L ENGLISH LIBERTY OF THE PRESS, As illustrated in the Prosecution and WILLIAM COBBETT. numerous hangings in the course of every year; that the part of the prison in which I was sentenced to be confined is sometimes inhabited by felons, that felons were actually in it at the time I entered it; that one In order that my countrymen and that man was taken out of it to be transported in the world may not be deceived, duped, and about 48 hours after I was put into the cheated upon this subject, I, WILLIAM same yard with him; and that it is the place COBBETT, of Botley, in Hampshire, put of confinement for men guilty of unnatural upon record the following facts; to wit: crimes, of whom there are four in it at this, That, on the 24th June, 1809, the follow- time; that, besides this imprisonment, I ing article was published in a London was sentenced to pay a thousand pounds TO news-paper, called the COURIER:- THE KING, and to give security for my "The Mutiny amongst the LOCAL MI- good behaviour for seven years, myself in "LITIA, which broke out at Ely, was the sum of 3,000 pounds, and two sureties 'fortunately suppressed on Wednesday, in the sum of 1,000 pounds each; that the "by the arrival of four squadrons of the whole of this sentence has been executed "GERMAN LEGION CAVALRY from upon me, that I have been imprisoned the Bury, under the command of General two years, have paid the thousand pounds "Auckland. Five of the ringleaders were TO THE KING, and have given the bail, "tried by a Court-Martial, and sentenced Timothy Brown and Peter Walker, Esqrs. "to receive 500 lashes each, part of which being my sureties; that the Attorney Gene"punishment they received on Wednes- ral was Sir Vicary Gibbs, the Judge who 46 day, and a part was remitted. A stop- sat at the trial Lord Ellenborough, the four page for their knapsacks was the ground Judges who sat at passing sentence Ellen"of the complaint that excited this muti- borough, Grose, Le Blanc, and Bailey; and "nous spirit, which occasioned the men to that the jurors were, Thomas Rhodes of "surround their officers, and demand what Hampstead Road, John Davis of Southamp"they deemed their arrears. The first di- ton Place, James Ellis of Tottenham Court "vision of the German Legion halted yes- Road, John Richards of Bayswater, Thomas "terday at Newmarket on their return to Marsham of Baker Street, Robert Heath"Bury."That, on the 1st July, 1809, cote of High Street Marylebone, John Maud I published, in the Political Register, an of York Place Marylebone, George Baxter article censuring, in the strongest terms, of Church Terrace Pancras, Thomas Taylor. these proceedings; that, for so doing, the of Red Lion Square, David Deane of St. Attorney General prosecuted, as seditious John Street, William Palmer of Upper Street libellers, and by Ex-Officio Information, Islington, Henry Favre of Pall Mall; that me, and also my printer, my publisher, and the Prime Ministers during the time were one of the principal retailers of the Political Spencer Perceval, until he was shot by John Register; that I was brought to trial on the Bellingham, and after that Robert B. Jen15th June, 1810, and was, by a Special kinson, Earl of Liverpool; that the proseJury, that is to say, by 12 men out of 48 cution and sentence took place in the reign appointed by the Master of the Crown Of- of King George the Third, and that, he fice, found guilty; that, on the 20th of the having become insane during my imprisonsaine month, I was compelled to give bailment, the 1,000 pounds was paid to his for my appearance to receive judgment; and son, the Prince Regent, in his behalf; that, that, as I came up from Botley (to which during my imprisonment, I wrote and pubplace I had returned to my family and my lished 364 Essays and Letters upon politifarm on the evening of the 15th), a Tip-cal subjects; that, during the same time, staff went down from London in order to I was visited by persons from 197 cities seize me, personally; that, on the 9th of and towns, many of them as a sort of deJuly, 1810, I, together with my printer, puties from Societies or Clubs; that, at the publisher, and the newsman, were brought expiration of my imprisonment, on the 9th into the Court of King's Bench to receive of July, 1812, a great dinner was given in judgment; that the three former were sen- London for the purpose of receiving me, at tenced to be imprisoned for some months in which dinner upwards of 600 persons were the King's Bench prison; that I was sen- present, and at which Sir Francis Burdett tenced to be imprisoned for two years in presided; that dinners and other parties Newgate, the great receptacle for malefac- were held on the same occasion in many tors, and the front of which is the scene of other places in England; that, on my way Botley, July 23, 1812. WM. COBBETT. home, I was received at Alton, the first than the receiving of a self-gratification, I town in Hampshire, with the ringing of the trust that you and all our friends will have Church bells; that a respectable company the goodness to accept, in the lieu of the met me and gave me a dinner at Winches- personal attendance, the most sincere thanks ter; that I was drawn from more than the for your kind intention, and an assurance distance of a mile into Botley by the peo-that I shall always esteem it amongst the ple; that, upon my arrival in the village, best compensations for the losses and the I found all the people assembled to receive sufferings of your faithful friend, me; that I concluded the day by explaining to them the cause of my imprisonment, and by giving them clear notions respecting the flogging of the Local Militia-men at Ely, and respecting the employment of German Troops; and, finally, which is more than a compensation for my losses and all my sufferings, I am in perfect health and strength, and, though I must, for the sake of six children, feel the diminution that has been made in my property (thinking it right in me to decline the offer of a subscription), I have the consolation to see growing up three sons, upon whose hearts, I trust, all these facts will be engraven.. WM. COBBETT. Bolley, July 23, 1812. TO MR. RICHArd Kittle, of NORWICH. MINISTERIAL NEGOCIATIONS. LATE NEGOCIATIONS FOR MAKING A NEW (Continued from page 96.) than that which arose from the necessity of giving to a new government that character of efficiency and stability, and those marks of the constitutional support of the crown, which were required to enable it to act usefully for the public service; and that on these grounds it appeared to them indispensable, that the connexion of the great offices of the court with the political admi nistration should be clearly established in its first arrangements,-A decided difference of opinion as to this point having been thus expressed on both sides, the conversation ended here, with mutual declarations of regret. Nothing was said on the subsons proposed on either side to fill any parject of official arrangements, nor any per ticular situations. B. and C. Two Letters (which passed be I have this moment received your letter of the 19th, informing me, that you, and other friends of freedom and enemies of corruption, have fixed on the 3d day of August next for giving me a dinner at the White Swan in your city, and that you intend to advertise in both the Norwich papers to that effect. By this time you will have received a letter from me, containing the reasons for my at present foregoing the very great honour which I was before informed you intended me; but, as I owe a similar explanation to all our friends in and near your public-spirited city, I here repeat, that I found my farm so imperiously to demand my presence, especially at this important season of the year, and with a sense of my recent losses in my mind, and prudence dictating, at the same time, the removal of my family from a gentleman's house to a farm house, that I could not bring myself to resolve to leave home, anxious as I was to see and shake by the hand the friends of freedom at Norwich. If the object of my absence had been the rendering of some greater service to the cause of freedom than I could render by remaining at home, the reasons I have given would not have been a sufficient apology" for the disappointment I shall occasion; but, as the object would have been no other tween Lords Moira and Grey) subjoined for the purpose of throwing light on the ground of part of these transactions. (B.) -May 31st, 1812. My dear Lord,-A just anxiety not to leave any thing subject to misunderstanding, must excuse me if I am troublesome to you. Since I quitted you, the necessity of being precise in terms has occurred to me: and, although I think I cannot have mistaken you, I wish to know if I am accurate in what I apprehend you to have said, I understood the position, stated by you as having been what you advanced in the House of Lords, to be this, "That pledges "had been given to the Catholics, a departure from which rendered their present disappointment more galling; and said this in the hearing of persons who could contradict you if you that you PUBLIC PAPERS. GREY ENGLAND and FRANCE.- -Overtures for Copy of a Letter addressed by the Minister My dear Lord,-I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kind anxiety to procure an accurate statement of the words spoken by me in the House of Lords. It is difficult to remember precise expressions so long after they were spoken; but I am sure I cannot be far wrong in stating the substance of what I said, as follows:-I was speaking on the subject of the Irish Catholics, and particularly on the charge of intemperate conduct which had been made against them. I stated, that great allowances were to be made for this, considering their repeated disappointments; Sir, His Majesty, constantly actuated and I cited, as instances of these, the re- by sentiments friendly to moderation and call of Lord Fitzwilliam, and the Union. peace, is pleased again to make a solemn I then said, that the most distinct and au- and sincere attempt to put an end to the thentic pledges had been given to them, of miseries of war. The awful circumthe Prince's wish to relieve them from the stances in which the world is at present disabilities of which they complained; that placed, have induced a resolution in the I spoke in the hearing of persons who could mind of his Majesty, the result of which contradict me if what I said was unfound- has been to authorize me to explain to you, ed, and who would, I was sure, support Sir, his views and intentions.Many its truth if questioned; that now, when the changes have taken place in Europe for the fulfilment of these pledges was confidently last ten years, which have been the necesexpected, to see an Administration conti- sary consequence of the war between France nued in power, which stood on the express and England, and many more changes will principle of resisting their claims, was, be effected by the same cause. The parti perhaps, the bitterest disappointment they cular character which the war has assumed, had yet experienced; and that it was not may add to the extent and duration of these surprising, if, under such circumstances, results. Exclusive and arbitrary princithey felt, and acted, in a way that all well ples cannot be combated but by an opposiwishers to the peace of the empire must re- tion without measure or end; and the sysgret.-This I give as the substance, and by tem of preservation and resistance should no means as a correct repetition of the par- have the same character of universality, ticular expressions used by me; and this perseverance, and vigour.- -The peace of statement I can neither retract, nor endea- Amiens, if it had been observed, would vour to explain away. If, in consequence have prevented much confusion. -I hearof it, the Prince feels a strong personal ob- tily wish that the experience of the past jection to me, I can only repeat, what I may not be lost for the future.His Mahave already said to you, that I am per-jesty has often stopped when the most cerfectly ready to stand out of the way; that tain triumphs lay before him, and turned my friends shall have my full concurrence round to invoke peace. -In 1805, secure and approbation in taking office without as he was by the advantages of his situation, me, and my most cordial support in the and in spite of the confidence which he might government of the country, if their mea- reasonably feel in anticipations which Forsures are directed, as I am sure they must tune was about to realize, he made propoalways be, by the principles on which we sals to his Britannic Majesty, which were have acted together.-I write this from rejected, on the ground that Russia should Lord Holland's, in a great hurry, and in be consulted. In 1808, new proposals the middle of dinner; but I was unwilling were made, in concert with Russia. Engto defer, even for a minute, to answer an land alleged the necessity of an intervention, inquiry, which I feel to be prompted by so which could be no more than the result of friendly a solicitude for me. I have not the negociation itself. In 1810, his Mathe means of taking a copy of this letter. jesty, having clearly discerned that the THE DUKE OF BASSANO. Copy of the Answer of Lord Castlereagh, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of His Britannic Majesty, to the Letter of the Minister for Foreign Relations, of the 17th of April, 1812.-London, Qffice for Foreign Affairs, April 23, 1812. British Orders in Council of 1807, render-influenced simply by the considerations of ed the conduct of the war incompatible the interests of humanity, and the peace with the independence of Holland, caused of his people, and if this fourth attempt indirect overtures to be made towards pro- should not be attended with success, like curing the return of peace. They were those which have preceded it, France will fruitless, and the consequence was, that at least have the consolation of thinking, new Provinces were united to the Empire. that whatever blood may yet flow, will be In the present time are to be found justly imputable to England alone. -I united all the circumstances of the various have the honour, &c. periods at which his Majesty manifested. the pacific sentiments which he now orders me again to declare that he is actuated by. -The calamities under which Spain, and the vast regions of Spanish America suffer, should naturally excite the interest of all nations, and inspire them with an equal anxiety for their termination.-I will express myself, Sir, in a manner Sir, Your Excellency's Letter of the which your Excellency will find conform- 17th of this month has been received and able to the sincerity of the step which I laid before the Prince Regent.-His Royal am authorized to take; and nothing will Highness felt that he owed it to his honour, better evince the sincerity and sublimity of before he should authorize me to enter into it than the precise terms of the language any explanation upon the overture which which I have been directed to use. What your Excellency has transmitted, to ascerviews and motives should induce me to entain the precise meaning attached by the velope myself in formalities suitable to Government of France to the following pasweakness, which alone can find its interest sage of your Excellency's Letter, the acin deceit?The affairs of the Peninsula tual Dynasty shall be declared independent, and the Two Sicilies are the points of dif- and Spain governed by the national Constiference which appear least to admit of being tution of the Cortes.'-If, as his Royal adjusted. I am authorized to propose to Highness fears, the meaning of this propoyou an arrangement of them on the follow-sition is, that the Royal authority of Spain, ing basis::-- -The integrity of Spain shall be guaranteed. France shall renounce all idea of extending her dominions beyond the Pyrennees. The present dynasty shall be declared independent, and Spain shall be governed by a National Constitution of her Cortes.The independence and integrity of Portugal shall be also guaranteed, and the House of Braganza shall have the Sovereign authority.The kingdom of Naples shall remain in possession of the present Monarch, and the kingdom of Sicily shall be guaranteed to the present family of Sicily.- -As a consequence of these stipulations, Spain, Portugal, and Sicily shall be evacuated by the French and English land and naval forces—With respect to the other objects of discussion, they may be negociated upon this basis, that each power shall retain that of which the other could not deprive it by war. Such are, Sir, the grounds of conciliation offered by his Majesty to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.His Majesty the Emperor and King, in taking this step, does not look either to the advantages or losses which this Empire may derive from the war, if it should be prolonged; he is and the Government established by the Cortes, shall be recognized as residing in the brother of the head of the French Government, and the Cortes formed under his authority, and not in the legitimate Sovereign, Ferdinand the Seventh, and his heirs, and the Extraordinary Assembly of the Cortes, now invested with the power of the Government in that kingdom, in his name, and by his authority-I am commanded frankly and explicitly to declare to your Excellency, that the obligations of good faith do not permit his Royal Highness to receive a proposition for peace founded on such a basis. -But if the expressions cited above, apply to the actual government of Spain, which exercises the Sovereign authority in the name of Ferdinand the VIIth, upon an assurance of your Excellency to that effect, the Prince Regent will feel himself disposed to enter into a full explanation upon the basis which has been transmitted, in order to be taken into consideration by his Royal Highness; and it being his most earnest wish to contribute, in concert with his Allies, to the repose of Europe, and to bring about a peace, which may be at once honourable, not only for Great Britain and France, but also for those | away from under the protection of its flag, States which are in relations of amity with by one of the Belligerent Powers, the pro each of these Powers.Having made perty which the other has placed there; known without reserve the sentiments of that all Powers consequently have the right the Prince Regent, with respect to a point of exacting, that nations, pretending to on which it is necessary to have a full un-neutrality, should cause their flag to be derstanding, previous to any ulterior dis- respected in the same manner as they encussion, I shall adhere to the instructions of force respect to their territory; that so long his Royal Highness, by avoiding all super- as England, persisting in its system of war, fluous comment and recrimination on the should disavow the independence of any accessary objects of your letter. I might flag upon the seas, no Power, which is advantageously for the justification of the possessed of coast, can be neuter with reconduct observed by Great Britain at the spect to England.With that penetradifferent periods alluded to by your Excel- tion and elevation of sentiment by which lency, refer to the correspondence which he is distinguished, the Emperor Alexthen took place, and to the judgment which ander also perceived that there could not the world has long since formed of it. be any prosperity for the Continental States, As to the particular character the war has but in the establishment of their rights by unhappily assumed, and the arbitrary prin- a maritime peace. This great interest was ciples which your Excellency conceives to predominant in the Treaty of Tilsit, and have marked its progress, denying, as I do, every thing else was the immediate result that these evils are attributable to the Bri- of it.The Emperor Alexander offered tish Government, I at the same time can his mediation to the English Government, assure your Excellency, that it sincerely and engaged, if this Government would deplores their existence, as uselessly aggra- not consent to conclude peace upon the vating the calamities of war, and that its principle of acknowledging that the flags of most anxious desire, whether at peace or all Powers should enjoy an equal and perwar with France, is to have the relations fect independence upon the seas, to make of the two countries restored to the liberal common cause with France, to summon, principles usually acted upon in former in concert with her, the three Courts of times. I take this opportunity of assur- Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Lisbon, to ing your Excellency of my respect. close their ports against the English, to declare war against England, and to insist upon the adoption of the same measure by the various Powers.-The Emperor Na poleon accepted of the mediation of Russia, but the answer of England was a violation of the rights of nations, till then unexampled in history. She, in the midst of peace, and without any preliminary decla ration of war, attacked Denmark, surCount His Majesty the Emperor of prised her capital, burned her arsenals, Russia had acknowledged at Tilsit the prin- and took possession of her fleet, which was ciple, that the present generation should dismantled and lying secure in her ports. not have looked to the enjoyment of happi- Russia, in conformity to the stipulations ness, but on the ground that the nations in and principles of the Treaty of Tilsit, dethe full enjoyment of their rights might clared war against England; proclaimed give themselves up freely to the exercise of anew the principles of the armed neutratheir industry; that the independence of lity; and engaged never to swerve from their flag should be inviolable; that the this system. Here the British Cabinet independence of their flag was a right be- threw off the mask, by issuing, in the longing to each of them, and its protection month of November, 1807, those Order's a reciprocal duty of the one towards the in council, by virtue of which England other; that they were not less bound to levied a toll of from four to five millions protect the inviolability of their flag, than upon the continent; and she compelled the that of their territory; that if a Power flag of every Power to submit to the regucannot, without ceasing to be neuter, al-lations which were the result of her prinlow its territory to be taken away by one of the Belligerent Powers, so neither can it remain neuter, in permitting to be taken CASTLEREAGH. FRANCE AND RUSSIA. Correspondence relative to the Dispute of 1812. 1812. ciples of legislation. Thus, on the one side, she made war upon all Europe; and, on the other, she secured to herself the |