The proliferation of evangelical networks of the type epitomized within Hill's Village Dialogues did not go unnoticed by the Established Church, and many High Church ministers were struck with horror at what they perceived as the schismatic, presumptuous, enthusiastic and disruptive activities of itinerant evangelical preachers and their followers. Much of their hostility derived from the heightened suspicions, intimidation, surveillance and invasions of privacy associated with the Revolution Controversy, which had given rise to an increasing propensity for correlations to be drawn between the exercising of one's religious conscience and political radicalism. In Birmingham during the riots of 1791, such suspicions led to the burning of the library and laboratory belonging to the prominent Dissenting scientist, Joseph Priestley, forcing him to flee to London, while later, the French ‘invasion’ at Fishguard in 1797 led to nonconformists being imprisoned and accused of collaborating with the French. Two local Dissenters, Thomas John and Samuel Griffith were both arrested and French soldiers were even called as witnesses at their trials to testify that they had assisted the French. The most prominent casualty was the Rev. Henry Davies of Llangloffan, who had been preaching at the time of the French landing, and although he carefully concealed his horse and cart to prevent the French from stealing them, and although ‘maltreated and robbed of everything but a half crown’ by seven French musketeers, the people of Fishguard believed a rumour that he had been standing on a rock coordinating the French incursion.