Dissent does not fare badly in the town. The Congregational body rejoices in two ministers, and the chapel, a very handsome one, is well attended. It will seat a thousand hearers. The Salvation Army have just commenced preaching in the town, and, as usual, they have drawn some of the people away. The Primitive Methodists and the Baptists have also places of worship at Hadleigh. The parish church can hold 1,200 people, but I do not hear that it is better attended than the Congregational chapel. Congregationalism has a long history in Hadleigh. One of its most successful preachers was the Rev. Isaac Toms, who held his ministry there for fifty-seven years. “His memory,” writes the Rev. Hugh Pigot, formerly curate of Hadleigh, “is mentioned with respect as that of a kind and gentlemanly old man, who, while maintaining his own views, did yet regularly attend the week-day services at the Church.” He was born in London, 1710, and his first engagement is said to have been with a city knight, of Hackney, with whom be continued as chaplain and tutor till 1742. He refused, from conscientious scruples, to accept preferment in the Established Church when offered him by his patron. He is said to have been eminent for his attainments as a scholar, and to have enjoyed the friendship of such men as Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Watts. In the vestry there is preserved a letter written by him to Washington’s private secretary during the American War. Dissent has grown in the place since his day. In a return made to Bishop Secker by Dr. Tanner, and preserved in the Rectory, there is to be found the following:—About 100 Presbyterians of no note; Robert Randall, a wool-comber, and his three children, and Birch, shopkeeper, Anabaptist; no Anabaptist teacher, no Methodist, no Moravian; one Presbyterian Meeting-house, one Presbyterian teacher—viz., Isaac Toms; the said house and teacher generally thought to be duly licensed and qualified according to law. Their number not increased at all of late years. The parish remarkably happy in regard to Dissenters, their number very trifling in proportion to the whole number of inhabitants, which, A.D. 1754, was computed in the town, 2,092; in the hamlet, 168—2,260. As we have seen, Popery had done to death vicar and curate, yet in 1754 we find Dr. Tanner thus writes concerning it: “Eight poor Papists—James Nowland (a taylor) and his daughter, Widow Rand and her daughter, Widow Hoggar, the wife of Ralph Adams, a sadler, and Barry, a taylor, all quiet people. No person lately perverted to Popery; no Popish place of worship; no Popish priest doth reside in or resort to this parish; no Popish school; no confirmation or visitation hath been lately held by a Popish bishop.” Queen Mary, and Bonner, and Gardiner, had all laboured in vain. Compulsory establishment of religion never succeeds in the long run.