4

at almost a single haul, putting the rack and a barrel of beer in drugs, more or less poisonous, into the pantry. A quarter of malt Brewer's Beer! The Morning and a fat hog will do more towards Chronicle tells us, that Mr. Inglis, keeping labouring people honest, the merchant (partner of my Co-and sober too, than all the “reliventry Ellice) who shot himself gious tracts" that the Soldier's the other day, was proved to have Bishop ever distributed, "pious been insane by his having fancied and zealous" as he was. You that he was poisoned. Faith, if preach in vain (in England at he were, as probably he was, in least) if you preach content, to the habit of taking down Brewer's an empty belly. In Ireland, inpossets, this might have been no deed, if we are to believe the fancy! The most experienced high eulogiums, which the landphysicians ascribe a large portion lords bestow on the “resignation” of the chronic complaints to this of the poor labourers, men will dragged beverage, which is no be satisfied with the extreme unempre beer than one of Lord Cas-tion. In this part of the kingdom tlereagh's speeches, or "State- I am very certain that nothing papers," is English It is, as but an inward application will the Apothecaries write on their produce “resignation,” whatever phials, “ the mixture;" and, would else may produce » submission. to God it were inefficient as "the Content and hunger can never misture" generally is ! co-exist; and, the best and cheap--But, besides the consideration est way of keeping the peace, is of health, which, however, is a to keep people's bellies full matter of the first importance, People in that state may easily there is the morality; the happi- be governed." They want very, ness of families and the peace and little of what can be called gosafety of society, are to be consi-vernment. The constable's staff dered here. For, I look upon it as and the sheriff's wand are quite an indeniable truth, that there can sufficient. No regiments of lancers be none of these without bellies are wanted. Full bellies are the pretty, well filled with tolerably" cheap defence of nations; " and good vietuals and drink. If that defence is not to be found in had a poor and immoral, that is those titles and pensions about to say, thieving family to reform, the virtues of which the old hack, I would put a slitch of bacon on Burke, makes such a fuss.

3

It is in vain to talk of educa

If people are all well off; If mean all people that work; and tion in the case of a half-starved the vagabonds would be but few people. The Tract People think comparatively if the great body they are very cunning in preachof the people were well off, they ing up to the labourers resignawould be content. No "dema- tion under a state of want, while gogue" could persuade them that they themselves are bursting with a full belly was an empty one. fat, drawn out of the labour of If they were contented, there those to whom they preach. They could be no disturbance of the deceive themselves. They may peace. There could be no need Tract it as long as they please: of a thundering standing army they will never make man beto keep such a people in awe. lieve, that he has not a right to In awe of what? Why need they a belly-full from his constant labe made afraid? Who could bour; and that, talk of property have an interest in their being and law as long as you like, it frightened? But, if they be hun- is not lawful for him, by one gry (in England at least), they means or another, to get that will be discontented. The dis-belly-full. A very curious adcontent will show itself in some venture happened to me one day, way or other. It will, first or last Spring, relative to these last, break out into acts; and Tracts. I was waiting for a force is necessary to quell it. coach in Piccadilly, looking out This is, and always has been, of the coffee-room window, at the progress: heavy taxes, lay which also were two gentlemen them on as high as you may, just come out of Sussex. We press downwards till they produce saw a sort of beggar, holding a hunger in the labouring classes: pamphlet up to the departing they show their discontent in coaches,, as if for sale. I said, various ways, and at last come" I wonder, now, what that fellow to acts of violence. An army is is selling." One of the gentlenecessary to oppose these acts. men (neither of whom knew me) Hence more taxes. And thus is said, "I dare say it's Cobbett's country placed in a state very Register." "Oh, no!" said I, ttle short of never-ceasing civil" that is too ungodly for such a war. The best state of such a pious looking hawker." We sent country is but a sort of truce, or out to buy one, price a penny; cessation of arms. and it was a Tract against the

"Sin of Smuggling!" It was reader. In the first edition of published by one Collins, who, that work I treated of private it seems, is the agent of this brewing, a thing which I was Tract Crew. It was entitled a very anxious to promote, and in "Dialogue on the coast," or some- the promoting of which I have, thing in that way. A dish of I am happy to believe, done a poor, miserable sophistry and good deal. But, as to the act of cant, which will never make any brewing; that is to say, as to creature believe, that it is an the mode of doing the thing, I offence against God to drink a contented myself with directions glass of gin that has not been applicable to the Patent Brewlegalized by an exciseman's stick. ing Machine, which from its Why could not the meddling fools high price, could not be of gelet this subject alone? But, their neral use, and of which, indeed, vanity is equal to their hypo- after a careful trial, I have crisy. They conce it, that it is thought proper to abandon the their Tracts that keep hungry use, for the reasons stated in the people quiet. Others know bet-new edition of my little work. ter; and, therefore, the Barracks The directions being applicable are judiciously planted about and to this Machine, became quite well filled. And this is the short defective, in case it was not and long of the matter: there used. I have, therefore, written must be full bellies or full bar- this part of my work anew, and racks. have given directions so plain as As I dislike the latter exceed- to every part of the business, ingly, it has been my constant that I think no one can possibly endeavour to assist, with all my misunderstand any part of them. might, in causing the former. I have accurately described all A full belly to the labourer is, the utensils; and have shown, in my opinion, the foundation of that, even for a considerable fapublic morals and the only source mily, the cost of them does not of real public peace. With this exceed seven pounds ten shilopinion in my mind, I wrote and lings, though, with proper care, published my little work, called they will all last half a century. COTTAGE ECONOMY, of which, in I observed, in the first edition. 3098 97 conclusion, I have to say a word of the Cottage Economy, that, information of the though I then recommended (to

or two for

the

those who could afford it) to use and thereby merit the maledicthe Patent Machine, yet, if 1 tions of a half-poisoned neighshould discover any thing more bourhood. It was their masters, advantageous, and more likely therefore, that urged them on to to promote the object that I had these petitions, which they were in view, I should communicate it compelled to sign on pain of beto readers. This I have now ing "bundled into the road.” done. The new edition is pub

my

However, the Bunghole Aristocracy is a strong body. The

lished this day; the price is 2s. 6d. I cannot conclude these re-parts are strong, and the combimarks without pointing out to my nation is close and firm. It will readers the necessity of sup-move with might and main next porting Mr. Brougham's Bill by Session of Parliament; and, unpetition. He himself called upon less the people petition, the Bill the public to do this; and, it will may be lost. Recollect, we be very necessary; for the Bung-ought, that amongst the Bunghole hole Aristocracy took care to set Aristocracy, there are some of their agents or servants, the pub-the biggest" Patriots" of the lic-house keepers, to work to peti-day. There is the "Reformer,” tion against the Bill; that is to Mr. WHITBREAD, and there are say, against the labouring classes many others whose names do not getting good and cheap beer! appear on the boards, with such Verily, nothing ever surpassed flaming letters on them over the this in point of impudence. These public-house doors and on the people were set on by their mas-sign-posts. Mr. HOBHOUSE'S ter of the Bung. They could father is a brewer still, I believe, have no interest of their own in as well as a banker, and Commispreventing such a law from being simer of Nabob of Arcot Debts, passed. They must, if they The "young gentleman" himself wished still to deal in beer, have (the Member for Westminster) desired such a law; for it would did not say any thing in favour of release them from their slavery to the Bill; but, let us hope, that the Bung. They might then sell his thousands of hard-working beer without asking leave of any constituents are to have his supone; and real beer too, and not port upon this trying occasion. be compelled to sell the drugged Patriotism here or patriotism -stuff of their present employers, there, let us have good and cheap

beer. That is one of the things, the monopoly? In short, this is a and one of the main things too, most impudent pretence, and one that the people want, and that which, if generally put forward they promise themselves from a and tolerated, would forbid the Reform of the Parliament; and Parliament from doing any act to I shall not be easily made to be-protect the people from being lieve, that he who refuses cor- plundered of their last penny, dially to support this Bill is in and then stripped of their very earnest as to Reform or any thing skins, to gratify the greedy diselse likely to do the common people any good.

positions of this, that and t'other band of unsparing monopolists.

The pretence of the Brewers is, There is no doubt, that to take that they have laid money out on the tax off the salt will annoy the the public-houses. And, who does salt-dealers. It must; for, on not lay money out when they get account of a tax of 15s. they lay houses? But, they mean that the on 18s. in price of salt. The licences have cost them money. heavier the tax the more they get. That we can believe easily enough; But, must the salt-tax not be taken but, did the law ever intend that off, then, and people left to make they should be able to purchase their own salt? And, yet, I can a monopoly in the selling of beer? see no reason that the Bunghole If that be the case the Govern- Aristocracy, have to object to ment ought to have the selling of Mr. Brougham's Bill, than the the benefit of the licence; for Salt-men would have to object to then the money might come into the tax on salt being taken off. the Treasury, and cause some of At this rate, no tax must ever be our taxes to be taken off. But, taken off or reduced; and thus what right have these people to these Bunghole" Patriots," " who put forward any such claim? want reform in every thing else, They say, that they have "vested want no reform, no change, in that interests" in public-houses. They which gives them what they call say that the law has tolerated a "vested right" in the very their acquiring a monopoly of sweat of the people, which renthose houses. They have, indeed, ders it impossible for a thirsty done it while the law has been in labourer or journeyman to quench force. The Parliament has wink- his thirst without paying large tried at it; but, what law is there for bute to them, in order to enable