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selves declare that they have no hopes | minds of the people at large (for great

of discovering either cure or mitigation. I could go back and draw from the Register, beginning with the year 1803, a series of warnings; in which series there is scarcely a lapse of five months at any one time; and, from this review, from this retrospect it would appear clear as day light that if the Parliament and the Ministers had listened to my suggestions, the country would, at this moment, have been in a situation to be the envy of the whole world instead of its being in such a state as to make men flee from it as vermin escape from a house

on fire.

I do not, my Lord, attribute to any of you a design to produce the present state of things. There are persons who, listening to their anger instead of their reason, say that the Government is glad to have a pretext for adopting measures such as are now about to be adopted. And this is an imputation very familiar with that son of faction, Perry of the Morning Chronicle. No man that reflects can believe this; it is against nature. The wickedest tyrant that ever existed cannot be pleased at being compelled to do odious things, that is to say, things odious in themselves, in order to preserve his power. Every ruler, and every one who has any share in the ruling of a country, must wish that the state of that country should be happy; and he must also wish, especially in a country like England, that the period of his sway should not be marked by popular dis content or by any thing tending to hold the nation forth as abridged in all its liberties. Therefore, on the score of design, I do now acquit, as I always have, most decidedly acquitted the Parliament and the Government. But then it follows of necessity that things have turned out contrary to the wishes and expectation of the Parliament and the Government; or, in other words, according to my expectation and my predictions.

With the knowledge of this in the

indeed is the error of supposing that the millions of Reformers are mis-led, deluded, ignorant creatures): with the knowledge of this in the minds of ninety-nine hundredths of the nation, what must that nation think of the insinuations, the continual insinuations, thrown out against me, and the indefatigable endeavours by all sorts of means, high and low, to prevent the people from reading what I write? Though I cannot but feel strongly on my own account in this case, I feel much more strongly on account of my country. I am ashamed, I blush to the very bone, when I contemplate the schemes, the devices, the tricks, the innumerable round-about artifices, put in play in order to withhold from the eyes of Englishmen the productions of that pen, which, if its former productions had been attended to, would have completely prevented all the evils of which we now deplore the existence. I can assure your Lordship that the " poor deluded creatures," as they are affectedly called, want nothing but the bare reading or hearing an account of these artifices. They well know the object of them: they see in the twinkling of an eye the whole of their drift: the object is thus defeated before the scheme is in operation: and, not all that any power on earth can do will change the opinions of this faithful and enlightened people with regard to the matters upon which I have, during the last three years, had the very great honour of addressing them.

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How much more manly, how much more wise would it be to suffer my writings to go forth freely to the people! The impression could not thereby be made greater than that which is made under a system of restraint and persecution; and, indeed, it could not be so great; for perscution always excites an interest in behalf of the object of such persecution.

This has been the case in an uncommon degree with regard to him who has now the honour to address your

Lordship. I have been, I thank God, always very ardently beloved by the far greater part of those who personally knew me. Before my departure from England for America, I had a great deal of fair popularity; unsought-for popularity; and my writings had brought me a great portion of disinterested praise and admiration. But upon my return i can perceive no bounds to these things, so generally held in high estimation. I perceive every where the most anxious desire in persons of all sorts, to show respect towards me; and if I have always loved my country with more ardour than ever I have witnessed in any other man, excepting, indeed, the brave and generous Reformers of the North, I have now reason to love it more than ever.

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I make not these observations for the gratification of any selfish feeling: I make them in order to show how powerful is the impression upon the public mind that I have all along been right, as to the measures which ought to have been adopted. There is conviction generally prevailing amongst the people of this Kingdom at large, that the course of policy, long ago recommended by me, would have saved the country from its present unparalleled calamities. I may say that the whole of the nation whose minds are free from undue bias are of this opinion. What measures, then, can be adopted, to remove that opinion? Measures of coercion? Measures of restraint? Measures for silencing? Oh! no! By reasoning; by true statement of facts; by these, favoured with the gift of capacity to make myself clearly understood, when speaking of things in their nature intricate: by these means the popular opinion has been produced, and that opinion is to be removed by no means other than such as those which

I have made use of. If I were never to write another line it would be beyond the power of all the writers in England to remove any part of the impression which I have produced.

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I found the minds of my readers sheets of clean paper, unsmeared by the precepts of selfishness. Upon those fair minds I have imprinted the thoughts of my own mind; and, it is as impossible for my readers to unknow that which I have caused them to know as it is for me to have a mind other than that which I have. Monstrous, therefore, is the error to sup. pose that the people are to be induced to change their opinions upon the great subjects of paper-money, taxation, right of representation, right to relief in case of indigence. Monstrous is this error; and the only wise, the only rational course is that of conciliation and change of system.

I now conclude, my Lord, with assuring you, with the utmost sincerity, that all the insinuations thrown out against me, though by persons who ought to be ashamed of such insinuations; that all the per. secutions I have endured and without my meriting any part of them; that all the insults which have been levelled at me, from whatever quarter proceeding; that all these, and that every feeling of a personal nature are banished from my bosom when I now come back to my native land, and when I contemplate the present dreadful calamities and the still more dreadful which appear to be impending; and that if I still persevere in my accustomed labours, my object will be entirely that of preventing my country from being involved in confusion and irretrievable ruin and disgrace.

I am, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient,
And most humble Servant,
WM. COBBETT.

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ver writing stand and silver pen, pre-purpose into execution; and which

sented by them to me, and which they intended to present to me at Manchester. This address came too late to be inserted in the present Number of the Register. It will be inserted in the next, together with the best answer that I shall be able to give to it, though upon this occasion, my abilities will fall far short of my inclination: my head and hand will be wholly unable to do justice to my heart. The address also, of the brave and sensible Reformers of Yorkshire shall be recorded in like manwer; together with some other addresses, particularly one from the female Reformers of Bolton in Lan. cashire.

These are things, my dear little son, which reflect honour on your father, and which you ought to hold in estimation far beyond the possession of wealth, however enormous in amount. Compared with these things money is dirt, and as such you may leave it to Jews, Stock-jobbers, and the rest of the Muck-worms that live ouly to eat and drink, to die, to rot, and to be forgotten.

Lenclose you a song which I wrote when we were about half way to England, upon the subject of the returning emigrants. Pray give it to Mr. Spooner with my best respects; and let it be sung at Murray's Hill by the merriest voice you can find there, to amuse you now and then, during the winter evenings, while other people are smoking segars, guzzling wine or grog, or playing at cards.

plan should be recommended to the adoption of the country at large.. This request I expressed my readiness to comply with, and I promised to perform the task with diligence, with as much speed as possible, and with the best of my abilities. The plan will be contained in a publication convenient as to form and low as to price. That is to say, as low as the Parliament will let us have it; for wonderful to relate, they appear to be anxious that I should sell my productions at a very high price! could scarcely have suspected them of such kind wishes towards me.. But, it really appears that such is their feeling.

The Reformers have long been told, that they ought to begin by reforming themselves; and I am very sure that the best sort of individual and family reformation is that which we are now endeavouring to effect. Fory, how small a part of the miseries, arising from misconduct in private life; how small a part is that which does not pro ceed from drunkenness, from extravagance, or from gaming! We, in our family, have tasted largely of the happiness arising from the absence of all these vices; and it is our duty more especi ally to endeavour to cause others to enjoy similar happiness. The ginshops in this immense metropolis area principal cause of the thefts, the assaults, and the murders which unhappily disgrace it, and, what is well worthy of notice, some of those who put forward the strongest pretensions to extraordinary piety, are the keepers of those gin-shops. I propose to recommend to the Reformers, a line of

We had last night a most glorious meeting at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, consisting, they say, of about a thousand persons, and ho-conduct somewhat similar to that of

noured by the presence of a great many ladies. The object of the Meeting was to consider and determine upon the best and most effectual means to promote Sobriety, Frugality, and an abhorrence of Gaming. The company came to an unanimous de-gious effect. In short, you may rest

termination that I should be requested to draw up a plan for putting this

the Quakers; namely, to disown and to stigmatize as far as they are able, every one who is guilty of tendering enticements to drunkenness; and if this be acted upon with only a little perseverence, it will produce a prodiassured, my dear James, that a large part of the money which is now laid out to purchase intoxication and dis- | those persons, and that, too, openly

ease and to bring up children in habits of profligacy and effeminacy, will soon be expended upon meat and bread. And this, while it will tend to make the Reformers happier in their homes, will make them more formidable to Corruption.

The transactions at the Meeting which took place last night at the Crown and Anchor, will, I believe, be published in a pamphlet by Mr. Dolby: if it be, I shall send you one. Remember me and your brother William very kindly indeed to that excellent man Mr. Taylor, and to all my English friends at New York; also to our excellent neighbours on Long Island; and do not forget to be very attentive to every friend that comes from any part of the country and to assure them all that I never shall for

get the kindness that I received during

my residence amongst them.

God only knows what is to happen here. People are fleeing away with their money to France, and this is stated as matter of complaint against

in Parliament! It is impossible to foresee what is to become of England; but, let what will come, never despair; be assured my Dear James, that justice, law and liberty will finally triumph; and if, for a while, you should see your country in a state even of the deepest degradation, always remember that you are an Englishman, and that it is your duty not only to own yourself to be such, but to make any sacrifice that you are able to make in order to give proof of your constancy and fidelity.

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Entered at Stationers' Hall.

Printed by H. MAY, 11, Newcastle-street, Strand, for T. DOLBY, 909, Strand

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Wм. СОВВЕТТ.

REFORMERS OF THE WHOLE the fullness of your rights.

KINGDOM.

Botley, December 21, 1819. FRIENDS AND FELLOW COUNTRYMEN,

The topics upon which it is my intention to address you in the present sheet are of a nature the most interesting; they call for your serious and immediate attention. The addresses, which I have received, and which have not yet been published by me, I will now insert. Some of them are from male Reformers and others from female Reformers; and in my answers to these addresses, I beg you to regard me as addressing myself to you all, whether in England, Scotland, or Ireland; for, in my mind, boundaries of a geographical kind give rise to no distinctions. We are all but one family; and that Englishman who does not feel for Ireland as acutely as he feels for Hampshire, or for Durham, is unworthy of the name of Englishman. It is for our enemies; our base corrupt and blood-thirsty enemies, to endeavour to set us one against another. For my part, every one who is for the rights of the people without infringing upon the rights of the Throne, is my friend. As such, I consider every sincere, disinterested, and zealous Reformer; and, therefore, while I am addressing myself to the Reformers of Yorkshire or of Lancashire, by name, I beg you to believe that you have all an equal share in my esteem, my affection and my most

ADDRESS FROM THE REFORMERS OF

LEEDS AND PARTS ADJACENT. MUCH ESTEEMED SIR, -We, the Reformers of Leeds, feel ourselves impelled to express our affectionate regard for your welfare, and to hail your return to your native country, at a time when your exertions and abilities are so much wanted.

To you, Sir, we feel ourselves indebted, for an interest in our welfare and the welfare of our country, which, with a sacred impulse, appears at all times to have inspired you, and excited an unremitting exertion even amidst the most unparalleled persecution, slander, and reproach, in behalf of our oppressed and insulted fellowcitizens. Yes, Sir, to you we are indebted for having enlightened our minds, and giving us clearly to discover the source of all our political evils in a paper-bubble and a*** *, together with the sinecurists, pensioners, placemen, parasites and sycophants, who are daily prostrating themselves at the shrine of power, in the hope of finally crushing the liberties of the people, and erecting the throne of despotism thereon.

We would not address you in the language of adulation, but as you have so eminently shone forth, and given to Britons a widely extended political light, so you have, like the

Printed by H. HAY, 11, Newcastle Street, Strand; for T. DOLBY, 200, Strand.

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