ILLINOIS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Production Note
Project Unica
Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2015
Cobbett’s Advice.
Having, in America, witnessed the fatal effects of Revolution ; having seen piety give place to a contempt of religion, plain dealing exchanged for shuffling and fraud, universal confidence for universal suspicion and distrust; having seen a country, once the seat of peace and good neighbourhood, torn tci pieces by faction, plunged, by intriguing demagogues, into novel-ceasing hatred and strife; having seen a people, once too fond of what they called Liberty to bear the gentle sway of a British King, humbly bend their necks to the yoke, nay, to the very foot, of a set of grovelling despots ; having, in short, seen the crime of rebellion against monarchy punished by the tormenting, the degrading curse of Republicanism, it is with the utmost ASTONISHMENT AND INDIGNATION that I find many o$ those, who have the press at their command, endeavouring to bring down on my native Country the very same species of calamity and disgrace. Notwithstanding the example of America, and the more dreadful example of France, I find the EMISSARIES OF THE REPUBLICAN FACTION (for such they really are), still preaching fanaticism and infidelity, STILL BAWLING FOR THAT CHANGE WHICH, THEY HAVE THE AUDA-CIT1 TO' DIR'I'OjSIIINATE ' 'REFORM,—stiff"eSePtliig all their nefarious ingenuity in sapping the foundation of the Church and the Throne. Those who want experience of the consequences, may, for aught I know, be excused for conniving at these attempts ; but, for me, who have seen acts, passed by a republican legislature, more fraudulent than FORGERY or COINING ; for me, who have seen republican officers of state offering their country for sale for a few thousand dollars; for me, who have seen republican judges become felons, and felons become republican j udges; for me to fold my hands and tamely to listen to the insolent eulogists of republican governments and rulers, would be a SHAMEFUL ABANDONMENT OF PRINCIPLE, A DASTARDLY DESERTION OF DUTY.
It is with NO SMALL MORTIFICATION THAT I FIND TOO MANY of the periodical publications (as well pamphlets as papers) in the hands of Fanatics and Infidels, all of whom, however numerous their mongrel sects, however opposite their tenets, however hateful their persons to each other, do most cordially unite in their enmity to the National Establishment, and most zealously co-operate for its destruction. Convinced as I am, from the experience of America, as well as from history in general, that an established Church is absolutely necessary to the existence of religion and morality ; convinced also, that the Church of England, while she is an ornament, an honour, and a blessing to the nation, isy
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the principal Pillar of the Throne: I trust I NEVER SHALL. BE BASE ENOUGH to decline a combat with her enemies, whether they approach me in the LANK LOCKS OF THE SECTARY, or the SCALD CROP OF THE JACOBIN.
I hold it to be the duty of men in power to employ the pen as well as the sword in defence of the government committed to their charge; if, therefore, I hope to yield some trifling support to ministry, it is not because I have received, or ever shall receive, any gratification at their hands; but because I am most sincerely persuaded, that, next to the VIRTUES OF HIS MAJESTY, and the-general loyalty of his subjects, THIS COUNTRY OWES ITS PRESERVATION TO THE WISDOM AND INTEGRITY OF Mk. PITT, and his Colleagues.
The subjects of a British King, like the sons of every provident and tender father, never know his value till they feel the want of his. protection. In the days of youth, and of ignorance, I was led to believe that comfort, freedom, and virtue, were exclusively the lot of Republicans. A very short trial convinced me of my error,, admonished me to repent of my folly, and urged me to compensate for the INJUSTICE OF THE OPINIONS I HAD CONCEIVED. During an eight years’absence from my country, I was not an unconcerned spectator of her perils; nor did I listen, in silence, to the slanders of her enemies. Though divided from England—by-Min_nnnan.—tlinngli lir.y n-ay fiplfls were hidden. perhaps for ever, from my view, still her happiness and her glory were the objects of my constant solicitude; I rejoiced at her victories,, and mourned for her defeats ; her friends were my friends, and her foes were my foes. Once more returned ; once more under the-safeguard of that Sovereign, who watched over me in my infancy, and the want of whose protecting arm I have so long had occasion to lament, I feel an irresistible desire to communicate to my countrymen the fruit of my experience; to show them the injurious. and degrading consequences of DISCONTENTMENT, DISLOYALTY, and INNOVATION; to convince them, that THEY ARE THE FREEST, as well as HAPPIEST, of the human race; and above all, to warn them against the arts of those ambitious and perfidious demagogues, who would willingly reduce them to a level with the cheated slaves, in the bearing of whose yoke I have had the mortification to share.
WM. COBBETT.
Pall Mall, 29ih Sept.. 1800.
Printed by T. Brettell, Rupert Street, Haymarlcet, London,