Unfortunately, bigoted and servile theologians had turned it into a religious mystery, almost as awful and as incomprehensible as transubstantiation itself.
To keep the institution, and yet to get rid of the abject and noxious superstitions with which it had of late years been associated and which had made it a curse instead of a blessing to society, ought to be the first object of English statesmen; and that object would be best attained by slightly deviating for a time from the general rule of descent, and by then returning to it.
Many attempts were made to prevent an open breach between the party of the Prince and the party of the Princess.

A great meeting was held at the Earl of Devonshire's House, and the dispute was warm.

Halifax was the chief speaker for William, Danby for Mary.

Of the mind of Mary Danby knew nothing.

She had been some time expected in London, but had been detained in Holland, first by masses of ice which had blocked up the rivers, and, when the thaw came, by strong westerly winds.