Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/119

 1815.] Dismissal of Grenville to the End of the War. 105 excitement, had been encouraged by the example and teach- ing of dissenting ministers. Without much, probably without any, consultation with Government, he brought in a bill to amend the Toleration Act. His object was to establish some State control over Nonconformist teachers by requiring them to take out licences before they could preach. These licences were to be issued subject to certificates of character. The proposal was immediately and strongly opposed in the House of Lords. Lord Holland was the first and most strenuous of the opponents, and he distinctly enunciated, in opposition to all claims for Government interference, the doctrine that it was the inalienable right of every man who thought himself able to instruct others, to do so, provided his doctrines were not incompatible with the peace of society. The bill was read the first time, but then the Nonconformists or, as the "Annual Register" for the year calls them, the Separatists* were in arms. Meetings were held, protests were made, and petitions poured in, and the Tories were shaken by this evi- dence of the widespread influence of dissent. When, on the 2 1st of May, the bill came on for the second reading, Sidmouth had not a single supporter, and his measure was rejected without a division. Ministers took advantage of this warning, and next year they introduced a bill themselves to amend the Toleration Act, but this time it was to extend and not to limit the liberties of the Separatists, who had shown their power for almost the first time, and made it felt and respected. The liberty of the press was attacked more persistently and more successfully. Prosecutions against editors and writers increased with great rapidity. In the year 1810, amongst other sufferers from such prosecutions were Cobbett and John and Leigh Hunt, who all suffered fine and imprison- ment. On the 2Oth of March in this year (181 1), Lord Folke- stone one of the ultras brought the subject before the House of Commons, and moved for an account of all prosecutions for libel by information ex officio since the first of May, 1801, and
 * "Annual Register," 1811.