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    leave to the interest of the general body $ observing only , that if tlie learned judge had looked into the Toleration Act , and the statutes which it repealed , he would have found in it probably much more than " an exemption from punishment for non-attendance at the Established Church , and nonconformity with its rites . " But the Committee must be allowed with great deference to remove the whole theory which is set up with regard to the law particularly

    directed against Unitarians , and the statute repealing it . They must take leave to answer the assertions—that the Trinity law was intended only to give security to the Government in the nature of a Test law—that the only penalty imposed is exclusion from office—and that ^ the penalty is directed against any manifestefioas of the dangerous opinion , without proof of intention ta propagate it—by simply stating the real provisions of the Act , leaving it to their constituents to judge what weight they ought to attach to opinions so

    hastily and crudely formed . The Act provides , that if any person shall " by writing , printing , teaching , or advised speaking" deny , & c « , hfr shall for the first offence be disabled in law from holding office , ecclesiastical , civil , or military , and for the second offence be disabled from suing or pjrosecuting any suit in law , or being guardian , executor , or administrator otanyone , or capable ofreceiving any legacy or deed of gift , and suffer imprisonment for three years , without bail

    or mainpnze . Under the circumstances attending the case which thsy have thus detailed , your Committee do not think that the position in wh $ eh former Committees have determined to remain , in any way calls for more serious attention than has hitherto been extended to it . The principles on which the arguments of the learned judge rest , appear , if they include any , to involve all persons differing from the Established Church equally with the Unitarians , so far as

    concerns the propagation of their peculiar opinions , and the impugnment of those of the Establishment , whose creeds and fopnularies form the only criterion of that Christianity which is " part and parcel Of the law of England . " If the religious freedom of this country is confined to the entertainment of opinion , leaving the expression of it always more or less culpable , and punishable or not , merely according to the more or less liberal construction of a judge or jury ; and if , as the learned judge seems to tell us , not even the

    Legislature is potent enough to make it otherwise ; we have one consolation , at least , in hailing it as a new proof of the dangerous laxity , the absurd uncertainty of our criminal law on such subjects , and shall , in common with all Dissenters , have one reason mote for joining in the protest which justice , policy , and religion , unite iu calling on all the real friends of Christianity to make , against prosecution of any sort of expre 3 sion of opinion in matters of religion at the tribunals of the law .

    At the General Meeting , the following , among other Resolutions , were passed : That this Meeting has full confidence in the Committee taking every practicable means ofprocuring the Repeal of the Test and Corporation . Acts , which are so great a grievance to Protestant Dissenters , and so inconsistent with the liberal spirit of the British Constitution .

    Tbat it is desirable to invest at interest such part of the balance from time to time in hand , as shall appear to this Society at its General Meeting , to be beyond its immediate wants ; the fund to be at the disposal of the Committee for the tirne being . And ( with relation chiefly to the decrease in the ampunt of Annual Subscriptions , the arrears , particularly of Congregational Subscriptions , the he

    great excess of the lapt year ' s expenditure above the current income , and t present calls upon the Society ) the Committee were dijec ^ ed tp qrge by such means as they should deem expedient , the increase in number , and the regular payment , of Subscriptions , particularly from Congregations , aad the great desirableness of enabling the Society to accumulate ^ Fund , to w ^ icji it . may be able to look in an emergency without the necessity of a public appeal .

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• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1823, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1714/page/34/