The National Register.
London, England, 1815-11-26 00:00:00

N0V.28.

FRENCH PRO7'ES'TA A' TS .

- -.Mi..--

At a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the COMMITTEE
of the PRO TESTA NT SOCIETY for the PROTECTION of
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, held at the New London Tavern, Cheap.
side, London, on November 21, 1815, convened " To consider the si-
tuation of the persecuted Protestants of France ;"
SAMUEL MILLS, Esq. in the Chair:

It w.,s Resolved That this CoMmittee, who include several
Members of the National Church, and who represent many hundred
congregations of Protestant Dissenters, and of Friends to Religious Li.
bertv. of all denominations throughout Ergland and Wales, have been
taught by their forefathers, and ever will continue to regard the right
of every man. in every age, and in i very country, to worship God ac-
carting t his conscience, as an invaluable, sacred, unalienable right,
which no Ind.viduals, or Governments, or Legislatures can, without
injustice and oppression, directly or indirectly infringe.
2. That although this Committee be principally appointed to pro-
tect the religious freedom of their fellow countrymen, in their native
lid ; yet they should he undeserving of the name of Britons, of Pro-
te,tants, of Christians, and even of men, if their philanthropy was not
extensive as he world if they did not sympathise with all who suffer
for conscience sake ; if they di:l not regard religions persecution by
any sect wit'i alarm and abhorrence ; and if they did not endeavour to
efli-e, its extinction by the exertion of every energy which they
possess.

3. That at this period, when instruction is so extensively diffused;
when liberal principles are so generally professed; when the most so-
lemn treaties, and the most powerful Monarchs have recognised the
tights of consc•ence ; and when nations of every Christian denomina-
tio, have united in resistance to oppression, and f r the restoration of
p,rm item' peace to Europe, and to the world, they did hope that per-
fect religious liberty would have been regarded as an hallowed plant,
and that all nations would have participated in the beneficial fruits
which that liberty must produce.
4. That, evzn if this Committee could have apprehended that per.
motion would revive, they could not have expected that revival, and
especially the revival of a persecution of Protestants, under Princes,
whose obvious interests demanded conciliation ; whose predecessors
had devastated and injured their own countries, by former ersecu-
sinus ; some of whose charters had declared that all religions should be
protected by the law, and that all men, of all religious protession::,
should he el;gible to the offices of state; and whose restoration and
continued authority had been chiefly ell cted and upheld by Protestant
liberality, Protestant perseverance, Protestant valour, and Protestant
supp.,rt.

5. That this Committee have therefore learnt with astonishment
and deep regret, that at Nismes, and many places in the South of
France, a systematic and cruel persecution of Protestants has existed
since the restoration of the ',resent Monarch to the throne of that
country ; that their property has been seize or destroyed ; that many
innocent victims have been assassinated ; that an aged, venerable,
pious, and useful M Mister of Religion has h 'en put to death ; and that
the enormities which superstition, interest, and crue'ty, have effected
in former ages of the world, have been there re-performed; and that
they have learnt with augmented sorrow, that these barbarities have
not been supressed with that promptitude and firmness which Wis-
dom, Gratituoe, Benevolence, and Christianity indispensibly require.
6 That against deeds so full of horror, this Committee must pub-
licly protest ; and that they assure the unhappy surviving sufferers by
such conduct, that they commiserate their nestiny, and that if such
assistance should be unfortunately necessary, they will endeavour in
this country to provide for them an Asylum to mitigate their sorrow,
and to supply relief.
7. That although the Committee are not insensible to the principles
which, under ordinary circumstances, might restrain the Government
of this country from direct interference on this subject with the Go-
vernment of France ; yet they cannot forget, that in former an less
enhglitened times, such interposition has repeatedly and usefully oc-
curred ; that such persecutions are inconsistent with general peace,
and violate those universal rights which all nations are bound to pro.
tect ; and that the Government of England now possess claims to at-
tention and respect which no former period could present. Aril that
this Committee, who know the liberal principles of their own Go-
vernment, and who have repeatedly experienced their attention and
their aii!, will humbly but earnestly entreat them to remonstrate
against the evils which they announce, and to rce, r their influence to
prevent the continuance of a system which they c.nnot but deprecate
and abhor. _

8. That thee Resolutions be respectfully communicated by the
Secretaries to the principal Members of A-ministra.icii, and that
they be advertised in the Dai y Papers, and Periodical Publications,
and be circulated thro-ghout Europe, as future circumstances inay
require.
9. That this Committee cannot separate without expressing their
Thanks to their worthy Secretary 4OHN WILKS, Esq. for the be.
nevolence and zeal which he has 4mtinued to manifest in convening