^-t» > *^tf~r. 
 
 
 
 
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 .THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 ! Princeton,. ,N. J. f > 
 
 ; From the Rev. W. B. I#IAGIJe', D.D. Sept. 1839 f 
 
 ' - - ■ # ; 
 
 hS ^ i^£S ^^^i ^j>S k.AUAS ^^a - ,xQ- ^ .stv s^^^lo. , 
 
 ll C<fS(\ Division: 
 
 I '*»''*^''/v Sectioi-fc 
 
 D i?oo/.-, ,, 
 
 No. ........ 
 
 sec 
 
A N 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 TO 
 
 THE PUBLIC, 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 lihe Riots in Birmingham* 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 SXRICTURES ON A PAMPHLET, 
 
 INTITLED 
 
 Thoughts on the late Riot at Birmingham* 
 By Jofeph Priejlley^ ll.d. F.R.S. &c. 
 
 quis novus iste furor } quo nunc, quo tenditis ? 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 Birmingham^ 
 
 PRINTED BY J. THOMPSON; 
 SOLD BY J. JOHNSON, NO. 72, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON. 
 
 MDCCXCI, 
 
THE DEDICATION. 
 
 To the People of England, 
 
 MY COUNTRYMEN, 
 
 I PRESENT myfelf before you 
 in a fituation that ought to engage 
 your attention, becaufe, in fad, it no 
 lefs concerns yourfelves than me. It 
 has hitherto been your great boaft, that 
 you were poffeffed of the beft form of 
 government in the world ; that in 
 England all men are fubjed: to the 
 laws, from the king upon the throne 
 to the meaneft perfon in the realm; 
 that no man can be long confined, 
 much lefs punilhed, without the fent- 
 
 ence 
 
vi THE DEDICATION. 
 
 ence of law; that whenever any man 
 is accufed of a crime, opportunity is 
 given him to make his defence, in the 
 prefence of his accufers and of the 
 witncffes agiinft him ; and that in all 
 cafes he muft be tried by his peers, by 
 perfons in a Situation in all refpefe 
 fimilar to his own, fo that they them- 
 felves may exped: the fame treatment 
 in the fame circumftances. Without 
 this you are fenfible there can be no 
 equal law, or equal liberty. It has 
 alfo been the great pride of Englifh- 
 men, that with us the prefs is free; 
 fo that any opinion whatever, civil or 
 religious, may be openly propofed, and 
 difcuifed, without any apprehenfion of 
 danger. 
 
 A jealoufy with refpedl to law 
 has ever diftinguifhed Englifhmen, fo 
 that you have been content to fujffer 
 the greateft pefts of fociety to efcape 
 
 punilhment, 
 
THE DEDICATION. vii 
 
 punifliment, rather than the law fhould 
 be violated in their perfons ; reafoning 
 juftly, that it is better that one man, 
 though ever fo criminal, fhould efcape 
 punifhment, than that a precedent 
 fhould be eftabliflied, in confequence 
 of which thoufands of innocent perfons 
 might be expofed to fufFering ; and 
 this might be the cafe if any arbitrary 
 mode of proceeding fliould be encou- 
 raged in courts of juflice. Should a 
 perfon actually condemned to die for 
 the greateft crime, be put to death 
 otherwife than by the fentence of a 
 judge, and by the direction of the fhe- 
 rifF, it would be deemed murder ; fo 
 facred do you juftly efteem the regular 
 execution of the laws, not bearing that 
 any punifliment fliould be inflided but 
 fuch as the law directs, and in the 
 precife manner directed by it. Need I 
 then to fay what you ought to think 
 of the mode of proceeding againft me 
 
 A 4 and 
 
vlii THE DEDICATION. 
 
 and my friends at Birmingham, when 
 all that I am charged with is the 
 freedom of my writings ? 
 
 I was born an Englifliman as well 
 any of you. Though labouring un- 
 der civil difabilities, as a Diffenter, I 
 have long contributed my fhare to 
 the fupport of government, and fup- 
 pofed I had the protedion of its con- 
 ftitution and laws for my inheritance. 
 But I have found myfelf greatly de- 
 ceived ; and fo may any of you, if, 
 like me, you fhould, with or without 
 caufe, be fo unfortunate as to incur 
 popular odium. For then, as you 
 have feen in my cafe, without any 
 form of trial whatever, without any 
 intimation of your crime, or of your 
 danger, your houfes and all your pro- 
 perty may be deftroyed, and you may 
 not have the good fortune to efcape 
 with life, as I have done. Other in^ 
 
 nocent 
 
THE DEDICATION. k 
 
 nocent perfons alfo may be involved 
 in the fame cakmities with yourfelves. 
 What are the old French Lettres de 
 Cachet^ or the horrors of the late de- 
 moUfhed Bajiile^ compared to this ? 
 Make then my cafe, what it foon may 
 be, your own, and you will not rate 
 the advantages of the Britifh conftitu- 
 tion fo high as you have generally 
 done. For in what part of the world 
 could a peaceable citizen have had lefs 
 protection of law, or enjoy \t{s fecurityy 
 which is the great end of all civil go- 
 vernment ? 
 
 If we offend againft the laws, let 
 us be tried according to law, and fuf- 
 fer the penalty denounced by it. I 
 do not flee my country, and am at all 
 times amenable to the laws of it. But 
 as you would not allow me to judge 
 in my own cafe, and take my revenge 
 upon any perfon whom I might have 
 
 conceived 
 
X THE DEDICATION. 
 
 conceived to have injured me, let not 
 others w^reak their vengeance upon 
 me. 
 
 You will fay that llich outrages as 
 thefe cannot be prevented under any 
 government, that they are like hurri- 
 canes or earthquakes ; fo that to com- 
 plain of them, is to complain of the 
 order of nature and providence. But 
 not to fay that fufficient provilion 
 might ealily be made to prevent any 
 diforder of this kind, our complaint is 
 that the injury is not univerfally re- 
 fen ted. The Country does not yet 
 fufficiently feel the difgrace that has 
 been done to it, and great numbers 
 rather exult in our fufferings, fo that 
 we are far from thinking ourfelves fe- 
 cure from farther injuries. Many per- 
 fons not only exprefs no difapprobation 
 of our fufferings, or of the illegal 
 manner in which they were inflided, 
 
 but 
 
THE DEDICATION. xi 
 
 but plainly enough threaten us with 
 more outrages of the fame kind*. 
 
 Before you, therefore, T accufe my 
 townfmen, and many others, whom 
 I have defcribed, of the greateft in- 
 jufcice and cruelty ; and not having 
 had an opportunity before my pu- 
 nifhment, I now after it, plead my 
 caufe, and explain my whole conduct 
 in this ApfeaL Rather, the laws 
 themfelves, the laws that have been 
 violated in my cafe, complain that 
 they have been infringed, and that a 
 
 * Among other circumftances which prove this, is the 
 following extraii- from a printed paper, dated Birmingham 
 Conftituiional Tavern^ OSt. 17, 1 79 1, fent to me by the 
 poft from Birmingham. « But let them" (the Dlffenters) 
 
 " beware The arm of Loyalty has been raifed againft 
 
 "them — Their pyffent (deportment is in proof that it was 
 " needful. The bolt, though fliot, is not intlrely fprnt, 
 " and the people at large have too much affeclion for their 
 *' King, and reverence for their prefent government, 
 " to fuffer either of them to be attacked with impjmity^ by 
 « the arts of ih'- feditious. The lion is too magnanimous 
 "to trample upon \ht fallen — Mfufe not then his noble 
 " nature, ye Diflenters — for if ye again amufe him — "Vour 
 " Commentator Mr. Keir may explain the confcquences" 
 
 principle 
 
xii THE DEDICATION. 
 
 principle which leads to all confufion, 
 and the diffolution of all government, 
 has ufurped their place. And no fo- 
 reign enemy can be fo dangerous to 
 you as this within yourfelves. 
 
 But we fufFer, it is faid, as Dif- 
 fenters from the eftablifhed religion. 
 On this account we have a double 
 title to protedlon. A Diflenter is one 
 of a minority, and the Unitarian Dif- 
 fenters, with whom I clafs myfelf, are 
 a fmall minority, though an increasing 
 one. We therefore ftand in greater 
 need of the protection of law ; and it is 
 the more inexcufable to treat us ill, 
 becaufe you have nothing to fear from 
 us. You are more obliged to Dif- 
 fenters than to other members of the 
 community, as, befides bearing the 
 whole expence of our own religion, we 
 contribute our fhare to the expence 
 of yours. If we be not defedlive in 
 
 any 
 
THE DEDICATION. xiu 
 
 any civil duty, why fhould we be ex- 
 pofed to any civil punifhment ? Leave 
 pur religion to our confciences, and to 
 God, whom alone it concerns, and 
 confider how you would wifli to be 
 treated if you lived in a country where 
 any other religion than your own was' 
 profefled. We are excluded, and wo 
 think unjuftly, from civil employments 
 and emoluments. If you think pro- 
 per to continue this negative punifli- 
 ment, do not add pojitive ones, and 
 leaft of all encourage fuch as are ille- 
 gal, and which may introduce evils of 
 an unknown nature and extent, which 
 even your lateft pofterity may feel. 
 For fuch has been the cafe of perfecu- 
 tion in other countries, even when it 
 was carried on in a much more un- 
 exceptionable manner than it has been 
 at Birmingham. 
 
 As to the French Revolution^ the 
 defence and cpmmemoration of which 
 
 has 
 
xiv THE DEDICATION. 
 
 has been imputed to myfelf and others 
 as fo great a crime, you will foon fee 
 it in a different light. The enormous 
 expences of all modern European go- 
 vernments have opened the eyes of men 
 to the nature and ufes of government 
 in general ; and in confequence of this, 
 the whole of the Gothic Feudal fyftem, 
 embracing matters both of a civil and 
 ecclefiaftical nature, is beginning to 
 fliake to its foundation. This will ne- 
 ceffarily produce a convulfion that will 
 be felt in every ftate in Europe. All 
 nations muft ultimately be benefited by 
 it, though they may iuffer by the tem- 
 porary {hock. But be affured that thofe 
 countries will fuffer the leaft in which 
 great revolutions will be prevented 
 by temperate and feafonable reforms. 
 Then we, who have fuffered by the fury 
 of a mifguided populace (who have 
 committed their lawlefs devaftations 
 in the name of the church and the 
 
 King) 
 
THE DEDICATION. kv 
 
 King) {hall be confidered as the mar- 
 tyrs of your liberties ; and in the firm 
 belief of this we joyfully bear all their 
 outrages. 
 
 As individuals we pretend not to 
 deferve your notice; but our cafe is 
 general, and we hope it will lead you 
 to refpedl, if not us, at leaft the law, 
 yourfelves, and your pofterity. 
 
 Though an advocate for reforma- 
 tion, I am a friend to the general prin- 
 ciples of our conftitution ; and as a 
 well-wifher to my country, and every 
 defcription of men in it, I fubfcribe 
 myfelf. 
 
 Your injured Countryman, 
 
 J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 London y Nov, i, 1791. 
 
ftiE PREFACE, 
 
 Fi 
 
 EW perfons who have addrefl'ed the 
 PubHc have ever been in circumftances which 
 made it fo difficuh to give fatisfadlion to 
 their different readers as I now am in, owing 
 to their different opinions and prepofTeilions 
 with refpeft to the fubje£l of this Appeal. 
 Thofe who have ah'eady formed their opi- 
 nion as to the facls, will conclude that every 
 account which reprefents them as having 
 been different from what they have con- 
 ceived them to be, is certainly falfe, if not 
 from defign, yet from mifapprehenfion. 
 They who are agreed with refpe6l to the 
 fa5fs will draw different conclufions from 
 them J and even they who agree both with 
 refpe6l to the fa6ls and the conclufions, will 
 think very differently of the temper and man- 
 ner in which they fhould be fpoken of, efpe- 
 cially by myfelf, who am fo much a party 
 concerned. 
 
 b With 
 
svili THE PREFACE. 
 
 With refpe6l to my enemies, do what I 
 will, I fliall be equally cenfured. With 
 them all my fa6ls will be falfehoods, the 
 language of juft indignation Will be info- 
 lence, and that of chriftian meeknefs either 
 meannefs or hypocrify. I fhall therefore 
 make myfelf perfeftly eafy as to what they 
 may fay of me. Where there is nothing 
 to lofe, there is nothing to fear. 
 
 My friends whofe feelings are as dif- 
 ferent as their conftitutions, will expe6l 
 that, writing as it were in a common caufe, 
 I fhould exprefs their precife fentiments 
 and feelings. But this being evidently im- 
 polTible, I can only exculpate them, by de- 
 claring that both the fentiments and the lan- 
 guage of this work are folely my o^vn, and 
 fuch as arofe from my feelings at the time 
 of writing, which was prefently after my 
 arrival in London, while the fcenes that I 
 have defcribed were freih in my mind, with 
 a very few^ alterations and additions occa- 
 lioned by fubfequent accounts. 
 
 ^ I make no apology for the feverity with 
 which I have occafionally condemned the 
 condu6l of my adverfaries. For what greater 
 
 crimes 
 
THE PREFACE. xlx 
 
 crimes can men commit with refpe6l to 
 fociety, than thofe which they either have 
 committed, or intended, and in which they 
 now exult? But this impUes no mahce, or 
 ill-wijl towards them. I fmcerely pray for 
 them in the language of the liturgy, for 
 which they pretend to have fo nobly exerted 
 themfelves, that as " my enemies, perfecu- 
 " tors, and flanderers, God would forgive 
 " them, and turn their hearts." As to the 
 do6lrine of chriftian meeknefs, forgivenefs 
 of injuries, and love of our enemies, it 
 fhould be interpreted by our Saviour's own 
 condu6t. For it will not be faid that he 
 felt otherwife than he ought to have done 
 with refpe6l to lots enemies j and certainly his 
 language is invariably that of the ftrongeil 
 indignation and reproof. The fame was 
 that of Paul, and of all the apoftles, to- 
 wards thofe who, in their opinion, cor- 
 rupted the gofpel, and oppofed their mi- 
 niftry. 
 
 A ftrong fenfe of the impropriety of 
 men's fentiments and condu6l naturally ex- 
 preffes itfelf in indignant language, though, 
 when coming from a chrillian, it will al- 
 ways be accompanied with the mod fmcere 
 companion for the flate of depravity into 
 b 2 which 
 
XX THE PREFACE. 
 
 which malignity of mind neceffarily fmks 
 men ; and all that chriflianity can do, is 
 earneftly to wifh and pray, that our adver- 
 faries may be brought to a better flate of 
 mind, in order to their being entitled to our 
 complacency, and forgivenefs in the proper 
 fenfe of the word. 
 
 With refpe6l to the high church party 
 in this country, I may be confidered as in a 
 flate of open war. I utterly diflike their prin- 
 ciples and maxims, as they do mine ; and I 
 fcruple not to take any fair opportunity of 
 exprefling this diflike in the mofl unequivo- 
 cal language. Let them do the fame with 
 refpe6t to my principles ; but let us obferve 
 the rules of honourable war. If, however, 
 they chufe to proceed as they have begun to 
 do at Birmingham, I do not wifh to follow 
 their example. They will find in time that 
 to conquer in that manner is no vi6lory. 
 To conciliate thefe perfons I confider as a 
 thing abfolutely impoffible, and therefore 
 not worth attempting. Whatever tends mofl 
 completely to my juflification, will only 
 irritate them the more j as was the cafe with 
 my Letter to the Inhabitants of Binningham. 
 They are parties againil whom I plead 3 and 
 thofe that I wifh to conciliate are our com- 
 mon 
 
THE PREFACE. xxl 
 
 mon judges, our countrymen in general, the 
 world at large, and efpecially poflerity. 
 
 Whatever has been my indignation 
 againft my enemies, I have never forgotten, 
 and I hope never fhall forget, that their 
 condu6l forms a part of the plan of a wife 
 and juft providence; that they, as well as 
 myfelf, have a proper place in the general 
 fyllem, the great fcope of which is general 
 and infinite good, of which they alfo, in 
 due time, will partake; though I rejoice, 
 and am truly thankful, that their place 
 is not mine. On this occafion I (hall take 
 the liberty to quote what I wrote long ago 
 in the Dedication of my Treatife on Philofo^ 
 fbical NeceJJity to the late excellent Dr. Jebb. 
 
 " You and I, Sir, rejoice in the belief, 
 " that the whole human race are under the 
 " fame wholefome difcipline, and that they 
 " will all derive the moft valuable advan- 
 " tages from it, though in different degrees, 
 " in different ways, and at different periods ; 
 " that even the perfecutors are only giving 
 " the precedence to the perfecuted, and ad- 
 " vancing them to a much higher degree of 
 " perfe6lion and happinefs ; and that they 
 ** muft themfelves undergo a more fevere 
 b 3 " difcipline 
 
xxu THE PREFACE. 
 
 " difcipline than that which they are the 
 
 " means of adminiftering to others." 
 
 " With this perfuafion we cannot but 
 " confider every Bei?ig and every thing in 
 " a favourable light. Every perfon with 
 " whom we have any connexion is a friend, 
 " and every event in life is a benefit, w^hile 
 *' God is equally the father, and the friend, 
 " of the whole creation." 
 
 Feeling myfelf to be a publicly injured 
 perfon^ I cannot abandon the fenfe of dig- 
 nity, peculiar to that chara6ler, or not 
 feel the fuperiority which it gives me over 
 my injurersy and which will necefTarily in- 
 fluence the language in which I fpeak of 
 them. 
 
 If I be afked whom I confider as my ene- 
 mies, as holding principles moft oppofite to 
 mine (which has been the true caufe of their 
 animofity towards me) I anfwer without 
 hefitation, all thofe, of the clergy or laity, 
 who are the avowed advocates for every 
 thing continuing as it now is, in church 
 and ftate. Their genuine fentiments may 
 be feen in the late Addrefs of the Town of 
 Birmingham to the Kingy in which they fay 
 
 that 
 
THE PREFACE. xxiii 
 
 that " they will oppofe with their lives and 
 " fortunes, every attempt at innovation." 
 
 Thofe who diflike this language, who 
 are a great number, even among the clergy, 
 I am far from confidering in the light of 
 adverfaries. They are friends, engaged in 
 the fame caufe, though occupying different 
 pofts. We equally wifli that the world, 
 and every thing in it, fliould improve. We 
 think there are things both in church and 
 flate that require reformation, and that in 
 every country pretending to freedom, there 
 fhould be full liberty to point thefe out, 
 and make them the fubje(5ls of free dif- 
 cufTion. 
 
 From the love that we bear to our 
 country, and even to our enemies in it, we 
 think it our duty to point out whatever we 
 think to be defective in its conflitution j and 
 we fliall do it with the more freedom and 
 energy, from confidering the dreadful evils 
 which have lately arifen from thefe defe6ls at 
 Birmingham. What was there worfe than 
 this that took place during the great revo- 
 lution in France, which I and many others 
 confider as having ilTuedin a moft glorious 
 flate of liberty and happinefs ? Whereas, all 
 
 that 
 
xxlv THE PREFACE. 
 
 that we yet fee at Birmingham, is the mad 
 
 triumph of bigotry, and fuch as was feldom 
 
 exhibited even in ages of acknowledged bar- 
 
 barifm*. 
 
 I trull:, however, that though nothing 
 but evil appears at prefent, much good will 
 in due time arife from it, if not to this 
 country, in which the fpeftacle is exhibited, 
 yet to Europe, and the world at large. To 
 every refle61ing mind the riots in Birming- 
 ham, muft fet in a peculiarly ftrong light 
 the baneful nature of bigotry, and the evils 
 to which men are expofed in a country 
 deftitute of a good police. Even the laws 
 of this country, whofe great boafl: it has 
 been that it is the only feat of true liberty y 
 
 * How different are the fpe6tacles that are now ex- 
 hibited in France and in England? Here bigotry has 
 been foftered, and lias acquired new ftrength. There it 
 is almoft extind^:. Here the friends of the eftablifhment 
 are burning the meetlng-houfes of the Diffenters, with all 
 the rage of Crufaders; while in Paris one of the churches 
 has been procured by the Proteftants. It was opened by 
 one of their minifters to a crouded audience, among whom 
 •were many Catholics, all in tears of joy for the happy 
 change. The preacher's text was, The night is far fpent^ 
 the day is at hajid. Here we muft rather preach from 
 Ifaiah Ix. 2. Behold^ darknefs Jhall cover the land, and grofs 
 darknefs the people. 
 
 are 
 
THE PREFACE. xxv 
 
 are in a great degree intolerant; but the 
 fpirit of the people, if not that of the go- 
 vernment, appears to be much more fo, and 
 the world will foon fee to what this leads. 
 
 If it be to goodj it will be a new thing in 
 this old world of ours, viz. that perfecution, 
 and that by a mob, legislating, judging, and 
 punifhing, in the inltant, is favourable to 
 truth, and confequently to virtue and hap- 
 pinefs. But if, which is mofl to be appre- 
 hended, this bufmefs, which certainly was 
 evil in itfelf, fliould lead to farther evil, it 
 will be another, and I wifh it may be the 
 laft-, inftance of the baneful efFefts of into- 
 lerance, and will alfo fhow in a ftriking 
 light the evils that arife from a civil efta- 
 blifliment of chriftianity. If this be the 
 cafe, and the world fliould take warning by 
 it, I Ihall not think our fufFerings, great as 
 they have been, a fubjed of lamentation; 
 confidering myfelf, and my fellow-fufferers, 
 as the inftruders, and benefatlors of man- 
 kind. 
 
 Some parts of this Appeal, I am well 
 aware, will expofe me to the charge of 
 'vanity, efpecially the addreffes which I have 
 thought proper to fubjoin to it. But they 
 
 were 
 
xxvi THE PREFACE, 
 
 were in a great meafure neceffary to the 
 narrative part of the work, particularly 
 thofe of my late congregation, and that of 
 Leeds, as they will fhew that, notwith- 
 ftanding my other purfuits, I did not, in 
 their opinion, negle6l the proper duties of 
 my profeflion. The addrefs from the Aca- 
 demy of Sciences at Paris, will fhow in what 
 light the riots at Birmingham are confidered 
 by fcientifical perfons in a neighbouring 
 and highly enlightened country; and that 
 from Great Yarmouth, how they are thought 
 of by Diffenters of different denominations 
 at home*. I may likewife add in my juftifi- 
 cation, that perfecution and calumny more 
 than once extorted felf praife from an apoftle, 
 
 * As fome perfons may wifti to fee an account of all 
 the addrefles I have hitherto received to this time, Nov. i, 
 1 79 1, 1 fhall briefly mention them v;ith their dates. 
 
 From the Academy of Sciences at Paris, July 30, 1791. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at Lyons, Auguft 6. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at Nantz, Auguft 9. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at Marmande on 
 the Garonne, Auguft: 15. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at the Jacobins Rue 
 St. Honore, Paris, Auguft; 16. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at Clermont, Au- 
 guft 20. 
 
 From the Friends of the Conftitution at Touloufe, Sep- 
 tember 21. 
 
 From 
 
THE PREFACE. xxvli 
 
 It will, however, be a gratification to 
 my adverfaries to be informed, that, except 
 
 From the Minlfters and Members of the three denomi- 
 nations of Proteftant Diflenters in Great Yarmouth, 
 July 29. 
 
 From the Minlfters and Members of the three denomina- 
 tions of Proteftant Diflenters in Maidftone, Auguft 8. 
 
 From the Society of the Old Meeting in Birmingham, 
 Auguft 21. 
 
 From the Proteftant Diftfentersof Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, 
 Auguft 24. 
 
 From the Committee of Proteftant Diflenting Laymen and 
 Minifters of the three denominations in the Weft: 
 Riding of the county of York, September i, at their 
 quarterlv meeting. 
 
 From the Proteftant Diflenting minifters of the three deno- 
 minations at Llechryd, South Wales, Auguft 25. 
 
 From the Philofophical Society at Derby, September 3. 
 
 From the Proteftant Diflenting Minifters of Exeter, Sep- 
 tember 7, at their half yearly meeting. 
 
 From the Revolution Society at Norwich, September 8. 
 
 From the Conftitutional Society at Manchefter, Septem- 
 ber 13. 
 
 From the Students at the New College, Hackney, Sep- 
 tember 21. 
 
 From the Proteftant Diflenters belonging to feveral con- 
 gregations in the Southern and Weftern parts of the 
 county of Somerfet, at their annual meeting, Septem- 
 ber 28. 
 
 From feveral Proteftant Diflenting minifters in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Bolton, Lancaftiire. 
 
 From the Proteftant Dift^enters of the cities of Briftol and 
 Bath. 
 
 From the Revolution Society at London. 
 
 in 
 
xxviii THE PREFACE. 
 
 in one inftance, viz. the addrefs from the 
 Philofophical Society at Derby, I have re- 
 ceived no addrefs from any fet of perfons in 
 this country who have not profefledly fepa- 
 rated themfelves from the reft on the prin- 
 ciple of civil or religious liberty. Indeed, 
 I fear there may be even literary focieties in 
 England, and much more the inhabitants 
 of whole towns, who, if they formed any 
 refolutions on the fubje6l, would make 
 them more favourable to the rioters, than 
 the fufferers at Birmingham; fo general, in 
 my prefent opinion, is the fpirit favourable 
 to church eftablifliments, and thofe high 
 maxims of government, by which the infti- 
 gators of the riots at Birmingham were 
 actuated. How long this will continue to 
 be the cafe, I do not fay. 
 
 Gratitude requires that I fhould fay I 
 have had very flattering profpe61:s held out 
 to me if I would remove to France, where 
 both the laws, and the fpirit of the people, 
 would be much more favourable to me. 
 But there I fhould be in a manner ufelefs ; 
 and as, according to the courfe of nature, 
 I have yet fome years of a6livity left, and I 
 can employ them to the moft advantage in 
 this country, I think it my duty to fpend 
 
 then> 
 
THE PREFACE. xxix 
 
 them in it. As to my perfonal fafety, I 
 may furely hope that the horrid fcenes at 
 Birmingham, which will long make it a 
 proverb and a bye word in Europe, will not 
 be repeated any where elfe. Or if they be, 
 my life will always be at the difpofal of 
 him that gave it. 
 
 If I were difpofed to boaft, it will be, 
 like Paul, of my fufferings ; and though 
 his lift, no doubt, far exceeds mine, yet in 
 one refpe6l I think I need not yield to him, 
 or to any man whatever. I mean with re- 
 fpecl to calumny^ which can hardly go deeper, 
 or extend farther, than it has done with re- 
 fpe6t to me. To fay nothing of old calum- 
 nies, which are, however, now circulated 
 with as much confidence as ever, fuch as 
 my having declared that I would never reft 
 till I had pulled down that impoftor Jefus 
 Chrift; that I made a convert of Silas Deane 
 to atheifm, &c. &c. &c. thoufands have 
 been made to believe that I am not only a 
 fpeculative republican, and an enemy to our 
 prefent government by king, lords, and com- 
 mons, but an advocate for abfolute anarchy 
 or government by mobs, without any rule of 
 proceeding whatever; that by mere mobs 
 I ferioufly intended tg fubvert the confti- 
 
 tution 
 
XXX THE PREFACE. 
 
 tution in church and ftate, and that Mr. 
 RufTell and myfelf had armed men in readi- 
 nefs to a6t under our orders for this pur- 
 pofe, fo that there could not be a more 
 dangerous fubje6l in any ftate*. 
 
 * In a Song entitled Old Mother Church, defcribing 
 the DiflenterSj are the two following ftanzas. 
 
 Sedition is their Creed, 
 Feign'd fheep, but wolves indeed, 
 
 How can we truft? 
 Gunpowder Prieftley would, 
 Deluge the throne with blood. 
 And lay the great and good, 
 
 Low in the Duft. 
 
 Hift'ry thy page unfold. 
 Did not their fires of old, 
 
 Murder their king? 
 And they would overthrow, 
 King, lords, and bifhops too. 
 And while they gave the blow, 
 
 Loyally ling ; 
 
 O Lord our God arife, 
 Scatter our enemies 
 And make them fall. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 The following paragraph from p. 42, of an Addrefs is 
 Unitarians, by T. G. Hancock is fo curious, that I (hall 
 fubjoin it to this note. 
 
 " Dr. Prieftley at prefent feems a chaos in miniature, 
 not worth God's notice, has neither belief nor under- 
 
 ftanding 
 
THE PREFACE. xxxi 
 
 With refpe6l to the fubjedt of this Ap- 
 peal, the populace of Birmingham were 
 made to believe that I not only dined at the 
 Hotel on the fourteenth of July laft, but 
 declared that, if no other perfon whatever 
 would join me, I would dine there alone. 
 At that dinner it was confidently faid, that 
 I gave the toads No church, no king, and The 
 king's head in a charger. It was even afTerted 
 that I had conveyed gunpowder into one of 
 the churches, and had contrived that it fhould 
 explode during divine fervice, and fome 
 pious ladies, I am well informed, a6lually 
 forbore going to churcli under the appre- 
 henfion of it. This report was ftrengthened 
 by another, viz. that two barrels of gun- 
 powder were certainly found in my houfe. 
 
 It has been advanced with equal confi- 
 dence, and as little regard to truth, that no 
 party fpirit exifted in Birmingham till my 
 preaching and writing introduced it. It was 
 
 (landing given him. For a careful analyfis proves his 
 fpirit of the order of rebelling angels, his principles frothy 
 and fiery, like fixed and inflammable air, mixed with gun- 
 powder, his body a terra damnata, and the whole com- 
 pound a devil incarnate. I hope Diflenters will be aware 
 of his fedu6tion, and take heed left they are deceived 
 through philofophy." 
 
 no 
 
xxxli THE PREFACE. 
 
 no wonder, they alfo faid, that I fliould dif-^ 
 cover this turbulence here, when I had 
 fhown the fame fpirit at Leeds, and had 
 been driven from that, and every other place 
 where I lived, in the fame manner as I had 
 been from this. It was even faid that my 
 own congregation declared that I had milled 
 them, and hoped, that I fliould never be 
 permitted to return. 
 
 Nothing now remains but to charge me 
 with a robbery or houfe breaking; and then, 
 on fuch evidence as that on which the pre- 
 ceding and many equally falfe allegations 
 gained credit, I may, by a Warwickpire 
 jury\ be legally convi6led and executed; 
 the principal people of Birmingham not 
 interpofmg to procure me a pardon. If I 
 be fo formidable an enemy to the church 
 and the ftate as I have been reprefented, let 
 thofe who call themfelves the friends of the 
 church and th^ king invent their lies, and 
 forge their letters for this purpofe, and not 
 merely for the burning of my houfe, my 
 library, and laboratory. This was like 
 fhaving the lion's beard, which will grow 
 again, when with the fame razor, and with 
 much lefs trouble, they might have cut his 
 throat. 
 
 are 
 
THE PREFACE. xxxiii 
 
 Let them, however, remember, if they 
 believe any thing of the matter (for the 
 moft zealous friends of church eftablifli- 
 ments, and the moil unrelenting perfe- 
 cutors of confcientious men, are not always 
 real believers in chriftianity) that there is 
 an hereafter, and other juries than thofe 
 of Worcefterfliire or Warwickfliire, before 
 whom they mull foon appear. To this 
 judgment I appeal, and before it I cite 
 my accufers. 
 
 The reafon why I have added StriBurei 
 on the Pamphlet intitled Thoughts on the 
 LATE Riots at Birmingham, which was 
 publiflied after the greater part of this Ap- 
 peal was printed, was that, whether it came 
 from any authority, as fome have fuppofed, 
 or not, it fpeaks the genuine language of 
 the high church party on the fubjecl, fuch 
 as has appeared in a lefs concentrated ilate 
 in numberlefs paragraphs in the public 
 newfpapers, and without fuch authentic 
 evidence, what has been faid of the low 
 prejudice, the malignant fpirit, and abfurd 
 reafoning of that party, would hardly be 
 credible, efpecially to my readers abroad. 
 In any other view, this work would have 
 been unworthy of any notice. 
 
 c N. B. The 
 
xxxiv THE PREFACE. 
 
 N. B. The Narrative part of this Appeal is in 
 a manner confined to what I was witnefs to myfelf, 
 and therefore chiefly relates to myfelf For an 
 account of the fufFerings of others, I refer my 
 readers to An Authentic Account of the Riots in Bir- 
 mingham j printed by Mr. Belcher. And here I 
 would obferve, that if, to the lofles that may be 
 claimed in a court of juftice, be added thofe that 
 were necelTarily occafioned by the riots, to many 
 perfons who were driven from their houfes, obliged 
 to remove their goods, and purchafe proteftion, 
 &c. &c. the fum would be enormous. If the lofs 
 of peace of mind could be eftimated by money, to 
 what would it not amount? What then have not 
 the pretended friends of the church and the king 
 at Birmingham to anfwer for ? 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Narrative ------- 2 
 
 Refle5fions - - - ------45 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Of the Power of Refentment to prevent Com- 
 pajfton - - ,---•-- ib. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 My coming to Birmingham not the Caufe of the 
 Party Spirit in the Place - - - - 50 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Of DiJJenters meddling with Politics - - 52 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 '^he Bigotry of the High Church Party the true 
 Caufe of the Riots - - - - - - S9 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Of the Pretence that Government was adverfe 
 to the Diffenters and favoured the Rioters 68 
 
 C 2 SECTION 
 
[ xxxvi ] 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Of the Principal Ufe of an efiablifhed Religion 76 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Of the Importance of a good Police in a well 
 confiimted State -------82 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 '^he Impolicy of checking the natural ExpreJJion 
 of Men's Sentiments --,-___ ^o 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Confiderations relating to Perfecution, and the 
 Confequences of it - - - ~ - - ^^ 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 The Conclufony containing Reflections on the 
 Power of Religion in general - - - 10^ 
 
 Strictures on a Pamphlet intitled ' 'Thoughts on 
 the late Riot at Birmingham^ - - - 117 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 Copy of a Hand-hill privately circulated in 
 Birmingham y a few Days before the Riots 129 
 
 My Letter to the Inhabitants of Birmingham 130 
 
 Jn 
 
[ xxxvii ] 
 
 An Account of the Origin of the Riots in Bir- 
 mingham ^ from a New/pa-^er called The 
 Times --------- i33 
 
 Mr. Rujfeirs Letter to the Editor of the 
 Morning Chronicle ------134 
 
 Mr. Keir's Letter to the Printer of the Bir- 
 mingham and Stafford Chronicle - - 138 
 
 Copy of a Letter to me, printed in a Column 
 cppojite to my own Letter to the Inhabitants 
 of Birminghaniy and thrown into many 
 Houfes in London with the 1'itle of Self- 
 murder, OR THE Doctor tried and 
 
 CONVICTED ON HIS OWN EVIDENCE I4I 
 
 Copy of a Hand-hill difirihuted in London the 
 Day after I arrived there - - - - 14J 
 
 Copies of two Hand-hills difirihuted among the 
 Rioters -------- 144 
 
 ^he Addrefs of the High-Bailiff, Clergy y ^c, 
 to the King - - - - - _ - 14$ 
 
 The Addrefs of the Diffenters to the King - ib. 
 
 An Advertijement from the Committee of DiJ- 
 Jenters in Birmingham ----- 148 
 
 Copy 
 
[ xxxviii ] 
 
 Copy of a Letter addrejfed to^he Bijhops, and 
 Members of the Houje of Commons - 149 
 
 Copy of a Letter from M. Condor cet. Secretary 
 to the Academy of Sciences at Paris - 150 
 
 The Anfwer --------152 
 
 An Addrejs from the Members of the New 
 Meeting Congregation - - - - - 153 
 
 'I'he Anfwer ----- - - - 15^ 
 
 From the Toung People belonging to the Con- 
 gregation of the New Meeting - - - 157 
 
 'the Anfwer ----- - - - 159 
 
 A fecond Addrefs from the Members of the 
 New Meeting Congregation - - - 161 
 
 From the Toung People belonging to the Con- 
 gregation of the New Meeting - - - 162 
 
 A third Addrefs from the Members of the 
 New Meeting Congregation - - - 166 
 
 I'he Anfwer - - - -----167 
 
 A fourth Addrefs from the Congregation of the 
 New Meeting, Birmingham - - - 169 
 
 From 
 
[ xxxix ] 
 
 From the Congregation of Mill-Hill Chapel, 
 Leeds - -------- 171 
 
 From the Protejlant Dijfenters in Great Tar- 
 mouth - -------- 172 
 
 ^0 the Members of the New Meeting Congre- 
 gation, Birmingham - - - - - 173 
 
 ADDENDA. 
 
 An Account of the Riots, written by a Member 
 of the EJiablifhment to a Friend of his near 
 Maiajione, in Kent - - - - - - 176 
 
 An Addrejs from the Philofophical Society at 
 
 Derby ---------179 
 
 ^he Anfwer --------- 1^0 
 
Errata et Corrigenda, 
 
 Preface, p. xxxii, 1. 14., xt^Afuch a Warnuickjbirejury as the lajt 
 
 P. 13, 1. S> dele if any 
 
 P. 43, 1.23, v&z<\ fome perfons 
 
 P. 27, 1. 5, add, I had alfo Notts on all the Pfalms, r/hich I 
 
 had delivered from the pulpit 
 P. 47, I. 15, for make, read ha've made 
 P. 62, 1. 12, for No. III. read No. V. 
 P. 70, 1. 4., for opbiion, read opinions 
 P. 83, 1. 2, (t) for the, read or the 
 P. 84, 1. 8, after of me, add, and that luithout any truth 
 P. 96, 1. 12, read many of them nuould 
 P. 124, I. 18, for to burn, 'viz. read viz, to burn 
 P. 134, for No. V. read No. IV. 
 P. 142, 1. 6, for befiringt read defiring 
 
 *»* r^>J Signifies from tlie bottom of the page. 
 
 N. B. The firft article oi the Reflections is copied from the 
 Preface to the Letters to the Members of the Ne-iv Jerufalem 
 Church, which was the firft of my publications after the riots. 
 That work will not fall into many hands, and if ever it be re- 
 printed, that part of the Preface will be omitted. 
 
AN APPEAL 
 
 TO 
 
 THE PUBLICy 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 THE LATE RIOTS IN BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 X HERE is no tranfaftion, efpecially 
 one of a public nature, that will not be viewed by 
 perfons of different difpofitions, or placed in dif- 
 ferent fituations, in different lights j and leaft of all 
 can the diligent inquirer expe6t an impartial ac- 
 count from the perfons immediately concerned in 
 it. All that he can do muft be to compare every 
 account that he can colle61:j and then form his own 
 judgment. In fome refpefls one party, and in 
 others another, will be the beft qualified to give him 
 juft information, and among the reft, in all cafes of 
 great calamity, he would certainly v;ifh to hear the 
 fufferers themfelves, and not wholly depend on the 
 accounts of thofe who either inflided the fufferings, 
 
 B or 
 
2 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 or who rejoiced in them. I hope, therefore, it will 
 not be thought improper in me, who am a prin- 
 cipal fufferer by the late riots in Birmingham, to 
 give my account of them, and my ideas of their 
 caufes and probable confequences. I Ihall endea- 
 vour to be as candid and impartial as I can, and 
 the intelligent reader will eafily perceive whether I 
 be fo, or not. I fhall divide the work into two 
 parts, Narrat'ivCi and Refle£tions, 
 
 NARRATIVE . 
 
 I became an inhabitant of Birmingham in the 
 year 1780, without any other view than as a proper 
 iituation for attending to my philofophical purfuits, 
 in which, having no original fortune of my own, I 
 was afTifted by a few liberal friends of fcience, who 
 were pleafed to think favourably of me in that re- 
 lpe(5t. It was a plan fuggefted by the late Dr.Fother- 
 gill, and chearfully adopted by Sir George Saville, 
 Sir Stephen Theodore Janflen, Mr. Conftable of 
 Burton Conilable, and Dr. Price j' all of them, it 
 is fomething remarkable, of different religious per- 
 fuafions, but equally lovers of experimental philofo- 
 phy and difinterefted promoters of it. Before, and 
 lince their deaths, the fcheme was patronized by 
 many other generous friends of fcience, whofe 
 names, as they are ftill living, I forbear to mention. 
 None of them, I believe, have feen any reafon to 
 be difTatisfied with my condud, as their operator. 
 
 In 
 
On the Riofs in Birmingham^ ^ 
 
 In two adminiflrations propofals were made 
 to aflift me by a perifion. It was alleged thatj, 
 fince my ftudies had been highly ufeful to the 
 public, and very expenfive to myfelf, there was 
 much more rcafon why I fliould receive this affift- 
 ance than almoft any other perfon who ever had 
 obtained it. But in both the cafes I declined the 
 overture, chufing rather to be obliged to generous 
 individuals, notwithftanding feme unpleafant cir- 
 cumftances occafionally attending this fituation, 
 than add to the burdens of my country. 
 
 My original and favourite profelTion, however, 
 was that of a chriftian minifter, in my opinion, the 
 moft important, ufeful, and honourable of all others; 
 for which, though difcontinued fix years while I 
 was tutor in the academy at Warrington, and (tv^n 
 years while I was with the Marquis of Lanfdown, I 
 always had the ftrongeft predileftion, a,nd in which 
 I never failed to officiate occafionally, when I was 
 out of the employment. But having been led, in 
 the courfe of my theological ftudies, which 1 never 
 difcontinued, to adopt opinions materially different 
 from thofe of the generality of DifTenters, and in 
 which I could not expe6t that any confiderable fo- 
 ciety of them would foon concur with me, I had 
 no thought of ever being employed except as an 
 occafional preacher, in affifting thofe of my friends 
 whofe congregations might not diflike my fervices. 
 
 It was, therefore, with equal furprize and plea- 
 fure that, on Mr. Hawkes's refignation of his office 
 
 B 2 of 
 
4 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 of minifter at the New Meeting in Birnninghamj 
 I had an ahnoft unanimous invitation to fucceed 
 him. This, however, I accepted on the exprefs 
 condition of the congregation having no claim upon 
 me except on Sundays ; the reft of the week being 
 devoted to my philofophical and other purfuits. 
 The other duties of the place were difcharged by 
 my worthy colleague Mr. Blythe. To my philo- 
 fophical purfuits I gave conftant attention, of which 
 the public have feen the effe6ls, and as a minifter I 
 did nothing more than attend to v/hat appeared to 
 me to be the faithful difcharge of my duty, and I 
 have reafon to think to the fatisfadion of my con- 
 gregation. 
 
 Having, in every former fituation, been upon 
 terms of intimacy with fome or other of the clergy 
 of the church of England, men of liberal minds, 
 and lovers of fcience, I fhould have been happy 
 to have found thofe at Birmingham with whom 
 I could have formed a fimilar connexion. But the 
 fpirit of party, I faw with regret, ran higher there 
 than in moft other places in the kingdom. 
 
 Such was the bigotry of the clergy of Birming- 
 ham, that long before I went thither, as well as 
 during the whole time of my refiding there, they 
 refufed to go into the fame coach with the diflent- 
 ing minifters at funerals, or to walk with them in 
 the procefllon. We had hoped that they had be- 
 come afhamed of this abfurd inftance of clerical 
 pride, which I had never heard of before, and 
 
 hoping 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 5 
 
 hoping better things of Mr. Curtis, who was of a 
 diflenting family, Mr. Scholefield, the miniiler of 
 the Old Meeting, being invited to a funeral at 
 which he officiated, fent to know whether he might 
 be permitted to walk along with him. The anfwer 
 was a civil but a peremptory refufal, and the pro- 
 pofal was never repeated. When I gave the late 
 Bifhop of St. Afaph an account of this behaviour 
 of the clergy of Birmingham, which was long be- 
 fore my controverfy with Mr. Madan, he exprefled 
 much concern at it, and faid that he thought fuch 
 bigotry had now exifted no where. 
 
 That I was not eager to engage in any contro- 
 verfy with the clergy of the town, was evident 
 from my making no reply whatever to two of their 
 publications relpe6ling me, before the appearance 
 of Mr. Madan's Sermon. One had the fignature 
 of Luther, and the other that of M. S. The real 
 names of the writers were well known ; but I did 
 not fo much as read either of them. The latter 
 I nightly looked into at a bookfeller's fhop; and 
 perceiving that it contained much general and 
 virulent inventive, 1 paid no farther attention to 
 it. In order to invite purchafers, the profits of 
 this publication v/ere advertifed to go to the ufe of 
 the General Infirmary. It was re-advertifed during 
 my controverfy with Mr. Madan. The fame cler- 
 gyman was fuppofed to be the author of one of 
 the trafts in that controverfy, and of a virulent 
 reply to my late Letters to the Inhabitants of Birming- 
 ham, But thefe alfo were unnoticed by me, 
 
 B3 The 
 
6 An Appeal to the Fiiblic 
 
 The fpirit of the high church party was con- 
 fpicuous on the eftabUfhment of Sunday fchools in 
 Birminghana; and this alfo was previous to my 
 controverfy with Mr. Madan. At firft perfons of 
 all religious perfuafions adled on this occafion in 
 concert, of which an example had been fet us in 
 London; and at a meeting of all the fubfcribers, 
 convened for the purpofe, it was agreed that the 
 children fhould go to whatever places of pubhc 
 worfhip their parents lliould chufe. As there were 
 no children of Diffenters who wanted that inftruc- 
 tion, all the Sunday fcholars, without exception, 
 went to the eflablifhed church, and no complaint 
 was ever made of this by any Diflenter. But the 
 high church party, not being content with this, at 
 a meeting of the fubfcribers, the bufinefs of which 
 was not advertifed, the former rule was refcinded, 
 and the children were then abfolutely ordered to 
 do what they ever had done, and always might have 
 done, that is, attend the worlhip of the eftabliflied 
 church, and no other. 
 
 The Diffenters waited more than a year, to fee 
 whether the high church party would revert to 
 their former more liberal maxims, and continued 
 their fubfcripdons. But having waited fo long to 
 no purpofe, they opened their own feparate Sunday 
 fchools, with advantages, I will venture to fay, far 
 fuperior to thofe of the eftabliflimient, but with 
 liberty to every parent to order his child to attend 
 whatever place of public worfhip he pleafed. Still, 
 however;, feveral of the Diffenters continued their 
 
 fubfcripdons 
 
On the Riots in 'Birmingham, 7 
 
 fubfcriptions to the former Sunday fchools, as well 
 as to their own. 
 
 Such was the well known bigotry of the town 
 in general, that when Mr. Newlin, a perfon of the 
 moft refpe6table charafter (who preceded Mr. 
 Madan in the redlory of St. Philip's) canne from 
 Shrewsbury to Birmingham, though he had been, 
 and continued to be, upon the bell terms with the 
 diffenting minifters in the former fituation, he 
 found he could have no intercourfe with them in 
 the latter J and yet I will venture to fay there were 
 not in all England three more refpedlable, or more 
 peaceable diffenting minifters, and men who had 
 lefs troubled the church of England in any way 
 whatever, than thofe who ferved the two congre- 
 gations of the Old and New Meetings at that time. 
 Mr, Curtis himfelf, the Redlor of St. Martin's, on 
 his firft coming to Birmingham, had the liberality 
 to come and hear me preach a faft fermon at the 
 Old Meeting, and brought his curate along with 
 him. He even expreffed himfelf much pleafed 
 with the fervice. But afterwards, I fuppofe, he 
 perceived the true fpirit of the place, and the ne-- 
 ceffity of conforming to it. 
 
 For a true reprefentation of thefe fafts I 
 appeal to the town at large. With what truth, 
 then, can it be faid, as is now confidently done, 
 that my coming to Birmingham, and my con> 
 du6t there, was the fole caufe of the animofity 
 
 B 4 between 
 
8 An Appeal to the Tiiblic 
 
 between the church people and the Diffenters of 
 that place ?* 
 
 Wilhing to difcover the caufe of this excelTivc 
 party fpirit, and to apply, if I Ihould be able, 
 fome remedy to it, I found the Diffenters were in 
 pofTelTion of all the civil power in the place, by 
 having the nomination to all the ojflicesj and 
 though they conftantly gave the principal office, 
 viz. that oiHigh Bailiffs to a member of the church 
 of England, they chofe to retain the power of 
 nominating, of which they had long been in pof- 
 feflion. This power, though I never heard of 
 there being any complaint with refpedl to the 
 exercife of it) I took much pains, from the be- 
 ginning of my refidence in Birmingham, to per- 
 fuade the Diffenters to relinquifhj and I gradually 
 brought over to my opinion fome of the principal 
 
 * A Letter lately addreffed to me and Mr. Ruffell has thefe words ; 
 " It is notorious that the town of Birmingham had enjoyed an uninter- 
 *' rupted fcene of peace and happinefs for more than fifty years. 
 *' Every thing in it moved in perfe£l order and harmony, till you, 
 *' like a noxious planet, approached towards it." 
 
 A Poem written fmce the riots, in which I am reprefented as an 
 enemy to God, and the government under which I live, concludes as 
 follows :— 
 
 Pure was the breeze that fans this " Seat of Arts," 
 'Ere tainted by thy breath : in every ftreet 
 The voice of labour fung away its cares ; 
 The Church and Se6laries harmonious breath'd 
 The genuine fpirit of fraternal love : 
 But when thy puritanicyco^u/ appeared, 
 The heav'ns grew dark, and thy familiar fiend 
 Flam'd in the pulpit, thunder'd from the prefs, 
 'Till all was uproar, and juft vengeance hurl'd 
 Sedition's Temples fmoking to the ground. 
 
 could 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 9 
 
 of them. The objeftion to my propofal was that, 
 fuch was the fpirit of party, that without this 
 power every burdenfome office would be thrown 
 upon the DilTenters. I always replied that I would 
 willingly rifk that j thinking that no fet of men 
 could make fo ungenerous a return for fuch gene- 
 rous condu6t; but that I would even bear every 
 kind of ill ufage, rather than that things fhould 
 continue as they were. 
 
 I fpake both to quakers, and to fome of the 
 more moderate members of the church of Eng- 
 land on the fubjeft ; and though one of the latter 
 told me that he knew the temper of the people of 
 Birmingham better than I did, and that he be- 
 lieved no good would come of the meafure, I per- 
 fifted, as is well known, in my firfl: opinion ; and 
 no objeftion was ever made to it by the Diflenters 
 from any diflike of the meafure itfelf, but only 
 from the apprehenfion of the ungenerous ufe that 
 might be made of it. 
 
 There are two annual dinners given by the Low 
 Bailiff, who has long been a Diflenter, and who has 
 the nomination of that Jury, which appoints to all 
 the offices in the town, and alfo the Low Bailiff for 
 the enfuing year. Having, from the habits of a 
 ftudious life, a diflike of all public entertainments, 
 I never attended more than one of thefe feafts, the 
 firfl after my arrival ; but I frequently faid that I 
 would with pleafure attend the firft dinner of the 
 kind that Ihould be given by a member of the 
 
 church 
 
lo An Appeal to the Public 
 
 church of England. This conduft of mine, of 
 which I can produce abundant evidence, did not, 
 furely, favour of much bigotry. 
 
 Till the application to parliament for the repeal 
 of the Teft A6t, I neither wrote, nor preached, 
 any thing that had any particular relation to the 
 principles of DiiTenters, and I fent my fons to 
 the public grammar fchool, which is conduced 
 wholly by clergymen, and the head mafter of 
 which, a man of candour, as well as an excellent 
 claffical fcholar, occafionaliy vifited me. 
 
 When Mr. Burn came to Birmingham, hav- 
 ing met him at a committee of the public li- 
 brary, I thought I perceived in him great marks 
 of liberality, and on my invitation, he paid me two 
 vifits. In Mr. Madan, whom I met at a com- 
 mittee for abolifhing the Slave Trade, and who 
 was particularly civil to me there, I flattered my- 
 felf I had found a clergyman entirely to my mind, 
 and one with whom I might form a pleafing 
 acquaintance. This I mentioned to a particular 
 friend, requeuing that he would endeavour to 
 bring it about, as he is ready to witnefs if called 
 upon. This, furely, did not favour of bigotry. In- 
 deed, I have ever lived, and now live, in confider- 
 able intimacy with perfons of every religious per- 
 fuafion in this country, the members of the church 
 of England not excepted, though not thofe refiding 
 in Birmingham. The greateit difierence of opi- 
 nion never led me to keep aloof from any man. 
 
 Before 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 1 1 
 
 Before I left Birmingham I was happy to have 
 begun feme pleafing intcrcourfe with Dr. Parr, 
 who had lately come to refide near Warwick. We 
 had vifited each other, and I am confident that 
 the continuance of the intercourfe would have 
 been a pleafing circumftance to us both, though 
 our religious principles are very different, and he 
 was an avowed oppofer of the repeal of the Teft 
 A(5t. When he dined with me, he was purpofely 
 met by Mr. Berington, a catholic priefl, and Mr. 
 Galton, a quaker. Mr. Porfon was alfo of the 
 party. I have a peculiar pleafure in the fociety of 
 perfons of different perfuafions, and more inftances 
 of this are given in the Preface to my Letters to 
 Mr. Burn, now publifhed together with my Fami- 
 liar Letters to the Inhabitants of Birmingham. Dr. 
 Parr, however, gave great offence to the clergy, 
 and the high church party in Birmingham, by in- 
 troducing fome praife of me into a fermon of his, 
 preached at the new church before our acquaint- 
 ance commenced. 
 
 The firft difference that I had with any of the 
 clergy in Birmingham, arofe from four of them 
 withdrawing from our public library becaufe my 
 Hijlory of the Corruptions of Chrijiianity had been 
 voted into it; a meafure to which, it is well 
 known, that I gave no countenance, but had al- 
 ways oppofed, on the idea that it would be better 
 to omit purchafing any books of controverfy, till 
 the library fhould be better ftocked with books of 
 other kinds, and more generally interefting. Find- 
 ing, 
 
12 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 ing, however, the funds of the library fufRcIently 
 ample, and a difpofition in many perfons, members 
 of the eflablifhment, as well as DilTenters, to read 
 on thefe, as well as on other fubjefts, without the 
 obligation of purchafing the books for themfelves, 
 I at length concurred with them; but on the 
 exprefs condition that in every interefting contro- 
 verfy, books on both fides Ihould be equally pur- 
 chafed; and I myfelf generally recommended fuch 
 as were againft my opinions. At length, however, 
 the party oppofed to me gained the afcendancy, 
 which they ftill keep, in the conduft of the library, 
 which was wholly new modelled by myfelf; and in 
 this I quietly acquiefced, and withdrew from the 
 committee, though I continued a member of the 
 fociety. I appeal to my townfmen whether my 
 whole condu6t in this bufinefs was not uniformly 
 open and generous. It had, however, an unfa- 
 vourable effeft in increafing the animofity againft 
 the Diffenters, who in this were joined by the 
 more moderate churchmen. 
 
 But the great increafe of party fplrit in the 
 town, and what, to all appearance, contributed 
 moft to the fatal cataftrophe, the caufe of which 
 we are now inveftigating, arofe from the applica- 
 tion of the Diffenters for the repeal of the Corpo- 
 ration and Teft A6ts, the nature and tendency of 
 which were ftrangely mifapprehended by the great 
 body of the clergy, and other zealous members of 
 the church of England. For had the repeal taken 
 place, without their oppofition, and with the con- 
 currence 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 13 
 
 ciirrence of the court, no difference whatever would 
 have been perceived in our condition, and our in- 
 t-ereft as a diffenting body would probably have 
 fuffered by it, as indeed many of us were well 
 aware. 
 
 As the cafe now is, few, if any, Diffenters 
 are, in fa6l, excluded from any civil office which 
 they wilh to ferve, fo that the repeal would only 
 have removed a mode of admifTion to them, 
 highly difgraceful to religion in general, pecu- 
 liar to this country, and which was not origi- 
 nally intended to affedt Diffenters, many of whom 
 were at that time in the habit of communicating 
 with the church of England, though the pra6tice 
 has become lefs frequent fince. And whatever tends 
 to mix us with the world at large, is well known 
 to lead us to think, and to aft, as the world does, 
 and confequently to leflen our zeal as Diffenters, 
 and bring us to conformity with the eftabliihed 
 church. 
 
 On this principle great numbers of the moft 
 intelligent Diffenters were from the firft more than 
 indifferent to the meafure, and fincerely wilhed 
 that we might remain as we were in that relpedt; 
 and I believe it was as much a regard to the ho- 
 nour of the nation, and of chriftianity, as for any 
 pofitive advantage to themfelves, that any Dif- 
 fenters concerned themfelves about it. The effedb 
 has fhewn the truth of thefe apprehenfions. The 
 number of Diffenters had been evidently diminiih- 
 
 ing 
 
14 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 ing before the late application, and they are 
 greatly increafed fince, both in Birmingham and 
 in many other parts of the kingdom. 
 
 Alfo religion in general, with the peculiar tenets 
 of it, having by this means been brought into no- 
 tice, and more public difcuITion, the increafe of 
 unitarians, whofe fentiments are the moft oppofite 
 to thofe of the church of England, has been in 
 much more than a ten fold proportion. Thefe 
 converts to unitarianifm confift chiefly of the mid- 
 dle, and fome of the higher rank of perfons, men 
 who are known to read, and to think for them- 
 felves, and who of courfe have influence with 
 others J fo that there is now a moral certainty of 
 this doftrine continuing to prevail in this and 
 other countries. 
 
 Before the late applications to Parliament, and 
 the violent oppofition which the clergy made to 
 them, the different claflTes of Diflenters were hoflile 
 to, and had httle communication with, each other. 
 But the oppofltion then made to their claims, 
 (claims which we think to be founded in natural 
 jufl:ice, on the clear principle that all who contri- 
 bute to defray the expences of government fhould 
 have equal accefs to its honours and emoluments, 
 whatever be their religious faith) has brought us 
 to feel a common intereft, and has united us 
 as one body, from one end of the kingdom to 
 the other j fo that we can aft in concert, as we 
 are now in the habit of doing. This happy 
 
 union 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 1 5 
 
 union ftrengthens every day, and in confequence 
 of it religious bigotry in general is much de- 
 creafed among us. We now attend more to 
 the great things in which we all agree, and lefs 
 to thofe with refped: to which we differ from 
 each other. On thefe accounts the ftrength of 
 the Diffenters, has been greatly increafed by the 
 clerical oppofition to our claims. So wretched has 
 been the policy of our enemies, apprehending 
 danger where there v/as even lefs than none, and 
 having no apprehenfion at all of what is real. 
 
 In this bufinefs, however, whether there be 
 merit or demerit in it, I had nothing to do. I 
 did not fo much as hear of the intention of apply- 
 ing to Parliament for the repeal of the Tefc and 
 Corporation A(5ls till it was determined upon by 
 the Diffenters in London. 
 
 Had I been confulted, I fhould rather have 
 advifed an application for the repeal of that Aft 
 of King WilHam which makes it eventually confif- 
 cation of goods, and imprifonment for life, to deny 
 the do6lrine of the trinity. This is a cafe of 
 fimple toleration, as we fliould only have defired 
 exemption from pofitive punifliment, for main- 
 taining opinions which we deem important, con- 
 trary to thofe of the ftate, and we fliould have 
 had the better plea, as it is the great, though vain 
 boaft of this country, that here toleration is com- 
 plete^ whereas for thefe twenty years laft pafl, I 
 have walked at large only by the connivance of 
 
 my 
 2 
 
1 6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 my neighbours, and my opponents have not 
 omitted to hold out to me the terror of this law 
 which hangs over my head. 
 
 They v/ho, in their fpeeches in Parliament, 
 quoted my writings, as an authority with the Dif- 
 fenters in general, were as ignorant of the Dif- 
 fenters, as they were of the maxims of found policy. 
 If I had had any weight with the body of Diflenters 
 at that time, we fhould have joined the Catholics, 
 who generoufly made the propofal, in applying for 
 the repeal of all the penal laws in matters of reli- 
 gion. But that golden opportunity was fuffered 
 to pafs by, and I fear will never more return. 
 
 When the meafure of applying for the repeal 
 of the A6ts above-mentioned (which aflfeft the 
 laity much more than minifters) was taken, I 
 could not help wifhing well to it j but well know- 
 ing my unpopularity even among the Diflenters 
 (which till of lare was much greater than with the 
 members of the eftablilhed church) I took no 
 adtive part in promoting it, and what I did was 
 altogether accidental. 
 
 Being in London at the time of the firft debate 
 on the fubje6t, I heard Mr. Pitt (whom, juflly or 
 unjuflly, we had been led to confider as friendly to 
 our caufe) fpeak againft it; and perceiving, as I 
 thought, his total mifapprehenfion of the fubjedV, 
 I addrefled a Letter to him relating to the fituation 
 of Diflenters, and on other collateral fubjefts, efpe- 
 
 cially 
 
On the Riots in Birmi?tgham. 17 
 
 cially the ftate of the eftablilhed church, both here 
 and in Ireland. This Letter gave great offence. 
 But I appeal to the impartial public, whether, 
 though written with fome degree of indignation, at 
 recent, and as we thought, unjuft treatment, there be 
 any thing in it unbecoming men and Englifhmen, 
 unjuftly and ignominioufly treated. This Letter 
 was written, and publifhed, while I was in London, 
 and therefore had no particular reference to Bir- 
 mingham. What I did there was as follows. 
 
 It being ufual on the 5th of November to give 
 our congregations a difcourfe on fome fubjeft relat- 
 ing to religious liberty, I made choice of that of the 
 Teft Ad, and at the requeft of my hearers the dif- 
 courfe was publifhed. But I will venture to fay that 
 it is one of the calmeft, and moft moderate, of all 
 difcourfes that was ever written on a political fubjed:. 
 
 What, now, was the conduft of the clergy 
 throughout England, and efpecially at Birmingham, 
 on this occafion ? Endeavours were ufed to render 
 the DilTenters the objefts not only of exclufion 
 from civil offices, but of general odium and pu- 
 nifliment. Dr. Croft\ Sermon^ and that of Mr. 
 Madan, both delivered at Birmingham, are extant, 
 and the fpirit of them was the fame with that of 
 hundreds, I may fay thoufands, that were echoed 
 from other pulpits, charging the Dilfenters, in op- 
 pofition to all hiftory, and even to recent and exift- 
 ing fadls, with principles inimical to the govern- 
 ment of the country, and to the prince upon the 
 
 C throne j 
 
1 8 A?i Appeal to the Public 
 
 throne; as pure republicans in their hearts, and 
 who would fcruple no means to overturn not the 
 church only, but alfo the ftate. 
 
 Dr. Price and myfelf were particularly pointed 
 out as feditious and dangerous perfons, the very 
 pefts of fociety, and unworthy the prote6tion of 
 government. Such language as this is even held 
 to this day, and in fpite of the moil explicit denial 
 of what is thus laid to our charge, and of every 
 poflible fpecies of evidence to the contrary, includ- 
 ing the conftant language of our ferious writings, 
 will, to all appearance, long continue to be held. 
 
 Being particularly pointed at by Mr. Madan, 
 and both friends and enemies looking upon me as 
 called upon to make fome reply j I did it with 
 great reludbance, as to a clergyman, whom, on 
 other accounts, I truly refpefted, and whom, as 
 living in the fame town with me, 1 might occa- 
 fionally meet; to fay nothing of the farther ac- 
 quaintance which I had once flattered myfelf I 
 might make with him. This reply I made in a 
 feries of Familiar Letters to the Inhabitants of Bir- 
 mingham, and I appeal to any perfon who has the 
 leaft pretention to impartiality, whether they be 
 not a mild and good-humoured reply to an unpro- 
 voked inventive. 
 
 I there fhowed that the DifTenters were, and 
 always had been, the befl; friends to the prefent 
 government, that I had myfelf written much in 
 
 defence 
 
On the Riots in Birmifigham. 19 
 
 defence and praife of it ; and though, being a Dif- 
 fenter, I, of courfe, could be no friend to the efta- 
 blilhed church, with refpe6t either to dodrine or 
 difcipHne, I allowed others to judge and ad, as I 
 did, for themfelves, and that I wifhed for no al- 
 terations but fuch as fhould have the general con- 
 currence of the country, and thofe nnade in fuch a 
 manner, as that no perfon living fliould be injured 
 by them. This has been my conftant language on 
 the fubje<5t of reformation in church or ftate. Mr. 
 Madan replied without retracing any part of his 
 charge. But notwithftanding this, 1 continued, 
 and concluded, my Letters with the fame good- 
 humour with which I began them. 
 
 Thefe Letters were much read both in Bir- 
 mingham and the neighbourhood, and indeed 
 throughout England. But though they convinced 
 many perfons that the Difienters had been ill ufed, 
 and that we had much more to fay for ourfelves 
 than they had imagined, they were far from con- 
 ciliating the clergy, or the more violent fticklers 
 for the eftablifhed church. 
 
 Other attempts, and fome of them of a very 
 infamous kind, were made to render my charadler 
 odious. Old calumnies were revived, and new 
 ones invented, concerning my being an enemy to 
 Chriftianity, and to religion in general ; and a cler- 
 gyman (as there is every reafon to think) publifhed 
 an account of my having converted Mr. Silas 
 Deane to atheifm, and his confeflion of it upon his 
 
 C 2 death-bed. 
 
20 An Addrefs to the Public 
 
 death-bed. This was reprefented in public prints, 
 and the pamphlet containing the account was in- 
 duftrioufly circulated by fome of the clergy in 
 Birmingham and its neighbourhood. At firfb I 
 neglefted the idle ftory, as fufficiently contradided 
 by my writings and my whole condu6t. After- 
 wards, however, at the inltance of my friends, I 
 publifhed the cleareft refutation of it. But even 
 this did not appear to make any favourable impref- 
 fion on my enemies in Birmingham. The offence 
 given by my Familiar Letters was never forgiven. 
 
 Mr. Burn alfo publiflied a fet of Letters to me, 
 in which he charged me with rejeding the tefti- 
 mony of the Apoftles concerning the perfon of 
 Chrift ; and though I denied the charge, and 
 fhewed the abfurdity of it, he replied withour re- 
 tracing it. In the 'Preface to my Letters to Mr, 
 Burtty I gave my opinion with great freedom con- 
 cerning the ftate of the Diffenters, and the clergy 
 of the eftablifhed church, warning them of the " 
 violence and folly of their conduft, and the pro- 
 bable confequences of it. But the ufe they made 
 of this Preface was to print Extra^s from it, fo cur- 
 tailed and arranged, as to reprefent me as a mover 
 of fedition, and a dangerous member of fociety. 
 This printed paper was fent to the bifhops, and to 
 all the members of the houfe of Commons the day 
 before the iaft debate on the fubjeft of the Teft 
 and Corporation A6bs, fo that it was impoffible to 
 countera<5t the effeds of itj and being put into 
 the hands of Mr. Burke, and declaimed upon by 
 
 him^ 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 2 1 
 
 him, was of material diiTervice to our caufe. I 
 fhewed the unfairnefs of this proceeding in a printed 
 letter fent to the bifhops, and all the members of 
 the houfe of Commons, as theirs had been. But 
 to all appearance, this complete juftification only- 
 tended to exafperate my enemies, and they fpared 
 no pains to exafperate others. 
 
 The effe6t of this controverfy upon the com- 
 mon people in Birmingham, who were made to 
 believe that, fome way or other, both the church 
 and the Hate were in danger, and that my ob- 
 ject was the utter deftru6lion of both, was great 
 and vifible enough. On the walls of houfes, &c. 
 and efpecially where I ufually went, were to 
 be (Qtn. in large charafters, Madan for ever. 
 Damn Priestley, No Presbyterians, Damn 
 THE Presbyterians, &c. &c. At one time I was 
 followed by a number of boys, who left their play, 
 repeating what they had feen on the walls, and 
 fhouting out. Damn Priefiley^ damn him^ damn him 
 for ever, for ever, for ever, bcc. &c. This was, no 
 doubt, a leffon which they had been taught by 
 their parents, and what thefe, I fear, had learned 
 from their fuperiors. Such things as thefe were 
 certainly unpleafant to me; but I was confcious I 
 had done nothing to deferve fuch treatment; and 
 defpifing mere ohloquji I was far from fufpeding 
 that it would ever lead to the outrages which have 
 fince taken place. 
 
 C .^ In 
 
22 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 In the exultation of the high church party on 
 the defeat of our laft appHcation to Parliament, 
 perfonal clanger was apprehended to myfeif, by 
 fome of my more zealous friends; and a number of 
 young men of my congregation came to tell me, 
 that myfeif and my houfe were threatened, but 
 that if I chofe it, they would undertake to defend 
 both me, and it, at the rifk of their lives. I re- 
 plied that I did not apprehend any danger, and 
 that if any violence was offered to me on that 
 account, I fhould make no refiftance. It has al- 
 ways been my maxim, as may be feen in my 
 writings, and what I have always maintained in 
 converfation, that it becomes chriftians to bear 
 every kind of infult and violence when it is offered 
 on the account of religion^ and that nothing but 
 our civil rights are to be defended by the fword. 
 
 I took no notice of any of the particulars 
 above-mentioned; and though I was told that fome 
 of the clergv of the town and neighbourhood were 
 frequently preaching againft the Diffenters, and 
 often againft myfeif by name, or by defcription, 
 I never preached a fingle fermon on the fubje6l, 
 or wrote any thing more than the pieces above- 
 mentioned, which are before the public, and may 
 be examined at the reader's leifure, till the appear- 
 ance of Mr. Burke's Reflexions on the French Revo- 
 hitiony a work that has been more generally read 
 than any pubhcation in my time, and which has 
 contributed more than any other to excite a fpirit 
 
 of 
 
On the Riots i?t Birmingham, 23 
 
 of party ; the clergy almofl: univerfally approving 
 it, and the low church party and DifTenters as ge- 
 nerally condemning it. 
 
 My friends well know that I was far from 
 having any intention of aninnadverting upon this 
 performance, being at that time engaged in other 
 purfuits, and having a real refpe6t for the writer, 
 till I was prefled to undertake it by feveral of my 
 friends, who were pleafed to think me better qua- 
 lified than mofl others to reply to what Mr. 
 Burke had advanced on the fubjeft of Civil EJla- 
 hlijhments of Chrijiianity. At their folicitation I 
 wrote my Letters to Mr. Burke, and this publica- 
 tion, though a very temperate one, provoked the 
 clergy, and the zealous friends of the eftablifhment 
 ftill more j and in confequence of this, their efforts 
 to inflame the minds of the populace againfl: the 
 DifTenters in general, and myfelf in particular, were 
 redoubled, and the profane habit of drinking Dam- 
 nation and confufion to the PreJbyterianSy at the 
 convivial meetings of perfons of better fafhion, 
 as well as thofe of the lower order, was much 
 increafed. 
 
 So apparent were the marks of extreme bigotry, 
 and the true fpirit of perfecution at this time, that 
 upon occafion of preaching the Hackney College Ser- 
 mon, in April laft (and which my friends know that 
 I long declined) I was led to fay, " In another 
 " refpeft, alfo, we are now in the fituation of the 
 *' primitive chriftians -, as the friends of reformation 
 C 4 *'have 
 
24 All Appeal to the Public 
 
 " have nothing to expeft from power, or general 
 "favour-, but muft look for every fpecies of abufe 
 " and perfecution that the fpirit of the times will 
 " admit of. If even burning alive was a fight that 
 " the country would now bear, there exifts a fpirit 
 " which would inflid that horrid punifhment, and 
 " with as much cool indifference, or favage ex- 
 " ultation, as in any preceding age of the world." 
 But though I faw this, and that the marks of 
 this fpirit were apparent in various other parts of 
 England, I had no fufpicion of its breaking out on 
 the innocent occafion of celebrating the French 
 Revolution, and therefore was far from being pre- 
 pared for any fuch outrage. 
 
 The celebration of this great event by a pubHc 
 dinner at Birmingham was no meafure of mine. In- 
 deed, I am well known to all my friends to be averfe 
 to public entertainments, and never enjoy myfelf at 
 them ; my habits of life, too long confirmed to be 
 eafily altered, being quite oppofite to every thing 
 of this nature. However, when the friends of that 
 Revolution propofed it, and willied to have my 
 company, I did not decline their invitation, and we 
 had a meeting or two, partly for that purpofe, and 
 partly to fettle the rules of a Constitutional 
 Society, fuch as that which is eftablilhed at Man- 
 chefter, the chief obje6t of which was to promote 
 a more equal reprefentation of the people of this 
 country in Parliament, and we had printed two 
 copies oi general principles of government, to be fub- 
 fcribed by all the members, and one copy of par- 
 
 " ticular 
 
On the Riots at Birmingham. 25 
 tlcular rules for our condu6t, copied chiefly from 
 thofe of Manchefler; but we had not pleafed 
 ourfelves with them, and nothing was abfolutely 
 fettled. 
 
 Many perfons in different parts of the kingdom, 
 but more efpecially at Birmingham, thought the ce- 
 lebration of the French Revolution to be a right and 
 a wife meafure, in order to conciliate the French 
 nation, and to promote a friendly and commercial 
 intercourfe with it. It is well known that the late 
 commercial treaty is not popular in France, and it 
 was thought to be impolitic to heighten the dif- 
 like of that nation to this^ by refufing to partake 
 of their joy, in what was known to give them the 
 greateft fatisfadlion. 
 
 With the dinner itfelf I had, in a manner, no- 
 thing to do. I did not fo much as fuggeft one of 
 the proper and excellent toajis provided on the 
 occafion, though it was natural for my friends to 
 look to m^e for things of that kind, if I had inte- 
 refted myfelf much in itj and when oppofition was 
 talked of, and it was fuppofed that fome infults 
 would be offered to myfelf in particular, I yielded 
 to the folicitations of my friends, and did not 
 attend. Others, however, went on that very ac- 
 count; thinking it mean, and unbecoming Englilh- 
 men, to be deterred from a lawful and innocent 
 aft, by the fear of lawlefs infult; and accordingly 
 they afembled, and dined, in number between 
 eighty and ninety. 
 
 When 
 
26 An Appeal to the Public, 
 
 When the company met, a croud was afTem- 
 bled at the door, and fome of them hiffed, and 
 fhewed other marks of difapprobation, but no ma- 
 terial violence was offered to any body. Mr. 
 Keir, a member of the church of England, took 
 the chair; and when they had dined, drank their 
 toafts, and fung the fongs which had been pre- 
 pared for the occafion, they difperfed. This was 
 about five o'clock, and the town remained quiet 
 till about eight. It was evident, therefore, that 
 the dinner was not the proper caufe of the riot 
 which followed : but that the mifchief had been 
 pre-concerted, and that this particular opportunity 
 was laid hold of for the purpofe. 
 
 Some days before this meeting, a few copies of a 
 printed hand-Mil o^ an inflammatory nature, of which 
 a copy is given in the Appendix y No. I. had been 
 found in a pubHc houfe in the town, and of this great 
 ufe was made to inflame the minds of the people 
 againft the Diffenters, to whom, though without any 
 evidence whatever, it was confidently afcribed. The 
 thing itfelf did not deferve any notice, and para- 
 graphs of as feditious a nature frequently appear in 
 the public newfpapers, and other publications, and 
 (as would, no doubt, have been the cafe with this) 
 are neglefted and forgotten. But the magiftrates of 
 Birmingham, and other known enemies of the Dif- 
 fenters, were loud in their exclamations againft it, 
 though perhaps fabricated for the ufe that was made 
 of it j and a cppy was officioufly fent to the fecreta- 
 ries of ftate, who ordered a ftrid enquiry to be made' 
 
 after 
 
On the Riofs iti Birmingham, 27 
 
 after the author, printer, or diftributor; and in 
 confequence of this a reward of an hundred pounds 
 was offered, for the difcovery of any of them. 
 
 In confequence of all this preparation, we were 
 informed that, though the trade of Birmingham 
 had never been more brifk, fo that hands could 
 not be found to manufadlure the goods that were 
 ordered, many of the public-houfes were that day 
 full of people, whofe horrid execrations againft the 
 Diflenters were heard into the ftreets; and it has 
 been aflerted that fome of the mailer manufadurers 
 had Ihut up their work-fhops, and thereby left their 
 men at full liberty for any mifchief. 
 
 It has fince appeared that befides the dinner at 
 the Hotel, there were alfo dinners of the oppofite 
 party on this fourteenth of July, and thofe not of 
 the loweft clafs of the people, v/ith whom the com- 
 mon ale-houfes were filled. Thefe did not rife 
 from their entertainment fo early, or with fo much 
 fobriety, as thofe who dined at the Hotel j and it 
 was at the breaking up of their companies that the 
 riots commenced. Let the impartial then judge 
 to which of the dinners the riot that followed is to 
 be afcribed. 
 
 Mr. Adam Walker, the ingenious and well 
 known ledurer in natural Philofophy, was paffing 
 through the town with his wife and family, and 
 dined with me at my own houfe, for the laft time, 
 
 on 
 
28 An Appeal to to the Public 
 
 on that day. Before dinner, I had walked to the 
 town with him, and they left me in the evening. 
 Some time after this, three of my intimate friends, 
 whofe houfes were fituated near the fame road, 
 and farther from the town than mine, called upon 
 me to congratulate me, and one another, on the 
 dinner having pafled over fo well ; and after chat- 
 ting chearfully fome time on the fubjed, they left 
 me juft as it was beginning to be dark. 
 
 After fupper, when I was preparing to amufe 
 myfelf, as I fometimes did, with a game of back- 
 gammon, we were alarmed by fome young men 
 rapping violently at the door; and when they 
 were admitted, they appeared to be almofl breath- 
 lefs with running. They faid that a great mob 
 had aflembled at the Hotel, where the company 
 had dined ; that after breaking the windows there, 
 they were gone to the New Meeting, and were 
 demolifhing the pulpit and pews, and that they 
 threatened me and my houfe. That they fhould 
 think of molefting me I thought fo improbable, 
 that I could hardly give any credit to the ftory. 
 However, imagining that perhaps fome of the mob 
 might come to infult me, I was prevailed upon to 
 leave the houfe, and meant to go to fome neigh- 
 bour's at a greater dillance from the town ; but 
 having no apprehenfion for the houfe itfelfj or any 
 thing in it, I only went up ftairs, and put fome papers 
 and other things of value, where I thought that 
 any perfons getting into the houfe would not eafily 
 
 find 
 
On the Kioti at Birmingham, 29 
 
 find them. My wife did the fame with fome things 
 of hers. 1 then bade the fervants keep the doors 
 faftened ; if any body fhould conae, to fay that I 
 was gone, and if any ftones fhould be thrown at 
 the windows, to keep themfelves out of danger, 
 and that I did not doubt but they would go away 
 again. 
 
 At this tinne, which was about half pad nine 
 o'clock, Mr. S. Ryland, a friend of mine, came 
 with a chaife, telling us there was no time to lofe, 
 but that we muft immediately get into it, and drive 
 off. Accordingly, we got in with nothing more 
 than the clothes we happened to have on, and 
 drove from the houfe. But hearing that the mob 
 confided only of people on foot, and concluding 
 that when they found I was gone off in a chaife, 
 they could not tell whither, they would never think 
 of purfuing me, we went no farther than Mr. 
 'Ruffell's, a mile on the fame road, and there we 
 continued feveral hours, Mr. Ruffell himfelf^ and 
 other perfons, being upon the road on horfeback to 
 get intelligence of what was paffing, I alfo more 
 than once walked about half way back to my own 
 houfe for the fame purpofe ; and then I faw the 
 fires from the two meeting-houfes, which were 
 burning down. 
 
 About twelve we were told that fome hundreds 
 of the mob were breaking into my houfe, and that 
 when they had demolilhed it, they would certainly 
 proceed to Mr. RufTeU's. We were perfuaded, 
 
 therefore. 
 
30 Ati Appeal to the Public 
 
 therefore, to get into the chaife again, and drive off; 
 but we went no farther than Mr. Thomas Hawkes's 
 on Mofeley-Green, which is not more than half a 
 mile farther from the town, and there we waited 
 all the night. 
 
 '&' 
 
 It being remarkably calm, and clear moon-light, 
 we could fee to a confiderable diftance, and being 
 upon a riling ground, we diftindly heard all that 
 paffed at the houfe, every fhout of the mob, and 
 almoft every ftroke of the inftruments they had 
 provided for breaking the doors and the furniture. 
 For they could not get any fire, though one of 
 them was heard to offer two guineas for a lighted 
 candle ; my fon, whom we left behind us, having 
 taken the precaution to put out all the fires in 
 the houfe, and others of my friends got all the 
 neighbours to do the fame. I afterwards heard 
 that much pains was taken, but without effe6l, to 
 get fire from my large ele6lrical machine, which 
 flood in the library. 
 
 About three o'clock in the morning the noifes 
 ceafed, and Mr. Ruffell and my fon coming to us, 
 faid that the mob was almoft difperfed, that not 
 more than twenty of them remained, and thofe fo 
 much intoxicated, that they might eafily be taken. 
 We therefore returned with him, and about four 
 o'clock were going to bed at his houfe. But when 
 I was undreffing myfelf for that purpofe, news 
 came that there was a frefh acceffion of fome 
 hundreds more to the mob, and that they were 
 2 advancing 
 
On the Riots at Birmingham, 3 1 
 
 advancing towards Mr. Ruffeli's. On this we got 
 into the chaife once more, and driving through a 
 part of the town diftant from the mob, we went to 
 Dudley, and thence to my fon-in-law's, Mr. Finch 
 at Heath-Forge, five miles farther, where we arrived 
 before breakfail, and brought the firft news of our 
 difafter. 
 
 Here I thought myfelf perfectly fafe, and 
 imagining that when the mifchief was over (and I 
 had no idea of its going beyond my own houfe) 
 and fuppofing that, as the people in general would 
 be afhamed, and concerned, at what had happened, 
 I might return ; thinking alfo that the area within 
 the walls of the meeting-houfe might foon be 
 cleared, I intended, if the weather would permit, to 
 preach there the Sunday following, and from this 
 text, Father forgive them, for they know not what 
 they do. 
 
 At noon, however, we had an exprefs from 
 Stourbridge, to acquaint us that the mob had traced 
 me to Dudley, and would purfue me to Heath. 
 To this I paid no attention, nor to anodier from 
 Dudley in the evening to inform us of the fame 
 thing J and being in want of fleep, I went to bed 
 foon after ten. But at eleven 1 was awaked, and 
 told that a third exprefs was juft arrived from 
 Dudley, to affure us that fome perfons were cer- 
 tainly in purfuit of me, and would be there that 
 night. All the family believing this, and urging 
 me to make my efcape, I dreffed myfelf, got on 
 
 horfeback. 
 
32 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 horfeback, and with a fervant rode to Bridgnorth, 
 where I arrived about two in the mornins. 
 
 o* 
 
 After about two hours deep in this place, 1 got 
 into a chaife, and went to Kidderminfter, on my 
 way to London. Here I found myfelf among my 
 friends, and, as I thought, far enough from the 
 fcene of danger, efpecially as we continually heard 
 news from Birmingham, and that the mifchief did 
 not extend beyond the town. Hearing, particularly, 
 that all was quiet at Dudley, 1 concluded that there 
 could be no real caufe of apprehenfion at Heath j 
 and being unwilling to go farther than was necef- 
 fary, I took a horfe, and arrived there in the 
 evening. 
 
 There, however, I found the family in great 
 confternation at the fight of me; and Mr. Finch juft 
 arriving from Dudley, and faying that they were in 
 momentary expeftation of a riot there, that the 
 populace were even afiembled in the ftreet, and 
 were heard to threaten the meeting- houfe, the 
 houfe of the minifter, and thofe of other principal 
 DilTenters, and that all attempts to make them 
 difperfe had been in vain, I mounted my horfe 
 again, though much fatigued, and greatly wanting 
 fleep. 
 
 My intention was to get to an inn about fix 
 miles on the road to Kidderminfter, where I might 
 get a chaife, and in it proceed to that town. No 
 chaife, however, was to be hadj fo that I was 
 
 under 
 
On the Riots in 'Birmingham. 33 
 
 under the neceflity of proceeding on horfeback, 
 and neither the fervant nor myfelf diftinguifhing 
 the road in the night, we loft our way, and at 
 break of day found ourfelves on Bridgnorth race 
 ground, having ridden nineteen miles, till we could 
 hardly fit our horfes. 
 
 Arriving at this place a fecond time, about 
 three o'clock in the morning, we with fome diffi- 
 culty roufed the people at an indifferent inn, and I 
 immediately got into bed, and flept a few hours. 
 After breakfaft we mounted our horfes, and I got 
 a fecond time to Kidderminfter. There, finding 
 that if I immediately took a chaife, and drove faft, 
 I might get to Worcefter time enough for the 
 mail-coach, I did fo ; and meeting with a young 
 man of my own congregation, he accompanied me 
 thither, which was a great fatisfadion to me, as he 
 acquainted me with many particulars of the riot, 
 of which I was before ignorant. At Worcefter I 
 was juft time enough for the coach, and fortunately 
 there was one place vacant. I took it, and travel- 
 ling all night, I got to London on Monday morn- 
 ing, July 18. 
 
 Here I was in a place of fafety, and had leilure 
 for reft and reflection. I can truly fay, however, 
 that in all the hurry of my flight, and while the 
 injuries I had received were frefh upon my mind, I 
 had not one defponding, or unbenevolent thought. 
 I really pitied the delufion of the poor incendiaries, 
 and the infatuation of thofe who had deluded them, 
 
 D and 
 
34 ^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 and never doubted but that, though I could not 
 tell hoWj or wheuy good would arife from this, as 
 well as from every other evil. The magnanimity 
 of my wife was never fhaken; and, as at other 
 times, fhe then felt more for others than fhe did 
 for herfelf. It was a diftreffing circumftance, that 
 our daughter was expe6ling to be brought to bed 
 in about a month, fo that fhe was full of alarm, 
 and her mother could not leave her to accompany 
 me. We were, however, as happy as we could 
 be in this ftate of forced feparation, I with my 
 old friends in London, and fhe either with our 
 daughter, or with one of the moft friendly, gene- 
 rous, and worthy families in the world, in the 
 neighbourhood of Birmingham. 
 
 That there were inftigators, as well as perpe- 
 trators, of thefe horrid fcenes, was fufficiently evi- 
 dent. Moft of thofe who committed the devafta- 
 tions appeared by their profanenefs, intoxication, 
 and their difpofition to indifcriminate plunder, to 
 have no fenfe of religion at all, and therefore could 
 only adopt the cry o( church and king as a pretence. 
 In the midft of their devaftations there were always 
 fome cool heads mixed with the drunken ones, 
 who reje6ted all offers of money, and faid that they 
 muft obey their orders. But the moft decifive cir- 
 cumftance v/as that o{ forged letters being read, one 
 at my houfe, in the name of Mr. RufTell, and an- 
 other at his, in the name of Mr. Jeffries of Lon- 
 don, on purpofe to inflame the mob to greater 
 outrages. Whoever be the real author of the 
 
 hand-bill. 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 35 
 
 hand-Ully certainly they who forged thefe letters 
 were capable of writing it, for the ufe that was 
 adtually made of it. Indeed, there is nothing too 
 atrocious for fuch perfons not to be capable of. 
 
 Being now at my leifure, I wrote my Addrefs 
 to the Inhabitants ofBirminghamy Appendix, No. II. 
 and upon the more moderate it had fome influence, 
 in countera6ting the ftrange and mifchicvous ac- 
 counts that had been every where induftrioufly 
 propagated, in order to throw the blame of the 
 whole tranfaftion upon the Diflenters in general, 
 and myfelf in particular (See Appendix, No. III.) 
 though on others it had a different effedt. 
 
 In London I found by accident that Mr. W. 
 Ruffell had juft arrived in town, who, next to my- 
 felf, was the principal objeft of diflike to the high 
 church party in Birmingham. He came to re- 
 prefent to the miniftry a true ftate of things re- 
 lating to the riots, and to learn what fteps they 
 would take with refpeft to it. When this was 
 fettled, he returned to Birmingham, but not before 
 he had publifhed an account of what had paffed at 
 the Revolution dinner, with the toafts that were 
 given on that occafion. (See Appendix, No. IV.) 
 On the fame day alfo, as it happened, Mr. Keir 
 publilhed an account of the proceedings, for the 
 Birmingham newfpaper (See Appendix, No. V.) 
 and foon after a more particular account of the 
 toafts, with obfervations, in explanation and vindi- 
 cation of them. Thefe gentlemen giving their 
 
 D 2 names, 
 
36 An Appeal to the 'Public 
 
 names, their accounts fatisfied the impartial, that 
 the behaviour of the DifTenters had not been liable 
 to any juft cenfure, and that it was not the dinner, 
 but a deep-rooted animofity againft the DifTenters, 
 that was the true caufe of all the mifchief. 
 
 In this fituation, what I regretted moft was 
 the lofs, as I then fuppofed, of all my manufcript 
 papers, for which no reparation could be made. 
 They confided of the following particulars : 
 
 I. My Diaries from the year 1752, containing 
 the particulars of almoft every day ; and at the be- 
 ginning of each of them I had given the (late of 
 my mind, of my affairs in general, and of my pro- 
 fpefls, for that year; which it was often amufing, 
 and alfo inflrudive, to me, to look back upon. 
 
 II. Several large Common-place Books , containing 
 the fruits of my reading almoft ever fince I could 
 read with any degree of judgment. 
 
 III. The Regifter of my Philofophical Experi- 
 mentSy and hints for new ones. 
 
 IV. All my Sermons, Prayers, and Forms for 
 adminijlering the Lord's Supper, &c. many of which 
 I had with great expence got tranfcribed into a 
 fair long hand. 
 
 V. Notes and a Paraphrafe on the whole of the 
 New Tejlament, excepting the book of Revelation. 
 
 The 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 3 j 
 
 The whole of it had been delivered from the 
 pulpit, and in a preface to another work, I had 
 promifed to publilh it. I was within five days 
 (employing my amanuenfis three hours a day) of 
 having the whole fairly tranfcribed for the prefs. 
 
 VI. A New 'Tranjlafion of the 'PJalms^ Pro- 
 verhsy and Ecckfiajies ; having undertaken, in con- 
 jun6tion with feveral other Unitarians, to make 
 a new Tranflation of both the Old and New Tef- 
 tament. 
 
 VII. A Jeries of Letters to the Members of the 
 New Jerufalem Churchy which was lately opened in 
 Birmingham. Thefe were fairly tranfcribed, and 
 were to have gone to the prefs the Monday fol- 
 lowing ; and being on the mod friendly terms with 
 the minifter, and principal members of that church, 
 I had made an appointment to meet them on the 
 preceding Friday, to read the work to them from 
 the manufcript, in order to be fatisfied that I had 
 not miftated any of their doftrines, and that I 
 might hear their obje6lions to what I had written. 
 A rough draft of a great part of thefe Letters hap- 
 pened to be preferved, in confequence of taking 
 a copy of them by MefTrs. Boulton and Watt's 
 machine, and from this I have lately pubhfhed 
 them. 
 
 VIII. Memoirs of my own Life, to be pub- 
 lifhed after my death. 
 
 D 3 IX. A great 
 
38 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 IX. A great number of letters from my friends 
 and learned foreigners, with other papers, 
 
 X. A fhort account of all the perfons whofe 
 names are introduced into my chart of Biography, 
 which I intended to pubhfh, though not very foon. 
 
 XI. Illiifirations of Hartley's doSlrine of AJfocia- 
 tion of Ideas y and farther Obfervations on the Human 
 M':ndy the publication of which I had promifed in 
 the Preface to m/ EJfay on Education. This would 
 perhaps have been the mofl orignal, and nearly 
 t.ie laft, of my publications. The hints and loofe 
 materials for it were written in feveral volumes, 
 not one fcrap of which is yet recovered. 
 
 XII. Befides thefe, I had what had coft me 
 much labour, though, as I did not mean to make 
 any public ufe of them, I do not much regret their 
 lofs, viz. A large couife of Le5lures on the Con- 
 Jlitution and Laws of England, and another on the 
 Hijiory of England, which I had read when I was 
 tutor at Warrington, and of which a fyllabus may be 
 feen in the former editions of my EJfay on Education, 
 In the fame clafs of manufcripts, not much to be 
 regretted, I place a great variety of mifcellaneous 
 juvenile compofitions, and coUeftions of which I 
 occafionally made fome, though not much, ufe. 
 
 XIII My lajl Will, Receipts and Accounts, 
 
 Let 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 30 
 
 Let any man of letters, arrived, as I am, to 
 near the age of fixty, confider what muft have been 
 my accumulation of curious papers of various 
 kinds, from the variety and extent of my purfuits 
 (greater unqueftionably than that of mod men now 
 living) and think what I could not but have felt 
 for their lofs, and their difperfion into fuch hands 
 as they fell into, and who make, as I hear, the 
 moft indecent and improper ufe of them. This 
 makes the cafe much worfe than that of mere 
 plunder, and the deftrudtion of books and papers 
 by Goths and Vandals, who could not read any of 
 them. It was, however, no fmall fatisfadlion to 
 me, to think that my enemies, having the freeft 
 accefs to every paper I had, might be convinced 
 that I had carried on no treafonable correfpondence, 
 and that I had nothing to be concerned about 
 befides the effects of their impertinent curiofity. 
 
 The deftru(5tion of my library did not affedt 
 me fo much on account of the money I had ex- 
 pended upon it, as the choice of the books \ having 
 had particular obje6ts of ftudy, and having col- 
 ledled them with great care, as opportunity ferved, 
 in the courfe of many years. It had alfo been my 
 cuftom to read almoft every book with a pencil in 
 my hand, marking the paffages that I wifhed to 
 look back to, and of which I propofed to make 
 any particular ufej and I frequently made an index 
 to fuch paffages on a blank leaf at the end of the 
 book. In confequence of this, other fets of the 
 D 4 fame 
 
40 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 fame work would not, by any means, be of the 
 fame value to me; for I have not only loll the 
 books, but the chief fruit of my labour and judg- 
 ment in reading them. 
 
 Alfo my laboratory not only contained a fet of 
 the mod valuable and ufeful inftruments of every 
 kind, and original fubftances for experiments, but 
 other fubftances, the refults of numerous procelTes, 
 referved for farther experiments j as every experi- 
 enced chymift will fuppofe, and thefe cannot be 
 replaced without repeating the procefTes of many 
 years. No money can repair damages of this kind. 
 Alfo, feveral of my inftruments were either v/holly, 
 or in part, of my own conftrudlion, and fuch as 
 cannot be purchafed any where. 
 
 Notwithftanding this deftru6lion of my manu- 
 fcripts, I do not know that fuch a calamity could 
 have happened at a more convenient time, in the 
 courfe of the laft ten years. Had it been during 
 the compofition of my Hiftory of early Opinions con- 
 cerning Chriji, my Church Hiftory, or the New Edition 
 cf my Philofophical Works, I could never have com- 
 pleted, or refumed them; nor without the books 
 which I then had, could I have undertaken what 
 I have done fince. Very happily alfo, I had 
 finiftied a long courfe of experiments on the doc- 
 trine of phlogifton, and the compofition of water, and 
 my laft paper on the fubjed was juft printed for 
 the Philofophical TranfaSfions, 
 
 One 
 
On the Riots in Birmi?tghaj7i. 41 
 
 One of the moft mortifying circunnftances in 
 this calamity was the difperfion of a great number 
 of letters from my private friends, from the earlieft 
 period of my correfpondence, into the hands of 
 perfons wholly deftitute of generofity or honour. 
 Thefe letters I had carefully arranged, fo that I 
 could immediately turn to any of them, when I 
 wifhed to look back to them, as a memorial of 
 former friendfhips, or for any other purpofe. But 
 they were kept in a box which was ordered by my 
 laft will to be burned without infpeftion. Now, 
 however, letters which I did not wifh even my 
 executors to fee, were expofed, without mercy or 
 fhame, to all the world. No perfon of honour 
 will even look into a letter not directed to himfelf. 
 But mine have not only been expofed to every 
 curious, impertinent eye, but, as I am informed, 
 are eagerly perufed, commented upon, and their 
 fenfe perverted, in order to find out fomething 
 againft me. 
 
 Some of my private papers are faid to have 
 been fent to the fecretary of flate. But fecretaries 
 of ftate, I prefume, are gentlemen y and confider 
 themfelves as bound by the fame rules of juftice 
 and honour that are acknowledged to bind other 
 men, and therefore, if this be the cafe, thefe papers 
 will certainly be returned to me. 
 
 Of this kind of ill ufage, I do not accufe the 
 
 illiterate mob, who made the deveftationj for few 
 
 of them, I fuppofe, could read, but thofe perfons 
 
 of 
 
42 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 of better education into whofe hands the papers 
 afterwards came. Had perfons of this clafs inter- 
 pofed, and exerted themfelves, they might, no 
 doubt, have faved the greateft part of this, to me 
 moll valuable property, for the lofs of which (but 
 more efpecially for the ungenerous ufe that was 
 made of it) no compenfation can be made me. 
 
 My numerous correfpondents in different coun- 
 tries of Europe, but more efpecially thofe who 
 wrote to me in confidence in this country, will be 
 as much affeded by this cataftrophe as myfelf I 
 miight, no doubt, have deftroyed thofe letters, and 
 other private papers, myfelf. But I could not fore- 
 fee that men would afl the part of brutes, without 
 the leaft regard to law, to common equity, huma- 
 nity, or decency; and that an event fhould happen 
 at the clofe of the eighteenth century, of which it 
 will not be eafy to find a parallel for three centu- 
 ries before. For the perfecutions of chriflians by 
 heathens, and of proteftants by papifts, were gene- 
 rally conduced by fome rule; and in matters of 
 folicy and religion fome decent regard was ftill paid 
 to a man's private concerns, in which the ftate had 
 no intereft. Not to feel fuch loffes as thefe, and 
 fuch ufage as this, would be not to be a man. 
 But I am a chrifcian, and I hope I bear them as 
 fuch, acknowledging the hand of God, as well as 
 that of man, in all events 
 
 I was alfo much confoled by the addrejfes I re- 
 ceived, not only from particular perfons, but from 
 
 various 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 43 
 
 various bodies of men, who interefted themfelves 
 in my fufFerlngs. Some, if not all of them, I fhall 
 infert in the Appendix; as they may ferve to en- 
 courage other perfons in the purfuit of truth and 
 the praftice of virtue, notwithftanding the utmoft 
 malice of their enemies. I need not fay that 1 re- 
 ceived the greateft confolation from the addreffes 
 of my congregation, and efpecially thofe of the 
 younger part of it, to whom I had given particular 
 attention. 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
REFLECTIONS. 
 
 AFTER the preceding detail o(fa5fs, I now 
 proceed to lay before my readers a feries of Re- 
 flections to which they have given occafion, and I 
 hope they are fuch as will not be without their 
 ufe J and then, great as my lofs has been ftated to 
 be, it will not be the fubjedb of any regret. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Of the Power of Rejentment to -prevent Compafjion, 
 
 1 CANNOT help obferving on this 
 occafion, as on a thoufand others, how much the 
 leaft caufe of refentment tends to ftifle every emo- 
 tion of fympathy and compafTion. 
 
 Had any perfon whatever fpent a great part of 
 his life in the merely innocent employment of col- 
 ledting medals, watching with the utmoft anxiety 
 every opportunity of completing his fuite; had an- 
 other given the fame time to a colleftion of ihells, 
 foITils, prints, or books of any particular clafs, 
 
 without 
 
46 An Appeal to the "Public 
 
 any farther view than that of amufing himfelf and 
 his friends j and any of his neighbours, who knew 
 in what manner, and how long, he had been em- 
 ployed, have come, and deftroyed the labours of 
 his life in an hour, there are few perfons, I believe, 
 who would not have felt for the injury. For every 
 man's labours are of value to himfelf j and every 
 man has a natural right to enjoy the fruit of his 
 labours, provided they do not interfere with the 
 enjoyments of others. An injury of this kind 
 would be confidered as an injury done to fociety 
 itfelf, which engages for the protection of every in- 
 dividual in the quiet enjoyment of his innocent gra- 
 tifications and purfuits, whatever they be. Every 
 perfon would make the cafe his own, and have 
 confidered what he himfelf would have felt, not 
 after having fpent his hfe in the fame purfuits, be- 
 caufe for them he might have had no particular 
 tafte, but in any purfuit equally pleafing to him, 
 and would have refented the injury with the greatefl 
 fenfibility. 
 
 Had this perfon's purfuits been of acknowledged 
 utility to the public, and in the eye of the world 
 done credit to his country, and to his age; had 
 they been the labours of a Boyle, a Newton, or a 
 Franklin, or thofe of a Pope, an Addifon, or a 
 Locke, that had been thus wantonly and malici- 
 oully deftroyed, all the world in a manner, and his 
 country in particular, would have taken fire at the 
 injury, and have thought no punifhment too great 
 for it. 
 
 But 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 47 
 
 But let politics^ or religion^ be concerned; let 
 the curious colle6lor, the naturalift, the poet, or 
 the philofopher, be fufpefled to be of an unpopular 
 party in either, and the very circumftance that 
 would have filled his countrymen with compaflion 
 for him, and with rage againft his plunderers, 
 would make many rejoice in the mifchief; and 
 without the leaft regard to the innocence, or public 
 merit, of his purfuits, they would receive a gratifi- 
 cation from the idea of their hereby having it in 
 their power to give him and his friends the more 
 fenfible pain. Nay, provided they conceived that 
 any advantage would accrue from it to their party, 
 they would take a favage pleafure in deflroying 
 him, and his labours together. 
 
 Such has been the fcene exhibited at Birming- 
 ham, and I wifh it may prove an inftrudlive lefTon 
 to mankind. I do not fay what I have been, or 
 what I have done. But had I been a Boyle, a 
 Newton, or a Franklin, or had I had ten times the 
 merit of each, or of all of them, I am confident, 
 from what I have heard and obferved, that this 
 circumftance would only have been an excitement 
 to my enemies to the mifchief they have done me. 
 The higher 1 had ftood in the good opinion of my 
 friends, or of the public, the greater pleafure would 
 they have taken in pulling me down. 
 
 This has, moreover, been done by perfons 
 who do not want private virtue, by perfons of 
 honour, juftice, and feeling in common Hfe^ and 
 
 who 
 
48 - Ar^ Appeal to the Tiihlic 
 
 who, if I had not been obnoxious to them on ac- 
 count of my opinionSy would have reheved me in 
 diftrefs, and have done me any kindnefs in their 
 power; nay who, if they had had any knowledge of 
 literature, or fcience, might perhaps have been 
 proud of having me for a townfman and acquaint- 
 ance, and have taken a pleafure in fhewing ftran- 
 gers the place where I lived. 
 
 Had I been a clergyman of the church of Eng- 
 land, of httle or no reputation, and the injury been 
 done by Diflenters, no punifhment would have 
 been thought fufficient for the perpetrators of fo 
 much wickednefs; and, in the eyes of the nation, 
 the whole fe6t would have been thought deferving 
 of extirpation. Like the death of Charles I. the 
 guilt of it v/ould have been entailed upon our 
 lateft pofterity. 
 
 I was forcibly ftruck with this idea on feeing a 
 mofl ingenious imitation of plants in paper, cut 
 and painted fo like to nature, that, at a very fmall 
 diftance, no eye could have perceived the differ- 
 ence; and by this means they were capable of 
 being preferved from the attacks of infeds, fo as 
 to be greatly preferable to any hortus ficcus. It 
 appeared to me that weeks, and in fome cafes 
 months, muft have been employed on fome fingle 
 plants, fo exquifitcly were they finifhed. 
 
 What would this ingenious and deferving young 
 lady have felt, how would her family and friends, 
 
 how 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 49 
 
 how would all botanifts, though they fhould only 
 have heard of the ingenious contrivance, and of the 
 labour and time fhe had fpent upon her plants; 
 nay, how would the country in general have been 
 filled with indignation, had any envious female 
 neighbour come by force, or ftealth, and thrown 
 all her flowers into the fire,' and thus deftroyed all 
 the fruits of her ingenuity, and patient working for 
 years, in a fingle moment. And yet all this, excel- 
 lent as it was, might with certainty have been done 
 again, and perhaps in an improved manner. If 
 this particular lady had not had time, or inclination, 
 to do the fame work over again, fhe might have 
 inftru6ted others, and precautions might have been 
 taken to prevent fuch a misfortune a fecond time. 
 
 But the havoc that was made in almoft as (hort 
 a fpace of time in my library and laboratory, 
 neither myfelf or any body elfe can repair; and yet 
 thoufands, and ten thoufands, I have no doubt, arc 
 fo far from feeling any fympathy with me, or my 
 friends, on the occafion, that they rejoice in it, and 
 would rejoice the more in proportion as the irre- 
 parable mifchief had been greater*. 
 
 If the fame malicious, female fhould not only 
 have thrown this lady's flowers into the fire, but 
 ranfacked her apartments, and, getting poflfeflion of 
 all her private letters, have amufed herfelf with 
 
 * So far am I from being confidered an injured per/on by many, 
 that they fcruple not to confider me as the proper caufe of the deatli 
 of thofe who were executed for the riots, in ihort, nothing lefs than a 
 rnnrderer. Such is the idea conveyed by the autJior of a ballad in imi- 
 
 Ji tation 
 
5© An Appeal to the Public 
 
 reading them, and publilhing them in all the neigh- 
 bourhood, in order to do her all the injury in 
 her power, would not the crime be thought 
 worthy of the fevereft punilhment, as a violent 
 breach of all the bonds of fociety ? A nd yet in my 
 cafe, this very outrage has been committed with- 
 out any fenfe of guilt in the perpetrators, or the 
 by-ftanders of the fame party. Such is the baneful 
 influence of party fpirit. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 My coming to Birmingham not the Caufe of the Party 
 Spirit in the Place, 
 
 xT will be evident from the preceding 
 narrative that my coming to Birmingham was by 
 no means the caufe, as is now aflerted, of the party 
 Ipirit which fo unhappily prevails in that place. 
 Every thing that I wrote refpefting the eftablifhed 
 church was occafioned by the writings of others 
 againft the Diflenters. In no cafe whatever was I 
 
 tatlon of the fong of William and Margaret y fent to me by the poft 
 from Chefter. 
 
 This is the dark and fearful hour, 
 
 When Ghofts their wrongs difclofe. 
 Now graves give up their dead, to haunt 
 
 The guiliy foul's repofe. 
 Bethink thee, Prieftley, of thy fault. 
 
 Thy love of civil itrife j 
 And give me back my honeft fame. 
 
 And give me back my life. 
 
 the 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 5 1 
 
 the aggreflbr j and I never troubled even my own 
 congregation with a fingle difcourfe on the fubje6l, 
 though this had been done again and again by my 
 predeceflbr Mr. Bourne ; and I never heard that 
 he was particularly complained of on that account. 
 
 The long controveriy I had on the fubjeft of 
 the trinity^ which, however, had no particular re- 
 fpedl to Birmingham, was the confequence of the 
 attack of Bifhop Horfley, and others of the clergy, 
 on one part of my Hijiory of the Corruptions of 
 Chrijiianity . AH my Defences of Uiiitarianifm, 
 written in the courfe of this controverfy, are before 
 the Public, and I appeal to all impartial readers, if 
 they be not calm replies to fome of the moft viru- 
 lent modes of attack of which there are any exam- 
 ples in this, or in any other, country. The Bifhop's 
 profeiTed obje6t was to deftroy my credit in toto, 
 fo that nothing that I Ihould ever write on the 
 fubjedt might be regarded. 
 
 Befides, what did I do, urged as I was, in every 
 pofTible method, more than propofe my opinionsy 
 with the reafons on which they were founded. 
 There was no violence in this. And cannot opinion 
 be oppofed by opinion, and argument by argu- 
 ment? I ferioufly think that the doftrine of the 
 divine unity, as oppofed to that of the trinity^ is of 
 the greateit importance in chriftianity; and it is 
 likewife my opinion, that civil eftablifJments of chrif- 
 tianity are the bane of it, tending to increafe, and to 
 perpetuate, every abufe that has been introduced 
 E 2 into 
 
52 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 into it. But many other perfons have maintained 
 the fame opinions/ and have held the fame lan- 
 guage, before me. I, therefore, think it a peculiar 
 honour to my writings, that my adverfaries have at 
 length found no method of replying to them fo ef- 
 fectual as deftroying my property, and attempting 
 my lifci infligating a furious mob to commit fuch 
 ravages on general literature, as the European 
 world has not known fince the ages of acknow- 
 ledged barbarifm. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Of Dijfenters meddling with Politics, 
 
 XT is faid by many that, if I had not 
 meddled with politics the riots in Birmingham 
 would not have taken place. But this alfo is an 
 hypothecs not fupported by fads. If the indigna- 
 tion of the populace had been excited againft me as 
 a politician, and not as a Diflcnter, why did they 
 begin with demolilhing the meeting-houfe, before 
 they proceeded to my own houfe, or made any 
 attempt upon my perfon ? Why did they de- 
 molifh the Old Meeting, the minifters of which 
 had never appeared in a political character ? And 
 what had Mr. Taylor and Mr. John Ryland ever 
 done in a poHtical capacity ? The rioters evidently 
 
 made no diftinftion between political DifTenters 
 
 and 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 53 
 
 and others, but confined their outrages to thofe 
 who are generally called the more liberal, or unita- 
 rian DifTenters, as conceiving them to be pecu- 
 liarly hoftile to the church, and therefore to the 
 Hate, as connected with the church. 
 
 But what have been my writings as a politician ? 
 They are very inconfiderable, and never, that I un- 
 derflood, gave much offence. All the time that I 
 was with the Marquis of Lanfdowne, which was 
 feven years, in which I had no employment as a 
 minifter, I never wrote a political pamphlet, or 
 paragraph. My ftudies were then, as before, and 
 fince, theology, philofophy^ and general literature. 
 
 My Effay on the Firft Principles of Government, 
 which, of all my vv^ritings, may be thought the 
 moft offenfive to the friends of arbitrary power, 
 was publifhed more than twenty years ago, and 
 never proceeded farther than a fecond edition, 
 which alfo has been on fale almoft twenty years j 
 fo that it could not have given any recent provoca- 
 tion. The political part of my Lectures en Hijiory 
 and General Policy^ is much in favour of the civil 
 part of our prefent conftitution, though not without 
 hinting at fuch improvements in it, as many up- 
 right and enlightened perfons of all denominations, 
 wifli for. 
 
 Suppofing, however, that I had written much 
 more largely on politics, particular as well as ge- 
 neral, is this a fubje6t that DifTenters mufl not 
 E 3 touch ? 
 
54 -^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 touch ? As equal citizens, have we not an equal 
 intereft in the concerns of the ftate ; and does 
 it not behove us to watch over that intereft, as 
 much as others, whofe ftake in it is not greater 
 than ours ? 
 
 When the government was friendly to the Dif- 
 fenters, our rulers were glad enough to avail them- 
 felves both of our pens and of our fwords. Our 
 7-ight to give our opinion in affairs of ftate was not 
 then queftioned ; and what has happened to affedt 
 that right fince ? It is plain that it is only our 
 exercife of that right that gives offence. No 
 complaint was ever made of the conduct of Mr, 
 Bradbury, who was continually preaching political 
 fermons, and who had a great hand in promoting 
 the acceffion of the houfe of Hanover, except by 
 the clergy, who were generally enemies of that 
 acceffion. 
 
 Though no change has taken place in our ge- 
 neral principles, our opinions are now fuppoled to 
 be unfavourable to the maxims of thofe who have 
 the conduA of adminiftration ; and hence the new 
 language, that Diffenters, and particularly diffent- 
 ing minifters, ought to confine themfelves to mat- 
 ters of religion j and that, content with our tolera- 
 tion, we ought not even to refleft on the efta- 
 bliftied church, which is now confidered as an 
 effential part of the ftate. I was never complained 
 of for having meddled with fhilofophy, which is as 
 foreign to my proper profeffion as politics. 
 
 But 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 55 
 
 But in what fcnfe can this be called a free 
 CQuntryy if every citizen be not at full liberty to de- 
 liver his opinion, in fpeaking or writing, on any 
 [ fubje6t whatever, without the dread of civil penal- 
 ties, legally or illegally inflicted ? And how is our 
 religion even tolerated^ if we be debarred the privi- 
 lege of writing in its defence, and freely advancing 
 whatever we may deem of importance for that 
 purpofe ? 
 
 If umbrage be taken at Diflenters writing on 
 any particular fubjecft, let us, at leait, be prohibited 
 by law^ and let not any man be punilhed for doing 
 what no known law makes to be a crime, and 
 which in itfeif may be highly meritorious. Let 
 an A(5l of Parliament be made to declare it felony, 
 or treafon, for any Diffenter (or if that be thought 
 too much, for any diflenting minifter) to write a 
 political pamphlet, finding fault with the conftitu- 
 tion, or arraigning the conduft of adminiftration, 
 and we fhall then confider what is to be done in 
 thefe new circumftances. 
 
 Some weak politicians, and high churchmen, 
 as an excufe for not appearing difpleafed at the 
 riots in Birmingham, which did not afFed the Cal- 
 viniftic Diffenters, allege that the Diflenters of this 
 day are a very different fet of perfons from thofe 
 of former times, for whom the A<5t of Toleration 
 was provided. This, no doubt, is true. All bo- 
 dies of men have changed in a courfe of time, and 
 the Diflenters among the refl:. The clergy of the 
 E 4 eftabliflied 
 
56 ^An Appeal to the Public 
 
 eftablifhed church are by no means the fanae that 
 they were at the Revolution j for they were then 
 generally the enemies of the prefent reigning fa- 
 mily, though they now make fo great a boaft of 
 their being the friends of it. With refped to 
 their religious fentiments, they are greatly changed 
 indeed fince the time of Queen Elizabeth, being, 
 from Predeftinarians, become almoft univerfally 
 Arminians, and till of late the more learned of their 
 body are well known to have been Arians. There 
 has alfo been a great change in the general fenti- 
 ments of many of the Roman Cathohcs. But, to 
 a politician, the only queftion is whether any of 
 thefe changes of opinion give them lefs right to the 
 .prote6lion of civil government. 
 
 The principal change in the Diflenters is fimilar 
 to that which has taken place among the members 
 of the church of England. They have receded 
 farther from the fyftem of Calvinifm. Many of 
 them became Arians, and many are now Unitarians, 
 heretofore more generally called Socinians. But 
 what has this to do with civil government ? Can 
 it be pretended that the man who confines his 
 adoration to one Gody and who calls this one God 
 the God and Father of "J ejus Chriji, is a worfe fubjefb 
 of civil government than he who, in addition to 
 the worfhip of this one God, pays equal divine 
 honours to Jefus Chrift, and alfo to another divine 
 perfon called the Holy Ghofi, or than he who adds 
 to all thefe the worlhip of the Virgin Mary, and 
 of all the faints and angels in the Popilh calendar ? 
 
 The 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, ^*j 
 
 The queftion is furely too ridiculous to be difcufled. 
 Why then fhould unitarian Diflenters be more ex- 
 pofed to lawlefs violence, and left out of the pro- 
 tedlion of the ftate, than trinitarian DifTenters, or 
 than the Roman Catholics, to whom the favour 
 of government has of late been very juflly ex-^ 
 tended. 
 
 It is true alfo, that many of the DifTenters are 
 of late become enemies to all civil eftabliihments of 
 religion. But fo alfo are many Catholics, and even 
 many members of the church of England itfelf. 
 And in what fenfe are they enemies, and how are 
 they to be dreaded, and guarded againft, as fuch ? 
 They are only enemies in point o^ argument. They 
 think it would be better for all flates not to trouble 
 themfelves about rehgion, or at leaft not to give 
 any preference to one form of it more than to an- 
 other. But this is nor an opinion for which they 
 will difturb the peace of any ftate. They wifh 
 to have this^ as well as every other great queftion, 
 interefting to man and to fociety, to be freely dif- 
 cufTed. But what is the proper ufe and termination 
 of difcujfton, befides the prevalence of truth and of 
 general happinefs ? No man who does not perfift in 
 fupporting what he himfelf believes to be falfe and 
 mifchievous, will ever fay the contrary. Why then 
 fliould not DifTenters, and all other perfons, be 
 tolerated in maintaining this, as well as any other 
 opinion, though it has a remote relation to prac- 
 tice, as, indeed, every opinion of much importance 
 necefTarily has. 
 
 Whatever 
 
58 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 Whatever were my political fentiments, though 
 I fhould be an avowed republican, and, as a 
 perfon high in office, but, in this refpe<5t, of little 
 information, lately faid of me, *' ready to de- 
 " ftroy the king, the houfe of Lords, and houfe 
 *^ of Commons too*," as this mifchief, unlefs I 
 were the dragon of Wantley, could only be effected 
 by argumenty by convincing the people, that fuch 
 defcriptions of men were ufelefs, or mifchievous, to 
 them, it would be no juftifiable reafon for infliding 
 on me what I have fuffered. 
 
 If my publications, be they what they will, be 
 not contrary to law, but merely fophiftical, let 
 them be anfwered. My enemies will hardly fay 
 that my abilities as a writer are fuch, that, even 
 without the advantage of truthy I can out-write all 
 my opponents, and, in fpite of all their efforts, get 
 the great body of the people on my fide. And till 
 this be done the ftate is in no manner of danger 
 from me. If by writing, or afting, I expofe my- 
 felf to the cenfure of the law, let it have its courfe ; 
 but let not perfons, under the pretence of fupport- 
 ing government^ encourage lawlefs violence, fubver- 
 five of all government whatever. 
 
 If by our writings any perfon be injured in 
 his private character, or affairs, Dilfenters are pu- 
 
 '^ Such language as this may be faid to have been unintentionally 
 the caufe of the riots in Birmingham, with as much probability as the 
 fpeech of king Henry II. was that of the murder of Becket. The 
 known, or the fuppoled, wifhes of men in power do not always require 
 to be accompanied with pofitive orders. They fliould, therefore, be 
 particularly cautious what they fay. 
 
 nilhable 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 59 
 
 nifhable by law, like other citizens. But public 
 meafures, and public charaders, have always been, 
 and it is to be hoped, always will be, open to public 
 animadverfion in this country. Otherwife, there 
 is an end of all true liberty ; or if from this liberty 
 the Diffenters alone are excluded, it is no free 
 country for uSj whatever it may be for others. 
 Whenever I find myfelf debarred the exercife of the 
 invaluable privilege of perfe6t freedom of fpeech 
 and writing, I Ihall confider it as a fignal for my 
 departure to fome other part of the world, where 
 it can be enjoyed v/ithout moleftation. 
 
 I 
 '^^ 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 ^he Bigotry of the High Church Party the true Caiije 
 of the Riots. 
 
 X HAT the true fource of the late riots 
 in Birmingham was religious bigotry, and the ani- 
 mofity of the high church party againft the Dif- 
 fenters, and efpecially againft the Prefbyterians and 
 Unitarians, and not the commemoratign of the 
 French Revolution, is evident from all that has 
 paired before, at, and after, the day. 
 
 In the public houfes where the people were 
 inflaming themfelves with liquor, all that day, and 
 fome time before, there were heard execrations of 
 
 the 
 
6o An Appeal to the Public 
 
 the moft horrid kind againft the Prefbyterians One 
 perfon was heard not only to willi damnation to 
 them, but that " God Almighty would make a 
 ** week's holiday for the purpofe of damning them." 
 The mob did not arrive at the Hotel till more 
 than two hours after the company had left it, and 
 there they demanded only myjelfy who had not been 
 there. No part of their vengeance fell upon any 
 churchman, whether at the dinner or not. After 
 demolifhing the two meeting-houfes, and every 
 thing belong to me, their next objefts were the 
 houfes of Mr. Taylor and Mr. John Ryland, who 
 were well known to have been much averfe to the 
 fcheme of the dinner; and during the whole courfe 
 of the outrages, the conftant cry was Church and 
 KING, and Down with the Presbyterians. 
 
 That the celebration of the French Revolution 
 was not the true caufe of the riots, has indeed 
 fufficiently appeared from the narrative part of this 
 work. That the plan was laid fome time before, 
 and that proper perfons were provided to condu6t 
 it, is probable from this circumftance, that thofe in 
 the mob who directed the reft, who were evi- 
 dently not of the loweft clafs, and who were fome- 
 times called their leaders, were not known to hun- 
 dreds of all defcriptions of the inhabitants of the 
 town, who obferved them attentively; fo that per- 
 fons who were no Diflenters, concluded that they 
 came from a diftance, and probably from London. 
 The proper Birmingham mob were often perfuaded 
 
 to defift from their attempts, till they were joined 
 
 by 
 
Oji the Riots at Birmingham, 6 1 
 
 by thefe men, who both inftigated them to mif- 
 chief, and direfted them how to proceed in the 
 ihorteft and moft efFeftual manner. 
 
 If there be any foundation for this fuppofition, 
 the plan of the riots muft have been laid fome time 
 before, and of courfe, have been entirely inde- 
 pendent both of the hand-bill and of the Revolution 
 dinner^ any farther than the latter direfted to the 
 proper time for the execution of the fcheme, as 
 thefe' diredlors muft have been engaged before 
 hand. Time, it is hoped, will throw fome light 
 on this dark bufinefs. It was probably intended 
 to humble and intimidate the DifTenters, by fome 
 perfons who thought it more prudent to do it by a 
 mob, than by legal methods. 
 
 That the ftorm was direfted folely againft thofe 
 that are commonly called the more hberal Dif- 
 fenters, and not the Calviniftic ones, was evident 
 from the whole courfe of it, in which the houfes 
 and meeting-houfes of the latter were fpared. The 
 only exception was the houfe of Mr. Hutton who 
 attends public worfhip at Carr's Lane, but whofe 
 fon and daughter belong to the New Meeting. It 
 is alfo thought that he was obnoxious to the lower 
 clafTes of the people on account of the ftridl and 
 exemplary difcharge of his duty in the Court of 
 Requefts. Let us now fee what pafled fubfequent 
 to the event. 
 
 The 
 
62 An Appeal to the Tuhlic 
 
 The exultation of the high church party, not 
 only in Birnningham, but through the kingdom in 
 general, on the fuccefs of this crufade, was un- 
 difguifed and boundlefs. All the newfpapers both 
 in town and country, in the condufl of which 
 they had particular influence, were full of the 
 groffeft abufe of the Diffenters, and efpecially of 
 myfelf; and fuch narratives of the proceedings were 
 publifhed as cannot be accounted for from mif- 
 take, or mifapprehenfion, but muft have been wil- 
 fully fabricated for the word of purpofes. Of this 
 I have, in the Appendix, No. III. given one ex- 
 ample from the paper called The Times. 
 
 There were many of the high church party 
 who did not hefitate to fay that, if the mifchief had 
 terminated with the deftrudion of my houfe, and 
 every thing belonging to 7ne^ all had been well. 
 Some openly lamented that the mob had not feized 
 me, or that I had not perifhed in the conflagra- 
 tion. One clergyman in a public afllze fermon, 
 called our fufferings wholejome correHion^ and an- 
 other declared that, if all my writings were put 
 together, and myfelf were placed on the top of 
 them, he fhould rejoice to fet fire to the pile. 
 
 Many of the high church party were fo far 
 from lamenting my fufferings, or complaining of 
 the illegal manner in which the mifchief was done, 
 that they fcrupled not to juftify it, on the pretence, 
 though abfolutely groundlefs, that my writings 
 
 were 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 63 
 
 were hoftile to the Jiate, if not direcStly, yet indi- 
 reftly fo, as being hoftile to the church. One in- 
 ftance of this, and one of the moft moderate of its 
 kind, I fhall give in the Appendix, No. VI. on 
 account of the fingular circumftance of its being 
 printed together with my own Letter to the Inhabi- 
 tants of Birminghamj and thrown into many houfes 
 in London, with the title of Self-murder, or 
 the Doctor tried and convicted on his own 
 
 fVIDENCE. 
 
 The ftrange violence of the fame party fpirit 
 alfo appeared by a hand-bill^ which was diftributed 
 in London the day after my arrival there, of which 
 a copy is given, Appendix, No. VIL This could 
 only be intended to point me out as a proper 
 objeft of deftru6tion, by fome perfon who wanted 
 the courage, though not the will, to difpatch me 
 himjelf. 
 
 At the fame time I received an anonymous 
 letter, from a perfon who faid " he was concerned 
 " for my misfortunes and my folly,*' advifing me 
 to " have a ftrift guard on my future conduct ;'* 
 adding, " Depend upon it, if you proceed to 
 " foment difturbances in this place, nobody can 
 " anfwer for your fafety. I can aflure you the 
 " people of this country will not fee their happy 
 " conftitution infulted by any man." 
 
 The fame fpirit was but too apparent during 
 the trials J the moft notorious of the rioters being 
 
 acquitted 
 
64 An Appeal to the 'Public 
 
 acquitted by the jury, againfl the cleared evidence, 
 to the aftonifhment of the judge, and all the court, 
 and their acquittal was received with the loudefl 
 applaufe by the furrounding audience. Nor was 
 this indecent exultation confined to thofe of the 
 lower clafs, who were heard to wiih " that the Bir- 
 *' mingham coin might circulate through the king- 
 donn." Two perfons of better condition, as I was 
 informed, meeting in the Town Hall at Warwick, 
 immediately after the acquittal of two of the prin- 
 cipal rioters, one of them obferved to the other, 
 that they " had fucceeded beyond their expec- 
 " tations, and that fince thofe two hearty cocks'' (as 
 " he called them) were fafe, he did not much care 
 " for the reft." The poor wretches who were left 
 to be hanged, it is prefumed, were fuch as knew 
 no fecrets. This very much refembles the ca{e 
 of Bemarecy who was condemned for burning a 
 Meeting- houfe in the time of Queen Ann, but was 
 afterwards pardoned, and in the report of the trial, 
 by judge Fofter, is called " one of Dr. Sacheverell's 
 " ableft advocates." 
 
 We ftill have confidence in the juftice of our 
 country with refpeft to our damages. As to lives, 
 we never wilhed to take any more than might be 
 deemed neceffary for our own future fecurity, and 
 the peace of the country. We fhall ftill be fuf- 
 ferers in common with others, and much more 
 than they, with refpeft to things for which no in- 
 demnification can be made us. 
 
 They 
 
On the "Riots in Birmingham. 6^ 
 
 The fame high church fpirit prevailed through 
 moft parts of England, and in places where I had 
 nothing to do. Similar outrages were threatened, 
 and apprehended, at Manchefter ; and it is thought 
 they would have taken place there, as well as at 
 Birmingham, if fome foldiers had not been ftationed 
 in that town. Many are of opinion that if Dr. Price 
 had been Hving, the florm would have fallen at 
 Hackney in preference to Birmingham. A friend 
 of mine at Exeter, who had invited me to fpend 
 a few weeks with him this fummer, faid that he 
 durft not now receive me. The DilTenters were 
 alfo threatened by the high church party at Briftol, 
 at Taunton, at Maidftone, and other places very 
 diflant from each other. However, things wore 
 a better afpeft in the northern, and in fome of 
 the eaftern parts of the kingdom. I had friends 
 who offered me an afylum at Leeds, Norwich, 
 and Ipfwich. 
 
 It will not be eafy to produce an example of 
 treatm.ent fo mercilefs and fhameful as mine has 
 been ; and yet the high church party are perpe- 
 tually faying, that, though the proceedinjj; has been 
 irregular, I have not, in fa6l, received^. more than 
 I deferred. As to my manu/cripis, they fay that the 
 lofs of one ' part of them, viz. the philofophical 
 ones, is fufficiently compenfated for by the Icfs of 
 the other, viz. the theological ones i fo that-T have 
 my deferts, and the pubHc is on the whole no 
 lofer. Thisj, however, is a virtual acltnowledg- 
 ment that, in their apprehenfions, there was forne- 
 
 F ~ thing. 
 
66 An Appeal to the 'Public 
 
 thing peculiarly formidable in my theological writ- 
 ings and that they found it eafier to difpofe of 
 them in any other way than by anfwering them. 
 This condu(5l is as weak as their arguments have 
 always been; fince, as was the cafe with the books 
 of the Sybils, the deftrudion of fome of my writ- 
 ings increafes the value of thofe that are pre- 
 lerved; and by this moft convincing proof of the 
 fuccefs of my writings, other perfons will be ex- 
 cited to write, though I fhould be fo overwhelmed 
 by my misfortunes, as to be incapacitated from 
 writing any more. 
 
 Never fhall / be heard to rejoice in the de- 
 ftruflion of any of the performances of my oppo- 
 nents. On the contrary, I have always wiflied, as 
 my writings will evidence, that they had been 
 more numerous, in order that their futility might 
 more clearly appear. But my adverfaries muft 
 have found that this condudl would not fo well 
 fuit them, and therefore that their wifdom was 
 not to produce any books of their own, but to 
 deflroy mine. 
 
 On this occafion,* which would have called 
 forth the commiferation of generous adverfaries, 
 
 * In an anonymous manufci-ipt ballad, intitled Ihe Ghojl and the 
 Doilor, lent me by the poft from Cheiter, one of the perfons lately 
 executed for the riots, reprefented as a man of " honeft fame" and a 
 *' funple zealot," appears to me, and reproaches me as the " pro- 
 ** feffed prieft of fedition," whofe objeft it has been to preach the de- 
 ftruftion of all order, as the caufe of his death, which in juftice I 
 ought to fuffer. After this I am made to rife " raving from my bed," 
 and to " bum my pen," with a refolution never to write again. To 
 this is added quod jit omnes boni piique etc imis peiloribus precantur. 
 
 But 
 
On the Riots at Birmingham. 6y 
 
 there have appeared ftronger marks of virulence 
 againft the DilTenters than have been known for 
 many years before. Not a grain of merit has been 
 allowed to us, as a compenfation for the crimes of 
 which we are accufed; and we are particularly 
 charged with the greateft ingratitude againft the 
 government under which we live. 
 
 Dr. Tatham of Oxford, exulting over us on 
 this occafion, fpeaks of the DilTenters as gracioujly 
 indulged. But whether is it our fyftem of religion, 
 or hisy that is moft gracioufly indulged, and which 
 of them is beft entided to this indulgence ? Will 
 a mere parliamentary fanflion give any form of re- 
 ligion a preference in the eye of God and of rea- 
 fon; and if this Ihould be a cafe in which the 
 judgment of man Ihall be found to differ from 
 that of God, it will by no means be the firft of the 
 kind. The time is approaching when every thing 
 of this nature will be weighed in a jufter balance 
 than they ufually are at prefent, and while we are 
 all waiting for this final decifion, let us be humble 
 and forbearing. 
 
 But though .many of the clergy exprefled the 
 moft rancorous fentiments againft us, there have 
 appeared on this occafion among them men of 
 
 But the zealots of Birmingham, and this martyr to the church of 
 England among the reft, took a much more natural method to filence 
 me than this ballad maker (probably a clergyman) of Chefter. What 
 he and \\\&iv\cx\(i^on\y prayed for, they u fed the proper means to fe- 
 cure. That they were difappointcd in their fcherae was not their 
 fault. They may fucceed better in a fecond atempt. 
 
 F 2 the 
 
68 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 the moft liberal minds and principles, who ex- 
 prefled the greateft abhorrence of the conduft and 
 fentiments of the reft of their body, and who, to- 
 gether with fome generous minded laity of the 
 eftabhlhment, were among the firfl to afford me 
 the mofl fubltantial affiftance. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Of the Pretence that Government was adverje to the 
 Dijfenters and favoured the Rioters. 
 
 JLT was unfortunately a very general 
 opinion that Government favoured the violent pro- 
 ceedings a2;ainfl the Diffenters at Birmino;ham. It 
 was the conftant cry of the rioters, in the courfe 
 of their ravages, " We have nothing to fear. The 
 " juftices are for us. Government is for usj" and 
 when they were told the troops were coming, they 
 faid the foldiers were on their fide. When the 
 king's proclamation, offering the reward of an 
 hundred pounds for the difcovery and convi6lion 
 of any perfon concerned in the riot was publifhed, 
 fome of the people were heard to cry, " Is he then 
 " turned Prefbyterian, and are we to be hanged for 
 this?" Similar language was held by fome who 
 ought CO have known better. 
 
 This 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 69 
 
 This is a circumftance which it greatly con- 
 cerns the governors of a country to attend to, if 
 they wifh to preferve the peace of it, and extend 
 their proteftion alike to all the fubje6ls. For if 
 any fmall part of the community, and efpecially 
 fuch members of it as are leaft difpofed to vio- 
 lence, be held out, or imagined to be held out, to 
 the reft of the community, as unworthy of proieffion, 
 they will be confidered as in a ftate of frofcriptioriy 
 and proper objecSts of perfecution, expofed to every 
 infuit J and they will have no refource but in tem- 
 porary felf defence, and final emigration. And 
 furely the experience of the laft century muft have 
 fhewn this country the impolicy, if not the wicked- 
 nefs, of fuch irritation. 
 
 The Diflenters have no mob to oppofe to fuch 
 abandoned wretches as commited the outrages at 
 Birmingham; and yet it is now pretended that if 
 the high church party had not deftroyed our houfes, 
 and places of public v/orfhip, we fhould have de- 
 ftroyed theirs. But admitting that the Diflenters 
 are knaves, they are not fools y or rather madmen, as 
 they muft have been to have attempted violence 
 in their fituation, unlefs every one of them had 
 been confcious to himfelf of having the ftrength of 
 Samfon, and that he was a match for a thoufand 
 of his enemies. 
 
 But when did Diflenters attempt any thing of 
 the kind ? There are inftances enow upon record 
 of fimilar outrages being committed upon the Dif- 
 
 fenters. 
 
70 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 fenters, in various parts of the kingdom j but no 
 example of any being committed by them. They 
 are univerfally a fober and orderly people; and 
 whatever they may think of other people's opinions, 
 they have no idea of promoting their caufe by 
 force. Not one Independent, Baptift, or Methodill, 
 I am confident, had any hand in the riot at Bir- 
 mingham, but only thofe members of the church 
 of England (if they can be faid to be the members 
 of any church) who are in fad deftitute of all fenfe 
 of religion J and of fuch confifts a very great pro- 
 portion of the inhabitants of Birmingham, and all 
 other large manufafturing towns. In the height 
 of the riot they were addrelTed by the magiftrates, 
 and other refpeftable members of the church of 
 England, who then thought they had done mif- 
 chief enough, and wifhed them to proceed no far- 
 ther, by the appellation of Friends and Fellow- 
 churchmen, See Appendix, No. VIII. 
 
 It cannot be denied that a crime has been 
 committed, and of the greateft enormity in a civi- 
 lized country. Immenfe property has been de- 
 ftroyed, houfes burned, lives endangered, and the 
 peace of many families interrupted, by an illegal 
 infurre£bion, in defiance of all law and good order, 
 and that thefe violences were committed on the 
 pretence of fupporting the church and the king. It 
 certainly, therefore, behoves both the church and 
 the government, to exculpate themfelves, and to 
 make every fatisfadion to the fufferers that the 
 nature of the cafe will admit of. 
 
 The 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 71 
 
 The violences were committed by the lower 
 orders of the people, but if the friends of the 
 church and of the king in the higher ranks had 
 been earneft to fupprefs the riot, it might, no doubt, 
 have been effefled before any mifchief had been 
 done. If the magiftrates, and other principal inha- 
 bitants of the town, belonging to the church, of 
 England, on the firft hearing of the rioters going 
 to the New Meeting, had interpofed, by repairing 
 to the place, and earneftly protefting againft the 
 violence, even that meeting-houfe would not have 
 fuffered. Had there not been time for this (which, 
 however, there certainly was) their interpofition 
 might have prevented the deftru6lion of the fecond 
 meeting-houfe. At lead, with the afliftance of a 
 few men with fire-arms, which they could eafily 
 have commanded, they might have prevented all 
 the mifchief at my houfe, with every thing that 
 followed. There was, therefore, at leaft a cri- 
 minal remilTnefs in the friends of the church and 
 the king. But the clearefl fads fhew that there 
 was more than remilTnefs on the part of many 
 perfons of better condition, and nothing that they 
 ever did (hewed a real difapprobation of the con- 
 du6b of the mob previous to the demolition of my 
 houfe, but only a wifh that they fhould proceed no 
 farther than that; and this on no other account than 
 that of the expence it would be to themfelves. This 
 is evident from the hand- bills laft referred tp. 
 
 Making every allowance for the perpetrators 
 
 ?ind abettors of thefe horrid fcenes at the moment, 
 
 F 4 there 
 
72 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 there has been time for reflection and compundion 
 fince i and the eyes of the nation, and of all Europe, 
 are open to fee what part both the town and neigh- 
 bourhood, and above all the government of the 
 country, will take in the cafe. On the part of the 
 town and neighbourhood nothing favourable to 
 juftice has appeared as yet. 
 
 Out of feveral thoufand rioters evidence has 
 been procured againil no more than fifty-two. Of 
 thefe not fo many as twenty have been apprehended, 
 and of thefe only five have been condemned, and 
 three executed*. Inftead of promoting an inquiry 
 concerning the inftigators of this mob, and cenfur- 
 ing the manifeft remifihefs of the magiftrates, a 
 town's meeting has voted the latter thanks and 
 rewards for the part they aftedj and an Addrefs 
 to the King refleding more on the Diflenters, as 
 friends to innovation, than on the rioters f. The 
 whole town and neighbourhood, therefore, mull 
 
 * On occafion of the riots in London, in which it is probable that 
 fewer perfons were concerned than in thofe of Birmingham, one hun- 
 dred and thirty-five were tried, fifty-nine convi61ed, and twenty- fix 
 executed ; and I believe merely for what they did in the riots. Whereas 
 it is remarkable that of the very few who weie convifled on occafion 
 of the riots in Birmingham, all who wer'; executed were inen of noto- 
 rious bad charafter in other refpefls. And certainly the execution of 
 men who were nniverf.lly confidered as the pefts of fociety, is no pu- 
 i\i(liment for this particular offence, and therefore no warning againft 
 _the commiflion of the like ; fince it will be concluded, that if men be 
 chargeable with nothing but deftroying the property of the Diflenters, 
 they have no punifhment to fear. For either tlie jury will not find 
 them guilty, or the cafe will be lo reprefented to the king that a pardon 
 will certainly be procured. 
 
 f This addrefs, and alfo that of the Diflenters, I (hall infert in the 
 Appendix, No. IX. that the abjee^ fpirit of the one may be compared 
 with the liberal and manly fpirit of the other. 
 
 fall 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 73 
 
 fall under the fufpicion of fcreening the criminals, 
 and therefore partaking in the guilt. 
 
 The clergy, if they had wifhed to walh their 
 hands of this crime, and difclaim the conduft of 
 thofe who call themfelves their friends^ fhould have 
 been the firft to reprobate their proceedings, and 
 to preach moderation and peace. Inftead of this, 
 they have been the firft to calumniate us, and re- 
 prefent the condu6l of the mob in the moft fa- 
 vourable light. Since two meeting-houfes were 
 deftroyed on pretence of fupporting the churchy the 
 leaft that they could have done, and the moft na- 
 tural compenfation for the time, v/ould have been 
 to allow the Diifenters the ufe of their churches, 
 till the meeting-houfes could have been rebuilt. 
 
 This would only have been doing, as a com- 
 penfation for an injury committed by churchmen, 
 what the Difiejiters at Banbury are at this very 
 time doing in favour of the church of England, 
 while the parifh church of that place is rebuilding, 
 though they had no hand in pulling it down. There 
 are feveral places in Germany in which the Catholics 
 and Proteftants conftantly make ufe of the fame 
 place of public worfhip. Such an offer on the part 
 of the clergy, or the bilhop of the diocefe, would 
 have done them the greateft credit, and have con- 
 tributed very much towards exculpating them from 
 having any fhare in the outrage. But this na- 
 tural and eafy method, which would have coft 
 them nothing, nor having been done, they remain 
 without that exculpation. The clergy alfo, and 
 
 other 
 
74 -^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 other principal inhabitants of the tov^n, if they had 
 been properly fenfible of the injury done to myfelf 
 in particular, might have joined in inviting me 
 back again, and doing every thing in their power 
 to make my re-eftablifhment fafe and eafy. 
 
 On the contrary, I am informed from various 
 quarters, that the inveteracy againll me through 
 the town in general, owing to the moft atrocious 
 calumnies, and mifreprefentations, is rather in- 
 creafed than diminifhed, andthat my return would 
 both be hazardous to myfelf, and augment thejr 
 hollility *. 
 
 It is evident, therefore, that we have now no- 
 thing to expeft either from the clergy or laity of 
 the town and neighbourhood of Birmingham, but 
 mull look to the general government of the country j 
 and we hope it will be found that thence we do 
 not look for jultice, adivity, or energy, in vain. 
 
 Had the bifliop of the diocefe fent a proper 
 paftoral letter to the clergy of Birmingham, lament- 
 ing the elFe6ls of party fpirit, and efpecially that 
 any attempts fhould have been made to fupport a 
 chriftian church by fuch unchriftian means as had 
 been employed on that pretence; had he advifed an 
 immediate reparation of the wrongs of the Diflen- 
 ters, and the doing every thing that was in the power 
 of the members of the church of England to reftore 
 
 * In order to fee the ditferent fpirit that aftuates diffenting mini- 
 fters, and the generality of the clergy, with refpefl to the late riots, I 
 would refer my reader to Mr. ScholeHeld's truly chriftian Difcourfe on 
 k'ving our Enemies, and his fpiiited and i\ze\\tVi.i Preface to it. 
 
 the 
 
On the Riots in Birtningham. y^ 
 
 the peace of the town, the inftigators of the riot 
 would before this time have been made afhamed 
 of their conduc^t, and greater harmony than ever 
 might have taken place between the members of 
 the eftablifhed church and the Diflenters. But 
 though many of his flock have behaved like wolves, 
 their conduft has not been reproved by their paftor, 
 at leaft in that public manner which the nature of 
 the cafe required. Confidering the part that many 
 of the lower clerg/ have afted in this bufinefs, the 
 eyes of the country are now upon the bifhopsj 
 and their filence will be conftrued into approba- 
 tion ; efpecially fince much of the bigotry of the 
 prefent times is by many afcribed to their frequent 
 and inflammatory charges againft the Diflenters, 
 and efpecially the Unitarians, not without plain 
 allufions to myfelf in particular. 
 
 In the reigns of king William and queen Ann, 
 the bigotry of the inferior clergy was conftantly 
 checked by the greater liberality of the bifhopsj 
 the lower houfe of convocation being controlled 
 by the upper houfe. But in this reign the high 
 church fpirit has defcended from the fuperior to 
 the inferior clergy. 
 
 If the fpirit of perfecution proceed as it has 
 begun, unchecked by the fuperior clergy of the 
 church of England, I fliall not fcruple to fay of it, 
 as of myftical Babylon in the Revelation (xvili. 4.) 
 Come out of her my people^ lejt ye be partakers of her 
 fins J and that ye receive not cf her plagues. But I 
 hope, and I know better things of many of them, 
 
 and 
 
76 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 and I have great expeftations from their inter- 
 ference. 
 
 Of the two parties in whofe names the outrages 
 at Birmingham were committed, viz. the church 
 and the king, the latter has, in a great meafure, 
 exculpated himfelf, by his proclamation to appre- 
 hend and punifli the rioters. But the former, the 
 boaited ally of the flate (and which, like Cardinal 
 Wolfey, always namxcs herfelf before her king) has 
 not hitherto done any thing in concurrence with 
 her ally, but has taken another coadjutor. Hence- 
 forth, therefore, the cry Ihould be not church and 
 kingi but church and mob. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Of the principal UJc of an eflaUifhed Religion. 
 
 1 CANNOT help obferving on this 
 occafion, that if the flate be at the expence of pro- 
 viding the country with religion^ it fhould be chiefly 
 for the benefit of thofe who itand in the mod need 
 of it, and who would not provide any for themfelves. 
 The better fort of people, as we call them, will be- 
 have orderly and peaceably, which is the great end 
 of civil government, without it. But with us the 
 lower claflfes of the community are nearly in the 
 fame condition as if there was no eftabliflied reli- 
 gion at all. If the inefficacy of an eftabliflied re- 
 ligion to correft the diforders of the lower orders 
 of the people, as manifefted in the riots at Bir- 
 mingham, 
 
On the Riots in Birmi?jghajn. yy 
 
 mingham, does not open the eyes of this country 
 to the true nature of church eftabhfhmentSj it will 
 be difficult to fay what will, and fo great and ferious 
 a lefTon will have been given us in vain. 
 
 In confequence of the too general neglecfl of 
 the lower clafTes of people by the minifters of the 
 eftablifhed church, their profanenefs, brutality, and 
 licentioufnefs, exceed that of the fame clafs of 
 people in any other country whatever, civilized or 
 uncivilized. For thofe whom we cdW/avages have 
 infinitely more regard to decency, equity, and 
 civility, in their condu6t, than the untaught vulgar 
 with us. What thefe learn from a ftate of fociety 
 are the vices to which it gives occafion, and they 
 are fuch as have no place. in what we call the un- 
 civilized part of the world, becaufe, in their cir- 
 cumftances, there is no temptation to them. 
 
 If therefore, there muft be a Jiate religion y and 
 the objedl of this religion be not the emolument of 
 the teachers of it, or the power of the governors in 
 difpofing of thofe emoluments, but to infpire the 
 people with a fenfe of their obligations to God and 
 man, the moft exprefs provifion fhould be made 
 for the inflru6lion of the lower orders of the people, 
 in preference to that of all others. The clergy 
 ihould know them all, and inflrud: them all. But 
 with us too little of this kind is done, nor does 
 there appear much difpofition towards it. 
 
 The greateft part of the real advantage which 
 this country derives from the religion of the lower 
 
 orders 
 
78 A?i Appeal to the Public 
 
 orders of the people cofts it nothing at all, being 
 that which accrues to it from the labours of the 
 Diffenters and Methodifts, wlio have been the 
 means of civilizing and chriftianizing fome of thofe 
 for whofe inftruftion principally the eftablifhed 
 clergy are paid, but who are too generally ne- 
 gleded by them, and are as fheep without a 
 Ihepherd. The country will fooner or later con- 
 fider the cut bcno of this eftablifhment, as well as 
 of every thing elfe in the fyftem for which it fur- 
 nifhes the expence. 
 
 The only thing that has of late years been done 
 in favour of this greatly neglefled part of the com- 
 munity, is the inilitution of Sunday Schools^ which 
 was the happy thought of Mr. Raikes of Gloucefler, 
 a member of the church of England, and which 
 was immediately patronized by the clergy, and the 
 members of the church of England in general. 
 But becaufe many of the Diflenters took them up 
 with more zeal than they, and made better provifion 
 for inftrudting and rewarding Sunday fcholars (fo 
 that their fchools came into greater repute than thofe 
 of the eftablifliment) feveral of the clergy have 
 taken umbrage at them. Some of them have en- 
 deavoured to compel the Diflenters to drop, or 
 reduce, their Sunday Schools, and others who pre- 
 tend to more fagacity than the reft, now fay that 
 they never approved of the fcheme, becaufe they 
 forefaw that it would be the means of adding to 
 the number of the Diflfenters, a thing which they 
 evidently confider as a greater evil than that fhame- 
 ful ignorance and profligacy of the poor, which this. 
 
 excellent 
 
On the "Riots in Birmingham, 79 
 
 excellent fcheme is calculated to remove. See Br. 
 'Latham's Letters. 
 
 In this cafe it fhould be confidered out of what 
 clafs of the community is the addition to the Dif- 
 fenters made. Is it not out of that which, previous 
 to this meafure, had no religion at all ? The clergy 
 in general are far from adopting this unchriftian 
 maxim, and in fome places they aft in concert with 
 the Diflenters, in a fcheme the objedl of which is 
 common chriftianity, and common utility. 
 
 When an account fhall be taken of the advan- 
 tages and di fad vantages of civil eftablifhments of 
 religion, every injury done by perfecution fhould be 
 placed on the per contra fide. For the different fedls 
 of DifTenters in this country, where there is an efla- 
 blifhment, and the different religious denominations 
 in North America, where there is none, never mo- 
 left one another, but live in good neighbourhood 
 and fricndfhip. It is when one fe6l enjoys temporal 
 advantages from which the refl are excluded, that 
 a bone of contention is thrown among them ; and 
 then the envy of the depreffed party, but much 
 more the jealoufy and fpirit of domination, the 
 natural offspring of fower, in the party that is fa- 
 voured, may do infinite mifchief. For the fpirit of 
 church eftablifliments, which is ever jealous and 
 vindiftive, is not peculiar to them. It is the fpirit 
 not of religion in particular, but of all monopolies. 
 Nor are the clergy fo much to be complained of. 
 Men in general are the fame. They ^VQfyJiems and 
 injiitutions, that corrupt mankind. 
 
So An Appeal to the Public 
 
 In all thofe who have pofleflion of power, 
 there too eafily arifes the idea, that what cannot 
 be accomplilhed by argument in favour of their 
 fyftem, may be effedled with much more eafe and 
 certainty by external force. Hence, inftead of an- 
 fwering our books, the members of the church of 
 England at Birmingham, have burned them, to- 
 gether with our houfes and places of public wor- 
 Ihip. If fuch a proceeding as this either breaks 
 the fpirit, or lefTens the number, of Diflenters, it 
 will be the firft experiment of the kind that has 
 fucceeded. But the heroic aftors in this bufinefs 
 probably never heard that any fuch experiment 
 had ever been tried before. 
 
 I fhall conclude this article with obferving, that 
 .it is ufual to praife every exifting reign, as great 
 and glorious, and to afcribe every thing that the 
 age produces to the prince upon the throne. But 
 whatever other advantages have accrued to this 
 country during the prefent reign, I will venture to 
 fay that, if the defpicable fpirit of bigotry and into- 
 lerance continue to prevail, unchecked by govern- 
 ment, as it has done of late years, it will (confider- 
 ing the increafing light of the age in every other 
 country in Europe) be one of the mod dilgrace- 
 ful in the annals of Britain. There was fome- 
 thing plaufible in the perfecution of chriftians by 
 heathens, and in that of Proteftants by Catholics, 
 becaufe they introduced great innovations, and 
 great and unknown confequences were dreaded 
 from them. They were religions of yefterday 
 
 overturning 
 
Of2 the Rtofs hi Birmmgham. 8 1 
 
 overturning eftabliihments of the remotell: anti- 
 quity. But the perfecution of one feft of Protef- 
 tants by another, all equally novelties, and very 
 much refembling one another, is nothing better 
 than the mutual perfecution of the Sonnites and 
 Shiites in Mahomedan countries, or than that of 
 the Littleendians of Lilliput by the Bigendians, 
 
 A great number 'of the clergy, however, are 
 men of other minds. They are fenfible of the 
 abufes of their fyftem, and earneftly wifh for a 
 reform. They refpedt the Diffenters, and are al- 
 ways ready to afl in concert with them, wherever 
 humanity or common chriflianity is concerned. 
 Thefe are generally called low churchmen y while 
 thofe of the high church -party, which is certainly 
 greatly encreafed of late years, are ftrenuous advo- 
 cates for continuing every thing as it is, and op- 
 pofing all innovation, that is, every reform. They 
 hate, and they dread, all Diffenters, except the 
 quietefl among them, who neither fpeak nor write 
 any thing on the fubjedl of their difTent, and 
 who, like all other Dififenters, generally pay them 
 better, and more chearfully, than their other pa- 
 rifhioners. Such Diffenters as thefe they might 
 not be very forry to fee increafe. 
 
 SECTION 
 
82 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Of the Importance of a good Police in a well con- 
 flituted State, 
 
 W E may learn from the late riots 
 in Birmingham, as well as from thofe in London 
 in 1780, the neceflity of having a force always 
 ready to repel an undifciplined mob. On either 
 of thefe occafions, twenty men armed with muf- 
 quets, and only a general knowledge of the ufe of 
 them, would at any time have difperfed the rioters. 
 And how eafy would it be to have many times 
 this fmall force in conftant readinefs in every town 
 and parifh in the kingdom, without having re- 
 courfe to a fianding army, at the command of the 
 crown only, which is the bane of all free flates. 
 Let all the reputable inhabitants of any town, or 
 parifh, be provided with fire arms, and exercifed 
 in the ufe of them, and no riots would ever be 
 attempted. 
 
 What objeflion any wife and juft government 
 can have to this meafure, I do not fee ; and with- 
 out a provifion of this kind, we are difappointed 
 v/ith refpeft to the principal advantage that a ftate 
 of fociet^ and government holds out to us, which 
 is protedlion from lawlefs violence, and the benefit 
 of a fair trial for any offences of which we are 
 
 accufed. 
 
On the Riots in Birminghmn, 83 
 
 accufed. While men offend againft n(5 law, they 
 lliould enjoy the proteflion of the law, and if they 
 do offend, they flioiild be tried and punilhed ac- 
 cording to law. This is the firft rule in all civil 
 Ibciety, and yet in this country there is at this 
 moment a too general exultation, that this rule 
 has been violated in the cafe of the Diffenters in 
 general, and of myfelf in particular, though we 
 have done no injury to fociety whatever. 
 
 It is fomething extraordinary that perfons ufed 
 to a ftatc of law and government fhould not be 
 ftruck with the impropriety of making a mob 
 both the judges, and executioners, of law, and that 
 in a ftate of intoxication, when they are not capable 
 of hearing any reafon. In the prefent cafe, on the 
 fimple affertion of fome malicious perfon, that I 
 drank no church no king^ and the king's head in a 
 charger, at a place where I was not prefent, and 
 that I was the author of a hand-bill which I had 
 barely heard of, I am inftantly, without examina- 
 tion of myfelf, or my accufer, expofed to fuffer 
 infinitely more than I fhould have done if 1 had 
 been adually guilty of all thefe offences, and the 
 whole charge had been proved in a court of law. 
 For that could only have amounted to fine and 
 imprifonment. It would not have involved the in- 
 nocent labours of my pad life. The fentence of 
 the law would not have been the burning of my 
 houfe, without giving me an opportunity of re- 
 moving any thing out of it, the deftrudion of my 
 library, apparatus, and manufcripts. 
 
 G 2 Suppofmg 
 
84 -^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 Suppofing the Diflenters Ihould have had recourfe 
 to fimilar methods of revenge, which would have 
 been more juftifiable, as not having been the ag- 
 grejfors., and have burned church for church, houfe 
 for houfe, library for library, &c. &c. into what a 
 ilate of anarchy, worfe than civil war, would the 
 whole country have been thrown. The worft that 
 my enemies can fay of me is that I wifh to fet up 
 a republican form of government; but this is at 
 leaft fome form of government, whereas thofe who 
 planned, and dire6led, the proceedings at Birming- 
 ham, went by no fort of government at all ; having 
 adopted the very meafures which all governments 
 whatever were intended to guard againft*. 
 
 Since the Diflenters are clearly innocent of 
 what has been fo generally laid to their charge, 
 and for which they have fufi^ered fo feverely, we 
 may apply to their cafe the proverb ufed on a 
 
 * Some, however, take it for granted, that by a republican form 
 of government, is meant no government at all, but to leave all people 
 at liberty to a6l as they pleafed, from the impulfe of the moment. 
 Thus the Ghoft in the poem from Chefter is made to fay, 
 
 " How couldft thou preach that mobs might rule." 
 
 A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine for September, 1791, p. 191, 
 whofe fignature is Oedipus, fays of me, " His own engine the mob, 
 " which he vainly imagined he could wield with ability, and with 
 " which he has in the prefent inftance threatened the eftablifhment of 
 " his country, has at laft recoiled upon him with ten-fold violence. 
 *' That Dr. Prieftley has done all in his power to ftir up the people 
 *' in oppofition to government, is a faft eafdy proved." That Mr. 
 Nichols, a man who has fome pretentions to literature, fhould fuffer 
 this publication, which goes into the hands of mod men of letters, to 
 be the hackneyed vehicle of fuch impudent and malicious falfehoods, 
 againft a perfon in my fituation, will to many appear extraordinary. 
 But he ranks with high churchmen, and on fuch, in the cafe of Dif- 
 fenters, juftice and humanity feera to have np claim. 
 
 fimilar 
 
0« the Riots in Birmi?2gham. S5 
 
 fimllar occafion by our Saviour (who, however, 
 was not punifhed without the form of law, and the 
 authority of the chief niagiftrate) If thefe things 
 be done in the green treCy what jhall he done in the 
 dry. If the innocent fuffer thus much, what have 
 the guilty to expedt ? 
 
 It was a blind and furious zeal for the law, the 
 eflablifhed religion of the country, a religion ap- 
 pointed by God himfelf, and the lawlefs violences 
 to which their zeal led thofe of the Jews who were 
 termed zealots, that preceded, and brought on, the 
 deftru6tion of Jerufalemj and thofe zealots were 
 not more blind and furious than the friends of the 
 church of England at Birmingham, and in many 
 other parts of this country. Let thofe of them 
 who are able, read Jofephus, and take warning. 
 
 The number of fuch defperate and profligate 
 wretches in this country as were inftigated to law- 
 lefs havoc and plunder, on the pretence of fupport- 
 ing the church and ilate, at Birmingham, and who 
 will be equally ready to plunder on any other pre- 
 tence, almoft exceeds belief, and we have more to 
 dread from them than from all our other evils put 
 together. Indeed, they all point to this. 
 
 Whenever the difficulties of this country fhall 
 encreafe, fo that thefe people can neither be em- 
 ployed, nor fed, (and from more caufes than one 
 we draw nearer to this fituation every day) every 
 great town in England, if no provifion be made 
 
 againft 
 
86 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 agalnfl it, may be expected to exhibit fuch fcenes 
 as Birmingham has lately done, and as London did 
 in the year 1780; when the labour of ages may be 
 fwept away in a day, and this whole country, at 
 prefent the pride of the world, may become a fcene 
 of general defolation. It has within itfelf the ample 
 feeds of fuch calamity, in the prodigious number of 
 the ignorant, the profligate, and the profane part of 
 the lower orders of the community, whom the im- 
 policy of our foor laws chiefly, has rendered utterly 
 averfe to labour and economy, to a degree far below 
 that of any of the brute creation. Our common 
 foldiers are chiefly of this clafs, and cafes may arife, 
 in which little dependence can be placed upon them, 
 for preferving the peace and good order of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 The efl:abliflied clergy give little attention to 
 the morals of this mod depraved part of the com- 
 munity; nor indeed is it in their power to do much. 
 But the cafe requires the immediate attention of 
 government, if our fl:atefmen mean to do any thing 
 more than put ofl^ the evil day from their own times, 
 contenting themfelves with temporary expedients, 
 inftead of fubftantial remedies. 
 
 If our lives and properties are to be at the 
 mercy of the mob, which may rife, and commit its 
 premeditated ravages, without giving us any warn- 
 ing; and if there be no redrefs but in a military 
 force, and that frequently at a confiderable diftance; 
 if this redrefs depend on the arbitrary will of the 
 
 crown i 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 87 
 
 crown; let any perfon fay in what our condition 
 differs from that of perfedt defpotifm-y our imperfedt 
 fecurity from the greateft injuries arifing not from 
 • law, and regular government, but from arbitrary will. 
 It would be a government in the ftrifteft fenfe of 
 the word military, and much worfe than that which 
 is ufually fo called j becaufe in it there is at leaft 
 fome known mode of proceeding. 
 
 Such, however, is the prefent fituation of this 
 country, that there appears to be no effedtuai 
 remedy for this great evil, but in voluntary aflb- 
 ciations for felf-defence ; and this is little lefs than 
 fuperadding a new government, at a great expence, 
 to fupply the defeats of an old one, which is already 
 the moft expenfive in the world. It is fo far from 
 being improper, or illegal, for men to defend 
 themfelves, and their property, from lawlefs vio- 
 lence, by any fufficient means, fire-arms not ex- 
 cepted, that it is highly commendable to do it. 
 See Sir William Jones's excellent tradl on The 
 legal Method of Jufprejfing Riots, 
 
 In the riots at Birmingham relief was fent as 
 foon as poflible, the expedition of the troops was 
 extraordinary; and thanks were certainly due to 
 thofe who adluallv faved the town, and efpecially 
 the DiiTc^nters in it, from total deftrudion. £ut 
 had government been rennfs, or the troops tardy j 
 nay, had the expreffes been delayed, as they 
 
 might 
 
88 An Appeal to the Public « 
 
 might have been, by accident : and if, from any of 
 thefe caufes, the fury of the mob had continued un- 
 reftrained a fingle day longer (in which cafe it is 
 the general opinion that the town would have been 
 on fire) where could have been the remedy, when 
 fuch a town as Birmingham, and the manufaftures 
 of it, had been loft to the kingdom? Should the 
 fafety of a wile nation depend upon refources fo 
 precarious as thefe ? 
 
 Let thofe who are not difpleafed with mobs 
 when they think that they only execute fummary 
 juftice on thofe whom the laws cannot reach, con- 
 fider how hazardous a weapon they wilh to employ, 
 and how difficult it is to dire£t it. None of 
 thofe who promo Led the riots in Birmingham had, 
 I am perfuaded, any intention that the mifchief 
 fhould have proceeded fo far as it did j and I fhould 
 not wonder if the time come when the fame lawlefs 
 rabble, who lately fliouted Church and king^ fliould 
 take up the cry of No church, no king, or at leaft 
 that of No game laws, no tythes, no excj/e. Nothing 
 is wanting but an artful leader. 
 
 Who does not recolleft how the tide of popular 
 favour has turned both with refpeft to our prefent 
 fovereign, and the prefent king of France. No 
 princes ever came to their crowns with more ge- 
 neral popularity. But in a few years the cafe was 
 fo much the reverfe in this country, that the king 
 
 conftantly 
 
On the Riots in Bii^mingham, 89 
 
 conftantly went abroad, if not annidft the hifTes 
 (which was fometimes the cafe) yet with the moft 
 marked and difrefpeflfui filence, of the people in 
 general*. The cafe is now happily reverfed, and 
 the prefent reign is likely to clofe with as much 
 popularity as it began, 
 
 "Who was ever more idolized than the prefent 
 king of France, and yet what was not thought, and 
 openly faid of him, on his late return to Paris ? / 
 And he is now likely to be more, and more juftly, 
 popular than ever. Both thefe princes, however, 
 are, no doubt, the very fame that they ever were. 
 The change has been in the people, and in their 
 ideas of them. 
 
 The late king of France was almoft idolized at 
 the time of his illnefs at Rheims. Had he been 
 literally the father of every family in the nation, 
 they could not have appeared to feel more for him 
 than they did. Yet though there was little change 
 in his principles or condudl, into what univerfal 
 contempt did he fink before he died. Wife men 
 
 * I never faw a greater croud on any occafion than on the king's 
 once going through St. James's park to the houfe of Peers, at the be- 
 ginning of the American war, and becaufe one man, probably from 
 the country, pulled off his hat as the coach paffed clofe to him, he was 
 very near being knocked down for it by thofe who were next to him. 
 It was the conftant cnftom for years to let the king's chair pafs without 
 any notice, at the fame time that every perfon put off his hat in the 
 moft refpe(5lfu] manner to the queen. When, as by a kind of irrefiftible 
 impulfe, I was at one time going to pull off mine to the king, the perfon 
 I was walking with, perceiving that I was putting up my hand for that 
 purpofe, checked me, by faying that if I did, I (hould certainly be in- 
 fulted. 
 
 will 
 
90 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 will refled on thefe things, and the caufes of them ; 
 and from the changes that have taken place, they 
 will not be furprized at any others of the fame 
 kind, as great, and as fudden. 
 
 SECTION viir. 
 
 ^he Impolicy of checking ths natural Exprejfion of 
 Men's Setttiments, 
 
 ^O many leffons as hiftory holds out to 
 us of the kind, I cannot help exprefling fome fur- 
 prize, that the pretended friends of our govern- 
 ment fliould endeavour to fupprefs the natural 
 ebullition of men's minds by fpeaking, writing, or 
 public entertainments. No attempts of this kind 
 can prevent men's thinking. Nay, thefe meafures 
 have never failed to make men think the more, 
 and the fooner to have recourfe to other methods 
 of exprefling their fentiments, infinitely more haz- 
 ardous to the public peace. 
 
 What did the late government of France gain 
 by the molt rigorous meafures of this kind, re- 
 ftraining all liberty of the prefs, and preventing, as 
 far as power could do it, all the ufual modes of 
 exprefling men's fentiments ? In thefe circum.- 
 ^^ncQS, prohibited hooks ^\^ infinitely more mifchief, 
 
 as 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. g i 
 
 as it would be called, than any that could have 
 been publifhed; and private converfation, in this 
 ftate of reftralnt, did more mifchief than any books 
 whatever. For the Revolution, as is evident, found 
 the whole nation, thofe who could not read, as well 
 as thofe who could, fully ripe for the change ; while 
 to thofe who were unacquainted with the natural 
 progrefs of things, there feemed to be an inflanta- 
 neous, and almoft miraculous, tranfition, from ido- 
 lizing their kings, to a contempt and deteftation of 
 kingly government, till, on farther refiedion, they 
 acquiefced in the prefent medium. 
 
 On the other hand, Englifhmen, being ufed to 
 write and to fpeak freely, and to have convivial 
 meetings whenever they pleafed, are generally con- 
 tent with giving vent to their fentiments in thefe 
 ways, and never think of any thing farther. But if 
 this outlet to their natural feelings be lliut, they 
 will certainly find fome other, much more alarm- 
 ing, than dinners, toafts, and fongs. It may be like 
 the flopping the mouth of a volcano, the confe- 
 quence of which would be the convulfion of all 
 the country. If there is to be a revolution in this 
 country, fimilar to that which has taken place in 
 France (though our fituation is fuch as by no means 
 to require it) attempts to deter men by illegal vio- 
 lence from doing what the law does not forbid, 
 will, I am confident, bring it on in half the time. 
 Men, who do not like to be infulied, will at length 
 be piepared to refill violence by violence; and 
 from fuch accidental and inconfiderate fparks as 
 
 thefe 
 
92 A)! Appeal to the Public 
 
 thefe, a civil war may be lighted up, and confe- 
 quences may follow which the wifeft among us 
 cannot forefee. 
 
 They who take any ferious umbrage at fuch 
 meetings as thofe for the celebration of the French 
 Revolution, throw the greatell refieftion on the 
 prefent reign, and moft endanger the prefent happy 
 tranquility of it. For it is to reprefent it as no 
 better than the reign of Tiberius, a reign of uni- 
 verfal fufpicion, and of real dangers arifing from 
 imaginary ones. That government muft be con- 
 fcious of its extreme weaknefs, or be actuated by 
 the moft wanton cruelty, that can ferioufly refent 
 fuch trifling infults as thefe, admitting, what is by 
 no means true, that they were intended for infults. 
 
 The wifeft, and in all refpe6ts the beft method, 
 is to indulge men in the freeft exprefTion of their 
 natural fentiments, and even to encourage the fulleft 
 difcufTicn of all topics, of a civil as well as of a re- 
 ligious nature, in order that one opinion and one 
 reafon may combat another, and that all truth, 
 religious, philofophical, or political, may prevail, 
 and eftablifti itfelf, without obftruflion. By this 
 gende and generous proceeding, no convulfion will 
 ever happen in any ftate. The public opinion will 
 thus be formed gradually, and have its natural and 
 eafy operation, producing changes as they are 
 wanted; and grievances will not be permitted to 
 accumulate, till the mafs fliall be fo great, as to 
 force its way through all oppofition, 
 
 This 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 9^ 
 
 This maxim is equally true with refpefb to the 
 church, or the ftate. If the clergy made no oppo- 
 fition to the encreafing light of the age, but would 
 themfelves fpeculate freely on every fubjeft relating 
 to their own fituation, and that of the country, no- 
 thing would ever hurt any individual of them. 
 Should the confequence of this free difcufiion, and 
 gradual change in the pubhc mind, be the abolition 
 of tythes, they would not be lofers by it ; becaufe, 
 if they themfelves fhould heartily concur in the 
 meafure, fome better, and no lefs ample, provifion 
 would be made for them. Should they allow a 
 revifion of the public creeds, articles, and liturgy, 
 the prefent fubfcriprion might be dropped, and any 
 other alteration made, without affeding their reve- 
 nues, or the general fyftem. 
 
 Should the clergy proceed a ftep farther, and 
 acknowledge that the feat of the bifhops in the 
 houfe of Lords (which had no other origin than the 
 now antiquated feudal fyftem) was unfuitable to 
 their fpiritual charadler; and of their own accord 
 withdraw themfelves from Parliament, it would 
 be with a dignity which would eftablilh them 
 in the good-will of the people, and preferve their 
 rank in other refpefts, for ages. 
 
 But by proceeding on their prefent plan of a 
 dread of all innovation^ and altering nothing, not- 
 withftanding the increafing light of the age, they 
 lead many perfons to conclude, that they are deter- 
 mined to hear no reafon, and that, from a regard 
 
 to 
 
94 ^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 to their temporal honours and emoluments only, 
 they wilfully Hiut their ears to the cleareft voice of 
 truth. 
 
 By this means the whole fyilem of the civil 
 eftablilhment of chriftianity will be fufpefted to be 
 irreconcilable to the caufe of religious truth, and 
 civil liberty; and on the firft great change in the 
 Hate of public affairs, there will be fome hazard of 
 the country rejecting it as a nuifance, without fub- 
 ftituting any thing in its place. 
 
 It is eafy to make fimiliar remarks with refpeft 
 to the fyftem of civil government. A more equal 
 reprefentation of the commons in Parliament is 
 moft evidently wanted; and if this, and other ne- 
 ceffary reforms, be long withheld, the whole fyftem 
 will be endangered, though it is not eafy to forefee 
 in what manner the danger will come, or how far 
 the evil attending a fudden change of fyftem, in a 
 fituation fo critical and complicated as ours, will 
 extend. 
 
 SECTION- 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 95' 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Confiderations relating to Perfecutioriy and the Con- 
 Jequences of it, 
 
 JVlANY of the friends of the church, 
 as they are called, freely indulge themfelves in re- 
 joicing at the calamities of the diflenting fiifferers 
 at Birmingham, without having any idea of their 
 being aftuated by a fpirit oi ferfecution. This fpirit, 
 it is fomething remarkable, all who have ever per- 
 fecuted have difclaimed j thinking their condu(5t 
 abundantly juftified by the difpofition, and behaviour, 
 of the fufFerers \ and it has almoft always been pre- 
 tended, that thefe have been punifhed not for their 
 opinion s, but for difiiirhing the fiat e. 
 
 This was conftantly alleged by all the heathen 
 perlecutors. Though the Chriftians were the moft 
 innocent and peaceable of men, they were con- 
 fidered as enemies of the Roman government, and 
 punifhed as for civil offences. The Catholics alfo, 
 at the time of the reformation, treated herefy as 
 a thing that was dangerous to the civil power, 
 and thus were influenced by political, as well 
 as religious confiderations. Both Philip II. and 
 Lewis XIV. thought Proteftants to be had fubje5iSy 
 whofe aim it was to make difturbance in the ftate , 
 and this is precifely the chara6ler under which 
 
 the 
 
g6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 the zealots of the church of England are continually 
 exhibiting the Diflenters. Though it is unqueftion- 
 able, that the DilTenters in the late reigns were the 
 beft friends of the family on the throne, and the 
 clergy in general difafFefted to It, wifhing, and not 
 very fecretly, for the re-eflablilhment of the Stuarts, 
 they now have the aflurance to charge us with dif- 
 afFedlion. And with the idea, however abfurd, that 
 what they do is purely defenfivcy and merely to 
 prevent injury to themfelves (who they muft know 
 are placed far beyond the reach of our -power ^ if it 
 was our wijh, to hurt them) would without re- 
 morfe be guilty of every outrage upon our pro- 
 perty, and our perfons too, that the heathens and 
 Catholics ever gave into. 
 
 Our Saviour apprized his difciples that they 
 who killed them would think they did God Jervice. 
 Paul thought that he did right in perfecuting the 
 chriflians, even unto death, and the bigoted Jews 
 in general perfecuted through ignorance. But were 
 they, therefore, innocent? And did not the juft 
 judgments of God overtake that infatuated nation 
 on this very account? There is a kind of ignorance 
 that is highly criminal, arifing not only from neg- 
 le6t of making enquiry, which itfelf arifes from 
 criminal prejudice, but from a fecret malignity of 
 temper, which conceals itfelf under the notion of 
 zeal for religion. 
 
 That perfons frequently miftake the real mo- 
 tives of their own conduct, and thereby form a 
 
 wrong 
 
On the Riots at Birmingham, 97 
 
 wrong judgment of their own charaders, is noto- 
 rious. What man ever thought himfelf to be co- 
 vetous, though all the world faw him to be fo in 
 the extreme ? Or what man ever thought himfelf 
 proud, and yet pride is certainly not banifhed from 
 the world ? Nay, did ever any man, except in re- 
 flefting on his condu6t afterwards, think himfelf 
 a bad hufband, a bad father, or a bad mafter? 
 And yet there certainly are fuch charafters. Men 
 always find excufes for their own condu(5t. 
 
 Can we wonder then, that no man ever thought 
 himfelf to be a perfecutor ? And is it not, there- 
 fore, very pofTible, that the church of England may 
 be in a high degree intolerant and perfecuting, 
 without acknowledging, or even feeing it. But the 
 ^ueftion is, whether, notwithftanding this good 
 opinion of herfelf, fhe be not truly fo, and whether 
 Ihe be not liable to the juft judgments of God on that 
 account. Let the members of this church examine 
 themfelves on this head ; and for this purpofe I (hall 
 take the liberty to furnifh them with a few queries, 
 arifing from the prefent circumftances of things. 
 
 Did they not, previous to the riots in Bir- 
 mingham, wifli myfelf, and other oppofers of the 
 do6lrine of the trinity, to be filenced by other 
 means than by argument ? Several of thofe who 
 engaged in public controverfy with me on this 
 fubjed gave fufficient intimation of their wifh for 
 the interpofition of the civil power, and I doubt 
 not lamented that the circumftances of the times 
 
 H were 
 
98 An Appeal to the "Public 
 
 were unfavourable to fuch a mode of filencing us. 
 And what is perfecution, but the application of 
 force in the place of argument ? 
 
 Did thofe who exclaimed the moft againft us fo 
 much as read our writings ? It is well known 
 that, when the quefticn has been put to many of 
 them, they have not only anfwered in the nega- 
 tive, but have even expreffed a kind of horror at 
 the propofal, and have ftrongly diffuaded others 
 from reading. Now what is this but a proof of 
 extreme bigotry ? And is not bigotry the natural 
 parent of intolerance and perfecution ? 
 
 Did not great numbers of the clergy exprefs a 
 real fatisfaftion in the riots, when they heard that 
 the meeting- houfes, and every thing belonging to 
 myfelf, were deftroyed ; and would they have been 
 forry if I had perifhed too, manifeflly illegal and 
 unjuft as this method of obtaining their end was ? 
 The cleigyman who openly expreffed the fatisfac- 
 tion he fhould have in burning me alive was, I am 
 informed, one of the weaker of his brethren, but I 
 doubt not, he expreffed the real fentiments of many 
 others*. Now every perfon who was not dif- 
 pleafed with the ad, is, in the eye of reafon and of 
 
 * How far the ideas of fome perfons went on this occafion may 
 be feen in the following paper written in a large print-hand, and found 
 at Beiconsfield. " It is ronfi^iently reported from Birmingham and 
 *< London, that fliould the Diflenters aitempt any thing farther againft 
 ** t'le king, church, or ftate, they will provoke the true patriot-re- 
 ** fenf»nent, and nothing lefs will difpenfe or fatisfy them, but the ex- 
 *' tiip;ft!0)i of the whole race of Diffenterafrom this kingdom, or total 
 *' deftruftion to a man." 
 
 God, 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, gg 
 
 God, an abettor of it, and a partaker of the guilt. 
 I therefore leave it to the confciences of the clergy 
 in general, and at leaft thofe who clafs with the, high 
 church party, whether this was not their cafe, and 
 confequently whether they ought not to clafs with 
 perfecutors. Little do many of the clergy know 
 what fpirit they are really of, or to what degrees of 
 violence their principles, or tempers, would lead 
 them. It is not neceffary, in order to be perfe- 
 cutors, that they themfelves commit a6ts of vio- 
 lence. They Ihould be forry for them, and endea- 
 vour to prevent them. 
 
 Perfecution aflumes a variety of forms, and is 
 generally progrefilve. The edift of Nantes was 
 not revoked without many previous fteps, and the 
 clergy and the court of France Ihewed their ill-will 
 to the Proteftants by thwarting them, and harrafling 
 them, in many indire6t ways, before they threw off 
 the mafk, and perfecuted openly. Still, they did 
 not allow themfelves to be per/ecutorSy becaufe pro- 
 teftantifm was always tolerated in France, though 
 on hard conditions, and Proteftants were never by 
 law excluded from civil employments, at the ap- 
 pointment of the crown, as Diflenters are in this 
 country. But perfecution takes one form in one 
 place, and a different one in another. 
 
 In the unqueftionably perfecuting reigns of 
 Elizabeth, and the Stuarts, the Puritans were not 
 put to death. But they were fo much harrafled in 
 
 H 2 various 
 
100 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 various ways, that they were glad to take refuge in 
 the then inhofpitable climes of America, a country 
 worfe than defert. But they preferred the neigh- 
 bourhood of the natural favages of America, to that 
 of the artificial, but more cruel, favages of Europe. 
 By perfeverance they conquered all their diffi- 
 culties, and when the hand of oppreffion was 
 ftretched towards them in our own times, they 
 nobly refilled, and conquered again in another way» 
 The hberty of America was the proper parent of 
 that of France j and thus, in the wonderful order 
 of Divine Providence, has oppreffion, civil and re- 
 ligious, been the caufe of a greater extenfion of 
 liberty than the world had ever known before. 
 
 A lefs degree of perfecution will now induce 
 the defcendants of thofe Puritans to join their bre- 
 thren in America, or the common fons of liberty 
 nearer home ; either of whom would receive them 
 with open arms. Let the governors of the country 
 attend to this confideration, before the evil be fo 
 far advanced, as that nothing can prevent its far- 
 ther progrefs. And rich as this country is boafted 
 to be, in refources of all kinds, it is not, I appre- 
 hend, in fo very flourilhing a condition, as to ven- 
 ture upon fuch an experiment as that of the ex- 
 pulfion of the Diffenters from England (which 
 would have much more ferious confequences than 
 that of the Morifco's from Spain) without greater 
 rilk than its moft fanguine friends would chufe. The 
 American war had a flighcer commencement than 
 
 the 
 
0;/ the Riots in Birmijigham, i o i 
 
 the riots in Birmingham, and the animofity againft 
 the Diflenters is now more general, and more in- 
 veterate, than it ever was againft the Americans. 
 Verbum Sapienti. Principiis ohjla. 
 
 I well know that our enemies would rejoice in 
 our emigration*, without ever refieding that pre- 
 ceding emigrations on fimilar accounts have never 
 diminifhed the fource from which they fprung. 
 Though the revocation of the edift of Nantz drove* 
 immenfe numbers of Proteftants from France, the 
 number within the country v/as not leflened. To 
 extirpate feftaries is not lb eafy a bufinefs as to ex- 
 tirpate offenfive plants, or animals ; becaufe a man 
 who is not a feftary to-day may become one to- 
 morrow. With care, the whole fpecies of afhes, 
 or elms, for example, might be extirpated ; efpe- 
 cially in an ifland. But it would foon be found to 
 be labour in vain, if oaks, beeches, and all other 
 trees, fiiould be converted into afhes or elms. In 
 facl, to extirpate Unitarians, may come to be the 
 fame thing as to extirpate the human race. 
 
 A trinitarian, in confequence of reading and 
 thinking, may become an unitarian, as was the cafe 
 with myfelf It is poffible that even a bifhop, and 
 that bifhop he who now occupies the fee of St. 
 David's, may become an unitarian. For though 
 he fome time ago declared that he had not read my 
 
 * This appears from feveral publications of the high church party 
 
 fmce the riots. 
 
 H 3 BtfiGry 
 
102 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 Hijiory cf early Opinions concerning Chriji^ he (till 
 may read it, and may be convinced by it. It is 
 alfo within the fphere oi fojfihility .^ that an unitarian 
 biihop may, as he ought to do, declare himfelf 
 one, and become a DifTenter. The fame may be 
 the cafe with thofe of the learned laity who have 
 written in defence of the prefent church eflablifh- 
 ment*j and the converfion of fuch men as thefe 
 may foon draw others after them. 
 
 To thofe who are at all acquainted with hif- 
 tory, I need not obferve that the perfecution of the 
 Proteftants in France proved highly injurious to 
 that kingdom. Men of property and of enter- 
 terprize were the firft to emigrate, and they foon 
 drew others after them, and in a few years formed 
 eftablilliments in foreign countries, which rivalled, 
 and afterwards eclipfed, thofe which they had left. 
 
 Birmingham will not forget how much it owes 
 to thr ingenuity and fpirit of one man, and that 
 man a DifTenter, the father of one of thofe whofe 
 property has been fo wantonly deftroyed. The 
 difference between Birmingham and the neighbour- 
 ing towns is almoft entirely owing to the Ipirited 
 example of the late Mr. Taylor. Had he been 
 
 * This may be the cafe with Mr. Burke himfelf. He is not def- 
 titute of candour, any more than of good fe'nfe, and therefore may 
 come to fee, and acknowledge, that one cannot be three, or three, onsy 
 which is our great argument ; and though it may be too much to ex- 
 pe6l,of/jz/« to read my Hijiory of early Opinions, or my Defences of 
 Vnitarianifm, he may read my Appeal to the ferious Profejfors of Chrif- 
 tianity, or my General Fienv of Arguments againji the Di'vinity or 
 Pre-exijience of Chrifi the perufal of which would not take an hour. 
 
 treated 
 
On the Riots In "Birmingham. 103 
 
 treated as his fon has been, and carried his enterpriz - 
 ing fpirit into France, fome town in that country 
 might have been what Birmingham now is. 
 
 I jfhall jufl mention three other men now liv- 
 ing, and all of them DiiTrnters, whofe fpirit has fo 
 much improved, that they may be almofl faid to 
 have created^ their feveral manufaftures, from which 
 this country already derives the greateft honour 
 and advantage, Mr. Wedgwood, Mr. "Wilkinfon, 
 and Mr. Parker. Such rAen as thefe are the makers 
 of countries ; and yet fuch men as thefe, if not thefe 
 men themfelves, would the mad bigotry of this 
 country exult in feeing depart for France, America, 
 or Ireland; and many would think themfelves 
 happy in being quit of them. But what will their 
 pofterity fay, or perhaps themfelves, a few years 
 hence ? 
 
 The French want nothing but the example of 
 the Englifli method, and fpirit, in trade, to rival us 
 in all refpe6ts. They are not inferior in ingenuity, 
 or induftry i and feeing the wonderful effedls of large 
 capitals employed in manufadlures and commerce, 
 and efpecially the ability which it affords of giving 
 credit, they will from this time employ the money 
 they get in trade to better purpofes than the pur- 
 chafe of places, and titles. Having no court to look 
 up to, and depend upon, they will immediately 
 adopt our maxims, and the removal of a few Eng- 
 lifh manufadlurers and merchants may inftantly de- 
 
 H 4 cide 
 
104 -^'^ Appeal to' the Public 
 
 cide the difference in their favour. And what a 
 figure will this country then make, with its en- 
 creafing debts, and enormoufly expenfive govern- 
 ment, without any fuperiority with refpeft to ma- 
 nufa6lures and commerce ? Will pulling down 
 diflenting meeting - houfes, and dwelling - houfes, 
 with the deftruftion of libraries, and philofophical 
 inftruments, and drinking damnation to Prefby- 
 terians, reftore the balance in favour of England? 
 This conduct has already, in the eyes of all Europe, 
 covered the country with* (liame, and may be fol- 
 lowed by ruin ; and then repentance, which has 
 not come yet, will come too late. 
 
 Gonfidering the great number of Dififenters in 
 all the trading towns of the kingdom, and the num- 
 ber of wealthy families who are continually going 
 from the Diffenters into the church, it may not 
 much exceed the truth, if we fuppofe that one half 
 of the wealth of the nation has been the acquifition 
 of Diffenters. It is the opinion of many, that envy 
 of the profperity of Diffenters was one confiderable 
 ftimulus to the mifchief that was done to them at 
 Birmingham. But the wanton deftru6tion of wealth 
 acquired by honeft induftry, is not the way to make 
 a nation flourifh, and enable it to bear its burdens. 
 
 The only effedual remedy of the evil, which 
 has fhewn itfelf at Birmingham, and which threatens 
 the kingdom at large, is fuch as the fpirit of the 
 clergy at prefent will very ill brook. It is nothing 
 
 lefs 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 105 
 
 lefs than making religious toleration complete, which 
 it can never be faid to be, fo long as any man fhall 
 be a fufFerer in his civil capacity on account of his 
 religion. And fince exclufion from places of truft 
 and emolument is no lefs a punilhment than fine 
 and imprifonment, and is a ftate of ignominy, which 
 may be felt by fome in the mofl: fenfible manner ; 
 to make the toleration complete, the Tejt Atl muft 
 be repealed, as well as all other penal ftatutes in 
 matters of religion. All this might be done, and 
 yet the church be left in the full poflfelTion of her 
 creeds, her fubfcriptions, her revenues, the feat of 
 the bifhops in Parliament, and even the public uni- 
 verficies, with every thing elfe that can be deemed 
 neceffary to the mofl complete ejlahlijhment of any 
 fyftem of religion. 
 
 But the church of England is not content to 
 enjoy her proper prerogatives. She is, like moft 
 other eftablifhments, intolerant, and will not be 
 fatisfied without the degradation at lead, of thofe 
 who diffent from her. Dr. Johnfon faid, " the 
 " Diffenters muft not be admitted into the uni- 
 ** verfities, becaufe that would be to furnifti 
 " their enemies with arms." But without having 
 accefs to the univerfities, the church of England 
 has found that we are in no want of fuch arms, 
 offenfive or defenfivej and this jealous exclufion 
 of us from the univerfities, and from other advan- 
 tages which ought to be common to all citizens, 
 is the circumftance which gives our weapons their 
 keeneft edge. 
 
 This 
 
io6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 This completion of the toleration muft, in the 
 prefent ftate of this country, be the work of admi- 
 niftration, checking the blind and impolitic bigotry 
 of the clergy, which it is in the power of our go- 
 vernors to do effedlually, whenever they pleafe. 
 But if they go on to thwart the Diffenters, and fup- 
 port the high churchmen againft them, the fpirit of 
 party will neceffarily increafe, till perfecution, legal 
 or illegal, will become extreme. However, any 
 farther application to Parliament for this purpofe 
 by the Diffenters would only inflame matters more 
 than ever j as the clergy are far from Ihewing any 
 difpofition to relent in our favour; and without the 
 leaft regard to the political interefl: of the country, 
 many of them would proceed to any extremity. 
 The advantage which the country derives from this 
 this church in Jprituals ought to be very great, to 
 counterbalance what it may fuffer by it in temf orals. 
 
 If the ftate of the church of England with re- 
 fpeft to the whole of the Britilh empire be con- 
 fidered by the members of it, they will fee the 
 greateft reafon for moderation, and how impolitic 
 it muft be to indulge that fpirit of perfecution 
 •which has broke out at Birmingham, and has 
 manifefted itfelf in many other places. The Britilh 
 empire, befides England, embraces Scotland, Ire- 
 land, and Canada, in all which countries but a 
 fmall number of the inhabitants are of her com- 
 munion. Were thefe added to the DilTenters in 
 England, and joined to thofe within the pale of the 
 church who difapprove of its fyftem, but have not 
 
 the 
 
On the Riots in Birmingha?n. j 07 
 
 the courage to break their connexion with it, there 
 is Httle doubt, but they would make a majority of 
 the fubjefts. 
 
 Befides, all who are not Dififenters mufl: not, 
 therefore, be numbered among the proper adhe- 
 rents of the eftablifhed church. Becaufe the great 
 mafs of them have no preference for it, but becaufe 
 it is the eftablifhed church ; and no obferving per- 
 fon can doubt, but that if Mr. Lindfey's Unitarian 
 Liturgy fhould be patronized by government, and 
 a few of the more zealous of the clergy fhould not 
 found the alarm, not one perfon in a hundred 
 would make any complaint of it. 
 
 Still lefs can thofe who attend no public worfhip 
 at all, who abound in the higheft and loweft clafles 
 of the community, be fairly reckoned to belong to 
 any church; and in all large manufacturing and 
 commercial towns, in which confift the great re- 
 fources of the nation, they who attend public wor- 
 fhip of any kind bear but a fmall proportion to the 
 reft. In Birmingham, at leaft ftxty thoufand out 
 of feventy are of this clafs ; and of the remainder 
 more perfons attend public worfhip out of the 
 parifh churches than in them. In many parts of 
 South Wales, and efpecially in the diocefe of St. 
 David's, I am informed that the parifh churches 
 are almoft deferted, while the meeting-houfes are 
 numerous and full. 
 
 In fa6t, therefore, the true intereft of the church 
 of England, in the whole empire, is not great. It 
 
 has 
 
io8 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 has but little hold on the minds of the people ; and 
 is fupported by other means than a cordial appro- 
 bation of it, and attachment to it. Her dependance 
 is not upon her/elf, but upon the mere will and 
 power of the crown, which may change to-morrow. 
 It, therefore, certainly does not become her to be 
 infolent. 
 
 In this ftate of things, alfo, it is certainly the 
 beft policy in the crown to favour toleration, rather 
 than perfecution, and to convince every part of the 
 empire, divided as the inhabitants of it are with re- 
 fpe£l to religion, that no difference o^ this kind will 
 have any influence in civil matters. But at prefent, 
 this country, which ufed to pride itfelf, and with 
 reafon, on its pre-eminence with refpedl to liberty^ 
 is far behind many other nations o( Europe, to fay 
 nothing of America, and difcovers a difpofition to 
 recede, rather than to advance, with refpeft to 
 liberty, civil or religious. 
 
 SECTION 
 
On the Riots in Birminghajn. 109 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 ^he Conduftonj containing RefieSfions on the Power of 
 Religion in general. 
 
 X SHALL clofe thefe Refle6tions with 
 fome relating to religion properly fo called, as it has 
 its feat in the mind, and influences the temper and 
 conduft J and with thefe I particularly wifh to im- 
 prefs my chriltian readers. Other perfons do not 
 need to proceed any farther, as what follows will to 
 them be like fomething in an unknown tongue. 
 
 Having had a religious education, and ori- 
 ginally a delicate conftitution, I had from my early 
 years a thoughtful and ferious turn of mind. I 
 have alfo ever been particularly attentive to hiflories 
 of perfecution, and the flate of men's minds in thofe 
 trying circumflrances. This will appear from my 
 publications. Several of my printed Difcourjes re- 
 late to this fubjedt, much of my Church Hifiory 
 (much more than is ufual in works of that extent) 
 is appropriated to narratives of that kind, and I 
 made a feparate re-publication, with a large Preface, 
 of An Account of the Sufferings of two eminent French 
 ProteJlantSy Monfieur Marolles and Lewis le Fevre. 
 
 Having myfelf experienced fomething tliat may 
 be called prjecutioni on account of the freedom of 
 
 my 
 
no An Appeal to the Public 
 
 my religious principles, in my firfl: fetdement, and 
 having fince that time had much experience in re- 
 ligious controverfy, mere reproach^ however atro- 
 cious, never affedled me much j much lefs, I believe, 
 than it does mofb other perfons; and of late years, I 
 can truly fay that it is as nearly as poQlble a matter 
 of perfefl indifference to mc, from whatever quarter 
 it has come. Of fufferings of this kind it is pro- 
 bable that few men have ever had a greater fhare, 
 almoft every pofTible kind of evil having been faid of 
 me, though fal/ely. But the reproach of enemies has 
 been more than compenfated by the warm appro- 
 bation and attachment of friends, of which alfo I 
 have had my full fhare, enough to enconjage any 
 man to perfevere in well doing, and even to bear 
 any fufferings on that account. 
 
 But though I had read and reflefted much on 
 the feelings of chrillians in a ftate of perfecution, 
 and never doubted but that, in ordinary cafes, their 
 joys far exeeded their forrows, I could not know 
 that they did fo to the degree in which I can truly, 
 and I hope without much vanity (for in this I 
 mean nothing but the inftruftion and encourage- 
 ment of my readers) fay that I have lately found it. 
 It is only in trying fituations that the full force of 
 religious principle is felt, and that its real energy 
 can {how itfelf. And firmly believing, from the 
 doftrine of philo/ophkal necejfity, that the hand of God 
 is in all events, that in all cafes men are only his 
 inftruments; that under his fure guidance all evil 
 will terminate in good, and that nothing fo effec- 
 tually 
 
On the Riots in Binnmgham, 1 1 1 
 
 tually promotes any good caufe, by drawing men's 
 attention to it, as the perfecution of its advocates, 
 all that I have fuffered, and all that I can fufFer, has, 
 in many feaibns of the calmeft refledion upon it, 
 appeared as nothings and lejs than nothing. 
 
 I confider this perfecution (for fo I fliall call if, 
 though my enemies will, of courfe, confider it as the 
 punilhment of my evil deeds, and even much lefs 
 than I deferve) let it be carried to what extent it 
 will, as a certain prognoftic of the prevalence of 
 every great truth for which I have contended ; and 
 this profpe6t, together with the idea of my being an 
 inftrument in the hand of providence of promoting 
 the fpread of important truth, hy fuffering as well as 
 by a£fing, has given me at times fuch exalted feelings 
 of devotion (mixed, as fentiments of devotion ever 
 will be, with the pureit good-will towards all men, 
 my bittereft enemies not excepted) as I had but an 
 imperfe6t idea of before. If the future peace of the 
 country, and the fafety of my friends did not re- 
 quire it, I would not have a fingle facrifice made 
 to public juftice. Both the inftigators of the late 
 violences, and their blind agents in them, fhould 
 go without any other punilhment, than what, if 
 they ever come to a juft fenfe of things, they will 
 fuiliciently inflid upon themfelves. 
 
 Admitting that our perfecutors really imagined 
 that they were doing right, and promoting the 
 caufe of truth, in their late outrages, yet the feel- 
 ings of the man who does an injury, with whatever 
 
 view. 
 
112 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 view, cannot be without a mixture of malevolence, 
 in confequence of his rejoicing ^in that injury ; a 
 fentiment unworthy of a chriftian, and by which he 
 will feel his mind debafed. Whereas the fentiments 
 of the pureft benevolence eafily mix with thofe of 
 devotion in the mind of the man who \.m]u^\y Juffers 
 the injury, and who is fatisfied that he is promoting 
 the caufe of truth, and confequently the beft in- 
 tercfts of mankind, by his fufFerings. When, fince 
 my late difafter, I have given fcope to fuch re- 
 flexions as thefe, I have had fenfations of joy and 
 exultation which I Ihould in vain attempt to de- 
 fcribe , and in general they have immediately fuc- 
 ceeded the moll lively fenfe that I ever had of the 
 injury done to me. 
 
 What I have fuffered in my perfon is in a man- 
 ner nothing, and with refpeft to all the common 
 wants of nature, I have had fuch refources in my 
 friends, and in thofe whom I did not before know to 
 be my friends, as few perfons in my fituation could 
 have found. But corporeal fufferings are not thofe 
 which give men the greateft anguilh. Mental un- 
 eafinefs is much more dreadful than bodily pain ; 
 and the defpondency of fome friends, the fufferings 
 to which others of them may be expofed, and the 
 marks of prejudice in fome whom I had not con- 
 fidered as enemies, have fometimes given me feel- 
 ings peculiarly unpleafant. Alfo, the idea of my 
 not being able, at my time of life, to replace my 
 papers, library, and apparatus j the interruption of 
 all my purfuits, and the uncertainty of my future 
 
 profpedts, 
 
On the Riot in 'Birmingham. 113 
 
 profpe^ls, cannot but fome tinries be painful to me. 
 But notwithftanding this, when I have attended to 
 the confiderations before mentioned, I have even 
 been able to rejoice that I had fo much to lofe; 
 Jfince without fome facrifice of this nature, I fhould 
 not, in reahty, have fudained any lofs at all, and 
 confequently fhould have had nothing to boaft of. 
 ThiSi I own, is a fentiment that is not of the mod 
 exalted nature, but I hope it is innocent; and as 
 part of my real feelings^ not improper to be men- 
 tioned, among my other fources of confolation. 
 
 So fully am I perfuaded that more good than 
 evil will refult from what has happened to me, that, 
 were it in my power, 1 would not be rellored to 
 my former fituation. Had the late events not hap- 
 pened, I fhould, of courfe, have wifhed, and prayed, 
 for continuing as I was. For no man, I believe, 
 ever thought himfelf more happily fituated than I 
 did. But Providence having now declared itfelf^ 
 I acquiefce, and even rejoice in the decifion. 
 
 As to the theological works which I had in 
 view, one of which was to trace the origin, and 
 afcertain the nature, o^ Antient Idolatry , in order to 
 demonflrate the value of revelation, another to con- 
 tinue my Church Uifiory^ to the prefent times; a 
 third to publifh my Notes and Paraphraje on the 
 New Hejlament^ and a fourth, to complete what I had 
 undertaken of the New 'I'ranjlation of the Scriptures^ 
 I conclude, either that thefe works were not want- 
 ed, or that they will be better done by other hands. 
 
 I If 
 
114 -^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 If life, and the proper means, be continued to me, 
 I fhall refume, at leaft, fome of them, as well as 
 my philofophical experiments ; and if not, 1 Ihall 
 confole myfelf with this verfe of Milton j 
 
 " They alfo ferve, who only ftand and wait." 
 
 I am ready and willing to labour, and to the utmoft 
 of my ability, whenever my tafk iliall be given me. 
 
 I hope alfo that I Ihall not be much condemned 
 for deriving fome confolation from the thought, 
 that though my library and apparatus be deftroyed, 
 I made fame confiderable ufe of them while I had 
 them, and therefore that I have not lived in vain. 
 Of this confolation my enemies cannct deprive me ; 
 nor, if my life be continued, and my affairs be in 
 any meafure re-eftabliflied, will any thing that I 
 have yet fuffered, damp my ardour in frelh pur- 
 fuits; and having the advantage of years and expe- 
 rience, I may yet live to ferve, not my country in 
 particular, but mankind, and the world, of which 
 I am now become more a citizen at large. 
 
 As to continuance of life, I was never very 
 anxious about it. My writings fhew that I do not 
 con^id.CT death in itfelf as any great evil; and a vio- 
 lent death, which is all that men can infli6t, is not, 
 in general, fo much to be dreaded as many difeafes. 
 Perfecution is not to be courted by any chriftian. 
 Death is never to be fought, but to be avoided; 
 and no man can tell hov/ he fhall behave in any 
 very new and trying fituation. But I truil that the 
 
 fame 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 115 
 
 fame principles which have fupported me hitherto 
 will carry me through any trials that may yet re- 
 main for me. 
 
 T have often amufed myfelf, and my friends, 
 with recounting my feveral migrations, which, 
 though never of my own feeking, have been more 
 numerous than thofe of any of my acquaintance; 
 when I always faid that, having now obtained 
 a happier fituation in all refpefts, than I ever 
 had before, I hoped I fhould never remove any 
 more, and that I did not even wifh to be, in any 
 refpedl, happier than I was, in this world. In 
 every change of fituation, I uled to fay, the diffi- 
 culty of my removing had been increafed by the 
 accumulation of my books and philofophical in- 
 ftruments ; but that, at Birmingham, my library and 
 apparatus were become fo confiderable, that it was 
 abfolutely impoflible for me ever to remove to any 
 other place. But now I am light enough, and can 
 move with more eafe than ever, ready, at a mo- 
 ment's warning, to go wherever it (hall pleafe di- 
 vine providence to call me. 
 
 In general, the mind of m.an foon recovers its 
 ufual level, whatever it has been ; fcenes of prof- 
 perity or adverficy only making a temporary im- 
 preiTion upon it. Since, therefore, I have hitherto 
 enjoyed a gcjod Ihare of uniform chearful fpirits, 
 without being fubje6t to the extremes of elevation 
 or depreffion, I have little doubt but that the fame 
 
 I 3 happy 
 
1 1 6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 happy flate of mind will accompany me through 
 whatever may yet remain of life. 
 
 Moreover, the fame good providence which has 
 accompanied me, will, I doubt not, accompany my 
 children, who, being educated in good principles, 
 will, I truft, have no lefs ardour of mind than I 
 have had in every laudable purfuit that Ihall be 
 within their reach. In this cafe I fhall not be forry 
 to have been their parent, though they Ihould be 
 expofed to greater* fufferings than I have been called 
 to endure, in an equally good caufej and they will 
 not be afhamed of their father, who has fet them 
 the example of it. Laflly, having a6ted a worthy 
 and generous part in life, in the purfuit of truth and 
 the praftice of virtue, I Ihall hope to meet them, 
 and my other chriftian friends, in a better world, 
 where wc Ihall have nothing to fear from open vio- 
 lence, any more than from fecret theft. 
 
 STRICTURES. 
 
[ 117 ] 
 
 STRICTURES ON A PAMPHLET 
 
 INTITLED, 
 
 thoughts on the late Riot at Birmingam, 
 
 [Printed for John Sewell, CornhlU.] 
 
 & I N C E the preceding Appeal was fent to 
 the prefs, there has appeared a pamphlet intitled 
 thoughts on the late Riot at Birmingham^ written 
 evidently by a high churchman (though in an Ad- 
 'vertijment prefixed to it, he fays he has *' no party 
 ** views, or intolerant fpirit) which abundantly juf- 
 tifies all that 1 have advanced concerning perfons 
 of that defcription. It is, in fa6t, nothing lefs than 
 a declaration of war againft all Diflenters, who fhall 
 prefume to write any thing againft the eftabliihed 
 church, threatening us with utterdeftrudlion. With 
 us writing is turbulence, and fuch turbulence as 
 will authorize open hoftility of every kind. Such 
 is the unavoidable inference from the following 
 paflage, p. 52. 
 
 ^^ It is not too late for the Diflenters to recover 
 *' the character of peaceable citizens, which they 
 ** have loft by their late political interference. It was 
 ^* thought that many of them finned againft the peace 
 '* of the public through inadvertency, and that they 
 
 I 3 « onljr 
 
1 1 8 StriBures on a Famphlef^ tntitled 
 
 *^ only wanted fome inftrudlive fa^ to convince 
 *^ them of the tendency of what they were about, 
 " and to incline them to fhew themfelves the harm- 
 " lefs profeffors of a peaceful religion. Such a 
 ^' fa6t has happened, and the nation is waiting to 
 *' fee what efFe(5t it will have on them. If it is fuch 
 " as to fhew that they have erred through want of 
 " confideration, an a6t of oblivion is ready to be 
 " paffed on all their former mifcondu6l. But if 
 " the fame reftlefs and turbulent fpirit is ftill feen 
 " working among them, farewel candour, forbear- 
 " ance, and concord. There will be an extin<5lion 
 *^ of ail the charities that chriftianity inculcates be- 
 *' tween the different perfuafions, and hoftilities will 
 *' commence, that will probably never end till the 
 *' one has efFefted the defl:ru6bion of the other." 
 
 What could Dominic himfelf have faid more to 
 his purpofe, at the head of his crufaders ? And what 
 have we done more than the perfecuted Albigenfes 
 did to provoke this violence "^ What have we done 
 more than the primitive chriftians, or than the re- 
 formers from popery did, in their time, that is, 
 write in defence of our principles, and with a view 
 to this, expofe thofe of our adverfaries, and al- 
 moft univerfally when they were the aggreflbrs, and 
 we were treated in the moft infulting manner ? For 
 this all candour is profeffedly abandoned, and de- 
 ftrudlion threatened. 
 
 At length, then, we are come to an iiTue. And 
 fince with us refiftance would be in vain, and in 
 
 our 
 
Thoughts on the Riot at Birmingham, 119 
 
 our opinion unchriftian, we muft bear all the malice 
 of our enemies, or abandon the country. For we 
 Ihall never abandon the defence of our principles 
 as we have hitherto done, that is, by writing. 
 
 According to this writer, DifTenters mull: neither 
 write about religion nor politics. " As to the im- 
 provement of the conltitution," he fays, p. 49, 
 *' leave it to other hands." ^his, then, is a thing 
 that we have no intereft in. Confequently, we are 
 already to be confidered as no better than aliensy 
 which is another reafon why we fhould go to fome 
 country, where we may be treated as citizens. 
 
 Inconfiflently enough, however, with the de- 
 claration of hoftility quoted above, this writer fays, 
 p. 2,2, " The unitarian DilTenters are not yet of fuf- 
 " ficient confequence to give any apprehenfions.'* 
 Why then all this rage, and buftle ? Is the Britifh 
 lion fo tormented with a fly ? Have the high 
 church people burned our meeting-houfes and 
 dwelling-houfes, with every thing belonging to us, 
 without the excufe of having fomething to fear 
 from us ? What then would they do if we gave 
 them real caufe of fear ? 
 
 In the opinion of this writer, and all of his 
 party, it was I who was the proper caufe of the riot, 
 and of all the mifchief that was occafioned by it. 
 " Tis you," fays he, p. 1 6, in his farcaftic way, 
 " meek divine, peaceable philofopher, that did, in 
 " fad, fet the populace afloat, and bring it down 
 
 I 4 "upon 
 
1 20 Sfridiures on a Pamphlet^ intitlcd 
 
 " upon a crouded town, like a deftrudlive engine, 
 " that threatened general devaftation. In vain, 
 " therefore, you feek to fhift off the blame of this 
 *' event from yourfelf, by endeavouring to fix it on 
 " others. The country confiders you as the prin- 
 " cipal caufe of the mifchief, and the utmoft that 
 " candour itfelf can fay in your behalf is, that per- 
 *^ haps you did not intend the confequences, and 
 " are, independent of the loffes you have fuftained, 
 " fincerely forry that they happened." 
 
 From reading this, any ftranger would natu- 
 rally conclude, that it was I that raifed the rioters, 
 and headed them, but that afterwards they turned 
 upon myfelf J and not that they were raifed and in- 
 ftigated by my enemies, and that I was their firft 
 vidlim. On the idea, however, that I was the 
 aggreffor in this bufinefs, and taking it for granted, 
 that I mud fee it in the fame light as himfelf, he is 
 furprized, p. 3, 17, to find nothing oi 'penitence in 
 my Letter to the Inhabitants of Birmingham. But 
 what have I to repent of? Is it my writings, in 
 defence of truth and liberty ? I am fo far from 
 repenting, that I glory in them, and in the fame 
 circumftances, I would have done the fame; and 
 while I am capable of writing at all, I fliall con- 
 tinue to write in the fame manner, as opportunity 
 offers. With refpeft to the riot, if I repent at all, 
 it muff be for the crimes of others. But though I 
 cannot repent of them, I can truly fay I am deeply 
 concerned for them, and defirous that thofe who are 
 guilty may repent. As things are, it is enough for 
 
 me. 
 
thoughts on the Riot at Birmingham. 1 2 1 
 
 me, as a chriftian, to forgive thofe who have of- 
 fended me, whenever they repent. More than this 
 is not required of any man. Let thofe then who have 
 burned my houfe, or have inftigated others to burn 
 it, do their duty, and I (hall be ready to do mine. 
 
 This writer himfelf, this abettor of the burning 
 of houfes, libraries, and philofophical inftruments, 
 as an anfwer to arguments^ only pretends to find my 
 inftruments of deftruftion in my writings. " Cu- 
 '' riofity," he fays, p. i6, " would prompt the 
 ** people to read for themfelves" (I only wifh they 
 were difpofed to do fo, efpecially at Birmingham) 
 '' where a man that was diftinguifhed by fuch fen- 
 " timents" (whatever, then, it was that was dan- 
 gerous about me, they were but Jenttments) " was 
 *' an inhabitant. They opened one of his books, 
 *' and there found that the man who had quietly 
 *^ enjoyed the exercife of his religion threatened the 
 " deftrudion of theirs." But did not I allow to 
 others the fame liberty that I took myfelf i and how 
 did I threaten others, except in the fame manner as 
 others had threatened me, viz, by writing ? 
 
 In the fame manner, in vindication of the juft^ 
 nefs of his charge againft me as the proper author 
 of all the mifchief, he fays, p. 17, " I call the whole 
 " nation to witnefs." Now what can the whole 
 nation witnefs befides my writings, which are open 
 to them all, and which I fincerely wifh they would 
 all read ? * 
 
 * He likewife fays, p. 17, that this charge againft me can be 
 *« fubftantiated by producing the papers of the offender." If by papers 
 
 be 
 
122 StriSfures on a Pamphlet intttkd 
 
 That the whole of the turbulence this writer 
 afcribes to me confifts in nothing but my writings ^ 
 is farther evident from his cenfure of my treatment 
 of civil eftabhfhments of chriftianity in my Letter 
 io Mr. Burke J in which, replying to an orator, who 
 had not been fparing of his metaphors on the other 
 fide, I had made ufe of fome which appeared to me 
 to be applicable on mine, comparing thofe eftab- 
 lilliments, which were unknown in the primitive 
 and founder ages of the church, but were intro- 
 duced in a late and more corrupt Hate, to 2. fungus ^ 
 &c. " How remote," fays he, p. 1 8, " is this from 
 *^ the language of a peaceable man." But, furely, 
 it is not more remote from peace, than the burn- 
 ing of a houfe is from the anfwering of an argu- 
 ment. However, it is evident that, in this writer's 
 idea, I cannot write at all, at leaft to any purpofe, 
 and employ either reajon or imagination^ without 
 breaking. the peace, and incurring the penalties an- 
 nexed to that offence. I fhould have been happy, 
 however, if my conduft had been confidered in 
 that light, and my enemies had contented them- 
 felves with profecuting me in any legal method for 
 breaking the peace. It v/ould have been a curious 
 trial, and would not, I prefume, have ended as 
 did the riots at Birmingham. 
 
 be meant manufcript papers, found in my library, when the rioters 
 plundered it, of which this writer feenis to have had the infpeftion, 
 let them be pioduced. I have a perfeft confcioufnefs that there exiits 
 nothing of my writing, found either there, or in any other place^ that 
 can furnifli juft matter of crimination againft me, though, as was the 
 cafe with the immortal Algernon Sydney, papers fo found fhould be 
 admitted as legal evidence. I will not, however, anfwer for papers 
 that may have been written by others in order to be found in my li- 
 ! brary, any more than for the forged htUr that was read to the mob, 
 to inftigate them to do the mifchief. 
 
 As 
 
thoughts on the Riot at Birmingham. 1 2 3 
 
 As a farther reafon why I fhould not have 
 written any thing againft the church (which, it 
 feems, does not hke to be naolefted) he alleges my 
 not being of it. " This pacific divine, and phi- 
 ** lofopher," he fays, p. 6, " meddles with the 
 *' concerns of a fociety to which he does not be- 
 " long." But do the clergy govern themfelves 
 by the fame maxim ? Have they never volun- 
 tarily attacked the DifTenters ? Did Mr. Madan get 
 himfelf admitted into any of our focieties before he 
 wrote againft us ? Was nor he, then, guilty of med- 
 dling with the concerns of a fociety to which he 
 did not belong, even more than myfelf, as he was 
 the aggreffor in the controverfy. But the maxim 
 itfelf is abfurd. It becomes every man to defend 
 truth, and attack error, wherever he finds it. Every 
 man is of the fociety of mankind, and fhould not 
 fee his brethren go aftray, or in any refpeft injure 
 themfelves, without endeavouring to ferve them. 
 Did not the primitive chriftians meddle with the 
 affairs of the heathens, and the Proteftants with 
 thofe of the Catholics, though they did not belong 
 to their focieties ? And did they not meddle with 
 them in the fame manner in which I have med- 
 dled with the church of England, viz. by fpeaking 
 and writing : and many of them wrote in a much 
 more irritating manner than I have ever done, and 
 were univerfally admired for it, 
 
 Diflenters, however, have juft caufe of med- 
 dling with the church of England, fo long as it is 
 a national church, and they, as well as the reft of 
 
 the 
 
1 24 ^tri5lures on a Pamphlet entitled 
 
 the community, contribute towards the mainte^ 
 nance of it. For every man is concerned to fee 
 that he has the value of that for which he gives 
 his money. The Diflenters are much more a fo- 
 ciety with which the members of the church of 
 England have no bufinefs to meddle, as they do 
 not contribute to the fupport of our worfhip. 
 According to this writer, DilTenters have nothing 
 to do with either the church or the Jiate^ but muft 
 be paflive lookers on in every thing; patiently 
 bearing every burden that is laid upon them. 
 
 From the whole of this performance, which, 
 whether coming from any authority or not, evi- 
 dently fpeaks the language of all the high church 
 party, it is evident that we are to receive blows 
 for words, and fire and fword for argument. Let 
 them then go to their purpole, and proceed as they 
 have begun to burn, viz. our houfes and meeting- 
 houfes, and ourfelves too, if they can find us In 
 them J for that was their intention at Birmingham. 
 We alfo fhall defend ourfelves as we have hitherto 
 done, i. e. with more writing, and more arguments. 
 All men, and all animals, naturally have recourfe 
 to fuch weapons as they find themfelves furnifhed 
 with, and are moft expert in the ufe of; and infig- 
 nificant as ours may appear, in comparifon with 
 theirs, they will be found more effeftual. We 
 will fay as the noble Florentine faid to the French 
 king and his officers, "Do you found your trurn- 
 " pets, and we will ring our bells.'* 
 
 Thi? 
 
Thoughts on the Riot at Birmingham. 125 
 
 This writer fays, p. 1 2, that " as a philofopher 
 " I know fomething of human nature, and how 
 " irritable men are on the fubjefb of their national 
 " reUgion;" and p. 51, that my "political ani- 
 " madverfions did not a6t merely on the under- 
 *' (landings of men, but that they took hold of their 
 *' paflions." This, indeed, we have found to our 
 coll. But it is likewife well known that paflion 
 predominates mofl where there is the greatell de- 
 ficiency of reafon. The primitive chriftians alfo, and 
 the firft Proteftants, found that their adverfaries had 
 paflions, which they were always ready to oppofe to 
 the didates of reafon j and that, having ^i. little to 
 fay for themfelves, they were as irritable as the 
 high church party at Birmingham. But this cir- 
 cumftance was no fufficient motive with the pri- 
 mitive chriftians, or the Proteftants, for filence, 
 nor will it be any with us; and if this writer, or 
 his friends, imagine that the riots in Birmingham 
 will filence us, and produce no writing, he will be 
 greatly miftaken indeed. I forefee a deluge of 
 pamphlets on the occafion, and if he had wifhed 
 that there fliould be no v/riting on our fide, he 
 {hould not have publilhed on his. 
 
 If this writer be furprized at finding nothing 
 penitential in my Letter to the Inhabitants of Bir- 
 mingham, others, will be as much furprized on 
 finding nothing of commi/eration in his pamphlet, 
 except for the wretches whom he expe6led would 
 be executed for what they did in the bufinefs. Of 
 
 this 
 
126 Stridiures on a Tamphlef, intitled 
 
 this he has drawn an afFedling pi6lure indeed, as of 
 the fufferings of fo many martyrs to the church, 
 and to rehgion. " This riot," he fays, p. 3, " will 
 *^ be followed with the facrifice of many lives on 
 *^ the altar of public juftice. Difconfolate women 
 " are foon to take their laft embrace of their huf- 
 " bands, children to fhriek at the fight of their fa- 
 " thers fufpended before their own doors, and heart- 
 *' broken parents to follow their fons to the fatal 
 " tree, fom.e of whom, had they not been put in 
 " motion by the ferment his writings have contri- 
 " buted to raife, had never difturbed the peace of 
 " fociety. Had there been any fympathy in the 
 " heart that diftaced the letter, on the events that 
 " mud draw fuch calamities after them, there had 
 " furely been one line exprefTive of fuch a fenfation. 
 ** Let the reader find it, if he can." And let the 
 reader look through this v^hole pamphlet, and 
 find, if he can, any thing like fuch a fellow-feeling 
 for the innocent fufferers, that he here exprelTes for 
 the wicked authors of their fufferings. In a Note, 
 however, on this paffage (which I fuppofe he 
 thought too eloquently written to be loft) the author 
 is happy " to find that his ideas were not fully jufti- 
 " fied by the iffue of the late afilzes held at War- 
 " wick." Indeed, the incomparable behaviour of 
 the magiflrates and of the jury, and the proper re- 
 prefentations made to the king, have happily faved 
 this writer and his friends much of the pain which 
 they expe6led from the cruel and unmerited fuffer- 
 ings oilhtiv fellow churclymen. Had our fufferings 
 
 been 
 
Thoughts on the Riot at Birmingham, 1 27 
 
 been ten times greater than they have been, fo 
 much greater would have been their pious exulta- 
 tion over us. 
 
 I do not undertake to animadvert upon ever/ 
 thing that deferves animadverfion in this pamphlet, 
 out I cannot conclude thefe ftri(5tures without ob- 
 ferving that, as a compliment to the church of 
 England, againft which DifTenters muil not write, 
 the author fays, p. 11," lays it any reflraint on the 
 " fpirit of enquiry, and how then is it hoftile to 
 *^ the cleareft truth ?" Is then fubfcription to the 
 thirty-nine articles at an age in which it is impof- 
 fible for perfons to have fludied them, no reftraint 
 on the fpirit of enquiry ; and is not every reflraint 
 on the fpirit of enquiry neceffarily hoftile to truth ? 
 But no man can fee the darkeft fpot on his own 
 forehead. Other wife this writer could not but have 
 been fenfible of this, and many other moft glaring 
 abfurdities in his publication* 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
[ 129 ] 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 N'l. 
 
 Copy of a Hand-hill privately circulated in Birming- 
 ham, a few Days before the Riots. 
 
 MY COUNTRYMEN, 
 
 X HE fecond year of Gallic liberty is nearly 
 expired. At the commencement of the third, on the 14th 
 of this month, it is devoutly to be wifhed, that every ene- 
 my to civil and religious defpotifm would give his fandlion 
 to the majejiic common caufc^ by a public celebration of the 
 anniverfary. Remember that on the 14th of July the Eaf- 
 tile, that « High Altar and Caftle of Defpotifm" fell. Re- 
 member the enthufiafm peculiar to the caufe of Liberty, 
 with which it was attacked. Remember that generous 
 humanity that taught the opprefled, groaning under the 
 weight of infulted rights, to fave the lives of oppreflbrs ! 
 Extinguifh the mean prejudices of nations ; and let your 
 numbers be colleded, and fent as a free-will offering to 
 the National AiTembly. 
 
 But is it poflible to forget that your own Parliament is 
 
 venal ? Your JNlinifter hypocritical ? Your Clergy legal 
 
 oppreflbrs ? The reignins Family extravagant? The Crown 
 
 " K of 
 
130 APPENDIX. 
 
 of a certain great Perfonage becoming every day too 
 weitrhty for the head that wears it ? Too weighty for the 
 people who gave it? Your taxes partial and exceffive? 
 Your reprefentation a cruel infult upon the facred rights of 
 property, religion, and freedom ? 
 
 But on the r4th of this month, prove to the political fy- 
 cophants of the day, that You reverence the Olive Branch ; 
 that You will facrifice to public tranquility, till the majo- 
 rity foall exclaim. The Peace of Slavery is worfe than the 
 War of Freedom. Of that moment let Tyrants beware. 
 
 My Letter to the Inhabitants of Birmingham. 
 
 My late Townfmen and Neighbours, 
 
 AFTER living with you eleven years, in which 
 you had uniform experience of my peaceful behaviour, in 
 my attention to the quiet duties of my profeflion, and thofe 
 of philofophy, I was far from expedting the injuries which 
 I and my friends have lately received from you. But you 
 have been mifled. By hearing the Diflenters, and particu- 
 larly the Unitarian Diflenters, continually railed at, as ene- 
 mies to the prefent government, in church and ftate, you 
 have been led to confider any injury done to us as a meri- 
 torious thing; and not having been better informed, the 
 means were not attended to. When the ohje^ was right, 
 you thought the means could not be wrong. By the dif- 
 courfes of your teachers, and the exclamations of your 
 fuperiors in general, drinking confufion and damnation to 
 us (which is v/ ell known to have been their frequent prac- 
 tice) your bigotry has been excited to the higheft pitch, and 
 nothing having been faid to you to moderate your palTions, 
 but every thing to inflame them \ hence, without any con- 
 
 fideration 
 
APPENDIX. 131 
 
 fideration on your part, or on theirs, who ought to have 
 known, and taught you better, you were prepared for 
 every fpecies of outrage ; thinking that whatever you 
 couJd do to fpite and injure us, was for the fupport of go- 
 vernment, and efpecially the church. In deftroying us, 
 you have been led to think, you did God and your country 
 the moft fubftantial fervice. 
 
 Happily, the minds of Englilhmen have an horror of 
 murder^ and therefore yoy did not, I hope, think of that ; 
 though, by your clamorous demanding of tne at the Hotel, 
 it is probable, that at that time, fome of you intended me 
 fome perfonal injury. But what is the value of life, when 
 every thing is done to make it wretched? In many cafes, 
 there would be greater mercy in difpatching the inhabi- 
 tants, than in burning their houfes. However, I infinitely 
 prefer what I feel from the fpoiling of my goods^ to the dif- 
 pofition of thofe who have milled you. 
 
 You have deftroyed the moft truly valuable and ufeful 
 apparatus of philofophical inftruments, that perhaps any 
 individual, in this or any other country, was ever poffefled 
 of; in my ufe of which I annually fpent large fums, with 
 no pecuniary view whatever, but only in the advancement 
 of fcience, for the benefit of my country, and of mankind. 
 You have deftroyed a library correfponding to that appa- 
 ratus, which no money can re-purchafc, except in a long 
 courfe of time. But what I feel far more, you have de- 
 ftroyed manufcripts^ which have been the refult of the la- 
 borious ftudy of many years, and which I fhall never be 
 able to re-compofe ; and this has been done to one who 
 never did, or imagined you any harm. 
 
 I know nothing more of the hand-bill^ which is faid to 
 have enraged you fo much, than any of yourfelves, and I 
 difapprove of it as much; though it has been made the 
 ofi:enfible handle of doing infinitely more mifchief than any 
 thing of that nature could pofiibly have done. In the cele- 
 bration of the French Revolution, at which I did not at- 
 tend, the company aflembled on the occaAon, only exprelTed 
 
 K 2 their 
 
132 APPENDIX. 
 
 their joy in the emancipation of a neighbouring nation 
 from tyranny, without intimating a defire of any thing 
 more than fuch an improvem nt of our own conftitution, 
 as all fober aitizens, of every perfuafion have long wiflied 
 for. And though, in anfwer to the grofs and unprovoked 
 calumnies of Mr. Madan, and others, I publicly vindicated 
 my principles as aDiflenter, it was only with plain and fober 
 argument, and with perfeil good humour. We are better 
 inftruded in the mild and forbearing fpirit of chriftianity, 
 than ever to think of having recourfe to violence ; and can 
 you think fuch condu6l as yours any recommendation of 
 your religious principles in preference to ours ? 
 
 You are ftill more miflaken, if you imagine that this 
 condu6i: of yours has any tendency to ferve your caufe, or 
 to prejudice ours. It is nothing but reafon and argument 
 that can ever fupport any fyftem of religion. Anfwer 
 our arguments, and your bufinefs is done ; but your hav- 
 ing recourfe to violence^ is only a proof that you have 
 nothing better to produce. Should you deftroy myfelf as 
 well as my houfe, library, and apparatus, ten more perfons, 
 of equal or fuperior fpirit and ability, would inftantly rife 
 up. If thofe ten were deftroyed, an hundred would appear; 
 and believe me, that the church of England, which you 
 now think you are fupporting, has received a greater blow 
 by this condu6l of yours, than I and all my friends have 
 ever aimed at it. 
 
 Befides, to abufe thofe who have no power of making 
 refiftance, is equally cowardly and brutal, peculiarly un- 
 worthy of Englifhmen, to fay nothing of chriftianity, which 
 teaches us to do as we would be done by. In this bufinefs 
 we are the (heep, and you the wolves. We will preferve our 
 character, and hope you will change yours. At all events, 
 we return you bleffings for curfes ; and pray that you may 
 foon return to that induftry, and thofe fober manners, for 
 which the inhabitants of Birmingham were formerly dif- 
 tinguiflied. 
 
 I am your fincere well-wifher, 
 London, July 19,1791. J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
r 133 3 
 
 N" III. 
 
 An Account of the Origin of the Riots in Birminghmn, 
 from a Newffaper called the The Times. 
 
 Tuefday, July 19, lygt. 
 
 BY every account which has arrived from Birming- 
 ham, and from authenticated fails in corroboration of what 
 we have ah'eady aflerted, it is an indifputable truth, that the 
 motives which occafioned the havoc already made among 
 the Diflenters at Birmingham, and which is ftill in con- 
 tinuance, folely fprung from the loyalty of the people, and 
 the utter abhorrence in which the principles of a republican 
 fyftem of government are held by the public at large. 
 
 The public were determined before they proceeded to 
 violence, to have fome further proof of the intention of 
 thofe commemoration men. The hand-bill might be a 
 forgery, — or might be an infidious fcheme to raife a mob 
 for the purpofe of plunder ; — they therefore waited until 
 they heard what was faid at table — how the political 
 complexion of the company would manifeft itfelf, — and 
 whether any thing more than a mere fcene of commemo- 
 ration conviviality was intended. 
 
 They had indeed their fufpiclons, and thofe fufpicions, 
 after the firft courfe were realifed, by the following toaft 
 being drank ; — 
 
 'destruction to the present government AND 
 
 THE king's head UPON A CHARGER.'' 
 
 The inhabitants, and they Mere almoft to a man re- 
 fpeftable houfekeepers and manufa6lurers, who waited out- 
 fide the Hotel to watch the motions of the Revolutionifts 
 within, no fooner had this treafonable toaft made known 
 to them, than loyalty fwift as lightning fhot through 
 their minds, and a kind of eledrical patriotifm animated 
 them to inftant vengeance. They rufhed into this con- 
 venticle of treafon, and before the fecond courfe was well 
 
 K 3 laid 
 
134 APPENDIX. 
 
 laid upon the table, broke the windows and glafTes, pelted 
 and infulted thefe modern reformers, and obliged them to 
 feek for fafety In immediate flight. 
 
 An inflammatory bill in Dodtor Prieftley's hand- 
 writing was found among his papers, and has been tranf- 
 mitted to the Secretary of State.. ..The Do6lor is at Kid- 
 derminfter, to which place it is faid the populace mean to 
 follow him. His doilrines, they avow, were meant to 
 fubvert the Conftitution. 
 
 Mr. Parker, a very eminent attorney, is the perfon who 
 fent up the inflammatory and treafonable paper found in 
 Priefi:ley's houfe, and in the Doflor's own hand, which it 
 is thought is a full ground for profecution. 
 
 N' V. 
 
 Mr. RuJfeWs Letter to the Editor of the Morning 
 Chronicle. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 BEING in London, aind feeing in The Times 
 of yeflerday the moil: atrocious calumny that was ever 
 laid before the public, I feel it my duty immediately to 
 contradict it in the mofl: pointed terms. I do therefore 
 declare, that the narrative of the Birmingham Confti- 
 tutional Dinner is materially untrue; and that the ac- 
 count given of the firji Toaji^ in The Times-^ is a mofl: 
 flagrant falfehood. It was. The King and Conftitution. 
 
 The Meeting broke up without the leaft riot or dif- 
 turbance. — That the public may judge, whether the pro- 
 ceedings of the day, and the Toafts, were or were not 
 reprehenflble, the following true narrative is now pro- 
 duced, the authenticity and truth of which I will vouch 
 for. 
 
 The 
 
APPENDIX. 13s 
 
 The proceedings of the day were preceded by an 
 advertlfement in the Birmingham Chronicle, publilhed 
 that morning, of which the following is a copy: 
 
 Birmingham Commemoration of the French Revolution. 
 
 Several Hand-hills having been circulated in the Town, which 
 can only be intended to create diftruft concerning the intention of 
 the Meeting, to difturb its harmony, and inflame the minds of the 
 people; the Gentlemen who propofed it, think it neceffary to declare 
 their entire diiapprobation of all I'uch Hand-bills, and thtir ignorance 
 of the authors. — Senfible themfelves of the advantages of a free 
 Government, they rejoice in the extenfion of Liberty to their neigh- 
 bours, at the fame time avowing, in the moft explicit manner, their 
 firm attachment to the Conftitution of their own Country, as vcfted 
 in the Three Eftates of King, Lords, and Commons : Surely no 
 free-born Englifhman can refrain from exulting in this addition to 
 the general mafs of human happlnefs. It is the caufe of humanitjy 
 it is the caufe of the people. 
 Birmingham^ July 13, 1 7 9 1 . 
 
 In the morning, however, after this was publifhed, 
 many rumours of the probability of a riot were brought 
 to the friends of the Meeting ; and as there was too 
 much reafon to think that means had been ufed to pro- 
 mote one, they determined to poflpone the intended 
 Dinner, and accordingly agreed to put it oif, and pre- 
 pared a hand-bill for that purpofe, of which the follow- 
 ing is a copy : 
 
 Intended Commemoration of the French Re'volution. 
 
 The Friends of the intended Feftivlty, finding that their views 
 and intention, in confequence of being mifconceived by fome, and 
 mifrcprefented by others, have cieated an alarm in the minds of the 
 majority of the town, and it is thought, endangered its tranquility, 
 inform their neighbours that they value the peace of the town far 
 beyond the gratification of a Feltival, and tlierefore have determined 
 to give up their intentions of dining at the Hotel upon this occafion ; 
 and they very gladly improve this renewed opportunity of declarmg 
 that they are to this hour entirely ignorant of the Author, Printer, or 
 Publifher, of the inflammatory Hand-bill circulated on Monday. 
 
 This was fent to the Printer ; but before he had com- 
 pofed it, Mr. Dadley, the Mailer of the Hotel, attended, 
 
 in 
 
136 APPENDIX. 
 
 in confequence of having the Dinner countermanded ; 
 and reprefented, that he was fure there was no danger of 
 any tumult, and recommended that the Dinner might 
 be had as was intended ; only propofmg, that the gentle- 
 men fhould take care to break up early, and then all 
 danger would be avoided. This meafure was then adopted, 
 and orders given to the Printer to fupprefs the hand-bill. 
 Accordingly there was a meeting of eighty-one gentle- 
 men, inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, at the 
 Great Room in the Hotel, where they dined and pafled 
 the afternoon with that fecial, temperate, and benevolent 
 feftivity, which the confideration of the great event, which 
 has diffufed liberty and happinefs among a large portion 
 of the human race, infpired. 
 
 The following Toafts were drunk, and were agreeably 
 intermixed with fongs, compofed and fung by fome of 
 the company. 
 
 I. The King and Conftitution 
 
 a. The National Afl'embly and Patriots of France, whofe virtue 
 and wifdom have raifed twenty-fix millions from the mean condition 
 of fubjefts of defpotifm, to the dignity and happinefs of freemen. 
 
 3. The Majefty of the People. 
 
 4. May the New Conftitution of France be rendered perfe6l 
 and perpetual. 
 
 5. May Great Britain, Ireland, and France, unite in perpetual 
 friendfhip, and may their only rivalftiip be the extenfion of Peace and 
 Liberty, Wifdom and Virtue. 
 
 6. The Rights of Man. May all nations have the wifdom to 
 underftand, and the courage to affert and defend them. 
 
 7. The tine Friends of the Conllitution of this Country, who wifh 
 to preferve its fpirit, by corre6lIng its abufes. 
 
 8. May the People of England never ceafe to remonftrate, till 
 their Parliament becomes a true National Reprefentalion. 
 
 9 The Prince of Wales. 
 
 10 The United States of America. May they for ever enjoy the 
 Liberty which they have fo honourably acquired. 
 
 I I . May the late Revolution in Poland prove the harbinger of a 
 more perfeft fyftem of Liberty extending to that great Kingdom. 
 
 iz. May the Nations of Europe become fo enlightened as never 
 more to be deluged into favage wars, by the mad ambition of their 
 rulers, 
 
 13. May 
 
APPENDIX. 137 
 
 15. May the fword be never unflieathed, but for the defence and 
 liberty of our country, and then, may every man caft away the fcab- 
 bard, until the people are fafe and free. 
 
 14.. To the glorious memory of Hampden and Sydney, and other 
 heroes of all ages and nations, who have fought and bled for Uberty. 
 
 15. To the memory of Dr. Price, and of all thofe illuftrious fages 
 who have enlightened mankind on the true principles of civil fociety. 
 
 16. Peace and good-will to all mankind. 
 
 17. Profperity to the town of Birmingham. 
 
 18. A happy Meeting to all the Friends of Liberty on the 14th of 
 July, 1792. 
 
 It is but juftlce to the liberality and public fpirit of an 
 ingenious Artift of this town to mention, that he decorated 
 the room upon this occafion with three elegant emble- 
 matic pieces of fculpture, inixed with painting, in a new ftile 
 of compofition. The central piece was a finely executed 
 medallion of his majefty, encircled with a glory, on each 
 fide of which was an alabafter obeliik; the one exhibiting 
 Gallic liberty breaking the bands of defpotifm, and the 
 other reprefenting Britifli liberty in its prefent enjoyment. 
 
 A truly refpedable gentleman, a member of the church 
 of England, was Chairman — others of that profeffion 
 were of the companj-, nor was a fingle fentiment uttered, 
 or, I believe, conceived, that would hurt the feelings of 
 any one friend to liberty and good government, under 
 the happy conftitution we are bleffed with in this king- 
 dom. — I aver this to be a true and juft reprefentation of 
 the proceedings which have been fo fcandaloufly mifre- 
 prefented in the Paper above-mentioned ; and am. 
 
 Sir, 
 London, July ao, Your obedient fervant, 
 
 1791. WILLIAM RUSSELL. 
 
N'N. 
 
 Mr. Keir*s Letter to the Printer of the Birmingham 
 and Stafford Chronicle. 
 
 Mr. Printer, 
 
 AS I find that many grofs falfhoods have been 
 circulated through the country, in order to inflame the 
 minds of the people concerning the meeting held laft 
 Thurfday, to commemorate the French Revolution, I 
 ■will beg leave to flate what I myfelf have had occafion 
 to know refpedting that fubjeft. — Some gentlemen in 
 Birmingham had propofed by an advertifement in the 
 newfpapers, to hold a meeting of the friends of liberty 
 and of mankind, at the Hotel, to commemorote the French 
 Revolution, in the fame manner as was done in London, 
 and many other parts in the kingdom. Two days before 
 the time appointed for this meeting, a very refpeclable 
 gentleman called on me, and faid he came to tell me, 
 that it was the general wifh of thofe who intended to 
 meet, that I (hculd be their chairman on the occafion. 
 I accepted the compliment, and promifed to come to 
 Birmingham to attend, never conceiving that a peaceable 
 meeting, for the purpofe of rejoicing that twenty-fix 
 millions of our fellow-creatures were refcued from def- 
 potifm, and made as free and happy as we Britons are, 
 could be mifinterpreted as being ofFenfive to a govern- 
 ment, whofe greateft boaft is liberty, or to any who pro- 
 fefs the chriftian religion, which orders us to love our 
 neighbours as ourfelves. — We accordingly met and dined 
 with the greateft peace and harmony, and after drinking 
 fome toafts, expreffive in the firft place of our loyalty to 
 our own K'^ng and ConJIitution ;"and in the fecond place, of 
 our joy at the happinels which the French have acquired 
 by their new Conftitution, we diflblved the meeting 
 entirely, in the greateft order, between five and fix in the 
 
 evening, 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 evening,, and quitted the Hotel, every man retiring fepa- 
 rately to his home, or to his private affairs. I returned 
 to my houfe in the country-, nor knew of the difturbances 
 till next day. The meeting in London was conduced 
 with the fame decorum, nor has there been an inilance, as 
 far as I know, in the many fimilar meetings throughout 
 England, of the fmallefl irregularity attempted by them. 
 Now, Mr. Print.?r, as actions are the beft interpreters of 
 men's intentions, it is evident that the malicious infmu- 
 ations, that thefe meetings were intended to didurb the 
 peace and government of the country, have been by the 
 event proved to he faifc and groundlefs. 
 
 I have lately heard that it is reported that we drank 
 difloyal and feditious toafts. Now the very firft toaft that 
 was gi\en was. The King and the Con/iltution. I do not 
 know any words in the Englifh language expreffive of 
 greater loyalty ; and one of the laft was. Peace and good- 
 will to all mankind., which cannot eafily be interpreted to 
 excite people to tumult. 1 fhall hereafter publifli a lift 
 of all the toafts, which were altogether in the fame fpirit of 
 loyalty, peace, and charity. 
 
 A fecond report is, that Juflice Carlefs was infulted 
 and turned out of the room. The hSt is, that Juftice 
 Carlefs never was in the room, and therefore it is not eafy 
 to conceive how he could be turned out. I will add, that 
 I have not the fmalleft doubt, that if that gentleman had 
 come, he would have been received with due refpe61:. 
 
 A third falfe report was, that a feditious hand-bill had 
 been diftributed by the members of the meeting, on fome 
 preceding day. A feditious and truly infamous hand-bill 
 had been diftributed, it is true, but by whom written or 
 diftributed is not known. It is heartily to be wifhed that 
 the perfons concerned may be difcovered, and punifhed 
 according to law. As foon as the gentlemen of Birming- 
 ham, who had concerted the Commemoration Meetins, 
 faw this hand-bill, they perceived that the effect, and per- 
 haps the intention of it, was to inflame the mob againft 
 
 them, 
 
HO APPENDIX, 
 
 them, and they Immediately publifhed in the Thurfday's 
 newfpaper, an advertifement declaring their difavowal of 
 this hand-bill, and their own loyal attachment to the 
 King, Lords, and Commons. They alfo fent hand-bills 
 with copies of this advertifement all over Birmingham. 
 It was not pofTible for them to do any thing more effectual 
 to prevent any bad effects from this feditious paper, or to 
 refcue themfelves from the calumny of their being the 
 authors of it. 
 
 The laft falfe report that I have heard relative to that 
 meeting is concerning Dr. Prieftley's behaviour there. To 
 this I fuppofe it will be fufficient to anfwer, that Dr, 
 Fr'iejlley was not prrfent. 
 
 Thefe are all the reports which I have heard, but I 
 doubt not there may be many others, of the truth of 
 which every man of common fenfe will judge from what 
 I have faid of thofe which have come to my knowledge. 
 Neverthelefs, thefe falfe reports are all the pretences for 
 the late horrible riots ; but the event lliews that they 
 were only pretences, and that the DiiTenters were the true 
 objeft of the fury of the mob, as many of thofe gentlemen 
 who have fufFered from the riots were not prefent. For 
 the bufinefs of the Commemoration meetings had nothing 
 to do with reUgious dill:in£lions, and were in other parts 
 compofed of churchmen, catholics, and diflenters. It is 
 true, that in Birmingham, the majority were Diflenters; 
 but It is evident that they did not wifh it to be diftinguifhed 
 as a party meeting, when they did me the honour to chufe 
 me as their chairman, who, it was evident, muft have con- 
 formed, in order to qualify myfelf for the commifllons 
 which I have held in the army, to all the formalities pre- 
 fcribed by the Teft A6t, and who never was prefent in a 
 diflenting meeting above once or twice in England; al- 
 tliough I have the greateft regard for the diflenting in- 
 dividuals whom I know, among whom are feveral of the 
 late unfortunate vidims, men as peaceable, refpedlable, and 
 loyal as any in the kingdom. But as the fubje£l of the 
 
 commemoration 
 
APPENDIX. 141 
 
 commemoration meeting was quite unknown to the ig- 
 norant part of the people, it gave an opportunity of 
 raifing any lies that were neceflary to inflame the mob to 
 execute their horrid purpofes.— But that the proceedings 
 of the meeting were innocent, peaceable, and honour- 
 able, and alfo free from every fubjeil relative to religious 
 parties, I folemnly affirm. I am, Mr. Printer, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 JAMES KEIR. 
 
 Wefl Bromzuich July 20, 1791. 
 
 N" VI. 
 
 Copy of a Letter to me^ printed in a column oppofite 
 to my own Letter to the Inhabitants of Birmingham^ 
 and thrown into many houfes in London with the 
 title of Self-murder, or the Doctor tried 
 
 AND CONVICTED BY HIS OWN EVIDENCE. 
 SIR, 
 
 Y OU have appealed to the public in vindica- 
 tion of your conduft, and lamented your lofles with the 
 feelings of a man; they are great, becaufe in one refpe<St 
 
 irreparable. 
 
 But whilft I join with the public in regretting the de- 
 ftruftion of your philofophical property, it pains me ta 
 aver that you have not proved your political innocence. 
 
 You and your friends have been charged as enemies 
 to the prefent fyftem of Government: let us examine 
 how you attempt to difprove that aflertion 
 
 You fay, that your friends met to exprefs their joy at 
 the French Revoluton, and to intimate a defire that an 
 improvement fliould take place in our couftitution. 
 
 Does 
 
142 APPENDIX. 
 
 Does the inference to be drawn from this, prove you, 
 and thofe of your perfuafion, to be friends to the prefent 
 eftablifhed Government? — Surely not. 
 
 By celebrating the French P.evolution, you give your 
 fanction to the fyftem adopted in that country. If you did 
 not fandtion, you would not celebrate ; and by befiring an 
 improvement, at the fame moment, in the Britifli confti- 
 tution, you declare yourfelf inimical to our government in 
 its prefent form. He who is inimical to any matter, can- 
 not be a friend ; and the oppofite to that character is, of 
 courfe, an enemy. Your letter has afforded me thefe 
 premifes, and the conclufion is fairly drawn, from that 
 which is fully eftabliflied. 
 
 It is not your religious, but your political fentiments 
 which are thought dangerous to the ftate. The Prefbyte- 
 rians certainly approve the conducl of that ufurped autho- 
 rity which decollated the unhappy Charles. Our con- 
 ftitution confiders that bloody a£l of common-wealth ty- 
 ranny, to be a martyrdom. The difference in political 
 fentiments on this great point, can therefore never be re- 
 conciled. It is as oppofite as monarchy and repub- 
 licanlfm can make it. Were I to afk you, if the do6lrine 
 laid down by Mr. Paine in his Rights of Man^ coincided 
 with your principles ? — you would certainly fay that " it 
 does." You cannot fuccefsfully controvert that affertion. 
 
 Now, Sir, this publication of Mr. Paine's is a grofs 
 libel upon the fpirit and letter of the Britifli conftitution, 
 and as it is received into your community as a political 
 truth, and that in approving fuch doflrine, you and your 
 friends cannot difapprove the French Revolution, I v/i(h 
 to know what fort of amendment you would make to the 
 Britifli government. 
 
 You have made a diftindion in your letter, between 
 the conftitvitional fubjefls of Great Britain and your fe6l, 
 You divide them by faying, " our caufe," and " your 
 " caufe." The conftitutional fubje61:s' caufe^ is the pre- 
 fent government in church and ftate, — your caufe mufl: 
 
 be 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 be the oppofite to that;— and therefore it is fome other 
 kind of government in church and ftate; and though you 
 have not direilly faid that you ever attacked the ftate, you 
 fairly acknowledge to have given our church a blow: — 
 Your words are, " The church of England, which you 
 " now think you are fupporting, has received a greater 
 *' blow by this conduct, than I and all my friends have 
 " ever aimed at it.'" This is a direct avowal that you 
 and your friends have aimed a blow at our religious 
 rights. 
 
 Do you call this peaceably following your ftudies as a 
 minifler of the gofpel and a philofopher?— No, Mr. 
 Prieftley, it is fuch kind of turbulent conduit that has 
 brought you and your friends into the prefent fituation. 
 
 Had you, Sir, and thofe of your perfuafion, quietly at- 
 tended the duties of your refpedive ftations, and left the 
 Proteftant church and the Britifli government to the care 
 of thofe who are appointed by the conftitution, as Repre- 
 fentatives of the people, to guard and protedl them ; you 
 might have enjoyed that eafe, happinefs and peace which 
 every good fubject is entitled to expe6l from the excel- 
 lence of our laws, and the honour and integrity of thofe 
 men who compofe the three branches of the legiflature. 
 
 July 20, 1791. JOHN CHURCHMAN. 
 
 N' VII. 
 
 Copy of a Hand-hill diflributed in London the day 
 after I arrived there. 
 Dr. Priestley is a damned rafcal, an enemy 
 both to the religious and political conftitution of this 
 country, a fellow of a treafonable mind, consequently a 
 bad chriftian : for it is not only the . duty, but the glo- 
 rious ambition, of every good chriftian to fear God and 
 honour the King. 
 
 No. viir. 
 
[ 144 ] 
 
 N" VIII. 
 
 Copes of two Hand-hills dijlrihuted among the 
 Rioters. 
 
 Birmingham, July i6, 1791. 
 Friends and Fellovj Countrymen, 
 
 IT is earneftly requefted that every true friend 
 to the Church of England^ and to the laws of his country, 
 will refledl how much a continuance of the prefent pro- 
 ceedings mull injure that Church and that King they are 
 intended to fupport; and how highly unlawful it is to deftroy 
 the rights and property of any of our neighbours. And 
 all true friends to the town and trade of Birmingham, in 
 particular^ are intreated to forbear immediately from all 
 riotous and violent proceedings ; difperfing and returning 
 peaceably to their trades and callings, as the only way to 
 do credit to themfehes and their caufe-^ and to promote the 
 peace, happinefs, and profperity of this great and flourifh- 
 ing town. 
 
 Birmingham, Sunday, July 17, 1791. 
 
 Important Information to the Friends of Church 
 and King. 
 
 Friends and Felloiv Churchmen, 
 
 BEING convinced you are unacquainted, that 
 the great loffes which are fuftained by your burning and 
 defiroying of the houfes of fo many individuals, will even- 
 tually fall upon the county at large^ and not upon the 
 perfons to whom they belonged, we feel it our duty to 
 inform you, that the damacres already done, upon the bed 
 computation that can be made, will amount to upwards 
 of One Hundred Thoufand Pounds y the whole of which 
 
 enormous 
 
APPENDIX. 145 
 
 enormous fum will be charged upon the refpedlive parishes, 
 and paid out of the rates. We, therefore, as youT friends, 
 conjure you immediately to defift from the deftruilion of 
 Ghy more houfes, otherwife the very proceedings of your 
 %eal for (hewing your attachment to the Church and 
 King, will inevitably be the means of moil: ferioufly 
 injuring innumerable families, who are hearty fupporters 
 of Government, and bring on an addition of taxes, which 
 yourfehes, and the reft of the Friends of the Churchy will for 
 years feel a very grievous burthen. 
 
 This we aflure you was the cafe in London, when 
 there were fo many houfes, and public buildings burnt 
 and deftroyed in the year 1780, and you may rely upon it, 
 will be the cafe on the prefent occafion. And we muft 
 obferve to you, that any further violent proceedings will 
 more offend your King and Country than ferve the caufe 
 of Him and the Church. 
 
 Fellow Churchmen, as you love your King, regard his 
 laws, and reftore peace. 
 
 God save the King. 
 
 AyUsford 
 E. Finch 
 Robert Lawley 
 Robert Lawley, Jun, 
 R. Moland 
 W. Digby 
 Edward Carver 
 John Brooke 
 
 J. Carlefs 
 B. Spencer 
 H. Gref. Lewis 
 Charles Curtis 
 Spencer Madan 
 Edward Palmer 
 W. Fillers 
 W. W. Mafon 
 
 No. IX. 
 
f 146 1 
 
 N' IX. 
 
 TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 The humble Addrefs of the High Bailiff, Clergy, and other principal 
 Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Birmingham. 
 
 *• May it f leafs your Majefiy^ 
 
 " W E, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal 
 fubje6ls, the High Bailiff, Clergy, and other principal in- 
 habitants of the town and neighbourhood of Birming- 
 ham, deeply fenfible of your Majefty's paternal care of all 
 your fubje6ts, beg leave moft humbly to approach your 
 royal throne, with hearts full of gratitude for the recent 
 inftance of that care which your Majefty gracioufly conde- 
 fcended to afford us during the late riots in this place, by 
 commanding fuch particular attention to be paid to our 
 fecurity, and directing fuch ample relief for our neceffities. 
 " Rejoicing alfo in every opportunity of teftifying our 
 loyalty to the beft of Sovereigns, and our firm attachment 
 to that noble fabric the conftitution of this country, the 
 €nvy of all other nations, as it is the glory of our own ; 
 We cannot negleft this occafion of pledging ourfelves to 
 fupport your Majefty's illuftrious houfe, and to defend that 
 happy conftitution both in church and ftate, againft every 
 attempt at innovation, at the rilk of every thing dear to us." 
 
 The Addrefs of the Diffenters to the King. 
 
 ** Moft Gracious Sovereign, 
 
 " W E, your Majefty's loyal and dutiful fub- 
 je<Ss, the Proteftant Diffenters in the town of Birming- 
 ham, beg leave to approach your Majefty in a moment of 
 ferious afflidlion and concern, arifing not only from our 
 recent aggravated fufferings, but from our painful appre- 
 henfions left the calumnies of our enemies fhould influ- 
 ence your royal mind, and infinuate fufpicions of our 
 loyalty and affet^ion. 
 
 Aflured 
 
APPENDIX. 14? 
 
 AlTured not of our innocence alone, but of our un- 
 alterable attachment to your auguft perfon, and to the 
 fucceffion of your Royal Houfe, we refpeitfully claim 
 your Majefty's continued prote6lion and favour, and beg 
 leave moll earneftly to alTure your Majefty, we have no 
 thoughts of difturbing the Conftitution. We are the 
 defendants of thofe to whom (as the annals of our 
 country will teftify) the Revolution, which fecured to 
 your illuftrious houfe the crown of thefe kingdoms, was 
 greatly indebted. The civil conftitution of our country 
 is our pride and our glory ; which we have been taught 
 from our infancy to revere, and which we would die to 
 preferve. Indeed, Sire, though deeply afflided by the 
 late riotous devaftations, and by the want of energy in the 
 civil power, yet we fpeak. from hearts that are adluated by 
 the love of law, of peace, of order, and good government. 
 Senfible of your Majefty's goodnefs, in the vigorous mea- 
 fures which have been adopted for fupprefling the out- 
 rages, which a lawlefs banditti were fpreading through 
 this place and its environs, we offer you the warmeft tri- 
 bute of our gratitude, for the happy deliverance we have 
 experienced, by the wifdom of the meafures planned by 
 your Majefty's minifters, and by the energy and promp- 
 titude with which they were fo fuccefsfully executed. 
 
 We feel ourfelves deeply thankful to your Majefty, 
 for this very beneficial and decifive inftance of your royal 
 attention; and likewife to your great goodnefs, in the 
 meafures which have lince been adopted, for difcovering 
 and bringing to exemplary punifliment, as well the in- 
 ftigators, as the perpetrators of the late atrocious violences ; 
 and we firmly and dutifully rely upon your Majefty for 
 the continuance of it, as well as for the exercife of that 
 candour and magnanimity, which will refift the calumnies 
 pf our enemies, and continue to us that protection, favour, 
 ?ind confidence, to which we know ourfelves juftly en- 
 titled. 
 
 That your Majefty may long reign in peace and glory; 
 that yovir royal hgnQurs may for 3ge$ continue tQ defcend 
 
 h 2 to 
 
148 APPENDIX, 
 
 to your latefl: pofterity; and that the happmefs of Britain 
 may profper and improve itfelf under their aufpicious in- 
 fluence, is the honeft wifh and fervent prayer of, Sire, 
 Your Majefty's moft loyal and dutiful fubjeds. 
 
 N' XI. 
 
 From the Committee ofDiJenters. 
 
 WHEREAS it now appears, that among other 
 infidlous and unwarrantable pradlices made ufe of during 
 the late riots, to delude the populace, and inftigate them 
 to adts of violence and deftrudtion, letters were forged, 
 charging the Diflenters with a treafonable defign to over- 
 throw the prefent happy conftitution of this kingdom, and 
 pretending that the whole body of them were combined 
 together, and had appointed to affemble on the i6th of 
 Auguft, " to burn the churches, blow up the parliament, 
 "cut off the head of the King, and abolifh all taxes:" 
 And whereas it is now well known, that fuch forged 
 letters were pretended to be found among the papers of 
 the Rev. Dr. Prieftley, and William Ruflell, Efq. and 
 the words above quoted formed part of one of the forged 
 letters which were brought and read by two perfons on 
 horfe-back at S ho well-green, the houfe of Wm. Ruflell, 
 Efq. whilfl: the fame was in flames, in order to inftigate 
 the rioters to further ads of violence : Notice is hereby 
 given, that the Proteftant Diflenters of Birmingham, in 
 addition to the reward of One Hundred Pounds, gracioufly 
 offered by his Majefty for difcovering the inftigators of 
 the late horrid violences, will give a further reward of 
 One Hundred Pounds for the difcovery of the perfon or 
 perfons who wrote the faid forged letters, or any one of 
 them, fo that he, or they, may be convided thereof, and 
 brought to punifliment. 
 
 THOMAS LEE, Junior, 
 Secretary to the Committee of Proteftant DiflTenters 
 Bimifi^bam, Au§, zz, 1791, in Birmingham. 
 
£ H9 1 
 
 N' XII. 
 
 Copy of a Letter addrejfed to the Bifhops, and Members 
 of the Houfe of Commons^ mentioned in page 20, of 
 this work. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 AS I am informed that a printed paper, con- 
 taining ExtraSfs from the Preface to one of my late pub- 
 lications, viz. Letters to the Rev. Edward Burn, has been, 
 fent by fome enemies of the Diffenters, probably by fome 
 of the clergy of this town, to every Member of Parliament, 
 and alfo to all the Bifhops, and that it made a very un- 
 favourable impreffion viith refpeit to the queftion before 
 the Houfe, on Tuefday the fecond inflant, it will not, 
 I hope, be deemed impertinent, to fliew you how much 
 you have been impofed upon by it. For had the Ef-traSIs 
 been given together with what is conneSied with them, 
 they would have appeared in a very different light indeed. 
 The following paragraph, from p. 15, I give as a fpecimen 
 of the whole, printing what has been felefted in the 
 Roman chara£ter, and what immediately follows it, but 
 which has been omitted, in Italic. 
 
 " Whether I be more pleafed or difpleafed, with their 
 " prefent violence, let them" (tiie clergy) " now judge. 
 " The greater their violence, the greater is our confidence 
 " of final fuccefs. Because it will excite more public dif- 
 " cnjfton, which is all that is necejfary for our purpofe" 
 
 In the fame Preface there is the following Note-, p. 12, 
 tvhich is in perfe61: agreement with the tenor of all my 
 writings on the fubjeft. 
 
 " It has always been my opinion, that Diflenters 
 " (hould not accept of any civil offices for which the 
 " majority of their countrymen have pronounced them 
 *f difqualified, but patiently acquiefce in their exclufioa 
 
 *' from 
 
f5o APPENDIX. 
 
 *' from them, till it fhall pleafe God, in the courfe of 
 *' his providence, and by means of our peaceable repre- 
 " fentations and remonftrances, to open the eyes, and en- 
 *' large the minds, of our countrymen, and thereby give 
 " them more juft ideas of the natural rights of men, and 
 *' the true interefts of their country." 
 
 To a perfon of any fenfe of honour^ whatever be his 
 political or religious principles^ no remarks of mine can be 
 neceflary to ihew the unfairnefs of this proceeding. Who- 
 ever it be that could give thofe extradts as a juft repre- 
 fentation of my principles, muft have meant to deceive^ and 
 therefore would not fcruple to have recourfe to any other 
 artifice to gain their point. The paper was fent off in a 
 private manner, and too late to be difcovered and counter- 
 acted j but when the fame, or any fimilar queftion, fhall 
 again come before the Houfe, I hope you will remember 
 whofe conduit has always been open and manly, and 
 whofe was infidious and deceitful. 
 I am, 
 
 Sir, 
 Birmingham, Your very humble Servant, 
 
 MARCH 4, 1790, J.PRIESTLEY, 
 
 N" XIII. 
 
 ■Copy of a Letter from M. Condor cet. Secretary to the 
 Academy of Sciences at Paris ^ to J^r. Priejiley, 
 
 Sir, and mofi illujirious AJfociate, 
 
 THE Academy of Sciences have charged me 
 to exprefs the grief with which they are penetrated at the 
 recital of the perfecution of which you have been lately 
 the victim. 
 
 They all feel how much lofs the Sciences have ex- 
 perienced by the deftru£tion of thofe labours which you 
 had prepared for their aggrandifement, It is not you, Sir, 
 
 whQ 
 
[ 151 3 
 
 who have reafon to complain ; your virtue and your genius 
 ftill remain undiminifhed, and it Is not in the power of 
 human ingratitude to forget what you have done for the 
 happinefs of mankind: — they only ought to be unhappy, 
 whofe guilty conduft has led their reafon aftray, and whofe 
 remorfe has already punilhed their crimes. 
 
 You are not the firft friend of liberty, agalnft whom 
 tyrants have armed the very people whom they have 
 deprived of their rights. Thefe are the only means which 
 they can make ufe of againft him, whofe difintereftednefs 
 of mind, whofe elevation of foul, and whofe purity of con- 
 du6l, equally fhelter him from their fedudions and their 
 vengeance. 
 
 They calumniate fuch a perfon when they can neither 
 intimidate nor corrupt him ; they arm prejudices againft 
 him, when they dare not arm the laws ; and that which 
 they have done in regard to you, is the nobleft homage 
 that tyranny dares to render to probity, to talents, and to 
 courage. 
 
 At this prefent moment a league is formed throughout 
 Europe againft the general liberty of mankind ; but for 
 fome time paft another has exifted, occupied with pro- 
 pagating and with defending this liberty, without any other 
 arms than thofe furniftied by reafon j and thefe will finally 
 triumph. 
 
 It is in the neceflary order of things, that error fliould 
 be momentary, and truth eternal Men of genius,- fup- 
 ported by their virtuous difciples, when placed in the 
 balance againft the vulgar mob of corrupt intriguers — the 
 inftruments or the accomplices of tyrants — muft at length 
 prevail againft them. 
 
 The glorious day of Univerfal Liberty will fhine upon 
 our defcendants, but we ftiall at leaft enjoy the aurorai 
 and you. Sir, have contributed not a little to accelerate 
 that happy event by your labours, by the example of youi* 
 virtues, by the indignation which all Europe feds againft 
 
 L4 yowr 
 
rS2 APPENDIX. 
 
 your perfecutors, and by the intereft and the admiration 
 which a misfortune has excited, that, although it may 
 wound, cannot fubdue your foul. 
 
 I am, with an inviolable and refpeilful attachment, 
 Sir, and my very iiluftrious affociate. 
 
 Your humble and mofi: obedient fervant, 
 Paris, July 30, 1791. CONDORCET, 
 
 N' XIV. 
 
 ^ Dr. Prieji ley's Anjwer, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I AM more thnn confoled for my lofles. In find- 
 ing that the Members of the Academy of Sciences have 
 done me the honour to interefl: themfelves in my affairs, 
 and efpecially in obferving that the friends of philofophy 
 are, what they ever ought to be, the friends of general 
 liberty. With us there is an example of the enemies of 
 the one being alfo the enemies of the other. Having al- 
 ways been an avowed advocate of public liberty, civil 
 and religious, which led me to write in defence of your 
 late glorious Revolution, the great body of the Clergy in 
 this country, and many of thofe who call themfelves the 
 fr ends of the King, have long been my enemies ; and in 
 accomplifhing my ruin, they have not fpared the in- 
 ftruments of that fcience^ my application to which gave 
 fome degree of weight to my labours in another field. 
 
 But do not, Sir, fuppofe that ihefe friends of the Church 
 and of the King are the Engliih nation. They are no 
 more than a fa6lion, whom a failure in the way of argu- 
 ment has rendered defperate. The fober part of the 
 nation think more juftly, and equally difapprove their 
 maxims, and the methods they take to enforce them. 
 The Endifti nation in general refpeft the French; and, 
 though too many of them are at prefent under a temporary 
 delufion, will vie with you in every thing truly liberal, in 
 
 whatever 
 
APPENDIX. 153 
 
 whatever can contribute to the honour and happlnefs of 
 the country at home, and to its hving in peace and good- 
 will with all its neighbours, and efpeciaily with yourfelves, 
 whofe exertions in favour of univerfal liberty, and uni- 
 verfal peace, will for ever endear you to us. 
 
 Alilire my brethren of the Academy, that, honoured 
 by their choice of me for an aflbciate, and by their generous 
 fympathy on the prefent occaflon, I fhall not fail, while 
 my life and my faculties are continued to me, to refume 
 my philofophical purfuits, and endeavour to fhew our 
 common enemies, that a genuine love of fcience, and of 
 liberty, is inexiJngiiifhable, except with life, and that un- 
 reafonable and wicked oppofition tends to animate, rather 
 than deprefs, the mind th it is penetrated with it. 
 
 In perfefl confidence that whatever is true and right 
 will finally prevail, and that every mode of oppofition will 
 only contribute to their more complete eftablilhment, I 
 |ut)fcribe myfelf with refpedl. 
 
 Sir, 
 Their, and your, very humble fervant, 
 
 J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 N' XV. 
 
 An Addrefs from the Members of the New Meeting 
 to Dr. Priejlley. 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir. 
 
 WE the affli6led and forrowing members of the 
 New Meeting Society, in the midft of the anguifli and 
 anxiety which is infeparable from our prefent calamities, 
 have greatly regretted that we could not before this day 
 afiTemble together, to confer upon the deplorable fituation 
 of our congregational afiairs, and the meafures neceflary 
 to be purfued in confequence of our perfecutions. Being 
 now met together for this purpofe, we immediately em- 
 brace the opportunity of addreffing ourfelves to our well 
 
 beloved 
 
154 APPENDIX, 
 
 beloved paftor, and beg to allure you how tenderly and 
 afFedlonately we fympathize with you in the prefent 
 feafon of fevere trial and affliction, and that, in the fpirit of 
 chriftian love and afFedtion, we moft tenderly condole with 
 you under your perfonal unmerited and painful futferings. 
 
 Little did we conceive that the exemplary diligence 
 with which we have feen you for the fpace of eleven years 
 inculcate upon us, and our children, every thing that was 
 good and virtuous, could be followed by fuch a dreadful 
 cataftrophe as we now feel and contemplate. Whatever mif- 
 conceptions our neighbours may have unhappily adopted 
 refpe6ting your various publications, we dare appeal to 
 them, and we teftify to the world, that your paftoral la- 
 bours have uniformly tended to every thing that becomes 
 the chriftian, or can adorn the man, to a fmcere and fer- 
 vent piety towards God, and to peace and univerfal good- 
 will to all mankind, without any diftindion of fe6l or 
 party. 
 
 You have uniformly taught us to refpecl the govern- 
 ment under which we live ; and in the devotional fervice 
 of every Lord's day have never failed to offer up our 
 imited prayers for the Divine blefllng upon the King, his 
 Royal Family, and all that are in authority under him ; 
 fo that from whatever caufe it may be that you have been, 
 marked out for perfecution, and for the grievous calamities 
 to which you are ftill expofed, we are fenfible it cannot 
 originate in any part of your paftoral labours, which all 
 thofe ftrangers who have occafionally joined us (with- 
 out fome of whom fcarce a Lord's day has paffed) muft 
 witnefs as well as ourfclves, have been condufbed in the 
 true fpirit of the Gofpel, in a fpirit of love and peace, and 
 though diftinguifhed by an ardent defire to promote the 
 caufe of truth, yet ftill more uniformly directed to incul- 
 cate the great and primary duties of fmcere piety towards 
 God, and univerfal benevolence towards all mankind. 
 
 Accept, dear Sir, our unfeigned teftimony to your ex- 
 emplary diligence, your eminent abilities) your unremitted 
 
 zealj 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 •Xeal, your diftinguifhed humility, your unqueftioned fm- 
 Cerity, and your uniform love of peace, chriftian forbear- 
 ance and moderation ; and permit us to afTure you how 
 affedionately and tenderly we fympathize with you under 
 your prefent fufferings, and how fmcerely we wifli their 
 removal. And although you are not immediately return- 
 ing to us, yet we look forward with pleafure to thofe 
 happier times when you may refume your paftoral labours 
 here with fafety and fatisfa6lion. 
 
 In the mean time we earneftly recommend you to the 
 Divine prote<Sl:ion and favour, imploring him to watch 
 over, to guide, and blefs you, and in due time, to reftore 
 you to us, who are, in the bonds of chriftian love and 
 affedlion. 
 
 Rev. and ever dear Sir, 
 Your fmcere and affeitionate friends, 
 
 (Signed in the Name and at the unanimous requeft of the 
 Congregation^) 
 
 Birmingham, Auguji 2, ij^l' W. RUSSELL* 
 
 N<^ XVL 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 My Chriftian Brethren, 
 
 YOUR affedionate Letter has given me not only 
 confolation, but joy. I rejoice to fee the effedls of thofe 
 principles in which it has been my bufinefs, and that of 
 my excellent Colleague to inftrudl you ; and the fituation 
 in which we now are, is peculiarly adapted to try their 
 force, and to fhew the world that religion is not a bufinefs 
 of mere fpeculation, but that it is capable of fupporting 
 the mind, and direding the condudi:, in the moft trying 
 circumftances. 
 
 I rejoice that after being an example to other congrega- 
 tions of purity of chriftian do^rine, and excellence of difcip- 
 
 line. 
 
156 APPENDIX. 
 
 line, you are now an example of patience and fortitude in 
 fufFering ; firmly maintaining the principles for which you 
 fuffer, and yet preferving your good-will towards the au- 
 thors of your fufferings ; not forgetting that there is the 
 hand of God, as well as that of man, in every thing that 
 befalls us ; and praying that God would forgive your ene- 
 mies and turn their hearts. 
 
 Be affured that in the height of my fufferings I would 
 iiot (even without any refpedt to futurity) have ex- 
 changed my feelings with thofe of our perfecutors, in the 
 moment of their greatefi: exultation over us ; for I never 
 loft the feelings of pity and benevolence towards them, 
 while I was the obie6l of their hatred and execration, I 
 have even found, as I doubt not yourfelves have alfo done, 
 that thefe chriftian fentiments are more eafily exercifed in 
 great trials than in little ones, as they more effeilually 
 call forth the principles from which they proceed. 
 
 I rejoice that you are about to re-eftablifh the affairs 
 of our fociety, and I only wait your fummons to afTift you 
 in that neceffary work. Your call will be to me an inti- 
 mation of my dutyi and then rnmmitting my life to him 
 who gave it, and who will not fuffer it to terminate un- 
 feafonably, I will inftantly attend you, and refume the 
 functions of the office with which you have honoured 
 me. I know no fatisfailion equal to that which has ever 
 accompanied the difcharge of fuch duties as thofe I owe 
 to you. 
 
 Let what we have mutually fuffered teach us the un- 
 certainty of every thing in this world, and the value of 
 thofe principles which enable us to look beyond it, and 
 not only to bear, but to rejoice in, tribulation ; to efteem 
 it an honour to be " counted worthy" to bear reproach, 
 to incur lofs, and even to lay down our lives, for the pure 
 faith of the Gofpel. May your tribulation work pati- 
 ence, and patience experience, and experience hope, even 
 that hope which maketh not afhamed. 
 
 Finally, 
 
APPENDIX. 157 
 
 Finally, may God preferve and keep you. May your 
 fufferings be for the furtherance of the Gofpel here, and 
 add to your crown of glory hereafter. 
 
 I am, my chriftian friends, 
 In the firm faith and hope of the Gofpel, 
 Lcndo», Augujl 4, Your affeaionate Paftor, 
 
 1 79 1. J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 N' XVII. 
 
 An Addrefs from the Toung People belonging to the Con- 
 gregation of the New Meeting to Br. Priejlley, 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 THE common principles of humanity would, 
 after what has recently occurred, incite us to communicate 
 our feelings to you. But we feel urged to it by far 
 greater motives. We have feen the great apoftle of civil 
 and religious liberty driven from among us. We have 
 feen the precious labours of a great part of his life de- 
 ftroyed by a lawlefs mob. We have feen his apparatus 
 and library fliare the fame fate. We have feen this- 
 valuable member of focjety in the greateft danger of falling 
 a vidtim to popular fury ; and not yet having perfecuted 
 him fufficiently, we are frequently hearing the vilefl: in- 
 vectives againft him, who is fo highly deferving of our 
 gratitude for his perfonal and unwearied efforts to en- 
 lighten our minds on the great fubjedl of religion, and 
 whofe philofophical labours have been fo juftly extolled 
 throughout every part of tha civilized world. To attempt 
 a defcription of what we feel on reflecting on thefe 
 circumftances would be as difficult as it would be painfuL 
 
 To 
 
158 APPENDIX. 
 
 To aflure you that we feel extremely for you, would be 
 fuppofing you unacquainted with us. But, Sir, there is 
 one circumftance which much heightens our forrow, we 
 cannot think of your abilities without refpeft, we cannot 
 feel the effects of your labours without indulging an 
 ardent wifli that we may ftill continue to experience the 
 happy effefis of your inftru6lions. But when we recolle6t 
 the indignities you have felt, the trials you have had to 
 fupport, and the irreparable lofs you have fuftained ; our 
 fears are alarmed left fuch complicated diftrefs fhould 
 lead you to feek an afylum, which, Sir, to our inexpreffible 
 forrow, Birmingham hath not afforded you. On the other 
 hand, knowing the chriftian difpofitions you poffefs, and 
 the knowledge you have of the human mind, we are con- 
 vinced that many palliatives will fuggeft themfelves, which, 
 to a mind like yours will have confiderable influence. 
 
 Young as we are, we cannot but hope, and expedl, that 
 the flame which ignorance and bigotry have kindled, will 
 t)e foon extinguiflied by an increafe of knowledge, and that 
 genuine chriftianity will fo far take poffeflion of the hearts 
 of our fellow townfmen, that they will look upon the per- 
 fecution you have fufFered at their hands, as a fin againfl: 
 the purefl: of the gofpel precepts. Many, very many, we 
 trufl: agree with ourfelves in wilhing your return. Indulge 
 us then, kind Sir, in this fond hope. Should it, however, 
 Jdc delayed, may we fliew our miftaken neighbours, that, 
 although Prieftley is gone, he fowed good feed before his 
 departure, that it fell into good ground, and that it now 
 fiourifhes in the blade and promifes a plenteous harveft. 
 May we prove it to them, that argument armed with 
 iire and faggot may produce a temporary (hock, but that 
 it finally ftrengthens our caufe, that it forces us to feel the 
 great juftnefs of it, and produces aftions natural to fuch 
 a convidlion ; we truft we fliall always follow your great 
 example in candour and moderation, not lofing fight of 
 that chriftian fortitude you have fo uniformly difplayed 
 iince we have had the happinefs of your refidence among 
 
 us. 
 
APPENDIX. 159 
 
 ws. Accept, dear Sir, our warmeft expreflions of gra- 
 titude for the great and lafting fervices you have rendered 
 us as chriftians, as members of civil fociety, and as citizens, 
 and be allured it is with the greateft refpedt we fubfcribe 
 ourfelves, 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 Your afFe6tionate Pupils. 
 (Signed, One Hundred and Twenty-one Names.) 
 
 N<^ XVIII. 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 
 My Young Friends, 
 
 I COULD not read your very affe61:ionate 
 Addrefs to me without tears of joy. You were ever the 
 moft pleafing part of my charge, and this Addrefs is a 
 proof that the affeftion I had for you, and the pains that 
 I took in inftrudling you, have not been thrown away. 
 Your example will encourage other chriftian minifters. 
 who hear of it to follow mine. The great objeil of my 
 Leftures, in all your Clafles, was to give you a juft know- 
 ledge of the principles of religion, as the only folid founda- 
 tion of proper fentiments and good conduct, and I fhall 
 want no confolation under my unmerited fufFerings, while 
 you continue to feel, and to adl, as you do. 
 
 The unfettled ftate of the Congregation, and the con- 
 fequent difcontinuance of our Lectures, you will confider, 
 as a trial of the principles you have already acquired^ 
 Give a proof of their ftrength by a fteady attention to 
 every means of improvement that is yet in your power. 
 T he enemies ot our chriftian liberty have deftroyed an 
 excellent Library provided for your ufe; but your zeal 
 and liberality will fupply you with refources of the fame 
 kindj ajid kt the raor? opulent among you aflift thofe who 
 
 arc 
 
i6o APPENDIX. 
 
 are lefs {o. Re-perufe the works which I compofed fof 
 your ufe, and fuch others as can be re-purchafed of thofe 
 which the enemy has deprived you of. Shew them, that 
 by deftroying books, they cannot deftroy the efFeds of 
 reading them; that the love of truth, of virtue, and of 
 liberty, which you have imbibed, can never be eradicated, 
 and that lawlefs power can never fubdue fixed principles. 
 
 What I more particularly wifh, in your prefent fitua- 
 tion, is, that thofe who are the befl: inftruded among you 
 would fupply my place, in undertaking the inftru6lion of 
 others; and many of you, I am well fatisfied, are fuf- 
 ficiently qualified for it; and aflure yourfelves of the 
 Divine blefling on the weakeft well-meant endeavours. 
 
 Young as you are, 1 truft you are too well eftabliftied 
 in chriftian principles, to have your faith in a wife fuper- 
 intending Providence at all (haken by the calamitous 
 events which have been permitted to befal us. Chriftianity 
 did not lofe, but gain ground by perfecution. It is a ftate 
 excellently adapted to recal to our minds, and to ftrengthen 
 our regards to, our future and better profpeds, while it 
 loofens a dangerous attachment to the things of time and 
 fenfe. 
 
 The ways of God are unfearchable by us. But be 
 aflured, that nothing can materially harm you, if you be 
 followers of that which is good. If I be reftored to you, 
 which is my moft ardent wifh, our mutual fatisfadion 
 will be doubled by this interruption ; and if not, it will 
 add to the ardour of your wifhes, as it does to mine, to 
 meet you where the violence of the adverfary can never 
 feparate us any more.. 
 
 I am, my young Friends, 
 
 In the faith and hope of the Gofpel, 
 
 Your aifedionate Paftor, 
 London, JuguJI 12, j-j^i, J. PRIESTLEY, 
 
 A Letter 
 
[ i6i ] 
 
 N" XIX. 
 
 From the Members of the New Meeting. 
 
 Dear and Rev. Sir, 
 
 THE affectionate terms in which you 
 accept our letter of condolance, and the affurance you give 
 us that it afforded you confolation and joy, have caufed us 
 a hvely fatisfaCtion. Your defire to concur with us in 
 our endeavours to re-eftabhfh the affairs of the congre- 
 gation has awakened our anxiety for the feafon when we 
 may urge your return to Birmingham ; and although that 
 period has been thus long protra6ted, yet we think it our 
 duty to remind you, that we exercife a chearful reliance 
 upon your kind declaration, that you only wait our 
 fummons. 
 
 The fincere affedion we bear you, and the conviction 
 we poffefs of the value and importance of your life to the 
 caufe of truth, and the world at large, will not permit us 
 to confent that you fhould be expofed to any unneceffary 
 hazard on your return hither before the time of tranquility 
 and fafety. Prevented by thefe motives, and thefe alone, 
 from requefting in the mofl affedionate terms, that you 
 would refume in perfon your paftoral charge, we affure 
 ourfelves that the interval they occafion, will not be per- 
 mitted to operate, in any fenfe, to our difadvantage. 
 
 Our endeavours to procure a fuitable place to affemble 
 in for public worfhip, until our own is rebuilt, though 
 net altogether fo fuccefsful as we could wifh, will no 
 be difcontinued till the object is fully attained: in the 
 mean time, we have the pleafure of affembling in Carr's 
 Lane each Lord's day, with our brethren and felJow-fuf- 
 ferers of the Old Meeting congregation; and we learn 
 with unfpeakable fatisfadlion, that the junior part of our 
 fociety, profiting by your advice and correfpondence, are 
 already affembled in regular claffes, and are conforming to 
 your v/ilhes, in endeavouring to continue the important 
 M bufmefs 
 
i62 APPENDIX. 
 
 bufinefs of religious inftrucftion among themfelves, agree- 
 able to the plan you eftablifhed ; fo that your labours are 
 ftill flourifhing among us, even in our prefent ftate of 
 difperfion and perfecution'; and we hope and truft it will 
 not now be long, ere your own judgment, and that of your 
 friends, will concur in affording us a renewal of thofe 
 perfonal exertions by which we have heretofore been fo 
 much edified, and from the continuance of which, we 
 promife ourfelves fo much future advantage. 
 
 We rejoice in the continuance of your health, and in 
 the frequent accounts we receive of your uninterrupted 
 chearfulnefs, and offer our fervent prayers to the Almighty 
 that your eminent abilities may long be fpared, and your 
 health and chearfulnefs be prolonged with them. With 
 fentiments of the fmcereft refpedl, we remain with un- 
 alterable attachment, 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir, 
 Your much obliged 
 And very affe61:ionate friends and fen^ants, 
 Birmingham, September 5, 1791. 
 
 N' XX. 
 
 From the Toung People belonging to the Congregation 
 of the New Meeting. 
 
 Dear and refpefted Sir, 
 
 PERMIT us to indulge our feelings 
 in again addreffing you. When affurances of gratitude 
 and attachment are not neceflary, there is a gratification in 
 exprelTmg the prevailing fentiments of the heart; and 
 ■when you, Sir, are the object, we feel no common ardour. 
 We have too much confidence in your goodnefs, and have 
 had too many proofs of your affedlionate regard to 'cur 
 happinefsj to imagine you will think us troublefome. 
 
 Wc 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 We have received your afFe<£lioriate and animating 
 letter. Our tears fpoke our 'feelings. We cannot exprefs 
 them, — language is feebk and inadequate. But we will 
 bind your inftru6lions to our hearts. W^hile we remem- 
 ber whole pupils we have been, we cannot a(51 unv/orthily. 
 We can never fufficiently exprefs our fenfe of the obliga- 
 tion you have conferred upon us, but we dwell upon the 
 fubjefl with too much pleafure to omit any opportunity 
 of renewing it. To you. Sir, we are indebted for the 
 defire of improvement. You have given us habits of em- 
 ploying our leifure hours in the cultivation of our under- 
 ftandings, in purfuits that afford delight and advantage, 
 and which are calculated to raife us higher in the fca'e of 
 being. The love of virtue you have implanted in us by 
 precept and example. We will guard and cheriih it; and 
 while we enjoy the fruits of it, our fouls exulting (hall 
 blefs you. You have deprived adverfity of its fting, and 
 have enabled us to extend our views with fatisfadion be- 
 yond the world, by imprefling our minds with the ftronged: 
 evidence of the great truths of chriilianity. Thefe ad- 
 vantages, Sir, we have received from you. We feel their 
 importance, and will diffufe them as far as our influence 
 extends. It (hall be our grand objeft to endeavour to 
 follow your example in a iirm adherence to what we be- 
 lieve to be the caufe of truth; in preferving our minds 
 open to convi6lion, and in the cultivation of fortitude, 
 patience and charity. We have indeed no /light trial of 
 the latter, when we behold the enlightened and benevo- 
 lent friend of all mankind, whofe life has invariably ex- 
 hibited, and whofe inflruiSlions have ever enforced, the 
 pratSlice of every mild and gentle virtue, treated with 
 a cruelty which v/ould difgrace a barbarous age. But we 
 will remember our principles, the principles. Sir, we have 
 imbibed from you, and will fay in the language of phi- 
 lofophy and of chriftianity. Deluded men, we pity you,— - 
 May your hearts be turned, and your errors forgiven. 
 
 M 2 Your 
 
i64 APPENDIX. 
 
 Your fufFerings, Sir, have been great, but we have 
 much confolation in knowing that your mind is ftill 
 greater. The man who can review a life hke yours, and 
 fay it has been mine, poffeffes the nobleft fources of joy. 
 You have formed to yourfelf a faniluary which no ftorm 
 can reach. The venomed dart muft rebound and wound 
 the bread which aimed it. While the vices of mankind 
 prefent a melancholy picture to your view, and call forth 
 emotions of forrow, in a heart benevolent as your's, you 
 will remember how many have been made virtuous and 
 happy by your means, and that no lawlefs power can de- 
 ftroy the works you have given to the world, or prevent 
 their operation in promoting the beft interefts of man. 
 
 The violence of a mob, or thofe who chofe to a6l by 
 fuch inftruments, can only give additional luftre to a cha- 
 rader known, admired, and revered by the wife and li- 
 beral in every part of the civilized world. But eminent 
 talents and diftinguifhed virtue, feldom fail to excite in 
 narrow and interefted minds, the defpicable paffions of 
 env}' and fear ; and the ignorance of mankind affords, alas ! 
 an ample field for them to work upon. The page of 
 hiftory which the recent event is deftined to fill, will ex- 
 liibit a ftrong contrail in human nature. Pofterity will 
 paufe with aftonilhment when they find that the fame 
 age which witnefTed your generous exertions in the caufe 
 of truth and of mankind, produced fuch favage ferocity. 
 Happy would it be for many if the cloud which will hang 
 over their memories were the dark veil of oblivion. But 
 the bri; htnefs of your chara6ler will render the deformity 
 of theirs confpicuous. 
 
 Your propofal that the clafles fliould continue to meet 
 has given us much fatisfa£l:ion. We fhall all rejoice 
 in any occafion of giving or receiving infiru6tion. We 
 hold the advantages we have received too dear to negle<5t 
 any opportuity of extending and improving them. We 
 have this day met to confider of the beft means of carrying 
 it into execution. The different circumftances under 
 
 which 
 
APPENDIX. 165 
 
 which we now aflemble cannot fail to Imprefs our minds 
 in a very powerful manner : but we truft they are im- 
 preffions which will have a favourable influence on our 
 future lives. We have requefted Mr. Blythe to fupply 
 your place in the fenior clafs till your return, and when 
 he is delirous of it, we fhall willingly relieve him from 
 the fatigue of reading. Mr. Hawk.es we have requefted 
 to give us his prefence in the noon clafs, and to take only 
 fo much of the bufinefs of it upon him, as is agreeable 
 to himfelf ; fince many of us will gladly give him any 
 affiftance in our power. They have in the moft affec- 
 tionate manner complied with our wilhes, and next 
 Sunday the three clafles, recommence in their ufual form, 
 every thing previous to their meeting being fettled. 
 
 We have had a very full meeting, and many who were 
 obliged to be abfent have requefted to put their names to 
 this addrefs as a teftimony of their gratitude for your kind 
 letter. But we hope. Sir, the time will foon arrive, when 
 you may again appear among us in the fame venerable 
 and endearing chara6ler in which we have fo often beheld 
 you. To be feparated from you is an evil we are ill-dif- 
 pofed to bear. We will hope this trial is not in referve 
 for us. Should infatuation, however, extend fo far, our 
 enemies (hall find that they can never feparate you from our 
 hearts ; that our gratitude and attachment has a bafis too 
 ftrong for them ever to fhake, and that the mind is pro- 
 perty which no iniquitious power can reach. 
 
 With fentiments of the warmeft gratitude and vene- 
 ration, 
 
 We are, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your affeftionate pupils, 
 
 (Signed with 145 names) 
 Birmingham i Auguji 22, 1791. 
 
 A Letter 
 
[ i66 j 
 
 No XXI. 
 
 From the Members of the New Meeting Congregation. 
 
 Birmingham, 0£i. 22, 1791. 
 Dear and Reverend Sir, 
 
 WE, the Subfcribers and Members of the New 
 Meeting Society, being affembled together for the purpofe 
 of conferring upon the rumour of an unexpedled im- 
 pediment in the way of your return to us, defire to aflure 
 you of the deep and poignant concern thefe rumours give 
 us. The bare apprehcniion of your leaving us is deeply 
 affecSting to us all. Sudden and violent as was the firfl: 
 onfet of the perfecution and troubles with which you and 
 ourfelves were lately aflailed, we faw it neceffary that you 
 fhouid retire for a feafon, and we not only acquiefced in 
 your retirement, but rejoiced in your enjoying that fafety 
 at a diftance which a deluded populace appeared to deny 
 you here ; but the thought of thefe violences operating to 
 the final diffoluticn of our happy conneflion, as paftor and 
 people, is really more diftreffing to us than all our other 
 fufferings and calamities, multiplied and fevere as they are, 
 and we cannot but fmcerely and earneflly deprecate fuch 
 an event. 
 
 Indeed, Sir, we can truly affure you, that there is no 
 plea to be urged, there is no afTu ranee to be given, there 
 is no inducement to be offered, by a people whofe hearts 
 are full of veneration, refpe6t, and gratitude, which we 
 cannot, which we do not now urge and offer to you as 
 the genuine didate of the moft ardent, fincere, and fervent 
 affection. We cannot defcribe how much our feelings are 
 inteiefted; we cannot tell you how earn efl, how fincere, 
 and how fervent our defires are for your return, and how 
 much our beff affections are moved upon this truly im- 
 portant and interefling occafion : but we know we may 
 fafely rely upon your own feelings to do us juftice : we 
 know you will feel for us, and alfo for thofe who are 
 
 the 
 
APPENDIX. 167 
 
 the deareft to us, when we in treat you to recollect your 
 invaluable ufefulnefs among them, and the happy fruits 
 which have been alresdy feen to refult from your ex- 
 emplary afliduities and labours there. But we will forbear; 
 for although we would be ferious and earneft, we would 
 not be importunate. We fliall, therefore, urge you no fur- 
 ther — We know your candour, we truft your goodnefs, 
 and would rely upon your well known ferious and pious 
 mind for the acceptance of this our fmcere and well 
 meant application. — Perfuaded you will not deem it an in- 
 trufion, we offer no apology. On the contrary, knowing 
 and feehng ourfelves that it is the di>5late of a pure affec- 
 tion and ardent attachment, we doubt not but you will 
 receive it as fuch, and that, as it is the genuine refult of our 
 zeal and fmcerity in the mofl important of all coiicerns, it 
 will operate with you accordingly. — Hoping: that you 
 may fpeedily return amongfl: us, refume your pen with 
 renewed vigour, and your labours with mcreaiing fuccefs, 
 we remain, with the fmcerefl affeilion, refped:, and at- 
 tachment, 
 
 Reverend and ever dear Sir, 
 
 Your friends and fellow Chriflians. 
 
 N' XXII. 
 
 To the Members of the New Meeting Congregation 
 at Birmingham, 
 
 London, 061. 8, 1791. 
 
 My Chriftian Friends, 
 
 I NEVER felt myfelf in a more painful fituation 
 than the prefent, in confequence of fitting down to anfwer 
 your two mofl: affectionate Addrefles, inviting me to re- 
 turn to the exercife of my miniflry among you, after 
 having been driven away by lawlefs violence. 
 
 Not only on my leaving Birmingham, but fometime after 
 my arrival in London, I had no idea but that of a temporary 
 M 4 retreat 
 
i68 APPENDIX, 
 
 retreat ; thinking that the violence of party fplrit, having 
 had its triumph, would be fatisfied, and that perhaps, re- 
 pentance fucceeding, I might refume my fundions w^ith 
 more advantage than before. But every account that I 
 have received having reprefented the fpirit of party as 
 more inveterate than I had imagined it to be, fo that, in 
 all probability, my return would only inflame it, and in 
 confequence of this, my fituation, if fafe, would be un- 
 comfortable, and perhaps hurtful, it is my deliberate 
 opinion, that it will be better for fome other perfon, lefs 
 ol>noxious to popular prejudice, to take my place, and 
 that I may be more ufefully fixed in London, or its 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 I hope I need not aiTure you, that it is with the greateft 
 regret that I at length, after much hefitation, have come 
 to tliis refolution, in forming which, coniiderations of a 
 more private nature, but to which no man is, or ought to 
 be, wholly infenfible, have likewife had their influence. 
 Never, I believe, was any chriftian minifter more happy in 
 his fituation than I have been with you. Aiy fentiments 
 concerning you are not only thofe of refpecSt and affe6lion, 
 but of pride. It has been my boaft, that no congregation 
 that I have been acquainted with, was fo candid, fo well 
 informed, and fo ready to adopt whatever their minifters 
 recommended to them for their edification, and that, in 
 confequence of it, your regulations were the befl: adapted 
 to form intelligent and ferious chriftians. Our example 
 was looked up to by other and diftant congregations, who 
 were excited to form themfelves upon our model. I had, 
 alfo, perfe6l liberty, which few difi*enting minifl:ers have, 
 to follow all my favourite purfuits, of every kind, and to 
 preach and write without the leafl: hazard of giving of- 
 fence, whatever I thought proper. I had, therefore, no 
 other wifh than to live and die among you. 
 
 But as I hope the good that has been done will never 
 be undone, owing efpecially to the almoft unprecedented 
 zeal, and excellent fpirit, of the young people among j-ou, 
 
 whofe 
 
APPENDIX. 169 
 
 whofe Addrefles will for ever endear them to me, and 
 whofe example, wherever it is known, muft contribute to 
 inftru6l and warm others, I have the lefs regret in now 
 fignifying my intention of refigning my paftoral charge, 
 but not till I have feen your affairs in fome meafure re- 
 eftablifhed, and fome profpedl of your being able to do as 
 well without me: and as fome time mull be fixed, I 
 mention Chriflmas next. 
 
 As foon then, as you fhall have provided a place in 
 which I can ofBciate, I (hall with peculiar pleafure refume 
 my functions among you, and continue them, till the time 
 abovementioned ; and if it pleafe God that I fhould die in 
 your fervice, I fhall not (feeing no apparent caufe of ap- 
 prehenfion, fuch as would juflify my flight from my pro- 
 per flation) think it wijl clofe unfeafonably with refped to 
 myfelf, or the world. 
 
 I am. 
 My friends and fellow chriflians. 
 
 Your affedlionate paflor, 
 
 J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 N' XXIII. 
 
 From the Congregation of the New Meeting, Birmingham. 
 
 Birmingham, Oftober 24, 1791. 
 Re'V, and dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR truly interefting letter of the 8th 
 
 inflant has deeply afFe6led us. We are grieved to an 
 
 excefs at the feparation it announces, and the apparent 
 
 necefTity of our acquiefcing in it; and in "your own 
 
 " deliberate opinion, that it will be more for the general 
 
 " good to have fome other perfon fill your place here, 
 
 *' and that you may be more ufefully employed in London 
 
 " or its neighbourhood." It is with the moll painful re- 
 
 ludance that we yield to this truly humiliating conclufion, 
 
 without 
 
lyo APPENDIX. 
 
 without importuning you with our intreaties, that you 
 would reconfider it, and refume your firft purpofe of 
 fpeedily returning to us. But feeing it your dehberate 
 judgment, and knowing the circumftances which fur- 
 round us J we patiently refign our wills ; and urging you 
 no farther, moft devoutly pray our heavenly Father, that 
 your profpe6l of greater ufefulnefs may be realized ; that 
 many fouls may yet be added to your faithful miniftry; that 
 your glorious career of ufefulnefs and benevolence may 
 lon» be continued, and that your final removal from it to 
 the realms of light may be ferene and happy. 
 
 You will permit us to add, that the apprehenfions 
 which we have been recently informed fome of our wifeft 
 and bell: friends entertain for your fafety, fhould you pro- 
 fecute your intended return to us, neceffarily compel us, 
 to make a farther facrifice of our anxious defires to fee 
 vou here. We are, indeed, truly forry to abandon the 
 prorpe6l of your promifed return, though it is but 
 for a few weeks ; but we fhould be wanting in afFeftion 
 towards yourfelf, and in refpeft to the general good of 
 mankind, were we not to attend to thefe apprehenfions. 
 Indeed, Sir, we fpeak very fmcerely, when we declare that 
 we bear you too fincere and fervent an affection, that we 
 have too great a value for your peace and fafety, are far too 
 anxious for your prefervation from infult, to confent, that 
 you fhould upon the prefent occafion expofe your perfon 
 to tlie hazard of it. Give us leave, then, with hearts full 
 of refpe<5l and afFedlion, to intreat you to forego for the 
 prefent, your purpofe of vifiting us as our paftor, and let 
 us repeat the affurance conveyed by our firfl: letter, that 
 when the feafon of perfe6f: tranquility and fafety ap- 
 proaches, we fliall moft cordially hail your return to us 
 for any period your other important connexions and en- 
 gagements may admit. In the mean time, anxious to 
 maintain an intercourfe with you, and defirous of your 
 aid and concurrence in our choice of a fuitable perfon 
 to afTift your worthy coadjutor, the Rev. Mr. Blythe, we 
 
 requeft 
 
APPENDIX. 171 
 
 requefl: that if you know of any gentleman whom you think 
 fuitable for us, and whom you have reafon to expect would 
 wifh for fuch an eftablKhment, you will favour us with 
 your nomination of him. We are, with the liveliefl: fcnti- 
 ments of gratitude, refpe(5l, and affection, 
 Dear and Reverend Sir, 
 Your truly affedlionate friends and fellow" chriftians. 
 
 N° XXIV. 
 
 From the Congregation of Mill-Hill Chapel Leeds, 
 
 Leeds, Auguft 14., 1791. 
 Rev. and Dear Sir, 
 
 W E, the Proteftant DilTenters of Mill-Hill 
 Chapel In Leeds, cannot reft fatisfied in a filent fympathy 
 with ydu on the lofles you have lately incurred from the 
 violence of party rage. 
 
 While all the fmcere friends of rational liberty and 
 good order are roufed to an honeft indignation, by out- 
 rages which have difgraced our country in the eyes of 
 enlightened Europe, we, having had the happinefs of 
 being under your paftoral care, feel a perfonal intereft in 
 your welfare. And as, from this intimate connexion 
 with you, we have had a better opportunity of becoming 
 acquainted with your real charaj5ler than many others 
 have enjoyed, we the more readily embrace this opportuuity 
 of bearing our fpecial teftimony to its exemplary excellence. 
 An interval of more than eighteen years has not effaced 
 from our memory the good principles you inculcated 
 upon us, and the affedionate care which you uniformly 
 manifefted for our advancement in every virtue. It was, in 
 a peculiar degree, the objeft of your attention, to imprefs 
 upon the minds of the young fuch fentiments as arc befl: 
 calculated to produce the peaceable and ufeful citizen, in all 
 
 tlie 
 
172 APPENDIX, 
 
 the departments in life, which many of us, who were 
 then only rifmg to maturity, and are now the heads of fa- 
 milies, gratefully acknowledge. We alfo recolle6l with 
 pleafure, that when you inftrufled us in the reafons of a 
 Proteftant diffent from the eftabliflied church, you were 
 careful to guard us againft the rancour of an intolerant 
 fpirit, and to form us to the genuine temper of that 
 divine religion, which injoins peace on earth, and good 
 will towards men. And though you always efteemed it 
 your duty to oppofe what appeared to you the erroneous 
 opinions, and fuperftitious pradlices, of individuals, or 
 bodies of men, you were fo far from entertaining a 
 hoftile difpofition to their perfons or property, that you 
 were folely ailuated by a regard to their bed intereft ; for 
 which, however, they might think you miftaken, they 
 ought to have felt themfelves obliged. Rejoicing in the 
 fupport which you derive from the ample refources of 
 your own mind, efpecially ihofe which are the refult of a 
 good confcience, and earneftly wifhing you every good, 
 We remain, 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 Your affedionate friends. 
 
 N' XXV. 
 
 From the Protejiant Dijfenters in Great [Tarmouth^ 
 
 Yarmouth, Ju]y29, 1791. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 W E, minifters and members of the three de- 
 nominations of Proteftant Diflenters in Great Yarmouth, 
 beg leave to exprefs to you the intereft we take in the 
 late calamitous events which have befallen you. Differing 
 in various matters of opinion, we all agree in warm admi- 
 ration of your high abilities, your zealous refearches after 
 
 chriftian 
 
APPENDIX. 173 
 
 chriftian tnith, and your diftinguiflied exertions in the 
 caufe of civil and religious liberty. Thefe qualities, which 
 have made you the peculiar mark of the vengeance of 
 bigotry, render your fafety and welfare proportionably 
 dear to us. 
 
 Whilft we lament your lofles, not only as thofe of an 
 individual, but of the public, we receive a confolation in 
 the magnanimity with which you have borne them, and 
 in the teftimony this event has given to the world of the 
 difference between the temper and condu6l of thofe who 
 fupport a good caufe, and and of thofe who oppofe it. 
 
 What will be the final refult of fo atrocious an adl 
 we prefume not to pronounce j but one good effed: from 
 it we think we can forefee, that of drawing clofer the 
 bands of union and amity amongft all the different bodies 
 of DifTenters, who mufl henceforth feel that they have a 
 common concern in each others welfare and fecurity. 
 
 We requeft you to convey our cordial fentiments of 
 condolence to your fellow fuiferers, and remain, with fin- 
 cere efteem, and every good wifh. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 Your Friends and fellow Chriflians. 
 
 N° XXVI. 
 
 Ti? the Members of the New Meeting Congregation, 
 Birminghom. 
 
 My Chriftian Friends, 
 
 IT adds not a little to my affliftion, occa- 
 fioned by my violent exclufion from a congregation to 
 which I have fo much reafon to be attached, to be de- 
 prived of the fatisfa6lion I promifed myfelf from my pro- 
 pofed vifit to you, and doing what might be in my power 
 towards your future fettlement. But I am more con- 
 cerned on account of the reafon you affign for it; as it 
 
 argues 
 
172 APPENDIX. 
 
 argues a continuance of that malignant perfecuting fpirit 
 ■which has been the caule of all our fufferings. What 
 muft be the government of a country, nominally chrif- 
 tians, in which fuch outrages againfl: all law and good 
 order cannot be retrained, and in which a man cannot be 
 encouraged by his beft friends to come to the difcharge 
 of the duties of a peaceable profefTion, without the appre- 
 henfion of being infulted, if not murdered. 
 
 Do not, however, think, that any thing flrange, or 
 new, has happened to us. The enemies of the primitive 
 chriftians frequently fet loofe a licentious populace upon 
 them, when they did not think proper to proceed againfl: 
 them by law ; and for this purpofe they railed fuch ca- 
 lumnies againfl them as made them be confidered as the 
 very pefts of fociety. I truli you are fo well grounded in 
 the principles of your religion, as not to Le difcouraged at 
 this^ or any thing elfe that has befallen us. Though the 
 enemy has burned our places of public worfliip, and 
 lighted the fires, as I have been informed, with our 
 bibles, they cannot deflroy the great truths contained in 
 them, or deprive us of the benefit of our Saviour's decla- 
 ration, " Blefi'ed are ye when men fliall revile you, and 
 " perfecute you, and fliall fay all manner of evil againfl: 
 « you falfely for my fake." 
 
 Be afliired that, from the intereft I take in your wel- 
 fare, I fhall not fail to mention to you any perfon that I 
 may hear of, who fhall appear to me proper to fucceed 
 me. Hoping that you will foon be provided with fuch a 
 perfon, and that in confequence of being built up in our 
 holy faith, we fhall have a happy meeting in a better, 
 world, for which all the difcipline and trials of this life 
 are excellently fitted to form us, I am, 
 
 My Friends and fellow Chriftians, 
 
 Your's afFeclionately, 
 J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 ADDENDA 
 
[ 175 ] 
 
 ADDENDA. 
 
 XT may be amufing to fome of my 
 readers, to fee the following account of the riots at 
 Birmingham, written on the fpot, and at the time, 
 by a member of the eftablifhment, in letters to a 
 friend of his near Maidftone in Kent, and pub- 
 lifhed in a Supplement to the Maidftone Journal^ for 
 Tuefday, July the 19th, laft, as it fhows with 
 how little feeling, or fenfe of impropriety, fome 
 perfons can relate the moft atrocious adlions, in 
 the full view of all their enormity, when they are 
 well wiihers to the cauje in which they are per- 
 formed. The miftakes and exaggerations in this 
 account are alfo amufing. I would likewife obferve 
 that Mr. Walter, the printer of the paper called 
 The Times, afTures me that his account, falfe and 
 malignant as it is, was written by " a gentleman 
 " of great refpeftability, at Birmingham, and of 
 " large commercial concerns." But this kind of 
 rejpe5i ability does not always give liberality of fenti- 
 ment, juft notions of right and wrong, or proper 
 feelings. 
 
 LETTER 
 
C 176 ] 
 N' I. 
 
 LETTER I . 
 
 Thurfday E'vening. 
 
 " THE deifts here, after their utmoft endea- 
 vours, fat down eighty-two. The mob encreafing in 
 number and filence, they broke up in lefs than two 
 hours — their names will appear in white letters and black 
 paper. Some of them were rudely handled. Prieftley durft 
 not appear, the enclofed paper* inflamed much. I cannot 
 think we have any thing to fear 5 we muft be blind indeed, 
 provided the kingdom is as flourifhing as Birmingham, 
 for we are richer, and our trade better than ever." 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Sunday Noon. 
 "TO remove your fears on our account, I 
 fend you the particulars of our commotions : on Thurfday 
 evening the zealous aflembled in St. Philip's church-yard, 
 and broke a few windows at the Hotel ; Dadley appear- 
 ing, declared himfelf attached to high church and king. 
 It was fettled for their leader to examine his houfe, and 
 not a difaffeded perfon being there, they went to the New 
 Meeting, which was foon in flames; then to the Old 
 Meeting, but they firft defired the charity children to be 
 fent to their homes ; — they were informed the houfes on 
 each fide belonged to loyalifts, whofe property they are 
 as cautious of as pofllble ; therefore to preferve whatever 
 belonged to them, they gutted the Old Meeting, laid the 
 wood in a pile in the Meeting-yard, and burnt it there ; 
 then took the bricks down with care, which employed 
 
 them 
 
 • Alluding to the feditious hand-bill. 
 
ADDENDA. 177 
 
 them all night : a party was fent to fecure Dr. Prieftley, 
 who efcaped very narrowly : his houfe with every thing 
 they could find fell a vi6lim to the flames, they then de- 
 ftroyed Mr. Ryland's houfe, late Bafkerville's; then Bor- 
 defley, then Mr. Hutton's. I went by defire of our neigh- 
 bour Cooper into Hutton's houfe, to requefl: they would 
 not fire it, as many loyal people would fufFer. They knew 
 me, (hook me heartily by the hand, and promifed me no 
 fire^ which was obferved. I am confidently informed 
 that a woman bringing a candle was knocked down ; they 
 then went to Mr. G. Humphrys's, Mr. W. RufTell's, and 
 Mofely Hall, where they waited for the tenant. Lady Car- 
 ham p ton, removing her effedls, they then deftroyed the 
 houfe as they had done thofe of the preceding perfons. 
 They are ftill in the country: their objects are the Meet- 
 ing-houfe at Withwood-heath with the teacher's, Coates's 
 at the Five-ways, late Wefley's, and Lady Wood ; and 
 they declare, that unlefs Prieftley is delivered to them, no 
 DifTenters (hall efcape. On Friday five hundred gentle- 
 men began cudgelling them, and drove them, but this 
 only made them more outrageous, and we have now no 
 hopes of quieting them but from the military; the fame 
 day, they gave notice by their bellman, that every houfe 
 that had not high church and King^ written upon it, would 
 be delh-oyed. 
 
 " No mone}'^, or any thing elfe has any influence, nor 
 have they been diverted from any one of their attempts ; 
 they feem to move quite fyftematically, and fay, they are 
 only doing what their enemies would have done by them. 
 We are, I confider, quite fafe ; the only inconvenience we 
 have felt, has been from a few ftragglers, who have taken 
 the advantage of the times, in extorting money> but the 
 loyal mob, yeflerday, as foon as they were informed of it, 
 fent a party, who beat them feverely, and they are at 
 prefent difperfed. 
 
 *• P. S. I am informed they are now at Edgbafton, 
 in confequence of their finding a letter of Dr. W. at 
 
 N Ruflell's 
 
178 ADDENDA. 
 
 Ruffeli's ; they now fay they regard no perfuafion, every 
 enemy to high church fhall falh" 
 
 Mr. Ryland's houfe, which has been burnt down, was 
 fet fire to on account of his fon's having aflifted in the 
 efcape of Dr. Prieftley, whom the mob have purfued in 
 different direitions. Should the Doctor not be able to 
 elude their vigilance, it is much to be apprehended that 
 they will murder him, as he is confidered the mif- 
 chievous author of all the treafonable hand-bills that 
 have been circulated about the town, and which firft pro- 
 duced the riot. 
 
 The Methodifl:s and followers of the Countefs of 
 Huntingdon have been all proteiled. In the beginning 
 of the riots the mob went to fome of their houfes, and 
 queftioned them concerning the dodlrines which they 
 profefTed, and on their declaring for church and King, 
 they were affured that they fhould remain unmolefted. 
 The church people walk about as ufual, without the 
 fmallefl apprehenfion of danger. 
 
 The Hotel belonging to Dadley, where the Revolu- 
 tionifls dined, has been only damaged by the windows 
 being broken, the mob refufmg to pull it down, becaufe 
 he was a churchman. 
 
 Lir. Humphry s, whofe houfe at the turnpike was 
 pulled down, offered the mob 4000 and afterwards 8000 
 guineas if they would defid:; but they declared that money 
 was not their objeil:, and that they pulled down his houfe 
 becaufe they confidered him as a principal perfon con- 
 cerned m the inflammatory hand-bills; perhaps too for his 
 ridiculing the national church by building a cow-lodge in 
 the form of a chapel. 
 
 A letter dated Sunday night at eleven o'clock, fays, 
 " UoJefs fome foldiers arrive^ early to-raorrpw morning, 
 
 we 
 
ADDENDA. 179 
 
 we are in very great apprehenfion that every Dlflenter's 
 houfe in Birmingham will be deftroyed, and with them, 
 no doubt, many other houfes which were never intended. 
 Near one hundred houfes have been fet on fire and pulled 
 down, and about fixty more are marked for the purpofe 
 of being burnt or deftroyed. At nine o'clock laft night 
 it was computed that the damage already done amounted 
 to 250,0001. Thofe which we have mentioned belong 
 to principal people." 
 
 N' II. 
 
 An Addrejs to Dr. Priejlky, agreed upon at a Meeting 
 of the Philofophical Society at Derby y Sept. 3, 1791. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 WE condole with yourfelf, and with the fcien- 
 tlfic world, on the lofs of your valuable library, your 
 experimental apparatus, and your more valuable manu- 
 fcripts : at the fame time we beg leave to congratulate you 
 on your perfonal fafety, in having efcaped the facrilegious 
 hands of the favages at Birmingham. 
 
 Almoft all great minds in all ages of the world, who have 
 endeavoured to benefit mankind, have been perfecuted by 
 them; Galileo, for his philofophical difcoveries, was 
 imprifoned by the Inquifition; and Socrates found a 
 cup of hemlock his reward for teaching " there is one 
 " God." Your enemies, unable to conquer your arguments 
 by reafon, have had rccourfe to violence ; they have hal- 
 loo'd upon you the dogs of unfeeling ignorance, and of 
 frantic fanaticifm; they have kindled fires like thofe of the 
 Inquifition, not to illuminate the truth, but, like the dark 
 lantern of the aflaflln, to light the murderer to his prey. 
 Your philofophical friends, therefore, hope that you will 
 not again rilk your perfon among a people, whofe bigotry 
 
 renders 
 N2 
 
i8o ADDENDA. 
 
 renders them incapable of inftruilion : they hope you will 
 leave the unfruitful fields of polemical theology, and cul- 
 tivate that philofophy, of which you may be called the 
 father, and which, by inducing the world to think and 
 reafon, will filently marfhal mankind againft delufion, and 
 with greater certainty overturn the empire of fuperftition. 
 In fpite of the perfecution you have fuflained, we truft 
 that you will perfevere in the exertions of Virtue, and the 
 improvements of fcience. Your fame, already confpicuous 
 to every civilized nation of the world, fhall rife like a 
 phoenix from the flames of your elaboratory with reno- 
 vated vigour, and fhine with brighter corufcation. 
 
 R. ROE, Secretary. 
 
 N" III. 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 
 London, Sep, 19, 1791. 
 Centlemetty 
 
 I FEEL myfelf greatly encouraged in my prefent 
 
 fufferings from the effedls of bigotry, by the fympathy 
 
 exprefled by you, and by other liberal friends of fcience 
 
 here and abroad. 
 
 It will be a new thing in the world if any thing truly 
 valuable lofe credit, or have a lefs rapid fpread, in con- 
 fequence of perfecution. If any thing will bear to be 
 viewed, and examined, it muft derive advantage from 
 whatever draws attention to it ; and fuch, I am confident, 
 is the caufe in which I fuffer. 
 
 In confequence of this, far from being difcouraged, I 
 feel myfelf more animated than everj and I am at this 
 very time fetting about the re-eftablifhment of my philo- 
 foyhical apparatus, and refuming all my former purfuits. 
 
 Excufe me, however, if I ftill join theological to phi- 
 lofophical ftudies, and if I confider the former as greatly 
 
 fuperior 
 
ADDENDA. i8i 
 
 fuperlor in importance to mankind to the latter. But as 
 thefe different purfuits have never yet interfered with, but 
 have promoted, each other, be perfuaded that this wilj 
 continue to be the cafe. 
 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your very humble fervant, 
 
 J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 The perfon high in office, after declaiming againft 
 me in the manner mentioned p. 58, added, "As 
 " to Paine, he is no Dijfentery and therefore we 
 " cannot take him up." On this I leave my reader 
 to make his own remarks, and fome of a fufficiently 
 ferious nature cannot fail to occur to him. 
 
A 
 
 CATALOGUE of BOOKS, 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 Dr. PRIESTLEY, 
 
 AND PRIMTED FOR 
 
 J, Johnjon, Bookfeller, St, Paul's Church-Tard, 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 1 . JnpHE Hiftory and prefent State of EleSirkttjy with original 
 J. Experiments, iliuftrated with Copper-plates, 4.th Edition, 
 correiled and enlarged, ^.to. il. is. 
 
 N. B ^ Neiv Edition tf this is in the Prefs and 'will foott he pub- 
 lijhed together ivith a Continuation of it, and original Experiments by- 
 Mr. Nicholfon, in 2 fvols. 4.to, in Boards, 2/. ts. — The Continuatioa 
 will be fold alone, il. is. in Boards. 
 
 2. A Familiar lntrodu8ion to the Study oiEUBricity^ 5th Edition^ 
 8vo. 2S. 6d. fewed. " 
 
 3. The Hiftory and Prefent State of Difcoveries relating to Vifton^ 
 light , and Colours, 1 vols, 410. iliuftrated with a great Number of 
 Copper-plates, il. iis. 6d. in boards, il. i8s. bound. 
 
 4. Experiments and Obfervations on different Kinds of Air and 
 other Branches of Natural Philofephy, connected with the Subjeft, 
 3 vols. il. IS. in boards, being the former Six Volumes abridged and 
 methodifed, with many Additions. 
 
 5. A Familiar Introdu<Stion to the Theory and Praflice of Per- 
 peSii've, with Copper-plates, 2d Edition, 5s. in boards, 6s. bound. 
 
 6. A New Chart of Hi/lory, containing a View of the principal 
 Revolutions of Empire that have taken Place in the World j with 
 a Book defcribing it, containing an Epitome of Univerfal Hiftory, 
 4th Edition, los. 6d. 
 
 7. A Chart of Biography, with a Book containing an explanation 
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AN 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 T O 
 
 THE PUBLIC, 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 T^e Riots in Birmingham^ 
 
 PART II. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDE1>, 
 
 A LETTER FROM W. RUSSELL, ESQ^TO THE AUTHOR. 
 
 J'' 
 By JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D. RR,S, iffc. 
 
 SeX) qU^ CAtTSA GRAVIS, QV M TRISTIS ORICO RUIN-?:, 
 FoRSITAN IGNORAS. Ego NUNC VERISSIMA FAUCIS 
 Exp EDI AM. 
 
 Petrarch.^ Africa. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUl's CHURCH YARD. 
 
 1792. 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 1 HE fads advanced in the former 
 part of my Appeal to the Public relating to 
 the Riots in Birminghafii having appeared to 
 myfelf, and my friends, incontrovertibly 
 true, I did not, at the time that I wrote 
 it, expecl that I fhould have any occafion to 
 trouble the world with another publication 
 on a fubjed which to mylelf muil: be fuffi- 
 ciently difagreeable. But as not only have 
 thofe fa£ls been denied, but much additional 
 cenfure been refleded upon me, and the 
 DifTenters, by the clergy of Birmingham, 
 who have employed the pen of Mr. Burn, I 
 find myfelf under the neceffity of engaoino- 
 in a controverfy, the termination of which I 
 do not fee. P"or 1 think myfelf bound in 
 honour, and in duty to my fellow -fufferers, 
 not to withhold whatever fhall appear to me 
 to be proper for our common vindication. 
 
 a 2 Let 
 
ly THE PREFACE. 
 
 Let our enemies, then, difpute our hCts, 
 and advance their farther calumnies. I fhall 
 not fail to reply to them, till the Public (hall 
 \)e in polTeffion of all that is neceffary to 
 form their judgment on a fubje(fl that cer- 
 tainly interefts the whole community. For, 
 if any one fet of men may be infulted and 
 opprefled with impunity on account of their 
 religious perfuaiion, if neither the common 
 courts of law, nor the cool opinion of their 
 countrymen, will do them juflice, another 
 fet may, in their turn, be expofed to the 
 fame, and an all-grafping and domineering 
 hierarchy may crulli us all. It behoves us, 
 then, ferioufiy to confider our fituation, and 
 let our enemies confider theirs. And the 
 cafe of perfecution for religious principle is 
 no new thing in the vvorld ; we have but too 
 many precedents before us to determine our 
 judgment, and dire'fl our condu£l. 
 
 It will be obferved, and, I doubt not, to 
 pur prejudice, that but few names appear in 
 this narrative of fa6ls. But, confidering the 
 great prevalence of a violent party fpirit 
 among the more wealthy and powerful in 
 the town and neighbourhood of Birmingham, 
 
 and 
 
THE PREFACE. ^ 
 
 and how much it will appear that fome per- 
 fons have already fuftered in confeqiience of 
 giving evidence in favour of DiiTentisrs, and 
 being otherwife friendly to them, it would 
 be unjuftifiable in me to expofe then! to far- 
 ther injury without very particular feafdUi 
 Every name, however, that is alluded to in 
 this work is ready to be produced if necef- 
 fnry. If, in any very particular cafe, 1 iliould 
 decline giving my authority, I can only 
 pledge my own veracity for having a lufficient 
 authority, which my re^lder will believe or 
 not, according to his idea of my moral cha^ 
 ra6ler. Exce.pt a very few, all the fa6ls I have 
 mentioned, are contained in affidavits volun- 
 tarily tendered ; and many more, I doubt not, 
 will appear when it fliall feem to be fafe to 
 the parties. However, thofe affidavits which 
 tend mod to criminate particular perfons 
 have already been recited by Mr. Whitbread, 
 and others, when an inquiry was moved for 
 in the Houfe of Commons into the caufes of 
 the riot. Knowing, therefore, what is laid 
 to their charge, it behoves them to take the 
 proper method of removing the imputations 
 under which they lie. A good account of 
 the debate on this fubjecl may now b^ feen 
 
 ^3 ii^ 
 
VI THE PREFACE. 
 
 in the Parliamentary Regifter^ publifhed by 
 Mr. Debrett. From perufing this our country- 
 men will form their own judgment, whether 
 there was fufficient caufe for public inquiry, 
 aiid whether the members of the Houfe of 
 Commons a£led as the reprefentatives of the 
 Diffenters as well as of the other inhabitants 
 of the country, and whether they were dif- 
 pofed to inquire into, and redrefs, wrongs 
 done to them. 
 
 The plan, and proper origin, of the riot has 
 not yet been difcovered ; and many perfons 
 begin to fufpe£t, as Dr. Parr, in his truly libe- 
 ral publication, has hinted, that it had a higher 
 origin than Warwicklhire. There were pre- 
 didions in London of what would be done at 
 Birmingham. But, if any perfon in power 
 fhould wifli to opprefs us, we afcribe it to the 
 incellant accufations of our enemies, efpecially 
 among the clergy; and time will (hew that 
 thofe accufations are mere calumnies, affer- 
 tions deflitute of all foundation in fa6t. 
 
 No blunder is abfolutely impoflible in 
 fome politicians ; but I can hardly think that, 
 at this day, any ftatefman could hope to 
 
 avail 
 
THE PREFACE. vli 
 
 avail himfelf of the prejudices of the majo- 
 rity of a nation to iatimidate and crufh the 
 minority, when his ultimate views were really 
 hoftile to the liberties of all, fuch policy is fo 
 eafily feen through ; and it would be nothing 
 lefs than infanity to endeavour to intimidate 
 by a 77iob, the excefl'es of which it may be 
 impoffible to reftrain, and which, once en- 
 couraged and excited, may foon take a differ- 
 ent, and even oppofite, direction. Jn no 
 country in Europe is a mob fo much to be 
 dreaded as in this, for in no country in Eu- 
 rope are the populace fo ignorant, fo unprin- 
 cipled, fo prophane, fo improvident, fo licen- 
 tious, and fo much difpofed to every fpecies of 
 violence fhort of murder. If our government 
 be fo excellent as it is boafted to be, how- 
 came this great and formidable evil to exifl ? 
 
 In general this extreme ignorance and pro- 
 fligacy are to be found in manufatfturing 
 towns, where the poor are taught nothing, 
 befides their particular art or trade, and 
 where they have no leifure, or means, of ac- 
 quiring general knowledge ; where they 
 work part of their time, and fpend the reft in 
 the alehoufe, wholly improvident with re- 
 
 a 4 fped 
 
vhi THE PREFACE, 
 
 fpe£l to futurity, in this life or another. This 
 neceflarily forms the moil: degraded ilate of 
 human nature. But for this great evil the 
 government, in church or flate, ihould pro- 
 vide fome remedy. 
 
 Much pains has particularly been taken to 
 reprefent the Unitarian Diflenters, among 
 whom I clafs myfelf, as difaffc6led to go- 
 vernment, in order to make our fufferings the 
 fubjedl of lefs regret, as if the chaftifement 
 we have met with, though not legally in- 
 flicted, was nothing more than we deferved ; 
 when in reality our tenets have no relation 
 whatever to any thing of a political nature, 
 nor have we interfered in politics more than 
 other perfons. 
 
 Among other calumniators, Mr. Burke 
 particularly diftinguifhed himfelf by his in- 
 vedives asrainft us in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons ; but he only difcovered his utter igno- 
 rance of our principles and condudt. As fome 
 evidence that the Unitarian Diflenters are 
 the enemies of the conftitution, he alleged 
 the toafls that were given at the firft annual 
 meeeting of the Unitariau fociety, none of 
 
 which, ' 
 
THE PREFACE,, m 
 
 which, however, were at all difloyal, Qf 
 breathed a fpirit unbecaming Englifhrpen, 
 
 Mr. Burke was ignorant that the Uniiarim 
 Society by no means reprefents the Unitarian^ 
 of England, being nothing more than the ^{Tq* 
 ciation of a very few of them for the purppf§ 
 gf diftributing books, and certainly are nPl 
 one in a thoufand of the Unitarians in Eng= 
 land. That fociety has no political obje6^ 
 whatever, and the toafts were quite an acci? 
 dental thing, owing to the company of forne 
 ftrangers, who chiefly fuggeftcd them at th§ 
 time, none of them being provided befgrg* 
 hand ; and it was not the intention of th§ 
 fociety to continue the cuftorn, 
 
 Unitarianifm bears no relation to any fyfr 
 tern of politics, and in fa6l there are Unita- 
 rians among the fi-iends, as well as the eqcr 
 mies, of what is QdX\Q,di gov^rjunent. Therp grg 
 great numbers of them in. the church of En^- 
 land, as well as out of it ; and there are pi^ny 
 profeffed Unitarians who objetfl to the forqiino: 
 of any fociety ^ fo far are they fron) wifhincr 
 to make themfelves confpicuous, or froni 
 beiiig of a fadious and turbulent difpofition. 
 
 Unfavourable 
 
X THE PREFACE. 
 
 Unfavourable as the prefent times are 
 to Unitarians and Dilfenters, they may 
 change in our favour, and even in a fhort 
 fpace. Events are powerful and fpeedy in- 
 jftru£tors, and produce important changes in 
 the fentiments of whole nations, as we have 
 lately feen both in America and in France. 
 This is an a2:e of revolutions, and Ihould 
 teach the High Church party in this country 
 not infoience, but moderation. 
 
 At all events men fhould do juftice, what- 
 ever their own future lituation may be ; and 
 it is only juftice that the Diffenters of Bir- 
 mingham alk of their countrymen. But they 
 have not yet found it, except with refpe^l 
 to the demolition of the new meeting houfe ; 
 though all damages done by rioters fhould 
 be moft amply repaired by the fociety, which is 
 conflituted for the very purpofe of prevent- 
 ing, or redrefling, the wrongs of individuals. 
 It is notorious that the courts of law have by 
 no means given us complete indemnification. 
 We trufl:, however, there is flill fo much juf- 
 tice in the nation, that our reprefentatives 
 will, on cooler refle£lion, do for us what was 
 done for the fufFerers by the riots in 1780, 
 
 and 
 
THE PREFACE. xi 
 
 and punlfh thofe who may be proved to have 
 been chargeable with a neglect of duty. 
 
 It will be proper in this Preface to give 
 fome account of Mr. Ruffe IV s Letter to me, 
 which is fubjoined to this part of my Appeal, 
 and of thofe articles in the Appendix which are 
 not mentioned in the courfe of it. 
 
 Mr. Ruffell thought himfelf at one time 
 particularly called upon to vindicate himfelf 
 and his brethren from the accufation of the 
 High Church party in the reply of Mr. Burn, 
 efpecially as he knew that I wi(hed to decline 
 writing any more on the fubjed:. But find- 
 ing that this was impofible, I defired him to 
 throw fome part of what he had written, 
 (containing fuch particulars as he was beft 
 able to fpeak to) into the form of a Letter to 
 me, to be fubjoined to my work. And I 
 think myfelf happy in this, and in every 
 opportunity of appearing in company with 
 a man to whom I owe fo much, in whofe 
 fociety I have had fo much true enjoyment, 
 from the mutual communication of fimilar 
 fentiments ; and whofe feparation from me I 
 coniider as one of the mofh unpleafant con- 
 
 fequences 
 
xli THE PREFAcfi. 
 
 fequences of the riot. But we are all at the 
 difpofal of one who knows where to place us 
 better than we do ourfelves. 
 
 Having, in my former Appendix, given 
 feveral Addrejfes to me, thofe who were 
 pleafed with them will not be difpleafed to 
 fee added to them that from the Di/fenters 
 and Delegates of the Dlfjenters in England to 
 the fiifferers ifi the Birmingham riots, with the 
 Anlwer. In the Gentleman's Magazine there 
 were feveral fneers at me on account of there 
 being ho Addrefs to me from any Diflenters 
 ill London; and it was iniinuated that no 
 fuch thing having taken place, the Diflenters 
 in general were far from approving my con- 
 dud, or condoling with me on the occafion. 
 This Addrefs, being a full anfwer to thofe 
 infinuations, was fent by a friend of mine to 
 the printer of the Miigazine, but it was nei- 
 ther inferted, nor any notice taken of its be- 
 ing fent. I hope Mr. Nichols will not in 
 future pretend to impartiality in his condu6l 
 of that work. I could not have a fl:ron2;er 
 teftimony to the propriety of my general con- 
 dud as a Diflenter than this Addrefs, and the 
 anfwer; and it is a particular fatisfadion to 
 
 me. 
 
THE PREFACE. m 
 
 me, that all the denominations of Diffenters 
 concurred in it. 
 
 I ought alfo to obferve (and the remem-? 
 brance of it will give me pleafure as long as 
 1 live) that the firft congregation to which 
 I preached after the riot was one of Calr 
 yiniftic Baptifts at Amerfham, and at th^ 
 unanimous requeft of the minifter and people. 
 The Sunday following I had invitations tq 
 preach to two other Calviniflic congregations, 
 One good effect of the riot has been to pro- 
 mote this liberal fpirit, fo becoming all deno- 
 minations of Chriftians. Though we ditter 
 in many things, and lay fuitable (Irefs on thofe 
 points of difference, we are fenfible that the 
 articles about which we are all agreed are of 
 infinitely more moment ; and on thefe I can 
 with pleafure enlarge, without hurting the 
 feelings of any Chrilfiai^ whatever. 
 
 No. XIV. will flievy^ how far Mr. Burn's 
 affertion concerning the caufe of Mr. Curtis's 
 declining to attend a funeral in company with 
 Mr. Scholefield only left he fhould afterwards 
 do the fame with me, is from the truth. Now 
 that I have left them, the fame low bigotry- 
 continues. 
 
xiv THE PREFACE. 
 
 continues, and is openly avowed by them. 
 And No. XIII. will (how the extreme malig- 
 nity of Ibme of the High Church party fince 
 the riot. 
 
 The account from Stourbridge, No. XIX. 
 ifhows that the fame illiberal fpirit of the High 
 Church party extended to the neighbourhood of 
 Birmingham, and exifted there long before my 
 coming among them, and alfo its continuance 
 and increafe {ince that time. The fpirited and 
 excellent publications of Mr. Field (hew that 
 the fame defpicable fpirit prevails at Warwick; 
 and I doubt not every other town in that 
 neif^hbourhood could furniOi a fimilar hif- 
 tory; fo effed'ually hav^e the clergy infufed 
 their own fpirit into the members of their 
 church; and nothing furely can be more dif- 
 o-raceful in this enlightened age. The bigotry 
 of the Roman Catholic clergy was never 
 o-reater, or more intolerant, than that of the 
 clero-y of the church of England in that part 
 of this proteftant country, and all bigotry is 
 founded in ignorance. Their narrow educa- 
 tion, and other circumftances, eafily account 
 for the whole. 
 
 The letter relating to the deftrudion of 
 
 4 ^y 
 
THE PREFACE. xv 
 
 my library, was written by a perfoii who I 
 had heard was on the fpot, and I imagined 
 had been prefent at the beginning of it, hav- 
 ing, though a member of the church of Eng- 
 land, gone thither to fave what he could of 
 my property, and efpecially my books and 
 manufcripts. This letter furnifhes the moft 
 unexceptionable evidence of the favage and 
 brutal fury with which thofe worfe than 
 Goths and Vandals were infligated to deftroy 
 cvQry thing belonging to me. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter's letter will exhibit a fpeci- 
 men of the fufFerings of thofe whole names 
 do not appear in any lift of fufterers. I wifli 
 that more fuch accounts may be coUeded be- 
 fore the particulars be forgotten. As yet thisf 
 country has but an imperfe<5t idea of the mag- 
 nitude and extent of this mifchief. In due 
 time I hope that all the world will have an 
 opportunity of feeing it ; and let our enemies 
 indulge themfelves in the contemplation of it 
 if they feel themfelves fo difpofed. I hope it 
 will be the laft gratification that they will 
 have of the kind. Indeed, their wrath is as 
 great, as if tbey knew that their time wasjhorty 
 
 Rev* 
 
Xvi THE PREFACE. 
 
 JlfeV-. xii. 12. This violence will only prtci* 
 f)itate their ruin* 
 
 Their beft policy would be rtioderatioii, and 
 a hearty concurrence in the repeal of the im- 
 politic Corporation and Tefl A£ls, which I 
 hope no Diffenter will ever trouble the coun- 
 try with petitioning for any more. I never 
 pfopofed any application to the legiflature for 
 that purpofcj and I truft all the Diffentefs 
 will now feel as Paul did when he had been 
 linjuftly imprifoned. Let the country do 
 "dWay its own difgraCC, and provide for its 
 t^wh greater fecurity, by doing us juflice* 
 
 Pdfterity will judge between us and the High 
 Church clergy of this kingdom, not only who 
 haVe been the beft friends of the liberties and 
 trii'e interefts of the country, but even of the 
 J-eighiilg family. It was the fulfome flattery^ 
 and abject principles of the clergy that chiefly 
 contributed to precipitate the Stuarts to their 
 ruin^ and they are ading the fame part at 
 prefent. They taught Charles II. to behave 
 with the mofl: indecent ingratitude and trea* 
 thery to the Prefbyterians, who were the 
 
 true 
 
THE PREFACE. xvli 
 
 true authors of his reftoration, and they are 
 dilating the fame ingratitude to the prefent 
 reigning family, to which the Diflenters have 
 ever been moll: zealoufly attached, w^hile the 
 clergy were almoft univerfally difafFeded, 
 
 Thefe are fa^ls that lie on the very furface 
 of the Englifli Hiftory, and yet the clergy 
 have the aflhrance to char2;e us with difaf- 
 fedion. If there be any difpofition towards 
 it, it is what their violence and injuftice have 
 driven us to. There are others, we truft, 
 who can better diftinguifh the Jig7ts of t/js 
 times than they, and who will not again 
 facrifice the interefts of the nation, and the 
 conftitution itfelf, to their bigotry, avarice, 
 and ambition. 
 
 Many of the fads introduced into this part 
 of my Appeal will be found to be the fame 
 with thofe that are mentioned, and Ipiritedly 
 remarked upon, by Mr. Edwards, in his LeU 
 lers to the Britijh nation^ as well as alleged by 
 Mr. Whitbread and others in the Houfe of 
 Commons. In reality we had no other thaa 
 the fame authorities. I (hould not, however, 
 have thought it neceflary to have made fo 
 
 b many 
 
xviii THE PREFACE. 
 
 many of the fame obfervations with Mr. Ed* 
 wards, if this part of my Appeal had not been 
 printed before I law his laft Number. I ear- 
 neflly recommend this laft Number of his 
 Letters, as containing feveral more particulars 
 than had come to my knowledge. 
 
 I cannot omit this opportunity of congra- 
 tulating my late congregation on the acqui- 
 fition of two fuch valuable minifters as Mr. 
 Edwards and Mr. Jones, whofe firft and 
 truly excellent difcourfe to them is now be- 
 fore the public. They have, in a great mea- 
 fure, verified my prediction, in my Letter t& 
 the Inhabitants of Birmingham^ and the in- 
 creafing numbers and fpirit of the Unitarian 
 Diffenters in that town muft have already con- 
 vinced the bigoted High Church party there, 
 that they have been far from gaining any thing 
 by the riot, or by my expulfion from the 
 place. Such has ever been, and fuch, from 
 the nature of things, muft always be, the ef- 
 fe£l of intolerance and perfecution. But bigotry 
 will neither read nor refie<ft, fo that to this 
 daemon, equally furious and blind, the in- 
 ilrudive page of hiflory is unfolded in vain. 
 
 Mr. 
 
THE PREFACE. xix 
 
 Mr. Burn charges the Unitarians, p. 102, 
 with " inviting the aid of perfecution.'* If 
 we have o-iven the invitation, the Hisrh 
 Church party at Birmingham have been as 
 ready to give as we to afk, and have thereby 
 given us the affiftance that we found we 
 wanted. And though Mr. Burn fays, as a 
 proof that I have not been perfecuted^ that 
 " I have not fufFered as a Chriftian j" my 
 cafe is fo far common with thofe who are 
 ufually termed Protejiant Martyrs in the reiga 
 of queen Mary, in this country, and of Phi- 
 lip II. and Louis XIV. abroad : for none 
 of them fuffered as Chriftians. We have this, 
 however, in common with the proper Chrif- 
 tian martyrs, that we equally fufFer yor ro^- 
 fcience fake. " Much lefs,'* adds Mr. Burn, 
 *' has it been made to appear that the 
 " clergy were acceflbry to his misfortune.'* 
 When I wrote the former part of this Ap- 
 peal, I did not confider them as acceflbry to 
 it, but now, in a certain fenfe, I do fo ; and 
 they are called upon either to vindicate 
 themfelves, or to bear the imputation ; and 
 they will, no doubt, do that which they will 
 find the eafieft to them. If it be true, as they 
 now pretend, that they lament the riot in 
 b 2 Birmingham 
 
xx THE PREFACE. 
 
 Birmingham (which the total failure of their 
 obje£l may now perhaps lead them to do) 
 numbers of their brethren in many parts -of 
 England do not. I could enlarge greatly in 
 my evidence af this, if it were prudent fo to do. 
 No other event in modern times has ihown fo 
 decifively what fpirit the High Church clergy 
 of this country are really of. It is the fpirit of 
 church eftablifhments univerfally, and truly 
 jinti' Chr'ijiian, 
 
 I deferred the printing, and after that the 
 publication, of this work, which was com- 
 pofed in Auguft, with a view to give my 
 readers an account of the complete termina- 
 tion of every thing relating to the riot in Bir- 
 mingham ; hoping that the very inadequate 
 compenfation that was awarded us would have 
 been paid at leaft before this time. But find- 
 ing this to be ftill delayed, and that there is no 
 near profpe^t of the bufinefs being difpatched, 
 though the term fixed by the law for this pur- 
 pofe is expired, (it being now nearly a year and 
 a half fince the difafter, and eight months, 
 fince the caufe was heard) and many of my 
 friends and my enemies too call for the work, I 
 have confented to withhold it no longer. 
 
 c Ifliall 
 
THE PREFACE, xxi 
 
 I fliall clofe this preface with repeating 
 what I have obferved more than once in the 
 courfe of the work, viz. that depending, as I 
 neceflarily muft, on the information of others, 
 with refpe£l to the fa^s introduced, or al- 
 luded to, in it, it is very poffible that I may 
 have been mifled. But I wi(h to give our 
 adverfaries an opportunity of exculpating 
 themfelves, if they can, from the charges 
 brought againft them ; and certainly they are 
 under obligation to me on this account ; it 
 being always an advantage to know what our 
 adverfaries fay, and believe, concerning us, 
 as we may then either defend ourfelves, or 
 neglect the accufation, as we think proper. 
 
 CtAPTON, Jan, T, 1793. 
 
 b 3 T«E 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 JnTRODUCTION, and of the exaggerated 
 Charges in Mr. Burn's Reply - - - - 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 Of Mr. Burn's Accufation of me^ and his chal- 
 lenging me to defend myfelf ----- 1 2 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Of Events previous to the Riotj and of the more 
 dijlant Caufes of it - - - - - - ao 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 Of the p-edifpofng Caufes of the Riot - - - 36 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Circumjiances previous to the Riot, and more 
 immediately connected with the Caufe of it - 43 
 
 SECTION 
 
[ xxiv ] 
 
 SECTION vr. 
 
 Circumjiances attending the Commencement of the 
 Riot _.--* 53 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Of the ConduB of the Magiflrates^ and others , 
 after the Commencement of the Riot - - - 57 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 Circumflances fubfequent to the Riot - - - 71 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Ohjervaticns on the Proceedings in the Courts of 
 Judicature on Occafion of the Riot - - - 82 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 Of the Approbation of the Riot, and the Extent of 
 High Church Principles, which were the Caufe 
 of it) in other Parts of the Kingdom - - - ^^ 
 
 Mr, RuJfeWs Letter to Br, Prieflley - - - 115 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
[ XXV ] 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. I. ^he Rev. Mr. Scholefield's Advertijement 
 relating to the Sunday Schools at Birmingham 145 
 
 No. II. Extract from the original Advertijement 
 relating to the Public Library at Birmingham 148 
 
 No. III. An Addrejs to the Subjcribers to the Bir- 
 mingham Library on the Subje^ of Mr. Cookers 
 Motion^ to rejiri5f the Committee in the Choice 
 of Books J with a View to exclude Controverfial 
 Divinity - - -------14^ 
 
 No. IV. Extract from the free Addrefs to Pro- 
 teflant DiJfenterSj as Juch - - - - - 160 
 
 No. V. Copy of the Forged Letter found at my 
 Houfe, 16th July, 1791 ----- 164 
 
 No. VI. Mr. Abel Humphrys's Advertijement r<?- 
 lating to the Calumny of Mr. William Gem - 165 
 
 No. VII. Copy of a Letter intended to be ad- 
 drejjed to the Clergy of the 'Town of Birmingham 166 
 
 No. VIIL 
 
£ xxvi ] 
 
 No. VIII. Extra5l from a Letter inferted in the 
 
 Shrewjbiiry Chronicle, Sept. \\,\'^^\ - - 170 
 
 No. IX. An E-pitafh written for me byfome Per- 
 
 Jon in the Weft of England - - - - - 172 
 
 No. X. J Letter addreffed to the People of Eng- 
 land in the Public Jdvertifer for Saturday, 
 y%. 18, 1792 -------- 173 
 
 No. XI. Copy of an Advcrtijement in the Bir- 
 mino-ham Ne-'cvfpaper, relating to the Addrefs 
 to nie from the Philofophical Society at Derby 1 80 
 
 No. XII. An Anjzver lo the preceding by the So- 
 ciety - - - ------- ibid. 
 
 No. XIII. A Defcription of an Allegorical Medal 
 publifhed at Birmingham fince the Riot - 1 83 
 
 No. XIV. An Account of the Clergy of Birming- 
 ham refiifing to walk in funeral Proceffions with 
 patenting Members fince the Riot - - - 184 
 
 No. XV. Extras of a Letter written to me by 
 a Perfon zvho was in my Library during the 
 Demolition of the Houfe, in Anfwer to one in 
 which I had requejted his Evidence concerning 
 
 ;>----.------ 185 
 
 No. XVL 
 
[ xxvli ] 
 
 No. XVI. An Addrejs of the Dijfenters and Be- 
 legates of the Dijfenters in England, to the Suf- 
 ferers in the Riot at Birmingham - - - 185 
 
 "No. XVII. The Jnfwer l>y the Sufferers - - 189 
 
 No. XVIII. An Account of the Alarm and Lofs 
 of Mr. Carpenter of tVoodroWj in a Letter 
 from his Brother - - ----_j^2 
 
 No. XIX. An Account of the High Church Spirit 
 which has long prevailed at Stourbridge - 197 
 
 Additions - - « « ^ = 206 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Pref, p. xil. 1. 7, for Bijfetiters, read DtUgaies, 
 
 P. 5, 1. 8, for cr, read as. 
 26, 1. 10, for aK</, fli read cr, as, 
 32, I. 7, (b.) for members y read tnemler. 
 ^ 6l> 1. 12, (b.) read the king has Jent us luord. 
 63, 1. 12, read a toafi, 
 63, I. 18, dtle ferbaps at the fame time» 
 81, I. I, (b ) for ajjett, rea.d in/erl. 
 
 104, 1. 10, (b.) for i<o/e, read Hofe. 
 
 N. B. (b.) Sigmfiesy?ff« the bottom 0/ tie page. 
 
AN APPEAL 
 
 TO 
 
 r//£ PUBLIC, 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 THE RIOTS IN BIRMINGHAM. 
 PART II. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Introdu5fion, and of the exaggerated Charges in Mr. 
 Burn's Reply, 
 
 I DO not remember that I ever entered 
 upon any compofition with fo much reludance 
 as I do upon this, though not in the lead from 
 any apprehenfion of not being able to acquit my- 
 felf to my own fatisfadtion in it. Indeed, in this 
 refpe<5t, no talk ever appeared to me more eafy and 
 inviting, as I dare fay my impartial readers (and 
 fome fuch I hope to find) will be fufficiently con- 
 vinced as I proceed. But 1 widi to look back as 
 little as poflible to an unpleafant fcene, excepting in 
 fuch a manner as to derive benefit from my reflec- 
 tions upon it. Being, however; loudly called upon 
 
 B by 
 
2 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 by the clergy of Birmingham, who have employed 
 the pen of Mr. Burn, and who fandlion his per- 
 formance, I find myfelf under a necefTity of vindi- 
 cating what I advanced in my dipped on the fubjedt 
 of die riots in that town. 
 
 I long entertained hopes that' this might be 
 unneceffary, on account of the candour with which 
 iViy Appeal was written; and, circumftanced as I 
 was, it would naturally be concluded, that I would 
 be as guarded as poffibk with refped to all the fafts 
 that I had occafion to introduce ; and as I had na' 
 vindiftive feelings, I imagined that, confidering 
 what I had fuffered (more in fome refpe6ls than 
 moil perfons now living could be made to fuffer) I 
 wrote in fuch a manner as my enemies themfelves 
 Would think to be temperate. And, iixfeed, I have' 
 t\\t fatisfaftion to find, that not only my particular 
 friends, but many who were not previoudy dilpofed 
 to be ray friends, thought that the temper with 
 which I wrote was not unbecoming a Chriftian. 
 Notwrthftanding this,- the clergy of Birmingham ex- 
 prefs a very different idea of my performance, and 
 it is on nothing but an appeal to faSls that the pro- 
 priety of what I advanced before, and of what I lliall 
 now advance in defence of it, muft depend. 
 
 What I have had moft occafion to complain of, 
 ever fince my writings have drawn any degree of 
 attention upon me, has been unfounded calumny, 
 
 flanders 
 
On the Riots hi Birmingham, ^ 
 
 ilanders of the moft malignant nature, of which no 
 evidence could be produced, but to which confident 
 aflertion procured credit. One of thefe, refpedling 
 my converting Silas Dean to atheifm, is acknow- 
 ledged in this Reply to my Appeal. That ftories 
 grow by pafilng from one hand to another, and that 
 ■ by this means mere fuppofitions come to be confi- 
 dered as undoubted fads, is not uncommon; and it 
 is not eafy to afcertain the degree of guilt in any of 
 the relaters. But to be charged with affcrting the 
 veiy contrary of what a writer does afTert, and in 
 the very publication replied to (which is of courfc 
 immediately under the eye of the perfon who 
 profefTedly replies to it) is much more extraor- 
 dinaiy, as it argues fuch a force of prejudice as 
 the evidence of a man's own fenfes will not re- 
 move; and there are more, and more ftriking, in- 
 llances of this violent prejudice in Mr. Burn's reply 
 to my Appeal, than I have {ecn in any piece of con- 
 troverfial writing whatever. If he ever had read 
 my work, he had quite forgotten the contents of it 
 at the time of his writing, and could never have 
 compared the two together. I fliall, therefore, do 
 it for him, and let the reader judge between us. 
 
 Mr. Burn fays, p. 41, the great object in the 
 narrative part of my v.'ork was " to criminate the 
 " clergy," and that I moil evidendy do this, p. 3, 
 " without difcrimination." Now I do not know 
 how it was pofTible for me to difcriminate more 
 
 B 2 exprefjly 
 
4 J}t Appeal to ihc Public 
 
 exprefsly tlip.n I have done in the account that I gave 
 of the condiivft of the clergy ; calling fome of them 
 QTiy friends ■, engagsd in the Jnme cauje^ Preface, p. xxiil. 
 and even acknowledging, p. 68, that fome of them 
 were " amona; the fiift to afford me fubftantial affift- 
 *^ ance." If, tlierefore, I had any where cenfured 
 tlie clergy in general, it ought to have been under- 
 ftood widi this limitation, which had been fufficiently 
 exprcfled before. But I think it will be found that 
 every feparatc pafiage, if the fcope of it be attended 
 to, is fafnciendy guarded, and conveys no cenfure 
 on the clergy as a body, but only on certain defcrip- 
 tlons of them. Mr. Burn fhould, at leaft, have 
 quoted fome pafiage in which this cenfure feems to 
 be general, and unqualified ; but he does no fuch 
 thing, contenting himfelf with alTerting it, without 
 producing any evidence of it at all. 
 
 The pi6lure that he reprefents me as having given 
 of the clergy of Birmingham in particular, has no 
 e:nftence but in his own imagination, which, with 
 refpeft to exaggerated charges, is fufficiendy fruitful. 
 '■'• Dr. Prieilley's account of the clergy, &c." he 
 fays, p. 47, " is of that kind which makes the worlt 
 " things he can fay of tliem probable. The idea of 
 *^ the prefent clergy of Birmingham," p. x. " will 
 *^ but exhibit the detefted image of a junto degraded 
 '^ by their vices from the rank not of minifters 
 *' merely, but even of men. Either the clergy of 
 " Birmingham," p. \ 7, " have forfeited dieir rank 
 
 " in 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 5 
 
 " m fociety, and their claim on its proteftion, or 
 *^ Dr. Prieftley has, in the foce of his country, in- 
 '^ curred the guilt of accufing the innocent, on the 
 *^ ground of invented fa6ts, and of giving plaufibi- 
 ''^ lity to the compofition, by the affeilation ol can- 
 *^ dour and chriftian meeknefs. It is not permit- 
 " ted," p. loi, " to the clergy of Birmingham, 
 " thus publickly arraigned, or the abettors of the 
 *' late riots, to throw in their mite of concern at the 
 '' outrages that have been committed on property, 
 ** on the feelings of individuals, on general fcience, 
 *^ and on the plaineft dictates of humanity. Thefe 
 *^ are interefts in which, if our accufer miay be cre- 
 " dited, we can feel no concern. It feems, in the 
 " opinion of Dr. Prieftley, that to be, and to a6l, 
 ** as a man of principle in the eftabliihed church, 
 " deprives a man, by a kind of profeflional necef- 
 **^ fity, of every claim to the character of humanity, 
 " and levels him at once to the condition of a 
 « brute." 
 
 Now this frightful idea of the clergy of Birming- 
 ham is as far from having any countenance in my 
 ylppealy as it is from my thoughts. I never had, 
 or exprefled, any worfe idea of tliem than that 
 fome of them were bigots; and there are many very 
 honeft and worthy men, of whom it cannot be de- 
 nied that they are fo : i. e. perfons who are fo fully 
 perfuaded, though without reafon, of the truth of 
 dieir own principles, that they think much too ill 
 
 B 3 of 
 
6 Jlu Appeal to the PuMic 
 
 of thofe of others, and are thereby led to fuppori: 
 their principles by methods which cannot be juftified. 
 
 With refped to the riot, the worfl that I ever 
 thought, or exprelTed, concerning the clergy of 
 Birmingham, was that fome of them had repre- 
 fented the Diffenters in general, and myfelf in par- 
 ticular^ in fuch a light, as, confidering the pre- 
 vious ilate of men's minds in that part of the 
 country, could not but tend to inflame them againft 
 us, and prepare them, though unintended by them- 
 felves, for the outrages that were committed after- 
 wards; and of this I ihall prcfently produce ample 
 proof. If I have laid any thing more than this, let 
 my words be quoted, and their fenfe afcertained. 
 But all that the reader has yet feen in the above ex- 
 tracts are the words of Mr. Burn, and not mine. 
 
 Mr. Burn, however, fays, p. 124, " the blame 
 *' muft, as ufual, fall upon perfons of better condi- 
 *^ tion, and among thefe the clergy muft of courfe 
 *? be regarded as principals in the guilt of the 
 " above horrid tranfaftions." But what is flill 
 more unaccountable than this, he fays, p. xiii. 
 " he has commenced a regular attack upon four 
 ** clergymen by name, whom he accufes, by the 
 " moft direct implication, as having been the chief 
 " movers of the popular tumult and outrage, as 
 ** incendiaries, and pillagers of houfes, &c. &c. If 
 ** the clergy," he fays, p. ix. " whofe names have 
 
 " been 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham: 7 
 
 '*' been brought forwards on this pccafion really ^re, 
 " or fhould even be fufpefted to be, the wretches 
 ^^ which Dr. Prieftley reprefents them, their guilt 
 *' muft form an anomaly in the hiftory of crimes." 
 
 Now I have been far from accufing any clergy- 
 men whatever as principals In promoting the riot ; 
 and what Mr. Burn can mean by faying that I have 
 " commenced an attack upon four clergymen by 
 " name," I am utterly unable to guefs. I do not 
 know that I have mentioned four of the clergy in 
 any view, and certainly not as promoters of the 
 riot J and yet two of them, Mr. Curtis and Mr. 
 Madan, make a feparate defence of their condufl, 
 as if they had been formally arraigned. It is cafy 
 to anfwer accufations invented on purpofe to be an- 
 fwered ; but of what confequence is this, except to 
 thofe who are impofed upon by the exaggerated and 
 falfe reprefentation, reflefting blame upon the ac- 
 cufer, inftead of anfwering the proper accufation ? 
 In. all that I have quoted from Mr. Burn, he has 
 only added to that calumny with which I have been 
 already fufficiently loaded, and I publicly call upon 
 him to vindicate himfelf from this charge, 
 
 I mull, however, acknowledge that Mr. Burn's 
 reply to my Appeal, confidered as written with 
 their concurrence, gives me a much worfe opinion 
 of the clergy of Birmingham than I was difpofed t) 
 entertain before. It bears too evident marks of real 
 B 4 malignity. 
 
8 j^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 malignity. It Hiews the unrelenting temper of thofe 
 who have done an injury; and on the whole, if I 
 had my choice of the two (harfh as is the cenfure 
 implied in what I am going to fay), I had rather go 
 out of the world with the difpofition of the brutal 
 but ignorant rioters, than with theirs. 
 
 It is equally untrue, and unjuft, in Mr. Burn to 
 infinuate, p. iv. that I reprefented Mr. Madan as 
 " an unprincipled favagej" in confequence of which 
 fome perfons, he fays, " having conceived this idea 
 " of him, were aftonilhed when they were afllired, 
 " that the urbanity of his manners, and the bene- 
 *^ volence of his character, rendered him univer- 
 " fally refpected." For certainly, this is the very 
 idea that I myfelf have given of Mr. Madan in my 
 Familiar Letters ; and my obfervation on it is, that 
 if fuch men as he can be fo inveterate an enemy to 
 the DifTenters, where are we to look for candour, 
 or juflice ? For any thing that appears to the con- 
 trary, Bonner and Gardiner might be polite, and 
 even good-natured men. 
 
 Mr. Burn feems to have imagined that my idea 
 of himfelf and his brethren is fuch as he has con- 
 ceived of mei and this is Ihocking enough. But, ill 
 as I have been ufed, I think much better of them, 
 and even of the rioters themfelves. In my next 
 feftion I Ihall inform my reader what that idea is, 
 and for this I Ihall not, like him, produce a pifbure 
 
 from 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 9 
 
 from my own imagination, but quote his own words. 
 It is not a little remarkable that, though Mr. Burn 
 profefTes to write an anfwer to my Appeal, he ex- 
 prefsly quotes very httle of it, but replies to 
 fomething which he gives his reader to underftand 
 is contained in it, but which it will be in vain for 
 him to look for there. Many, however, will read 
 his Reply who will neither read my Appeal, nor this 
 defence of it ; and with fuch readers his method of 
 writing will anfwer well enough. This is not the 
 way in which I treat Mr. Burn, or any of my oppo- 
 nents. Whether my replies be fufficient or not, at 
 leafh I let my reader fee what it is that I reply to, 
 and in their own words. Of this fair method this 
 defence of my Appeal will be a fpechnen. 
 
 When Mr. Burn fays, p. 34, that in his Reply to 
 my Letters to him he anfwered my arguments, but 
 pafTed by the abiifey he quotes nothing, but leaves 
 his reader to fuppofe that I had written fomething 
 that might be termed abuje. I wilh his readers 
 would look into thofe Letters. They will be much 
 at a lofs to conjefture what it is that Mr. Burn meant 
 to reprefent in that light. But I fuppofe that any 
 thing that gives pain, from the difficulty of anfwer- 
 ing it, Mr. Burn will call abufe, as a libel is faid to 
 be no Icfs a libel, though it be ever fo true. 
 
 In that work of his to which my Letters were an 
 anfwer, he thought himfelf at liberty to give the 
 
 5 moll 
 
10 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 moft unfavourable idea of my fentiments, evidently 
 calculated to excite the refentment of his readers 
 againft mCj afcribing to me the worft defigns, as 
 well as the groffeft miftakeSj and yet in him this 
 rnuft not be termed abufe. Though my only ob- 
 ]tdi in every thing that I wrote about the perfon of 
 Chrift was to afcertain what the teftimony of die 
 apoflles concerning him really was, and I conftantly 
 appealed to their teflimony as decifive, he ftrangely 
 reprefented me as denying the infallibility of their^ 
 tefiimony^ which he undertook to defend againft me; 
 and with as little pretence, though it ferved to excite 
 an alarm at my principles, he defcribed them as 
 leading to all vice and wickednefs. But there are 
 readers with whom any reprefentations from a cler- 
 gyman, in fuch a caufe, will have weight, 
 
 Abufive as Mr. Burn reprefents my pojemicai 
 writings to be, I have never yet charged any of my 
 opponents with bad intentions, or queftioned the 
 goodnefs of their underftandings ; but I have always 
 imputed their miftakes to prejudice y the efFecfi: of 
 early imprefiions: and if my own opinion, as I muft 
 fuppofe, be right, and confequentiy thofe of my op- 
 ponents be wrong, what lefs olfenfive hypothecs 
 could I frame for it ? 
 
 One would think that Mr. Burn had never read 
 my Appeal, to which he pfofelTes to reply, all his 
 charges are fo totally void of truth, or fo fiiamefully 
 
 exaggerated, j 
 
On the Riots hi Birniingham, i % 
 
 exaggerated. Speaking of my obfervations on the 
 addrels to the rioters as friends and fellow -churchmen^ 
 he calls it, p. 6j, " a tranlaflion moil: fliamefuUy 
 *' reprefented by the author; and that, in confequencc 
 *^ of the impofition contained in Dr. Prieftley's ftate- 
 *^ ment, this tranfaflion was brought forward in par- 
 " liament." " It is remarkable," he fays, p. ^c^y 
 " that the obvious policy of feeming to coincide in 
 J^*" fcntiment with a mob, for the purpofe of influenc- 
 *^ ing their opinions, and controlling their condud, 
 *' fhould have been aftually conflrued into a real 
 '' defign of promoting and inflaming their vio- 
 " lence." After calling the rioters the fynagogue of 
 Satan^ he fays, p. 69, " If there be any thing 
 " doubtful remaining, it muft appear to every im- 
 ^' partial obferver, to be the integrity of that man's 
 " motives, who can thus, to anfwer a purpofe, make 
 " churchmen of rioters, and in the fame breath too 
 " in which he declares it to be queftionable whe- 
 " rher fuch mifcreants can be faid to be of any 
 « church." 
 
 Now all that I have made of this circumflance 
 was to fhew that the rioters were confide red as 
 churchmen, and that their objecl was the deftruc- 
 tion of DiiTenters, I believe, indeed, and I fhall 
 prove, that there was pofitive encouragement given 
 to the rioters by churchmen of better condition, 
 but I do not fay that their defign in this particulaf 
 4 part 
 
1 2 j^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 part of their condud was to promote and inflame 1 
 their violence. Certainly, however, to addrefs them 
 without giving any intimation that what they had 
 hitherto done was wrong, was not likely to prevent 
 their proceeding farther. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 Of Mr. Burn's Accujation of me, and his challenging 
 me to defend myfelf 
 
 Let us now lee what kind of language 
 Mr. Burn makes ufe of in his Reply to my Ap- 
 peal, which he will, no doubt, fay contains nothing 
 that can properly be termed ahufe. 
 
 Speaking of what I fay of the clergy of Bir- 
 mingham, he calls it, p. 99, " a malignant hypo- 
 " thefis." In p. 84, he fpeaks of" the unequalled 
 *' malignity and injuftice of my reprefentations." 
 He calls the language I hold with refpedt to my 
 enemies, p. xv. " the mofl complete infolence, 
 '' and abufe, that malignity itfelf could have fug- 
 gefted." According to him, p. 100, I am " an 
 '* accufer of the innocent, not merely without fuf- 
 ** ficient evidence, but in open defiance of the 
 ** moft palpable and uniform feries of facts," Of 
 
 my 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 1 3 
 
 my Letter to the Inhabitants of Birmingham^ he fays, 
 p. 39, " it was as great an outrage upon charac- 
 " ter, as the condud of the rioters was upon pro- 
 " perty." 
 
 One of the mofl curious infinuations of Mr. Burn 
 is his reprefenting me as fo overbearing, that it was 
 an offence, p. 77, in the clergy of Birmingham to 
 think for themfelves without my permiffion. This is 
 the more extraordinary, as he fays, p. 37, " No 
 " man has done more than I have to invite, and 
 " even to provoke difcullion." Would I have done 
 this, if the controverting of my opinions had been fo 
 very offenfive to me ? But while Mr. Burn quotes 
 nothing, and only gives his own idea of me, and of 
 my writings, he has no check upon him befides his 
 own difcretion. I will venture to affert, that all who 
 are really acquainted with me will fay that Mr. 
 Burn's account is the reverfe of my charadter. 
 
 But the moft injurious of all Mr. Burn's infinua- 
 tions are thofe by which he would give his readers 
 to underftand, that my writings arc calculated to 
 difturb the peace of the country, and that I am in- 
 tending fomething more than the mere difcuffion of 
 theological or political queftions. Of the Preface to 
 my Letters to him, he fays, p. 27, " it is written 
 " with more freedom, in the opinion of many, than 
 *^ is praftically confiftent with the intire peace of 
 " the country," This was alfo the objed of the 
 
 Extrads 
 
i 4 ^n appeal to the Public 
 
 £xtrad:s that were made from the Preface, whicli 
 were fent to all the bifhops and members of the 
 Hoiife of Commons, as every thing in that Preface 
 that ihewed that my only objeft was free and calm dif- 
 culTion, was omitted, and the other paflages v/ere fo 
 put together, as to be calculated to excite alarm. 
 
 With the lame unfairnefs Mr. Burn reprefents 
 my Letter to Mr. Piitj p. 21, as " menacing, 
 ** and infolent, mofl unconftitutionally infringing. 
 ** upon freedom of debate; a perfonal invedive, 
 *^ and not an anfvver to arguments. It was," he 
 fays, p. 19, "^^ a fair developement of what I would 
 *' be at, and in the judgment of fober men marked 
 *^ with fom.e degree of precifion the boundary of 
 " my ambition." Now as few men write more in- 
 telligibly dian I do, it is very eafy to fee the extent of 
 my views, in that,- or in any other of my publications j 
 ind this has always been to ftate my own opinions 
 on any fubjed, and to invite the fulleft difcufTion of 
 them. What can be my amhitioHy when I plead for 
 abolilhing all civil eftablifhments of religion, as hof- 
 tile to the genius of it, and a burden to the ftate ; 
 and when I claim nothing for myfelf but what I 
 equally plead for all perfons without exception ? Be- 
 fides, in all my propofals for the reformation of the 
 greateft abufes, I exprefsly fay that I would have no 
 man difturbed in his prefent poffefllon, but that 
 the retrenchment fhould affe6l the fuccefTor only. 
 Is this ambition ? Is it not the greateft moderation ? 
 
 Buc 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 1 5 
 
 But in me nothing can be moderation. It mull be 
 ambition, or fomething equally bad. 
 
 Perhaps the moft perverfe of Mr. Burn's con- 
 ftruflions of my writing, is his inferring from what 
 I have faid of the French " having no court for the 
 " nobility and clergy to look up to, and to depend 
 '<^ upon," that I confider it,- p. 30, " as the duty of' 
 " Englifhmen to renovate this part of their confti- 
 " tution, which lodges the government in the 
 " hands of an individual;" that is, that it is my 
 wifli, and I doubt notj he would add, that it wil! 
 be my endeavour, that there be no king in Eng- 
 land. It is very fortunate for me that I never 
 wrote a Roman Hifbory : for had I exprefled 
 any approbation of the eonduft of the Romans 
 in banilhing the Tarquins, Mr. Burn's inference 
 of my antipathy to all kingly power would havef 
 been much flronger, as they kft no hereditary 
 power in the country ; whereas there flilt is a king 
 in France *, though not fuch a king as the nobility 
 or clergy can look up to for much emolument. 
 Mr. Burn can fee no medium, at leaft in me, be- 
 tween retrenching exorbitant power, and taking it 
 away entirely. At all events, 1 mull be reprefented 
 as a rcpubUcan; and with many republicanifm is 
 fynonymous to every thing that is dreadful and de- 
 
 * This was written before the revolution of the xoch of AuguftV 
 which, 111 the tircumlutnces of France, was a happy and necellary 
 C'^mpletion of that of the 14th of July. 
 
 tellable. 
 
1 6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 teftable, perfeft anarchy and confufion, to f;iy the 
 leaft. 
 
 It is generally deemed fair to interpret particular 
 cxprefiions in one part of any perfon's writings by 
 his declared fentiments in others of them. Now in 
 my political writings, which however are not nume- 
 rous, I have again and again praifed the Englifh 
 conftitution, as confifting of the three eftates of 
 King, Lords, and Commons. What candour or 
 juftice, then, is there in fuppofing that I wifh the 
 fubverfion of it ? I thought it neceffary to premife 
 thefe obfervations, which demonftrate a dilpofition 
 in Mr. Burn and the clergy of Birmingham, with 
 whofe concurrence he wrote, to put the word con- 
 ftru6lion on every thing I fay or do, which, if I may 
 adopt their language, is an outrage on character 
 fimilar to that which the rioters committed on my 
 property. 
 
 Let us now come to the examination of the/^^j 
 wiiich I have advanced, the evidence for which is fo 
 loudly called for by Mr. Burn. And furely, if there 
 be any thing wrong in producing this evidence, that 
 is, what I take to be fuch, the blame muft lie with 
 thofe who called for it. With refped to accufation 
 unfupportcd by fa6ts, Mr. Burn exprefles himfelf 
 very properly, though without refledling to whom 
 his cenfure applies. " If a chara(51:er," p. 26, " muft 
 
 at 
 
On the Riois in Birmingham. 1 7 
 
 '^ at any rate be defamed, nothing in the v/orld can 
 " be fo convenient for the purpofe of invented ca- 
 *^ lumny, as an appeal to anonymous report. The 
 " introduction of anonymous report," p. 25, " whe- 
 " ther true or falfe, inco this ferious argument, is 
 '< more than imperdnenC; it is infidious." 
 
 Mr. Burn's chailenge of me to produce authori- 
 ties for what I have advanced is fuch as becomes a 
 dihgent inquirer after truth, and one who would 
 not Ihrink from it. " If," fays he, p. 26, " the 
 " dofbor would convift by evidence, we invite him 
 " to die proof of his charge. Let him," p. c^<^, 
 " produce inftances rrom the condu6l of the upper 
 " ckfs of people, whom he thus gravely accufes. 
 " He is, no doubt, in polTeffion of the facls." Wi'cli 
 rcfpeft to what I laid of fome of them being con- 
 cerned ii». the infuks offered to me, he fays, p. 2 St 
 ** Let him then come fairly to the proof, or let 
 " him expunge all illiberal infinuations from the 
 " lift of his charges." When I faid that the cleareft 
 fa6ls Iliew that there was more than remifihefs 0/1 
 the part of many perfons of better condition, and 
 that nothing they did fhewcd a real difapprobation 
 of the conduct of the mob previous to the^ deftruc- 
 tion of my houfe, Mr. Burn fays, p. 67, " Then 
 " produce them. On dfis fubjed," he lays, p, g^^ 
 " be explicit, firs" and " of this afTqrdon h& pro- 
 '^ duces no evidence." This i^ the rnoft rfiaterial 
 article in the queftion that is now before the Publ,c, 
 C an 
 
1 8 Jn Appeal to the Puhlk 
 
 and therefore I fhall endeavour to do what Mr* 
 Burn challenges me to do, viz. to fupport what I 
 have advanced, by an appeal to fad:s. 
 
 Mr. Burn infults me, p. 8 1, with not having 
 ^^ proceeded againfl: the magiflrates legally, but 
 " contented myfelf with venting my fpleen into- 
 *^ lerated flander." But the hiftory of the affizes 
 at Worcefter and Warwick, and of what pafled iri 
 the Houfe of Commons itfelf, will, I hope, jirftify us 
 in not appealing to the laws of our country in fuch a 
 cale as this. Though, however, we have no profped: 
 of fuccefs ihere^ we ihall venture to appeal to a higher 
 and more refpeftable tribunal, " our countrymerx 
 " in general," as Mr. Burn quotes my own words^ 
 in his motto, " the world at large, and efpecially 
 " posterity/* 
 
 I have not, in my Appeal, faid much of the 
 condudt of the clergy of Birmingham : Mr, 
 Burn,- however, fuppofes that I have ; and on 
 that fuppofition he fays, p. 103, " Dr. Pri^ftley 
 *^ ftands forward as d>e accufcr of the clergy of 
 " Birmingham, and he is now called upon as pub- 
 " licly by one of that body, either to fubftantiate, or 
 " rctraft, his charge. The author of this reply," he 
 fays, p. 103, " will not flirink from the inquiry,, 
 " He invites it. If there be any one motive that 
 " influences him more than another in this affair, 
 ** it is the hope that, by promoting this difcuffion, 
 
 " in 
 
On the Riots in "Birmingham, 1 9 
 
 " In vindication of the charader of the innocent, he 
 " may at the fame time affifl Dr. Prieftley and the 
 ** Public, in a clear and full detcftion of the guilty.** 
 I iliall be much obliged to him for this affiftance. 
 
 With refpedl to what I have faid of the paflions 
 of the lower order of the people being inflamed by 
 the preaching of the clergy, Mr. Burn fays, p. 38, 
 " We do aver from our own pradlicc, from the 
 ** pra6lice of our brethren in general, prior to the 
 " late unhappy aff*air, that this reprefentation of the 
 *^ condu6t of the clergy is not a true one. For the 
 " truth of this declaration we can cheerfully appeal 
 *^ to the conftant experience of our hearers." This 
 is fufficiently bold; and I fhall anfwer the challenge, 
 not by appealing to Mr. Burn's hearers, but to 
 printed documents, fermons preached at the time, 
 and now extant. Liter a Jcripta 7nanet, 
 
 Thus publicly and boldly called upon, I Ihall 
 proceed to the vindication of what I have advanced 
 in my Appeal ; firft with refpet!^ to what pafTed pre- 
 vious to the riot, and the probable caufe of it; 
 then what took place during the riot, and fubfe- 
 quent to it. I only requeil an impartial atten- 
 tion to fuch facts as I iliall produce ; and it muft be 
 confidered that, not having been myfelf a witnefs of 
 what I fhall relate, I muft neceffarily depend upon 
 the teftimony of others; and as in this I may, 
 C 2 through 
 
20 ^n appeal to the Public 
 
 through mifinformation, be mlftaken, I fincerely 
 wiih to hear what may be alleged on the other fide. 
 I cannot wifh to be mified myfelf, nor would I 
 knowingly miflead others ; and the prefs is as open 
 to my opponents as it is to myfelf. After this it will 
 be in the power of our readers to judge whether I 
 be what Mr. Burn, p. ic6, calls me, " a public flan- 
 *' derer,'' or not. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Of 'Ercents preirious to the Rioty and of the more difiant 
 Caujes of it. 
 
 1 HAT there exifted in Birmingham, and 
 in all that part of the country, a ftrong fpirit of 
 party, exceedingly unfavourable to Diflenters, 
 is evident from a variety of circumftances j 
 and, independently of any that I have men- 
 tioned, it mud appear probable from the hiilory of 
 thofe counties in this refpeft, given at length in an 
 excellent pamphlet lately publifhed, entitled. High 
 Church Politics, in which it is Ihewn that the 
 neighbourhood of Birmingham was the head quar- 
 ters of Dr. Sachcverelli and that, in the reign of 
 George I. feveral meeting houfes were dcftroyed by 
 
 rioters 
 
On the Riois m Binniniham. 2 1 
 
 rioters irt tliat town, and others in thofe parts. The 
 fadls that I mentioned in proof of the exiltence of 
 this party fpirit, and that it v/as far from originating 
 widi me, or being promoted by me, Mr. Burn has 
 attempted to invalidate. But let the reader judge 
 with what effed:. 
 
 One of the inftances that I mentioned was that 
 the clergy refufed to v/alk in funeral proceffions 
 with dilTenting minifters. I obferved that Mr. 
 Curtis refufed to do fo at the application of Mr. 
 Scholefield. This Mr. Burn infinuates was not on 
 account of his objeifling to doing this with diffent- 
 ing minifters in general, or Mr. Scholefield in par- 
 ticular, but with myfelf only; " left," as he fays, 
 p. 4, " he ftiould be led to aft officially with one 
 " whofe oppofidon to the doflrines and difcipline 
 " of the church of v/hich he is a member, had car- 
 " ried him into exceffes, in his apprehenfion, in die 
 " higheft degree illiberal and indecent. Of this 
 " clafs he juftly confidered Dr. Prieftley. With 
 " him therefore he could not confiftently adt upon 
 " fuch an occafion ; and for this reafon folely he re- 
 *• fufed to comply in the inftance produced by the 
 « Doftor." 
 
 But this inftance of bigotry in the clergy of Bir- 
 mingham appeared before I went thither. More than 
 forty years ago Mr. Wearden, curate of St. Philip's, 
 cxprcffed his concern that he could not walk with 
 Cj Mr. 
 
2 2 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 Mr. Blythe at the funeral of Mr. RufTel's grand- 
 mother, hav'ng, as he faid, received orders to the 
 contrary from Mr. Vyfe, who was then the re6tor. 
 
 In 1770, Mr. Dovey, re£tor of St. Martin's, re- 
 fufed to go into a mourning coach along with Mr. 
 Blythe at the funeral of Mrs. Webiler ; and after 
 the funeral he faid to Mr. Webfter, that " when the 
 " DilTenters wilhed their own minifters to attend 
 '* their friends to the grave, they had better not in- 
 " vite the clergy of the eftablifhment." 
 
 After this Mr. Webfter, having the dire<5i:Ion of 
 the funeral of Mr. Haddock, omitted to invite Mr. 
 Dovey, and alfo to fend the hatband, fcarf, and 
 gloves, which it had been ufual to give the attend- 
 ing clergyman. Unwilling to lofe thefe perquifites, 
 Mr. Dovey fent to inform Mr. Webfter, that, 
 though he did not choofe to attend the funeral 
 along with the DifTenting minifters, he did not 
 mean to refufe what was ufually given on thofe oc- 
 cafions. Mr. Webfter, however, very properly with- 
 held them. 
 
 At the funeral of Mr. Stephens of Deretend, Mr. 
 Aufted refufed to ride before the hearfe along with 
 the diflfenting minifter, and haughtily bade him 
 ride behind the hearfe. 
 
 At the funeral of Mr. Gilborne, when Mr. Dovey 
 
 refufed 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 23 
 
 refufed to walk in proc^fTion with Mr. Bourn, a man 
 of adlivity and fpirit, the following pkafant circum- 
 itance happened : Mr. Dovey meeting the corpfe, 
 and finding Mr. Bourn walking before it, direded 
 him' to walk behind- Mr. Bourn not complying with 
 this order, Mr. Dovey endeavoured to outwalk him, 
 but Mr. Bourn, being as nimble as he, kept up with 
 him, till, the Rector quickening his pace, they both 
 fairly ran for it, till they got to the church door. Mr. 
 Dovey was fo much offended, that, after the funeral, 
 his pride getting the better of every odier confidera- 
 tion, he fcnt back the hatband and fcarf^ and even 
 the pins that had been ufed on the occafion. 
 
 Thefe inftances certainly Ihow that the refufal of 
 the clergy of Birmingham to walk in funeral procef- 
 fion with dilTenting minifters did not arife from any 
 obje6lion they had to m.ylclf in pardcular, as Mr. 
 Burn intimates; but from an abfurd bigotry of 
 long Handing in the place; and I believe hardly 
 known in any other part of die kingdom. 
 
 Befides, if Mr. Curtis had fo violent an objeftion 
 to myfelf in particular, why did he come to hear me 
 preach, or meet me at the committee of the Hbrary, 
 of that for the abolition of the fiave trade, and on 
 other occafions, on which he always behaved to me 
 with great civility? And at the time that he refufed 
 to walk with Mr, Scholefield, which, Mr. Burn fays, 
 was folely on my account, he gave a reafon which 
 C 4 affedted 
 
24 -An Appeal to the Public 
 
 affe(5ted all diflenting minifters ; and I had not dien 
 done any thing to make myfelf more obnoxious than 
 I had when he came to hear me. I am alfo credi- 
 bly informed that Mr. Curtis himfelf, on reading my 
 Appeal, declared that I had given a juft account of 
 his condu6t, that it was the bigotry he found in the 
 place that led him to ad: as he had done, and that he 
 had not himfelf any cbjeflion to walking with dif- 
 fenting minifters at funerals. How this is to be re- 
 conciled with his giving his fandion to Mr. Burn's 
 Reply is no bufinefs of mine. 
 
 Another inftance of the High Church bigotry of 
 the town of Birmingham that I mentioned, was the 
 fubfcribers to the Sunday fchools having refcinded 
 a law v/hich permitted the children to go to any 
 place of public worfhip that their parents chofe. 
 On this Mr. Burn fays, p. GG, "It has happened, 
 *' unfortunately for his purpofe, that either through 
 " mifinformation, or a fettled plan of perverting and 
 " rendering odious the condudl of others," (and this 
 is the turn that Mr. Burn generally choofes to give 
 to all my accounts of things) " he has totally 
 " mifreprefented this plain bufinefs. Tlie fad," he 
 fays, p. 8 1 , " was that the law was never refcinded 
 *' at all;" and after giving a detail of pretended 
 proofs to the contrary, he fays, p. 12, " Let Dr. 
 " Pricflley, by fads, confute this ftatement if he 
 " can." He alfo fays, p. 9, " To refcind the above 
 " law, was an ad for which no committg:; was com^ 
 
 " petent 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham'. 25 
 
 *' petent, and there, unqueftionably, never was a ge- 
 " neral meeting held for any fuch purpofe." Mr. 
 Riland, another clergyman^ fays, p. 106, " I have 
 " no doubt but that your rcprefentation" (writing 
 to Mr. Burn) " is perfedtly right, and his" (mine) 
 ** is totally wrong." 
 
 Though this reply of Mr. Burn was written with 
 the concurrence of Mr. Curtis, it is now clearly 
 proved that my account is ftridtly true. A general 
 meeting of the fubfcribers to the Sunday fchools 
 was held (though Mr. Burn fays there unqueftionably 
 was not) without any previous notice of the bufinefs 
 that was to come before them. When it was pro- 
 pofed to refcind the law, the votes were equal, and 
 Mr. Curtis, being in the chair, decided in favour of 
 refcinding it. The evidence of the refcindino; is a 
 public advertifement in the Birmingham newfpa- 
 per, immediately after the tranfaftion, as was noticed 
 by Mr. Scholefield, with proper obfcrvations with 
 refpe6l to the dependance there could be on other 
 bold aflertions in Mr. Burn's reply. This will be 
 found in my Appendix, No. I. 
 
 I do not fay that even this palpable fiilfehood 
 was a wilful one, as Mr. Burn, or Mr. Madan, 
 would not fcruple to fay with refpeft to me j but it 
 argues fuch a dcfe6l of memory as may be kereafter 
 quoted as one of the moft remarkable things of this 
 nature in the hiftory of the human mind. It is the 
 
 more 
 
26 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 more fo, as, when Mr. Burn himfelf applied to Mr. 
 John Lawrence for his fubfcription, and was refufed 
 on account of the refcinding of the rule above men- 
 tioned, Mr. Burn immediately faid to a perfon who 
 accompanied him, " 1 told you how it would be. I 
 " am forry for itj" he himfelf having difapproved 
 of the conduil of the Higli Church party in this bufi- 
 nefs. Indeed I never confidered Mr. Burn as a 
 bigot ; and, as having been both a Methodift and a 
 Diffenter, rather a friend to both. The fad; above- 
 mentioned Vv'as related to me by Mr. Lawrence pre- 
 fently after it happened. 
 
 The defeft in the memory of Mr. Curtis is as re- 
 markable as that of Mr. Burn ; and that two men 
 fhould labour under the fame defe6l, with refpeft to 
 the fame thing, is more extraordinary ftill. For he 
 was not only chairman at the meedng in which the 
 rule was refcinded, and decided the queftion himfelf; 
 but when, after this, he called upon Mr. Punfield for 
 his fubfcription, he was refufed, and was informed 
 that it was for the fame reafon. 
 
 That this conduct in the fubfcribers to the Sun- 
 day fchools arofe from the moft contemptible bi- 
 gotry, no perfon of tiie lead degree of liberality will 
 deny ; and that this bigotry was of long Handing in 
 Birmingham, in the opinion of Mr. Curtis himfelf, 
 was evident from the following circumftance, which 
 I Ihall relate from my own recolleclion. When a 
 
 friend 
 
Oti the Riots in Birmingham. 27 
 
 frknd of mine was going to that meeting of the fub- 
 fcribers, at which it was agreed to permit the fcho- 
 iars to attend whatever place of worihip their pa- 
 rents fhould choofe, he was joined by Mr. Curtis ; 
 and talking about the bufinefs of the meeting, Mr. 
 Curtis, who was then a friend to the propofal, faid 
 he was afraid they fhould not be able to carry it, 
 ** there was fo much of the old leaven yet remaining 
 " in Birmingham." I have no doubt but Mr. Cur- 
 tis would have afted with the liberality becoming a 
 perfon of a diffenting family, if he had not found fo 
 much of what he properly termed the eld leaven in 
 Birmingham. That he had not the fortitude to adl 
 agreeably to the natural dilates of his own mind, 
 by which it would have been in his power to expel 
 that old leaven, is much to be lamented. My houfe 
 and meeting houfe would have been (landing, and 
 I fhould now have been at Birmingham, much more 
 agreeably employed than I am at this moment. 
 
 When Mr. Scholefield publifhcd a copy of the re- 
 folution of the fubfcribers to the Sunday fchools 
 refcinding the rule above mentioned, and which Mr. 
 Burn, Mr. Riland, and, in effeft, Mr. Curtis alfo 
 (by joining in the fandion of the other clergymen of 
 Birmingham to Mr. Burn's Reply) folemnly de- 
 clared never to have been relcinded at all; Mr. 
 Burn does not acknowledge the plain inference 
 from the flid, viz. the exiftence of a fpirit of High 
 Church bigotry in Birmingham, independendy of 
 
 any 
 
28 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 any thing that I could have done to excite it (and it 
 was with this view that I mentioned it at all) but 
 ^nly defires of hii readers, what they would certainly 
 do without his defire, that '' that part of his ftate- 
 " ment, &c. m^y not be confidered as weighing any 
 *'^ thing in his general argument againft me." What 
 was it but a degree of bigotry of the moft extrava- 
 gant kind to refcind a rule by which the fcholars 
 were permitted to attend public worlhip where their 
 parents chofe, when in no one inflance had any of 
 them, in faft, attended any other worlhip than that 
 of the Church of Endand. 
 
 'iD^ 
 
 The bigotry of the church people at Birmingham 
 appears, perhaps, more clearly in their condudl of 
 a charity fchool which has been eflablilhed therd 
 upwards of forty years ; not only as it is a rule in 
 the inftitution of this fchool, that no children Iliall be ' 
 admitted that are not of the eflablilhed church, but 
 that they fhall not be bound apprentices to any Dif- 
 fenter. Nay, in two inllances, the managers of this 
 charity even refufed to accept of the fubfcriptions of 
 Diflenters voluntarily offered them. Both Mr. La- 
 kin and Mr. Peyton, to their great furprife, had their 
 money rejeded. 
 
 I confider it as a proof of High Church princi- 
 ples, unfavourable to civil and rehgious liberty, that 
 the centenary celebration of the revoludon in 1688, 
 was not attended by any of the clergy of Birming- 
 ham, 
 
On the Riots in B'lrmmgham. 29 
 
 bam, and they did every thing in their power to ren- 
 der it unpopular. Their favourite toaft of Church 
 and King was objc6bed to. The meeting was at- 
 tended by a Catholic clergyman, and tl:ie DiOTenting 
 miniilers. 
 
 The lad infcance I fhall mention of the exiftencs 
 of a high party fpirit in the clergy of Birmingham is, 
 that one of that body, of a more liberal turn, when 
 he left the place, declared it was en that account, 
 and that for this reafon he could not live in comfort 
 in it. 
 
 This extreme bigotry is not peculiar to the towa 
 of Birmino;ham, but extends to the neis-hbourin"- 
 coundes. As a curious inllance of this, I Hiall ob- 
 ferve, that Mr. Mould, of Meafliam, near Afliby de 
 la Zouch, refufed, the laft year, to officiate at the 
 funeral of a child of John Bancroft, a DiHcnterj and 
 declared, that no Didenter fhould be buried by him. 
 In confequence of this, the child v/as put into the 
 grave v/ithout any tiling being faid at the placej and 
 the mother v/as fo much affefted, that (he was taken 
 home very ill. It is happy that this clergyman has not 
 the keys of the gates of heaven, nor wholly thofe of 
 the grave. 
 
 That I faWj lamented, and endeavoured to allay, this 
 part}' fpirit in the town of Birmingham, by perfuad- 
 ing the Diffenters to give up the difpofal of the civil 
 
 offices 
 
30 An Appeal io the Publk 
 
 ofRces, is well known to all my acquaintance, though 
 Mr. Bum is incredulous on the fubject. " This/' he 
 fays, p. 1 6, in his infulting manner, " confidering the 
 " Doctor's natural diffidence of power, and the ex- 
 *' treme readinefs which himfelf and principal friends 
 " have ever difcovered in giving up authority once 
 " obtained, mufl appear a very probable, as well as 
 " intereflingftory. It is, however, ftriflly true. To 
 mention no more, Mr. RuiTel, Mr. G. Humphrys, 
 the two Mr. Hunts, and the three Mr. Rylands, 
 who thought as I did on the fubje6t, will bear me 
 witnefs, as well as others, who were not DifTenters. I 
 may add all my particular acquaintance, without ex- 
 ception, know that I conftantly blamed the DifTen- 
 ters for keeping that power in their ov/n hands. 
 
 That the Diifenters of Birmingham were not fo 
 attentive as they might have been to retain the 
 power they once had, appeared in their conduct with 
 refpeft to king Edward's charity fchool in that 
 town ; the governors of which v/ere once DifTenters, 
 and it was in their power to have admitted no other 
 among themj but they always chofe to take fome of 
 the principal of the church people to ad with them. 
 It happened, however, that at one particular meeting, 
 at which thofe church people made a point of attend- 
 ing, while fome of the DifTenters were abfent, they 
 took that opportunity of choofing another church- 
 man, by which they became the majority ; and from 
 that time, except in the fingie cafe of Mr. Ruflel, 
 
 they 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 3 1 
 
 they have never chofen any Diffenter into their 
 body, and have repeatedly declared they never 
 would. Let not then the church people at Birming- 
 ham upbraid the DifTenters with a love of power. 
 
 I had a view to the bigotry of the town of Birming- 
 ham, and hoped to fucceed in allaying it, by means 
 of the public library, in the eftablifhrnent of which I 
 particularly interefted myfelf; as that would neceffa- 
 rily bring the reading and thinking part of the town 
 better acquainted with each other. The annual ad- 
 verdfement, which was drawn up by me, and which 
 was continued for fome time by the High Church 
 party, after they gained the afcendancy they now 
 have in that library, but which they have fince 
 dropped, I lliall infert in the Appendix, No. II. 
 
 "With refpe<5l to the bufinefs of the library, in 
 which it was not pofTibie for any man to ad with 
 more liberality than I did, Mr. Burn fays, p. 14, 
 " We never faw great talents fo degraded by party 
 " confiderations as in the conducft of Dr. Prieftley 
 *' in fome part of that bufinefs." But, in his ufual 
 manner, he does not fay v/hat thofe parts of my con- 
 duct were. As a fmall pamphlet, which I publiihed 
 on occafion of a motion to prevent the purchafe of 
 books of religious controverfy, will give the read- 
 er fome idea of the fpirit with which I afted in 
 this bufinefs, I Ihall give the whole, or a confider- 
 able part of it, in the Appendix, No, III.j and \ti 
 4 Mr. 
 
3 2 ^tt Appeal to the Public 
 
 Mr. Burn, if he pleafes, republifh the pamphlet 
 which one of the clergy wrote on the oceafion, and 
 figned M. S. 
 
 What it Is that Mr. Burn alludes to, when he fays 
 that 1 degraded my great talents, I believe it will not 
 be very eafy for any perfon, acquainted with the fadts, 
 to conjecture. Flad I, as Mr. Curtis did, openly 
 canvafled the fubfcribers for the purpofe of getting 
 a committee to my mind, I fhould indeed have de- 
 graded my talents, whether they had been great or 
 fmall; but it is well known that all my proceed- 
 ings were fair and candid. The harfiieft thing that 
 I faid of the clergy who withdrew from the li- 
 brary becaufe my Uiftory of the Corruptions of Chrifi- 
 anity was voted into it, was that their condu61: was 
 childifli. Tlie fubfcribers feem to have thought as I 
 did; for though Mr. Curtis, in the note he wrote on 
 the oceafion, exprelTed his wifh, " that all the mem- 
 *' bers of the church of England would follow his ex- 
 *' ample i" not one of them, except the clergy, did fo. 
 
 Another childifli and paltry inflance of bigotry, 
 in fome members of die church of England on that 
 oceafion, was ftrikiiig out die title of Reverend pre- 
 fixed to Mr. Scholefield's name and mine in the lift 
 of the committee. A fubfcribcr found the ink with 
 which the rafure had been made, not quite dry j 
 and inquiring who had been in the library, was in- 
 formed that only Mr, Curtis and Mr. Lloyd, a 
 5 Quaker, 
 
On the Riots m Birmingham. 33 
 
 Quaker, had been there. Being interrogated on 
 the fubjecfV, they both denied having done it. If 
 notwithftanding this, Mr. Curtis was generally be- 
 lieved to have done it, the fault is not mine. As 
 Httle regard has been paid to his moft folemn affe- 
 veration by Dr. Parr, a brother clergyman. 
 
 Without the leaft regard to truth Mr. Burn fpeaks 
 of me, p. 21, as having been " adopted the cham- 
 *' pion and leader of the whole body," (viz. of Dif- 
 fenters), " in the bufinefs of the application to par- 
 " liament for the repeal of the corporation and tefl 
 " a6ls ;" and he adds, that " after organizing the 
 " whole body of DilTenters, and bringing them to 
 " aft as one man, their future condud in this affair 
 ** was to be governed, as unqueftionably it has been, 
 " and efpecially in this, and the neighbouring coun- 
 " ties, by the maxims of his policy." 
 
 In all this Mr. Burn fhews his utter ignorance of 
 this whole bufinefs j and, though he pays no regard 
 to what I have before faid on this fubjeft, viz. that 
 I +iad very little to do in it, he Jhould have pro- 
 cured information from fome other quarter, and have 
 mentioned his authority. Of the many letters^ re- 
 Joliitionsy &c. relating to this affair, that were drawn 
 up at Birmingham, I did not write one. I attended 
 but few of die meetings even there, and though I 
 attended one at Nottingham, it was becaufe I had 
 bufinefs of my own in that place. I aflifted, in- 
 dcedi in drawing up the refolutions tliat vvere agreed 
 
 D Wpoji 
 
34 -^fi Appeal to the Public 
 
 upon there, but faid little or nothing at the meeting. 
 Indeed, it is well known that I am very backward 
 to fpeak in public ; being, on feveral accounts, efpc- 
 cially a tendency to Hammering, unfit for public 
 
 On the failure of this application to parliamenty 
 Mr. Burn fays, p. i8, " Circumftances did arife 
 " which tended extremely to expofe the true tem- 
 " per and views of Dr. Prieftley, and to fmk him 
 " prodigioufly in the opinion of his townfmen.*' I 
 wifh Mr. Burn had faid what thofe circumftances 
 were, and I now call upon him to name them. I 
 had no views that were peculiar to mylelf, or that 
 were not common to all DilTentersj and what I did 
 £0 promote thofe views was nothing peculiar to my- 
 felf, and lefs than was done by many others j not a 
 hundredth part, I may venture to fay, of what was 
 done, and ably done,, by Mr. Walker of Notdng- 
 ham, not to fpeak of others. Indeed, it is well 
 known that I was never folicitous about the objeft. 
 But it is Mr. Burn's manner to make general aiTer- 
 tions without appealing to any fpecific fa6ls, capable 
 of being fcrutinized. 
 
 'G 
 
 The difcourfe which I preached and publiflied on 
 this occafion I called " the moft calm and mode- 
 '* rate that ever was v/ritten on a polidcal fubjed." 
 This Mr. Burn does not deny; but as nothing good 
 can come from me, he gives it the following turn, 
 p. 23. " They perceived, indeed, that his gird at the 
 
 " minifter 
 
On the Riofs in Birmingham. _^5 
 
 '' minifter had taught him circumfpcfcion, and that 
 " his wounds received in the encounter being 
 " yet frefh, he fought cautioufly; but the true de- 
 *^ fign of this piece of mnnagement was too pal- 
 " pable to be miilaken." In this he alludes to my 
 Letter to Mr. Pitty by whicii that minifter might 
 receive a wound, but it will not be eafy to find the 
 fears of any that I received. If I had v>'ounds, they 
 did not prevent my continuing to fight on (if j. 
 muft purfue Mr. Burn's metaphor) and v/hat I 
 wrote afterwards in my A?ifwer to Mr. Burke^ and 
 my Familiar Letters ^ betray no diminution of vigour 
 or fpirit. But that the temper with which I deli- 
 vered and publiflied that fermon was not artfully 
 aflumed for the occafionj as Mr. Burn infinuates, 
 but habitual to me, will appear from what I wrote 
 refpeding the fame fubjedt in one of the earlieft of 
 my publications, viz. my Addrefs to P rot eft ant BiJ- 
 Jenters as Juchy a part of which I lliall for this 
 purpofe infert in my Appendix, No. IV. 
 
 Mr. Burn would in vain charge me with even 
 alluding to fafts that I am not prepared to authen- 
 ticate. With refpe(5l to the report of my convert- 
 ing Silas Dean to atheifm, Mr. Burn fays, p. 26, 
 " Will he oblige the public with the names of fome 
 " of thofe clergymen in the town and neighbour- 
 " hood by whom this account was fo induftriouily 
 " circulated ?" Now I doubt not Mr. Burn knows 
 much more of this bufinefs than I do. I will men- 
 D 1 tion. 
 
^6 u4n appeal to the Public 
 
 tiorij however, that Mr. Swainfon of Rowley, anc^ a 
 dergyman dining at Stratford, both flrongly recom- 
 mended the pamphlet in which that ftory was pub- 
 lifhedi as did Mr. Curds at the library room in 
 Birmingham.. The perfon who heard him is ready 
 to atteft it. 
 
 Let the reader judge from thefe particulars whe- 
 ther I have given a falfe account of the temper of 
 the members of the eftabllfhed church in Birming- 
 ham in general, or of that of the clergy in particu- 
 lar. It was the extreme of bigotry, the fame that 
 had exiiled In the place long before I went thither, 
 what I in vain endeavoured to allay, what exifts 
 there at prefent in as great violence as ever, and will 
 I fear continue a long time j for it appears to have 
 been gready inflamed by the late riot. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 Of the predifpcftng Caujes of the Riot. 
 
 I CONSIDER the view that was perpe- 
 tually exhibited of the DilTenters, and efpecially of the 
 Unitarians in general, and of myfelf in particular, by 
 the clergy of Birmingham, and others who occa- 
 fionally preached in their pulpits, as a principal pre- 
 difpofing caufe of the riot ; as they neceflary led the 
 people to confider us as the very pells of fociety; 
 
 from 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 37 
 
 from which the wifh, and the endeavour, to extermi- 
 nate us, as fuch, was but too obvious and natural. 
 Mr. Burn, in what I have already quoted from 
 him, ftrongly denies the fa6l. But there is evidence 
 of it nov/ exitting in the printed fermons of Dr. 
 Croft and Mr. Madan, which are well known to 
 have been in the fame drain with many others deli- 
 vered in the pulpits at Birmingham while I refided 
 there J and it will not be fuppofed that what they 
 have printed was lets guarded than what was not. 
 
 Mr. Madan, who fays that his difcourfe was pub- 
 lifhed " at the requeil of many before whom it was 
 " delivered," which is a proof of //&«> party fpirit, as 
 well as of hjs own, fpeaks with particular appro- 
 bation of the fermons of Dr. Croft, and Mr. Clut- 
 ton i the latter of which he laments was not printed, 
 and which I remember to have heard fpoken of as 
 peculiarly violent; as the fermons of Mr. Curtis 
 were alfo faid to be. The reader may therefore 
 judge of the inflammatory tendency of thefe fermons 
 of the clergy in general, by the following extradVs 
 from thofe of Dr. Croft and Mr. Madan, 
 
 They both agree in reprefenting the principles of 
 the DilTenters as " unqueftionably republican." 
 " Thofe of the Socinians," which Mr. Madan fpeaks 
 of as evidently gaining ground, he fays, p. 10, 
 *' are certainly no lefs dangerous to the ftate than 
 ♦* tlae tenets of popery." Both thefe preachers re- 
 
 D 3 prefent 
 
3 8 Jn Appeal to the Public , 
 
 prefent our principles as not only theoretically, but 
 praftically fedkious. Of the fentiments of Dr. Price, 
 Dr. Crofc fays, p. xii. " They fpread jealoufy and 
 " difcontent through the kingdom, and were little 
 " fhort of blafphemy. The Difienters," he fays, 
 p. 33, " wifh to deftroy the whole fabric of our 
 " conftitution." Mr. Madan alfo reprcfents us as 
 no better than king killers in general. " Is there no 
 " reafon," he fays, p. 13, " to receive with fufpi- 
 f' cion their declarations of reverence to the govern- 
 " ment, and of loyalty to the king, however plau- 
 " fibly and fpontaneoufly announced, v/hen the 
 " amount of that reverence has been exaflly afcer- 
 " tained by the v/oful experience of republican ty- 
 " ranny, and the extent of their loyalty has been ex- 
 " a6lly delineated by the blood of a king." He 
 alfo fays, p. 8, that he " always regarded our prin- 
 ^* ciples as pointedly" hoftile, and dangerous to our 
 5' happy conftitution." 
 
 When he was called upon by me to defend thefe 
 ftrange and injurious afperfions, which are in con- 
 tradicflion to all hiftory, and even to recent fadls, 
 and efpeciaily to all my principles, as contained in 
 my v/ritingsi he appeared willing, indeed, to except 
 from his charges the more moderate, or Calviniflic 
 Difienters, but by no m.eans myfelf, and others whom 
 he terms " the more violent Diffentersj" and in 
 vindication of what he had advanced concerning the 
 Jcing killing principles being ftill retained by the 
 
 DiffenterSj 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 3 9 
 
 DIflcntcrs, he fays, p. 35, that " principles are a 
 *' long lived generation j" and infinuates that there- 
 fore, they muft now exift fomewhere among us. 
 " Thefe principles," he fays, p. 22, " are ftill at 
 *' work." When I appealed to my own peaceable 
 behaviour, he replied, p. 16, that " Guy Fawkes 
 *' would have done the fame;" plainly fuggelting 9 
 comparifon between him and me. 
 
 Both Dn Croft and Mr. Madan reprefent in a 
 moft extravagant light the very innocent objeft of 
 the application of the DiiTenters to parliament for 
 the repeal of the corporation and teft a6ls, and they 
 intimate, that fo far from giving us more liberty, it 
 were to be wilhed that we could be deprived of 
 fome of the privileges that we now enjoy. Mr, 
 Madan alarms the public by calling the bufinefs of 
 this application a " great conllitutional caufe." 
 The poflefllon of offices, which we plead our right 
 to a participation in, he fays, p. 1 2, would be " in- 
 *' compatible with the fafety of our civil govern- 
 *' menti" and he fpeaks of our third application as 
 " an extraordinary fubjed:, now a third time obr- 
 *' truded upon the legiflature." 
 
 - Dr. Croft fays, p. 36, " It would be fatal to reli- 
 ** gion, if the legifiature Ihould by any act of indul- 
 " gence declare all opinions innocent. It is unfor- 
 " tunate," he fays, p. xiv. " that the right of vot? 
 ^* ing at elections, and of fitting in parliament, can- 
 
 D 4 *♦ not 
 
4-0 Jn Appeal to the Public 
 
 " not be taken from the Diffenters. It would be 
 *• defirable," p. 30, " to exclude from the Britlfh 
 *' fenate all thofe who are led away by their plaufible 
 *^ arguments, and to caution every Britifh youth 
 *' againft their civil and religious maxims of go- 
 *' vernment." He particularly fays, p. xi. that 
 *' if the Unitarians were reflridbed from fpeaking in- 
 *^ decently of the do6trine of the Trinity, and if they 
 " were enjoined upon certain pains and penakies, it 
 *' might be deemed perfecution by them, but could 
 " not be thought a hardlhip by others." Mr. Ma- 
 dan alfo fays, p. 9, " Are we not juftly upbraided 
 " with a pafTive and fupine condudl, in a caufe of 
 ** the moft interelling and facred nature ?" 
 
 Of my own chara6ler nothing more injurious 
 could be infmuated than was done by Mr. Madan. 
 He defcribes me as a man of extraordinary talents, 
 indeed, but as a6tuated by malevolence \ and how elfe 
 would he have defcribed Satan himfelf? " When 
 " I fee," he fays, p. 26, '* your blindnefs in^ any 
 " point of hillory, I much fufpeft it to be wilfuli" 
 v/hich is to reprefent the worft principle of my 
 condudl as, in all cafes, more probable than any 
 other. What mud the inhabitants of Birming- 
 ham., v,ho juftly refpecflied Mr. Madan more thar^ 
 any other clergyman in the town, think of the Dif-^ 
 fenters in general, and of myfelf in pardcular, when 
 we were defcribed in this manner, and when the ac- 
 count was introduced vvi,d) fuch uncommon folemnit}^ 
 
On the Riots In Birmingham, 41 
 
 p. 2, as given " from the fettled principles of his 
 «*^ heart, as he hoped for mercy from the God of 
 « truth?" 
 
 To what can we compare this condiid of the 
 clergy, but (to adopt that metaphor of mine which 
 has been lb much carped at, and mifreprefented,) 
 laying gunpowder, not grain by grain, but by hand- 
 fuls, in that magazine which exploded on the T4th 
 of July? For what outrage muft not many of the 
 common people, who read none of my writings, but 
 heard them fpoken of by the clergy as highly dan- 
 gerous, and unfit to be read by them, have been 
 prepared, when for years together they heard the 
 Unitarian DilTenters in general, and myfelf in parti- 
 cular, pointed at as the enemies of their country, 
 ready on the firft opportunity to overturn the govern- 
 ment under which we lived, and even to embrue 
 our hands in the blood of our fovereign ? Could 
 they help concluding that the perfons who defcribed 
 us in this manner wifhed to have us deftroyed, that 
 it was even meritorious to deftroy us j and when in 
 any cafe the ejid is thought to be juft in itfel^ the 
 propriety of the means will be lefs attended to ? If 
 violence be employed to gain any end, there are 
 thoufands in all parts of this country ready to join in 
 it, without any regard to the end, but merely for 
 the fake of mifchief and plunder. It is an army 
 ready to ad on the fide of any whom they think 
 they can ferve with impunity to themfelves. 
 
 3 It 
 
42 J^7t Appeal to the Public 
 
 it is, therefore, in this {tnk, though in this only, 
 that I accufe the clergy of Birmingham, and efpe- 
 cially Mr.- Madan, as having been the promoters of 
 the riot ; and if it Ihould terminate in that deftruc- 
 tion with which I am Hill threatened, I fhall charge 
 them with being the caufe of my death. 
 
 The methods that were taken to excite the po- 
 pulace of Birmingham againft the Diffenters, pre- 
 vious to the riot, were various, and but too fucceff- 
 ful. Among others, I fhall only mention one, as a 
 fpecimen of ingenuity as well as of the malignant party 
 fpirit, which prevailed in the place, while nothing 
 was done by us but what was calculated to allay it. 
 The following paper was much circulated in Bir^ 
 jningham two years before the riot. 
 
 " To thofe faftious and republican fpirits, who 
 *' are at this time infidioufly endeavouring to un- 
 ** dermine the grand bulwark of our moft excellent 
 ^*" conftitution, a plate of their Ccat of Arms is de- 
 ** dicated, by a friend to church and king. 
 
 " Blazoning of the DUfenters Coat of Arms. 
 
 " Field fable. A diffenting magiftrate fits with 
 ^^ a table before him, holding in his right hand a 
 '' pen, in his left hand a ferpent. On his fhoulder 
 " fits a toad didating to him. Over his head is a 
 ?' pair of fcales broken, Or within, and argent. One 
 8 ^< hornet 
 
On the Rwfs in Birmingham* 4j 
 
 '^ hornet and fix wafps, reprefenting the feven united 
 " congregations. Creft, the head of Janus, party 
 *' per pale, fable, and or, before a thorn and a thiftle, 
 " ilTuing proper. Motto. To him we owe our -power, 
 
 " Supporters,^* 
 " Fraud reprefented with the body of a woman, 
 " with a double face young and old, prefenting the 
 " moft fafcinating to the unwary objefts her prey. 
 *^ Her attributes are an angle rod, with a fifh caught, 
 ^' and in her left a feipent. She is always defcribed 
 *' wiih the legs and claws of a vulture, and the tail 
 " cf a fcorpion. Deceit is reprefented by an elder- 
 *' ly matron gayly drefled, holds a mafk before her 
 '^ face, and on her breaft two hearts, black and red, 
 '^ denoting the necelTity of an external appearance 
 " to cover the defigns of a corrupt mind." 
 
 N. B. There is fome incorredlnefs in this copyj 
 but I have not feen any other. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Circimjlances previous to the Riot, and more imme- 
 diately conneEled with the Cauje of it. 
 
 OEVERAL circumftances, previous to 
 the riot, fhow that fome fuch thing was ex- 
 pert ed by the High Church party, while no Dif- 
 fenter, though expofed to the mifchief, apprehended 
 any fuch matter. A clergyman dining at the An- 
 chor, at Worcefter, July 13, faid that, " If there wa§ 
 
 " any 
 
44 ^■^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 "•■ any dinner at Birmingham the next day, fortK?* 
 
 " thing would fhew itfelf at night, and that it was 
 
 " then brewing." A perfon of Birmingham laid, 
 
 " there will be the devil to pay at the Hotel to 
 
 " day. There are about two hundred Prefbyte- 
 
 *' rians met there, but we are ready for them, and 
 
 " fhall be their mailers yet." 
 
 Mr. Burn reprefents the dinner at the Hotel, and 
 the hand-bill, publilhed a few days before, as the true 
 caufes of the riot. " The promoters of the dinner," 
 he fays, p. 51, " were chiefly DilTenters j and as the 
 " defign of that meeting was ftrongly fufpe(5led, 
 " thofe gentlemen became the object of popular re- 
 " fentment." But that both the dinner and the hand- 
 bill, were the mere pretences for the violences that 
 were committed, is evident from the cry of the 
 time, which had no relation to the dinner. Had the 
 fufferers been obnoxious as having been concerned 
 in the dinner, thofc of the church of England, who 
 ioined in it, would have been doubly fo, as men who 
 had deferted their friends, and joined their enemies j 
 but no member of the ellablilhment, though prefent 
 at the dinner, fuffered at all ; and the only fufferers 
 v/ere that very defcription of men againll whom the 
 popular refcntmcnt had been excited feveral years 
 before, viz. the Unitarian DilTenters in general, and 
 myfelf in particular, whether we were prefent at the 
 dinner, or concerned in promoting it, or not. 
 
 Of 
 
On the Riots In Birmingham, 45 
 
 Of the principal fufferers, who were ten in all. 
 Only three were at the dinner, and their houfes were 
 the iaft that were deftroyed. On thefe ftriking fa<5ts 
 no comment favourable to Mr. Burn's hypothefis 
 can be made. 
 
 Mr. Burn fays, p. 52, that " the effeft which the 
 *' hand- bill might produce on the lower orders, 
 " was very juftly and ferioufly apprehended." Now 
 it is to the Iaft degree improbable that any ferious 
 cffed was ever apprehended from it. All that it 
 invited to was the celebration of the French Revo- 
 lutioni yet he ftrangely fays, p. 47, " The objed of it 
 ** was, in the apprehenfion of the populace, nothing 
 " lefs than the immediate overthrow both of Church 
 " and State." This famous hand-bill is ftill extant, 
 and has been publifhed a thoufand times more by the 
 enemies of the Diffenters than by their friends -, and 
 if it had really been calculated to do much mifchiefj 
 it muft have appeared long before this time. 
 
 At any time before the riot it was exceedingly 
 difficult for any Diffenter to procure a copy of the 
 hand- bill, while it was circulated with great induftry 
 among church people. If the magiftrates really ap- 
 prehended a riot from the effeds, either of the 
 hand-bill, which few DifTenters had feen, or from the 
 dinner, which, however, few propofed to attend, why 
 did they not prepare to oppofe ic by fwearing more 
 
 conftables. 
 
4-6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 conftables, and ufing other precautions direded in 
 the Riot Att ? 
 
 If the governors of this country had really thought 
 this hand-bill capable of doing any harm, would 
 they not have fent foldiers to Birmingham, to be in 
 readincfs fcr the occafion ? A copy of the hand-bill 
 was in the fecretary of ftate's office three days be- 
 fore the dinner, and that was time enough for the 
 purpofe. Would it have been publifhed at full length 
 in the Gazette ? Or would Mr. Dundas have recited 
 it in the Houfe of Commons ? This publication, 
 and many other publications of it, clearly Ihews that 
 no body ever apprehended any danger from it, and 
 that the flir that was made about it was only to 
 throw an odium upon DifTenters, who were repre- 
 prefented as the authors of it. 
 
 A letter of Dr. Tatham's, in which the anniverfary 
 of the French Revolution was called an illegal, and 
 unconftitiitional Cif^ and which was eagerly circulated 
 in Birmingham before the dinner, contributed much 
 more to the riot than this hand- bill. 
 
 The fufpicion of the fabrication of this hand^ 
 bill has now generally fallen upon the perfon alluded 
 to by Mr. Burn and Mr. Dundas. It is well known 
 to ail our friends that I had no connexion with that 
 perfon, and that he was leaft of all likely to be go- 
 verned 
 
On the Riots in Bii'iningham, 47 
 
 verned by my advice. This, however, I will fay for 
 him, that though he thought freely on the fubjedls 
 of government and religion, he was as far from any 
 thing properly feditious as Mr. Burn himfelf. I be- 
 lieve him to be an honeft and well meaning man, 
 though I never thought him the moft prudent. It 
 is to the difgrace of this country that fuch a perfoa 
 was under the neceffity of leaving it. 
 
 At the time of my writing the Appeal, I had not 
 the lead fufpicion of this pcrfon being the author 
 of the hand-bill, and, therefore, thought it as pro- 
 bable that it might be written by fome of the High 
 Church party, for the v&. that they adually made of 
 it, as by the DiiTenters who Hiffered in confequence 
 of it. And certainly, they who forged letters for the 
 purpofe of exciting the rioters to do us mifchief^ 
 werew^^^^i'/^ of doing this with the fame view. The 
 one was not more wicked than the other. Ad- 
 mitting, however, that a Differter wrote this cele- 
 bmted hand-bill, and that it was as heinous a thing 
 as our enemies reprefent it; it was only the work of 
 one man, for whofe condu6l no other perfcn is re- 
 fponfible. No perfon concerned in the dinner had 
 the lead knowledge or fufpicion of it at the time, as 
 appears by their public advertifement. 
 
 Depending upon fuch accounts as were given me, 
 
 with relpecl to tranfaclions at which I could not be 
 
 , prelent myfelf, I had faid that, befides the dinner at 
 
 the 
 
4$ An A f peal to the Puhlic 
 
 the Hotel, there were other dinners on that day, 6f 
 perlbns of better condition, who did not rife fo foon, 
 or fo fober, as thofe who celebrated the French Re* 
 volution, and that the riot commenced at the break- 
 ing up of thefe companies. " This," fays Mr. Burn, 
 p. 58, " is, to fay the leaft, an idle fidlion." " The 
 " magiftrates," he fays, 59, " dined at one of our 
 " inns on that day, and for the exprefs purpofe of be- 
 " ing on the fpot, in cafe their interference fhould 
 •* be found neceflary, in order to keep the peace." 
 
 Now I do not find, on farther inquiry, that 
 there was more than one fuch dinner as I have de- 
 fcribed, viz. oi-perjons of better condition^ the refl being 
 of the lower orders, though not all of the loweft, 
 whofe aflembling, whofe horrid execrations, and 
 whofe intoxication, Mr. Burn cannot deny. But that 
 the other dinner, though attended by the magiftrates, 
 anfv/ers fufficiendy to my defcription^ there is evi- 
 dence enough. 
 
 The High Church party who dined at the Swan 
 tavern in Bull-ftreet, if 1 be not mifinformed, ufed 
 the moil horrid execrations, drank damnation to the 
 Prelbyterians, and prophefied what dreadful havoc 
 would be made. A perfon who heard this perfuaded 
 thofe who dined at the Hotel to difperfci and then re- 
 turning to the company at the Swan, faid, " Gende- 
 " men, your fport is fpoiled, the company is breaking 
 « upi" and this feemed to mortify them exceedingly.. 
 
 That 
 
Oh the Riots in Birmingham. 49 
 
 That the magiflrates themfelves, and no doubt 
 other perfons of their party, were either intoxicated, 
 or worfe, at the breaking up of this meeting, the 
 fads I fhall prefendy relate abundantly prove. I§ 
 they ferioufly meant to keep the peace, their meafure;, 
 were very ill laid, and certainly had no fuccefs. To 
 ipretend that they feared a riot from the friends of 
 the revolution dinner is too abfurd to be alleged. 
 They were not of that clafs of people; and there 
 was no dinner, or preparations for any dinner, ex- 
 cept at the hotel. 
 
 A mono; odier circumflances diat Indicated a 
 defign in the. High Church party to promote a 
 not, I mentioned a report of fome fliops being 
 fhut up, that the workmen might be at liberty for 
 that purpofe. Of this Mr. Burn fays, p. 51, " If 
 " any inftance of the kind does really exifb, it has 
 *^ eluded our refearch." He adds, that " many 
 " churchmen took pains to keep their men in the 
 *^ fhops." Of this I have no doubt. The generality 
 of the Church people in Birmingham were far 
 from favouring the rioters, nor have I ever given 
 that idea of them. The promoters of the riot were 
 a few, but certainly all of them churchmen. 
 
 The flate of the town of Birmingham is fliil fuch 
 that it is not eafy to procure pofitive evidence 
 againft any rioter, or favourer of the riot; nor can 
 it be deemed extraordinary that I (hould in fome 
 
 E inftances 
 
50 ■ An Appeal to the Puhlk- 
 
 inflances have been mifled by the exaggerated r^*^ 
 ports of the time, when I wrote my Appeal. "Whe^ 
 ther, however, I wr»te without Jome authority, let 
 the reader judge fronri the following circiimft:ances. 
 Mr. RulTel remonftrating with one of the rioters at 
 his own houfe, he faid, " What would you have us 
 *' do ? We cannot work, for our mailers turned us 
 ^\ out of the Hicp on Thurfday morning, and de-^ 
 **■ dared we fhould not enter it again all the week." 
 The name of the man was Patric, and he faid his 
 mailer v/as a buckle-maker. 
 
 It Is pofTible alfo, that the Diffencers might get 
 the idea of the perfons excluded from the fliops being 
 more numerous than they were, from the following 
 circumftance, viz. that a little after nine o'clock, on 
 the 14th of July, Mr. Carles, after faying to the riot- 
 ers, " Come, my boys, huzza," added, " if they turn 
 " you out of work, I will employ you." AVhat he 
 meant by that language he beft knows himfclf. It- 
 is, I own, niore probable that his meaning was, that 
 if the Diffenters fnould turn any perfons out of theiF 
 fliops for having been concerned in the riot, he 
 would endeavour to find employment for them. 
 
 That too many, though far from the majority of 
 the church people in Birmingham, favoured the 
 riot, and did as much to promote it as the fhntting 
 Tjp their fhops, though, diey might not do that fpeci- 
 fic thiig> is fuiEciently evident 5 and dierefore this 
 
 could 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 5 1 
 
 tould not of itfdlf appear improbable; and that 
 great numbers of the common manufa6turers were 
 v/ell enough predifpofed for the riot is evident from 
 the following circumftance. On the 13 th of July a 
 churchman talking about the intended dinner, faid, 
 " I have got fifty hands in my Ihop, and if I was to 
 ' " go to them to-morrow, and fay. My lads, your 
 " church and king are in danger, they would turn 
 " out every man of them, and break every window 
 " in the hotel." 
 
 Another circumftance that I fhall mention is one 
 that I own I do not perfectly underftand j but as it 
 has been mentioned as fome evidence that even 
 Mr. Curtis himfelf expected a riot, that in it re- 
 courfe would be had to fire, and that he did not 
 wifli fuch fire to be foon extinguilhed, I fhall relate 
 it, that Mr. Curtis may have an opportunity of ex- 
 culpating himfelf. 
 
 The keys of the fire engine were taken by him out 
 cf the cuftody of the perlbn who ufually kept them, 
 and delivered to a Mr. Brooke, a clerk in his own 
 church, who, when he was applied to for them, as 
 the rioters were demolifliing the old meeting, faid, 
 that he had orders to let nobody have them. At 
 length, however, an order was procured from the 
 churchwarden, who expreflcd much furprife that 
 this fhould be neceflary; when Mr. Brooke (find- 
 ing that he could not refufe them) find, " If you 
 E 3 ^* muft 
 
52 An Appeal to the 'Public 
 
 " rnuil: have them, you fliall, but they will do yoi3 
 " no goodi" which v/as aClually the cafe, the en- 
 gine not being fuftered to play on any but the 
 
 neishbourino; houf 
 
 o 
 
 
 What makes this ftory the more extraordinary" ■ 
 is, that it appears from Mr. Curtis's own account 
 that, in the coul-fe of that night, the clerk went 
 to the veilry, and there wrote a letter, which 
 he fent by a fpecial meffenger to Mr. Curtis, 
 to inform him that, at the order of the church- 
 warden, lie had delivered the keys of the engine. 
 Does not this look like anxiety to make an apology 
 for having done what he knew would not be pleaf- 
 ing to his fuperior? It behoves Mr. Curtis to ex- 
 plain this extraordinary conduct with refped to the 
 fire engine, with which it does not appear that he 
 had any thing to do. 
 
 That fomething was concerted by the High 
 Church with refped to the Diflenters previous x.<y 
 the dinner is evident from- this circumftancc, that 
 a DiHenter, but not known to be one by Mr. J. 
 Green, a bufy and not very difcreet man, going tO' 
 him about bufmefs the day before the riot, received 
 for anfwer, " I have not time to fettle your account 
 " now, the damned Frefbyterians give me fo much 
 ^^ trouble. There are gentlemen now at my houfe 
 « confuking v/hat is to be done with them."' 
 
 &ECTI0JI' 
 
'^ On the Riots in Birmingham, 5^ 
 
 SECTION VL 
 
 Circumjlances attending the Conmencemsnt of the RtoL 
 
 1 SHALL now proceed to relate feme 
 iclrcumilances which immediately precededj and ac- 
 companied the riot, at its firft breaking out ; and I 
 think they will fuffidently prove not only that there 
 was no exertion on the part of the magiftrates, or 
 any of the principal church people in the town, to 
 prevent the riot j but that, not then knowing how 
 far it Vv'ould proceed, many of them were well-wifliers 
 to it. I may, no doubt, be deceived; but all the par- 
 ticulars that I lliall mention have been voluntarily 
 declared upon oath, and the reporters are now ready 
 to atteft them in any court of judicature, when- 
 ever they are called upon to do it. However, let 
 our enemies have an opportunity of vindicating 
 themfelves : they have the fame accefs to the Public 
 that I have, and will have a much more favourable 
 hearing. 
 
 When the company were going to rhe hotel, and 
 the mob were throwing at them, the juftices, who 
 were prefent, took no notice of it, and did not 
 endeavour to difperfe them. Between liven and 
 eight o'clock Mr. Carles and Dr. Spencer were in 
 the midft of the mob, in paffing from the hotel to- 
 E 3 wards 
 
54 -^^z Appeal to the Public 
 
 wards Buil-ilreet, and Teemed to encourage them 
 by bowing and nodding to them. When fomeof the 
 mob came out of the hotel, where they had been to, 
 look for thofe who had dined there, one of the ma- 
 giftrates, ftanding upon the fleps, took off his 
 hat, waved it round his head, and huzza'd with 
 tliem, but made no attempt to check them for a 
 quarter of an hour, while the witnefs was with 
 them. When one of them was haranguing the mob 
 on the fteps of the hotel, the other flood behind 
 him, laughing heartily, and hiding his face with hi§ 
 hat. 
 
 When the windows of the hotel v^ere nearly de- 
 molifhed, one of the juftices cried, " Well done, my 
 *' lads, well done, my lads. We will do what we 
 *' can for you^ and if I had it in my power I would 
 " make you all drunk," A little after nine he faid 
 to the mob, " Do no mifchief, or murder; and if 
 '^ you are taken up in a right caufe, and brought 
 " before us, we will acquit you :" and he lliook 
 hands with feveral of them. One of the rioters afked 
 the juftices, if they w^ould give them leave to fhake 
 a little powder out of Dr. Prieftlcy's wig : and to 
 this they made no anfwer, but laughed, took off 
 their hats, v/aved them three times, and huzza'd. 
 One of them faid, again " You are all hearty i(:\~ 
 *f lows; if I had it in my power I would make yo» 
 " all drunk." A boy faying, " Damn them, fei?e 
 «' all the Prefbyteri-ins/' one of diem put his hand 
 
 oi\ 
 
t)n the Riots in 'Birmingham. ^$ 
 
 on tlie boy's head, and faid, " Well done, my hearty 
 " chicken: thou art a damned good cockj" and 
 laughed. The mob lauglied with him, and huzza'd, 
 
 crying, Spencer for ever^ 
 
 The mofl: ferious charge agalnfl: one of the ma- 
 giftrates is the following: while the rioters were 
 throwing at the windows of the hotel, he faid, " My 
 " friends, do not revenge yourfelves upon this man, 
 " who gets his living by making dinners for gen- 
 " tlemen. If you wifli to be revenged upon them, 
 " go to their meetings." On this the mob cried, 
 " To the new meeting; the juftice will protect us." 
 They were fo near him, that he mud have heard 
 them. A young man of my congregation told me 
 before I left my houfe, that he was Handing clofe by 
 one of the magiftrates when the rioters mentioned 
 going to the new meeting, and that he faid nothing 
 to reflrain them, 
 
 While the fame magiftrate was walking up Bull-, 
 ftreet fome of the rioters follovycd him, and among 
 them was a v/oman, who cried, " Damn all the 
 " Prefbyterians in the town ;" but at this the ma- 
 giftrate only laughed. Being incommoded by thq. 
 crowd, one of the juftice^ bid them not follow him. 
 On this they cried, *^ Where muft we go?" He an- 
 fwered, " Go down to the meeting to the others."- 
 They then went to the new meeting, and joined 
 l^|\o,le who were deftroying it. lie alio laid to them 
 E /J, ag. 
 
^6 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 at the fame time, " Do no other mifchief than pul-. 
 " ling down the meetings, and I will ftand your 
 " friend as far as lies in my power." Afterwards, 
 when one of the rioters, who was demolifliing the 
 new meedng, was told that he would be hanged for 
 it, he faid, *^ No y for juftice Carles fent us dov/n 
 " hither." 
 
 " It is but juftice," fays Mr. Burn, p. 121, " to 
 " Mr. Brooke, at that time under flieriQ', a6ling 
 ^' with the m.agiftratcs, and fince deputed by the 
 " hundred as their fole folicitor on the trials, to ob- 
 " ferve, that no individual appears to have riflved 
 " more by his perfonal exertions during the riots 
 " than himfclf." I have no objedion to admitting 
 this with refpecl to Mr. Brooke, or any other per- 
 fon, after the riot had proceeded farther than they 
 wiflied, in confequepce of which they might think 
 they had particular reafon to be apprehenfive for 
 themfelves ; but the queftion is, how they behaved 
 at the commencement of the riot ; and at that time 
 there is clear evidence of feveral perfons having 
 given them too much encouragement. 
 
 The mob being afiembled before Mr. Brooke's 
 houfe, which is very near the hotel, a perfon in a 
 green coat addrefled them in a low voice, defiring 
 ;hem to go from thence, and faying, that if they 
 would go to the new meeting, he would order a 
 joglhead of ale for them when they came back. They 
 
 ail-zing 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 57 
 
 sfking him for fomething in handj he appeared to give 
 them money, having put his hand into his pock- 
 et. Of this circumftance there are two witnefles. 
 But previous to this he aiked a young man who 
 Was in the crowd, whether he thought they knevy 
 him. He then held up his arm, and pointed to-r 
 wards the new meeting, and they immediately cried, 
 *' To the new meetings" whither they went, and 
 in five minutes few were left behind. Before this, 
 v/hen the mob were breaking the v/indows of the 
 hotel, Mr. Brooke came out of his houfe, and Mrs. 
 Brooke being apprehenfive of fome mifchief to him, 
 the rioters faid, '*" We will not hurt Mr. Brooke ; 
 '' we will pull down any houfe Mr. Brooke has 4 
 *^ mind." This, however, they might have fiid witl^ 
 refpeft to a perfon with whom they had had no pre- 
 vious communication. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Of the Condu^ of the Magifirates, and other s^ after 
 the Commencement of the Riot. 
 
 1 H E fads related in the preceding feflion 
 fufficlently prove that there was no difpofition i^ 
 the magiftrates, or the high church party in gene- 
 ral, to check, but rather to promote, the riot at its 
 commencement. Other fafts as clearly prove that 
 this difpofition continued till the dellruclion of both 
 
 the 
 
f S An appeal to the Public 
 
 the meeting houfes, and of every thing belongmg; 
 to me. When the rioters proceeded to attack th« 
 houfes of Mr. Ryland and Mr. Taylor, diere is no 
 doubt that the greatefi enemies of the Diffenters were 
 alarmed, and wifaed to fupprcfs the rioters; but hav* 
 ing encouraged them before, they were at a lofs how 
 to proceed, and at all events v/ere determined not to 
 have recourfe tofrre-arnis^ though there was no doubt 
 but that//:^ij- v/ould have been effeftual in any period of 
 iin£ bufinefs. Afcer the pofidve encouragem.ent given 
 to the rioters, the reafon of this condu6t was evident. 
 
 Several of the circumftances that I fhall now 
 mention alfo clearly fliew that the proper object of 
 the riot was the Dijfentersy and nothing relating to 
 iht dinner, or the French revolution. The handbill^ 
 alfo, which had no relation but to the French revo- 
 lution, would have been as much forgotten as the 
 dinaer, had it not been for the idea of its being 
 written by myfelf or fome other DifTenter. Tl>ofe 
 things had fufficlently anfwered their purpofe, and 
 the mob proceeded on its natural and original prirt- 
 ciple, the bigotry of the church people againfl the 
 Diffenters. In what follows I fiiall firft relate the 
 circuraftances that refpecl the conduft of die ma- 
 gifirates, then that of the clergy, and afterwards tha^ 
 of other perfons. 
 
 About five o'clock in the morning of the 15th, 
 when the rioters were deftroying my houfe, one of 
 
 thQ 
 
On the Riots in Bi?iningham. 59 
 
 the maglftrates rode up to it, raifed his arm, and 
 beckoning to them, laid, " Come hither, my good 
 *^ hearty boys." When they were gathered round 
 him, he bade them take off their hats, and huzz^i, 
 which they did, and he did the fame feveral times, 
 He then faid, " I commend you for what you have 
 " done, and will proteft you for it. No fire ; re- 
 " turn to your work." They huaza'd, and when he 
 was gone, they returned to the houfe, and continueti 
 to demolilh it, crying, as my fon, who heard them, 
 fiid, " Spencer for ever." The reafon he gave 
 why he would not have them hurt the houfe was, 
 that it belonged to Mr. Lloyd, a quaker. It had 
 lately belonged to him, but had been fold to Mr, 
 William Humphrys. 
 
 Between nine and ten the fame day the other 
 magiftrate coming along Bale End in a chaife, and 
 the people gathering round him, he took off his hat, 
 waved it out of t\\Q window, and cried, " Church 
 *' and King for ever^ my lads. Be true to your 
 " caufci ftick to your caufe. Be of my determi- 
 ** nation, to lofe the laft drop of blood in your bo- 
 *^ dies: it is my determination to lofe the laft drop 
 " of mine. Do not leave thefe Preft)yterian dogs 
 " a place ftanding," He then huzza'd again, cry- 
 ing, Church and Kingy and the mob did the fame. 
 At two o'clock, however, on the fame day, when 
 Mr. Rybnd's houfe v/as burning, he fiid to the 
 rioters, " You have gone paft what you were or- 
 
 " dered." 
 
6o An Appeal to the Puhllc 
 
 " dered." Both the magiftrates faw a man fcized 
 for carrying off three bottles from Mr. Ryland's 
 lioufe without taking any notice of iti and the man 
 was fet at liberty. 
 
 That the rioters took it for granted that the ma- 
 gifcrates favoured them there can be no donbt; 
 though it is natural to fuppofe that, liking the bufi- 
 nefsj they v/ould make the moft of every circum- 
 llance of that kind. Some of the rioters being 
 taken into cuftody at Hay-hall, the refidence of 
 Mr. Smith, others came, as they faid, by order of 
 Mr. Carles, to demand their releafe, faying they did 
 not come to do any damage to the hoiife. 
 
 At my houfe the rioters faid, " The juftices 
 *' will proted us j we 'fhall not be hurtj we may do 
 *' what we pleafe, but not burn the houfe." They 
 repeatedly faid in the courfe of that night, " We 
 ** wifli we had the doctor locked up in one of the 
 *' rooms, we would burn him alive ; or if he had 
 ^' come to the hotel, v/e would have killed him." 
 
 Mr. Carpenter, of Woodrow, at fome diftance 
 from Birmingham, meeting a party of the rioters 
 wlio did not know him, faid they were going to 
 burn his houfe by orders from juftice Carles. On 
 his remonitrating to them, they perfifted in faying 
 they had juftice Carles's orders for it, and down it 
 .ihoyld come. On Mr. Carpenter applying to Mr, 
 
 Carles 
 
On the R'lofs in Birmingham. 6t 
 
 Carles afterwards for the afiiftance of the foldiers, 
 he infulted him, by aflcing him if he ever knew an 
 honeft Prelbyterian on the Lickey ? his houfe being, 
 on a hill fo called. He was not only refufed the 
 Ibldiers for whom he applied, but could not obtain 
 kave to feize any of the rioters without them^ 
 
 That the rioters had been led, by fome means or 
 other, to imagine that what they did was agreeable 
 fo government, is as evident as that they thoughc 
 they were pleafmg the magiftrates. Soon after the 
 riot, one man was heard to fay to another, " Well, 
 " if any body is hanged for it, the king may fight 
 " for himfelf another time : for I am fure nobody 
 " elfe will fight for him." .At the time that the 
 rioters were demolifhing the old meeting, one of 
 tliem faid to another, " This is not right;" but the 
 other replied, " Nay, but the king has fent us, and 
 " if we do not do it, he wilt foon lofe his crown.'* 
 On the Saturday, when the rioters were hunting 
 fome ducks, and were talking of the foldiers com- 
 ing, one of them faid, ^"^ What if they do, they will 
 ** not hurt us, as we have been fighting on their 
 " fide. The jaftices are for us. Did you not fee 
 " hov/ they laughed ?" 
 
 That the magiftrates were determined not to have 
 recourfe to fire arms, though this appeared to be 
 the only effeflual method of quelling the mob, was 
 evident from the beginning to the end of the bufi- 
 
 nefsj 
 
6l An Appeal to the Public 
 
 uefs; and that they ihould not have done this, if thejr 
 had been confcious to themfelves that they had 
 given no encouragement to the rioters, I cannot well 
 conceive. 
 
 in the afternoon of the firtecnth, Capt. Maxwell 
 propofed to Mr. Carles to colled all the foldiers in 
 Unt town, and head them himfelf, faying he had no 
 doubt but that he fliould be able to put a fpcedy 
 fcop to the riot; but Mr. Carles turned from him with 
 ilrong marks of difapprobation in his countenance. 
 Mr. Ruffel, as early in the bufmefs as poflible, ap- 
 plied to Mr. Carles to fend for a military force to 
 quell the mob, and likewife propofed to head any 
 number of men flirniflied v/ith fire arms. He v/rote 
 to him to defire that twenty men might be fent to 
 afiifl in the defence of Mr. Flumphrys's houfe. But 
 no requeft of this kind was ever iiftened to, and at 
 twelve o'clock on Saturday he received a note from 
 Mr. Carles, informing him that both himfelf and 
 Dr. Spencer were determined upon pacific mea- 
 fures. Mr. Hutton's fervant having pricked one of 
 the rioters with a bayonet, and the party afterwards 
 coming before the juftices, Mr. Carles remarked, 
 and Dr. Spencer acquiefced in it, that he had no right 
 to ufe arms, except the other perfon had been armed 
 jn the fame manner. 
 
 That any of the clergy of Birmingham liad the 
 kaft concern in the riot, or were at ail weli-wifliers 
 
 to 
 
0/2 the Riots in Binninghain. 62 
 
 to it, I was far from having any idea at the time of 
 writing my Appeal, though Mr. Burn has more 
 . than infinuated this. I only thought they had con- 
 tributed to raife the fpirit which produced the riot. 
 Circumllances have fince occurred which, I own, 
 do lead me to think that Mr. Curtis was not wholly 
 innocent. At lead, whatever might be his mean- 
 ing, his behaviour contributed not a little to encou- 
 rage the rioters. One circumftance I mentioned in 
 a preceding fedlon, and two others I Ihall recite 
 here. 
 
 Being with a party of the rioters oppofite to St. 
 Martin's church, he thanked them for what they 
 had done in protedling the church and the king. 
 He then took oft iiis hat, joined in three huzzas, 
 and wilhed them to follow him, which they did. 
 
 On Friday, as the mob were returning from the 
 deftnidion of Mr. Ryiand's houfe, Mr. Curtis 
 harangued them at die top of Temple Street, fay- 
 ing, " We thank you, my brave fellov/s, for the 
 '*^ zeal you have fhown for the church and the king, 
 " You have now fufiiciently punifhed your enemies, 
 " and we beg you will difperfe, and go peaceably 
 '* about your bufincfs." Being thanked for what 
 they had done, they might think that they could 
 not be blamed for doing a little more. 
 
 Mr. Curtis, willing to appear fricnuly to the Dif- 
 E 8 fenters. 
 
64 -^f^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 fenters, during the riot, now fays in Mr. Burn's 
 pamphlet, p. 90, " During the riots my houfe 
 " at SolyhuU was open to a DifTenter and his 
 " £imily, and the children of another family were 
 '' literally clothed by Mrs. Curtis." That Mr. 
 Curtis had a real good will to many individuals 
 among the DiflTenters, 1 have no doubt, and that he 
 wilhed the dcitruftion of any of us I do not be- 
 lieve. 
 
 But there was little to boafl of in his conduil in 
 the cafe to which he refers. The Diffenter that he 
 received into his houfe was old Mr. Smith of Hay 
 Hall, a man univerfally refpefted, and who, I be- 
 lieve, has no enemy; fo that he ran no rifis: in re- 
 ceiving him. Confcious, however, that he himfelf 
 was not very popular in his parifh, and that many 
 perfons might wifh for a pretence to do him mif- 
 chief, at Mr. Curtis's own requeft, Mr. Smith re- 
 moved to the houfe of Mr. Eyre, another clergyman 
 of the place, who was ready to run all rifques in 
 proted;ing him. There, and not at Mr. Curtis's, 
 Mr. Smith flcpt ; and the next day, to the great 
 concern of Mr. Eyre, Mr. Smith v/as induced, from 
 the alarm of the neighbours, to remove. 
 
 As to Mrs. Curtis literally clothing the children of 
 a family of DifTenters, I have no doubt of her rea- 
 dinefi to do it in a cafe of real charity. But it will 
 not be fuppofed that, in ibis cafe, die could look 
 
 for 
 
iDn the Riots in Birmingham. 65 
 
 for no recompenfe except at the reJurreElion of the 
 JHfti when it is known that thefe children were thofe 
 of Mr. Taylor. They had gone out during the 
 riot with the maid fervant who attended them, and 
 were brought to the houfe of two ladiesj who lived 
 not far from Solyhiill. Thefe ladies, being un- 
 married, had no change of clothes for children, and 
 therefore they fent to Mrs. Curds to borrow fome 
 v/hile their own were walhing, and fhe fuppiied 
 them. It would have been very extraordinary, in- 
 deed, if fhe, or any otlier perfon, who had chil- 
 dren's clothes in the houfe, had refufed fuch a re- 
 quell as this. 
 
 When the rioters were demblifhing the new meet- 
 ing, another of the clergy is faid to have, encouraged 
 them by faying, " Well done, my lads. When yoii 
 " have done here, go and pull down their houfes 
 " too." 
 
 Mr. Burn fays, p. 94, " Mr. Lawrence (a cler- 
 " gyman in Birmingham) and another gentleman 
 **^ exerted their utmoft endeavours to fave the Doc- 
 " tor's laboratory.*' That Mr. Lawrence was no 
 rioter, and did not himfelf affift in the deftrudion of 
 my property, I readily acknowledge* But it does 
 hot appear that he took any pains to reftrain the 
 rioters when they were demolifhing the houfe. 
 On the contrary, they confidered him as their 
 friend. Mr. Lawrence was alfo obferved to be read- 
 ing feveral of my MS. papers, and to put them 
 
 F into. 
 
6 6 An Appeal to the Piihtk 
 
 into his pocket. What he did with them 2i(- 
 terwards does not appear. He mull have known 
 that, being my property, he ought to have returned 
 them to me, or to my friends. If they were letters, 
 he ought not, as a man of honour, to have read 
 them at all. 
 
 In what light the rioters Gonfidcred Mr. Law- 
 rence, may appear from the following circumftarice. 
 When he went to the houfe the fecond time, in the 
 morning of the fifteenth, the rioters at my houfe 
 repeatedly faid that Mr. Lav/rence had been there, 
 that they were lure lie thoughit they were doing 
 right, for he laughed at them, and they would be 
 damned if they v/ould not go on. Some ot them 
 fhook him by the hand, crying out, " The curate 
 " of the new church. By God. By God." They 
 continued to furround him, and to (hake him by 
 the hand near half an hour, while he only de- 
 fired them to loofe him, but exprelTed no dilap- 
 prcbarion of their condu^it. 
 
 At the fame time that, in niy own vindication, I 
 Tiiention thefe particulars of the conduct of fome of 
 the clergy of Birmingham, with the greateft fatif- 
 fafticn I do juilice to Mr. Darwell, who was in- 
 defadgable in his exertions in favour of Mr. Jukes, 
 and I believe of other DilTenters. 
 
 That the rioters confidered the clergy as being 
 favourable to them., may eafiiy be inferred from every 
 
 circumilanceji 
 
On the Riots in hh'mingham. 6 J 
 
 drcumdance, which {hewed that the Diflenters, as 
 fuch, were the objeft of their maHce. When Mr. 
 Ryland's houfe was burning one of the magiftrates, 
 pointing to the church, faid, " You fee your 
 " church, you have done your beft for it. Do not 
 " do any more. We are much obfiged to you; 
 " you fee your ftrength," &c. &c. Mr. Carles faid 
 to Mr. W. Ryland, and two other DiiTenters who 
 were following him in the ftreet, on the fifteenth, 
 that they muil not come after him, for as they were 
 known to be Diflenters, it would only irritate the 
 mob, and make them more violent; but when he 
 came to the inn v/here Mr. Carles had promifed to 
 meet him, he found the door fhut againft him. 
 
 That other perfons befidcs the m.agiftrates and 
 the clergy were favourable to the rioters, and ap- 
 proved of much of v/hat they did, appeared from fe- 
 veral circumftances. On the fifteenth, about noon, 
 Mr. J. Green faid, " Vv^e are fatislied with what is 
 '^ done, and now I wiili they would give over, for 
 " they have done enough." On the fame day the 
 gentleman in he green coat, one inftance of whofe 
 condu(5l has been mentioned before, being at the houfe 
 of Mr. P.yland, pulled off his hat, and huzzaed to the 
 rioters, faying, " GentlemxCn, I applaud you for what 
 " you have done, but flop here. This is private 
 " property. Though thefe are the men who Willi to 
 " overturn the conftitution, we have other means of 
 F 2 **^ redrefs," 
 
6S j^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 " redrefs." The mob, however, continued to de- 
 ftroy the houfe. 
 
 At Sparkbrook turnpike diree gentlemen being 
 on horfeback, were converfing very familiarly with 
 the rioters, while my houfe was burning; when one 
 of them laid aloud, " My lads, you fee your power j 
 " you fee that if any attempt is made againft the 
 " government of this country, you have it in your 
 ** power to quafh it." 
 
 That fome perfbns above the condition of th<? 
 common rioters were deeply concerned in the bufi- 
 nefs, appeared from many circumftances, befides 
 thofe that are mentioned in my Appeal. The forged 
 letter, which was read at my houfe, in order to in- 
 Higate the mob to do me mifchief, is alone a proof 
 of this, and a copy of it will appear in my Appendix, 
 No. V. When I was at Warwick, at the time of the 
 alTizes, I received a fummons from our opponents^ 
 the hand writiiig of which could not be diftin- 
 guiflied from that of this forged letter. I have no 
 doubt rnyfelf who the writer of this forged letter w^as> 
 though no legal proof can be given of it. 
 
 Another forged letter was read at Mr. Ruflell's 
 houfe, a copy of which could not be procured, but 
 the following account of it is given upon oath. Two 
 men were on horfeback while the houfe was burn- 
 ing, 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham; 69 
 
 ingj and one of them read a paper, which he de- 
 clared he had found in the houfe, purporting that 
 *^ the Prefbyterians intended to rife, to burn down 
 ^' the church, blow up the parliament, cut off the 
 ^^ king's head, and abolifh all taxes." The paper 
 was figned E. Jcffenesy No. 24, St. Thomas's Street^ 
 London. The i6th of Auguft, they faid was the 
 time fixed for the infurreilion. The perfon who 
 read the paper faid, " Damn it, you fee they 
 " would deftroy us. It is right that we fliould 
 " crufh them in time." 
 
 They had alfo another letter, which one of the 
 perfons prefent faid was to know how many forces 
 Mr. Ruffel could colleft by the tenth, and that they 
 ihbuld be ready to join in concert with their friends 
 in Scotland. This letter was faid to be figned by 
 the fteward of the Revolution fociety. He that 
 had this letter faid, " Damn them, we will deftroy 
 *^ every Prefbyterian's houfe in England." A 
 ftranger, who was prefent, faying that fome of the 
 rioters would be hanged for what they were doing, 
 one of them anfwered, " How can they hang us, 
 " when the jultices fet us agait r" Being afked 
 what juflices, he faid, " Mafter Carles and Mailer 
 " Spencer, and I mull do the jullices' work, and by 
 " God I will go to the pay table to night, for I 
 ** have worked damned hard. Wont you, Tom ?" 
 'J'om anfwered, " And by God will I." The per- 
 
 F 3 foa 
 
7© yln Appeal to the Public 
 
 ion who read one of thefe forged letters was fo de- 
 fcribed as to be well known in Birmingham. 
 
 'to' 
 
 The following circumflances alfo fhew that there 
 were promoters of the riot among perfons of better 
 condition, and that they difguifed themfclves for the 
 piirpofe. While the New Meeting was deflroyingj 
 a perfon was there who had the appearance of a 
 gendcman, his linen being fine, and with ruffles 
 tucked up. He was very anxious to have the meet- 
 ing-houfe conRimed, and Hood two hours viewing ie. 
 The fame perfon was feen at Mr, Ruficll's, but dif- 
 ferently dreiled, and on horfeback. 
 
 After the rioters had entered the Old Meeting, a 
 perfon was feen in the gallery, who had the ap- 
 pearance of a gentleman, but Vv-ho endeavoured to 
 difguife himfeif with a great coat, the cape of 
 "whicli he buttoned up as high as he could, and his 
 hat was brought down very low. Three or four 
 perfons came up to him, and converfed with him in 
 whifpers. One of the rioters, knowing the witnefs, 
 •aimed a blow at him, fo that he left them. 
 
 At Mofely Hall alfo a peiion was feen above the 
 lower clafs with a riding coat buttoned up to his chin, 
 and which covered a great part of his head and face. 
 He went about in a deliberate manner, giving or- 
 ders, which were obeyed. ThiCre were feveral per- 
 fons 
 
On the Rwts in Blnnhigham. 7 1 
 
 fons dreffed like gentlemen at Mr. Humph rys's, but 
 elpecially at Mr. RuflTers, encouraging the rioters, 
 laughing at them, and faying they ferved the Pref- 
 byterians right, for they deferved it. The lalt cir- 
 cumftance that I fhall mention with this view is, 
 that a lady, in a mixed com.pany, unwarily faid, 
 " I very ofcen laugh to think what a figure our, 
 " three dons would cut, one in a waggoner's frock, 
 " another with his Ij^qq blacked, and the other with 
 " his hair cropped." But a hint being given that a 
 DifTenter was in the company, flie proceeded no 
 farther. 
 
 SECTION VIIL 
 Circumfiances Juhjequent to the Riot. 
 
 riAVING confidered what pafTed pre- 
 vious to the riot, and during the continuance of 
 it, as a proof that it originated in die bigotry of 
 the High Church people againft the Dillenters, I 
 proceed to v/hat paiTed fubfequent to itj and it 
 will fdiiiciently appear that the fame malignant fpiiit 
 condnued to actuate many perfons in Birmingham, 
 in its vicinity, and indeed through the whole king- 
 dom; fo that the news of it was far from being fo 
 difpleafing as it ought to have been. 
 
 The condu6t of the magiflrates, v.hich has been 
 Ihewn to have been fo criminally remifs, to fpeak in 
 
 F'4 the 
 
y2 JjH Appeal to the Public 
 
 the moxl favourable manner, could not but have 
 been known to the generality of the people of Bir- 
 mingham, and yet at a public town's meeting, 
 ^' certainly," fiys Mr. Burn, p. 80, " one of the 
 *' moft numerous, unanimous, and" as he adds, 
 ?^ refpedlabie, ever convened at Birmingham, called 
 *^ for the exprefs purpofe of thanking our magif- 
 ** trates, there did not appear any one fa6t that 
 *' would juftify them in withholding their warmeft 
 ** acknowledgments from thofe gentlemen." 
 
 That any public meeting fhould be called to thank 
 perfons whofe condu6l was fo culpable, as that of ^ 
 Mr. Caries and Dr. Spencer, involved all concerned 
 in that meeting (though I believe a fmall part of the 
 inhabitants of Birmingham) provided they were 
 acquainted vv^ith the circumftances above mentioned^ 
 in the guilt of the riot. Mr. Burn himfelf, by join- 
 ing in this approbation, vpluntarily takes his fhare 
 in this guile 5 and I fhould not otherwife have thought 
 of charging him with it. 
 
 A proof of bigotry, and of an approbadon of the 
 riot, fimilar to that which is implied in the thanks 
 to the rnagiftratcs, is the reward that was given to 
 Mr. Brooke, in making him fole folicitor to the 
 hundred. To this lucrative office he was recom- 
 mended by lord Alesford, " for the zeal, that he had 
 " fhewn in the caufe of the Church and King." A 
 club has fmce htzn formed in Birmmgham, intitlcd. 
 
0?i the Riots in Birmingham, *f 3 
 
 ^he Church and King Cluhy of which Mr. Brooke is 
 fecretary. 
 
 Mr. Burn would infinuatej p. 67, that my con-? 
 ducfr, in criminating the High Church party in Bir- 
 mingham, is condemned by thofe Diflenters who in 
 a pubhc advertifement thanked thofe members of 
 the eftablifliment who had exerted themfelyes in their 
 favour. As many of them certainly did fo, thofe 
 thanks were well deferved, and proper. " But 
 ^' from this," Mr. Burn fays, p. 68, " it fufiiciently 
 ''^ appears, that Dr. Prieflley, in his infidious ma- 
 *^ nagement of this bufinefs, afts as much in oppo- 
 " fition to the avowed opinion of the relpeflable body 
 ^' of DifTenters in Birmingham, as he has done to 
 ^^ the cleareft dictates of candour and truth." This, 
 indeed, is true : becaufe it does not yet appear that 
 I have in any inftance afted contrary to the dictates 
 of candour and truth. I Ihould myfelf haye cheer- 
 fully concurred in that addrefs of thanks, and I now 
 acknowledge myfelf under much obligation to feve- 
 ral members of the church of England for affifling 
 in faving part of my property, and to Mr. Vale ia 
 particular, for materially affifting me in my efcape. 
 But how is this inconfiflent with other members 
 of the church of England being concerned in pro- 
 moting the riot ? Becaufe fome, or the majority of 
 any clafs of men, are worthy perfons, does it fol- 
 low diat others of them may not be even deferving 
 of the gallows ? Such, however, is the reafoning of 
 
24 -^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 Mr. Bum, and a fpccimen of the beil of -his reafon- 
 ing in this pamphlet. 
 
 That there was a great willingnefs in feme of 
 the principal memberjs of the church of England 
 to criminate me^ and thereby in fome meafure to 
 juftify the riot, appeared from many circumilances. 
 The following look at leaft that way. Mr. Carles 
 and Mr. Bond (a jullice of peace fent down by go- 
 vernment) went on Saturday, July 23, to Mr. 
 Hawkes of the Grove, who had fome of my books 
 and papers, and demanded a fight of them. When 
 they had examined many of them, they ordered 
 him to fend them to them the next day; but after- 
 wards fent him word, that he did not need to do it. 
 
 But the fame difpofition appeared much more 
 llrongly by Mr. Curtis reading fome of my MS. 
 papers, and fending them, as he acknowledges him- 
 jelf, to the fecretary of ilate ; when feeing what I 
 had already fufFered, infinitely more than the fen- 
 tence of the law, if I had even been convided of 
 fcdition, he ought not to have looked into them. 
 Or if he had, and had thought that they might 
 tend to criminate me, he fliould have fent them to 
 myfclf. Such conduct, though, as he was incapable 
 of it, he m.ay have no conception of the thing, 
 would have been magnanimous, and have done him 
 great honour. 
 
 The 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 75 
 
 The fecretary of 'date has been guilty of equal 
 meannefs and injuftice in keeping thofe papers from 
 me, whofe property he knows them to be. He 
 alfo knows, though Mr. Curtis was probably igno- 
 rant of it, that I am not anfwerable for what other 
 perfons may write to me ; and furely I cannot be 
 expefted to be the wretch that would divulge any 
 thins; fent to me in confidence, to the writer's 
 prejudice. 
 
 Though copies of thefe papers, which I underftand 
 are letters-, written to me by an acquaintance, are 
 circulated among the clergy, I do not find (and 
 what I know of them is from the teftimony of a 
 friend, who was permitted to read them, but not to 
 take a copy) that they contain any thing more than 
 fuch free refleftions on adminifliration as perpetually 
 occur in the public newfpapers, and indeed fuch as 
 it is allowable in Englifhmen to write and to pub- 
 iifh, whenever they think the conduft of minifters 
 of Hate to be weak or criminal. I hereby call upon 
 the perfon who detains thefe letters from me to make 
 them as public as he pleafes. 
 
 The grofs calumnies againil the DilTenters in 
 general, and myfelf in particular, invented and cir- 
 culated in juilification of the riot, are another proof 
 of the malignant fpirit that prevailed in the town 
 of Birmingham, and that was the proper caufe of it. 
 Of this kind muft have been the report of my 
 
 dininor 
 
y6 j^n Jppeal to the Public 
 
 dining at the Hotel, harane-uino; the mob out of 
 tht window, and drinking the king's head in a charger. 
 It is remarkable that this account, which muft 
 have been a malicious fabrication, was the firfl: that 
 was tranfmitted to London, in order to be inferted 
 in the papers there ^ and the printer of The 'Times 
 alTured me, that fr was lent to him by " a re^ 
 *' fpe6lable perfon in the mercantile line in Bir- 
 ^* m.ingham/' 
 
 It was currently reported of young Mr. Hum- 
 phrys, that he had declared his wi(h " to wade up 
 " to the chin in churchmen's blood." This was 
 confidendy aflerted by Mr. William Gem of New 
 Street, Birmingham; and when he was charged 
 with it, he acknowledged the fa£b, but faid he was 
 drunk when he faid it. Mr. Humphrys's Ij^irited 
 ^dverdfement in the public papers on the fubjecl 
 jnay be feen in my Appendix, No. VI. 
 
 Two calumnies of this complexion are retailed by 
 Mr. Burn, p. 113 3 one that a Diflenter faid, that 
 *^ kings were expenfive things in this country;" 
 which, however, is certainly very true; but it was 
 interpreted in the worll fenfe, or tending to fedition. 
 The other was, that another DilTenter, being applied 
 to to pay a church levy, faid, " he fliould not pay 
 " many more." But both thefe ftories were pro- 
 bably no better founded than that refpe6ling Mr. 
 Humphrys, or that of my dining at the Hotel and 
 J di'inking 
 
On the Riots in Birjnmgham, *?y 
 
 drinking the king's head in a charger. Mr. Witten 
 was probably the perfon alluded to as having madd 
 the lad of thefe declarations to Mr. Collins the collec- 
 tor. But when he applied to Mr. Burn, he refuled 
 to name his accufer, and Mr. Collins denied that 
 Mr. Witten made uie of the language afcribed to 
 him, and that what he did fay was only jocofely. 
 
 Mr. David Blair is underflood to be the perfon 
 alluded to as having faid that kings were expenfive; 
 but though he alfo waited on Mr. Burn, he declined 
 faying the converfation referred to him: fo that in 
 both thefe cafes Mr. Burn himfelf mufl be confi- 
 dered as die inventor of the reports. The perfon 
 who was probably Mr. Burn's informer, if he had 
 any, was one who, paffing by Mr. Blair on the 14th 
 of July, called after him and faid, "So you are 
 " going to the Hotel, I findi" and added, " I wifli 
 " you were all blown up together;" to which no- 
 thing at all was replied by Mr. Blair. 
 
 What ftronger proof can be given of this bigotry 
 and malevolence, which appears to have been the 
 proper caufe of the riot, than its thus driving men 
 to invent and propagate known falfehoods, in oi-der 
 to make the Diflenters odious? They who thus 
 fliow that they wilh to make the Diflenters appear 
 the proper objefts of the riot, may well be fufpeded 
 of having fomented ic 
 
 The 
 
yS An Appeal to the Public 
 
 The profane pra6lice of drinking damnation aftd 
 confufion to the DilTcnters is another proof of a 
 violent party Ipirit, and though infhances of it may 
 be iinknpwn, as he fays they are, to Mr. Burn, the 
 charge is unqiieftionably true ; and I have no doubt 
 that the pra£tice is ftill continued and increafed. 
 I myfelf perfectly remember a Diflenter relating to 
 me a converfation he had with Mr. Carles, who faid 
 to him, and not long before the riot, " Though in 
 *' my cups I do fometimes drink damnation to yoir, 
 " I would not hurt a hair of your heads." Vv^hat- 
 ever he might think at the moment, it appears 
 that his good will, or rather his no ill v/ill, to the 
 DifTcntcrs, did not continue long. 
 
 When I was at Warwick, at the late aflizes, leve- 
 ral perfons in the Public Hall cried aloud, " Damn 
 " him, there is the caufe of all the mifchiefi" and 
 one man, an attorney in the place, followed me 
 a great way in the public ftreet, then pretty much 
 crowded, and when I was accompanied by the 
 Rev. Mr. Beringtcn, Mr. Galton, and Mr. Keir, 
 three as refpeftable m.en as the county can furnifti, 
 damning me in the mOil vociferous manner, and 
 cxprefling his earneft willi that I had been burned 
 in my houfe. A toaft publicly given and ckank 
 with great feflivlty at the fame time was, " May every 
 *^ revolution dinner be followed by a hot fupper." 
 What can be a clearer proof than this, tliat the 
 
 fame 
 
On the Riots in Bh'mingham, 'jg 
 
 fame fp'irit which prompted tlie riot ftlll continues 
 without any abatement, and, if not reftrained, v/ould 
 foon produce another ? There were ferious appre- 
 henfions of one while I was at Warwick, and one of 
 the judges, I was informed, was not a little alarmed 
 on that account. 
 
 At Birm/ingham a member of the eftabliihment 
 lately complained to one of my congregation there, 
 of being obliged, when in company, to drink Church 
 and King-, and damnation to the Prefbyterians. 
 
 Mr. Burn calls what I have faid of the clergy 
 having been the firft to calumniate the DifTenters, 
 and to place the conduft of the mob in the moft fa- 
 vourable light, p. 72, '^ a gratuitous aflertion, with- 
 " out even the pretence of evidence." " What evi- 
 " dence," he fays, p. 74, " has Dr. Prieftley to 
 " produce, that they have not done fo," viz. been 
 the firft to preach moderation. 
 
 That Mr. Madan preached a very proper fer- 
 mon after the riot, I have been informed. It was 
 becoming him as a chriftian minifter. But this 
 was not the cafe with Mr. Curtis. One of his con- 
 ftant hearers was fo much offended at a difcourfc 
 of his, delivered about the fame time, that he de- 
 clared that " if he had been influenced by it, he 
 *' muft have been a ruffian." 
 
 Among 
 
Bb j4n Appeal to the Public 
 
 Among other inflances of bigotry, and probabljr 
 tliat of feme of the clergy at Birmingham, I have 
 been informed that a brick, taken as hot as it 
 could be well handled from the ruins of the new 
 meeting-houfe, was carefully packed up, and fent 
 to the author of feveral works, which fufficiently 
 difcover his high-church principles, and that ori 
 a paper which accompanied it, was the word 
 AAHAOS, which, being in Greek, muft have been 
 written by a fcholar, and therefore probably a 
 clergyman of the place. I was further informed^ 
 that he was advifed to fend this brick to the 
 archbifliop of Canterbury. Whether he did fa 
 or not, I have not heard. Thus have the bigots 
 exulted in the fuccefs of their enterprife. But the 
 ruins of that building will plead againft them v/ith 
 much more energy thaa all the fermons tliat could 
 ever have been delivered in it, had it been left 
 flandin,Q;. 
 
 o 
 
 I had obferved that the clergy fhould have offered 
 tis the ufe of their churches till our meeting-houfes 
 could have been rebuilt. On this Mn Burn fays^ 
 p. 75, 76, " The offer of the churches to the Dif- 
 " fenters muft have come after my letter to the in- 
 *^ habitants of Birmingham, and muft have been 
 " ofl'ered as a compenfation for injuries done to the 
 " DilTenters, wliom diey were confcious they never 
 " injured," It cannot be denied, however, that 
 
 -we 
 
On the Riots In Birmingham, 8 1 
 
 wc were injured, and no doubt by churchmen ; for 
 they were not Dillenters who demolifhed the meet- 
 ing-houfes. And where would have been the un- 
 propriety of fome members of the cftabhfhment: 
 repairing the ir^uries done to us by others ? Would 
 this have been any confelTion of their guilt? This is 
 Curious rcafoning, indeed. However, the meet- 
 ing-houfes had been in ruins a week before my lettei" 
 reached Birmingham. Had the idea then occurred 
 to any member of the eftablifliment? At that time 
 I was far enough from having the lead idea of any 
 C>i the clergy promoting the riot, and therefore could 
 not mean that they Ihould do any thing as a com- 
 penfation for injuries which they had done to us> 
 and their compliance with my propofal would have 
 tended more to exculpate them from any approba- 
 tion of the riot than any thing elfe that could have 
 been devifed. That I had no very bad opinion of 
 the clergy of Birmingham at the time of the riot, 
 will be evident from a letter v/hich I wrote, to be ad- 
 drefied to them the day after that to the inhabitants 
 in general. I was, however, difluaded by my friends 
 from fending it to the printer, they being of opinion 
 that it would not anfwer any good purpofe : but I 
 Ihall affert it in my Appendix, No, VIL 
 
 G 
 
 SECTION 
 
S 2 u^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Ohfervations on the Frcceedings in the Ccurfs cf Judi- 
 cature on Occafion of the Riot, 
 
 iSlOTHING, perhaps, flicws a more 
 general approbation of the riot, though the ap- 
 provers were by no means the majority of the 
 church people, than what pafTed relating to the 
 trials which followed. Every poffible difficulty was 
 thrown in the way of procuring evidence againft the 
 rioters, and every thing was done to fcreen them 
 from piinifhment. Alfo, all that men could do was 
 done to prevent the f^itivrers from receiving the poor 
 compenfation which the law provided for them. It 
 argued fome confcioufnefs of guilt, that it was con- 
 lidered as a great point gained by the High Church 
 party when the Houfe of Commons refufed to make 
 any inquiry into the caufe of the riot, and when the 
 miniftry gave no encouragement to the profecutioB 
 of the magiflrates, and other promoters of the riot. 
 What have innocent perlbns to dread from the con- 
 fequences of inquiry into their condu6lr Let the 
 reader attend to the following fads, and draw his 
 own inferences from them. 
 
 A fubfcription was made to defray the expence of 
 defending the rioters at the affizes. A letter was 
 drawn up by fome of tlie clergy of Birmingham, 
 addrelTcd to the judges oa the circuit, begging them 
 
 to 
 
On the Riots In Birmingham. 83 
 
 to make a diftinflion between tliofe of the rioters 
 whofe objefl was mere plunder, and thofe wha 
 adled from a pure but blind motive to ferve their 
 Church and King. One of the clergy, who men- 
 tioned this, faid he admired the letter, and had 
 figned it himfelf Whether it was owing to this 
 meafure, or others of a fimilar tendency, it is a fad, 
 that no perfons have yet been puniilicd merely for 
 being concerned in the riot, but becaufe they were 
 the pefls of fociety on other accounts. Confe- 
 quently, nothing has been done to deter others from 
 committing a riot on the fame account. 
 
 Much pains were taken to make Mr. Job Harvey, 
 the evidence againil Hands, or Hammond, (who was 
 condemned for firing the houfe of Mr. Ryland) fay 
 fomething favourable concerning him when he was 
 re-examined before Mr. Bond; and though all that 
 he could fay was, that he had heard fome of the 
 perfons prefent fay, that he was pulling up the 
 boards to let the rioters out from below, and his 
 own proper evidence did not go fo far. Hands was 
 pardoned. Such were not the proceedings with 
 refped to the riot in London. 
 
 Shuker, who had been condemned for firing Mr. 
 
 Ryland's houfe, abufed J. Elwall, who had been one 
 
 of the witneffes againft him, in a fhocking manner, 
 
 ftriking him on the head with his cryer's bell, demo- 
 
 G 2 lifhing 
 
84. j^n JJppcal to the Public 
 
 linking his fruit-ftall, &c. &c. by which he loft more 
 than fifty Ihillings. When he applied for redrefs to 
 Dr. Spencer and Mr. Caries, it was a long time be- 
 fore they would take his evidence, on the pretence of 
 hi;5 not being able to produce a good charader. 
 When diis was done, in the moft fatisfadory manner, 
 the juftices ftill would not fign any warrant againft 
 Shuker, but contented themfclves with admonifhing 
 him not to infult Elwall any more, on which Shuker 
 behaved in the moft infolent manner, and continued 
 to threaten him. 
 
 The fame Elwall tvas alfo grofsly infulted by one 
 Davis, and others, on account of his evidence j being 
 burned in effigy before his own door, and his fa- 
 mily kept in a ftate of alarm feveral nights together ; 
 and lie was not able to get any warrant from Mr. 
 Carles, to whom he applied for protedion. He 
 alfo applied, but in vain, to Dr. Spencer, after 
 Davis had threatened to murder him in a fortnight's 
 time. 
 
 Though there is an ai5t of parliament to indemnify 
 thofe who fuffer by riots, and though on other occa- 
 Iions it has been fo conftrued as to afibrd real relief) 
 fuch was the fpirit that aduated our enemies, and fo 
 fuccefsfully did they exert themfclves, that it has 
 been ineffedual in our cafe. The law was the very 
 llime with refped to us and the Catholics in 1780 ; 
 but the illue of the trials was very diflerent. All 
 
 the 
 
On the Riots in 'Birmingham. 85 
 
 the fufferers in London obtained ample redrefs, and 
 the rioters were rigoroufly punifhed. Money was 
 even iffued from the treafury for the relief of the iuf- 
 ferers immediately, and long before they could have 
 received any in the ufual courfe of juitice. 
 
 In the very fame year in which the riot v/as at 
 Birmingham, there was another at Shtiiield, and 
 Mr. Wiikinfon, a clergyman, was a confiderabie 
 fufFerer. But at the fame affizes in which we met 
 with every difficulty that could be thrown in the way 
 of our claims, and confequently received a very in- 
 adequate cornpenfation, Mr. Wiikinfon r^coverecl 
 the whole of his lofs, and had even more offered 
 him than he chofe to accept 3 being, as he thought, 
 more than the real amount of his lofs. In his cafe, 
 the hundred made no oppofition to his claim, while 
 in pur cafe nothing was {pared to defeat our appli- 
 cation for redref?. 
 
 Juflice and equity evidently require that lolfes by 
 riots fliould be ipoft amply ijiade good, becaufe 
 double and treble recompence in a pecuniary way 
 cannot indemnify the fuiFerersj and becaufe the 
 great objcdt of all civil government is protection 
 from lawlefs violence. It was, no doubt, the inten- 
 tion of the law-makers to give ample compenia- 
 tion; but the a6l of parliament admitted of much 
 latitude of interpretation, and in its literal conflruc- 
 tion was not calculated to give us relief When 
 
 G 3 this 
 
86 An Appeal to the Fuhlic 
 
 this was perceived, nothing was more reafonablc 
 than that the country at large fhould be taxed to 
 fupply the deficiency, and the inhabitants of the 
 place, which had been difgraced by the riot, fhould 
 have promoted an application to the legiflature for 
 our farther relief. But fo far was this from beina 
 the cafe, that a committee was appointed by the 
 hundred in which the riots took place, for the pur- 
 pofe of defending themfelves againft our claims; 
 and they executed their truft fo efFecTiually, that they 
 even put the hundred to confiderable expence to do 
 it. It is even fuppofed that, notwithftanding their 
 fuccefs in this meafure, by which they reduced our 
 claims between one fourth and one third, the hun- 
 dred will have little, if at all, lefs to pay than if our 
 claims had been allowed in their full extent, and 
 no oppofition had been made to them, 
 
 I fhall take this opportunity to ftate my own 
 cafe, which was fimilar to that of all my fellow- 
 fufferers. 
 
 My own wifh, which I exprefled to my friends, 
 was to employ no lawyer in my caufe, but Am- 
 ply to carry into the court a ftatement of what, 
 to the beft of my recollection, I had loft in the 
 riot, and leave the country to make me whatever 
 compenfation they fhould think proper. In this 
 method, however, I was told that it would be im- 
 poffible for me to receive any compenfation at all. 
 
 I therefore 
 
On the Riofs in Birmingham. 8 7 
 
 I therefore confented to do what the other fufFercrs 
 did upon the occafion, getting eftimates of what I 
 had loft by fvvorn appraifers, and other competent 
 Judges of the different articles j and the difficulty and 
 irkfomenefs of doing tbis^ efpecially in the multi- 
 plicity of articles in my pardcular cafe, my own re- 
 colleftion being uncommonly imperfeft, is not to be 
 defcribed; without confidering the time which it 
 took up, which no fhranger to the bufinefs will rea- 
 dily believe. 
 
 To fave fome time, trouble, and expence, f 
 propofed to the Committee who a6led for the 
 hundred, by a clergyman, and a particular . friend 
 of mine, who was well acquainted with feveral 
 of them, to requeft that appraifers on their fide 
 might meet appraifers on mine in London, and 
 agree on the amount of the lofs. But this reafon- 
 able requeft was refufed. I, however, repeated it in 
 as refpeftful a letter as I could write to the Com- 
 mittee a little before the trial, but with no better 
 fuccefsj though in that letter I mentioned my for- 
 mer application, and afilired them that all the ap- 
 praifers had been inftru6led by me, as they would 
 all bear witnefs, to charge too little, rather than 
 too much, for every article j but that I would wil- 
 lingly abide by the opinion of their own appraifers. 
 I alfo menuoned my original v/ifli, to have employed 
 no lawyer to plead for me, and my having declined 
 to avail myfclf of the fervice of Mr, Erildne, or any 
 
 G 4 other 
 
88 y^n appeal to the Puhlic 
 
 other able counfel that I fhould choofe, which my 
 friends propofed to be at the expence of; and that I 
 fhould content myfclf with fuch counfel as the 
 other fufierers would employ, and which ufuaiiy at- 
 tended that circuit. The judge, apprehenfive of 
 fome difturbance on account of my caufe, exprefled 
 his wifh that it might be fettled by arbitration. To 
 this propofal I immediately fignified my heaicy con- 
 fent, and my willingnefs to abide by the decifion of 
 the foreman of the jury, thougli a high churchman, 
 and a perfon with w^hom I had no acquaintance. 
 The judge, I was informed, was pleafed with this, 
 but it was not accepted by the oppofite party. Con- 
 fequently the caufc took its regular courfe. 
 
 My books were eflimated at 43 2I. 155. 6d. my 
 philofophical apparatus at 6C5I. 17s. my manufcripts 
 at 370I. 15s. and my houfehold goods, including 
 whatever could be appraifed by a common ap- 
 praifer in my library and laboratory, as Ihelves, 
 &c. &c. &c. 1277I. 6s. The whole was 2686I. 
 13s. 6d. But this was far from being the whole of 
 my lols, or of the indemnification that I was entitled 
 to receive, on the idea of being replaced as I had 
 been before on the fime fpot, which, in equity, 
 ought to have been die rule of proceeding in the 
 cafe. 
 
 Nothing was charged for the carriage and pack- 
 age of fuch things as could only have been pro- 
 8 cured 
 
On the Riots hi Birmmg/jam. 89 
 
 cured from London, or other diilant places ; which 
 in my cafe could not have been lefs than 40I -, no- 
 thing for damage to books not materially mutilated, 
 or injured, but which will make the books that were 
 preferved (about 2000) of lefs value, if ever they be 
 fold, by, I Ihould fuppofe, 50I. Nothing was charged 
 for the recovery of goods difperfed by the rioters, 
 which, to myfeif or my friends, could not, I think, 
 have been lefs than 40I. Nothing was charged for 
 pcmpbkfSy which I think muft have been worth loj. 
 While I was at Warwick I recollefled articles in 
 my laboratory, not mentioned in the inventory, worth 
 about 20I. Now that I am refuming my experi- 
 ments, I recoiled many others as I find the want of 
 them, and I exped; to do fo for fome time to come. 
 The amount of thefe I fhould conjedlure to be aibout 
 20I. more. The leafe of mjy houfe, which had 
 rifen much in value after I took it, was worth at the 
 leaft lool. If to this be added the expence attend- 
 ing my flight from Birmingham, my removal to 
 London with my family, and the carriage of the 
 goods I recovered, which would neceffarily attend 
 my fettlement in a place fo diftant as London, 
 which can hardly be eftimated at lefs than lool. the 
 amount of the ardcles not charged in my eflimate, 
 Vv'ill be 3 Sol. and will make my whole lofs to be 
 3066I. 13s. 6d. 
 
 In this eftimate nodiing was charged for my 
 MSS. more than the money that would have been 
 
 given 
 
po j^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 given for them by a bookfeller in cafe of my death. 
 My fermons, for inflance, were only charged half 
 a gijinea apiece, though the fermons of a living 
 preacher ought, in ecuity, to be charged m.uch 
 higher. For I would obfcrvT on this occaficn, that 
 becaufe the law can give no recompence i'jr any in- 
 juries befides money, money is ofcen given when the 
 damage is by no means of a pecuniary nature ; and 
 there can be no reafon why this Hiould not have been 
 done in my cafe. 
 
 When we were at Warwick, and found we had 
 to encounter the moft determined oppofition of our 
 enemies, who came prepared to litigate every arti- 
 cle, and that the law itfeif, rigoroufly interpreted, 
 as it would be, was not calculated to redrefs our 
 wrongs, we all reduced our claims much below our 
 firfl eftimates *. Mine, including that for my houfe, 
 which I had on leafe, (eftimated together with the 
 lofs of rent,appraifements, &c. &c. at 14-261. 3s. 3d. 
 and which, though not properly mine, was by the 
 rules of law claimed in my name) was reduced 
 from 449 2I. 16s. 9d. to 4112I. 16s. 9d.; and the 
 verdi6l I obtained was 2502I. i8s. ; of v/hich I 
 could not do better than allow my landlord loool. 
 befides giving up my leafe. Confequently, I was, ^ 
 
 * Previous to this I had eniplo3ea a perfon in Birmingham to eili- 
 matc the houfehold goods ; and his eltiiuate, which was conruierably 
 lower than that «f the Loudon appraiiers, was brought into Court. 
 
 excluHvcly 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 9 1 
 
 exclufively of cods, really a lofer, notwithflanding 
 the verdiiSt In my favour, 1563I. 15s. 6d. 
 
 The amount of my law expences at Bu-mingham, 
 Warwick, and London, though the eftimate of my 
 books and inftruments was made by perfons who 
 charged nothing for their trouble, was very near 
 850I. while the coils allowed was only 493I. fo that in 
 this article my lofs was 357I. which makes the whole 
 g.mount of my pecuniary lofs to be 1920I. 15s. 6d. 
 befides being driven into a lefs pleafmg and much 
 more expenfive fituation than I was in before. In 
 this country then, the government of which is fo 
 much boafted of, it has not been my fate to receive 
 either proteftion, or redrefs, and all my fellow- 
 fufferers may fay the fame. 
 
 We do not complain of the intention of the law, 
 or of the dilpofition of the judges, but of the un- 
 abated malice of our enemies, and the influence they 
 had on the country in general. They fpared no 
 means to prevent our having any redrefs, and our 
 fufferings were fo far from foftening them, and ex- 
 citing any degree of compafllon, that the greateft 
 fufferers were expofed to the greateft infults. I 
 hardly know an inftance of any men deferving bet- 
 ter of any town than Mr. RulTell and Mr. Flutton, 
 men of the moft difinterefted public fpirit, and in- 
 defiitigable in public bufinefsj and yet they were 
 5 the 
 
9 2 j^n Appeal io the Pubfic 
 
 the perfons on v/hom the extreme of malice and 
 grofs abufe chiefly fell. But fuch, in all ages, and 
 in all countries, has been the fate of great and ac- 
 tive worth. 
 
 There was fomething particularly, and moft un- 
 reafonably hard in the cafe of Mr. Hutton. Mr. 
 Ruflell and myfelf were become obnoxious on ac- 
 count of our religious principles, and therefore, in 
 the eye of bigotry, received only the due reward of 
 our deeds; but, in this refpecSt, Mr. Hutton had done 
 7iothing amijs. He fufFered the extreme of injuftice 
 himfelf, for nothing but his unwearied endeavour 
 to procure juftice for others. 
 
 For the beft ufe of great talents for public bufi- 
 nefs, and of a higher kind than Mr. Hutton at- 
 tended to, I have not yet known any man fuperior 
 to Mr. Ruffell, hardly any that, in all refpecls, I 
 think to be his equals and the malice of his ene- 
 mies is in full propordon to his talents and his 
 virtues. With refped to damages in the court, he 
 came off better than Mr. Hutton. 
 
 To return to this fubjed, our adveriarics not 
 content with the counfel that ufually attended the 
 circuit, at a great expence employed Mr. Hardinge, 
 the Queen's folicitor, who to ferve them negleifled his 
 duty as a judge on the Welch circuit, and v/ho fpared 
 
 nodiing 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 93 
 
 nothing to inflame the court and the juryagainft iis; 
 quoting not only in my caufe, but in thofe of the 
 other luiFerers, paflages from my writings calculated 
 to reprefent me as the pell of fociety, and unworthy 
 of prote6lion or of recompence. The firft judge. 
 Baron Tliompfon, endeavoured in vain to check 
 his violence, and therefore Baron Eyre, it is thought, 
 came down on purpofe; but though he did it ii- 
 the caufes of the other fufferers, when my own 
 caufe came before the court he was permitted to 
 declaim againfl: me and my writings (of v^hich 
 he appeared to know nothing more than the ex- 
 tracts with which he had been furnifhed for the pur- 
 pofe of his abufe) without any reilraint, though 
 there was nothing properly before the court but the 
 cftimate of damages occafioned by the riotj and 
 if I had been guilty of fedition, 1 ought to have 
 been accufed as fuch, and fuffered the penalty of 
 tlie law. 
 
 The legal proof of the articles of my lofs v/as 
 peculiarly difficult, from the nature and multiplicity 
 of them ; nothing of the kind having ever, as I 
 believe, come before a court of judicature before. 
 It was deemed neceflary that I fhould prove my 
 having been in pofleflion of more than a thoufand 
 different articles, and at the time of the riot. One 
 friend or other could have attefted my having had 
 mofl of the inftruments, though not the chymical 
 
 fubftances; 
 
94- ^^^^ Appeal to the Public 
 
 fubfiances; but it was nccefTary they fhould all ht 
 prefent in court. Their certificates in writing (and 
 for this purpofe I came provided with them, in the 
 hand-writing of Dr. Heberden and others, who at 
 different times had made me prefents of them) were 
 rejefted as no legal evidence ; and when a number of 
 articles in my laboratory v/ere clalled together, the op- 
 pofite counfel diverted themfelves and the court, ex- 
 pofing their own ignorance, juft as fo many Goths 
 and Vandals would have done. My own leading coun- 
 fel was as little qualified to defend me, being equally 
 ignorant of philofophy, and declaring in court that 
 he had not read any of my theological or political 
 writings. 
 
 The judge, though no chymift, was willing to 
 make allowance for the fingular difficulty in my 
 caufe, as both the catalogue of my books, and the 
 index of fubllances in the laboratory, were deftroyed, 
 together with the books and inftrumentsi and had 
 any regard been paid to his opinion, confiderably 
 more would have been awarded me. On what 
 principle the jury proceeded is belt known to them- 
 felves, but I believe that very little was allowed for 
 my books, becaufe many of them were deftroyed 
 in another hundred, whither they had been conveyed 
 by my friends, though the deftruflion began at my 
 own houfe, and they did not fay what claim I had 
 
 on the other luir.Jred. 
 
 In 
 
On the Riots in Birmingljam, 95 
 
 In general I thought the judge impartial in fum- 
 ming up the evidence ; but in fome refpecls, confi.- 
 dering the manifeft difpofition of the jury, it tended 
 to give too mucli colour to their injuftice. The 
 catalogue of my library being deftroyed, together 
 with the library itfelf, I could only make out a lift 
 of the books that were wandng from my own recol- 
 ledlion of them, my friends not being able to atteil 
 their knowledge of more than a few of them, luch 
 as they had occafionally feen or borrowed, though xlvc 
 number of the books loft v/as fufficiendy afcertaincd. 
 " This enumeration," faid the judge, " coming 
 " from the plaintiff himfelf, and not proved by any 
 " witnefs, I was bound to reje6t evidence of that 
 " kind, and could not fufter it to be received." 
 Mr. Payne, my witnefs, had fet a value upon 440 
 other volumes, which were proved to be miffing 
 (though I could not myfelf pretend to recoiled 
 what they were) by fuppofing them to be of the 
 fame value^ one with another, with books of the 
 fame fize in what remained of the library. This, 
 the judge faid, v/as " no meafure of value at all, as 
 " it was imipoffible fo to eftimate books ; and there- 
 " fore he found himfelf bound to reject that evi- 
 " dencei" adding, however, that " as the plaintiff 
 *' could not have been fuppofed to have collected 
 " trafli, the jury might, if they thought prcpej-y make 
 " Ibme addition to the fum, upon the ground of da- 
 " mage to the library." But, difpofed as they evi- 
 dently v.'cre, they were lure to allow nothing on tliis 
 
 account. 
 
 G 8 I have 
 
96 j^n Appeal to the Puhlic 
 
 I have hecird of a judge deciding very differently 
 
 in a cafe not much unlike this of mine. A boy 
 
 had been robbed of a feal which had contained fome 
 precious ftone, of the nature and value of which the 
 boy himfelf was wlioUy ignorant, being oniy able to 
 produce the focket in wliich it had been let. The 
 judge, however, obferved, that the cafe lliould be 
 interpreted in dammim fraiidatcris -, and he directed 
 that the boy fhould receive the value of the fined 
 diamond that v/ould fill that focket, bccaufe the 
 ftone raight have been of that value. 
 
 Mr. Hardinge alfo (whofe virulent declamadon 
 the judge himfelf obferved might, for any thing 
 that appeared in court, be mere calumny) fhould 
 not have been fuffered to proceed as he did, fince 
 it could only tend to prejudice the minds of the 
 jury againft me, and indifpofe them to do juftice. 
 His abufe of me was exafliy fimilar to that of Mr. 
 Wedderburn's (now Lord Loughborough) on Dr. 
 Franklin at the privy council, when the caufe be- 
 fore the court related to the conduft of the gover- 
 nor of the province. It was a day of great triumph 
 fjr the court party. But had they any reafon to 
 exult in it ten years from that time ? As little rea- 
 fon may the Church and King party in this country 
 have to exult in the riot at Birmingham, and 
 the affizes at Warwick, ten years from that 
 event. 
 
 I was 
 
0;/ the Riots in Birmiitgham. 9 7 
 
 I was prefcnt at that memorabk abufe of Dr. 
 Franklin, being accompanied to the privy council 
 by Mr. Burke: he fmiled, and ihook me by the hand, 
 as he went out of the rooms and the next morning 
 he obferved to me, that the things for which he 
 had been fo grofsiy infulted were, he believed, 
 among the beft actions of his life, and fuch as he 
 fhouid do again in the fame circumftances. I can 
 truly fay the fame with refpeft to every thing that 
 has been mofl; virulently urged againft me. 
 
 On the whole, it is evident that, by whatever rule 
 the jury at Warwick went, they allowed me little or 
 nothing for my books, philofophical inflruments, or 
 manufcripts, as the fum that was awarded me would 
 do little more than re-furnilli the houfe as it was 
 before. They refufed to fay what they allowed 'for 
 the feparate articles of my lofs, except on account 
 Q){ the hoiije) which I was under obligation to rebuild. 
 For this, which was not mine, it was thought by 
 fome that the allowance was ample enough, being 
 957I. 1 8s. 
 
 This detail I thought neceflary to go into, in or- 
 der to explain the confequences of the riot, and the- 
 ftate of our laws, and of the aftual adminiftration 
 of them in my cafe, that thofe wlio think it a pro- 
 per objeft may provide a more effectual remedy for 
 a fimilar evil in future time. 
 
 II I mult 
 
pB j^n uippcal to the Public 
 
 I mufl add, that though the mifchier was done 
 more than a year ago, I have not yet (Nov. i, 
 1792) received any part of the compenfation awarded 
 me, and yet I have been obliged to advance the 
 whole cxpence of the iaw-fuit; fo that, if any 
 allowance be made for the intereft of money, my 
 pecuniary lofs will be confiderably greater than I 
 have dated it to be. If I had not been affifted 
 by my friends, I could not have profecuted my 
 right at all, and therefore mud have gone with- 
 out any redrefs. And fo much trouble and expence 
 have attended this bufinefs, that in cafe of any other 
 misfortune of the fame kind (from which I am 
 far from confidering myfelf as exempt) my pre- 
 fent determination is to fit down widi the lofs, 
 and not to trouble the country on the fubjeft. 
 The law, as now adminiftered, may do all very well 
 for churchmen, but I have found by experience that 
 it is not calculated to protedt Diflenters, as fuch, 
 or to procure a redrefs of the wrongs done to 
 them. 
 
 SECTION 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham.. 99 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 'Of the Approbation of the Riot, and the Extent of 
 High Church PrincipleSy which were the Cauje of 
 ity in other Parts of the Kingdom. 
 
 1 H E Ipirit of party, intimately connefled 
 with the approbation of the riot in Birmingham, is 
 even now far from being confined to that town or 
 neighbourhood, efpecially among the clergy. One 
 of the moft fpeaking and curious inilances of this is 
 the following. A clergyman, diftinguifhed by his 
 writings, requefted another clergyman, who was 
 going to Birmingham, to procure him a quantity of 
 afhes from the ruins of the meeting in which I had 
 preached J and the requeft was complied with. 
 What an excellent Protejtant Dominic would this 
 clergyman make ! 
 
 So far were the clergy from being moved to any 
 thing like compafTion by v.'hat I had fuffered in the 
 riot, that immediately aiter this their calumnies were 
 doubled, and their cries for farther vengeance upon 
 me became louder than ever. An inftance of this 
 is an ex.tracft from the Shrewsbury Chronicle, figned 
 OTAEIS AETTEPOS, v/hich may be feen in the Ap- 
 pendix, No. VIII. 
 
 H 2 This 
 
1 00 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 This virulent paper was, however, very ably an- 
 fwered by a perfon whofe fignature was Jn enemy to 
 intolerance and perjecutlon^ though he avowed reli- 
 gious fentiments very different from mine. 
 
 Mr. Burn fcems to doubt the truth of what I faid 
 of a clergyman calling our fufferings in an Afiize 
 fermon wholefome feverity. " Had he," he fays, p. 73, 
 " been a Birmingham clergyman, we have no 
 " doubt his name would have appeared." I do not 
 fee why I lliould be more backward, or more ready, 
 to mention his name on this account. But the fer- 
 mon is now publiflied, though without the name of 
 the author, which was Allen, v/ho refides at or near 
 Illford. The exprelTion in the fermon as now printed 
 is not the very fame that was reported, but to the 
 fame purport. He was, however, properly repri- 
 manded for what he delivered by the judge and the 
 counfel afterwards. 
 
 That the fame fpirit which prompted the riot in 
 Birmingham pervaded very dillant parts of the 
 country, the following is a curious inftance. Dur- 
 ing the riot at Birmingham fome officers were 
 in converfation at Dulot's library at Brighthelm- 
 ftohe, when one of them was overheard to fay (on 
 its being fuggefted that it was probable his re- 
 giment would be fcnt to Birmingham to quell the 
 rioters) that he hoped if his men were fent thither 
 
 that 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, loi 
 
 that they would not hurt a hair of any of the rioters 
 heads. 
 
 Another officer (fuppofed to be of the guards) 
 was heard to declare at Crawford's library at Bright- 
 helmftone, that it was to be lamented that Dr. 
 Priefhley had efcaped j and that, if he had been at 
 Birmingham, he would have gone through the fire, 
 at the hazard of lofing a lir.ib^ but that the Do6lor 
 fhould have loft his life. I am perfuaded, however, 
 that the difpofidon of thofe pardcular perfons is far 
 from being that of the generality of Bricifh officers: 
 they have, I truft, better notions of the Briufh con- 
 ftitution, and of that Briiiih liberty which they are 
 appointed to defend. 
 
 The idea that was generally, and moft affiduoufly, 
 propagated concerning me, and the tendency of 
 my writings, by thofe of v/hom the beft that can be 
 faid is, that they knew nothing of either, may be 
 conceived from an epitaph that was written for me, 
 as was fuppofed, by fome perfon at Exeter, and 
 which, for the amufement of my readers, I Ihall in* 
 fert in the Appendix, No. IX. 
 
 The perfon who tranfmltted this curious piece to 
 a friend of m.ine adds, " The virulence of the above 
 *' is nearly equalled, if not furpalTed, by what I 
 " have been informed are the fentiments very fre- 
 ** qucntly uttered by the diffipated and the profane 
 H 3 " bigots 
 
102 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 ^^ bigots of Briftol, and in all parts of the king- 
 ** dom, viz. for the firft fcntiment at table, Damna-^ 
 " tion to Dr. Priejlleyy and Jiiccejs to the Birmingham 
 *' mohy or Damnation to Dr. Priejileyt and dejlruotion 
 " to his writings." 
 
 Hereafter it will perhaps not be believed that 
 fuch barefaced mifreprefcntation and calumny, fo 
 entirely void of all foundation, could be publifhed 
 in a country in which the means of better informa- 
 tion almoft obtrudes itfelf Such pains, however, 
 has been taken to reprefent me as an infidel with re- 
 fped to religion, and a mod peftilent member of 
 fociety, that I doubt not a great maiority of the 
 people of this country aflually confider miC in thaP 
 light, the avowed enemy of God and man. But this 
 will not be thought extraordinary when it is confi- 
 dered how great a proportion of the information of 
 Englifnmen is derived from the public newfpapers, 
 and how many of them have abounded with para- 
 graphs exhibiting me in this light from {'omQ time be- 
 fore the riot, and to diis day. I am tempted to give a 
 fpecimen of this which fell into my hands by acci- 
 dent, and I prefume it is only of a piece with hun- 
 dreds of others i biit I referve it for the Appendix, 
 No. X. 
 
 That fome perfons muft make it the Interefl of 
 $he proprietors of the newfpapers to procure, and 
 iqfert, fuch articles might be concluded a priori. 
 
 But 
 
On the Riois in B'trmmgham. 103 
 
 But an acquaintance of mine, being defired to fettle 
 a difference between two of thefe proprietors, faw a 
 lift of names of perfons to be abufed, and among 
 diem was mine. Of what clafs of newfpapers this 
 was I need not fay. 
 
 Such an unfair advantage, taken to prejudice the 
 minds of the people againd particular perfons or 
 parties, is a circumftance that calls loudly for public 
 inquiry, and punifhment, by the reprefentatives of 
 the nation, who ought, as far as pofTible, to provide 
 for the proteftion of the charaifter, as well as the 
 property, of every individual of the fociety. 
 
 The latter part of this paper relates to an impu- 
 dent falfhood that has been much circulated, though 
 it refledls difgrace upon the late Dr. Johnfon, and 
 not upon me, viz. that when I was at Oxford, he 
 left a company on my being introduced to it. In 
 fail, we never were at Oxford at the fatne time, and 
 the only interview I ever had with him was at Mr. 
 Paradife's, where we dined together at his own re- 
 queft. He was particularly civil to me, and pro- 
 mifed to call upon me the next time he fhould go 
 through Birmingham. He behaved with the fame 
 civility to Dr. Price, when they fupped together at 
 Dr. Adams's, at Oxford. Several circumilances 
 fhew that Dr. Johnfon had not fo much of bigotry 
 at the decline of life, as had diflinguifhed him be- 
 fore, on which account it is well known to ail our 
 H 4 common 
 
104 ^n Appeal to the Public 
 
 common acquaintanccj that I declined all their preff- 
 ing foiicitations to be introduced to him. It were 
 to be wifned that the church of England would re- 
 femble Dr. Johnibn in growing milder and more 
 tolerant in its old age; but, on the contrary, like 
 moil other aged perfons, ihc Teems to grow more 
 peevifh and obftinate. 
 
 I do not know, however, whedier, on the whole, 
 the general prevalence of the High Church party in 
 this country is more clearly manifefted than by its 
 having pervaded focieties oi' phiio/opbe^'Sy with whomj 
 in that capacity, I certainly did not Hand ill. 
 
 I obferved in my Appeal, that the only fociety, 
 not profeficdiy fjrmed on the principle of civil or 
 religious liberty, that had adureffed me on occafion 
 of the riot, was the phiiofophical fociety at Derby, 
 Vv'hofe Addrefs I infcrted in my Appendix. Jt ftiil 
 fcands a fingle inftance of the kind. Mr. Rofe, a 
 plergyman, aqd member of diat focietyj was, hew- 
 ever, fo much offended at it, that, without the 
 knowledge of the fociety, he publiflied an account 
 of the manner in which it had been done, calculated 
 to defeat the effe6t of it. llie other members of 
 that fociety had the fpirit to refent it properly, and 
 to exclude him from the fociety. I fliall inf^rt his 
 Advertifetnenti and the Anfiver of the fociety, in my 
 Appendix, No. XL and XII. 
 
 The 
 
0/2 the Riots in Birmingham. 105 
 
 The philofophlcal fociety at Manchefter had not 
 the fame liberality. Though they had not only done 
 me the honour to make me one of their mem- 
 bers, but had prefented me with fifty pounds to 
 affift me in defl-aying the expence of my experi- 
 ments ; yet when it was propofed to addrefs me on 
 the deftru&ion of my laboratory, and it was pro- 
 pofed that nothing ihould be contained in the Ad- 
 drefs that fhould imply any approbation of my civil 
 or religious principles, the motion was negatived by 
 a Gonfiderable majority. 
 
 One of the reafons alledged at Manchefter againfl: 
 the propofed Addrefs was, that none had been fent 
 to me from the Royal Society. Many perfons have 
 exprefled their furprife that I had no letter of con- 
 dolence, or even pecuniary afTiftance, from that bo- 
 dy, to which I hope I have been no difgrace. I 
 have even been infulted by the High Church party 
 on this account, Had it been a clergyman of the 
 church of England who had been a member of that 
 body, and whofe laboratory had been dellroyed by 
 rioters, v/hether his labours had contributed any 
 thing or nothing to the Itock of philcfophical know- 
 ledge, his cafe, I doubt not, would have been corifi- 
 dered by the opulent members of the fociety, or the 
 patron of it. But I was too well acquainted with 
 the political principles of that fociety to expe6b any 
 thing of the kind in my favour. Had I been a fe- 
 coijd Newton, and what I am, and cannot help be- 
 
I o6 Jln Appeal to the Public 
 
 ing in other refpefts, viz. an Unitarian DiiTenter, my 
 expectations from that quarter v/ould not have been 
 
 ihl';?:her. 
 
 I had fufficient evidence of this in the rejedion of 
 Mr. Cooper, though originally recommended by 
 Mr. Kirwan, Dr. Crawford, Mr. Watfon, and Mr. 
 Watt, as Vy'cli as rayfelf. As Mr. Cooper's general 
 abilities appear by his publications to be of the 
 higheft order*, and his acquaintance with philoibphy 
 and chemifcry was well known, it was evident that 
 his reieCUon could not have been owing to any 
 thing but his religious or political principles, with 
 which a phiiofophical fociety had no concern. So 
 confident was I of the merit of Mr. Cooper, and of 
 the fufficiency of his recommendation, not by gentle- 
 wen memherSi but by fcientifical perfons, that I had 
 not entertained the leait doubt of his eleftion, and 
 was never more furprifed than when I heard that it 
 did not rake place. 
 
 Thinking that a phiiofophical fociety might, on 
 reconfideradon, repent of having rejected a man 
 fo recommended to diem, Mr. Cooper's friends 
 thou"-ht it right to propofe him a fecond time ; and 
 to the former fignatures of his certificate the follow- 
 ino- were added, viz. Mr. Boulton, Mr. Wedge- 
 v^ood, and Sir G. Staunton ^ and as it had been 
 
 * See his 'voliifne cfTrn8s\ his E^'ays m the iMemoirs of the 
 jManchifter Phiiofophical and Livcrary Society j ajid his Re'dy to 
 Mr. Biirh's lavcdlrje. , • n i 
 
 objected 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham. 107 
 
 objefted before, that the members of the fociety hi 
 Manchefter, where he refided, had not figned his 
 certificate, they now all joined in it, viz. Mr. Bay- 
 ley, Dr. Percival, Dr. Whire, and Mr. Henry. 
 Notwithilanding thefe addidonal fignatures, when 
 the day of balloting came, he v/as rejedled by a 
 much greater majority than before. 
 
 The ten who figned Mr. Cooper's certificate 
 (without arrogadng any thing to myfelf, who firft 
 propofed it to him) are iinquellionably among the 
 firft in the lift of members for reputation as philo- 
 phers i and if about as many more were added to 
 them, the reft are, I do not fay improper members, 
 but fuch as the philofophical part of the world has 
 not yet heard much of When this is confidered, 
 and that Mr. Keir, and other truly effeftive and dif- 
 tinguifhed members of the fociety, would have 
 figned Mr. Cooper's certificate if they could have 
 faid, that they had -perjcnal knowledge of him (whicii 
 the rules of the fociety require) I do not feel my- 
 felf difgraced for having recommended him, no^: 
 does he for being rejeded, 
 
 It has fmce been objefted to Mr. Cooper, that he 
 is concerned in a manufadory ; but when he was 
 firft propofed, his profefTion was that of a barrifter at 
 law, though his purfuits were then chiefly literary and 
 philofophical. Having fufficient leifure, his know- 
 ledge of chemiftry induced him to join in a bleaching 
 
 manufadory 
 
To8 Ah Appeal to the Public 
 
 manufaclory on the new principles. On the whole, I 
 cannot lielp confidering the rejection of Mr. Cooper, 
 recommended as he was, hy the Royal Society as a 
 inoft decifive proof of the influence of High Church 
 principles in this country on a body of rhen who 
 jnight be expelled to be the moft liberal. Mr. 
 Cooper, though originally educated at Oxford, now 
 ckiTes v/ith Unitarian Diflenters : he has given noble 
 proofs of his public principles, and his public fpirit, 
 and he has been ftigmatized by Mr. Burke. 
 
 It were to be willied that the Roy.il Society 
 would make feme more explicit declaration of the 
 proper qualilications of their members. Some time 
 ago an excellent naturalifb, Mr. Rafpe, was expelled 
 for breaking the eighth commandment, of which it 
 was not known before that the members of the Royal 
 Society were the guardians. This would not, how- 
 ever, have been perhaps fo much amifs, if the faft had 
 I- .en proved : but the expulfion had too mruch the ap- 
 pearance of a royal mandate. Who can tell but 
 that other members may be propofed to be expelled 
 for breaking the feventh, or even the tenth com- 
 mandment ? Mr. Cooper's moral charader, how- 
 ever, is irreproachable i fo that his difqualification 
 mufl be of another kind. At leaft he cannot be 
 charged with a breach of the firft commandment. 
 
 In thefe remarks on the Royal Society I mean 
 no refleilion on any particular member, and leaf!: of 
 
 ali 
 
On the Riots in Birminghani. 109 
 
 all on the prefident, who in feveral important re- 
 fpects fills his ftation in a manner highly honourable 
 to the fociety and to himfelf. This is an opinion 
 that I always maintained, when feveral of my parti- 
 cular friends thought differently. If the fociety 
 muft be both philofophical and royal, I do not know 
 where we could find a more proper prefident. 
 
 I am happy to be able, by the affillance of my 
 friends, to have in fome meafure replaced my ap- 
 paratus, and I am now refuming my experiments. 
 I have, indeed, loft more than a whole year, be- 
 fides, in fome refpecls, the reililt of the labour of 
 feveral years ; but while I live, I Ihall continue my 
 experiments as I have formerly done -, and if any 
 thing worth the notice of the public fhould occur to 
 me, I fhall communicate it through the cliannel of 
 the Royal Society, provided they v/ill receive my 
 papers. I fnali not quarrel with the inftitution on 
 account of the prefent adminiftration of its affkirs. 
 The times may change, and that circumftance may 
 change vv'ith them. 
 
 In diis almoft univerfal prevalence of a ipirit fb 
 extremely hofiile to me and my friends, and which 
 would be gratified by my deftrudion, it cannot be . 
 any matter of furprife, that a fon of mine fiiould vv^iili 
 to abandon a country in which his father has been 
 ufed as I have been, efpecially when it is confidered 
 
 tliat 
 
1 10 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 that this fon was prelent at the riot in Birming- 
 ham, exerting himfelf all the dreadful night of the 
 14th of July> to fave what he could of my mod 
 valuable property; that in confequence of this his 
 life was in imminent danger, and another young 
 man was nearly killed becaufe he was miftaken for 
 him. This would probably have been his fate, if 
 a friend had not almoft perforce kept him concealed 
 fome days, lb that neither myfelf nor his mother 
 knew v.'hat was become of him. I had not, how- 
 ever, the ambition to court the honour that has 
 been fhewn him by the national affembly of France, 
 and even declined the propofal of his naturaliza- 
 tion. At the moftj I fuppofed it would have been 
 done without any eclat 3 and I knew nothing of its 
 being done in fo very honourable a way till I faw 
 the account in the public newfpapers. To what- 
 ever country this fon of mine fnall choofe to attach 
 himfelfj I truft that, from the good principles, and 
 the fpiritj that he has hitherto fliewn, he will dif- 
 charge the duties of a good citizen. 
 
 As to myfelf, I cannot be fuppofed to feel much 
 attachment to a country in v.'hich 1 have neither 
 found protedlion, nor redrefs. But I am too old, 
 and my habits too fixed, to remove, as I own J fhould 
 otherwife have been difpofed to do, to France, or 
 America. The little that I am capable of doing rauft 
 be in England, where I fhall therefore continue, as 
 
 long 
 
On the Riots in Birmingham, 1 1 1 
 
 long as it fliould pleafc the fupreme Difpofer of all 
 things to permit me *. 
 
 It might have been thought that, haying written 
 {o much in defence of revelation, and of Chrif- 
 tianity in general, more perhaps than all the clergy 
 of the church of England now living j this defence 
 of a common cauje would have been received as fome 
 atonement for my dem.erics in writing againft civil efta- 
 blilhments of Chriftianity, and pardcular do(5trines. 
 But had I been an open enemy of all religion, the 
 animofity againft me could not have been greater 
 than it is. Neither Mr. Hume nor Mr. Gibbon 
 was a thoufandth part fo obnoxious to the clergy as 
 I am ; fo little refpcd: have nriy enemies for Chriftia- 
 nity itfelf, compared with what they have for their 
 emoluments from it. 
 
 As to my fuppofed hoftility to the principles of 
 the civil conftitution of this country, there has been 
 no pretence whatever for charging me with any 
 thing of the kind. Befides that the very catalogue 
 of my publications will prove that my life has been 
 devoted to literature, and chiefly to natural philo- 
 fophy and theology, which have not left me any 
 leifure for fadtious politics ■■, in the few things that I 
 
 * since this was written, I h:ive rnyfelf, witliout any felicitation 
 on my part, been made a citizen oi" France, and mcreovcr elefted a 
 member of the prefent Conventional Allerably. 'I hefe, I fcruple not 
 to avow, 1 confider as the greatell of honours ; though, {or the rea- 
 fons which are now made public, I have declined accepting the 
 latter. 
 
 H 8 have 
 
1 1 2 An Appeal to the Public 
 
 have written of a political nature, I have been an 
 avowed advocate for our mixed government by 
 King^ herds ^ and Ccmmcns ; but becaufe I have ob- 
 jefled to the ecclefiaftical part of it, and to par- 
 ticular religious tenets, I have been induflrioufly 
 reprefented as openly feditious, and endeavouring 
 the overthrow of every thing that infixed, the enemy 
 of all order, and of all government. 
 
 Every publication which bears my name is in fa- 
 vour of our prefent form of government. But if 
 I had not thought f^j highly of it, and had feen rea- 
 fon for preferring a more republican form, and 
 had openly advancifd that opinion 3 I do not know 
 that the propofing to free difcuffion a fyftem of go- 
 vernment different from that of England, even to 
 Englifhmcn, vs. any crime, according to the exiiling 
 laws of this country. It has always been thought, 
 at leafl, that our confiitution authorifes the free pro- 
 pofal, and dircufilcn, of ail theoretical principles 
 v/hatever, political ones not excepted. And though I 
 might now recommend a very different form of go- 
 vernment to a people who had no previous preju- 
 dices or habits, the cafe is very different with rc- 
 fped: to one that Ims ; and it is the duty of every 
 good citizen to maintain that government of any 
 country which the majority of its inhabitants ap- 
 prove, whether he hirafclf Ihould otherwife prefer it, 
 or not. 
 
 8 This 
 
On the PJots in Birmingham. 1 1 ^ 
 
 This, however, is all that can in reafon be re- 
 quired of any man. To demand more would be z% 
 abfurd as to oblige every man, by the law of mar- 
 riage, to maintain that his particular wife was ab- 
 folutely the handlbmeft, and befl tempered woman 
 in the world; whereas it is furely fufficient if a man 
 behave well to his wife, and difcharge the duties of 
 a good hufband. 
 
 A ver)' great m.ajority of Englidimen, I am well 
 perfuaded, are friends to v/hat are called high max- 
 ims of government. They would choofe to have 
 the power of the crown rather enlarged than re- 
 duced, and would rather fee all the Diffenters ba- 
 niflied than any reformadon made in the church. 
 A dread of every thing tending to republicanijm is 
 manifeftly increafed of late years, and is likely to 
 increafj ftill more. The very term is become one 
 of the mofi: opprobrious in the Englifh language. 
 The clergy (whofe near alliance with the court, and 
 the prefent royal family, after having been almoft a 
 century hoftile to them, is a remarkable event in 
 the prefent reign) have contributed not a little to 
 that leaning to arbitrary power in the crown which 
 has lately been growing upon us. They preach up 
 the do6lrines of paflive obedience and non-refiftance 
 with as litde difguife as their anceftors did in the 
 reigns of the Stuarts, and their aduladon of the king 
 and of the minifter is abjeft in the extreme. Both 
 Mr. Madan's fermoa and Mr. Burn's reply to my 
 
 I Appeal 
 
1 1 4 An Appeal to the Public^ &c. 
 
 Appeal diicover the fame fpirit ; and any fentlment 
 in favour of liberty that is at all bold and manly, 
 fiich as, till of late, was deemed becoming Eng- 
 lifhmen, and the difciples of Mr. Locke, is now re- 
 probated as feditious. 
 
 In thefc circiimftanccs, it would be nothing lefs 
 than madnefs ferioufly to attempt a change in the 
 conftitution, and I hope I am not abfolutely infane. 
 I fincerely wifh my countrymen, as part of the hu- 
 man race (though, I own, I now ftel no particular 
 attachment to them on any other ground) the un- 
 difturbed enjoyment of diat form of government 
 which they fo evidently ai^prove ; and as I have n© 
 favour to afk of them, or of their governors, befides 
 mere protedlion, as to a ftranger, while I violate no 
 known law, and have not this to aflc for any long 
 term, I hope it will be granted me. If not, I muft, 
 like many others, in all ages and all nations, fubmit 
 to whatever the fupreme Being, whofe eye is upon 
 us all, and who I believe intends, and will in his 
 own time bring about, the good of all, fliall ap- 
 point, and by their means execute. 
 
 Mr, 
 
( 115 ) 
 
 Mr. RuJclPs Letter to Br, Priejlley. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 J HAVE fomewhere read that to argue 
 with a perfon while he is in a paflion, is juft as wife 
 as to hold a lanthorn to a blind man. The oppo- 
 nents of myfelf and of my patriotic companions, on 
 the 14th of July 1791, have evidently been under 
 the moft unreafonabie phrenfy that ever difgraced 
 this nation ; and had we been willing to feed it by 
 returning the abufe and calumny that was fo out- 
 rageouily poured upon us, v/e might have retorted 
 long ago. But as our appeal is to the calmer paf- 
 fions, it appeared neceilary to wait till the feafon of 
 fury was over, and we could hope that the llill fmall 
 voice of truth would be liftened to. However the 
 time for a full reply to Mr. Burn's moll extraordi- 
 nary performance is, in my opinion, now come, and 
 I fear any farther delay will be an injury to the 
 caufe for which v/e are fufFering. I rejoice there- 
 fore to hear that you are preparing a fecond part of 
 your Appeal, not doubting but that this infidious 
 publication will have a full (hare of your notice, 
 and be expofed as it defervcs. 
 
 I 2 This 
 
1 1 6 Mr. RuifcIPs Letter 
 
 This leads mc, as a friend to fociety, to lament, ' 
 and I do it very fincerely, that any of the clergy 
 fhould think abufe cf the Diflenters is now the 
 road to preferincnt, and that fo many concurrent 
 circuniftanceo fliou.ld aimoll compel others to think 
 fo too. However, while we pity thofewhofe minds 
 are dius debafed, and who can difgrace the talents 
 that they poffefs by fuch an unworthy proftitution, 
 the duty we owe to ourfelves and to the commu- 
 nity, calls upon us to guard againft the confequences, 
 by detecting their mifreprefentations and expofing 
 their failehoods. 
 
 I prefume you will recoUeft the fatisfaclion both 
 of us received fome years ago when Mr. Burn firft 
 met us on the hbrary committee, and I well re- 
 member the pleafure you cxpreffed in the hope that 
 he would prove an agreeable acquaintance. Little did 
 I then imagine he could prove the virulent enen^^y 
 to us both, which his Reply to your Appeal fhows 
 him to be. As to myfelf, though I have very fre- 
 quently been in company v/ith him fince that period, 
 I never received, or apprehended, the lead inciviUty 
 from him before the publication of this laft pamphlet, 
 in which I fee with concern and furprife that I am 
 made the fubjecft of fome of thofe malevolent far- 
 cafms by which the book is diftinguifned. I cannot 
 therefore but be anxious to engage your notice of 
 them, and to have you informed of what I have to 
 lay in reply 5 and as I am in poffeffion of a variety 
 3 of 
 
io Br. Priejiley, 117 
 
 of informadon relating to the rubjeft of the riots, 
 and connetled with his book, I will detail fome of 
 it to you, that you may give the public llich part as 
 you think worth notice. 
 
 I have often been at a lofs to account for the 
 •wide extenfion of the extravagant fpirit of decla- 
 rnation and outrage upon the occafion under which 
 we are fufFering, and am furprifed that Mr. Burn 
 fhould fo readily come forward to join in it, becaufe 
 I was informed that he thought well of the French 
 revolution in the early ftages of it. Surely then he 
 fhould have fhewn fome confideration for thofe who 
 ftill hold his former opinions, as it is poffible they 
 may not have the fame reafons for abandoning them 
 which have operated upon him. Much do I Vy'lfli 
 that he had attended to this, and to his chara6ler as 
 a minifher of peace, which ought to have prevented 
 him from becoming an advocate in a fcene of party 
 difcord, and a partizan in a bufinefs v^'hich has not 
 only interrupted the fifety and harmony of fociety, 
 but difgraced the community in which it was tranf- 
 aded. However, as he has thought fit to. becom>e 
 the champion of bigotry and the Don Quixote of 
 the High Church party, and I think his motives can- 
 not be miftaken, I fincerely hope he will not be 
 fuffered to triumph in his knight frrant ej^pedition. 
 
 The firil part of his Reply, which I feel myfelf 
 I 3 particularly 
 
-1 1 8 Mr. RuJj'eWs Letter 
 
 particularly called upon to notice, relates to the 
 advertifement refpeding the hand-bill, which he 
 and his friends have endeavoured to rcpreftnt as one 
 caufe of the riots that followed, but which I verily 
 believe would have no more contributed to them 
 than the letter I am now writing to you, had it not 
 been induitrioufiy circulated by them, and thereby 
 rendered uibfervient to their own purpofe of creating 
 a difturbance. That hand-bill Mr. Burn tells us 
 was lent to the minifter by the magiftrates. What 
 more then was neceflary for them, or for any one 
 elfe of the party at Birmingham, to do with refped 
 to it? and if nothing uncommon was meditated, 
 why call out the clergy upon the occafion ? Surely 
 the advertifement wdiich followed, offering the 
 lool, rev/ard, would have been deemed fufficient 
 without their interfering, or without any other 
 fignature than thole of the magiftrates. But 1 
 Ivnevv on Wednefday the i^th of July, that feve- 
 ral others were added: for as I was riding into 
 town on that evening, I accidentally met Mr. Carles 
 on horfebackj who immediately ftopped, and ad- 
 dreiied me as ufual, in a very friendly manner, ac- 
 quainting me widi die advertifement which had been 
 ^.greed upon, telling me that icol. reward v/as 
 pflcied to any one that would difcover the author 
 of the hand -bill, and adding that he had heard we 
 denied any knowledge of, or connexion with, the 
 author, and that as he confidered me as the oflen- 
 
 fible 
 
to Dr. Prkjlley, 1 1 9 
 
 fible perfon for the party I belonged to, he had 
 been much inclined to fend the advertifement to 
 me, that I might add my fignature, but that upon 
 fecond thoughts he had dechned doing it, from mo- 
 tives of dehcacy, not knowing how I might feel 
 fuch an applicadon. 
 
 For this friendly attention I made my acknow- 
 ledgments, and added, that I thought myfelf obliged 
 by his delicacy, but could afliire him that I knew 
 no more of the author than he did, nor had I the 
 fmalleft fufpicion who it was, and therefore fincerely 
 wilhed he had lent me the paper, as I fliould have 
 figned it without hefitation. To this he replied, that 
 he was glad to hear me fay fo, and wifhed he had fent 
 the advertifement, for he was fure I was his friend, 
 and, let what would come, he would not hurt the 
 hair of the head of myfelf or any of the fe6l I be- 
 longed to. This led me to lay that pofTibly it might 
 not be too late for me to add my name even then, 
 and that if he approved it, and v/ould give me leave, 
 I v/ould fend Mr. Sv/inney orders to affix my name 
 to the advertifement, and I would cheerfully pay my 
 proportion towards the expence, fhouid the offer be 
 fuccefsful, and the lool. paid in confcquence of it. 
 To this he freely affented, and added, that he wifhed 
 I would, for I was his friend, I had been his friend, 
 and, let what v/ould happen, he would not hurt a 
 hair of my head, no, he would not hurt a hair of 
 my head, or of any of the feft that I belonged to. 
 I 4 The 
 
I 20 Mr. RuJfeWs Letter 
 
 The tone in which thefe words were repeated, and 
 the attitude in which he rode, whilft repeating them, 
 fhewed me that he had been drinking, and (as 
 uiual) gone fomething beyond the bounds of tem- 
 perance. But as he appeared very capable of rid- 
 ing home, I left him, not being at that time im- 
 prefled with the fame idea of the fignificance of thefe 
 remarkable v/ords that I have been fince. 
 
 After refleding on what had pafled, and the con- 
 dition of the perfon with whom I had the con- 
 verfation, I was in doubt whether fending my pame 
 to the printer would not be deemed, an intrufion by 
 the other Gentlemen who had figned the adv-ertife- 
 ment. In confequence of this, as you v/iil no doubt 
 recolleft, I called at Fair Flill, and confulted you 
 as a friend, v/hen you admitted the reafons I had 
 to hefitate, but, upon the v/hole, thought with mc, 
 that it would be beft for me to fend my name, which 
 I accordingly did by a note to Mr. Swinney, telling 
 him that, in confequence of a converfation with 
 Mr. Carles that evening, fmce the advertifement 
 relating to the hand-bill was fent, I had been in- 
 vited by him to add my name to it, that I had given 
 my aflent, and accordingly requefted and autho- 
 rifed him to add it to the others already given 
 in. Mr. Swinney's return to this note was a print- 
 ed newfpaper, which I received foon after nine 
 o'clock, and v/hich proved to me that he was much 
 forwarder with the impreflion of his paper t'lan I 
 
 had 
 
to Dr.Pnefllcy. izi 
 
 had any apprehenfion ofi and alib that the oppor- 
 tunity I thought myfelf in poflcfTion of was paffed. 
 
 This circumfhance, however, leads me to remark, 
 that I gave an incontrovertible and renewed proof 
 of ray difpofition as to the author of the hand-bill i 
 and it alio makes it very evident that fome fcheme 
 had that day been talked of, and that the repeated 
 declarations, that not a hair of our heads fnould be 
 hurt, was the confequence of it *. Thefe words 
 have very frequently and forcibly occurred to m^ 
 fince the riots happened, and 1 have had an oppor- 
 tunity of obferving die direction in which the pro- 
 ceedings were conducted. It is now well known to 
 me that a meedng had then been previoufly held at 
 the houfe of a *' Church and King'' partizan for the 
 purpofe of confidering how to punifh thefe " damn'd 
 *^ prejhyterians." Thefe were his own words. It 
 is well known to me that the rioters very frequently 
 and publicly declared, that they had the juiliccs* 
 prote6lion. It is alfo well known to me, to your- 
 felf, and to many others, that they had a regular lift 
 of the devoted houfes. Nay, much more than this 
 is known to me and others, though not yet made 
 known to the public -, but I trufl it will in due time, 
 and that it will appear to every one, that the DilTen- 
 tcrs, lb far from being fuch fadious, turbulent, and 
 
 / 
 
 * An alTociation for burning our lioures and places of worfliip 
 might admit of a condition that our peribns Ihould be fafe. 
 
 refliefs 
 
122 Mr. RujjeWs Letter 
 
 reflkfs characters as they have of late fo frequently 
 been reprefented, have aCted with a degree of for- 
 bearance and patience unparalleled in any fiinilar 
 initance. You well knovv^ it has not been for want 
 of evidence that profecutions have not been com- 
 menced, but becaufe the Diflfenters committed their 
 caufe to government, and expc£le.i redrefs from 
 thence. 
 
 The next infinuation of Mr. Burn which I am 
 concerned to notice is, that relpefting the offer the 
 Diflenters publiflied of a reward of lool. to any 
 perfon who lliould difcover the author of the hand- 
 bill. This, he fneeringly obfcrves, was not adver- 
 tifed, bur was " confined to a few corners of the Jlreets 
 " in the town.'" Here again I muft lament his want 
 of candour or veracity, for his afTertion is untrue. 
 This offer was not confined to a few corners of the 
 ftreets; it was printed with a type of the largefl: fize, 
 and upon paper in proportion 3 and particular direc- 
 tions v,'ere given tliat it fliould be palled up in every 
 part of the town where the proclamation, which 
 offered the fame reward, was put up. Nay more 
 than this, it was alfo pafted up in the public ftreets 
 at Worcefler and Warwick, with the concurrence 
 of the folicitor to the treafury, as foon as the affizes 
 commenced. It is true that fome inhdious v/retches 
 very frequently pulled down thefe papers in Bir- 
 mingham, as they did the king's proclamation, 
 •which offered icqI. to any one tl)ac would dil- 
 
 cover 
 
to Dr. Priefiky, 123 
 
 cover the authors and abettors of the riots. But 
 that does not prove that either the one or the other 
 had not been put up publicly, and very generally too. 
 
 I proceed now to the invidious charge in p. 5*4 
 and ^c^^ aimed at mylcif dirough the means of 
 Mr. Dadley, the mailer of tlie hotel. And here 
 again it is neceflary to expofe Mr. Burn's want of 
 attention, or elfe his wilful exaggeration of fads. In 
 giving his pretended extradb from my letter, he fays, 
 p. 54, " Mr. Dadley, it feems, recommended that 
 **^ the dinner might be liad as was intended — he was 
 " fure there was no danger of tumult, provided the 
 " gentlemen broke up early; and^ on this rcprejcnta^ 
 " tioHy orders were given to the printer to fupprefs 
 *' the hand-bill, and Mr, Dadley s meafure was 
 *'- adopted."— -Now, if you turn to my letter in the 
 appendix of his own book, you may fee that the 
 words " and on this repreientation" are not in my let- 
 ter, as he has quoted them ; nor do I call it Mr, Dad- 
 ley's meafare. Surely after fuch wanton, unprovoked 
 attacks upon private charafters as his illiberal pages 
 exhibit, he fliould have had a little more regard to 
 circumfpedlion, Mr. Dadley's " folemn depofitiony* 
 for fuch Mr. Burn calls it, and fuch he would have 
 the world fuppofe it to be (though it does not appear 
 to me to have been made before any perfon au- 
 thorifed to take it), is contradidled by the tellimony 
 of every individual who was prefent at the convcr- 
 fation it alludes to i and I am fully perfuaded that 
 
 Mr, 
 
124 Mr. P^ujjfd'ts Letter 
 
 Mr. Dadley would not have interfered on the occa- 
 fion at all, had he not been iblicited by Ibme of the 
 lenders of the High Church party. To fuch mi- 
 ferable fubterfugc^s and meannefs does party fpirit 
 carry men whomj in every other charatter, I can 
 refpedl and efteem. Mr. Dadley has fuffered fo 
 much that I pity him \ and I have cheerfully joined 
 with my patriotic compeers in giving him folid 
 proof of it. But I fnall not, in return, put him 
 upon maligning others, or expofing himfelf by be- 
 coming the tool of a party, which it muft be allowed 
 is extremely ungenerous to require of a man in. his 
 lituation of life. Againfl his fingle teftimony I now 
 place that of the three gentlemen preient, who on 
 ^t ill of May laft wrote to me the following note: 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 *^ Mr. Burn having introduced into his Reply to 
 " Dr. Prieftley's Appeal Mr. Dadley's account of a 
 " converfation which he fays took place on the 
 *' morning of the t4th of July, with a view to in- 
 ** validate your account of the tranfaclions of that 
 " day, we think it right to declare that the repre- 
 *' fentation there. given is not a juft one of what 
 " pafled between us. — Mr. Dadley was exprefsly 
 ** defired to tell us if he had the fame reafon to ap- 
 *' prehend a difturbance as when we faw him on 
 ** the Monday evening, to which he replied, that 
 " he had not, and that he then had no fear refpeiling 
 
 " it. 
 
to 
 
 to Dr.PneJIky. 12$ 
 
 *^ it, as he had heard nothing further about it. We 
 *' are fully perfuaded that you could not have, in 
 givinp- your account, the moil diftant idea of 
 fixing any odium upon Mr. Dadley, or intending 
 " to make him a party in the dinner. Mr. Dad- 
 " ley was never confidered as any way more con- 
 *^ cerned in the tranfaftions of that day, than when 
 " he was preparing any other public dinner for the 
 " various meetings held at his houfc. 
 
 " We are, very refpeftfully, 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " Your much obliged and obedient lervants, 
 
 Birmingham^ William Hunt, 
 
 May ijly 1792. Harry Hunt, 
 
 John Lawrence." 
 
 To this let me add, that I wilh to afk Mr. Bum, 
 How long it has been the bufinefs of the clergy of 
 Birn:iingham to watch over the concerns of the pub- 
 licans there? If I have traduced, injured, or offended 
 Mr. Dadley, pray what have Mr. Burn and his 
 alibciated brethren of the cloth to do with it-? If 
 any explanation was neceffary between Mr. Dadky 
 and myfclf, it furely might have been eafily iettled 
 without this public, and I muil Iky impertinent at- 
 tempt to calumniate me, which, though more ma- 
 levolent than his infinuations of modefty and diffi- 
 dence, is not lefs fo than his infidious attempt ta 
 reprefent the dinner as the caufe of the riots. 1 o his 
 fneer about modcfty and diffidence I reply, that an 
 
 honcft 
 
126 Mr\ Rujelfs Letter 
 
 honefl; man who has no other objeifl than the public? 
 good, ought not to feel the diffidence of thofe who 
 have venal purpofes, felrtfh ends, or party views, in 
 their public attendances. It is, however, entirely 
 owing to an infirmity in my hearing, that I am 
 not only obliged to place myfelf near the chair at 
 public meetings, but to keep there, if I would con- 
 tribute my mite towards promoting the general 
 good. And that I have uniformly been governed 
 by that obje(5t, and by that alone, in all my nume- 
 rous and almoft iinceafing attendances upon public 
 bufinefs, I now dare to aver, even in the face of the 
 phrenfy and intemperance with which myfelf and 
 my friends are purfued. 
 
 Thus much for tlie impertinent attempt to repre- 
 fent me as afiliming more than is becoming me. I 
 will frankly confcfs, the charader contained in ano- 
 ther of his farcaftic fneers, graufies me very highly, 
 that of your " zealous friend." To be called the 
 friend of Dr. Prieftley, and to enjoy an intimacy 
 with him, is an honour that I prize beyond eflima- 
 tion. And I rejoice in that zeal and adlivity to 
 which this indmacy has led me, becaufe it has ever 
 been founded in benevolence, and had public vfe- 
 fulnefs for its objed. 
 
 The friends of Church and King, as they call 
 themfelves, have burned my houfe, and driven mc 
 from the place which it had been my ftudy to im- 
 prove 
 
to Dr. Priefiley, 127 
 
 prove for twenty-eight years fuccelTively, where I 
 had fixed my earthly refidence, and fondly imagined 
 I had fecured a retreat for the decline of life. But 
 though I am thus deprived of my habitation, and 
 driven from the fpot in which I delighted, my princi- 
 ples are in every refpedl the fame as before the riots. 
 J am, and will be a truly independent man, a " zealous 
 " friend" of truth and liberty. I will {till ftrive to 
 attain the equal rights of a citizen, to which 1 know 
 myfelf entided ; and I will always avail myfelf of 
 every opportunity of ferving the caufe of truth and 
 liberty. 
 
 The note at the bottom of p. 56 of Mr. Burn's 
 Reply is, I prefume, to be read as a declaration of 
 Mr. Dadley's. But this (as well as my declaration 
 in p. ^c,y of dining by myfelf, which is printed ia 
 italics) is fo ambiguoufly expreffed, that much at- 
 tention is neceflary to preferve the connexion. To 
 the latter I do not deem it neceiTary to make any 
 reply. But, to expofe the former, and fhew the 
 incorredlnefs of the additional note above mentioned, 
 I wifh you to give the public the following declara- 
 tion, which was figned foon after Mr. Burn's Reply 
 appeared, and will Ihew that it was Mr. Dadley's 
 windows only that were mentioned, and about which 
 any apprehenfions were entertained. The declara- 
 tion Mr. Burn gives by Mr. Dadley, and that of all 
 who were prefent at the time he refers to, is as fol- 
 lows, and I have contralled it with that of all the 
 gentlemen v/ho were prefent at the time he refers to: 
 4 Mr. 
 
rzS Mr. Riijj ell's Letter 
 
 Mr. Burn's note, p. 56, Declaration of Mr. Rujfell^ 
 containing Mr. Dad- &c. 
 ley's declaration. 
 
 ^*^ On the Monday pre- 
 " ceding I had infortned 
 *' Mr. William Hunt, 
 " Mr. Harry Hunt, Mr. 
 « William Rujjclh Mr. 
 *' George Humphrys, and 
 '^ Mr. John Lawrence, 
 ** who were met at my 
 *^ houje that afternoony 
 " that it was then gene- 
 ** rally thougloty if the 
 " dinner fhould be had, it 
 " would create a general 
 '' difturbance in the town. 
 " In anfwer to which they 
 " all prom'ifed to indem- 
 *' nfy me, provided any 
 '^ damages or lofs (hould 
 *' enfue in confeque-ice of 
 ** the dinner being had." 
 
 "On the Monday even- 
 " ing previous to the 
 " 14th of July, when we 
 " were at the hotel, Mr. 
 " Dadley informed us 
 " that he had been told 
 " by a gentleman, tliat 
 " if the dinner was held 
 " at liis houfe his win- 
 " dows would certainly 
 *' be broken. We prelT- 
 " ed Mr. Dadley to give 
 " the name of this gen- 
 " tleman, as there feem- 
 " ed no doubt that if 
 " it fo happened, this 
 " prophetic gentleman 
 " would either be the 
 " accomplillier of his 
 " own prophecy, or the 
 " employer of others for 
 *' that purpofe. Mr. 
 *' Dadley, for reafons 
 " beft known to him- 
 " feif, abfolutely refufed 
 " naming him. Mr. 
 Dadley 
 
to Br.Prieflley* 129 
 
 " Dadley alfo mention- 
 " ed that he had heard 
 " a very exceptionable 
 " hand - bill had been 
 " circulated in the town, 
 " but which not one 
 " of us had at that time 
 *' feen, 
 
 " William Russell, 
 " Glgrge Humphrys, 
 " Harry Hunt, 
 " John Lawrence, 
 *' William Hunt.*' 
 
 I cannot but think that two pofitions advanced 
 by this declaradon are wordiy of attention, viz. that 
 the parties in queftion had no idea of any in- 
 demnification but what related to Mr. Dadley's win- 
 dows, as he never fo much as mentioned any other 
 objeft of apprchenfion i and that we had not on 
 Monday evening any of us feen a copy of the fa- 
 mous hand-bill, of which we have fince heard fo 
 much. Mr. Dadley, as I have already obfervcd, 
 has received a fubftantial proof of our fympathy, 
 and found us fuperior to the litde fubterfuge of fhel- 
 tering ourfelves under a plea that our promife ex- 
 tended to his windows only, although we never gave 
 him any other. I pity Mr. Dadley, and wifh he 
 had fuffered lefs. I never intended to hold him up 
 
 K as 
 
1^0 Mr.Ruj[tirs Letter 
 
 as the caiife of having the dinner; and therefore 
 wifli my letter written in London had been more 
 guarded in that particular. But the extreme hurry 
 in which it was penned, and the aflurance which, 
 immediately upon my return home, I gave Mr. 
 Dadley of my intentions refpefting it, would, I am 
 perfuaded, have fatisfied him entirely, had he not 
 been goaded on by the High Church partifans to 
 let them ufe his name as they have done. All my 
 acquaintance well know that I never concealed my 
 fingiilar exertions in promoting the dinner; and had 
 I conceived that there had been any thing illegal or 
 unjultifiable, either in the dinner or the toafls, I 
 fliould Icarcely have perfonally avowed myfelf an 
 advocate both for the one apd the other, to his 
 majefly's minifters, and delivered them the original 
 lift of toafts, as it was tranfcribed for the prefs. But 
 the fact really was fo; and this lift was in their 
 hands when the infamous libel in the paper called 
 ' "^he Times was publiilied *. 
 
 It was this circumftance, and this alone, which 
 
 * This libel, as publiflied in the Times on the 1 9th July, was 
 as follows, viz. " By every account which has arrived trom Bir- 
 " mingham, and from authenticated fafts in corroboration of what 
 •' wc have already inlerted, it is an indifputable truth, that the mo~ 
 " tives which occalioned tlie havoc already made amongll the Dif- 
 " fenters at Birmingham, and which is ftill making, folely fprung 
 ** from the loyalty of the people. The public were determined, before 
 *< they proceeded to violence, to have feme further pi'oof of the in- 
 *' tention of thofe commemoration men j they therefore waited until 
 " they heird what was laid at table. They had, indeed, theii' fuf- 
 *' picionsj and thofe fufpicions, after the firlt courfe, were realifed 
 " by the following toall being drunk, *' Deltruftion to the preient 
 " government — and the king's head iii a charger." 
 
 A occafioned 
 
to Dr.Pi-ie/Iley. l^t 
 
 occafioneci that extreme hurry which I fee Mr. Burn 
 had been acquainted with previous to the publica- 
 tion of his book; and has treated with a want of 
 candour on the occafion which I hope it will never 
 be in the power of any man to lay to my charge. 
 Be this as it may, the libellous paper in 'The Times 
 above mentioned, was pubiifhed on Tuefday the 
 19th of July, when under an expectation of another 
 ' audience of the minifters, and receiving from them 
 my lift of the toalls on the afternoon of that day, my 
 anfwer to it was promifed for Wednefday's paper. 
 I was, however, dilappointed in the expected au- 
 dience with the minifters on Tuefday; but although 
 I had an appointment, and attended on Wednefday, 
 yet I could not return from the Treafury till near 
 two o'clock, and I knew the anfwer muft necef- 
 farily be written, and be delivered at the printer's 
 by three, if it was to appear in the paper of that day, 
 which 1 had engaged it ftiould. Nay, fo much was 
 I preffed for time upon my return from the minif- 
 ters, that though I haftily wrote, I could not 
 tranfcribe, the letter, but was obliged to haften with 
 it myielf to the printer's in its rough ftate, that I 
 might enable the compofitor to fet it for that day's 
 paper. Now, whatever Mr. Burn may do, I diink 
 every candid perfon who rccolleds the time and cir- 
 cumftances in which I wrote, will feel litde difficulty 
 in making due allowance for any inaccuracy which 
 appears in a letter written in fuch a ftiort and truly 
 agitating period. 
 
 K 2 I will 
 
1 3 2 Mr. RiiJfeWs Letter 
 
 I will therefore rely upon this candour, and go on 
 to obferve, that in p. 1 1 8 Mr. Burn criticifes, with 
 his ufual acrimony, upon the toads, and gives an 
 addition to the 9th toad, " The Prince of Wales." 
 I have no objcflion at all to this addition. It was, 
 however!^ added by the chairman, and is not in the 
 original lid. But the explanation that refpe6lable 
 gentleman has already given the public upon this 
 fubjed: renders it needkfs for me to fay any more. 
 
 As to the meeting breaking up without the lead 
 riot or didurbance, which, by way of emphafis, Mr. 
 Burn again prints in italics (fee his book, p. 1 20), 
 I repeat the adertion I made before, " that it did 
 '^ fo." I again aver it to be true, and being called 
 upon for proof) I refer to the company that dined, 
 with a very fmall exception. I am obliged, how- 
 ever, to make that, becaufe I was repeatedly told, 
 and informed you of the fame long ago, that one 
 man was fent by the party to the dinner purpofely 
 to indilt yourfelf, and by that means begin a riot 
 within doors, which was happily prevented by your 
 not being at the dinner as they expected. — It is 
 true two of the gentlemen who came from a dif- 
 tance, and on horfeback, went out at the back 
 door, as the readied way to their horfes, and I be- 
 lieve were afterwards followed by fome of the 
 mob ; but neither myfelf, nor the company in 
 general, v/ho went out together at the front door, 
 met with any rioters, or the lead annoyance in 
 
 leaving 
 
to Dr.PnefJi:y. 133 
 
 leaving the hotel i and in repeatedly walking the 
 ftreets fome hours afterwards 1 did not perceive 
 any difturbance, nor the appearance of any ; neither 
 did I ever hear of thofe two gentlemen, who went 
 out at the back door, being molefted till fome time 
 after Mr. Burn's book was pubiifhed, and occa- 
 fioned converfation upon the fubjeft. My own 
 opinion is, that no difturbance would have hap- 
 pened, had not uncommon meafures been ufed to 
 promote it. 
 
 In reply to what Mr. Burn advances refpefting 
 the fhort addrefs I took the liberty of adding to our 
 chairman's, upon the breaking up of the company, 
 I fay, that if any part of it was loft through the 
 " perturbed ftate" of the company, as he reports, 
 it is more than I know of. I certainly did lament 
 to them that the people out of doors were (a much 
 mifled as to be brought to infult us as we c.iric ro 
 dinner 3 but I uttered every word I \^ifl■lf-.i to Uiy 
 upon the lubje6lj and nothing wliich I il^culd be 
 unwilling to repeat again at any dme. I ii\i\- o/.iy 
 add further upon this topic, tliat the pardc; wno 
 dined together at the hotel on ine i^li of Ji/iy, 
 may with tne utmoft propiiciy app-.a! c? the whok* 
 tenor of their condudi", bv.ih betoie and fmce 
 riots, for the refutacijn cf the variou- c ' 
 which have ueen induftrioufly ciicula r 
 their views in holding that meedi „ . 
 
 K ;; ^ As 
 
13+ Mr. Rujfeirs Letter, 
 
 As to the criminality of that convivial meeting, 
 it is prefumed that this will not be advanced by 
 any one, even in the paroxyfm of pafiion. But 
 as Mr. Burn choofes to defcribe this dinner as 
 the caufe of the fubfequent riots, it may be ob- 
 fervedj that as the chairman was a member of the 
 efLablifliment, and m.any others of this clafs attended, 
 if this dinner was the irritating caufe, how came it 
 to pafs that the firft obje6t of the rioters {hould be 
 9, meeting-houfe where Dr. Prieftley preached, who 
 had nothing to do with the dinner ? With more 
 propriety fiill it may be demanded^ what was the 
 reafon that thofe gentlemen who were publicly 
 known to have been the firft and moft adlive in pro- 
 jiioting the dinner, were the laft to fuffer in the de- 
 predations committed ? Mr. John Ryland, Mr, 
 Hutton, and Mr, Taylor, were none of them at the 
 dinner, and yet fo violent was the fury againft the 
 laftj that it v/as currently reported, and believed 
 among the mob, as v;ell as others, that every mill 
 find farm-houfe which were known to belono; to him 
 were threatened ; and of a lift which contained 
 feventy-two or feventy -three houfes that were 
 Tnarked to be deftroyed, it is knov/n that the num- 
 ber belonging to this gentleman formed a very large 
 propordon of the whole j whilft myfeif, though 
 amcngft the firft at the dinner, was one of the laft 
 |:hat lulfered. And how is it to be accounted for, 
 fhat^ of twelve houfes that have been deftroyed, 
 
 only 
 
to 'Dr.PneJiley, 135 
 
 only three of the whole number belonged to gentle- 
 men who dined, and not one to any member of the 
 eftablifhment ? 
 
 Here I think it may be proper to obferve, tliat 
 I have fupported a public charafler in the town 
 of Birmingham for more than twenty years, and 
 have ever been dilpofed to diftinguifh myfelf as a 
 friend to the public intereft of the community. In 
 this character it was that I felt myfelf impelled to 
 promote the dinner on the 14th of July, on the 
 principles both of humanity and of com.merce. I 
 have fufficiently declared myfelf a friend to hu- 
 manity in the hand-bill that preceded the dinner. 
 It did not feem politic to give the commercial rea- 
 fons to the public. But I now ftate, that, as a 
 friend to the town, I thought myfelf particularly 
 called upon to promote the dinner, becaufe I well 
 knew that the trade it enjoyed with Fraiice, which 
 was one of its mod valuable branches, was in danger 
 of fufFering very materially from the fpirit of dif- 
 content which the commercial treaty had very gene- 
 rally occafioned in France. And becaufe I well 
 knew that the patriotic popular party there were fo 
 much affefted by this ipirit oi diflatisfaflion, that 
 they were forming aflbciadons, and by their ex- 
 ample promodng the difufe of Englilh manufac- 
 tures. 
 
 I alfo knew that this circumftance had alarmed 
 K 4 fome 
 
136 Mr. Rufeirs Letter 
 
 fome of the firft commercial chara6ters in Birming- 
 ham. I thought nothing fo likely to do away this 
 threatening evil as to teflify, in a feafon of convivi- 
 ality, a friendly difpofition tov;ards this, the firft nation 
 in Europe, by rejoicing in its emancipation from 
 defpotifm, and in its refolutions to live in peace with 
 all mankind. I tlioiight nothing more likely to 
 promote a fpirit of concord than applauding their 
 declaration, that they would never go to war any 
 more for the fake of conqueft. I have always 
 thought peace and commerce very clofely connect- 
 ed, and therefore conceived it my duty, as a fincere 
 friend to both, and as a good citizen, to rejoice 
 publicly in this folemn harbinger of both to this 
 country. But when it appeared that my views and 
 th.ofe of my friends were mifreprefcnted by fome of 
 our neighbours, and mifconccived by others, we 
 who v/ere concerned in promoting the dinner joined 
 in publifning an advertifement which ought to have 
 fatiofied every reafonable perfon of our attachment 
 to our prefent conftitution at home ; and which 
 would no doubt have done it, had not many calum- 
 nies bte;5 circulated, and much exertion been miade 
 to prevent it by chofe vv'ho are the real authors and 
 ^ibettors cf this mifchief*. 
 
 Had 
 
 * Birmingham Commemoration of the French Re-voIu!i;f/. 
 
 Sever?.! handbiib hav;ng- been circvikited in the town which 
 can only be iiuimk-d to cre.ite diilrult concerning the intentions ot 
 ti;c meeting, to t^turb its liannony, and infianie the minds of the 
 
 people, 
 
to Dr. Prie/iky. 137 
 
 Had there not been particular meafures ufed at 
 Birmingham, the dinner there would no doubt 
 have pafled over in peace, as it did in every 
 other place in the kingdom where they were 
 held. In no place whatever was the commercial 
 part of the community fo much interefted in 
 celebrating this feftival as at Birmingham. The 
 value of the commerce of France with this 
 town and neighbourhood fhould not be publicly 
 eftimated. "When the late commercial treaty was 
 pending, the minifter was particularly folicited to 
 prevent any calculadon of its value beipg made, leil 
 its magnitude fhould be communicated to the 
 French, and impede the treaty. I can alleit, ]iow- 
 ever, from the bell authority, that one houfe alone 
 (which was among thofe that were mod defirous of 
 promoting the dinner) has exported to France to 
 the amount of fome millions of the manufaftures of 
 the town and neighbourhood of Birmingham. Yet, 
 extraordinary as it may feem, in a tov/n thus inter- 
 efled has the only difturbance of the feftivity of this 
 memorable day been found. Through the whole 
 kingdom bcfides all was peace: and yet that it 
 
 people, the gentlemen who propofed it think it necerary to declare 
 their entire dKapprobation of all luch hanJbiiis, and their ignorance 
 of the authors. Senfible therafeives of the advantages of a free go- 
 vernment, they rejoice in the extenfion of liberty to their iicigh- 
 bours, at the fame time avowing, in the mofc exj.^licit manner, their 
 tirm attachment to the conllitution of theii^ own country, as vtlkd 
 in tiie three eftates of Kirig, Lords, and Commons : furely no Jrcc- 
 born Eifs^lijhman can refrain from exulting in this addition to the ge- 
 neral mais of human happinefs. — It is the cauie oi kuiiianity -^-^^iX. is 
 the cauie of the people. 
 
 Birmingba!7t, July, 13, 1791. 
 
 would 
 
1 3 8 Mr. Rufeil ' j Letter 
 
 would not be fo here, feveral perfons befides the 
 gentleman Mr. Dadley mentioned, it now appears, 
 ventured to foretel before the day arrived. The 
 induftrious circulation of Dr. Tatham's inflam- 
 matory letter, which was diftributed gratis in the 
 public houfes of the town, the advertifement 
 which was publiihcd with the words " Incen- 
 " diary refuted" at tlie head of it, the imperdnent 
 infult of an anonymous bigot who advertifed, that 
 he would publifh a lift of the names of thofe 
 who dined at the hotel upon a black page in 
 white letters, though all of them were meafures 
 manifeftly calculated to promote a difturbance, 
 they would, I believe, have been inefFeftual, if 
 the magiftrates had not continued in town, and 
 feen without refilling fome among the mob in- 
 fult the gentlemen as tliey came to the hotel to the 
 dinner ; and if other principal gentlemen too, who 
 placed themfelves upon the Heps of Mr. Brooke's 
 houfe, the very next to the hotel, had not been 
 feen to encourage rather than difcountenance tlie 
 people. Without fome extraordinary exertions to 
 miflead the people they could not pofllbly have 
 taken ofi^ence at any thing that was faid or done by 
 the parties who met and dined. 
 
 The adverdfements that preceded the dinner 
 were as explicit as could be penned. The toafts and 
 the fongs, too, were fuch as the people would, I am 
 perfuaded, have moft cheerfully encored, had they 
 
 been 
 
to Dr, Prkftley. 139 
 
 been left to follow the didates of their own honeft 
 hearts, and to confiilt their own feelings only. Nay, 
 not a man among the High Church party itlelf, I 
 Ihould think, could have refufed to join in the clof- 
 ing lines of die fong that was prepared for the occa- 
 fion, which were : 
 
 " Let each loyal Briton then joyfully fmg, 
 
 *' The bleffings of freedom, and long live the king," 
 
 Is this language inconfiftent with the public profef- 
 fions of attachment to the conftitudon held out in 
 the advertifemcnt ? Is it not fufficiently declaratory 
 to amount of itfelf to a full proof to every impartial 
 perfon, that the meeting has been bafely calumniat- 
 ed, and that it has only been ufed as an oflenfible 
 occafion of perfecudng and vilifying the DiiTcnters? 
 And yet what is it that has been alleged againft 
 them ? Many indeed have been the frivolous 
 charges againft yourfelf, who juftly fland fo confpi- 
 cuous among us] but againft the body of Difl'enters 
 what do all the charges that have been offered 
 amount to ? 
 
 Mr. Madan has feduloufly endeavoured to give a fe- 
 rious alarm founded upon our proceedings to obtain 
 a repeal of the teft laws. But that gentleman's ap^ 
 prehenfions were totally groundlefs. Had we enter- 
 tained any unbecoming or illegal intentions, we 
 fhould not have regularly pubhfhed our proceedings 
 to the world j bqt this has been our pradice. No 
 
 refolutions, 
 
140 Mr. Rujfeirs Letter 
 
 refolutlonsj as far as I ever knew, or heard of, have 
 been formed at any of thofe meetings but what are 
 before the pnbHc. I will venture to add, there are 
 none pafied upon the late attempt, but what are 
 in every degree equalled in fpirit and firmnefs 
 by thofe which were pafied upon former occa- 
 fions, in profeccting the attempt to obtain relief 
 from iho: penalties to which DifTenters were fubjcfl 
 for keeping fchools, in which, though repeatedly 
 iinfucccfsful at firft, we were at l.:fl happy enough 
 to be redrefied. 
 
 If Mr. Burn and his brethren have any inflances 
 ofdifloyalty to charge us v/ich, any ails ofdififfec- 
 tlon to the ilate to accufe us of, let them bring 
 theni forth ; let the charge be made. When the ad- 
 verdfement exprefllng our loyalty and attachment 
 to the government of this kingdom was publiihed 
 on the 14th of July, what was further necelTary to 
 prove us good citizens ? Was it OL-coming us, who 
 v/ere confcious of none but upiight motives, and 
 imdifgaifed actions, to be deterred from an inno- 
 cent purpofe by a dread of the machinations of 
 thofe who we were told h;".d been fecretly plotting 
 mifchief againll us ? Surely not. 
 
 After expreffing myfelf thus unrefervcdly upon 
 t-eal facls, you will eafily imagine with what feel- 
 ings I read Mr. Burn's modcft infinuation of the ac- 
 tivity of the magiftratcs. He lays, p. 44, " They 
 
 " ftaid 
 
to Dr. Priejlky. 14? 
 
 " flaid in town for the exprcfs purpofe of interpof- 
 *^ ing their authority, Jhoiild my attempt he made to 
 '^ break the ■peace'* If it was fo, why did they not 
 interfere when they both heard and faw the noto- 
 rious infults ofilred to fome of the gentlemen as 
 they went into the hotel ? What did they do in thi:^, 
 the fuppofed origin of the bufinef) ? What did they, 
 when in the evening they fav/ the two meeting- 
 houfes and your houfe deftroyed ? Did they make 
 any extraordinary confcabies, or enter upon any 
 other fpirited oppofieion ? No: v/hile the meeting 
 houfes were ftill burning, and the mob deflioying 
 your furniture and your houfe, they both returned 
 home, and went very praceabiy to bed; and when. 
 two refpe6lable gentlemen went over to them at my 
 requeft early the next morning, one of them ex- 
 preffed much anger at being called out of his bed. 
 And yet the " diffident" Mr. Burn very modcflly 
 reprelents the merit of the magifrrates as approved 
 and fanclioned by one of the moil numerous and re- 
 fpedlable town meetings that was ever convened in 
 Birmingham, and fays the only proof of delinquency 
 on the part of the magifrrates was Uieir want of fuc- 
 cefs*. A flriking proof, indeed, this {ztnz affords of 
 ihii faithful df charge of their duty! as Mi-. Burn declare? 
 it ; and, that he may not lofe the full emphafis of the 
 words, he prints them in italics. I confefs, hov/ever. 
 
 * Will Mr. Burn fay that the ma:!,lftrates were ne'ther of them 
 intoxicHted with liquor, in t!ie courii of ti.e ridl evcnjzjg of thii 
 interciting and diigracetul event ? 
 
 tl?af, 
 
142 Mr, Ruffe iTs Letter 
 
 that, before this fcene of outrage, I never heard of 
 an inftance wherein a magiftrate " faithfully di/-^ 
 " charging his dutyj" in quelling a mob, when ad- 
 drelTing the rioters, whom he found in the very 
 a6b of pulling down a houfe, lliould defire them to 
 •* take care not to hurt one another.'^ And yet this is 
 one among many other proofs furnifhed upon the 
 prefent occafion. I think it renders all others fu- 
 perfluous. Otherwife many more equally in point 
 might be mentioned, as well as the following fingular 
 faift, viz. that throughout the whole of the late fcene, 
 though the juflices perfonally attended at your 
 houfe, and at feveral other houfes, whilft the rioters 
 were dedroying and burning them, the Riot A61 was 
 never once read, or even attempted to be read *. 
 
 But probably you may have already been in- 
 formed of this through another channel. I will not 
 therefore detain you any longer, for 1 fear you mull 
 already have thought this letter too long. But as in 
 writing it I have not been actuated by any defire of 
 criminating others, or retorting their malevolent 
 calumnies, I hope you will excufe its prolixity, or 
 any little degree of warmth that may appear in 
 this attempt in juftification of myfelf^ to which 
 I have fteadily endeavoured to confine my re- 
 marks. For after all that I have fuffered, and am 
 ftill fuffering, I can truly fay that I am more dif- 
 
 * A ftriking contraft this to the repeated readings of this 
 A^ when the "brothels were in danger. 
 
 pofed 
 
to Dr. Prlejlley. 14^ 
 
 pofed to pity, than to criminate the authors and 
 abettors of it. Their feafon of refledion, I hope, is 
 approaching, and I would by no means retard it by 
 any irritadng refledions. I therefore moft cheer- 
 fully clofe this letter with my bell wifhes for the re- 
 ftoration of that peace and good neighbourhood 
 which reigned amongft us at Birmingham previous 
 to this truly unexpefted and cruel interruption of it ; 
 and I am confident nothing will be wanting to pro- 
 mote it that can confifiently be required at the hands 
 of the DilTcnters. 
 
 Believe me, with more relped, gratitude, and af- 
 fe6lion, than I can exprefs. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Moll fincerely and truly yours, 
 
 Birmingham, WlLLIAM RuSSELL, 
 
 Aug. 20, 1792. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
APPENDIX, 
 
 No. h 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Scholefield^s Advertijement relating to the 
 Sunday Schools at Birmingham. 
 
 TO THE EDITOP. OF THE BIRMINGHAM GAZETTE. 
 SIR, 
 
 As Mr. Bum, in his reply to Dr. Prieilley's Ap- 
 peal, hath, in the moll: coniiclent and even exulting man- 
 ner, charged the Do6tor with a grofs and culpable mif-flate- 
 ment of fa61:s, in relation to the Sunday Schools in this 
 town, and afferts, that the refolution of allowing the chil- 
 dren of Diffenters to attend their own places of worfiiip 
 never was refcinded; you will be doing an ail of jufliice by 
 inferting the following paragraph, copied from the Bir- 
 mingham Gazette, dated 06lober 2, 1786, and greatly 
 
 obligCj 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 
 RADCLIFFE SCHOLEFIELD. 
 
 '' Piiblic OfEce, Sept. 26, 1786. 
 
 " At a General Meeting of the Suhjcribers to the Sun- 
 " day Schools in Birmingham^ held here this Evening, 
 
 " REV. MR. CURTIS IN THE CHAIR. 
 
 *' IT being reprefented to this meeting, that feve- 
 *' ral gentlemen have threatened to withdraw their fub- 
 *' fcriptions to the Sunday Schools, in confequence of an 
 
 L ♦' alteration 
 
146 APPE^TDIJC. 
 
 ♦* altcrptlon of the gencnl rtiies made at the requeft of ths 
 *' DifTenters, on Friday, the loth of March, 1786: Re- 
 •* folved> hr.i the -refokition granting that requeft (which 
 *' the Di Tenters thcmfeives have not availed themfelves of, 
 *' and adhered t^ .;. they eiigagcd) be refcinded; and that 
 '* in future the rules, as they originally flood, be fteadily 
 « attended to." 
 
 Who oi^jrht not to hare been iOTorant now? 
 
 See Burns Pamph'et, p. il. 
 P. S. As you, fir, frequently r.dniit original elTays, or ex- 
 tra6is fr : a otlier authors, vou will probably indulge me 
 with room for a Iv w reflecSLions upon the foregoing ex- 
 tradl, and Mr. Burn's extreme negligence and inattention 
 in refpeft to it. — What was meant in the refclution, by 
 the Diffcnters having not availed themfelves of it, or at- 
 tended to it, as they engaged ? I believe they are wholly 
 iminformed' to this day. Perfe61:ly fatisfied with having 
 removed fo illiberal a rellri6l;cn (a reftridlion unknown in 
 any place I have heard of, where the Eftablifhment and 
 DiiTenters had united in fupport of Sunday Schools, and a 
 confirmation of what Dr. Prieftley has obferved concern- 
 ing the unhappy fpirit prevailing in this town), I never 
 heard of their giving themfelves any farther concern about 
 it. I much queftion whether a Diffenter ever recom- 
 mended an objeft, much lefs infilled upon their attend- 
 ing a place of worfhip among the DifTenters ; if they did, I 
 have no doubt of their being attended to by their patron. 
 Of this I am firmly perfuadcd, that the refcinding of the re- 
 folution was the primary caufe of fetting up Sunday Schools 
 amongfi: themfelves, as feparate from the Eflablifliment. 
 In Sheffield, I am informed, the fubfcrlptions go all into 
 one {lock, from whence the maflers and miftrefTes of the 
 ^iflin<5t {bcieties aic regularly paid, and why the fame 
 
 plan 
 
APPENDIX. 147 
 
 {)iarl could not have been adopted here (except the fpirit 
 had prevailed which Mr. Burn fo confidently denies to 
 have an exiftence) I leave the pubKc to form their opinion 
 and judgment. — How Mr. Burn could have been ignorant 
 of a fa£l fo eafy to be proved muft be left to him, and he 
 can beft explain. From his ignorance however in this in- 
 flance the public will be ready to infer tha't his coadjutors 
 (in whofe defence he writes) have left him, as we fay, irt 
 the lurch, or that, however he blames Dr. Prieftley, as a 
 falfe accufer of the brethren, he is the firll: perfon upon 
 whom (from a certain undeniable fadl) the charadler can 
 at prefent reiT:. They will likewife be enabled to judge 
 what degree of credit is to be given to the other parts of his 
 performance, which, I have no doubt, are either in whole, 
 or in part, capable of the fame refutation ; but, as Mr. 
 Burn calls upon Dr. Prieftley himfelf, to him I fhall refer 
 the farther part of the bufinefs, only obferving, that even 
 Mr. Burn's friends may now be ready to exclaim, and he 
 himfelf feel in part the force of the exclamation in the 
 words of Juvenal r 
 
 Seti tu magf!d difcrimine cau/am, 
 Protegere affe^as, te co^/uk, die t'lbi quis ^^s. 
 
 Ere thou attempt weak caufes to fuppbrt. 
 Be furey be very fare, thou'rt able for't. 
 
 CteecFs TranJlatioHi 
 
 L 2 No. il. 
 
148 APPENDIX, 
 
 No. IL 
 
 Extract from the original Advertijement relating to the 
 Public Library at Birmingham. 
 
 Birmingham Library, Dec. 9, 1789. 
 LEST' any perfon fliould miftake the nature of 
 this I'brary, it is thought proper to give the following ge- 
 neral account of it.- This library is formed on the plan 
 
 of one that was firll eftablifhed at Liverpool, and which 
 has been fmce adopted at Manchefter, Leeds, and many 
 other confiderable towns in the kingdom. The books are 
 never to be fold ; and, from the nature of the inftitution, 
 the library rauft increafe till it contains all the moffc va- 
 luable publications in the Engliih language; and from the 
 eafy terms of admiffion, it will be a treafure of knowledge 
 both to the prefent and all fucceeding ages.. 
 
 ; As all the books are bought by a committee of perfons 
 anniially chofen by a majority of the fubfcrlbers, and every 
 vote is by ballot, this inftitution can never anfwer the pur- 
 pofe of any party, civil or religious; but, on the contrary, 
 may be expecled to promote a fpirit of liberality and friend- 
 Ihip among all clafles of men v\ ithout diftinc^ion^ 
 
 No. IIL 
 
APPENDIX. 149 
 
 No. III. 
 
 jfn Addrejs to the Suhfcribers to the Birmbigham Li- 
 brary on the Siihje^ of Mr, Cookers Motioriy to re- 
 Jlri£f the Committee in the Choice of Books, with a 
 View to exclude Controverfml Divinity. 
 
 Mr. COOKE'S MOTION. 
 
 • 
 
 MANY of the Suhfcribers to this very ufeful in- 
 ftitution are much concerned to fee a fpirit of controverfy 
 creeping into the hbrary, by the purchafe of fo many books 
 in religious difputes ; books of no real ufe, and after the 
 prefent moment mere kimber : they are re:.i but by a par- 
 ticular few, and do not anfwer the purpofe of the orioinal 
 intention, which was to collect a body of ufeful and in- 
 ftru6live literature for the ufe of poflerity, as well as the 
 prefent time. 
 
 Do6lor Prieftley, the learned author of many of the 
 books, is of that fpirited and generous turn of mind, and 
 has the fuccefs of this library fo much at heart, that, if he 
 thought them necefiary or proper, he, as the writer, would 
 prefent them. 
 
 It is requefted that the committee will at prefent order 
 no more of thofe books until the fenfe of the whole fub- 
 fcribers fliall be known at the next general annual meet- 
 ing. 
 
 It is likewife propofed to the next general annual meet- 
 ing to make a motion* for a law to exclude in future all 
 fcpok^ of controverjial divinity. 
 
 L3 T, 
 
l^ APPENDIX, 
 
 'To the Suhfcrihers to the Birmingham Library. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 A S this motion (which I have not been albe to 
 prevent being brought before you, at your next general 
 meeting) appears to me to be of confiderable confequence, 
 affefting one of the firft principles of the conftitution of 
 our Ubrary, viz. reftridling the committee in their choice of 
 books, and I am particularly appealed to in it, I take the 
 liberty to addrefs you on the fubje6l, and to give you my 
 reafons why I think it highly improper that it fliould pafs 
 into a law. I choofe to do it in this manner, becaufe it is 
 well known, that on feveral accounts, nothing can be dif- 
 cufled with advantage in a large aflembly; and by this 
 means you will have an opportunity of confidering the 
 matter coolly, and of being better qualified to vote wit!) 
 judgment on the queftion. 
 
 When you have attended to my reafons, be aflured, that 
 I {hall acquiefce in your detenr/mation, whatever it may 
 be. The library, injured as I cannot help thinking it will 
 be, by the propofed change in its conflitution, will ftill be of 
 great value to the town and neighbourhood, and deferving 
 of the encouragement of all the friends of literature. And, 
 though overruled, I fhall riot even be out of humour with 
 any of the fubfcribers, and leafl of aU with the inflitution 
 itfelf. For the greater diftin^lntfs, I fhall digeft what I 
 have to propofe to your confideration under feparate heads, 
 and I beg your difpaflionate attentioii to each of them. 
 
 I. The object of the inftitution is to provide a ftock of 
 fuch books as any of the fubfcribers may wiili to read, or to 
 ^onfuit. All other libraries of this kind throughout Eng- 
 land 
 
APPENDIX.. 151 
 
 tanil are, I believe, upon the fame liberal and exteRfive plan, 
 no fubje£ts whatever being excluded. 
 
 It haS', indeed, been faid, that it is contrary to the origi- 
 nal defign of the inftltution to admit books of rt/igious con- 
 trovcrfy, B^jt I dehre to fee the evidence of this. Your 
 printed laws, and alfo yoxiiX periodical edvertifcments, whicli 
 were all drawn up by myfelf, fay nothing on the fubjec^.. 
 If we look back to the hiflory of the library, we fhall find 
 two cpochas, viz. the firft inilitution, in tlie year before I 
 <:ame to Birmingham, and in the year after, the new m.o- 
 .delling of its conilitution according to the plan of that of 
 Leeds. Thofc who were concerned in the iirft plan fay, 
 that when it was propofed by fome perfon to exckide books 
 relating to the three profeflions, the motion was abfoluttly 
 reje6led. The nev/ mocielling of the conftitution was, in a 
 great meafure, made by myfelf; and I am fure it was not 
 my intei\tion, or that of any who acted with me, to exclude 
 jntereftlng publications of any defcription whatever. 
 
 II. The propofed regulation is unnecefTary. For if any 
 evil whatever exifl in the condu6f of the library, the con- 
 ilitution of it is fuch, as that a fufEcient remedy is always 
 provided in the method of choofmg the conmiittee, fince 
 they are annually chofen by the fubfcribers at large. No- 
 thing, therefore, can be wanted but iriore attention in the 
 fubfcribers in choofmg the committee, ar.ij in the commit- 
 tee when they are cliofcn. It is alwayj deemed wrong tQ 
 alter a regulation that is generally ufeful for the fake of a 
 particular inconvenience. The time mav come when the 
 fubfcribers in general ihall change their opinion, and then 
 they will wi(h for an adminlllration, like the prcfent, v/hicl> 
 will always change with themfcives. 
 
 III. The committee ihould confiJcr thcinfelvcs as re- 
 prefenting the fubfcribers at large, and, without conf^lting 
 ^heir own inclination, endeavour to oblige as many of them 
 
 L j^ 'as 
 
1^2 APPENDIX. 
 
 as they can, and all if poffible. It has been the cudom to 
 order books which it was well known could intereft only a 
 few of the body. But it was thought that even a few had 
 a right to be gratified, if it could be done without a difpro- 
 portionate expence. 
 
 IV. The readers of theology among the fuhfcribers tq 
 this library are more numerous, and more refpc6lable, thaq 
 the author of the motion imagines, and they think they 
 have a riglit to be gratified even to a greater extent than 
 they hitherto have been ; confidering that, of perhaps feveq 
 or eight hundred pqunds that have been expended in the 
 purchafe of books, the price of all the publications objefted to 
 has not been five pounds. As far a? I can judge, the prin- 
 cipal controverfy to which thofe books relate is not likely 
 to produce many more expenfive publications, and another 
 controverfy, equally intereftlng, may not arife in many 
 years. 
 
 V. It has been faid that, by the introdudlion of books of 
 controverfy, the DilTenters only will be gratified. This is 
 by no means true ; many members of the church of Eng- 
 land being as much friends to free enquiry (and vyilhing to 
 have the means of prprnoting it in this library) as any Dif- 
 fenters. But admitting this to be the cafe, it fliould be 
 confidered that the founders of the inftitution were all Dif- 
 fenters ; as they have been, I believe, of almoft every infti- 
 tution of the fame nature through the kingdom. Some re- 
 fpe6t is, therefore due to them, and to their liberality, in 
 purpofely conftituting the library in fuch a manner, as 
 that their particular influence mufi; necefiarily be excluded, 
 whenever they il^ould be, as they now are, a minority. 
 
 VI. Books of controverfy havp, farther, been objected 
 to, as being of a temporary nature. But it has been the 
 conftant cuflom to buy any books, or pamphlets, on in- 
 Jercfling fubjccls, hov^-ever temporary. And it is defirable 
 
 that 
 
APPENDIX. 153 
 
 that tills librar}'- Hiould be a repofitory for things of this 
 kind, as they are often curious, and perfous have occafion 
 fometimes to looic back to them. 
 
 VII. The controverfy that I am now carrying on with 
 the learned defenders of the do£trine of the Trinity, grows 
 every day more interefting, efpecially as it has gained the 
 attention of the two univerfities. The pubhcations relat- 
 ing to it are, I believe, in moft, if not all, the libraries of 
 the fame nature with this ; and it would be very extraordi- 
 nary indeed, if they fliould be excluded from this of Bir- 
 mingham only, where it may well be fuppofed that more 
 attention will be drawn to them. My controverfy with 
 the Jews alfo promifes to be highly interefling, as it ac- 
 tually engages the attention of the Jewifli nation in all parts 
 of Europe, and is the only one that ever has done it. 
 
 VIII. The works that have been chiefly complained of, 
 viz. the Hijlory of the Corruptions of Chrifllanity , and that 
 of Early Opinions concerning Chr'i/i, are not of a temporary 
 nature, but a colleilion of materials, which will be ufefui 
 in future time, if they be of any ufe at prefent. In tlie 
 former of them, there are not more than t%vo articles, out 
 of a great number, that can give the leaft offence to any 
 Proteflant who is not a Calvinill:. And one part of it is a 
 defence of Chriftlanity, in anfwer to Mr. Gibbon, whofe 
 hiftory is in the library. 
 
 IX. It is obferved in the propofed motion, that if I had 
 thought my ovv'n controverfial writings proper for the li- 
 brary, I would have prefented them to it. In anfwer to 
 this I mufl fay, that I fliould very readily have made a pre- 
 fent of them, but that I thoug'it it would be obje6fed to, as 
 a inethod of obtruding them upon the librarv. I alfo ima- 
 gined that it w^ not the price of the books, but the books 
 themfelves, that were objedted to. 
 
 So far, however, have I been from being forward to in- 
 
 troduqs 
 
154 APPENDIX. 
 
 troduce books of religious controverfy, that for two years I 
 prevented the introdu(5lion of my Hljlory of the Corruption's 
 cf Chr'ijliamty into the library. This at that time gave of- 
 fence to many, and it was faid, that my motive for it was 
 to promote the fale of the work in the town. At the fame 
 time I repeatedly faid in the committee, that, whenever the 
 funds of the focietyfhould be fufficiently ample (as theynow 
 .certainly are) I fliould have no obje6llon to publications 
 in any interefting controverfy, provided the choice was im- 
 partial, fo that no favour was fhewn to any one party more 
 than to another. 
 
 When the above mentioned work was ordered, it was en- 
 tirely unknown to me, and much againft my will, by 
 members of the church of England. A particular friend of 
 mine (Mr. RufTell) being prefent, and knowing my 
 wifiies, voted againft it. I will add that it is very poffible 
 I might have ufed my endeavours much longer to keep out 
 of the library eyery book of this nature, if it had not been 
 for the unreafonable offence that was taken at the ordering 
 of that work, by feveral of the clergy, their intemperate, 
 and, I will take the liberty to fay, their childifh behaviour, 
 on the occafion. Whether this change of my condu(5l, in 
 thefe circumftances, was natural or juftifiable, I appeal to 
 the feelings of any man. I never took any meafure to in- 
 troduce any publication of mine except the Leiten to Dr. 
 Home, Sec. v/hcn they had been reje6led, and the anfwer to 
 them admitted, which I thought an uncandid and unfair 
 proceeding. I alfo recommended the Theological RepoJitory\ 
 of which I am the publiflier. But this was neceffary to 
 the controverfies already introduced. It is, befides, a work 
 open to all parties It contains feveral articles againft So- 
 cinianifm, and many others that muft give the greateft fatif- 
 fadlion to all the friends of Chriftianity, of every denomi- 
 nation. 
 
 Wlicn 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 When my work, contrary to my wiflies, was intro- 
 duced, I propofed Dr. Horjlcy s Anjuiers ; and I have con- 
 ftantly voted for every thing written againft myfelf. 
 
 X. They who have objedled the moft to the introduc- 
 tion of books of controverjfy are the clergy, no doubt think- 
 ing fuch books improper for the perufal of the fubfcribers 
 to this hbrary. But they diftributed a pamphlet, entitled, 
 ^Prefervat'ive aga'injl Soc'iniamfm,, to all who were confirmed 
 at the late vifitation. And, if controverfial treatifes be pro- 
 per for the perufal of boys and girls, or of their parents, 
 they certainly cannot be improper for the fubfcribers to this 
 library. This conduft looks as if they were not controver- 
 fial treatifes in general that they objedled to, but thofe only 
 in which their peculiar opinions were oppofed ; and that 
 they could not decently decide againft thofe on one fide of 
 the queftion without rejedling all. I would not be un- 
 candid ; but I appeal to all that are candid, whether this be 
 not the moft natural conftruflion of their condu6l, and 
 whether it does not betray a fufpicion of the influence of 
 reafon and argument, and a dread of free inquiry. 
 
 XI. Others hate religions controverfy becaufe they hate 
 religion^ having no belief in Chriftianity. Thefe will vote 
 with the friends of the eftabliftaed church, whatever it be, 
 in all fuch queftions as thofe, but on very different principles. 
 If there be any fuch among us, they ought, in decency, to 
 decline giving any vote at all. Otherwife their condu6l 
 will be the fame with that of the dog in the manger. They 
 will neither read any books relating to religion themfelves, 
 nor fujffer others to read them. 
 
 XII. No objedlion was made to feveral books of con- 
 troverfy before ray Hijlory of the Corruptions of Chrifllanity^ 
 was voteJ into the library, fuch as Mr. White's Sermons^ 
 and Mr,^ Howes's Obfervatlons on Books, which are all con- 
 
 troverliaU 
 
156 APPENDIX. 
 
 troverfial. And both thefe writers are among my anta-. 
 tagonifls. 
 
 XIII. The committee will be unfpcakably embarraffed 
 by diftinguifhing books of controverfy from others, and 
 many works, highly valuable on other accounts, are in part 
 fo. If controverfy be tvholly excluded, we muft even have 
 no Reviews, and no Gentleman's Mag-azine. 
 
 Under the defcription of religious cuifoverfy may fall ma- 
 ny publications which the fubfcribers in general would 
 wifh to fee» If, for inftance, Mr Gibbon iliould refume 
 his attack on the evidences of Chrifti^nity, and an Englifh 
 bifhop, as has been the cafe, fhould undertake the defence 
 of it, muft fuch interefting publications be excluded from 
 fuch a library as ours, becaufe they are rellgio^ts controverfy? 
 In fuch a cafe as this (and many other fuch might be men- 
 tioned) the law would either be repealed, or, which is al- 
 ways a bad thing, would be explained away, and evaded. 
 
 This is a fuppofed cafe, but I fliall mention two real 
 ones, to Ihew how improper, if not impoffible, it will be 
 for any committee to aft as the friends of the motion 
 would have them. At one of our late meetings a clergy- 
 man whom I truly refpedt propofed to us Father Courayers 
 Declaration of his lafl Sentiments concerning Religion; and 
 certainly a publication of fo much curiofity, and fo much 
 talked of, was highly proper for our library. Accordingly 
 it was voted unanimoufly. But it is, in fa6l, a book of con- 
 troverfial divinity (which is fo much the bugbear at pre- 
 fent), for the author gives his reafons for all his opinions, 
 efpecially on the fubjeft of the Trinity^ and appears to have 
 died an Unitarian. 
 
 On the other hand, at our laft meeting, the fecond part 
 9f my Letters to a Philofophical Unbeliever, which I fcruple 
 jiot to fay is one of the moft valuable of all my publica- 
 tions, 
 
APPENDIX. 157 
 
 tions, and the mofl proper for the library, was rejected, 
 though it is a cufloni (and I behave was never departed 
 from bui'ore) to adaiit all continuations of works once voted 
 in without any balloting at all, not to lay, that, in other 
 fimilar inftitutions, it is a rule to receive any publication of 
 a fubfcriber, whatever li; be. I was prefent, and declined 
 giving any vote on the occafiori ; only obferving, that the 
 book did not relate to the do6lrine of the Trinity, and 
 therefore that they did not need to be afraid of it. Fear, 
 liowever, the fear of fome lurking mifchlef, prevailed. No 
 rcafons were given, but a fufficient number of filent and de- 
 ciiive votes. 
 
 XIV. Some perfons are, or afFe6t to be, alarmed left 
 this difpute Ihouid break up the library. I have no fuch 
 apprehenfions. It is fo well ccnftituted as to be able to 
 bear much more than this. Should the fubfcribers at 
 large, after mature confideration, not only admit the mo- 
 tion, but repeal the moft fundamental law of the conllitu- 
 tion, by throwing out of the library any of the books that 
 were regularly voted into it, I fliall acquiefce ; trufling that 
 in due time good temper, and good fenfe, will refume their 
 natural influence. For, though prejudice may have more 
 apparent ftrength, and a6l with more violence, rcafon has 
 better ftamina, and will outlive it. 
 
 As fome things are bell illuilrated by comparifons, I hope 
 no offence will be taken at the following. Suppofe a num- 
 ber of gentlemen agree to have an annual public dinner, 
 and appoint flewards to condu6l the entertainment. Thefe 
 ofHcers, confidering the number, and confequently the 
 different taftes, of tliofe for whom they have to provide, 
 befides fuch fubftantial boiled and roafted meat as fait 
 every body, and alfo fifli, venifon, and turtle, which many 
 like, but feldom fee, may think proper to add a delTert, 
 confifting of ices, fyllabubs, fweetmeats, &;c. and likewife 
 
 think 
 
15^ APPENDIX. 
 
 think it not amifs, on fuch an occaiioTv to introduce Cucii 
 things as olives, &c. which, though not generally relifhed, 
 Jome fancy. 
 
 If, on feeing this defTert, any of the company fhould fay, 
 *' I diilike thefe olives, and vviili they might not be intro- 
 *' duced ;" would he not be thought very unreai'oiiable. 
 If he iliould fay, he was confident that not one tenth part 
 of the company would tafle them ; mi^jit it not be faid, 
 that even a tenth, or a much fmaller proportion, of the 
 company, had a right to be obliged in fuch a trifle. He 
 might fay, that olives were unwholefome, and unfit for 
 any body to eat. But might it not be replied, that ncifaer 
 iiimfelf, nor any body eife, was obliged to eat of them, and 
 tliat others ought to judge for themfelves If he fhouH fay, 
 *' But my money is expended on this abfurd article, ' hich 
 *' I think a great harllfhip ;" it might be replied, that the 
 money of the refl of the company was expended •n things 
 that were agreeable to himfelf, and, perhaps, only a few 
 others. 
 
 He might add, " olives will do my wife, or niy children, 
 *' hurt, and I would not bring them into temptation.'^ 
 But it might be replied, " Sir, you m.ufi: take the beft care 
 *' you can of your wife and children. This is not the only 
 *' place in which they will be in danger of feeing olives, 
 " or hearing of them." Perhaps, heated by the alterca- 
 tion, he might add, " If thefe abominable olives be ad- 
 *' mitted, though they iliould not cofl a groat, I and my 
 *' friends will abfolutely kick down the table, demolifh 
 *' the furniture of the room, and prevent any body from 
 «' dining here any more;" would not a fenfible friend tell 
 him, that if this was a point on which he laid fo much 
 ftrefs, he would do well to decline being of the party, and^ 
 avoid all public dinners, where he would always be in dan- 
 ger of meeting with thefe ofFenfive olives. 
 
 g I woujd^ 
 
APPENDIX. 159 
 
 I would be far from infinuating by this compailfon, that 
 books of rehgious controverfy refemble fuch a trifle as olives 
 in a deiTert, except with rcfpeiSl to the fmall expence attend- 
 ing them. Rehgious truth is, in itfelf, invaluable ; and 
 that the inveftigation of it is as plealing to an ingenious 
 mind as that of any philofophical truth, I appeal to thofe 
 who are acquainted with both. Others cannot be compe- 
 tent judges in the cafe. They defpife what they do not un- 
 derftand. 
 
 I fhall conclude this addrefs with obferving, that it is 
 merely as a friend to the library, and the reputation of it 
 (which I really think will be materially afFe6led by any 
 meafure that would reftriil the committee in the choice of 
 books) that I wifh to prevent the motion from pafling into 
 a law. As the author of the publications principally ob- 
 jected to, I fliould be moll: gratified by their being excluded 
 altogether, as this circumftance would draw much more 
 attention upon them, and make them more generally read 
 than they would otherwife be. 
 
 Submitting thefe obfervations to your candid attention, 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 
 Birmingham, j^ PRIESTLEY. 
 
 Aug. 14, 1787. 
 
 Catiiiidus imperti. 
 
 'Si quid novijli rtSltus ijlis. 
 
 No. IV, 
 
i6o APPENDIX.^ 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Extra5f from fhe free Addrejs to Protejiant Dijfenlers^ 
 as Juch, 
 
 IT is alio natural for the DifTenters to wifh well 
 to every mild admiuillration, which fecures to them their 
 privileges, and oppofes the attempts of a bigoted and head- 
 ftrong multitude, of clergy or laity, to opprefs them. For 
 the fame reafon, too, when the country, by its eftabliflied 
 laws, favours the interefi: of the DiiTenters, fo that they 
 have a legal right to their privileges, they naturally confider 
 their country, and its laws, as their guardians, and will fire- 
 nuoufly oppofe all the encroachments of the prerogative on 
 the conftitution, and on the rights of the fubje6\s in general. 
 For they mull: be fenfible, that the eftablifhed laws of a free 
 community muft be a better fecurityfor their privileges than 
 the will of any fmgle man whatever. They have too much 
 at flake to be willing to hold it on fo precarious a tenure- 
 It alfo clearly follows, from the fame principle oifclf-tn~ 
 tcrejl, independent of gratitude, that the more indulgence 
 Diffenters meet with from the government, the ftronger 
 will be their attachment to it. Though, therefore, it fhould 
 feem proper to the legiflature to give a preference to one 
 mode of religion, by a legal provifion for the maintenance 
 of its minillers, it is clearly for its intereft to attach all 
 DiiTenters to it, as much as pofiible, by a participation of 
 civil privileges ; and it is both injuflice, and bad policy, in 
 civil governors, to debar themfelves from the fervice of men 
 of ability and integrity, and, at the fame time, to alienate 
 their affections, by fuch an opprobrious exclujion from civil 
 honours. 
 
 Yet, though I think it right that thefe things ihould h& 
 
 publicly 
 
APPENDIX. i6i 
 
 ^■aWicly fald, that they may have weight with thofe whom 
 it may concern, far would I be from encouraging the leaft 
 tendency towards difafFe<51:ion in the DiiTenters to the prefent 
 conflitution of England. Imperfe6L as it is, and hard as 
 the prefent laws bear upon us DiiTenters in fome refpe6ts, 
 our fituation in England is, upon the whole, fuch as we 
 have great reafon to be thankful to divine providence for, 
 being abundantly more eligible than it would be in any 
 other country in the world ; and it is not fo defirable to ob- 
 tain even a jufl right by clamour and contention, as by the 
 continuance of a prudent and peaceable behaviour. 
 
 This may Convince our legiflators, that we are deferving 
 of their indulgence; Men who harbour no refentment, 
 though under a reftraint, of the injuftice and unreafonable- 
 nefs of which they are fully fenfible, muil be poiTelTed of 
 generofity enough to be capable of the mod grateful and 
 firm attachment to the hand that frees them from the re- 
 ftraint. If a man have man;nanlmitv enoufrh not to bear* 
 malice againfl an enemy, much more will he be fufceptlble 
 of a generous zeal for his friend. 
 
 Befides, though, from a regard to the honour and in- 
 tisrert of our country, it is to be wilhed that Diflenters 
 might be admitted to all civil offices of honour and trufl-, 
 in common with others, their fellow- fubjedls, who have 
 no better title to them in other refpe6ls: yet a perfon who 
 fliould confult the interelt of the Diffentcrs only, as a body 
 of men who feparate themfelves from a principle of religion^ 
 without regard to the intereft of the community at large, 
 might, perhaps, hefitate about taking any fteps to procure 
 an enlargement of their privileges. 
 
 Profefling a religion which inculcates upon us that we 
 are not of this world, but only in a courfe of difcipline, tp 
 train us Up for a better, it is worth confidering, whether a 
 
 M fituation. 
 
f^2- APPENDIX. 
 
 iituation, in which more fcope would be given to ambitiorfj 
 and other paiTions, the tendency of which is to attach us to 
 this world, is to be wiflied for by us. Should not a Chrif- 
 tian, as fuch (though' he fhould by no means fecrete him- 
 felf from fociety, or decline any opportunity of ferving his 
 friend, or his country, when divine Providence feems ta 
 call him out to the fphere of a6live life) be content to pafs 
 xinmolefted in the private walks of life, rejoicing, as his- 
 mafter did, in doing all kind offices to his fellow-creatures,- 
 without, afpiring at civil power, and thofe honorary diftinc- 
 tions, with which the hearts of the men of this world are fo 
 much captivated, and, very often, fo fatally infnared. 
 
 As our Lord warned his difciples, that the %vorld would 
 Jove its own, and would hate them, becaufe they were not 
 of the world ; and that he w^ho would follow him, muflr 
 take up his crofs to do it; is it not, ctst ens paribus, more pro- 
 bable that we are thefe difciples, when we fuffer forae de- 
 gree of perfecution, and are rather frowned upon by the 
 powers of this world, than if we had free accefs to all the 
 emoluments of it ? Certainly fuch a fituation is far more 
 favourable to our gaining that fuperiority of mind to the 
 world, which is required of all Chriftians, whatever be their 
 llation in it. We know that, if perfecution Jhould arife on 
 account of the ivord, we muft be ready to forfake houfes, 
 lands, relations, and all the endeanuents of life, rather than 
 make fliipwreck of faith and of a good confcience; and 
 that, in thofe trying times, if we deny Chrifl, he will alfo 
 deny us. Then he that would fave his life fliall lofe it, and 
 he only that is willing to lofe his life, fliall fave it to life 
 eternal. This, Chriftians, is the tenure on which we hold 
 all the bleflings of the gofpel. 
 
 . Now, if this be the temper to which we are to be formed, 
 whether perfecution ihould actually arife, or not, what 
 
 kind 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 Icirid of a fituatiofi fhould we (from the knowledge we 
 have of human nature) prefcribe, as the mofl: favourable for 
 the purpofe ? Certainly, not one in which we fhould have 
 nothing to bear or to fufFer, and where every thing fliould 
 be juft^as v/e could wifli it. A mind accuftomed to this 
 treatment would be ill prepared for encountering the va- 
 rious hardships of the Chriftian warfare, in a time of perfe- 
 cution. In a fituation in every refpecSl favourable to the 
 purfuits and enjoyments of this life, it would not be eafy 
 for a man to attain to any thing like a fatisfa£lory conviction, 
 that he had the proper temper and difpofition of a Chriftian. 
 Habits of mind are not acquired by putting cafes (which, 
 however, perfons would little think of doing, when the 
 cafes were not likely to occur) but by a6lual experience 
 and feeling. A habit of caution can never be given to a 
 child by admonition only. It is by frequent hurts that he 
 learns to take care of himfelf. So likewife courage and 
 fortitude are acquired by being frequently expofed to pains 
 and hardfliips, by exerting our powers, and feeling the be- 
 nefit of fuch exertion. 
 
 All thefe things duly confictered, a man who entertains 
 the truly enlarged fentiments of Chriftianity, and is fenfibld 
 how momentary and infignificant are all the things of this 
 world, in comparifon with thofe of a future, will, in pro- 
 portion to the influence of thefe views, be lefs impatient of 
 the difRcultics and reftraints he may lie under in a civil ca- 
 pacity. He will more eafily acquiefce in a fituation not 
 perfeftly eligible, when he is prepared even to bear tlie 
 greateft fufferings that can befall him in this life with 
 Chriftian fortitude, patience, and refignation ; at the fame 
 time that the benevolence of his heart is alwavs ready ta 
 take the form of the moft generous patriotifmi, whenever 
 there occurs a clear and great caufe to exert it. If a true 
 M % Chriftian 
 
i64 APPENDIX. 
 
 Chriftian be confcious that he is engaged in a good c^XiCCf 
 he, of all men, has the leaft reafon to fear zuhat man can do- 
 unto him, and therefore he is more to be depended upon, in 
 any critical emergence, than any other perfon whatever. 
 
 A Diffen^er, then, who is fo upon principle, who h"^, con- 
 fequently, the jufteft notions of the n.atui-e and importance 
 of civil and religious liberty ; who is, on many accounts, 
 thorotighly fenfible of the bleffings of a mild and equal go- 
 vernment, and^, therefore, heartily attached to the interefi 
 of that conftitution which allows him the rights which he 
 values fo highly ; whofe mind is prepared to bear irremedi- 
 able hardihips with patience, but whofe ailive courage, in 
 cafes in which the great interefts of his country call him to 
 exert himfelf, may be depended upon, is a very valuable 
 member of civil fociety. Such a man will fcorn the mean 
 arts of court intrigue. If he can gain his laudable ends, 
 and be admitted to his natural rights, as a loyal Britifh fub- 
 je6l, bv fair and open means, he will not defpife it ; but he 
 will rather continue to fufFer unjuftly, than proftitute his 
 intereft to a corrupt, profligate, and oppreffive adminillra- 
 lion. 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Copy of the Forged Letter found at my Houfe, 
 i6th Julyy 1791. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR, 
 
 I A M now provided with every thing neceffary, 
 and will be ready at the time appointed to aflifl in endea- 
 vouring to attain that long looked for by us, and root out 
 the conftitutional men who have wielded the fhield againll 
 our rights as free-men, and truft you will alfo exert your- 
 
 felf, 
 
APPENDIX. iftS 
 
 •felf, and get all our friends to be ready at tlie fame time, 
 
 to make the grand pufli. In expecSlation of that and fuccefs, 
 
 1 am, dear Do6tor, 
 
 Your true friend, 
 London, WILLIAM RUSSELL, 
 
 May 2, 1-/9?. 
 
 No. VL 
 
 J[dr. Ahel Humphry s's Jdvertifenient relaivjg to th^i 
 Calumny of Mr. IVilliam Gem. 
 
 TO THE PUBLIC. 
 Mr. WILLIAM GEM, refident with his father 
 i,n New Street, in this town, having had the effrontery to 
 affert fome time ago in public company, at the Dog Inn, 
 in Spiceal Street, that — '•'■ meeting at Lady W ell Buths the 
 *' young Mejfrs. Humphry fes^ one of them had, in his pre- 
 *■'■ fence, expreffed a vjij'h to vjade up to his chin in churchmen s 
 *' blood, and that he, irr dated at fuch an cxpreffion, injiantly 
 " knocked him into the ivatcr,''^ together with other parti- 
 culars, equally unfounded, but tending to give an air of 
 plaufibility to his tale, they find it neceffary thus publicly 
 to expofe his chara6ler, that they may defend their own. 
 
 Upon the earlieft intimation of the exiltence of the re- 
 port, having traced it through its various channels, and 
 found Mr. Gem its fole author, one of them waited upon 
 that gentleman, and demanded an explanation. He witli- 
 out hefitation confeiTed himfelf the fabricator of the ca- 
 lumny, begged pardon, and pleaded intoxication. This at 
 tliat time they deemed fufficient ; but on perceiving the 
 prevalence of the report, that it had even become the topic 
 pf cor^verfation in alehoufes, and in manvifii(£t&ries, they 
 r M ^ found 
 
s66 APPENDIX. 
 
 found it necefiary again to wait upon that gentleman, ii^ 
 company with a very refpeflable attorney, and to require 
 that his apology fliould be public. This reafonable requefl, 
 though he again acknowledged the criminality of his con- 
 duit, he refufed to comply with, and it is this refufal which 
 pow conftraius them to proclaim him to the world an un- 
 principled calumniator. 
 
 So cruel and unmerited an attack upon the characters of 
 young men would, at all times, be infamous; but when 
 made upon the chara£ters of thofe with whom he was 
 totally unacquainted, in whofe company he had never been, 
 and the fons of a man already the victim of popular delu- 
 fion, its infamy is extreme. 
 
 Inhuman mull be the heart that could conceive the idea ; 
 but what language can define the m,an that could preme- 
 ditatelv afcribe it to the innocent ? 
 
 At another time they had perhaps trufled to their known 
 charadlers to repel the charge ; but in the prefent feafon of 
 alarm, when party fpirit eagerly nurtures every wicked de- 
 famation, in juflice to themfelves, and to the body to which 
 they belong, they are bound to expofe the defamer who can 
 thus wantonly worry their innocent reputation. 
 For felf and brothers, 
 
 Birmingham, ABEL HUMPHRYS. 
 
 June 19, 1792, 
 
 No. VII. 
 
 Copy of a Letter intended to he addrejfed to the Clergy 
 of the 'Town of Birmingham, 
 
 PENTLEMEN, 
 
 I WOULD addrefs you by the title of my bre-' 
 ihrm In the Chrfuan mmiftyy^ if I did not think it might 
 pffend you, find the objed of this addrefs is not irritation. 
 
APPENDIX. 167 
 
 ^ut peace. As you, and the mod: zealous frjends of the 
 eftabhllied church, now lee the fatal confequence^ of harlh 
 "language, and harfh meafures with us, I am willing to think 
 you will have no obje6lion to trying a different condudl. 
 The dreadful efte6ls of violence fhould teach you modera- 
 tion, and urge you to exprefs this moderation in the cleareft 
 and leaft equivocal manner. Then a lafling peace may be 
 eftablifhed, and from this your caufe will be a greater 
 gainer than ours. 
 
 In the laft eleven years, in which you have fhewn a dif- 
 pofition peculiarly hoftile to the Diffenters, thev liave in- 
 creafed in an unprecedented proportion. Not lefs thaa 
 ten new congregations of Diffenters, or Methodifts, have 
 been formed in that time. Two places of worfliip are ajc 
 this time building, and another is intended. We are only 
 looking out for a proper fituation. In the mean time, 
 though yoMr places of worfliip are but five, thofe who 
 attend public worfliip in them are little, if at all, increafed. 
 
 But let huftilities ceafe, though we are gainers by them. 
 It is for your advantage that they fhould ; and as a fure 
 pledge of reconciliation, good will, and friendfhip, gene- 
 roufly allow us the ufe of your churches, till our meeting- 
 houfes can be rebuilt. We contribute to the fupport and 
 repairs of them as much as yourfelves, and this is but a fmali 
 advantage ivi return. It has been long ago dearly purchafed 
 by us. We fhall not interfere with your hours of worihip. 
 We fhall not profane or defile them, We will preach ia 
 them the gofpel of peace, and we will blefs and pray for you 
 in them. If any thing can enfure the continuance of your 
 ^hurch, it will be fuch lenient meafures as thefe. 
 
 The thing that I propofe is far from being new In the 
 Chriftian world. There are churches in feveral parts of 
 Germany alternately occupied by Catholics and Proteftants, 
 ever fmce the Reformation, and no ingot^venience what- 
 
 M A evcr» 
 
 / 
 
i68 APPENDIX. 
 
 ever, but much good, has arifen from it. When one of 
 your churches was 'rebuilding, the Diffenters of the place 
 lately offered the members of the eflablifhment the ufe of 
 their meeting-houfe, and the various denominations of Dif- 
 fenters, who differ from one another in fentiment as much 
 as they do from you, make no difficulty of accommodating 
 one another on fuch ocCvifions. The ufe of the new 
 meeting-houfe, now in ruins, was given to the Indepen- 
 dents when, on a particular occafion, they wanted a place 
 larger than their own ; and whenever it fliall be rebuilt, I 
 will anfwcr for its being at your fervice, or that of any 
 other denomination of Chriftians whatever. 
 
 Believe me, that this or fome other meafure, that fliall 
 ihew the decreafe of bigotry, is abfolutely neceffary for the 
 peace of the town, and the good of the country. It is ne- 
 ceffary on the part of the clergy in general, and of the court 
 too. By the manner in which our late applications for the 
 repeal of the tefi: laws were reje61:ed, more than the re- 
 je6lion itfelf, the country at large has taken up the idea, 
 that the Diflenters, and efpeeially the Preibyterians, and 
 Unitarian Diffenters, are odious to government, and that 
 all connexion with them is to be fliunned by the friends of 
 the church and of the king ; an idea which may have thq 
 moft fatal confequences. 
 
 What mufl be the feelings of a fet of men, confcious of 
 no crime, but who confider themfelves as the beft citizens, 
 9nd when induftry, peaceable behaviour, and loyalty, have 
 been approved at all times, but efpeeially fmce the abdica- 
 tion of their enemies the Stuarts, and who vv^ere always 
 deemed the beft friends of the family on the throne, finding 
 themfelves now regarded in a different light, and as it were 
 profcnhed by the government under which they live ? And 
 what muft be the fentiments of others towards perfons in 
 jiiis fituation ? It is like fetting a price upon our heads, and 
 
 inviting 
 
APPENDIX. 169 
 
 inviting tlie mob to infult us, as of late they have done in 
 almoft all parts of England. ' 
 
 It is highly neceffary, therefore, for the peace of the 
 country, (which, as its burdens and difficulties increafe, 
 requires the united ftrength of the whole, to enable it to 
 bear themj that the bifhops, and the court itfelf, fhould 
 take feme meafares to convince the public that they con- 
 fider us ?.s worthy not only of protcdion, but of confidence. 
 The late riots will give them a good opportunity of doing 
 fomething that fhall have this tendency, and their concur- 
 rence in the repeal of all penal laws in matters of religion 
 would not hurt, but greatly flrengthen, the eftablifhment, 
 and abate the animofity of all fe6fs; who would, with infi- 
 nitely lefs relu£lance, contribute to the fupport of a relio-ious 
 fyftem which left them accefs to all civil privileges, and did 
 not fet a mark upon them, as people not truft worthy. 
 
 By all means, let tlie prefent opportunity, in fome way 
 or other, be improved in favour of future peace and har- 
 mony. Such another will never, I hope, be given us- 
 Otherwife, no man can tell what may be the efFefl of the 
 animofity which through all England will be increafed by 
 it. Our difcuffion of particular doiSirines may go on as 
 before. Inquiries into religious truth have no tendency to 
 break the peace of fociety, even though writers fliould not 
 always condu6t themfelves as becomes fcholars and gentle- 
 men. Do you, the clergy of the efiiablifhed church, do 
 your part in this work of peace ^ and labour of love, and our 
 governors will be more ready to do theirs. For it can only 
 be to oblige the church, that the Difi^enters have been 
 frowned upon as they have been. Let us, mutually weep- 
 ing over the difmal fcene that is now before us, embrace as 
 brothers, whofe eyes are opened, and who will not again 
 [uffer them to be blinded by our common enemy, ■partj 
 
I70 APPENDIX. 
 
 Jpirit. I call this a common enemy, becaufe it is hollriie to 
 oiu" common Chrifcianity, and is too apt to afFe6l us all. 
 
 My own principles and condu6l, though they are confpi- 
 cuous enough in my writings, have been induflrioufly 
 jnifreprefented. But without looking back to the paft, let 
 us mutuallv fign an a^ of cbUvion, and hope for better 
 times in future. I love ray country, notwithftanding all 
 the defedls in its conftitution, whicli I therefore earneftly 
 wifh may be removed. And fuch reforms as are eafily 
 pra6iicable, and by which all parties would be gainers, 
 would for ever remove the neceflity, and with that the 
 prefent dread, of any great revolution. While this country 
 is tenable for me, I fliall think myfelf happy to flay in it. 
 When it is untenable, I thank God that others, and thofe 
 not undefirable ones, are ready to receive me, and efpe- 
 cially I truft a country more diflant, but infinitely pre- 
 ferable to them all. Hoping to meet you there, notwith- 
 flanding we may now and then fall out by the way, I am, 
 
 firom my heart, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your well wiflier, and 
 
 A friend of peace, 
 
 London, J. PRIESTLEY. 
 
 July 20, 1791. 
 
 No. VIII, 
 
 Extra^l from a "Letter infer ted in the Sh'ewjhury Chro- 
 nicky Sept, 14, 17 91. 
 
 For the Shrcvofiiiry Chronicle. 
 MR. PRINTER, 
 
 S-INCE Dr. Prieftley continues to breath out his 
 threatenjngs againft the eilablifhment of this country, and 
 \o difFufe his prognoflications of the fpeedy downfall of 
 
 what 
 
APPENDIX. 17* 
 
 what he has blafphemoully called, " The idolati'ous Wor- 
 •*' fhip of Jesus Christ ;" and fmce long experience 
 evinces that arguments the moll demonftrative, drawn from 
 the only fource whence man can derive any knowledge of 
 Divine things, are all thrown away npon him : I fubmit it 
 to the confideration of thofe vvhofe immediate duty it is to 
 watch over the Chrifiian religion, as part of the funda- 
 mental law of this reahn, Whether it be not incumbent ou 
 them to put the flatutes in force againft him as a Blaf- 
 phemer of God, and a difturber of the peace ? Had this 
 been done a few years ago, it is plain from the declarations 
 of the rioters lately executed at Warwick, that the depre- 
 dations, which they fo outrageoufly, unlawfully, and 
 wickedly committed, had never taken place. Can any 
 time be better for the Attorney General to take fuch a no- 
 torious delinquent in hand, than the prefent ; when it is 
 evident that a legal profecution for his repeated blafphemies 
 againft God, and threats againft the eflablifhment, would 
 be grateful to an undoubted majority of all ranks of people, 
 notwithflanding his vain boafts to the contrary ? 
 
 *' Sedition, which ufed formerly to hide its trains of mif- 
 *' chief in caverns, under ground, now brandifhes its torch 
 *' in broad day-light: and the policy of the age (too deep 
 *' for me to underftartd) leaves it to itfelf, and waits to fee ' 
 " what it v^^ill do; and when the ftreets are in flames, tries 
 *' to put out the fire as well as it can ; and difperfes a law- 
 " lefs multitude with blood and flaughter; which might 
 *• have been retrained and faved by a timely execution of 
 *' the laws." — Jones's Sermon^ at Bury St. Edmunds, May 
 31, 1791, p. 10, II. 
 
 There is fcarce one publication of Dr. Prieftley's, either 
 on a theological ox political fubje6l, that will not furnifh co- 
 pious matter whereon to ground an information ; or in- 
 diftment. 
 
 §ept. 14, 1791, pTAEIZ AETTEPOS, 
 
172 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. IX. 
 
 An Efitaph zvritten for me hy fome P erf on in the Wef; 
 of England. 
 
 Near this Place lies the BODY of 
 
 JOSEPH FUNGUS, LL. D. F. R. S, 
 
 And, ftrange as it may appear. 
 
 This FLAMING INCENDIARY, 
 
 Owing to the Clemency of a mild Government, 
 
 DIED A NATURAL DEATH. 
 
 In him Sedition hath loft its moft "zealous and Indefatigable 
 Friend; the Worlds an Imperious and turbulent Mem- 
 ber of Society ; and the Dlffcnters from the Efiabll/hed 
 Church, a furious and Indlfcreet Advocate, who did irre- 
 
 ' parable Injury to their common Caufe. He was a pro- 
 feffed Enemy of every Syjiem of Government, and an 
 avowed Friend to Anarchy and Ccnfujion. Led by exr 
 treme Vanity, and the Imbecility of abftra6l Reafoning, 
 to think he was capable of raifing a Storm violent enough 
 to tear up the EflablifJjment of his Country by the Roots ; he 
 wanted Penetration to difcover that the Jame Hurricane, 
 by taking a contrary Direftion, might fvveep away his 
 own " bafelefs Fabrlck, and leave not a Wreck behind.'''' 
 His Publications were numerous, among which, his 
 Treatifes on Natural and Experimental Philofophy dif- 
 cover confiderable Abilities and great Application ; but 
 his religious, or rather Irreligious Tra^s, abound with fuch 
 Arrogance, Egotlfms, and unpardonable Indecencies, that 
 Charity will not fufler the candid Part of Mankind to 
 fuppofe that any Chriftian Society will ever fandlion 
 
 then^,, 
 
AP1>ENDI5C. I^j 
 
 them. He was altogether a man of fuch an ambitious 
 and rejilcfs Difpofition, that Heaven and Earth, behold- 
 ing his Prefumption in endeavouring to unite in his own 
 Perfon the Chara6lers of Lucifer and Cromwell, dif- 
 claimed him ; which coming to the ears of his black 
 Friends on the other Side of the Stygian Lake, they una- 
 nimoufly ele6led him HIGH PRIEST in the Temple 
 of their GREAT MASTER. 
 
 THIS MONUMENT was ERECTED 
 By a confiderable Number of principled and difpaffionatc 
 DISSENTERS, who, preferring the peaceable Enjoy- 
 ment of real Property, to the infamous Idea of living on 
 Plunder, or the chimerical one of equalizing all Ranks and 
 Orders of Men, thought it their Duty to publifh and 
 perpetuate their entire Difapprobation of 
 
 GUNPOWDER JOE'S Political Condud, 
 And their utter Abhorrence of his 
 
 UNCHRISTIAN DOCTRINES. 
 
 No. X. 
 
 J Letter addreffed to the People of England in the 
 Public Advertizer for Saturday, Aug. iS, 1792, 
 
 ^Qs Jupiter vidt perdere, prlus dementat. 
 
 WHOLE nations may become infane, planet- 
 flruck, as well as individuals. God Almighty often deli-^ 
 vers up whole nations, as well as individuals, to the depra- 
 vity 
 
X74 APPENDI5C» 
 
 vlty and flagltloufnefs of their own vitiated feelings, the 
 greateft calamity that can poffibly befal them* Had the 
 French exhibited on the flage of the world no other proof' 
 cf their having loft their fenfes, and of their being under 
 the immediate flagillation of Heaven, (Uh God, not man 
 alone, that precipitates the torrent of difajicrs over France at 
 the prefcnt tremendous moment] ; had they given no other 
 proof of their infanity but the late public deification of that 
 abandoned fyflematical profeflional infidel, Voltaire, and 
 their more recent panegyric on Dr. Prieftley, of prophane 
 and blafphemouc memory, the ftiipendous magnitude of 
 this folly would have demonftrated and juftified th^ pro- 
 priety of taking out the ftatute againft the whole body of 
 the nation. Whoever made a panegyric on Judas, but 
 Lucifer the father of darknefs? What Roman ever praifed 
 Catiline, but his colleagues Lentulus and Cethegus? Who 
 ever called the two incendiaries, Tyler and Strav/, honeft 
 patriots, but Thomas Paine ? Who ever thought Jolm the 
 painter a worthy candidate for fam.c, but an Englifli Jaco- 
 bine? Doubtlefs there is fuch a thng as decency, as pro- 
 priety, as confiftency of condudl: w^as it decent, was it 
 a£ling like rational beings, to hold up tvro fach callous 
 dogmatical profagatcs in opinion, as Voltaire and Prieftley, 
 as examples of excellence, as models of wifdom, as patterns^ 
 to be followed ? Why call the one Socrates, and the other 
 Fenelon? Was not this moft egregious proftitution of lan- 
 guage, moft flagrant abule of words ? Socrate? and Fenelort 
 were the fliining ornaments, the bright luminaries of the 
 age they lived in; they were public bleffings; t'.ey were 
 the great apoftles of virtue, delegated by heaven to inftru6t 
 and meliorate the world with the falubrious dodlrines of 
 truth. They preached nothing but goodnefs, and univer- 
 fal philanthropy ; and were themfelves illuftrious examples 
 of the important IcITons they taught. But what do6lrines 
 
 do 
 
APPENDIX, i7_j 
 
 ^o our modera philoibphers preach? Why, they very 
 gravely tell us, and with a conhdence as if they really be- 
 lieved it, that revelation is nothing but a folemn impoflure, 
 that the gcipel is a fable of the firft magnitude, the Saviour 
 a fantaflic idol, a phantom of imagination ; they maintain 
 and prove it as clear as any proi>ofiLion in Euclid, (if yoa 
 will believe them) that the fou! is mortal, that the goldea 
 promifes of religion are idle dreams, fantaftiek deluiions, to 
 eatch weak unenlightened minds. 
 
 Thefe fanguine and laborious emiffaries of darknefe 
 preach the black creed of infidelity with as much zeal, ani 
 afliduity, as the apoflles preached the creed of falvation. 
 The apoiUes were' not more ardent to propagate and dif- 
 feminate the great truths of Chriftianity, than thefe mea 
 are flrenuous and indefatigable in their endeavours to abo- 
 lifh them. But with this fignal difference, reader, GoA 
 evidently co-operated with the apoftles in the firft pi-oraul- 
 gation of the gofpel, and demonflrated their divine mi/Tioa 
 by figns, v/onders, and fplendid miracles; but who co- 
 operates with Voltaire and Prieflley in their indefatigable 
 efforts to abolifh the gofpel? Beyond a doubt the great 
 enemy of mankind, tlie father of lin, is with them tooth 
 and nail. They have likev/ife mofl flrenuoufly combating 
 in their caufe the whole tribe of ancient and modern unbe- 
 lievers, the great mz.k of atheifls, freethinkers, and liber- 
 tines, exiiling in the world, tlie vafl herd of recently 
 corrupted and adulterated Socinians; add to thefe the 
 whole crew of modern philofophers and metapliyficians, 
 (the tarantulated Humes and Roufleaus of the day) ; all 
 thefe militate againfl revelation, litigate the great truths of 
 Chriflianity, with as much rancour and acrimony as Vol- 
 taire and Prieilley. They have, moreover, mofl flrenu- 
 oufly combating in their caufe vain prefumption, impudent 
 aflirtion, dogmatical opinion, hcentious afTumption, uii- 
 S blu filing 
 
J7^ APPENDItT. 
 
 bluflilng mifquotatlon, wilful mifreprefentatlons of au^ 
 thors ; all thefe co-operate v/ith Voltaire and Prieftley itl 
 propagating the black creed of infidelity. Will you praifd 
 thefe men then ? Did they make a proper \ife of the talents 
 God had fo pre-eminently gifted them with? No, they 
 proflituted their abilities to the moft depraved and moil: fla- 
 gitious purpofes. They pointed, emulouily pointed the 
 great gun of their intellect, the whole artillery, the whole 
 battery of their faculties againji the very God who gave it 
 them. They flretched every nerve of their fouls to degrade 
 and extirpate the great fundamental truths of religion ; 
 they laboured morning, noon, and night, moft anxioufly to 
 perfuade the world to ceafe to be Chri/iian, and once more 
 to become Pagan^ to relinquifli revelation, and once more 
 adopt the religion of nature. This par nob'de fratrum, this 
 indefatigable yoke of infidels have pra6lifed every logical 
 knavery, manoeuvred every fubtle literary fraud. They 
 have exhaufted the v/hole proteuifm (if we may fo fpeakj 
 of chicane and finefie, in endeavouring to explode and abo- 
 lifh the foothing dodlrine of redemption, the grand panacea 
 of the gofpel, the only infallible antidote againft the com- ' 
 mon unavoidable ills of life, the noblejl cordial in the gift 
 of heaven. This golden noftrum, my countrymen, re- 
 vealed to you by our Saviour, thefe lettered bravos, thefe 
 fierce infulting Goliaths of argument, thefe wilful mur- 
 derers of the repofe of the world, want to rob you of. In 
 order to accomplifli their infernal purpofe, they put the 
 gofpel upon the bed of Procruftes; if the text is Xoo Jhort^ 
 they lengthen it, if too long, they curtail it ; if neither will 
 anfwer the point, they boldly amputate, totally annihilate, 
 and fwear it is fpurious. Are thefe men then hleffings to the 
 world? Are they of benefit to mankind? No! they are 
 curfes of the firft magnitude ; they are great national cala- 
 mities, calamities more dreadful than nature's word cala— 
 
 - mities. 
 
APPENDIX. 177 
 
 rnlties, far worfe than plague or earthquake; thefe only 
 kill the body, the perifli^ble part of man, but the doc- 
 trines of thofe men infallibly kill the foul, the im- 
 mortal part of man, that is, they poifon it, and prepare 
 it for everlafting perdition. Drink one drop of the 
 Lethe of their creed, and you are loft for ever. You 
 are tranfmuted- — you are changed — you inftantly for- 
 get your God — you forget you are a man — you matcrialife 
 the God, and you brutaUfe the man— you are loft to every 
 honeft glow of the hearty dead to every generous manly 
 fenfation ; in fliortj you are as literally a beajl as if really 
 touched with the wand C'lrcean. To lump, accumulate, 
 and concentre every curfe in one, you are a Painift in your 
 political, and a Prieftleyan in your religious creed. Could 
 heaven, in the plenitude of its ire, infiiifl a heavier punifli- 
 ment on you ? 
 
 You, my countrymen, have avoided the rock the French 
 have fo miferably fplit on ; you are fo far from confecrat- 
 ing and embalming books of blafphcmy and treafon, as the 
 French have done, that you have moft fignally, and moft 
 pointedly, exprefled your abhorrence and deteftation of 
 both, in reprobating in the moft public manner the works 
 of the Paines and Prieftleys of the age. — You have demon-' 
 ftrated to all Europe, with a blaze of loyalty almoft unex- 
 ampled in the annals of hiftory, your love and attachment 
 to your king and country. You have ftood boldly forward 
 in the face of the day, the ftrenuous champions of the no- 
 bleft caufe that ever warmed and animated the heart of 
 man. You have demonftrated to all the world, in the moft 
 fplendid manner, with an effuftonof honeft zeal that will 
 do honour to your feelings to the lateft pofterity, that you 
 will no longer fnffer your conjVitut'ion to be defamed^ vour 
 religion to be blafphemcdy nor your king to be calumniated by 
 2 gang of impoftors, v.'ho impudently prefume to call 
 
 N themfeives 
 
178 APPENDIX. 
 
 themfelves Englillimen. Can that man be an Englifh- 
 maa who labours inceflantly to dt;fl:roy the civil and 
 ecclefiaftical eftabhihment of the country? It is true, 
 you have ihewn mofl: noble, mofl: manly refentment, 
 azainft the turbulent incendiaries of the times. But re- 
 member, my countrymen, Paine and Prieftley flill live; 
 their works are not yet buried : — one rotten fiieep, they 
 fay, will pollute a whole flock ; a little leaven will agitate 
 and' feiment a large mafs ; two turbulent haranguing fol- 
 diers have been known to make a whole army mutiny. 
 Beware of thefe men, my countrymen ! One of them, in 
 ipite of the penal flatute, will fell you blafphemy enough 
 for two-pence to contaminate and blaft a whole county, 
 and the other treafon enough for fixpence to convulfe and 
 difmember a whole kingdom. What then is to be done 
 with thefe callous, hardened delinquents? What further 
 marks of public deteftation would you wifli to fix on them ? 
 The grand jury of Middlefex (as was obferved in the letter 
 preceding this) prcfented the pofthumous works of Boling- 
 broke as public nulfances. Why not then, my coun- 
 trymen, prefent the works of Paine and Prieflley as 
 public nuifances? Are they not nuifances of the firfl 
 magnitude, of the mod dangerous tendency ? Contain they 
 not do£lrines declaredly inimical to church and ftate ? de- 
 claredly fubverfive of both ? Prefent them, then, at the 
 next grand inqueft of the nation, at every county affize in 
 the kingdom, and infifl on their being burnt by the hands 
 of the common hangman, in token of your abhorrence — 
 boldly declaring to the world, as hath been obferved before, 
 — that you vj'dl no longer Jujfer your conjiitution to be 
 blackened and reviled, your God to be blafphemed, nor your 
 King to be calumniated with impunity. 
 
 Cirencefler. CAUSIDICUS. 
 
 It 
 
APPENDIX. 179 
 
 It is reported in Eufebius, " that the apoftle St, John going 
 " one day into a pubhc bath, faw Cerinthus there, one 
 *' of the firfl: oppofers of the Divinity of the Saviour, 
 *' and depravers of the gofpel. The apoflle inftantly 
 ** retreated at the fight of -fo abandoned an infidel, v^^ith 
 ** the ftrongeft marks of abhorrence and indi<»-nation in 
 *' his countenance." Dr. Johnfon being on a vifit to 
 Pembroke College, Prieftley's arrival was announced; 
 the moment Johnfon faw him enter, he retired with the 
 greateft precipitation, impreiTed, no doubt, with the fame 
 ideas as the apoftle at the fight of Cerinthus. Oa the 
 above anecdotes the following lines are built. 
 
 JOHN faw Cerinthus in the bath ; he faw 
 The monller, and lo ! inftant did withdraw. 
 Dreading left heaven fhould fudden vengeance fend. 
 To crufn the wretch who durfl the Ghiif> offend j 
 To crufh the wretch who durft the Chriji Jchy, 
 And God the Father in the Son defy. 
 Johnfon _/2^'u' Prieftley, fa-w, and big with ire. 
 Behold ! the good old man with fpeed retire ; 
 Fearing, no doubt, feme fad tren.endous doom. 
 With fuch a rank blafphemer in the room. 
 Th' apoftle and the fage both felt the fame ; 
 What honeft Chriftian can their condudl blame? 
 
 CAUSIDICUS. 
 
 N % No. XL 
 
iSo APPENDIX. 
 
 No. XI. 
 
 Co^ of an Advertifement in the Birmingham Newf- 
 paper J relating to the Addrejs to me from the Philo- 
 Jophical Society at Derby. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Derby, Oft. 3, 1791. 
 AN aJdrefs to Dr. Prieftley having been inferted 
 in Mr. Pearfon's paper, as agreed upon at a meeting of the 
 Philofophical Society in Derby, Sept. 3, 1791 i it is 
 thought expedient by fome of the members, who were not 
 privy to the addrefs, who cannot approve of it, and who 
 think it improper a few individuals fhould pubhfh their 
 own fentiments as thofe of the fociety at large, to inform 
 the public, that the faine was agreed to, and fabricated by 
 only five members of the fociety out of thirty-feven ; and 
 that in confequence thereof, at the General Annual Meet- 
 ing, on Saturday, October firft, the following refolution 
 was agreed to : That in future no aft of publicity fhall 
 be carried into effeil, except at an annual meeting, or 
 at a monthly one, a fortnight's previous notice being 
 given of the bufmefs to every member of the fociety. 
 
 No. XII. 
 
 An Anfwer to the preceding by the Society. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 AN advertifement, mifreprefenting a tranfac- 
 tion of the Philofophical Society at Derby, having been 
 inferted in a late newl'paper, it is judged proper to refute it 
 by a flatement of the following circumftances. 
 
 I. That 
 
APPENDIX. i8i 
 
 I. That all buflncls of the fociety, viz. the eleding 
 members, ordering in books, and enading new laws and 
 regulations, has been condantly, fince the firfl iaftitution 
 of the fociety, tranfaded at the monthly meetings. 
 
 IL That of thirty-fevcn members, thirteen only are re- 
 sident in the town, and that the addrefs to Dr. Pneftley was 
 voted unanimoufly at a regular monthly meeting, at which 
 was prefent the ufuaL number of attending members, and 
 that as it contained no reference to the dodlor's political 
 opinions^ and even recommended tQ him to decline thofe 
 theological controverfies which feem bo have provoked the 
 vengeance of his adverfaries, it was conceived that no man 
 of a liberal mind would objed to the congratulating him 
 on his efcape from the violence of an enraged mob ; and 
 that there could be no member of a phihjophical fociety 
 who did not regret the demolition of his valuable labor^^tory 
 and manufcripts; and on that prefumption they judged it 
 unneceflary to delay till another month, a meafure v/hich, 
 from the relation in which Dr. PrieiHey (lands to all phi- 
 lofophical focieties, feemed peculiarly and immediately pror 
 per on the prefent occahon. 
 
 III. That at the half-yearly meeting on the fivfl: of Ocr 
 tober, Mr. Hope was the only perfon who exprefTed a dif- 
 approbation of the addrefs, declaring that his reafon for 
 doing it was his differing from Dr. Prieflley in political 
 fentiments, adding, that no man could refped the doc- 
 tor's religious and philofophical opinions rnore highly than 
 himfelf. 
 
 IV. That, when the late propofition v/as made for giv- 
 ing a fortnight's notice previous to all public tranfadions 
 pf the fociety, fo far from its being undedlood to be a cen- 
 fure on the addrefs, (as is very difmgenuoully infinuated in 
 the advertifement referred to) the gentlemai> who moved 
 ^he propofition, prefaced it by declaring that he intended 
 
 N 3 nothing 
 
i82 APPENDIX. 
 
 nothing lefs than a difapprobation of the meafure ; for fo 
 defiroTis was he of cxprefTing his iefpe6l to Dr. Prieftley ns 
 a philofopher, and his abhorrence of all perfecution as a 
 rnan, that he felt a fingular mortification at having been 
 precluded from figning the addrefs, by not having received 
 previous information of fuch a circumftance being in- 
 tended ; and that on that account alone he was induced to 
 propofe a regulation for fimilar occafions which might occur 
 in future. 
 
 The members of .'he philofophical fociety, refident in 
 and near Derby, having been fummoned to an extraordi- 
 nary meeting, cxprefsly to take into confideration the adver- 
 tifement in the Derby newfpaper, of which the Rev. Mr. 
 Hope avowed himfelf to be the author, 
 
 It was refolved unanimoiijly ^ by ballot^ 
 That the Rev. Mr. Hope having, in defiance of the 
 refolution made at the laft general meeting, committed an 
 a£t of publicity, by printing in the Derby newfpaper the 
 refolution of the fociety without its knowledge or confent, 
 and having in his advertifement infidioufly mifreprefented 
 an a6t of the fociety, and Mr. Hope having been this day 
 fully heard upon the fubje6l, and not having explained his 
 condu6t to the fatisfaftion of the meeting, It is the opinion 
 of this meeting, that he be deiired to withdraw his name 
 from the lift of the fociety. 
 
 ■ Derby, R. ROE, Secretary. 
 
 Oft. 10, 1791. 
 
 No. XIIL 
 
APPENDIX. r83 
 
 No. XIII. 
 
 A Bejcription of an Allegorical Medal puhliJJje.d at 
 Birmingham fince the Riot. 
 
 This Day is publifhed, 
 
 DEDICATED TO ALL REVOLUTIONISTS IN THE BRITJSH 
 DOMINIOKS, 
 
 AN ALLEGORICAL MEDAL! 
 1791-2. ^ 
 
 OBVERSE. 
 
 THE demon or evil genius of the 14th of July, 
 is difplaying her democratic ftandard ; the ilag contains a 
 king's crown, furrounded with drops of blood, alluding to 
 the regicide of the la{t century. On the top is a cap of 
 liberty, the miftaken idea of which is the fource of all her 
 enormities. The young fiends flie cherishes proves her 
 prolific wickednefs, which illuftrates this motto; 
 
 " OUR FOOD IS SEDITION." 
 
 R E FE RS E. 
 
 A Viper in the grafs ; — this charafter cannot be 
 better illuftrated than where hiftory proves that his fubtilty 
 brought mifery on all mankind. He here partakes of the 
 bleffings of heaven and earth, at the fame time, in fecrct 
 covert, is premeditating dcltru6tion againfi the very caufe 
 of his comfort. The motto, 
 
 " NOURISHED TO TORMENT," 
 
 /hews the refllefs ingratitude of a corrupt and difloval 
 heart. 
 
 N 4 No. X|V, 
 
i84 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. XIV. 
 
 An Account of the Clergy of Birmingham refuftng to 
 walk in funeral Proceffions with Dijfenting Mem- 
 bers fnce the Riot. 
 
 IN this prefent month of 06lober 1792, the Rev. 
 Mr. Scholefieldwasrequefledby the furviving relatives of one 
 of his hearers (of the name of Thomfon) to attend at the 
 funeral, to which he readily aflented, but enquired at which 
 of the churches the corpfe was to be interred, and whether 
 the clergyman had been apprized of the intention of the 
 family refpe6^ing the invitation given to himfelf. Thefe 
 queftions were put to the daughter of the deceafed, and 
 before fhe had replied to them, the fon came in, who had 
 juft then been to the Rev. Mr. Young, lefturer of St. 
 Paul's Chapel, (where it was intended to inter the corpfe) 
 and his report was, that when he gave Mr. Young an in- 
 vitation to attend the funeral from the houfe of the de- 
 ceafed, he very readily affented ; but, upon being told that 
 Mr. Scholetield was expedled there, and that it was hoped 
 he would have no obje6lion to going in the fame coach 
 •with him, he faid, at firft, that he did not know, but after 
 a very fhort paufe, added, " the clergy of the town had 
 " come in general to a refolution not to ride or walk with 
 *' any Diffeating Minifter at a funeral." 
 
 This declaration from Mr. Young is the more remark- 
 able, as he has rode in the fame coach vrith Mr. Schole- 
 tield upon a former fnnilar occafion. 
 
 No. 
 
APPENDIX. 185 
 
 No. XV. 
 
 Extra5f of a Letter written to me by a Per/on who 
 was in my Library during the Demolition of the 
 Houfe, in Anfwer to one in which I had requejled his 
 Evidence concerning it. 
 
 Birmingham, March 5, 1791. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I DEEM it right thus immediately to inform yon, 
 that I did not arrive at your houfe till after the deflruilioa 
 of the library. The road for half a mile of my approach 
 was ftrewed with your books, the mob were carrying others 
 away, and there was not above twelve o«5l:avos on the 
 (helves when I entered the room, the floor of which was 
 totally covered, two or three inches deep, with torn leaves, 
 chiefly manufcript. The books that I faw colle(5led at the 
 top of the field behind the houfe with part of the furniture, 
 were thofe, I prefume, which were the only ones faved. 
 
 No. XVI. 
 
 Jn Addrefs of the Bijfenters and Delegates of the Dif- 
 fenters in Englandy to the Sufferers in the Riot af 
 Birmingham. 
 
 To the Proteftant Diflenters of the Town and Neighbour- 
 hood of Birmingham, who fufFered from the Riots which 
 happened in the month of July laft. 
 
 WE, the aflembled deputies and delegates of the 
 Proteftant DiflTenters of England, in the name of the nu- 
 merous and refpedable body of our conlHtuents, feel it 
 
 incumbent 
 
i86 
 
 incumbent on tis thus publiclv to teftify our aftoniflimerst 
 and horror at the outrages which you have experienced 
 from an ignorant and mifguided multitude, and our refpe^l 
 for that manly fortitude with which you have fupported 
 thefe unmerited fufferings. 
 
 While however, as fuflaining one common character, 
 we arc anxious to pay this fmcere tribute of afFeftionate 
 and fraternal fympathy to all our injured brethren, we are 
 perfuaded that we fnall gratify alike vour feelings and our 
 own, when, waving our various fpeculative and efpecially 
 our theological differences, we defire to exprefs our pecu- 
 liar concern on the account of that diftinguiflied individual, 
 whom the rancour of this cruel perfecution fjleftea as the 
 firfl vi6lim of its rage. — Deeply convinced of the import- 
 ance of truth, y/e \inite in admiring the ardour which he 
 has ever difcovered in the purfuit of it ; as freemen, we ap- 
 plaud his unremitted exertions in the great caufe of civil 
 and religious liberty ; as friends to literature, we are proud 
 of pur alliance with a name fo jufcly celebrated as that of 
 Dr. Prieflley; and we pray the Almighty Difpofer of 
 events long to 'continue to xis and to the world, a life which 
 fcience and virtue have contributed to render illullrious. 
 
 We rejoice in the thought, that, though loaded with 
 calumny and overwhelmed by violence, you have not yet 
 been difgraced by one ferious imputation of a crime j and it 
 is therefore reafonable to confide in the juftice of your 
 country for an ample reparation of the wrongs you have 
 fuil:ained. — But, in proportion to your innocence, the in- 
 famy of thefe proceedings falls with accumulated weight on 
 the authors and the perpetrators of fuch mifchief ; nor can 
 we avoid obferving in the circumftances of this tranfa£l:ion 
 evident fymptoms either of fome grofs defect in our general 
 fyftem of police, or of the mofl fupine and culpable neg- 
 ligence in thofc whofe immediate duty it was to have pro- 
 
 te£te4 
 
APPENDIX. itj 
 
 te6led the places of public worfhip, as v/ell as the lives and 
 property, of their fellow-citizens; and we truft that the 
 executive government, which exerted fo much laudable 
 adlivity to reprefs the diforders on the firft notice, will pro- 
 ceed more fully to vindicate its own dignity and the na- 
 tional honour, by ferioufly inquiring how it came to pafj 
 that they were permitted to rife unchecked to fuch a 
 height of deftrucSlive fury. 
 
 Whatever may be the event, we defire to afTure you of 
 our warmeft affeftion, of our fteadiell fupport. Although 
 in this inftance the ftorm has fallen on you alone, we all 
 feel ourfelves to have been equally within the aim of the 
 fpirit which dire6led it ; nor ihall we ever attempt to elude 
 fmiilar violence by meanly abandoning the common caufe, 
 or deferting our brethren in the hour of diftrefs. 
 
 Our adverfaries betray little acquaintance with the cha- 
 ra6ler and principles of the men whom thev prefume to 
 jnfult and vilify, if they imagine that the fpirit of the Dif- 
 fenters is to be fubdued and broken by the means which 
 have been employed at Birmingham. Such meafures can 
 only tend to cement more clofely our bond of union, and 
 to invigorate our efforts to procure the repeal of thofe invi- 
 dious and injurious laws, by which we are held forth as the 
 • proper objedls of fufpicion and infult to the unthinking 
 vulgar. 
 
 Perfuaded that we have never merited thofe abfurd and 
 rnalicious imputations by which ignorance and bigotry have 
 always attempted to excufe illegal violence, we boldly ap- 
 peal for our juftihcation to our general condu6l, whenever 
 on great national emergencies we have been drawn forth to 
 a61;ion. We cannot point out any other criterion of our 
 principles as a body, than the uniform tenor of our public 
 conduit. We know that on fuch occafions we fliall be 
 found ever to have fliewn the moll: affedionate and inva- 
 riable 
 
i88 APPENDIX. 
 
 liable attachment to the conftitution of this kingdom, as 
 fettled on the principles of the glorious revolution, on 
 which alone depends the title of the prefent auguft family 
 to the Britifli throne; and on this fair and open ground 
 we challenge any clafs of our enemies to a comparifon. 
 
 But although we have no wifh to conceal our fentiments, 
 yet maintaining, as we fhall never ceafe to do, the equal 
 right of every citizen to all the common benefits of fociety, 
 we apprehend that to call on us to purchafe protection, 
 fafety, or even the good opinion of our fcUow-fubjedts, by 
 any avowal which the law does not require of all, or by r.ny 
 filence which it does not univerfally enjoin ; is an affump- 
 tion of fuperiority, which liberal minds will difclaim, and 
 to which, confcious of no inferiority but in numbers, of no 
 guilt but the love of liberty and of our country, we fee not 
 the fmallefl reafon to fubrnit. 
 
 We truft that our countrymen will at length difcover 
 that it is not our fault if fome degree of difcontent be ever 
 the efTeCl of opprefTion. We (liali noi: relinquifh the at- 
 tempt to convince them, that civil diflinctions founded on 
 religious differences, are the real fource of the dilturbances 
 which have fo frequently ari fen among contending fefls in 
 the fame community; and we flatter ourfelves that Britain, 
 which formerly took the lead in religious toleration, will 
 not be the lafl nation in the world to acknowledge the juf^ 
 claims of religious liberty ; but that the day will arrive 
 much fooner than thofe imagine, who refle6l not on the 
 prefent afpe6t and tendencies of human affairs, when the 
 good fcnfe of our country will admit us to that equal rank 
 for which we contend, and when all fhall cordially concur 
 to efface the flain which the late outrages have fixed on ou^ 
 national chara£ler. 
 
 Signed by the unanimous order of the meeting, 
 
 King s Head, Poultry, EDW. JEFFRIES, aiairniaa. 
 
 London, February i, 1792. 
 
APPENDIX. 189 
 
 No. XVII. 
 'The Anjwer by the Sufferers. 
 
 To the Deputies and Delegates of the Proteftant Diflentere 
 of England, affembled in London. 
 
 Birmingham, April 22, I792. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 WE the fufferers by the late riots in the town 
 and neighbourhood of Birmingham, were highly gratified 
 by the reception of your afi'ediionate addrefs, and though 
 local circumftances and confiderations have retarded our 
 acknowledgment of it, we have not been the lefs fenfible 
 of its value, or unmindful of the return it fo forcibly de- 
 mands from us. Though v/e were never fo fenfible of the 
 value of our common faith as at this trying period, though 
 its invigorating principles were not before this sera either 
 juftly known, or fully experienced ; though we have derived 
 continual fupport, as well as unfpeakable fatisfa^lion and 
 comfort from them, yet we confefs they receive frefli energy 
 from the friendly fympathy, and the truly Chriftian fpirit, 
 which you have manifdted upon this trying occafion. 
 
 We rejoice that, notwithftanding all the opprobrium our 
 malicious adverfaries are endeavouring to caft upon us, vou 
 have the firmnefs and generofity to ftep forth and acknou'- 
 ledge us as brethren. We rejoice that at the very inftaat 
 in which our common principles are made the fubjedl of 
 general cenfure and ridicule, your truly refpedable bodv 
 has given public teflimony to their efficacy, and generoufly 
 a6led upon them, by thus holding out to us the right hand 
 of fellowfliip. Perfecuted, and injured as we have been, and 
 ftUl are, an addrefs of fympathy and condolence from io 
 
 refpsdbble 
 
J90 APPENDIX. 
 
 refpevStabre a body as the affembled deputies and delegates 
 of the Proteftant Diffenters of Englrnd, fent in the name 
 of your numerous conftituerits, gives us a fatisfa6lion we 
 cannot defcribe, and affords a profpe6l which reanimates 
 our fpirits and revives our beft hopes. Fully perfuaded of 
 the truth of our principles, of the juftice of our caufc, and 
 confcious of none but benevolent views in our public 
 efforts, we are determined to perfevere in fupport of thofe 
 great truths which have been too long concealed from the 
 world. 
 
 The honourable mention you make of that noble indi- 
 vidual who has done fo much to enlighten the minds of his 
 countiymen, as well as to extend fcience, Xvas by no means 
 the leafl: pleafmg part of your addfcfs. Nothing but the 
 perfonal fafety and happinefs of him, at whofe praife even 
 the tongue of fcandal is forced to be filent, co,uld have in 
 any degree reconciled us to his lofs. We efleem him as 
 the friend of the whole human race, and as an honour to 
 his country ; but the world knows not his value ; his country 
 is infenfible of his worth. The full efFe61: of his flrenuous 
 exertions in his paftoral duty alone cannot at prefent be 
 computed. It will be more and more felt, and acknow- 
 ledged. In the fpace of eleven years he has erected a mo- 
 nument more fubflantially founded than the pyramids 
 of the Eaft, and infcribed it with charadleis which fhall 
 furvive the wreck of nature ; we mean in the minds of 
 youth enlightened ?.nd improved by his inflrudlions. 
 
 There is a time coming, and we truft it is at no great 
 diftance, when the foolifh and ignorant perfons who per- 
 petrated thofe difmal a6ts wliich you lament, and v/hich 
 we cannot think upon without horror, will be fenfiblc of 
 their folly. Pofterity will flamp an anathema on them. 
 The broad blot of this infimy mull alfo remain to tarnifh 
 the annals of our couni.ry, Hiftory mull relate, that 
 
 at 
 
APPENDIX. igj 
 
 at the clofe of the eighteenth century flie moft virtuous 
 and ufeful members of the community of Great Britain, 
 were opprefTed and perfecuted without fympathy from the 
 multitude, and that a mcft difUnguilucd indivklual met 
 with opprobrium and infolence from a country which he 
 had endeavoured through hfe to ferve in every way that 
 benevolence, fcience, and uprightnefs, could point out. 
 To have our names tranfmitted to pofterity with his, as 
 thofe who have incurred reproach for their firm adherence 
 to the principles of civil and religious liberty, is an honour 
 which we did not anticipate, but of which we would not 
 be deprived. 
 
 Be affured, Gentlemen, that we fhall cheerfully concur 
 with you in your endeavours to obtain the repeal of all 
 penal fcatutes in matters of religion, hoping that uuaai- 
 mity in the grand principles of liberty and truth will unite 
 the common body of Diffenters, and that they will per- 
 fevere in their endeavours till thofe intolerant and un- 
 chrlftian fliatutes, which have fo long been a difgrace to 
 our code, Hiall be expunged from it. 
 
 We remain. 
 
 Gentlemen, &c. 
 
 Signed in the name, and with the unanimous concurrence 
 of a general meeting of fuiferers, 
 
 WILLIAM RUSSELL. 
 
 No. XVIIL 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. XVIII. 
 
 An Account of the Alarm andLofs of Mr. Carpenter of 
 WoodroWj in a Letter from his Brother » 
 
 W.RUSSELL, ES(^DIGBETH, BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 Woodrow, near Bromfgrove, May 9, 1792, 
 SIR, 
 
 THE fiift intelligence we had of the riots in Bir- 
 mingham, was on the J5th of July, but being extremely 
 bufy in haymaking, we paid but little attention to it, 
 thinking the civil power would foon rcftore every thing to 
 peace and order again. However, on the following even- 
 ing feveral of our neighbours who had been at Bromfgrove, 
 came to inform us that the Woodrow was in the lift of 
 profcribed houfes, and that my eldeft brother's life was 
 threatened. This alarmed us ; but my brother, not choofing 
 to truft to thefe reports, went to Bromfgrove to gain more 
 authentic information. He returned about eleven o'clock, 
 and informed us that the reports feemed but too true, that 
 many of the lower clafs of people in Bromfgrove feemed 
 very much difpofed to rioting, fome of them calling after 
 him as he rode along the ftreet, faying, that the meeting- 
 houfes fhould come down the next day, and curfing the 
 Preft^yterians with the utmoft bitternefs. 
 
 At twelve o'clock we were furprifed by a poft-chaife 
 driving to the door ; it contained Mr. and Mrs. Benton, the 
 nurfe maid, and feveral children : they came to beg a night's 
 lodging, as they durft not ftop any longer fo near Birming- 
 ham, either in their own houfe or with their friends ; and fo 
 precipitate was their flight, that they were obliged to bring 
 
 the 
 
APPENDIX. 193 
 
 ilie children out of bed with only their night clothes on — • 
 Poor little innocents ! it was a diftreffing fight to fee them, 
 and IHII more diftreffing net to be able to afFord them a fafe 
 afylum : for, on hearing our dangerous iituation, Mrs. Benton 
 thought it moft prudent to go farther on. Brother Tho- 
 mas, myfelf, and a neighbour, then went to the top of the 
 Lickey, from whence we could plainly fee a large houfe in 
 flames towards Birmingham ; this proved but a poor confo- 
 lation, and we returned home with heavy hearts. At fix 
 o'clock on Sunday morning we difpatched two raeflengers, 
 one to Bromfgrove, the other to Birmingham. The latter 
 returned about eleven o'clock with an account that a large 
 party of the rioters were gone to burn Kingfwood Meeting, 
 and from thence they would proceed to the Woodrow. 
 My brother alfo returned from Bromfgrove with fimilar 
 inforraatiori. I immediately took our moft valuable papei"S 
 and writings, and buried them in a neighbour's garden. It 
 Was alfo thought moft prudent to remove part of our furni- 
 ture ; but where to take them was the queftion, as our 
 neighbours, though many of them were willing, durft not 
 take them in, for fear of bringing a rtiob after them, and 
 thereby endangering their property. After a fl7.ort conful- 
 tation it was thought moft advifable to fend it to Kidder- 
 tninfter. Wc immediately packed up our plate, linen, beds, 
 books, &c. &c. and fent off three waggon loads (including 
 a quantity of wool) in the afternoon. At the fame time 
 my mother, fifter, and youngeft nephew, went to Boar- 
 cote, where they found an afylum at the houfe of Mr. Cox, 
 who treated them with the utmoft kindnefs. We fat up 
 all night, (indeed we had never a bed left in the houfe, had 
 any of us been difpofed for one) and kept a ftrong guard 
 both in and around the houfe. 
 
 On Monday morning we had information that the rioters 
 were difperfed in parties around the country, committing 
 
 O various 
 
194 APPENDIX. 
 
 various depredations ; ^rd tliat the foldiers were too fe"^ itii 
 number to leave Birmingham in purfuit of them. 
 
 Parties of people frc.m Bromfgrove and its vicinity went 
 to join the rioters; and about one or two o'clock a number 
 of people from, this neiglibourhood re 'e.fted together upon 
 Round Hill, half a mile from the Wocdrow, to be ready 
 in all appearance to join the rioters when they came. In 
 this party were feveral who had been heard to threaten 
 brother John in t!re mcifl violent manr' r. Things wearing 
 fuch a ferious afpe6l at this time, v/e thought proper to re- 
 move the remainder of our houfehold effects, wiiich we 
 conveyed into the fields, and hid among the corn, or buried 
 in the earth. Brother Thomas and myfelf :^l{o removed 
 o^^r wheat and flour from the mill. A very violent fliowcr 
 happily difperfed the people on Round Hill, and alfo pre- 
 vented the Birmingham rioters from coming forwards. 
 
 About nine o'clock in the evening a gentleman rode to 
 the Woodrow, and faid he had left a body of the rioters on 
 the top of the Lickey marching towards the Woodrow, 
 their number uncertain. Brother John tlren determined 
 to defend his houfe, and defired his men to prepare for ac- 
 tion; but at length, from the exceiTive importunity of thofe 
 sbout him, he gave it up, and left his houfe for the iirft 
 time, with the m-elancholy profpe61: of never feeing it 
 again. He had not rode more than a mile before he fell 
 in with fifteen or fixteen rioters with blue cockades in 
 their hats, and armed with bludgeons. On my brother's 
 inquiting where they were going, feveral of them anfwer- 
 ed} to burn Mr. Carpenter'' s houfey according to orders from 
 jujlice Carles. My brother perceiving they did not know 
 him, faid. Why, I thought Mr. Carpenter was a good fort 
 of a man, why ihould you wiih to burn his houfe ? The 
 anfwer wms, he may be a very good fort of a man for all we 
 
 know. 
 
APPENDIX. 195 
 
 It now, but we have jitflice Carles' s orders^ and down it fliall 
 Come. On being afked for what reafon, they faid, for 
 being at the hotel. My brother tlien told them they had 
 better go to Bromfgrove, and get fomething to drink, and 
 fome more gentlemen coming up, and giving the lame ad- 
 vice, they thought bed: to follow it. 
 
 The next morning (Tuefday), on their return from 
 Bromfgrove, they called at the Woodrow to beg fomething 
 to drink, and, while brother Thomas went to draw fome 
 beer, they attempted to go into the houfe, but our men pre- 
 vented th6n. After pillaging feveral of the poor people's 
 houfes as they went along, they flopped at a public houfe 
 about two miles from the Woodrow. Brother John re- 
 turned home about half an hour after the rioters went 
 away ; and, as foon as he heard where they were, fet off to 
 Birmingham to procure fome foldiers, and take them pri- 
 foners. In the mean time a Mr. Lane, who faid he was a 
 conftable from Birmingham (and who, as I am fince in- 
 formed, died through excefuve fatigue in the zealous per- 
 formance of his duty), called at the Woodrow, and, on 
 my informing him where the rioters were, faid he v/ould 
 go and take them if I could get fome resolute people we 
 eould depend upon to go with us. I immediately rode to 
 Bromfgrove, and called feveral of my friends together, 
 whom I found willing to join us; but as no member of the 
 eftabliflied church would go with us, it was given up for fear 
 of giving offence. My brother returned from Birmingham 
 in the evening, and gave the following account of his in- 
 terview with the juftices. On his introdudioh he in- 
 formed them that a party of the rioters had been at his 
 houfe that morning, and came, as they informed him, the 
 preceding evening, by the order of juftice Carles, to burn 
 his houfe down ; and, as he knew where they were, bep-o-ed 
 the favour of half a dozen light horfe to fecure them : but 
 
 O % this 
 
iij6 APPENDIX. 
 
 ^his reqtiert not being granted, my brother offered to take 
 them without the affiftance of the military, if it met witk 
 their approbation : but their approbation was not given. 
 Mr. Carles afked my brother if be knew ever an honelt 
 Prefovterian about the Lickey ? My brother faid he did not 
 come there to talk about religion, he wiihed to prove him- 
 felf a good citizen, and thought he was doing his duty by 
 endeavouring to fecure a fet of lawlefs villains who were 
 plundering the innocent inhabitants of the country. My 
 brother was aiked if he was at the hotel on the 14th of 
 July? — Yes. What toafts did you drink? — Several; the 
 kins, for one. We don't believe it, — It is true. Will vou 
 fwear it? — Yes. Dr. Spencer then offered him a bible for 
 that purpofe: my brother was going to take it, when the 
 Do6tor changed his mind, and put the book down. 
 
 It is inconceivable the fatigue we undervt^ent, and tlic 
 ahxiefv we felt during the riots.. On tlie Monday I was 
 on horfe'nack, reconnoitring, &c. near fifteen hours, anil 
 wet to the fkiri through two great coats, and was at kft fo 
 Overcome with fatigue that I could fcarcely fit on my 
 horfe. Brother Thomas put on his boots on Sunday moru- 
 ingi and did not pull them off till W^ednefday night. Mv 
 mother and fifter were in continual fear left brother John 
 {liould lofe his life, as it was fo repeatedly threatened. W^e 
 edimate our lofs in damage, lofs of poperty, expences, Sec. 
 at near 60I. 
 
 I am, fir, 
 
 Y'our moft obedient fervant, 
 
 wm. carpenter. 
 
 P. S. A man whom we fent to gain intelligence on the 
 Sunday, fell in with the rioters at Mr. Wakeman's houfe 
 near Kingfwood : he faw the general, as he was ftylcd, 
 
 pulJ 
 
APPENDIX. f.97 
 
 ^ull a paper out of his pocket, which feemed to be a Hft of 
 houfes, and, on looking over it, faid, " that houfe was to 
 *' come down; but, as Mr. Wakeman had behaved fo 
 *' well, it fhould flop a little longer, but that they would 
 •*' come back, and pull it down before the next morning." 
 
 "•^ 
 
 No. XIX. 
 
 Ai Account of the High Church Spirit which has long 
 prevailed at Stourbridge. 
 
 AS the violent High Church fpirit which produced 
 the riot at Birmingham has been generally afcribed to me, I 
 have taken fome pains to inquire into the ftate of fome of 
 the neighbouring places in that refpe6t ; and thinking that 
 from Stourbridge (which it is fomething remarkable I never 
 was at except in once riding through it) to be as much to 
 my purpofe as any, I ihall give it, as colleiled from dif- 
 ferent perfons, whofe accounts, I have no dDU,bt, may be 
 depended upon. 
 
 The Prefbyterian church at Stourbridge was founded 
 by Mr. Foley, an anceflor of the prefent Lord Foley, 
 the members of which church firlT: affembled in his houfe 
 for pubhc worfhip. This houfe has fmce been con- 
 verted to an inn, and the room now called the Old Affem- 
 bly Room was the room ufed for that purpofe. Mr. Fo- 
 ley's dpmeftic chaplain (a Mr. Flower) was their pallor 
 
 ^3 ,% 
 
198 APPENDIX. 
 
 for many years. About this time the faid Mr. Foley 
 ere6led a large building for the reception of fixty poor boys, 
 whom he dire6ted ihould be clothed in a blue uniform, 
 lodged and boarded in the houfe, and taught reading, writ- 
 ing, and merchants' accounts; and that afterwards they 
 fhould be placed out with a fmall premium to fuch trades, 
 and to fjch maflers, as the boys and their parents fhould ap- 
 prove of. This good man lived to fee his benevolent defign 
 carried into execution ; and, having amply endowed the 
 charity with confiderable eftates, it has continued to this 
 day to anfvver the ends for v^^hich it was intended, as many 
 opulent tradefmen now living, who were educated there, 
 can with gratitude teflify. For feveral years laft paft the 
 feoffees of this infcitution have not permitted any Diflenter 
 to take a boy from the fchool as an apprentice. 
 
 A DifTenting tradefman now living, who had an ap- 
 prentice from thence about thirty years fmce, applied for 
 one fome years afterwards, and was told by the feoffees, 
 that his requeft could not be complied with, as it was their 
 determination that no DilTenter fhould have a boy from 
 that fchool. 
 
 A gentleman of Bewdley, now living, applied about ten 
 years fince for an apprentice : the firll: queftion the feoffees 
 afkcd him was, whether he was a Diffentcr, and, upon re- 
 plying in the affirmative, he received the fame anfwer *. 
 Knowing that the founder of the inftitution was a DifTent- 
 er, one would have thor.ght that the principles of common 
 integrity would have prevented them from fuch a fhame- 
 ful perverflon of the intenrion of the donor: but, where bi- 
 gotry fupplies the place of chanty and candour, fhame is 
 
 * I have frequently heard that tlie feoffees are equally careful in preventing 
 the children of poor Diifer.tcrs from gaining an admittance into the faid School. 
 
 generally 
 
APPENDIX. 199 
 
 generally difcarded, and every profeirion of virtue is little 
 more than a tinkling cymbal. 
 
 Owing to the mifmanagemcnt of a former fleward, the 
 feoffees were lome years back much involved in debt, and 
 were oblired to take long credit with goods bought for the 
 life of the houfe, fo that nothing induced many tvadefmen 
 to continue to fupply them but the expectation of their' 
 being better cuflomers in future, which the llev/ards air- 
 ways affured them would be the cafe in a few years. A 
 DiiTenting tradefman of Stourbridge, who had fupplied 
 them for many years, and with whom they ufually took a 
 credit of two ar three years, was informed about eight 
 or ten years fmce by the then ffceward, who called to difr- 
 charge the account with the faid tradefman, that he had 
 orders from the ftoilees to go elfewhere for the goods in 
 future. The tradefman being naturally defirous of know- 
 ing the reafon of their leaving hirri, after having done bufi- 
 nefs with him for fo many years, was importunate with 
 the fleward to be fatisiied on that head, to which (after 
 much liefitation) he replied, that they did not wilh to do 
 bufmefs with DiiTenters. Upon this the tradefman defired 
 to know how this objeftion never occurred to them before, 
 which was fully explained by the fleward, who faid, that 
 formerly thcv were obliged to get goods where they could, 
 but that now, as feveral leafcs of eftates had dropped, theif 
 ^finances were in fuch a flate tliat the feoffees were enabled 
 to pay ready money for all the goods they bought, a!]d, 
 therefore, were determined now to buy of no DilTenter. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that one of the prefent feofTecs 
 has, or formerly had, in his poirelTion a bull of the late 
 pretender ; and that his father was one of a party, whofe 
 ufual pra6tice it was at their convivial meetin!:;s to fall up- 
 on their knees before the faid bull, and drink each of them 
 
 O 4 their 
 
ftoo APPENDIX. 
 
 their firil: r^lafs to the reftoration of the Stuart family tq 
 the throne of thefe kingdoms. Thefe are the men who, 
 with matchlefs effrontery, would now perfuade the nation 
 that they are the only true friends of the conftitution*. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Foley, the congregation of Dif- 
 fenters met for public worfhip in a meeting houfe in the 
 Coventry ftreet; and about the year , the High 
 
 Church party aflembled, and by violence tore up the pews 
 and pulpit, which they burnt with the minifter's bible, in 
 the midll: of the market. This atrocity the court very pro- 
 perly noticed, brought the perpetrators thereof to punifh- 
 inent, and ordered the place to be new pewed, the expence 
 of which was paid out of the treafury. I have heard of no 
 abfolute violence exercifed againll the Diffenters of that 
 town Unce that period; but, until the prefent re6lor of thq 
 parifh, of which Stourbridge is a part, came to refide there, a 
 fliffnefs and unkindnefs on the part of the Epifcopalians 
 was obfcrvable towards them. Two circumflances which 
 happened in one family will tend to fatlsfy any perfon of thq 
 truth of this remark. 
 
 A clergyman of the parifli having been Invited to the 
 funeral of a Diffenter, and obferving, upon his being in- 
 troduced into the room where the bearers were afiembled, 
 that Mr. Edge, the Diffentiiig minifter, was one of the 
 party, left the houfe in anger, and fent his clerk to apolo- 
 gize for his conducl by faying that, "as he could not rid^ 
 ♦' with Mr. Edge, if they would fend his hatband an^ 
 
 * The enmity of this gentleman to the Difllnters may in fome meafure be 
 accounted for. An anceftor of his having by will left a large fum of money 
 to the fp.iher of the faid gentleman, in trtj 3 t, to be divided among the indi;;eBt 
 Diffenting minilters of tiie midland counties; and he having thougiit ht to appty 
 the fame to h's own ufe, the afl'jciatcd body of minifters in London undertook 
 the caufe, which was at length brought before the Lord Chancellor King, v/ho 
 awarded the mon -y to be app'ied as the teftator directed, and the whole of the 
 c-jfts ( .vhich. were; confidcrable) to be paid by the trultce. 
 
 " fcaru 
 
APPENDIX. 201 
 
 ^f fcarf, lie would meet tlie corpfe at the church." The 
 hatband and fcarf were very properly refufed, and he was 
 obliged to bury the corpfe without them. 
 
 Another clergyman of the parifh being invited tea fune- 
 ral in the fame family, and having an equal diflike to ride 
 with the Diflenting miniller, had the art to difguife that 
 diflike until he had procured his hatband and fcarf, and till 
 the proceiTion was ready to move, when he galloped 
 through the town before the hearfe to the ^ftonifliment of 
 the fpeftators. The names of thefe clergymen were 
 Brown and Male, and the fafcs are perfe61Iy in the re- 
 membrance of many perfons now living: but it is juftice 
 due to Mr. Male to fay that he lived to fee the folly of his 
 condu6l, and afterwards became a very liberal man. 
 
 As was hinted before, the intercourfe between the people 
 of the Eflablifhment and the Diflenters of Stourbridge was 
 mxich increafed by the prefent re6lor fettling among 
 them. Soon after he came he requefled to be admitted a 
 member of a reading fociety belonging to the Diflenters, 
 which had been eftablifhed near forty years, and of 
 yi^hich the Diflenting miniflier was tlie prefident ; his ad- 
 miflxon was followed by that of many gentlemen of the 
 church, and the frequent meetings to tranfa6l the buiinefs 
 of the fociety tended very much to rub off" that fliffnefs 
 which had before been obfervable in their condu6l towards 
 each other. Upon the refignation of the Diflenting mi- 
 nifter another Diflenter was chofen prefident; and the 
 fame unanimity continued to prevail until the fociety was 
 diflblved for the purpofe of forming a different inftitution. 
 The Diflenters were thus led to fuppofe that the former 
 hatred of them by the Church was done away, and they 
 were pleafmg themfelves with the perfuafion, until th« 
 |>reaking out of the riots at Birmingham coinpletely con- 
 vince; 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 I'ince them of tlieir miftake. For no fooner did tlie news 
 reach Stourbridge, but the mofl: violent invedtives were 
 poured forth againft the Diffenters by t':ie fame perfons who 
 had before profefTed fo much hberality and kindnefs to- 
 wards them. Every thing was faid which could tend to 
 ftir up the minds of the people ; the circulation of the 
 handbill was charged upon a Diffenter, the report was 
 propagated with great induftry, and they heard frojn all 
 quarters that their meeting houfe, and the houfes of the 
 Diffenters, would be levelled with the ground. The public 
 jhoufes were feveral of them filled witli men who were 
 ready to embark in the diabolical bufmefs ; and, had it not 
 been for the vigilance of an a6live magiilrate, God only 
 knows what would have been the confequence. 
 
 Thus difappointed, they evinced their determination to 
 injure their Diffenting brethren, by withdrawing their cuf- 
 tom from the fliops of Diffenters, fome of whom find their 
 bufinefs much decreafed. One tradefman, who had been in 
 the habit of fupplying many of the firfl families in the 
 neiglibourhood with goods, loft, immediately after the 
 riots, thirty families who had for years had ledger accounts 
 with him, befides many other ready money cuftomers, and 
 yet could never hear of the leaft charge which they had 
 againft him, except that of his being a Diffenter. 
 
 Some time before the Birmingham riots, the minifter of 
 a congregation of Diffenters at Cradley, near Stourbridge, 
 interefted himfelf in procuring a fubfcription for building a 
 meeting houfe at a place called the Lye-wafte, about a 
 mile and a half from Stourbridge,, a very populous neigh- 
 bourhood, where the people are extremely ignorant, and 
 where there is no place of worftiip of any denomination. 
 The faid minifter, and the minifter of the congregation at 
 
 Stourbridge^ 
 
APPENDIX. 203 
 
 Stourbridge, had engaged to preach ahernately when the 
 place ihould be erected, without any falary, a6luated by no 
 other motive than the defire of doing good. Having pro- 
 cured a fufiicient fubfcription for the purpofe, they appHed 
 to a gentleman of Stourbridge for land to ere6l the build- 
 ing upon, who readily told them they might have which 
 ever part of his eflate they chofe ; in confequence of which 
 the land was meafured out, and a price was fixed on it 
 by an appraifer, which price was agreed to by both parties; 
 an attorney was fent for, who received inftrudlions in the 
 prefence of both to prepare articles of conveyance; and 
 bricks were drawn upon the fpot for the building : yet, 
 notwithftanding all this, he afterwards refufed to let them 
 have any part of it. After the Birmingham riots, other 
 gentlemen who had land at the Lye-v/afte were applied to, 
 but they all refufed to fell their land for fuch a purpofe. 
 After this the minifter of Cradley waited upon the reftor 
 of the pariih, and affured him that he had no intention of 
 dijHeminating any peculiar dodrines, that his only motive 
 was to ferve the heft interefts of his neighbours, and that, if 
 the people of the eftablifliment would fubfcribe towards 
 building a church, he would abandon his defign, and affift 
 them in theirs : but this good young man has been unable 
 to accomplifh either ; and the money now lies unemployed, 
 and the poor of that diftri6l uninftrucSled. 
 
 Some months previous to the Birmingham riots, the 
 Stourbridge Diffenters had engaged a London minifter to 
 preach a charity fermon at their meeting houfe, on the 
 fecond Sunday in Auguft (which was foon after the 
 riots happened) ; and it is a little remarkable that the 
 re£lor of the parifli advertifed a charity fermon to be 
 preached by himfelf in his own church, on the fame day, 
 though no charity fermon had been preached in that 
 
 church 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 diurch for fome years before. As the notice was fhort, 
 the fermoii was advertifed by handbills diftributed through 
 the parifla, in confequence of which the church was ex- 
 tremely crowded ; and, though it was profefledly a charity 
 fermon, the greateil; part thereof confifted of inve6lives 
 againfl: the Diffenters of Stourbridge and Cradley, and of 
 charges againft the managers of their Sunday Sch<x)]s 
 which had no foundation in fa6l. The Diffenters not be- 
 ing prefent, could only hear this account from thofe liberal 
 churchmen who heard the fermon, and who were much 
 difguficd with the virulence of the preacher. Some Dif- 
 fenters of both congregations waited upon the redlor to 
 deny the charges, and to fatlsfy him of their untruth — 
 tills they were enabled to do ; upon which he acknow- 
 ledged that he had made them upon the teftimony of a 
 woman of diffipated charafter. However he promifed to 
 contradlft what he found he had aiferted without good 
 foundation, and to do it in every company where he had 
 an opportunity ; but whether he has performed his pro- 
 mife or not, has not yet com.e to the knowledge of the 
 Dificnters. However the DKTenters have it now in their 
 power to bring ferious charges, and to eflablifh them as 
 fa6ls, againft the managers of the Church Schools. They 
 can prove that a mlnlfter refiding in the parifli threatened 
 a poor vs^afliervv-oman with the lofs of her employment in 
 his family, if (lie did not take her child from the Prefby- 
 tyerian School. And yet it is well known in the parlfli 
 that the Diffenters inftru(Sl the children of their fchools 
 in no other than the common do61:rlnes of Chriftianity, 
 in vv^hich all Chriftians agree. Thefe are fome of the 
 fcandalous proceedings of thofe who call themfelves the 
 4ifclples of him who went about doing good. 
 
 The interell of feveral fviins of inoney is annually dif: 
 
 tributc4 
 
APPENDIX. fi05 
 
 trlbutcd to the poor of the pariili in bread and cloathing, 
 and lately the reftor of the parilli, and the minifter of the 
 chapel, have been accuftomed to interrogate the paupers 
 who apply for the faid donations, refpe(?ting the church to 
 which they belong ; and thofe who arc found to attend the 
 Prelhyterlan meeting-houfe lofe the benefit of the faid 
 charities. 
 
 ADDIT10X8 
 
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 
 
 After p, 52, add — The behaviour of one of my 
 inaid fervants affords a pretty ftrong prefumption that fome 
 mifchief was dellgned me en the fourteenth of July, and 
 that {he was apprized of it. She afked leave to go and fee her 
 friends forae days before, and defired to ftay a few days after 
 that time. When flie went, ihe dehred the fervant boy to 
 write to her " if any thing happened." She not only 
 was not folicitous about the clothes fhe loft, but evidently 
 dreaded being obliged to attend the aflizes. When flie was 
 fubpoenaed, though on the part of our opponents, fhe endea- 
 voured to evade it, by denying her name ; and flie either 
 a61ually went to Ireland, or her friends pretended that fhe 
 did, fo that fhe could not be found at the time. Some of 
 her connections were with the High Church party, and 
 from forne of them it is not improbable fhe received a hint 
 that it wruld be better for her to be out of the w?.y. Many 
 othe" perfon'^ in the lowr.r clai^-; nppear now to have had 
 the fa.ne appre^ ' : I'lo'^s ,,,.,. Nothing of this, how- 
 
 ever, came to my knowledge, and I had no more apprehen- 
 fioii of any fuch t!^ " ''- - ' ' ' -t any other time in 
 my life. 
 
 P. 52. 1. T 6. Read — wkb refpetl lO-vjhkh 'd does not ap' 
 pear that he had any proper author it}r 
 
 P. 55. 1. 2. Read— f6s« -wilt make a damned good cock. 
 
 P, 59. 1. 16. Read — on Sunday the other magijlrate. 
 
 P. 72. 
 
ADDITIONS, &<^. 207 
 
 V. 72. 1. 2. from the bottom. He has alfo been made 
 fteward of the manor. 
 
 P. 82. 1. 7, (b.) "Whatever elfe may be objefted to 
 my condu(5l, it cannot be faid that, after the exam- 
 ple of my adverfaries, I ever ihrunk from an invelH- 
 gation into the part I had afted. The day that I arrived 
 in London I defired Mr. Ruffell, who had to wait on the 
 King's miniflers, to inform them that I was in tov/n, and 
 ready to anfwer any queftions they might choofe to put to 
 me relating to the riot; and when the inquiry into the 
 caufe of it was propofed in the Houfe of Commons, my 
 friends were authorized by me to fay, that I wifhed to be 
 examined on the fubje6l at the bar of the Houfe. But in 
 iieither of the cafes were my wifhes gratified. 
 
 r. 83. 1. 6. (b.) Befides, this was not the only fa6l of 
 which he was convifted He was feen knocking out the 
 v/indow frames, and ber.tii;g things to pieces, and he made 
 a fire of the boards he had pulled up. See the Trial, 
 p. 146, &c. 
 
 P. 92. 1. 6. fb.) This, however, was only with refpe6t 
 to that part of his lofs which Mr. Ruflell claimed in court. 
 In reality he was probably a lofer to a greater amount. 
 
 P. 100. jt^t the clofe of the fecond paragraph add — 
 This Mr. Allen was the clergyman who fought a duel 
 with a Mr. Delaney, and killed him. He may perhaps 
 fend me a challenge; but Diflenting miniflers do not 
 fight duels. 
 
 P. 121. To the note add — Will he do us the favour to 
 fay what fum was fubfcribed by this moll refpedtable meet- 
 
 S im 
 
2c8 ADDITIONS, &c. 
 
 mg to pay for the prefents they fo generoufly voted, ana 
 will he have the goodnefs to tell us how foon afterwards a 
 fufficient addition was made to it to defray the coft of them^ 
 and when the plate Was prefented to thefe worthy ma- 
 gi Urates? 
 
 P. I 27. 1. 4. (b.) dele, a7id that of all who were prcfeut at 
 the time he refers to. 
 
 P. 132. 1. 5. (b.) dele, and I believe even afterwards fdl- 
 lowed by fome of the mob-. 
 
 Pi 142; Note, read, when the brothels, and Mr. Brookr's 
 lioufe, were in danger in May laft. 
 
 P. 143. 1. 7. Read — which, notw'ithQanfing the party 
 fprit which has fo long governed feme bigots among us. 
 
 Till the vvAhoie of this part of my Appeal was printed o^T, 
 1 never read the Letter addreffed to me on my Addrcfs to 
 the fiibfcrihers to the Birmingham library, No, III. of this 
 Appendix, by Somebody M. S. printed in 1787, and ge- 
 nerally afcribed to Mr. Clutton, a clergyman in Birming- 
 ham, whofe fermon on the fubjeft of the Teft Laws Mr. 
 Madan laments was not pliblifhed. Having had a copy 
 of tiiis Letter lent me, T have had the curiofity to read 
 it through, and have been not a little amufed with the: 
 fcvirrility with which it abounds ; and for the aniufement 
 of mv readers, as well as to give them a fpecimen of the 
 fpirit v/hich actuated the Birmingham clergy, and to en- 
 able them to judge of the tendency of their writing, and 
 no doubt of their preaching and daily converfation, t^ 
 inflam^e the minds of the common people againft me, I 
 fhall qviote fome pafiageS from it. But I wifh that my 
 > rdiders 
 
ADDITIONS, Sec. 209 
 
 readers would firft perufe the Addrefs which occafioned this 
 extraordinary Letter, and alfo my Appeal to the Profejfors of 
 Chijiian'ity, to which it alludes. 
 
 According to this Mr. Glutton, I am, p. 25, " a de- 
 *' luded vifionary ;" " a proud and haughty fcorner," p. 4; 
 and *' a fecret aflaflin," p. 19, He accufes me both of 
 *' daring oppofition, and fubtle flratagem," p. 21; of 
 " covered artifices to deceive the unwaiy," p. 1 ; and like- 
 wife of " outrageous bellowing," p. 25. 
 
 My Appeal to the ProfeJJors of Chrijilanlty, he calls 
 *' poifon, and an engine of fedition,," p. 5 ; confifting 
 of *' plaufible, but treacherous reafoning, fubtle fophiftry, 
 nay, " a murderous pamphlet," p. 17. 
 
 With refpe6l to my general chara6ler, I am ** a pub- 
 " lie nuifance," p. 38. and " mufl not expe6l to go un- 
 " horfe whipped." I have " forfeited all indulgence, and 
 *' muft expe6l every fpecies of deferved retaliation, that 
 ** thofe who have been injured by me, their friend«, and 
 *' allies, can inflift," p. 44. 
 
 My " attachment to Chriftianity," he fiys, p. 13, is 
 ** ideal;" for I am " funk into the gulph of deifm," p. 36. 
 He advifes me to " go to a free country," (meaning, I fup- 
 pofe, either France or America) <' which has no laws, no 
 ♦' rulers, no religion." *' There," fays he, p. 40, " you 
 *' may give the reins to your reafon, gratify your appetites, 
 " and let loofe all your lufts." But whether I go to this 
 country or not, " a hideous gulph," (by which he evi- 
 dently means hell) " is gaping for me, and my fol- 
 *' lowers," p. 39. 
 
 P Btfides. 
 
210 ADDITIONS, &c. 
 
 Befides more fuch language as this, which, as coming 
 from a clergyman, muft not be termed ahufe, he introduces 
 a long epitaph for me, p. 13, of which the following is 
 an extradl. 
 
 *' The aflumed meeknefs and flmplicity of the dove, 
 " hiding the guile and fubtlety of the ferpent, fmoothed his 
 *' wrinkled front. The honey dew of rhetoric flowed from 
 *' his tongue, and became the unfufpedled vehicle of the 
 *' poifon of afps. Reafon, he faid, would teach us how to 
 *' weaken the authority and force of fcrlpture, &c. He 
 *' befeeched us, tor the credit of the human race, for the 
 *' fake of truth, of confcience, and our immortal fouls, to 
 *' pay divine honours to his goddefs, &c. &c. &c.'* 
 
 It is fome confolation to think, that whether I be able to 
 find a grave or not, my enemies have already taken care to 
 provide mc with a fuflacient number of epitaphs. 
 
 THE END- 
 

 
 
 
 
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