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and « e ^ t for H ^ erty , c < ympiadn that * gen tiei 0 an ^ B Protestant , wko , with die consc ^ nce of a member of the Cbureb of England , read in its homilies , abd finding there that many of the ceremonies of the Roman Gatboiic Church , are idolatry , should hate been commanded to cause
the bells to ring , and a salute to be fired , because a proeession moved upon the day dedicated to the patron saint . It was with this order that Mr . Dawson decBfted to comply , and hia captain also refused ; the major who commanded , did not insist oa their compliance but gave the
^ order in their absence , and the bells were rung , and the salute was fired . He yield ed tb the scruples of those men who bad bared their bosoms , and had fought when England waged a war -with her enemies *
The lieutenant and the captain were however summoned before a Court Martial * Hie president of which was a Roman Catholic ; they were found guilty , and the sentence , was confirmed by the Judge Advocate at home . The lieutenant and
the captain were both cashiered , and the major was severely censured for his le * nity . It seems then that , in performing his duty , an English officer must forget the claims of conscience ; and that if he be so commanded , he must hail a sacrifice to Budhoo , and sanction the horrid
murders committed under the pretence of religion . To the uextparticular I shall but briefly advert , since it has been frequently before the public . It occurred th £ 29 th of
July last . On that day , two persons , of decent appearance , dressed soberly in black , with nothing unclerical in their exterior—nothing improper in their demeanour—waited on the Rev . William
Marshall , a clergyman of the Established Church , in the town of Newport Pagnelh There these poor people introduced themselves into the presence of the Vicar of the parish , and in the course of their conversation presented to bim a book containing the names of subscribers
towards the erection of a chapel for the use of the General Baptist Revivalist's Society * They stated to him , that they had been deputed by the good people of that Society to collect subscriptions for the purpose stated ; and they then came to solicit his aid . In doing this they cert
ainly were not aw&re that they were in the presence of the clergyman of the parish ; but even tfcough they had been apprized of such a circumstance , they , Dissenters as they were , did not imagine themselves guilty of much presumption . Mr . Marshall turned on them as enemies of the Establishment—was astonished at their p resumption—inquired their ; names " -declared * them to be impostors ;*^ ( which term he speedily retracted ;> and
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threatened ti&jn wftlli ^^ p J&jfa&f such a rebeption they tiatraraJly Wished to withdraw ; tft ^ rasi / ed tq > itfefcre ii * peace ; but even that poor privilege was denied them . No ! they had approached , top near the lion * den , and having once
entered , it was in vain that they atte ^ tei to escape unhurt * ISie constable apd the churchwardens were sent for , and although Mr . MaTshkU admitted ttat they were not imptfsjors ., ye £ he would hare sent them to prison ; for , as he said to them , " Some of your people are sup * posed to have committed a nnrrder somewhere or other , and yot * are therefore dangerous persons , and sra&t not be allowed to go at large ; ** accordingly they were then taken up to the house oftke attorney , and there being no magistrate there , and none any where in the
neighbourhood , with the exception of a certaiu clergyman of the Established Church , then engaged at a cricket-match , those Very Reverend Divines were in consequence sent for from the cricket- ground * and one of them , a Rev . Mr . Lowndes * being called upon , he forsooth signed the mittimus under which these unfortunate
men were deprived of their liberty , and lodged in a common gaol . That at such a place , such tyranny should have been perpetrated is what you in London , <; an hardly conceive . You can scarcely form an idea of the scorn and obloquy which in more remote places are heaped upon
the heads of Dissenters . In proof that these men were not impostors , and were entirely undeserving of the oppression which they endured , it was shewn that they had signed the declaration , had taken
the oaths , and the book which they produced contained a signature , which , to every enlightened and liberal man , would liave proved sufficient evidence , that of Robert Hall , of Leicester . In this conduct is combined tUt&t horrid mixture of
malice and ferocity , buffoonery and cruelty , which characterized Nero , who fiddled when Rome was on fire . I will now read to you extracts from the minutes of the examination of these victims to High Church intolerance .
Mr . Marshal / . —Do you know that you are breaking the law ? Homer . —No , I do not . Marshall . — I do not wish to enter into any discourse with you , for i believe it is your intention to overturn the Establishment—by so doing you are breaking the law .
JSdgelL—Did you ever see two men more like vagrants ? How long have you been a preacher ? fio mer - —About three years . Marvkult . u- ^ Whsit were you before you became a preacher ? Horner , —~ A gentleman ' s servant .
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Fnteltigence . *—Protesta * i Society : Mr . Wilkfs Speech . 696
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1825, page 695, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2542/page/55/
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