"other; and that, pressing constantly" therein? I will turn your feasting "forward towards the high prize of our "into mourning, saith the Lord God, "heavenly calling, under the guidance" and your songs into lamentations." "of thy Holy Spirit, we may finally Here is nothing about potatoes, to be "attain to life everlasting, through the sure, cold or hot. The poor Israelites had "merits and mediation of our only not come down to this heel-swelling, "Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus Christ paunch-stuffing, soul-degrading root ; 66 our Lord. Amen." they thought it bad enough to have been brought to the "refuse of the wheat;" but, if a curse was due (and if not due God would not have inflicted it); if a curse was due for this; if the land was to tremble for this, what must we expect, when not only the poor, but the labourers in a body, are reduced to live on beastly roots, in a land abounding with wheat and with meat? "O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus "Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince "of Peace, give us grace seriously "to lay to heart the great dangers we 66 are in by our unhappy divisions. "Take away all hatred and prejudice, "and whatsoever else may hinder us "from godly union and concord: that, as there is but one body, and one 'spirit, and one hope of our calling, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one "God and Father of us all, so we may "henceforth be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of "truth and peace, of faith and charity, "and may with one mind, and one "mouth, glorify thee, through Jesus 66 our Lord. Amen." TREVOR AND POTATOES. TREVOR is reported to have brought forward his motion on Thursday, the 23rd of December, the day on which the great "omnipotent" House adjourned. Owing to the scandalous unfairness of the reporthers, or their masA very proper prayer for those whom ters, almost the whole of Mr. BULWER'S it concerns. Now, men may say what SPEECH is omitted in the report. I they like about evils, but, will any-body shall, however, take the whole of the call that an evil which has produced debate as I find it in the newspapers. piety such as is evinced in this prayer? I look on it as a publication, and as Amongst the rest of us, the BOROUGH-Such I shall comment on it: and thus I MONGERS Will, I hope, have found their find it in the Bloody Old Times of the hearts softened; they who, ever since 24th of December: "COBBETT'S REGISTER. "Mr. TREVOR, pursuant to his notice of motion, rose for the purpose of submitting certain passages from a weekly paper, entitled Cobbett's Re"gister, to the consideration of the "House, conceiving that in so doing he I can recollect, seem not to have been afraid of hell-fire, do, one would hope, begin to tremble now. The ARCH" BISHOP (to whom, however, I beg leave humbly to present my thanks for what he has done) might aptly enough have introduced the following passage from the Prophet AMOs, chap. viii. ver. 4" was only doing his duty to his coun 66 66 to 10: "Hear this, O ye that swallow try, which such a course, in his opinup the needy, even to make the poor "ion, was calculated to serve. At the "of the land to fail: saying, 'When same time he could not help regretting "will the new moon be gone that we "that some older, or more efficient may sell corn? And the Sabbath," Member had not undertaken what he, "that we may set forth wheat, making "however sincere in his good inten"the Ephah small and the Shekel great, "tions, was so inadequate to discharge. "and falsifying the balances by deceit; "The writer to whom he alluded had "that we may buy the poor for silver, put forth a series of inflammatory "and the needy for a pair of shoes;" addresses, the purport of which was yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?" unquestionable, whether they were "Shall not the land tremble for this;“defensible in law or liable to punishand every one mourn that dwelleth ment. A few extracts from the 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 "number which he had particularly se- stance, and concluded by asking whe"lected would, he trusted, sufficiently "ther he might not exclaim in the lan"satisfy the House of the pernicious "guage of Cicero, Quousque tandem "tendency of this publication, circulat-"abulere patientiá nostra? In the opining, as it principally did, amongst the "ion of the illustrious Edmund Burke, "artisans and labouring class of the "and he might also add Lord Grenville, "community. A clergyman in Suf-"whose lamented infirmities had so long "folk had most judiciously issued a "prevented him from participating in "circular amongst his parishioners," public affairs, it was to such publicasetting before the lower orders the "tions that the first French revolution "inevitable ruin which they were bring- might be mainly attributed. He was no ing upon themselves by their violaenemy to the liberty of the press, for the "tion of the law, and was therefore" press was the most eligible vehicle of vituperated in the most scandalous" public opinion, and exercised a wholelanguage by this licentious pasqui- some control over the actions of men in "nader, who, in the same paragraph," power; but when unworthily directed, "traced the reduction of tithes to the "he might too truly say of it,-corruptio "resistance of the labourers and the in-"omnium pessima est. To the unfortunate fluence of the fires. He (Mr. Trevor)" and infatuated violators of the law "ventured to appeal to the good sense "it was befitting a just minister to ex"of the House whether such arguments "tend every possible clemency and in"could be penned for any purpose but " 'dulgence, but surely their insidious and "that of exciting the population to 'designing instigators were far from "disturbance and discontent. In re- 66 deserving objects of a similar forbear"ference to Cambridge, this writer" ance. As he had shown, there could "had further asserted that the magis- "be no mistake as to the libellous and 66 tracy and landed interest had never "seditious tendency of the paragraphs thought of relieving the poor until the "to which he had called the attention "fires were kindled, and the labourers "of the house, and in thus bringing 66 rose. He admitted that the acts in" them substantively under its consider“which the labourers were engaged "ation, he felt that he had done his "must be considered in themselves un-" duty. It lay with the House to de"lawful; but added, that that body"termine the future course of proceedwere starving, and that it was no ing, whether it should be referred to "crime to take by force wherewithal to "the Government, or that the Attorneysupport nature, when the labourer" General should be ordered to pro"and his family were compelled to live" ceed with a prosecution, or any other on less than was held necessary for" remedy which in its wisdom it might "the sustenance of a common soldier." sanction. The hon. Member concluded "In proof of the gentle spirit exhibited" with moving a resolution to the effect, by the people in all their distresses, he "that the publication entitled COB"instanced the case of two overseers in "BETT'S REGISTER, of the 11th of De"Sussex, whom they contented them-" cember, contained a malicious and "selves with trundling out of the pa- "scandalous libel on the authorities of "rish, when, had they been sanguinary, "the state, incompatible with the pro"they might have murdered them in"ceedings of the Government, and a "their beds. He insisted, moreover, 66 gross and unwarrantable attack on the "that every one, except the infamous "Members of the church by law esta "stock-jobbers, acknowledged that the "blished, the tendency of which was perpetrators of the late outrages" subversive of the laws, and conducive 66 were doing nothing but what they "to anarchy and delusion. 66 66 66 66 66 66 ought to have done. The honourable "Mr. G. PRICE was understood to "Gentleman read from the Register" second the resolution. "a series of paragraphs, of which the "Mr. BULWER was opposed to the foregoing sentences are the sub-" hon. Member's motion. He thought 66 66 "there was no need, under the existing 66 66 "of course adopt the hon. Member's "resolution. But if, on the other hand, "it did place confidence in the present ministry (hear), and he trusted it did (hear), it would refer the matter to "their discretion, and accordingly with"hold its assent to the motion. (Hear.) "For himself individually, and for his colleagues, he hoped they should deserve the support and confidence of Parliament, by not neglecting their duty, even when it led them to call "most weighty as they appeared to " upon the law officers of the Crown to Ci him ; for unless ministers succeeded" interfere in cases of libel. He hoped "in obtaining a verdict, the mischief" that they would get credit for not "would be aggravated; and it might willingly having, as it were, called not be a very easy matter just now to" upon the Attorney-General to institute "obtain a verdict. The proper correc- prosecutions for political offences, and "tive was an improved state of the pub-" that it would be left to their discretion "lic mind, and that was to be only at- to say what offences should, and what "tained by the diffusion of sound know-" should not, be thus prosecuted. (Hear.) "ledge, which again depended on an "As to the publication referred to by 66 impeded circulation of opinion. In the hon. Member for Romney, he saying this, he was not the apologist "would not then offer an opinion. He "of the abuses of the press; all that he" would studiously abstain, and he “meant was, that prosecution was not "thought it the duty of every hon. "the most efficient remedy, and that" Member also to abstain-from pre"the dissemination of useful instruc-"judging the question by an opinion on "its merits. He would, he repeated, 66 ❝tion was. 66 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER " offer no opinion whatever with refer"would not detain the House many mi-"ence to the tendency of the publication. "nutes on the present occasion. It was "Nor would he say whether it was or "not only his own opinion, but that of" was not one of those offences which "the best judges, that it was more expe- "the Attorney-General had been called “dient to leave the question of prosecu- upon to prosecute; but he would say, "tion in cases similar to that just sub-" that to adopt the hon. Member's mo"mitted to the House by the hon. Mem-"tion would be to prejudge the ques"ber for Romney, to the discretion of "tion, and so far impede the adminis"the Government, than that they should" tration of justice and defeat the end "be thus entertained by the House." the hon. Member may have proposed "(Hear.) Undoubtedly occasions might" to himself. (Hear, hear.) Besides, there present themselves in which the" was no precedent-at least for the last "House might inquire into the neces- "50 years-for such a motion: that is, sity of a prosecution by the law-" for the House's anticipating, as it "officers of the Crown of writings of a were, the functions of the Attorney"libellous or seditious tendency; but" General unless in cases affecting its own even then he held that it would be the "immediate privileges. In such cases, "better course not to inquire till after" but in such cases only, could the "the prosecution had been instituted" House be justified, on principle and or wholly declined by the Govern-" precedent, to assume its right and ment. If the House did not place power of interference. But the pre"confidence in the present Government, "sent was no such case, and therefore "and therefore felt that it should take" should not be entertained by it. (Hear, upon itself the duties which properly" hear.) He begged to be understood as "devolved on the executive, it would not questioning the abstract right 66 66 66 "and power of the House's interfering "House, to withdraw his motion. "in cases like that then before it, if so "(Hear, hear.) thought fit and expedient; but as "Mr. G. PRICE also would suggest only deprecating the necessity and" to his honourable Friend the expolicy of its then exercising that right" pediency of withdrawing his motion, "and power. (Hear.) If he was right" and leaving the matter in the hands of "that, as a general principle, it was" the Government. "better to leave it to the discretion of 66 66 "Lord NORREYS said, one of the "ministers whether prosecutions should" most powerful engines by which the or should not be instituted for politi-" promoters of sedition operated on the "cal offences in ordinary times, it was" minds and passions of their deluded "still more so in the existing state of victims, was the distressed state of "the public mind. (Hear, hear.) Let" the country. He did hope his Ma"the House consider how-supposing"jesty's Ministers would during the "that a prosecution should be insti-" recess give the matter their most se"tuted the decision might be influ-"rious attention, that they would find "enced by the previous discussion of a some effectual and adequate measures "necessarily popular assembly. (Hear.)" for relieving the distressed state of "Would it not be impossible but that agriculture, and that by placing some "the opinions which would be elicited“ legislative check against the too free "in the course of the discussion in that" admission of foreign materials, they "House, on the present publication" would afford protection to trade and "for example-would interfere with " agriculture, Let the House alleviate "the due administration of justice, sup- "(at least attempt to alleviate) the disposing it was afterwards to be refer- " tress, so general in its consequences, "red to a jury? (Hear, hear.) Would" and so universal in its extent. Let "not, in fact, such prejudging of the" them show that they were not unquestion be productive of the most" mindful of the difficulties of the "mischievous consequences to the ends" country, and the promoters of sedition "of justice? (Hear, hear.) He trusted," would in vain circulate their poison"then, that the IIcuse would not open ous and inflammatory pamphlets. "the door to such mischievous conse- "Mr. A. TREVOR said, that in "quences by laying down the precedent" bringing this subject before the House “of the present motion. As, however," he had only been actuated by a sense "he was not disposed to offer a decided" of duty. Nothing could have been negative to the hon. Member's propo-" farther from his intention than to em"sition, he would adopt the course. "barrass the Government; and he "usually followed under such circum-" could, perhaps, give no better proof"stances, and pass on to the order of" of the sincerity with which he said "the day, by moving the previous" so, than by withdrawing his motion. "question. (Hear, hear.) "(Hear, hear.) 66 66 66 Mr. CROKER begged leave to sug- "The motion was accordingly with 66 gest to his honourable Friend, after" drawn. "the declarations of the noble Lord 66 A GENERAL FAST. opposite, that the Attorney-General "Mr. PERCEVAL said I rise to "had been ordered to institute pro- give notice, that immediately after "secutions for some political offences;" the recess I shall move that an ad"and as the interests of justice would "dress be presented to His Majesty, "be more promoted by leaving the in-" praying that His Majesty will be gra"stitution of such prosecutions to the "ciously pleased to appoint a day for a "discretion of Ministers, the responsi-" general fast"ble authorities; and above all, as in "Several hon. Members.-A general "the present excited state of the public" what? "mind there might be great danger "Mr. PERCEVAL continued. —A "from a hostile discussion in that" general fast throughout the kingdom. "(Cries of "Oh! oh!" and much "laughter.") IDIOT! And I have exaggerated, have I! And the rascally Scotchmen Now, I do not ascribe any of this stuff have the audacity to say, and the rasto the persons, whose names are put cally loan-mongering and stock-jobbing against it. It is a publication, and, the writers along with them; they have the first part of it a stupid string of lies and audacity to say, that THE ENGLISH calumnies on me. In my next Register, LABOURERS ARE AS WELL OFF I shall, perhaps, (though it is hardly AS THEY EVER WERE! 'I have worth while) find room for a laughing exaggerated, have I! I never said old commentary on this bundle of blunder- men and women were made to draw ing lies. In the meanwhile, I express carts, like beasts of burden. I never my hearty contempt of the base publi- said this, for I never saw it, and did not cation; and I will make the rascally dream that cruelty had been carried to author of it, whoever he may be, feel, this extent. A female, and an idiot too, that he will gain nothing by such at- made to draw a cart, like a horse or an tacks upon me. These mercenary ass! And this in England; and yet wretches of the hireling broad-sheet are rascally Scotch blood-suckers say, that really half mad; they know what im- the English labourers are, and have remense power I have; and they know that I beat them all; they know well that I labour for the good of my country; but they also know that that good cannot be effected without their overthrow they know, that the restoration of the people to their rights would drive them to do that which would be to them worse than death; namely, GO TO WORK. This is what the rascals are afraid of; they would shed the blood of half the people, rather than be compelled to sweat for their bread. They will come to that, however; or, to those potatoes, on which they are now striving to make the English labourers continue to live, but in which they will not succeed; and in which, God granting me life, they shall not succeed. cently been, as well treated as they ever were! They will be as well treated, you greedy and lazy vagabonds; they will be as well treated as they ever were; and that, too, in spite of ali that you can do to the contrary. One of the great charges that this vagabond author of this stupid and lying publication brings against me is, that I have told the labourers that if they cannot obtain the means of existence in any other way, they have a right to take them where they find them. This is true enough in substance; and so far am I from denying it, that I glory in having maintained the doctrine, if there can be any glory in having truly stated the law of the land. But is this a new thing with me? I The case of the labourers is said to maintained the doctrine in a most have been exaggerated by me; and, at elaborate manner in my publication the opening of the Special Commission called THE POOR MAN'S FRIEND, at Winchester, Baron VAUGHAN said several editions of which have been pub"their distresses had been greatly ex- lished, and there is one new one now, aggerated." What did he hear on price Sd. This work consisted of four Tuesday last? Why, this: that at Numbers, which were published monthly, FAWLEY the ASSISTANT (hired under in 1826-7. Three thousand copies of Sturges Bourne's Bill) OVERSEER kept each number (3d each) were sent as a A CART, and WOMEN, as well as men and present from me to the electors of Presi boys, DRAW IT, like cattle. The ton, and distributed to them by Mr. witness, JOSEPH BUNDY, told the Judge EAMER, at my expense. The Numbers that " many of the men had ONLY A were all published in the Register. It "FEW POTATOES IN THEIR is a regular and sober and learned legal "BAG WHEN THEY CAME TO argument, which has never been an"WORK; that he had seen OLD swered, nor attempted to be answered, "MEN and WOMEN draw the nor can the conclusion be controverted cart; particularly JANE STEVENS, an with any show of fact or reason by any ་་ |