facrifice a part of their legal rights; or the whole of their much dearer peace and tranquility. With what joy and gratitude then must these men regard the memory of that good Queen, when perhaps the only part of their poor income they can receive, without obloquy and reproach, is what they derive from her judicious bounty. With ftrict propriety this.circumftance is now mentioned, for we of this chapelry are already greatly benefitted by that bounty, and are capable of demanding two benefactions more for the perpetual use of the incumbents of this church.-As we cannot be fufpected of any improper influence from a deceased monarch, we may therefore be indulged fo fmall a tribute to gratitude as claiming your attention to a fhort character of our

ROYAL BENEFACTRESS.

OF ANNE, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, it is univerfally allowed, that though her prefence was by no means wanting in dignity, yet was it more engaging than majestick. Her understanding, naturally elevated, was yet eclipfed by the virtues of her heart; which were fo very confpicuous, that the rude voice of flander, even in the most tempestuous times, never called them in queftion. She was a pattern of conjugal affection and fidelity→→

A TENDER MOTHER,-A WARM FRIEND,AN INDULGENT MISTRESS, A MUNIFICENT PATRON, A MILD AND MERCIFUL

PRINCESS, during whofe reign not one fubject's blood was ever fhed for treafon.-She was zealously attached to the church of England, a friend to its poor minifters, and confequently to the parishes to which they belonged.-She was unaffectedly pious, juft, charitable and compaffionate. She felt a parental fondness for her people, by whom he was univerfally beloved with a warmth of affection, which even the violence of party could not ftifle.In a word, she was certainly one of the best and most unblemished of fovereigns, and well deferved the expreffive, though fimple epithet and character of the GOOD QUEEN ANNE; a nurfing moCc 2 ther

ther of the church, by whofe liberality and unwearied folicitude thousands were plentifully provided for when the fpiritual famine was in the land.

Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, is a chriftian precept, to celebrate those who have been eminently studious to perform this duty a chriftian practice. It excites an active spirit of emulation which has a natural tendency to advance the happiness of fociety, and confequently of glorifying our Father which is in heaven.

By the last will and teftament of LADY CAPELL, another most liberal benefactress to this place, this generous and exalted sentiment is expreffed in a manner that cannot fail to engage our gratitude and esteem.

"The inhabitants, fays fhe, of Kew-Green, having ever fince "the confecration of the faid chapel, in a very commendable man"ner annually folemnised the twelfth day of May, being the day "on which it was confecrated, by reforting thither to hear divine "fervice, and a charity fermon preached before them; which "good custom it is to be hoped will be forever obferved by the “said inhabitants, &c."—In another part of her will, fhe refumes the matter by the words following: "I have appointed this dif"tribution,—meaning the rents of Parry-Court, in manner afore"faid, with an intent to animate the inhabitants of Kew-Green

duly to obferve the faid day of confecration of the faid chapel; "as alfo in hopes that fuch a general meeting of the faid Trustees "and Treasurers may be a means to promote and encourage the "faid charity-schools; fo I hope that as many of the faid Trea"furers and Trustees as can, and particularly fuch of them as are

contiguous to Kew-Green aforefaid, will give their attendance chearfully on this occafion, &c."

Alterations arifing from times and fituation, may render the best defigns defective; but ftill the original intentions of pious bene

factors,

factors, ought as far, and as long as they are practicable, to be religiously observed; and where this is no longer poffible, fomething fimilar, fomething that may anfwer the fame good defigns and purposes should be substituted in its ftead. To the honour of our common nature, we must admit, there is a kind of contagion in good, as well as evil example.-May it not therefore be an inftitution of piety and prudence, as well as gratitude, to have from henceforth, after public prayers, which fhall be conftantly read in this church on the morning of the twenty-third day of May—that is, May 12, Old Stile, in every ensuing year, immediately before the diftribution of the charity; may it not answer the greateft purposes, to have a public recital made of the benefactions belonging to this parish, and a short account of the benefactors, in fome form to be agreed upon by the inhabitants affembled in veftry?—And that these righteous may be had in everlasting remembrance, it should be our first care to provide a proper and durable book, in which their venerable names may be registered and enrolled, as well to the intent that virtue, even in this world, may not intirely lose its reward, as that the glorious flame of benevo lence may be tranfmitted to others, and kindle in their bofoms an ardent defire, by imitating their philanthropy, to entitle themfelves to a place with fuch worthies as do not fet at nought the praife of good men, the prayers of the poor, the bleffings of faints, martyrs, and the fpirit of God almighty, the author and fure rewarder of every focial virtue ;-but who mark this upon the tablet of their hearts,-that every benevolent action, every benevolent intention, will follow them to the bar of judgment, and plead in their behalf more eloquently than the united tongues of the angelic choir.

To come still nearer to the intention of this good and pious lady, may it not be further adviseable, that in every future year, on the Sunday following the twelfth of Auguft, the day our present

church

church was opened, a charity fermon be preached for the benefit of the poor children belonging to the fchool -That while we rejoice in the removal of the fpiritual famine, by having our fouls duly refreshed with the strong meat for men, which thefe benefactions have fupplied, they may not continue deftitute of the fincere milk of the word, fo abfolutely neceffary for babes in Jefus Christ? I speak as unto wife men, judge ye what I fay.—But as the advantages of such commemorations are evident, as they will, therefore, we truft, be confirmed by the continued approbation of this parish, and the practice of fucceeding vicars; I fhall not at present indulge myself in particularifing the other benefactors to this place any otherwise than by a general affertion, that there has never been wanting, on proper occafions, perfonages who have fhewn their zeal to God, either by their contribution to the first erection of the chapel, or by other feasonable gifts, legacies, or occafional bounties, which have oftentimes made the heart of the widow and the orphan to fing for joy.

The improvements which this edifice hath now received, to. every unprejudiced eye, fpeak loudly for themselves:And though pride fhould be filent, or ingratitude infenfible, yet shall the ftone out of the wall proclaim them, and the beam out of the timber fhall answer it. We have brought forth the top-ftone with joy, and religious pofterity fhall inscribe it with HIS NAME, who, like the Centurion in the Gofpel, is worthy that this fhould be done for him; for he hath loved our nation, and he hath built us a

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CHURCH.

A CHURCH then this CHAPEL is now become.-This HAMLET, by an act of parliament that muft foon operate, A PARISH." For "when a few, perhaps a very few years are come, I shall go the "way, whence I fhall not return."

This place is, moreover, honoured with ROYAL RESIDENCE and, as fuch, it is likely will continue to encreafe in the number, and

1

and confequence of its inhabitants-That our late CHAPEL was much too fmall for the convenience of those that reforted, or wifhed. to refort to it, is most certain ;—that, in a short time, two families must again content themselves with one pew, is highly probable. Upon the whole, therefore, the improvement of the building is, to a demonftration, equal to the enlargement of it.-They are, in fact, but one and the fame thing.

Moreover, let it, with all due thankfulness, be remembered, that this BOUNTY has enabled the minifter, in behalf of himself and fucceffors, with the approbation of the patron, to relinquish his claim to fome blended and difputable rights.-A moft pleafing circumstance this to a fincere lover of harmony and good neighbourhood. These blended rights having already been productive of ferious inconvenience to all parties. When brethren cannot dwell together in unity, the spiritual table is fupplied in vain.-The falt hath loft its favour, and better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Another evident advantage then refulting from this enlargement. is the equivalent it has afforded to the prefent minifter, and your future vicars, instead of those contested lands which are now ascertained to the parish; as are likewise, by exprefs ftipulation in the

faculty, certain fees for monuments and tombs, which the general cuftom, if not the laws of the land, would confer on the labourer in the vineyard.

The act of parliament on the one hand, the royal munificence. on the other, having thus taken away all queftions of ftrife between minifter and people, it is to be hoped, indeed it is not to be feared, but a good understanding, and a cordial friendship will. ever after subsist between them; for in however degrading a light fome proud or licentious fpirits may affect to regard the established. clergy of this land-take but away temporal difputes, and it will be acknowledged there are few of them fo unworthy or unquali

fied.