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the rumour had reached me before , that his Majesty , with that urbanity which adorns him , and which accompanies him on all occasions , expressed himself in the liberal and conciliating manner which he did , and that he displayed the feelings which he doubtless cherishes , as to the obligations which his family owe to the of this
Protestant Dissenters country . The next resolution you have passed states more fully , correctly , and , in my opinion , not in the least degree too broadly , the principles upon which we act . The third demonstrates , that you are not bound by any narrow prejudices to our own soil , but feel for the cause of religious liberty all over the world . ( Applause . )
A reverend gentleman who did me the honour of calling your attention to my name ( Dr . Bogue ) has said , that religious liberty cannot exist without civil liberty . May I observe , tJiat , in my opinion , civil liberty cannot exist without
religious liberty ? They are inseparably connected , and that man , whoever he may be , who views with jealousy and suspicion the advance of religious liberty , is the first to infringe upon my civil freedom whenever an opportunity for that
infringement shall arise . With respect to many of the topics which have been introduced , I can assure my friend near me , ( Mr . Wilks , ) that } have derived great instruction from his
address ; and I have felt an excitement and deep interest , from the cases he has mentioned to you . I confess I had no notion that such a variety of petty vexations were actually practised at the present moment : and to correct those
abuses , as well as to promote liberal principles , I originally felt a great satisfaction at hearing of the formation of this Society ; and I now feel a double satisfaction at having the honour to preside on its assembly . I agree with him , and was before aware that the cause of
religious liberty , whatever we already have obtained , or whatever prospects we may have , requires constant union and vigilance . ( Applause . ) The gentleman who spoke last ( Dr . Styles ) has alluded to an event ( the introduction of Lord Sidmouth * s Bill ) which must be recollected by all whom I address , because I believe a resistance to it originated this
Society . He was pleased to suppose that the expressions I then used , and the conduct I pursued , contributed to prevent that bill from passing into a law . I opposed it , because in that bill was to be found this principle , that a man had not a right to preach the doctrines which he believed , without permission from others . ¦ certainly used all my best endeavours to oppose that bill . But it was not to my exertions you should attribute suc-
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cess . No ! Gentlemen , I am too much used to the assembly in which I sit , to listen to such a conceit , that my poor exertions should have been the means of throwing out that bill . There were introduced upon that occasion auxiliaries , who were not obliged to take their oaths —petitions , coach loads of petitions , were sent in on that occasion . We could hardly shake hands with our fellow Peers from the number of petitions that entered
against that bill . Union and vigilance on that occasion occasioned your success * By them the sacred principle of religious liberty has been , and was then preserved . You owe even the preservation and increase of your liberty to the same : nor let your vigilance relax *
Another gentleman ( Rev . Mr . Berry ) has alluded to a circumstance which occurred in Wiltshire . It in some degree followed the other occurrence . Perhaps the gentleman was one of them ; I am sure my friend near me ( the Rev . Mark Wilks ) was one who came to me to express their thanks for the little effort I had made . I think the answer which
I gave to those gentlemen on that occasion was this : " I feel very happy if I have in any way promoted or defended the cause of religious liberty ; and I only hope , if any other class of the people should be placed in your situation , you will give me the same assistance you have received . " ( Loud applause . ) When there was a clamour throughout the kingdom .
originating unquestionably in political feelings , and when various counties were meeting to address the Throne , to intercept at the fountain of mercy and of justice the streams of liberality from flowing towards the claims of that class of Christians called Catholics , 1 went down to Wiltshire . The reception I met with there , if possible , increased my attachment to the Protestant Dissenters .
They stood forward to a man as the supporters of the cause of religious liberty , though in favour of that sect which , from its nature , must be the least agreeable to them . For them , Gentlemen , and in my own name , I return my thanks . ( Applause . )
Gentlemen , these circumstances certainly have endeare 4 to my mind the cause of Protestant Dissenters : but we are not met here merely as Protestant Dissenters ; we are friends to the religious liberty of all men ; we are friends of religious liberty in the church , and to
religious liberty I trust in all churches ; and I only regret that the principle in the statute books of this country is not directly and openly and manfully avowed . ( Loud applause . ) As long as the Test Act remains upon that book , so long I shall consider the principles of religious liberty not sufficiently acknowledged by
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Intelligence . ~* -Protest * nt Society : Lord Holland ' s Speech . 4 S 8
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1820, page 499, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2491/page/55/
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