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"in which the receipts appear to have "cisive steps were taken towards a "been about the same; but I write "reduction of the Interest, during the "amidst the avocations of business" last Session; but a Committee of "and have not time to refer to the "Finance made a most ingenious' Re"statements. But the present Quar-"port,' distantly suggesting, that "ter you may expect to be more pro-" under certain circumstances, al"ductive, and, however inadequate "though then far from their contem"to the demands of the Government, (6 plation, a reduction of the Interest "by some it will be regarded, and by "might become adviseable. Another "others represented, as the begin-"step in this way must and will be "ning of that revulsion,' which "taken, during the next Session. "is to re-instate the country in "You will, doubtless, have seen the its former prosperity. You will "Report above spoken of. I regard "not wonder if considerable hilarity" it as a very important document. "prevail among the people on account "It is constructed with a skill seldom "of the change, and the prospect be- "surpassed. "fore them. Paper-money is quite "We have been amused with a "the favourite, being actually raised "good-natured scheme of Mr. Owen, "to a par with Gold coin, and re"for the relief of the poor. It seems "quiring no other trouble, in passing" to have been regarded, by some, at "to "from hand to hand, but bare inspec- "least, of our great folks, as a sort of tion, while the gold is commonly" Tub for the Whale; and in this "deficient in weight, and is, therefore," way only can I account for the im"troublesome. I speak of the old "posing manner in which he was en"Gold-coin. As to the new, it is a "abled to bring it forward. Another "mere rusé of the Government, being" subject, which has shared a little of so rare as to have been seen by com"the attention of the people here, is 66 paratively few of the people. In ad- "Religious Persecution, as they "dition to this restoration of the "call it. Some few symptoms of "value of Bank Notes, the prices of "stocks have given great confidence "to the System, amongst the people; "and the facility with which loans can be obtained seems to justify "that confidence; but these facilities "naturally arise from the difficulties" an expression of my thanks for the

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such an inclination having manifest"ed itself among the officious under"lings of the System. But it is to be hoped that it will proceed no ❝ further.

"I must not close my

letter without

"of the system, and were predicted" manner in which you have perform

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tion; the clear proofs of these plots, remain recorded in the archives of all the States of Europe. Her favourites, for many years past, have been informers, spies, and assassins; yet the hag herself appears to be ready to faint at the atrocity of a wild young man, who, by accident, fired off a pistol, not loaded with ball, at a man, who had seized hold of him!

She is now, however, exposed,

too often repeat either my abhor- with her. Her plots of assassinarence of them, or my applause of those persons who have, in any degree, contributed towards the bringing of them to light. But, this System of Spies and Informers is not of a few months' age. It has an age equal in duration with that of the new character of the system, and which character the system began to assume with the first war against the People of France. The "LOYAL AssocI-Oh! she is a delicate Danie! ATION" at the CROWN and ANCHOR, against "Republicans in spite of all her Bible Societies "and Levellers," introduced Spies into England. It was then seen by Corruption, that the frank and honest means of law, or even of open military force, would be insufficient for her purposes. She was compelled, even then, to begin her plans of treachery and her purchasings of human blood. These she has continued ever since; and yet, she seemed horrorstricken when some of her own agents, Vaughan and others, took the liberty to trade in human blood on their own account. She was quite shocked, that these men should have sold the lives of a handful of Irish labourers, when she herself had dealt in the blood of so many hundreds and thousands. She has caused more This man was, it appears, seinnocent blood to be shed than lected by Generals Maitland and all the despots of Barbary and Acland for the purpose of getting even than all the Popes. Herod information relating to the views himself was not half so cruel. and movements of the "disaffectPharoah was a mild and chicken-ed." He begins by relating hearted task-master compared some most wonderful stories as to.

and Religious Tracts. And, as if her misfortunes were to be added to by the effects of her past sins, one of her own agents has now fallen upon her in the person of a FRANCIS RAYNES, who was, in 1811 and 1812, a Captain in the Stirlingshire Militia, who was employed in the carrying on of the Spy-System in those years, who has not received what he deems his due of blood-money, and who, therefore, has made public the history of his services. His pamphlet, which a very kind and worthy friend has sent to me, is too expensive for wide circulation, and, therefore, I will endeavour to give it a lift by means of the "Two-penny Trash."

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Society and Religious Tract Government. The passage is as

follows; and, remember, that the writer is an officer in the army, and a man who talks of his honour. "I there made a report to the Ge

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their combinations and their force; says that they met by thousands to drill by night; that they had sentinels posted to give the alarm in case of the approach of an enemy; that they sometimes were seen drawn up as a regular bat-"neral, of some attempts on the part talion. These and many other" of the Luddites, to tamper with the manifest lies he tells in order to enhance the value of his services, for which, being, as he says, out of the routine of military duty, he" where to find me: these were acute "fellows, and soon understood the "duty we were upon. In a little time, "they made an acquaintance with "some persons in the neighbourhood, "who shortly proved themselves "deeply engaged in the disaffected

expected to be paid for in an extraordinary manner. He produces a sort of prowling commission from General Acland (who ought to be remembered) sending him forth by night, provided with Police Officers.

He then shows that this general corresponded with him in characters. In one of the general's letters a hint is given that some man may be put aside, in appearance, by a pretended quarrel with him. Thus was the profession of arms disgraced by that of the spy!

But I will not fatigue you, or the public, with a particular notice of every contrivance of these people. However, there is one part of the pamphlet that I must transcribe here entire; for it shews clearly, that the spy-system was approved of by the generals, who went the length of advising the taking of oaths in order to enable the takers to betray their associates. You will read the read the

account with feelings of horror; and, I beg you to bear in mind, that this is the system of a Bible

soldiers. I had stationed two of "them at Ashton-under-Line, for the

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purpose of instructing dragoons

cause. Upon the soldiers inform66 ing me of the conversations they had held with these men, I ordered them to keep up the intimacy they had formed, and, by appearing to approve their sentiments, to induce them to become communicative. By

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degrees, my men worked themselves "into their confidence; and, at the "time I now speak of, thesc Luddites had got the length of offering to "twist-in* the two soldiers, who were, on their part, to furnish them with what ammunition they could, give up their arms and desert; for "which purpose, they were to be fur"nished with a disguise by their new "friends.

"On reading the minutes I had. "made, of information obtained in "this manner, which corroborating “circumstancès proved to be correct;

and after I had made a report of

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very near being put a stop to, by "the evil disposition of some men of "the Norfolk militia, who gave out "to the disaffected, that the party "of the Stirlingshire were spies and "informers, and recommended them "to beware of us, as the men were "allowed to go about the country, "to collect information. This was

66 Although I returned from Buxton to my party, the same evening, and "had not mentioned to any one "where I was going, the next day it was perfectly well known where I "had been! I mention this, to shew "the vigilance with which the Lud-coming so near the fact, as I had,

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"dites observed our movements.

"Manchester, 20th July, 1812.

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"at the time, several steady fellows " out on that very errand, that I "found I must counteract the report,

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(6 SIR, I am directed by Lieut.or give up a very fruitful source of "General Maitland, to acknowledge" intelligence: accordingly, on the "the receipt of your letter of this "return of the men, I ordered them date, and to desire, as the special" (with their own consent,) to be con"constables are so well known, that "fined, for the alleged crime of abyou will send them in to Mr."senting themselves from their party, (C Nadin, and two others shall be sent "without leave; marched them hand"out to you, as soon as proper per- (6 cuffed through some of the villages, sons can be selected. "(where this report had been most "industriously circulated,) and "lodged them in the guard house of "the Norfolk, at Moitram, where I kept them confined some days. This stratagem had the desired effect, confidence was again restored, and we went on as usual."

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"The General wishes that Monro "and Robinson should continue to "get as deep as they can, into the de"signs of the Luddites, and acquire" "their confidence; but, above all, "GET TWISTED as soon as they "can: but that they should remain "with you, and not go away till you "hear further from him.

"Go on, and get as particular and "accurate information as possible, "about the DEFOT OF ARMS, and re

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Is it possible to form an idea of any thing more base than this? Here we see Generals in the army, not only carrying on the work of spies, but consulting with

private soldiers on the best mode of difficulty was great, because an effecting their object. Nay, we honest and conscientious man must find them going the length of al-shrink from so wicked and blasphemost ordering, or, at least, strong-mous a bond; and because one of ly advising, those soldiers to take opposite principles was not for the an oath of fidelity for the express purpose of Maitland and Co. By purpose of breaking the oath and opposite principles, this blabbing betraying those who had confided fool, who seems to glory in his in them. Indeed, the infamy is so shame, means, I suppose, dishonest flagrant throughout the whole of and unconscientious; and, then, it the transactions, that no comment follows, of course, that the brave is necessary. We must not, how-generals, Maitland and Acland, ever, overlook, or fail to applaud, looked upon Robinson and Monro the honest indignation of the soldiers of the Norfolk Militia, whom this ******* calls evil disposed.

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couple of roguish and hardened villains. But, at any rate, here we have the confession, that this was a wicked and blasphemous bond, and yet, we find two gene

as a couple of very honest and conscientious fellows; for, they were ready to take the oath. And He afterwards says: "The yet, here, in the very same breath, "obtaining of this necessary in- we are told, that an honest and "formation, could only be ac- conscientious man must shrink from complished by bribing over so wicked and blasphemous a bond ; "sworn-in Luddites, or by indu-and, from this, it follows, that "cing some loyal man to take the Robinson and Monro were a "oath for the express purpose of "breaking it; a difficulty this, "almost insuperable; as an honest "and conscientious man must "shrink from so wicked and blasphemous a bond; and one of op-rals giving men money, as a re"posite principles was not for our 66 purpose. However, with the "assistance of a person who well "knew most of the people in that neighbourhood, one was founded Doctor, applauding this work willing to engage in the ser- of blasphemy! And we find that "vice." sainted piece of mortality, vulgarThe casuistry here is curious. ly called William Wilberforce, It was difficult to get the informa-expressing its readiness to place tion, because it was to be obtained the personal safety of all the but in one of two ways; either by the said Doctor, because the said people in the absolute power of bribery, or by inducing some loyal Doctor's conduct has inspired so man to take an oath for the ex-much confidence in the said sainted-press purpose of breaking it. The piece of mortality.

ward for getting twisted into this very bond! And, we afterwards. find the pious Doctor, the conscientious Doctor, the pure-heart

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