The Press.
London, England, 1854-01-21 00:00:00

JANUARY 21, 1854.

But now we turn to that other brunch of the
subject, his connection with the ,Anti-Corn
Lim League, and here we think the auger
naturally felt by Mr. Somerville has led him
into acts he cannot justify. Extracts from
Mr. Cobden's writings he might indeed fairly
use, and at the present moment it is inter-
esting to know that gentleman's opinion on
the Eastern question. For example :
" Those writers and speakers who argue in favour of our
iaterveution iu the affairs of Russia and Turkey invariably
do so upon the pretence that our commerce, our colonies,
or our national existence, are endangered by the encroach-
ments of the former empire." " The fate of Turkey and
the designs of her great northern neighbour are by no
means matters which affect the interests of England so
vitally as some writers imagine." " We (the manufacturer)
claim the right of putting this matter entirely on the footing
of self-interest. We do not for a moment imagine that it is
necessary to show that we (Britain) are not called upon to
preserve the peace and good order of the entire world."
" The stupendous size of the Russian empire has excited
the wonder and alarm of timid writers, who forget," &c.
" The popular mind has been greatly misled by many
writers on the Russian empire." If the best interests of
Russia were understood, or if its government would attain
to that actual power which ignorant writers proclaim
for it."
" Can any one doubt that, if the Government of St.
Petersburg were transferred to the shores of the Bosphorus,
a splendid and substantial European city would, in less
than twenty years, spring up in the place of those huts
which now constitute the capital of Turkey ? that noble
public buildings would arise, learned societies flourish, and
the arts prosper'? . . . Can any rational mind doubt
that these changes would follow from the occupation of
Constantinople by Russia, every one of which, so far as
the difference in the case admitted, have been realised
more than a century in St. Petersburg."

But though the following letter is curious as
admitting us behind the scenes, and showing us
with what restless activity the chief actors in
the Anti-Corn Law League prepared the public
mind for their great displays at Drury Lane
and elsewhere, it is one which Mr. Somerville
should never have published :

" Waterloo, near Liverpool [time 1842, probably October].
" Dear Sir,—l got a letter from Sir John Easthope, in
which In' seems to argue in favour of the League meeting
all expenses on your account. [I had found that three
guineas a week would not bear travelling expenses and
keep a family in London..] We must do what we can for
yon. In the mean time lay yourself out for as much
visible work as possible' so as to command the best terms
from the Council of the League. Can't you put on some
fresh disguise, and get some letters or arguments into
Number Two (a nondescript) and Number Three (Whig)
newspapers? Some conversations between landlord and
tenant upon the corn law—a rent-day scene—or some
arguments about Protection would do. The same mate-
rials might be used also for tracts. We should like some
tracts especially written for Bucks, with local phrases,
measures, weights, itc. . . . Yours truly, "R. ConeEN.
" A. Somerville, Esq."

Strange to say, notwithstanding the enor-
mous sums raised by the League, if Mr.
Somerville's case is a fair specimen of the treat-
ment experienced by those they employed, their
subordinates were badly paid. lie describes
himself as " doing the work of a horse—a
" literary horie, or ass, if you like—living on
" thistles and insult. Besides doing all the
" work stipulated for by Mr. Wilson and cram-
" ming Cobden privately for most of his great
" appearances, which was not stipulated and
" not paid for," yet he had by others means
to eke out a maintenance for himself and
family. It may be remembered how apt and
appropriate were the facts adduced by the
League orators to illustrate their theories.
The following extract shows how some of
them were obtained :

" Waterloo, near Liverpool, Saturday.
"Dear Sir,—Your letter followed me here, where I am
getting some sea air. I will be at Manchester on Tuesday,
and will speak to the Council of the League about an
arranent. [The terms of full
sensiblgeme of the value of yourpnovel labours in the cause.y One word of advice--do not let any animus in favour of
the League or manufacturers appear in your writings—
[secretiveness again)—especially the letters in the Chro•
nick, which I know attract a good deal of notice. • • •
" In the last Number One there is a letter from a farmer,
going for total repeal, on the ground that he cannot fatten
rattle to compete with foreigners unless he gets the raw
11!sterial cheap. Can't you insinuate a short letter into
umber One, which is read by the fanners? But yon
must not let your signature identify you—[secretiveness
a'4sin )—' Peter Robins ' and ' Reuben ' are both palpable
fk perm Sign, a Westmorland or Leicester
ItiArme
,er. I shall want you to write a good address frogs
league to the farmers of the kingdom. It must be
done. I have some suggestions to make which I
will send to you when I have been able to refer to some
flick I remain yours truly, " RICHARD COBDEN.
A. Somerville, Esq."
:, did not write as a "
ismer." In at first calling myself " One who has whistled
the Plough "I Wile described truly. Other signatures