The National Register.
London, England, 1809-05-21 00:00:00

THE. NATIONAL REGISTER.

in this ; but we must detest and despise him who comes
forward with ostentatious prolessions of more than Ro-
man generosity, stud raises himself by means of these
profcssi.us over the shoulders of others, while he is in fact
only blinding the eyes of his readers, that he may the more
effectually pick their pockets.—The late increase in the
price of the heg.istcr, and the manner in which it
was effecte4, afford a curious example in point. Mr. Cob-
Lett finding that the invcsti*ition into the conduct of the
Duke of York, had conferred an unusual degree of interest •
on his Newspaper, in common with others, he prudently re-
solved to make Lay while the sun shone, aid to add two-
pence to the value of hi, weekly number, at a moment
when such a consateration was least likely to be rezarded
bv his readers. In pursuit of this resolution, we find him
making a Ion; canting statement, false in wind* if not
in fact, relative to the crenparative prices of ditierent rah-
iOns. He concludes with the followii,g pathetic appell
to the feelings of his readers :—" I :no persuaded there are
few persons, who are indulgent enough to set a Value upon
the.. effects or iii labour, who would wish that that labour
should go without sonsf•ating like an adequateeompensalicn."
NOW,3e, who are indulgeat enough to set a value upon the
effects of Mr. Cobbetri labour, what would strike veu as
something like an ndequate compensation for it ? Would
it occur to you, that between three and four thousand
pounds per annum, received in weekly payments, devoid
of risk, while the receiver lives at his ease in the country,
was something at least approaching towards an adeloate
compensation ? If such is your opinion, Mr. Cohbett
differs front von ; for 'w bile his work was realising
a profit to at least the above amount, he complains
that he had not '' for his constant aad infinite la-
hour, ?/‘ar%/1 one-hay so much" as he should have;
And he is " under tile necessfig of iaising- the price
of The Register from ten-pence to one shilling." The
cons:eet and il:figife labour which the of our re-
marks so pathetically representg, is emnpred in penning
half a sheet inn of desultory observations in the course ofa
week, a►iticb task raft r l,e•
lrcrf.'artncd in two days. Mr.
Cobbett the Coslti!a:II (.!,;jo} meat of retirement ;
time is not. itahie to he hrohen in open by intmlers ; he is
Ind bar:els:en) by the multipliedy cal:s which (I:straet the
man of business, vet he le.: s the modesty 14) coor)lain be-
cause he only inalieslOgr Li; f.,lls,lid a;',,Clll* tae the laholir of
two days Ile has accuionl :ted a ha;:dlome fol.: alio by
the favour of the pantie ; purchased an e.4tate for which
be paid some where about twenty thousand pounds, al-
though a few years ago he was at once poor and Intim .‘vn.
11. e has also liesure to conduct several shevesirfli ork
sides the Political Register, .et he does or did itot, t:;:ok
his labours produced neaely half so inucb rrtte,,t,owe
to expect ! These are the sentiments, and such is the cmittoct
of the man, who condoles with the poor, a!ntied petiole of
Eagland, on the amount of their burtheie:; and rho re-
reoroliates in the severest terms the rtrvie::'.y of
public men.
e thank it unnecessary to offei- comet on thli
o! ;:ets. The proper inference,: will, we :an con-
vinc:l readily so4-gest theinselvel. Before comladirw,
lifurevt.r, we feel compelled to notice a recent inst:lnce of
intol,rabie arrogance With %I hich this guar::
conduct; himself io his vocation. In his last number but
one, he addre.,ins " the iri.lepoodent people of Thropshire."
and intimates that hi.; letter is 111,‘ C.cgt of a see!et.
adds his determination to trlnsi..t this most loable and
intereitm.; correspondence to the (El:sere:it Jourwils For the
coentry ; and if the poor sunple Editors should he vain
evotiv..ll to orerer tlyeir own compositions to the cla.;sical
str;rtures of Mr. Cobbett ; and refose to this accomplished
VAter that s;!! le in their columns which they are enahied to
sfeire f•oro news and advertisements;-therm wilt the
i..:;t;;,%eet solef.# with a view to the d7sseminat;on of
-.131.111 A PROVINcIAL PAPER OF 1115 OWN I Fn:
the p;...-rietor of any particular Journal to demand from
luther the insertion of whatever trash he