“It is now,” he observes in a passage which strongly marks his sentiments; “it is now well known and firmly established, and has completely triumphed over all the attempts made to destroy it. None of those secret dark designs, none of those plots and conspiracies to subvert the establishment, and devour both the shepherds and their flocks, which were so confidently predicted by a certain set of men as the inevitable effect of this society, have yet been discovered in it. It is in fact much better employed. It goes on quietly and steadily, in the prosecution of its great object, and pays no sort of regard to the sneers and cavils of its intemperate opponents.”—In another passage, written at a still later date, he says, “that he cannot but add, in justice to this society, which has been so much opposed, misrepresented, and traduced, that all the important works in which it has been engaged have been carried on with the utmost harmony and unanimity; without any difference of opinion; without the slightest symptom of any hostile or treacherous design against the church; and without any other idea upon their minds but that of extending as widely as possible, the knowledge of the Christian Scriptures.” The bishops of Durham and Salisbury attended _several of their meetings_, and were delighted with the decorum, calmness, and good temper with which their proceedings were conducted. In short, _all the apprehensions to which this society has given rise are now found to be but vain terrors_; and all the prophecies of the mischief and evil, that would result from it, are _falsified by facts_. It is rising uniformly in reputation and credit; gaining new accessions of strength and revenues and _attaching to itself more and more the approbation and support of every real friend to the church and to religion_. {10} Extract of a speech made by the earl of Liverpool, on accepting the office of president, of the Cinque Ports’ Bible Society, Dec. 5th. 1815.