he entertained us for a while with the history of Sir Charles Dash; that he was once in company with him, but that he was not in the habit of telling those great people, what was their duty; that his mother, Lady Dash, was still living; and that she was a great churchgoer; and how mad the minister of the parish was at her, for being almost the only one who came to Wednesday and Friday prayers, when he wanted to drop them that she scarce ever missed the sacrament, and that she was much stricter in her religion than people are now-a-days. Then all at once, he burst out, and observed, "The clergy of our day seem to differ about how strict we should be in our religion; pray, what are your notions on that point?" And when I began to tell him of St. Paul's account of the Christian minister, and the Christian ministry, he again immediately interrupted me by crying, "Upon my word and honour, Sir, I confess I do not pretend to understand St. Paul; and I know some of the clergy who are of opinion, that people would have been quite wise enough in their religion, if we had only the four Gospels, without any of the Epistles."

Wor. I remember some years ago, that a vehement, anonymous pamphlet, made its appearance against the writings and character of St. Paul, recommending to the bishops, that all the New Testament should be suppressed, excepting the Four Gospels; as all the Epistles, especially those of St. Paul, had a tendency to promote a spirit of enthusiasm, and methodism, as he called it, throughout the land; and this book he dedicated to one of our bishops.*

Wor. How could you answer such a mere rattle'

I remember this horrid production made its appearance about forty years ago, and was dedicated to Dr. Hinchcliffe, a late bishop of Peterborough.

Loveg. Really, Sir, he saved me all that trouble; for he had no sooner said one thing, but without waiting for an answer, he would start something else, quite foreign to the subject. All at once he cried, "O Sir! as you come from near Mapleton, perhaps you may know Mr. Jackadandy. He is my first cousin: our mothers were two sisters, the two Miss Prattles, that lived somewhere about those parts before they were married." I gravely said, Yes, I have heard there is such a young clergyman who lives in the next parish to Dr. Orderly. Mr. Fribble immediately cried, "Dr. Orderly! aye, Dr. Orderly! what a queer old quiz of a fellow he is! he always puts me in mind of old square toes. I suppose he would not put his foot into a ball-room for all the world; and I am told, that he will not speak to my cousin, because he loves a little harmless mirth, he is such a precise old coger; and they say his Curate, Mr. Sedate, is just such another. Now you do not think it necessary that we should be so strict as all that: and I have a notion, Sir, you are a little strict in your way; though I can assure you, such strict notions in religion will not do for the people of our town." Pray Sir, do you think there is any harm in young people having a game at cricket of a Sunday evening after they have done their duty at church? There is something very clever and graceful in a good cricket player, though I cannot say I am so fond of football; but when I was a school-boy nothing pleased me like playing at leapfrog and blindman's buff. Now you can't conceive what a cross old square toes Dr. Orderly is, if any of the young sparks in his parish have a little harmless mirth of this sort after church is over on a Sunday evening.

Wor. How could you bear to hear this frothy chap

run on at such o

Loveg. Really, Sir, I could not bear it, I therefore only spoke a few words in vindication of the respectable old Doctor, and turned him over to Mr. Reader.

Wor. And how did Mr. Reader deal with him?

Loveg. Sir, he talked to him far beyond my expectation, in a very serious and appropriate manner indeed. And glad enough we both were, after having been pestered with his nonsense for near an hour and an half, to make our escape.

Wor. I suppose Mr. Reader's views of such ministers are completely altered.

Loveg. Altered indeed! He wonders at his ignorance, that such miserable bits of vanity should ever have been esteemed by him, as ministers of the word of God! and how he laments the pitiable state of that town, so awfully deprived of all that is necessary to their spiritual good!

Wor. And what a pitiable state the Church must be in, when such miserable creatures are appointed as her spiritual guides, and are afterwards permitted to continue in that office! Who in the world, with conscience, and common sense, could continue under such a ministry! Many an application have I lately received, requesting my assistance towards building Dissenting Chapels in different places; and however I may love the Church, I shall begin to think my money better spent than ever, for such purposes, if a set of better ministers can but be provided in another line, for the general good. Should any event in providence remove you from us, a circumstance we should have greatly to lament: and were we to meet with such a successor as Mr. Fribble of Locksbury, I could now never submit to a double starvation, both of body and soul, within the stone walls of our deserted parish church, as was the

case while Mr. Deadman was our parish minister, when there were scarcely any to hear, and nothing to be heard. But let me not interrupt you in your story.

Loveg. Blessed be God, all this produced good, notwithstanding; for I urged seriously on Mr. Reader, the necessity of considering the lamentable state of the town, and to open his school-room, at least on the Sunday evening, for family worship, to which all his neighbours might have free access; and on those occasions, that he would offer up a prayer himself, or read a part of our excellent church service, together with a chapter from the Bible; and then read some of the homilies, together with other books of good ancient divinity, once universally preached in the church of England, but till of late, almost as universally laid aside; a plenty of which should be immediately transmitted to his hands.

Wor. Did he seem to acquiesce?

Loveg. Sir, he promised me to exert himself to the utmost of his power: but that he did not know how he could venture to undertake such a solemn charge.

Wor. I hope he will. This will prove a much more profitable way for people to spend their Sunday evenings, than in idle visits, and foolish chat.

Loveg. Why, Sir, I believe I have in a measure, pinned him down to the work, by telling him, with his leave, I would make a beginning on the Sunday evening, after the services of the Church; and that if he knew any of his neighbours who were of a serious turn, he might invite them as to family prayer: however, if he undertakes the work, it will be with much "fear and trembling."

Wor. The better for that. In all religious engagements, diffidence and success are constant attendants

on each other. But must he not take out a license for his school-room?

Loveg. I believe not, Sir, according to the present disposition of the town; for it is astonishing the attention and respect which were shewn me, after the two sermons I preached on the Sunday. Prejudice, though it seems to me to be the brainless monster which the sons of bigotry universally adore, is, I trust, through the divine mercy, not so much that idol in Locksbury as it formerly was.

Wor. Blessed be God, as far as this, it is a glorious triumph. But should Mr. Reader take out a license for himself, and his school-room, where would be the harm of it? He only swears allegiance to the state; and if he cannot swear allegiance to his protectors, it is not fit that he should be protected.

Loveg. Yes, Sir; but then does he not, by that oath,. put himself under the protection of the act for the relief of Protestant Dissenters ?

He

Wor. Certainly so. But there is nothing said why he dissents; that is entirely out of the question. takes precisely the same oath enforced on the clergy. The law only demands, that every public preacher shall be obedient to the state. You and I, if we lived at Locksbury, should be dissenters from Mr. Fribble's ministry, if not from the Established Church. What can be more disgusting than to have the solemn service of God conducted by such unmeaning fops! That mild and wise law, therefore, "asks no questions for conscience sake;" but gives equal protection to all, who can give a proper test of their obedience to the state: no man is obliged to swear he is a dissenter; but all public teachers, whether Dissenters, or otherwise, swear allegiance; and would to God, that all denomina