397

12TH FEBRUARY, 1831.

rial Military Order of Maria Theresa, Knight | THE HEART AND MIND OF EVERY Graud Cross of the Imperial Order of St. ENGLISHMAN. Suffice it, therefore, to George of Russia, Knight Grand Cross of say, that THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD the Order of the Black Eagle of Prussia, cannot produce another instance of a conflict Knight Grand Cross of the Portuguese Royal so severe, so sanguinary; in which the skill and Military Order of the Tower and Sword, and coolness of officers were so admirably Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Mili- seconded by the discipline and bravery of tary Order of Sweden of the Sword, Knight soldiers; in which science was so eminently Grand Cross of the Orders of the Elephant invigorated by the coolness of a universal of Denmark, of William of the Low Countries, courage, which had in its turn submitted its of the Annunciade of Sardinia, of Maximilian fervour to be tempered by the soundest discre Joseph of Bavaria, and of several others, and tion; in which, in spite of these fair promises Commander of the Forces of his Britannic of victory, the fate of the battle was a long Majesty in France, and of the Army of his day so nicely poised, that the coming nightIMalmost SUPERHUMAN Majesty the King of the Low Countries fall would have left it undecided, but for one and his Majesty the King of France and of of those Navarre; born May 1, 1769, married April 10, PULSES WHICH FALL ONLY ON THE 1806, the bon. Catherine Pakenham, 3d GREATEST MINDS, to produce the greatest daughter of Edward, lord Lobgford, (who d. results. The Duke of Wellington, by seizing before his mother Elizabeth, in her own right an opportunity which the delay of a moment countess of Longford,) and sister of Thomas, might have lost, destroyed that army which present earl of Longford, and has issue, Ar- had so long been the terror of Europe; thur, marquess of Douro, b. Feb. 3, 1807, and clouded for ever the almost romantic fame of its leader, and crumbled his rebellious throne Charles, 6. Jan. 16, 1808. into dust.

After giving a pompous account of his other exploits, he comes to the battle of Waterloo.

This ILLUSTRIOUS NOBLEMAN is the A DUE MEASURE of gratitude for such 3d surviving son of Gerrard-Colley Wellesley, earl of Mornington, in the Peerage of Ireland, services COULD NOT HAVE BEEN REN. (by Anne Hill, eldest daughter of Arthur, DERED, but the nation DID ITS BEST: viscount Dungannon,) and brother of Richard, on the 23rd of June the thanks of both Houses (See of parliament were once more voted to him, marquess Wellesley, K. G. &c. &c. Marquess Wellesley in the Peerage of Ire-" for the consummate ability" (to use the very words of parliament on the occasion), land.) "unexampled exertion and irresistible ardour, on the 11th of the following month, the addidisplayed by him on the 18th of June;" and tional sum of 200,000l. was granted to him towards the purchase of lands, and the building on them a suitable mansion; such estates to be holden by him and his heirs, in free and common socage by fealty, and rendering to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, on the 18th of June in every year, AT HIS CASTLE OF WINDSOR, ONE TRI-COLOURED FLAG, for all manner of rents, services, exactions, and demands.

However MARVELLOUS this series of eminent services, in which Providence had been pleased to crown the MOST SUBLIME EFFORTS OF HUMAN PRUDENCE AND COURAGE with the most unvaried success, it was but the prelude to that stupendous victory which, unparalleled in all its features, as well as in the vastness of its consequences, raised the character of this hero to a height never before attained by any captain. The beneficence of the King of France and Alas! how flat, after this, would apthe other sovereigns of Europe, was repaid by the French armies with the most detestable pear the plain names of GEORGE WASH INGTON, JOHN ADAMS, Thomas JeffeR➡ treachery. The allies had no sooner withdrawn those troops, at the head of which they replaced Louis on his throne, when Buona-SON, JAMES MADDISON, JAMES MUNROE, parte was again brought triumphantly from ANDREW JACKSON! How vapid! yet, Elba, and the King was once more obliged to when one reflects that the people of seek refuge in the bosom of foreign states. whom they have been the chief MagisEurope again rose, and the usurper advanced to meet its legions; it seemed trates, EAT MEAT THREE TIMES to have been ordained that the conflict A DAY, while those who live in the which had subsisted for more than twenty country where these fine titles abound. years should remain undecided till the TWO live upon potatoes, from the 1st of MIGHTY LEADERS who had so long elec trified the world should, for the first time, January to the 31st of December; when meet hand to hand, and on the 18th day of one reflects on this, and when one Jane, this great conflict took place on the knows at the same time that the jails of plains of Waterloo. To attempt to particu-America are empty; that not sen mer larize any of the events of that day, would the limits of this work allow it, would be im- have been hanged out of twelve mil pertinent, for they ARE EN GRAVEN ON lions, in forty years; that such a thing

as a special commission was never heard attempt an interference in Belgium and
of in that land; that there are all the France, we should have to fight Jona-
old laws of England and none of the than as well as the French and Belgians;
new ones; that, under that mild and and, let it be remembered that I now
gentle government, no standing army warn the Ministers of this danger.
has been required, though it has carried When the WHIGS were in power before,
on a triumphant war, by sea as well as they took up from their predecessors,
by land against the undivided power of extended, and carried on, a most vigor-
this great country itself: when one ous "paper-blockade." That finally
reflects on these things, one is almost produced the war of 1812, followed up
tempted to believe that the plain names as it was by CANNING and CASTLE-
of George Washington and of Andrew REAGH, with the aid of their sublime
Jackson are worth all the titles, all the negociators, of whom one was the
coronets, all the ribbons, stars and younger GEORGE ROSE. The Ameri-
garters in the world.
cans began that war with (to use the
expression of the flippant and saucy
Canning) "six fir frigates with bits of
striped bunting at their mast-head."
They ended it with a stout fleet, some
of them seventy-fours, which fleet has
been augmenting from that day to this;
such being the natural consequences of
a people being truly represented in
their legislative assemblies, and of the
savings of peace making provision for
the expenses of war.

Leaving the Prince of Waterloo to
the use of his titles, and to carry the
TRI-COLOURED FLAG to Windsor Castle
every month of June, or, rather, leaving
bright Peel to discover what he shall
do with him, let me now, in conclusion
of this article, observe that we are not
to talk of war, especially about Belgium,
and shut our eyes to the circumstance
that we are not to have such war as
that without having something to do with
Jonathan, who, let it be remembered, Now, be it known to our ministers
carries a Long Tom in his stern. It and to this bothered people, that long-
was said of old BINGHAM of Philadel-sighted Jonathan has taken a wonder-
phia (the father of Messrs. Alexander and ful interest in the recent Revolution in
Henry Baring), who had been a super-France. Without a moment's hesita-
cargo, or something, on board a privateer, tion, his Ambassador at Paris acknow-
during the war of revolution, that he ledged the new order of things. In the
used to say, in the heat of the fight, United States, joy at that event has
"Never mind, my lads, while the Long been expressed in all sorts of ways. In
Tom remains unshipped." It was said the last Register, I inserted an account
of him, or some other privateer's man, of the rejoicings at New York, to which
that being fired at by an English se- I beg leave to refer my readers, if by
venty-four, in order to bring him to and chance they have overlooked it. Jona-
make him surrender, he returned the than is even a cooler fellow than his
fire, but overloaded the Long Tom and ancestors. Show, for show's sake, is al-
got it unshipped. However he con- together contrary to his taste. There
tinued the fight, and got away; and was not, be you well assured, a proces-
when he was asked, after he got into sion "three miles long," with all the
port, how he could have the auda- display of the tri-coloured flag entwined
city to return the fire, he swore that with that of America, and will all the
if he had not unshipped his Long Tom other demonstrations of joy and ap-
"he would have took her!" I dare plause, without something more than
say that BINGHAM, who was a Yankee, mere enthusiasm being at the bottom!
(that is, a New Englander,) was, like Jonathan never moves and never speaks
the rest of his countrymen, as cool as a without first duly thinking of the con-
cucumber, and as brave as a lion; and sequences. He did not make all that
certain it is, at any rate, that that cool parade with LA FAYETTE, and heap
race is now prepared for us; and that upon the old general such marks of his
if our Government were so unwise as to gratitude (all which, however, he

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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,

Kensington, 9th February, 1831.

I READ in the Morning Chronicle of to-day, that you made rather free with my name last night in the big House, which, if I treat with contempt, there is a law to put me to what I deem more than half death. You are, in the Morning Chronicle, reported to have said, "The reason why he (Mr. Benett) ac"cused Mr. Cobbett of being at the "bottom of the commotions was, be

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The aid of the Americans, in case of war with England, is relied on in France; and it may be safely relied on; because it is utterly impossible for us to carry on an efficient war against France for a month, without one of two things; abandoning our right of search, the exercise of which, in all its plenitude, is absolutely necessary to the efficiency of our arms, or, without 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 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

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writings."

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 any- the effect of my writings. My writings, thing else. But this report of your indeed! What effect could my writspeech 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 « not only refrain from outrage, but would be "most active in repressing it.

ings 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 advice, for once,"

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

violent change; but I have always 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

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 pro labourers of Wiltshire have had their portion. That will make the country wages raised. If I have been in any quiet, and nothing else ever will. degree the cause, to the winds I cast all Leave off talking about me; and go the calumnies that it has brought upon along, and pay the interest of your debt me. They now get a morsel of meat in full tale, and in sovereigns of full now and then; but I shall never be con-weight and fineness. Go and do that; tent, till every honest hard-working man and take your gallant Yeomanry cavalry