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upon our holy Church, which is at present the glory and bulwark of the Reformation? how would our present Clergy appear in the eyes of their pofterity, and even to the fucceffors of their own order, under a government introduced and established by a conduct so directly oppofite to all the rules of honour and precepts of Chrif tianity!

As I always fpeak and think of your holy order with the utmost deference and refpect, I do not infift upon this fubject to infinuate that there is fuch a difpofition among your venerable body, but to fhew how much your own honour and the intereft of religion is concerned, that there fhould be no caufe given for it.

Under colour of a zeal towards you, men may fometimes act not only with impunity but popularity, what would render them, without that hypocrify, infufferably odious to their fellow-fubjects.

Under this pretence, men may prefume to practise fuch arts for the deftruction and difhonour of their country, as it would be impious to make use of, even for its glory and safety: men may do in the highest profperity, what it would not be excufable to attempt under the lowest neceffity!

The laws of our country, the powers of the legiflature, the faith of nations, and the honour of God, may be too weak confiderations to bear

up

up against the popular, though groundless, cry of the Church. This fatal prepoffeffion may fhelter men in raifing the French name and Roman Catholic intereft in Great Britain, and consequently in all Europe.

It behoves you therefore, Gentlemen, to confider, whether the cry of the Church's danger may not at length become a truth: and as you are men of fenfe, and men of honour, to exert yourselves in undeceiving the multitude, whenever their affectionate concern for you may prove fatal to themselves.

You are furrounded by a learned, wealthy, and knowing gentry, who can diftinguish your merit, and do honour to your characters. They know with what firmnefs as Englishmen, with what felf-denial as Prelates, with what charity as Chriftians, the Lords the Bishops, Fathers of the Church, have behaved themselves in the public cause they know what contumelies the reft of the Clergy have undergone, what dif countenance they have laboured under, what prejudice they have fuffered in their ministry, who have adhered to the cause of truth: but it is certain that the face of things is now too melancholy to bear any longer falfe appearances; and common danger has united men, who not long ago were artfully inflamed against each other, into fome regard of their common fafety.

When the world is in this temper, those of

our

our paftors, whofe exemplary lives, and charitable difpofitions, both adorn and advance our holy religion, will be the objects of our love and admiration; and those who pursue the gratifications of pride, ambition, and avarice, under the facred character of Clergymen, will not fail to be our contempt and derifion.

Noife and wrath cannot always pass for zeal; and if we fee but little of the public spirit of Englishmen, or the charity of Chriflians, in others, it is certain we can feel but little of the pleasure of love and gratitude, and but faint emotions of refpect and veneration in ourselves.

It will be an action worthy the minifters of the Church of England, to diftinguish themfelves. for the love of their country; and as we have a religion that wants no affiftance from artifice or enlargement of fecular power, but is well fupported by the wisdom and piety of its preachers, and its own native truth, to let mankind fee that we have a Clergy who are of the people, obedient to the fame laws, and zealous not only of the fupremacy and prerogative of our princes, but of the liberties of their fellowfubjects this will make us, who are your flock, burn with joy to fee, and with zeal to imitate, your lives and actions. It cannot be expected but that there will be, in fo great a body, light, fuperficial, vain, and ambitious men, who being untouched with the fublime force of the

Gofpel,

Gofpel, will think it their intereft to infinuate jealoufies between the clergy and laity, in hopes to derive from their order a veneration which they know they cannot deserve from their virtue. But while the moft worthy, confpicuous, learned, and powerful, of your facred function, are moved by the noble and generous incentives of doing good to the fouls of men, we will not doubt of feeing by your miniftry the love of our country, due regard for our laws and liberties, and refentment for the abufe of truth, revive in the hearts of men. And as there are no inftru. ments under Heaven fo capable of this great work, that God would make you fuch to this 'divided nation, is the hearty prayer of, Gentlemen, your moft dutiful, and moft obedient, humble fervant, RICHARD STEELE

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[1714.]

SIR,
HERE could not be a more proper patron
to the ENGLISHMAN than He who, in the

THE

efteem

* Prefixed to the first volume of "The Englishman.”

James Stanhope, grandfon to the first Earl of Chesterfield by his fecond lady, having ferved when very young as a volunteer under the Duke of Savoy, was made a Captain in the footguards, with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel, in 1694; was a member of the House of Commons from 1700 till created a

peer;

esteem of all men, is as much one, as any who enjoys the honour and happiness of that name. If plain-dealing, generofity, and truth, have distinguished us from the base and wily arts of our enemies, these qualities Mr. Stanhope poffeffes in common with all true Englishmen; but those endowments and acquifitions which make him capable of exerting the noble difpofitions peculiar to free and generous Britons, are what render him one of the greateft men of the greatest people.

A natural and prevailing eloquence in affemblies, an heroic and infpiring courage in the field, a gentle and winning behaviour in converfation, are eminences which enable you to be a

peer; ferved a volunteer in 1702 in the expedition to Cadiz, and next year in Portugal; was made a Brigadier-general in 1704; Envoy Extraordinary to Charles III. in 1706; Major-general in 1707; and Commander in Chief of the forces in Spain, 1708. The fame year he fubdued Minorca; and in 1710 commanded the English forces at the battles of Almanza and Saragossa, to which victories he greatly contributed, and facilitated the march of Charles III. to Madrid. He was conflituted firft Commiffioner of the Treafury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, April 11, 1717; created Viscount Stanhope of Mahon, July 21; Secretary of State, March 21, 1717-18; Earl Stanhope, April 7, 1718; and was fent the fame year to France and Spain, to conclude the negotiations for a general peace; was one of the Lords Juftices in 1719; was twice in France, where he brought the King of Spain to accede to the quadruple alliance; and on his return was again one of the Lords Juftices. He was fuddenly feized with a dizzinefs in his head, occafioned by the vehemence of a debate in the Houfe of Peers, Feb. 4, 1720-1; and died next day.

bleffing

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