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controversy； were again signally displayed。 He bore a chief part in framing
that artful and eloquent speech which the accused divine pronounced at
the bar of the Lords； and which presents a singular contrast to the absurd
and scurrilous sermon which had very unwisely been honoured with
impeachment。 During the troubled and anxious months which followed the
trial； Atterbury was among the most active of those pamphleteers who
inflamed the nation against the Whig ministry and the Whig parliament。
When the ministry had been changed and the parliament dissolved；
rewards were showered upon him。 The Lower House of Convocation
elected him prolocutor。 The Queen appointed him Dean of Christchurch
on the death of his old friend and patron Aldrich。 The college would have
preferred a gentler ruler。 Nevertheless； the new head was received with
every mark of honour。 A congratulatory oration in Latin was addressed to
him in the magnificent vestibule of the hall； and he in reply professed the
warmest attachment to the venerable house in which he had been educated；
and paid many gracious compliments to those over whom he was to
preside。 But it was not in his nature to be a mild or an equitable governor。
He had left the chapter of Carlisle distracted by quarrels。 He found
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Christchurch at peace； but in three months his despotic and contentious
temper did at Christchurch what it had done at Carlisle。 He was succeeded
in both his deaneries by the humane and accomplished Smalridge； who
gently complained of the state in which both had been left。 〃Atterbury
goes before； and sets everything on fire。 I come after him with a bucket of
water。〃 It was said by Atterbury's enemies that he was made a bishop
because he was so bad a dean。 Under his administration Christchurch was
in confusion； scandalous altercations took place； opprobrious words were
exchanged； and there was reason to fear that the great Tory college would
be ruined by the tyranny of the great Tory doctor。 He was soon removed to
the bishopric of Rochester； which was then always united with the deanery
of Westminster。 Still higher dignities seemed to be before him。 For； though
there were many able men on the episcopal bench； there was none who
equalled or approached him in parliamentary talents。 Had his party
continued in power； it is not improbable that he would have been raised to
the archbishopric of Canterbury。 The more splendid his prospects； the
more reason he had to dread the accession of a family which was well…
known to be partial to the Whigs。 There is every reason to believe that he
was one of those politicians who hoped that they might be able； during the
life of Anne； to prepare matters in such a way that at her decease there
might be little difficulty in setting aside the Act of Settlement and placing
the Pretender on the throne。 Her sudden death confounded the projects of
these conspirators。 Atterbury； who wanted no kind of courage； implored
his confederates to proclaim James III。； and offered to accompany the
heralds in lawn sleeves。 But he found even the bravest soldiers of his party
irresolute； and exclaimed； not； it is said； without interjections which ill
became the mouth of a father of the church； that the best of all causes and
the most precious of all moments had been pusillanimously thrown away。
He acquiesced in what he could not prevent； took the oaths to the House of
Hanover； and at the coronation officiated with the outward show of zeal；
and did his best to ingratiate himself with the royal family。 But his
servility was requited with cold contempt。 No creature is so revengeful as
a proud man who has humbled himself in vain。 Atterbury became the most
factious and pertinacious of all the opponents of the government。 In the
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
House of Lords his oratory； lucid； pointed； lively； and set off with every
grace of pronunciation and of gesture； extorted the attention and
admiration even of a hostile majority。 Some of the most remarkable
protests which appear in the journals of the peers were drawn up by him；
and in some of the bitterest of those pamphlets which called on the
English to stand up for their country against the aliens who had come from
beyond the seas to oppress and plunder her； critics easily detected his style。
When the rebellion of 1715 broke out； he refused to sign the paper in
which the bishops of the province of Canterbury declared their attachment
to the Protestant succession。 He busied himself in electioneering；
especially at Westminster； where； as dean； he possessed great influence；
and was； indeed； strongly suspected of having once set on a riotous mob to
prevent his Whig fellow… citizens from polling。
After having been long in indirect communication with the exiled
family； he； in 1717； began to correspond directly with the Pretender。 The
first letter of the correspondence is extant。 In that letter Atterbury boasts of
having； during many years past； neglected no opportunity of serving the
Jacobite cause。 〃My daily prayer；〃 he says； 〃is that you may have success。
May I live to see that day； and live no longer than I do what is in my
power to forward it。〃 It is to be remembered that he who wrote thus was a
man bound to set to the church of which he was overseer an example of
strict probity； that he had repeatedly sworn allegiance to the House of
Brunswick； that he had assisted in placing the crown on the head of
George I。； and that he had abjured James III。； 〃without equivocation or
mental reservation； on the true faith of a Christian。〃
It is agreeable to turn from his public to his private life。 His turbulent
spirit； wearied with faction and treason； now and then required repose； and
found it in domestic endearments； and in the society of the most illustrious
of the living and of the dead。 Of his wife little is known： but between him
and his daughter t