Tand, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick upon Tweed, and makes void all and fingular eftates, terms, and other in terefts or profits whatever out of lands, to be made, fuffered, or done, from and after the day therein mentioned, to or for the ufe or behoof of any fuch perfon or perfons, or upon any truft or confidence, mediately or immediately, for the relief of any fuch perfon or perfons; fhall be, and the fame, and every claufe and matter and thing herein before-mentioned, is and are hereby repealed.

And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That every perfon and perfons having of claiming any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, under titles not hitherto litigated, though derived from any descent, devife, limitation, or purchase, shall have, take, hold, and enjoy the fame, as if the faid act, or any thing therein contained, had not been made; any thing in the faid act contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be conftrued to affect any action or fuit now depending, which thall be profecuted with effect, and without delay.

Provided alfo, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be conftrued to extend, to any perfon or perfons but fuch who fhall, within the space of fix calendar months after the paffing of this act, or of accruing of his, her, or their title, being of the age of twenty-one years, or who, being under the age of twenty-one years, hall, within fix months after he or the fhall attain the age of twenty-one years, or being of unfound mind, or in prifon, or beyond the feas, then within fix months after fuch difability removed, take and subscribe an oath in the words following:'

THE TEST OR OATH*.

'I A. B. do fincerely promife and fwear, That I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majefty King George the Third, and him will defend, to the utmoft of my power, against all confpiracies and attempts whatever that fhall be made against his perfon, Crown, or dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour to difclofe and make known to his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, all treafons and trai

terous confpiracies which may be formed against him or them; and I do faithfully promife to maintain, fupport, and defend, to the utmost of my power, the fucceffion of the Crown in his Majefty's family, a gainft any perfon or perfons whatsoever; hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto the perfon taking upon himself the ftyle and title of Prince of Wales, in the lifetime of his father, and who, fince his death, is faid to have affumed the style and title of King of Great Britain, by the name of Charles the Third, and to any other perfon claiming or pretending a right to the Crown of these realms: and I do fwear, that I do reject and deteft, as an unchristian and impious pofition, That it is lawful to murder or destroy any perfon or persons whatsoever, for or under pretence of their being heretics; and alfo that unchriftian and impious principle, That no faith is to be kept with heretics: I further declare, that it is no article of my faith, and that I do renounce, reject, and abjure the opinion, That Princes excommunicated by the Pope and Council, or by any authority of the See of Rome, or by any authority whatfoever, may be depofed or murdered by their fubjects, or any perfon whatsoever: and I do declare, that I do not believe that the Pope of Rome, or any other foreign Prince, Prelate, ftate, or Potentate, hath, or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurifdiction, power, fuperiority, or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this realm. And I do folemnly, in the prefence of God, profefs, teftify, and declare, That I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary fenfe of the words of this oath ; without any evafion, equivocation, or mental refervation whatever, and without any dif penfation already granted by the Pope, or any authority of the See of Rome, or any perfon whatever; and without thinking that I am or can be acquitted before God or man, or abfolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the Pope, or any other perfons or authority whatsoever, fhall difpenfe with or annul the fame, or declare that it was null or void.'

It concludes with reciting what Courts of judicature the oath is to be taken, fubfcribed, and registered in; and with an information, that the act should not be conftrued to extend to any Popith Bishop,

Pricft,

Prieft, Jefuit, or Schoolmafter, who fhall not have taken and fubfcribed the above Oath, in the above words, before he shall have been apprehended, or any profecution commenced against him.

TO render the whole affair as intelligible. to the Reader as poffible, it has been judged neceffary to trace the alledged cause of difcontent, the act for the relief of the Papifts, to its fource. The original motion for the bill, which afterwards paffed into a law, was made in the Houfe of Commons by Sir George Savile; who ftated, that one of his principal views in propofing the repeal was to vindicate the honour and affert the principles of the Protestant religion, to which all persecution was, or ought to be totally averfe. That this pure religion ought to have had an existence, if perfecution had been lawful. That it ill became us to practife that with which we reproached others. That he did not meddle with the vast body of that penal code, but selected that act on which he found moft of the profecutions had been formed, and which gave the greateft fcope to the base views of interested relations and unprincipled informers. The act had not, it is true, been regularly put in execution, but sometimes it had, and he understood that several Papifts lived in great terror, and some under actual contribution." He stated the peaceable behaviour of this part of his Majelty's fubjects, and mentioned the loyal and excellent addrefs they had lately prefented to the Throne, in which, they not only expressed their obedience to the Government under which they lived, but their attachment to the conftitution.

The motion was feconded by Mr. Dunning, who with great ability entered into a legal difcuffion of the principles, the objects, and the paft operation of the bill, which was moved to be repealed. Some of the severities by him complained of were the following, for Priests or Jefuits to teach or officiate in the fervices of their Church were acts of felony in foreigners, and High-treafon in the natives of this kingdom. The forfeiture of eftates to the next Proteftant heir, the power given to a fon or other neareft relation, to take poffeffion during the life of the proprietor, and the depriving of Papifts from acquireing any legal property by purchase, were, he faid, exceedingly oppreffive, particularly the last claufe, which had a far greater lasitude than was understood, for it applied

to all legal property acquired by other means than that of descent.

The motion was received with univerfal approbation, and a bill was accordingly brought in and passed without a single negative.

The indulgences granted by this act to the Papifts, fuch as, not only the free exercise of their religion in licensed chapels, equal to the Prefbyterians and all other Diffenters and Sectaries, but toleration likewife to erect schools for the education of youth in the Romish tenets, greatly a larmed many people, fome on religious, and others on political principles. The refittance made to a fimilar act in favour of the Catholics in Scotland, contributed to fpread the alarm, and bills were dispersed, and advertisements inferted in the newspapers, inviting those who wifhed well to the caufe, to unite under the title of the Proteftant Affociation, and Lord George Gordon, who had been fo active at the head of the Malecontents in Scotland, was chofen their Prefident; accordingly, on Monday evening, May 29, a meeting was held at Coach-makers-hall, pursuant to public advertisement. At half paft fix o'clock the hall was quite full, Lord George Gordon took the chair exacly at feven, and then addreffed the meeting: His Lordship obferved, that the Popish bill was carried through both Houfs of Parliament with fuch amazing rapidity, that the people had not time to form an oppofition, or to make themselves acquainted with the pernicious confequences that must attend its paffing into a law; that the indulgence given to Popery by the repeal of the act of William III. was inconfiftent with the principles of the Revolution, had a tendency to endanger the fucceffion in the House of Hanover, and threatened deftruction to the civil and religious liberty of this country. His Lordship read an extract from a Popish Catechifm, just publifhed by a Popish printer, in Grosvenorfquare, and difperfed among the igne rant and unthinking part of the community; likewife an indulgence, granted by the Pope, this present year, to his Holy Catholic fubjects, and Saints in this heretic country; and from these publications his Lordship bid the people form an idea of the rapid and alarming progrefs that Popery was making in this kingdom; and the only way to ftop it was going in a firm, manly, and refolute manner to the House, and fhewing their Reprefentatives that they were determined to preferve their religious

Rra

freedom

freedom with their lives. That, for his part, he would run all hazards with the people; and if the people were too lukewarm to run all hazards with him, when their confcience and their country call them forth, they might get another Prefident; for he would tell them candidly, that he was not a lukewarm man himself, and that if they meant to spend their time in mock debate and idle oppofition, they might get another leader. This speech was received with the loudeft applause, and his Lordship then moved the following refolution : That the whole body of the Proteftant Affociation do attend in Saint George's-fields, on Friday next at ten o clock in the morning, to accompany his Lordship to the House of Commons on the delivery of the Proteftant petition; which was carried unanimoufly. His Lordship then informed them, that if less than 20,000 of his fellow-citizens attended him on that day, he would not prefent their petition; and for the better obfervance of order, he moved, that they fhould arrange themselves in four divifions; the Proteftants of the city of London on the right, thofe of the city of Westminster on the left, the borough of Southwark third, and the people of Scotland refident in London and its environs to form the laft divifion; and that they might know their friends from their enemies, he added, that every real Proteftant, and friend of the petition, fhould come with blue cockades in their hats.

Accordingly, on Friday, June 2, at ten in the forenoon, feveral thousands affembled at the place appointed, marfhalling themselves in ranks, and waiting for their leader. About eleven o'clock, Lord George arrived, and gave directions in what manner he would have them proceed, and about twelve, one party was ordered to go round over London-bridge, another over Blackfriars, and a third to follow him over Weftminfter. A roll of parchment, containing the names of those who had figned the petitition, was borne before them. They proceeded with great decorum on their route, and the whole body was affembled, about half past two, before both Houses of Parliament, on which occafion they gave a general fhout.

But however peaceable and well difpofed fome of them might be, others foon began to exercife the moft arbitrary power over both Lords and Commons, by obliging almost all the Members to put blue cockades in their hats, and' call out, No Popery + Some they compelled to take

oaths to vote for the repeal of the obnoxi-1 ous act, others they infulted in the most. indecent and violent manner. They took poffeffion of all the avenues from the outer door to the very door of the House of Commons, which they twice attempted to force open. The like attempt was made at the House of Lords; but by the exertion of the door-keepers, and the care of Sir Francis Molyneux, it did not fucceed. The Archbishop of York was one of the firft they attacked. As foon as his coach was known coming down Parliament-ftreet, he was faluted with hiffes, groans, and hootings; and when he got out of his carriage, to avoid greater mifchief, was obliged to fay, No Popery, no Popery! The Lord Prefident of the Council, Lord Bathurst, they pushed about in the rudeft manner, and kicked violently on the legs. Lord Mansfield had the glaffes of his carriage broken, the pannels beat in, and narrowly escaped with life. The Duke of Northumberland was exceedingly ill treated, and had his pocket picked of his watch. The Bishop of Litchfield had his gown torn. The wheels of the Bishop of Lincoln's carriage were taken off, and his Lordship might be faid to escape perfonal injury almost by a miracle, being obliged to feek fhelter in the house of Mr. Atkinson, an Attorney, where he changed his cloaths, and made his escape over the leads of the adjacent houses.

The Lords Townshend and Hillsborough came together, and were greatly infulted, and fent into the Houfe without their bags, and with their hair hanging loofe on their fhoulders. The coach of Lord Stormont was broken to pieces, himfelf in the hands of the mob for near half an hour: he was refcued at last by a Gentleman, who harangued the mob, and prevailed on them to defift. Lords Afhburnham and Boston were treated with the utmost indignity, particularly Lord Boston, who was fo long in their power that it was thought neceffary by the Peers to go as a body and endeavour, by their presence, to extricate him, but were prevented by the entrance of his Lordship, with his coat all powdered and his hair dishevelled. The front glafs of Lord Trentham's vis à vis was broken, and himself infulted and detained a confiderable time. Lord Wil leughby de Broke, Lord St. John, Lord Dudley, and many others, were perfonally ill treated; and Wellbore Ellis, Efq; was obliged to take refuge in the Guildhall of Weltminster (whither he was pur fued) the windows of which were broke,

the

Inn-fields, others to that in Warwickftreet, Golden-fquare, both of which they in a great measure demolished. The mi litary were fent for, but could not arrive time enough at either to prevent mischief. Thirteen of the rioters were however taken, and the mob, for that night, difpersed.

The riots, which were fo alarming on the Friday evening, partly fubfided on Saturday; but on Sunday in the afternoon, the rioters affembled again in large bodies, and attacked the chapels and dwellinghoufes of the Catholics in and about Moorfields. They tript their houses of furniture, and their chapels not only of the ornaments and infignia of religion, but tore up the altars, pulpits, pews, and benches, and made fires of them, leaving nothing but the bare walls.

On Monday the rioters collected again. Some paraded with the reliques of havoc, which they collected in Moorfields, as far as Lord George Gordon's house in Welbeck-ftreet, and afterwards burnt them in the adjacent fields. Another party went to Virginia-lane, Wapping, and a third to Nightingale lane, Eaft Smithfield, where they feverally deftroyed the Catholic Chapels, and committed other outrages. Mr. Rainsforth, tallow-chandler, of Stanhope street, Clare-market, and Mr. Maberly, of Little Queen-ftreet, Lincoln's Inn-fields, who had appeared as evidences on the examination of those who had been commit ted, had each of them their houses and fhops ftript, and their contents com mitted to the flames. Sir George Savile's houfe in Leicester-fields underwent the fame fate, for preparing and bringing the bill into Parliament in favour of the Catholics.

This day alfo, which was held as the anniversary of the King's birth-day, a Proclamation was iffued, promifing a reward of gool. to those who would make difcovery of the perfons concerned in demolishing and fetting fire to the Sardinian and Bavarian chapels. The perfons formerly apprehended, too, were re-examined, and fome were discharged; others were ordered to Newgate, and were efcorted there by a party of the Guards, whom, on their return, the mob pelted.

All ranks of people began to be exceedingly terrified at the lawless proceedings of this day; and numbers put blue cockades in their hats, although it might now be faid to be the enfign of rebellion, on purpose to avoid personal injury and infult.

On Tuesday all the military in town

were ordered on duty at the Tower, both Houses of Parliament, St. James's, St. George's Fields, &c. during the day. Notwithstanding every precaution, Lord Sandwich was wounded in attempting to go down, to the Parliament House to attend his duty, his carriage demolished, and himself rescued by the military with difficulty.

About fix in the evening one party went to the house of Justice Hyde, near Leicester-fields, which they destroyed; another party paraded through Long Acre, down Holborn, &c. till they came to Newgate, and publicly declared they would go and release the confined rioters. When they arrived at the doors of the prison, they demanded of Mr. Akerman the keeper, to have their comrades immediately delivered up to them; and upon his perifting to do his duty, by refufing, they began to break the windows, fome to batter the doors and entrances into the cells, with pick-axes and fledge hammers, others with ladders to climb the walls, while feveral collected fire-brands, and whats ever combuftibles they could find, and flung into his dwelling-house. What contributed to the spreading of the flames, was the great quantity of houthold furniniture belonging to Mr. Akerman, which they threw out of the windows, piled up against the doors, and fet fire to; the force of which presently communicated to the house, from the house to the chapel, and from thence through the prison. As foon as the flames had deftroyed Mr. Akerman's houfe, which was part of Newgate, and were communicated to the wards and cells, all the prifoners, to the amount of three hundred, among whom were four under fentence of death, and were ordered for execution on the Thursday following, were released.

Not fatiated with the deftruction of this great building, a party was fent among the Catholics in Devonshire-ftreet, Red Lion-fquare; another to the house of Juftice Cox in Great Queen-ftreet, which was foon destroyed; a third broke open the doors of the New Prifon, Clerkenwell, and turned out all the confined; a fourth deftroyed the furniture and effects, writings, &c. of Sir John Fielding; and a fifth defperate and infernal gang went to the ele gant houfe of Lord Mansfield, in Bloomf bury-fquare, which they, with the most unrelenting fury, fet fire to and consumed.

They began by breaking down the doors and windows, and from every part of the house flung the elegant fuperb, fur