Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-11-16
to draw his sword against the cause

1 Vi tiUGitvs
The Major continued, during tn,
| American war, to publish various
tracts on constitutional subjects; dis
charging, at the same time. his do
ties as q militia officer. with exem
psary assiduity. In 1880 he was the
original mover of general meeting
of the county of Nottingham for Per-
liamentary Reform. which was very
we'll attended. The Major, with
the late Mr.. Capel Loft and Dr..
John Jebb, effected the formation Of
the famous Society for Constitution.
al Information in 1880.
AT that time annual Parliaments
and universal suffrage were advo
Gated by the first peers Of the realm.
and several of the mnst distinguished
individuals Cor wealth and talents IN
England. The list of the members
prefixed to the volumes already re-
ferrcd to sufficiently establishes this.
The resolution bf the Western Com
mittee. March 30, 1880. signed by
Mr.. Fox. and the report of the Sub
Committee, March 10. 1880, sIgsed
by MIR. Sheridan, seem to go as far
an even the Duke Of Richmond and
Major Cartwright ever went.
About the year 1888 the Major
embarked i'm the manufacture of
wood, on a considerable scale. and
he purchased an estate in London
shire, where he fixed his residence.
About the time Of the state trials
in 1894, he began to write his Com
monwealth in Danger, which was
bIished in 1895.
Between that period. and down TO
within a short time before his death,
the Major was an incessant author,
and took a lively interest in all pub
! lie occurrences. He was also. till
very lately. a constant attender OF
public meetings for purposes connect
ed with Independence and reform.
The active part he took in West
minister for many years. generally
following Sir Francis Bnrdett on the
hustings, is we'll known. The part
he took in procuring the numerous
signatures to Petitions for Annual
Parliamenis and Universal suffrage.
which a few days ag, agitated SO in
t~ensely the House Of Commons, and
the trial in which he was involved
with Nj. Wooier and others. for the
part they took in a meeting at Bir-
mingham, must be fresh in the re-
collection Of all readers. The Court
had the tact to punish the venerable
old man only by a fine of a hundred
pounds, which he e%xultingiy paid,
and walked out of Court a free man.
Major Cartwright was rather a
consistent politician than an acute or
profound thinker. He was tenaci-
Gus of whas he conceived to be right;
but he could with difficulty be bro't
to co operate with other people. In
short, 1t was necessary to adopt his
views. and nothing but his views
Times and seasons, too, were nothing
to him. 1t was of no use to tell him
that by adopting a certain course at
any particular time. he would injure
the cause; his answer was always,
81 never concede any thing to expe-
diency."
But let US not dwell on the weak.
ness of this worthy, warm hearted
man. To the poor unfortunate exiles
whom the tyranny of the Holy Alli-
ance drove first from Italy. and af-
forwards from Spain to u shores.
his house vas always open. He had
little of the cold Indifference with
which Englishmen are generally
charged by foreigners, and We sus-
pect with some justice. The Major
was an enthusiast, and therefore a
happy man: for when we cease to in
tcrest ourselves in what surrounds
Us. when our feelings are exhausted,
and We cease to look forward to some
object or other with eagerness or
anxiety, life is but sorry business at
best.
The Major adopted a niece sever.
al years ago, who, it was understood.
would inherit his property.