The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-12 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

NEXT AFTERWARDS.

A SECOND edition of Mr. Cobden's pamphlet being at press, the
future Foreign Secretary has taken the opportunity to append a few
more last, or rather " next," words. We have been favored with an
early proof of his poatcriptum

" When Europe has been pacified upon this patent principle of
allowing every Power quietly to obtain everything for which it may
ask with a sword in its hand, I intend to vacate the Foreign-office;
where, in fact, there will be little to do except to endorse the rescripts
and requisitions which may arrive from St. Petersburg, Vienna, Wash-
ington, or other capitals. My eminent talents must, however, not be
hid under the bushel of privacy, and I will consent. therefore, to accept
the seals of the Home Department. In this post I shall improve the
opportunity of securing peace and order at hove upon the same system
and with the same success as I have already attained abroad.
"1. I shall begin by dismissing the causes of crime and dis;
turbance entirely from my attention, accepting, at the same time, the
objects and antecedents of the pre-existing Government.
"2. I shall then seek above all things to withdraw every blue
policeman from Rag-fair, Houndsditch, Jacob's Island, Clare-market,
the National Hall in John-street, the Reform Club, and all other
centres of turbulence or treason ; and either concentrate the force
around Whitehall, or else abolish it altogether. At present the Bobbies
may be brought away without further loss or discredit ; it may not
always be so.
"3. Negotiations will be opened with the general community
of burglars, footpads, pickpockets, and fences, throughout the
country, with the view of concluding a treaty upon terms of
amicable reciprocity. Why should we seek to do one another
the greatest possible harm ? Why should we mutually force each
other to maintain cumbrous and exhaustive armaments—expend-
ing our incomes, or even incurring a load of debts, for the purchase
of bludgeons, pistols, and gunpowder? And why, finally, should the
innocent and tax-paying citizens, when they happen to be robbed,
be also murdered or maimed? 1 trust to put these questions in their
true light before all parties, and to obtain their common consent to a
treaty which, not, to incur the charge of vagueness, I would denominate
one of unarmed neutrality.'
" 4. I shall propose, accordingly, that all the chevaliers of the dark
lanthern and black doll, should promise to fulfil their missions with
the utmost gentleness and civility, never using or, except in cases of
absolute necessity, showing any deadly weapons. On our side we
undertake that no emissaries from the Home-office shall disturb them
in the exercise of their avocations.

" Finally, I would not risk the knuckles of a single Peeler, or
spend a shilling of the county-rate for the chance of a ' barren
triumph' in arresting and convicting a felon who, after conviction,
must only become an additional source of embarrassment and expense.
Foregoing any such Quixotic mission,' I would pursue a policy more
consistent with the interest of the people—honest or otherwise—whose
welfare I was charged to promote. I, also, would not seek to hind
any of the parties to the treaty by parchment promises' for its
observance ; since even if they could write (which is doubtful) their
pledges would not be worth the ink with which they were written.
The stability of the compact must, ►l• -,refore, rest solely and securely
on the mutuality of interests—and tne country may be assured of its
pertnanenee, at all events, so long as the administration of the Home
Department remains in the hands of
" Jan. 11, 1856."

" R. C:'

38

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