two perfons were appointed in each province to folicit the paffing thereof; viz. Dr. Auchmuty, and Dr. Cooper, in New-York; Mr. Cooke, and Mr. Odell, in New-Jersey; and Mr. Peters, and myself, in Pennsylvania. And justice requires, that the most public and grateful teftimony fhould be given of that readiness and cheerfulness, with which the feveral governors confented to the grant of the charters in their respective provinces.'1

The three charters were obtained in February, May, and September 1769; and Dr. Smith has given a copy of that for New-York, for the fatisfaction of those who may wish to confult them for particulars of the plan, the extent, and the limits of this very laudable design and undertaking: to which we have the pleasure to find that as much encouragement hath already been given as could poffibly be expected in fo fhort a time. As the Doctor's fermon was extremely well adapted to the occa fion, we shall extract from it the following paffages for the farther fatisfaction of our benevolent Readers.

You well know the fituation and circumftances of the clergy of the church of England, in thefe northern colonies; for the relief of whole families, when left in diftrefs, this defign is more particularly fet on foot. Except in a few places, their chief fupport depends on the bounty of our fellow-members of the church in Great-Britain; and that venerable Society, who have the diftribution of this bounty, have of late been obliged, and will be still more obliged, to retrench their allowance; that, like faithful stewards, they may be likewise able to reach out their helping hand to thofe numerous petitioners for new miffions, which arife from the conftant encrease of people in these colonies.

The additional support which our clergy receive from their congregations, is generally fmall, and exceedingly precarious; decreafing fometimes in nominal, often in real value; while the expence of every neceffary in life is proportionably encreasing.

Decency, a regard to character, to their own ufefulness, to the credit of religion, and even your credit, among whom they minifter, require them to maintain fome fort of figure in their families, above thofe in common profeffions and bufinefs; while, certain it is, on the other hand, that any fober reputable tradesman, can turn his induftry to more account than they.

The like regard to decency and character alfo forbids our clergy to follow any fecular employ, in aid of their circumftances; unless, perhaps, here and there one, by education, fhould have been qualified for fome practice in the healing art of medicine, which is not deemed incompatible with the pastoral duty, where it is not too large.

On the whole, this I will venture to affert, that were the generality of our clergy to make their calculation according to the way of the world, the money expended in their education at schools and

The money expended this way can scarce be estimated at much lefs than £. 500 Iterling, and many of our miffionary clergy do not receive £30 fterling per annum from their congregations, fome not more than half that fum, and not a great number much above it.'

colleges,

colleges, a voyage for holy orders, and the purchase of neceffary books (if it had been laid out at first as a common capital at intereft) would bring them a greater annual return, without any trouble or fatigue, either of body or mind, than they can procure by the labour of their whole lives, in difcharge of their paftoral duty, exclufive of the bounty of benevolent perfons in the mother country.

I am far from mentioning thefe things as complaints; I know. they are of neceffity in many places; and I truft none of my brethren among the clergy will ever make their calculation in this way; but keep their eye on their MASTER's fervice, looking forward to the "Recompence of Reward." Yet what I mention is fo far neceffary, as it fhews incontelibly the great propriety of the defign before us.

It certainly requires little attention to what paffes around us, to fee that the families of our deceafed clergy are often left among the moft diftreffed in their vicinity. The father, by strict economy, and good example, may be able to fupport them in fome degree of reputation, during his own life, although not to flatter them with the hopes of any patrimony at his death. By his own care, and fome conveniency of fchools, he may give the fons the rudiments of an education for his own profeffion, or fome other useful one in the world. The mother, with the like anxious care, and fond hopes of rendering the daughters refpectable among their fex, may employ her late and early toil to train their minds to thofe virtues, and their hands to that diligence and induftry, which might one day make them the sweet accomplished companions of worthy men in domeftic

life.

But alas! amidst all these flattering dreams and fond prefages of the heart, the father, perhaps in his prime of years and usefulnefs, is called from this world. The prop and stay of all this promifing family is now no more! His life was their whole dependence, under God, even for daily bread! His death leaves them almoft destitute-deftitute, alas! not of bread only, but even of council and protection upon earth!

Fatal reverfe-Ah! little do the world in general, and efpecially they who bask in the easy funfhine of affluence and profperity -little do they know the various complicated fcenes of private anguish and diftrefs-Here they are various and complicated indeed!

The bereaved and difconfolate MOTHER, as foon as Chriftian reflection begins to dry up her tears a little, finds them wrung from her afresh by the melancholy talk that remains to her. She is now, alas! to reduce the once flattering hopes of her tender family, to the ftandard of their prefent fad and humbled condition! Hard tak, indeed! The fon is to be told that he must no more afpire to reach the flation which his father filled; and the daugh-› ter is to learn that, in this hard and selfish world, the must no longer expect to become the wife of him, to whom he once might have looked on terms of equality-i he fon, perhaps, muft defcend to fome manual employ, while even the poor pittance neceffary to fettle him in that, is not to be found; and the daughter must ferve ftrangers, or be yoked, perhaps, in marriage for mere bread; while the mournful mother (without the flow-procured help of friends) Gan fcarce furnish out the decent wedding-garment!

• What

What did I fay? the decent wedding garment, and a marriage for mere bread? This were an iffue of troubles devoutly to be wished for!-But, ah me! The fnares of POVERTY in a mind once bred up above it-shall every unguarded unprotected female be able to efcape them? Alas! no-Some VILLAIN-DECEIVER, with vows and broken oaths, with LOVE in his mouth, and HELL in his heart,taking advantage of innocence in diftrefs, lays his fcheme of deftruction fure; and with the ruin of the daughter, brings the mother's grey hairs down to the grave with accumulated forrow!

Juft, but indignant, Heaven! Is there no chofen vengeance in this world, to heap on the heads of fuch perfidious monsters, to SAVE them from that vengeance, which they have merited, though yet we dare not with them, in the world to come!

This fad part of the catastrophe of many females, defcended from fathers, once venerable and pious in their day, we would willingly have paffed over in filence; were not the experience of what has happened in other countries, more than fufficient to awaken our apprehenfions in this.

The picture here drawn, is no exaggerated one; and when the children of clergy, in low circumftances, are in an early age deprived of both parents-then are they ORPHANS indeed! and every diftrefs, every temptation, falls upon them, with aggravated weight!

To be FATHERS, then, to fuch FATHERLESS CHILDREN; to take them by the hand, and lead them out, through the fnares of the world, into fome public usefulness in life, that the name and memorial of our dear brethren and faithful paftors deceafed, may not be wholly loft upon earth-I fay, to DO THIS, and give fome gleams of comfort to the afflicted wIDOWS and MOTHERS that furvive-muft furely be one of the moft delightful actions of a BENEVOLENT mind; and THIS, my brethren, is the glorious object of the CHARITY for which we are incorporated, and which we have undertaken to folicit and conduct.

• Bleffed, therefore, be all they in this world and the next (laity and clergy) into whofe hearts God hath put it, to affociate for fo noble and pious a purpose. In like manner may that venerable Society in England be blessed, whofe annual fubfcription hath laid fo liberal a foundation for the work; and bleffed alfo be thofe governors of provinces, who have fo cheerfully and readily given us their charters for carrying it into execution!

Happy in fuch beginnings and fuch countenance, let us fet ourfelves earnestly to the discharge of our part; leaving the iffue to GOD, and the benevolence of good men.'

To this pathetic difcourfe is added, The fundamental Laws and Regulations of the Corporation, duly enacted at a meeting held at Philadelphia, Oct. 10, 1769, by a majority of the members, according to the tenor of their charter. Alfo a Lift of Benefactions received in the firft week after the opening of this charitable scheme; which was all the intervening time before the appearance of Dr. Smith's publication. There are likewile added, Rev. Jan. 1770. D

Forms.

Forms of Legacies to this charity: to which we fincerely wish all the fuccefs that fo pious and beneficent a foundation undoubtedly deferves.

ART. VI. The Romish Horfeleech; or, an impartial Account of the intolerable Charge of Popery to this Nation, in an historical Remembrance of fome of thofe prodigious Sums of Money heretofore extorted from all Degrees, during the Exercife of the Papal Power here. To which is annexed, an Elay of the Supremacy of the King of England. By Thomas Staveley, Efq; 8vo. 3 s. 6 d. bound. Davies, &c. 1769.

TH

HE Romish Horfeleech is a very famous book, which has fo long been extremely fcarce, that we wonder how it happened that a new edition of it did not appear many years ago; especially fince the alarm has been given, that the church of Rome hath been fecretly endeavouring, by every means in her power, to recover, in fome degree, her ancient footing in this country. There is hardly any book, that we know of, better calculated to excite, in the minds of men, a just abhorrence of the tyrannical ufurpations and grofs impofitions of that church; because thofe ufurpations and impofitions are here fo fairly and palpably expofed and manifefted, on the most incontrovertible authorities.

Mr. Staveley first published this work in the year 1674, at a most seasonable juncture, when the court espoused the cause of Popery, and the prefumptive heir to the crown openly profeffed himself a Roman Catholic. At this time, when our most eminent divines exerted all their abilities in defence of the church of England, our Author, viewing the enormities of the popifh fyftem in rather a political light, refolved to attack it in a different quarter, and wifely directed the attention of his countrymen to the defence and fecurity of their property alfo, as well as their religion; his prefent work + being chiefly calcu lated to fhew in what manner the court of Kome had, at all times, been guilty of the most impudent and intolerable exactions in this country.

The principal heads under which our Author hath arranged thefe exactions and impofitions are-Peter-pence, First-fruits and Tenths, Confirmation and Admiffion-money, Legantine Levies, King JOHN's Penfion, Appeals, Difpenfations, Indulgences, Pardons, Reliques, Agnus Dei's, Croffes, Pictures, Jubilees, Pilgrimages, Of

The Author was a gentleman of the long-robe, and died in the reign of Charles II.

This worthy gentleman was alfo Author of a valuable History of Churches in England, publifhed in 1712, long after his death.

ferings,

ferings, Gifts, Collections, Contributions for the Holy Land, CroiJades, Siding in Schifms, Canonizations, Abbies, Monafleries, Priories-Alien, Confecrations, Confeffions, Purgatory, Maffes, Requiems, Dirges, Images, Miracles,-with about five and twenty more! What would our bleffed Saviour, or his apoftles, have faid to fuch a bead-roll of prieftcraft-trumpery?

Mr. Staveley has, in his Epiftle Dedicatory, a ftriking remark on the natural effect of the Romish religion upon the human mind. To fhew how much it corrupts and debates the fpirits of men, we need only obferve, he fays, that in countries wholly fubject to the pope, the inhabitants are either the most atheiftical, debauched, and diffolute; or thofe, who, with a blind zeal, apply themselves to an observance of the rites of that confufed and abfurd religion, prefently become fond and ftupid, giving themfelves up only to admire their holy father the pope, their confeffors, and priefts, fancying Rome to be the true model of the heavenly Jerufalem, and the pope and his cardinals ruling therein like Chrift and his apoftles; gazing upon the formality and gaudinefs of their church, and intangled with a multitude of ridiculous ceremonies and obfervances; all which tends to make them inactive and unfit for those generous and ingenious courfes that bring honour and riches to a people; when, on the contrary, the reformed part of the world, being manumitted from fuch flavery and incumbrances, beat out the Popish every where in trading, and generally excel them in all arts and fciences. And this may be noted in ourfelves, when, presently after the reformation, the English grew potent at fea, fent forth great colonies and plantations, maintained traffic and commerce over the world, and brought home honour, plenty, and riches to the nation. So the Netherlanders, after they had freed themselves from the Romish briars, prefently got good fleeces on their backs, grew rich and powerful, eclipting the glory of Venice, that once famous republic, which hath ever fince been in the wane; Amfterdam fupplanted Antwerp, Flanders trucked under Holland, and the Hanfe-towns, generally Proteftant, outftripped all their Popish neighbours in wealth and strength; whilft the once great and dreadful monarchy of Spain is fallen into a confumption, fupported only with a little Indian gold, which they fometimes iteal home; the Auftrian eagle hath moulted his feathers; Portugal lofing both in their plantations abroad, and reputation at home; and in those countries where Proteftants and Papifts are mingled, as in France, Germany, Poland, &c. the Proteftants generally are the traders, and grow rich, as all travellers teftify.

For, befides that an addicted zeal to the Romish religion contracts and debafeth the fpirits of men, their guides endea