impudent and scurrilous thing I ever read. If the author can be found
I do not doubt but be will be punished; for if such liberties may be
taken, of writing scandalous lies without being punished, no government
can stand long. Notwithstanding what I have said, I cannot forbear
laughing, when I think they would have you and I pass for fanatics,
and the duke of Buckingham and Lord Jersey for pillars of the church;
the one being a Roman Catholic in King James's reign, and the other
would have been a Quaker, or any other religion that would have pleased
the late king. All these proceedings make me weary of being in this
world; but as long as I can be of any use to her majesty, I will undergo
any difficulties to show her my duty and gratitude; and as I am sure you
will never let any of these violent proceedings make you weary of serving
the queen, be assured that I will not only venture my life, but my quiet,
which is far dearer to me, to show the world the esteem and friendship I
have for you."

To the duchess, whose irritable temper could ill brook the
lash of public censure, and who on this, as on other occa-
sions, importuned him with her complaints, he gave advice
no less judicious than manly.

"Tirlemont, Sept. 7. -- I received last night a letter from you without
a date, by which I see there is another scurrilous pamphlet come out.
The best way of putting an end to that villany is not to appear con-
cerned. The best of men and women in all ages have been ill used. If
we can be so happy as to behave ourselves, so as to have no reason to re-
proach ourselves, we may then despise what rage and faction do."

The cabinet at length found it necessary to check the
licentiousness of the press. David Evans, the printer of the
Memorial, was brought to trial, and being convicted of the
offence, was fined and sentenced to the pillory, but fled from
the hands of justice. By the same motive which suggested
this prosecution, the Whigs were prompted to submit the
question, which created such clamour, to the decision of
parliament; and they found a ready acquiescence on the
part of the queen, who was offended at the disrespectful
reproaches with which she had been assailed by the Tories.
With the concurrence of the ministers, Lord Halifax made a
motion in the House of Peers, to appoint a day for inquiring
into the dangers of the church "about which so many ter-
rible stories had been recently published;" and the 6th of
January was fixed for the discussion of the momentous
question.

Lord Rochester opened the debate, and marshalled the
charges advanced by his party under three heads. He

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