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VOL. XXVII. No. 22.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1815. [Price 1s.

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LETTER IX.

TO THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL.

On the political Effects Produced in Ame rica by the Peace of Ghent.

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"reading the Proclamation, in the USU"AL WAY, at the door of the office at "Whitehall." This was all, and, I will be bound, that even the people passing in the street did not know what it was that was reading. This is what the COURIER Botley, 29th May, 1815, calls the usual way of proclaiming peace! MY LORD-It was frequently observed There was no illuminations; no firing of by me, in former letters, which I had the guns; no ringing of bells; no demonstrahonour to address to your Lordship, dur- tions of joy. In short, the country, which ing the war with America, that, if you had been so eager for the war, and so unawere, at last, as I foretold you would be, nimous for its prosecution, seemed not at compelled to make peace without hum- all to regret, that it never knew the exact bling America, and, indeed, without sub-period when peace returned. It felt, duing her, or nearly subduing her, the result would be honourable to her, seeing that she would, in a war single-handed against England, have succeeded in de-of public feeling was made manifest.~ fending herself. It was clear, that, when once the contest became a single combat, to defend herself must be to her triumph and to us defeat. And, if she came out of the war without any, even the smallest concession, her triumph over us must raise her greatly in the estimation of her own people and of all the world. She did come out of the war in this way; and the natural consequences have followed.

I do not know, that I have before noticed the fact in print, but it is now time that I should; I mean the curious fact relative to the proclamation of peace with America. We know that peace with any power is usually proclaimed by HERALDS, who, starting at St. James's Palace, go into the City, with a grand display of armorial ensigns, and accompanied by troops in gay attire, and by bands of martial music, stopping, from time to time, to read the King's proclamation of the peace. This was done at the Peace of Amiens and at the Peace of Paris. Indeed, it is the usual way in which the cessation of war is proclaimed.

Now, then, how was the peace with America proclaimed? There was no procession at all: there was nothing of the usual ceremony. But, the COURIER news paper, and, I believe, that paper only, informed the public, that "6 peace with "America was proclaimed to-day, by

ashamed of the result of the war, and was glad to be told nothing at all about it.

But, in America! There the full force

The country resounded from New Orleans to the utmost borders of the Lakes; from the orange groves to the wheat lands, buried four feet deep in snow, was heard the voice of joy, the boast of success, the shout of victory. I, who had always felt anxious for the freedom of America; I, whose predictions have been so completely fulfilled in the result of this contest ; even I cannot keep down all feeling of mortification at these demonstrations of triumph, related in the American prints now before me. Even in me, the Englishman so far gets the better of all other feelings and consideration. What, then, must be the feelings of those, my Lord, who urged on and who prosecuted that fatal war?

An American paper now before me, the Boston "Yankee," of the 9th of December last, gives an account, copied from our London papers, of our Jubilee last summer, when "old BLUCHER" was so squeezed and hugged, and had his jaws so nastily licked over by the filthy women, who were called "Ladies." This Yankee calls it "John Bull's great National Jubilee;" and, I assure you, the famous victory gained by the naval force of England over the American fleet on the Serpentine River is not forgotten! But, the editor of the Yankee has made a mistake. He thought it was the Thames on

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which that memorable battle was fought. I was to "re-unite the colonies to the paNot so, good Mr. Yankee. The Serpen-rent state!"

These are mortifying recollections, my Lord, and I do not know that they will be rendered less so to you by the addition of the reflection, that, if you had followed my advice, there never would have been any ground for them.

tine River, as it is called, is a little wind- It is very true, I acknowledge, that a ing lake in Hyde Park, about the width dangerous faction has arisen in the Reof a large duck pond, and is fed by a lit-public. I see very clearly, that wealth tle stream, or rather gutter, and empties has introduced a taste for what are called itself by the means of another gutter at honours. Vanity is making a desperate the other end. It was this quality of lake effort to decorate men with titles. The that made the scene so very apt. law forbids it; but vanity is at open war with law. The germ of aristocracy, which was discovered in the New England states, and, in a few instances, in some of the others, at the end of the war of independence, has grown out now to full view. There are 'Squires and Honourables in abundance. There are the "Honourable the Governor;" "His Honour the Judge ;" and so on. These men will soon begin to regret that they have no one to give them permanent titles; that they have no "fountain of honour." That which men regret the want of they endea vour to obtain, whenever an occasion of fers. The Priests of New England ap

The political effects in America of such a peace must be wonderful. Indeed, they evidently are so. The men who, in the New England States, were forming open combinations against Mr. Madison, are, as I told you they would be, covered with that sort of disgrace, that deep disgrace, which defeated malice always brings upon its head. They appear, from all I can gather, to have become the butt of ridi-pear to be working hard to procure somecule, after having long been the object of serious censure. These men are suspected of treasonable views and acts. At any rate, they are chargeable with a real attempt to destroy the liberties of their country, in revenge for their rejection by the people. They were defeated in their grasp at the supreme powers of the union, and they have endeavoured to do as the baboon is said to have done with the fair lady, that is, destroy that which they could not possess.

Mr. PICKERING, to whom the TIMES newspaper looked up as the "hangman and successor of Mr. Madison," now talks like a very hearty republican; but the poor gentleman seems to know very little of what is going on here. Ile says, that you made peace, because so many petitions were poured in against continuing the war; and your Lordship, knows, that not one such petition was poured in. Ile says, that the failure at New Orleans will put you out of place. Poor Gentleman! how little, how very little does he know about you! He says, that the Opposition have clamoured for peace. It was the Opposition who urged on the war, and only found fault with you for not doing the Yankees more mischief than you did. Yet this, this is one of the men, to whom we have looked as capable of overthrowing Mr. Madison! This is one of the men who

thing in the way of an establishment. Hence the joy of both these at the restoration of the Bourbons, the old French Noblesse, the Pope, and the Jesuits; and hence, they will, I venture to predict, be as abusive of Napoleon, Carnot, Fouche, Rederer, and Merlin, as is our TIMES newspaper.

In the mean while, however, the people. are sound republicans; and, it will take some years to overset their government, though the manners and tastes of many may be corrupted. The following letters which I have received from America, will shew you, that the war, and especially the peace, have produced a great change in that country. They will also shew you that, long ago, I had hit upon the true nail, and that you ought to have paid attention to me sooner than you did. The newspapers from America breathe a spirit of resentment, which it should be our object to allay, if possible; but, really, the language of our prostituted press was such, that, added to the "character of the war," it is almost impossible, that reconciliation should take place during an age to come.

Before I conclude, I beg leave to call your Lordship's attention to the statements in the American papers, relative to our treatment of the American prisoners of war; also to call your attention to cer tain intercepted letters of our officers, re

lative to plunder; and further to call your
attention to their charges relative to the
parole, given by GENERAL PACKENHAM,
when he was about to assault, and to
take, as he expected, NEW ORLEANS.
dare not copy these. Newgate is not so
pleasant as Botley. But, still I do most
anxiously wish to see these papers pub-
lished here; because they might then be
met by denial and disproof, if not true.
This is a serious matter, my Lord. If we
dare not publish here, they dare do it in
America; and there it is that the effect
will be produced injurious to us. I dare
say, that long before this will reach the
press, all these changes, all these horrid
narratives, will have been collected in
America, published in a permanent shape,
and, perhaps, translated into French.
Thus will they be read by all the civilized
world, the people of England excepted;
but, thus have I done my duty in pointing
these things out to your Lordship, which
is all that I dare do in this case.
I am, &c. &c.

WM. COBBETT.

learning, and abilities than Southey, would damn their country for his salary and a butt of sack.

Your late essays are re-published in all the Republican Papers, and read with great relish; while they are carefully excluded from all the federal papers. Nevertheless I suspect that you do not see many of our Boston Republican Papers. I have therefore requested, the Editors of the Boston Patriot, and Yankee to put up a series of them for you; and encouraged them with the hope that you will send them your Register. I have also: sent you an excellent work by Mr. CAREY, entitled the "Olive Branch." We esteem it highly for its facts. You will read it with pleasure. This book and Jackson's victory have blasted the Hartford Convention; and destroyed the high hopes of the Pickerings, the Otisses, and the Sullivans. The author of that book has a just idea of our Boston Saints, of their avarice, of their hypocricy, and of their thirst after ridiculous titles, and even monarchy. He has a right idea of our Junto, which rises as our country sinks, and sinks as our country rises. After perusing the Olive Branch, would it not be well to throw it in the way of the Edinburgh Reviewers? (1)

Boston, 28th March, 1815. MR. COBBETT-I have read, with great satisfaction, your recent essays relative to this country. You deserve well of your native country, as well as of mine, for trying to open the eyes of your countrymen, that they might see things as they really are. But in Old England and perhaps, as corrupt a junto as the Hartford Con in New, and I am personally acquaint-vention, and of that my correspondent would be ed with both, a man need not despair making the people believe any thing but

truth.

Both your country and mine have been long suffering under the cause of "a lying spirit." The federal papers in Boston, under the direction of the faction, and ́especially the one edited by "the Boston Slave," exert all their powers to spread a delusive fog before the eyes of their stupid readers, and between them and truth. They are worse than your Courier, or your Times; for with their lies, they have a trait of malignity and stupidity, at which your people must revolt. What must be the state of a community where the people are fed with poisonous food? It would require a revolution of some sort to rid the people of the accumulated corruption. Our Yeomanry are virtuous, brave, and strongly attached to their government; but we have scores of professional men among us, who, with less

(1) I can find a much better use for it, as the writer shall see. The Edinburgh Reviewers are,

well convinced, if he were to read an article upon the return of Napoleon, published at the

close of the last number of this work; in which

article they prepared, in advance, for the war, which they suspected would take place against France, in consequence of that wonderful event. The truth is, that this is a little knot of placehunting men of talent, who, by the means of this Review, force themselves successively into the receipt of emoluments derived from the public. I do not know any set of men so much like another, as these Reviewers are like the Federal Noblesse. Mr. WALSH, of Philadelphia, who wrote a book on the state of France, full of falsehoods and of ignorance, and who, it was confidently reported here, was to have had the honour of being introduced to a Lord, and would, in all probability, have enjoyed that blessing, if the said Lord had not been unexpectedly engaged with his tailor, or somebody else: this Mr. WALSH, with the exception of talent, is a tolerably good specimen of an Edinburgh reviewer.

WM. COBBET F.

I have read with surprise and disgust | Considering the New England opposition the official accounts of General Drum- and the nature of our government, and the mond and some others, of the battle of state of our finances, and the villiany of Chippewa and Bridewater. I have been the faction, and this Virginia-man, may informed by the brave and modest Colonel well be called the Matchless Madison. (now General) Miller, as well as by a number of his officers, his non-commissioned officers, and privates, that the British cannon were many hours in their possession, and that they would have brought them off, had not the British taken the precaution to carry off the timbers, and all the harness, which Miller could not supply in the night. I firmly believe that all our official accounts may be relied on. I have reason for believing it.

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Although we are priest-ridden, and debased in Massachusetts, I hope we are not sunk below redemption. The better half of Massachusetts have not bowed the knee to the effigy of monarchy, set up by the contemptible noblesse of Boston. It is the yeomanry, the nerve, the bone, and the sinew of the republic, who have fought our battles, while it is the pampered, and corrupted flesh, and gormandizing stomach, who preach, pray, and write in federal newspapers, and who continually deceive the people.

Jackson's wonderful victory is a greater thing to us, that is, of more beneficial consequences to America, than the victory of Wolfe; the capture of Burgoine, or Cornwallis. The British were sure of New Orleans, and they meant to leave it an ugly bone of contention between the U. S. and Spain. But Providence forbade it. We say Providence, for the great destruction on one side, and the unparalleled salvation on the other, prove that it could hardly be owing to the contiugent powers of men. It gives strength to the opinion imbibed by people in every period of the world, and in every stage of society, that there is a power above us, which shapes things to an end, rough hew them how we will." This extraordinary victory has broken down the spirits of the invaders; they say there, is a fatality in this American war; and that it is adverse to them. Your countrymen fought bravely at New Orleans, very bravely. Jackson, and his inspired mi-glory to the source whence it litia had coolness enough, in the midst of the fight, to observe and admire the discipline and steady bravery of the English, and the valour of their officers; but who could stand before our cool and accurate riflemen, and equally cool and accurate cannoniers!! Jackson, (a village-lawyer) has far surpassed any General we ever had, at any period.

After the present delusion is pašt, L hope to see both your country and mine shine forth in their native purity. Ourcountry is rising rapidly to greatness, and to glory; and when we have put down faction, we shall yet see our species, the descendants of Englishmen, shine forth to the greatest advantage, in ability, courage, and integrity; and here we may see displayed the utmost range of the human powers.

Thirty years ago, I knew London, and. her leading men, including Mr. Fox, and some others, They are now nearly all dead; and I have scarcely a correspondent left. I wish Old England well; for there are the sepulchres of my ancestors : and there I resided several years. I have a considerable respect for John Bull; but a greater affection for,

While we admire Jackson, and his militia, let us not withhold our admiration of James Madison! who amidst the most virulent, and most obstinate of oppositions (see the Olive Branch,") has triumphed over both internal and external enemies, and planted the proud stripes and stars of his nation in the sight of the universe.

GU

JONATHAN,

For he is destined to return the tide of

sprung.

Boston, March 30th, 1815. MR. COBBETT,--A snow-storm having prevented the ship Galen from sailing this morning, I seize the opportunity her detention affords, to add a few strips from some of our late newspapers. I do it by way of recompensing you for your excellent essays, under the form of letters to your great men in England, in which you tell them important truths relative to this country, which, I believe, they can obtain through no other channel.

We admire greatly your accurate picture of the two parties in this bewitched state. What the witches promised Macbeth, has been whispered to our little-big

men in Massachusetts " ye shall be all

Thanes!!

The public feeling is not a little excited by the recital of our officers and men, who have just returned to Boston and New York, from their captivity in Nova Scotia, and Canada. You will see the narrative in the Boston Patriot of yesterday. The British prisoners have been uniformly treated with kindness by the Americans. Humanity is a conspicuous trait in our character.

We look up to the acute editor of the 'Political Register to lay this grievous thing properly before the British public. If what is related be not facts, let them be contradicted; and, if they be true, let the perpetrators be exposed, and the robes of the nation wiped clean from the stain (2). [I leave out a passage here, which though complimentary to the part of this kingdom, in which I was born, is rather too GENERAL in its application. But, my chief reason for leaving it out is, that it would, in my opinion, TEND HARM.-nation -W. C.]

TO DO

plain, and at the thoughts of which they regret the termination of war.

We are much pleased with your very accurate account of Federalists and Republicans. The papers you now receive will help you to finish the picture you have sketched.

This short war has wrought a wonderful change in the United States. It has taught the traders and shopkeepers of Boston, that if their sea-ports were de stroyed, the nation even then, could exist. It has peopled our interior, created innu merable manufactures, and taught us all that it is to the yeomanry we must look, at last, for the support and defence of the nation. With them is the brain, the nerve, the bone and sinew; for the merchant is blown about by every wind of commerce. The French justly estimate these descenHe scarcely feels that he has got a country.

dants of Esau.

The time was, when these colonies, or states, might, in their physical and mental force, be compared to a wedge, (the most forciable of the mechanical powers) the butt, or thick edge of which was here in Colonel SCOTT, (now our valiant Ge- Massachusetts, and it went tapering away neral Scott) was early in the war carried until its thin edge ended in Georgia, and prisoner to Montreal and Quebec; and on the Mississipi. But Andrew Jackson, received a treatment, which he never can, a village lawyer, has turned this wedge or ought to forget. I had it from his own "end for end," and we now feel the force mouth. Scott is a man of talents, educa-pressing to us, instead of from us. Mr. tion and a gentleman; but those high MATTHEW CAREY has explained all this in Officers in Canada, who heaped every kind-the olive branch !!” ness and attention on the infamous HULL, could not find it in their hearts to treat with ordinary attention and humanity the accomplished Scott.

As nations, we may be at peace; but as a people we never shall, so long as we remember personal insults and cruel deprivations, especially during sickness. Your ships of war have generally treated our sailors whom they captured, well; but it is the treatment on board prison-ships, and in Canada of which our men com

The young and spirited men of Massachusetts feeling the effects of the misere able policy of their governor, and of the Legislature, are fast leaving their homes, and emigrating Westward. Even the sons of some of the Essex Junto are following where interest leads. They are fly ing from the sterile soil, and bigotted region of Boston to more fertile and liberal regions; and yet our besotted government of Massachusetts, and their stupid governor, seem unconscious that we are bleeding to death, by this alarming emigration. Instead of a liberal policy, our miserable politicians are trying to retain their discontented young men by

(2) I have not thought it right, and indeed, I do not know that it would be safe, to send to the press the papers here referred to, which exhibit" Washington Benevolent Societies; a a picture that strikes one with horror, and which, for the honour of my country and of human nature, I hope is not a true picture.-I have, however, made use of these papers in the way that appears to me most likely to answer a good purpose. WM. COBBETT.

sort of hypocritical Jacobin-club; or humble imitations of the Orange Societies of Ireland; who drew their origin from "the peep-of day boys." Jonathan sees through this clumsy trick, and their gorgeous parades, painted banners, and hy

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