invoke, in behalf of your deliberations, that " disgraceful mode of punishment, than spirit of conciliation and disinterestedness," the fact that both these men, degrawhich is the gift of patriotism. Under an overraling and merciful Providence, the agen creation, have been flogged several "ded as they are beneath the brute cy of this spirit has thus far been signalised in the prosperity and glory of our beloved "times before for similar offences. The country. May its influence be eternal. "first batallion, we understand, is under "the command of Colonel Sir William "Gomm."

ANDREW JACKSON.

FLOGGING SOLDIERS. "MARCH OF MIND," AND "IMPROVE

MENTS OF THE AGE."

Now, reader, I take this from the MORNING HERALD of the 5th instant. It is, however, become quite fashionable writing. Even the OLD TIMES, bloody "MILITARY TORTURE.-(From a Coras it always has been, whelped, as its "respondent.)-On Friday morning last crew seems to have been, in a slaughter"another of those brutal and disgusting house, has been crying out against this "punishments took place at Portman flogging work! "Waust improve"street Barracks, which has been so ments, maum," says fat Mrs. SCRIP to "highly censured by the friends of hu- freakish Mrs. OMNIUM, whose husbands manity and the public in general. are gone up to 'Change, leaving them "The first batallion of the Second, or to walk the Steyne with the whiskered "Coldstream, Regiment of Guards, un-captains. Vast improvements, indeed! "der the command of his Royal High-In 1810, Mr. DRAKARD, of the Stamford ness the Duke of Cambridge, are at News, and I, were both in jail, each of "present stationed at Portman-street us condemned to pass two years amongst "Barracks, and at the usual hour the felons, with each a heavy fine in addi"batalion mustered in the barrack-yard, | tion, for no other offence than that of "where Thomas Richardson and writing against military flogging, and "Tennant, privates in the regimen t, were that, too, in terms much less censorious, "brought out from their place of con- or, at least, harsh, than those here made "finement, having suffered 14 days of use of, though I by no means find fault "solitary confinement, to have their with these terms. I have forgotten the "Court-Martial read over to them. circumstances of Mr. DRAKARD's case; "The prisoners were found guilty of but I remember that mine was this: “high military offences. Tennant's of-not censuring the flogging of regular "fence was for being drunk on duty, soldiers, who had voluntarily entered "and he was sentenced to receive three the service (though I did not approve of “hundred lashes; he was tied up to the that), but censuring the flogging of "halberds, but before he received 150 militia-men, who had been compelled "he fainted, and was taken down, and to enter the service; but here is my "consigned to the care of the surgeon. petition to the late King, whose reign, "Thomas Richardson, said to be a very PEEL tells us, was "mild and merciful." “bad character, and as far as we could Here is the whole story; and it will "learn, for a similar offence, and abu-show how vastly the mind must have “sing his superiors, was sentenced to "marched" to make the above para"receive 500 lashes. The unfortunate graph of the MORNING HERALD an in"man writhed under the torture, but offensive publication. "bore his punishment with great firm"ness, and took the whole 500. On "being taken down he thanked his "officers for what they had given him, "adding, "Thank God you have not “killed me yet.' He was also put under "the care of the surgeon.

There per"haps can be no better proof of the "utter inutility of this barbarous and

L

1. To His Most Gracious Majesty, GEORGE the Fourth, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Petition of WILLIAM Cobbett, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,

Most humbly shows,

1. That there was published in Lon

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don, in the year 1899, a newspaper | given, or tendereds to them instead of called the "Courier, which newspaper the money that though, perhaps, this continues to So to be it there published unto might be for their own ultimate conve this day, that, in this said newspaper nience and good ge yet that, even if theif was published, on Saturday, the twenty- claim had not been strictly legal, their fourth day of June, 1809, a piece of youth and inexperience ought, your pe news, or intelligence, in the following titioner is sure your Majesty would words to wit:rt Lae 503 9409 allow, to have pleaded sacéessfully in The mutiny amongst the Local excuse for their conduct, and ought "Militia, which broke out at Elys (especially as they have been compelled was fortunately suppressed, on to assume the nilitary garb) to have "Wednesday, by the arrival of four saved them from suffering punishment, squadrons of the German Legion severe in itself, and deemed infamous Cavalry from Bury, under the by the law of the land. Your humble command of General Auckland. petitioner is fully convinced that, if Five of the ringleaders were tried your Majesty were now to read those by a Court Martial, and sentenced words, taking into consideration all to receive five hundred lashes these circumstances, your Majesty "each, part of which punishment would see in them nothing that ought they received on Wednesday, and not to have proceeded from the heart fae Rart was remitted. A stop or the pen of an Englishman}' and that' 1 page for their knapsacks was the your Majesty would be able to discover ground of complaint that excited in these words nothing that ought to this mutinous spirit, which occa- be deemed seditious or libellous, Jit "sioned the men to surround their "officers, and demand what they "deemed their arrears. The first "division of the German Legion halted yesterday at Newmarket, on their return to Bury."

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3. That, however, for having written and caused to be published these words, your humble Petitioner was prosecuted by an ex-officio information; that he was harassed with this prosecution for nearly a year; that he was then brought

2. That your humble petitioner pub-to trial; and that he was then sen lished, at the time here referred to, a tenced, first, to be imprisoned for two work called the "Weekly Political years in the jail of Newgate; second, to Register; that, on the first day of pay a thousand pounds sterling at the July, 1809, be inserted in the said work end of the two years; and, third, to be the above paragraph from the Courier, held in bonds of three thousand pounds and that he, at the same time, subjoined himself, with two sureties in a thousand words of his own, expressive of great pounds each, to the end of seven years indignation at the transaction; but after the expiration of the two years of words conveying no sentiment which imprisonment.dy s he did not then think, and which he 4. That, after the verdict had been* does not now think, it became an Eng given against your Petitioner, he had lishman to entertain and express on just had time to return to his alarmed such an occasion; and your humble family at seventy miles distance from petitioner is fully convinced, that if London, when he was brought back by YOUR MAJESTY were to be graciously a judge's warrant to give bail for his pleased now to read those words, taking appearance to receive his sentence ;- that, all the circumstances into your con- having appeared on the first day of term sideration; who the punished parties according to the command of the warwere, that they were poor men whom a rant, he was at once committed to jail,". novel law had forced to quit. their and kept there until finally brought homes, and to submit to military ser- to receive his horrible sentence; and vice, that the law had awarded a that (a thing theretofore wholly unsum of money called the "marching heard of) this then printer, THOMAS guinea; but knapsacks had been HANSARD; his then publisher, RreCHARD

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paid into the hands of an officer of the crown, a thousand pounds sterling, for the use of your Majesty, whom he now humbly prays to be graciously pleased to cause the said thousand pounds sterling to be restored to him, your Majesty's humble Petitioner, and faithful and dutiful subject,

W. COBBETT. Kensington, 25th August, 1828,

PEEL, through whom I sent this petition, told me, that the King had not been pleased to command any answer to be given to it; that is to say, that the prayer of the petition was rejected. I said then, as I say now, that the time will come when it will not be rejected; for never will I drop the matter until I obtain compensation for that deep injury. For the present, however, let us congratulate ourselves on this surprising

BAGSHAWs and even a bookseller named of your Majesty, whom he humbly, begs
Jogy Broe, were all, for the self-same leave to remind that, at the end of
cause, prosecuted win like manner, and these two years of pain and of ruin,"
all, punished by imprisonment, so that,
all persons pursuing the business of
printing, or that of publishing, became
terrified at the thought of printing or
publishing the writings of your humble
Petitioner, who had to endure many and
great disadvantages arising from this
terror, which caused an augmentation in
the expense of putting forth his literary
Labours, and other grievous injuries,
which he will not here enumerate.
15. That, your Petitioner, who had
long lived in the country at the time,
and who had a wife, and a family of six
small children, was put into a part of
the jail allotted to felons and to persons
Convicted of unnatural crimes that, on
the day after the imprisonment of your
Petitioner commenced, one of the former
was taken out to be transported; and
that, in a few days later, several of the
latter were taken out to be placed in the
pillory, and then brought back again to march of mind." The start forward has
endure imprisonment in the same place been very sudden. Daddy Burdett, in his
that had been allotted to your Petitioner, democratical days, used to talk about the
but imprisonment, he beseeches your matter now-and-then; but the thing
Majesty to be pleased to observe, of always went off in smoke. It was not
much shorter duration day bea
till last August that ever was, that the
6. That your humble Petitioner, in" best possible public instructors" began
order to avoid society like this, and to to open upon the subject. The coinci-
be able to avail himself of the consola dence was curious, at any rate, but it is
tion afforded by occasionally seeing his a fact, that the broad-sheeted brethren
virtuous family, obtained, through the never said a word in disapprobation of
intercession of Gentlemen belonging to soldier-flogging till after the arrival of
the Corporation of London, leave to re- the news of the glorious victory of the
side in the house of the Keeper, to working people of Paris; and then they
whom he paid, for this indulgence, all bursted out at once, in full cry, just
twelve pounds for every week; amount-like a pack of hounds upon the starting
ing, in two years, to one thousand two of a hare! They were so indignant at
hundred and forty-eight pounds. the flogging of English soldiers; so
7. That, with any detail of the nu-horror-stricken at the sight, or, rather,
merous other expenses, losses, injuries, at the thought, of "our fine fellows'
and mischiefs of endless variety, at- being tied up by the wrists and ancles,"
tending those two years of imprison and flogged till the blood ran down
ment, and the other parts of the merci into their shoes ;" they did so lament
less sentence, your humble Petitioner and weep, that you would have sworn
will not presume to trouble your Ma-that the soldiers in the barracks at the
jesty, but will conclude with, first, Bird-cage Walk were their fathers, or
expressing his gratitude to God for even the husbands of the she-owners of
having preserved him and his family the broad sheet! Yes: the coincidence
amidst all these terrible sufferings; was curious. I do not assert positively
and next, with appealing to the justice that the brethren were moved to their

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“humane" course by the news from of the important duties committed Paris; but it is a fact that nobody can your care.

deny, that these brethren and sisterhood "It will, I am persuaded, be unne never did say one single word against cessary to remind you, that meetings of soldier-flogging until after the news the inhabitants of any parish, town, or arrived from Paris, that the troops of district, legally convened, and conducted the line had refused to fire upon the in a peaceable and orderly manner, and people. This is a fact that nobody can confined to their avowed and legitimate deny; and though we cannot be cer- objects, are not on any account to be tain that it was this circumstance that molested by the civil force. The Goawakened, or created, this feeling of vernment have no wish to check the humanity in the breasts of the he's and fair expression of public opinion, nor to she's of the broad sheet, the coincidence interfere with the right of petitioning was, I repeat, very curious, and well Parliament, or of temperately appealing worth being remembered. to those with whom the power of re

At any rate, be the motive what it dressing the grievances complained of might, here is a "waust improvement," may rest. and I am now in hopes that, before the "But I am further directed by his conclusion of my literary labours, I Excellency to observe, that while he is shall have to record that soldier-flog-most anxious to secure to the people the ging, for my objections to which I and undisturbed exercise of their constitu mine suffered so heavily, has been abo- tional rights, it is no less his determilished by act of parliament. This will be a triumph indeed! And this triumph I shall certainly have.

IRELAND...

REPEAL OF THE UNION.

nation than his duty, in the exercise of the high office with which he has been entrusted by his Majesty, to guard against any abuse of those rights, leading to the violation of the law or a breach of the public peace.

"The law recognises the fair and legitimate exercise of the right of peTHIS is, and, in my opinion, it always tition; it acknowledges also the right. was, a most IMPORTANT subject. But, of the people to meet for the purposes before I proceed to remark on it, it is of innocent recreation, and protects right to insert the Circular Letter of them in the full and free exercise of STANLEY, late member for Preston, and now what is called "CHIEF SECRETARY" in Ireland. It is a pretty good beginning, at any rate.

"Dublin Castle, December, 1830.

that right. But the law does not warrant any assemblies having a manifest and direct tendency to a violation of the public peace, under whatsoever name, or for whatsoever "Having received and laid before professed purpose, they may be conthe Lord Lieutenant letters from Ma-vened; and therefore any assemblies gistrates in several parts of the country, of persons, whether collected under announcing that meetings of mischievous the pretence of petitioning, or of public tendency, under various pretexts of poli-exhibitions of strength or skill, or tical discussion, or of public amusement, under any other pretence whatsoever; had taken place, or were expected, and if, from their numbers, acts, places or requesting to be informed what course times of meeting, or other circumthe Government wished that the Magis-stances preceding or accompanying trates should pursue with respect to them, they excite in the minds of his : such meetings; I am directed by his Majesty's well-disposed and peaceable. Excellency to communicate to you the subjects reasonable fear that the publie view which his Majesty's Government peace will be thereby violated, and take of this question, and to lay down a the lives or properties of the King's line which it is hoped will be sufficiently subjects thereby endangered, or if distinct for your guidance in the exercise they be so constituted or conducted

as bootindoces verisonable qand swell | tion in the responsible exercise of your founded apprehensions that the mo-authority, and in supporting the civil tives and objects of the person's so force whenever it may be necessary assembling are not the fair and legal for the preservation of the public peace. exercise of constitutional rightsmand von “Ithave the honour to be, privileges, but the accomplishment of Yours most obedient humble servant, alterations in the laws and constitu- equ 9.5t of ESE. G. STANLEY." tion of the realm, by means' of 'inti- | I need not remark on this: every one midation, and by demonstration of will see what it is intended to effect. physical force, or by any other than legal and constitutional means; in these and in all such like cases, such assemblies, however composed, or with whatsoever professed view collected, are illegal, and are by the law denominated unlawful assemblies.'

"And it is the duty of all magistrates, within whose jurisdiction such assemblies are called together (being first duly satisfied of their illegal nature), by all lawful means within their power, to prevent such meetings, and to suppress and disperse the same.

His Excellency relies with confidence upon the firmness, temper, and discretion, of the magistracy in general; and I am directed to remind you, that it is upon the union of these qualities in the local authorities that the Government must mainly depend, in case the peace of the country should be threatened. His Excellency has remarked, with much satisfaction, the humane and prudent course which the magistrates of some counties have adopted, of warning the population of their respective districts of the penalties to which they may expose themselves, if led unwarily into the commission of illegal acts; and his Excellency would recommend generally the adoption of this salutary measure, wherever the state of the country may appear to the Magistrates to require any precautionary steps.

But, as to the question of a dissolution of the Union, to bring about which Mr. O'CONNELL is labouring, I have a great deal to say, and decidedly in support of that gentleman's proposition. And, first, as to what is meant by a dissolution of the Union. For, in this case, as in all others, where the people call for any change, no matter what, which is to better their lot, they have imputed to them designs that are not only unlawful, but desperately wicked, and are represented as being urged on by instigators and agitators, who have the gratification of their own private interests in view. This was conspicuously the case in 1817, when a million and a half of men prayed for the abolition of unmerited pensions and sinecures and for reform of parliament, things which are now demanded by every-body, except the tax-eaters themselves. The petitioners were then told that they had other designs, those of anarchy and plunder; and, upon this assertion, no proof of which was ever produced, their leaders were crammed into dungeons.

It is, thus far; just the same with regard to Mr. O'Connell and the Irish people, who are praying for a dissolution of the Union. They are told that that is not what they want; that they want a SEPARATION OF IRELAND FROM ENGLAND, in order that Ireland may be, at any time, able to join France, or "I am directed, in conclusion, to as-any other power, against England. sure you, that while his Excellency will This has been said so often in most of not fail to visit with his severest dis- the English newspapers; it has been pleasure any Magistrate who may shrink so often stated as an admitted fact, from the due performance of functions that almost every-body believes it, so vitally important so on the other though the most barefaced lie that ever hand, your efforts for the suppression dropped from pen or lips. What is the of acts of outrage, or of illegality, will proposition? Why, to restore to Irebe duly appreciated and acknowledged. land her own two Houses of Parliament "The Government will perform their as she possessed them until the year part, affording you the fullest protec-1800 They were then tuken away by