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It was found in the year 1711, by a statement laid before parliament, that the city and suburbs contained two hun-dred thousand persons more than could be accommodated with places of divine worship: the legislature therefore passed an act "for building fifty new churches in and near the populous cities of London and Westminster; to defray the expences of which, a duty of two shillings per chaldron, or ton, was laid on all coals that should be brought into the port of London."

That this act was intended for the construction of additional churches is evident; it has however been perverted to the repairs of, and the re-construction of churches which were out of repair. We cannot repress the sentiments of Salmon on this subject. The preamble sets forth, "That there were not churches sufficient for the people to worship God in; and that many of them were in a manner compelled to go to conventicles, or no where. It has been held," continues this writer, "no small degree of sacrilege to apply to profane uses, what has been once devoted to heaven, without some apparent necessity: but as posterity sometimes are of a different opinion from those that went before them, and looked upon those to be superstitious uses which their fathers deemed pious, the laity have sometimes, at a great distance of time, seized such lands as have been given to churchmen, under pretence of their being misapplied, or serving to promote bigotry and superstition. But that the legislature of any country should, within the space of twenty years, while the same religion, and the same modes of worship remained established by law, take part of the revenues designed for the building of temples, and apply it to secular purposes, is a conduct that the world was never acquainted with, till a set of pastors and politicians arose of different sentiments from all that went before!" Salmon's indignation arose, upon finding that part of the duty on coals, which was to have finished the new churches, was afterwards applied to the promotion of a lottery, which was held to be more beneficial to the state, than the former could be in promoting Divine worship.

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An act of parliament for licensing eight hundred hackney coaches, passed at this time, (which were to pay five shill ings weekly,) and two hundred sedan chairs, (at ten shillings each yearly,) within the bills of mortality. The fares of each were thus settled: Coaches to go one mile and a half for one shilling, and two miles for one shilling and six pence. The abuses in the distribution of coals still continued in such a degree, that the magistracy were compelled to resort to a scrutinous investigation of the impositions under which the citizens laboured; for this purpose, a committee had been appointed to enquire into the charges against the coal-meters. On the 16th of March, 1713, they made their report to the court of lord mayor and aldermen, in which, after reciting the right of the city to the said office, and several acts of common council for its regulation, made 24 Henry VI.→ 44 Elizabeth-18 James I. and in 1653, made this further declaration. "We are therefore of opinion, that the said antient order and method of the coal office ought to be ob served and kept, and that it is incumbent on the alderman of Billingsgate ward, to see the same performed; and that as well the master-meters, as the said under-meters, are liable to be punished by suspension, removal or otherwise, as this court shall think fit: that the said master-meters have no right to employ what deputies or under-meters they please, but that it is the right of the lord mayor and aldermen to allow of the deputies or under-meters, and that no other ought to be employed but such as they allow that the suid deputies or under-meters ought not to be displaced, but upon a reasonable cause, and that upon application to the lord mayor and aldermen for that purpose; but the alderman of the said ward may suspend an under-meter, till the pleasure of this court is known therein that the books of the coal office do concern the right of the inheritance of this city, and ought to be used and inspected by this court, as they shall find occasion, &c.: that no under-meter ought to begin to work in coals, before a cocket of permit has been issued from the lord mayor's office, &c." which report being read, it was approved of by the said court, and or

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dered to be entered in the repertory. And it was thereupon ordered, "that the said master-meters do observe the antient method and usage of shipping their under-meters, according to their seniority; and that the under-meters do not take their fellow's labour out of their turns, upon pain of being suspended from their labour for so doing by the alderman or deputy of Billingsgate ward."

This was the last public act for the benefit of the city, during the remainder of this reign. The queen, perplexed by the intrigues of those who sought their own advantage, though the honour of their sovereign and country were sacrificed, sunk under the load of affliction which their unprin cipled conduct had caused.

On the ninth of July, her majesty went to the house of peers, for the last time, and prorogued the parliament to the tenth of August. Her constitution was now entirely de stroyed, the anxiety of her mind having completed the ruin of her health. The dissentions among her ministers had arisen to such a height, that they seemed to meet in council merely with a view of opposing each other. These confusions had such an effect on her spirits, that she was seized with a lethargic disorder. Every assistance that the art of healing could bestow was applied in vain; and her malady gained ground so fast, that the physicians despaired of her life.

As soon as this declaration was made known to the privy council, they assembled at the Cockpit, Whitehall, to deliberate on the most proper measures to be taken at this emergency. Their first consideration was, the security of the kingdom; and orders were immediately issued to the four regiments of horse and dragoons, quartered in the neighbouring counties, to march with all expedition into the neigh bourhood of London. An embargo was laid upon all shipping, and directions given for equipping all the ships of war that were in a proper condition, for immediate service.

A letter was sent to the Elector of Brunswick, informing him of the dangerous condition of the queen's life, and desiring him to repair to Holland with all convenient speed,

where

where a British squadron would attend to convoy him safe to England, in case of her majesty's decease. They also took particular care to secure the sea-ports, to overawe all the Jacobites in Scotland, and to prevent the friends of the Pretender from assembling in England.

While these precautions employed the care of the ministry, the queen, after having dosed in a lethargic insensibility for thirty-six hours, paid the great debt of nature on the first of August, about seven o'clock in the morning, in the fiftieth year of her age, and thirteenth of her reign.

In Lyttleton's History of England, Anne is described "as an affectionate wife, a warm friend, an indulgent mistress, and a munificent patron. Her desertion of her father, though warmly reprehended by many, will be deemed by others a meritorious sacrifice of implicit duty to the demands of religion and patriotism. Many virtues adorn her private life. In her conjugal capacity, she was amiable and unblemished; as a mother, she combined indulgence with discretion; as a mistress, she was humane and benevolent; as a friend and a patroness, sincere, generous, and munificent." We forbear, for cogent reasons, speaking of her politically as a sovereign.

George Lewis, the eldest son of Ernest Augustus, Duke and Elector of Brunswick Lunenburgh, by the princess Sophia, youngest daughter of Frederick, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, and Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James I. succeeded to the throne of Great Britain, in virtue of an act of parliament, passed in the latter part of the reign of William III. limiting the succession of the crown, after the demise of that monarch, and queen Anne (without issue) to the princess Sophia, and the heirs of her body, being Pro

testants.

The maturity of this prince, who was fifty-four years of age when he succeeded; his sagacity and experience; the numerous alliances in his family; and the general peace which had lately been concluded among the hostile powers of Europe, contributed to establish his claim, and promised a prosperous reign. He possessed a different disposition from

the

the Stuart family; who were notorious for rejecting and forsaking the friends to whom they owed all their success. George I. on the contrary, made it a principle, whence he never departed, "not to abandon his friends; to administer impartial justice; and, relying on the rectitude of his government, to entertain no shadow of fear." His virtues, though not splendid, were firm; no one could divert him from a sedulous application to his national concerns; and no blame could be attached to his personal disposition for the general welfare of his extensive dominions, except that a partiality for the interests of his German connexions, too often superseded that which ought to have distinguished his government in the British realms.

His majesty, accompanied by his eldest son prince George, arrived in England, and made his public entry into London on the twentieth of September. He was received at St. Margaret's Hill, by the lord mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and officers of the city; in whose name Sir Peter King, the recorder, made him a congratulatory speech; and the king was saluted with every testimony of public satisfaction.

The lord mayor, aldermen, common council, and court of lieutenancy, in a few days after, went in grand procession to St. James's, and presented the following address:

“Pardon us, dread sovereign, if we want words to express that height of joy and satisfaction which so sensibly affects us, your most dutiful and loyal subjects, to see your majesty (attended by the prince) arrived in safety at this your royal palace.

"We rest now secure of enjoying all the blessings that a wise and gracious prince can give to a willing and obedient people, and the continuance of them to posterity by a certain (though we hope a late) succession in your family.

"We crave leave, therefore, most gracious sovereign, to renew our assurances of all that steady affection to your sacred person, and zeal for the support of your crown, which such a king may justly expect from the most loyal and faithful subjects."

VOL. I. No. 14.

Tt.

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