LETTER from Dr. WATSON to LORD

COCHRANE.

Concluded from page 132.

Into their possession. It would occupy too much of your Lordship's time to make quotations from the work I had the honour to present to you, nearly each page of which explains the objects and opinions of Spencean Philanthro pists, particularly the following, in pages 25 and 26 :-

"The means to accomplish this is by transferring all the Lands, waters, mines, houses, and all feudal permanent property to the people, to be held in parochial (or other small) partnerships, which in our view of the subject, might be administered as follows:-Each parish to be the proprietor of this property, as part of the general national estate. That a Board or Committee be appointed for letting this property on leases only. Leaseholders to let to tenants at will, but not to release, and present occupiers not to be disturbed, but have a preference where they choose to continue. THIS PARISH, BOARD, or COMMITTEE for letting parish lands, mines, fisheries, houses, &c. to receive the rents, deducting therefrom their share of the Governmental expenses, (for the support of the State) and all parish charges, and to make a dividend of any balance remaining to all the people having settlement in the parish, as the profit arising from their natural estate.

Then follows an arithmetical statement, providing liberally for the CROWN and GOVERNMENT, NOBILITY, CLERGY, the House of Commons, the Universities, and learning, the Law, County-rates, and Parish-rates, &c. &c. Now, my Lord, with this quotation, and believing that you have read it, surely the reporter of your speech must have committed a mistake, or your memory must have failed in a very extraordinary degree.

you

Having explained the Spencean plan so far, allow me, my Lord, to remark upon another part of the report of your Lordship's speech upon presenting the Spa-fields petition, wherein the editor makes you say, "that the riot which occurred that day proceeded from a set of wild theorists, called Spenceans, whose object was to place the whole landed property of the country under the superintendance of Government." Unfortunately, my Lord, I became conspicuous in the two Spa-fields Meetings, and knowing more about the proceedings than it can be supposed your Lordship does, who was totally unacquainted with them, I appeal to

your known candour, and trust you will allow me to state what I know about them, and though it might hazard my life, and though an humble and private individual, my bonour, as an Englishman, paramountly demands that I should exculpate the Spencean Society from any knowledge of, much less co-operation in, the proceedings of that day; and although I am a member of a society which has for its object the promulgation of the most philanthropic and benevolent principles of justice, I did not act, on those ocea sions, in unison or with the knowledge of the said society.. The public prints, my Lord, have dwelt on my misfortunes and privations, caused by the expenses of a large family, the distress of the times, the failure of persons in my debt, and law expenses. I was thrown out of practice, I became a forlorn man, and was accidentally thrown into the company of the patriotic and philanthropic Preston. He soli cited me to attend a meeting of mechanics desirous to put down or to limit the use of machinery. I complied, and did attend two or three of their meetings; but not approving of their objects, and considering all the inventions of man which lessen his toil to be a certain approach towards the perfectability of human society, and considering that a revolution had taken place in the commercial interests of these realms, and being a great advocate for the employment of the human race upon the earth as their natural element, and as best calculated to produce the greatest quantity of real and substantial happiness, after stating my opinion I withdrew myself; but the active and benevolent spirit of the worthy Preston having led him to Spa-fields, and there hearing and beholding scenes of misery which would move the coldest heart with compassion, he requested me to accompany him there, to see whether our feeble efforts could by any possible means afford our suffering fellow-creatures any relief. It was suggested it might be attended with advantage to call a meeting to petition the Prince Regent in their behalf; but knowing that distress pervaded the whole metropolis, it was resolved to embrace the whole in the invitation to a meeting in Spa-fields. A petition was accordingly drawn up, (which I understand is in the hands of Government), describing the calamitous condition of the poor, and tracing the cause of those calamities which so frequently affected them to the system introduced at the Norman Conquest which created an oligarchy destructive of the interests of the Crown and the people, and also de

scribing the advantages resulting from pensioning the No bility of the land and Churchmen, as they had at the Revolution pensioned the Crown from the public revenue. They then made the first step towards perfect civilization, and by continuing the system to the other orders of society, a death blow would be given to corruption and to unmerited sinecures. It was therein stated, my Lord, that what the Nobility and Churchmen then thought was just and proper to grant to their new Monarch, William of Nassau, could not be unjust or improper for themselves at this day; and as the Crown is now as secure and enjoys as many luxuries under its pensioned, state as it ever did when possessed of domains, and as the people are as well protected by laws, it appeared feasible that they would be equally well protected by them if the Nobility, Clergy, &c. were also pensioners, and the land again devolve to them, as well as the other orders, as the compact proprietors of the earth, as the natural farm and national domain. In addition to this, it stated that a revolution had taken place in our commercial pursuits, that while we had been paying large subsidies to secure other thrones, and restoring a family that had for ages opposed our interests, nevertheless they had conspired against our commercial influence, and that thus a new era had commenced in these realms, which rendered it necessary to return to the cultivation of our mother earth, in which consists the happiness and strength of nations, and which was now the only means left to relieve the misery of the patient, industrious, and starving people. Having gone so far, and read the same to numerous assemblies, it was agreed the same should be engrossed, and be proposed at a general meeting at Spa-fields. But in the interim, as the parties were conscious of their want of influence, it was determined to invite gentlemen who were likely to give eclat to their proceedings; one only obeyed the summons, and the Petition and Resolutions were submitted to his inspection. He objected to them for such reasons as appeared sufficiently conclusive, to induce the persons to withdraw them, particularly as he very justly observed, it might be better to reserve them for the discussion of a reformed Parliament, before which they would come with more propriety. That gentleman, with his usual alacrity for the public good, the night preceding the first Spa-fields Meeting, drew the outlines of the Resolutions and a Petition to the Prince Regent, to be discussed the sub. sequent day, which were passed accordingly, with a single exception,

by a vast multitude of our distressed countrymen. I had the honour of seconding the Resolutions, to one of which an Amendment was moved, to meet again at an earlier day to hear the answer of the Prince Regent. The Amendment was carried by an immense majo. rity, and the second of December was the day decided upon. short period previous to the second Meeting, the Ministerial Journals thought proper to inform the Public, that the military, ARTILLERY, CAVALRY, and INFANTRY, were providing against the eventful day. After this the Magistrates avowed by placards their determination of vigilance, and every means was used to create alarm or terrify the public mind and deter the people from meeting. Conscious, however, of their integrity, and sensible of their sufferings, they assembled at the time appointed. The speakers at the former meeting being disappointed in a hustings they had expected, a person engaged to provide a waggon for the purpose for the second Meeting; it came on the field accordingly soon after twelve o'clock. A person unfurled an emblematical flag, with an inscription of 'NATURE TO FEED THE HUNGRY TRUTH TO PROTECT THE OPPRESSED—and JUSTICE TO PUNISH CRIMES,' in colours classically descriptive. The multitude flocked around it, and I was invited to address them; at the moment previous another person displayed a banner with the words "THE BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE OUR BROTHERS, TREAT THÉM KINDLY.' I commenced speaking to the people, intending to explain the cause of their sufferings, and to trace them to a system of privations and monopolies introduced at the time of the Norman Conquest, when the marauding William gave whole Counties to a few of his followers-destroyed Alfred's more equal law of Gavelkind, and introduced his Pagan primogeniture and other oppressive and disqualifying laws on the ruin he effected. I had prefaced my address, and informed them I would, in the sequel, tell them the whole cause of their present condition, that under a reformed Parliament they might comprehend their rights.-I was proceeding when I found myself suddenly interrupted by a person pulling at my coat flaps. This being repeated two or three times, I turned and discovered a young person who had promised the preceding day to go into the country, and left home for that purpose; the cause of his return is still a mystery to myself. Having interrupted me, he suddenly advanced and began addressing the people; to prevent confu-sion I submitted, in hopes he would have followed the train of opini -ons he well knew I entertained. The effect of his unfortunate subsequent bewildered address is too well known to the Public, and pro-, ceeded I verily believe, from thoughtlessness and extreme confu

- sion.

I am, my Lord,

With distinguished respect,
Your Lordship's obedient Servant,

No. 54, Wych-Strect, Feb. 8, 1817.

JAMES WATSON.

THE UNFORTUNATE RECLUSE.

(Continued from page 124.)

With every advantage superior years and wisdom could give, Count Piozzi possessed also discrimination; and, added to all, had a secret, yet unaccountable, presentiment of evil respecting this Schabraco, which he could neither fully admit, or discharge. Impelled, therefore, by a very rational desire to come at the motive for such extraordinary secrecy, he ventured to engage this man, with his fellows, to do the same office to him that they had before executed for Rinaldo, whose business, Marco frankly owned, was to settle some additional demand for the trouble they met with during that night, which had damaged their boat. Satisfied with this explanation the Count proceeded to a proper arrangement of his intended expedition. Signor Mercutio, a man of talents and probity, readily engaged to accompany him.

Ever distinguished for an ardent spirit, which in some instances might be denominated daring, he was suitably contrasted by Piozzi, who, with equal intrepidity, felt no want of critical courage.

It was thought impolitic to demand assistance of the police, as there was no certainty of its being at all necessary; and, with the closing evening, our gallant pair set out for the Calabrian coast, accompanied only by their boatmen, who were ordered to wait for them at the little cove, near which they had been discovered by Rinaldo. As this enterprize was carefully concealed from him, it made their intended excursion more difficult, and less certain of success; for none of the company could tell the path to Schabraco's residence from the place of landing, and Piozzi chose not to advance farther through the straits, lest they should be endangered by the effects of a storm, which hung above the eastern horizon, and had already roused the ripling waves, that began to roll in irregular succession. At the suggestion of Marco, they sought a secure situation for their boat, and, jumping on shore, left the men to provide for their own shelter, while they proceeded on this hazardous journey.

The astonishing perseverence of Piozzi, evinced on an occasion so inexplicable to Mercutio, induced that gentleman, while descending the first eminence, to express a laudable curiosity to know his motive for such exertions.

VOL. II.

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