no fmall confequence both to the eafe and safety of the fubject. ANOTHER fubject which we could have wifhed to have explained more fully is the repeal or amendment of the laws which lay restraints and penalties on Protestant Diffenters; perfons, who, as we think, have fhewn themselves the ftedfaft friends of liberty and this establishment. It is indeed true, that they were OLD WHIGGS who first made thefe laws, nay not without the concurrence and affiftance of the Diffenters themfelves; but as experience fhews them to be of no confequence to answer the ends propofed in making them, and as they tend on the contrary to weaken the hands which they were made to Strengthen, they seem to have continued full long enough. 'TIS faid, the taking off those restraints would make divifions amongst us, and alarm the clergy. Our clergy fee too clearly the confequences which the defired repeal would be of to the honour of religion, and the uniting Protestants, to give a negative to it, was it to depend on their voices. Nor could any friend to the repeal be anxious of the event even on that contingency, if he duly confidered how long all ecclefiaftical preferments have been in the difpofal of the friends of liberty; fuch whom the Diffenters have conftantly, and with fome fuccefs, efpous'd on all occafions, who therefore never would put power into the hands of perfecutors. And does not experience fhew this expectation anfwered? The The piety, the charity, the moderation, the love of liberty, which every where adorn the paftors of our church, would doubtless induce them to treat every restraint on confcience with indignation. GENTLEMEN who talk of the divifions this would caufe, who fear dangers from this alteration of our law, who fee vifions of MOBS, and are haunted with Dr. Sacheverell's apparition, ought to look back on paft times: Let them fee what effect a step like this had in the Roman commonwealth. ALL offices of magiftracy were there confined by law and by religion to be executed by Patricians only, who being orthodox by birth, could only take the auspices; which facred ceremony was necessary in every act of government. THE Plebeians defired these laws might be repealed. WHILST this question was in difpute, so zealously was it contefted, that Rome was twice in danger of being abandon'd; and often like to fink under inteftine quarrels. THE people faid they would not be at the trouble to defend a state which thought them unworthy to be trusted with its offices; whilst the Patricians infifted on their antient rights, as the foundation of religion and government, and thought the fate of Rome depended on their being maintained. BUT yet no fooner were these laws repeal'd, if I may ufe that term, and offices of all kinds common to every Roman, but the event fhewed A 4 their their mistake. With thefe laws all pretenfions of faction were taken away alfo. Real and perJonal merit (fays a judicious writer, fpeaking of this period) was now chiefly regarded in the diftribution of Honours; fo that this period of time may more properly than any other be called the period of Roman virtue. IT may be added, that in confequence of this amendment of their conftitution, Rome in a few years overcame all her difficulties, and became mistress of Italy. THE only thing we ought to add is an apology for the delay which has been made in the publication of thefe volumes: But we chufe rather to hope for the pardon of the gentlemen who have bonoured this Work with their fubfcription, from their knowledge of the uneasiness which this delay must have given us, than trespass on their patience farther, by troubling them with complaints of printers and fuch like trifles which have occafioned it. THE The Right Honourable the Lord Boyne, two fets. Sir Francis Boynton, Bart. Sir Robert Browne, Bart. The Honourable Peter Bathurst, Efq; Levi Ball, Efq; Thomas Balle, Efq; Papilion Balle, Efq; John Bance, Efq; Edmund Hungate Beaghan, Efq; John Bedwell, Efq; Henry Bendyth, Efq; William Brockman, Esq; Samuel Samuel Burroughs, Efq; one of the Mafters of the The Rev. Mr. Birch, M. A. and F. R. S. Mr. Thomas Baker, of Chichester. Mr. Thomas Baker, Surgeon. Mr. Sylvanus Bevan. Mr. John Bradbury. Mr. George Bucher, Druggift. C The Right Honourable the Marquifs of Carnarvon. Sir James Campbell, Bart. Sir George Cafwall, Bart. Sir John Cope, Bart. Sir George Champion, Knt. John Campbell, of Pembrokeshire, Efq; John Caye, Efq; Anthony Chamberlayne, Efq; Kenrick Clayton, Efq; John Charman, of Midhurst, Efq; John Clerkfon, Efq; Mr. Robert Caye, of Newcastle. Mr. William Chandler. Mr. Francis Cogan, Bookfeller. Mr. Coningham. Mr. John Cooke. Mr. S. Crompton, jun. of Derby. Mr. Windmill Crumpton. Peter |