Printed notice of meeting of the Midland District at Nottingham, 17 June 1790, William Russell, chair.

[Also with this document is another printed notice from the London Committee from 4 March 1790 [cited in Test Acts Papers, no. 93.]

25 resolutions passed at this meeting.  Three delegates were chosen for the national committee: Rev. Dr. Towers and Mr. Tuffin for Nottingham and Derby, and Michael Dodson, Esq. for Warwick; Josiah Wedgwood for Staffordshire; James West and Mr. Lovewell, for Lincoln, Leicester, and Rutland.  The report also condemns the tactics used by the clergy in the last repeal defeat, but they believe that it “will in the end serve the cause of civil and religious liberty . . . by affording the Dissenters an opportunity of explaining their views and principles, and of proving themselves the friends of truth and best interests of mankind.” They also denounce the Regium Donum as a “disgrace” upon the Dissenters.  On the back of this sheet is a printed letter sent to all the committee chairs, signed by Russell.  The letter repeats some of the resolution material, then in closing encourages the Dissenting groups not to give up but to press on in a good cause.  “The union of Dissenters is at length in a good degree effected.  This union is itself a great acquisition; but this union will dissolve if the stimulating object be once abandoned.  Trusting therefore in the justice of our cause, we recommend it to the Dissenters of the whole kingdom to keep their grievances in constant view, and with that firmness which the occasion demands, and with that respect which is due to the legislature of thier country, incessantly to petition for that justice which their country owes them.”

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 106, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Copy of above notice can also be found in the Dissenters’ Collection, William Smith Papers, University of Kansas, MS Q11:10:7.