"I have observed of late years, that the London meeting-houses of all Sectaries have crowded audiences, and that the Prayers of our established
Church are read, and the Sermons of her Ministers preached, to empty seats, unless at places where some new-fangled doctrines are propagated to captivate weak minds. It becomes me as an honest man, and agreeable to the oath I have taken, earnestly to admonish you to attend the service of the Church on Sundays, unless prevented by occasions that are lawful.
"It requires I should give you this notice publicly, that no person may have reason to think me over-officious, if he finds his name among the presentments my oath obliges me to exhibit before the Ecclesiastical Court at the expiration of my office.
David Rice, Churchwarden."
CELEBRATION OF THE PRESENT MONARCH'S ACCESSION—MARRIAGE—AND VISIT TO GUILDHALL.
The spirits of the Community were never more exhilarated than at the auspicious period which gave England her present King and Queen. The Coronation was necessarily similar to those described in Londinium Redivivum; and the simplicity of our Church in the article of marriage admits of little more splendour than that of dress, at all times superb on such occasions in the British court. The fireworks, illuminations, and behaviour of the populace, who were in some instances regaled with beer round a bonfire, was generally decorous, and in some measure compels
me to silence as to incidents, except in one particular case, when an odd scene of midnight gratitude was exhibited to Earl Temple and Mr. Pitt, who were returning incog. from Guildhall, where they had dined on the 9th of November 1761. The instant those Patriots were recognized, the multitude crowded round the carriage, impeded its progress, and shouted with so much ardour, that the sleeping neighbours were roused, and, when they had discovered the cause of the tumult, heartily joined in the shouts with nightcaps instead of hats in hand.
The report of the Committee appointed to provide the entertainment on the above day, will evince how well they performed their duty.
"At a Court of Common Council held June 17, 1762, the following Report was presented to the Court:
"To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled.