your own choice, you will absolutely have no power at all to dispose of it; you will have given it from yourselves to the Vicar of Hillingdon. For, take notice, the Vicar of Hillingdon, with respect to the choice of an Evening Lecturer, has a negative voice against the whole Town. It is in his power to say, there shall never be an Evening Lecturer in my Chapel again. It is in his power utterly to refuse the Person chosen by you, and appoint his own Curate in the stead, who, as Evening Lecturer licensed by the leave of the Vicar, has by supposition a right to the House. And tho' you have all in this case a power to refuse subscribing to such a one, yet you must acknowledge the House is not then in your disposal, but entirely in the Vicar of Hillingdon's, who may often find it worth while to compliment his Curate with the House, and at the same time compliment his own Pocket by paying him ten or twenty Pounds less for his salary. This refusal of assent in a Vicar to the use of his Pulpit, is not an imaginary event, it has frequently happen'd. Enquire of any of the Inhabitants of St. Leonard's Shoreditch, and they will acquaint you of a recent instance of it. The Lectureship of that Church, till very lately, was vacant for many Years, occasioned by a warm dispute between the Vicar and the Parish. The Parish had made choice of a Lecturer obnoxious to the Vicar, who therefore refus'd him the use of the Pulpit. This dispute drew on a Law-suit, which after a long contest, was decided in the Court of King's Bench, in favour of the Vicar; it being on that trial establish'd, that the right of granting the use of every Pulpit (except in a few instances where there are fixed salaries or Endowments) belong'd solely to the Minister or incumbent of each Parish. You see here the Vicar's power, and how it may be extended to your prejudice, beyond what you at present think or desire: he can absolutely set aside your Evening Lectureship, and say it shall be no more. But, on the contrary, if it be determined that the House

is the property of Townsend's Lecturer, the Vicar can have no power to refuse him a license, when duly chosen by the Trustees, because to him a fixed salary or Endowment is annex'd, and the Lectureship is thereby rendered perpetual. Neither in this case could it answer any purpose in the Vicar to refuse a license, if a refusal were in his power; for, by supposition, the House belonging to Townsend's Lecturer, it could not be given to a Lecturer of his own appointment. It must therefore remain vacant, if not given to the Person nominated by Townsend's Trustees, and the Person so nominated would undoubtedly have his Endowment for nothing; while the Chapel in the interim would be destitute of all Divine Service but what the Vicar is oblig'd to perform himself once a Month. We must conclude therefore that so unprofitable an attempt as this in any Vicar is never likely to happen, and consequently that Townsend's Lecturer, or the Person appointed by Townsend's Trustees, will never be refus❜d a license.

Thus have I given you a short History of the Lectureship of Uxbridge from its origin down to the present time, which I verily believe to be a just and true one. If I am any where mistaken in my account, I shall be glad to be corrected. But if the facts I have mentioned are true and undeniable, I think I may venture to hope you must be fully convinc'd both of the reason and justice of my proceedings, in taking and retaining possession of the Lecturer's House; and that I am so far from being an Invader of your rights and properties, as hath been injuriously reported, that I am in truth and reality defending and maintaining them; since it is certainly more for the interest of the Town, that Townsend's Lecturer should enjoy the House, than any Evening Lecturer whom you have no Power to appoint; and therefore instead of making contribution to carry on a Law-suit to endeavour to disposif you really saw your own Interest, it would much

sess me,

more become you to withdraw such contributions, and convert them to defending my Possession. At least I am sure it is your duty, as much as in you lies, to prevent all kind of strife and contention, and to promote peace and quietness among yourselves and others.

I have nothing more to add but this one caution, that wherever I have mentioned the Vicar of Hillingdon, or Evening Lecturer of Uxbridge, you would take particular care not to understand me as reflecting in any degree upon those who are now living, for I solemnly protest I never design'd it. It was often necessary for me to mention their Names in order to be clear and intelligible, but I have no where done it with the least malevolence or Illintention.

With my sincere Prayers for your temporal and eternal Happiness, believe me to be, my dear Friends and Neighbours, your most faithful Minister in Christ, and

No. IX.

EXTRACT FROM "THE PRESENTMENTS AND SURVEY ON VIEW OF THE JURY OF A COURT BARRON HELP FOR THE MANNOR AND BURROUGH OF UXBRIDGE THE 10th OF JANUARY 1727-AND CONTINUED BY ADJOURNMENT TO THE 29th OF MAY 1728,"

(Referred to at page 259.)

(The original document is in the possession of the Lords of the Town. The Presentments were made about a year be

fore the settlement of the Manor and Borough to charitable uses; and since that period no court-baron has been held for this manor. The extracts we have here given are important as they ascertain the boundaries of the Manor and Borough, and the rights of the burgage holders to common on Cow Moor previous to its inclosure, and subsequently to the profits of the land accepted in lieu of it.).

(Relating to the boundaries of the manor and borough.)

"Imprimis Wee psent the Bounds of the Mannour and Burrough of Uxbridge Begining at the High Way leading

to Robs Mill now held by Adam Love Goeth Westward by the Side of A Meadow Commonly Called Heaborn's Mead now the Land of Mr G Cowdery of Draiton and held by Michael Ravis Excluding the said Meadow And so down by Haws's Close to the River belonging to Robs Mill Including Haws's Close now the Estate of Mr William Greenhow And so along by the Side of the River to Moorfield Bridge Northwards and from Moorfield Bridge along by the River Side North to the Town Mill including the River and the Mill And from thence turning Westwards includeth the Backsides and Houses formerly the Widdow Peters Mrs Hitchcock and the Lady Bennett and now of Thomas Smith Esq and Charles Gosling Esq and held by Nicholas Norton and Doctr William Thorold including the Backside behind Doct Thorold now A Meadow and Goeth along from the End of that Meadow Along the Ditch between the Meadow and Brills Close by the Yard held by the Widdow Reynolds and to the Pond Cometh out thro' the Brick Wall and Goeth to the Middle of High Bridge on the London Road to the End of Shire Ditch And so Along the said Ditch Eastwards to A Flood Gate formerly belonging to Edmd Wright Alderman of London and now of Thomas Smith Esqr aforesaid and from the said Flood Gates about five Pole South And from thence Cross the River belonging to the Town Mill Extendeth it Self East by the End of a Backside formerly of John Garrett And now of the said Doct Wm Thorold And from thence goeth along by the Side of the Buildings formerly A Malt House belonging to the Brewhouse or Beer house and so by the Barn thereto belonging including the Malthouse and the Barn And from thence Cross a Platt of Ground to A Pond therein formerly Garrett's now belonging to Alexander States and so long wayes thro' the Said Pond to the upper Corner of the Fence parting Hilly Close and the said Alexander States Ground and So Along the Lower