The National Register.
London, England, 1817-04-28 00:00:00

MR. SOUTHEY.

Mr. Southey's letter to Mr. W. Smith halt just itp•
peareti. We give two or three cxtMets:—
" For the book itself t ;Vat 'l y4rt, I deny that it is a sedi-
tious pet fin mance ; for it places in the months of the per
sonages who are inn oilite;gl nothing more than a cetreet
ctatement of their real priaciplis. That it is a mischievous
publication. I know ; tin' errors which it coolants toeing es-
pecially dangerous at this tam. Thettfore I conic forward
without heatation to as ow it ; to claim it as my 'tun property.
which had never berm alienated ; and to suppress it. And I
am desirous. that my motiyes in thus acting should not be mi.-
understood. The piece was written tinder the influence of
(y. 1160114 which I have long sioctiontgrown, and repeatedly ilis•
but for which I have never affected to feel either
shame or contrition; they were taken up const•ientionsly in
taelpymitli, they wet e acted upon in disregard of all worldly
considetations, and they were left behind in the vainest raight-
-forward course, us I adv anted in yesrs. It was written when
republicanism was confined to a very small number of the
'educated classes; when those alto wore ktioa n to entertain
such opinions were exposed to personal danger from the po-
pulace; and alien a spirit of anti-Jaeoltinism was predonti•
nant, which I cannot characterise more truly than by saying,
that it was :IS 1111jUSt and intolerant, though not quite as tere-
cions, as the Jarobinism of the present day."
" In my youth, when my stock of knowledge consisted of
such an acquaintance with Greek unit Roman history as is ac-
quired in the comse of a regular scholastic education, when
soy heart was full of poetry and romance, and laican and
Akenside were at Inv tongue's end, I tell into the political
•Opinions which the French Revolution aas then scattering
throughout Enrope •, and following those opinions with ardour,
wherever they led, I soon perceived that inequalities of rank
were a light evil compared to the ine,pealities of property,
and those more fearful ili,finctions which the want of moral
and intellectual culture occasions between man and man. At
'hat time, and with those opinions, or rather feelings (for
their root was in the heart, and not in the understanding), I
• wrote Wet Tyler, as one who was impatient of all the op-
pressions that are done under the Si!...'llic subject was
tnpulicionsly chosen, and it was treated as might be expected
by a youth of twenty, in such times, who regarded only one
side of the question. There is no other misrepresentation.
.The sentiments of the historical characters 111. P correctly
stated. Were I now to dramat lie the same story, there would
be mach to add, but little to alter. I should not express those
sentiments less strongly, but I should oppose to them more
enlarged views of the nature of mail and the progress of so-
ciety. I should set forth with equal force the oppressions of
the feudal system, the excesses of the ity-nrgents, and the
treachery of the Government ; and hold up the errors slid
crimes which were then committed, as a warning for this and
for future ages. I should write as a man, not as a stripling ;
with the saute heart, and the same desires, but with it ripened
understanding and competent stores of k nos%
Will the r.:firmers now compare Mr. Soutlay and
,Cobbett? Will they now c-,,11 !slur an ilrostate?

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.

THE EARL OF moni.ev V. THOMAS KERSWELL.

A cam of " alledged oppression," mentioned in a paper
of yeaterday, as having been heard before the Insolvent
Debtors' Court, has, we understand, subjected the publishers
to a prosecution for a libel. This cause was the Earl of
Morley v. Thomas Kerswell, a venerable old man nearly 70
years of age. The defendant was, it is stated, a fartnet at
Ilympton, Devonshire, where he rented a form, which lie
held by lease the last two years, under the Earl of :Morley.
He had lived in the farm 36 years, :;1 of which he rented
seder Admiral Cahntry. This farm having been purchased
by the ' prevent noble proprietor,' Kerswell was persuaded
:to continue, and also to tirke• the auljohtine ant ; hat his rent
was dochled. Farming produce at that time was very dear.
He paid' his sent the e years, and several times applied to the
Eiwl'io lower his rent or take the lease esti his hands, which
'he refused to do. In September 1841 he was in arrears half
a years rent. At the rent day he paid 501., and 201. more a
forthight afterwards, making 701. towards 1501.; and he took
his lease with him, hoping the Earl would cancel it, or lower
Iris rent, as farming produce was theta unsaleable. About a
week after, Kerswell sold six yearling bullocks for 211. at
Tasistock fair. Out of this sum lie paid 101. to the plaintiff,
and 51. for pools' rates. On the following Friday, lie was
absent at a neigh boar's, on a poney, belonging to his daughter,
lied tor his return home, be was informed that a distress had
-been put in his house by Mr. Voltam!, his Lordship's steward.
, Heittiterefore, left the policy at a neighbour's. All his effects
were sold for 1231.; had they brew fairly sold they would,
he doubted. not have produced 3001. His lordship Was the
pr'neipal poirchaser. Mr. Tolland pureluesed part of his live
stork for about one third of their s:,lee. His log ilshio, still
elaimed 101. 10s. as due to him; and Mr. Yolland took fouci-
ble possession of the harm.
After this Kerwell was served, whilst in bed awillt a sum
WOO/ to ap;•ear before a in ugistrate for t,/..trik' away and
smiling the six bollocks in a ciau.destine siosstryttety i d 121. the
supposed value (tithe pouley. He being eisseittu; the time,
.%
took no notice of it. not conceiving fist 1.- ..;,,rat, rip or the
magistrates lead any power over him for sellitig his cattle
fitly its an (yin market, and as no tent was slue till the 25th
Mauch following.
LI a few days afttrsvards, a warrant was granted to appre-
hend hi., :ltd carry II .tu to Hritiewell, to be kept to hard
labour ft.r six niontbs, o hunt bail, unless he paid 721: wino,
was dowdy the price of the bullocks and the salute Of ,be
p ry. He could nut pay the motley, and was dragaial me
•ou ids bed, in a state at' sickness' and confined six manila in
B uridew II at I td haircut., and had nothing but bread and
water during that :lair.
When the te it., of this imprisomuent had expired, as he was
coming out of Beidewell, he was arres:e•l at the suit of his
. I..ord•utip, for Ibl. I.os. Hurd dragged to Eseit r gaol, at the
Ikptratiwo of Ilitse lts he applied for his liberation.
mimes. the .Insolvent Art 'rite Earl opposed Iris diseharge
oft the groom!, of his having cone. ale., sonic of his propel it. ;
ond,will )))) it any farther e.'4.llitiatiott, he was remanded. / ii,
Tenlilliied Iwo 1110/11113 Inneer i•-prition, aid seciag Ito hopes
of being liberals d, la rot bait and ill •Ilfiill out of custody, tat
-the 12th of J IIIIJr• lain. Not having put in a plea to the
altetioo, jed ens or- siJnod at.talintl lithi, and he :tar reuderecl
to prison in discharke of his bad, at the runnier sail of Ito.
40a., and in ll.ia.s 'rerun he was charged in esecation at the
it Of !L e Ear of Morley, for the 3,5001. drat, and 151. cosos,
lie ki.• ,s of no claim the Fall c•aitil has e upon hint, as uu
/We oviiiik.rti had Decu sande ex4.:Ept fur theist. !au

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