J. P. Heywood, Lincolns Inn, to William Wood, Leeds, 17 June 1792.

Dear Sir,

        I enclose you a few Copies of the Address which before we broke up for the Summer we thought it right to print & circulate that our Constituents may see we are still alive & ready to take an opportunity if any should offer of again coming forward to Parliament.  Nobody will blame us for having been quiet this Session.  Whilst the Nation was under Alarm to a degree unknown since the Sham Plot in the Reign of Charles 2d – and the Dissenters were pretty generally respected for at least pretending to be so, by Administration and their friends of having much inclination towards Sedition, it was not likely that they could be heard with attention much less with kindness.   But when the Day of Distress arrives and the Minister shall be forced to state the condition to which the Country will probably be reduced by this wastefull & useless War – And when it shall appear that notwithstanding our avowed disapprobation of the measure we patiently submit I take our share of the Burdens to be imposed and though with Reluctance contribute our Quota without murmer because we feel it our Duty to submit peaceably to the Will of the Majority claiming only a Right publicly to declare our Dissent.  I say when this Day comes I think it will be admitted that the obloquy thrown upon us is unmerited and Justice will be done by taking away these absurd & wicked distinctions.  I sometimes flatter myself that I begin to see dawnings of more liberal Times – though as yet I must admit the Horizon is dark enough the conduct of the French Governors if any think them deserves that name is so scandalous and abominable that it hurts the cause of real Liberty more than Prussians, Austrians & Russians all combined.   It is not wonderfull that under such exercrable rabble as the Convention their Fleet & armies fight as well & seem as well appointed as under the most settled Governors.   It seems almost to shew that a Country may do without a Government.   Fox is to make a motion today about the War & expects great support – I think too many of the Opposition are off for the Summer and they are not numerous enough to afford detachments.   I should not wonder if Governors avoid the question by refusing to make a house.  I send the Address by this post to York to be in the next Saturdays paper.  I am                     Dear Sir

                            With great Truth

                                            Your most obedt Servt

                                                                    J. P. Heywood

June 17. 1792

Lincolns Inn

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