"If, in conformity to the imperious dietates of unsophisticated reason, and the un

and suffers sermons, prayers, and benedictions, theses, and disputations, to be performed by proxy; whether such an ecclesiastic, I say, can be deemed an impartial umpire between

e and that establishment, or can give credit to that establishment by the suffrage of his opinion? In truth the very worst feature of these constitutions is a tendency to dim and change the pure gold of such noble characters, as this gentleman, into a brassy adulteration of a much lower standard, and they may be compared not unfitly to the dragon's tail in the Apocalypse, which drew with it a third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth."

Appendix to the intended "Address to the Judges."

The animadversions of Mr. Wakefield, on the bishop's notorious non-residence, and its pernicious consequences, cannot better be justified than by an appeal to the sentiments of that prelate, even since he atttained to the episcopal bench.

"" By being better acquainted with the situations, prospects, tempers, and talents of their clergy, bishops would be better able to co-operate with them in the great work of amending the morals of his majesty's subjects, and of feeding the flock of Christ. It is the duty of Christian pastors in general, and of the principal shepherds particularly, to strengthen that member of the flock which is diseased, to heal that which is sick, to bind up that which is broken, to bring again that which is driven away, and to seek that which is lost.

"There would, probably, be less of infidelity in the highest, and immorality in the lowest classes of the community, if we were all of us, in the words of Bishop Burnet ad

dressed to George I. ' obliged to live and to labour more suitably to our profession.'

See "Sermons and Tracts. Letter to the Archbishop of
Canterbury," 8vo. pp. 412, 413.

disguised frankness of my own temper, I should appear to shew more respect to intrinsic preponderances than to distinctions merely accidental, and should sink the prelate in the politician, let no reader mistake honest zeal for petulant intemperance, or suppose me capable, for a moment, of any feelings but those of pure benevolence and high esteem for my illustrious opponent."

e

As to the arguments of the "Reply," and the representations of public men and measures, which it contained, we forbear to venture upon these proscribed topics. That it was not generally considered as "a false, scandalous, and seditious libel," is sufficiently proved from letters in our possession, which Mr.Wakefield received upon that occasion, some of them

With respect to Bishop Watson's conduct as Divinity Professor at Cambridge, see " Three Letters addressed to the Bishop of Landaff, by William Burdon, M. A. fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge." 1795.

The following anecdote from Dr. Jortin forms no uninteresting contrast to this part of our subject. "Seckendorf hath given us an instance of Melanchthon's scrupulous honour and disinterestedness, who refused to receive his salary, as a Reader in Divinity, because he could not bestow such close attendance as, in his opinion, that office required."

"Life of Erasmus," i. 157.

"Reply," &c. pp. 1, 2. 9.

from men of the first legal talents. Also the prelate to whom it was addressed returned the following acknowledgment for a copy sent him by the author, which as it cannot be considered in the light of a private confidential communication, we feel ourselves at full liberty to insert.

SIR,

Great George Street, Westminster, Feb. 3, 1798.

I LAST night received your reply to some parts of my pamphlet, and, apprehending that I am indebted to you for the present of it, I take the first opportunity of returning you my thanks. I will not enter into a discussion of the points on which we differ, being too conscious of the fallibility of my own. judgment to be eager in pressing my opinions on any one. I have always held your talents and industry in the highest estimation, and have a sincere hope that the time will come when they will be noticed as they ought to be. I am, Sir,

Your faithful servant and well-wisher,

R. LANDAFF.d

d It would surely have been honourable to Bishop Watson, with such views of his opponent, had he publicly declared his

BUT the ministry in which Mr. Pitt presided regarded this publication with other eyes, nor had they any such consideration for learning or sincerity as the Bishop of Landaff professed. The sentiments so freely avowed respecting the late war and its abettors; together with the charges of corruption and abuse upon our civil and ecclesiastical systems, all conveyed in language ardent and unguarded, roused the indignation of these not unresentful statesmen. They soon determined on a prosecution against the author and publishers of this ill-fated pamphlet.

The first victim of their resolution was Mr. Cuthell, the original publisher, who likewise sold the author's other works. Mr. Johnson, the bookseller, was presently involved in the same accusation, and afterwards Mr. Wakefield himself.

With no small surprise, he heard of the ar

disapprobation of the proceedings against the author and publishers of the Reply to his Address. This doubtless would have been the case if, as Mr. Wakefield expresses it in his Defence, "this prelate had been eager to discharge an act of benevolence and justice." But for any thing that has appeared to the contrary, he was satisfied that the "talents and industry" of his opponent were "noticed" by the Attorney General and Mr. Justice Grose" as they ought" to have been.

rest of his publisher, as he had never scrupled boldly to avow himself the author. He immediately wrote to the Attorney General, acknowledging the pamphlet, and requesting to be made alone answerable for the legal consequences of its publication. To this transaction he thus refers.

"Animated by conscious rectitude, nor afraid of acknowledging any action, which I am not ashamed to commit, I never hesitated to give every proof of being the author of that pamphlet; and, when my unsuspecting and unoffending publisher was apprehended, I was ready to substitute myself, as the only possible offender in this transaction."

This application having failed, or, as Mr. Wakefield expresses it, "the letter of conciliation and apology" having " produced the contrary effects, of exasperation and resentment," he determined to take upon himself, so far as he was able, whatever injury Mr. Cuthell might sustain, shewing him the most liberal attention during the whole period of his prosecution, and, in the event, entirely discharging his costs of suit.

"As Cuthell," he remarks, "from his confidence in me, was involuntarily betrayed

f" Defence," pp. 36, 37.