THE CHRONICLE. 
est wishes, sincerest thanks, and 
assured endeavours of supporting it, 
to the best of our abilities, in a ra- 
tional and peaceable way. {tis our 
duty, and it will ever claim our at- 
tentionstrictly toadhere to, to main- 
tain, and be governed by the prin- 
ciples laid down in your declaration. 
Notwithstanding the gross and fal- 
lacious insinuations of the enemies 
of justice and equity, we are as- 
sured that no honest man being ac- 
quainted with our principles, would 
have attempted to declare in the 
House, the design of these associa- 
tions is completely to overturn the 
constitution, &c.; and we are sorry 
that Mr. Baker was under the disa- 
greeable necessity of explaining, in 
answer tosuch gross assertions, with- 
out having it'in his power to speak 
with precision to the principles and 
design of this, and the similar socie- 
ties, and to have them united with 
yours in his explanation. For this, 
and similar reasons, we are induced 
to take the liberty of troubling you 
with theabove, and followingsketch. 
Our Members are now about 2400; 
yet we have the satisfaction with 
truth to affirm, that not the least 
disorder or confusion hath made its 
appeance amongst us: all is una- 
nimity, peace, and concord. As 
our members increase, the number 
of meeting-places are increased in 
proportion, so as not to exceed at 
most thirty members at one place, 
All the circular meetings are held 
once a fortnight, on the samc even- 
ing. Our general meeting is held 
once a month at three different 
houses, on the same day, generally 
very crowded; yet good order and 
regularity aré strictly attended to; 
nd we doubt not but what has been 
sted to be impossible, will be 
y manifested to be not only prae- 
ticable, but easy to accomplish, viz. 
85 
to introduceuseful knowledge, good 
order and regularity, into the minds 
and morals of the common or low- 
er orders of people. 
“ We are perfectly satisfied of 
the integrity and abilities of those 
respectable characters who consti- 
tute the Society of the Friends of 
the People: but if we may presume 
to lay before them some thoughts 
we have had respecting what me- 
thod would be the best to adopt for 
obtaining the general sense of the 
nation, before the proposed’ motion 
in the next session of parliament 
takes place, we beg leave, with 
great deference to that honourable 
Society to sebmit the following to 
their superior judgment. We be- 
lieve the most likely and effectual 
plan will be to establish a convention 
in London by deputies from each 
county or district, by which means 
the sentiments of the nation may 
be obtained without any confusion 
or disorder. 
* Looking up to the Friends of 
the People as our leaders and direc- 
tors in this great and necessary bu- 
siness, we shall be happy and es- 
teem it a great favour, to receive 
any communication which they may 
vouchsafe to favour us with. 
« TJ have the honour to be, 
“‘ with esteem, 
“ Yours very respectfully, 
“ Samuren Asuton; Sec. 
“ By order of Committee. 
“* Sheffield, May 14, 1792.” 
The Committee of the Society of 
the Friends of the People, asso- 
siated for the Purpose of ob- 
taining a Parliamentary Re- 
Jorm, to the Committee of the 
Society for Constitutional In 
Sormation in Sheffield. 
F3 No. 52, 
