.1)3 Biographical Account of [Feb. 



however, that there should be a reform in parliament, and that 

 pariiameots should ))e triennial instead of septennial. He was 

 an enemy to all violent reforms, and thought that they ought to 

 be brought about gradually and peaceably. When the French 

 revolution broke out, he took the side of the patriots, as he had 

 done during the American war, and wrote a refutation of Mr. 

 Burke's extraordhiary performance. Being a Dissenter, it is 

 needless to say that he was an advocate for complete religious 

 freedom. He was ever an enemy to all religious establishments, 

 and an open enemy to the church of England. 



Such, as far as { have been able to collect them, were the 

 political tenets of Dr. Priestley. How far they were just and 

 right I shall r.ot take upon me to say; but that they were 

 perfectly harmless., and that many other persons in this country 

 for the, last hundred years have adopted similar sentiments, 

 without incurring any odium whatever, or without exciting the 

 jealousy, or even the attention of government, is well known to 

 every person, it becomes then a question of some curiosity at 

 least to what are we to ascribe the violent persecution raised 

 against him. It seems to have been owing chiefly to the alarm 

 caught by the clergy of the church of England, that their 

 establishment was in danger: and considering the ferment 

 excited soon after the breaking out of the French revolution, and 

 the rage for reform which seemed to have pervaded all ranks, 

 perhaps this alarm was not entirely without foundation. Though 

 1 can scarcely allow myself to think that there was occasion for 

 the violent alarm caught by Mr. Pitt and his political friends, and 

 the very despotic measures which they adopted in consequence. 

 The disease would probably have subsided of itself, or it would 

 Jiave been cured by a much gentler treatment. 1 have seen a 

 patient labouring under a pleurisy deprived of 120 ounces of 

 blood in two days, and by that means very speedily cured of his 

 disease, but reduced at the same time to such a state of debility 

 that death was to be dreaded from that cause alone. I have seen 

 another patient labouring under the same disease to the same 

 extent, bled much more sparingly, and yet recover as rapidly as 

 the other; and when the disease was got rid of, able in a few 

 days to resume his usual employment. Mr. Pitt approved and 

 followed the violent system of cure; but the lenient would have 

 been equally efficacious, and less hazardous. As Dr. Priestley 

 was an open enemy to the Church of England establishment, 

 its clergy natually conceived a prejudice against him; and this 

 prejudice was violently inflamed by the danger to which they 

 thought themselves exposed. Their influence with the ministry 

 vras very great, and Mr. Pitt and his friends naturally caught 

 their prejudices and opinions. Mr. Burke, too, who had 

 changed his political principles, and who w^as inflamed with the 



