argued that the church was exposed to danger, from the act
of security passed in Scotland, from the failure of the bill
against occasional conformity, and finally from the rejection
of the motion to invite the presumptive heir of the crown to
England. He was supported by others of congenial senti-
ments, in the same strain of argument. On the opposite
side, Halifax and Wharton as bitterly reprobated the un-
founded alarms which had been propagated; and Somers,
the great orator of the Whigs, after censuring the authors of
such reports, as actuated by the basest motives, to embroil
the nation at home, and defeat the glorious designs of the
queen abroad, concluded a manly and impressive speech,
with an animated culogium on the conduct of the existing
administration. The motion was not only negatived by a
large majority, but a vote was passed that the church had
been rescued from extreme danger by William III., and was
safe and flourishing under the happy government of the
queen. It was farther declared, that such as should insinuate
to the contrary were enemies to the queen, the church, and
the country.

On the ensuing day the Lords acquainted the Commons
with these proceedings, desiring their concurrence; and both
houses joined in an address to the queen, soliciting her ma-
jesty to punish the authors and disseminators of the malicious
reports which had agitated the public mind.

A letter from Harley to Marlborough proves that the mo-
derate Tories on this occasion entered with zeal into the views
of the Whigs.

"Dec. 11-22. -- On Saturday the Commons entered upon the consi-
deration of the Lords' vote, that the church was in danger. The debate
was very long, managed with as much impotent impertinent malice as
ever I saw. They were not spared by the other side, but were dared
and defied to produce an instance, in any of her majesty's ministers,
which was contrary to the public good and interest of the kingdom.
They did not dare to divide, but upon the latter clause, of declaring the
reporters of such things enemies to her majesty, &c., and that was carried
against them by above fifty votes."

The reply from the throne was in perfect unison with the
voice of parliament, and a proclamation was immediately
issued for discovering the author of the Memorial, and the
apprehension of Evans the printer. The proceedings which

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