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the next time to be paid in gold, or in nels through which t a greater quantity of paper in proportion there was no open mai to the depreciation of that paper. When that the people did not I was in France, a little before the they now understand, t reign of ROBESPIERRE, I used to send a depreciation, and the vast guinea to almost any shop in St. Omer's, gold over paper. Vain, and receive about 120 or 130 francs for the hope that a legal t it in paper. When I went into the mar- would not now lead to t ket, which I always did to get the Who would venture to keep butter, while I was at lodgings at St. parcel of paper-money, havin Omer's, the market women used to say, value, liable to lose one-ha when I asked the price of a piece of worth in the course of six 1. butter, "Six francs, Sir; but if you pay Every one would be anxious in money, one franc," or thereabouts. some gold, and as much as po So will it be in England in a very short | Every man who went abroad must take time, if horrible bankruptcy and legal some gold to pay his expenses. Theretender make their appearance again. fore, men would seek to have gold; Six one-pound notes for a pig; but if and, in order to obtain it, they would you pay in money, a sovereign. This make their sales for gold. Whatever is TWO PRICES; and as PAINE said he might want to pay rent, to pay taxes, long ago, two prices are the passing to pay interest on mortgage, to pay bell of paper-money. annuities, he would be content to have in paper; but whatever he wanted to keep by him for any time at all, he would take care to have in gold. There would be a paper price and a gold price, as there was in the market of St. Omer's, and the Government would have to receive the paper, and the gold would remain amongst the people. ROBESPIERRE passed a law to put people to death for making this distinction; he would insist that assignats and gold should circulate side by side; and, after having shed rivers of blood to accomplish his purpose, came the just guillotine which put an end to his law and his life.

Then, look at the situation of the Government: collecting its taxes in worthless rags; paying its soldiers twopence in reality, instead of thirteen-pence a day. No one will give the tax-gatherer a bit of hard money: all the hard money will be kept hoarded, or will be confined to the traffic between man and In short, the Government and Parliament have, ever since the year 1819, been attempting to accomplish that most impossible of all impossible things; namely, the compelling of a nation to pay in real money debts contracted and appointments made in depreciated money.

man.

Some men imagine, that because the Thus, my friends, you are warned in nation experienced little distress during time: be sensible, be wise: turn into the war, while legal tender existed, it gold every thing that you can, and then would experience no distress now if we sleep soundly in the night, and in the were to return to the legal tender. day-time calmly view the progress of These men forget that the circumstances events. If you disregard my advice; have totally changed; that the com- if you treat it with suspicion; if you merce of all the world was then at our hesitate to act upon it; and if ruin fall command; that foreigners could not upon you, the fault will not be mine. come here except by special license; If you have any thing to sell, and can that England was the place of deposit obtain any thing near the value of it for for all the riches of Europe; that there ready money, sell it now, and turn the were no means of sending the gold out proceeds into gold, and keep this gold of the country; that the gold was, in until the end of the session of Parlia fact, not in circulation at all, the greater ment, which is now about to begin. I part having been sent away by the Go- tell you again, that if legal tender come, vernment; that individuals had no chan- it will come like a thief in the night.

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Be vigilant; be prudent; act at once, such unloh. The boroughmongers have and believe me

Your faithful friend,

and most obedient servant,
WM. COBBETT.

P. S. Look at the motto to this paper;
look well at it; read it a dozen times
over: in such an hour, how precious
will be a sovereign in gold!

ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.

long contrived to divide these two classes, for purposes much too obvious to mention. At last, the middle class begins to perceive that it must be totally sacrificed, unless it make a stand, and a stand it cannot make unsupported by the lower class. The declaration, or address, put forth by the leaders in this union, is evidently from the pen of Mr. THOMAS ATTWOOD: and, like every thing else that comes from his pen, exhibits a great deal of knowledge and a great deal of talent. The main obTHE last notice that I gave about this ject of the union is to obtain for these work, was, that the next Number would two classes their share of the represenbe published on the 10th of February. tation in Parliament. Were I disposed I then thought that I should be in town to be as ill-natured as some people have sooner than I shall be there. I must, been towards me, I might call this intherefore, put it off until the first of consistent in Mr. ATTWOOD, seeing that, March, when I shall continue it monthly only last year, he disapproved of my regularly until the work be completed. wishing for reform, until the grand Since I have been from home, scores of question of the currency should be persons have come to me to thank me for writing this book, especially young men; which is calculated to give me, and does give me, a great deal of pleasure and of pride. A very good-looking rather young man introduced himself to me at Leeds, with a request to shake me by the hand, and as he held my hand in his, he said, "I have to thank this hand for making me a sober man." And certainly I do believe that I have done more in this way than all the parsons in the kingdom; than all the teachers of all the sorts of religion put together. write that which men will read, and remember as well as read; and my little books will be read with delight and advantage, when all the dull rubbish of all the lazy parsons, and all the mongrel teachers, will have been used for the singeing of fowls, or for purposes more vile.

BIRMINGHAM

settled. I do not call this inconsistency in him: he has seen reason to change his mind; he has seen reason to convince him that the nation cannot be saved without admitting the people at large to a share in the representation. This now seems to be the opinion of all men of any sense and sincerity. Everywhere you hear men exclaim, that no effort is of any avail, or can be of any avail, as long as the House of Commons shall be constituted as it is. It is in vain to attempt to disguise this fact. Reform or convulsion is our choice. It is now twenty years since I contended in print over and over again, that as long as the paper bubble could be kept up we should have no reform; and now that the bubble seems to be drawing towards the close of its destructive existence, reform appears to be approaching almost of its own accord.

There is an article in the QUARTERLY REVIEW that has excited a great deal of public attention. It calls for a reform POLITICAL UNION. of Parliament; it calls for an adjustment; it calls, in short, for what I have THIS is a very important matter. been calling for so many years. It calls' We see, at last, then, the middle class for those very things which it applauded uniting with the working classes. the Ministers for in 1817, for endeavourEverywhere where I have been, I have ing to stifle by their dungeon and gagendeavoured to show the necessity of ging bills. Strange change! But no

the next time to be paid in gold, or in nels through which to send it; that a greater quantity of paper in proportion there was no open market for it; and to the depreciation of that paper. When that the people did not understand as I was in France, a little before the they now understand, the doctrine of reign of ROBESPIERRE, I used to send a depreciation, and the vast superiority of guinea to almost any shop in St. Omer's, gold over paper. Vain, therefore, is and receive about 120 or 130 francs for the hope that a legal tender paper it in paper. When I went into the mar- would not now lead to two prices. ket, which I always did to get the Who would venture to keep buying a butter, while I was at lodgings at St. parcel of paper-money, having no fixed Omer's, the market women used to say, value, liable to lose one-half of its when I asked the price of a piece of worth in the course of six months? butter, "Six francs, Sir; but if you pay in money, one franc," or thereabouts. So will it be in England in a very short time, if horrible bankruptcy and legal tender make their appearance again. Six one-pound notes for a pig; but if you pay in money, a sovereign. This is TWO PRICES; and as PAINE said long ago, two prices are the passing bell of paper-money.

Every one would be anxious to have some gold, and as much as possible. Every man who went abroad must take some gold to pay his expenses. There fore, men would seek to have gold; and, in order to obtain it, they would make their sales for gold. Whatever he might want to pay rent, to pay taxes, to pay interest on mortgage, to pay annuities, he would be content to have in paper; but whatever he wanted to keep by him for any time at all, he would take care to have in gold. There would be a paper price and a gold price,

and the Government would have to receive the paper, and the gold would remain amongst the people. ROBESPIERRE passed a law to put people to

Then, look at the situation of the Government: collecting its taxes in worthless rags; paying its soldiers twopence in reality, instead of thirteen-pence a day. No one will give the tax-gatherer as there was in the market of St. Omer's, a bit of hard money: all the hard money will be kept hoarded, or will be confined to the traffic between man and man. In short, the Government and Parliament have, ever since the year death for making this distinction; he 1819, been attempting to accomplish that most impossible of all impossible things; namely, the compelling of a nation to pay in real money debts contracted and appointments made in depreciated money.

Some men imagine, that because the nation experienced little distress during the war, while legal tender existed, it would experience no distress now if we were to return to the legal tender. These men forget that the circumstances have totally changed; that the commerce of all the world was then at our command; that foreigners could not come here except by special license; that England was the place of deposit for all the riches of Europe; that there were no means of sending the gold out of the country; that the gold was, in fact, not in circulation at all, the greater part having been sent away by the Government; that individuals had no chan

would insist that assignats and gold should circulate side by side; and, after having shed rivers of blood to accomplish his purpose, came the just guillotine which put an end to his law and his life.

Thus, my friends, you are warned in time: be sensible, be wise: turn into gold every thing that you can, and then sleep soundly in the night, and in the day-time calmly view the progress of events. If you disregard my advice; if you treat it with suspicion; if you hesitate to act upon it; and if ruin fall upon you, the fault will not be mine. If you have any thing to sell, and can obtain any thing near the value of it for ready money, sell it now, and turn the proceeds into gold, and keep this gold until the end of the session of Parlia ment, which is now about to begin. I tell you again, that if legal tender come, it will come like a thief in the night.

I

Be vigilant; be prudent; act at once, and believe me

Your faithful friend,

and most obedient servant,
WM. COBBETT.

P. S. Look at the motto to this paper; look well at it; read it a dozen times over in such an hour, how precious will be a sovereign in gold!

ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.

such union. The boroughmongers have long contrived to divide these two classes, for purposes much too obvious to mention. At last, the middle class begins to perceive that it must be totally sacrificed, unless it make a stand, and a stand it cannot make unsupported by the lower class. The declaration, or address, put forth by the leaders in this union, is evidently from the pen of Mr. THOMAS ATTWOOD: and, like every thing else that comes from his pen, exhibits a great deal of knowledge and a great deal of talent. The main obThe last notice that I gave about this ject of the union is to obtain for these work, was, that the next Number would two classes their share of the represenbe published on the 10th of February.tation in Parliament. Were I disposed I then thought that I should be in town to be as ill-natured as some people have sooner than I shall be there. I must, been towards me, I might call this intherefore, put it off until the first of consistent in Mr. ATTWOOD, seeing that, March, when I shall continue it monthly only last year, he disapproved of my regularly until the work be completed. wishing for reform, until the grand Since I have been from home, scores of question of the currency should be persons have come to me to thank me settled. I do not call this inconsistency for writing this book, especially young in him: he has seen reason to change men; which is calculated to give nie, and his mind; he has seen reason to convince does give me, a great deal of pleasure and of pride. A very good-looking rather young man introduced himself to me at Leeds, with a request to shake me by the hand, and as he held my hand in his, he said, "I have to thank this hand for making me a sober man." And certainly I do believe that I have done more in this way than all the parsons in the kingdom; than all the teachers of all the sorts of religion put together. 1 write that which men will read, and remember as well as read; and my little books will be read with delight and advantage, when all the dull rubbish of all the lazy parsons, and all the mongrel teachers, will have been used for the singeing of fowls, or for purposes more vile.

BIRMINGHAM

him that the nation cannot be saved without admitting the people at large to a share in the representation. This now seems to be the opinion of all men of any sense and sincerity. Everywhere you hear men exclaim, that no effort is of any avail, or can be of any avail, as long as the House of Commons shall be constituted as it is. It is in vain to attempt to disguise this fact. Reform' or convulsion is our choice. It is now twenty years since I contended in print over and over again, that as long as the paper bubble could be kept up we should have no reform; and now that the bubble seems to be drawing towards the close of its destructive existence, reform appears to be approaching almost of its own accord.

There is an article in the QUARTERLY REVIEW that has excited a great deal of public attention. It calls for a reform of Parliament; it calls for an adjustPOLITICAL UNION. ment; it calls, in short, for what I have This is a very important matter. been calling for so many years. It calls' We see, at last, then, the middle class for those very things which it applauded uniting with the working classes. the Ministers for in 1817, for endeavourEverywhere where I have been, I have ing to stifle by their dungeon and gagendeavoured to show the necessity of ging bills. Strange change! But no

the next time to be paid in gold, or in nels through which to send it; that a greater quantity of paper in proportion there was no open market for it; and to the depreciation of that paper. When that the people did not understand as I was in France, a little before the they now understand, the doctrine of reign of ROBESPIerre, I used to send a depreciation, and the vast superiority of guinea to almost any shop in St. Omer's, gold over paper. Vain, therefore, is and receive about 120 or 130 francs for the hope that a legal tender paper it in paper. When I went into the mar- would not now lead to two prices. ket, which I always did to get the Who would venture to keep buying a butter, while I was at lodgings at St. parcel of paper-money, having no fixed Omer's, the market women used to say, value, liable to lose one-half of its when I asked the price of a piece of worth in the course of six months? butter, "Six francs, Sir; but if you pay Every one would be anxious to have in money, one franc," or thereabouts. some gold, and as much as possible. So will it be in England in a very short Every man who went abroad must take time, if horrible bankruptcy and legal some gold to pay his expenses. There tender make their appearance again. fore, men would seek to have gold; Six one-pound notes for a pig; but if and, in order to obtain it, they would you pay in money, a sovereign. This make their sales for gold. Whatever is TWO PRICES; and as PAINE said he might want to pay rent, to pay taxes, long ago, two prices are the passing bell of paper-money.

to pay interest on mortgage, to pay annuities, he would be content to have Then, look at the situation of the in paper; but whatever he wanted to Government collecting its taxes in keep by him for any time at all, he worthless rags; paying its soldiers two- would take care to have in gold. There pence in reality, instead of thirteen-pence would be a paper price and a gold price, a day. No one will give the tax-gatherer as there was in the market of St. Omer's, a bit of hard money: all the hard and the Government would have to money will be kept hoarded, or will be receive the paper, and the gold would confined to the traffic between man and remain amongst the people. ROBESIn short, the Government and PIERRE passed a law to put people to Parliament have, ever since the year death for making this distinction; he 1819, been attempting to accomplish would insist that assignats and gold that most impossible of all impossible should circulate side by side; and, after things; namely, the compelling of a having shed rivers of blood to accomnation to pay in real money debts con- plish his purpose, came the just guillo tracted and appointments made in de- tine which put an end to his law and his preciated money.

man.

life.

Some men imagine, that because the Thus, my friends, you are warned in nation experienced little distress during time: be sensible, be wise: turn into the war, while legal tender existed, it gold every thing that you can, and then would experience no distress now if we sleep soundly in the night, and in the were to return to the legal tender. day-time calmly view the progress of These men forget that the circumstances events. If you disregard my advice; have totally changed; that the com- if you treat it with suspicion; if you merce of all the world was then at our hesitate to act upon it; and if ruin fall command; that foreigners could not upon you, the fault will not be mine. come here except by special license; If you have any thing to sell, and can that England was the place of deposit obtain any thing near the value of it for for all the riches of Europe; that there ready money, sell it now, and turn the were no means of sending the gold out proceeds into gold, and keep this gold of the country; that the gold was, in until the end of the session of Parlia fact, not in circulation at all, the greater ment, which is now about to begin. I part having been sent away by the Go- tell you again, that if legal tender come, vernment; that individuals had no chan- it will come like a thief in the night.

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