Printed letter of “a numerous meeting of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the the three denominations in the West Riding of Yorkshire, held at Leeds, August  13, 1789,” William Wood, chairman.

[The West Riding ministers were determined to persist in the repeal process, and chose a committee of nine ministers, three each from the three denominations, but all ministers were welcome to attend.  The committee members at various times included were the Rev. Grove (see his resignation letter in the Test Act Papers, f. 125), Edward Parsons, William Price, Moorhouse (see his letter of resignation, f. 126), William Crabtree (see his resignation letter, f. 127), John Fawcett, Thomas Langdon, Turner, Rev. Deane, and William Wood.] 

Resolved,

        That notwithstanding the ill success of the late application to Parliament for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, we will still persist in our endeavours to obtain that important object, by the use of every peaceable and constitutional method in our power.

        That for this purpose, A committee of nine ministers be chosen out of the three denominations of this district, to correspond with the Committee in London, and with other similar Committees in different parts of the kingdom.

        That this Committee consist of an equal number from each of the three denominations.

        That this Committee be an open one to every dissenting minister in the district who has associated for this purpose, and that every member of the Committee have a right to introduce any other dissenting minister, but that the members only be entitled to vote upon any question.

[Here he names the ministers]

        That farther to promote this desirable end, it be recommended to the different congregations in this district to depute one or more of their members to attend upon a general meeting to be hereafter appointed for that purpose, and then to choose out of their number, a Committee who shall be united with the Committee of Ministers, and shall form with them one body, representing the dissenters of the three denominations in the West-Riding of the county of York.

        That the minister of each congregation inform the Chairman of this Meeting as soon as such election is made, and that the Committee now formed, then appoint a general meeting of ministers and lay deputies, at the time and place which shall appear to them most convenient.

        That our activity in this business is not intended, and ought not to be considered, as an attack upon either the doctrines, the government or the revenues of the established church: but is exerted solely with a view to the removal of the brand of ineligibility to civil offices, which is unjustly fixed upon Protestant Dissenters by the present laws.

        That the thanks of this meeting be transmitted by the Chairman to Henry Duncombe, Esq; one of the Representatives for this county, for his personal support of the late application to parliament, and that he be assured of the grateful and respectful esteem of his dissenting constituents.

        That the thanks of this meeting be also given to Henry Beaufoy, Esq; Sir Henry Hoghton, Bart. and the other Members of the House of Commons, who supported the motion for the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts: And that we unite with other bodies of our brethren in particular thanks to the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, for his manly and generous conduct on that occasion.

        That William Wilberforce, Esq; the other Representative of this County, be respectfully requested, in the name of this meeting, to communicate to the Chairman those peculiar ‘reasons not urged in the course of the debate,’ which overcame the ‘great reluctance,’ he acknowledges, in his late letter, to have felt in opposing the repeal of laws, which ‘separate and distinguish so great and respectable a body of his fellow citizens from the rest:’ Or, in other words, what are the reasons which induced him to think, that the Protestant Dissenters of this kingdom are unfit to be trusted with offices of honour or profit under the Crown.

 That there be annually a General Meeting of the Ministers of the Three Denominations in this Riding, at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Committee for the preceding year.

                                        William Wood, Chairman

On the back of this letter is affixed a newspaper clipping of Dr. Horsley’s “Letter to his Clergy, from Aberguilly, 24 August 1789,” newspaper unknown:

        “Sir William Mansell has declared himself a candidate to represent the borough of Carmarthen in the next Parliament: I cannot refrain from declaring that he has my heartfelt good wishes.  Mr. Philips, the present Member, has received the thanks of the Dissenters for the part he took in the late attempt to overthrow our ecclesiastical constitution, by the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts.  By this it is easy to guess what part he is likely to take in any future attempt for that purpose.  I hope I shall not have the mortification to find a single clergyman in my diocese, who will be so false to his own character, and his duty to the established church, as to give his vote to any man who has discovered such principals.  I am,

                                Rev. Sir, your affectionate Brother,

                                                    And faithful servant,

                                                                        Samuel St. David’s.

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 22, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.