clefiaftical fuperiors, the petitioners have obferved a most respectful filence: folicitous only to approve themselves the faithful fervants of God, by a difcharge of their own duty, in their petition they prefume neither to cenfure, nor commend. Yet, if reprehended for officioufnefs, in ftepping forth from their obfcurity, by affuming the character of petitioners, inftead of acquiefcing, with a dutiful fubmiffion, to what the wifdom of their fuperiors has thought reasonable and juft; they muft, at length, be obliged to confefs, that the requested relaxation and indulgence, would indeed have been recommended to the legislature, with peculiar propriety, from the bench. And, it may be further allowed to the zeal of persons, whofe hearts are warmed by an affectionate concern for the true interests of religion, to declare, that after fo many juft, so many affecting remonftrances from the prefs, it was but reafonable to expect, that the bishops of the church of England would have, long fince, taken the lead, in this truly protestant scheme. But, the time of all reasonable acquiefcence being expired, it is now become the duty of

every friend to christian liberty, each according to his abilty, to be active in a cause wherein the advancement of the gofpel, and the honour of his master, are so immediately and effentially concerned.

V.

NOVEMBER 30, 1771.

TO THE REV. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.*

SIR,

I REALLY respect your character, and think, that, if left to the natural fuggeftions of your own mind, you would, upon the approaching occafion, act an upright part. This perfuafion is my encouragement for the present address; in which I call upon you, as bound by the oaths of office, to act in a cause of fome confequence, agreeably to the ftatutes, and approved cuftoms of the place. The members of the late caput have

C 4

[* Dr. Brown, Master of Pembroke-hall.]

fet

fet you an unprecedented example, in ftifling a motion formally propofed by one of the most respectable characters in Cambridge; * because they were apprehenfive that the ge nerality of the univerfity was favourably inclined to it. You may remember the indignation of the fenate, upon the occafion; the public beheld the tranfaction with astonishment. I urge not this with a view to intimidate. The gentleman, whom I am addreffing, is above being influenced by any unmanly apprehenfions; I mention it only as an inducement to confider, and to reflect. If confult the dictates of your own you heart you cannot be mistaken. Refign not, out of deference to a fet of men, who are unworthy of your confidence, the authority of a judgment truly qualified to lead. Let the cause of the perfons, who may be affected by the fate of this motion, fairly be brought before the proper tribunal. If the measure in question be unreasonable, the fenate of Cambridge will reject it of themfelves. We are not all of us ignorant of the ftatutes and customs of the univerfity. Many of

[* Mr. Tyrwhitt. ]

of us, on account of our offices and employments, are the most proper judges in the case. The senate of Cambridge hath established subscriptions in fome cafes. The fenate of Cambridge are properly qualified to judge, concerning the expediency of repealing them. I will further add, that your friend, the late worthy professor of divinity, while tutor of St. John's, thought it incumbent upon him to give a courfe of lectures on those articles which are annually fubfcribed. If the present motion be rejected, it will furely become the duty of the diffentients to take care that the thirty-nine articles themselves be, at least, once folemnly read over to the candidates for the bachelor's degree, previous to subscription. A regular lecture upon them, in each college, would not be indecent. But it may be too much, in these times, to expect an imitation of profeffor Rutherforth's example.

A MEMBER OF THE SENATE,

VI, DE

VI.

DECEMBER 28, 1771.

TO THE REVEREND

SIR,

I own the arguments you pleaded, during the courfe of our converfation, last monday evening, in excufe for your not figning the clerical petition, though they did not convince my reason, affected my heart. You feemed, Sir, to be under the ftrongest perfuafion, that the grievance of subscription was, as it has been always efteemed by thoughtful men, indeed infupportable. You will do me the juftice to own, that you thought fo, not in confequence of any representation or high colouring of mine, but was led to form fuch conception of them, from your own feelings and consummate knowledge of the fcriptures, the obvious fense of which, they fo miferably pervert. You read the petition with attention. I saw the movements of your inmost foul, upon the occafion. You confirmed, by the inflexions

of