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526 Dr . J . Ptfe Smith in Reply to Professor Cheneviere .
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replies , but I have endeavoured to preserve his own expressions ; The Venerable Company was inexorable . It required of him an engagement to confine his religious instructions to the servile repetition of the words of
the Catechism , and gave him fifteen days for consideration . He apppealed , by a respectful memorial , to the Council of State \ but in vain . During this distressing fortnight , he had to sustain the remonstrances of his
superiors in rank and office , the pressing intreaties of his friends , and the heart-rending pleadings of those most dear to him . The fortnight elapsed ; and on Nov . 6 , 1818 ,, the Council of State declared his place
vacant . I have derived these particulars from the Pieces relatives a la Destitution du Ministre Malan , containing the correspondence on both sides ,
-without any comment . But , with regard to this publication , II . M . Cheneviere charges M . Malan with " concealing that which was most to the purpose , the Extract from the Records of the Council of
State , declaring that he had been deprived of his office for insubordination to his superiors . " So far as I can judge of this matter , it appears that M . C . takes advantage of a mere
inadvertency , to advance a very harsh , not to say cruel , accusation . I find at p . 52 , M . Malan ' s request to the President of the Company , for a copy of the charge ( Pr 6 avis ) submitted to the Council , and of the definitive sentence . Then follows the answer of
the Secretary , informing him that the Company would permit him to read the Extract from the Registers , but that it belonged to the Council alone to grant a copy ; and that the charge presented to the Council was part of the correspondence between the two
bodies , and not allowed to be communicated to any individual . To these two letters the following note is annexed by M . M . : " I have also requested of the Secretary of State an extract from the Registers of the Noble Council , concerning * my
dismission ; and it was soon sent me . " Now to me it appears probable that this extract was an official document of two or three lines , not essential to the narrative ; though I think it ought to have been inserted . But I can
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reasonably imagine no dishonourable motive for the emission ; and as for the alleged crime of insubordination , it would be absurd to charge him with an inclination to suppress it , for it is plentifully made in other papers of the same pamphlet .
M . Chenevikre occupies nine pages more ( pp . 67—7 & ) in his vituperation of M . Malan . But I cannot allow myself to trespass upon your kindness , by offering detailed remarks upon thern . At p . 68 , are eight formal
charges . The 6 th I know to be false , both in letter and spirit : and besides , how inaccurate , to say the least , is it to represent M . M . as " distinguishing persons by the name of Momiers " when that is the offensive and
insulting appellation which his enemies have invented or revived , for the purpose of vilifying him and other pious people I The 8 th is merely a constructive offence , and which might be laid against the most innocent person in the world . The remaining six
describe acts and proceedings which every Dissenting Minister in Great Britain does , and feels it to be his duty and honour to do , so far as the circumstances are analogous . With regard to all the rest of M . C . ' s
statements , I desire no other justification of my friend than that opinion which you , Sir , and all your dispassionate readers must pronounce , upon the accuser ' s own shewing . I appeal to any man who has but a moderate
acquaintance with the rights of human nature , whether the treatment of M . Malan by the Ecclesiastical power has been any other than a constant course of Injustice . Cruelt y , and
Tyranny . I feel deeply indebted to you for having allowed me to occupy so many pages of the Repository ; far indeed beyond what I at first intended , yet much less than I should have to write
if I were to pursue into all their turns and windings , the subterfuge , perversion , oppression , and persecution which have been resorted to by those
whom I have very reluctantly felt myself compelled , from a sense of duty to the cause of integrity and liberty , thus to hold up in their proper colours . J . PYE SMITH .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1824, page 526, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2528/page/14/
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