A20 
ing as firft laid. I with, Mr. Editor, I 
lived a little nearer to you, that I might 
convey you a hamper of nonpareils, that 
have been fecured in the above way this 
feafon, that you might be convinced, that 
what I have ftated is, in the language of 
Secretary Grenville, ‘* the refult of expe- 
rience, and the evidence of facts.” 
Norfolk, I am, Sir, 
Feb. 2%, 1800. Your’s, &c. 
5. G. 
— ee 
For the Monthly Magazines 
ARCHDEACON BLACKBURNE’S POLITI- 
CAL SENTIMENTS EXPLAINED, &c. 
R. Comber, (p. 19) kas given fuf- 
\ ficient reafons why he ought to be 
admitted as an evidence in defence of the 
late celebrated Archdeacon Blackburne 
againft the charge of herefy which has 
been fo often alleged again& him; and if 
the orthodox are fatisfied, all is well: but 
with refpect to what he has advanced in 
explanation of the political fentiments of 
his deceafed friend, I think fome doubts 
may be very reafonably entertained. Mr. 
C. fays “ he was fo cautious of aiding to 
introduce any innovations in the civil con- 
ftitution, that he did not choofe to concur 
in an attempt at what was called a Refor- 
mation of Parliament, though many of 
whom he had a goad opinion, did embark 
in i.’’ Now, that this is not quite a cor- 
rect flatement of facts, will appear by the 
following extraéts from’a letter, and a very 
interefting paper, which this truly great 
man wroie to Mr. /V/ywuill, at the time 
when the friends of liberty, or thole who 
then affecied to be {fo called, were attemp- 
ting to bring about a more equal reprefen- 
tation of the people. 
66 DEAR SIR, Richmond, Dec. 5, 1779. 
Tam much obliged to you for communica- 
ting to me the defign of a county meeting, 
and the fteps which have been taken to make 
it effectual for the important purpofes men- 
tioned in your letter. My age and infirni- 
ties will not allow me to ftir from home at 
this feafon of the year; at the fame time, I 
earneftly wifh to have an hour’s converfation 
with you, particularly on fome things which 
feem to me highly to concern the honour and 
dignity of the County of York. 
If J cannot be fo happy as to fee you, I will 
take the liberty te prt.down a few hints up- 
@n paper for your perufal. As I cannot pof- 
fibly attend the firt meeting, there would, I 
think, .be an impropriety in -promifing fo to 
do under my hand: in the mean time my, 
warmeft wvifbes are for its fuecefs. 
(Stgned) Francis Blackburne.*® 
eee 

* This whole of the letters, together with 
b) “ 4 we . rc ri 7 Le 
ithe §* Propofitions of Reform, may be found 
Archd. Blackburue’s Political Se natal 
[June ty 
What thofe things were which the wor- 
thy Archdeacon ‘thought fo highly con- 
cerned the honour and dignity of ‘the 
County of York, may be found by the 
following extracts : 
‘¢ Propofitions of Reform, fuggefted by the 
Rev. Archdeacon Blackburne, to the Rev. 
Chriftopher Wyvill, in a letter dated Decem- 
ber yess 1779°~ 
<¢ At a moft refpetable meeting of the 
gentlemen of the County of York, affembled 
for the purpofe of petitioning the Throne, that 
the parliament which had determined Mr. 
Luttrell to be duly ele€ted member of parlia- 
ment for the County of Middlefex, might be 
diffolved ; a queftion was afked, what was to 
be done in cafe the petition was reje€ted ? 
It was anfwered, “* that a committee was 
appointed to receive the report of thofe gen- 
tlemen who prefented the petition, and if it 
thould appear upon that report, that no regard 
was paid to the faid-petition, another meet- 
ing fhould be had to confider of a Remon- 
ftrance, &c. &c.” 
‘¢ Jt is believed there was a meeting of 
fuch committee, and that a report was made 
to it of the reception of the petition ; which 
however was never communicated to the pub- 
lic; nor one word more heard of a remon- 
ftrance. Many fubferibers to that petition 
highly refented this treatment, faying ‘¢ they: 
were left.in the lurch, and that the County 
was Called together only to an{wer the views 
of certain individuals? 
To obviate objetlons to the propofed meet- 
ing on the. 27th of December next, taken. 
from the event in 1769, fome explicit and fa- 
tisfa€tury declaration fhould be made public, 
that fome furthereffeétual fteps will be taken 
in cafe the application intended fhould be 
fiighted. or evaded; and withal, fome fpi- 
rited notice fhould be taken of the indignity 
put upon this great County.” 
<¢ It fhould be confidered, that the majo- 
rities in parliament are on every miny#terial 
queftion formidable and decifive. The depen- 
_dencies on minifterial patronage among the 
people are numerous; ten times more fo~ 
perhaps among thofe who are out of parlia~ 
ment, than thofe who are in it, and J doubt 
not but many of thefe will fay, they cannot 
affard to facrifice their intereft, perhaps their 
livelihood, to a faint attempt tq redrefs pub- 
lic grievances; which if it fhould mifcarry, 
would expofe all who join in it, tothe vin- 
digtive refentment of a powerful and provoked 
adminiftration. Means fhould be ufed if pof~ 
fible to abate thefe apprehenfions.” 
66 The Reformations propefed are moft highly 
proper and importagt.® 
Such were the fentiments of this cele- 
brated man, at atime when a great majo- 
rity of the freeholders in’ the County of 

— ee 
in the 3d vol. of Wywill's Political ‘Papers, 
&c. Pp. 133-45 8 work which deferves the 
very attentive perufal of every one who 
wilhes well to his country. x 
York, 

$ 
