The rise and dissolution of the infidel societies in this metropolis : including, the origin of modern deism and atheism; the genius and conduct of those associations; their lecture-rooms, field-meetings, and deputations; from the publication of Paine's Age of reason till the present period / [William Hamilton Reid].

  • William Hamilton Reid
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The rise and dissolution of the infidel societies in this metropolis : including, the origin of modern deism and atheism; the genius and conduct of those associations; their lecture-rooms, field-meetings, and deputations; from the publication of Paine's Age of reason till the present period / [William Hamilton Reid]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    108/138 (page 94)
    [ 54, ] ' ' under to thofe who directed this military force* and actually prevented the rnadnefs of democracy from a phaeton-like affumption of the reins of go¬ vernment , from whence the whole ifland might have been kindled into a combuftion more de- ftrudtive than the infurrection of Jack Cade, or any of the diforders of his fucceffors. I will even hazard the fuppofition, no Volunteer-Aflociations being formed, that republican frenzy had pro¬ ceeded fo far as to corrupt the Guards, and Jeize or mqflacre the whole Houfe of Commons; or as many of them as they found fitting; could thefe madmen fuppofe any men, or fet of men, would have accepted of the government at their hands, reeking with the blood of the Senate ? I trull there are none, who bear the name of Bri¬ tons, fo loft to the dignity of the national cha¬ racter, or of a call fo fanguinary or degraded. Of courfe, hating both the treafon and the traitors, the {hocking deed would have reverted, with ten¬ fold vengeance and remorfe, upon the heads of the perpetrators; while its refults muft have juf- tifted the molt affiidfing, and, perhaps, unheard- of recrimination. I intimated, that the fafety of the fittings of the Houfe of Commons was owing to the formation of the Volunteer-Corps, while democracy raged in this metropolis. I repeat it: , for, notwithftanding not more than one perfon, as far as I recoiled!, has been convidfed of fe- ducing the foldiery from their allegiance, fuch at¬ tempts, among the Clubbifts, were not cafual, but part of a fyftem conftantly adted upon. To mingle with, and to treat, the foldiery was as much a part of the duty, while the Clubs exifted, as it was to meet at the divilion-rooms 3 and reports of progrefs, in this undertaking, were conftantly made and applauded. 8 I may