The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-03 00:00:00

CODBETTC RE7'URIV.

[From the Bolton Eepees, of Saturday.'
Our neighbour having forewarned us that Cobbett would pass
through this town on Tuesday last, we were upon the look-out for
his appearance. Preparations were made by the Bolton Radicals to
get up a better show than took place on his way to Preston ; and
we heard that the procession would he splendid, and exceedingly
numerous. Die day, however, wore away in uncertainty, anti it
was not until a late hour that it was announced lie would be here
the following morning. This was a sad 'dank, we understand, to
the emnmlttee which had been formed, and was sitting in close
divan all day at the Lamb public-house, Astley Bridge. with John
Heys at its head, and seditious Shaw at its tail. A subscription
was entered into to mine the sum of three pounds, for the purpose
of engaging a band of music tolead up the Gridiron," and after
considerable difficulty a dozen instruments were hired from some
outlandish place in Teuton, but we presume. from the lowness of
the charge, that musk was left entirely out of the stipulation. We
cannot but acknowledge we are Kitty for the poor loiterers of wind,
for after deducting expenses incurred through waiting for Cobbett's
approach two days, oat of the 31.. the residue and remainder to be
divided amongst them was just one shilling and seven.penre half-
penny each. We believe some of the committee were heartily sick
of their posts, and one said he would take care never to act in that
capacity again in the same company.
About three o'clock on Wednesday morning it was proposed by
the Committee that a" delegate" should be sent to Wackburn, to
discover how matters aced there. A man offered his services for
that job, but wanted some money for his expenses. •• t rit," said
Johnny Heys, " you have a Cohbett's medal there—that's quite
a sufficient passport into every buttery on the road." (" Well done
little batman.") Cobbett, with his usual luck, managed to arrive
I here about 20 minutes peat 12 o'clock, when he knew all the work-
people in the town would be at dinner, and likewise took especial
care to remain until evening, when they would again be at liberty,
despatching, in the meantime. his emissaries in every direction,
to make known to his partizans the nature of' this arrangement.
He came in an open carriage, aced t policd by his sons, and, we
believe, a Mr. Clarke. He proceeded to the Commercial Inn, and
having stepped upon the portico, addressed a mob, which we think
we may fairly estiinste to amount to 3,000:
•• Gentlemen, you do me great honour; yon do me infinitely
greater honour than I had a right to expect, or any man has a right
to expert at your hands, and more than my deserts. I might be
accused of being ungrateful, if I did not sensibly feel the favour
you do me. Gentlemen, lam in a singular situation to-clay. I
address you under peculiar circumstances. I stand here an unsuc-
.eessful candidate; but 1 would rather be umuceessful than get in
as the others have done. I Wonder what sort of a reception those
two gentlemen would have received at your hands. I came here
quite without any preparation. I hail formed no plan for you to
meet me. I have not paid my band, for they came of their own
accord. Gentlemen. the electors of Preston might as well have
had two sticks as the persons they have chosen. if such per-
sona as Stanley and Wood had tome to-day amongst you,
Is there man, woman, or child here that would have looked
upon them ? What is it then that makes all this difference ?
It is not because you are foolish. but because you know the
merits of the case. If my principles had been followed, if I had
been listened to fifteen yeats ego, one half of the miseries you are
now enduring would not have occurred. The additional utility
which I should have been to you, lied I been sent to the House,
wotld have been incalculable : but Jo not he dispirited, the thing Is
not to be despaired of yet. How the devil is it, gentlemen, that I
should have all your favour—gentlemen, it will ex elain itself—it is
because the people have a high opinion of me, and believe, if 1 had
been returned, I should have been exceedingly useful to them. The
eyes of the whole country are fixed upon Preston. The people in
the West arc not quite so acute as you ; not so filled with public
spirit. lam defeated there to be sure, but you say I ant nut de-
feated, and so will say the whole country. The history of my lif':
is a history of attempts to expose and destroy public robbers. I had
the honour to be born of humble parents. I commented with
keeping off those robbing, dilapidating ffnds—the rooks. When I
was Duly live or six years old, when I was only able to cry, awly
caw, awhy ORR, I was employed upon this job. But 1 did not ef-
fectually drive away the rooks then, any more than now. Some
flew away,but others came in their place, and 1 assure you my poor
little legs were often sadly tired by running after them. But I did
something; mot I have done something to keep off the robbers
—the paper money robbers? If I had been returned the people
would have seen I could do more. The proud people of proud
Preston knew that—the stupitied fools hare not b. en sufficiently
pulled down yet. I hope I have given the combination of Lord
Derby anti Wood a proper shake. If I do not set aside that
election before the month of March next, I will contentedly
submit to be called a fool for the remainder of my life. You
' will then' see me again, if Ibe alive and well. The suc-
cessful Candidates found me coming out of Prestou with
twenty thousand people in my van ; they found this, after they had
been obliged to sneak out of the town privately. I ALIVJ at an early
part of the contest that the Mayor's traps were intended to keep me
out.. If ever I publish a history of the election I will make you
all laugh most heartily. 1 have caused the three Candidates to
spend upwards of 30,000/., and though not a single farthing has
gone out of my pocket, 1 made a key uo unlerk thei a. I was not
much surprised that Stanley and Barrie should sport their money
freely—they are not very skilful—but that old Ottiwell It'ood
should be induced to 'linen his pacer—that 70001. got over the
devil's back should be spent under his belly—is quite diverting.
My expeiwes will be paid. Sir Thomas is left to discharge all.
An elegant author says, " the most unpleasant part of a feast la
when the wager comes in with the bill of fare." Podr souls 1 I
believe they will not have paid their hills by the time they will
have to return again. Stanley and Barrie may perhaps venture to
show their faces once more, for as to the latter, I believe he is sup-
plied Irons son:e quitter. But Old Otiiwell ! I am cure lie will
never bleed again. I leave you to guess what sort of a tackling they
will receive if their bills are unpaid ; only think of the 'outings,
hissings, and seoffings, they will have to encounter. As the slate
Stanley rode pale and ghastly by my inn window the other day,
my friends rats. d s frenamilous shout, which made hirer tremble in
every mita. . A ft-. 1. limr more Med, ter tho proud Statile), would
art allow Wood to ride along side of him--Ste high blood of the
Stanleys could not run in the same gutter. The people shouted
in all directions, and I believe sundry aid Wood were glad to get
away is safety. Ciendenum, I ant sensible I have trespassed upon
your patience ' • I have gone beyond wba^ I intended. Let me not
conclude without complimenting tire people of Preston ; they have
been put to the tcst,and shown e considerable degree ol public spirit.
I shall always remember the good fellows of Preston, and their wives
also. You, as tar as I hare seen, are the same. Gentlemen, your
sufferinas are not yet at an end. You have yet to see some suffer-
ing. The cotton nobility are destined to fall. Some of them are
wounded already. Some have lost a leg, some an inn, and some
both legs and arms. Limb after limb will drop off until they be-
come extinct. The Cotton sons ni d ttst and shall coins down. Be
nut disc:mimed, my friends, you hare the land to lie upon. The
law say* you shall not want ; let toe impress this upon your minds.
Gaboldly to the overseers ; do not go in the shape of begging ;
you have a right to demand relief ; the land Is more yours than
those who enjoy it ; bear this in mind, nty friends ; not deem
yourself as receiving alms when you are having relief ;,you are only
receiving your own. If the overseers refuse to Wien lo you, go to
the Magistrate and they will order you to be provided for. Cod
ntadi the land, and God made the people; and the law says you
shall not starve while there is any thing in the land to subsist upon.
3. r.Cobbett tl en withdrew

About six o'cletiiiir.Cobbett stepped into his carriage again.
Ile spoke a few sentences, wbicli we could not hear, in consequence
of the noise which proceeded from the crowd. Silence being par-
tially obtained, we heard him say, * A scurrilous newspaper of
this town, the Boftom Etresr, a paid paper. supported by your
enemies, and conducted by some scoundrel, an unhallowed slate,
an infamous slave, laid, that when I passed through Bolton helot..
I was only accompanied by half a dozen half-starved Ilultoti Alder
tresverr."` (False it v, farmer.) Ile cominutid,*as he turned
round and looked rowaras the Commercial Inn window, where we
were sitting, Which is the mai ?" (We moved to him, and lie
went on )" You infamous editor of the Express I you slave !!
slave Editor!!! xou reptile !!!! you miscteant
ban half a dozen "whir me now ? ' At the conclusion of this elit,