The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-25 00:00:00

APRIL 25.

sion Bill. We stated to our readers some time ago, that we
thought the Reversion Bill was not calculated, in its own na-
ture, to produce those signal benefits which some sanguine minds
were inclined to expect from it : but we conceived it necessary to
pass that Bill, however in itself unproductive of great advantages,
because there are advantages infinitely great in the cireum-
neices that may be expected to attend it. We wish to see a an-
vil:iv!, even a useless sacrifice, made to the wishes of the people,
if it can be made without danger : and further, we consider that
this Bill, nnimportant in itself, may lead to reforms of an im-
portance which no one shall deny. But let us mark that Mr.
Votobett, who so long has been bawling for reform, who so long
has been inhaling the dust of Sir Ftancis Burdett's chariot-
sv heels, and preaching to the public the pernicious tendency of a
spendthrift government. That very Mr. Cobbett, when a
system is set on foot. which has in view the alleviation of the
i,ohlic burthens, and which begins by softening public discon-
tent, that very Mr. Cobbett comes forward to say that the
Committee of Finance is uu more than a trick : and though it
as constituted for the furtherance of reform, he declares that it
is calculated only to throw reform still further from our reach.
?ngenitius indeed must the Ministers be, who could frame an
Act of which the title, preamble, and apparent construction
1-:!oulti go one way, and the real meaning the other—or else
11;o3t btrict mint he Mr. Cobbett, who sees an impropriety in
the must honourable actions, and finds out mischief where
weaker optics can discover only merit.

After speaking in a vey slighting manner of the Reetrsion
Bill and i:s principle, he goes on to say :
" The petitions, indeed, from the Mayor, Aldermen, and
" Common Council of the City of London, to both Houses of
" Parliament, go deeper into the matter. They complain, that
4' there are numbers of abuses in the management and expenditure
" of the public money ; that the peculators detected have not
" been punished : that there are many sinecure places and pen-
" sions which ought to he abplished, for that they not only
' greatly add to the hurthens of the people, but create a per-
" vicious and dangerous influence, corrupting and undermining
" the free principles of the British Constitution. True as this
" is, and useful as it is to promulgate such truths, I should not,
" had l been a Londoner, have joined in the petition ; and my
" objection wmild have been that these sentiments were accom-
" panied a ith what was calculated to spread abroad the idea,
"that the Reversion Bill ought to be regarded as a beginning in
" the good work of reform, than which, as it is trident to me, no-
" thing could be further fron; the truth."
So then, for fear of spreading abroad an idea that some good
'Would perhaps arise fro:n a niea4ure of the late Governme,a,
Cubbett refuses to spread Sk hat he himself confesses to be
truth, and to he such truth as it is useful to promulgate! What
patriotism is here found in the Prince of Patriots !—W hat
a noble contempt of those petty motives s hieh so ()firm, in men
of less virtue and capacity, operate against the adoption of pub-
lic benefits ! Mr. Cobbett It ill not allow a particular set of
seen to reap the sandiest credit; no, he Is ill rather set the whole
kingdom is commotion : on, go on, great reformer :go on,
and prosper. Do Hot let the country gain strength, if her
strength Is to he increased by the credit of certain Members of
the House of Commons whom vou dislike ; for what signifies
" the good of promulgating troths," in comparison with
the evil of spreading abroad an idea that may be creditable to
.thoe Members! You will see right done on those men, we
know; even though England should consume herself to death.
Fiat justitia, runt clean, You would say, if Nou understood
Latinit euough; but you know vou despise the dead lamatages.
y the bye, we, who read your paper, are rather sorry for
your contempt of learning; because we very often find seuteaces
eo ungrammatical that we are started like men suddenly beaten,
01..1 feel a jarring sensation in our ears wilich stays with us a guar-
ler alas hour. As for instance, in thin very Number, where you