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    -and Wilks for the Protestant Society , and to Mrm Butterwort A for the Wesley an Methodists . Downing Street , Sir . April 1 O , 1812 .

    Having had an opportunity in the course of the late recess , to consider with my colleagues the subject of your communication on the part of the Dissenters , I proceed to acquaint you , as I promised * with our opinion upon

    it . It appears to us , that the interpretations recently given , at different Quarter Sessions , to those statutes under which magistrates are authorized to arrant certificates

    to persons wishing to act as Dissenting ministers , ( and which interpretations , as far as they have hitherto undergone judicial decision , appear to be more correct constructions of these laws , than thosG

    which heretofore prevailed in practice , ) place the persons , who wish to obtain certificates as Dissenting ministers , in a situation so different from that in which the previous practice had placed them ,

    as to require parliamentary interference and relief , to the extent , at least , of rendering legal the former practice ; and I shall , therefore , be willing , either to bring forward , or to support , an application to Parliament for the purpose of affording such relief .

    Understanding , however , that a case is now pending in judgment , before the King ' s Bench , upon the construction of some part of these Acts , it appears to me , that it will be desirable to postpone any direct application \< x the Legislature till that decision shall explain * the exact state o £ the law upon the

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    point in dispute in that case . By postponing the application to Parliament , till after the decision in * that case , no such delay will be

    be incurred as will prevent the application to Parliament in This session , since the decision will , I believe , be pronounced upon it , in the ensuing term .

    The precise mode of giving this relief , whether by the repeal of any existing laws , or b j' making the act of the magistrate purely

    ministerial , in administering the oaths , and granting the certificates , to such persons as may apply , is a matter which I wish to be understood as reserved for future

    consideration ; but I think it ma * terial to state , distinctly , that I understand the desire of the persons , whom you represent , to be this—that the exemptions , to be conferred bv such certificates ,

    from the penalties , to which such persons might otherwise be exposed for preaching , &c . should be universal to all who so qualify themselves ; while the exemption from civil and military burdens or duties should be confined to those

    only who are ministers of congregations , and who make the ministry so completely their profession , as to carry on no other business ,

    excepting that of a school-master * As to the question respecti ng the liability of dissenting chapels to the poor rates , I am convince ^ that the , Dissenters must consider

    it as a subject of very inferior j / nportance , bath * in effect ,, ani ^ in principle *—* Qn principle , I c oj ^* ceive , all that , coqJd Be r ^ q ui r / e ^ i would be , thakthe cUapeJ&of Jpjj ^ senters , should , |? e . pu f fprectfel $ qp the same footing ^ cMpels Ut ; lqng ing . to the % 8 tahtli § h ^ n ^ i ^( W $ X

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    » ' Mr . Percevals Letter on the Toleration Act * 387

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1812, page 387, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1749/page/43/