Prohibition, or collufiveiy mitigate the accuftomed Penance, 
 I will profeciu.e by Attachment, and transfer his Mitre to a 
 worthier Brow. 
 
 But I ought, my Lord Judge, to apologize for my Sufpi- 
 cions. They are groundlefs. By the full and effectual Co- 
 operation of the Peerage, I hope to fubvert a Defpotifm too 
 grievous to be endured. 
 
 A n i ; 
 
 r 
 
( io ) 
 
 Animadversions on the Defence. 
 
 THIS Defence being yet in Polentia, we are at Leifure, 
 my Lord, to eflimate its Force and defeat its Operations. 
 The noble Delinquent has no Idea of your Lordfhip's intimate 
 Alliance with a Prophetejs; he will therefore be conlounded 
 beyond Meafure at your happy Selection of Argument, and 
 your mallei ly Attack on his bell fupported Tenets. I advife 
 the Method of Quotation and Scholia as preferable to all others 
 in important Invefligation. 
 
 LAW of NATURE) The noble Lord fhtfes a Cafe in Quan- 
 tity, and endeavours to prove, that a Courfe of Conduct in Con- 
 formity to the natural and revealed Law of the Deity is deltitute 
 of moral Turpitude. Now the Proportion of the Species is 
 fo confident with the pureft Dictates of NATURE, that your 
 Lordfhip would inftantly fufpecl me of Prevarication* were 1 
 to counfel you to commence Hoflilities on fuch untenable 
 Ground. The noble Lord might produce two amiable Daugh- 
 ters, educated fuitably to his Rank, in Proof of Obedience, but 
 by what Mode of Argument could we demonflrate his Sin ? 
 
 LAW of REVELATION.) With a Man of lefs Sagacity 
 than the noble Cafuift, we might fiiltain a fuccefsful Combat 
 on the negative Approbation of Holy Writ, but alas ! his 
 Lordfhip already occupies that important Poft the Cere- 
 mony, he urges, is not enjoined — confequently it is not Chrif- 
 
 tian Lazv and, where there is no Law, by fair Induction, 
 
 there is no Tranfgrelfion. Our Forces are here expofed to 
 the Fire of their own Batteries. It will be 'in vain to reply, 
 the Ceremony is of God, becaufe it is not forbidden ; unlefs 
 we can prevail on his Lordfhip to rank the Decretals of a 
 Pope with the credenda of a Chriftian. 
 
 Prevaricator eft, qui fe Inimicum fingit, cum fit Amicus. 
 
 Cicero in Verr. 
 
 It 
 
( 11 ) 
 
 It is highly entertaining to lee the Perplexity of the good 
 old Fathers of the Church, with Regard to connubial Enjoy- 
 ment in a State ol Innocence. St. Auflin propofes the follow- 
 ing The(is. An eliam in Paradi/b gaierandum fuijfet, fi nemo 
 peocaffet, vtlutium contra Actum Litndinis pugnatui a ilhc JwJJd 
 Traditio Caftitatisf* When we Tip a Cup ot Tea in private, 
 we will give ihe Queftion an ample Difcuffion. It will be an 
 Amuferaent to your Lordfhip. We are both in Petticoats, you 
 know, and to the pure all Things are pure. Meanwhile I 
 will only obferve, that the venerable Saint, by a moll ingen- 
 ious Courfe of Argument, is involved in a Labarynth of Opin- 
 ion, and fairly reduced to a Dilemma of his own creating. 
 
 The Propogation of the Species is certainly compatible 
 with the pureft and moll exalted Condition of a Creature, or 
 the Doctrine of our common Anceflor's Revolt is problemati- 
 cal. But in either Cafe, Ceremony is out of the O/te/hon. I late- 
 ly attempted to divine the Sentiments ol the Royal Cafuift, as 
 to the Fall of Man, but I found he had no Opinion at prefent 
 on the Subject. But I prophecy, if we touch upon this Topic 
 Court, his Lordfhip will dilrcgard tranfmitted Creeds, and be- 
 come the Partisan of common Sen/e. You and I, my Lord, are 
 ftrictly orthodox in all our Opinions, not only from Conviction, 
 but from VOW: for our " Godmothers promifed and vowed, 
 three Things in our Name'' Fii it, that we lliould renounce 
 the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World — which your 
 Lordfhip did when vou became a Bifhop. Secondly, that we 
 fhould fubdue the linful Delires of the Flc-fli — Htigh-Ho ! 
 Thirdly, that we fhould believe all the Articles of the Church of 
 England — theChri/lian Faith is the Phraze in the Praver-Book 
 — but we all know, that the Chrifiiart Faith and the Doctrines of 
 the Church reciprocate in the Confequence of Exiftence. But I 
 much queltion it the'Chancellor was ever baptized: and I am per- 
 fuaded we lhail do well to conlider the Arguments which a pro- 
 fane Underltanding may offer on the Occafion, left our Advocate 
 fhould be furprized into any unfortuna e Conceflion. I do not 
 recollect any exirncanonical Evidence except He/wd: nor do I fee 
 what Profit will be derived from him : either Heliod has quoted 
 from Mofes, or Mofes from Hefiod, in either Cafe it proves 
 
 ■ — Nothing. The lame may be faid of the Fathers, and ■ 
 
 with all due Reverence of our molt Holy Church. Il is a ro- 
 
 tular Procefs and terminates precifely where it began. I advife 
 
 * De Civitate Dec. C. 23. L. 14. 
 
 C 2 that 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 that it be avoided on the prefent Occalion, for I am not 
 without my Fears left the illuitrious Offender fhould take Fire 
 at the fuppofed Indignity. I feem to hear him exclaim with 
 more than ufual Vehemence, by G — d this is not Evidence — ■ 
 it is like Dr. Lozutk proving the Biflwp of London a very 
 good Man. 
 
 The grand Pillars of the Belief of an original Lapfe, are 
 
 Ecclefiafles 7 C. 29 V. God made Man upright and he has 
 Jought out many Inventions. 
 
 Romans 5 C. 12 V. By one Man Sin entered into the 
 World, and Death by Sin. 
 
 Ibidem. 18 V. By the Offence of one, Judgment came 
 upon all to Condemnation, and by the Righteoufnels of one 
 came Juftification upon all Men unto Life. 
 
 The glorious Doftrine which our Holy Church deduces 
 from thefe Premifes is fo peifectly confonant to all the 
 Analogies of Reafon and Scripture, fo honorable to God and 
 fo friendly to the ben" lntereiis of Man, that no One who is 
 not an Infidel, or has not entirely loll the Portion of Spirit 
 communicated at Baptifm, would prefnme to call it into public 
 Queflion. There is one Comfort — I know the Arguments in 
 Ufe on the Side of Oppofition — I will ftate them to your 
 Lordfhip, and when at Leifure you may meditate a Reply, 
 in Cafe the Chancellor fhould attack us in that Quarter. 
 
 It is urged, with an Air of fupercilious Derifion, that the 
 Verfe in Ecclefiafles is merely an Encomium on the natural 
 and moral Attributes of Man. He walks with an ERECT 
 and UPRIGHT Form, 
 
 Pronaque cum fpectent Animalia caetera Terram. 
 
 Ovid. 
 
 And indeed I need not inform the be ft" Hebraifl in Europe, 
 that tho' the Word ~\W* does by Tranjlation imply upright in 
 Mind, yet in accurate and original life it means Jtraight- — 
 erecl — upright, as the Mail of a Ship, &c. Thus in Ezekiel 
 1 C. 23 V. it is ufed to exprefs the erecl — upright — State 
 of thole Wings which pointed touards the Firmament. Unlefs 
 
 therefore 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 therefore your Lordfhip can furnilh us with a happier Selection 
 of Proof from the Old Teftament, I fufpecl this folitai y Evi- 
 dence will betray the Caufe, which it is defigned to fnpport: for 
 we mtt ft remember we are fpeaking to Men of vulgar Minds, 
 unaided by Infpiration, and deftitute of the Perceptions ne- 
 cefTary to the Difcernment of religious Truth. And who 
 knows, but while we are urging the Myftery of the PafUge, 
 the noble Cynic mav plead to the Fac7, and contend, that 
 whatever Inventions mav have taken Place fince the Delin- 
 quency of our fcederal Head ******#**.** Love is not 
 one of them. 
 
 Romans, g. 12. I lately heard a Perfon infift with great 
 Appearence of Reafon, that the one Man Adam mentioned 
 by St. Paul is HUMAN NATURE. We are all intimately 
 confcious, faid he, that it is a frail, finful Nature. And we 
 are a f lured by the Apoftle, Sin was the Concomitant of Adum 
 when he entered into the World. The firll Man is of the 
 Earth, earthy — the fecond Man is from Heaven, fpiritual. I 
 will not enter in his Detail of Proof, it being too copious for 
 our Purpofe. He faid that Adam was rduclant, and flood 
 fairly acquitted by St. Paul as an Accefforv in the Tranfgtef- 
 fion.* And he obferved, that Adam palled from Perfection to 
 a Sate of Sin bv perfonal Volition, or by foreign Influence. 
 Now faid he, a Self-heterofis is impoffible, becaufe it is ab- 
 furd. But if a Chancre in the effcntial Form of his Mind was 
 effecled by foreign Agency, it would be an Imputation on the 
 Aloft High to fuppofe him capable of inflitling Punifhment 
 for a Meafure, that had noi the Approbation of the Heart; 
 the moral Concurrence of the Agent being neceffarv to con- 
 ftitute a Crime. In a ftate of abjolute Peijeclwn, Adam could 
 not fin, becaufe Sin is the Refult of Excefs or Deleft. But 
 Adam did Jin, and therefore it is molt confiftent with the 
 Dictates of common Senfe, the unfophifticated Language of 
 Revelation, and the moral Attributes of God to believe, that 
 Adam was created in a ftate of PECCABILITY. He concluded, 
 with fome Warmth ; do you mean to urge it to the Honor of 
 the Deity, that he committed the bell Incerefts of the World 
 to a Man ardent to revolt from his Allegiance, and plunge 
 unnumbered Millions into Damnation for an APPLE ? 
 
 * 1 Tim. 2. 14. 
 
 C 3 Roman's 
 
( a ) 
 
 Romans 5 C. 18 V. Does the Apoftle fpeak, faid the fame 
 Peifon, with a phyfical, or wiih a moral Univerfality, in the 
 latter Claufe of this Verfe ? With a Reflri&ion, I anfwered, 
 to thofc, who believe. But our Bifhops, laid he, have fub- 
 fcribed an Article which fays, only the prcedeflined believe, and 
 what a Pity, that good Men and their Doctrines (hould be 
 fo much at Variance ! Quid non moruiia Pectora cogis 
 Am 1 facra Fames! Virgil, 
 
 It is an Axiom of Revelation, that all have finned; at d it 
 is a Confequence deducible from this praeefl.abhfh.ed I 
 that all are under Condemnation. The S< one therefore of the 
 Apofile's Argument is, as we inherit Sin and Death from our 
 natural Anceflor, fo by Faith in the fecond Adam, we know 
 we are Sons of God, and Heirs of immortal Felicity. 
 
 The above is a Sketch of what may be expecled, if we 
 attempt to contravene his Lordfhip's Claim to God's primi- 
 tive Benediction, a Benediction which he has the Confidence 
 to affert, embraces every Period of Time, and extends to all 
 whom the vaulted Heavens encircle, 
 
 WHO MARRIED ABRAHAM?) I acknowlege, with 
 the utmoft Concern, that I have neither an Anfwer nor a 
 Subterfuge fit for your Lordfhip's Purpofe. The Marriages in 
 ihofe Days were conducted in a Style of lingular Simplicity — ■ 
 
 And Abraham took Sarah to Wife, and went in unto her The 
 
 noble Delinquent had an Eye on this fummar^*?lji£efs, when 
 he propofed the Oueffion. And really', my LordyMt fo cor- 
 roborates his Gothic Notions of Infeoffment and Occupancy, 
 that I advife our Advocate to blow his Nofe, when he comes 
 to that Part of the Defence, and pafs over to 
 
 ISAIAH?) The Facl is thus related in facred Scripture* — 
 And l/aiah took faithful Witneffes to RECORD his Union 
 with the Prophetefs, and he zue.ru in unto her, and flu conceived^ 
 and bare a Son. We might confound a Man of iefs Sagacity 
 than the Chancellor* by a thoufand infidious QuelHons; and 
 we will endeavour to perplex even him. Let us fee — The 
 Office of the Prieft was to pray, and to ble/s the People. 
 Now Uriah was a Prieft, and therefore, he prayed for Ifaiah 
 and the Prophetefs, and bleffed them: and what die is the 
 
 * 8 Ifaiah. 
 
 nuptial 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 nuptial Service of the Church of England? It mnfl he ac- 
 knowledged this is a kindred Rule of Proof with that, which 
 the Logicians call a diclo fecundum quid ad didum fimplicitcr, 
 and the noble Cvnic may pronounce it holy Sophiitry, and 
 pious Evafion. But let us prefs the Point vigoroufly — a Prieft 
 and no Prayer ? A Priefl and no Benediclion ? Impoffible ! We 
 mav alfo take Occafion to notice the Antiquity of ourParifh- 
 Clerks: for Zechariah was a Layman: and what Bufinefs 
 had he there but to fay Amen ? 
 
 PETER and JOSEPH?) I purpofe to difmifs this Quef- 
 tion by a mafterly Manoeuvre. His Lordfhip has omitted to 
 inform us whether he means the Marriage of Peter, under the 
 Syftem of Mofaic Ceremonies, or Peter under the Difpenfa- 
 tion of the Gofpel. As to Jofeph, there are feveral of that 
 Name, and he has not fpecified his Man: therefore we are not 
 bound in either Cafe to a Reply. Now this, my Lord, is 
 fortunate indeed ! For fince there is not the Shadow of a 
 Ritual in the New Teflament, the moll ingenious Equivo- 
 cation muft have failed in a Proof of the Subjiance. 
 
 EDWIN and ALFRED?) Thefe Names were feleFted 
 with no other View but to inform us, that the Marriage Ce- 
 remony was not eflablifhed in Chriflendom 'till the twelfth 
 Century.* Entre nous, my Lord, is it not myfterious that in 
 one Age it fhould be of no Importance, and in another Age 
 be a Sacrament ? Of two contiadiclory Propofnions, one mujl 
 be falfe : of two contrary Propofnions both may be falfe. When 
 therefore this infallible Pope declares a Meafure is necefjdry, 
 and that infallible Pope declares it unnecejfary, out of Re- 
 verence ought we not to conclude, that Infpiration is fuf- 
 pended ? Was it for the Sins of the Clergy, or of the People, 
 my Lord, that the Holy Spirit denied the Knowlege of the 
 nuptial Rights upwards of a THOUSAND Years? Mercy 
 defend us, what Myriads of Souls went to Hell in that Space 
 of Time, for Want of our Holy Service! 
 
 THE SUFFRAGES OF ANTIQUITY,) We may fafely 
 , difregard the Support his Lordfhip derives frorri untutored 
 Nature. Men, who were made Children of God, and Heirs 
 of Glory by Baptifm, are the only proper Judges. He will 
 accummulate a prodigious Mafs of Evidence from Rome and 
 Athens, from Arcadia and Cyprus. I cannot deny myfelf the 
 Pleafure of a fhort Quotation. The Stanzas are happily fe- 
 lecled, and the Diftion and Mode of Courtfhip well adapted 
 to the Creed of our illuftrious Offender. 
 
 * By Pope Innocent III. 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 Convivamus, mea Lefbia, atque amemus,* 
 
 Non erit hie nobis innciandus Amor. 
 
 Tu modo fola places, rice jam te praster in Urbet 
 
 Formofa eft Oculis ulia Puella mei's. 
 
 Quid Amori prodeft jurandi Formula juris,* 
 
 Lingua-que ad Aras teftificare Deum ? 
 
 Qua: jurat Mens eft 5 jam conjuravimus ilia. 
 
 Ilia Fidem dictis addere fola poteft. 
 
 Permit me to fubjoin a Translation and to hope your 
 
 Lordlhip will honor it with your Corrections. 
 
 Lefbia, thy matchlefs Charms controul, 
 The ardent Wiflies of my Soul ; 
 Propitious hear my fond Decree 
 To fhare mv Life and Love with thee. 
 Unmeaning Forms of Law difdain, 
 Secure in fweet Affection's Chain ; 
 Th' Altar's Pomp is a folemn Jeft, 
 The Heart alone the Gods atteft. 
 
 EVERY CIVILIAN OF NAME.) Conjugiura igitur 
 naturaliter effe exiftimamus t3lem Cobabitationem Maris cum 
 Femina, quae Feminam conltituat quad fub Oculis & cuftodia 
 Maris. Nee aliud lit Conjugium fubfiftat Natura videtur re- 
 quirere ; atque gratiffiniurn eft Deo, ut perpetua fit ea Conju- 
 nclio. Grotius. Lib. 2. 
 
 Addendum denique eft aliquid de Uxoribus velut fecun- 
 darius, quae muftis Populis in ufu fuerunt. Tales nimirum, 
 quae revera Fidem conjugalem Viro dant, & in arctiffimam 
 Socieatem cum eooem coalefcunt, fed ob quafdem Rationes 
 in juflae Matris-familias Dignationem non adfeifcantur, nee 
 earundem Proli omne Jus fit quod alias Filiis familias com- 
 muniter competit* Ex quo patet, ejusmodi Uxorum dif- 
 enmen a juftis Uxoribus per JUS DUNTAXAT POSITL 
 VUM effe introdutrum. Puffendorf. Lib. 6. 
 
 This is a Rule in Point ; nor do I know, my Lord, how we 
 Jhall elude its Force. Suppofe by a dato non cone t^fo we admit 
 the l\id, and then argue a Faclo ad Jus non valet Confequentia? 
 In the Event of a Defeat on any Ground whatever, we may 
 
 * Catullus. f Tibullus. % Ovid. 
 
 urge 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 urge this Argument with great Eclat : for tho' it proves No- 
 thing, there is this lingular Advantage attending it, it admits 
 of no Reply. 
 
 If I may. reafon to your Lordfhip's Experience from my 
 own, you now demand to know, with much Solicitude, if the 
 matrimonial Ceremony of our moft Holy Church be not ne- 
 cejfary? But our fagjicious Opponent choofes to transfer the 
 Hypothefis to the Thefts, and enquire if ANY CEREMONY 
 be necelfaiy ? 
 
 Is it requifite to PROCURE Love ? This will be his firft 
 Queftion. Now were Objecls to prefent fimilar Images of 
 Lovelincfs to every Heart, fimilar Effects would be pioduced. 
 But it is an Argument of the Wifdom of the Deity, that hu- 
 man Nature is diverfified by an endlefs Variety of Organiza- 
 tion. In Infancy i he immanent Energy is in a State of foft 
 Repofe. At the appointed Hour it is excited by congenial 
 Powers, and conftitutes a State of Love. All that Man ex- 
 periences antecedently to this Interview is only * * * or 
 tranfitory Attachment. Plato well obferves, that Lovers' 
 Souls reciprocally exchange their Abode, and dwell with the 
 Objeft of Delight. A northern Bard protells, after " much 
 * l Jagc Experience in this mortal Routid" 
 
 If Heaven a Draught of genuine Pleafure fpare, 
 One Cordial in this melancholy Vale, 
 'Tis when a youthful, loving, modeft Pair, 
 In other's Arms breath out the tender Tale, 
 Beneath the Milk-white Thomthat fcents the Ev'ning Gale. 
 
 Bukn. 
 
 They, who think and aft under the Impulfe of animal Ap- 
 petite, treat delicate or abfh acted Love as a romantic Notion, 
 The Difcrimination ceitainly is not in all Cafes eafy. Yet, to 
 the Honor of my Sex, I deJaie the foft Emotion, the tender 
 Sympathy of Soul denominated LOVE, is compatible with 
 the utmoft Sanftity of Thought and Purity of Defire. Ovid 
 has given us the Hiltory of this Paffion in the Experience of 
 Pygmalion.* After he had gazed, and imbibed even to Ec- 
 ftacy the fweet Senfation, he prelers a Prayer to the Gods, 
 and then proceeds, in a Courfe of the moft refpe&ful Tender- 
 nefs to the laft Endearments of wedded Love, 
 
 D The 
 
 * Ov, METAMORPH- 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 The Chancellor has properly obferved, an Alliance with- 
 out Love is ceremonious Projlitution. Now if we cannot riemon- 
 flrate the Omnipotence of a Form of Words, and fhew by 
 whet Enchantment we excite and animate the Senfibilities of 
 thofe, who prefent themfelves at the Altar, we may expeft the 
 higheft Indignities from his fierce and unfanffified Eloquence. 
 But I think it will be the Antipodes of found Policy to allege, 
 that the mere Ceremony is the efficient Caufe of the confiitueiu 
 Principles of Love. We muff envelope the Subjftt, my Lord, 
 in holy Obfcurity, and as we are at a Lofs for the Rea/on, we 
 muft contend for the Myflery. In fome Inftances, a difcreet 
 Silence has an Air of profound Wifdom. But, fometimes, it 
 is more prudent to explain an CEnigma by a Riddle. 
 
 Will it PRESERVE Love ? The Caufe of Love is it's befl 
 Protection. A Form of Words can neither impart Love nor 
 preferve it. And yet, my Lord, I acknowlege, with fome De- 
 gree of Confufion, that the Marriage Vow has too often a 
 malignant Influence over a female Mind. I have been in 
 Habits of Intimacy with feveial Ladies of Condition, who 
 have been detected in illegal Correfpondence; but on my 
 Conscience, I believe they would have been as faithful as 
 Penelope, if they had not promifed to be Jo. They came from 
 the Altar chaffe as Veftals, but alas! the fatal Promife preyed 
 upon their gentle Spirits, and would have hurried their bloom- 
 ing Beauties to the Grave, if a broken Vow had not 
 
 prevented a broken Heart. 
 
 The fubtle Fiend, who triumphed over our elder Mother, 
 
 did not attempt to deny that the Fruit was forbidden He 
 
 knew the Sex. ■ He provoked her Appetite by reminding 
 
 her of the Prohibition. And here, my Lord, I muft trouble 
 you with a Oueflion : and I beg your Lordfhip will have the 
 Goodnefs to ufe the utmoft Precaution left the profane World 
 fhould difcover the Myftery. We are told in the holy Arti- 
 cles of our mod Holy Church, that OUR Nature is frail and 
 finful, and that the fyompec caws the — let it remain as it is in 
 the Original — infiigates the female Heart to go affray. If, there- 
 fore, WE fin, we may claim, in fome Meafure, the Forgivenefs 
 and Compaffion of our Fellow Creatures. But EVE, that Pa- 
 ragon of Perfection and Virtue, with no internal Importu- 
 nity to feduce, no corrupt Examples to patronize, nor external 
 Temptations to folicit — except the DEVIL and an APPLE 
 — embraced the firfl Opportunity of revolting from her God ! 
 What Apology does your Lordfhip offer for her Conducl ? 
 
 On 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 On what Principle do you account for fo lingular a Phenomenon? 
 ***#*#*#**** a mo ft ingenious Solution of the 
 Difficulty indeed ! And I cannot but regret Mr. Pitt's Inattention 
 to this antiperiftatical Impetus in the female Mind. He ought 
 certainly to prohibit the Export of our Manchefler Goods, and 
 bv that Means he would fecure the Markets of France. Mr. 
 Jenkinfon — I afk ten thoufand Pardons — my Lord Hawkf- 
 bury informed the Peers, that the Manchefler Cottons, when 
 PROHIBITED, found their Way to Paris thro : Flanders and 
 Germany. I give the utmoft Credit to the Faft, but from 
 the Inference of the noble Lord I diffent toto Calo. The 
 Sale will be increafed, faid he, when the Ports of France are 
 opened. Now the Reverfe of this Pra?d;Ction will be read 
 in the Hiflorv of our Commerce. As long as they were IN- 
 TERDICTED thev were fought with great Avidity ; and had 
 the Smugglers been obliged to CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE 
 GLOBE prior to their Admilhon into France, the Market had 
 been an Objeft, for the LADIES would have been fupplied, 
 But when the Parifians heard that the Treaty was figned, they 
 began to cool in the Purfuit ; and at this Moment not a Wo- 
 man of Dilfinction will condefcend to wear the fineft Produc- 
 tions of our Looms. The Enchantment is broken — the je nc 
 fn quoi is vanilhed — the Texture is coarfe — and the Tints are 
 vulgar and odious, fjdr I addrefs this, and every fimilar Remark 
 to your Lordfhip, as a Lord of Trade and Commerce. 
 
 I now return to my Lord Bijhop. If a Form of Words 
 cannot create Affection, nor preferve it, a Form of Words 
 cannot be necejfary. But the nuptial Ceremony of the 
 Church of England is a Form of Words, 'ergo, the nuptial 
 Ceremony of the Church of England is unnectjjary. Q.E.D. 
 But we muff not flatter ourfelves, that the learned Cafuift will 
 flop here. No, my Lord, he will go on and obferve, a Form 
 of Words unfupported by Reafon and Revelation muff be 
 
 ABSURD, if not SINFUL the Application and Inference 
 
 as before. 
 
 LAW of the REALM.) To obtain an adequate Notion 
 of this Argument, we ought to recollect, my Lord, that a 
 Law is a Rule of Life chelated by Authority. If it cannot 
 be refolved into a Law of Nature, or Revelation, it has no 
 Controul over the Confcience ; but as the Order and Well- 
 being of political Society depend on pofuive Inftitutes, it is 
 highly reafonable we fubmit to the Penalty, if we refufe Obe- 
 dience to the Precept. Now in every Inftance of moral and 
 
 D 2 civil 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 civil Offence, the Punifhmcnt inflifted bv Juftice EXPIATES 
 the Guilt. On this Ground his Lordfhip contends, that the 
 fpiritual Court is in full Oppofnion to every Dictate of Reafoa 
 and municipal Law, when it demands a SECOND ATONE- 
 MENT for the fame Tianfgufnon. We may urge, indeed, 
 in Reply, that we profecute the fame Tiefpafs hoth in the 
 Crown and Plea Side of the King's-Hench. But 1 am full of 
 the mod painful Apprehenfion left our dextrous Antagonift 
 fhould foil the Stroke, and turn the Weapon on our own Bo- 
 foms. Will it not lead him into a Train of difagreeable Inter- 
 rogation, and be the Means of fuggefting more D'fhVulties in 
 five Minutes, than we fhall be able to folve in five Months ? 
 He will admit the twofold Puifuit alleged in our Argument, 
 but he will remind the Court of the NecefTny of appealing the 
 fupreme Authority of the State, for the Infraction of the 
 Peace, and the Jaftice as well as Equity of redrelbng an in- 
 jured Individual. He will next obferve, that the fupreme 
 Authority of the State is obeyed by his Submtflion o the 
 Alternative; and, with an Air of fupercihous Triumph, he 
 will demand, what INDIVIDUAL have I offended? Then 
 rifing into Warmih, he will reprobate with indignant Vehe- 
 ment, e a Tribunal that dares to punifh what God and Reafon 
 fanttify. Yes, my Lord, the venerable Bench muft expecl: to 
 be lafhed with the moll pointed Inveclive, to be ftvled an 
 Impcnum in Imperio, and to be infuhed bya thoufand impertinent 
 Queflions — Does the Penance abfolve my Offence as a Citizen? 
 Will Mifs Edmonds be Lady Tnur/ozv? Or my Daughters 
 legitimate? Does the Penance abfolve my Offence as a Chrif- 
 tian ? Then pray, what is the Price of a Pardon for Adultery 
 and Murder ? 
 
 We muft difregard this Obloquy and Sarcafm, and preferve 
 a Heady Countenance, for our Caufe is good. Meanwhile vour 
 Lordfhip will determine what violated Laws of Nature, of Reve- 
 lation, and of the Realm aie to be ftated in the Libel. I have 
 prefumed to offer my Thoughts on the Subjeft, and I humbly 
 hope they are favorable to the belt Inteiefts of our Holy 
 Church. I muft remark, that the Chancellor's Doclrine of 
 Atonement is ftrielly oithodox: for you know, my Lord, 
 it is on this very Hypothefis we canonize Charles the firji. 
 Great and numerous, it is faid, were his political Iniquities, 
 but the coftly Sacrifice of his Life was an ample Expiation for 
 his Crimes. This Pofition muft be admitted by his bitrereft 
 Enemies. But this glorious Monarch is not only a Saint.but a 
 
 Mar- 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 Martyr, tho ' dead he /btaketh—el magna teflafurVoceper Umbras, 
 Difcite Juiiitiam raoniti, et non temnere LEGES. 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 His Lordfhip's DifiincYton between natural and pofitivr. 
 Law is corroborated by Black/lone. I fincerely wifii it were 
 more fully comprehended. Infinite for Example, are the Evils 
 arifing from the Ignorance, for I am unwilling to call it the 
 Villainy of thofe, who purchafe imuggled Goods. But it is 
 eafy to dcmonflrate. th.it he, who defrauds the Revenue, is not 
 a Man, but a political Monfler. The Ri/k,or even the Lofs of a 
 Venture is no Atonement: it is not only a civil but a moral TranJkreJ* 
 Jion. Let ii be propofed to a Man of Integrity and Rectitude 
 of Heart, to engage in illicit Commerce. The Enterprize is 
 fomewhat hazardous, as the Goods may be intercepted bv the 
 Officeis of the Revenue; but the Percentage of Ptofit is 
 fufficient, vou rrav inform him, to enlure an immenfe Foi tune 
 to the Adventurers. You may a!fo plead the Practice of Ages, 
 and the Approbation of the People, but you will never pre- 
 vail on him to embark in a S.heme fo repugnant to his Ideas 
 of Dignity, Patriotifm, ?nd Virtue. It may not be unpro- 
 fitable, mv Lord, to analyze that Train of Sentiment, by 
 which lie is fortified againlt the Fafcination T Wealth. In 
 the firfl Place, then, he who fells, or puiclrafes any, even 
 the moft trifling Article prohibited by the Laws, or for which 
 the Proprietor has not paid the full, accufiomed Duties, is 
 not a CHRISTIAN; for Chrifl commands us to "render 
 unto Cafar the Things which are Ca/ar's." When the Com- 
 mons have voted the executive Power the Supplies neceffary 
 for foreign Conquefls, domeftic Defence, the CEconomy of 
 the State, and the Re Uictiori of our Debt, the Money thus 
 voted is literally transferred to Caefar. It is no longer the 
 Property of Individuals. If the Confidence repofed in Caefar 
 be abufed — the Abufe muff be redreffed. Nor is he a PA- 
 TRIOT. Genuine Patriotifm exhibits the profoundeft Re- 
 verence for the Laws, and exerts its utmoft Influence to carry 
 the wife and temperate Refolves of Government into Effect. 
 But this Man infults the Authority of his Country — con- 
 tributes to the Ruin of her Commerce — impedes the Meafures 
 of her Government — and renders an armed Hoft neceffary to 
 counteract his iniquitious Defigns. He has no claim to moral 
 HONESTY. He who enjoys the tranfcendent Privileges of 
 an Englifhman, and witholds his Quota of Support to the 
 State, merits the deepefl Abhorrence. He might with equal 
 Juftice plunder the Palace, or- rob on the High-wav. 
 
 D 3 The 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 The Deficiencies eaufed by his atrocious Practices muf; be 
 maile good by the laborious Citizen : and Men of Integrity 
 fuftain a treble Burthen to afford Relief to a VILLAIN! 
 He has no Claim to HUMANITY. There is no AfTociatioii 
 of People under Heaven fo favage, but regard perlonal Pro- 
 perty. They plunder, indeed, but it is their — Enemies. But 
 be, who defrauds the Revenue, difregards all Diftinciion 
 of Property ; and plunders, not the Enemies of his Country, 
 but his Neighbour. He is therefore a political MONSTER. 
 And I do conjure every Patriot, every Man of Virtue in the 
 Kingdom to make it a common Cauie and hunt him clozrn. I 
 deipife the ujual Motives of Qui tarn Profecutions ; but I (ball 
 hold in honorable Eftimation the Man who Hands forward 
 to annihilate this complicated Evil. 
 
 INDECENT AND ABSURD.) It is an affixing Con- 
 fideration, my Lord, that our a£tive and determined Enemy 
 has no Limits to his Refentments. Not fatisfied with an 
 elaborate Apology for his profane Contempt of holy Ordi- 
 nances, he has the Prefumption to menace our moll facred 
 Arcana. It does not require the Aid of Prophefy to pra?di& 
 the Mode of his Attack. You know, my Lord, our fage 
 Reformers, after long and folemn Debate, refolved that 
 Marriage was defigned 
 
 Ift. FOR THE PROCREATION OF CHILDREN, 
 lid. AS A REMEDY AGAINST FORNICATION. 
 Hid. FOR THE COMFORT OF THE AGED. 
 
 Now the Genius of Depravity will prompt his Lorufhip, I fear, 
 to treat thefe our holy Myfleries with favage Ferocity and 
 Rudenefs. I hear him in a Tone, like the Rumbling of diflanfr 
 Thunder, fpeaking Terror and Difmay to our genile Advocate 
 ■ — and pray, Sir, is it the CEREMONY which procreates the 
 Children? Anfwer me. I humbly hope your Loidfhip will 
 not be offended at my Silence: I have no Inductions on the 
 Subject; and we are forbidden to fpeak on facred Myfleries 
 without Leave from his Holinefs the Bifhop. 
 
 Well then, my Lord Judge, fmce this Man is afraid of 
 his Myfleries, have the Goodnefs to tell me — if the Ceremony 
 do not get the Woman with Child, what Bufinefs has fhe at 
 
 the 
 
( M ) 
 
 the Altar ? Do you conceive her to be fuch a Novice, as to 
 be ignorant of the Deitination of her Sex ? You may lately 
 leave her to the Tuition of her Mother Eve. 
 
 Is drinking the Cure of Drunkennefs, my Lord Judge ? 
 I think Horace informs us, that Paffions are flrtngthtned by 
 Indulgence — Creicit indulgens fibi dyrus Hydrops. — Permit 
 me to illuitrate by Example — " the fair Andromache Jleeps with 
 the magnanimous Heclor — " She a Whore, and he a Rogue. To 
 the Ceremony of Love and Nature, they add, in the Morning, 
 
 the Ceremony of the Prieft They fleep together again, 
 
 dream the fame Dreams, and life — an honorable Pair. Now are 
 we to fuppofe, that Fornication is the Remedy of Fornication ? 
 Will the voluptuous He£tor acquire an Habit of Tem- 
 perance under the folt Inftruftions of Andromache ? No, my 
 Lord Judge, it is bv the divine Influence of a Form of Words, 
 by the almighty Fiat of a Prieft, that an unpardonable Sin 
 becomes a confecrated Comfort. Sea credat Judaus. 
 
 As I am under Obligation to prove your Ceremonv abfurd 
 as well as indecent, allow me to afk, bv what Mode of Invef- 
 tigation do you afcertain the non plus ultra of female Fecun- 
 dity ? For I perceive the moft important Pra> er, I mean that 
 for divine Afhflance, is to be omitted if the Woman be pajl 
 Child-bearing. When a high fpirited Dame, verging to her 
 grand Climacteric, appears at the Altar, does the Prieft requeft 
 to be informed if her Ladyfhip's Wifh be to affiit in the Pro- 
 creation of Children'? or to counteract her Prop<nfity to 
 
 Fornication? or merely for the Comforts of the Marriage 
 
 Bed r 1 If he do not, it is an unpardonable Negligence : he 
 may pray, when he ought to be filent, and be filent, when he 
 ought to pray ; and thus caufe prodigious Confufion in the 
 Purpofes of Heaven. And if he do ********** Nay 
 my Lord, even as the Words are now read, no Woman of 
 Delicacy can be prefent without Confufion, notwithftanding 
 the Relief tier Senfibilities may receive fiom the Burlefque 
 Solemnity in which the Service is performed. 
 
 Again. When a blooming Pair, with Vigor in their Limbs 
 and Ecftacy in their Hearts, retire from your Prefence, you molt 
 devoutly pray, " that the Lord would fend them HFLP from his 
 holy Place." But when an aged Couple totter to the Altar, 
 and meekly kneel for your Benediction, you cruelly withold 
 it, and leave them to their own feeble, unafGRed Efforts. I 
 know your Anfwer — they defire to partake of the cc/if crated 
 
 Comforts 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 Comforts of wedded Love. But is there no Mode of convey- 
 ing Comlort 10 the Heart, but thro' the Medium of the Mar- 
 riage Bed ? Why do you illude the venerable Pair, bv alluring 
 them they (hall enjoy the lt Fruit oj thtir Toil, and fee their 
 Childrtns 1 Children " if you purpofe to deny your effectual 
 Bleffing? There may be Law in this, but by G — d there 
 is no Equity. But the End of your holy Service crowns all, 
 I mean your Admonition to the Bride not to be AFRAID, and 
 the VAST REWARD of her Obedience to the Myfteries of 
 Love. SWEET PROBATION ! The lovely Candidates will 
 hymn your Praifes to all Eternity! 
 
 Pray, my Lord Bifhop, what does the illuftrious Hottentot 
 mean by this Torrent of infinuation and Abide ? l)ont be 
 a/raid! The Words in o.ir holy Ritual are if ye are not afraid 
 with any Amazement. To a vulgar Understanding, indeed, it 
 inav feem rather difficult not 10 be frightened when you are 
 alarmed. Euripides and the Tutor of Alexander ufe ~1ow»s, but 
 not in the Senle of the Apofile, whole Words may be para- 
 phrafed, if ye are fleadfaft in the Faith, unmoved^ undifmayed, 
 at the Terrors of your perfcutirig Enemies. Were it lawful 
 to have an Opinion different from our infpired Reformers, 1 
 lhould queflion the Propnety of ufing this Paffageas a valedic- 
 tory Exhortation in a nuptial Ceremony. You fee, my Lord, 
 the Ufe to which our infidious Opponent has perverted it. 
 His licentious Strictures will caufe the Ladks to blufh and 
 titter from the Beginning to the End of the Service. What 
 a Paradox, that the Keeper of the King's C.onfcience fhould 
 have no Confidence of his own ! Were he to read his Brother 
 Durham's Bible he would find, that Heaven is not to be ob- 
 tained by the Ladies on fuch eafy Terms, as he profanely 
 intimates. 
 
 IF THE CLERGY BE SO VERY POOR.) The Dig- 
 nity of our Holy Church does not depend on the Riches, but 
 the Piety and Learning of the Priefthood. Otherwife it would 
 be as requifite for a Curate to have a good Coat on his Back, 
 as for a Bifhop to ride in his Coach, if it be afked why your 
 Lordfhips fo rigidly exa6r the Payment of your Temporalities, 
 if Wealth be not neceflarv, the Anfwer is obvictts — to inculcate 
 Principles of moral Honelty in the Diocefs— to indulge yom Pro- 
 penfity of doing Good bv — Stealth, and, finally, to fupport an 
 Appearance as Lords of Parliament. I am perfuaded it would be 
 a Jubilee to their Lordfhips' Feelings were they emancipated 
 from the Bondage of the upper Houfe. It robs them of many 
 
 a fweet 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 a fweet Hour of Prayer and Meditation, interrupts the Feli- 
 licity and Edification of their Flocks, and creates an invidious 
 Diftinclion between them and their inferior Brethren, whom 
 they defire to emulate in Humility, Poverty, and Self-denial. 
 The Nation, alfo, would moll cordially rejoice in their Lord- 
 fhip's Deliverance from Captivity. But, alas for the Com- 
 mon good! this cannot be effected. They are fworn to defend 
 " the Powers that be." They are the Minifter's Body Guards 
 — his WHITE-Guards, in Contradiction to his BLACK- 
 Guards. They encompafs him with their Croziers, and in filent 
 Dignity intercept his Defeat. An eccentric Genius will fome- 
 times revolt from the Confederacy, and join the Standard of 
 Oppofition. But this ufually arifes from a certain Amplitude 
 of Mind, beyond the Power of prefent Engagements to occupy. 
 Let the Minifter entruft a larger Proportion of Souls to the good 
 Man's Protection, and he will inftantly rejoin the Phalanx, and 
 meditate on Jlill better Things. I cannot deny myfelf the Plea- 
 fure of obferving, that there is a Spirituality in their political 
 Manners which plainly evinces they are not " of this World." 
 When the Will of the Sovereign, or the Clamors of the 
 People render it expedient for a Minifter to retire, he is ufu- 
 ally attended by a long Train of profane Peeis, who follow 
 his Fortunes from Habits of Friendfhip, political Principle, 
 or Etiquette of Office ; but the Bifhops — and Caffandra pro- 
 claims it to their immortal Honor — are no Respecters OF 
 PERSONS. The outward Form of the Deity of their Devo- 
 tions may be changed, but the hidden Power is immutable, and 
 that alone do they worfhip. 
 
 TRIUNE VOICE OF THE CONSTITUTION.) It is 
 
 an Opinion flill in Credit with the Multitude, that the Coro- 
 nation Oath precludes all Podibility of Reform in the Doc- 
 tiines and Polity of our Holy Church. As it is unfriendly to 
 the Interefts of Epifcopacy to undeceive them; a State of 
 Ignorance being a State of Safety ; fo it would be abfurd, even 
 to a Degree of being ridiculous, to attempt a ferious Defence 
 of the Do£trine. 
 
 The Clergy, the Clergy of former Times, my Lord, are 
 
 always on Tiptoe or All-fours Tyrants or Spaniels. 
 
 From the Commencement to the Decadency of pontifical De- 
 fpotifm, the firft Article in the Coronation Oath fecured the 
 Immunities of the Church; and then followed the Privileges 
 ol the People. At the Revolution they had but one Requeil 
 — tun fmtt a, crtGiw — And this Prayer of Defpondency be- 
 
 E came 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 came a Part of the Coronation Compact, and remains a Mo- 
 nument of the indulgent Acquiefcence of the Prince, and the 
 Weaknefs of the Clergy. It is now ufed merely by Prefcrip- 
 tion : for when the Monarch has fvvorn to govern according 
 to the LAWS and Cufloms of the Realm, the prefent Bifhops 
 would difdain to intercede for a Church by LAW efiablifhed. 
 Were not their Lordfhips adverfe to Innovation, I would en- 
 treat them to refcind this difgraceful Appendage to the no- 
 bleft Oath of Office that ever was adminiftered. Might not 
 Breflaw, with equal Propriety, llipulate with the Sovereign 
 for his juggling Apparatus, and all and every of the Piofits 
 thence accruing? Your Lordfhip's good Nature, I know, 
 will prompt you to an Apology for your Praedeceflors, and 
 you will inform me, there is no Analogy of Ufe and Impor- 
 tance between the Cups and Balls of a Conjurer and the fa- 
 cred Myfieries of our moft Holy Church. True, my Lord; 
 I acknowledge the Simile is unfortunate, but the Illation is 
 valid. If it be abfurd for Individuals to go into a Detail of 
 perfonal Privilege, it is abfurd in the Clergy; which is the 
 Point your LordJIiip and I were to prove: and if that which 
 by LAW is'efrablifhed, can alfo by LAW be abolifhed, the 
 nuptial Ceremony may be abolifhed; which is the Pofnion 
 our illuftrious Opponent was to vindicate. 
 
 Are we then to abandon our holy Citadel to the Fury of 
 this Gothic Invader? No, my Lord, no. In the Face of 
 Evidence, in Defiance of Conviftion, we muff contend that 
 we hold it Jure divino — that the Prayer Book was brought 
 down from Heaven by an Angel — that it is a Light to lighten 
 the Gentiles, and the Glory of the Church of Chrifl — that 
 the leaft Alteration would provoke the Vengeance of God, 
 and that Chriflendom would be inftantly overrun by Jews, 
 Turks, and Infidels. The Canaille will credit our AfTertions; 
 and you know, my Lord, they have always been the fteadiefl 
 Friends of the Church. Were it a Cornell fimply for Domi- 
 nion and Emolument, it would be unpardonable to difregard 
 the Admonitions of Confcience ; but our's is the Caufe of 
 Religion, the Caufe of Truth, which we can never fo effec- 
 tually fupport as by acling in full Oppofition to the Dictates 
 of carnal Reafon. 
 
 NOT A PEER WHO HAS BROKEN HIS MARRI- 
 AGE VOW, &c.) The noble Sophrft is here menacing his 
 Brother Fornicators with the Lex Talionis. But not with a 
 View to the Salvation of their Souls. His blafphemous De- 
 
 fign 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 fi^n is to fubvert the fakitary Difcipline of the Church. Bv 
 tii is Argument ad Homiuem, lie hopes to obtain the "effectual 
 Cooperation" of noble Lords. 
 
 And now our Aoly Church " Harts up alarmed" and afks 
 of me, her Prophetefs and Friend; and will they be victorious ? 
 In the genuine Language of oracular PraeditHon I reply, 
 
 AIO te, /Eacida, Romanos vincere poffe. 
 
 IF CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE IMPOSED ON 
 WEDDED LOVE.) I do not know that anv Rule of Good- 
 breeding will fubject us to Cenfure, if we omit to notice the 
 Proportion before us, till we have made a fhort Excurfion 
 into the Regions of Finance. 
 
 The productive Powers of a State are the Fund whence it 
 derives its Wealth and Confequence. It is incumbent on 
 every Citizen to contribute his Proportion with Zeal and 
 Alacrity, either in Labour — in the Produce of the Soil — or hi 
 Money their common Reprefentative. Bv the American Re- 
 volution, my Lord Commiffioner, our Trade has been di- 
 verted from it's antient Channels, and the Government cm- 
 barrafled by a Debt unprecedented in the Annals of the 
 World, yet the ENERGY of this Country — and I fpeak it 
 with a Patriot's Joy — is adequate to every Purpofc of Do- 
 minion and Commerce. 
 
 The judicious CEconomy of the POWERS of a Kingdom 
 is the Summit of minifierial Excellence, An improvident 
 Syflem of Impoft may countervail every local Advantage, 
 and transfer our Manufactures to rival States. The Levant 
 .....but I fpare the Feelings of thofe who are now lamenting 
 the Ruin of that profitable and important Commerce. 
 
 The purefl Scheme of Impoft would leave the Tax optional. 
 It would commence with the higheft Luxuries of Life, and 
 defcend to it's NecefTaries, as the Exigencies of the State be- 
 came pieffing. But Experience would foon convince us, 
 that the Syflem was more equitable in the Abflraft, than pro- 
 fitable in it's Operations : for a Tax on domeflic Confumption 
 is ultimately di flu fed through every Order of the State. 
 
 The Shop Tax has incurred an unufal Degree of popular 
 Odium. I do not mean to fpeak to the Merits of the prrfmt 
 
 E 2 Bill 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 Bill — I think it defeftive — But I infifl on the Wifdom of the 
 Meafure in Principle and Tendency. It is faid to be " a 
 Violation of Magna Charta." But will any Man in the Ufe of 
 Reafon, call this an Argument? What do you conceive Magna 
 Charta to be! A Charter of civil Liberties; a Detail of the 
 Privileges of Enghfhmen ; a venerable Monument of the Dig- 
 nity and untameable Spirit of our Anceflors. But by what 
 Authority is it of Force in thefe Realms! By thePleafure and 
 Authority of the Sovereign ? God forbid. It is a Law of 
 Parliament. It paffed the minor and fuperior Barons, and 
 then received the Sanftion of the Crown. Our Rights are 
 indefefible; but the Modes of protecting and adminiftering 
 thofe Rights are fubjeft to perpetual Vicifhtude. The unfore- 
 feen Contingencies, which float in the Current of the World, 
 often render the bell concerted Meafures ineffectual. But 
 our Laws are not, like thofe of the Medes and Perfians im- 
 mutable. It is our peculiar Privilege to deliberate on what 
 ought to be, and to regulate the Commonwealth with a View 
 to the greateft Aggregate of Good. Now this afcendant Power 
 of modifying the national CEconomy refides in Parliament ; 
 and it is a Queftion of equal Importance, whether the pro- 
 jected Regulation militates againft a Statute of Yejlerday, or 
 the Charter of Henry the Third. I ufe the Word Charter 
 limply as it implies written Evidence. I rejeft the common Ac- 
 ceptation of the Word with infinite Difdain. Our Liberties 
 exift antecedently to Law, and are independent on the Will 
 of Man. And I again repeat it, as far as the Great Charter 
 is declaratory of thofe Rights, 1 hold it in Reverence. But 
 are we bound to indifcriminate Obedience to the Language oi 
 that Charter ? Tkejirjl Article ejlablifies POPERY for ever. 
 
 But in Truth, my Lord, the Aft is not in Oppofition to the 
 Charter in Letter, or in Spirit. I noticed this common Place 
 Argument, merely with a View to your Lordfhip's Gratifi- 
 cation. I knew you would be happy in the Opportunity of 
 gazing with fond Delight on the auguft Speftacle of Runny- 
 Mead: when a Monarch, who condefcended to hold the 
 Kingdom as the Patrimony of St. Peter, appeared at the Feet 
 of his People ; the only Situation in which a weak, or a wicked 
 Prince can aft with any Grace. 
 
 1 have already faid, the Quota of national Energy, requifite 
 to the Purpofes of Glory and Commerce, ought to be granted 
 with Chearfulnefs and Ardor. The People in Parliament 
 affembled are to determine, if it will be mofl conducive to the 
 
 General 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 General-good to raife the Subfidy on Land — on the raw Ma- 
 terial — or the finiihed Articles of Commerce and domeftic 
 Confumption. 
 
 It is alleged hv the Citizens, that the Tax on Shops is par- 
 tial and oppreffive. Of the Crowd of Ideas which offer to 
 my Mind on this Occafion, I will content myfelf with a few 
 of the molt obvious, without regarding their Arrangement. 
 It is with me a commercial Aphorifm of the fir ft Confeqtience, 
 that the Produce of the efficient Powers of the State be 
 brought into IMMEDIATE Confumption, both foreign and 
 Domeitic . but as this is not in all Cafes practicable, without 
 the Intervention of Middle-Men, I do not hefi.ate to lav it 
 down as another incontellible Truth, that the AGENCY 
 ought to be proportional to the PRODUCE. Exce/s will be 
 a common Evil ; and a Defect will endanger a Monopoly. 
 From thefe Premifes, which no Man of political Information 
 will pronounce gratuitous, we may eafily deduce the following 
 Condufions. A Shop Tax is not PARTIAL. Shopkeepers 
 are the Middle Men between the Manufacturer and the Con- 
 fumer. and tho Con - fu m^E. The Legiflature, it has been al- 
 ready obferved, mav levy the Import on the raw Material, or 
 the finifhed Production. If the Aid demanded by the Go- 
 vernment be paid by the Landholder, or the Manufacturer, 
 they impofe it on their common Agent the Shopkeeper, who 
 is repaid by the Coniumer. If the Government think proper 
 to intercept the public Share of the Produce, when in the 
 Hands of the Agent, he has the fame Opportunitv of Redrefs 
 as before, with this only Difference, inftead of refunding the 
 Tax to the Landholder, or the Manufacturer, he now pays it 
 to an Officer of the Revenue. 
 
 I am too jealous of the Liberties of my Country to approve 
 a Meafure merely becaufe it is founded on Precedent: but 
 certainly there is much collateral Evidence admiffible on the 
 prefent Occafion. The unpopular Capitation Tax is the only- 
 one which by direct Application would affect all the Indivi- 
 duals of the Country. The Operations of every other Tax 
 muft, in the Nature of Things, be circuitous, and by the 
 fame Neceffity partial; if the Circumltance of it's commenc- 
 ing it's Operations from a particular Point will juftily the 
 Term. But in this View, innumerable Bodies of Men might 
 come forward with better Ground of Complaint than the 
 Shopkeepers. The Landholder contributes dvreclly and indi- 
 reclly to the Support of the State — the Stockholder in the 
 
 latter 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 la'ter Senfe alone. Some Tradefmen are fubjeft. to heavy 
 Licenfes — others are exempted. Some pay enormous Sums 
 to the Excife, and then give the Retail Vender Credit for 
 the Duty and the Goods. 
 
 A Shop Tax is not OPPRESSIVE. A Percentage on the 
 annual Return, imperceptible to the Confumer, will be a full 
 Remuneration of the Trouble. Is it urged, an additional Per- 
 centage of Profit is impracticable ? We may confute the Argu- 
 ment by a Queftion — When the Manufacturer advances a 
 Commodity, how do you repay yourfelves ? * 
 
 Finallv. A judicious Shop Tax would be a GREAT, NA- 
 TIONAL ADVANTAGE. A raw Material, winch gives 
 Employment to a Multitude of Hands is of vafl Utility. But 
 it's grand and ultimate Benefit to the State, as an Article 
 of Confumption, or Commerce ; may fuffer an incredible 
 Diminution from a Surplus of Agency. Now let any Man in 
 political Habits eftimate our productive Powers, and contrail 
 them with the enormous Agency in Town and Country, and 
 he will fee, that fome Meafure which may operate as a RE- 
 MEDY is effential to the very Beiag of our Commeice. 
 Can a better Meafure be denied, than a Shop Tax ? I fhould 
 be tedious, I fear, if I went into an ample Detail of its Uti- 
 litv and Excellencies. A few defultory Obfervalions mull 
 fuffice. 
 
 It is not yet decided, whether the Induftry of Towns, or 
 the Induftry of the Countrv, deferves the mo ft Encouragement. 
 Main - ingenious Theories have appeared, and many plaufibie 
 Arguments have been ufed by their Partizans. If we reafon 
 from Experience, the military Glory af an Empire is ufually 
 promoted and fufiained by a hardy Peafantry. The Trophies 
 of Cre[fy and Agincourt were won, when Commerce was in 
 it's Infancy. The fafell Practice is to encourage both. At 
 prefent, Agriculture is neglecled. The large Towns, and ef- 
 peciallv the Metropolis, attraft the Peafantry from every Quar- 
 ter. -We have a prodigious Extent of Land uncultivated. 
 
 It 
 
 * T was told by mv own Butcher, that it is impracticable. I fhould be glad, 
 faid he, if there were a Tax fufficient to deter needy Adventureis from opening 
 Shops. When a Man has eflablifhed a fufficient Trade in any Part of the Town 
 ta fupport himfelf and Family, three or four more will open Shops in the Neigh- 
 bourhood, and all of them will be flarved. The prefent Tax is too trifling to 
 juflify an Advance on my Meat. I pay four Pounds per Annum, but one Farth- 
 ing on two Pounds of Meat would put fixty Pounds a Year into my Pocket ! 
 
 his complaint could certainly be remedied. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 In former Times, it was a Point with Domeftics to con- 
 tinue in the Service of a reputable Family, 'till Deaih. It is 
 now the Rage to quit their Employments, and open a Shop, 
 as foon as they have acquired fome Money, or can obtain a 
 little Credit. Their Fellow Servants, envying their fuppofed 
 Happinefs and Independence, become diffatisfied with their 
 Situations, and eagerly embrace the firft Opportunity of copy- 
 ing their Example. One Confequence is, a SuccefEon of 
 rural Youth becomes neceffary to lupply Vacancies. Another 
 Confequence is, by thus increafing the Agency of the King- 
 dom, they caufe, in the fame Ratio Poverty and Bankrupt- 
 cies. They do not increafe the Confumption of our Manu- 
 factures, but they enfure the Ruin of Individuals. Theft 
 Men Jlwuld be at the Plow. 
 
 A certain Number of Families will maintain a Tradefman 
 in great Refpedability ; if five or fix Intruders participate 
 his Income, they will all break. The Difproportion between 
 the Agents of our foreign Commerce is equally notorious. 
 Every Man is now a Merchant, and every Merchant, I had 
 almoft, faid is infolvent. This is to be taken under obvious 
 Reftriction Some of our Merchants are Men of Fortune 
 and Integrity, and are jullly entitled to their antient Diftinc- 
 tion, commercial Princes. 
 
 As the Returns of inferior Shopkeepers are but fmall, they 
 often have Recourfe to Artifice and Subterfuge for Subfiftence 
 — Defective Weights— SMUGGLED GOODS, and falfe 
 Charges. The middle and lowei Ranks fuffcr incredibly. A 
 momentary Credit induces them to open an Account, for 
 which Indulgence they pay more than I dare afiert, left; mv 
 Veraeity fhould be queftioned. But the exorbitant Charge is 
 in a Degree unavoidable, for the petty Retailer purchafes of a 
 Man in a more refpedable Situation — this Man is ferved by 
 one of ftill greater Refpedability — he has obtained Credit 
 from the Wholefale Dealer — who is fupplied by the Merchant, 
 or Manufacturer. Thus Profits are multiplied on Profits, and 
 the lower Orders of the Community finally difcharge an Im- 
 port: beyond any levied by the State. But this is not all. 
 The Loffes which the Manufacturer, Importer, and Wholefale 
 Dealer fuftains from the innumerable Bankruptcies of thofe 
 petty Tradefmen, not only compel them to advance their 
 Goods to the Public at large, but thofe LOSSES, though tri- 
 fling in Abftrad, accumulate in a converging Series, and ulti- 
 mo 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 mate!y deprefs the Energy of the Nation itfelf. Now a ju- 
 dicious Shop Tax will gradually and effectually remedy the 
 Evils above Hated ; and confequen:ly will be a Bleffing to 
 the Commonwealth. The Confumption of Imports and Ma- 
 nufactures will be precifely the fame, whether the Public are 
 fupplied by a large a or fmall Number of Shopkeepers. But if 
 the Number be reduced rural Induftry will be promoted, Bank- 
 ruptcies lefs frequent, Smuggling materially affected, the Bu- 
 fjnefs of regular Tradefmen enlarged, and Indigence and Anx- 
 iety will be fucceeded by Tranquility and Affluence. I am 
 confident, every Man who has a Capital diffident to juftify his 
 Engagements, will have Caufe to rejoice in the Succcfs of the 
 Act, which, perhaps, he now reprobates. The Tax impofed 
 on Lottery Office Keepers was beyond Example great and 
 alarming; yet that very Tax, with the Affiftance of the late 
 falutary Regulations, has rendered the Bufinefs at once re- 
 fpedtable and productive. Afk Wenham, Hazard, or Ri- 
 chard/on his Opinion on this Subject, and he will anfwer — 
 Our Bufinefs was once infamous. A Set of unprincipled 
 Men plundered the unfufpecting, and brought it into great 
 Difgrace. In Proportion as the Numbers increafed, our Profits 
 were diminifhed. The Legiflatnre at length interfered, and 
 bv a fevere, but neceffary Meafure gave us effectual Relief. 
 The Citizens, believe me, my Lord Commiffioner, will one 
 Day view Things in the fame Point of Light. Further — but 
 the Subject is too grave, I fear, to be agreeable. I will only 
 prevent} our Lordfhip's Outftion, as to the Counfel I might 
 ylve Mr. Pitt on the Occahon, and then difmifs it. 
 
 The gentle PRETYMAN now refls from his Labours. But 
 thePremier's Averfion from the Sex, precludes all Hopes of his 
 naming Caffandra to fucceed him. He dreads my Difpleafure. 
 His Tax on Maids— an unproductive Tax I am fure it mull be 
 — fills him with Apprehenfion. But your Lordfhip's Quef- 
 tion is, how would I advife him to act. I would fay, the 
 City of London is no mean City. A wife Minifler will pav 
 the fincereft Regard to the Advice of it's Citizens. He will 
 even be indulgent to their Frailties, for the Sake of their 
 Virtues. And confider their Opinions as a Ten 1 of the Purity, 
 if not the Policy, of his Conduct. They fometimes err in 
 Speculation, but they are invariably juft in Sentiment. 
 Power is with the Monarch, Wifdom with the Peers, but Vir- 
 tue, faid Blackftone, dwells with the People. I would then 
 add, if you repeal the Art you will oblige the Citizens ; if you 
 enforce it, you will benefit the Nation. By the Citizens, we 
 
 are 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 are not, on the prefent Occafion, to underftand the great and 
 opulent Body or Merchants and Bankers, nor the Faclors and 
 Wholefale Dealers, but the Shopkeepers, my Lord; and, if 
 they are injured, they are entitled to Redrefs. 
 
 Addifon, when in Office, would not remit his Fees even 
 to his moll intimate Friendships. Five hundred Guineas, faid 
 he, are of little Importance when didributed among five hun- 
 dred People; but they are of effential Service to an Indivi- 
 dual. If we plead, that the Fees of Marriage are in/ignificant, 
 I iear it will be urged in Reply, that the Aggregate of thofe 
 infignificant Fees will be of national Importance. 
 
 On the firft Blufh of the Bufinefs, it appears impolitic to 
 levy any Contributions on the loweft Orders of Society, at 
 their Entrance into a State of Expence ; but on the Principle 
 on which they fubferibe to Lottery Clubs, and to Benefit Socie- 
 ties, on that very Principle, the Nation might be relieved from 
 the Poor-Rates, and afmall Provifion made towards alleviating 
 the public Burden at their Marriage. 
 
 It is impoffible to form an exaft Eflimate; but we may 
 fafelv conclude, that the Sum on the following Scale of Con- 
 tribution would be immenfe. 
 
 '£. s. d. 
 
 A poor Man 050 
 
 A Tradefman o 10 6 
 
 A Gentleman 220 
 
 Men of Title and Fortune 5 5° 
 
 This Tax would be, in a Senfe, optional. A poor Man 
 might rank, if he plealed, as a Tradefman; a Tradefman as a 
 Gentleman; and the Gentleman might emulate Men of Dif- 
 tinftion and Fortune. And we may faiely leave them, my 
 Lord, to the Influence of VANITY. To aid that Influence, 
 the Regiller might be publifhed weekly in the County Papers. 
 We are obliged to acknowlege Marriage a CIVIL CON- 
 TRACT, becaufe our infpired Reformers reprobated the Pa- 
 piflical Notion of it's being a Sacrament. But civil Contrails 
 ought to be enrolled by the civil Magifi rate. 
 
 But ah, my Lord — the End of Matrimony ! — No Prieft to 
 talk " about it, Godde/s, and about it /" — To fpeak of Pro- 
 creation and Comfort!- — To unfold the Mvfteries of the Mar- 
 riage Bed! — Infufierable, abfolutely infufterable, How will 
 
 F the 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 the haplefs Virgin know the Dciliuation of her Sex ? — The 
 illuftrious Barbarian indeed replies, leave her to the J union oi 
 her Mo'her Eve. Again, my Lord, and I implore your moll 
 lerious Attention, how fwcec to witnefs the Interchange of 
 plighted Troth ! When blooming May leads the antiquated 
 January to the Altar, how edifying to hear the tender Accents 
 of Love fauher on his aged Lips ! To hear him dechue, m 
 the venerable Simplicity of our moll Holy Service, with my 
 — Body — I thee uorjlnp, and with al! — my worldly Goods — I 
 thee endow, and for faking all others — 1 will — keep to due 
 alone, and — cornfort thee, and — ckerijh thee, til! — Death — us 
 — do part ! Now I afk your Lordlhip, in ferious Solemnity, 
 will the paltry Addition of half a Million to the Revenue 
 compenfate this great, national Calamity. No, my Lord, the 
 Chancellor's Project mult be refilled by all the Art, Elo- 
 quence, and Infpiration of the Bench. The Sex will alio 
 itrenuoufly defend their own Privileges. We are too fond of 
 being idolized to refign our Claim to Bodily-Worjhip. Our 
 Holy Church has declared we are entitled to it, and we infiit 
 on the due Performance both in Sacrifice, and Praife. 
 
 TO SUBVERT A TYRANNY TOO GRIEVOUS TO 
 BE ENDURED.) I have no Scale to meafure the Demerits 
 of our vindictive Cafuilt. Not fatisfied with expofing us to 
 the Shafts of Ridicule, he now meditates the Overthrow of 
 our moil holy Difcipline. Mr. Baftard (one of the County 
 Members) lately enumerated feveral Inflances of Ecclefiafli- 
 cal Oppreffion in Devonfhire. Great was the Alloniihment 
 and Indignation of the Houle. For they were enfnarcd into a 
 Belief oi a Tranfaction, which never exifled. The Alleruons 
 happily were not credited by the Multitude. The Facts which 
 Mr. Ballard ffated are fo tranfeendently weak and wicked, io 
 remote from the Poflibilities of Chriflian Lite, and fo grofs an 
 Indignity to the facred Privileges of Englishmen, that they 
 naturally fuppofe it to be an Extract from ancient Hijiorx. The 
 Picture is charged with fuch Deformities, they turn from it 
 with Horror, and wonder at what Period of the World human 
 Depravity was fo depraved. 
 
 Indeed, my Lord, to rake up the Allies of long departed 
 Love, and imbitter the laft Moments of the unhappy Survivor 
 (were it true) would be too bad. As it is not an Action, but a 
 Series of Actions which conditute a Character, fo not an un- 
 guarded Emotion, but the moral Approbation of the Heart 
 conftitutes a Crime. I admit, in the Language of our Holy 
 
 Church 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 Church, they finned; but did they not make Atonement at 
 your Altar? 
 
 Mr. Ballard's Complaint of Profecuticns for premature 
 Birth, merits your Lordfhip's Attention. Th* Period of Li- 
 mitation, now in Ufe, is by no Means an unerring Standard of 
 Decifion. The Evidence of Hippocrates is relpectablc, pu&w» 
 e| *Aqg«0i/Lr1cxo» 1»« ? . 1 cannot refer your Lordlhip to the Page^ 
 as 1 quote from Memory. Aulus Gellius fpeaks to the fame 
 Purport: Hwi 7a1itf1i/» u-M^ku-j xn>n©. v.'i:=i. muha Opinio fuit, 
 eaque jam pro vero recepta, film mum eife Finem Hominem 
 gignendi, decern Menfes non iircaeptos, SKX EXACTOS. 
 But I need not appeal to i emote Authority. I rnyfelf have 
 witneifed the Baj'ti(m of <x\\ Infant exactly fix Months from 
 the Period of Traduction. Had the Union been folemnized 
 only Hk Mom lis before Parturition, notwithstanding the natu- 
 ral Candor of my Temper, I fhould have fufpected, I fear, 
 fomei fling like ANTICIPATION. But this was a grave Ma- 
 tron, my Lord ; no Novice, I allure you ; but one admirably 
 well fkiiled in that Species of Computation. 
 
 I remember a melancholy Infiance in which the Authority 
 of our Holy Church was abufed as an Engine of private Re- 
 fentment. A Farmer, in the Diocefs of Lincoln, died and left 
 an only Child. She had liitle elfe than Beauty and an amia- 
 ble Mind to conduct her through Life. A neighbouring Gen- 
 tleman omitted no Plea, no Stratagem to pollefs her Charms; 
 But Ihc bad Virtue, and, above all, !he was not at her own Dil- 
 poial. A Youth, whofe Family once lived in Dignity and 
 Affluence, had made a deep Imprellion on her Heart. His 
 Putrimonv, indeed, was fmall, but he was active and enter- 
 prizing Tne Lovers pictured in their fond Imaginations a 
 thou fa ad Scenes of Feucitv, which thev were never de (fined 
 to realize. Fie beautified his rural Abode, flocked a Farm, 
 and then folemnized his Attachment at ihe Altar. In fix 
 Months, in Confequeme of unulual Fatigue, the Infant 
 Stranger vifited this World of Woe, The abandoned Rival 
 eagerly it-ized the Opportunity of ianating his Lull and Re- 
 venge. He infliured a Proccfs in our Holy Court— harrailed 
 the innocent Youth, and branded his Wife with Infamy. It was 
 not in their Power to prove io ex i inordinary a Negative as our 
 Ploly Liws required; nor to difcharge the Penance impoled 
 for the Good of their Souls. The Hufband was, therefore, 
 ordered to RFPFNT IN A COAL. The Wretch now pro- 
 mifed himfeli an eafy Victory. Liberty to her Hufband, and 
 
 F"2 Refforation 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 Reftoration to their Farm were offered, but rejected with in- 
 effable Difdain by the BRITISH LUCRETIA. Cruelty and 
 Oppreflion were then reiterated 'till Exigence and Senfibility 
 alone remained — the reft is unutterable. At length (he died, 
 and leit her Hufband in a Prifon, and her Infant to the 
 Mercies of the World; — and every tender Heart exclaimed, 
 Oh, GENIUS of ALBION awake, why does thy Vengeance 
 flumbei ! 
 
 I need not have Recourfe, my Lord, to prophetic Virion 
 to determine the Part, which our illuflrious Offender will 
 choofe, when thofe Complaints are before your Houfe. If vonr 
 Lordfhip be apprehenfive of his taking the Ground of com- 
 mon Law quod facis per alterum, facts per teipfam, I advife 
 that our Advocate be fent to Sir William Dolben for Infiiuc- 
 tions : for when the above Maxim W3S urged in the Commons, 
 Sir William, with a zeal which did him the higheft Honor, 
 fhewed the Infufficiency of the Plea, by proving that your 
 Lordfhips have no Concern in the ecclefiaftical Courts, not- 
 withstanding the Officers of thofe Courts are in your Lord- 
 fhips' Appointment. The Felicity of this Argument would 
 be apparent, had we time to put a Bifhop, as a corporate Ca- 
 pacity, into a Courfe of negative Abnraclion. 
 
 His Refponfibility as a fpiritual Vice Roy we may readily 
 admit. The Souls oi the Diocefs are committed to his CEco- 
 nomy and Protection, and they will all be required at his 
 Hands; becaufe the fubordinate Priefthood aft by his Influ- 
 ence. He beflows on them fuch a Meafure of the Holy 
 Ghofl, as he deems requifite to preach the Gofpel, regenerate 
 Infants, and abfolve the Penitent. Thefe Gifts and Graces 
 lie imparts at Ordination to the mofldiffipated Students, from a 
 benevolent Purpofe of bellowing the Holy Ghofl on thofe, who 
 moll require it. It has been profanely intimated, indeed, by an 
 eminent Apoflate, that the Impofition of the Bifhop's Hand, 
 like the Sop given to Judas, is only a Signal for the Devil to 
 enter. I hope Mr. Horn does not fpeak from Experience. 
 But indeed, my Lord, if we eflimate their Infpiration by their 
 Doctrines, and the Purity of their Hearts by their Practice, 
 we muff conclude, that the Spirit, which enters into many 
 of our Miniflers, is like that which entered into the Herd of 
 Swine — it leaves the Heart as it found it, and only accelerates 
 DeftrurTtion. The Holy Ghoft is a fpiritual CAUSE, and al- 
 ways produces a fpiritual EFFECT — Life, Love, and Obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 We 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 We now come to that fubtle Difcrimination of Character, 
 which Sir William had in View, when he fo ably vindicated 
 the Dignity ol the Mitre. I have already obferved, that your 
 Lordfhips anxioufly dehre to be exempted fiomtf// temporal 
 Concerns, and, in Conformity to the Pra&ice ot the Apoflles, 
 to give yomfelves np to Pray tr, and to preaching the Wjrd*. 
 Your Services as Lords of Parliament are, however, necef- 
 fary to the Operations of the Government, and you are Hill em- 
 bar raffed with the Care of your Temporalities; yet the Di/ci- 
 plint of the People, we muff contend, has devolved into other 
 Hands — it is a regular Code, adminiitered by proper Officers. As 
 to the Facts of which Mr. Ballard complains, they are, you may 
 zdd. in vour Speech, in a queflionable Shape — not regularly 
 before the Houfe — you cannot fpeak to them — you know No- 
 thing of the Matter- — never heard a Syllable of the Affair 'till 
 the prefent Moment — it may be an Impohtion en the worthy 
 Commoner's Philanthropy' — the Allegations are not fub- 
 flantiated. If an}' criminal Practices appear on Evidence, 
 noble Lords may depend on the mofi cordial Concurrence of 
 Bench. As far as regards the Miniftry of the Word, and the 
 Lo'.v Ordinances of the Church, fpiritual Lords hold themfelves 
 anfwerable far all Events. The} - are virtually prefent in every 
 Part of their Diocefs, and tranfact all fpiritual Concerns by 
 the mediate Operations of the Holy Ghofr. Nor can thofe 
 Operations be reduced to a Syflem, or be fubjeft to vulgar 
 Controul. The Bilhops are the Confervators of the divine 
 Power, and confequently amenable to — GOD. In Relation to 
 ecclefiaftical Courts, it is a plain Dictate of Reafon there can 
 be no Refponfibility in the Bench : it is a uniform Procefs en- 
 forced by common Law — no divine Power is delegated — the 
 Judges and fubordinate Officers aft only from a CARNAL 
 Spirit — the Difcipline of the People is no effential Mode ot 
 the holy Office — it originated in the Tyranny and Superftition 
 of Popery, and it would be the higheft lnjuftice in noble 
 Lords to cenfure the Bench for Tranfactions in which they 
 have no Concern. 
 
 This ingenious Defence will be as a Shield to protect 
 your Lordfhips from the Calumny and Afperfions of the pro- 
 fane Peers. And yet, my Lord, I have a painful Prefenti- 
 ment of the Chancellor's captious Affumption from the Pre- 
 mifes. He will certainly avail himfelf of Mr. Ballard's Com- 
 
 * Afts vi. 4. 
 
 plaint, 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 plaint, in order to fubverl our holy Difcipline It is the only 
 Refuge in which he can hope to Ihelter bimfelf from our juft 
 Difpleafure. Our Attempt to exculpate ourfelves will be a dan- 
 gerous Weapon in his Hands. Wrapt into Futurity, I now be- 
 hold the royai Cafuift, with the Terrors oi his Brow foftened 
 by confeious Vi&ory, rife, meafuie five Paces from the Wool- 
 
 fack, and thus addrels the Houfe 1 am happy the learned 
 
 Prelate has fo clearly demonllrated the Injuftice ot imputing 
 the Enormities of ecclefialtical Courts to ipiritual Lords. The 
 Houfe is now in Poffefiio:i of bright and determinate Concep- 
 tions of epifcopal Power. His Lordfhip, with a Candor which 
 does him infinite Honor, has acknowledged the Difcipline of 
 thole Courts to be only dn adventitious Mode of Prelacy, and 
 by no Means neceffarv to the great, fpi ritual Purpoles of its 
 Inflitution. His Lordfhip was pleafed to add in Jo many plain 
 words, that the Laws and CEconomy of the fatd Courts weie 
 totally independent on the Authority of the Bifhops. Now it 
 is unneceffary to remind noble Lord-, that the Court of King's 
 Bench is the legal Cujhs Murum of the People; and that by 
 the Statute of the firft of Edward the fixth; the firft and 
 eighteenth of Elizabeth; the third of James the fiilt; and the 
 twenty-ninth of Charles the Second, with feveral others, fuit- 
 able Punilhments are enacHed for the Offences of which the 
 faid Courts take Cognizance. But it is a palpable Solecifm 
 in civil Policy for two Courts, diffimilar in Principle and Prac- 
 tice, to exercife a concurrent Jurifdiclion. Noble Lords, there- 
 fore will fee the Wifdom of the Amendment, and totally 
 abolifh the Jurifdiclion of ecclefiaftical Courts, except in Adul- 
 teiv and teliamentarv Cafes. Refervation in the former In- 
 flance is neceifarv; for though it be the Prerogative of this 
 Houfe to grant Divorces a Vinculo Matrimonii, vet ihe Deli- 
 cacy and Dignity of noble Lords will not admit the Preerequi- 
 fites to be afcertained at this Bar. I flatter rayfelf the Bill 
 will be one of the mofl popular ever palled by this llluilrious 
 Affen blv. It will deliver the People from the Terrors of a 
 Proteilant Inquifition, reflore them to their favorite Trial by 
 Jury, and be doubly grateful to every Order in Society, from 
 the unanimous Approbation of the fpi ritual Lords. 
 
 CON- 
 
( 39 ) 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 THE public Attention, my Lord, is fully occupied bv the 
 projected Repeal of the Teft A£l — the Treat}" of Com- 
 merce with France — the Confolidation of the Culloms — and 
 the Impeachment of Mr. Haflings. I will take the Liberty 
 of fpeaking a Word to each Particular. 
 
 I entreat your Lordfhip to believe me, I am neither by 
 Birth, nor Education, a DISSENTER. Yet I mould be 
 happy if my Engagements would permit me to ftate at large 
 the divcrfified Abfurdities of religious TESTS. In the pre- 
 fent Inftance, to compel thofe, who both in Lip and Heart 
 emphatically abjure Popery, and demean themfelves with the 
 utmofr. Loyalty to the Prince, and Obedience to the Laws, to 
 compel, I fay, this Defcription of Citizens to a Communion, 
 which in CONSCIENCE they cannot approve, is impolitic 
 abfurd, and cruel. Upon my Honor, my Lord, I am not 
 able to difcern any other Tendency of this intolerant Spirit, 
 than an Increafe of the difaffected, and a general Abhorrence 
 of the Eftablifhment. 
 
 To defeat the modeft, and very equitable Appeal of our 
 diffenting Brethren, an obfolete Treatife. written by Bifliop 
 Sherlock, is brought forward to View. I wifh it were univer- 
 fally read; for by a flrange Mode of Confirmation, it ella- 
 bhfhes the Truth it endeavoured to fubvert. It is, indeed, a 
 poor Attempt to contradict Conviftion. Weigh it, my Lord, 
 in the Balance of Reafon, and you will find it lighter than Va- 
 nity. It is the Nonfenle of Poperv fublimated by the tran- 
 fcendent Genius of a Bifhop into a Nonentity. For after all 
 his licentious Affumption of Principles, winch never exifled, 
 and his Suppofuion of Qualities, which have no Reference to 
 the Point in Debate, what is the Refult ? An identical Pro- 
 portion, and a fagacious Conclufion — the Church of England 
 is the Church of England, and therefore you ought to belong 
 to it. 
 
 Pray, 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 Pray, my Lord, if you fend a Card of Compliments to a 
 P.-.pilt, and requell him to take a Glafs of Wine, and a Cruit 
 of Biead in St. James's Square, do you thence infer his Con- 
 verfion from Popery? Certainly not, Caflandra; but fup- 
 pofe I confecrate the Bread and Wine at the Altar? Your 
 Lordfhip muft be in Orders, before you can tranfmute a Cruft. 
 of Bread into the Body of Chrift. Your Sacrament and your 
 Civility will have equal Influence with his CONSCIENCE. 
 
 The Cafe is much the fame with our Articles. They are 
 highly Calviniflical. Now it is not always in our Power to 
 controul Opinion : fubjective Certaintv correfponds to objec- 
 tive Evidence. But all who enter into Holv Orders are either 
 Calvinifls, or PERJURED. And fince none but your Lord- 
 Ihips, and a few more Clergymen preach Praedeltination, the 
 Influence of the Holy Spirit, and the Doftrine of the Crofs, 
 muft we not conclude, that Subftription deters confcientious 
 Men, and admits unprincipled Knaves ? What profound 
 Mailers of the human Heart were our infpired Reformers! 
 They fuppofed Men of the mod corrupt Principles would be 
 governed by the Dictates of the pureft Confcience ! 
 
 But, my Lord, I have an Argument ad Verecundiam. I 
 have been informed of a Man, who adminiflered the Sacra- 
 ment to an ASS. And 1 have heard of one, who robed a 
 Monkey, and requefted him to " Jay Grace." This Perfon 
 is ftiled, by a polite Figure of Speech, a. Nobleman. He 
 laughs at the Bible, makes a Jell of our deareft Hopes, and 
 would, if his Fears permitted him, make a Jeft of Deity: for 
 the cui nal Mind is Enmity againjl God. The Text you may 
 find in St. Paul's to the Romans — the Comment is in Hert- 
 ford Street. Were this Man appointed firft Lord of the Ad- 
 miralty, would the Bilhop of Oxiord adminifter the Tell ? 
 li he did, I fhould be happy to Ice the Bilhop of Oxford un- 
 frockt for his Servility. Fond as Women are of Baubles, I 
 would lay a thoufand Mitres at the Feet of my Sovereign, ra- 
 ther than infult my God. But, my Lord, are the Majority 
 of thofe who qualify " according to Law," better qualified in 
 the evangelical Senfe of the Word, than his Lordfhip to com- 
 memorate the molt awful, and infinitely the moft glorious 
 Event, which the Sun ever did, or will behold ? Do their 
 Hearts atteft the Language of their Lips, when they thus ad- 
 drefs Almighty God, the Father of the adorable Lord Jefus, 
 who is the Maker of all Things, and the Judge of all Men — 
 
 " we 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 " we acknowlege and bewail our manifold Sins and Wicked- 
 «' nefs; we do EARNESTLY REPENT, and are heartily 
 " forrv forthefe our Mifdoings; the Remembrance of them is 
 " grievous; the BURDEN INTOLERABLE!" ToyourHeart, 
 my Loid Bifhop, and anfwer me like a Man, and a Chriftian. 
 You know it is only SOLEMN MOCKERY; and in an Age 
 like the prefent, I am aftonilhed fiich Follv, fuch Impiety 
 fliould find an Advocate! To adminiller ihe Sacrament to an 
 Afs was a Refinement not on the Iniquity, but the Folly of 
 our Praclice. An Afs is a Creature — an honeft, uleful Crea- 
 ture — and an Afs, my Lord, once fpoke by Injpiration. 
 
 ■gjs- 4^. 4±. -j-f -^- -i- 
 
 As to the Treaty, my Lord Cnmmiflioner, it is now the Part 
 -of a good Citizen to leave it to 115 contingent Operations. It 
 feems indeed to be the popular Sentiment, that no Union 
 of Force or Interefls can be durable, from the reciprocal 
 Antipathy of the Rival States; and many Politicians con- 
 ceive we have embarked in a perilous Voyage of Speculation, 
 in which the utmoft that can be hoped is the negative Re- 
 compenfe of efcaping Ruin. For when it was proved in the 
 Commons, from the mofl authentic Documents that could 
 be obtained, that former Treaties were decidedly againft 
 Great Britain, the Chancellor of the Exchequer rofe, and 
 declared it was " notorious the Prohibitions were begun on 
 the Part of France, for their Merchants were convinced the 
 Trade was greatly in our Favor." This was unfortunate. It 
 proved too much. If the Treaty be againft us, our Com- 
 merce will fuffer : if it be favourable, our great and good 
 Ally will not permit us to reap the Advantage. But Recipro- 
 city ? Impoffible. 
 
 This Breach of national Faith indeed is of antient Date. Their 
 fubfequent Conduct plainly fhews, that we mav now repofe the 
 utmoft Confidence in their Friendfhip. They have uniformly 
 fought our Battles, appeafed our Colonies, and cemented oar 
 beft Alliances. And what ought to remove all Sufpicion, 
 Lord Stormont pledged his Honor as a Peer, that the French 
 Court profeffed the moft ardent and affectionate Regard to 
 our Inierefts, at the very Moment the Prefervation of the 
 State compelled them to commence Hoftilities, and dif- 
 patch Veflels of War to every Quarter of the Globe. With 
 fuch Reluctance, faid the mble^Vifcount, did they interrupt 
 
 G even 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 even for a Moment the antient Harmony of the -Crowns ! It 
 is true, my Lord Hawkdbury has lately attempted to demon- 
 Urate, that they u are a perfidious People, and that the Spirit 
 " of their Laws contraditls their Treaties*." But this is Ca- 
 lumny. The noble Lord ought not to iuffer his Refentments to 
 the Treaty to weaken his Attachments to Truth. The Efpouf- 
 als are nearly folemnized. The enraptured Parties only wait 
 for your Lordlhips' Benediction of the genial Bed. They 
 will then confummate their unfiniihed Loves, and may Peace 
 and Profperiiy be the Pledges of their Union. Some indeed- 
 may deem our golden Fleece too coflly a Paraphernalia for 
 the Gallic Bride, and others may infill, that her Spirit for In- 
 trigue is a fuie Prefage oi a fpeedy Divorce, but I repeat it 
 with Energy, we ought not to fow Diflenfions between the 
 illuftrious Lovers, but leave thofe, whom the Minifter has 
 joined together, to put themfelves afunder +. They will 
 agree very well, I dare fav, at leaft during the Honey-Moon. 
 I am interefted in the Fortunes of Mr. Pitt, for I love my 
 Country. And I am happy, therefore, to hear him declare, 
 that he claims no Praife from this commercial Arrangement. 
 It would be a poor Compliment to Lord Chatham, to fuppofe 
 he had no determinate Meaning, when he faid, Behind the 
 Throne, there is an Influence greater than the Throne itfclf. 
 This Influence — quocunque Nomine gaudet — often prefides 
 in Council. The prefent Reign is indebted to it for the moft 
 fplendid Pages of it's Hiflory. And, if I am not deceived in 
 it's Features, the TREATY is an Offspring of this dark but 
 prolific Intercourfe. 
 
 * Jenkinfoirs Collection of Treaties. 
 
 t It is undeniably the Opinion of a confiderable Fart of the Kingdom, that 
 the Treaty -will be fatal to our landed, fun did, and commercial Interefts. Mr. 
 Walker has ftated fome alarming Fafts. The Manner in which Mr. Wedgwood 
 has controverted this Statement, has greatly increafed the public Apprehenfion. 
 The former Gentleman, it feems, charged the latter with a Contradiftion, in 
 depofing that the Smuggling of Pottery was impracticable ; ar.d afterwards a(- 
 ferting, that no Prohibition, however ftrong, would be able to prevent the Ad- 
 miffion into foreign Kingdoms. Mr. Wedgwood fays in Anfwer, " I did not 
 " allude to Smuggling, when I faid. that no Prohibition, however ftrong, could 
 «« prevent the Admiffion of Goods into foreign Kingdoms ; and I now affuie 
 " you, Sir, I could, with equal Eaje. anfwer all your Objections." Now it much 
 furpaffes the Powers of my poor Undcrftandnig to comprehend the Force of 
 this Reply. I am not able to conceive how contraband Goods can be introduced 
 into a Country according to Law : but if they are introduced contrary to Laze, is it 
 not Smuggling ? Perhaps Mr. Wedgwood alludes to a circuitous Channel. But 
 this is Smuggling, with the Addition of Perjury. He ought certainly to explain 
 himfelf, in Juflice to his Caufe : for when he advances this Achillean Argument, 
 and triumphantly beads, that he can, with Eafe. produce a thoufand more, 
 Men arc apt to fmiie with Contempt, and exclaim, Ex uno difcitt omnia! 
 
 I may 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 I may, however, be permitted to exprefs my Surprize at 
 the Conduct of the Marquifs of Paradox. He knew the 
 Treaty " contained'' many IMPORTANT »« Omiffions." 
 But he did not communicate this Intelligence to the Minifter. 
 He knew the Treaty " contained" many UNPARDONABLE 
 " Omiffions," and yet he rofe to give it his " hearty and au- 
 dible Support.'" Does the Marquifs, or the Minifter, my 
 Lord, merit Impeachment? Perhaps his Lordfhip's Reply to 
 the Matter- Genera I of the Ordnance is a Solution of the Quef- 
 tion. " Ypu wrote to me on the Bulinefs, but I declined art 
 " Anfwer." The noble Marquifs, it feems, knew the pro- 
 jected Fortificatious were abfurd, and greatly to be reproba- 
 ted; yet when politely requefted to communicate his Opinion, 
 he had no Opinion to offer on the Subject ! Do me the Ho- 
 nor, my Lord, to prefent my Relpecls to this mylierious Man, 
 and afk him whether he hoped, by his Silence, to ruin the 
 Country, or to difgrace the Duke of Richmond? His Mind, 
 he lays, is again pregnant — feveral important Ideas are float- 
 ing in Embryo — when his Imagination has ripened ihem into 
 Exidence, he will exhibit them to the Houfe ; provided it be 
 too late for Miniflers to* avail themfelves of his Remarks. 
 After all, his Lordthip is a valuable Member of Society. He 
 Doffeffes a Liberality, a Charity of religious Sentiment, that 
 veiis a Multitude of political Frailties. 
 
 jk. -I- ^- -i!*- -de. jig. 
 
 To confolidate the Cuftoms is a Meafure of obvious Uti- 
 litv. Mr. Burke's Encomium on the Minifter's Plan, is a 
 Compliment to his own Underflanding. And as fnnple 
 Energies are preferable to a Syftem of complicated Powers, 
 I fhould rejoice to fee all our multiform Refources fimplified. 
 Among other Meafures, I would recommend a Reformation 
 in the Management of the Poor. The PARISH is an Afy- 
 lurn for Indolence and Vice. Every Pauper in the Kingdom 
 ought to contribute to a public Fund, as a Provifion againft: 
 old Age. The Excife fhould be gradually removed from the 
 Neceffaries of Life, and working Men, who have Families, 
 exempted from every Species of Import. CELIBACY ought 
 to be a grand Source ol Revenue. A Man, who has a Wife 
 and five or Gx Children, contributes fif we properly eftima, e 
 Population, and the Confumption of excifeable Goods) eight 
 Times more Energy to the Stare than the Bachelor. Augujlus 
 
 G 2 was 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 was fenfible of this great political Truth. It was ordained by 
 the Lex Julia, amended and enlarged by the Confuls, A. 762, 
 that a married Candidate for public Honors, caUris paribus, 
 fhould be preferred to a Bachelor — that a Magiilrate fhould 
 take Precedence according to the Number of his Children — 
 and a Citizen be excufed from Offices and Imports, when his 
 Family was increafed to the Number fpecified bv Law. A 
 fimilar Rule obtained in Sparta. It's Influence on Morals and 
 Population needs no Comment. 
 
 Such, indeed, are the indigenous Refources of this Queen 
 of Ifles. that were thev properly called forth and applied, we 
 might foon attain the Zenith of our Glory. The Viciflitudes 
 of the World, and the Revolutions of Ages will never affecl 
 our infular Situation. Britannia rules the Waves will proba- 
 bly be echoed from our Shores, till Heroes and Senators are 
 no more, and all, which this mortal Fabric contains, pafs into 
 eternal Oblivion. 
 
 I am not the Advocate of Mr. Haftings. I hope the im- 
 perial Authority of Parliament will in him exhibit to the earl- 
 em World our Abhorrence of Injuftice. Where the Standard 
 of Albion is planted, it confecrates the Soil to Freedom. If 
 the meaneft Slave be wantonly oppreiTed, I would extort ten- 
 fold Agonies from the Oppreffor's Heart. 
 
 The Conduct of Mr. Pitt on the Occafion is fuperior to 
 Eulogium. It is worthy his hereditary Virtues. He is now in 
 the full Enjoyment — and long may he deferve to enjoy — the 
 Approbation of Men of Virtue, and the Confidence of the 
 People. 
 
 But let us not follow the Example which we condemn. 
 The DoBrine of Retribution is applicable to Services, as well 
 as to Crimes. To the bold and decided Meafures of Mr. 
 Haftings, we are indebted, it is faid, for our Trade and Ex- 
 iftence in India. But brilliant and fuccefsful Enterprises are 
 no Apology for Opprefhon. He is — but I will not embitter 
 his Humiliation by Reproach. 
 
 At the Time Mr. Haftings was eftablifhing our Dominion 
 and extending our Commerce in the Eajl, the domeftic Mi- 
 
 niller 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 nifier was wading our Treafures, deftroyi'ng our Commerce, 
 and difmembring our Empire in the Weft. In that very 
 Houfe, where Mr. Haftings is now under Impeachment, it 
 was faid, that the Western War wis commenced in folly, con- 
 ducted in Cruelty, and completed in Ignominy. That we 
 deluged America in civil Blood, carried Fire and Defection 
 through its Provinces, and made it an Habitation cf Sorrow, 
 
 a Land of Orphans and Widows. And vet that Minifter 
 * * * * * # j 
 
 Thefe, my Lord Bifhop, are the chief Topics of prefent 
 Difquifnion. But I will aver, without Apology or Referve, 
 that they are not more intimately combined with the Dignity 
 and beft Interells of the Nation, or more worthy the enlight- 
 ened Policy of the Age, than the Regulations intimated in the 
 preceding Pages. Go to the Houfe, I moll humbly entreat 
 you, and affift in earning them into Erica. Go, convince 
 the World, vou are not a Roman, but a Preteftant Bifhop — 
 finifli your Career, my Lord, in Glory, and embalm your 
 Name in the Affections ol your Country. 
 
 I remain, my Lord, 
 
 Your Lordfhip's moll obedient, 
 And devoted, 
 
 CASSANDRA. 
 
 POST 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 POST IMPRESS 
 
 IT has given me the greatest Concern, that I could not 
 prefent your Lordfhip with a printed Copy of this Letter 
 by the Time appointed at our lyfl Interview. An Accident 
 detained the Manufcript irom the Prefs upwards of three 
 Weeks. But I am confoled, in fome Meafure, for the Delay, 
 by the Opportunity it has afforded me ot C3nvamng the 
 "Sentiments as well of Opponents as Partisans. The former 
 cenfure, without Merc)', my Attachments to the Mitre, and 
 openly affert, that I am a Brjliop in Difguifc. How flattering, 
 my Lord, are fuch indire6t Encomiums! Our Enemies in- 
 tend a Stigma, but they plant a Laurel ! As to the Friends of 
 our Holy Church, it would be unpardonable even in a Fe- 
 male to detail their Appiauie. They are enraptured at my 
 Resolution, and do me the Honor to fay, that I have not 
 left the Chancellor an Argument to countenance his Conduft, 
 nor a Subterfuge to protect him from Punifhment. But this 
 Homage to ray Zeal is ufually followed by a fevere Reproof 
 for my Strictures on the Tejl Ad. I allured them, that thofe 
 Strictures had the fullefl Approbation of your Lordfhip's 
 Heait. But his Lordfhip's Conduct, they exclaimed! I re- 
 plied, '' the Maxims andPoffibilities of real Life are no Rule 
 " ot Controul to Infpiration. The Acroatics of Epifcopacy 
 '' are of too illiiftrious an Origin to admit an Appeal to po- 
 " fitive Syflems. When CONSISTENCY is m Oueition, 
 " you ought to fpeak tenderly of a BiJJiop. But in the 
 " prefent -Inftance, Wifdom is openly jit/lifted of her Children. 
 " The Operations ad intra accord with the Outward Deport- 
 " menu The Repeal of the facramentd Teft would give 
 " infinite Pleafure to the Bifhop of London: nor muft you 
 " be furprized if a Bill originate from that Quarter bciore 
 " Parliament rifes. 
 
 " CafTandra, faid his Lordfhip (when I called the other 
 " Day to make mv ufual Enquiries) I rejoice I fee you. 
 " My Mind is greatly opprefled. You have heard the Fate 
 " of Mr. Beaufoy's Motion ? It has received a Negative, I 
 
 " am 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 '* am told. It has, CafTandra, to my great Regret. You 
 
 " alone are in Pofleflion of my Sentiments on this Subject ; 
 
 " lor to you alone, of the whole Circle of my Fnendlhips, 
 
 " do I unbofom myfelf without Referve. Yet 1 am not 
 
 " without my Fears led my ConducT: in this Refpeft mould. 
 
 " be reprehenfible. Simulation and Difimulation are odious 
 
 u at an\ r Age, but in declining Life a Spirit ol Accommoda- 
 
 " tion is ablolute Suicide. 
 
 " Antecedently* to the grand Reformation, the Anceffors 
 
 ,; of that Order of Citizens, whom we name Diffenters, 
 
 " were, in common with the whole Kingdom, of the Ca- 
 
 •' tholic Perfuafion. At their Converfion from Popery, they 
 
 '' were defirous of forming a Syitem of Worfhip de novo, 
 
 «• not on tranfmitted Opinions, but on the pure Model of 
 
 " Infpiration. From confidering thePrieft as a Demi-God, thev 
 
 •• purpofed to degrade him into a Man of like Pa/lions with 
 
 " them/elves. And the Bi Chops, like the Prelates of Denmark, 
 
 " were to be only primi inter pares. But our Dignitaries 
 
 " were not of that apotatlical Turn of Mind. The Supre- 
 
 " macy of the Pontiff they rejected — the Pontificalia they 
 
 " referved. It was their Maxim, in medio tutifjimus ibis. 
 
 " The next Step was to guard their Temporalities and Spi- 
 
 *' ritualities from Invafion. This was efFe£r.ed bvdifTeminatmg 
 
 «' a Belief, that the CONSTITUTION and the CHURCH 
 
 " were effentially united. This pious Fraud is attended with 
 
 *' Succefs. An honeft Country Gentleman mav be agitated 
 
 <c to Madnefs, by a fkilful Management of this Topic. You 
 
 '' may work on his Simplicity till he believes, that the facra- 
 
 " mental Teft renders a Subjecx loyal, while the Oath of Al- 
 
 " legiance prompts him to Rebellion — that thofe who do not 
 
 " turn to the Eaft and kneel before the confecrated Elements, 
 
 " have no Religion, no Idea of Law, Property, or Freedom — 
 
 " that our Trade would decay, our Armies be defeated, our 
 
 " Fleets captured, and the very Sun drop from his Orbit, if 
 
 li fuch a Defciiption of Men were admitted into Power. 
 
 " Length of Time has furnifhed us with another Argument 
 
 «• —INNOVATION. Now the Forms of the Conftitution 
 
 •' are facred : but a Plea of Precedent is ufually the Plea of 
 
 " Fools. And yet Lord. North oppofed the Repeal for Wan! 
 
 " of Precedent. He did fo, Caffandra, but you mull make 
 
 " Allowances for his Lordfhip's Situation. He attempted 
 
 " you know to reduce the Americans to an u • lode 
 
 " of 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 " of Taxation, and he detached them from the Empire. By 
 
 *' another Scheme, he loft the Favor of his Sdvei'eign. He 
 
 <l feels fore from his former Projects. They were fo rernarka- 
 
 ••' hly unfuccefsful, that his Lordfhip is now hecome the deter- 
 
 " mined Enemy of Enterprize and Innovation. Nor is this 
 
 •* an uncommon Revolution of Mind. Horace remarks it in 
 
 M his Epiftle ad Pifone^. 
 
 profejfus grandia turret, 
 
 Serpit humi tutus nimium timiditfque Procellcz. 
 
 " Laws are defigned to promote the Happintfs of civil 
 
 ' Life : they ought to be revifed, or lepealed, according to 
 
 ' the Exigencies of the Commonwealth *. To demand a 
 
 ' Precedent is ahfurd. By what P.ecedem did the Median. 
 
 ' fuperfede the Rites and Sacrifices of Mofes ? Or Henry 
 
 ' emancipate his Kingdom from the Bondage of Rome ? Or 
 
 ' Parliament vote the Throne vacant when James retired to 
 
 ' the Continent ? It is true, there is no Precedent on our 
 
 ' Journals for repealing the Teft Act ; whenever it is done, 
 
 ' it will be a nezu Thing, an Innovation ; hut the proper 
 
 4 Quefiion is, ought it to be repealed? Now I think it ought, 
 
 1 Caflandra. for the fir It and mod forcible of all Reafons — 
 
 ' REVERENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD. 
 
 " The Observations in your Letter made a deep Imprefiion 
 ' on my Mind. But the Vifions of a fubfequent Night 
 • filled me with the Refolution of a Martyr. I had been 
 ' engaged in Meditation till Midnight — a Seafon -peculiarly 
 ' favorable to ferious Thought — when Darknefs veils the gay 
 ' Illufions of this tranfitory Life, and leaves us at Leifure to 
 ' be wife. 1 dreamt I was taking my accuttomed Walk on 
 ' yonder Terrace, when a hidden but molt tremendous Con- 
 vulfion of Nature overwhelmed me with Dread and Afto- 
 nifnment. The Period, which the Omnipotent had marked 
 in his eternal Decrees, was at Hand. A Voice, that en- 
 com palled the Globe, proclaimed— TIME IS NO MORE! 
 In a Moment the Elements were diffolved by fervent Heat, 
 the Heavens were folded up as a Vellure, and fuch a 
 Scene, Caflandra, fuch a Scene of Glory opened to my 
 
 * U^oqoi li/loi;, ehlm voy.a; %c {ttyappWBt E<*» AK1NHT0YZ /?=a7«ov 
 ar~z^ fag Kg vs^i 1a; aA/\a; Iijqiuc,, h^ 1r,v wohflmv.vla.'-iv aSltvciiav uy-r£uJ<; 
 mxiix [gct§rt<;M' xaGoAtf fu.^ aval touon [git<Pnvxi m cc\ §t m^x^i^ 7T£|i JfP kafl 
 f.v.ix.rov ifirit' iy. (/.in uvliflwii tyetyppot o]t wvjflfeoi x^Iuec y$ voh "]*! fWfiaa sen;'. — 
 Arid. Politics. 
 
 a View, 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 u View, as Humanity cannot imagine, nor an Angel in hu« 
 
 " man Speech defcribe ! It demands the Language of Im- 
 
 ■* mortality in it's fublimeft Images and ftrongeft Energies. 
 
 " All that we call magnificent in this lower World, of Art 
 
 " or of Nature, the Light of Day, and the Grandeur of the 
 
 " noclurnal Heavens, if contrafted with the Profufion of 
 
 " Wonders which adorn cceleftial lmmenfity, are lefs than 
 
 " the Rays of a Taper oppofed to the full Splendors of the 
 
 " Sun. Man is Vanity, Caffendra, and his prefent Habitation 
 
 " is only a Tomb. 
 
 " I joined the Multitudes, who flood before the uncreated 
 
 " Glories of the Redeemer's Throne. — I had once an Hope in 
 
 «' the tender Compaffions of God, but it now forfook me. I 
 
 " attempted to withdraw, but it was impoffible. My Con- 
 
 " fcience began to reproach me bitterly. I have denied that 
 
 " awful Perfonage before Man ; how can I efcape the Doom 
 
 •* of his perfidious Followers! My Torment became infup- 
 
 " portable, when I faw his once fufFering, but now triumphant 
 
 " Martyrs. I hung my Head abafhed. I would have given 
 
 " ten thoufand Worlds for the fupreme Felicity of a DECIDED 
 
 " MIND. At length the Divine Arbiter of the World arofe. 
 
 •* DEPART YE . I heard no more. The 
 
 " Agonies of my Soul awaked me from my Dream. 
 
 " By this heavenly Vifion — kou Fa^ T ova.% t*. A»o? etif — I was 
 M induced to ojve the facramentalTefl a folemn Inveftigation; 
 *' and I now hold it, CafTandra, in the deepefl Abhorrence. 
 " It is not only a Reproach to the Chriflian Religion, but ill— 
 " jurious to the very Church it was intended to fupport. It 
 " makes it odious for it's intolerant Spirit, without affording 
 " the flightefl Security to it's Emoluments, or it's Honors. 
 " The Di ffenters, in Fact, are not defirous of participating 
 " thofe Emoluments and Honors; they only afk Permiflion to 
 " difcharge public Duties without wounding the Confcience. 
 11 We have no Caufe to apprehend Danger from a Member of 
 " Parliament, it feems, but a diffenting Common Council-man 
 •' may fupprefs our Revenues, and fubvert our Eflablifhment ! 
 
 " Emthe Foi'Iy of thisConducl is loft in it's IMPIETY. The 
 ,l Athenians indeed ufed aTeftfor Magiflracy; but the Athe- 
 " nian Dokimajia would be fatal in a Country antiphraflically 
 " Ryled Ckri/han *. With us every Villain, who has Money 
 " to purchafe, or a Friend to procure him an Appointment, 
 
 * Oux i% ttitctAui 1»? a?3i«5 yMpfieu aMet TOYS BEATIOYS, % %t 
 «a»wl»\?, «£* i«aro» 1w» s^fut xgw^xvl^. lfocrates. 
 
 H " finds 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 * finds a Succedaneum for Virtue and Ability in a NAME! 
 *' But in what Name ? Oh, CafTandra, 1 am filled with Iri- 
 " dignation. The adorable Redeemer is the Mafter of the 
 •'* Ceremonies to ufher Deifls and Atheifis into Office! It 
 «' is JESUS whom our Laws have made the fupreme Patron 
 •' of Perjury, of Blafphemy, and Luft! 
 
 " Is it not fufficiently degrading, CafTandra, that fuch Men 
 •' belong to the Church of England? Is it decent to compel 
 " them to claim Alliance with God? The only Way in which 
 " they can honor the Crofs is— BY TREADING IT UNDER 
 " FOOT. To commemorate the Atonement is to eat and 
 •" drink their own Condemnation — but Minilters are Partakers of 
 " their Sins. For my Part, I will never more throw the Pearl 
 " of Heaven before Swine ; nor do I defpair of feeing fuch 
 " Impiety and Blafphemy abrogated for ever. 
 
 " How does your Lordfhip propofe to effecT: fo important a 
 '* Revolution ? Why, CafTandra, fas efi etiam ab Hojle doctri ; 
 *' the Chancellor, you know, intends to fhield himfelf from 
 " our Refentments, by fupporting Mr. Baftard's Bill. The 
 " refraclory Lords are threatened with Citations. Now as the 
 •"' Plea of the Majority in the Commons was — Reverence for 
 (l the Church, I will take Care they fliall vindicate the Plea, by 
 " a regular Attendance on it's Ordinances. Do you recollect 
 tf the Statutes of the iff and 23d of Elizabeth, and the 3d of 
 " James the fir ft ? Yes, my Lord. I entreat you to have 
 *' them in/lantly enforced. The Confequence is obvious. Brit 
 " is he not deemed a ****, who turns Informer ? We cannot, 
 " with any Propriety, CafTandra, call Men Rafcals for putting 
 *' Laws in Force, unlefs we intend to apply the fame Compli- 
 " ment to thofe, who make, or countenance fuch Laws. But 
 " were it otherwife, it is better to fufTer a Wound in the Re- 
 " putation, than in the Confcience. I do not believe the 
 " moft malignant Daemon in the Habitations of the Damned 
 ••' could have devifed a feverer Satire on Chriftianity, or a 
 " grofTer Infult to the Majefty of Heaven, than the SACRA- 
 " MENTAL TEST. I cannot be happy till it is repealed." 
 
 After I had finifhed this Evidence of vour Lordfnip's Con- 
 currence in Opinion, I retired, and left the Friends of our 
 Holy Church highly pleafed with my Zeal and Perfeverance. 
 Adieu, my dear Lord, 'till your hear again from 
 
 Your affeftionate, 
 
 CASSANDRA. 
 
 ( Entered at Stationers Hall. J 
 
SB 
 
 *»— — ^ 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 LORD GEORGE GORDON. 
 
 
 f Price Three Shillings and Sixpence.) 
 

 
 
 
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