George Walker, Nottingham, to William Wood, Leeds, undated, on the back of the printed resolutions of the meeting of the committee for Nottingham, 9 December 1789.

[Walker’s letter to Wood is about his plan to form a National Union of delegates to meet in London and with the London Committee work out the best way for effecting the repeal of the Acts.  He says nearly all the county committees, except Leicester and Northampton (and he expects them to agree shortly) have concurred with this idea, but he needs West-Riding to concur as well, for he reminds Wood that it was his committee who first thought up the idea.]

Dr Sr,

        I have sent you with the earliest opportunity the Conduct of our late meeting which was specially summoned in order to have the decided sense of the two Counties on ye subject of a National Union, and the mode of effecting this union.  There was not one dissenting voice, as rather it is warmly adopted, as that which must be pregnant with beneficial consequences, and without which it is to be feared that languor, division and defeat will ensue. I hope, nay trust that we shall be generally followed.  Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester, Warwickshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire &c, have acceded to that which is the seal of it, a National Representation in London.  Northampton & Leicester have rather left this undecided, but it is undoubted that they will concur. – It is particularly incumbent on you that you shd concur, for Yorkshire first moved the whole business, from a persuasion that London did not represent us, and was ineffectual to the prosecuting our interests with vigour.  Nothing therefore can come as to your first ideas, but a true National Representation.  Some links in the Chain are tied, your County will be a Master Link, and as I have sometime retracted my calumny of Yorkshire Pride, I wish to have this further proof of the depth of Yorkshire wisdom.  Indeed there is much wisdom and utility in the plan, and it is one strong recommendation to it, that it will wake an activity in those, who would otherwise indolently sit still, and bless the good cause, as Bishops do a starving Beggar, by pious wishes.  If a national Union be not effected, I do again prophesy that languor, division and defeat will soon ensue.

        Lose no time, this Session ought not to pass by neglected, let us come before the whole Legislative Body, not one Branch, but all, with one voice and with the collected wisdom and dignity of the whole.

        I have been very ill for two months past, so as that I could neither think nor write.  I feel that I am going down, but I could embrace any favourable interval that God is pleased to grant me, to second the glorious cause of Truth and Liberty.  At my worst period my <  > and favourite Relation united herself to a Husband; I could not even write a congratulatory Letr to her, I mean in the manner I wished.  But I shall not now delay it, as I am much better, though far short of what I was. – Will you spare me a little by writing to Mr Turner of Newcastle, recommending what we have done, and pressing upon their District the same.  For I have more letters to write than I well know how to get thro.

        I wish you to get inserted in your Leeds Paper as an Advertisment, these proceedings of our Meeting.  If I knew when you decide on this subject, I would even come over as a Deputy from our Comme, if yours would receive me.  So much my heart is in the business.  Remember me to all,

                                                                        Yrs Affecty           G Walker

Present me to Mr Simpson, I grieve for him on acct of his fears for Mrs Simpson; I hope she will be spared to him and to her Friends.

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 43, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.