Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-05

plenty and happiness constituted the hand
maids ut every honest class in society -
Now, 1t your Lordship knew England under
THESE circumstances, you must have disco
vered sensible change since the country
was blessed with your Lordship's talents in
conducting the national affairs ! Does your
Lordship now see plenty crown the board
OF the mechanic and artizan, nay, even of the
| middling tradesman, and happiness playing
around it the gagnbols of content Do you
now hear the song of God save the King,
sounded and echoed in every corner, or do
| you hear that of Millions be Free-the SEN
t''nents of both of which should accord ; but
which, since the commencement of the war
against the liberties of France, have carried
I discord in their conjunctive soundss Or rag
ther, my Lord. do you not see famine-pale,
meaSre, gnastly famne-spreading his hor-
rihc mantle over all that class ofhis Majes-
ty's subjects, that, figuratively speaking,
| may be called the &c working bees in the
hive z, There is a book in which your
Lordship may read the destinies of Britain,
and that, my Lord, is the human heart
| Man is naturally docile-domestic felicity is
the bed on which he delights to repose-his
wants are not numerous and when, by hon
| est industry, he can obtain means commen-
| 'urate TO these wants, he regards but little
the politics of the State-he thinks not Of
| STRIFE, rebellion or revenge. But, my Lord,
| can the working class in Britain supply their
wants by honest industry. The evidence
| given before a Committee of the House of
Commons, on the subject IF the vl-promo-
ting Orders in Council, prove that they can
not But supposing, my Lord, that You do
not believe the testimonies their so feeling
| " and correctly given in, may it please your
( LprdShlp to condeSCend, and take one glance
| into the house of one of these, once happy,
| working men. What not one glance 49,
| Come, my good and gracious Lord, YOU will
| learn lesson which, perhaps, NAV be useful
| to you another day. You will there see r.
man in tattered garments, his face pale and
meagre, his eyes speaking the language of
sorrow. and MS lips trembling with despair
You will see MAJ exh biting the remains
OF former worth. In every feature of her
ace you will see anguish, while famine has
barred her once lovely bosom to the bone, &
dried UP The milky fountains of nfantine
support. This is not ALL my Lord; no, YOU
viii see four or five children bat In mercy
to the wounded feelings of the reader we
will not particularze their situation. But
the father sees it ! he feels it too and can
lyouwonder, nv Lord.if the seat of prudence
is sometimes usurped by revenge /.
| Here my Lord, is the source of those trou-
! hles which So deeply chequered over the mid
4
of last winter, and which chequer great
part of the kingdom now. Another winter
IS approaching; the prospects stip more aw-
M, and anticlpations more alarming, than
those which preceded the last You can
eHalt the Germans, my Lord You can place,
them over the heads of Englishmen whoha
braveiy fought their country's battles. mere
ly because these same Germans made toll
cradle shew of fighting at the battle ofSaI-
amanca but for Englishmen you do nothing,
except that of paying tribute to the brave
Tor their courage IN battle, at the time that
you are starving their wives, their children.
and other relatives, at home. Yes, YOU do
more you prepare the stroke of death for
: those that are driven to acts of violence by
t hunger and despair. But does the words
: clemency and mercy never enter your Lord
e ships mind! If these qualities are too
: humble to form any part of YOUR LorClshiD's
n capacious mind if the comforts and happi-
IS ness of the people of England, Ireland, and
d Scotland are subjects far Beneath your no.
: tice, at least have some regard for the fu-
e ture fortunes of your family and the fortunes
e Ofyour august Master. Does not the state
:, OF France, in 1888, and that of England, in
o 1879, never strike Your Lordship with some
: thing like similarity ? There is a difference
&c in the state of the two countries at the dates
/ alluded to: France had a much greater DO
% pulation, and her national debt was trifline
: when compared to ours Her taxes bore no
IS proportion with those laid on the people OF
/ the British Empire; and she was at peace
i with all the world. This, my Lord, is a tri-
/ Hing difference it is true; a difference no,
'e very hatterng toyonr Lcrdship's contempla-
IS tion.-The disrobcd, the fugitive Borrbons
l. could unfold tale to your Royal Master:
Is ear which, circumstances compared, might
is impress his heart with the most fearful aD-
y prehenSions; bu'i is their interest to deceive
him and, what is more unfortunate for TIN.
IS Country, and may ultimately prove so to him
: self, he seems inclined to be deceived. -
ID was not tho high sounding names of Crane
p Monarque, Cardinal, Bishop, Baron, Count
81 &c. that could stop che fury of the French
IS when goaded by their sufferings they forgo
n their obedience to the law. The Gothic
ID mansions of the Mobiles, that had bravcd tn,
IS conflicting elements, during the roll Of sue.
rs ceeding centuries came tumbiing 10 the
q ground like the rolling of a snowy avalencia
/ while their naughty occupiers, who haC
e spread terror and misery in their respective
IS neighborhoods, fell victims TO, or fed from
s the fury of those whose anger they had pro
n voked. When a trial of physical strength
Il, takes place between the pampered few anC
lie the hunger-impelled many we behold tn,
r most fearful odds. Then, my Lord adyis,
4 your gracious Master to attend to the erie
lg and prayers of the people Winter ap
We proaches-thc prospect is dreary-the mum
m bers that are starving are very grcat-sys
Up tenn they are acquainted with-wc will stop
$ Ito the wise we have said enouCh--to Tn
lis weak and foolish it is unnecessary to sal