LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 279 



eating him, with any one action or saying that 

 could 'give the least umbrage of any change in 

 his sentiments concerning the succession to the 

 crown. 



It is hard to know what kind of evidence to 

 object against unsupported and wanton surmise; 

 and much harder to guess what degree of evi- 

 dence may be necessary to overcome the pre- 

 judices of party. Whereas there would be little 

 difficulty in clearing up any particular fact or 

 counsels, if any such were or could be charged 

 upon him. In the meantime, such loose and 

 general imputations, however disadvantageous 

 or injurious to his memory, with those who are 

 disposed to relish them, must be left to their 

 own weight, to take their chance in the balance 

 against his more known and established charac- 

 ter of steadiness and sincerity, both in his prac- 

 tices and principles. 



There was indeed an affair in which he most 

 interested himself in the latter end of the 

 Queen's reign, which, if all the papers relating 

 to it had been preserved, or could have been 

 recovered, might have been very serviceable 

 towards obviating any suggestions of this kind. 

 But though a perfect account of the share he 

 bore in promoting the design of introducing the 

 Liturgy of the Church of England at Hanover, 

 and procuring a chaplain of the Church of England 



