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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Looking-Glass for Presbyterians (Inscribed: J. Arbo) - 20

no better Quarters from this College than the Church, and are drove to the Necessity of building one at Rhode-Island. The Number of Students greatly decrease, not caring to stay where there is so much Partiality shewn in Favor of a particular Society and generally return Home with their Heads stuff'd full of Vulgar Phrases, instead of that native Purity of their Mother Tongue they brought with them. The Honors of the Institution are so indiscriminately conferr'd in Favor of Presbyterians, and with so little Discernment, that Leather-Britches Makers, and Gentlemen are put upon the same Level. Such is the present Situation of our College, which might have been at this Day an Ornament to the Province, had it been carried on upon the Principles of Moderation, and Catholicism as was originally intended.

The Eligance and Politeness of these Presbyterian Divines, who set themselves up for Professors of Colleges will be handed down to Posterity to their immortal Infamy, in the two stupid Addresses they presented to Governor F—n and Governor P—n. That they understand a little Latin and Greek I will not dispute, and perhaps may be something acquainted with the logical, pedantic Rules of Aristotle, Anti Arminian, or Calvinistic Metaphysics, and some other Mystical Rhapsodies; but that they understand Dignity of Style, Propriety and Ele+gance of Expression, let these two Addresses declare. The Plain Dealer tells us his Majesty will judge of Quaker and Presbyterian Loyalty; according to the substantial Proofs that each gives of it in Time of Danger. Half a Million of Money given to defend the Government, is certainly one substantial Proof of Quaker Loyalty; and what is a farther and stronger Confirmation of it, is, that they are heartily willing, and extreamly anxious that his Majesty shou'd take them under his immediate Protection and Government. They are not afraid of loosing their Charter; of being saddled with heavier Taxes; or paying Tythes to the Church Clergy, as this whiffling Politician squintsat in one of his Observations.

Let us next consider what are the substantial Proofs of Presbyterian Loyalty. And here I will put the Public in Possession of a circular Apostolical Letter wrote by the Presbyterian Pope in Philadelphia, and his two Cardinals, to all the inferior Brethren and their Flocks throughout the Province, in order to deter them from becoming immediate Subjects of King George.

Copy of a circular Letter.

Philadelphia 30 March 1764.

Our general Assembly having adjourn'd for a short Time to consult their Constituents whether an humble Address shou'd be drawn up and transmitted to his Majesty, praying that he wou'd be pleas'd to take this Province under his immediate Protection and Government; that

Contents of this annotation:

"To the friends of Pennsylvania and lovers of liberty. This Looking-glass is with much affection and great respect inscribed by a Pennsylvanian."--p. 3. Attributed to Isaac Hunt by Evans. Ascribed to the press of Anthony Armbruster by Evans. "Appendix. The substance, of a council held at Lancaster August the 28th 1764, by a committee of Presbyterian ministers .."--p. [25]-34. "A dialogue between a churchman in the country, and a Presbyterian in the city of Philadelphia."--p. 35-38. "A letter from a gentleman in Transilvania"--p. 38-43, signed: Jack Traveller, Weissenburgh in Transilvania, August 1st, 1764. Attributed to Isaac Hunt in the Dictionary of American biography. Signatures: [A]? B-E? [F]1 ([F]1 verso blank).