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be thought at all essential for the preservation of a system * ' whose builder and maker is God . " JUNIOR .
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chisioa of the speecif was ^ hat in Bart letfs Buildings ± composed , exclusively , of members of the Church of England . These hkd very lately con * vened a special meeting tor the purpose of resolving ^ : 'that their church would be in danger ; should the legislature be prevailed upon to ^ rtant the solidlte ^ repeal ; ^
^ EXAGENARIUS . Speech , in 1 792 , on a proposed Address to Dr Priestley * Miu Chairman , I believe I cannot serve the Dissenters of , who sent me to this committee , more acceptably than by
supporting this motion ; because , though they hold , in general , religious opinions very opposite to those of Dr . Priestley , yet they understand the difference between polemical distinctions and those principles upon which Dissenters are , or should be united .
It is , Sir , a master-piece of craft with our enemies , after uniting us all by penalties und civil disabilities , to endeavour to divide us upon theological questions ; and I think one
principal good effect of the addresses proposed , and especially of that to Dr . Priestley , will be to counteract such designs . For when the representatives of the Dissenters of England ,
persons holding such various opinions , agree to shew respect to a man who has suffered for his adherence to their general rights , they , declare to the world , that though there are questions on which men who think for
themselves must continue to disagree , there are also principles upon which they will be united , while the legislature shall join them together by oppressive statutes and unjust restrictions ; and ,
at the same time , such a measure may tend to encourage some of our wellmeaning but more prejudiced brethren , to study the principles of civil and reli g ious liberty , even in the writings of Dr . Priestley .
I esteem that gentleman as exemplary in his character as a Christian as he is distinguished in the walks of science , and I hope I shall never be ashamed to profess such an opinion of such a man ; but were Dr . Priestley a deist in principle and a libertine in practice , we might with the greatest propriety send him an address , if he
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Speech , in 1792 , on a proposed Address to Dr . Priestley . 229
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^ Sir , April 4 , 1822 . fTMHE referenccsrtn your last Num-Jl _ bet to Dr . Priestley ' s latter days in England , h $ Ve reminded me of a design to offer you a MS ., netef ' priJf ed , which has'bteen letag in my possession . It is a copy and , I believev'a
very correct one , of a speech delivered 30 years ago , at a general meeting in London , consisting of Delegates from the Dissenters in the country , united with a committee from the deputies , to coneert measures for renewing their application to Parliament for a repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts .
The speaker was a delegate from a large county , abounding with Dissenters , who were , almost exclusively , Calvinistic . The question discussed was , the propriety of addressing Dr . Priestley and the Dissenters at Birmingham , on occasion of the Riots . The result
of the discussion was "An Address of the Deputies and Delegates of the liibsonters in England to the Sufferers in the Riot at Birmingham . " This address , dated Feb . 1 , 1792 , which is to be found in the Appendix to Dr . Priestley ' s Appeal , contains the following paragraph :
" While , however , as sustaining one common character , we are anxious to pay this sincere tribute of aifectionate and fraternal sympathy to all our injured brethren , we are persuaded that we shall gratify alike your feelings and our own ,
when , waving our various speculative , and especiall y our theological differences , we desire to express our peculiar concern on the account of that distinguished individual whom the rancour of this cruel persecution selected as the first victim of its
r' ^ ge . Deeply convinced of the importance of truth , we unite in admiring the ardour which he lias ever discovered in the pursuit of it ; as freemen , we applaud his imremitted exertions in the great < -iiuse of civil and religious liberty ; as nlends to literature , we are proud of our
alliance with a name so justly celebrated as that of Dr . Priestley ; and we pray the Almighty Disposer of events long to continue to us and to the world , a life which science and virtue have contributed ' <> render illustrious . " [ See Priestley ' s Works , XIX . 568 . ] Ihe society mentioned at the con-
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1822, page 229, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2511/page/37/
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