"Permit us then to remind your Lordship, that, though the attendance on the morning prayers has been generally omitted, and the subscription to them reduced, yet we have hitherto endeavoured to promote the honour and reputation of St. Mary-le-Bow, all that we could. We acknowledge with your Lordship, 'that it is one of the first and most conspicuous Churches in the City,' and we often view its lofty spire both with pride and pleasure; we are happy in 'its being the principal of the Archbishop of Canterbury's _peculiars_, the chief Court of Arches, where so many Bishops are confirmed, and so much public business is transacted;' and we have always endeavoured, at a great expence, to keep every part of the Church in such good order, as that it might both decently and conveniently accommodate the good company which frequently resort there on the above solemn occasions.--Surely, my Lord, this part of our conduct must convince the world, and your Lordship, that those motives which you have suggested to us _have already produced_ every effect which ought to be expected from them. "But to enter more particularly into our defence.--Our not attending these _subscription prayers_ is not generally owing either _to the want of time_, or to _the desire of saving the expence_, but proceeds from a very different motive--a motive which we cannot urge, till we have again bespoke your Lordship's affectionate candour. It is this: That we are not convinced of 'the reasonableness, the propriety, the expediency, and necessity of having the daily prayers' at those hours, and under those circumstances, for which your Lordship so warmly recommends a subscription; and there are two reasons on which our doubts are founded. "The first is, that as your Lordship has undertaken the care of our souls, and in consequence of this trust, receives at least three hundred pounds _per annum_, we think ourselves fully authorised to believe, that this _extraordinary duty_, as your Lordship properly calls it, cannot be essentially necessary to our salvation; for, if it was so, it would, and must have been, a part of your _Lordship's own duty_, and consequently have rendered any extraordinary allowance unnecessary: And we think ourselves assured, that the other high offices which your Lordship sustains in the Christian Church could by no means divert you from duly executing the prior engagements made with us,--even though you had been obliged to employ a Deputy to share with you the honour of attempting our salvation.