and disgrace. It is curious enough, their want of firmness to resist what that, in the Register published only they call the "clamours of the people." the week before last, speaking of They have the good sense, the real the stupid plots and contrivances in-courage, to set these taunts at defiance, tended to drive me out of the country, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning I said, "Abscond, indeed, here is an im-" of wisdom. The voice of the people "pudent fellow, talk of my absconding!" is the voice of God;" and when it is a pretty set indeed, in the House of the voice of a whole people, it is the Commons and the Hells to make me voice of their Creator. Therefore, to abscond. They may now pass suspen- act upon a fear of opposing the voice of sion-of-Habeas-corpus-acts, dungeon- the people was, in the language of “acts, gagging-acts; they may put Scripture, the "beginning of wisdom." ❤ down the press altogether: they may And you have only to look back to the "do what they like; but never shall fate of CHARLES the First, to the fate of they make me abscond or quit English Louis the Sixteenth, and the aristocracy ground. They are much more likely and clergy of France; to the fate of to abscond, than I am. I have done George the Third, with regard to the “my work; I have firmly planted the American States, to be convinced that "tree; and, please God, I will remain the Ministers have now acted wisely, as "to see and taste the fruit. In the first well as justly. They are entitled, "of these two last, I was wrong. I therefore, to our hearty commendations "bad not quite done my work: I finished for their conduct, not, however, like "that last Saturday, in the ever-living servile creatures overlooking the great article called FABNCH REPUBLIC and share in the triumph which is ascribable ENGLISH REFORM.'" That was the to ourselves. finisher of my work; and it will take a great deal to persuade any man who has read it, that it had not a considerable share in urging the Ministers to adopt that grand measure, which now fills the mouths of all honest men with applause. The work, however, is now done. Here is the tree, bearing the fruit; and, res-own hands. This paper that I am now pecting you, fellows, BLANDFORD and writing will go to the press before I SLAPP, here am I to taste the fruit, in shall know the result of this day (Thursspite of your backbitings and slanders. day's) debate; but, in all probability, Though, however, I ascribe a great the second reading of the bill will not part of this grand work to my own take place until early next week, when Herculean labours, the nation at large the division on it (if any division) will, 'bas its share; and I am by no means of course, take place. The hill will pass; for denying that great merit belongs to and though I know nothing about the the Ministers for what they have done. matter, I should suppose that the preTheir enemies in Parliament are no-sent Parliament will sit the Sessions thing, they themselves having the peo- out, transact the necessary business of ple at their back; but they have had the Session; then be prorogued, then other greater enemies to overcome, and dissolved, and the new and Reformed much greater enemies, too; the Parliament elected in the month of Ocgreatest of all the enemies that men in tober, rendering immortal the memory power know any-thing of; namely, of the year 1831. The interest excited their own pride and deep-rooted pre- by the deliberations of the remainder of judices. Here the combat must have this session will be far less than the inbeen severe indeed! They have had terest excited in the nation at large by the courage to set at defiance those the proceedings in a vestry of any of the taunts which their political opponents parishes of Westminster or of London. were sure to deal in, with regard to The nation, full of hope, will be quiet in With regard to the opposition to this measure, it is sheer nonsense. Had it been a little trifling measure, the opposition would have thrown out the Ministers, and the nation, regarding the two factions as forming but one body, would have taken the Reform into its 661 every part of it. We shall hear of no foretelling, in Parliament, too, that che more riots and disturbances; no more believes that the fires will recommence. petitions for a repeal of the Union with if the Parliament be not efficiently re Ireland; and I am firmly of opinion formed. I have triumphed over this with Mr. HODGES, that, unless in cases bloody newspaper but I repeat, what where deep revenge has been left im I have said a hundred times over, that printed on the heart by deeds of injus-no Parliamentary reform ever can be tice and of cruelty too great for human worth a single straw, which will nature to endure, we shall hear of no not give rise to a state of things, that more fires. Mr. HODGES, though the will bring punishment on the heads of villanous “reporthers" have given us such ruffians as those who have laboured no part of his speech, told the Ministers, through the columns of this newspaper, in the House of Commons, on Saturday to cause the destruction of the liberties last, that he had the inexpressible and the lives of the people. There is "pleasure to tell them that the riots no act of cruelty, not of oppression am I "and fires had wholly ceased in the speaking, but no act of cruelty, of savage "county of Kent, for which he was a barbarity, that this bloody newspaper "member; that he verily believed that has not defended and even called for. " cessation to have arisen from the hope Like the croak of the raven, its voice "and expectation which the people en- has been the omen and precursor of "tertained of an extensive and efficient death; and it has seemed to be morti "Reform of the Parliament; and that fied that there was nothing beyond "he believed most firmly, and most death to glut its propensity for blood. "solemnly declared that belief, that, Amongst the advantages of this mea if such reform were refused, the sure of the Ministers is to be numbered "riots and the fires would begin again. the exposure of this bloody newspaper. I believe so too; and it was upon pre-It has now turned about suddenly, and cisely this principle that I proceeded in is as loud in cries for the destruction of those lectures in Kent and Sussex which victims of another sort. Its furious the bloody Times newspaper, in con- and brutal assault of this morning junction with the certificates of Parson (Thursday) upon Lord ELLENBOROUGH RUSH and of Walter Burrell and Co. is a sort of first step in its general as endeavoured to represent as the cause of sault upon every pensioner and sine the fires in those counties. At every curist; and if such were unhappily place (and I can call witnesses from the case, that a DAnton, a ColloT every place to prove it) I advised the D'HERBOIS, and a ROBESPIERRE, were farmers to call all the people of their to succeed the present King and his several parishes together; to bring with Ministers, we should see this bloody them a short petition ready written for newspaper, not their apologist, but the Parliamentary Reform; to sign it, and Corypheus of the band of writers, to get the people to sign it too; to as breathing blood and carnage. I be sure them that that would bring them seech my readers in particular, and all better times if their prayer were attend-the public, now to keep their eye upon ed to; to tell them that their prayer this vehicle of sentiments of blood. It would be attended to, and that, there- hates the present Ministers: it attacked fore, they ought to be patient in the them the other day in the most brutal meanwhile. This, I told the farmers, manner, when it thought the duration would fill the people with hope, would of their power was uncertain. It said, make them patient, would put a stop to of this Ministry, that all was "feeblethe fires, and to violences of all sorts." ness, uncertainty, CROTCHET, and And it is for having laboured thus, that" POULETT THOMSON." This was only this infamous and bloody newspaper last week; and the viperous attack has been labouring day by day to pre- arose from the proposition to lower the pare the way for causing my blood to be tax upon newspapers, which it knew to shed! However, here is Mr. HODGES have originated with Mr. Thomson. Daring, the summer, the Ministers they will congratulate themselves that will have plenty of time to arrange themuckworm has taken an alarm at their what is called the machinery of taking measures. It is the nation voita dis, this, the elections They will have the peo-industrious, this laborious, this honest ple all in good humour; and, severely people, that hail their measure with joy as they feel the taxes, and odious as are and thanks, and what need they care the tithes, they will find every one wil- for the feelings or opinions of a merce ling to pay The Ministers may throw nary band who are sucking the blood of aside all the stupid projects which have this people, and who are undermining been intruded upon them for getting all property, and all the institutions of rid of the people! They will soon find ages? There is, however, a very able that they have not got too many people. article in The Star newspaper of yester They will soon find, too, that that deep day, showing that the measure must disgrace to the country, the flocking of ultimately be advantageous even to the people of property to America, will fundholders themselves, And I say so, cease. I could give them some most too, provided they be content with that striking proofs of this; but I have not which is equitable; for there is no quesroom in the present Register, erag tion that a refusal of efficient, reform Let not the ministers be disheartened would, in a few years, and more probaat the fall of the funds, even if they bly in a few months, have deprived should come down to 40 or 30. Let them for ever of every farthing that them remember the words of the first they claim. Every sensible fundholder Lord CHATHAM: "The stocks are a good that I have ever known, who is unable "criterion enough: for, when they fall to remove his money from the funds, "you may be sure that the nation is has expressed his willingness and readi “rising: and when they rise, you may ness to submit to a very considerable be sure that the nation is falling." reduction in positive amount. It would But, without going so far back as be easy to show that a reduction must the time when this great statesman follow in other things, and that the funddelivered this sentiment, have we, holder would in reality lose, but very the reformers; have I, and has Lord little by a reduction in his interest. GREY, forgotten the year 1817, when, But there will be time enough to discuss in answer to a speech of Lord HoL- these things hereafter... 5 0 255 19 LAND', in which he most urgentlyAt present, before I conclude (my pleaded (but in vain) that the persons room being small), let us turn and take whom the ministers might choose to a look at the dejected countenances of imprison should be permitted to see the fellows who are to be trundled their kindred and friends, and to have out of the rotten boroughs: let us look the use of pen, ink, and paper; and at the DIVANS, called close corporations 5 when he described the disgrace that the let us look at the hypocritical, proflidungeon-bill would bring upon the gate, profoundly lying, beastly, mercecountry, and the alarm which it would nary crew called free burgesses and excite in the breasts of the people; freemen; let us look at the swarms of when he did this, for which he was ap- attorneys of inexpressible villany; vilplauded by every good man in the king- lany, as BURKE calls it, defecated; dom, the dry and short answer of un- that is to say, purged of every alloy feeling Liverpool was, "Let the noble arising from the remains of conscience. "Lord look at the funds! He will Let us look at all these; see the hete"there see that public credit has been rogeneous group; and see them all benefited by the introduction of this destroyed at one fell swoop," by the "Bill, for the funds have risen ever hand of little Lord JoHN, who, in future "since the determination of Parliament story will surpass the famous "Little #was known." Therefore, let the mi- John," the brother or the rival channisters not be alarmed at the fall of the pion of ROBIN HOOD, and even JACK funds. Let them recollect 1817; and the GIANT-KILLER" himself. Sir 1 . 46 CHARLES WETHERELL may crack his exulted in the everlasting fall of the Jokes upon the little paymaster, as he Reformers, and, in answer to their peti called him, as long as he pleases; but tions, referred them to the History of the country will be very much disposed the Battle of Waterloo ; and, when the to entertain some degree of gratitude former of these papers exclaimed, in the towards the instrument of the destruc-height of its intoxication of savage tion of such a monstrous evil. The joy: "The play is over: we may now anger of Mr. HORACE TWISSs was go to supper;" I answered, “No, we much more natural than it seemed" cannot go to supper yet; we must natural to the public that this ministry" first pay the reckoning for the play, should have left him any thing to be angry and in order to pay that reckoning, we for the loss of. When this hero came" must first have Parliamentary Reinto parliament, he made his debut in a " form.” We have got that now, and furious attack on the Parliamentary Re- therefore, we may prepare for the sup formers. I told him at the time, "Ah!per; and, it seems that we are to have "HORACE, HORACE, you are of the it in grand style; for, the bloody Times, "true breed, and are upon the right scent, but you come into the pack too "late: the game will soon be all gone; "and, when that is the case, God Almighty only knows what is to become . of you! which called for the putting us into dungeons, in 1817, for having petitioned for Reform, now calls upon the cities of London and Westminster for a grand illumination to celebrate the passing of the bill. If this illumination should, Amongst the consequences of this as I hope it will, take place, all that grand measure will be the complete ex-I shall want, all that I shall lament posure of all the sham patriots; of all the want of, will be the power of the dirty souls, who, by professing that calling up the saucy CANNING and they wish for reform, thought to escape the venerable Major CARtwright to the vengeance of the people, if a con- witness that illumination. The next vulsive Revolution should take place. thing to the having them in their proper These vile hypocrites, and some of them persons, is that of having them in effigy: the basest of Boroughmongers too, that of CANNING in a Dustman's cart always took special good care to ex-drawn by an old rip horse, representing ercise their corrupt power in such a a fallen boroughmonger, the effigy clad way as to perpetuate, if possible, that in mourning, with the words, "a low, corrupt power. which will now be blown up, and that too by their own apparent consent and good-will! The touchstone of these will be, when the separate question of the Ballot comes to be discussed. By every means in their power, except open means, they will oppose it. The Ministers will do well to propose it, and to maintain it to the uthiost, to prevent the possibility of having insincerity ascribed to them. It will give them strength, too, against the implacable enmity of the boroughmonger crew. But it will do this, which is more than all the rest: it will leave nothing to be demanded; and that is the great thing of all. It will silence the boroughmongers; silence every enemy that the Ministry has upon the face of the earth. When, in 1815, the base COURIER, and the BLOODY TIMES degraded crew" (the appellation which he gave the reformers in 1809) coming out of his lips; and the venerable MAJOR in a triumphal car, decked with laurel, the effigy itself furnished with a civic crown. At any rate, one of the very first acts of a reformed Parliament ought to be, the causing of a monument, in the most honourable of all the spots that can be found, to be erected to the memory of this wise and brave man, who spent fifty years of his life in endeavors to obtain that which has, at last, been accomplished. WM. COBBETT. THE INDICTMENT. THE following words which are put in italics is what is called the libel of which some mean wretch or other has none accused the. The whole paragraph is also kid salt do not burs that and not the bodily force, that has prevailed. bourers, that the tithes do not do them any To attempt to persuade either farmers or laharm, is to combat plain common sense. They must know, and they do know, that whatever is received by the parson is just so much taken from them, except that part which he may lay out for productive labour in the parish: and that is a mere trifle compared with what he gives to the East and West Indies, to the wine-countries, to the footmen, short, the tithe-owners take away from the and to other unproductive labourers. In taken from the Register of the eleventh food; Therefore this argument is not worth a strawi of December, and that is the one that Besides, they see and feel that the good comes, TREVOR barked about in the House of and comes instantly too. They see that they do Commons, according to the report of get some bread, in consequence of the the bloody Times. The part selected tion of part of the corn; and while they for prosecution is the part marked by which they have done is wrong. And as to one you attempt in vain to persuade them, that that italics, leaving out the head and tail effect, that of making the parsons reduce their of the paragraph. The reader will see tithes, it is hailed as a good by ninety-ninewhat a base and contemptible proceed- hundredths even of men of considerable proing this is. I am not sure, by any perty; while there is not a single man in the country who does not clearly trace the reduction means, that it is the Government which to the acts of the labourers, and especially has made this attempt. I shall, how-to the fires, for it is the terror of these, ever, get it out at last, and I should not be very much surprised if I were to trace it back to the very first instigator, or propagator of the affair of GooDMAN. In another Register, I will publish the result of my inquiries. Only think of the bloody TIMES putting forth a paragraph to cause it to be believed that it was a publication similar to that for which Mr. Carlile has been so severely punished; and then some other of the base Lon-agricultural parishes a tenth part of the don newspapers, sending it all over the Country that I was actually in Newgate already. However, TREVOR's seat will be taken from under him by about this day week; for Romney is amongst the boroughs to be scratched out. This reform brings all due revenges, and gives us protection for the future. The execrable monopoly of the press, and all its unpunished and infamous slanders, will be swept away amongst other crying evils. If I were proprietor of a newspaper, the proprietorship of which was worth 20,000l. last Saturday, I should now be glad to sell it for five. In the meanwhile, however, the parsons are reducing their tithes with a tolerablé degree of alacrity! It seems to come from them like drops of blood from the heart; but it comes; and it must all come now; or England will never again know even the appearance of peace. "Out of evil comes good." We are not, indeed, upon that mere maxim, "to do evil that good may come from it." But without entering at present into the motives of the working people, it is unquestionable that their acts have produced good, and great good too. They have been always told, and they are told now, and by the very parson that of violence, I have quoted above, that their do them-no and particularly the burnings, gross produce, which, in this present state of abuse of the institution, they apply to purposes not only not beneficial, but generally mischievous to the people of those parishes. COMMON HALL. There is to be a COMMON HALL on Monday, to take into consideration the propriety of passing resolutions, pledging the City to support the Ministers in carrying into effect the Reform that they have brought forward. At that Hall, please God, I will be. I should be ashamed to be a Livery man of London and to be absent on this occasion. I do hope, that there will be a general illumination, as the Bill has been carried in the Commons. Let the HELLS, in St, James's Street, be in darkness and in mourning; but let the tax-paying people rejoice. |