LETTER SIN VIII. LET. INCE the appearance of the unbelieving fraternity among us, VIII. in these latter days, they have been celebrated for many extraordinary qualities: but their characteristic virtue, I think, has been modefty. A remarkable inftance of this virtue has manifefted itself in their conduct respecting the publication of a certain edifying pamphlet, entitled Doubts of the Infidels: or Queries relative to Scriptural Inconfiftencies and Contradictions-Submitted to the confideration of the Bench of Bishops-By a weak Chriftian. It ftole abroad in fo humble and VIII. LET. and reserved a manner, without the name of printer, or vender, that it was a long time before I heard there was fuch a pamphlet in being. Informed, however, by a friend, that there certainly was fuch a thing, and that he had actually feen it, I made application to feveral bookfellers of note in town; but they declared, they knew nothing of the matter. As I am one of those who love to learn what is stirring, I was not to be eafily put by; and therefore rested not, till I had made myself master of a copy. Happy in my prize, with my hand upon my pocket I betook myself immediately. home, and having provided the implement neceffary for the purpose, began to open the leaves. In the process of this operation, the first words that caught my eye were 3 were the following in P. v. of the holy Inquifition-Whips, cords, "pullies, fcrews, wheels, iron crows, " and red hot pincers." Having no predilection for good things of this particular kind, I resumed my work, determining not to peep any more, till I came to the top of P. 20. where my attention was again forcibly arrested by the expreffions-" Rip"ping women with child, dashing in"fants to pieces against the rocks, "and broiling men to death with "flow fires." I now laid down the pamphlet, and confidered with myself, what had happened lately among us, to occafion this lamentable yelping. Sometimes I thought the archbishop of York, LET. VIII. LET. the course of his last visitation, must VIII. have wedged fome northern herefiarch under the screw, and with one turn of the machine, to the great diverfion of the company, cracked all the bones in his skin, like the claws of a lobster. At other times I concluded (though no mention had been made of it in the Morning Chronicle) that his grace of Canterbury had invited the bishops to dine with him upon a roasted infidel, whipped to death by his chaplains. That one of thefe events had taken place, there feemed to be little doubt, though it was impoffible to say which. I finished, however, my task of leaf opening, and began to read regularly; when I found that a deed had been done still more atrocious and petrifying than either of the above; for that, by an act of parliament pro cured cured by these fame bloody-minded LET. prelates of ours, the infidels are now VIII. obliged, on a funday evening, to blafpheme in PRIVATE! This is a falling off, to which my memory furnishes me with nothing fimilar, unless it be the story of a man, much given to the use of the long bow, who afferted, one orning, to his family, that he had just seen forty couple of dogs running through the yard. It being denied that fo many were kept in the country, "Nay," cried he, "I am fure there were twenty." The audience till continuing fceptical, Why, then," faid he, with perfect gravity," it was our "little brown cur !” For fuch "cruel, barbarous, and " inhuman" ufage, thefe gentlemen are determined, it seems, to have their revenge |