Mr. C.—I hardly know what you mean by the principle of Dissent. It was said, not long since in the House of Commons, that “Dissenters have always their Dissenting principles, and their conscientious scruples when they have money to pay, but none when they have money to receive.” {7b} Mr. S.—Do you mean to insult me by casting such reflections on the Dissenting body? Mr. C.—Certainly not. You and I are not going to quarrel after having known each other for more than five and-twenty years. Mr. S.—I belong to a body of consistent, conscientious Dissenters; and you can say nothing against them. Mr. C.—Do not boast too soon. There are Dissenters here and elsewhere who call the Church-rate “a dead robbery,” “a scandalous imposition,” “a vile extortion;” and yet when there is work to be done at the church, these men, so conscientious—so scrupulous as to where the money is to come from—are the first to send in their estimates to the churchwardens. And what would they care if our Church-rate was raised from fivepence to five shillings in the pound? We know they have a deal to say when they have little or nothing to pay, but when there is money to be received, which has been raised by a Church-rate, then their Dissenting principles, and their conscientious scruples are lighter than a feather. Mr. S.—I confess that I cannot defend such persons, for I like consistency. But to turn our conversation to another subject. I am quite prepared to maintain the excellence of the Voluntary principle. Mr. C.—I know you Dissenters like to talk about the Voluntary principle. They are two very fine long words, the use of which is often flattering to the vanity of ignorant persons. Mr. S.—And pray, what have you to say against the Voluntary principle? Mr. C.—I do not wish to say much against it; but I have yet a good deal to say against the inconsistency of your practice, so directly opposed as it is to your fine speeches and avowed principles: for I suppose you must have heard or read something about the Regium Donum. Mr. S.—Regum Docum! What is that? Mr. C.—I did not say Regum Docum, that is your Latin, not mine. I said Regium Donum, which means the royal bounty. Mr. S.—I am glad that we Dissenters have nothing to do with money from the State. For “that is a poor religion which cannot support itself.” Mr. C.—If so, I think I shall prove that your’s is a poor religion. Mr. S.—But what I say, is, this Regum Dose’em? Is it a sort of physic?