Vol. IX.

refpondence between that Nobleman and the Duke of M-gh.

On this Head likewife, the Authors beftow fome few Compliments on the Perfon of the King; and in order to gain his Majefty over to the Tory-Party, endeavour to perfuade him, that the Whigs will engrofs him, bring him into inextricable Difficulties, and keep him in t perpetual Dependance upon them." But they, foon after, forget and trefpafs upon, not only the Rules of Decency and Duty, but alfo of good Reafoning. For on the one Hand, they make Treasonable Reflections on his Sacred Majefty; and on the other they fuggeft (as was hinted in the Third Head) That the Whigs defign to deftroy the Conftitution in Church and State, and make the King abfolute: Both which are Glaring Inconfiftencies. Nor do the Libellers argue better, when they would endeavour to prove, That 'tis the King's and the Nation's Interest to have a Parliament of the fame Stamp with the Two Laft:" For in Two or Three Places they do not stick to fuppofe, That before the Queen's Death the Tories were against the Hanoverian

Succeffion. " Let who can reconcile this with their Pretences of Loyalty and Affection to King George? George? Do not thefe Libellers confefs more than they were ever charg'd with by the Whigs, who are fo candid as to allow a Diftinction between Jacobite and Hanover Tories?

The

~

The Libellers are fo Sanguine as to defy Vol. IX. and Challenge the Whigs to fix any Crimes upon the Last Miniftry; and, on that Occafion, make merry with the Searching and Sealing up of the Lord Bolingbroke's Office. The Answering this bold Challenge I leave to the next Parliament: But in the mean Time, we may here take Notice of the following Account from Paris, inferted in our London Gazette of the 29th Inftant, viz.

That Day likewife (January 29th. N. S.) the Deputies of the States of Britany bad Audience of the King, being conducted by. the Marquis de Dreux Great Master of the Ceremonies, and by M. des Granges Mafter of the Ceremonies, and introduced by the Count de Toulouze Governor of that Province, and by the Marquis de Torcy. The Bishop of Rennes deputed by the Clergy, accompanied by the Prince de Leon for the Nobility, and by M. Moreau (one of the King's Secretaries) for the Third Eflate, made a Speech on the Part of the faid States, wherein he compli mented his Majesty on the prefent flourishing Condition of his Affairs; to fet which in a fairer Light, he defcribed the extreme Diftrefs the Kingdom was reduced to about the End of the War, from whence the King by the Superiority of his Genius had found Means to extricate it, by creating Divifion among his Enemies when France was on the very Brink of Ruin, which had enabled him to fave Spain and keep it in the Hands of his Grandfon, and alfo to give Peace to Europe, on Terms perfectly glorious to himself and advantageous to his People.

Does

Does not this French Prelate, in this folemn Speech, evidence and confirm the Charge of the Whigs upon the late Managers?

Upon the Second Head, which contains preffing Motives, to the Tories, to exert themselves in the enfuing Elections, the Libellers purfue the ufual Cant of their Faction, in Afperfing the Whigs, as Enemies to the Church, and Branding them, with the odious Names of Atheists, Deifts, Free-Thinkers, and Debauchees; And on the other Hand they do not blush to make very partial Comparisons between the Two Generals, the Two Chancellors, the Lord. Bolingbroke, and the Lord Townshend, and Mr. Bromley, and Mr. Stanhope. Upon this Head alfo they endeavour to justify the Duke of O-d's Conduct upon the Ceflation of Arms; pretend that the Duke of Marlborough himself could not have acted otherwile, without deferving to lofe his Head; and bring in a Simile yet more odious, which therefore I pafs over in Silence. Nor do they forget either to befpater Mr. Molesworth, and reflect on Mr. Medlicot; or to extoll Sir. Th. Hr, and Mr. By for refufing Places.

The Third General Head, in which the Authors load the Whigs with the Chimerical, unnatural and mad Defign of Deftroying the Conftitution in Church and State, they have themselves fumm'd up, in the laft Page of their traiterous Libel as follows: 1. A New War, and New Taxes; or as they exprefs it in another Place,

• Six

Six Shillings in the Pound, and a general Vol. IX. Excife. 2. A general unlimited Comprehenfion, without Common Prayer Book, or Bishops. 3. A Repeal of the Act of 'Limitation of the Crown. 4. The Admitting Foreigners into Places. 5. A Standing Army. 6. The Repealing the Triennial Bill. 7. Reftraining the Liberty of the Prefs, and the Pulpit. 8. Encou'raging People to abufe the Memory of the late Queen. 9. An entire and thorough Revolution." A heavy Charge, indeed! But which being fupported by' no manner of Proof or Evidence, falls, of it felf, to the Ground. And, indeed, how can any reasonable Man conceive, That the Whigs, whofe Characteristick, is to be Strenuous Affertors of LIBERTY, fhould ever be for Pulling down those very Fences they have themselves caft up to preserve it?

Upon the Fourth General Head, notwithstanding the wife Provifions made in the Act of Settlement; Notwithstan ding his Majefty's repeated Affurances of his firm Refolution to preferve and maintain our excellent Conftitution in Church and State; Notwithstanding his Majefty's Coronation Oath; Notwithstanding his Majesty's and his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales's conftant Affifting at Divine Service on Sundays and Holy Days, their frequent Receiving the Holy Communion, and, in short, their ftrict Conformity to the Church of England: The Libellers are fo fhamelefs and audacious as traiteroufly to fuggeft, The Church to be in D Danger

1

Vol. IX. Danger, from his Majefty's and his Royal Highness's having been bred in the Lutheran Religion. Nor do they lefs trefpafs upon Decency and Truth, when they averr her Royal Highnefs, the Princess of Wales, to be a rigid Calvinist, which is fufficiently contradicted by her Royal Highness's going to the Royal Chappel at St. James's every Sunday; and her late Beneficence to a French Proteftant, Conforming Congregation at Portarlington in Ireland, on whom her Royal Highnefs was pleased to beftow a large Silver Cup, and other Plate for the Holy Communion, and a Bell. As to the Pofition, on which the Libellers ground their pretended Fears of the Church's Danger, viz. that the Lutheran Religion comes nearer Popery, than the Church of England, it is not only altogether falfe, but quite out of the prefent Question, for the Reasons already mention'd. It is fufficient for the Church of England's Security, that his Majefty, and the Royal Family do, and are bound to conform to it; and we may further obferve for our Comfort, That the Whole Family of Hanover, have, fince the Reformation, been constant Oppofers of Popery; That his Majefty has perfonally, on feveral Occafions, appear'd a Zealous Defender of the Proteftant Intereft; and that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, has valiantly fought for the fame Cause.

As to the Villainous Invectives against the Duke of Marlborough, Slanders on the prefent Ministry, and Treasonable Re

flections