UNIFORM One should be sent to every newspaper in the United Kingdomto the resident clergymen and churchwardens of every parish— to every commercial association-every poor law union-municipal corporation-and to all mechanics' and literary institutions, &c. When the forms of stamps are settled, specimens of them should also be widely distributed. And the country postmasters, having been instructed themselves by special agents, might be directed to teach the people the use and application of the stamp. A thousand pounds thus spent, would be returned with compound interest. LXXXV. Should no loss of revenue accompany this great social improvement-a contingency not altogether improbable, but greatly dependent on its management-the public gratitude, hitherto alloyed with fears of new taxes, will be unmixed, and Her Majesty's Government will have the distinguished honour of giving, both to its own people and to all civilized Europe, the liberty of freely watching the experiment, and cheaply communicating with each other-a boon affecting not less the best interests of mankind than the invention of printing. I have the honour to be, My Lords, &c., HENRY COLE. THE FIRST LETTER-WEIGHT MADE FOR THE PENNY POSTAGE. A large quantity of these letter-weights were sold, but after a short time they were superseded by scales and movable weights which were supplied to the Post Office. A million notices of the size of an 8vo page, filled on both sides, would not cost more than £200. WORK WITH THE ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE, ARISING OUT OF UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. A.D. 1839-1840. LTHOUGH unable to join the Anti-Corn Law League ANTI-CORN A actively, I had the pleasure of doing service to its organ, Law Co LAW A.D. 1839-1840. Part II. Thackeray's ilustration Selections. Corn Law Circular." the "Anti-Corn Law Circular," when first started, and evidence of this I feel may be introduced in this volume, because they give the reader some of the earliest illustrations drawn by Thackeray, who, at that time, was aiming to be rather an author than a painter, having lately left Paris, where he had been studying for the Fine Arts. Cobden suggested as a subject, Poles offering bread Cobden's on one side of a stream, and people starving on the other; a demon suggestions. in the centre preventing the exchange. I gave the idea to Thackeray, and he returned a sketch which I have now before me, with a letter. "Dear Sir, I shall be glad to do a single drawing, series, or what you will for money, but I think the one you sent me" (I am not sure that it was not Cobden's own, but very rude) "would not be effective enough for the Circular: the figures are Thackeray's objections. too many for so small a sized block, and the meaning mysterious -the river to be a river should occupy a deuce of a space." (Here he introduced a loose sketch.) "Even this fills up your length almost. What do you think of a howling group with this motto, 'Give us Our DAILY BREAD;' the words are startling. Of course I will do the proposed design if you wish it." The design alluded to was kneeling figures, which was introduced as a heading of the "Anti-Bread Tax Circular," Wednesday, 21st April, 1841. Mr. John Morley, in his "Life of Cobden " (p. 214), is not quite accurate in saying :—“ Cobden had, at the beginning of the movement (the new Corn Law), been very near to securing the services, in the way of pictorial illustration, of a man who afterwards became very famous. This was Thackeray, then only known to a small public as the author of the 'Hoggarty Diamond."" Thackeray's services were secured, and he made several designs. And then a letter of mine is quoted, in which I wrote to Cobden (22nd June, ANTI-CORN A.D. 1839-1840. Part II. Selections. My letter to Cobden. New sketch sent. 1839):-"Some inventor of a new mode of engraving (a Mr. Schönberg, of Hatton Garden), told Mr. Thackeray that it was applicable to the designs for the Corn Laws. Three drawings of your Anglo-Polish allegory have been made and have failed. So Thackeray has given up the invention, and wood engraving must be used (which was done by Mr. John Thompson). This will materially alter the expense. . . I hope you will think as well of the accompanying sketch-very rough, of course—as all I have shown it to, do. It was the work of only a few minutes, and I think, with its corpses, gibbet, and flying carrion crow, is as suggestive as you can wish. We both thought that a common soldier would be better understood than any more allegorical figure. It is only in part an adaptation of your idea, but I think a successful one. Figures representing eagerness of exchange, a half-clothed Pole offering bread, and a weaver, manufactures, would be idea enough for a design alone. Of course there may be any changes you please in this present design. I think for the multitude it would be well to have the ideas very simple and intelligible to all. The artist is a genius, both with his pencil and his pen. His vocation is literary. He is full of humour and feeling. Hitherto he has not had occasion to think much on the subject of Corn Laws, and therefore wants the stuff to work upon. He would like to Thackeray's combine both writing and drawing when sufficiently primed, and then he would write and illustrate ballads, or tales, or anything. I think you would find him a most effective auxiliary, and perhaps the best way to fill him with matter for illustrations, would be to invite him to see the weavers, their mills, shuttles, et cetera. If you like the sketch, perhaps you will return it to me, and I will put it in the way of being engraved. He will set about Lord Ashley (now Earl of Shaftesbury,) when we have heard your opinion of the present sketch. Thackeray is the writer of an article in the last number of the 'Westminster Review' on French caricatures, and many other things. For some time he managed the "Constitutional" newspaper. He is a college friend of Charles Buller. We think the idea of an ornamental emblematical reading of the Circular good. The lower class of readers do not like to have to cut the leaves of a paper. Another, but a smaller class, like a smallsized page, because it is more convenient for binding. Corn Law readers lie, I suppose, chiefly among the former. Will you writing and drawing. LAW ANTI-CORN send your circular to Thomas Carlyle, Cheyne Street, Chelsea? LEAGUE. He was quoted in last week's Circular, and is making studies into the condition of the working class." A.D. 1839-1840. Circular to Letter of Cobden on The trials alluded to were thus related in an undated letter from Thackeray to me :— "My dear Sir,-I am very sorry to tell you of my misfortunes. I have made three etchings on the Schönberg plan, of the Anglo-Polish Allegory; and they have all failed: that is, Schönberg considers they are not fit for his process; that is, I fear the process will not succeed yet. I shall, however, do the drawing to-morrow on a wood-block, and will send it you sans faute: unless I hear from you that you are not inclined to deal with a person who has caused so much delay. Yours ever, (signed) W. M. THACKERAY." The first woodcut of the "Poles offering Corn," No. 1, is now republished as well as a second woodcut, "The Choice of a Loaf," No. 21 (see page 145). I cannot leave this subject without reprinting an extract from a letter to George Combe, in which I entirely sympathize, which Mr. Morley quotes in his most interesting "Life of Cobden." "It is because I do believe that the principle of Free Trade is calculated to alter the relations of the world for the better, in a moral point of view, that I bless God I have been allowed to take a prominent part in its advocacy. Still, do not let us be too gloomy. If we can keep the world from actual war, and I trust railroads, steamboats, CHEAP POSTAGE, and our own example in Free Trade will do that, a great impulse will from this time be given to social reforms. The public mind is in a practical mood, and it will now precipitate itself upon education, temperance, reform of criminals, care of physical health, &c., with greater zeal than ever" (p. 411). And I fully agree in the opinion expressed by a colleague of Sir Robert Peel's, who, Mr. Morley says, "had unrivalled opportunities of seeing great public personages." Cobden was the most laboriously conscientious man he had ever known, and that "allowing for differences in grasp and experience, the Prince Consort was in this respect of the same type." These cuts were first printed in the "Anti-Corn Law Circular," No. 8, 23rd July, 1839, and the second in No. 18, 10th Dec., 1839. They were not republished in the volume of Thacke ray's drawings. The name was altered to "Anti-Bread Tax Circular " on 21st April, 1841. These engravings are rare, but can be seen in the British Museum. |