count of the trial of Mr. Winterbotham for seditious expressions in two sermons. He was found guilty, in both cases, on the evidence of two very illiterate persons, against the testimony of a great number of his respectable hearers, that he had not used any such language as was ascribed to him.* This is indeed alarming, and calls for the interference of the Dissenters as a body. Mr. Cook, of Cambridge,† has also been convicted, on the evidence of the most infamous persons, of seditious words spoken three years ago. There was nothing worse than this in the reigns of the Stuarts.

Mr. Russell is now here, and inclines to go to America, notwithstanding his present very agreeable situation at Gloucester. I think I shall be drawn into the vortex, though not immediately. My principal objection is leaving you behind. I do think I could do more good there than I can here; but I shall at all events wait the report of my sons.

I began to print my Reply to Mr. Evanson‡ last Wednesday. Mr. Dodson was here yesterday, and still wonderfully struck with Mr. E.'s work,§ though I think Mr. Belsham and I staggered him a little. I wish I could convey a copy of my reply before you return.

P.S. My respects to Mrs. Blackburne and Frank, and my frends in general, if you meet with any such. I

I AM happy in the thought of so much of your absence from London being expired, though I hope you enjoy that absence, and on this account I enjoy it too. Mr. Belsham is also on a journey, and I imagine you will return about the same time.

We are much alarmed with the apprehension of a war with America. It is the opinion of most, that this event, disastrous

See W. XV. 530, 531.

+ Who emigrated to America, where he obtained a doctor's degree, and when he visited England a few years since, he held an appointment of chaplain in the navy of the United States.

See supra, p. 203. § See W. XX. 358, note.

|| Orig. MS.

as it must be, will take place, and on this account Joseph's wife has determined to go with him. I hope a good Providence will attend them.

Every thing I see or hear inclines me more to think of following my sons, if they should find a desirable situation for me, though, considering my age, I am not much concerned about it, provided they be out of this country, and do well elsewhere.

I have had a good deal of communication with Mr. Dodson relating to my answer to Mr. Evanson, whose part he is, in many respects, still inclined to take. I have on this account made an appendix to my work, which however does not entirely satisfy him. He is persuaded that Paul, in two passages, refers to a written gospel, and that this was the gospel of Luke; but to me this appears highly improbable.*

SIR,

To MR. J. GOUGH.†

Clapton, Aug. 25, 1793.

I WAS highly gratified by the account you was so good as to transmit to me of the favourable manner in which the news of the Revolution in France was received in America, especially as at that time there were doubts entertained on the subject. That many viewed it in an unfavourable light, with you I have no doubt; but that a revolution so nearly resembling your own should not be thought a joyful event by the Americans in general, I could not be brought to believe. Your letter made me quite easy on the subject, and enabled me to satisfy my friends.

Since that time there have been more revolutions, as they may be called, in France; all, however, I am willing to think, favourable to liberty and happiness, though at the time I and all my friends were disposed to forebode ill, as our particular friends were the sufferers. The last constitution seems now to give universal satisfaction, the insurrection seems to be nearly + Savannah.

• Orig. MS.

suppressed, and as to their foreign enemies they make light of them; indeed, they have only served to rouse and unite them.

We have been alarmed with the apprehension of a war with America, but I hope there will be wisdom on your side of the water, though little I fear on ours, to prevent it. Both countries must be materially injured by the event, and neither of them could be a gainer.

I send this by my sons, who are going to find a settlement in your country, all I have, (three,) and then I shall expect to follow soon. I cannot give you an idea of the violence with which every friend to liberty is prosecuted in this country. Little of the liberty of the press on political subjects is now left, and the country goes heartily with the court into all their measures, so that nothing but general calamity, which I fear is approaching, will open their eyes. The source of all this evil is want of knowledge in the lower, and some, not of the lower, orders of the people. The French are wisely providing against this evil by a system of public instruction. Here, even Sunday-schools begin to be reprobated, as making the common people too knowing.*

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.

DEAR FRIEND,

Clapton, Sept. 7, 1793. I AM glad to hear, by your letter received yesterday, that you and Mrs. Lindsey are well, and enjoy your excursion so much; but I am more particularly pleased to find that you are now moving towards London, which to me seems empty without you. Yesterday, however, Mr. Belsham returned, so that I am better off than I have been.

I cannot say that I have any distinct recollection of Mr. Logan. However, please to give my respects to him. I must esteem every body that receives you.

I have not failed to send a copy of my book to the Duke,† and I think I directed Johnson to send one to Mr. Shore.

Europ. Mag. (1794,) XXV. 368.

Either

with him or with the duke you will be sure to see it. I consulted with Dr. Blackburne about sending you a copy, but he could not hit upon any plan that was feasible.

At Leeds you will probably find our old acquaintance, Dr. Dawson. Mrs. Dawson has just called, and says that he is there. He seems carefully to keep out of my way; and he will not, I should suppose, be very fond of coming in yours. How strangely, interest and other motives warp men! But without these things, which try men, it would not be known what we were.

We have just heard from the voyagers, who, in the late stormy weather, the wind being against them, have been off Portsmouth, and we suppose they are there still, as the wind continues in the same point. They were all very well, and in good spirits.

I have received a ring, on account of Mr. Lee's funeral,† and intend to write to the widow.

I have advice that the money to be paid on account of the riots will be delivered to the sufferers this week.

See I. 167, 168. Dr. Dawson had been more in accordance with Dr. Priestley, when publishing, in 1783, "The Necessitarian, or the Question concerning Liberty and Necessity stated, in Nineteen Letters." A reviewer remarks,

"Dr. Dawson hath particularly exposed the fallacy of the common objections to Necessity, drawn from a supposition of its being inconsistent with merit, and hath, we think, fully established his proposition, that the will is always impelled by motives, and that it is the quality of an act that constitutes the ground of merit or demerit, from whence arises a consciousness of acting well or ill, the approbation or disapprobation of our own minds.

"He hath not availed himself of the argument drawn from the doctrine of the Divine decrees, which, from a hint in the preface, we had some expectation of." Mon. Rev. LXVIII. 388.

↑ See supra, p. 205; I. 86, note *. Mr. Lee died Aug. 5. See his epitaph, in Staindrop Church, Durham. Gent. Mag. LXVIII. 276. In a letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated Jan. 1793, he says,

"Though my bodily pain exceeds any thing of the kind I ever endured, and makes me almost totally unable to sleep without opiates, yet I steal a few minutes of comparative ease to thank you for your very pretty book of Paley's, which I like very much. The baseness of Fox's deserters excites my indignation. If God give me health to travel, I hope I shall not desert my old corps." Orig. MS. See I. 18, ad fin.

Mr. Walker, of Manchester, is in town, and about to publish a pamphlet respecting the charges against him.* The stocks fall, and the war is more and more unpopular.

My wife, who is more bent on going to America than myself, joins in remembrances to you.t

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LUNAR SOCIETY.

Clapton, Nov. 16, 1793.

MY VALUED FRIENDS, THERE are few things I more regret, in consequence of my removal from Birmingham, than the loss of your society. It both encouraged and enlightened me; so that what I did there of a philosophical kind, ought in justice to be attributed almost as much to you as to myself. From our cheerful meetings I never absented myself voluntarily, and from my pleasing recollection they will never be absent. Should the cause of our separation make it necessary or expedient for me to remove to a still greater distance from you, I shall only think the more, and with the more regret, of our past interviews.

* See supra, p. 205. The sequel of this political persecution, one of the many which distinguished William Pitt's "reign of terror," is thus recorded: "On Wednesday last came on, at Lancaster assizes, the trial of Thomas Walker, Esq., of Manchester, and nine other persons, for seditious practices, in arming men, and providing ammunition, in order to assist the enemies of Great Britain. After a trial of six hours, they were most honourably acquitted.

"The principal witness was committed by the court, for perjury, he not only prevaricating in the course of his examination, but it being proved that he had previously acknowledged that he had been hired and bribed to give evidence against Mr. Walker." Oracle, Monday, April 7, 1794.

See "A Review of some of the Political Events which have occurred in Manchester during the last Five Years, being a Sequel to the Trial of Thomas Walker and others for a Conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution and Government of this Country, and to aid and assist the French, being the King's Enemies. By Thomas Walker." Lond. Chron. (Jan. 1795), LXXVII. 36.

+ Orig. MS.

"Matt. Boulton, James Watt, James Keir, Esqrs., Dr. Withering, Samuel Galton, jun. Esq., and the Rev. R. A. Johnson, Fellows of the Royal Society." See I. 339.

"We had nothing to do with the religious or political principles of each other. We were united by a common love of science, which we thought sufficient to bring together persons of all distinctions, Christians, Jews, Mahometans, and Heathens, Monarchists and Republicans."