LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 291 



to the King's conscience, who is sworn to keep 

 the laws, as well as a handle of making differ- 

 ences between him and his people, if ever any- 

 ill humour should work in them. But if by that 

 expression of holding of Parliaments, it should 

 be meant that there should be every year a ses- 

 sion of Parliament, in the sense that we com- 

 monly understand session ; I say, if this should 

 really be the law, and be the practice, for my 

 part I should think this would prove so intole- 

 rably vexatious and chargeable to the members 

 of both Houses, who live at any great distance 

 from this town, that it would be much more 

 heavy than any taxes that have ever been laid 

 upon them. 



" But I spoke of a mischief to the country, 

 as well as a burden, by the passing this bill. 

 And truly I think I may reckon this as a mis- 

 chief. The debauching of people's manners, 

 and drawing them off from their calling and 

 employment to a course of drunkenness and 

 idleness. And I may likewise account this as a 

 mischief, the alienating people' s affections one from 

 another, and their being engaged in factions, and 

 piques, and quarrels. And in truth, if these be 

 mischiefs, the elections of members of Parlia- 

 ment, as they are in our days commonly ma- 

 naged, do as much contribute to these mischiefs, 

 as any other thing I knoio whatsoever. And I dare 



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