[ W. E. Gladstone. ] Printed handbill, titled 'To Members of Convocation. - A few facts concerning Mr. W. E. Gladstone.' Reverse headed: 'The Case of the Dissenters' Chapels' Bill.'

2pp., 4to. In good condition on a lightly-aged leaf of wove paper. The recto gives a list of some of Gladstone's speeches and actions on religious matters between 1834 and 1846, beginning with 'IN 1834, MR. W. E. GLADSTONE, then recently returned to Parliament, first made himself known to the public by his speech against the admission of Dissenters into the Universities.' The page ends: 'In 1846, MR. W. E. GLADSTONE was one of the most active promoters of the attempt then made to draw the attention of the Hebdomadal Board to the pressing necessity for extending the sphere of University Education.' The reverse, headed 'THE CASE OF THE DISSENTERS' CHAPELS' [sic] BILL.', states that Gladstone 'proved from historical facts, which no one has attempted to controvert, that the exclusion of Unitarians would be a violation of the intentions of the founders. The conclusion which he drew as to the course which justice demanded, flowed irresistibly from the premises which he had established. | The question was one of simple justice; it involved no principles at issue between the Church and the Dissenters. But MR. GLADSTONE's masterly exposition of the tendency of Dissent to drop one by one all the vital truths of Christianity, was a real service to the Church: and it is submitted that, in this respect, his conduct as a true Churchman, will bear comparison with that of either of his opponents.' This item is excessively scarce: no copy has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC.