(iv) may it be, as it long has been, and as, we thank God, it now in an eminent degree continues to be, the first boast of every loyal Englishman, that his Sovereign feels and acknowledges, with humble reverence, the full force of that Divine Sanction, which is equally binding on the conscience of the King and of the lowliest of his people! For the publication of the Letters of Mr. Pitt no apology can be necessary. The friends of that great man can only be gratified by the production of this additional evidence of his inflexible integrity, and of his readiness to relinquish the dearest objects of honourable ambition, rather than tarnish his honour, or desert his principles. The Papers, marked 1, 2, 4, 5, are printed from originals in the hand-writing of his late Majesty: 3 and 6, from originals in the hand-writing of the late Lord Kenyon: A, B, C, D, E, are from copies taken, on the 15th of February, 1801, by the present Lord Kenyon, from originals communicated to his father on that day by the late King. LONDON, 25th MAY, 1827. HENRY PHILLPOTTS. CONTENTS. 10 19 ib. 6. The late Lord Kenyon's Answer to Nos. 4 and 5. 22 CORONATION OATH. 1 W. & M. c. 6. THE ARCHBISHOP or BISHOP shall say, "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern "the people of this Kingdom of England, and the do"minions thereto belonging, according to the Statutes "in Parliament agreed on, and the Laws and Customs "of the same?" THE KING and QUEEN shall say, ..." I solemnly promise so to do." ARCHBISHOP or BISHOP.. "Will you to your power cause Law and Justice " in Mercy to be executed in all your Judgments?" KING and QUEEN. "I will." ARCHBISHOP or BISHOP. "Will you to the utmost of your power maintain "the Laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel " and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by "Law? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and "Clergy of this Realm, and to the Churches committed to their charge, all such Rights and Privileges as by "Law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of them?" KING and QUEEN. "All this I promise to do." After this, the King and Queen, laying his and her Hand upon the Holy Gospels, shall say, KING and QUEEN. "The things which I have herebefore promised, I "will perform and keep. So help me God." LETTERS FROM HIS LATE MAJESTY TO THE LATE LORD KENYON, ON THE CORONATION OATH, WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S ANSWERS. No. 1. TO THE LORD KENYON. QUEEN'S HOUSE, March 7th, 1795. THE question that has been so improperly patronized by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in favour of the Papists, though certainly very properly silenced here, yet it seems not to have been viewed in what seems to me the strongest point of view, its militating against the Coronation Oath and many existing Statutes. I have therefore stated the accompanying Queries on paper, to which I desire the Lord Kenyon will after due consideration state his opinion in the same manner, and should be glad if he would also acquire the sentiments of the Attorney General on this most serious subject. GEORG. R. No. 2. The QUERIES referred to in No. 1. (Written by the King's Hand.) The following Queries on the present attempt to abolish all distinctions in religion in Ireland, with the intention of favouring the Roman Catholics in that Kingdom, are stated from the desire of learning whether this can be done, without affecting the Constitution of this Country; if not, there is no occasion to view whether this measure in itself be not highly improper. The only laws which now affect the Papists in Ireland are the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, the Test Act, and the Bill of Rights. It seems to require very serious investigation how far the King can give His assent to a Repeal of any one of those Acts, without a breach of his Coronation Oath, and of the Articles of Union with Scotland. The construction put on the Coronation Oath by the Parliament at the Revolution seems strongly marked in the Journals of the House |