THE

CONTROVERSY

BETWEEN

Mrs. HANNAH MORE,

AND

THE CURATE OF BLAGDON ;

RELATIVE TO THE

CONDUCT OF HER TEACHER

OF

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

IN THAT PARISH;

WITH THE

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

AND

EXPLANATORY NOTES

By THOMAS BERE, M. Å,

RECTOR OF BUTCOMBE, NEAR BRISTOL.

Tantæne animis cæleftibus iræ. VIR.

LONDON:

Printed by W. Hughes, Smithfield, for

J. S. JORDAN, No. 19, LUDGATE HILL,
Oppofite the Old Bailey, and No. 166, Fleet Street.
Sold alfo by the Bookfellers at Bath, Bristol, and Wells.

2.

PREFACE,

THE

HE Author with the moft unfeigned difference, hopes the public will indulgently receive his apologies, for the publica, tion of the following sheets.

He did all he could do, to prevent the publicity of the matter in controverfy, and even now, very fincerely laments, that unpleasant neceffity, which protrudes him to the foreground; to a delicate mind always formidable; frequently dangerous; and never defireable.

He has long borne with irrefiftance; almost every fpecie of injury, infult, and obloquy; that the malevolence of an unmerciful party

could invent, or its calumny safely circulate :

and he yet would have opposed his patience, to the petulant whisperings, and ambiguous infinuations of the flanderer; had not a few inflexible, valuable, and moft dear friends, interdicted his further forbearance.

The Author has no apology to offer to his adverfaries, for the publication of their correfpondence; let them remember, this is not his voluntary act, but the coercion of those, who by their unchriftian oppreffion, made it unavoidable.

He entreats his friends will have the goodnefs to forgive the infertion of their letters; and hopes, that his PRESENT PECULIAR POSITION, will effectually plead his pardon.

For his own letters, which were written, most of them in very ill health; and all on the fpur of occafion, he intreats the ufual indul, gence to fuch hafty compofitions.

The