Correspondence of Lient.-Col. J. L. PJiilips. 31 



and Hanson may really have had an earlier origin, and have 

 been to some extent a consequence of political feeling. 

 Philips appears to have retired from the Manchester Literary 

 and Philosophical Society somewhere about 1792, and Han- 

 son was elected a member in 1794. The sympathies of 

 the latter were entirely on the democratic side. The two 

 branches of the Philips family appear to have drifted into 

 opposite political opinions ; in 1792 George Philips, who 

 was made a baronet in 1828, published a pamphlet entitled 

 " The necessity of a Speedy Reform in Parliament," in the 

 composition of which he is said to have heen greatly 

 assisted by Dr. Ferriar. The tendencies of this branch of 

 the family eventually found an expression in the politics of 

 Mark Philips, while those of the branch to which Colonel 

 John Leigh Philips belonged appear to have culminated in his 

 younger brother and partner in business, Francis, a sturdy 

 opponent of reform, and an unswerving Protectionist. It 

 may have been the growth of such divisions which prompted 

 Dr. Samuel Argent Bardsley to read before the Society, in 

 1794, a paper on " Party Prejudice." The following memo- 

 rial appears to have been presented to Philips after the 

 disbanding of the regiment in consequence of the preference 

 given to the claims of Hanson : — 



John Leigh Philips Esquire and the Gentlemen who were Officers in the 

 I st Regimt of Manchester and Salford Volunteer Infantry. 



Gentlemen 



In contemplating with Pleasure the Zeal and Discipline, which the Officers 

 and Men of your late Corps so honorably manifested, We cannot omit express- 

 ing to you our Regret that the Services of this valuable Regiment should at the 

 present Moment be lost to the Country. 



The vigorous Measures recently taken to encrease the defensive Force of 

 the Kingdom, and the unceasing Vigilance and active preparation now per- 

 vading all the Departments of Government are strongly indicative of the 

 threatened Invasion being immediately attempted. 



We therefore beg leave to express an anxious yet confident Hope that a 

 Crisis, so highly important, will not fail to act as a powerful Inducement with 

 you again to stand forward in the Defence of your King and Country. 



These Sentiments, We trust, will be attributed purely to a Regard for the 



