COMMON SENSE, AND THE RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE, VINDICATED, AGAINST SPIRITUAL DESPOTISM. IN A SERIES OF PAPERS FROM THE INDEPENDENT WHIG," AND OTHER SOURCES. APPLICABLE TO PRESENT RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness EDITED BY ANDREW SCOTT, MEMBER OF THE MERCHANT COMPANY, AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR, AND SOLD BY Q. DALRYMPLE, SOUTH FREDERICK STREET. MANCHESTER: WHITMORE. LEEDS: BAINES AND NEWSOME. MDCCCXLV. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ADAM BLACK, LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH. MY LORD, Following the precedent of "The Independent Whig," though Dedications are not so rife now as they were in its days, I naturally thought of your Lordship as the fittest person to whom I could inscribe this work, not merely because you are deservedly at the head of our municipal government, nor because you have bestowed on me personal favours,-for on that score your immediate predecessor, Sir James Forrest, has a higher claim to my gratitude, as he proposed me as a fit and proper person to fill the office of Chamberlain of the City, when I had the honour of obtaining fourteen votes of the Town Council; but it is on account of our ancient friendship, and in remembrance of our joint and successful labours to procure Political and Civic Reform, that I dedicate to you the fruit of my studies on subjects in which I conceive the interest and happiness of our country, and that of mankind, to be still more deeply involved. It is right I should add, that you were not advised with in respect to this publication, and have had no opportunity to sanction any part of its contents. I have the honour to be, MY LORD, Your Lordship's faithful servant, ANDREW SCOTT. 100 LAURISTON PLACE, 26th February 1845. |