The National Register. — London, England, 1809-07-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. in a review of its condue. For ourselves, we doubt very much if it would have the etFect which its friends suppose. The de viand to restore our constitution to what it was in the good old times we cannot but consider as a mere watch-word ad captan dam valgus. If those who hold this doctrine are asked at what period they would fix these good old thoe,;, they toust, aad do tell us, the few first years after the Revolution before that clause in the art of settlement was repealed which ekabled Ministers from sitting in the Ilowd. Now in what way will they answer this plain question. How did it happen that in these good old times, in a Parliament which had no placrman, pensioner, or Minister in it, this eery clause was repealed! They must either admit that such a Parliament as they wish can do the most serious injury to the constitution, according to their ideas, or they must admit that this clause was properly repealed. Public expectation had been greatly excited by the pledge . given by Mr. W . A atiLE, that he would propose a plan by which eleven millions might be saved in the expenditure of the country. It had been considered that this was merely thrown out in the warmth of conversation, at the Crown and Anchor, but those who are acquainted with this gentleman, were of a , ditrerent opinion: accordingly on the 19th June he brought the subject before the House. It will be unnecessary to detail the arguments by which he supported his financial statements, or the grounds upon which he endeavoured to mainsails the possi• nf substracting so much from the expenditure of the public revenue. These circumstances are so recent, and have been so particularly enumerated within these few days, that it would only exhaust the patience of our readers to repeat them . .. Mr. Wardle was well and ably answered by . Mr. Iluskisson, and the result of the business seems to have left an impression upon the public mind, that there is little hope in the present situation of the country, that any material saving in its expenditure can take place; for our own parts we are inclined to wish that Mr. Wxan LE had not been under the necesri ty of taking so w idc a field in coasequence of his having said that 11 million: ukiAht be saved —it led him in our opinion rather to consider, how much it was nece:isarp to subsiract fro , ,: every branch of Me service, so as to make the anionnt required, rat:ter than how lunch rolild reallg be spared with safety. Many or the statements were certainly un supported, even by argument, and much of his reasoning was fal laci.m;, and destitute of probability. But we cannot help think ing, notwithstanding, that it may direct the attention of Ministers to very important considerations, and be the means of doing tl?: country essential service. We think highly of time conduct ob served I)3' the members of Adatinistrationupon this occasion. Upon the whole a dispassiarsate review of the conduct Ind proceedings of the last Session, will furnish the strongest proof that the 4tate of Parlimentary Representation is at this moment, as practically useful as it can be in the present state of this coun try and of the vvorlA ; V.e are aware hat others are of a dif ferent opinion, bat hay intr received the zi.s , irance of a complete examination of this subject, from a source that will do it ample justice; we forbear to detail our own sentiments snore at large upon the present occasion. TO WILLIAM COBBETT.-LETTER V. hoc tanium scio ! nil date. There is no one precept of morality in the practice of which the ancient authors may claim a mare undisputed supeliority over the moderns, than that which inculcates humility. Modesty and merit are almost inseparable coin- panions; the few exceptions we meet with to this general ride, are. not sufficient to reconcile us to the auomalies 'which they' produce. These observations naturally arise nut of the perusal of your last letter hut one. The result 'my'exaudnation of which has satisfied my mind, and if indiscreet' partiality, of which I am not conscious, does mot betray we into A deviation from my own principle* 411 1 similar impressions have been made on the public (mud, that your defence is one of the must contemptible and silly pieces of subterfuge, sophistry - , and falshood, that was ever attompted to be imposed upon the credulity of mankind. If the thing did not happen every day, su that a conviction of its truth is wrung from us almost without effort, we should hardly understand what was meant by a man being his own enemy. Your defence has does more to injure your reputation than all the satyrists exis:. ing could have effected. It has given the world your own opinion of the necessity of some justification of one of the most atrocious acts with which any man, affectirg superiority of mind, was ever charged, and if any don' t could remain, after a perusal of the documents that we, published, your weak, illogical, and silly defence inlet have removed it. Why, Sir, it would have disgraced au Old Bailey Solicitor. Mr. Cosurrr, if to your other ar quirements you have added a sense of shame, hide your diminished head—seek the shade of retne , oent—let other hemisphere be honoured with your abilities, and remain no longer in a country where no honest nr.n can be seen in your .company without disgrace. You are convicted upon your own evidence of having pre ferred false and malignant charges against your of ficers, of having fabricated evidence to support these charges, of having carried on this mockery of public justice to the last moment, of having absconded-a fen days' before the trial, and now at the distance of many years of endeavouring to support your character against a delin queacy which has destroyed it root and branch, by shuffling, tying, and prevarication. There is scarcely one material fact stated in your defence that is not disproved by your own • words, out of thine own mouth I have condemned thee.— Infamy, Sir, eternal infamy attaches to your malignant character.—A word at parting if you please upon the egotistical part of your letier.—You boast of superior attainments, you affect a superior ity over the respectable Clergy of the County which' has . the misfortune to he afflicted with your presence, on account orN•our intellect.• your mind.—When a delinquent has been detected in forgery, or any other villainy that requires the exertion of intellect or mind, did Vou ever hear of his being pardoned on account of his abilities, on account of the superiority of his mind or of his intellect over the Ordinary who attended him ?---Read your own wretched compilation of z,tate Trials, and point out one whose intellect was pleaded in bar of punishment. —But to come nearer to your own ease—did this pica save RYLAND, or Dr. Donn and surely even your effrontery, WILLIAM COBBETT, however allied you may bean such men in character, will hardly suffer you to state yourself as equal to them in intellect.—But, Sir, when men arrogate a superiority that does not Iviong to them, we are naturally led to examine the pretensions upon which they - are founded. What proofs have you given of superior intellect beyond your own assertion 2—What art or science is indebted to your labours ?—Have you zu. de any improvements in Grammar, English, Bricklaying, c r Fortification, or any other of those acquirements which employed your leisure hours, and which you enumerate wit.!) so much disgusting vanity What, for Heaven's sake, makes y ou think that nature designed you for a Leader !!!—ln the language of your County (if nature is to be believed) you were designed for a thiller and not a leader. You seem eminently qualified to sustain the shafts of your political dung-cart, whilst your more honourable associates r,re throwing in, and filling it with the disgusting ordure of their own rotten intellects. You a leader, truly ! Nature designed you for one ! I Is it possible that human nature can present so humiliat ing a picture. Take physic, Vanity, and endeavour to re. duce the obesity of your intellect to something like a rea sonable size, or like poor Lambert you will cease to ex is! ; such another paroxysm of tumid inflation, witho' • adequate means of venting it, woold produce instant suffocation. Itemember the fable of the Ox and the Frog. JULY 2. I • sureia. f alio . aq