of more than half the misconduct, into which good and even conscientious men will sometimes fall. Forgive me, if I regard your instance as a warning; and if I call on all those who read what has passed between us, to beware of any the slightest indulgence in that dangerous habit, which has betrayed even Mr. Butler into duplicity, misrepresentation, and slander.

To yourself it would be presumption in me to tender any advice; but what I presume not to advise, I may be permitted to hope.-I hope, then, that when next you undertake to assert the cause of your Church, you will not be content with satisfying yourself that that Church is so true, and all its doctrines so sound, that, whatever line of argument you adopt in its defence, you cannot greatly offend in using it; that a little concealment, or a little exaggeration, a little over-colouring, or a little shading and softening, (as occasion may prompt,) cannot be unjustifiable in arguing with those whose minds are not yet ripe for the full admission of truth.

I hope, that you will rather take a lesson from the principles which direct your own conduct in life, from that simplicity and singleness purpose and of act, without which you could

of

not have acquired, much less have retained, the warm regard which all who know you are accustomed to feel for you.

For myself, I dare not assert that I have in no instance fallen into the error here condemned:-but this I will say, that I have earnestly and strenuously endeavoured to avoid it; that I have rejected every opportunity of strengthening my argument, which appeared to me in any degree unjust or uncandid. May He, who alone fully knows the deceitfulness of the heart of man,-He, of whom, while employed in this poor work, I have humbly besought protection from that sin which does so easily beset all who engage in controversy,-may He grant that, if I have erred, the error be not long concealed from me! Should you, Sir, be the instrument of correcting me for it, I trust I shall kiss your rod and be thankful.

April, 1825,

HENRY PHILLPOTTS.

NOTE to page 54.

THROUGH the kindness of the Rev. Dr. Bandinell, Librarian of the Bodleian Library—a gentleman whose zealous assistance to the literary pursuits of others is rendered doubly valuable by the courtesy with which it is given I have now obtained a copy of "the Duchess of York's Reasons for changing her Religion." The date of the paper is August 20, 1670: but it does not appear to have been published till ten or eleven years afterwards, when her Royal Highness had been long dead. Evelyn, ii. p. 109, seems to cast a doubt on its genuineness; for he says (1st June, 1681), in a letter to Bishop Morley, "Father Maimbourg has had the impudence to publish, at the end of his late Histoire du Calvinisme, a pretended letter of the late Dutchesse "of York," &c. : .but its genuineness seems to be established beyond dispute by its being found among Lord Clarendon's own papers, and transcribed by the hand of her brother, Lerd Cornbury.

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...In this paper she speaks of " two of the most learned Bishops of England" (Morley of Winchester, as it was supposed, and Blandford, of Worcester, to whom, in succession, her spiritual instruction had been entrusted) as having expressed to her some opinions in favour of certain doctrines of the Church of Rome. The publication of this paper by Maimbourg caused Bishop Morley to give to the world a long letter of remonstrance, which he had addressed to the Duchess, before her paper of Reasons was written, and which contains not only the amplest vindication of himself, but also unhappily proves the grievous insincerity of the perverted Lady.

In consequence of this, Bishop Morley's authority is, I believe, never claimed in favour of the Church of Rome. But Blandford had been long dead, and "dead men "tell no tales," therefore his name continues to figure in a prominent manner among the Protestant vouchers for such doctrines as it is found convenient thus to protect.

Of this letter of Morley, dated January, 1670, there is a copy, indorsed by the hand of Lord Clarendon himself. There is, besides, a most able and pathetic letter written by that illustrious exile himself to his daughter, and another, full of respectful but manly remonstrance to the Duke, on occasion of the rumours which had reached him concerning the change in her Royal Highness's religious faith. These are dated in 1668.

The last paper in the series is a letter by Lord Cornbury to the Duke of York on the same subject, dated December 26, 1670.

They are all so full of interest, that I had purposed to print them here entire; but the great space, which they would occupy, forbids me. I trust, however, that the public will soon obtain them by some other chan nel.