John Pearson, Golden Square, to William Wilberforce, 8 December 1792.

Pearson complains about the spread of French infidelity among the people.

Golden Square Saturday.

Decr 8. 1792

Dear Sir,

         The publick disapprobation which hath been testified, throughout a considerable part of this kingdom, of the principles, and attempts of wicked & seditious men; has I trust removed the dark cloud that hovered over us, to a greater distance. But while I sincerely rejoice, that so great a majority of respectable men, have thus openly declared their loyalty to the King, & their attachment to the constitution; I cannot observe without concern, that these well-timed effusions of zeal terminate in an attention to the preservation of private property, & the maintainance [sic] of the peace & good order of Society. Among the numerous advertisements, resolutions &c. which are published every day, I have not seen one, from which it could be concluded, that the support of religion was an object of any concern with the associated members. I need not however suggest to you Sir, that the same men who are contriving the subversion of our established government; have [f. 30v] the farther desperate design of overthrowing Christianity itself; and it is probable that their political machinations derive much vigour & energy, from their diabolical enthusiasm. You have no doubt seen, or at least heard of a book published in french by M. de Volney; the principle intention of which is to prove, that the Religious principle in man, has been the source of all the calamities that have oppressed individuals, and of all the desolations that have wasted empires, since the creation of the world. He proposes therefore that the most effectual methods shall be adopted to eradicate all sense of religious obligations from the minds of men, as the only means to establish peace, & promote prosperity. This dangerous performance, written in a strain of seducing eloquence, is a very favorite book, as I am too well informed, with the members of the Constitutional Society. If therefore these impious & atheistical doctrines, should be propagated among a class of people, who are perhaps little better than notional christians at present, I fear that consequences of a much more alarming nature are to be apprehended, than men of mere worldly [f. 31r] principles seem to have suspected. From considerations therefore of this kind, I take the liberty of asking whether it be not the duty of Godly ministers, and of good men in general, to form an association, in behalf of the cause of God & his blessed Gospel; that the world may see, that they are as solicitous about the welfare of religion, as the people in general have shewn themselves to be, respecting the important indeed, yet transitory blessings of their temporal condition. As political disquisitions are not part of my province, so they have never been suitable to the frame of my mind, nor to the habits of my life; but as it appears to me that the very existence of all religion in this Island is seriously threatened, I trust any motives for this intrusion will plead with you as an Apology. I believe, that God has a large family of faithful praying people in this kingdom; & we have therefore reason to hope that their intercessions will be effectual. And in the important season that is now approaching, I trust Sir, that you will in particular, have the benefit & the consolation of the prayers of many of God’s people.

         I remain Sir

                     with due respect

                                 your obliged & most obedt Servt 

                                                         J Pearson

Text: MSS. Wilberforce, d. 15, f. 252, fol. 30-31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.  John Pearson (1758-1826) was a physician associated for a time with the Lock Hospital, the same institution in which Thomas Scott, the biblical commentator was affiliated in the 1790s and who married Mary Egerton (see their letters on this site) in November 1791.