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"wretchedness? In these cases, the" against this assertion: abuses ought "sufferers are too ignoble to be known;" certainly to be corrected, and corrected "and the mass too indiscriminate to be" effectually: this could not be done. pitied. But should a philosopher feel" without the establishment of a new "and reason thus? Should he mistake" form of government; whether the "the cause for the effect, and giving all" form that has been adopted were the "his pity to the few, feel no compassion" best, is another question absolutely. "for the many, because they suffer in" distinct. But that the above-men"his eyes not individually, but by mil-" tioned detail of enormities practised "lions? The excesses of the people on the people required some great "cannot, I repeat, be justified: it would" change is sufficiently apparent." "undoubtedly have done them credit, Boroughmongers, look well at this; "both as men and Christians, if they Consider it," as Solomon says of the "had possessed their new-acquired field of the Sluggard. Oh, no! you power with moderation. But let it be will not: you will go on just as the "remembered, that the populace in no French Noblesse did. Observe that country ever use power with modera- those outrages were committed before tion; excess is inherent in their ag- the reform was legally begun; and it gregate constitution; and as every was not till the one half of the nobleσε government in the world knows, that men's and gentlemen's houses had been "violence infallibly atends power in pillaged and burned, that the legal "such hands, it is doubly bound changes began to be adopted. The "in common sense, and for common French revolution did not begin at "safety, so to conduct itself, that Paris. It came thither by degrees from "the people may not find an interest in the country: it was the starving Choppublic confusions. They will always sticks who set the Parisians to work: "suffer much and long, before they are as long as the Noblesse and the swarms "effectually roused; nothing, therefore, of tax-eaters found peace and safety in 6t can kindle the flame, but such oppres- the country, they laughed at the canaille "sions of some classes or order in the in great towns; but when their countrysociety, as to give able men the op- houses were burned, they fled from the portunity of seconding the general country, and mostly into the service of 65 mass; discontent will soon diffuse the enemies of the people of France, "itself around; and if the government "take not warning in time, it is alone" "answerable for all the burnings, and

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ments of Europe, give such numbers of men a direct interest in supporting, cherishing, " and defending abuses, that no wonder

plunderings, and devasation, and blood advocates for tyranny of every species are "that follow. The true judgment to be found in every country, and almost in every "formed of the French revolution, must" company. What a mass of people, in every "surely be gained, from an attentive part of England, are some way or other in "consideration of the evils of the old people, tithes, charters, corporations, mono"terested in the present representation of the "government: when these are well un-"polies, and taxation! and not merely to the "derstood and when the extent and “ things themselves, but to all the abuses at "universality of the oppression under tending them; and how many are there who "which the people groaned-oppres"derive their profit or their consideration in "life, not merely from such institutions, but "sion which bore upon them from every" from the evils they engender! The great "quarter, it will scarcely be attempted "mass of the people, however, is free from "to be urged, that a revolution was not "such influence, and will be enlightened by "absolutely necessary to the welfare every country in Europe, that by combina "degrees; assuredly they will find out, în "of the kingdom. Not one opposing "tions, on the principles of liberty and pro"voice* can, with reason, be raised" perty, aimed equally against regal, aristo "cratical, and mobbish tyranny, they will be "Many opposing voices have been raised;" able to resist successfully that variety of "but so little to their credit, that I leave the" combination, which, on principles of plun passage asi: was written long ago. The der and despotism, is everywhere at work "abuses that are rooted in all the old govern- to enslave them."

who confiscated and sold and divided their estates. Let it be borne in mind, that all this took place, only because a reform was not made in time! To men. of common sense, experience cannot speak plainer, and to fools it is useless for experience to speak.

WM. COBBETT.

PARLIAMENT.

What! To meet so early as 6th December! Well, then, I am a false prophet for once! I really should not wonder if this was done on purpose to make me such! No matter: the Parliament is to meet for work on that day; and work, it seems, it will have to do; for the rumour is, that there are now to be three bills instead of one! That is too much of a good thing! But if the three should not be so good as the one: what then? The scheme is, very likely, to carry the Schedules and lose the tenpound suffrage! And then to call upon us to be thankful for what we have got. But this will be no get at all. For I have no hesitation in declaring, that I would rather see no change, than an augmentation of the qualification for the suffrage. To say, "Take what you can get," is a delusion; it is a cheat; it is a gross fraud; for you get something worse than that which you had before. However, I am in no hurry about the matter: I know that PEEL'S BILL will bring us a real change of great magnitude; and that it may, possibly, be the better for coming in its own good time and manner. It will, when it come, be RADICAL in the full sense of the word: it will go to the points of even the smallest fibrous roots of the evil. So that what these Whigs may now do, or attempt, is, with me, more a matter of curiosity than of concern. Being quite sure that the change, the sweeping change, must and will come, it will be an amusement. to watch the various turnings and twistings of roguery, hypocrisy, and folly.

POLITICAL UNIONS.

Ah, ah! These are to be put down, though so strongly recommended by the Whig-papers only twenty days ago! And though Lords GREY, JOHN RUSSELL, and ALTHORP, were corresponding and exchanging compliments with them, only about six weeks ago! now there is a KING'S PROCLAMATION against them, the language and tenor of which is most singular.

BY THE KING.

A PROCLAMATION.

subjects, in different parts of our Kingdom, WILLIAM R. Whereas certain of our have recently promulgated plans for voluntary associations, under the denomination of Political Unions, to be composed of separate bodies, with various divisions and sub-divisions, under leaders with a gradation of ranks badges, and subject to the general control and authority, and distinguished by certain and direction of a superior Committee or; Council, for which associations no warrant has been given by us, or by any appointed by: us, on that behalf: and whereas, according to the plan so promulgated as aforesaid, a power appears to be assumed of acting independently of the Civil Magistrates, to whose requisition, calling upon them to be enrolled as constables, the individuals composing such: associations are bound in common with the rest of our subjects, to yield obedience and whereas such associations, so constituted and appointed, under such separate direction and command, are obviously incompatible with the faithful performance of this duty, at variance with the acknowledged principles of the Constitution, and subversive of the au thority with which we are invested, as the Supreme Head of the State, for the protection of, the public peace; and whereas, we are deter-, mined to maintain, against all encroachments · on our Royal power, those just prerogatives of the Crown, which have been given to us for the preservation of the peace and order of society, and for the general advantage and security of our loyal subjects: we have, therefore, thought it our bounden duty with and by the advice of our Privy Council, to issue this our Royal Proclamation, declaring all such Asso

ciations so constituted and appointed as afore- ' should well ascertain that he really said, to be unconstitutional and illegal, and wants to fight; for if he have any disearnestly warning and enjoining all our sub- inclination to this, he will hate you jects to abstain from entering into such un- much more than he will hate his enemy; authorised combinations, whereby they may and, if he can do it, he will even destroy draw upon themselves the penalties attending you. a violation of the laws, and the peace and security of our dominions may be endangered. Given at our Court at St. James's this 21st day of November, 1831, and in the second year of our reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

content; and any attempt to enforce it, will complete the hostile feeling towards the Ministry, in whom, be it remembered, I never expressed my confidence; and I hope that this will be remembered.

There are two evening London papers devoted to the Tories: it is very curiou s that both these papers published the proclamation before it was out in the London Gazette. They must have had written copies of it sent them. Think of that, my readers, and be not deceived. Curious document! It is as Dr. BLACK One of the newspapers tells us that Lord says, not law, and it warns against breach GREY is "VERY ILL." He would do of the law, without telling us what law. well not to be "ILL;" I can tell him. Men have as clear a right to form these that! A man must not be ill under such associations as associations for circula- circumstances; unless he die, and that, ting the Bible. But the moment this too, pretty quickly. I do sincerely hope proclamation appears, DADDY BURDETT that he is not ill; and that he will come dissolves his UNION, and his secretary, out of this affair with honour. I am, GOUGER, sends for a declaration of the however, in great fear for him: this dissolution along with the proclamation! proclamation looks like a compromise So that the Daddy has become the most with the boroughmongers: it certainly docile and obedient soul in the King's excites great suspicion, and great disdominions. He is a day-star of passive obedience and non-resistance ! I had not the smallest doubt of the Daddy having been set on to the Union work by the Ministers; and that he has now been set on to give an example of dissolving them. How the Birmingham people will take this I cannot Their position is awkward. In fact, all is confusion of mind: no man knows what to think: the state of things is THIS County meeting exhibits all the just such as has always preceded some old tricks of the Whigs and Tories, great event: each class is looking at all united against the people. I beg the the others with suspicion, not unmixed reader to go carefully through the folwith anger: the ruin of the middle class lowing reporth of it, given by some and the misery of the working class go Irish reporthing hacks, hired for the steadily on increasing; and, without purpose. The meeting was, observe, in some great, and very great, political the SHIRE-HALL, into which, of change, legally made, the result must be course, the people were not admitted. dreadful. Perhaps the Unions, by being It seems that the packed crew of taxopen demonstrations, would have been eaters, with DADDY COKE (the Lightthe least dangerous of any mode of house and "Bloody-King" man) at showing public opinion. The Whigs, their head; and the bands of yeomanry however, are "so wise!" The Unions cavalry, got together from all parts of were founded to support them and the the country. When I have inserted the King; but, for what? Ay, there is reporth, I have some remarks to add. the question! To support them in the doing of that which, may be, they do not wish to do! Before you press a man with offers to be his second, you

say.

NORFOLK MEETING.

A public meeting of the nobility, gentry, clergy, and freeholders of this county, was held on Saturday, the 19th

instant, at the Shire-hall, Norwich, to address his Majesty on the Reform Bill. The meeting was convened pursuant to a requisition, most numerously and respectably signed. Amongst the signatures were those of the Dukes of Norfolk, Grafton; Lords Albermarle, Suffield, Stafford, Clements; Mr. Coke, Sir W. B. Folkes, Sir. J. Astley, Sir E. Bacon, Admiral Windham, &c.

ally reduced in his circumstances-he saw him unable to give the same employment as heretofore; and the consequence was, the labourers were starving, or nearly approaching to that state. He saw trade gradually declining; that of Norwich had greatly declined. When he saw these things, he saw the necessity of reform; and he was convinced that the longer reform was delayed, the more would those evils be aggravated. (Applause.)

Amongst those present were Viscount Clements, Lords Stafford and Suffield, the Hon. and Rev. E. Keppell, Sir E. Mr. RUSH said, that the address Bacon, Sir J. Astley, Sir W. B. Proctor, stated that the meeting had the same Sir T. B. Beevor, Sir W. B. Folkes, confidence in his Majesty's Ministers M. P., the Rev. Archdeacons Glover now, as they had before the rejection of and Bathurst, the Rev. P. Gurdon, J. the late bill. (Cries of "So we have," Fisk, R. H. Gurney, M.P., T. T. Gurdon, and " Off, off.") He for one had no B. Gurdon, E. Lombe, A. Hammond, such confidence, because he found that W. Windham, Ridley Colborne, E. there was no ground for entertaining it. Bacon, J. Longe, R. Plumtre, T. (The disapprobation of the meeting was Havers, K. Harvey, A. Hudson, W. here so loudly and unequivocally expressFoster, W. Dalrymple, H. Holley, ed, that the speaker could not for some Esqrs., Dr. Yelloly, Messrs. J. Culley, time be heard.) What had Lord Leamon, H. Tuck, P. Bullock, J. S. Brougham said? He said, that careless Muskett, R. Muskett, Blomfield, Rich- of giving offence to any person, he adardson, Abbott, Shelly, T. Bignold, mitted that he was so far moved by Brightwell, and many others of the some parts of what he had heard, as to principal yeomanry of Norfolk. The be ready to reconsider that which he entrance of Mr. Coke, the senior member had before declared that he had made for the county, was hailed with loud and continued cheers.

In consequence of the indisposition of the High Sheriff, A. Hammond, Esq., took the chair.

up his mind to. (Here the uproar was renewed, and the noise was so great that not a word could be heard.) Finding the attempt hopeless, he desisted, and concluded by moving that the folLord SUFFIELD addressed the free-lowing be added to the address: "May holders, and was received with loud" it please your Majesty, that this meetcheers. His Lordship attributed great" ing, in sending the above address, praise to the present Administration," have put the very best construction and to his Majesty, after which he cor- they can upon the declaration that cluded thus:--I now beg to move an "has been made upon the subject of address to the Lord High Admiral, now "reform by your Majesty's Ministers, our gracious King, and that the meet- "trusting that what they have said ing will not separate without a hearty "cannot, with propriety, hereafter be cheer for him and the gallant com- brought against them as words that mander he has appointed to the state" had a double meaning, and as such vessel. The address was then read. (6 were intended to delude the people of (Loud and continued cheers followed" their rights-rights that they unthe conclusion of the address.) "doubtedly would have re-enjoyed if Mr. E. LOMBE Seconded the address." the bill introduced by Lord Grey had He was a reformer, because he had an" been passed into a law."

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opportunity of mixing with the people. The CHAIRMAN asked who seconded He saw the condition of the farmier, the amendment, but no one appeared, and the peasant, and the mechanic-he and the amendment fell to the ground, saw the farmer crawling along, gradu- amidst loud laughter.

The address was then put, and unanimously adopted, and

On the motion of Mr. Lolme, it was resolved that Lord Grey and Lord Suffield be requested to lay it before his Majesty.

when

Sir T. BEEVOR said, he did not feel Bristol. (Hear.) In conclusion, the hon. unqualified confidence in his Majesty's Baronet again said, that he gave credit Ministers. In some of them he had the to many of the Ministers for their good greatest reliance. In Lord Grey, for intentions, but the people would not be instance, who was an upright, straight-satisfied with good intentions alone. He forward man, without trick or guile. had no doubt but that at length we There were others, too, in the adminis- should have the bill, the whole bill, and, tration, in whom he could repose confi- if it should be delayed much longer, dence; but he could not say the same perhaps a little more than the bill. of them all, when he saw amongst them (Hear.) such men as Lord Palmerston, Lord Goderich, who, as Mr. Robinson, in the panic of 1825, talked so much of dispensing prosperity to the country from the portals of an ancient constitution; when he saw such men as my Lord Melbourne, who, when Mr. Lamb, in the Sir J. ASTLEY proposed the next resoHouse of Commons, was found in oppo-lution, which was seconded by sition even to the milk-and-water re- Mr. W. WINDHAM:-When they took solutions on reform, which were annually into account the arduous situation in brought forward by Lord John Russell; which Ministers had been placedwhen he saw such men as these forming when they reflected upon the events the Ministry, and when he found amongst of the last twelve months them that little Lord who was now they called to mind the lamentable looked upon as something more than state of Ireland at the period when the human, but who, when Mr. Canning's present administration came into office half-liberal administration was formed, and when they brought to their recolwithdrew his motion for reform-when lection the difficulties which it had to he saw men amongst the Ministers who encounter with respect to our foreign had supported all the acts of Castle- relations-when they called all 'these reagh, and who had opposed all reform things to mind, he was sure that there he owned he was not inclined to re- was no one there who would say that pose much confidence in them, and he Ministers did not deserve a great share repeated, that though he had confidence of praise (cheers), and that they were in Lord Grey, and he believed that it was not entitled to the confidence of the his intention to act honourably and fairly country until they had succeeded in carby the people, still he did not like to rying the measure of reform. see him in such company. (Hear.) Another reason why he had not confidence in the present Ministry was, that they The Hon. and Rev. Mr. KEPPELL did not act as if they had any confidence proposed the next resolution, "That in the people. (Hear, and cries of "No.") "the thanks of this meeting be also They told the people that they must" giyen to the Bishops of Norwich and have patience, and wait until another" Chichester, and to those Peers conbill should be introduced which would "nected with this great county who be more acceptable to the order."" have hitherto supported parliamentary (Cries of "No, no.”) What he should" reform."

The resolution was carried unanimously.

like to see was, the country come to a The Rev. Mr. COLLYER seconded the resolution that it would have confidence resolution, which was carried unaniin Ministers provided they had sufficient mously. confidence in the people. If this course The Very Rev. Archdeacon Bathurst were at first followed in different parts observed, that the Bishop of Norwich, of the country, he had no doubt that we at the advanced age of 87, had gone should not have had such scenes as had three times the journey between that occurred at Derby, Nottingham, and and London, in the course of three suc