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or not! This is your conclusion, but the conclusion is not only false, but ridiculous. Can a man who earns seven shillings a week, lay out as much upon food as he used to do when

sumed in the country, but it exchange for the other things would be consumed by mouths above mentioned, there come, which never could have con- amongst other things, Amerisumed yours; because the per-can flour; but this flour does sons having those mouths would not come unless something be not, had it not been for the sent from this country in exAmericans taking their knives, change for it; so that, when have had the means of purchas-the flour does come, it comes ing any flour at all. If this be to mouths which would not not clear, take another supposi-consume yours if the American tion. Imagine ten men and a flour did not come. master dropping down from the You and your landlords never clouds, setting to work, with take into consideration the imthe tools that they had brought portant circumstance of dimindown with them, and making ished consumption. You apknives, as in the other case. pear to imagine that the people Suppose them to receive in ex- will continue to eat as much change, not only all the food bread and meat, whether they that they lived upon, but all have commerce or manufactures their clothing into the bargain. There they would be without eating any of your food or using any of your wool, or leather, or flax. Even then, the operation would be to the advantage of the nation; you must partici- he earned twenty? If not, pate in that advantage; while how can a manufacturing town it is impossible for you to say or city be expected to consume that the introduction of Ameri- as many oxen and sacks of flour, can produce, in this case, did when the workmen in it earn you any harm. seven shillings a week, as it The truth is, that, to prevent did when its workmen earned the importation of foreign pro- twenty. The great cause of duce, is merely to injure com- your ruin is, as was before merce and manufactures without shewn, the change in the value any possible benefit to the of money; but this cause works land. The food which is im-in various ways; and in one ported from foreign countries way, it diminishes the conis, and must be, paid for in the sumption of food, and, in this, use of English ships, in the it is assisted by the Corn Bill, products of the labour of Eng- which, by diminishing the exlish manufacturers, in the pro- port of manufactures, dimiducts of English mines, and innishes the means of the mathe products, too, of the land nufacturers to purchase food. of England. In exchange (to Immense, therefore, has been continue the American illustra- the falling off in the demand tion) for English cloth made for food, as the butchers in and out of English wool, and in near all manufacturing towns,

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can, I am sure, most amply a year, but the people who attest. The difference, in the purchased his paper? And, do mode of living, amongst the not those who purchase your most numerous classes, is quite corn, meat, wool, hides and surprising. I believe that there flax, do not these pay their ate millions who now have not share towards all the expences a more than a third part of as which are incurred in the * much as they could eat, and raising of those articles of prowho formerly had a belly-full. duce? When they were at I believe, if all the people in it, I wonder the wise-acres of England were taken and weigh-Huntingdonshire, had not ined, they would not weigh so cluded the rent, the taxes, and much, by one third, as the peo- labour, of their farms; which ple weighed seven years ago. they might have done with full Yet, this is a matter that your as much reason. It may be very wise landlords never appear to well for Mr. Curwen, Mr. Wes. take into consideration. tern, and such very shallow men, The seventh question is just to talk about the land supwhat one would expect from porting the Church, the Poor a set of grumbling, grunting, and the Roads; but every man growling, half landlord half of sense will laugh at such farmers. It is this, "do the trash; and will see that not "merchants and manufactu-only the merchant and the rers bear their proportion of manufacturer bear their due supporting the Clergy, the proportion of all these; but Church, the Poor, and the that a due proportion is also Roads?" You are told that borne by the labourer and the you must answer this question journeyman, and by every creain the negative; and ought, ture that eats bread of his own thereupon, to step boldly for-earning. ward to avert the ruin which The eighth question is, at must speedily overwhelm you. once, insidious and silly. I will Now, I say, that if you do an- only ask you to look at it again. swer this question in the nega- If it does not make you laugh, tive, you must have little more misery must have rendered your sense than a rat or a cat; and risible muscles immoyable. perhaps, not so much. If Mr. The ninth question may with Walter, who pays, probably, truth, I dare say, be answered sixty thousand pounds a year, in the negative. And this anin stamp duty, were to come swer is the best possible comout, one of these days, and mentary that can be made upon call upon his customers to thank the former bragging and boasthim for this enormous contri-ing about the great number of bution towards the revenue, Inclosure Bills that were ando you think that there would nually passed. I can readily be nobody to be found to tell believe that poor lands, even him, that it was not he who though rent free, will not enapaid the sixty thousand pounds ble an occupier to pay the poor

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rates and the assessed taxes;ings; but there is a tail to this and, if Castlereagh wants a bet- question; namely, "from your ter proof than this of the pros-" inability to support or employ perity of the country, let him them?" Oh! no! I can easily find it where he can. believe that you cannot bear

Under number ten, there are to think of your inability to suptwo questions which are un-port or employ them; but, when worthy of notice, except on ac- I reflect on the observations count of their exquisite silli

ness.

The eleventh question is of a description not to have been put even to you. But still, plain as the landlords may think it appear, I venture to give it an answer, contrary to the one they anticipate and regard as inevitable. The question is this, "Can the landed proprietors "bear their proportion of the "burthens of the state, if they get nothing for their estates?" I say they can; for, if they get nothing for their estates, they then become labourers; and we know well that every labourer is compelled to contribute his proportion of the burthens of the state. He is compelled to pay taxes upon an infinite number of articles that he uses, and he is also compelled to come forward in person, to take arms and to fight for his country. This is contributing his proportion of the burthens of the state; and when the landlords are placed in this situation, they will doubtless cheerfully submit to burthens, which they have had no scruple in imposing upon him.

which I have heard from some farmers relating to their labourers, I am almost disposed to believe, that to make such farmers feel as much as they ought for the poor, they must themselves be reduced to the con dition of paupers.

1

The thirteenth, and last, question compliments you, as the most industrious and most useful class of the community. This is vulgar stuff, that has neither sense nor decency in it. In a well ordered state, all classes are equally useful, because they are all equally necessary. To say that a dull, slow ploughman or shepherd is more industrious than an intelligent, active, bustling shopman, is ridiculous, upon the face of it. Yet the calling of the one is as much an industrious calling as is that of the other.

Slowness of motion is not only habitual, but proper, in the one case, as nimbleness is in the other. All classes are equally industrious, if the com- · parison be made as to the people of the same country; and, therefore, to cry up one class, as the most industrious, is to discover a great degree of that. The twelfth question is rather" senseless cry," which, in this of a pathetic description; "Can very question, is ascribed to you bear to see the condition the manufacturers, who are here of your labourers getting worse accused of a "senseless cry," "and worse every day This while the people, under the is pointed at your tender feel-name of mob, are accused of

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clamour and violence. Violence, ills, I have not room to speak of might, indeed, be pretty fairly it here. I may probably adimputed to those who are at all dress another letter to you; times ready to cut and slash. and, in the mean while, I sinBut what violence has been cerely hope, that your produce committed, or attempted, or will go on falling in price, till even talked of, towards the your eyes be completely opened. farmers, I am at a loss to dis- If Peel's Bill be not repealed, cover. The Corn Bill was passed your wheat will, very likely, in spite of the petitions of almost be at five shillings a bushel bethe whole nation; and in no fore the end of this year. That part of the kingdom have there would make you Reformers; been any violences (since the but, perhaps, it must come passing of that Bill, and in down to four shillings before consequence of it), committed you will become downright against the farmers; though, Radicals. It is not, as yet, since that period, the sufferings either treason or blasphemy to of the people, from actual hun- pray for cheap meat and bread; ger, have been greater than any one cannot be banished for putever before experienced by any ting up such a prayer; and, people in the world. therefore, put it up I do with. all possible fervor and piety.

WM. COBBETT

It is curious enough, that the wise men, who drew up these questions and observations, seem never to have thought about the P. S. I have spoken to you, 44 millions a year raised for above, in your capacity as memthe National Debt and Sink-bers of the body politic. Let me ing Fund. They complain of now say a word or two to you in Church, Poor, and Roads; your capacity as farmers. In a but say not a word about the work of mine, entitled," A great burthen of all. They Year's Residence in America," complain against the Merchants is contained some very useful and Manufacturers, who suffer information on the subject of as much as you do; but make preserving turnips, of both no complaint against Fund-kinds; and also on the subject holders, Placemen, Pensioners, of oxen, as working animals. and Army and Navy. The Nothing is more easy than to truth is, they are afraid. They have for use in April and May dare not open their lips upon (the Swedish even in July) this subject! If they were to the thousands and hundreds of touch here, they would be join thousands of tons of turnips, ing the Radicals; and that which are wasted in the four would not do! However, they preceding months. Cabbages and you and all other com- may easily be kept till March, plainants must join the Radicals perfectly sound. As to oxen, at last, or, you will get no re- it is clear to me, that the loss is "dress. enormous from employing horses in agricultural work. At plough,

As to the remedy for your

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at harrow, at cart; in pairs, in neighbourhood, the votes of our team, or single; for all work on husbands, sons, and brothers, the land, oxen are best You would have returned you to will say; of what use is im- parliament; where you might provement, if we are to lose our have more effectually proclaimall?" Very true; and, if you ed those principles and measures, have resolved to lose all rather that you have so long and so than join the Reformers, no im- clearly demonstrated with your provements are of any use to powerful pen, as necessary for you; but, one of two things our political salvation. must happen: your affairs must mend; or, you must become Reformers.

We do not suppose that any measures, however wise, that you might have recommended, would have been immediately adopted in that **** Assembly, where, without one solitary ex

FROM THE FEMALE REFORMERS
OF COVENTRY to MR. COB-ception a* * * * * * * * * *

BETT.

Coventry, 25th Dec. 1820.

*** prevails; but your voice I would have extended the means of further presenting them, to SIR, the minds of our countrymen The Female Reformers of the and countrywomen, who, as we City of Coventry respectfully beg have seen in the instance of our your acceptance of the Writing ill-treated, virtuous, and nobleDesk sent herewith, as a New minded Queen, are never slow Year's Gift, and as a token of the to adopt and proclaim, with one high sense they entertain of universal voice, when fairly and your, extraordinary and perse- fully presented to their undervering talents in the cause of standings, whatever measures Radical Reform in the Com- may be calculated for the honour mons' House of Parliament, and prosperity, the peace and which is alone calculated to put happiness of their Country. an end to that system of *****, That you and yours may enso long pursued in these miser- joy in health and prosperity able and degraded kingdoms; many happy returns of this day, a system which is fast destroy- and employ this humble tribute ing the salutary efforts of indus-of our respect in forcibly recomtry, blighting every prospect of mending the speedy adoption the most rigid economy, and re- of the venerable Major Cartducing the most patient, perse-wright's Bill for Parliamentary vering, ingenuous, and well dis- Reform, as a means of stopping posed people, to a mass of miser- for ever the atrocious villanies able beggars and slaves. of our

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Had it not been for the riot-developing the means of restorous proceedings of a ferocious ing us to our wonted prosperity and bloody banditti, hired, fed, and happiness; aud in 'again and put in motion, by the "Rich holding us up, as Milton did be"Ruffians" of this City and fore you, as "a noble example

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