bishops, previous to this period, had necessarily received consecration from the nonjuring bishops of Scotland *. The English Liturgy had been revived and altered in 1689, by Bishops Patrick, Burnet, Stillingfleet, Tillotson, Kidder, and Tennison, acting under a commission. for that purpose: but the designs of the commission at that time miscarried, and it has never since been resumed. The failure of this reform is not much to be lamented. The alterations could not improve the general structure or style; and they touched no point of faith, doctrine, or even discipline; but were confined to such turns of phraseology and modes of ar rangement as time appeared to have rendered obsolete or uncouth. The modification of the English Liturgy was, however, adopted by the Protestant Episcopal church of North America, at a convention of delegates from the churches in the several States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, held at Philadelphia in 1785.

The bishops of New York and Philadelphia were consecrated at Lambeth, by the English primate, on the 4th day of February 1787.

XXII. A new attempt made in the same year to repeal the Corporation and Test Acts, was, like all the former, abortive. Immediately

* Brewster's Secular Essay."

after its failure, many expectants of a more favourable issue, looking with anxiety to the incipient struggles of France, to obtain a freedom which she has proved herself incapable of using with moderation, promised themselves the eventual accomplishment of their purpose by means less constitutional. "The silent propagation of truth," said Dr. Priestley, in a letter to Mr. Pitt, "will, in the end, prove efficacious. We are wisely placing, as it were, grain by grain, a train of gunpowder, to which a match will one day be laid, to blow up the fabric of error, which shall never again be raised upon the same foundation."

XXIII. 1787. The King's former proclamation for preventing the profanation of the Sabbath, was republished in an amplified state. It now took cognizance of playing, on the Lord's day, at dice or cards, and opening coffee-houses during divine service; while it likewise denounced excessive drinking, swearing, lewdness, disorderly abodes, blasphemy, licentious books, and obscene prints.

XXIV. The Quakers petitioned Parliament, in 1783, requesting an extinction of the traffic in human flesh; and thus, originally directed public attention to that subject. :

In 1788, the abolition of the slave-trade was first formally proposed in Parliament; a humane and just measure, which, after a struggle of

eighteen years, has at length, through the perseverance of one inflexible and upright philanthropist, Mr. Wilberforce, happily triumphed over avarice and clamour; and removed from Great Britain the stain of a crime, which the multitude of perpetrators rather aggravated than justified, and which justly provoked Providence to pour out on us the vials of its wrath..

XXV. It was not without reason that Englishmen assembled to consecrate the centenary of the glorious Revolution of 1688; as it recorded an event which established our civil and religious liberties. But, while the nation was rejoicing on account of these blessings, obtained under the auspices of the House of Brunswick, the head of that house was attacked by a disorder, which sunk in dejection the gladness of every countenance. The illness of His Majesty ought not to be omitted in the history of the Established Church, and of the different sects which have branched from it; because all differences of sentiment seemed for a season absorbed in the general wish for the preservation of that mild, yet firm supporter of the Protestant faith, in the leading features of which they all professed to agree. Even in foreign countries, his illness excited national sympathy; and. a petition for his recovery was inserted in the devotional service. Not only as the head of the Protestant interest in Europe, but by reason of

his private virtues, did the churches in Holland entreat God to spare his life, for the welfare of his own dominions, of the United Provinces, and in general of the Protestant religion.

This was not the voice of flattery, nor of falsehood. It is with pleasure that we revert to his sentiments and declarations at distant periods; and observe, that the firm conduct of George III. did not swerve from conformity with them, during the whole course of a reign, which the mercy of God protracted beyond the usual tenure of sovereigns. "I shall continue," said he, to the House of Convocation, in 1780, "to support the interests of our holy religion, upon the principles of the Reformation, against the encroachments of licentiousness and superstition." When long experience set its final seal to the sincerity of these expressions, ought not every one, now that the lips which uttered them are silenced in death, to hallow his memory, though we can no longer act in his service; by inscribing on his tomb, the declaration of Lord Thurlow, "When I forget my King, may God forget me!"

The King's recovery, early in 1789, can be considered in no other light than as a particular interposition of Providence: since the continued indisposition of him who wore the crown, and exhibited so bright an example of domestic piety, might have withdrawn, within these realms, the most powerful autidote and coun

teraction to the contagious influence of the French revolution.

True to the leading principle of his soul, no sooner did he receive the boon of health, than "he returned to give glory to God." And it was an impressive spectacle, on the day of public thanksgiving in April, to behold the sovereign, amidst his nobles, commons, and chief officers, prostrating himself in the cathedral church of St. Paul, before that invisible Superior in whose hand are the issues of life.

XXVI. 1790. The spirit of alarm having been roused by the echoes of the tocsin, innovation was regarded with increased jealousy; and hence it is no wonder that a new effort to repeal the Corporation and Test Acts should follow the fate of its predecessors.

Mr. Pitt, on this occasion, warned the House to beware of relinquishing a strong bulwark of the Church, which must always be affected by any danger that threatened the State. "If toleration," he observed, "be extended to equality, there is an end at once to the wise policy of prevention, and a door opened to the ruin of the constitution."

XXVII. Great lenity was shown, however, towards a body of the Catholics, since distinguished by the singular name of Roman Catholic Dissenters. A declaration and protestation was issued by this body; followed by a petition "to