Printed letter “To the Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Bury,” from “A Member of the Church of England,” dated Sunday Evening, 7 March 1790, from Bury.

He is speaking on behalf of the Dissenters and questioning why the church people are rejoicing over the recent vote against repeal.  He says “we have no cause for triumph.” He is a politician and accepts the vote, but not the premise that the Dissenters have the potential to be a rebellious, even revolutionary group, either in church or state.  He says he has never known any to be like that.  Before the church people rejoice, he says, “let us shew ourselves men of as much religion as they are.”

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 92, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.