native; and, is it to be expected, that we shall not feel the effect of this abuse, whenever that power glides into the hands of those who are thus abused? America is now upon the pinnacle of fame. Her power must grow 'till it be great. England must and will feel the effect of that power; but, it is very unwise to endeavour to enlist against her the perpetuation of that revenge, which might otherwise die away with time. as it now is by many of those, who called others Jacobins because they spoke of it in terms not a hundredth part so opprobrious. The Tax may be, and is, now unnecessary; bnt, has it changed in principle or in the mode of its collection? Is it not what it always was? Is it not what it was when Sir FRANCIS BURDETT described it in the address, which be moved in the House of Commons in 1812? Has it become more cruel, more oppressive, more inquisitorial, more partial, more tyrannical than it was then? Has it changed its nature, or the mode of collection changed its effect, since Mr. CARTER was sent to jaol and fined for libelling it and the measures of taking it from him? Whence, then, this new discovery? Whence this light, all at once broken in upon the nation? If it be true, that the tax is, in its very nature. tyranuical, as it is now called, it follows, of course, that this nation has been submitting to tyranny for the last twenty years. There is no denying this conclusion, if the premises be true; and therefore, I wonder how men can look each other in the face, while they are passing such resolutions.-The truth is, that the fall of Napoleon is the bardast blow that our Taxing system ever felt. It is now impossible to make people believe, that immense flects and armies are necessary. And, at the same time, prices having been reduced nearly one half by opening this island to the, exports of a country where the taxes are comparatively trifling, the receipt at the Exchequer must diminish without even any diminution of the number of taxes. The peace is, as I said it would be, a sort of Revolution in England. The people are sore. They were drunk last June and July. The drunken fit is over. and they are now in a state of lassitude and pain: aching heads and empty purses.-The whole of I am, &c. the achievements of the Property Tax, THE PROPERTY TAX." have not, however. been named by the The above is taken from the COURIER Courier, who has overlooked grants of of the 18th instant; and, it must be con-public money, sinecures, the restoration fessed, the complaint of poor Property of the Pope and the Inquisition, and Tax is not altogether unfounded, though many others. it pretends too far, when it talks of making the American Navy hide its head," and of keeping Napoleon out of England, which the people could have done without a Property Tax full as well, at least, as with it. It is, however, very amusing" to hear this tax so outrageously abused "MURDER! MURDER!" "This is the good old cry against cruelty and oppression: never had any more occasion to raise it than I have. A most ungrateful clamour is raised against my existence, though in the course of nature my dissolution cannot be far distant. The English nation is indebted to me, much, for carrying Lord Wellington and his brave troops through a course of brilliant victories. The naval superiority of England has "been sustained by my aid; the American navy has hid its head under the waters of its own harbours at the approach of my power: and yet meetings "are now holding in many parts of Eng"land at which I am stigmatized as cruel, ópressive; as most tyrannical and iniqui"tous. Now, considering the very impor"tant services I have rendered the country, "this, I again say, is most ungrateful. In "speaking of me, nothing extenuate nor "set down aught in malice. Let the blessings I have conferred, as well as the trouble I have occasioned, be remen bered. Without me, Buonaparte night, "this day, perhaps, have been master of "England and Sovereign of the World. "It is most unhandsome as well as ungrateful to kick and cuff, to insult and "traduce me,the moment it is supposed my "aid can be dispensed with. " " " " LORD COCHRANE AND THE LEGION OF HONOur. The following article appeared in the Morning Chronicle of Wednesday last:Yesterday a Chapter of the Order, of the Bath was held, at two o'clock, at ་་ " 66 "the Prince's Chamber, Westminster, at "loughby Gordon, Knight of the Bath," "which were present-His Royal High-in his ever to be remembered examina"ness the Duke of York, asGrand Master; tion on Mrs. Clarke's affair with the be"the Rev. Dr. Vincent, Dean of West-loved Frederick. I suppose this is one of "minster, Dean of the Order; the Right his "achievements." LORD COCHRANE'S "Hon. Sir David Dundas, Sir George 11. are, indeed of a very different Order. The “Barlow, and Sir Richard Strachan; the expression which the representatives of "Genealogist, Sir George Nayler; the our most revered Regent, the Right HonDeputy Bath King of Arms, Francis ourable Henry Canning, thought proper Townsend, Esq. and the Gentleman to apply to the American navy, when he "Usher of the Scarlet Rod, G. F. Beltz, described it as hearing a few bits of Esq. all in their robes.-The object of" striped bunting," cannot but bring to "the Meeting being merely to communi- every man's recollection the extraordinary "cate to the Chapter the measures which achievements" which vessels, bearing had been adopted for the DEGRADA- this striped bunting," have performed "TION of Lord Cochrane, and the ex- over our, hitherto reckoned, invincible "pulsion of his banner and achievements navy. One of these bits of red ribbon, from King Henry the Seventh's Cha- which decorate the knights commanders pel, the Chapter adjourned soon after of the new order, is, I understand, on "three o'clock."-So then ;- the new le- the way to Lisbon, as a reward for gion of Honour have held their first this statesman's elegant, and witty, and meeting, or Chapter," as they call it; novel designation of the American navy. and, in a manner perfectly consistent The list of his achievements” must with their "most honourable" intentions, then be put up in Westminster Abbey; they have commenced their proceedings and no doubt they will occupy,, with with communicating on the important peculiar grace and effect, the niche vasubject of having expelled LORD COCH-cated by the expulsica and degrada RANE from their "honourable Order,” tion of Lord Cochrane," which the and turned out his banner and "Achieve- Chapter" of the "honorable Order" ments" from King Henry the VIIth's has just assembled, in full form, to Chapel. -"Lord Cochrane's Achieve- ratify. I confess I should like to see • ments!!!"— I have carefully looked over this list of our Ambassador's Achievethe list of names of this honourable fra- "ments," It appears that a grievternity, beginning with his Royal High- ous complaint has been made by pess, our beloved Frederick, the Duke of some of the persons calling themselves York, and I can discover very sufficient "Heralds at Arms," as to a sort of reasons why they should be most anx- intruder, who has been put amongst jous to get rid of any record of LORD them, by the Prince Regent, and whose COCHRANE'S "Achievements," Cer- peculiar duty, is said to be to manufactainly there is very little relationship ture, in good set terms, "the Achievebetween them and the achievements of ments" of these "honorable gentlemen.” the members of this "most honorable fra ---Now, I think, the whole College of "ternity." Can any of these men be so Arms, Heralds and all, even including silly as to suppose that they have "de- these new intruders, will be rather puzzled "graded," as they term it, LORD COCH- to compose the poetical effusion which RANE by this measure? Can they sup-is to decorate Mr. Cauning's banner. pose that they have inflicted upon him Fiction is the soul of poetry. This then one moment's pain? Poor men! They will be a poem of first rate merit. I shall sadly deceive themselves: LORD COCH-endeavour to obtain a copy of it, and I RANE Suffers no regret at quitting the as- shall certainly gratify my readers by givsociation just remodelled. The quilling it to them as soon as it can be pro drivers at the Horse-Guards; the Post-cured. master of the Duke of Wellington; our beloved Frederick's Private Secretary, and such like gallant men, are certainly little fitted for the society of LORD COCHRANE. The "achievements" of these men must be, indeed, of a most curious description. I cannot forget Sir James Wit THE CONGRESS. Mr. COBBETT.---I have hitherto observed no particular notice in your Journal of the proceedings of the assemblage of royal and noble negociatiors that compose the congress of Vienna. It is said still by that race of expectants who are always Saxony? Does Saxony wish for the apologizing for kingly errors, that there is union? No. Directly the reverse. Do now a period arrived, when the ambition these liberators of the world, fulfil of monarchs is not tarnished with in- their promise respecting national rights justice; when the sceptre is not supported by outraging them? Could Buonaparte by blood, but by the free and generous have done more than force upon a applause of the people; when the Liber- country a sovereignty which it hated? ators of France will give peace to the Have not these liberators, according to world, and establish the general tran- the Times and Courier, done quillity upon a basis too firm to be more? Have they not deprived Saxony shaken. However ridiculous might ap- of a monarch which it loves? Whom pear the assimilation of absolute monar- has the King of Saxony offended? his chy and impartiality, of policy and jus- people? they forgive him. The nations tice, we were still disposed to give them of Europe? What, by entering into credit for generally meaning well; and treaties with Buonaparte? They have we augured from their intentions what all done the same. By adhering to the we might have doubted from their ca- faith of those treaties? Yes. Here pacities. The Courier, and its satellites, lies the real grievance: his adherence now say that we were deceived; that the to his word, his treaty, reproached deliberations of Vienna have unveiled many of them with the breach of theirs: their motives, and that personal advan- he had received benefits from the hands tage seems the general and the only point of Napoleon, and did not think it conon which they proceed to argue. Whe- sistent or honest to betray him. The ther our newspaper press be correct or example he had before his eyes, did not not in ascribing these motives to the convince. He exhibited the phenomeAllied Sovereigns, it is not my province non of a sovereign who did not think to decide. To time, which tries all convenience a sufficient reason for falsethings, it must be left to settle this. I hood. The Times, I observe, talks of cannot, however, refrain from remarking, conquest, as giving the negotiating mothat the infamous partitioning of Poland narchs the right of disposing of the in the first instance, gave to the revolu- fate of Saxony, and of transferring the tionary leaders of France an example Saxons, like cattle, to a master they and a fair justification for proceeding in dislike. Would it have been advisable a similar manner; and I should not be to talk of the conquest of their counsurprised if the seeds of another, and try to those Saxon soldiers who joined a more tremendous revolution, were the ranks of the allies at the battle of now sowing upon the continent, by the Leipsig? Would Bernadotte, who placed legitimate monarchs of the day, again himself at their head, and called upon forming treaties of convenience, and them to follow him in the cause of the schemes of personal aggrandisement liberties of Europe; would he have and private advantage. Napoleon really thought it the best method of securing possessed an equal right to Spain, with their aid, by telling them that their Russia to Poland, or Prussia to Saxony. country would be treated as a conquered If these projected annexations shall take province? But Prussia must have inplace, let us hear no more of the ty-demnity? Indemnity for what? For the ranny, or the injustice of the Emperor of France. It has been very well remarked, that Calvin was far more cruel than the Catholics whom he so abused; because, alive to the condemnation of their cruelty, he equalled its vilest enormity. Why then, if what is said of these sovereigns be true, are they less guilty than the victim of their efforts? Why is the conduct which in Buonaparte was so universally execrated to be tolerated, or approved, in them? This cannot be justice; this surely is not generosity. But why must Prussia have loss of Hanover, which she received from Buonaparte to wink at the ruin of Austria? For the loss of her own provinces in the war with Buonaparte which she herself provoked? Are these the claims of Prussia to the annexation of Saxony? Can her best friends assign any other? Would the worst of her enemies desire any more? Have the Times and Courier no recollection of their own consolation at the ruin of the infidel House of [Brandenburgh? Have they so soon forgot their pious remarks upon the judgment which attended the THE PILLORY. JUVENIS. A so society, which might, with great propriety, and without any departure from its original views,connect the subject of the pillory with the other important reforms for which it was instituted. kingdom of the Deist Frederick. Has which it was formed have been abanthe Christianity of the present mo- doned. No notice, as far as I have narch retrieved its destiny? I shall not been able to discover, has been taken notice the pretext of arrondisement: of it in any of our newspapers, or It would be only the plea of universal other periodical publications. monarchy in its extreme; no arrondise- ciety with such liberal and enlarged ment could be complete, but the cir- views, could not fail, in my opinion, cumference of the globe. In my next to meet with generous support were its I shall offer with your permission, a few intentions made sufficiently public, and remarks on the pretension of Russia to why these should be kept in reserve, Poland. if the association now exists, is a problem that seems very difficult to solve. It would gratify many of your readers, if any of your correspondents could SIR. The remarks which lately ap-give some information respecting this peared in your journal on the subject of the pillory, do equal credit to the head and to the heart of Benevolus. It is rather extraordinary in these enlightened times, when we hear so much While, however, it may be said, that about converting the heathen, emancipating the slaves, and encouraging the I have been liberal in my censure Bible Societies, that scarcely one pub- of our public writers for neglecting lic writer should be found, who pos- this vital subject, let me not be acsessed the courage, or the inclination, cused of partiality.---From this general to reprobate a practice so disgraceful reprehension I am glad to find there is to our law, and marked with so many one exception, who has done the subfeatures of a barbarous policy. The ject ample justice, though his modesty, public press every where teems with which is always a proof of talent, has idle and contradictory speculations as led him to conceal his name. observations on the pillory, to the probable result of the discus- to the sions at Vienna; whether the system which appeared in the last number of of aggrandisement attributed to the the periodical work, entitled Emperor Napoleon, is to be adopted Pamphleteer. They appear to me as the law of nations, or whether that excellent, and the writer has discussed state of things which existed previous the subject in so masterly a manner, to the French Revolution, is to be re- that I should like to see the whole of stored. These and some contemptible his remarks published in your Register. matters as to a new order of knight- But as this may not be altogether con hood, are the only topics for which sistent with your other arrangements, the people of this highly cultivated I have subjoined to this letter a short nation seem at present to have any extract, to which I hope you will relish, or on which the pen of the phi- the more readily give insertion that its lanthropist or of the philosopher is en- whole tendency is to inforce and illusgaged. The amelioration of our laws, trate the arguments of Benevolus, who the state of our prisons, the remains so strenously and so laudably contended of that rudeness which still pervades against the existence of a mode of pumany of our customs, and presents a nishment possessing so many features of formidable barrier to civilization, are savage cruelty and barbarity. points that few writers appear interested in, nor which have found many, partizans among the people. “It may indeed be said, that some of years ago, I heard something of the the crimes thus visited are well deservexistence of a society in the metropolis ing the utmost fury of an enraged profor the diffusion of knowledge on the ple, and that there is no punishment punishment of death, and the improve-denounced against them by our penal ment of prison discipline; but I have code at all equal to the darkness of their yet to learn that any thing was effected guilt. Be it so. That affords no rea by this institution, or if the objects for son why the defects of the law should Some I allude Yours, &c. A. B. the SO latter, the people act the part of unauthorized executioners, and become familiar with the most brutal of pleasures, the delight in pain, the horrible laugh of demoniac exultation at the sufferings of a fellow being. They who look on the tortures inflicted at a bull-baiting or a cock-fight with a virtuous horror, unless they measure out their disgust according to law, should feel a much stronger indignation at the sight of a fellow creature set up to be pelted al most to death amidst the drunken accla mation and infernal revelry of the low We And if thus pernicious in its immedi- be made up by the assistance of popular | arrayed against their authority; and a tumult, or its necessities supplied by competition is excited where it is the violence and outrage. In short, the noblest policy to conciliate. In the pillory is in direct opposition to the principle upon which all laws are founded, and must serve, as far as its influence extends, to undermine the foundation of their authority. They were erected to control the unbridled passions of man, to take from individuals the power of revenge, to render punishments the determinate effect of firm and substantial enactments, instead of fluctuating with the rage and the sympathies of individuals, to prevent parties from being judges of their own injuries, to humanize society by taking from the strongest the power of inflicting arbi-est and most depraved of our species trary penalties by which it was reduced to a state of perpetual warfare, and to impress the mind with awe by the weight and the solemnity of their decisions. But this strange infliction ac tually reverses all these benign intentions which the collective wisdom of ages has gradually matured; it proceeds on antisocial principles, and tends to bring us back to our state of original barbarism. We have all been taught that the sacred throne of justice should be exalted far above the passions and the ever-fluctuating sympathies of man; that its voice should be as certain as it is awful, and its sentences untainted with any of the grosser particles that move in a lowlier atmosphere. We have learnt that while increasing wisdom should improve our laws, their actual dietates should be received during their existence with a noble and generous obedience. But here, in opposition to all these maxims, we see in them a principle which tends to their own destruction, a scoret cancer which by insensible degrees is eating away the vital principle on which their vigor and their majesty depend. A judgment of the pillory is the worst of their enemies. If the mob applaud, they are set openly at defiance; and if on the other hand they break out into violence, the peace they should preserve is broken, the personal feelings they should subdue are excited, and the barbarous spirit of man unsoftened by civilization which they were formed to The Ancients searched for Truth; the Moderns repress, is aroused by their powerful sanction. In the former case, the best It is sufficiently melancholy to see such a monument of savage life standing uninjured amidst the trophies of goodness and of virtue; but it is still more offensive to see it regarded as a pillar of our legislative system. It saddens us to see riots at all existing in a well regulated state; but we are doubly provoked by the strange anomaly which makes the laws appear to excite them. We regret to see a popular demagogue lead his followers to confusion and disorder; but our vexation has no bounds when a judge is compelled by the duties of his office to give up the reigns to the frenzy of the shameless and the degra ded." CEDIPUS JUDAICUS. pretend they possess it.-VOLNEY. MR. COBBETT.--When I sent you emotions of the heart are injudiciously my two former letters, I endeavoured |