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A

ETTER

TO A

ber of PARLIAMENT.

London, May 28, 1714.

UGH I have had the Misfortune ppear an unworthy Member of your

fe, and am expelled, accordingly, Seat in Parliament, I am not by that hich was more important to the Peogland than I fhall at this Time explain) of the common Benefits of Life, Liany other Enjoyment of a rational And I do not think I can better beftów

or employ thefe Advantages, than in. in my Power to preferve them to well as my felf, and in afferting the my Fellow-Subjects against any thing apprehend to be an Encroachment ap

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on what they ought to enjoy as Men, and what they are legally poffeffed of as Englishmen, or, if you will, as Britons.

This, Sir, is all the Apology I fhall make to you for addreffing to you in this publick Manner my Thoughts concerning the Bill, now making its Way with all convenient Expedition through your House and the whole Legiflature. I fhall examine this Matter as well as Hafte will allow me, and therefore must recite as diftin&ly as I can what you gave me in Difcourfe as the Subftance of this intended Law, to wit,

TH HAT whereas by an Act of Parliament, in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Years of his late Majefty King Charles the Second, • intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of • Publick Prayers, and the Adminiftration of the • Sacrament, and other Rites and Ceremonies; • and for Establishing the Form of Making, Or• daining, and Confecrating Bishops, Priests and • Deacons in the Church of England; it is a• mong other Things enacted, that every School• Mafter keeping any Publick or Private School, and every Perfon Inftructing and Teaching any • Youth or Private Family, as a Tutor or School Mafter, fhould fubfcribe before his or their • Refpe&ive Bishop, or Archbishop, or Ordinary of the Diocefs, a Declaration or Acknowledgment, in which among other Things is ⚫ contained as follows, viz. 1 A. B. do declare, that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England, as it is now by Law Eftablish'd.--And if any School-Mafter or other Perfon in• ftructing or teaching Youth in any Private School or Family as a Tutor or School Mafter, before

Licenfe

• Licenfe obtained from the Respective Archbishop or Ordinary of the Diocess according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, for which • he should pay 12 d. only, and before Subfcription and Acknowledgment made as aforefaid; then every fach School-Mafter or other inftructing or teaching as aforesaid, fhould for the first Offence Suffer Three Months Imprisonment without Bail, and for every fecond, and other Such Offence, should fuffer Three Months Imprifonment without Bail or Mainprize, and also forfeit to his Majesty the Sum of 5 1.

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And whereas notwithstanding the faid A&t, Sundry Papifts and other Perfons diffenting from the Church of England, have taken upon them to Inftruct and Teach Youth as Tutors and School-Matters, and have fet up Schools and Seminaries for the Education of feveral Perfons, in Reading, Scholaftick, Academical or other Literature. Whereby, if due and speedy Remedy be not had, great Danger might enfue to this Church and State. For the making the faid recited A& more effectual, and for preventing the Danger aforeLaid,

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent, &c. That every Perfon or Perfons who shall from and after the Day of next enfuing, keep any Publick or Private • School or Seminary, or Teach or Inftruct any • Youth as Tutor or School-Mafter, or SchoolMiftrefs, in Reading, Scholaftick, Academical, or other Literature, within that Part of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, before fuch Perfon or Perfons fhall have Sub

fcribed

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fcribed the Declaration or Acknowledgment before recited, and fhall have had and obtain'd a License from the Refpective Archbishop or Bishop, or Ordinary of the Place, under his Seal of Office, for which the Party fhall Pay and no more; and in Cafe fuch Perfon or Perfons fhall be thereof convicted by the Oath of or more credible Witnefs or Witneffes, before any of more Juftice or Juftices of the Peace within any County, Riding, City, or Town Corporate, where fuch Offence fhall be committed in that Part of Great Britain called England; which Oath fuch Juftice or Juftices are hereby impowered and required to Adminifter, and fhall, and may. Provided always,

and be it hereby enacted, That no License fhall be granted by any Archbishop, Bishop, or Ordinary, unless the Perfon or Perfons who fue for the fame, fhall produce a Certificate of his, her, or their having received the Sacrament according to the Ufage of the • Church of England, in fome Parish Church within the Space of

" next before Grant of fuch Licenfe under the "Hand of nor until fuch Perfon or Perfons fhall have taken and fubfcribed the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and Abjuration, as appointed by Law, before the faid Archbishop, Bishop, or Ordinary; which faid Oaths the faid Archbishop, Bifhop, or Ordinary, are hereby impowered and required to Adminifter. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That any Perfon who all have obrain'd a License and fubfcribed the Declaration, and taken and

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