In the spring of the following year, while endeavouring to procure attention to Mr. Laurens's proposals for peace, we find him also renewing his application to the Archbishop of Canterbury, under a strong conviction that it was the duty of a Christian Ministry to interpose its influence, to prevent the continuance of an unnatural combat.

MS. February 26, 1782.-Waited on the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Cornwallis), to urge the propriety of the Bishops' joining together to move for peace, and to put a stop to the destruc'tive and ruinous war; and assured him, it would

certainly be put an end to very soon, but I wished 'that the Bishops might have the honour of being 'the first movers in it. I was heard with attention ' and politeness, but I could not prevail on his Grace to be active *.'

* On the present occasion, Mr. Sharp did not disdain to employ also subordinate measures.

MS. I visited likewise the Rev. Dr. Lort, his Grace's Chaplain, in his chambers at Lambeth Palace; but he was very ⚫ violent against all persons who opposed the Court measures.

The next day, in returning home, I overtook Dr. Lort, walking up Snow Hill, and took him up into the coach, and 'carried him to the Old Jewry, as I found his intention was to 'call on me; and he apologised very handsomely for his be haviour on the preceding day.'

This minute gives a fresh example of Mr. Sharp's complacence towards those who had offended him.

CHAP. V.

It is nearly impossible to follow with precision so diligent a labourer in the Christian vineyard, through all the various tasks of social duty to which he was prompted by the unceasing vigilance of his mind. His desire of public beneficence was become an intelligent spirit of legal liberty; and his attention was excited by every important occurrence, and every public measure, which touched, in any material part, our constitution or our relative condition in society.

When the defence of the city of London became an object of high essential interest, during the menacing aspect of public affairs at this period, he was immediately active in pointing out the proper resort of constitutional measures for that purpose.

MS. 1779. Aug. 19 and 20.-Called on several of the Aldermen and Court of Common Council, to urge them to call an especial Court on the present dangerous state of public affairs, and to propose proper methods by which people of all ' denominations may have an opportunity of ac'quiring the use of arms for our common defence.

'1780. October 7.-Went with Mr. Parker and

"Mr. Whitworth to survey the ground between Islington and Hoxton, in which the citizens of 'London have an ancient right to exercise themselves in arms.'

' 10th.-Received from Captain Turner, of the 'London Association, the several opinions of coun'sel respecting military associations, as I had de'livered my own opinion in writing on the same subject in June, to prevent the Association from accepting commissions from the King.'

1781. August 21.-This morning called on the following Aldermen; Bull, Plumer, Clark; then on Mr. Vaughan, who immediately went, at my ' request to the Lord Mayor. He soon after called ' on me, and said the Lord Mayor desired to speak ' with me at six o'clock. I went accordingly, and ' had a great deal of discourse on the subject of 'training the citizens to arms, for their own defence ' in case of an invasion. As he wanted information concerning the militia laws of London, I promised to search for some remarks which I had drawn up ' in June 1780, soon after the riots. These I de"livered to his Lordship this morning, with some 'further remarks on the state of the City Militia *.'

Other detached minutes in his memoranda, during the same period, speak sufficiently for themselves,

* I find among Mr. Sharp's papers some rough proofs (letter-press) of the declaratory papers of different associations formed at this period for national defence; from which it may

and contribute to elucidate his extraordinary cha

racter.

MS. 1778, May 1.-Called by appointment on Mr. Powys, knight of the shire for Northampton county showed him the resolutions of Parliament in 1707, against placemen and pensioners; and gave ' him an account of several statutes against them.'

1779, February 13.-Sir Joseph Mawbey having given notice to the House, that he intended to make a motion to eject Lord G. G— from his

seat in the House, on account of his holding a place created since the 4th of Anne; I carried 'this morning to Sir Joseph all my memorandums 'collected last year respecting new places, with ⚫ references to the Journals for proceeding against members, pursuant to several Acts respecting that point; and also, the several Acts themselves. I was gladly and thankfully received by Sir Joseph, 'who immediately proposed to enlarge his ground, ' and make his motion general. In In consequence of this, on Monday following he made, and carried (though very warmly opposed by the Minister),

be conjectured, that those declarations were drawn up by him for the use of the associations. They were evidently sent to him for correction of the press, and on one of them is written, "A fresh proof to-morrow."

A letter of this period, to his brother, Dr. Sharp, shows at once the extent of his anxious care, and the diligent researches he had made on the subject.

some very useful motions for lists of placemen, agreeably to precedent on the Journals.'

'August 29, 1781.-Received a letter frem Lord 'Carysfort, respecting the affairs of Ireland.'

The subject of this letter was not new to Mr. Sharp, and a correspondence ensued between him and Lord Carysfort, which preceded, by a short interval, the well-known motion made by Mr. Grattan in the Irish House of Commons*, in support of the resolutions passed by the representatives of the great body of volunteers, affirming the right of Ireland to legislate for itself, and "that the claims of any body of men, other than the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, to make laws to bind that kingdom, were unconstitutional and illegal."

Those resolutions were brought forward in opposition to the English Declaratory Act, passed in June 1720,"for the better securing the Dependency of Ireland ;" and as they were in perfect consistency with the principles of constitutional law which Granville had stated in his publication in 1775, it was natural that they should excite in him feelings of the strongest interest. A letter (or rather a warning) to the Duke of Portland, then appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, appears among his papers, written in a style of unusual boldness, together with two other letters, addressed to Mr. Fox,