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liberty of the Catholics , and express a wish that they might not succeed ; and this circumstance might pass from one to another with aggravation , in the gossip of the day , till at length a considerable number of Dissenters were set in array against the Catholics . The fact itself is very improbable ; for
it must be well known , that the interference of the Dissenters for or against them would be of little avail . My much-esteemed friend , Dr . T ., was credulous , . and , with regard to some other circumstances , not always very correct . But he never erred intentionally and wilfully . Mr . Howe , indeed , was much less excusable : for
he seems to intimate , that the distributors of his Majesty ' s bounty to the Protestant Dissenting * Ministers , then called the retruim ' donum , but since , from an alteration in the mode of its
communication , denominated the Par-Iunnen ' tary Granty were in the secret ; and that they moved the springs of government in opposition to the Catholics . In this insinuation there is a degree of illiberality which docs no honour to the memory of a man whom I esteemed , and with whom I
was always on terms of intimate acquaintance , lie knew where to have applied , if he had thought proper , for more correct information . Over this censurable part of his conduct I wish to throw a veil ; and I regret that the
letter to which I refer found its way into the Repository . I am much inisiniormed if those persons to whom he directed his correspondent for information could have gratified his curi-!> sify ; nnd if they wen * not as totally ignorant of the fact as the two
counti'V correspondents . I have sufficient reason for believing , that no intercourse on political measures , private or puhhe , subsisted between the persons above calumniated and any memhers oi his Majesty ' s administration , i () r tUv last fifty years . I have been
^ sured , on an authority which I have I 1 (> reason to question , that they have , l ) l \ other occasions , asserted and mainlined their independence . Ministers () t state may easily find more pliant Mater ials on which to exert their inlU'JK-e thiiii the minds of persons who ( Ijnved no benefit from any money Hluch they received or imparted , beos the pleasure of relieving indigent
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merit ; and this they considered as an ample recompence for their trouble in the transaction of this business . But it has been the fate of these men , nor is their case singular , to be most calumniated by those to whom they have been most communicative .
I take the liberty of mentioning these particulars in order to render the collectors of anecdotes more cautious , in their record and detail of supposed facts , founded on conjecture
and presumption , without a tittle of authentic evidence to support them - and to prevent their imposing-, under the sanction of your valuable Repository , on the credulity of any of your readers .
What is the number or what is the rank of Dissenters that are now adverse to Catholic emancipation , I cannot undertake to pronounce ; but I am happy to say , that in my
connexion there are very few , if any , of this description ; and as for others , I can only wish that they were more enlightened and more liberal .
It has been said , without sufficient evidence , that if the Catholics succeed in their application , they would l > e hostile to Protestant Dissenters . However this may be , it furnishes no reason why we should not wish them success ,
and thus by our greater liberality triumph over their more contracted and sellish principles . At all events , I beg leave to suggest my own opinion , that the case of Protestant Dissenters and that of Catholics arc perfectly distinct ; and whatever may be our secret or declared wishes- r their
favour , the repeal of the Test laws , ; u * a subject of jKirliamentary consideration , should be separately argued , as they respectively affect the Catholics and the Protestant Dissenters ; nor should we blend our case with theirs ,
lest we should injure instead of aiding and supporting one another . The time cannot be far distant when both must succeed , and those disgraceful laws be expunged from the Statute-Book of the British empire . AN OLD DISSENTKR .
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Rev . J . Brettell on cc The Country Minister . " 15 . 9
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Hotherham , Sir , / ' >/> . f > , 18 L >^ IN the kind notice of the Country Almister , you have inserted in the Repository tor last Month , ( p . 47 ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1822, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2510/page/31/
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