A LET TE R TO THE REV. DR. NOWELL, PRINCIPAL OF ST. MARY HALL, KING'S PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: OCCASIONED BY HIS VERY EXTRAORDINARY SERMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE THIRTIETH OF JANUARY, M.DCC.LXXII. [FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1772.] REV. S a Divine which appointed to Commons, ha gree of attentio would not have compofition of of fo learned audience of fo VOL. II. claim more than common regard; and I therefore gave it a very careful perusal. I must, however, confefs, that when I had perused it, the fentiments which I felt for the preacher were very different from those of respect. I found that your fermon contained paffages of fo pernicious a tendency, and fo inconfiftent with the principles of that free conftitution, which has been established in this country, as to merit the fevereft cenfure. This confideration has induced me to address you in this public manner, and to make some animadverfions upon a fermon, which appears calculated for no other purpose but to propagate the most flavish principles of government, and to vindicate the most odious exertions of defpotic power. In the remarks which I propofe to make on your discourse, I do not think it neceffary to inquire, whether there was any very exact resemblance between the civil war in the last century, and the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, to which your text refers, and in the punishment of which the Supreme Being miraculously interpofed. Should it appear, that the text is in no refpect applicable to the purpose for which it was produced, it would not be, a matter of any great confequence. It would not be the first time that a learned divine had adopted a text, which had no connexion with the fubject of his fermon. But my accufation against you is of a higher and more important nature. I charge you with having prostituted your talents, by a folemn defence of tyranny before a British House of Commons; and with having advanced fuch fentiments and affertions on that occafion, as were unworthy of the meanest Englishman, inconfiftent with the principles of our conftitution, and an open infult N 2 |