countries.
Missionaries, catechisms, liturgies, and other books for the instruction
of ignorant people, were sent to the English colonies in America. This
laudable design was supported by voluntary contribution; and the bill
having been brought into the house of commons for the better discovery
of estates given to superstitious uses, Dr. Bray presented a petition,
praying that some part of these estates might be set apart for the
propagation of the reformed religion in Maryland, Virginia, and the
Leeward islands. About this period, a society for the reformation of
manners was formed under the king's countenance and encouragement.
Considerable collections were made for maintaining clergymen to read
prayers at certain hours in places of public worship, and administer the
sacrament every Sunday. The members of this society resolved to inform
the magistrates of all vice and immorality that should fall under
their cognizance; and with that part of the fines allowed by law to
the informer, constitute a fund of charity. The business of the session
being terminated, the king on the third day of July prorogued the
parliament, after having thanked them in a short speech for the many
testimonies of their affection he had received; and in two days after
the prorogation it was dissolved.*

* On the fifth day of January, a fire breaking out at
Whitehall through the carelessness of a laundress, the whole
body of the palace, together with the new gallery, council-
chamber, and several adjoining apartments were entirely
consumed; but the banqueting-house was not affected.

THE EARL OF PORTLAND RESIGNS.

In the month of January the earl of Portland had set out on his
embassy to France, where he was received with very particular marks of
distinction. He made a public entry into Paris with such magnificence
as is said to have astonished the French nation. He interceded for
the protestants in that kingdom, against whom the persecution had been
renewed with redoubled violence: he proposed that king James should be
removed to Avignon, in which case his master would supply him with
an honourable pension; but his remonstrances on both subjects proved
ineffectual. Louis, however, in a private conference with him at Marli,
is supposed to have communicated his project of the partition-treaty.
The earl of Portland, at his return to England, finding himself totally
eclipsed in the king's favour by Keppel, now create