berality, it is a pity that religious tyranny fhould exercife, any power; and as we have dared to think freely on government, which regards our temporal happinefs, let us be equally bold in examining doctrines which regard our happinefs in the world to come.

Philadelphia, June 23, 1794.

Mr. BACHE,

ANTI BIGOT.

I am affociated with a few friends who have voluntarily engaged to meet together once or twice in a week for the purpose of mutual entertainment and improvement. We have erected, at a confiderable expenfe, commodious apartments for our accommodation, and have hitherto experienced much fatisfaction and benefit. Our fociety, being felect, confiding in the fincerity and friendship of each. other, and agreed in fentiment and common principles, has enjoyed a confiderable portion of happiness in the profecution of our plan. Under the protection of our excellent Conftitution, and the enlightened and liberal fpirit of our fellowcitizens, we have exercifed the privilege of freemen without intrufion or moleftation from others, whom we should by no means envy or impede if they wish to exert themselves as we have done.

However, a troublesome fellow, lately fettled in the neighbourhood, has attempted to disturb our tranquillity by his noife and impertinence. He has wifhed to thrust himfelf amongst us upon various occafions, contrary to our inclinations and views, as we know him to be but a peftilent fellow, very audacious, and wholly oppofed to our general sentiments, principles, and manners. Having been repeatedly baffled in his efforts to attain this object, he, at length, has had recourfe to ftratagem, and has invited into the neighbourhood one of his friends, of a more refpectable character, with whom he imagined we would have no ob jection to affociate, and through whom he expected to find an introduction for himfelf. This ftranger, though a perfon of learning and decent manners, was, however, accustomed to difputation, and his general principles were extremely diffimilar from those which we had adopted long before, after a careful examination. As we had fufficiently known the peculiarities of the learned gentleman from his publications, and did not choofe to have our friendly and focial meeting difturbed by new difcuffions, or turned into fcenes of dif

putation

putation and confufion, and thus wholly perverted from their original purpofe, we did not give him any invitation to take a part in our affemblies. We treated him civilly indeed, according to our ufual habit, with regard to firangers; but we encouraged no intimacy; we made no advances towards a clofe correfpondence. Upon this difappointment our fractious neighbour, who, as I have faid, hoped to get admiffion for himself under his friend's cloak, and to have been amufed with a "fair and candid difcuffion of certain opinions," began to be infolent, and to blufter and defame us in the newfpapers as "bigots and tyrants, and fectaries, and enemies to free inquiry." Now, would you think it Mr. Bache, this fellow, with the heart of a bigot in favour of mifchief and altercation, and the arrogance of a tyrant who would infringe upon the rights and peaceable purfuits of his neighbours, has had the impudence to ftyle himself Anti Bigot, and throw dirt at us in the manner which has already been ftated?

This, Sir, is a plain and unadorned narrative of our prefent fituation and embarraffment; and what are we to do in fuch a cafe? As we with for nothing but the liberty of purfuing our own happinefs, in our own way, fo as not to infringe upon other people, we claim an exemption from the intrufion of other people; we are not willing to yield to‘such meddlers as I have defcribed. If we let this impertinent proceed in his manoeuvres, the whole neighbourhood may be divided by his intrigue; if we let him bawl on, our fquare will be fubject to continual alarms from his noife; and if we ftop his mouth with a gag, it will be deemed an outrage upon freedom. We are unanimoufly of opinion that he deferves fome chaftifement, and if a majority can fanctify violent measures, as is fometimes afferted, we would not be far wrong to anoint him with tar and sprinkle him with feathers. However, as this, perhaps, would not be confiftent. with perfect equality, though we could quote good authorities upon the occafion, and as it would be equally contrary to liberty to burn him in effigy, it is thought beft to reprefent the whole matter to our friends and fellow-citizens; and perhaps the general deteftation which may be excited againit all fuch intermeddlers may keep him in awe, and preferve the general tranquility. Philadelphia, June 24, 1794.

PHILIP PEACEable.

Mr.

Mr. BACHE, If abufe can be confidered as "impertinence," and illiberality as "audacity," your correfpondent" Philip Peaceable" has a paramount claim to them. From the perfecuting fpirit which lurks in his performance, for he feems afraid to unbofom the venom of his mind, I fhould be disposed to believe that the fpirits of Bifhops GARDNER and BONNER had again vifited the earth, and that, instead of fire and faggot, they had changed their mode of converfion into "tar and feathers." To be fure, thefe are arguments lefs inflammatory; but the temper which dictated them is only varied by time and circumftances, and not by principle; for had the " PEACEABLE PHILIP" lived in the time of Queen Mary, he would have been the rival of those celebrated dealers in human facrifice. Even at this moment, I have no doubt, from the fpirit which he has difcovered, that an auto da fe would not be an unwelcome fpectacle to him, par ticularly if an "Anti Bigot," or "the franger," was to be the victim. What has licenfed this pretender to peace to affert that any member of the Univerfal Church has difturbed “the tranquillity" of a neighbourhood by his “noise and impertinence ?" What " peftilent fellow" is there among their members, who wishes to interrupt the quiet enjoyment of religious worship? What has authorized the dark infinuation against Dr. Priestley, a man and a philofopher who would do honour to any age, country, or religious profeffion? What has given birth to the unqualified abufe, to the pitiful threat of tar and feathers and burning in effigy, but a heart calculated for an inquifition, and a mind which confiders every thing as blafphemy beyond its comprehenfion and its belief? Is liberality tyranny ?" Is it tyranny to fay Dr. Priestley ought to be permitted to preach in our churches? Is it a proof of "mfchief and altercation" to say, that the members of the Univerfal Church are ready to open their doors to Dr. Prieftley or any other preacher of the Gofpel? Is it tyranny, is it a difpofition for mischief and altercation, to fearch for truth, to liften to both fides of a queftion? If fo, the qualities of things have changed indeed, and what has heretofore been confidered as mifchievous and tyrannical, will, in future, by every ingenuous mind, be viewed as virtuous and praifeworthy.

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Would to Heaven the altars of religion were adorned with more characters like "the Atranger," who has met with fuch

2

indecent

144

ADDRESSES TO DR. PRIESTLEY.

"

indecent treatment! then, indeed, would the empire of true religion exert itself, the empire of charity and philanthropy ; for it is by their fruit ye shall know them, and not by the empty profeffion of PHILIP PEACEABLE," or Philip Religious. The belief of a man depends upon caufes not within his own control; but his actions are his own, and for them and them only ought he to be accountable. Let Philip Peaceable and "the stranger" be weighed in a balance, and then fee who would be found wanting. ANTI BIGOT.

Philadelphia, June 25, 1794.

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