Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

to the workhouse, and that is bad enough.

-No, no, it is the Germans, the beloved Germans, who have won our hearts, and claim our solicitude, our cares, and our attentions; to such a degree, indeed, that I should not be surprised if England should be nearly deserted, as it is very natural for men to be fond of the company of those who so completely possess their esteem and affection. But, to return to the collection made for the poor of the parish of St. Ann's. The two sermons preached on that occasion produced a collection considerably under £30; but when the sermons were preached for the benefit of the German sufferers, the hearts of the hearers were certainly softened; they were thawed either by political heat, or the warm sun-beams of vanity: it is impossible it could be from humanity. The sermon in the morning produced £93, and, if I am rightly informed, that in the afternoon raised £17.

-Judge, Sir, from these facts, what little feeling there is in the hearts of Englishmen for the suffering English, and that, too, in the severest weather I ever remember, and I am not a chicken.

A FRIEND TO HUMANITY. Blackfriars, March, 1814.

his needy relatives, whom he knows to be in a state of pauperism.--In my letter to you of the 2d instant, I took notice of a Charity Sermon that was to be preached on the Sunday following at the parish church of St. Ann, Blackfriars', for the benefit of the German Sufferers. I also observed, that the worthy Rector had devoted the same pulpit, some weeks before, to the same laudable purpose, for the sole benefit of the poor of his flock. I should have mentioned also, that the Afternoon Lecturer, in both cases, took up the subject, and made some small collection. There were, therefore, two separate Sundays devoted to preaching at the same church, by the same eminent Divine, to the same congregation, and upon the same occasion,namely, to relieve misery and distress, and that brought on by the same cause, the calamities of war.The suffering German is expelled from his cottage and property by a merciless enemy; the suffering Englishman by the hand of a friend, a civil officer, who, at the command of a collector, takes forceable possession of his house, to seize for the King's taxes, and the landlord sweeps the cottage for the arrears of rent. They are both deprived of the comforts of a habitation, and find themselves and families reduced to misery and want.Point out to me, Sir, if you can, the differ- STOCK EXCHANGE MORALITY. ence in the situation of these two parties. MR. COBBETT,-It may be customary to In the estimation of some people, there introduce an anonymous letter with an exmust be a difference, and a great difference ordium of high-flown compliments to the too (though I cannot see it), as it is a noto- Editor. This, however, I must beg leave rious fact, that the suffering Germans have to wave at present.-Without any perfour times the pity and assistance of the sonal acquaintance with yourself, your Resuffering English.- -What is it that these gister has for many years afforded me both newly acquired friends, the suffering Ger- pleasure and information; and, except when mans, have done for us, which they have you have condescended to drag obscure innot already been paid for, that entitles them dividuals into a kind of fame, by laying so strongly to our compassionate regard? open to the public their silly speeches or It is not yet twelve months since they stood dishonest actions, I have uniformly admired in battle array against us, and it is not im- your talent and your selection of subject, possible that in less than six months they deeming your labours highly beneficial to may again assume the same hostile position. humanity.--A late event, I am glad to whoever will give themselves the trouble to find, has not escaped your eagle-eye, nor examine into the conduct of the Germans your still sharper pen: I do not mean any towards this country for the last hundred of the former, but the last imposition prac years, will easily discover that gratitude is tised upon that highly esteemed and truly not their most prominent virtue. I hear respectable body of men, the Stock jobbers; many people prate about their love of coun- -men who never wish to profit by false try, and I have been simple enough to ima- rumours! -men who, for self-defence, gine they meant the people of the same ought to be particularly upon their guard country in which they were born and against the manoeuvres of Jacobins, who brought up; but I have discovered my mis- make no scruple of asserting that the war take. It is the soil they mean, on which and the national debt yield support to the they tread, and not the people. The peo- Stock-jobber, and therefore wish to put an ple may go to the-I'H say no worse-end to both.-Morality, forsooth, in the

mouths of Stock-jobbers!-It is certainly
very disgusting to hear men talk of a thing
they themselves neither practise nor under-
stand. The squeamish consciences of these
gentlemen are much revolted at the late
hoax practised upon them. They are out
of pocket by it; they are losers; therefore
they have lugged in morality.-Pray what
is the foundation of the national debt?
What is the cause of its increase? What
is the nature of Stock-jobbing in the Alley?
Which bears the highest premium, Morali
ty or Omnium? Is it customary for the
buyers to proclaim a victory before they
buy? or for the venders to boast of bad
news before they sell? Do they not all
endeavour to buy cheap and sell dear? Do
they not all seize upon the slightest advan
tage either way? Do they not most eager-
ly make a profit of credulity? Was this
fraud the first, the only one that has ever
taken place? Why do they appeal to Go-
vernment for present redress and future
prevention? Do they not see in our pub-
lic papers fraud practised, openly avowed
and authorized? Of what description was
the act of that Commander who obtained
the secret, and counterfeited the cypher of
the enemy? Oh! but that was a ruse de
guerre! say these gentlemen, and therefore
allowable.-Very well; since you will
have it so, let the hoax be also deemed a
ruse de guerre. Gambling is a species of
warfare; the combatants in the one case
thirsting for blood, in the other thirsting
for money! A Cossack and a Stock jobber
are more allied than is generally imagined;
although, upon reflection, we may easily
discover a relation's joy, a family affection,
in the excessive caresses shewn to a cousin
Cossack who visited the metropolis some
months ago.-Excuse my hasty scribble,
but I belong to a Bible Society, and some
of our members as well as myself make a
practise of going our rounds regularly, to
discover what green grocer or what chand-
lers' shops expose their ware to sale on a
sabbath-night.

Sabbath evening.

SIMON PANTEGRUEL.

NATIONAL REFORM. MR. COBBETT,--As your Register has been, and is now, the great means of diffusing important political truth to our think ing nation, you will oblige one of your constant readers, as well as the friends of general liberty, by inserting the following plan of national reform, to support our minds under the present expensive contest

with France. The plan which I propose is more certain and stable than the Sinking Fund, and is such as no honest man can, I conceive, oppose with any show of justice. It ought to unite all parties, because it is founded on general equity, and gives equal religious rights and privileges to all sects and denominations; and, as a great excellency, will do no injury, to any individual.

1st. Let every person, of whatever order, office, or description, who belongs to and receives any emolument from the established national religion, enjoy his income during his life.

2d. Let the government sell all the tithes, at the death of the incumbents, and apply the church revenues to the purpose of paying off the interest of the national debt, &c.

This is the whole of my simple plan; and, besides its political usefulness, it will serve to restore religion to its primitive simplicity, as its Founder left it. It is well known, that Christianity, before it had any union with worldly establishments, or had received any support from national emoluments, even though opposed and persecuted, made its irresistible way through the Roman empire, but when it became a national institution, it lost its essence as a spiritual religion, was changed into, a corrupt, mercenary, and persecuting religion, a kingdom of this world, and an engine of the state. No person of the church of England can reasonably complain of the above plan, because they may enjoy their religion on the same terms as all other sects; and being the minority, they ought to consider the good of the whole, but, as being professing Christians, they ought to remember that equal justice is due to all, without fa vour or distinction.

A FRIEND TO JUSTICE.

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
ON THE VICE-CHANCELLOR'S Court, AND
POWER OF THE PROCTORS.

Mr. Editor,-In the discussion that has taken place in Oxford, in consequence of the observations on certain statutes of that University, and on the power of the Proctors, which appeared in your Register of the 26th ult. I have heard the writer taxed with a culpable omission in not stating that the sentence of the Vice-Chancellor's Court is not final; but that any person, who conceives himself aggrieved by any proceedings in that Court, has means of redress by an appeal.I beg leave to say, that the

she came, whither she was going. This, to say the least of it, was highly inquisitorial. It must have been done to gratify an impertinent curiosity, an insatiable lust of power, or something worse. To the inhabitants of the place, who are daily subject to the effects of such abuse of power, this conduct cannot but be irritating, and must conduce to keep up that jealousy and illwill, which have always existed between the University and city. It may, perhaps, be said, that this exertion of assumed autho rity did not arise from any badness of heart, but merely from the excusable desire which a young man feels to display his consequence on his first entrance into office.

appeal is generally considered as nugatory, and so completely out of the power of a poor client, as not to be worth mentioning, and as only calculated to add insult to injury. -Respecting the appeal, BLACKSTONE informs us, that from the sentence of the Vice-Chancellor, his deputy or assessor, "an appeal lies to delegates appointed by the Congregation, from thence to other delegates of the House of Convocation; and if all three concur in the same sentence, it is final, at least by the statutes of the University, according to the rule of the civil law. But, if there be any discordance or variation in any of the three sentences, an appeal lies, in the last resort, to judges delegates appointed by the Crown under the It is difficult, indeed, to restrain the great seal of Chancery."Now, Sir, expression of our pity at the weakness of not to insist upon the impossibility of a that man, who can be proud of an office, poor client having recourse to so tedious which is merely ministerial, and which and so expensive a mode of seeking redress places him, in the eye of the law, in nearly from the sentence of this Court, I shall the same situation as that of a common only observe, that the names of the Vice- constable.—It must, however, be remarkChancellor, of both the Proctors, and noted, that this was not only a very foolish, unfrequently of some of the Pro-Proctors,+ but a very illegal proceeding, being totally are among the delegates of appeals both in unwarranted either by the law of the land, Convocation and Congregation! I hope, or by the University-charters. By the latthen, we shall no more hear of the easyter, the time of watch and ward is limited method of a poor person's obtaining re- between nine o'clock at night and five in dress, and of the utter impossibility of his the morning, during which time only the being persecuted by the University officers. University-officers have the right or power -I hope, as the matter is now beginning of interference in the streets with any but to be agitated, that the members of the matriculated persons. This, however, I University will express their abhorrence of know to have been done with impunity. some late disgraceful proceedings, which An action could not be brought against the are well known, and which have long been aggressor in any other court than that of the chief topic of conversation in Oxford. the Vice-Chancellor.I knew a Proctor, -From my long residence in the Uni-who, at the very time when several females, versity, I have been personally acquainted whom he himself had apprehended, were with several of the Proctors, who have confined in prison, at a most inclement seabeer men of judgment and of acknowledged son of the year, had so little sense of probenevolence, and who have discharged the priety and feeling, and so much meanness duties of their office with honour and inte- and brutality, as to exult on the success of grity. It is to be lamented, that some the cunning plans and stratagems by which others have displayed a total want of proper he had entrapped his victims. -To add feeling, and have behaved like tyrannical to this unpleasant, but necessary recital, I school-boys.To produce instances of remember a circumstance to have happencruelty and tyranny is always an unpleasant ed, of so unjustifiable a nature, that the very task, and is disgusting to the reader. The recollection of it rouses my indignation. cause of truth and humanity, however, re- The Proctors took the trouble of going two quires that facts be brought forward in sup- miles out of Oxford, late at night, and enport of assertions.I can bring an in-tered a cottage, where five or six girls of stance of a Pro-Proctor, who carried his assumed power to such a length as to stop every woman he met walking by herself, in the streets, in the dusk of the evening, and to demand of her who she was, whence

Blackstone's Commentaries, B. iii. ch. 6. + Each Proctor has two Masters of Arts to assist him, who are called Pro-Proctors.

bad character were dancing with countrymen who lived in their neighbourhood. Ón finding that no gownsmen were there, it is said, that they all demurred except one of the Pro-Proctors, who declared that his walk should not be in vain. The fact, however, was, that they took the girls to Oxford, and the Vice-Chancellor commit

some circumstance of importance, which he cannot possibly foresee, should induce him to depart from his determination.

ted them to the county gaol for ten days, in very cold weather. On what legal autho rity, or what law of the land, or statute of the University the commitment was found-"Capt. Campbell, observing from Mr. ed, still remains a problem, which might "Mant's statement, in the Political Regisbe solved, could the cause be brought into "ter of the 12th of March, that Mr. Mant any other than the Vice-Chancellor's own "has the full authority from numerous court. The above facts can be well at- ""friends, and of the greatest respectabitested. Do not, however, imagine, that" "lity, to proclaim, that his veracity this severity has at all improved the mo "" stands unimpeached," and this after rality of the place. The case is quite the "his only ground of defence had been reverse. The money of the young men is" proved to be false by the oath of Captain now expended, and their time wasted in "Wilson; Captain Campbell observing hiring carriages and horses to pursue their "this, would gladly have avoided any pleasures in the neighbouring towns and "thing calculated to diminish the content villages, and in Oxford itself seduction is "which must necessarily have arisen from very prevalent.It must be allowed, in- "the consolatory decision of so numerous deed, that the Proctors are not the only" and respectable a circle. But, Mr. Mant, persons to be blamed for these injudicious" not satisfied with having thus happily proceedings. To the Vice-Chancellor for "established his veracity, takes occasion the time being must be attributed the greater" again to state certain pretended facts of share of the blame; for it must be remem- "accusation against Captain Campbell, bered, that no commitment can take place" which, though they present nothing new, but by his warrant, or by that of one of the" are now circulated in a manner that enPro-Vice-Chancellors acting for him.-- "titles them to some attention on the part If the officers of the University had com-" of Capt. Campbell.--The FIRST is, mon sense or common prudence, they would" an insinuation respecting 1,500 Venetian act with some degree of moderation; they "Zeechens. It is evident, that Mr. Mant, would not insist upon the enforcement of" in the passage alluded to, wishes to cause statutes, and the exertion of privileges," the public to believe, that Capt. Campwhich were always odious and unconstitu- “bell took this sum as a sort of bribe.tional, and which ill accord with the tem- "The truth of the matter is this. The per and spirit of the times. If, however," sum was lodged, by the merchants of they are determined still to persist in these "Trieste, in the hands of the English Vicemeasures, contrary to the voice of justice" Consul at that place, for the purpose of and reason, they cannot have any cause to "purchasing a sword, or a piece of plate, complain if they shall be deprived of their" for Capt. Campbell, in return for the means of annoyance; for this business now "protection he had, at the desire of Sir calls for the interference of Parliament; "Alexander Ball, given to certain Ausand a petition from the inhabitants of Ox-"trian vessels, cleared out for Tunis, but ford, stating their grievances, might place" the real destination of which was Malta. them within the protection of the law of the land, and put them on a footing of equal security with the inhabitants of other places.

Oxford, March, 1814.

[ocr errors]

"The Vice-Consul (not a very likely chan"nel for bribe) made Capt. Campbell ac"quainted with it. But he, considering "that the offer did not come from his own countrymen, and that it was not becoming him to accept of it, refused the offer; " and the money was returned to the Mer"chants.Capt. Campbell has in his possession the receipt of the Merchants, given to the Vice-Consul for the return of "the money to them; the certificate of the "Vice-Consul that he had returned the

60

CAPT. CAMPBELL AND MR. MANT.The Proprietor of the Register has received from Capt. Campbell the following short" statement, which, after the very ample that has been given to the subject, he space has determined shall be the last, unless

There was no riot or disturbance in the house. When the men who were with the girls said that they were ready to protect them from the Proctors, the girls would not suffer any interference of that sort, but said that they would go

66

money; and; what would certainly ex"cite the indignation of all mankind, except that numerous and respectable ""body of friends, who have fully autho

66

rized Mr. Mant to publish that his vequietly with the Proctors to Oxford, which they Campbell has in his possession a paper ""racity stands unimpeached," Captain

did.

" committed an act of most flagrant rogue"ry.It is not very probable that the "squadron should have quietly submitted to so singular a distribution of prizemoney. But, the facts of the case are these.—The English Consul at Trieste

"(demanded from Mr. Mant in conse"quence of his former insinuations), signed 64 by Mr. Mant, and drawn up in his own "hand, "declaring most solemnly, that" "" this identical sum of money, offered as ““ above-stated, was actually returned by ""Capt. Campbell's direction.”—The" had given papers to four Austrian vessels, "Second allegation, or rather insinuation,

66

66

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

coming out of that port, which papers

" is, that Capt. Campbell has left 40,000" the masters of those vessels looked upon "dollars unaccounted for; from which 66 as passports, or, at least, as the means of the public are left to believe, that he may" insuring them from captu: by English 66 have really embezzled that sum.-The" vessels of war. The King's Order in 66 sun was twenty, instead of forty thou "Council of the 7th January, 1807, made "sand dollars, a mistake, which Mr. "all vessels liable to capture, coming out "Mant's "numerous and greatly respect- "of any port situated, with regard to the "able friends" will, of course, look upon "enemy's influence, as Trieste then was, 66 as not the smallest ground of impeach"and bound to another port under similar ment of his veracity. This sum belonged" circumstances. The four vessels in questo the squadron, on account of prize-"tion were stopped by Capt. Campbell, in "vessels. It was sent by Capt. Campbell," sight of the port of Trieste; but, in con"by the Captain of a brig of war, to "sideration of their having sailed under "Malta. He, on calling at Corfu, on his faith of the English Consul's papers, and way to Malta, received dispatches of im- of their not having attempted to escape 66 portance from our Minister there to con- "from him; he directed them to return 66 vey to Lord Collingwood, then at the into the port; and wrote to the Consul, "mouth of the Dardanelles. He, there- requesting him not to give any such pa"fore, deposited the money with Mr. For- pers in future, as it was only deceiving resti, our Minister, to be forwarded to "the masters of the vessels, and doing in"Malta by the first conveyance. But, al"jury to them and the merchants. This "most immediately after, Corfu was given "communication to the Consul was made up by the Russians to the French, and by letter, the bearer of which letter was "Mr. Forresti was obliged to quit the "Mr. Mant himself, who, as a further 66 place in such haste, that it was left be- proof of Mr. Mant's veracity,, wrote a hind, where, as he has informed Capt." letter, now in Capt. Campbell's posses"Campbell, it now remains. It is only "sion, giving an account of his interview necessary to add, that Capt. Campbell," with the Consul upon the occasion." on behalf of himself and the squadron," Capt. Campbell has no doubt of his strict holds the bond of Mr. Forresti for this right to have considered the four vessels 66 money; and, that of all the history and "as lawful prize, under the Order in "all the circumstances of this transaction, "Council; but, under all the circum"Mr. Mant is, and from the first to the "stances of the case, he also has no doubt, last has been, perfectly well acquainted." that a Judge of the Admiralty would But, it would, doubtless, be no dif- "have directed them to be restored. "ficult matter for Mr. Mant to obtain the" any rate, they were not made prize of; "same respectable authority to publish as they were not given away: there was no "long as he pleased, that he was, in putting" appearance of their having been given "forth this insinuation, actuated by the away; and of these facts Mr. Mant is as purest motives, and by any thing rather" well acquainted as is Capt. Campbell " than malignity. The THIRD insinua-" himself.Capt. Campbell is sorry to "have taken up so much room with his statement; but, it appeared to him not too much to request after the large space. "which had been allowed to Mr. Mant, whom Capt. Campbell will now leave to

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

At

tion is, that Capt. Campbell gave away four vessels, prizes to the squadron under" his command. Mr. Mant calls it an apparent giving away, and, having such a "stock of current veracity at command," says quite enough to produce a belief" the enjoyment of the society of that nu(that is to say, amongst his numerous "merous and respectable circle of friends, "and respectable friends), that Captain "who have given him full authority to "Campbell made over the vessels to some "publish, "that his veracity stands un"one, to be disposed of for his own private"" impeached." "advantage; or, in other words, that he

[ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »