On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    The late Mr . Cumberland , however , was the only person who attempted to answer it ; and his reply lost much of its effect from the appearance of haste arid violence in which- it was composed ^

    The Bishop of JLfandafF was now considered as a very able and popular prelate ; and on being chosen to preach before the Lords on January 30 , 17 S 3 , trie Abbey was crowded on the occasion . But those who expected any violent declarations , or extraordinary political sentiments , returned home disappointed ; on the other hand , such as were fond of a discourse admirable

    in its composition , and cautious as well as temperate , in respect to its sentiments , were delighted upon this

    o . In 1786 appeared " A Collection of Theological Tracts , " in 6 vols . 8 vo . of which his Lordship was the avowed editor . This was published at Cambridge , and designed entirely for the use of students in divinity : it may be considered as an official publication ,

    1 , 500 , 000 / . a year ; and that , estimating the clergy at 10 , 000 , this would not produce a clear revenue of above 150 / . a year to each individual . Now , although the whole revenue of the church is so inconsiderable as not to admit of any diminution of it ; ic yet , " adds his Lordship , " a somewhat better administration of it might he

    introduced , with much , it is apprehended , advantage to the state , and without the least injustice to any individual . " He accordingly proposes to endow the poorer , out of the revenues of the richer benefices , so as at the end of 60 or 70 years , to render all the clergy comfortable ; whereas by the operation of Queen Anne ' s Bounty , this cannot occur , in less two or three hundred .

    " As to any censure , adds the good Bishop , " to which I may have exposed myself , in becoming " , as some will scofliug-ly phrase it , a reformer ; in disturbing , as others will seem to apprehend , the

    repose of the establishment , I will , as the Apostle recommends , take it patiently : it is much easier to bear the reproach of other men ' s tongues , than of our own minds ; and that I could not have escaped , had I done less than I have done . 1

    flatter myself , however , or rather I have good reason to expect , that many of my brethren will see the subject in the same light that 1 have done , and will concur in » 0 C : omiDenc | iiig it , when the more urgent concerns of the state-are in tome measure 4 * ttled , to the notice of Parliament . "

    Untitled Article

    as Regius Professor ; and the scries , of itself , forms an inestimable library to every candidate for holy orders . It could add nothing to his Lordship ' s fame , as it required selection alone ; it was therefore considered merely in the light of a duty .

    As the Bishop of Llandaff had now become a legislator , the eyes of the public were steadily fixed upon his political conduct . During the discussion of the commercial treaty with France , his JLordship supported

    Ministers in that measure , which must be allowed to have proved highly beneficial to this country . During His Majesty ' s first illness he joined the opposition , and was one of those who considered the Prince of Wales as

    possessing an unqualified right by birth alone to the assumption of the Regency . But Mr . Pitt , on this occasion , deemed it more constitutional , that the two remaining states should supply the temporary vacancy of the

    throne . The sudden and unexpected recovery of the Sovereign put an end to all the changes then meditated , and among other incidental speculations of that day , the vacant Bishopric of St . Asaph was assigned to Dr » W ^ atson .

    Meanwhile , a great and singular event occurred in Europe , which , from the very beginning , seemed portentous ; and in a short time appeared pregnant with . the most serious and

    important results . Different opinions prevailed as to the manner in which the French Revolution ought to be viewed by the English people ; and ministry and opposition were , as usual , divided , both as to the nature and the treatment of this national convulsion .

    The Bishop of LJandafT , as a friend to peace , appears to have deprecated all intervention on our part ; and it was not until long after the commencement of hostilities , that he gave his avowed sanction to the war . In 1791

    he delivered a charge to the clergy of his diocese , in which this and a number of other points were touched upon ; particularly respecting the present condition of the Church , and the pretensions of those who dissented from the established faith . To avoid

    the possibility of misrepresentation , he soon after deemed it necessary to publish this address . His attention seems * now to have

    Untitled Article

    g £ 4 Memoir 9 / the late Right Rev . Dr . RicJiard Watson .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1817, page 324, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2465/page/4/