Printed notice of a meeting of the Protestant Dissenters meeting at the King’s Head Tavern, Poultry, London, on 29 May, 1793, William Smith, chair, consisting of “Address to the Protestant Dissenters of England and Wales,” signed by Smith. 

He announces for the London Committee that they have decided not to seek repeal that year and have adjourned

because, while the Attention of the Nation was fixed on the late momentous Crisis of public Affairs, and the Time of the Legislature ingrossed by Considerations of the highest and most immediate Importance, we were unwilling, even by claiming our just Rights, to give our Enemies an Occasion to propagate the foul Calumny which has been raised, that the Dissenters are hostile to the Constitution of their Country.

        It is with the greatest Satisfaction that we reflect on the Conduct observed by the Dissenters, at a Time when a Multitude of Circumstances combined to oppress them.  In those Parts of the Country wehre the storm has raged with such violence, as almost to compel many of our Brethren to make a public declaration of their political principles, they have not sought peace and safety by any cowardly abandonment of their just claims, or by any base submission; but, on the contrary, have publicly avowed their constitutional Opinions, in language becoming free and enlightened Citizens.

        It is, perhaps, here, important to observe, that the Liberty of the Press is peculiarly interesting to the Dissenting Body; for, unless the press be free, vain will it be for us to expect even the Continuance of the Civil rights which we now possess, much less the Attainment of those of which we have so long been unjustly deprived.  It is by Discussion alone that we can hope to produce that general conviction of the Propriety of our Claims, which will insure their Success.

He comments on the recent relaxing of the penal restrictions on Catholics in England and Ireland, allowing Catholics and Dissenters to be military officers in Ireland, though Dissenters still can’t be one in England. In closing, he still sounds a note of optimism and stresses the need for unity: “We cannot but repeat our fervent wishes for the most strict and cordial Union of every denomination of Dissenters.  WE are extremely happy to perceive an increasing spirit of Concord, and congratulate them on being more closely united than at any former period.  Religious Prejudices are rapidly decaying; the rancorous Spirit of Bigotry is giving place to the mild and complacent Genius of Christianity; and, with the utmost satisfaction, we anticipate the day when the distinctions of Sects and Parties shall be annihilated, and Christians shall know each other only by the name of their common Master.

Text: Test Acts Papers, unnumbered (b), Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.