HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
by joining with them in their vo- 
eiferations of Church and King. 
Other particulars of the like ten- 
dency appeared in those affidavits, 
which laid open altogether a scene 
highly disgraceful to the character 
of those who might and ought to 
have prevented, or at least to have 
put a stop to the enormities com- 
mitted on that occasion bya lawless 
and infuriated populace. But these, 
itappeared, were in many respects 
no other than the instruments of 
their superiors; who, being con- 
scious of the ignominy they must 
have incurred by acting personally 
in so shameful a business, were glad 
of an opportunity to devolve both 
the direct guilt and shame upon in- 
ferior agents. 
Lord Rawdon, though he sup- 
ported the address, did not speak 
in adverse terms of the general de- 
sire of the nation to obtain a refor- 
mation of abuses. In expressing 
“his fears of the danger that might 
attend a parliamentary reform, he 
strongly recommended as the most 
effectual preservatives of national 
tranquillity, a real and unfeigned 
attention in Parliament to the voice 
of the people at large. By paying 
a due regard to the general opinion 
of the nation, its rulers could not 
fail to sccure its attachment and 
respect, at the same time that they 
discharged a duty which they owed 
tothe great body; of which the 
sentiments and the interests ought 
in justice to be equally consulted 
by government, if it meant to pre- 
serve public tranquillity, and ob- 
viate all causes of discontent. Such 
a conduct would be both equitable 
and popular ; it would raise them 
inthe ‘esteem and affection of the 
, and prove more forcible in 
suppressing murmurs, and silencing. 
[167 
the seditious writings and discourses 
now so’prevalent in the multitude, 
and so heinously complained of by 
administration, than all the threats 
and warnings contained in any pre- 
clamations that might be issued at 
a season of such discontent and tur- 
bulence as the present. 
After a variety of arguments and 
altercations on the various subjects 
that arose in the debates occasioned’ 
by the motions for an address, it 
was carried in both Houses in fa- 
vour of the ministerial sense of the 
matter. 
While the dissensions on civil 
and religious objects occupied the 
attention of the public in England, 
that portion of the people in Scot- 
land which adhered to the episco- 
palian tenets, came toa resolution 
of petitioning for a more ample and 
unrestricted toleration of their prin- 
ciples and practice in religious con- 
cerns than had hitherto been al- 
lowed them. The former motives 
for laying them under legal dis- 
couragements, subsisted no longer; 
the house of Stuart, to which their 
attachment was known, was cx- 
tinct ; and their fidelity to the ac- 
tual government was not liable, on 
that account, to be suspected. The 
bill for granting the relief they re- 
quested was brought into the House 
of Lords, where it was favourably 
received. The Commons concur- 
ring with them, it was passed ac- 
cordingly, tothe great satisfaction of 
the unprejudiced part of the Scot- 
tish nation. 
The dissenting interest in Eng- 
land was encouraged by the lenity 
shewn to the dissidents from the 
established church of Scotland, to 
apply to Parlianvent for a similar 
toleration. Herein they were pa- 
tronized by Mr, Fox, who endea- 
[M] 4 voured 
