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    u In the session of 1812 it was proposed by Mr . William Smith , the enlightened and liberal member for Norwich , to add a clause to the general Toleration Act , which was then under discussion in the House of Commons , for the repeal of the persecuting laws ag * alnst the Anti-trinitarians . This ciause was however withdrawn , expressly that it mijrht not occasion the slightest obstruction

    to the progress of a measure universally regarded as of the highest importance . Leave was then asked to bring * in a separate bill for the same purpose ; but this likewise was withdrawn , because most of the right r € verend prelates had retired into the country , ' for their special and local duties , '

    with an implied understanding * that no measure relative to religion would be introduced into Parliament that session , excepting the Toleration Act which was then in progress . But the bill was withdrawn , with an explicit notice that the measure in some form or other would be revived in the next

    session . When Parliament met in November , a communication was made both to ildministration and to those of the rig-ht reverend prelates who were then in London , that it was in contemplation to revive the application to Parliament to obtain the repeal of the persecuting" statutes ; but by mutual

    consent it was agreed to defer this business till the grand Catholic question was disposed of , which did not happen till late in the session . It is perhaps within the recollection of the learned prelate , that in the mean time an unusual number of bishops were convened for the consideration of the

    measure proposed to be introduced by Mr . W . Smith ; and that , whatever differences of opinion might subsist among themselves upon the question , it was intimated that the Prince Regent ' s Government ( to their immortal honour be it recorded ) being willing- to conciliate all parties , and not seeing * any reason why A » ti-trinitarians should be

    excluded from the benefit of legal protection any more than any other class of Nonconformists , desired that this measure might pass through both Houses without any opposition or animadversion , which , having a tendency to rouse the dormant spi rit of ignorance and bigotry , might throw the nation into a flame . And can it have escaped

    his lordship ' s recollection , that in perfect concurrence and harmony with this most judicious and liberal intimation of Government , some of the most distinguished of the venerable Bench , for station , talent , character and learning-,, did concur and assist in framing a bill of the most conciliatory

    and liberal nature , which expressly repealed * so much of all or any other Act or Acts of the English , Scotch , British , Irish , or United Parliaments , as imposes penalties on those who interpreted the "Holy Scriptures inconsistently with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity ? " * The business being * thus harmoniously and wisely settled- the venerable

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    prelates might with quiet consciences and heartfelt satisfaction ' leave London for their special and local duties . ' The intro duction of the bill thus liberally framed was from unavoidable circumstances deferred till very late in the session , and

    passed without the smallest opposition tvith the single and reasonable amendment , thai none of its provisions were to extend to the clergy of the established church . In thk state the bill was carried up to the Lords . But there the eagle eye of the Law Lords

    immediately discovered a want of technical propriety which had escaped the notice , of the venerable prelates , and which was fatal to that generous and comprehensive measure to which they had given their coante . nance . The learned luminaries of the law

    without expressing the slightest disapprobation of the principle of the measure , at once pronounced that a bill containing a clause so indefinite could not possibly pass into a law , and that no law could with propriety be repealed without being * specifically mentioned . The bill therefore was

    withdrawn . And leave was given to Mr . W , Smith to introduce the present bill , which is not indeed so comprehensively worded as the preceding , * but being founded upon the same principle and carried , as far as the friends of the measure knew , to the same extent , and being also technically correct , was expedited through both Houses in time

    to icceive the royal assent the day before the sessions closed ; with the cordial consent and concurrence of all good men , excepting Mr . Cobbett , who publicly protested against it , and I regret to add the pious and learned Bishop of St . David ' s , who silently , but I trust ; of the Right Reverend Bench , singly disapproved it . "

    * il Tne present bill does not repeal the Irish Auti-trinitarian penal laws , if any such there be . This was not an intentional omission . For , the clause suggested or sanctioned by the learned prelates included all . And after this liberal measure was unexpectedly thrown out , by Lord Laudcrdale ' s motion that it might be read this day

    three months , it was too late to apply t 0 our Irish brethren to inquire whether any such penal laws existed in their Statute Book . Lord Lauderdale , who is warnily attached to religious liberty , and friendly to the principle of the bill , seeing that the objection of the Law Lords was fatal to the bill , instantly moved for its rejection , tor time

    the sole purpose of allowing as much as possible for introducing a new bill and carrying it through all its stages before the conclusion of the session . May I be permitted to add that , if I have been rig htly informed , the conduct of the Archbishop 01 . Canterbury through the whole business was marked with a candour , courtesy , and ijberolity worthy of a Christian metropolitan ?"

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    510 Review . —Belskam ' s Reply to Burgess .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1815, page 510, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1763/page/46/