The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-28 00:00:00

3IR. JOHN THOROG-00D.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
your paper of yesterday there is a let-
ter from Mr. John Thorogood, containing some
refere:ces to myself which demand an explanation
in reply.
Mr.. Thorogood complains of the folloywing.para-
, graph in the memorial of the Centtal Committee
i of the Religious Freedom Society to her Majesty's
i Secretary of State for the Home Department—

" That he did not appear to such citation because
of the expenses that would attend upon such a
proce(actin ;'' and he adds, " it was certainly urged
by thrl gentleman whom I saw at the Patriot Office,
the Socretary of the Church-rate Abolition Society,
that is would be an enormous expense ; but that
which alone prompted me to give up my intention
to appear and contest the lawfulness of the rate, was
the assurance made to me more good would be
effected to the cause of religious liberty, which I
have at heart, than would be effected by my up-
pearauce to question the legality of the rate."
I have now before me the draft of the petition
of Mr. John Thorogood to the House of Com-
mons, from which fextract the following words—
" That your petitioner did not appear to such
citation, because of the expenses that would attend
upon such a proceeding, although he believed the
Church-rate aforesaid to be bad in law." The
allegation above cited is the only one contained in
the petition, which refers to Mr. Thorogood's non-
appearance to the citation. The reason assigned
in the memorial is, therefore, taken from the peti-
tion, signed by Mr. Thorooood himself.
With respect to the advice I gave to Mr. Thoro-
good, I beg to state that having learned from him
the particulars of the Church-rate in question I
thought it would not be safe for him to oppose it in

the Ecclesiastical Court on account of the enor-
mous expenses to which such a proceeding might
subject him. And as he expressed perfect willing-
ness to go to prison rather than pay either the rate
or the costs, alleging that he could work at his trade
as well in prison as out of it ; that his wife parti-
cipated in his feelings on the subject (a fact which
' I subsequently learned from herself), and that he
had no family, I certainly did advise him not to
appear to the citation.
In proof that Mr. Thorogood was neither " for-
gotten nor " neglected "by me, I have to state
the following facts. His imprisonment took place
on the 16th of January last, when, as you are aware,
Parliament was not sitting Immediately I was in-
formed of it, I addressed letters in my official capa-
city to Viscount Melbourne and Lord John Russell,
detailing the particulars of the case, and entreat-
ing the interposition of the Government. On the
30th of the same month I sent to Mr. Thorogood,

through a highly respectable Dissenting Minister,
the draft of a petition to the House of Commons
for his approval, that the petition might be ready
for presentation at the assembling of Parliament.
Considerable delay occurred in consequence of Mr.
Thorogood's objecting to the employment of the
customary phraseology. Eventually his objections
were removed, and on the very day I received the
petition with his signature, I placed it in the hands
of the Honourable Member for Leeds for presen-
tation. Mr. Baines lost no time in presenting the
petition ; but, as the rules of the House would not
allow of a speech upon that occasion, Mr. Baines
gave notice of a motion which would bring the case
before Parliament. That motion was, in conse-
quence of the pressure of other business, postponed
from time to time, and did not come on until a late
period in the Session ; but on every occasion on
which it wds in the notice paper, I was in attend-
ance at the House.
I may further add that I addressed letters respect_
ing Mr. Thorogood's case to the Secretaries of the
various public bodies connected with the several de_
nominations of Dissenters in London, and that I
also accompanied a deputation from Chelmsford to
Lord John Russell respecting the treatment received
by Mr. Thorogood in gaol.
I deeply regret the necessity which compels me
to make these statements, and the erroneous idea
Mr. Thorogood appears to entertain respecting my
disposition and conduct towards him. lam satisfied
that I did for him all it was in my power to accom-
plish, and I am still most anxious to render him
a.lly aid which it may be within the compass of my
humble instrumentality to afford.
I am, Sir,
Yourie.stretveert, Nov.very obedient servant,
T. H.
80lt-court,
27, BOYKETT.IB39.
Fleet-street,