again would so near an approach be permitted a prediction which, fatally for the dissenters, was fulfilled on the division that followed Mr. Fox's motion on the second of March 1791, when it was found, that this spirit had so far operated upon the temper of the house, as to increase the majority against them from 20 to 189, the numbers being 294 to 105. Thus, after three strenuous efforts, terminated all hopes of obtaining from the liberality or justice of the British government the abolition of laws, which for more than a century have debased the character of protestant dissenters, by cutting them off from the common privileges of citizenship, and stigmatizing them as outcasts of society.

As the chairman of the associated dissenters, Mr. Walker was requested by several ministers to prepare an address to Dr. Priestley, expressive of their common concern at the horrid outrages, which he had lately experienced from an ignorant and misguided multitude, whom the malice of bigotry and the ran

cour of party had stimulated to those violent proceedings, that have affixed an inde lible disgrace upon the national character. In compliance with this he composed the following address, which was afterward signed by a very respectable number of ministers of the different denominations.

"Address:

"To the Rev. Dr. PRIESTLEY.

(6 Sir,

"We the dissenting ministers of Notting"hamshire and Derbyshire, of the presbyte

rian, independent, and baptist persuasions, "associated as brethren and interested in the "common cause of religious liberty, present "our very respectful and affectionate condo"lence for the outrages to outrages to which you have "been subject. Though many of us differ " from you in matters of religious faith, we "trust that we have better learnt the spirit "of our excellent religion, than not to es"teem in you that character of piety and "virtue, which is the best fruit of every

faith, and that ardour for truth and manly

"inquiry, which Christianity invites, and "which no form of Christianity ought to "shrink from; as well as to admire those " eminent abilities, and that unwearied per"severance, which give activity to the vir"tues of your heart, and to which in almost

"

every walk of science your country and "the world have been so much indebted. "

"That such virtues and such abilities "should invite persecution, is a melancholy "proof, that neither philosophy nor Chris

tianity have yet taught their most digni"fied and amiable lessons to our country. "But though man will feel, and your enemies "have attacked you in that way wherein 66 you feel perhaps most sensibly, yet we'rejoice to find in you that decent magnanimity, that Christian bearing, which "raises you superior to suffering; and that "a regard to God, to truth, and to another "world, have even from the bosom of af"fliction enabled you to extract a generous "consolation. Whether in your religious 'inquiries you have erred or no, we firmly

"believe,

"believe, that truth and the best interests of "mankind have been the object of your "constant regard; and we trust, that that "God, who loves an honest and well-mean"ing heart, will dispense to you such pro"tection, as to his wisdom may seem most "fit. To his benevolent and fatherly pro"tection we devoutly recommend you "through the remainder of your life; pray❝ing, that you may be long preserved, that you may survive the hatred of your un"grateful country, and that you may repay "her cruel injuries by adding, as you have "hitherto done, to her treasure of science, ❝ of virtue and of piety.

"This tribute of our esteem and sympa"thy thy for you, sir, we entreat you to receive "with that regard, which we know the pu"rity of it deserves; and though not re"commended by the rank of life we hold, "we trust that you, a philosopher and a "Christian, will think it not undeserving of "a place among the very respectable testi"monies of esteem and condolence, which

"both

"both at home and abroad your merits and your sufferings have invited.

"From you, sir, we turn, respectable as

you are, and embrace the present occasion "of appealing in a short address to our 66 country, which has discovered so hostile a

spirit to our whole dissenting body. We "cannot affect to be ignorant of it, and we

66

mean to complain of it with that plain"ness and freedom, which becomes us as 66 men, as Britons, and as Christians. In“stead of concealed or open malignity, we "do assert our claim to public good-will, as "faithful and virtuous citizens. In times of "danger, with our lives and fortunes we "have vindicated the rights of our country, "we have ministered to her most valuable "interests, we have been the foremost in her "ranks, nor has our fidelity or affection "been marked with one public stain; and “in times of security, by an obedience to "the laws, and by an active industry, we "have largely contributed to her prosperity. "Such has ever been our character as citi

zens,