Yet, you will observe, the taxes | gagging bills would prevent this. are hardly worth naming. What, then, must be the effect of lowering prices in England! The banks that have broken here are only the small banks as yet. The great ones pay in specie, if hard pushed; and, this it is that produces the breaking of the small ones. In TENNESSEE, they have passed"Bank Restriction Acts!" And, their notes will pass no where out of the State, and, in the State, at a discount of, perhaps, fifty per centum. Here is pretty confusion! Here is violation of contracts! Here is ruin! Here is niisery! Here are all the natural effects of good government totally set aside, and all the natural effects of bad government introduced, and this is done by bands of scoundrels, called Bank ers, into whose vile and selfish hands the government have, in fact, put the greatest powers ofruling the people; namely, those powers, by which property, of all sorts, is affected. No dungeons, halters and axes; no shootings. BOLTON FLETCHER and the HAMPSHIRE PARSONS would be able to do nothing against this cause of overthrow. All the miscreants, who were put into a state of requisition to torment and kill the venders of my Register, would not be able to arrest the effects of this cause for a single hour. And, only think there was, in the night of delusion and of nonsense, one little publication that conveyed right notions to the minds of the people; one little publication, and one only: and, against this publication, the whole of the powers of government were raised. All the clergy, all the magistrates, were placed in array against this one little publication. And, all these having failed, laws were passed to take away the personal safety of every man, in order that the personal safety of the author of this little publication might be taken away, and that, thereby, the publication might be made to cease! Can such a system last? Can it exist for any length of time? Can a nation be thus abused for many years? But, what must be the effect, then, of similar measures, in England? You will observe, that the great Banks here pay in specie. This knocks up the little ones; and, thus the misery comes at once. I am of opinion, that the meaIn England, at present, no bank sures, absolutely necessary to the pays in specie; and, therefore, the restoration and preservation of the misery approaches slower, when country, have been rejected only the paper is drawn in; but, it because they have been proposed comes, as we saw in 1816; and, if BY ME. The supposition apthe Mother Bank, the Borough pears monstrous; but, I fully beBank, were to pay in specie;lieve the fact. Many years ago, were to draw in paper enough to not less than sixteen, I set out as enable it to pay in specie; one half a sort of self-dependant politician. of the whole of the people would be My opinions were my own. I dashactually started to death. But, ed at all prejudices. I scorned to things can never come to this pass. follow any body in matters of opiLong before half a million of per- nion. Before my time, every wrisons would have died with hunger, [ter of talent enlisted himself the whole thing would be shaken under the banners of one party, to pieces by a convulsion. No or one minister, or other. Istood sure to be proved right IN THE END, these my base enemies were all wrong. 66 66 66 free from all such connections; and, therefore, though admired by many, I was looked upon with an evil eye by all. All had been My sentiments, as to the hatred used to see men of no rank glad and envy, that I have been speakto receive the approbation of men ing of, were pretty fully expressed of rank. All had been used to in my Register, dated at this place, see talent crouch to power. All in June, 1817; and, because it were, therefore, offended at my clearly shows, that I have, all presumption, as they deemed it. along had a right view of the matMy great success as a writer; the ter, I will recall the passage to great admiration which my writ-your mind: "The most ignorant ings frequently excited; the ef- amongst the politicians are those. fect on the public mind which they" who have wilfully and obstifrequently produced: these were nately shut their eyes. There much more than sufficient to draw" are many men, in both Houses down on me the mortal hatred of" of Parliament, who know that the "race that write." So that,"mine is the true doctrine, but for many years, I have been an ob-"who have not the courage to ject of hatred with men in power," be candid. I have discussed all with men aiming at power; and "the points so often; I have so with all writers, good or bad." frequently varied the views of Some have been less malignant" several questions; I have so than others; but all have hated;" carefully collected in my pro all have desired to keep me down. gress every detached ramificaWhile, however, this would "tion of the several subjects; I have been fatal to a man of have unravelled with such paingreater talent and of less industry" ful perseverance all the intricaand perseverance, it has really "cies of these most intricate mat-. been of use to me. I have, all "ters of enquiry; I have, at last, along, seen the hatred, and have made the matter so clear to known the truc cause of it. And," every unbiassed mind, that the I have always seen, that patience" whole nation, not only well and perseverance, and these only," understands what are the causes could enable me to triumph over" of its distress, but what are the this abominable injustice and base-" remedies, and the only remedies ness. At a time, when no other" to be applied. This fact is man seemed to think of the mat- known to those two Houses; ter, I saw clearly, that the paper-" many a man in each would be system would produce a great" proud if he could bring forward change in the country, at no very" as his own, doctrines which I distant day. Here I chose my "have rendered familiar to the ground. I neglected not other" People, and which the people matters; but, this was my ground" will always recognise as mine, of reliance. I saw, that no other" and which, I really believe was right, on this great point, but "would have been acted upon, myself. I bore all the scoffs of" were it not for that false pride, fools and knaves, not only with" and that envy, which have, in. patience, but with pleasure: I felt so many cases, been fatal to naa sort of vindictive delight to see," tions as well as to individuals. that, upon the point where I was "What!" say they," shall we ""adopt the doctrines; shall we "writings a total revolution: has ""be tools of a man, whose first" been made in the laws of a great "" employment was driving rooks kingdom. Such a man neces""from the fields, who has been "sarily becomes a great subject ""a private soldier, and whom "of discussion and of record; all our hirelings now call a cor- his actions, his manners, the haporal? Shall all the Lords" bits of his life, and almost the ""and Baronets, all this pride of "size of his body and the colour ""birth and wealth stoop so "of his hair, become, with the 66.66 low? What! all the learning" people of that kingdom, objects ""of the Universities; all the pro-" of some interest. Rook-Boy ""found philosophy of the Scotch and Common Soldier as long as ""Reviewers; all the great Doc-" you please, my Lords and Gen""tors of Laws; all buckle downtlemen, but, you must confess, "" to an earthworm like this!"" that it is fear of my lawful influ"It is very true, that they have "ence, which has made you set "buckled down to the Roses, the "aside the whole Constitution of "Cannings, the Huskissons, and the kingdom; and, think now, 66 scores of others; but then, these "would it have been more humi(6 had not the presumption to liating to your pride, if you had ໄດ້ stand upon their legs, nor legs, nor" (years ago even) adopted my scarcely to kneel upon their "doctrines, and prevented the "knees, without the aid and per-existence of the grounds of that "mission of some patron Borough-fear which has, at last, driven monger. I have had the pre-" you to such acts of desperation? sumption to stand upon my own "Would you have more reason of "legs; and, I now defy them to "being ashamed of having adopt(6 adopt any measures to rescue ❝ed salutary measures, though all 66 the country from any portion of the world might have called "its difficulties, without following" them mine, than you have to be "that advice which I have so "of those measures which have "often pressed upon them, and "driven me from my country? "which I will always claim as my "Whatever way you may answer own, disguise the matter how "these questions, in this dilemma "they will. But, indeed, they "you must still remain: either "cannot disguise the matter."you must keep my country in its "It will be too plain, and the "present state, or I must be placed C6 measures will be so strikingly, "in that situation, from which to so palpably my own, that all the "exclude me, has been one of the “world will exclaim : "Here"great objects of your efforts, and ""they are, come to Cobbett ut" of the efforts of your hireling ""last!"-It is to this stupid" press.". "pride, this hateful envy, I verily "believe, that the nation owes a large part of the silly and impo"tent measures and projects that "have been resorted to. There "is nothing savoring of egotism in “ my saying this. That man can"not be guilty of egotism, to "check the progress of whose The country cannot remain as it is; and, the other hour of the dilemma must be met; if my life last but a few years; and I hope it will last a great many. My dear HUNT, you know well, that all which is above stated upon this subject, is strictly true. You know, that I have been hated most for those things, which, in just and "or, that I am not duly qualified, generous minds, would have en- "or that I am less qualified than gendered all the kindest feelings."others who are allowed to enterThe time approaches, when I am "tain it, for the elevation at to have ample revenge, which I which such persons suppose me shall gratify in doing all the good" to aim. However, my lord, of in my power to my lawful sove-" this be assured, that, as long as reign and my oppressed and be-"I see the nation's affairs mismaloved countrymen. "naged by men whom I deem less My return to England will be capable of managing those afa new epoch in my life. I know," fairs than myself, so long will I, that great events must take place." God being my helper, be a thorn Great changes must be made." in the side of those men. I have endeavoured to penetrate into futurity so far as to form a guess at what is likely to take place, and, I bave very deliberate ly made up my mind as to the part that I shall act. In the month of January, 1817, a person of some note said to me, "they say, Cobbett, that you want "to be king."—"Oh, no! a king's "office is one of too little power "for me."-"Aye, they say, that you want to be the greatest per"son in the nation in point of power." ""Come,come! This "they is yourself, and you think, "that I have great ambition; and "that I wish to be so situated, as "to have the power of doing very important things; in that, you think, that I wish to be at the "head, or nearly at the head, of the nation's affairs."-He laughed."Now, this is, as far as my "mind has ever led me, far beyond "my wishes. I am sure, that not ❝even wife, son, or daughter, ever "heard me hint at such a wish. But, I am by no means aware, that such a wish would be criminal; and, perhaps, it might (C even be meritorious. At any "rate, my lord, it becomes those, "who condemn such a wish in me, to show, that it is either immo"ral or absurd. It becomes them to show, either that no man "ought to entertain such a wish; . ડ Far from me, my dear Hunt, the low, the base ambition, to desire to nestle in amongst the crowd of knaves and fools that have brought our great and once free and happy country into its present state of degradation. But, I do know, that I have it in my power to propose the means of complete restoration, and I also know, that I could convince the whole of the people, the interested knaves excepted, that they ought to acquiesce in the adoption of those means. To me, personally, the thing can be of little interest. Riches have no value in my eyes; and, in what way can I be more famed than I am? To be sure I set a very high value on fame; but, how am I to add to my present stock? Nevertheless, I harbour enough of just resentment against my base maligners to restrain me from suggesting to them the things that I would, in other hands, wish to see adopted. Let them follow their own course, and let it be our business to attack them in front where we can; and, when occasion serves, fall upon their rear. Let it be our business to expose their follies and their crimes; and let it be theirs to save themselves, at least, in the best way they can. I will warrant, that four years shall not pass over their heads, without producing in them a little more modesty than they have ever yet possessed. What do we want now to prove the incapacity, the total unworthiness of the men in power, of both factions, I mean? Have they not brought the country into a state of real ruin and disgrace? Do they not govern at home by the bayonet and the dungeon; and do they not put up with every insult from foreign nations? Have they not placed their own existence upon the art of engraving? Do they not themselves acknowledge the nation's ruined state? What is there, then, of presumption in the thought of ones being more capable than these men to manage the nation's affairs? Besides as I have said many times, hear and see Harrowby and Liverpool and Grenville and Sidmouth and Castlereagh and the rest; read their reports and speeches and the things they call state-papers, Hear and see this bungling tribe; and then say whether their being no longer rulers would produce national mischief. 66 the present state of the country clearly shows. This is the testthis is the touch-stone. And they now, one and all, acknowledge, that the nation is in a state of great difficulty and perit; and, what is more, they acknowledge, that the causes are precisely those which I have been exhibiting to them and to the whole country, for many years past. Why, then, are we to believe, or imagine, that these men are better qualified than ourselves to restore the nation to prosperity and security? God forbid, that we should imagine any such thing. In another Register, I shall address SER ROBERT PEEL, upon the part which he has acted in this grand drama, which, you will perceive, is only now beginning to open upon us in an interesting way. This is the same Peel, that I used to call the SPINNINGJENNY BARONET. You know how he got his nobility, I suppose. Pray keep your eye on the praises (from all parts of the dens) bestowed on the memory of lawTierney, in the debate on the yer HORNER; that stupid oaf, State of the Nation, said, that there who always looked as if he had was nothing more laudable, than just had a bout at sucking his "for a public man to desire to be thumbs. The doctrines, which "in place; because, by that means are now coming in vogue, are "he obtained the power of giving ascribed to him, when it is noto"effect to his plans." And, by rious, that the foolish fellow pro"public men," these fellows al-posed, in 1811 (in war) to compel way's mean a little band of them-the Bank to pay in specie at the selves. Such men as Robert end of two years! Though, now, Ward, Squeaking Wynne, Hus- at the end of four years of peace, kisson, Sturges, Courtenay, call it is found, that it cannot pay in themselves "public men:" though, specie 'till the end of four years amongst the whole set, there is yet to come! It is all a lie; it not talent enough to make a good cannot pay then; but, at any rate, overseer of the poor. Vansittart here is, upon the showing of the and Castlereagh call themselves fellows themselves, quite enough not 66 public men," but, "states- to justify all that I have ever said men," and Liverpool and Gren-about the foglish notions of this ville and Sidmouth do the same. I dead lawyer. 66 What sort of statesmen they are, Always bear in mind, that, in |