CHEAP CORN.

MR. COBBETT.-Pardon an intruder, more especially one who sets his face against all that has been said or written on this subject. It appears to him, according to the old and vulgar proverb, that you have all got the wrong sow by the ear. Each writer and speaker seems to vie with his neighbour which shall best elude the true statement of the case. The one aflirms, that by keeping the bread dear, the poor will be better fed. Another says, that agriculture wants encouragement, at the expense of the ma

summer time Iswallowone penny-farthing in tax at almost every draft, exclusive of the taxes which reach the barley, through the land, the assessed taxes, the leather, the salt, the soap, the candles, &c. &c. of the farmer. If I belonged to the Company of Brewers, I would publish an answer to this "hint," and would shew the labouring classes," in whose behalf the gentleman testified so much consideration, how large a part of the price of their beer consisted in taxes. This would be paying him in his own coin. And I would shew, too, that those who are able to brew their own beer, pay no beer tax, and only a taxnufacturer and the poor labourer. Some on the malt, which latter is sufficiently have asserted that the arable part of the heavy, and is, in great part, a war tax country is small compared to the poputoo; but is now to be continued, it seems lation. Others state, that the newly enin time of peace. However, it must be closed lands had been very expensive to confessed, that the rabble, who were like those who have obtained them. Honest to squeeze and stink to death" Alexan- folks! They then have robbed the poor "der the Deliverer," and "Old Blucher," of their patrimony, without profit to ought not to grudge to swallow taxes themselves; nay with a certain loss. But in their beer, since it was these taxes, there has been, as yet, only one of them which, as we are now told, procured honest enough to hint at the real cause them the pleasure of seeing and embracing of the evil. He is made to say, that he those worthy personages. If you could himself was in possession of an estate take this class of persons, one by one, which formerly rented at six hundred a and clearly explain to them whither goes year. A short time since the lease exthe Cd. which they pay for a pet of beer, pired, and it was let at double the awhat a surprising turn it would give to mount. Here then, Mr. Cobbett, is the their minds! Or, if there was an Excisc- mystery explained. These gentlemen have man in each public house, to receive each more than doubled their income by from every purchaser of a pot of beer, rack-renting their tenants, who now look the government part of the price, that to their landlord for support, and the would make the matter delightfully clear. decision is left to those very men, who Then, and not till then, should we hear by their rapacity gave birth to the comthese people talking about the taxes in a plaint, that the farmer cannot afford to rational way. But, as government are grow cheap corn. No more can they, much too wise to adopt this mode of col- as they now live.--Another, trifling lection, we must expect to see such cause, entirely overlooked, or carefully "hints" as that of Mr.Vansittart received concealed, is the consolidation of a numwith great gratitude. How he must have ber of small farms into one large onelaughed to himself when he conceived extremely convenient, to be sure, for the the notion of throwing out such a hint! landholder, and very profitable to the Of stepping in between the makers and rich farmer-The one receives his rent drinkers of beer! What a sight to see! A with less trouble from an individual in nation so besotted as receive this as an alluence, than from a number of poor act of favour at the hands of the govern- tenants who may depend for their profits meat; and the impudent hirelings of the solely on their industry, and not, like the press have the profligacy to say, that the rich teuant, on the success of speculation. public are indebted to the minister for To be convinced of the truth of this, aving lowered the price of this neces- let the reader travel the kingdom round. sary of life! I do believe, that it is impose will soon learn, that the little farms sible to produce a similar instance of na-are consolidated into one great farm, and Honal delusion.

that the little farmers have, in consequence, either left the country, or now work (perhaps on what was once their

make them yourselves.

Lower your

rents. Divide your large farms into small ones. Encourage the little farmer's industry. Pay the major part of the taxes yourselves, as you alone have benefitted by their imposition. Let the public eat cheap bread. Retrench all your own unnecessary expenses, and throw the savings into the public purse.

ARISTIDES.

own farms) as day labourers, Let him next step into one of these large farm houses; he will no longer see the farmer's daughters, Madge or Dolly, feeding the pigs, fetching in the coys, miiking them, or churning or making cheese, while the old mother and grandmother are teaching the younger hrauches to knit coarse yarn stockings for feather, and brothers, and sisters-No, no: he will find the young ladies in a back parlour, playing upon the forte piano, drawing or embroidering, Mr COBBETT.-As I am a Farmer, perhaps making themselves up new caps I wish to say, how much I approve of or dresses to appear in at the next county your remark on the Corn Bill. Noball. The old mare with a pillion is also thing can be more correct than your discarded for a gig, chaise, or curricle; views of this subject. It is not the and the young gentleman, the farmer's farmer who wants a Corn Law, but the son, instead of thick high shoes well Government, that it may be able to studded with hobnails, with a smock raise taxes, which are to support a frock, and carter's whip on his shoulder, standing army, and a system of bribery now sports his military-cut-upper-coat of and corruption. But as we do not want superfiue, lined with silk, his Wellington a standing army in time of peace with boots,his jemmy rattan, and his bit of blood all the world, and as we do not want --The ox cheek and leg of beef, and suet a system of corruption, at any time, dumplin of ancient times, have given so taxes ought not to be raised for these way to Modera Delicacies; and if one unconstitutional purposes. It is against of the Misses happens to be remarkably the taxes then that the farmers should notable, it is possible she may superin- meet to petition, and at the same time tend the Pastry, the Jellies, the Blanc- should connect with their petitions a mange, &c. &c. How can such Farmers reform in the representation, the want of afford to grow cheap Corn? which, has been, and still is the cause of all our grievances civil and religious. I do not wish to repeat what you have already said so often and so well upon this subject. You have shewn that we can do with less taxes, and without loans, and without Corn Bills. And I believe it to be the real interest of every farmer, to oppose instead of supporting

a Corn Bill.

Feb. 20. 1815.

Your's, &c.

G. G. FORDHAM.

But the Taxes-true; but Gentlemen Landholders, how came these taxes? You Gentlemen Landholders, have the exclusive privilege of sitting in Parliameat: You have consented to these Taxes. Did you represent the Land or the Inhabitents? If it was the inhabitants, have you done them justice? What advantage, what compensation, have they received, or are they to receive from these taxes ?-Speak out:-have these taxes of your own imposing, have they not been to your own profit?-Pay P. S. In your last Register you obthem then yourselves, after consolidating serve, that if any addition is made to all the land of the country in your own your assessed taxes, you shall only keep hands-all the wealth in your own pock- one good horse and five or six dogs, ets. Is it not a nefarious attempt to as being necessaries of life. I cannot make the poor, those who have not one comprehend how the six dogs are necesfoot of land those who live by labour cessaries of life, unless you intend to and industry, those whom one week's sick-put them to plough to save the horse tax. ness sends to the work-house, those who toil all day that you may game and revel all night, those who are the bulk of the nation, and, we may add, the least vicious SIR, I am a good deal astonished at of any Startle not, Gentlemen:-it is the extraordinary defence of the New truth that guides my pen-Is it not a ne-Legion of Honour, which your corres-farious attempt to make such men eat pondent, P. C. has thought proper to dear bread? If sacrifices are to be made, make in your last number. He considers

LEGION OF HONOUR.

ser

that body as having been most cruelly attacked, by the name of Major General Digby Hamilton having been added to the list of its most respectable members. P. C. states this not to be the case, but he himself confesses that the Major General did apply for admission; therefore, at least, there was certainly some foundation for the report. P. C. very sa tirically compares the Major General's claims to those of the Under City Marshall, Mr. Nalder, on the ground of "rices." Now, Sir, I beg leave to be distinctly understood, that there are various sorts of "services," for which this " decoration," is bestowed:---there are military services, diplomatic services, pen and ink services, Horse Guards services, back door | services, negotiation services, procuration services, cum multiis aliis, too numerous to mention; so that the worthy Major General may have very eminently distinguished himself "in his way," and may have as good a title to the "decoration" as the Duke of Wellington himself. The Drum Boy, is, in his line, a great warrior; and I have no doubt, that the Major General could unfold as brilliant a list of achievements in his escutcheon, as any one of the " Knights Grand Crosses" of the Order. Every man in his vocation: The Major General has not been a war man; he has laboured peaceably at home, and has done wonders! For, as your correspondent observes, he contrives to continue" on,permanent pay," with " tem"porary" rank. I am sorry, however, Sir, to be obliged to inform you, that I have heard, from unquestionable authority, that it is the intention of one of those most awful " Jacobins," Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Ponsonby, Sir Francis Burdett, or some other of the "vile crew," to object to the continuance of the temporary rank Major General's "permanent Corps. How cruel this will be! Poor man! to deprive him of the sweet little country box at Croydon Barracks, and of the little comforts of coals, candles, hay, straw, and corn; to say nothing of his nice garden, and farm yard, and of the convenience of bringing up all these

་་

"

'comforts" to Cleveland Row, in a covered waggon, drawn by four horses!

pounds a year? But so it is, I fear; and the poor Major General will of course, be obliged to put down his carriages, and to lose his coachmen and footmen and their pretty pink liveries, who, of course. if the " Royal Waggon Train" is disbanded as is expected, these servants, being" Royal Waggoners," will be discharged from the public service; and if kept in the Major General's service, must be so at his own expense. You reformers are sad men, Mr. Cobbett? What a deal of mischief you are about to entail upon this valuable officer,by your meanness in thinking of a few hundreds of thousands of pounds? I know, in your way, paltry you will be calculating how many fami lies might be supported by the pay and allowances, seen and unseen,allowed and not allowed, permitetd and not permitted, but possessed by the Major General; and will ask, in your impertinent manner, what he does, or has done, to deserve such ample reward, while so many very meritorious officers without arms or legs, &c. &c.&c. are sent to cultivate their health in wholesome retirement, in Wales and the Highlands of Scotland, where alone their little pittance can provide them with potatoes and small beer. But, Sir, your correspondent, P. C. who dates his Letter from the Horse Guards, and of whose identity I can give a shrewd guess, can, if he pleases, unfold the whole story, and shew you that the "Major General" has claims, which cannot be disputed. If I am wrong, I call upon him to put me right; and I am sure your candour and love of truth is too great not to give insertion to whatever explanation he may think fit to make. That he will do which forthwith is the earnest wish of your sincere and fervent admirer,

Parlo CIVIS.

ON RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

LETTER VII, "Remember that the disorders of the Soul are no "to be cured by force and violence." Cardinal de Camus.-Pastoral Instructions.1638.

Continued from page 217.

Our Prince (acting for his father) Surely Mr. Whitbread could not be so is the sovereign head of the church, cruel as to begrudge the "Major General" or state religion of this country, and these trifling enjoyments, particularly "Defender of the Faith. " This when they do not cost the country more faith is a branch of a system called than two or three hundred thousand christian, from the name of its founder,

and first instituted, as the almanacks | flourished in the early ages of the Gospel tell us, about 1815 years ago.

Whatever might have been the opin ions of the early professors of this religion, we at the present day, that is, the great bulk of Christians in this country, believe, that the great Author of Nature, in order to redeem his creatures from a portion of the disgrace entailed upon them, in consequence of their first parents eating some fruit from a forbidden tree, he begot, in a supernatural manner, a son upon the body of a young woman, who was betrothed to an old man. That this immaculate conception was brought about by the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost,an incorporeal spiritual personage, sometimes represented as appearing in the shape of a Dove, and sometimes in various other forms. We believe also in a doctrine called the Trinity, said to have been established about the third century of Christianity, which representsthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to partake equally of divinity, and, in fact, to be three Gods and one God at the same time; three in one, and one composing three, and yet not one God but three, and not three separate Gods but

dispensation, may, with perfect consistency, despise the pretensions of Johanna, because they reject the miraculous conception of Mary, the divinity of Jesus, and the sublime mystery of the Trinity; but we, who stake our salvation upon our faith in these things, cannot consistently, or without great danger to our holy religion, appear hostile to the opinions of this new sect.-If these Millenarians had denied any part of our sacred writings, and proved some characters, which we greatly admire, to be bad ones; if they had abused our church, reviled its ministry, or breathed a spirit of Jacobinism, we might then have found some pretext for persecuting them with all the fury of religious monsters just let loose from hell; but, on the contrary, they admit the whole of our Scriptures to be true, and, so far from disrespecting the State Religion, they read the whole of its forms in their Meetings.-Now the dithi culty we laboured under in opposing their system was this, that we admit all things to be possible with God, that the ways of providence are often dark and mysterious, and that he does not It is true, our enemies ridicule this consult either ourselves or our underineffable mystery of our holy religion, but standings in the government of the uniwe implicitly believe it, though so inscru- verse, or the means he shall use to carry table that we cannot comprehend it. It his designs into execution; all this we must also be recollected, that we believe acknowledge when we give him the attri our Saviour Jesus Christ to have been bute of "Omnipotence." Is it not palthe promised Messiah mentioned in the pable then, that by doubting the superancient traditions and prophecies of the natural pregnancy of Mrs. Southcott, Jews, who, when he came, was to bring and hastily determining it to be impossible, about such wonderful things that the we called in question the power of the earth was to be a sort of paradise. The Almighty? Was not her case strictly Jews will not agree to this. They say analagous to that of the blessed Virgin that our Messiah was executed without Mary, whom the Catholics always honor having accomplished what was predicted with the appellation of "Mother of of him; that we misrepresent their scrip- God ?" We own that the Lord has Lures, and contrive, by means of forged worked hundreds and thousands of genealogies, and other insidious arts, to Miracles, and are pigmies like us to say graft our system on theirs to give it a bet-when he shall cease to work them? If ter foundation; but we, as Christians, consider them mistaken, and give no credit to aspersions so injurious to our holy faith.

one.

this would have been a greater Miracle than the birth of Christ, might it not be more necessary, at a period like this, when, instead of the ignorant idolatry These being some of the leading points of those days, the earth is over-run with of our religion, and indeed being the an enlightened infidelity, and when, in very foundation stones upon which the fact, the progress of knowledge has only superstructure is reared, does it not be- facilitated the march of materialism and hove us to be particularly cautions how scepticism? But where can be the dif we meddle with the mission and the doc-ference to the Almighty 3-Is he not trine; of Mrs. Southcott?-Such Chris- as capable of commanding an aged vir tias many, or most of the sects who gin to bring forth, without connection

with man, as he was a young woman? How often have heard persons exHas the period of 1800 years, diminished claim "I wonder how any one can be so his strength, or is he a man that he credulous as to be lead away by that should have grown imbecile through age? woman."-In the same manner I have -How often do we call the Jews a set of heard a gaping clown, when staring at hard hearted and blood thirsty villains the lofty fabric of St. Paul, express his for not believing what took place in their astonishment, that human ingenuity could own day, but executing the Son of God plan and erect so stupendous a pile; but as an impostor. Every impartial person the skilful architect views it with far less must acknowledge, that the great bulk amazement, because he knows the prinof the English place themselves just in ciples upon which the temple was dethe same situation as the Jews, when sigued, and the means by which that they ridiculed the Prophetess, and would design was carried into execution, and have persecuted her if our Prince had could himself, perhaps, raise as grand been as weak as Pontius Pilate, and had a structure, if he had the same opportu yielded to their senseless murder brea- nity of displaying his abilities.-Does thing clamour. It would have been much not this prove, that all our wonder arises more becoming in such insignificant from our ignorance, and that the only animals as we are, to have waited with reason why we are surprised at the weakpatient submission to the Decrees of ness of the Southcoterians is, that we are Heaven, and not presumptuously attempt nnacquainted with the theory of the hu to scan the ways of providence by man mind in general, and with our own judging and determining before the ap-faculties in particular? If we were capointed time. We called these people pable of divesting ourselves of the pre-superstitious, weak, and stupid, for cre- judices of education, the trammels of diting that which was not more wonder- superstition, and all the shackles which ful than what we firmly believe, though surrounding circumstances impose upon it took place near 2000 years since, and us; if we could dissect our brain, ana is handed down to us by tradition, thro' lyse our ideas, and make an inventory of the dark ages and a variety of mediums our knowledge, we should find the por which we often take a pleasure in pro- tion of it olained by think ng, examin ving to be suspicious. Does not all this ing, and judging for ourselves, so smal open a door to the scoffs and jeers of as hardly to be discen ible in the mass Infidels? Does it not give them a glo- of rubbish that we have received withrious opportunity of making our foolish out investigation, from our curse, our conduct in this respect, a powerful en- schoolmaster, and our priest.--The ingine wherewith to strike at the very struction we imbibed from these, was root of our holy religion, by shewing us considered as the dictates of truth and how easily we can see the errors and reason by our infantine capacities. We absurdities of others, and wonder at their grow up in reverence of what we have being so besotted, when, if we were ca- learned from parents, elders, and supepable of asking ourselves a few close riors, falsely conceiving it the result of questions, we might perhaps find that our own conviction, and, whether right we were cherishing in our own minds dog- or wrong, becoming more obstinately mas equally repugnant to common sense. bigotted to it, the longer we continue it. Our prince is aware, that if the discus- Our self love, pride, and vanity, prompt sion of these topics had been pushed still us to attach a peculiar importance to cur further by the misguided zeal of religious own opinions, and to attribute them to persecution, it would give scope to a our judgment and discrimination, or to thousand such illnatured observations any cause but that of chancé, ar accident, and inferences as those I have just menwhich threw us in the way of the educationed; therefore I look up to him with tion we have received, whether good or veneration, as an experienced Father,bad. whose judgement is not blinded by his affection for his children, but who has the resolution to deny such of their requests as his superior knowledge, and foresight, convinces him will militate against their happiness.

To set our knowledge of, or our fondness for, particular dogmas to their account, instead of to our own election, is not sulliciently flattering to human natore. Is it then to wonder d at that the more ignorant we, are, the more of stinate we shall be in adhering to any