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in the art of settlement was repealed which ekabled Ministers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Minister in it, this eery clause was repealed!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they must admit that this clause was properly repealed.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*

4111

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 superiority 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 you 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.