their satisfaction, they might have asked me, who it was that had been the organ of the country's will in putting its existence at stake. You, who are the "wisest and "best writers" in England, might, may be, have been able to answer them; but I freely confess to you, that I should not. And, Sirs, upon what is it, that your country has staked her existence? You say, upon the event; but what event? The event of the contest in which she is engaged; but, then again, what is the contest for? And, thus, we go round the circle, and all that we arrive at is, that England is contending for her existence; for, after all, that is the only object clearly • pointed out. Your corollary, is, indeed, worthy of great attention, supposing the premises to be true; for, if liberty and independence cannot, for a "moment, survive" in the world after the fall of England, and if she really has put ⚫ her existence at stake, it is high time for us to look about us. But, Sirs, while I trust that England is not doomed to fall; while I hope that the spirit of our ances tors is not wholly extinct; while I entertain the most anxious desire to see the country of my forefathers enjoying not only independence as a nation but all the blessings of freedom; while I am confident that there wants nothing to preserve • England but the hearts and arms of free Englishmen; still I must be permitted to say, that, if the contrary were unhap. pily the fact, and if England were actually to fall beneath the power of France, I do not see, why it should follow, that liberty and independence are to exist no where else in the world; and, of this I am certain, that, unless her own safety called upon her to interfere, America is in no way bound to prevent that fall, never having, either in the way of advice or example, stimulated England to that war, which was begun against the republicans of France, in 1793, and which has produced all the dangers, with which she is at this time surrounded from without and pressed from within. The war was her own war; she was afraid of the principles of republicanism: she is now, you say, afraid of those of despotism. Nobody has controuled her; she has had her own way; and, if she has chosen, at last, to stake her existence, surely, she has too much pride to call upon others to link their fate to hers; and especially.to make this appeal to America, of whom • she has never 'till now made any ac count, and through me, too, whom your "wisest and best writers" have treated with every species of obloquy and conteinpt.- -Such, Sirs, is my answer: I wait your reply. But, understand me: I protest before hand against a reply consisting of hard names and foul insinuations. You may call me Jacobin and Leveller; you may call me an emissary of Buonaparte's; you may call me what you please; you may sneer at my philanthropy, and, in bad grammar, speak contemptuously of my style and composition, comparing it to those of the Wabash and Shawanese Savages; but, unless you can by fact and fair argument overset what I have said, you will do well to leave the discussion where it is.'-Now, reader, let us see what reply, if any, will be given. If Mr. I. S. the writer in the Times news-paper, whose article I have quoted, will send me his reply, in the same compass, the an swer and reply shall, I pledge myself for it, travel together all over the Continent of North America; and, if he will not, why let his admirers sit down contented with the consequences. These remarks relate to the general principles of American politics; upon particular points I shall, perhaps, remark hereafter; though, these general principles are of the most importance, because from a full discussion of them, we get at a fair view of the grounds upon which the American government acts, and we hence know what we may reasonably expect at its hands. FLOGGING SOLDIERS. -It has before been seen, that this subject, the discussion of which has been attended with such serious consequences to several public writers, has been, without any evil consequences, discussed by other persons, especially by Sir Robert Wilson and Sir John Stuart. We have now to add the Honourable Henry Augustus Dillon to the list of those who have condemned this species of punishment in our army. Mr. Dillon, in a work on the Military Establishments and Defence of the British Empire, which work he has addressed to the Regent, treats of this matter. He expresses his disapprobation of it; and, what are the reasons which be urges against it? He says, in page 60, that he will proceed to discuss the question," whether corporal punishment be necessary or not; and whether it be not a great drawback upon the speedy recruiting of the army." Now, how does he " gument drawn from experience, and such ample and home-felt experience too, that nothing can resist it. If, indeed, we and Mr. Dillon had said: "Look at the "Prussians and Hanoverians and Aus"trians: they do not flog; why, then, proceed to this discussion? What are the arguments that he uses for and against this degrading punishment? None at all for it; and, against it he uses but this one: namely, that the FRENCH conduct their armies without it; that the Emperor Napoleon does not find it necessary to flog" should you?" If we had said this (suphis soldiers. He goes on to state, that our posing it to be true instead of being false), soldiers are of as good, and of a better, na- the answer would have been. "Yes, they tural disposition than the French soldiers; do not flog; and they have all been and concludes by expressly asserting, that "subdued by their enemy." But, the corporal punishment is not necessary in French, the conquerors of those countries; the British army. Before I apply this these were the people for us to look to for to the purposes that I have in view, let me an argument of experience; and to this correct this denomination of Mr. Dillon, argument, and this alone, Mr. Dillon has who follows the example of others in using thought it necessary to resort. -On Mr. the phrase corporal punishment instead of White's trial, the Attorney General is rethe word flugging, the use of which, by the ported to have dwelt particularly on the partizans of the practice, is shunned with passage, where he said, the writer" warned as much solicitude as if it were the most "the country to attend to the military obscene word in the language; no weak system of the ruler of France;" meaning, presumption, by the bye, that they are, in I suppose, the Emperor Napoleon, for those fact, ashamed of what they, for motives are his title and name. The Judge is rebest known to themselves, become the ad- ported to have said: "From his commisvocates.It is not corporal punishment to "seration of the English Soldiers, the which Sir Francis Burdett has ever object- "writer, as is the custom in such articles, ed. Shooting is, surely, corporal, or bodily," proceeds to compliment Buonaparté. punishment; and so is imprisonment. What "With him" (the writer says)" merit is is objected to is the flogging. Mr. Dillon," always rewarded, and the situation of the doubtless, means this sort of punishment; but he should have been more definite. Delicacy, I suppose, prevented him from calling the thing by its name. What, then, must we think of the infliction of the punishment?However, here we have the contrast. Here we have the contrast for which I and Mr. Drakard are suffering corporal punishment and pecuniary punishment too, and that Mr. White was lately brought to trial for, but was saved by the verdict of a Jury. Here we have the same contrast. Here it is stated that the French soldiers are, in this respect, used better than ours; and, as the public will not fail to bear in mind, this it was that was most strongly urged in all the cases of libel before alluded to. We were all called seditious libellers because we said what Mr. Dillon says in a work addressed, by permission, to the Regent. This forbearance of the Attorney General towards Mr. Dillon is but a poor compli-existed during the last five hundred years, ment to that gentleman's powers as a and who has gained such an ascendency writer; and, at any rate, whatever merit in Europe, by dint of his skill and prowess, this part of his work may have (and it has as to make it a question with public bodies a good deal) must be considered as vastly in this country, whether England herself beneath that of us, who led the way, and will be able to resist his attempts to subof whose mode of reasoning he is an imi-jugate her? From whom, if not from him, tator. And, surely, this is the best were we to take an example as to the possible mode of reasoning. It is an ar- treatment of our soldiers ?-So much "soldier attended to." He could "not "conceive what greater mischiefs the “emissaries of Buonaparté (if there are any "in this country) could do than dissemi"nate such doctrines amongst our sol"diers."Such doctrine, nevertheless, is Mr. Dillon disseminating; for, he expresses his disapprobation of the punishment inflicted upon our soldiers, and, in order to shew, that this punishment is not necessary, he says, that it is not used by the French; he says that the French soldiers are not punished in the way he complains of; and, what have any of us said more than this? To what other standard were we to refer? Where else should we look for an argument of experience, as to the good or evil of any mode of treating soldiers? From whom were we to take an example, if not from him who has won more and greater battles than all the Commanders that have Bassett long ago. His name is by no means new to me. But, how will it be with his constituents, I wonder? The worthy electors of that "ancient borough" will lose their representative, perhaps, for a while.But, more of this when I have more time. WM. COBBETT. State Prison, Newgate, Friday, 13th December, 1811. MR. WALSH, M. P. At half past eight o'clock yesterday evening, Mr. Benjamin Walsh, Member for Wotton Bassett, was brought up to the Police-office, Bow-street, in custody of the officers, and was seated at the bar. for Mr. Dillon's observations as to the flogging of soldiers; and here I should put a stop to my remarks upon his work, were there not another part of it very intimately connected with this subject: I mean the part which relates to REWARDS; and this will be found to apply to the point, which Mr. White's writer discussed, and for which discussion he was prosecuted. In all services whatever; nay, in every situation of life, men ought to have two motives to do well and avoid doing ill: the hope of reward in some shape or other, and the fear of punishment in some shape or other. This is not always the case; for, it often happens, that the exercise of power is such as to punish the innocent and to screen the guilty; that it is such as to make a man afraid to speak the truth, while the propa-licitor-General, was sworn. He stated, gator of lies is sure to meet reward. But, that the good ought to be rewarded and the bad punished is what no one will, as yet, I believe, have the boldness openly to deny.- -When I saw that Mr. Dillon disapproved of the degrading punishment before mentioned, and especially when I saw him justify that disapprobation by citing the example of the French military service, I turned over the pages of his book in great haste to see what he had said upon the subject of rewards. And, I am sorry to have it to say, that I was here most grievously disappointed. But of this I shall say more in my next. Sir Thomas Plomer, His Majesty's So that having made a considerable purchase, he consulted with the prisoner about three months ago respecting the selling-out of some stock in the three per cents., at which time the prisoner advised him to the contrary, alleging that the funds would certainly get up, and that by keeping the stock in them, he (Sir T. Plomer) would be benefited. On the 29th of November last, however, the prisoner called on him in Lincoln's-inn, and advised him to sell out, as he, the prisoner, was of opinion, that the funds would fall; and Sir Tho mas, after consulting a mercantile gentleman, determined to do so, and the prisoner was instructed to find a purchaser. MR. WALSH, M. P.I have very On the 1st of December the prisoner seldom noticed any of the proceedings at called, and told Sir Thomas, that he had Bow Street, or the other police-offices; sold the stock, and only waited for him to but, really, when I see a Member of the suit his convenience to make the transfer. Honourable House brought there, the Sir Thomas made the transfer, and the matter must not be suffered to escape money was paid into his banker's. It so being put upon record. The affair ap- happened, that not being able to get the pears to have nothing very extraordinary title deed to the estate which he had purin it, in itself considered. It becomes chased completed, he found the money he dignified only through the parties; the had in his banker's hands for that purperson, whose money seems to have been pose would not be wanted; and he conin jeopardy, being the Solicitor General, sulted the prisoner about laying it out in and the person who seems to have put it Exchequer bills; on which business, he, in jeopardy, being a Member of the Ho- the prisoner, called on Sir Thomas, in nourable House, as, indeed, is the Soli- Lincoln's-inn, on the 4th of December, citor General himself.What a crowd and received a cheque on Messrs. Gosling of ideas come into the mind upon read- and Sharpe, for 22,000l., which cheque ing these proceedings, to which, as pub- was accordingly cashed by the bankers. lished in the papers, I give a place im- On the evening of Thursday, the 5th of mediately after this Summary; what a December, the prisoner called on Sir Thocrowd of ideas! Mr. Walsh was no Ja-mas, at his Chambers, and informed him, cobin; Mr. Walsh was a reader, you see, of the Morning Post. I have heard of this Honourable Member for Wootton that he had only been able to purchase Exchequer-bills to the amount of 6,6457. 188. 6d. and that he had paid them into his (Sir Thomas's) banker's; also, the sum of 15,500l. in cash. The prisoner gave to Sir Thomas a receipt for the Exchequer-bills; but did not give him any receipt for the cash alleged to be paid in. The prisoner farther informed Sir Thomas, that he had contracted for 15,000 pounds worth more of Exchequer bills, with the agent of Messrs. Coutts: he believed the prisoner said his name was Trotter. He told Sir Thomas, that Mr. Trotter had agreed to put him in possession of the Exchequer Bills, at half past 3, on Saturday, December the 7th; that he had paid 5s. premium for them, and that they bore interest at 3d. per day. He promised to call on Sir Thomas, on Saturday, at 2 o'clock, for a cheque for the 15,000l. which he stated he had paid in, to complete the purchase of those bills which had been agreed upon with the Agent of Messrs. Coutts. Sir Thomas, on the prisoner's leaving him, went to his banker's, and there found that the Exchequer Bills had been paid in, but not any part of the cash; he soon after learnt that the prisoner had left town, no one could tell where, and that his family supposed him to have gone into the country on business. Sir Thomas immediately applied to the Admiralty, to transmit the necessary information to the out-ports by telegraph; and an application was made to the Post-office, to detain any letters that might come into its charge in the prisoner's hand writing. The Magistrates and Officers of the Public Office, Bowstreet, afforded all the assistance required of them. The first letter that was received had no date, but bore the Exeter post-mark. It was sworn by Sir Thomas to be the prisoner's hand writing, and was addressed to himself (the prisoner) in London, but intended for his clerk Mr. It stated, that as he had the fullest confidence in his clerk, he could confide in him the secret, that he had misapplied the 15,500l. entrusted to him by Sir Thomas Plomer; that he was either to do this or to suffer his poor wife and seven dear children to starve, and wrong other people who could not half so well afford it as Sir Thomas, one of whom was the Clerk's father. He spoke in reprobation of his own conduct, for such an unjust act to a man who throughout life had been his and his father's best friend; but the act was done, and he had no idea of the transaction being as yet discovered. In this letter to his clerk he inclosed one for Sir Thomas, which was read; and the substance of which was, that as Mr. Coutts's agent would not be in town on the Saturday, the receiving of the Exchequer-bills from him could not take place until Monday, at half-past three o'clock; and, that he, (the prisoner,) would call on Sir Thomas, on that day at two o'clock, for a cheque for 15,500l. The next letter received from the prisoner was addressed to his brother, in which he acknowledges his guilt in having robbed Sir Thomas of 15,500l., and says, he had disposed of part of it to pay small debts, the loss of which to the parties would be inevitable ruin, but that the bulk of it he had turned into Foreign Property and Bullion. He spoke most feelingly of his "dear, dear "wife," and of his "seven children; the admiration of every one that beheld them." He requested, in the most impressive terms, his brother's attention to his wife; who, he said, must be within a week of her confinement; and most fervently prayed for her and his children's happiHe had some hopes that Sir Thomas Plomer would not make the matter public; but, if he did, he hoped it would not get into the Morning Post, as his dear Mary would then see it; and such a shock, in her present situation, he was confident she could never survive. ness. This The next letter received at the Postoffice was produced, which was also in tended for his brother. It chiefly spoke of his affection for his wife and family, and concluded by saying, that ere this, he had no doubt but that that arch fiend, Bish, had made a pretty story of it in the news-papers; and that but for that man, he and his family might at that hour have been in affluence and happiness. letter also stated, that he intended to have taken the money from another, whose miserable and unprincipled conduct deserved nothing better; but that the temptation had fallen in his way by Sir Thomas's money being in his hands; that rather than see his wife and family starve, he had, by this most unjust conduct, added ingratitude to real injury, as Sir Thomas Plomer was a sincere friend. His last letter was to Sir Thomas Plomer himself, confessing the robbery, imploring his forgiveness, acknowledging the magnitude of his guilt, and stating the wretchedness of his circumstances, and the impossibility of their ever mending or recovering in this world; but that if any change of circumstances should take of England notes, and some silver ; which, with the American stock, the bullion, and other loose articles, were given to Sir Thomas's Solicitor, and the further examination was postponed at half-past eleven, until this day. Mr. READ enquired of the prisoner if he had any question to ask, or any thing to say; but, without taking his hands from his face, where he had placed them during the whole time, he answered "No, Sir." He bowed respectfully to the Magistrates when he retired from the bar. Mr. READ suggested, that as the pri soner had been searched, and all his money had been taken away, that a small sum should be given him for present purposes. The prisoner was immediately supplied with four pounds by Sir Thomas's solicitor. SPAIN.. OFFICIAL PAPERS. French Dispatches. Marshal place, and he once more become possessed of money, Sir Thomas might depend on every farthing being returned; but that he could not help supposing, that Sir Thomas would at present only think such a declaration from him as adding insult to injury. He farther stated to Sir Thomas, that he had repeatedly applied to Mr. Perceval for a situation under Government; that he had offered to leave bis home, his dear wife, and children; and to meet the dangers and difficulties of the worst of foreign climates; but, that, latterly, Mr. Perceval had returned no answers to his letters. After the last letter, and one or two others of less importance, had been read, Sir Thomas Plomer signed his deposition, and retired. The next witness examined was Sir Thomas's Solicitor, who stated, that he accompanied the Police Officer to Falmouth, and found the prisoner at an Inn there at breakfast, and on seeing the prisoner, he said to him, "I suppose you know my business with you:" to which he answered in the affirmative. He (the Solicitor) then asked him to retire into a back parlour with him and the Officer, which he did. The deponent desired him to give up all he had; his answer was, that he had very little; but on being informed by the de- Monseigneur; After the battle of Saponent, whose name we do not recollect, guntum I left the army a league from that he knew every circumstance of the Valencia, and returned at night to my transaction, he stated, that he had only camp at Murviedro.-During the day the some foreign money, and some bullion. breach had been merely formed, a fire of This, he said, was in his trunks; which some hours would have sufficed to render the deponent sent for, and now produced it practicable; but it was of consequence the contents of them. The foreign money to profit by the victory which had been consisted of 10,000 and odd pounds worth gained under the eyes of a whole garrison, sterling, purchased into the American for your Highness is aware that the isofunds, and with it were blank transferable lated heights on which Saguntum is built warrants. The bullion was in a bag, command the entire plain. I wrote the which the deponent, on securing, put his ecnlosed letter to the Governor, by means seal on. The packet was now, by order of which reminding him of what he had of the Magistrates, opened. It consisted witnessed during the day. I offered him of doubloons, 71 in number, one half-permission to send two officers in order to doubloon, and other Spanish and Portuguese money, amounting in all to about 3001. A small dressing-case was next produced by the deponent, which contained nothing but the usual articles, and a few ends of cheques which had been used. The Magistrates enquired if his person had been searched, as there were still upwards of 5,0004. unaccounted for. Being informed by Sir Thomas's Solicitor that it had not, the prisoner was ordered from the bar for that purpose. On his return he wept bitterly.-There were found in his possession forty-seven pounds in bank To his Highness the Prince of Wagram and Neufchatel, Vice-Constable. inform himself of the successes which the French army had obtained. My dispatch was received at seven o'clock on the morning of the 20th, and a Lieutenant-Colonel of artillery was ordered to carry an answer. He obtained egress with difficulty, all the outlets of the fortress being walled up. I had him conducted to the Generals Caro and Almoya, through the midst of the officers and all the prisoners.-He could no longer doubt of the loss of the battle. He returned at five o'clock in the evening, he came with the Colonel of the regiment of Don Carlos, bringing in information, |