Test Act was
passed in the reign of Charles the Second, 1673, and it declared that
all officers, civil or military, of the Government must take the
sacrament according to the forms of the Church of England, and must
take the oaths against the doctrine of transubstantiation. This Act
was, of course, regarded as a serious grievance by the Dissenters of
all denominations. Some few eminent Churchmen, like Dr. Hoadley,
Bishop of Winchester, had always been opposed to the narrow-minded
policy of the Act. Hoadley, indeed, had made himself a sort of leader
of the dissenting communities on this subject. For that and other
reasons he had been described as the greatest Dissenter who ever wore a
mitre. When the report got about that an attempt was to be made to
have the Test Act repealed, Walpole, with his usual astuteness, sent
for the bishop, knowing very well that, if such a determination had
been come to, Dr. Hoadley would be among the very first men to be
consulted on the subject. Walpole expressed his mind very freely to
Hoadley. A coldness had long existed between them, which Walpole's
gift of the Bishopric of Winchester had not removed. {111} Hoadley had
thought Walpole slow, lukewarm, and indifferent about movements in
reform of Church and State, which Hoadley regarded as essential parts
of the programme of the Whig party. Walpole was perfectly frank with
him on this occasion, and explained to him the difficulty which would
come up in English affairs if the Prince of Wales were encouraged to
seek popularity at the expense of the King and Queen by making himself
the champion of the Dissenters' grievances. Hoadley met Walpole in a
spirit of similar frankness. He declared that he always had been and
always should be in favor of the repeal of the Test Act, but that he
disapproved altogether of the prince being set up in opposition to the
King; and he believed that even the repeal of the Test Act would be
bought at too dear a cost if it were the means of bringing the King
into a distressing family quarrel. Therefore the bishop declared that
he would give no encouragement to such a scheme, of which, he said, he
had lately heard nothing from the prince; and that, whatever kindnesses
he might receive from Frederick, he should never forget his duty to
George. Walpole was delighted with Hoadley's bearing and Hoadley's
answer, and seemed as if he never could praise him enough. No one can
question Hoadley's sincerity. We