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tily encreased by the paffing a Bill that may be to the Mortification of the meaneft Perfons in the Proteftant Caufe.

It is therefore no time to do a thing, which will take off the Hands and Purfes of Half a Million of People, as Friends to the House of Hanover; Half a Million of People, as Enemies to the Pretender.

If this Bill paffes, and the Pretender should come upon our Coaft, I would fain know what could move a Diffenter to lift an Hand, or employ a Shilling against Him? He has at prefent no hopes of Preferment, and would by this Bill be under daily Apprehenfions of the lofs of the Toleration, as to himfelf, as well as being wholly bereft of it as to his Pofterity. He would have certainly Promises from the Pretender of Liberty of Confcience, and he could but have thofe Promifes broken, as in this Cafe he would have it to fay they had been before, and muft expect fome Sweetneffes at a new Change for ftanding Neuter, or exerting himself for the Invader. Thus he would rather, according to his own Intereft, wifh an Invader Succefs than Difappointment; add to this, fome Pleafure in the revengeful Hope of feeing us, who had Perfecuted him, fall into the fame Calamity.

This, dear Sir, is all I have to trouble you with on this Occafion; and tho' you accufed me of being caft down with my Expulfion, you fee I have not Dunn'd you to move, that the other Pamphlets may be examined, as well as the Crifis and the Englishman. Give my Service to poor Tom and Ned. I must confefs they were the last I forgave, but I have for

given them too now. I am thoroughly convinced, fince this Bill, that I was not worthy: For now you have taken upon you Ecclefiaftical Matters, and I fhould not have known how to behave my felf among you as a Communion of Saints.

I doubt not, Sir, but your Voice and excellent Talents will be employed against this pernicious Bill: To oppofe it ftrenuoufly, will be worthy that Refolution and Modefty for which you are fo remarkably confpicuous; that Modefty which cannot incline you to bear hard against Perfons or Things, when you happen to be with a Majority, and that Refolution which prompts you to affert what you think Truth, tho' under the Disadvantage of the most inconfiderable Minority.

I am, SIR,

Your moft Obedient,

Obliged, Humble Servant,

Richard Steele

Mr

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