The object of this extravagant demand at length comes out; and it seems I was perfectly justified in doubting whether you were in jest or earnest when you advanced it. “All (you say) that I here assert” (and questions of a certain description are the strongest of all assertions) “is this; that your Lordship, for whose head and heart I have the highest respect, appears to have undertaken the patronage of you know not whom or what.” {16} Now, Sir, there is but one portion of this _assertion_ to which I have any objection. His Lordship certainly does know _what_ he has undertaken to patronize; for to the circulation of the Scriptures, the Scriptures as printed by authority, the Scriptures without any addition, deduction, or variation, both his patronage and that of the truly venerable characters associated with him, are restrained. The rest of the assertion is perfectly harmless. His Lordship has undertaken the patronage of he _knows not whom_: this is strictly true; nor would it be less so, if his Lordship filled the chair of any other Society, or if the Country Clergyman and his friends occupied the place of the six hundred members over whom his Lordship _actually does_ preside. It seems, however, that if his Lordship does not know over _whom_ he presides, the Country Clergyman can tell him. Lord T. does not know “the men and their communication” to whom he has joined himself; but you, it should seem, can explain them both. No sooner do you cast your eye over the List of Subscribers which his Lordship has sent you, than you see “a very large proportion” of persons “with which, as an honest man,” you “can have nothing to do;” men of whose company you “have hitherto always been horribly afraid, being frightened at the idea of having the national establishment blown up, as one of them said, clergy and all;”—“wolves,” who design to worry your “poor sheep;”—“crafty beasts;” and, finally, “those who openly and fairly avow that their object is to eat up both sheep and shepherd.” {17} This is indeed, Sir, a very alarming discovery; and I could almost wish, for the honor of the Society, it had never been made. However, though I love the Society much, I love truth more; and therefore, whatever sacrifice it may cost me, I trust it will always prevail.