Lord Petre, Thorndon, to William Wood, Leeds, 15 August 1791.

Sr:

        It will be with great pleasure I shall have the honour of communicating the handsome & liberal Resolution of the annual meeting of Protestant Dissenters laymen & Ministers of the three denominations in the West Riding of the County of York, to the first meeting of the Protesting Catholic Dissenters, where I can answer for its being received with the strongest marks of thanks for the liberal expressions it contains & for the countenance they have experienced from their dissenting Brethren during their late application to Parliament.

        I beg leave to express my thanks to all the Gentlemen present at the annual meeting of the Protestant Dissenters for the West Riding of Yorkshire, & to you in particular for the very obliging & kind expressions in your letter. 

        I trust the time is not far distant when the sacred rights of conscience will be so well known that all Religious distinctions will be view’d with horror & all christians become united in Brotherly Love & friendship.  I remain with great esteem

                                Sr:

                                    Your Most Obliged

                                                    & Obedt Humble Servt

                                                                                    Petre

I have been ill with a fit of the gout ever since I received your letter or so much time should not have elapsed without my acknowledging the Recpt of it.

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 119, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.