Papers on Toleration

Front Cover
General Books, 2013 - History - 28 pages
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810 edition. Excerpt: ... Anne, the new toleration was scarcely main tained; and under the two succeeding sovereigns religious rancour was abated, but no. legal diminution of those, or of similar severities was effected in England; and fresh severities were enacted by the Parliament of Ireland. Bu$ in the present reign, a melioration of the temper and principles of the nation, in that respect, ha$ been proved by successive relaxations in the code of persecution in England and in Ireland. These concessions in favour of the rights of conscience were considerable; and they were obtained, in the Parliament of England, chiefly by the efforts of a most distinguished patriot, and of a great philosophical statesmanf, now no more; and in that of Ireland by an illustrious Sir George Sa?ile. + The rigbt honourable Charles James Fox. and still surviving benefactor of his country- men, to whom the friends of humanity and liberty are deeply indebted, and cannot sufficiently express their feelings of gratitude and re- spect. By the influence, or with the approbation, of those generous and enlightened men, applications were addressed to each Parliament, at different periods, for relief from some of the pains and penalties of our intolerant code; and those applications were grounded, not on the principles of duty, but on considerations of policy, or on the feelings of humanity. At that time, when government was disposed to repeal some of the most injurious statutes of that code, it was wisely done not to press a principle too extensive for the subsisting prejudices of the public, or of the legislature; but rather to Right honourable Henry Grattan. propose, on narrower grounds, some partial concession, which they might hope to gain, by the assistance of government, from...

Other editions - View all

Bibliographic information