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Anecdotes of the life of Richard Watson, bishop of Landaff : written by himself at different intervals, and revised in 1814 / published by his son, Richard Watson
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in an ecclesiastical establishment, without wishing for a change inthe civil constitution of a country. An Episcopalian , for instance,may wish to see bishops established in all Scotland , without wish-ing Scotland to become a republic; and he may wish that epis-copacy may be established in all the American states, withoutwishing that monarchy may be established in any of them. Theprotection of life, liberty, and property is not inseparably or ex-clusively connected with any particular form of church-govern-ment. The blessings of civil society depend upon the properexecution of good laws, and upon the good morals of the people;but no one will attempt to prove, that the laws and morals of thepeople may not be as good in Germany , Swisserland, Scotland ,under a Presbyterian, as in England or France under an episcopalform of church-government.

But it is thought that, were the Test and Corporation Acts re-pealed, the Dissenters would get a footing in some of the boroughsreturning members to parliament. The Dissenters have, atpresent, a considerable influence in many boroughs ; but there islittle probability that, were all legal obstacles to their eligibility topublic offices removed, they would ever be able to overcome theinfluence of government, the influence of the aristocracy, and theinfluence of the Church, in the majority of the boroughs in this,kingdom. But, admitting so very improbable an occurrence totake place, what then ? Why then a majority of boroughs wouldreturn Dissenters to $it in parliament. Dissenters are allowed tosit in parliament at present; the danger, then, such as it is, arises,not from Dissenters having seats in' parliament, but from thenumber of dissenting members being increased. But that the