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    advocate , the cause of Catholic or Protestant , on any other than the broad ground of denying the right of any government to interfere between man and his Creator . If he had applied only for the removal of the Catholic penal laws , it was because they were all that oppressed Ireland . But the principle was what he contended for . He could pledge all his friends from Ireland who vote

    in favour of the Catholics , to do exactly as much for the Dissenters ; and from the most frequent and intimate intercourse with the Catholics themselves , he could assure the meeting , that the constant and unvaried expression of their opinion , clergy as well as laity , was for asserting the absolute and broadest principles of freedom in the expression and enjoyment of religious opinion . He might add , further , that it was only by

    the prevailing advice and persuasion of their friends in Parliament ( how wisely he would not say ) , that their petitions had not of late always gone for the repeal of every penal law and disability in matters of religion . They were most ready and desirous to place their applications on the broadest possible basis . He was rejoiced to hear the determination of the Meeting , and his most cordial and zealous exertions were at their

    ser-. Mr . Marshall stated , that from his friends and connexions in Yorkshire , and indeed from all quarters , he was convinced that it was highly desirable immediately to proceed . Mr . John Smith strongly urged the

    same . Lord Nugent also fully concurred . On the subject of the Catholics he might be allowed to add , that he was authorized to say that they were willing and anxious not to confine their application to relief for themselves , but to stand upon the widest principles of religious liberty , and concur with any who were desirous to effect the repeal of every penal statute or disability .

    Mr . W . Smith suggested , that as the meeting was so unanimous in its feeling , they might request Lord J . Russell to undertake their cause j and he perhaps would give them his opinion as to the expediency of th « present time for agitating the question .

    Lord J . Russell had no hesitation in expressing his decided opinion that the present time was a favourable and suitable one . His exertions were at the service of the Dissenters , and , whenever called on , he would cheerfully do his utmost *

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    The Members of Parliament having retired , it was unanimously resolved , that Lord J . Russell be requested to move the question in Parliament and to give notice accordingly , and that the ge * neral Deputations do meet again on Monday the 9 th of April . On the same evening ,

    Lord John Russell gave notice to the House of Commons , that he should on the 31 st of May ( afterwards altered to the 7 th of June ) make his motion on the subject of the Test and Corporation Acts . Previous to this Meeting , the Committee of the Protestant Society printed and circulated resolutions to which it

    had agreed on the 26 th of March , ( before the first meeting of the Associated Deputations , ) detailing historically and argumentatively the history of the laws affecting the Dissenters and thefr present claims , resolving on immediately prosecuting an application for the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts , and offering to concur with the other societies in any measures they might suggest that could lead to success .

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    380 Intelligence . —Corporation and Test Acts ,

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    April 9 th . The Associated Deputations met at the King ' s Head in the Poultry , when the Secretary , Mr . Winter , stated that he had just received an intimation from the Secretary of the Protestant Society , that its Committee had met on the evening of the 6 th of April , after the Meeting in Palace Yard , and had determined to prepare their petitions and prosecute their exertions distinctly , and not in association with the united Committees of

    Deputations as one body . Mr . Wilks and Mr . Steven afterwards personally stated and explained their views of the eligibility of this determination . Considerable discussion took place , but we had rather forbear to enter upon it . We are sorry that the Protestant Society should have thought it advisable or prudent to withdraw from an united prosecution of a common object , where so much

    unanimity had prevailed ; but it is not for us to dictate to its members either as to the substance or manner of its proceedings $ and we can only express our ardent hope that they will feel the-separation as imposing on them a still more powerful reason for activity , in order to justify by the result a course which to many has appeared at any rate of doubtful policy .

    It was then resolved , that Mr . John Smith be requested to second Lord J , Russell ' s motion . That an united Com *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1827, page 380, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1796/page/68/