A the French people making ten times as much outcry about the stripping of the Louvre and the Museums as they did about the pillaging of their provinces and the cession of their barrier towns. great attachment to what are called " the " fine arts" appears to be incompatible with the enjoyment of freedom. When men can prefer the strokes of the pencil to the grand scenes which nature presents; when they can think that the mere jingle of words is of any importance when compared with all-subduing reason; when unintelligible sounds can withdraw them from the pursuits of sense and knowledge; when this once comes to be the taste of any considerable part of a people, a high opinion of the value of freedom cannot best painters to America. Alas! this is It was a lamentable symptom to behold WM. COBBETT. COPY RIGHT SECURED ACCORDING TO LAW. Published by H. Cobbett and G. S. Oldfield, at No. 19 Wall-Street, New-York. VOL. XXX, No. 14.] Written in England APRIL 6.—Published at New-York JULY 6, 1816. 417] TO THE PEOPLE OF THE U. S. OF AMERICA. LETTER VII. [418 of them as to the cause of his illness, and, also, as to the remedy to be applied. The disorder of this country, or, to drop the figure, the distress which prevails, has John Bull dangerously ill-His disorder been before described to you. It is of a described.-Consultation of Physicians. most extensive nature. It has plunged --Their divers opinions as to the causes more than one half of the nation into deep of the disorders, and as to the most suffering. But, of the nature of the disproper remedies.--Shiness of the Physi-tress we have already seen enough in forcians in giving their prescriptions.The probable termination of the disor der. Botley, 6th April, 1816. mer Numbers; though we must listen to a little more upon the subject by-and-by. these resolutions. Here it was that the Members gave their opinions, relative to the cause of the complaint and to the remedy, proper to be applied. I am now about, in the first place, to give you a brief analysis of what each speaker said; then, I shall endeavour to show you what the points of difference, in their opinions, are, as to cause and as to remedy; and, as I go along, I shall throw into Notes, an account of the character of each speaker; for, as I mean to make you all well acquainted with what is doing here, and of the real state of things, you ought to know the actors. I shall, therefore, in the form of Notes, give you an account of the characters, state of life, seat, &c. of every man to whose words I refer. The debate, or, rather, consultation, which took place in St. Stephen's Chapel In spite of all your anger against John on the 28th of March deserves particular Bull, on account of the proceedings of attention. You were before informed, Captain Henry in peace, and on account that Mr. WESTERN (a member for the of those of the Cochranes, and Cockburns, County of Essex) had brought forward a and Rosses, in war, as detailed in the me- list of resolutions upon the distresses of the morable Exposition" of February, 1815, Country. These resolutions, together I cannot help hoping, and, indeed, believ- with my comments on them, you will find ing, that you still have a sort of sneaking in No. 12 of this volume; that is to say, kindness towards the old Gentleman; and under date of the 23d of March. On the that, having before heard of his illness, 28th the House went into a Committee on you will be pleased to know how he is now, what is the nature of his complaint, and what hopes his medical friends have of his recovery. But, before I proceed to give you information as to these matters, I cannot refrain from observing, how the Cossack Priests, and Governor Strong, and John's friends at Hartford, and Essex, and Mr. Goodloe Harper, and Judge Martin, and Mr. Otis, and Mr. Timothy Pickering, and my old friend the talking and wise Mr. John Randolph, of Virginia; I cannot help observing how these worthy personages, together with all the whole body of the New-England Noblesse, Grand Crosses, Commanders and all, must have been astounded, when they first heard of John's illness announced through the speeches in his own Parliament. They had, indeed, heard me predict his illness; but they, I dare say, like their fellow loyalists on this side of the water, compared my predictions to the croaking of a raven, or the howling of a dog, or the screeching of an owl. They have, nevertheless, come out true, at last; and, as it is certain that old John is in a very dangerous way, his friends must be anxious, not only to hear how he is at present, but what are the hopes of his recovery. I shall, therefore, give them and you an account of a recent consultation of his Physicians, stating the opinions of each MR. LYTTLETON (a) opened the discus(a) A Member for Worcestershire, brother of Lord Lyttleton, and son-in-law of Lord Spen cer. A stupid man, but as honest as any of the Boroughmonger race can well be. He is one of those silly people, who imagine, that the repeal of a tax, or some act about imports or exports, can put things to rights. Such men seldom read any thing beyond the mere newspapers; and they never think at all. I dare say, that Mr. Lyttleton is a most able fox-hunter and shooter of hares, pheasants, and partridges. Nay, he, very probably, understands the laws, made for the preservation of these animals: but, so do his huntsman and game-keeper. sion, by observing, that a petition, on the After saying that the state of the country subject, had been presented from the Coun- was very alarming, he said that the prity of Worcester, complaining of extrava mary CAUSE was an accumulation of progance in the public expenditure; calling duce beyond the demand; that this profor economy; disapproving of expending, duced a fall in prices; that fall produced in such a time as this, large sums upon a diminution of the quantity of paper mopublic buildings and in the purchase of ney in circulation; that from these causes works of art; praying for the abolition of a transfer of property had taken place from sinecures, and for a check on the Civil List the tax payers to the tax receivers. Then, expenses; and, finally, deprecating all in- as to REMEDY, he wanted the Malt duty terference in the policy of other kingdoms.- further reduced wanted the duty taken off This is quite new language altogether; English Spirits, and wanted such duties but the last sentiment is invaluable, as imposed as would prevent the importation coming from a meeting of the whole Coun- of corn, wool, fax-seed, rape-seed, clover, ty of Worcester, Nobles, Clergy, and all, and other seeds, all which, except corn, who, as you will perceive, now express are now freely imported according to the very sentiments which Jacobins ex-law. I cannot refrain from observing here, pressed in 1793! In the Petition of Wilt-that, if this opinion about the transfer of shire, the same sentiments are contained; property be not perfectly correct, I must (see No. 13, this vol. ;) in that of Somer-be content to pass for an ass, having stated setshire, Middlesex, and the City of Lon-it, urged it, and re-urged it, over and don these sentiments are echoed and re-over again, at different times, for the echoed; but, in that of Somersetshire last 12 years! Truth must prevail first there is a prayer, that our shame may not or last.-Mr. WESTERN Concluded with be perpetuated by monuments of Stone the following: "That the consumption and Mortar. "of Barley, and, consequently, the demand for it, were very materially re"duced by the excessive duties to which "it was subjected, and that those duties "ought to be repealed." MR. WESTERN(b) followed Mr. Lyttleton." (b) This gentleman, who is one of the mem. bers for the County of Essex, is about 54 years of age. He is a considerable land owner, and is one of the many gentlemen in Englaud, who have been carried away by the rage for farming and cattle-breeding. This has been a great evil, it has puffed up emptyheaded and full-pursed farmers, who, when they come to sit down at the same table with Lords and Baronets, assumed all the pride of rank, without having any of its education. Hence the farmers, in general, have become a most insolent race of men towards the common tradesmen, and most outrageous tyrants towards the labouring part of the community. Hence the shocking treatment of our paupers in many places. Mr. Western farms a great deal himself. He has prided himself upon being regarded as the inventor, or improver, of agricultural implements. And I once saw him receive a silver bowl as a prize for the best fat half merino sheep, with as much satisfaction as a youth receives a prize at the University! I never was but at one meeting of this kind, which I attended out of mere curiosity; and any thing so disgusting, I certainly never beheld; for, what can possibly be nore disgusting, than to see a parcel of vulgar-minded men, dressed in fine clothes, and talking with all the consequence of so many Jords! There were four or five sensible men present, but all the rest did not appear to possess brains enough to furnish a single skull Wr. Western is a very worthy man; but a very conceited man, and, as is always the Mr. BRAND(c) came next. He began by a description of the distresses of the country, which prevailed, and which description I will give you in his own words; because I wish Governor Strong, and Parsons Osgood, and Parish, and Gardiner, to hear the description" of the world's last hope" from the lips of those whose statements they will not even affect to doubt. They case with conceited men, he is very shallow. There is no doubt of his sincere desire to do good to his country; but, he has not the capacity to perceive what is necessary to that great end; and, if he had, he has not the courage to propose it in Parliament. () Mr. Brand, who is one of the Members for Hertfordshire, is one of the best, and even one of the most able men in Parliament. His estate is very large; his character in all respects excellent; still a young man, though an old Member of the House of Commons; and, if such a man refrains from speaking out, judge you of the ticklish state in which we are! Mr. Brand knows very well, that the remedies he talked of would be no remedies at all; and yet he, who has no vanity to gratify; who has nothing to wish for from any source, and who has nothing to fear, refrains from saying in Parliament that which he every day says in private conversation. do not doubt my word, but, they affect to" where the other occupiers were, he replido it. They shall, therefore, have the "ed, that they had been obliged to abandon description, in this instance, from Mr. their farms, and the landlords would not BRAND, a member for the County of Hert-" occupy the land, lest they should become ford. He said, that " His Majesty's Mi-" liable to the rates. He was told that "nisters were not aware of the distress" under these circumstances, he must bear 66 6.6 "which prevailed throughout the coun- "the burthen. "But pray tell me," says $6 try. The alarming and extraordinary he, "when I leave my farm, what is to sufferings of the lower classes must ex- "become of the poor ?" I replied, they "cite the sympathy of every well-con-" must go to the neighbouring parishes." "stituted mind. No additional privations" This had been the fact; but, as the sur"could be demanded of them; and unless" rounding parishes were unable to sus"their present distress were immediately" tain this crowd of transfer, the poor had "relieved, they must groan under wants" spread themselves, and occasioned devas"at which every good man must revolt." tation and distress wherever they pro"He had anticipated, in the course of last" ceeded. This circumstance alone must 66 session, the situation to which the agri- "convince the Committee of the abso"cultural labourers would be reduced," lute necessity of applying some imme"and every thing which he had then ven- "diate relief, or this country would, in a “tured to express as a matter of prophe-" very short period, be reduced to a situcy, had actually come to puss. The time" ation in which it would be impossible "had arrived when the occupation of" to apply a remedy.”—Now, Parson PA"land had been suspended-There were RISH, what do you think of this? When many parts of the rich counties in you and your fellow labourers were form"which the agricultural classes laboured ing processions; when you were joining "under a state of distress which must rend with the Russian Consul and other friends "the heart of every person that was capa- of Social Order," in putting up thanks"ble of feeling. He could state many "facts to the House which had come to "his personal knowlege, and had receiv"ed various communications on the sub"jert, which demanded the most serious "attention. A Magistrate of the greatest "respectability, in one of the most opu"lent parts of Cambridgeshire, had sent "him a letter that morning, in which he " stated the extent of the distress that pre"vailed among the labouring classes. He "would take the liberty of reading the "following extract: I am sure you will "not be surprised, after what I mention"ed on a former occasion, to hear the "distresses of those who are engaged in "agricultural pursuits in this neighbour"hood. givings for the entry of those Social beings, the Cossacks, into Paris, when you were chanting, with sweet nasal twang, the praises of John Bull's Masters, and calling them "the Bulwark of Religion," did you suppose that they would bring things to this pass? Did you suppose, that all the sacrifices of blood and treasure, which John was making, would yield him this sort of reward? If you did suppose so; if you did expect to see the English people plunged into all this misery, in consequence of the war, you ought to be counted amongst our most cruel enemies ; and, if you did not expect it, you must be men too shallow, too weak, in short, too foolish, to merit any degree of public confidence in future. This result, or consequence, of the war is a sad blow to the Hartford Convention and canting tribe of Benevolents, who, with the word benevolence on their lips, have been, for years, Only eight pence a day is given "to strong, healthy, single men, who are "capable of the greatest labour.' (Hear, "hear!) Dreadful as this situation was, "he feared a much worse state of things. "Shortly before he left the country, a re-applauding measures of the most atrocious "spectable farmer, residing on that spot " which Camden had called the garden of "England, came to ask his advice respecting the payment of poor's rates; "he was the only remaining cultivator in "that part of the country, and had become chargeable with all the poor's "rates of the parish. When he was asked 66 and cruel nature and tendency. Nay, this description of persons in America, by the encouragement which their language and acts gave to the enemies of freedom in Europe, have really a portion of our present sufferings to answer for. Their newspapers (the only ones which reached England from America) were quoted by Do our hireling press, the sentiments which | known, that the cause was said to be more they contained, sentiments always hostile peculiarly the cause of the Church. It to freedom, were flung in our faces as a is also well known, that the Clergy have proof, that even the people of America were all along been most zealous in support of on the side of the war that our government the war; that they auxiously sought the was carrying on. The amount of the restoration of the Bourbons in France, mischief that these men did in this way is with their long litter of priests at their not easily calculated; but, it is certain heels; and, that now, when the work of that the extent of the mischief they did butchering Protestants has recommenced, us, had no other limit than that of their not one single meeting of the Clergy of power; and, I am quite satisfied, that- the Church of England has been held can, whenever it shall be thought worth upon the subject. Well, Parson Gardiwhile, prove to the conviction of any un ner, is it not curious, that this same war prejudiced mind, that, to the aristocrats of for" Social Order and our Holy ReliAmerica, and to them alone, we owe all" gion," should have produced a state of that part of our Debt which was created things, which induce even Members of by the last American war, and to them Parliament to call tithes a "destructive both countries owe the shedding of rivers" impost," and seriously to propose to do of blood. It was the opinion that the something about them? Is this not a cuAmerican Government had secretly leagued rious thing? Here is the nation in a state with Napoleon to destroy the naval powers of shocking distress in consequence of the of England; it was this opinion imbibed Debt created by the war. The war, then, in England, that made the people of Eng-has produced shocking distress; and, one land really call for that war, and for its of the proposed remedies is, to give relief continuance after March, 1814. And the to the farmer on the score of tithes, which firm belief in this charge against the Ame- are called a "destructive impost." rican government we owed to the "Be- you not think, Mr. OSGOOD, that your nevolent" priests of that country, which brethren in this country may soon be were constantly quoted by that hireling led to think, that they were not so vepress, and which finally produced and ry wise, when they urged on the war prolonged the war. So, Parson Parish, for the Bourbons? For my part, I care you see, that you have a good deal little about tithes. I know that it is falto answer for; and, really, when you lacious to view them in the light of a denow hear whole counties of "the fast-an-structive impost: but, if "the friends of "chored Isle" putting forth the senti- "Social Order and our Holy Religion" ments which your opponents have all along held, if your shame be little, your impudence must be monstrously great. Not, mind, that I am disposed to ridicule your appellation of "the fast-anchored Isle; but, the truth is, that it was not to England that you felt attachment. It was to the cause and efforts, which were hostile to freedom; and to those you felt attachment, because they favoured your own views of religious domination, and of political revenge and ambition. From this digression i proceed to the REMEDY of Mr. BRAND, who wished for duties on wool and seeds imported; also a change in the poor laws; and further, for something to be done about tithes, which he called a "destructive impost."-Stop with me here, a moment, Parson GARDINER; and, let me recall to your mind, that, when the war against the republicans of France was begun, the Clergy in England were amongst the loudest in its favour. Nay, it is well 66 have a mind to view them in that light, upon my honour I have no objection to it, and am quite willing to leave the Social Order people and the Clergy to settle the matter in their own way, being very certain, that, do what they will, and do it when they will, that which they will do will, in the end, be beneficial to the cause of freedom all over the world. LORD LACELLES(d) spoke next after Mr. (d) This is a very mean and contemptible man. He is one of the Members for Yorkshire, and until he, by about 20 years of support of Pitt son of Lord Harewood, who was Mr. Lacelles, and his successors, obtained the title of Viscount and then of Earl, whence his son is called Lord by way of courtesy. These people are immensely rich. Their estates are principally in Yorkshire, of the power of which county they wield a considerable portion; and, one cannot help wondering how they can be so even appearing to truckle to such a man as mean and base as to live under the infamy of Jenkinson, (Liverpool,) or as Castlereagh, |