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in his humble judgment, to conceive the expediency of tolerating a negative offence, than to defend the injustice of punishing positive and admitted innocence.

Political considerations apart, the tendency of the present work, will probably be to shew the propriety of entirely new enactments: but whether such enactments ought more clearly to define and perpetuate the ancient laws, securing to Protestant Dissenters by less equivocal provisions the immunities and privileges they at present enjoy; or whether, on a broader principle of legislation, it were better to abolish the ancient system, and [to enforce such modern restrictions as may be thought necessary by modern sanctions alone, must be left to the legislature to decide.

On a review of the obligations incurred in the completion of this little work, the Author, although not apprehensive of being overwhelmed by their number, feels too grateful for the few instances of courtesy that have been shewn him, to omit, willingly, the mention of them.

From Mr. ARCHBOLD's kind communications he has derived much valuable information, which he now takes leave to acknowledge.

To Mr. GALE, for the polite communication of the manuscript judgment in the important case of the Attorney General v. Fletcher and others; and

to the Clerk of the Society of Quakers, for the ready facilities afforded by that gentleman, in his department, he is, respectively, much indebted.

Nor could he without injustice forget the service of his friend Mr. RICHARD MATTHEWS, of Gray's Inn, whose skill in conveyancing has greatly assisted in preparing the deeds of trust inserted in the Appendix; they will be found more complete it is hoped, as they certainly are, in some respects, much more consonant to the wishes of the Lord Chancellor, than any that have yet appeared.

The Author will be permitted to conclude by remarking, that the diminutive size of his work, which by some may be imagined to have lessened his labour, has not been, in reality, the least difficulty with which he has had to contend in its compilation.

2, GARDEN COURT, MIDDLE TEMPLE,

20th April, 1827.

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