Historical and Literary Tour of a Foreigner in England and Scotland (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825. Excerpt: ... time, when their worldly interests clash with the interests of their flocks, they must necessarily be degraded in a country where free discussion is permitted, where wealth is jealous of all encroachment on its prerogatives, and where the spirit of trade and industry wages continual war against all kind of spiritual domination. LETTER XLV. TO THE SAME. I Accompanied my friend, the young clergyman, on a visit to a little village, of which his father is rector. This worthy old man, who is sincere in his faith, and scrupulous in the observance of his duties, wins the hearts of his flock by persuasive good humour. He is fervently attached to the established church; but at the same time he is very tolerant in his principles. While his son and he went to pay a visit to a friend, I took a seat in the library, and amused myself by looking over a book entitled the Velvet Cushion. This title at first somewhat puzzled me, and perhaps it may not be perfectly intelligible to you without a little explanation. I must inform you, then, that the pulpits of the English churches are each furnished with a cushion of velvet, on which the preacher lays his hands when in the attitude of prayer; and the little work to which I have just alluded, purports to be the history of one of these cushions, which, since the reign of Mary, has survived all the vicissitudes of the catholic, protestant, and dissenting faiths, and at length finds a place in the pulpit of a country church. The author of this innocent satire, which is not very remarkable for invention, supposes that, being suddenly endowed with the use of speech, the apostolic cushion becomes its own historian. This novel piece of autobiography is, at the same time, a gallery of portraits. That of the vicar, to whom it is addres...