LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 257 



espouse whatever he thought conduced to its 

 preservation and security, and constantly oppose 

 what in his judgment tended to innovation and 

 alteration in it. But when the main point was 

 secured, he was not solicitous about party con- 

 tentions, for he looked upon them, as he often 

 declared, 'Ho be mere struggles who should be upper- 

 most.'' Nor did he seem, as will be hereafter 

 shewn, in several instances, to change or vary 

 in his sentiments, either of things or persons, 

 though others were pleased to change their sen- 

 timents of him, as this or that party happened 

 to be *' uppermost." And from hence the reflec- 

 tion of his not being steady might possibly take 

 its' rise. 



" To be on the side (as he said) of the established 

 governme?7t, aiid to endeavour to maintain that, was 

 not to be a favourer of parties and factions, but that 

 they were the factious, they tve?r the settei^s up and 

 abettors of parties, who endeavoured to destroy, or 

 unsettle, or disparage, or i?i the least to hurt and 

 weaken the government arid the laws as they are esta- 

 blished; let the principles upon ivliich they went, or 

 the p7^etences they made, be what they would.'' And 

 he adhered to this principle of preserving the 

 constitution, and pursued this rule of attach- 

 ment to the establishment with such steadiness 

 and uniformity, that neither the influence of 

 private friendships, nor the entreaties of the 



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