ly upon the whole State of Affairs, must entirely acquit the Miniftry of that Delay and Neutrality which have been laid to their Charge. Or fuppofe, fome small Part of this Accufation were true, (which I pofitively know to be otherwife, whereof the World will foon be convinced) yet the Confequences of any Refentment at this Time, muft either be none at all, or the most fatal that can be imagined: For if the present Ministry be made fo uneafy, that a Change be thought neceffary, Things will return of Course into the old Hands of those whofe LittleFingers will be found heavier than their Predecessors Loins. The Whig-Faction is fo dextrous at Corrupting, and the People fo fufceptible of it, that you cannot be ignorant how eafy it will be, after fuch a Turn of Affairs, upon a new Election, to procure a Majority against you. They will refume their Power, with a Spirit like that of Marius or Sylla, or the last Triumvirate, and thofe Ministers who have been moft cenfured for too much Hefitation, will fall the firft Sacrifices to their Vengeance. But, these are the smallest Mischiefs to be apprehended from fuch returning Exiles. What Security can a Prince hope for his Perfon or his Crown, or even for the Monarchy itself? He must expect to fee his best Friends brought to the Scaffold, for afferting his Rights; to fee his Prerogative trampled on, and his Treasure applied to feed the Avarice of thofe who make themselves his Keepers: To hear himself treated with Infolence and Contempt; to have his Family purged at Pleasure by their Humour and Malice; and to retain even the Name and Shadow of a King, no longer than his Ephori shall think fit. THESE THESE are the inevitable Confequences of fuch a Change of Affairs, as that envenomed Party is now projecting; which will beft be prevented by your firmly adhering to the prefent Miniftry, until this Domeftick Enemy is out of all poffibility of making Head any more. CONSIDERATIONS UPON TWO BILLS Sent down from the Right Honourable the House of LORDS To the Honourable House of COMMONS, Relating to the CLERGY OF IRELAND. WRITTEN in the YEAR, 1731. DUBLIN: Printed by and for GEORGE FAULKNER, M,DCC,XLI. ADVERTISEMENT. N the Year 1731, a Bill was brought IN into the House of Lords by a great Majority of the Right Reverend the Bishops, for enabling them to divide the Livings of the inferior Clergy; which Bill was approved of in the PrivyCouncil of Ireland, and passed by the Lords in Parliament. It was afterwards fent to the House of Commons for their Approbation; but was rejected by them with a great Majority. The fuppofed Author of the following Confiderations, who hath always been the beft Friend to the inferior Clergy of the Church of England, as may be feen by many Parts of his Writings, oppofed this pernicious Project with great Succefs; which, if it had paffed into Law, would have been of the worst Confequence to this Nation. CONSI |