however, have since been consulted, who have offered some objections; and to obviate them, the Dissenters have offered to sign a subscription, declaring the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to contain the mind and will of God, and a rule of faith and practice. This goes beyond the opinion of several of their body, who wished to have stood on Mr. Locke's general principles of toleration; at the same time that the Bishops have not given any answer to it. They are, however, determined to bring in their Bill, and are likely to meet with support from many of all sides, at least in the House of Commons."[1]
It was a long time before Shelburne could ascertain what course the Ministry intended to pursue.[2] Ultimately the reactionary influences which surrounded the King carried the day, and it was resolved to throw out the Bill in the House of Lords, after allowing it to pass the House of Commons practically unopposed. The more liberal tendencies of many of the Government supporters were to be satisfied by the latter concession. Shelburne strongly urged Chatham to leave his retirement for the debate, and was on this occasion successful. "I am very glad to find," he writes, "that your Lordship's health will admit of your coming to town on the second reading of the Bill. This makes me trouble you with the enclosed sketch of a protest drawn by Dr. Price,—a measure which I find would give their body great satisfaction and countenance, provided your Lordship approves of it. It has been communicated to no person living. Though I must do justice to the Duke of Richmond's present facility of disposition, yet I suppose it doubtful how far he and Mr. Burke will approve anything that does not come from the same quarter. I beg to submit this and every other consideration to your Lordship's judgment and decision.
"I had accidentally some conversation with Lord Gower at the Opera, who made no secret of the intentions of Government, in the House of Lords, to oppose the
