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what eagerness was the news circulated, that which you are the author, intituled, “ Peace to make up the measure of my iniquities, I and Union recommended w the associated corresponded with the national convention ! Bodies of Republicans and Anti-Republicans: In laying this to my charge, they did me the by William Frend, M. A. fellow of Jesus Cole honour of uniting me with four gentlemen of' lege, Cambridge. Printed for the Author, by the most respectable character in this uni- P. C. Croft, St. Ives, 1793;" which said book versity, and as I am convinced that they or pamphlet is annexed to these presents, and would do nothing unworthy of the character of prayed to be admitted as if inserted herein: Englishmen and academics, the accusation, and we article and object as above.] though intended to bring on me as much Sir, I am accused in this article not only of public obloquy as possible, was rendered of publishing a buok, but of publishing a scanless effect. As to myself, Sir, I here declare dalous book: and here I cannot help adthat neither directly nor indirectly did I ever miring with what nodesty and address the correspond with the national convention, and promoter in summing up the evidence against I make no scruple of saying, that with re- me requested that, as on his part all personaspect to the gentlemen, with whom I was lities should be avoided, the same might be supposed to be associated in this transaction, required on the part of the defendant. Well I do not believe that any one of them was might he be anxious to preclude me from all ever engaged in such a correspondence. Not, personalities in my reply. Satisfied with the Sir, that I think there was any disgrace in abuse which he and his adherents had before corresponding with the national convention, so liberally bestowed, he might well be conbut so obscure an individual as myself could tent to refrain from further personality, prolay no claim to the notice of that assembly. vided I might be withheld from expressing If I could have suggested any thing to pro- my just sensibility and resentment. "Double mote the welfare of that assembly and the less he had a right to make this request, as nation which it represented; I should cer- there is no personality in declaring a member tainly have taken pleasure in doing it. They of the senate the author of a scandalous book! were our friends, there was no war declared It is not at all personal to assert that Mr. between the two nations, they deserved our Frend is unfit to breathe the air of this place! friendship, for they had broken the bands of It is by no means personal to endeavour to slavery, and aspired to the honours of free- deprive him of his degrees, and to expel dom.

him from the university! Had I indeed, Sir, Having thus endeavoured, by an explicit taken notice of a late publication of the declaration of my sentiments, to remove the learned promoter, had l asserted that the calumnies which have been so industriously work, which he has given to the public under circulated respecting my religious and poli- the sanction of the university, is a disgrace tical principles, I come now to the more im- to a man of letters, that after all the labour mediate object of my defence. I am accused | bestowed on it it abounded with so many and of publishing a certain book, and, by that pub- such gross blunders, as instead of a fac simile lication, of impugning religion as established it was more properly speaking a fac contraby public authority, and by such impugning, rium, that his prolegomena were filled with of violating the laws and statutes of the uni- quaint allusions and inaccuracies of expresversity. My discourse is naturally divided sion, at which a boy in the lowest forms would into three heads. The second is branched blush; had I asserted such things of the out into four articles. In one, I am charged learned doctor, I should have been called a with defaming the Liturgy; in the second dealer in personalities; but, when he accuses with calling the worship of the Church of me of writing a scandalous book, then, Sir, it England idolatrous ; in the third, with assert- ceases to be personality! ing that all ecclesiastical courts, ranks, and Let him not then esteem me personal. I titles, are repugnant to the spirit of Christia- will not charge him with reading scandalous nity; and in the fourth, with profaning and books, I will not accuse him of vitiating his reviling the most sacred offices of the church. taste by the perusal of those vile and profane Under the third head are mentioned two laws authors of antiquity, which to our shame many which I am supposed to have violated, the of us still keep in our studies. This would be one a statute De Concionibus, the other a scandalous indeed. The learned doctor is Grace passed in the year 1603. Of all these better engaged than in commenting on a I shall treat in their order, and for that pur- Cicero or a Demosthenes : with these profane pose I request that the second article in the authors he has long ceased to have any comcharges delivered to me may now be read by munication : his style is formed on much the officer of the court.

better models, and we cannot but admire the [Here the second article was read.

streams of eloquence which he has derived

from the enchanting remains of a Sanctus 2nd. Also, We article and object to you Pachomius, Theodorus Beza, and Sanctus the aforesaid William Frend, That in the Bernardinus. present year of our Lord 1793, you did pub- Though, Sir, I disdain, every species of perfish, and cause to be dispersed within this sonality against this promoter, I must be university, a scandalous book or pamphlet, of allowed to say that his charge is false. The VOL. XXII,

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book intituled, “ Peace and Union," is not a , audience to investigate the methods, by which scandalous book; it is not deemed a scandalous many of us, from having perused the writings, book by some of the most respectable mem- or heard the discourses of any one, can probers of the Houses of Lords and Commons; it nounce with ease, whether a work in question is not esteemed a scandalous book by several belongs to him or not. They can point out very distinguished characters in the literary the beauties or the deficiencies of his style, his world; and in the judgment of many persons plan, his language. They can say at once, among us eminent for their learning and abi. such a sentence was certainly the effusion of lities, this work so far from being deemed this writer's zeal, or, again, none but that scandalous, is thought to contain a variety of doctor could have possibly indited this paratopics of the utmost importance to the state, graph. For instance, who, that has read the and deserving the attention of every lover of prefaces of the learned promoter, or has heard his country. With all these I most cordially his distinguished eloquence in the divinity unite in wishing, that instead of blackening schools, can doubt that he is the author of the and defaming the character of the writer, the late prolegomena ? Could Cicero or Livy have promoter and his twenty-seven had the can written in such a manner, could they have dour and ability to answer the publication. ventured on such fights of fancy, could they

But whether the work is scandalous or not, have raised themselves to surprise the mind let us consider, what proofs are brought by the with such beautiful changes of cases and proinoter that I am the author of it. After those noble deviations in the moods of verbs? so many days employed by him in endeavour- Are not their metaphors feeble when coming to prove this point, it would be a very bad pared with those used by our sub-professor ? compliment to pass over without some notice, Where shall we find such latinity, where shall the labour in which he has so strenuously we meet with such beautiful specimens of exerted himself. On this account it will be quotation ?* necessary to make some previous remarks on No one, who has the least pretensions to the proofs of authorship in general, from critical acumen, would, on balancing all these which we shall easily perceive with what, circumstances, doubt that Dr. Kipling, as his shallow proots the inquisitorial spirit is con- signature declares, is and could alone be the tented, when the ruin of an individual is the author of his prolegomena. The work itself only point to which its zeal and malice are also carries internal marks of the editor. The directed

perfect resemblance it bears to the original, There are two ways of discovering the having no other difference than that in several author of any work, which may be called the places the type is turned topsy turvy, conexternal and internal marks of authorship. vinces us that no one but the promoter has The external depend on two things, either on any claim to the merit of having corrected the author himself, or persons, who have had the press. the means of being acquainted with the au- But, Sir, strong as these internal marks are, thor's proceedings. Should a person declare and stronger perhaps cannot be brought, himselt to be the author of a given work, must contend that they can be of no weight though this is not in itself an absolute proof, in a court of justice. It will not suffice to it is sufficient to subject him to the praise or say, the style is the same, the language is the censure which would have been bestowed on same, the errors are exactly such as might be the author. If the author does not choose to expected from this author; still no upright avow himself, before those, who might be judge would be contented. The style and supposed entitled to question him on the language may be imitated'; there have been subject, and it is asserted that he has else- frauds even in the literary world, and nothing where made this discovery, we must be parti- but external proof can make an author ame cularly careful what credit we give to the tes- nable to a court of justice for any publication. timony of the witnesses, who come forward Hence in the present case, when the promoter on such an occasion. We must examine their wanted to prove the pamphlet intituled, characters, whether they are friends or ene- “Peace and Union,” to be mine, from a fancied mies, whether they are likely to speak the resemblance between certain passages in it, and truth fairly and openly, or whether the zeal others in a pamphlet written four years ago, of religion might not induce them to hazard the court very properly rejected the attempt. a pious fraud by way of getting rid of a dan- Many external marks are not available. gerous opponent to their fantastic theories. Neither the title-page, nor public estimation, Besides, we must consider, whether they are nor writing, nor the delivery of books are, competent to give a legitimate proof: if they separately or in conjunction, sufficient proofs can neither write nor read, it will avail but of authorship. little, that they heard a person call himself First, with respect to title pages, I shall, the writer of a given work, as the work before Sir, bring two proofs, which I have no doubt the court may be of a different nature and will convince every unprejudiced mind, that tendency from that, whose title only was mentioned in their hearing.

See the learned promoter's preface to The internal marks of authorship are va- what he calls a fac simile of the Codex Theorious. It is unnecessary before this learned dori Bezæ Cantabrigiensis.-Frend.

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my opinion is well founded. The one shall being unacquainted with the writings of be taken from the university of Oxford, the Mohammed and his best commentators, or other from our own. We have all of us heard celebrate him for the splendour of a diction the fame of a celebrated professor of oriental which is not to be expected from one of his jiterature in the university of Oxford. Some indefatigable industry, in discovering the time ago he published under his own name a roots of words and exploring the sources of volume of sermons, which he had also Egyptian literature. The latinity also of the preached in the university church. They learned promoter might not only tend to were admired by every body, were held up as persuade us, that Beza is a Cambridge man, models of composition, as a complete victory but fix on him the stain of various heretical over the heretics, particularly those, who go opinions, to which his Codex is supposed to by the name of Socinians. Nothing could be give a sanction, and make him liable to a urged against them, they were unanswerable, summons into the vice-chancellor's court. so great a champion as the oriental profesa Public estimation is also no proof of ausor was invincible. So much and so univer- thorship. We have all of us either seen or sally were they esteemed, that a late lord- heard a variety of epigrams, circulated not chancellor, well known for his love of pure many years ago, full of reflections and scurreligion and his regard for the interests of the rilons remarks on the heads of colleges, and church, felt himself called upon to reward men high in rank and office among us. For such singular merit, and actually bestowed some time it was the fashion to ascribe them on the

person whose name they bore a hand- to one of our most celebrated mathemati. some piece of preferment. Who could then, cians. They went under his name. Every Sir, entertain the least doubt of ascribing in one pronounced thein in common conversafinite merit to this learned writer? Who at tion to be his, and if he had not expressly first supposed that this great man could get contradicted the report by openly disclaiming up and preach before the university sermons them, his fame might have gone down to the not his own? The supposition would have latest posterity rather as a satirist than a been treated with contempt, if a concurrence mathematician. Thus would our first chaof circumstances had not justified it, and the racter for eloquence have been deprived of an world is now in possession of the proof, that honour which is due to him alone, and which these noted sermons owe their celebrity to is to be hoped, he will enjoy henceforward the united efforts of a once eminent dissent unrivalled and without dispute. ing minister and a doctor of distinguished The hand-writing of a person is still legs a merit of our own university.*

proof of authorship, as we all know how A book lately appeared among us under easily it may be forged, and a person must the title of Codex Theodori Bezæ Cantabri- have attained either great sagacity in the art giensis. Now, Sir, not venturing to trust to of distinguishing hands, or great powers of my own interpretation of these words, I con- swearing, before he can ascribe a writing to sulted a learned friend, who declared it could any individual. Besides, should the writing mean only the codex of Theodore Beza, a be proved to be that of any person, it does Cambridge man. Was Beza then the author not follow that he is the author of the comof this work, or was he not? Did he write position, he may have been only a copyist.. it? Did he compose it? Did he publish it? I need not dwell a moment on the absurNo such thing. He wished, thai it might dity of supposing, that the delivery of books not be published. So far from his writing or can prove authorship, as in that case we shall composing of it, it appears to be a transcript convert all our booksellers into authors, or of the four gospels and the acts of the apos at least make the deliverers of any work into tles, which he purloined from a monastery in the seller's hands members of the literary the course of the civil wars of France, and republic. either not liking the various readings con- Having thus, Sir, considered the general tained in it, or fearing that it might be proofs of authorship, let us now examine claimed by its proper owners, he made a those which the promoter has brought in present of it to the university, to be edited in favour of his assertion. These are of two sorts a future age by some promoter, though not so either by evidence, by writing. By the learned, yet as bigotted and bloody-minded as evidence of booksellers and their servants, himself, who should make the great discovery, a printer of a public paper, and certain genthat Beza was a Cambridge man.

tlemen of the university. On the evidence Thus, if title pages are to be taken as given by the tradesmen and their servants proofs of authorship, we may attribute to the I have not a single reflection to make. oriental professor of Oxford a variety of Having no sinister views, nor any other errors, which arose solely from his friends object than a plain statement of facts, they

told what they knew with a plainness and

integrity which must do them credit in the Mr. Badcock and Dr. Part.-See White's opinion of all who heard them. But to what sermons for the Bampton lecture, and the did all their evidence amount? The bookcontroversy on them, in pamphlets by Dr. sellers and their servants relate that they reGabriel, Dr. Parr, and Dr. White.- Frend. ceived the pamphlet intituled, Peace and Union, either from Bowtell's boy or from his , better proof remaining. Mr. Watson sent a house, except that one declares that he re- servant once with a note to me, on the ceived twenty copies from myself at my own receipt of which, I said, it required no anroom. The copies at Bowtell's appear to swer. have been brought by the St. Ives carrier, In this account of the evidence, I have and Mr. Trend is said to have ordered cer- been in danger, I perceive, of omitting a very tain packets to be sent to the booksellers and important one, though for what purpose he to his friends in the university. The printer was brought here, neither the Court nor mydeclares, that he received the copy of an self can possibly devise. Dr. Dickens is a advertisement from Mr. Marsh, to be in- clergyman well known in Huntingdonshire, serted in his paper, as also an order from Mr. ' and, with the singularity and vivacity of his Frend in person to repeat the advertisement, conversation, many gentlemen in this univerand afterwards a note from him stating the sity have been frequently entertained: he price of the painphlet. Being asked whcther writes sermons, which nobody reads, and he could swear to my hand-writing, he said generally sends me, and many others of his all' that an honest man could on such an oc- acquaintance, a copy of his publications. casion. He was too well acquainted with the Considering him as a harmless old man, who nature of an oath, and the mistakes which a had not forgotten the few scraps of Latin man even in his profession might make, to which he learned at school, I have sometimes swear positively to the hand-writing of any visited him, when in his neighbourhood, and person. Yet, Sir, I may venture to say that he occasionally indulges me with a sight of he has seen me write oftener and seen more his sermons in manuscript. In return, he of my hand-writing than any person in this might be thought to have a claim on me for audience, but he would give his conjectures a copy of my publications; but he is brought only, and could not be brought by any means here to relate a circumstance, which taking to make those round assertions, which we place in Huntingdonshire, cannot be made an heard with astonishment from a quarter, object of inquiry in this court. The fact is whence they were least to be expected. simply this : he met me one day in the house

Mr, Lloyd's evidence, Sir, is too curious to of a stationer at St. Ives, where I frequently, be passed over in silence. He appeared in as is usual to persons in the neighbourhood çourt, as it should seem, in a mode prescribed of a market town, go to execute any little by the promoter with a book in his hand. commission, to read my letters, or the paper, Enter Vir. Lloyd. Pray what have you in or, if occasion requires, to write letters. Dr. your hand, says the promoter? A book. Dickens found me writing some letters, and What book is it? Peace and Union. Where near me were some pamphlets, one of which I did you get that book! At Mr. Lunn's shop. told him I was going to send to an old friend What did you get it for? To bring the charge of bis He took up a pamphlet, and said, he hone, and to convict Mr Frend, replies this must take it with him, and in the tree and unbiassed witness, who being questioned casy way for which this facetions divine is concerning some transactions at the vice- , noted, he bore it off, not only without, but chancellor's lodge, declared that he did not actually against my consent; and this book, come prepared to answer such questions. thus taken, is it seems, brought here to prove

The evidence from writing is chiefly con- ! that it is a production of my own pen. fined to certain letters said to have passed be- Such is the evidence which the promoter tween Mr. Watson and myself. The letters has collected from all quarters, sparing are produced in court, and to prove them mine, neither age nor sex, and on which he means step forward Mr. Kilvington and Mr. to rest his position, that I am not only the Plampin,

publisher, but also the author, of the book in -Arcades ambo

question. Et jurare pares, et respondere parati.

C'nfortunately, however, Sir, for the pro

moter, his proofs are inconclusive. For first, They look on the notes, they are asked whose with respect to his witnesses-Several of hand-writing it is. For the first note, Mr. thein are of the twenty-seven, that is, of the Frend is the reply: for the second and third original body of accusers, and one, the most Mr. Plampin is not quite so positive. To this material, is his own servant Besides the proof, that I wrote the notes, is added pre- general objection to the twenty-seven, there sumptive evidence from a conversation, which is one of a distinct and separate kind, which I had with Mr. Watson on the subject of I feel myself with infinite concern compelled the price of spinning wool, which happened to produce. It is so materially interesting then to engage the atterrion of the univer- both to the witness's reputation, and my sity; and as I carried with me sutiicient own, that I did not choose to trust the explaproofs that Mr. Watson's statement was pation of my sentiments on this head to wrong, I must necessarily have been the the casual observation of the present mowriter of the notes. There is, however, a, ment, but put it down in writing, and shall

make no apology for reading it from this * See Mr. Kilvington's evidence.-Frend.

paper.

Here Mr. Frend read the following paper:

Mr. Kilvington declared, that "my studied attentions, shown to him, as they were, he believes, to all those whom I was desirous of proselyting to my own opinions, were such as to have impressed, very deeply on his mind, the recollection of my hand-writing."

The world will be at a loss to guess how far any attention to a person can convey a knowledge of hand-writing, unless those attentions had been signified by an intercourse of letters: but they will be at no loss to discover, that the proof of my hand-writing was the least part of Mr. Kilvington's design. It was to gratify his own malignity, that he seized the opportunity of asserting a falsehood, which he had forgot how easily I could repel. Had I been permitted to try his skill in the interpretation of hand-writing, he would have been abashed to see, under his own hand, an acknowledgment which totally did away the slander of such an imputation. But I was told, that to urge the reading of his letters then, would weaken my defence. How, Sir, am I to defend myself now? Will this remonstrance be entered on the records? Will these letters be inserted in the Acta Curia? No, Sir, there will still remain an accusation without an answer-an accusation compared with which, the present charge is absolutely nothing Sir, how slightly soever others may esteem-how slovenly soever others may discharge the duty of a tutor in giving lectures, in my idea, it was one of the most sacred deposits which could be confided in the hands of man. To betray this trust by prejudicing young minds, in those points where they ought to be left to the fair result of their own inquiries, would be base and treacherous: yet this is the treachery with which I am charged. My name is to go down to posterity, loaded with the infamy of practices I abhor; and from the imputation of which you were in vain solicited to protect it.

I do not mean, in vindicating my own con. duct, to retort the accusation upon another; but I mean to disclaim, in the strongest and the most public manner, in the face of this court, and of God, a practice which I abhor.*

Mr. Kilvington cannot, I suspect, have duly considered the extent and import of the word to proselyte. The zeal of proselyting is of a peculiar nature, appropriated in scripture to a particular body of men. Ye, says our Saviour, compass sea and land to make one proselyte. To whom does he say this?-To whom but the scribes and pharisees? And who were they? Take a few traits of their character, as it stands afterwards marked in the language of our Saviour himself. All their works they do to be seen of men: for a pretence they make long prayers: they outwardly appear righteous and unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

I am well aware how apt we are to apply ancient descriptions to present manners; and I should not wonder if the world were ready to discover in this place a set of men, to whom the pharisaical character applies at least as strongly as to me: but let me caution them against rash judgment; the Margaret professor has amply vindicated the character of those people from such an imputation. Bigots, and zealots, says he, are wonderfully ex

render you any services in my power, either in this, or any other part of the world which I may chance to be fixed in.-I am, with great respect, dear Sir, your very faithful and affectionate servant,

"EDWARD KILVINGTON, Jun."

In the second letter, he tells me, after some further business on the testimonials:

"The cure, which I have engaged to accept, consists of two parishes, Knockholt and Downe, in the county of Kent. They are situated in a most delightful part of the country, between Bromley and Sevenoaks. The present incumbent is the minister of our parish church; and, as he will be desirous of residing occasionally for a week or two, I have engaged on those occasions to officiate for him in London The allowance is to be fifty pounds a year, together with the use of the parsonage furnished and provided with attendance. I am persuaded you will be happy to hear of my success, and I have therefore given you so circumstantial an account.

“I must again apologize for the trouble which I am presuming to give you, especially as I can never hope for an opportunity of discharging the obligations which I already labour under.-I am, with great esteem, dear Sir, yours, most affectionately,

The letters thrown down, were two received by me in the year 1788, the one dated July 19th, the other July 24th, which I accidentally found about a month after the first meeting of the twenty-seven at the vicechancellor's lodge. On finding that Mr Kilvington had taken so active a part in the prosecution, I showed them to some of my friends, as instances of the gratitude of the saints. The greater part of them is taken up with the business of college testimonials, and at the conclusion of the first Mr. Kilving-given me so circumstantial an account of his ton's words are:

"I shall make no further apology for the trouble I am now giving you; but must say, that it will give me the greatest pleasure to

"EDW. KILVINGTON."

Now is it probable, that, if I had endeavoured, with studied attentions, to draw off Mr. Kilvington from the church, he would have

entrance into the office of minister in that church? Would he have been persuaded, that I should be happy to hear of his success in it?-Frend.

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