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].

  • Reid, William Hamilton, -1826
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.

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    [ -111 ] . for years on this fide of the water, and have forced them back upon their own, though by a negative preference. But in fpite of the difcouraging fpecimens exhi¬ bited to the London Correfponding Society and their adherents, viz. by their Executive Committee, and other mimic minifters ; while they flattered them- felves that the foundations of Republicanifm flood fure in France, a cure was always expended in the old revolutionary mode of changing men. It was to little purpofe that the focieties were deterred from meeting : that their difpirited leaders had withdrawn themfelves, or were fcattered far and wide in different prifons; the Republican prin¬ ciple, they contended, ftill remained inviolate and incorruptible ! But where ? Not among the Nobles who had ceafed to call Plebeian meetings, as the latter fuppofed, to confult with them !—not among the dependants upon thefe Nobles, who had feceded from the Senate, and enhanced their crimes in ceafing to harrafs the Minifter :—not among the Commercial men in the City of London, whole in- tereft it was to continue his fupport; but it was to France, that they ftill looked for the fruits of the Tree of Liberty, which was to be yielded to them alfo in due feafon. A fignal victory, obtained by the Auftrians, or any of the Allies, feldom damped the hopes of Democracy ; this was looked upon, as no more than the pruning of the branches, necef- fary to -make them fhoot again with frelh vigour. If a commander was guilty, or accufed of corre- fpondence with the enemy, he was only deemed a canker-worm, who wanted to eat away the root. If crowds of Emigrants or Priefts were adjudged to death, it was ftill neceffary to deftroy them as fo many locufts or caterpillars, who would have de* voured the leaves y or, if whole 'branches of this 8 precious