our own

you to insert, before you insert my re- any unfair influence; for of six newspapers marks, the article of which I have just published in Manchester, five were bitterly spoken; but, without this, the remarks and this affords a proof that those who attri opposed to the return of Mr. P. Thomson; must necessarily lose a great part of bute omnipotence to the press, forget that the their force; and, besides, it has always press is powerful only in the proportion in been my practice, to let which it espouses the good cause. readers see The elecmy both sides fairly and fully. At the same that they can think for themselves. The elec tors of Mauchester, at all events, have proved time, let me observe, that I shall not be tors of Manchester were not only assailed by either offended or disappointed, if you their own newspapers, but strong recommendshould, for any reason whatever, notations of Mr. Loyd appeared in columns, and also in the columns of our conthink it proper to comply with this retemporaries, the Times and Gl be. The truth quest. The article, to which I allude, is, we believed Mr. Loyd to be an able and is as follows: conscientious reformer, and we were aware at The dinner given on Thursday last to the the time neither of the prevalence of the wish two representatives for Manchester, Mr. Phil- to return Mr. P. Thomson, nor of the importlips and Mr. Poulett Thomson, is, in many ance which they attached to his return, as a respects, deserving of attention. Such au triumph of sound principles. Neither had we assembly is not certainly of every-day occurbeen made acquainted with the influence which rence. On this occasion 1,300 gentlemen, all the appearance of a conservative candidate in possessed of some property, many were wealthy, Manchester had on the liberalism of Mr. Loyd. all distinguished for their respectability and if ever, therefore, a candidate appeared under intelligence, were united under one roof. circumstances little calculated to aid the cause With the exception, too, of eight visiters, they on which his claims rested, it was the Vice-Prewere all electors of the borough. It is un-sident of the Board of Trade. All the other necessary for us to observe that Manchester is candidates had completed their canvass before now the acknowledged commercial metropolis he was thought of, and Mr. Loyd had even enof the world, that it is the centre of that which joyed the advantage of the strong newspaper gives to this country its distinctive character recommendations to which we have alluded, -our manufacturing system. We deem the and the recommendations of many respectaapprobation by the merchants aud manu'acble friends in Manchester, and the support of turers of Manchester of the principles acted all the influence of the Bank establishment. on by Mr. Poulett Thomson, as of unspeakable And yet the Manchester electors, judging and importance. Here are the men who have the acting for themselves, were steady to their purdeepest interest in the commercial prosperity pose, and in the contest for the principles of Mr. of the country, and who, by their knowledge P.Thomson, obtained a triumph without incurand skill, are best acquainted with the sources ring any other expeuse than that of a few plaof our commercial greatness, and the means cards and advertisements. Mr Thomson was by which it can be preserved and advanced, completely a stranger in Manchester; and we not satisfied with a cold approbation of the have been assured by a most respectable merpublic conduct of Mr. THOMSON, but in order chant of that city, that there were not perhaps to mark their peculiar sense of the importance twenty people in it who could say they had to the country of the course he is pursuing, ever set eyes on him. We yesterday gave a soliciting him, though a stranger, and without brief extract of the proceedings at the dinner. solicitation on his part to represent them the We this day give from The Manchester Chrovery moment the suffrage was communicated nicle what appears to be a pretty full account to them. Mr. Poulett Thomson was known of the speech of Mr. Poulett Thomson, which to the Manchester electors principally from will deservedly be the subject of much discushis connexion with the question of free sion throughout the country. The very great commerce. His general political charac-length of the report in the Manchester papers ter is in perfect accordance with the politics of the mass of the educated population of Mauchester; but that alone, much as they were satisfied with him in that respect, would never have caused him to be even thought of, had it not been combined with his bold and enlightened opinions on trade. It was to strengthen and encourage him in his career, to silence the curs who were perpetually snarling at him -it was to give a demonstration which could not be challenged, that he had the enlightened Now, Sir, the object of this article commercial world on his side, that the elec- clearly is, to cause it to be believed that tors of Manchester were chiefly auxious to Mr. THOMSON is really and truly the connect him with them as their representa-. tive. His election cannot be said to be the free choice of the people of Manchester; work of any delusion fostered by the press-or, at least, of all that which is here

that in The Manchester Times extending to ten closely-printed columns-will not allow us to do more than extract the speech of Mr. Thomson; but as it is of immense importance that the motives of the Manchester electors in this selection should be properly appreciated, we must here avail ourselves of the following passage in the very able speech of Mr. Shuttleworth.

called, in the true Castlereaghan style, openly said words to that effect; and "the respectability and intelligence of Dick actually had his canvassing cards Manchester;" and this being the object, printed. Their feelers on their brother nothing was ever more destitute of truth than the fact, and few attempts were ever more destitute of political honesty, or (and the editor of the Chronicle may take his choice) more deeply marked with political ignorance.

radicals having convinced them that this would not do, they all agreed to bring forward Mr. PHILLIPS, just from the same sort of motive that the rival cardinals brought forwards Sixtus V. There was little to object to in Mr. The facts relating to Mr. POULETT PHILLIPS, who was soon brought to THOMSON'S election are these: that he give all the pledges on which the radiwas at Manchester a little while before cals insisted; and, therefore, the PoThe was put in nomination; that he went TERS and Co. set on foot and perfected on to GLASGOW and GREENOCK, and a most scrutinizing and successful canthat he spelled for a seat at the latter vass, getting promises from a very large town, where he found the door closed part of those electors, who promised or against any placeman; that, after this, intended to vote for me, as well as from he was nominated for Manchester, those who promised to vote for Mr. ostensibly by one DYER, a Yankee LoYD. Mr. HOPE's supporters would alien, a card-machine-maker; but that, hold no communication with them; and, secretly, by the whole of the committee really, this was very much to their hoof Mr. PHILLIPS. There are five men nour. They cheated Mr. LoYD out of at MANCHESTER; the Two POTTERS, his seat; but Mr. HOPE's adherents dealers in cotton goods; one SHUTTLEWORTH, a cotton-dealer or agent; one BAXTER, lately a merchant; and the aforesaid DYER. These men all belong, I believe, to a new sort of banking affair, and are great sticklers for what they call " opening the trade of banking;" or, in DYER's own phrase, "free trade in banking," to obtain which, is, doubtless, one of their great objects.

were resolved, at any rate, that they would not put trust in these men, nor hold any terms with them, be the consequences what they might.

Having secured a great majority for Mr. PHILLIPS, a part of the committee of Phillips swarmed off, and became a committee for Thomson, DYER, the Yankee, being at the head of the swarm; and, denying, on both sides, with the most solemn asseverations, that there was any coalition, or connexion, between them. Thus they engrafted their canvass for THOMSON upon that for PHILLIPS; and, asserting, at the same time, with the most profligate effrontery, that I was not to go to the poll, OLDHAM being sure for me, they got great part of their votes for THOMSON by mere dint of lying, in which there is no instance of anything to surpass them.

These men have been called radicals for many years. They were the motionmakers and speech-makers at all public meetings, for several years, and, indeed, until the month of June last, when each of them began to conceive the fatal notion that he was to be member for Manchester, and began to smell from afar the sweets of honours and emoluments. They then, as it were by instinct, became less radical. However, they had done no overt act to show These, then, were the means made to the people that their views were use of, so far, to obtain the votes. Bechanged; and their old character stuck sides which, the crew pledged themto them, until just before the election selves that THOMSON was for the BALtook place. There could not be five LOT, and they placarded the whole members for Manchester; and as to town with " Vote for THOMSON and three yielding their pretentions to the the BALLOT.” Then, before the other two, that was out of the question. middle of the first day's polling, they The two POTTERS were actually pre- placarded the town with "Mr. Cobbett paring for the thing: Tom said openly, "is returned for Oldham; vote for that he intended to be one, or at least," Thomson to keep out the Tories.” And

yet, the Chronicle tells its readers, that | December, to which, Sir, I beg your the choosing of him was the voluntary act attention: of the people of Manchester, judging "MR. POULETT THOMSON.-We beand acting for themselves; and that this "lieve that there is hardly a body of triumph was obtained without any ex- men to be found in the island, except pense, "other than a few placards! "those who have made Mr. Poulett And, that there was no other influence," Thomson member for Manchester, who of any sort, exercised! Never was << would not feel some degree of shame there a greater libel on a town, or on "and compunction at the present moany body of persons in the whole world!

ment. The mode of his introduction

His election was the result of a deep-" into Manchester, showed on their part laid scheme of a few very crafty men, a consciousness of guilt. Mr. Poulett trading upon the popularity that they" Thomson, the popular Whig member, had acquired by professions of reform, and has not yet dared to address the by their prominence at public and po- "inhabitants, or even the electors of pular meetings. Never was there a "Manchester. He came into the town more impudent string of falsehoods than" on Monday, in a close carriage, to this that is here put forth by the Morn-" address a body of his supporters got ing Chronicle; and, I pray you, Sir," together in the following manner: let the mis-represented people of Man-" His committee hired the dining-room chester owe the exposure of these" of the Exchange, and issued tickets of falsehoods to you. Let them see, that" admission with the most guarded cirwe are to have, at least, ONE London" cumspection. To one gentleman who daily paper, not sold to corruption. applied for a ticket, they replied by Thus far, Sir, as to the causes of" the mouth of a fellow of the name of Thomson's being elected. Now, let us Chapman, an attorney as we are told, see how subsequent transactions con- "that they wondered that he should firm this statement. At the nomination," have the impudence to apply, as he had DYER, who proposed him, was assailed" not voted for Poulett Thomson. This with every mark of public scorn from" is the language which was used by rich as well as from working people. an authorised servant of the parties He stood half an hour, stunned with" associated under the name of the Off! off! off! no Yankee's placeman! "committee of Poulett Thomson.' In no tax-eating candidate! get away!" the same spirit, if not in the same "hide your head!" The reprobation terms, they met the applications of was louder, more scornful, and more "several other parties, declining to give unanimous, than any that I ever "admittance to any but their own before heard in my life. Was this a "friends. Notwithstanding this, a very mark of that public and unsought ap-" general impression prevailed that the probation of which the Chronicle is " meeting was to be a public one; and, corrupt enough to talk? But, since" indeed, some placards were issued

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the election, he has appeared at Man-" stating that this was the case. Accordchester in person; and how has that ap- ingly a considerable crowd assembled, pearance and how have the conse- "who, while the public entrance to the quences of it tended to make good the" room was kept closed, had the mortiassertions of the Chronicle? The"fication to see the room gradually PRIGS (for that is the name of his " 'filling by ticket admissions at a side little faction at Manchester) did not "door. This naturally produced a great dare to bring him out before the inha-"irritation of feeling; and when the bitants; and yet they wanted to have it" doors were opened, the crowd, which to say that he had addressed the people, was mixed of all ranks, proceeded at in some way or other. They, there-"once to hoot the member off the stage; fore, hired the place which is described " and to their indignation he was obin the following account taken from "liged to yield, after an attempt to adthe Manchester Advertiser of the 29." dress the meeting in a speech, no part

of which was audible even to the re"porters."

And this is the man whom the Chronicle holds up as having been elected purely on account of the respect which the people of Manchester had for him! As to the DINNER, few would pay ten shillings for the pleasure of hissing and hooting; and as to the numbers present, every one is pretty sure that they, for the far greater part, cost Thomson or Dyer a pound a pair! In short, it was just such another affair as a "puritydinner at Westminster has been for many years past. But (and here is the sore place for the PRIGS and THOMSON) this farce is never to be played again at Manchester! Never are the PRIGS again to show their faces at a public meeting in that really enlightened and public-spirited town. Tory, or radical, or anything else; all detest the intrigue by which Manchester has been disgraced, by returning a placeman as one of its members; and a placeman, too, so feeble in intellect, and so shuffling as to principles. The PRIGS hope, through the means of this man, to obtain an extension of their " improved system of banking." Pour soul! He no more dares make a proposition of the sort, than he dares vote for the ballot, in the face of Stanley's manifesto. It is what the negroes call a souley; that is, a poor, feeble thing; and the PRIGS will be impatient! He has his first and his last of Manchester; and for the correctness of this prediction, I would, Sir, pledge the life of your most obedient servant, WM. COBBETT.

NORWICH ELECTION.

In July last a public meeting was held ; between two and three thousand persons attended; it was then and there determined unanimously to demand certain pledges of any candidate who might be brought forward in the room of the right hon. Robert Grant, the late representative; it was also determined municated to William Eagle, Esq., of the that the result of the meeting should be comTemple, and that he should be invited to become a candidate for the representation of this city. By some error in the direction, the arrive at its destination until several days had letter containing this communication did not elapsed. In the mean time another party, not sanctioned by any public meeting, invited Herry Bellendin Ker, Esq., to Norwich; and Mr. Ker being in Norwich, publicly addressed dress from Mr. William Eagle, accep.ing the the electors in his own person, while the adpledges agreed to be required at the public meeting, was being circulated by the parties passed at the public meeting. The friends of who acted in pursuance of the resolutions Mr. Ker, men of great influence, on this commenced a genera; and immediate canvass, which promised every prospect of success. The friends of Mr. William Eagle were not contented with Mr. Ker, who seemed not inclined to pledge himself; and the subsequent visit of Mr. William Eagle to Norwich sealed the unpopularity of Mr. Ker. But Mr. William Eagle, a true reformer, perceiving that the cluded the probability of success on this ocsteps taken by the friends of Mr. Ker, precasion, as a real reformer, uuwilling to divide reformers, declared his intention to forego his claim to the support of the Norwich electors, provided measures of beneficial reform, substantial reform, by which the millions would be raised from misery, poverty, and starvation, should be secured, to be advocated by Mr. Ker. But the friends of Mr. Ker, placing

too great dependence on the word Reform, puffed up overweeningly by success, trusting to the popularity afforded them by the promised support of the Political Unionists, of whom few are electors, unheeded the offer måde until the eleventh hour; consequently Mr. Wm. Eagle till that hour kept the field, and every exertion was made by the friends of that gentleman to raise him in the estimation of the electors. Whig inconsistencies were pointed out and not spared. The enforcement of an old disfranchising clause by a provision of the Reform Bill, affecting several hundred honest Norwich electors To the Editor of the Commercial Gazette. driven by need to seek parochial assistance, Sir,-This affair has ended, and Messrs. the preference over them given to 101. houseGurney and Ker, the reform candidates, are holders; the public capacity in which Mr. in the minority! Several reasons may be Ker has been and is placed-the assistance assigned for this result; but I trust this event afforded by him in framing this very bill; will become a powerful argument for "vote all these circumstances added to the enforceby ballot," and then REAL REFORM will be ment of inhabited house duty ou the new aided by the present defeat of reformers in electors, the receut enforcement of duty on Norwich. This prospect may afford some con-wooden-spring carts, and the hesitation of solation, yet it cannot reconcile defeat, which may be thus accounted for :—

Mr.. Ker to pledge himself specifically to move the repeal of any tax, or to move or

support that essential measure "vote by ballot," created such lukewarmuess towards him, that the anti-reformers aware of all this, alive to their own interest, leaving no stone unturned, using the most barefaced bribery, and other means, found such easy access to electors, that neither the pledges given by Mr. Ker at the eleventh hour, and, the retirement of Mr. Eagle, nor the exertions of all reformers then in his behalf, availed.

1. In order to do justice to this great subject: in order to treat it with perfect fairness, and in a manner becoming of ine and of you, I must take the authorities on both sides. There are some great lawyers who have contended that the starving man is still guilty of felony or larceny, if he take food to satisfy his hunger; but there are a great number of other, and still greater, lawyers, who maintain the contrary. The general doctrine of those who maintain the right to take, is founded on the

The cause of anti-reform has been triumphant, and Lord Stormont and Sir James Scar-law of nature; and it is a saying as old as the lett, are declared to be our representatives. Many cases of clear bribery it is reported can be proved, which may tend to set aside this election; but if not, this event must of necessity show the vast importance of the immediate recourse to "vote by ballot;" for it cannot be that the name of Gurney has sunk in public estimation, nor is it true that the cause of reform does not grow here; but gold has lost no power, and against its influence "vote by ballot," is the only security.

WHEN I was at GLASGOW, on the 30. October last, I, during a lecture to the TRADES' UNION of that hospitable and populous city, promised, that, as a mark of my gratitude for the kindness which I had experienced there, I would send, as soon as I conveniently could, five thousand copies of my little work, called the Poor Man's Friend, to be distributed gratis amongst the working people of GLASGOW and its environs. This promise I have now fulfilled; and, that the facts and arguments contained in this little work may be known to the opulent as well as to the working people of this kingdom, I here insert a copy of the work.

WM. COBBETT.

hills, a saying in every language in the world, that "self-preservation is the first law of nature." The law of nature teaches every creature to prefer the preservation of its own life to all other things. But, in order to have a fair view of the matter before us, we ought to inquire how it came to pass, that the laws were ever made to punish men as criminals, for taking the victuals, drink, or clothing, that they might stand in need of. We must recollect, then, that there was a time when no such laws existed; when men, like the wild animals in the fields, took what they were able to take, if they wanted it. In this state of things, all the land and all the produce belonged to all the people in common. Thus men were situae ted, when they lived under what is called thlaw of nature; when every one provided, as he could, for his self-preservation.

2. At length this state of things became changed: men entered into society; they made laws to restrain individuals from following, in certain cases, the dictates of their own will; they protected the weak against the strong; the laws secured men in the possession of lands, houses, and goods, that were called THEIRS; the words MINE and THINE, which mean my own and thy own, were invented to designate what we now call a property in things. The law necessarily made it criminal in one man to take away, or to injure the property of another man. It was, you will observe, even in this state of nature, always a crime to do certain things against our neighbour. To kill him, to wound him, to slander him, to expose him to suffer from the want of food, or raiment, or shelter. These, and many others, were crims in the eye of the law of nature; but, to take share of a mau's victuals and clothing; to go and insist upon sharing a part of any of the good things that he happened to have in his possession, could be no crime, because there was no itself. Now, civil society was formed for the property in anything, except in man's body benefit of the whole. The whole gave up their natural rights, in order that every one might, for the future, enjoy his life in greater secu the state of man for the better. Before this rity. This civil society was intended to change state of civil society, the starving, the hungry, the naked man, had a right to go and provide

find them. There would be sure to be some such necessitous persons in a state of civil society. Therefore, when civil society was es

himself with necessaries wherever he could