■WILLIAM THE THIRD.

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assemble once more, for prayer and praise, after so many years,on that spot consecrated by the devotions of thirty generations. -Throughout London, and in every part of tire realm, even tothe remotest parishes of Cumberland and Cornwall,the churcheswere filled on the morning of that day; and the evening was anevening of festivity.*

There was indeed reason for joy and thankfulness. Englandhad passed through severe trials, and had come forth renewedin health and vigour. Ten years before, it had seemed that bothher liberty and her independence were no more. Her libertyshe had vindicated by a just and necessary revolution. Her in-dependence she had reconquered by a not less just and neces-sary war. She had successfully defended the order of thingsestablished by the Bill of ltights against the mighty monarchyof Trance, against the aboriginal population of Ireland, againstthe avowed hostility of the nonjurors, against the more danger-ous hostility of traitors who were ready to take any oath, andwhom no oath could bind. Her open enemies had been victo-rious on many fields of battle. Her secret enemies had com-manded her fleets and armies, had been in charge of her arsenals,had ministered at her altars, had taught at her Universities, hadswarmed in her public offices, had sate in her Parliament, hadbowed and fawned in the bedchamber of her King. More thanonce it had seemed impossible that any thing could avert a re-storation which would inevitably have been followed, first byproscriptions and confiscations, by the violation of fundamentallaws, and the persecution of the established religion, and thenby a third rising up of the nation against that House which twodepositions and two banishments had only made more obstinatein evil. To the dangers of war and the dangers of treason hadrecently been added the dangers of a terrible financial and com-

* London Gazette, Dec. 6. 1G97; Postman, Dec. '4.; Van Clcverskirke,Dec. jV ; L’llcrmitage, Nov. J$.

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