violence; and this, I take it, is the case in France. I not only take it to be so, but I know that it must be so; and really, I am far from thinking the worse of the people of France for their rendering a violent manner necessary in the collecting of taxes imposed without their consent. It shews, that the people of France have courage in civil as well as in military matters, and that they are not to be so easily cheated by Buonapartés' sham Legislative Body, called together by his sham elections. If this picture be real; if we have not to ascribe it, in some degree, to a sneaking kindness which Mr. Huskisson still retains for his old friends, the good patriots of France, who disliked funds and tythes, and to his virtuous abhorrence of despotism: if the picture be real, Mr. Huskisson has told me the best news that I have heard for some time. I was afraid, that the people of France, amused by the name of elections, were content under the robberies, which (as we have been told) were daily committed upon them in virtue of edicts, or decrees or senatus-consultums, or other abominable acts, of no matter what name, issued by an assembly, who have no power or voice any more than so many barber's blocks, who come and go, who speak and hold their tongues, who say OUI and NON just as they are commanded by the Emperor's official Orator, from whom, in one shape or another, the wretches receive their dirty hire, though, at the same time, they swagger about and would fain pass for gentlemen, and talk of their honour and dignity in a strain that ought, one would think, to purchase them a kicking at every corner of the streets of Paris. I really was afraid, that the people of France had so long and so patiently listened to the gabble and bombast of these fellows about la loi and la constitution, that they had, at last, became completely duped; or had been so cowed down by the great number of soldiers in that military government, that they had lost all sense of injury, and all desire of obtaining justice. But, if Mr. Huskisson be correctly informed, and I dare say he is, the people of France act in a way that compels their tyrants to have recourse to "violent means,' 39 in order to wring their earnings from them. This is a good hearing; because where violence is resorted to in order to collect taxes, there must be resistance, or at least, refusal, on the part of those of whom the said taxes are demanded. Begging the reader's pardon for this digression, I now return to the English mode of enforcing the payment of taxes, and which mode Mr. Huskisson contrasted with the bayonet and free-quarter mode adopted in France. As long as we pay without resistance and without refusal, we are, as I said before, quite secure against violence of any sort; but so I take it for granted, they are in France; for, even highwaymen and housebreakers would invariably content themselves with taking from their subjects their goods and money, were it not, that now and then a murder is necessary to their own safety, which is not the case with tax-collectors, either in France or any where else. Well, then, in what does this" contrast" consist? What is there of solid distinction in it? Why, in France, if a man is, unfortunately, in arrear, that is to say, if he do not pay the taxes demanded of him, then, in that case, soldiers are sent to live upon him at freequarter. Now, either he can pay, or he cannot. If the former, he has the power of keeping away the soldiers, and is not the unfortunate man, that Mr. Huskisson, in his humanity, seems to suppose. If the latter, that is to say, if he be unable to pay, is it not rather odd, that his house should be selected for free quarter, which always implies tolerable good cheer. It really is; you must excuse me, Mr. Huskisson; but I must say, that it is an odd thing, that a man who has the means of paying his taxes should unfortunately fall in arrear; or, that a man who has not the means of paying them, should be able to keep soldiers at free-quarter. But, to return once more to the English mode of enforcing the payment of taxes, what is done, if a man refuse to pay? No matter upon what ground, whether upon disinclination or disability. It is all the same; and what is done? The bayonet is not sent. No, that it is not, unless you were to at tempt to repel force by force, and were successfully to resist the sheriff's officers. Well; but how do we go on? Why, after a demand of the tax, a seizure is made upon the goods, buildings, lands, and in some cases, upon the body, of the man who cannot, or who does not, pay. In short, all his property is taken away from him, and he is, at last, left to begin the world a-new in rags. Now, Mr. Huskisson, what could the bayonet do more than this? Will you be so good as to tell me what it could do more? But, you will say, perhaps, that the bayonet is not used, at any rate; and that the bayonet is a ghastly looking thing. Very true; but, again I tell you, that, it is not used, because there is no resistance; that is to say, because there is no occasion for the bayonet; that is to say, because those who unfortunately fall in arrear, can have all their property taken from them, and can be completely ruined, without the assistance of the bayonet.Now, mind, I do not find fault with this. I know that there must be, somewhere, a force, at last, to compel some men to pay taxes; but, what I have said, will, I think, tend to make you a little cautious how you amuse yourself with drawing contrasts between the people of France and those of England upon the score of taxation. What you have said, admitting it to be true, about the use of violent means for the purpose of collecting the taxes in France, is really a great compliment to the people, and no small one to the government. The means would not be used, if the taxes could be collected without them; and the government not being able to collect taxes without the use of violent means, shows, and clearly proves, that the people of France are not so cowed down, are not such submissive creatures, are not such abject slaves, are not such degraded wretches, as quietly to give up their property piece-meal to a set of cowardly cheaters, who, surrounded with their Mamelukes, or other foreign mercenaries, would insult and rob the people "au nom de la loi," dividing the plunder amongst themselves and their hungry relations. Mr. Huskisson has seduced me into a digression, which has left me no time for any further remarks at present. This is, however, a subject to which I shall return again and again. As soon as I obtain a full and correct report of Mr. Wardle's Speech, I will publish it in the same way that I have the Speeches of the Speaker and of sir Francis Burdett. ly false, that any quarrel has taken place between Miss Taylor and any of the persons who have had the management of the Subscription. THE PUBLIC ROBBERS, by which phrase I do not, of course, mean the ministers and their underlings, as some of the news-paper people seem to imagine, but those who have really robbed the public in with-holding 22 documents out of 27; these public robbers deny most positively, that I was the author of the little pamphlet, the Churches in the kingdom, and which, which the Addington ministry sent to all I am told, MR. POULTER, like his neigh bouring parsons, read instead of a sermon; the robbers deny that I was the author of that pamphlet; but, what will not those say, who after getting documents out of the War-office, could suppress 22 of them out of 27?-The next time I meet Mr. show him, and the other Winchester parPoulter at Winchester, however, I will sons, some documents that they will little expect to see; and, I think, I can lay my hand upon the original of the Circular Letter to the Ministers of the Parishes, which was written by me, and in which there writing of Mr. Addington. was a phrase or two interlined in the handThe next time I meet Mr. Poulter at Winchester, I will put him and some of his brethren in mind of an anecdote or two, which they appear to have forgotten, but which I have not forgotten. SPANISH SHEEP. Several noblemen and gentlemen have written to me, upon the subject of Sheep, which they have, it appears, been informed, are coming from Spain, and are to ESSEX MEETING. Two articles signed possibly be of public interest and utility, be placed under my care; and, as it may by many respectable gentlemen of Es-I shall here state what will, I hope, be sex, (which shall be in my next) will shew what means have been used in that county to stifle the public voice. I can, at present, only call the reader's attention to them. I shall not fail to give an account of the Meeting, when it has taken place. Botley, 22 June, 1809. N. B. The debts of Miss TAYLOR have all been paid, and likewise those of her mother, or, at least, these latter have been settled, I believe, to the satisfaction of the creditors.—A list of the Subscribers is now preparing, and, in a fortnight, I hope to be able to lay before the public a statement of the whole business.It is total considered as a sufficient answer to all those who have honoured me with applications upon the subject.-I am not certain, that any sheep will be sent to my care; but, I have good reason to suppose, that several thousands of the very finest sheep in Spain will be sent to England, and that I, without any property in them whatever, but out of friendship for the owner, shall have, in a great degree, the care and management of them, unless he himself should arrive in England time enough to take the care upon himself.-If the flock, or any part of it, should be sold under my direction and controul, the sale will certainly who have written to me upon this subject, OFFICIAL PAPERS. FRENCH ARMY IN AUSTRIA.-Twelfth Bulle tin; Battle of Urfar. (Continued from p. 960.) troops, and four squadrons of Saxon hussars and dragoons, repulsed the two first columns of the enemy, drove them from their position, took from them six pieces of artillery, made 400 prisoners, and threw them into confusion. The third column of the enemy appeared on the heights of his infantry in a moment took possession of Berslingbergh at seven in the evening, and the neighbouring mountains.-The Saxon infantry fell on the enemy with fury, drove him from his position, and took 300 prisoners, and several ammunition waggons, be by auction; and, I beg leave to observe, by way of saving the trouble of applications for preferences, that no part of the property will be mine, and that, of course, I shall not be able, unless the owner be arrived, to give the smallest preference to any one.- -When the sheep arrive (if they do arrive), it is my intention to give due notice thereof, to every part of the kingdom; that is to say, if intended for sale. If the number should be small, I shall keep them in the neighbourhood of Botley; but, if it amount to some thousands, and if a sale were to be made, the place of sale - would, I imagine, be somewhere near Winchester. It is expected that the sheep will be landed at Portsmouth; and, a letter, At the same moment the marshal prince of which I have received from SIR JOHN SIN- Ponte Corvo came to Lintz with the cavalry CLAIR, as President of the Board of Agri-Vandamme, at the head of the Wirtemberg and the first brigade of Saxon infantry, gen. culture,' informs me, that, in consequence of an application from him, the Treasury has given orders to the Commissioners of Customs, at the Out-ports, and also to the Transport Board, to afford every facility to the safe and quick landing of the sheep. The season of the year is rather unfavourable. The heat, and the scarcity of water, on board of ship, will, I am afraid, prove fatal to a part, at least, of the flock; but, there should be no delay in the landing at any rate, it is of great importance, that and, to prevent this, the Treasury appears to have taken the necessary precaution. I have provided as much, and, perhaps, more, pasture, than will be necessary; but, it is possible, that I may not have provided half enough. I therefore take this opportunity of requesting any gentlemen, who may be able to accommodate me with good wholesome pasture, for a month or two, to be so good as to write to me upon the subject. And also to let me know, if they can lend me shepherds for a little while, in case I should be at a loss for such assistance. It is a public concern; and, I trust, the friends of agriculture, in the neighbouring counties as well as in this, will gladly afford me all the aid in their power. Any where between SOBERTON across to WINCHESTER, and on towards Stockbridge or Sutton; in short, any where within twenty miles of Botley, where there is good and wholesome sheep feed, may do for the purpose.-I should, of course, divide the flock, if numerous, in order to apportion the number of mouths to the quantity of food.-I take this opportunity of apologizing to those gentlemen, -The enemy has retired in confusion to Freystadt and Haslach. The hussars sent out in pursuit brought in 500 horse, and muskets, and a number of waggons and caissons were found in the woods. The loss of the enemy amounts to 2,000 in killed and wounded, besides prisoners. Our whole loss in killed, wounded, and. prisoners, is not 400. COBBETT'S COMPLETE COLLECTION OF State Trials: To be completed in Thirty-Six Monthly The SEVENTH PART of the above Work (being the first Part of Vol. III.) will be published on Saturday the 1st of July. One Part will appear, with the greatest regularity, on the first of each succeeding Month. LONDON:-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough Court, Fleet Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden:-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall. VOL. XV. No. 26.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1809. [Price 1-s. "THE Mutiny amongst the LOCAL MILITIA which broke out at Ely, was fortunately suppressed on "Wednesday, by the arrival of four squadrons of the GERMAN LEGION CAVALRY from Bury, under "the command of General Auckland. Five of the ring-leaders were tried by a Court Martial, and "sentenced to receive 500 lashes each, part of which punishment they received on Wednesday, and a part "was remitted. A stoppage for their knapsacks was the ground of complaint that excited this mutinous "spirit, which occasioned the men to surround their officers, and demand what they deemed their "arrears. The first division of the German Legion halted yesterday at Newmarket on their return to -COURIER (ministerial) News-paper, Saturday 24th of June, 1809. "Bury." 993] -[994 I faces, and to hear their observations to SUMMARY OF POLITICS. each other, at the time.- -This occurLOCAL MILITIA and GERMAN LEGION.- rence at home will, one would hope, teach See the Motto, English reader! See the the loyal a little caution in speaking of the Motto, and then do pray recollect all that means, which Napoleon employs (or, has been said about the way, in which rather, which they say he employs), in Buona parté raises his soldiers. Well order to get together and to discipline his done, Lord Castlereagh! This is just what Conscripts. There is scarcely any one of it was thought your plan would produce. these loyal persons, who has not, at various Well said, Mr. Huskisson! It really was times, cited the hand-cuffings, and other not without reason that you dwelt, with means of force, said to be used in drawing out so much earnestness, upon the great utility the young men of France; there is scarcely of the foreign troops, whom Mr. Wardle one of the loyal, who has not cited these appeared to think of no utility at all. means as a proof, a complete proof, that Poor gentleman! he little imagined how the people of France hate Napoleon and his` a great genius might find useful employ-government, assist with reluctance in his wars, ment for such troops. He little imagined, and would fain see another revolution. that they might be made the means of hope, I say, that the loyal will, hereafter, compelling Englishmen to submit to that be more cautious in drawing such conclusort of discipline, which is so conducive to sions, now that they see, that our "gallant the producing in them a disposition to de- " defenders" not only require physical fend the country, at the risk of their lives. restraint, in certain cases, but even a little Let Mr. Wardle look at my motto, and blood drawn from their backs, and that, then say whether the German soldiers are too, with the aid and assistance of German of no use.Five hundred lashes each! troops. Yes; I hope the loyal will be a Aye, that is right! Flog them; flog them; little more upon their guard in drawing flog them! They deserve it, and a great conclusions against Napoleon's popularity. deal more. They deserve a flogging at At any rate, every time they do, in future, every meal-time. "Lash them daily, lash burst out in execrations against the French "them duly." What, shall the rascals for suffering themselves to be "chained dare to mutiny, and that, too, when the “ together and forced, at the point of the German Legion is so near at hand! Lash" bayonet, to do military duty," I shall them, lash them, lash them! They deserve it. O, yes; they merit a double-tailed cat. Base dogs! What, mutiny for the sake of the price of a knapsack! Lash them! flog them! Base rascals! Mutiny for the price of a goat's skin; and, then, upon the appearance of the German Soldiers. they take a flogging as quietly as so many KING'S SPEECH.On Wednesday, trunks of trees! I do not know what the 21st of June, the parliament was sort of a place ELY is; but I really prorogued, with a Speech, delivered by should like to know how the inhabitants Commission; on which Speech,aiter insertlooked one another in the face, while thising it, I shall offer a few observations. scene was exhibiting in their town. "MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN, We are should like to have been able to see their commanded by his Majesty to acquaint just re-publish the passage, which I have 66 you, that his Majesty has great satisfac"tion in being enabled, by the state of "the public business, to release you from" your laborious attendance in Parliament. "His Majesty doubts not that on your "return into your respective Counties, you will carry "to inculcate, both by instruction and example, a spirit of attachment to those "established larvs and that happy Constitution "which it has ever been his Majesty's "anxious wish to support and to maintain, "and upon which, under Providence, de"pend the welfare and prosperity of this “ kingdom.———————GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, We have it in command "from his Majesty to thank you for the "liberal provision which you have made "for the services of the present year; "and to express the satisfaction which his Majesty derives from your having been "enabled to provide for those services "without any great or immediate addition "to the burthens upon his People.-His Majesty particularly commands us to "acknowledge your prompt attention to his wishes, respecting an increased pro"vision for the poorer Clergy; an object in the highest degree interesting to his "Majesty's feelings, and deserving the "favourable consideration of Parliament. "vinced that you will agree with him "in considering that every exertion for the re-establishment of the independence and security of other nations, is "no less conducive to the true interests "than it is becoming the character and with you a disposition" honour of Great Britain.". -The first observation that presents itself here is, that the king should have been advised to speak about the " public business" of the session, and to allude to particular parts of it, but to say not one word about that business, which had occupied above nine tenths of the time of the whole session, and compared to which, in point of importance, all the other business is a single sand compared to the sands composing a mountain. Why, the business of the past session consisted solely of the affairs of the Duke of York, Lord Castlereagh, Henry Wellesley, the Tinman's Prosecutor, and the Irish Excisemen. These, and the discussions arising out of them, made the whole of the business of the session. There was no other part of it that the nation paid the smallest attention to; that it either did care, or ought to care any thing about. And yet, as to this business, which has given rise to public meetings in every part of the kingdom, not one word is said in the Speech.I like to see this, however, because it shews so clearly what it is desirable that the people should clearly see. a law f keep t not to has th would what a gives t while withou sides t people conseq the pro the po Why, this wo for giv of cou bestow too mu cular then, I ed, no MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, The "atrocious and unparalleled act of violence "and treachery by which the Ruler of To make up for this omission, there "France attempted to surprize and to is, however, a whole paragraph of the "enslave the Spanish nation, while it has Speech devoted to the provision, which "excited in Spain a determined and uncon-has, during this session, been made for the "querable resistance against the usurpation "and tyranny of the French government, "has, at the same time, awakened in other nations of Europe a determination to "resist, by a new effort, the continued "and encreasing encroachments on their "safety and independence. Although "the uncertainty of all human events, "and the vicissitudes attendant upon "war, forbid too confident an expecta"tion of a satisfactory issue to the present "struggle against the common enemy of "Europe, his Majesty commands us to congratulate you upon the splendid and "important success which has recently "crowned the arms of the emperor of Aus«tria, under the able and distinguished "conduct of his Imperial Highness the "Archduke Charles. To the efforts of Europe for its own deliverance, his Majesty has directed us to assure you, that he is determined to continue his most "strenuous assistance and suppert, con viding tronag to me believ have for in whole ries, poorer Clergy, and which provision did, I |