DISSENTING MINISTERS' ADDRESS. 249 greatness of mind in an undertaking of such vast expense; your heroic zeal in exposing your most precious life in such an adventurous expedition; your wise conduct and unshaken resolution in prosecuting your great ends, are above the loftiest flights of language-exceed all praise. We owe to YOUR MAJESTY the two greatest and most valuable blessings that we can enjoy---the preservation of the true religion, our most sacred treasure---and the recovery of the falling state, and the establishing it upon just foundations! According to our duty, we promise unfeigned fidelity and true allegiance to YOUR MAJESTY'S person and government. We are encouraged, by your gracious promise, upon our first Address, humbly to desire and hope that YOUR MAJESTY will be pleased, by your wisdom and authority, to establish a firm union of your Protestant subjects in matters of Religion, by making the rule of Christianity to be the rule of CONFORMITY! Our blessed union in the peace and purity of the Gospel will make this Church a fair and lovely type of Heaven, and terrible to our anti-christian enemies. This will make England the steady centre from whence a powerful influence will be derived for the support of reformed Christianity abroad. This will bring immortal honour to your name above the trophies and triumphs of the most renowned Conquerors! We do assure YOUR MAJESTY, that we shall cordially embrace the terms of union which the ruling wisdom of our Saviour has prescribed in his word. We shall not trespass further on your Royal patience, but shall offer up our fervent prayers to the King of kings, that he will please to direct YOUR MAJESTY by his unerring wisdom, and always incline your heart to his glory, and encompass your sacred person with his favour as with a shield, and make your Government an universal blessing to THESE KINGDOMS!" The MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COMMON COUNCIL of London, made WILLIAM the following short, but very expressive ADDRESS, delivered by Sir George Treby, Recorder, Dec. 20, 1688: "Great Sir, "When we look back to the last month, and contemplate the swiftness and fulness of our present deliverance astonished, we think it miraculous. Your HIGHNESs, led by the hand of HEAVEN, and called by the voice of the People, has preserved our dearest interest, THE PROTESTANT RELIGION, which is primitive Christianity restored. Our Laws are our ancient title to our lives, liberties and estates; without which this world were a wilderness. But what retribution can we make to your HIGHNESS? Our thoughts are full charged with gratitude. YOUR HIGHNESS has a lasting monument in the hearts, in the prayers, in the praises, of all good men amongst us. And late posterity will celebrate your ever-glorious name till TIME shall be no more!" And when the body of Lawyers approached THE KING with an Address of Congratulation, the aged and truly venerable Serjeant Maynard read the Address; which when finished, and the answer given, THE KING asked WILLIAM'S VOYAGE. 251 "Yes," him if he were not the oldest of his brethren. replied Maynard, "I have lived longer than all my brethren, and had not your Majesty come amongst us I should have out-lived LAW itself!" A finer compliment could not be paid to this GLORIOUS REVO LUTION. The account of KING WILLIAM's voyage from Holland to Torbay, and thence to Exeter, up to St. James's, Bishop Burnet, who was with the Prince of Orange, has given in The History of his Own Times. A curious old pamphlet, however, has just fallen into my hands, entitled-" An EXACT DIARY of the late Expedition of his Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange (now KING of Great Britain) from his palace at the Hague to his landing at Torbay, and from thence to his arrival at Whitehall, giving a particular account of all that happened and every day's march. By a Minister, Chaplain in the Army. 1689. This narrative accords much with that of Burnet. At first the Voyage was extremely rough; but, after passing the straights of Dover in high style, WILLIAM and his retinue glided down the Channel with a prosperous breeze, and the wind changing, just at the proper time, wafted them into Torbay. The progress of the prince and his suite was slow towards Exeter; but thence to London it was attended with every success. The army advanced in different divisions, and there was a slight skirmish between them and King James's troops near Wincanton. Near Beaminster an attempt was made 'by 252 ARRIVAL AT WHITEHALL. a farmer to poison some of the prince's soldiers, and at Maidenhead the Irish, in the pay of James, fortified the bridge; but the prince's friends beating some old kettles, at midnight, to the tune of a Dutch march, the Irish thought William's army near, and abandoned the station. ADDRESSES from the Lords and also from the Corporation of London, were presented to WILLIAM, at Henley; soon after he reached WINDSOR, then Sion House to dinner, and in the evening, December 18, 1688, entered WHITEHALL!! On the 25th December, the Lords met and entreated WILLIAM to take upon him the administration of public affairs; and January, 1689, the thanks of both Houses were given him. On the 12th February, the Lords and Commons pronounced WILLIAM and MARY king and queen of England, just as Mary had arrived, who was received with ringing of bells, bonfires, and every demonstration of joy. The next day the king and queen were proclaimed at Temple Bar and the Royal Exchange. April 11th their MAJESTIES were crowned, and Burnet preached from 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4. The old pamphlet thus concludes-" Their MAJESTIES being crowned, returned to Westminster Hall, and dinner being ended, and the whole solemnity performed with great splendour and magnificence, about eight o'clock in the evening their Majesties returned to Whitehall. There I most humbly leave them, heartily beseeching Almighty God to bless and preserve their most Excellent Majesties, that they may long live and flourish HUMOUROUS ODE, -253 together to the advancement of his glory, the good of his church, the safety, honour, and welfare of their Majesties' kingdoms, and the exceeding comfort and joy of all good Protestants. As for all their enemies, let them, O God! be daily discovered and brought to shame and confusion, but upon their sacred and royal heads, let THE CROWNS of England, Scotland, France and Ireland long flourish!" And now, my young Friend, lest you may think this account of KING WILLIAM dull, I will conclude with an humorous ODE, alluding to Jefferies and Kirke, the odious instruments of the tyranny of the Stuarts, and eulogising the judicious and patriotic Burnet, whose zeal and perseverance were conspicuous in the Revolution of 1688: TO WILLIAM in Belgia, far over the sea, A few sons of Freedom preferr'd their petition, Shall be my first pride, While I lend you my name and my CONSORT's beside; With the shamrock, the thistle and rose to entwine, Sweet emblems of union, round LIBERTY'S shrine." The news over Albion immediately flew, When Judge Jefferies pretended to give himself airs- Can proceed with his work, To shoot, stab, and strangle folks just like a Turk, |