University of Virginia Library

6941. PRIESTLEY (Joseph), Persecuted.—

How deeply have I been chagrined
and mortified at the persecutions which fanaticism
and monarchy have excited against you,
even here. At first I believed it was merely a
continuance of the English persecution. But
I observe that on the demise of “Porcupine”, and division of his inheritance between Fenno
and Brown, the latter (though succeeding only
to the federal portion of Porcupinism, not the
Anglican, which is Fenno's part) serves up for
the palate of his sect, dishes of abuse against
you as high seasoned as “Porcupine's” were.
You have sinned against church and king, and
can, therefore, never be forgiven.—
To Joseph Priestley. Washington ed. iv, 311. Ford ed., vii, 406.
(Pa., Jan. 1800)