按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the high…church side； the majority of King William's bishops were inclined
to latitudinarianism。 A dispute arose between the two parties touching the
extent of the powers of the Lower House of Convocation。 Atterbury thrust
himself eagerly into the front rank of the high…churchmen。 Those who take
a comprehensive and impartial view of his whole career will not be
disposed to give him credit for religious zeal。 But it was his nature to be
vehement and pugnacious in the cause of every fraternity of which he was
a member。 He had defended the genuineness of a spurious book simply
because Christchurch had put forth an edition of that book； he now stood
up for the clergy against the civil power； simply because he was a
clergyman； and for the priests against the episcopal order； simply because
he was as yet only a priest。 He asserted the pretensions of the class to
which he belonged in several treatises written with much wit； ingenuity；
audacity； and acrimony。 In this； as in his first controversy； he was opposed
to antagonists whose knowledge of the subject in dispute was far superior
to his； but in this； as in his first controversy； he imposed on the multitude
by bold assertion； by sarcasm； by declamation； and； above all； by his
peculiar knack of exhibiting a little erudition in such a manner as to make
8
… Page 9…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
it look like a great deal。 Having passed himself off on the world as a
greater master of classical learning than Bentley； he now passed himself
off as a greater master of ecclesiastical learning than Wake or Gibson。 By
the great body of the clergy he was regarded as the ablest and most
intrepid tribune that had ever defended their rights against the oligarchy of
prelates。 The lower House of Convocation voted him thanks for his
services； the University of Oxford created him a doctor of divinity； and
soon after the accession of Anne； while the Tories still had the chief
weight in the government； he was promoted to the deanery of Carlisle。
Soon after he had obtained this preferment； the Whig party rose to
ascendency in the state。 From that party he could expect no favour。 Six
years elapsed before a change of fortune took place。 At length； in the year
1710； the prosecution of Sacheverell produced a formidable explosion of
high…church fanaticism。 At such a moment Atterbury could not fail to be
conspicuous。 His inordinate zeal for the body to which he belonged； his
turbulent and aspiring temper； his rare talents for agitation and for
controversy； were again signally displayed。 He bore a chief part in framing
that artful and eloquent speech which the accused divine pronounced at
the bar of the Lords； and which presents a singular contrast to the absurd
and scurrilous sermon which had very unwisely been honoured with
impeachment。 During the troubled and anxious months which followed the
trial； Atterbury was among the most active of those pamphleteers who
inflamed the nation against the Whig ministry and the Whig parliament。
When the ministry had been changed and the parliament dissolved；
rewards were showered upon him。 The Lower House of Convocation
elected him prolocutor。 The Queen appointed him Dean of Christchurch
on the death of his old friend and patron Aldrich。 The college would have
preferred a gentler ruler。 Nevertheless； the new head was received with
every mark of honour。 A congratulatory oration in Latin was addressed to
him in the magnificent vestibule of the hall； and he in reply professed the
warmest attachment to the venerable house in which he had been educated；
and paid many gracious compliments to those over whom he was to
preside。 But it was not in his nature to be a mild or an equitable governor。
He had left the chapter of Carlisle distracted by quarrels。 He found
9
… Page 10…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Christchurch at peace； but in three months his despotic and contentious
temper did at Christchurch what it had done at Carlisle。 He was succeeded
in both his deaneries by the humane and accomplished Smalridge； who
gently complained of the state in which both had been left。 〃Atterbury
goes before； and sets everything on fire。 I come after him with a bucket of
water。〃 It was said by Atterbury's enemies that he was made a bishop
because he was so bad a dean。 Under his administration Christchurch was
in confusion； scandalous altercations took place； opprobrious words were
exchanged； and there was reason to fear that the great Tory college would
be ruined by the tyranny of the great Tory doctor。 He was soon removed to
the bishopric of Rochester； which was then always united with the deanery
of Westminster。 Still higher dignities seemed to be before him。 For； though
there were many able men on the episcopal bench； there was none who
equalled or approached him in parliamentary talents。 Had his party
continued in power； it is not improbable that he would have been raised to
the archbishopric of Canterbury。 The more splendid his prospects； the
more reason he had to dread the accession of a family which was well…
known to be partial to the Whigs。 There is every reason to believe that he
was one of those politicians who hoped that they might be able； during the
life of Anne； to prepare matters in such a way that at her decease there
might be little difficulty in setting aside the Act of Settlement and placing
the Pretender on the throne。 Her sudden death confounded the projects of
these conspirators。 Atterbury； who wanted no kind of courage； implored
his confederates to proclaim James III。； and offered to accompany the
heralds in lawn sleeves。 But he found even the bravest soldiers of his party
irresolute； and exclaimed； not； it is said； without interjections which ill
became the mouth of a father of the church； that the best of all causes and
the most precious of all moments had been pusillanimously thrown away。
He acquiesced in what he could not prevent； took the oaths to the House of
Hanover； and at the coronation officiated with the outward show of zeal；
and did his best to ingratiate himself with the royal family。 But his
servility was requited with cold contempt。 No creature is so revengeful as
a proud man who has humbled himself in vain。 Atterbury became the most
factious and pertinacious of all the opponents of the government。 In the
10
… Page 11…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
House of Lords his oratory； lucid； pointed； lively； and set off with every
grace of pronunciation and of gesture； extorted the attention and
admiration even of a hostile majority。 Some of the most remarkable
protests which appear in the journals of the peers were drawn up by him；
and in some of the bitterest of those pamphlets which called on the
English to stand up for their country against the aliens who had come from
beyond the seas to oppress and plunder her； critics easily detected his style。
When the rebellion of 1715 broke out； he refused to sign the paper in
which the bishops of the province of Canterbury declared their attachment
to the Protestant succession。 He busied himself in electioneering；
especially at Westminster； where； as dean； he possessed great influence；
and was； indeed； strongly suspected of having once set on a riotous mob to
prevent his Whig fellow… citizens from polling。
After having been long in indirect communication with the exiled
family； he； in 1717； began to correspond directly with the Pretender。 The
first letter of the correspondence is extant。 In that letter Atterbury boasts of
having； during many years past； neglected no opportunity of serving the
J