Dan Taylor, London, to George Birley, St. Ives, 13 February 1790.

On the back page of the previous letter, written over the original address to Taylor in London, Taylor has offered Birley his suggested changes in the resolutions he had received from Birley the previous day which had emerged from an earlier meeting in Huntingdon of the local Committee for the Repeal of the Test Acts. Taylor has located his revisions by resolution number and line number (see below).  He has returned Birley’s original letter to him, with the resolutions and his critique of them, attached to his letter of the 13th. For Birley's letter of 12 February and the resolutions of the meeting, click here.

Resolution.

         1.      2. f. government, & civil governmt, or ye civil legislature

         2.     2. f. cannot, & ought not to attempt; or cannot injustice &c

         2. -----   3. f. conscience, & consciences.

         3. -----   2. f. endeavours & endeavour, &c is not divert, or some such word, more mild, or so more proper y.n seduce?

         3. ---- 3. delete y.t & ye same L5, & f. contrary &c. v. he deviates from ye purpose

         3. ---- 6. f. antichristian, v. unchristian, or inconsistent wth Xty.

         4. ---- 3.  dele most—& are not ye Quakers Dissenters as we are & does not ye Test Act affect y.m?  If so I think y.s proper.

`       5.      1.  f. The v.  That the, ye rest of ye Resol.n I think excellent.

I think ye 9.th sh.d be ye 3.d. 5th or 6.th & will stand in any of these places.  I think you’ll newmodel the 4.th to advantage; perhaps in some such manner as y.s –-- y.t ye continuance of a penal law which was originally enacted ag.t ye papists only, to the disadvantage, or injury of protestant dissenters &c. &c.  I think Blair’s rules of construction require yr transposition.

Beloved Bro.r

         I hope you’ll make out my scrawl on the other side; but know not how for it deserves your regard.—I’m a poor critic.—I don’t know where you’ll meet with an assistant.  But if I hear of one, shall be glad to help you.

         Horberry, (which I forget in my last,) is not mine.  M.r Booth had just bought it, & lent it me a few days.  Perhaps he might think it too free, (you know his temper,) if I asked it a month for you. --I shall buy it w.h I can.  Then you may have it.

         I don’t think it an extraordinary performance; but a moderate one.  If you print copies of your Resolutions, loose, I beg the favour of one.  Shall thank you for a history of ye business, when over, in Newman’s parcel.  Am just now going off to Hatch[ard] with your parcel.  I also “am overwhlemed with business.” Lord help us both!  your’s affectionately

                                                     D. Taylor

Feb. 13. 1790.

Text: D/Hus 1/6/19, Hughes Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.  Both Birley and Taylor were General Baptists (New Connection) ministers.