merited), without having an eye to the must go on gradually sinking into a future. He knew what effect those state of humility and insignificance, marks of his gratitude would have upon until of this proud, and justly proud, a nation so enthusiastic as the French. England, there will be left nothing but There is nothing false in this conduct the name; and that, apparently, solely of the Americans: it is wisdom. for the purpose of reminding us of the They see their own safety; the preser- glory of our fathers and our own devation of their own precious liberties generacy. W. COBBETT. and happiness, likely to be secured by the extension of their principles; and they act with justice and humanity, as well as with wisdom, in endeavouring to extend those principles.

TO WILTSHIRE BENETT.

BENETT,

66

66 6

Kensington, 9th February, 1831.

The aid of the Americans, in case I READ in the Morning Chronicle of of war with England, is relied on to-day, that you made rather free with in France; and it may be safely re- my name last night in the big House, lied on; because it is utterly impos- which, if I treat with contempt, there is sible for us to carry on an efficient war a law to put me to what I deem more against France for a month, without than half death. You are, in the Mornone of two things; abandoning our ing Chronicle, reported to have said, right of search, the exercise of which, "The reason why he (Mr. Benett) acin all its plenitude, is absolutely neces-cused Mr. Cobbett of being at the sary to the efficiency of our arms, or, "bottom of the commotions was, bewithout fighting the Americans for the cause on one occasion when he (Mr. maintenance of that right; and, in this" Benett) had talked of the peaceable case, whence are to come the resources conduct of the agriculturists of Wiltfor the carrying on of such a war? In" shire, Mr. Cobbett had said, in his all parts of the world we should be in-" Register," Ah, Mr. Benett, you know stantly assailed; a hundred millions a "little what you are talking about: year of the present money would not you will not say that they are peaceprovide for the expenses of such a war. "able many days longer.' So it had No: our wise way is, to make an effi-“ turned out; for their tranquillity only cient reform of the Parliament; then" continued for about ten days or a to reduce the expenses of every descrip-" fortnight afterwards. He had theretion; then to prepare for efficient war "fore told the honourable Member without hastily or unjustly provoking it;" for Preston that he attributed the and the best preparation of all would" misconduct of the labourers to his be, causing the working people to have" speeches and to Mr. Cobbett's a belly-full of bread and meat instead" writings." of the all-accursed potatoes; then we Now, BENETT, in the first place, I do should be safe at home; and then not know that you uttered these words; that Englishman who would surrender and, therefore, I comment on them as a the right of search, or any particle of parcel of words that I find put forth in our ancient pretensions to the dominion the newspapers. In the next place, I of the seas, ought to be stripped, not do not pretend to know what effect the only of his shirt but of his skin. We speeches of your brother Member may might then let the French go where have had upon the people, but I know they pleased upon land, except upon that my writings could have had none, the land of England and Ireland. The unless each man paid every week Americans might be told, "Thus far for the Register nearly as much as shall you go and no farther!" But the weekly allowance to him for food while we are in our present miserable and clothing, according to your own state of debt, discontent, and half evidence, given before a Committee of revolution, we must speak to foreign the House of Commons, in the year powers in a tone of timid anxiety, and 1813. That allowance, as stated by

yourself, was (and if I am rightly in- to put into my mouth. I did not say formed it continued the same until the that you knew little what you were talkriots and fires took place) the price of a ing about; nor did I say that the labourgallon loaf and threepence a week; ers would not be peaceable many days that is to say, eight pounds and ten longer; nor did I hint at such a thing. ounces of bread a week, and rather less To be sure, I discovered a little more than a pound and a quarter of bread a sagacity than you did; and the devil is day; and not quite a halfpenny a day in me, I think, if I ought not; but I in money; and this, as stated by you, neither instigated to disturbance, nor was to find food and clothing. Now, at foretold disturbance, in your county; and the time when I was writing to produce I have neither been in it (except riding in the dreadful effect of which you are a post-chaise across a very small part of said to have spoken, the price of the it), nor have I written five letters into it, Register was a shilling; and it is now that I recollect, for years. But, Benett, fourteen-pence. How was it, then, to between ourselves now, would it not reach the hands of the labourers of have been better if you had followed my Wiltshire ? Poor souls, they were advice, and raised the wages at once; if thinking much more how they should you had done that then which has been keep themselves and their crying child-done since the fires and riots began, ren from starving than about the read- you would not have had to complain of ing of Registers, or the reading of anything else. But this report of your speech misrepresents what I said, and in a very gross manner too. Here is your speech, and here is the comment that this report alludes to.

"Mr. BENETT presented a petition from the "inhabitants of several parishes in Wiltshire, "complaining of the great distress under which they were labouring, and which they "attributed principally to the change in the "currency, and praying to be relieved from "taxation. The hon. Member characterised "the petitioners as a most loyal and well-dis"posed set of people, and expressed his con"viction, that notwithstanding the temptation "held out to them by what had taken place in "another part of the kingdom, they would s not only refrain from outrage, but would be "most active in repressing it.

the effect of my writings. My writings, indeed! What effect could my writings have upon these poor souls, amongst a hundred of whom there is not to be found, perhaps, one whole linen shirt; and not one man that has tasted any thing but damned potatoes and salt for months. I have never blamed either landlord or parson or farmer for these unspeakable sufferings of the labourers, except on account of their not coming forth to get those taxes removed which are the cause of the suffering. I am not jackass enough to talk about bettering the labourer by taking away either the rents or the tithes; but I have blamed the owners of the land, and I blame them still, for "Pity Mr. Benett took upon him to suffering the labourers to be pinched to "vouch so very positively for the la- death in order to get thirty millions a "bourers of Wiltshire; because here is year to be given to fundholders, twelve a long winter coming. The best way or fourteen millions a year to maintain "will be to raise their wages at once; a standing army in time of peace, and "do that now, before there are any peo-six millions a year and more to be given “ple coming in post-chaises to set fire to those endless swarms called the dead "to home-steads. But, by-the-by, if weight. I have never expressed a wish "they will not refrain from outrage to strip the King or the nobles of any"themselves, how is it possible that thing that justly belongs to them. I they can be 'most active in repressing have never aimed at the destruction of "it! Ah! Mr. Benett, Mr. Benett! any settled institution of the country = They will not be coaxed. Get their I have never desired any great and wages raised, Mr. Benett: take my violent change; but I have always advice, for once," said, and I know, as well as I know that there is a place called the House of Commons (and God knows we have all

Now, Benett, this is very different from what your present reporter chooses

reason enough to know that), that in England has his belly full of bread SOMETHING MUST GIVE WAY; and meat every day. Damned potatoes that if the funds do not, the church were never intended to be the food of a must, or the army must, or the dead labouring man, and his dress never was weight must, or something must. I intended to be that of the scare-crow; have been a true prophet hitherto, and and until his state be changed for that I shall be a true prophet still. which it ought to be, I, as long as I have life and health, will contend for that change.

With regard to the treatment of the labourers in agriculture; with regard to their having A RIGHT to a sufficiency "Here will I hold: if there be a God of meat and bread, out of the produce" above, and that there is all Nature of the land, and also to good clothing," cries aloud through all her works," if they honestly and duly labour, or are he must abhor the wretch who would ready to labour, that is a point from wish the honest labourer, who raises which all the railers and bawlers and all the meat, all the bread, and all abusers on this side of hell, or in hell the clothing, to be compelled to live itself, shall never drive me. I have all upon a root nine-tenths of which are my life laboured, since I knew what I dirt and water, while those who do not was about, to better their wretched lot. labour, live in luxury on the fruit of his I have taken infinite pains to teach toil. I know well that the labourer them how, by their own exertions, they cannot have his due, and that, at the may assist in providing for their well-same time, the funds, the army, the being. My little book, entitled Cor-church, and all the rest, go on in the TAGE ECONOMY, teaching them how to present way. I know this perfectly do things which they might not under-well. I repeat that SOMETHING stand how to do, instilling into their MUST GIVE WAY. Choose you minds principles of industry, of sobriety, what it shall be: I have suggested the of frugality, of cleanliness, of a disre- remedy often and often enough: you gard of tawdry fineries; of every virtue, have rejected my advice: reject it still: indeed, tending to make them able and do what you like with your own confaithful servants, kind parents, dutiful cern; but, Benett, if I can prevent it, children, good husbands, and good and the labourers of England, SHALL NOT beloved wives; this little book, of LIVE UPON POTATOES. This is my which a hundred thousand copies have resolution; and from this all the abuse been sold; and in employing my time in the world shall never drive me one about which I must of necessity have single inch. I dare not make an atbeen animated by the best of all earthly tempt to bring your House into conmotives; this little book will live, will tempt; but any expression containing be read with admiration of the great respect, either for you or for it, shall talent which could condescend to em-never be wrung from the lips or pen of ploy itself on so humble a subject, WM. COBBETT. when your name will be forgotten even

on the spot where you were born, or be P. S. Benett, take my advice now: remembered only in the very writings bring in a bill (suggested to me by which this report represents you as hav-letter by a good honest man of Wilting so grossly abused. shire) to cause every labouring man, Far, however, is this, and similar boy and woman, to have a pound of abuse, from giving me any pain. The meat a day, and every thing else in prolabourers of Wiltshire have had their portion. That will make the country wages raised. If have been in any degree the cause, to the winds I cast all the calumnies that it has brought upon me. They now get a morsel of meat now and then; but I shall never be content, till every honest hard-working man

quiet, and nothing else ever will. Leave off talking about me; and go along, and pay the interest of your debt in full tale, and in sovereigns of full weight and fineness. Go and do that; and take your gallant Yeomanry cavalry

across the Channel, and set them to keep the French out of Belgium. Do that, BENETT, and let me and my writings alone. Do those two jobs; and then I will say that you are a clever fellow, and will leave off talking about your "gallon loaf and three-pence a week for food and clothing.”

FRANCE.

LETTER FROM MR. W. COBBETT,
AT PARIS.

SIR,

that so much more influence now even thau with the other Bourbons.

during different ministries, the Bourbons conquered Spain in spite of the English, who by French prowess were reduced to prayers as the only means of opposing it. So much for a hint as to the tone the royalists take, and I think any one must allow they have the best of the argument upon this question brought on by Poland and also by Belgium. They even exceed in boldness the opposition in the Chamber, who, somehow

In their comments on the late debate (of Thursday and Friday) in the Chamber of Deputies, the Quotidienne, and the other journals which are devoted to the Duke de Bordeaux, openly say, that if Charles X. had remained, he would have set at nought the treaties of 1814 and 1815, in the case which has happened with regard to Poland; and that, whatever may be said on the score of liberalism, the Bourbons cannot be accused of so base an abandonment of the To the Editor of the Register. glory, honour, and the prosperity which is linked to them, of France, as this Paris, 1st Feb., 1831. government of liberals. They observe THE news from all quarters received that, notwithstanding the charges of here is of the most perplexing descrip- subjection to the English ministry, the tion. That of the resignation of the government which was so charged dictator in Poland, of the finding of the made the brilliant conquest of Algiers bill against Mr. O'Connell and the pelt-in defiance of that ministry; and that ing of the Lord Lieutenant in Ireland, and of the contested election between the Duke de Nemours and the Duke de Leuchtenberg for the kingdom of Belgium, arrived altogether, on Sunday; and it puzzles all the learning and civilization of Paris to divine what is to be the course of events. Some of the rumours which are afloat to-day, are respecting the destination of the vessels of war fitted out recently from Portsmouth; and, conjointly with the intelligence, or other, seem to rest much upon the which some believe, of the final election faith and spirit of treaties, which they of the Duke de Nemours, it is supposed say are in favour of the independence of that there will be war between France Poland: they have not the courage to and England. At the same time, peo- open their eyes to the change in the ple are prone to believe that the Ameri- situation of mankind produced by cans are eager to abet France in such a revolutions; and it is unwelcome to the war. The same persons believe that people for M. Lafayette to cite the General Lafayette is probably engaging policy or opinions of that tyrant, Frehimself with this object. This is the derick the Great, as his argument for chat of the common people, and I men- supporting the Poles against the Rustion it to show that they are thinking of sians. The people view the matter activity, and that their minds are pro- wholly independent of treaties, in which bably going before that of the govern- they never took part, and which were ment. They cannot see why their never made but to keep them down, as kingdom should not be extended, and the first object, and as forming the why Louis-Philippe might not be Em-whole basis of treating. Now, since peror of the French and King of the the Revolution, a different nation is in Belgians, as Napoleon was of Italy. existence from that which treated. You, They are totally incapable of under- Sir, always maintained that even the standing the arguments of prudence government of legitimacy had French which are come into vogue; aye, and blood in their veins, and that they felt

the oppressors, despoilers and degraders | cathedrals and churches during the first of France, to be their natural enemies, revolution, and the increase of populaand that in that character they would tion since, there is now a great profupersevere against England: and that sion of space in the churches. In short, which is now urged by the royalists is the revolutions have, I think, been perfectly in unison with all your argu- complete in this respect, at any rate, of ments on this point, at the time when freeing the people from the domination this nation began to lift its head under of priests and hypocrites. These are the Bourbons, in 1822. M. de Chateau- treated with the most ineffable contempt; briand, who was the vigorous Minister but it does not follow that it is from of Foreign Affairs then, still adheres to either atheism or deism, but from a pure the Bourbons, and appears to be now and simple detestation of priestcraft. occupied in the tutorship of the Duke It is observed that, since the Revolution, de Bordeaux; a thing which shows, I there has not been any murder of that think, something of the spirit in which atrocious and unaccountable kind so that family sustain their hopes. frequently heard of during the reign of As to laughing at the possibility of the Bourbons, and all which have inthe Duke de Bordeaux ever coming to contestably been ascribed, in some way the throne, it would be exceedingly or other, to the priests or to the effects thoughtless; and to affect to do it would of their operations. Viewed in conargue, in a Frenchman, a carelessness nection with the priests, the Bourbons upon the subject. Nothing would have are completely detested, and Louisbeen more absurd, three months ago; Philippe, who, I believe, never goes to but that spirit which either dies, or Church, is very much admired. Nobecomes so scattered, in the people, as thing, as far as I can perceive, are the to be of no avail, cannot make head French so in dread of, as the influence against the persevering and unanimous of the old priesthood; and, when they inveteracy of the royalists. If one were are once completely hors de combat, the to enumerate the acts of the Chambers and of the government, it would not be surprising if the spirit of the people be totally damped, as for the enthusiasm which was so general soon after the Revolution.

nation may be said to be in a pretty happy state. The importance of this matter has made me deprive myself of room to notice many other things which are also important. The rapidity with which events now arise, and the One great change has certainly been confusion in which, really, the world made for the better, on the score of seems ready to be lost, will make it nereligion, or rather of priest-craft; and cessary for me, in order to keep you it is a very remarkable thing, that a informed of the most interesting facts, society of Catholic priests is established, to send you my diary, or daily account who perform the mass in French, and of what passes; which will be more who are totally unpaid, except by volun- than you may find worthy of inserting tary contributions. This society fur- in the Register, entire, but from which nishes priests to any commune which I shall leave you to make those extracts chooses to apply to it, and many com- which you think proper. munes, dissatisfied with the political The "intense" state of Ireland agiantipathies of their priests, have so tates the absentees; no small number of done. They avoid politics, except that whom seem to have abandoned Ireland, they really and sincerely join the people and even England, for France. These in this respect. The first mass was men wish Mr. O'Connell hanged, and performed the Sunday before last, in think that if he were so disposed of, Paris, and, the house (a private one) was peace and comfort would ensue. I crowded, and even the street was hope, however, that the wish of absencrowded. On the other hand, the tees is not a wish which finds any echo churches may be said to be empty. amongst the industrious classes in EngNotwithstanding the dilapidation of land, who must be sadly deluded, or