in a neighbouring country had, in an alarming degree, tainted the English population; and the northern counties had by no means escaped the virulent infection.

Early in December, Dr. Milner thus wrote to Mr. Wilberforce:

"At Carlisle we had many reports concerning tumults and sedition, and the affair seemed to be of considerable magnitude. Some few gentlemen, I understand, are disposed to favour French principles; Mr. has considerable influence in promoting this sort of work by his conversation, which has a strong tendency to destroy all subordination, and to bring rulers, of every description, into contempt. He is naturally very goodtempered, and my stay there was short. These two circumstances alone prevented our coming to a rupture. I have given myself little or no concern about politics, for years; but of late, the aspect has been so black, that I could not help attending to our future prospects, with some anxiety.

"Supposing Fox to oppose, I think it well, at this critical moment, that he has gone so far. There is scarce one of his old friends here at Cambridge, who is not disposed to give him up; and most say, that he is mad. I think of him much as I always did: I still doubt whether he has bad principles, but I think it pretty plain, that he has none; and I suppose he is ready for whatever turns up. The tide at present seems setting strongly in support of government, among all ranks. I believe this arises, in great measure, from the alarm of the moment; and when that is over, or abates, I fear the democratic principles will be found to have firmer roots."

The University annals for the year 1792 close with the re-election of Mr. Pitt, as its representative in parliament. The critical position, however, of public affairs, at this period, prevented Mr. Pitt, as he wrote to Dr. Milner, from being present on the day of election.

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CHAPTER VII.

Socinian principles in the University.—Mr. Frend.-His Seditious Pamphlet. -Meeting of the Masters and Fellows of Jesus College.-Care of the ViceChancellor to procure the best Legal advice.-Meeting of the "TwentySeven," at Queen's Lodge.-Determination to institute, against Mr. Frend proceedings in the Vice-Chancellor's Court.-Citation of Mr. Frend.-His Trial.-Sentence of Banishment from the University pronounced upon him by the Vice-Chancellor.-Mr. Frend appeals to the Senate.-Confirmation of the Sentence of the Vice-Chancellor, pronounced by the Court of Delegates. -Firmness of Dr. Milner.-His unflinching attachment to the Doctrines of the Established Church.-Notice of Mr. Frend's trial by Professor Smyth.-Dr. Milner's Speech at the conclusion of the Trial.—Address to the Undergraduates.-Impressive style of his eloquence.-Visit of Joseph Milner to his Brother at Cambridge.—Mr. Simeon.-State of Religion.— Dr. Milner takes formal possession of the Deanery of Carlisle.-Remarkable Dream.

A.D. 1793. ÆTAT. 43.

THE Occurrences which distinguished and rendered peculiarly responsible the vice-chancellorship of Dr. Milner, were the trial and expulsion from the University of Cambridge, of William Frend, A.M. and Fellow of Jesus College.

During some years past, a party of men in the University, entertaining Socinian principles, had been endeavouring to propagate their pernicious doctrines. Although professing themselves members, and being, in some cases, clergymen of the church of England, and as such, having subscribed to her Articles, these persons, a leader among whom was Mr. Frend, did not hesitate to attempt to subvert the faith to which they were thus solemnly pledged. Mr. Frend went so far as to publish and circulate within the precincts of the University, a pamphlet, of so obnoxious a character, that the Vice-Chancellor was called upon to exert the authority entrusted to him, for the suppression of conduct so flagrant.

Of the judicial proceedings in this remarkable trial—a trial protracted, by the artifices of the defendant, to the utmost possible length-and of the circumstances which led to those proceedings, a very brief account may here be sufficient.

Mr. Frend having published and circulated within the

University an irreligious and seditious pamphlet, entitled Peace and Union recommended to the associated bodies of Republicans and Anti-Republicans, a meeting, consisting of the master of the college and the major part of the resident fellows, was held at Jesus Lodge on the 22nd of February, 1793, and the following resolution drawn up :

"Resolved, That a pamphlet, entitled Peace and Union, &c. lately published by W. Frend, A.M., Fellow of this college, appears to us to have been written with the evil intent of prejudicing the clergy in the eyes of the laity, of degrading in the public esteem the doctrines and rites of the Established Church, and of disturbing the harmony of society. And, that, as we feel it to be our particular duty to disavow principles calculated to mislead the minds of young men entrusted to our care, a copy of the said pamphlet be sent both to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, and to the Visitor of the College, inclosed in a letter to each, expressing our disapprobation of the opinions therein delivered, and humbly requesting them to take such measures as, in their judgment, may appear most proper for the effectual suppression of their dangerous tendency." ***** * * *

Here follow the signatures.

Of the exertions used by Dr. Milner to procure, with respect to every part of this important transaction, the very best advice, the numerous letters which still exist, from the most eminent legal authorities of the day, afford sufficient evidence. In this affair, as in every other the conduct of which was committed to him, Dr. Milner spared no labour which might qualify him to perform, in the best possible manner, the duty required of him.

On the 4th of March, 1793, a meeting, composed of the persons who had signed the Resolution already recorded, and of other members of the Senate, amounting in all to the number of twenty-seven, took place at the Vice-Chancellor's Lodge at Queen's; and by this meeting-the members composing which were known in the University by the name of "the Twentyseven”—it was determined, that proceedings against Mr. Frend should be instituted in the Vice-Chancellor's Court.

23rd of April a citation was accordingly served upon William Frend summoning him to appear before the Vice-Chancellor at his next court, to be held on the 3rd day of the May next following, then and there to answer to the accusation preferred against him of having violated the statutes of the University, by the publication and dispersion, within its precincts, of the pamphlet entitled Peace and Union.

Mr. Frend appeared, as summoned; and after a full, deliberate, and impartial trial was convicted of the charge brought against him. He refused to retract or confess his error, and sentence was consequently pronounced upon him by the ViceChancellor, on the 13th day of May, in the following terms:

"I, ISAAC MILNER, D.D., Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, do decree and pronounce, that William Frend, Master of Arts, and Fellow of Jesus College, having offended against the statute de Concionibus, &c.,' by writing a pamphlet, entitled Peace and Union, &c., and by publishing the same within the University of Cambridge, and having refused to retract and confess his error and temerity, in the manner prescribed to him by me the Vice-Chancellor, with the assent of the major part of the Heads of Colleges, has incurred the penalty of the statute, and that he is therefore banished from this University.

(Signed)

"ISAAC MILNER, V. C., &c. &c."

From this decision, Mr. Frend appealed to the Senate; but Dr. Milner, acting with his accustomed prudence and foresight, had not pronounced judgment, without first, as has been already intimated, availing himself of the best advice which could be obtained. The highest legal authorities had concurred in his view of the meaning of the particular statutes against which Mr. Frend had offended; the sentence pronounced by the Vice-Chancellor was confirmed by the Court of Delegates, and the offender was compelled to quit the University.

It is almost needless to say, that both at the time and afterwards, Dr. Milner was, in some quarters, much censured for the decided and conscientious part which he had acted; but his conduct upon this occasion commanded the universal approbation of all the friends of religion and social order.

A full and impartial account of the trial of William Frend has, so far as I know, never been given to the public; the only published narrative of that affair being written by the defendant, and disfigured by much misrepresentation. It is, however, evident, even from Mr. Frend's imperfect, and, in many respects, unfair, representation of his own cause, that the University had abundant reason to rejoice, that the office of Vice-Chancellor was, at this juncture, filled by a man equal to the arduous and important occasion. The French Revolution was at its height -Jacobinical principles had infected England to a fearful degree-and, even in the University of Cambridge, a party of Socinians, holding republican opinions, were resolutely prepared to go all lengths with Mr. Frend.

Dr. Milner had deeply studied the subject at issue; and he was, moreover, a man of immoveable firmness of mind. It has been already intimated that, while yet an undergraduate, and at a time when unflinching attachment to the doctrines of the Establishment was supposed to be far from popular among the leading members of his college, he had, at the imminent hazard of all his prospects of worldly advancement, refused to join in a petition against subscription to the Articles of the National Church. His conviction of the truth and importance of the principles by which he had been then actuated, had continually increased in strength, and he was therefore, fully prepared to endure any reproach, or any ridicule, which a steady adherence to those principles might now bring upon him. And when, in after life, he was led to refer to his conduct upon the occasion of Mr. Frend's trial, he seldom quitted the subject without expressing his grateful satisfaction, on a review of the part which he had, at that time, been enabled to sustain*.

Of Mr. Frend's trial, Professor Smyth, whose recollections have already enriched this memoir, thus speaks: "I remember Mr. Borlase, the Registrar at the time, observing to me, that it was very well for the University that Dr. Milner was Vice-Chancellor at that time; that he shewed great ability, and often addressed the audience, and the undergraduates, in a most impressive manner.'

ووو

* Sec a Letter written by Dr. Milner in the year 1798. Chap. ix.