NOT content with thefe thundering Curfes against this unfortunate Book, the Bishop of Mann, in the Plenitude of his Apoftolical Power, conceived himself legally commiffioned to feize it where-ever he found it. Accordingly, when Mr. Richard Worthington fent it as a Present to the Public Library of the Ifland, the Bishop commanded his Creature, one Stevenson of Ballidoole, to take it and keep it, fo that it fhould neither be depofited in the Library, nor yet restored to the Owner. The Party aggrieved by this lawlefs Procedure had recourfe to the Juftice of the Governor, who, when Stevenson refufed to restore the Book to the right Owner, committed him to Caftle Rufben, till he should make Reparation. Upon which Occafion the Bishop of Mann protested against his Imprisonment; which Act of the Bishop, as alfo the Governor's Answer, are faithfully set forth in the following Words:

To the Honourable Alexander Horne, Efq;
Governor of this Ifle:

The Remonftrance of Tho. Bp. of Sodor & Mann.

WHEREAS John Stevenfon, of Ballidoole, Efq; is now imprisoned in Castle Rufhen for affifting me to fupprefs a most pesti

lent

lent Book, intituled, The Independent Whig;; which Book has been industriously handed about to the manifeft Hurt of the Flock committed to my Care: And for afmuch as I am obliged. and required, not only by his Majefty's late Di-rections, sent to me by his Grace our Metropolitan, but also by my Confecration-Vows, to banish and drive away all erroneous and frange Doctrines, contrary to God's Word: And being convinced, that this Book, fo full of damnable Errors, (if permitted to be again dispersed) is capable of doing more Mischief, than the very Plague we are fo much justly afraid of: And. fince there is no other Method of obtaining Mr. Stevenson's Inlargement, than by delivering up the faid Book; I'do therefore protest against the evil Confequences which may attend the forcing it out of my Hands. And I defire, that this may be entered upon Record, to the end, that my Obedience to his Majesty's Commands, and a due Senfe of my Duty, may appear hereafter.

Dated Feb. 21. Anno Dom. 1721. and the 25th of our Confecration.

THO. SODOR & MANN,

At Caftle Rufber, the 2d of February 1721.

THE Concern the Bishop fhews for John Stevenson, of Ballidoole, an Efquire of his own Creation, is a Recompence he could not well avoid making, fince he has by fuch Ways and Means made him an Inftrument to pursue any thing be fball think fit to put him upon.

BUT it is furprifing to me, to find the BiShop making the Affiftance Mr. Stevenson gave bim, to fupprefs the Book, intituled, The Independent Whig, the Occafion of his Confinement ; when they, and every body else that knows the Matter, can tell, that he was confined for refufing to restore that Book that was but lent him, which Mr. Worthington defired might be prefented from him to the Library here; and if Mr. Stevenson would have returned that Book, or a Receipt from the Library-keeper, that he had received it for the Library, as was often told him, it would have prevented his Confinement, and faved the Bishop the Trouble of his elaborate Remonftrance, fince a Receipt, which might have been writ in few Words, would bave done as well; and when they had it in their Cuftody, they might have used their own -Methods to suppress or prevent its being spread abroad.

BUT,

BUT, perhaps, he had a mind to fhew his Resentment of this Book, under the Specious Pretence of his Zeal and Obedience to his Majefty's Commands; but if he had thought fit to have used the Prayers that were compofed in the Time of the Rebellion, which were ordered by his Majefty to be made use of in all Churches and Chapels, &c. it might have been a greater Inftance of Affection, Zeal and Obedience to his Majefty and Government, than what he has done by cenfuring and condemning this Book; which I cannot find has been condemned in England, or thought to be one of the Books comprehended in his Majesty's late Order.

BUT though the Prayers above-mentioned were then delivered to the Bishop, in order to be used in the Churches and Chapels here, and that he (the Bishop) promised they should, yet I did not find that they were; nor do I now fo much wonder at it, when I find, that rather than the Clergy will fubfcribe a Declaration, teftifying their Affection to his Majesty and Government, and his Right to the Crown of Great Britain, &c. as established by several Acts of Parliament, and against all Pretenders, they will content themselves with supplying the Cure of fome Parishes now vacant, upon Courtely, rather than apply to the Right Honour C 6

able

able Lord and Patron of this Ifle for a Prefentation, upon these Terms.

AND fince the Bishop has fo earnestly defired this his Remonftrance to be recorded, he has given me an Opportunity of making these Remarks, and also of justifying my Defire of having the Prayers above-mentioned used in this Ifland, and leaves me less liable to the Reflections that might be made, for not using them.

ALEX. HORNE.

IT is alfo proper to annex the Certificate of those who tendered the Book, by the Governor's Command, to another of the Bishop's Creatures, the Library-keeper of the Island.

We do hereby certify, that being this Day fent by the Honourable Governor with a Book, intituled, The Independent Whig, to be given to Mr. Rofs, Library-keeper in this Ifland, as a Prefent from Mr. Richard Worthington, før the Ufe of the Library; We accordingly tendered the faid Book to the aforesaid Mr. Rofs; but he pofitively refused to accept the fame, Saying, he had read it, and that it was the vileft Book he ever faw; and, with folemn Repetitions, declared, he would as foon take Poison,