Cobbett's Weekly Political Register

BREAD.--The average price of the Quartern Loaf, weighing 4lb. 5oz. 8drms. in London, which
is nearly the same as in other parts of the country, 18. 040.

Wheat.--The average price for the above period, through all England, per Winchester Basbel
of & gallons : 98. 5d.

MeaT.-Per ponnd, on an average for the time above stated, as sold wholesale at Smithfield
Market, not including the value of skio or offal. Beef, 9d.; Mutton, 10d.; Veal, 11d.; Pork, 18.
-N. B. This is nearly, the retail price all over the country, the Butcher's profit consisting of the
skin and offal.

LABOUR.-The average pay per day of a labouring man employed in farming work, at Botley, iu
Hampshire, being about a fifth higher than the wages throughout the whole country, 25. 2d.

BULLION.--Standard Gold in Bars, per Oz. £5. 45. 3d.-Standard Silver do. 6s. 11 J. N. B. These
are the average prices, during the above period, in Bank of England Notes. The prices in Gold and
Silver Coin are for an ounce of Gold £3. 178, 10 d.; for an ounce of Silver, 5s. 9d.

Funds.-Average price of the Three Per Cent. Consolidated Annuities, during the above pe-

riod: 665.

BANKRUPTS.--Number of Bankrupts, declared in the London Gazette, during the above pe.
riod; 572.

COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER.

VOL. XXV. No. 1.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1814.

[Price 1s.

(2 change of dynasty in Sweden? . Have we SUMMARY OF POLITIGS.

not, by the most solemn act, and in the PEACE.-At last there really dves ap- name of The Most Holy and Undivided Tri. pear to be some prospect of this event. nily, acknowledged Bernadotte, a FrenchBut, uncommon exertions are making, by man, and not long ago a privata

soldier in the Anti-jacobin writers in this country, to the French armies, to be the lawful heir to prevent it. Their language is such as to the crown of Sweden? Nay, have we not make me fear, that they are not alone in ceded to him, in that capacity, an island, their wishes; and, therefore, it becomes us, forming part of the territories formerly the who wish to see peace" before we die, to Bourbon's territories ? -Still more reendeavour to counteract their malignant ef-cently have 'we not sanctioned a change, forts.- The Declaration of the Allies that is to say, a revolution, in the governwas well calculated to move the gall of the ment of Holland ? That government has Anti-jacobins, whom we find, at last; to been, all of a sudden, changed from a Rebe haters of the French-nation, in a mass. public to à Principality, and we have apMere, vulgar 'haters of a whole nation; proved of the change. What, then, are

, haters of 30 millions of people, inhabiting the French alone not to be permitted to the faitest and richest part of the world, make any change in their rulers, or in the which is also the seat of science and the nature of their govertiment? What as arts, and of periect religious liberty.- surance ! what insolencé, in us, to attempt The Anti-jacobins were for war against the to justify the continuance of war upon any Republicans of France; they were for eter- such ground?

-But, perhaps, the most Dal war against them, because they acted striking instance is, our recognition of, and upon what were called " disorganizing our war for, Ferdinand vi., as King of “ principles." Well, but the French are Spain, while his father is still alive! We no longer Republicans. They own the have a right to do this, as far as I know;

. sway of an Emperor, whose crown is here- but, I am quite sure, that, while we do ditary. Why, therefore, do they now wish this, we must be most unconscionably imfor war with France ? Is it because, Na- pudent, if we pretend, that a change of poleon is not a member of the old family, rulers, out of the settled course, in any and that to sanction, by treaty, a change of country, is a justifiable ground for our hosdynasty in France, might prove a most de- tility to that country. What ground, structive example? Why, has our then, is there for the war-men to stand change of dynasty done us any harm? Do upon in their opposition to peace with not we boast of a change of dynasty ? Our France? If the political principles of old family was supplanted by a new one'; the French nation, and the change in her to wit; but the Illustrious House of Bruns- government and rulers, no longer afford the wick, and we call the event a “ Glorious smallest pretence for an objection to treat ** Revolution.” Nay, a foreigner came here with her for peace, it follows, of course, to reign in the stead of our old discarded that there now remains na objection except king, and that foreiguer came, too, with as to TERMS; and, our war-men should foreign troops to assist him. To object, have waited till they could have plainly therefore, to peace with France, on account stated the Terms of the Allies before they of the change in her dynasty, and to talk proceeded to prepossess the minds of the of continuing the war with her, in order to people against peace. ---This, however, is compel her to relinquish that change, would what they have not done. They have seizexhibit us to the world in the light of the ed hold of the Declaration of the Allies as a most inconsistent and most impudent people text whereon to declaim against the parver that ever breathed i Besides, are we not of France. They no longer talk of the now, even at this moment, sanctioning, in principles of France. It is her power that the most unequivocal manner, a complete they are not afraid of, and that, too, at a

moment when they tell us, that Napoleon “ land. There is no doubt that he will is an object of contempt! -Thus they" leave no artifice unpractised to separate us

“ discover their insincerity; thus, by shifting " and our Allies. In this attempt we trust their ground and belying their own asser- " he will fail ; for the Allies see and feel 'tions, they prove to us, that it is not safe!y " that their truest interests consist in the they want, but war. They profit from 6 closest and most intimate alliance with the war; and, that is their sole real objec- " this country.-----But the Allies should tion to peace. --The following publica- " guard against their generous feelings ; tion, in the Courier of the 25th Dec., is they should not be hurried into condition's well worthy of the reader's atiention, espe- " of peace less than their situation and cially if he bear in mind the real source safety entitle them to claimi By peace, whence it has issued.---He will be “ France will gain every thing. She will amused with the confusion purposely intro- regain at least 300,000 of her best, troops, duced as to us, and the Allies; and with - one-half of her best officers, and scamen the shifts, to which the writer is driven, in " sufficient to man 50 sail of the line. The order to make out a preliminary objection "obstinacy and rashness of Buonaparte to peace. And, then, the softened lone “ have thrown away the military means of which follows the melancholy supposition, “ France. Never again can Europe exthat the Allies may be disposed to treat pect to find her so stripped of an army, separately, and to leave us in the lurch, “ so exhausted in her finances: never again notwithstanding the observation, said, in " can Europe expect to see a more formithe news-papers, to have been made, the “dable and victorious force opposed to other day, by the Duke of Clarence, just “ France. The crisis is great, it is in faafter he told the company, at the Scotch" vour of the Allies, not only beyond .exDinner, that he was a Scotch Prince and a "pectation, but beyond calculation, and if German Prince too. The observation was : " they do not reap the full advantage of it, that we had successfully fought all Europe, "they may soon pay dearly for their folly. single-handed. Why, then, does this cow- 66 In six inonths after a peace, France may ardly writer soften his tone in case the Al- “ have fifly sail of the line, well manned, lies, or any considerable member of the al- 66 and an army of half a million of men, Jiance, should secede ?But, let us now " commanded by a great wiļitary genius. One hear this writer, keeping in mind the pro- " victory may again give him possession of bable fact, that he is no more than the so Vienna, and Europe may.be re-plunged mere mouth-piece of others.---- We ob- : " in all the miseries which it is now in her

in the set of Frankfort Papers we power to erect an effectual barrier against, s have received, that Austria has repub-" This barrier is the ancient limits of " lished, in a Supplement to the Frankfort - France, as existing in 1789. Even those " Gazelle of the 22d November, the De. " limits have been found too powerful for " claration she issued last August. The " the balance of power in Europe, and “ molives that have led to the republication shall we increase them now we can reduce < of this document, we are unable lo ex- " them to a state of fair preponderance ?: If "" plain. We may

sure, however, that Buonaparte vefuses such conditions, the " it has been done designedly. ... Surely “. Alies should occupy Paris, restore the " Austria cannot mean that she republishes 66 Bourbon Family, re-create the Royal 66 it to shew that in November her demands “ Party, and effect their purpose by that s and conditions remain the same as they

The restoration of the Bourbons " were in August. In that declaration it might .not, indeed, be made a sine qua *** is stated, that if a general. peace could non at present, but we should never for " not be made, a preliminary continental get that that measure alone can afford 6 peace might be negociated. Is such a de- " well-founded hopes of a permanent peace. *

sign in contemplalión now ? Dues Buo- 6 But perhaps some of the Allies would “ naparté wish to draw the Continental" not concur, in insisting on conditions to “ Powers into a separate peace, and is this "the extent of reducing France to her; an- the cause of Lord Castlereagh's visit to 66 cient limits. In that case we must take is the Continent? We remark in the “ just as much as the Alliance collectively “ Speech a bitterness against England, and will demand, We must take conditions " we recollect that in a previous Speech to "far short of those which safely requires, " the Senate, he had attempted to pique and power enables us to distate, rather " the Continental Sovereigns with saying, “ than allow the secession of any material " that their opinions were directed by Eng-Member from the Alliance. Should

serve

means.

“ more than her ancient limits be granted." consists in the closest and most intimate "s to France, Ministers will of course be connexion with this country,!', and that, ia " prepared to shew that they would have therefore, no design of la separate peace can't « insisted on bellen terms could they have be entertained, **...Why, I doubt, now,

prevailed on thie Alliance collectively to for my part, whether the Court of Vienna in “ have concurred with them. svif not they will see the thing in this light:: - I shouldy

are i undone, the country will execrate not be at all surprised, if there were piece. I " them, and styo-thirds of the Opposition sons in that Court to assert, that it was to & " will arraigu them: The Opposition are her connexions with this country, that v

now laying in wait in hopes that insuffi- Austria owed all her Josses and disgrace in "cient terms of peace will bring them into former wars for thei lášt 20 years; and,

power... The country expects that the that now is the time, before it be too late “ terms will be sufficient. It is extravar | for-sher to detach herself from us. But,

gant, if not visionary, to hope that France it is absurd to suppose that all the Allies....

can ever again be found so weak while can hndit their interest to be so closely allied, 1 " the Allies are sa strong. 1ik įsishiglily tous.: Tous, and whatare we?.This presumps!: “improbable that so favourable aerisis can tugus man says it a:subsequent paragraph, i)

ever again occur. Let us take fulliad that, if it had not been forus the Allies would

vantage of it, and not leave occasion for have been in ta very different situation. o " reproaching ourselves hereafter with a True, they will probably say: for, if it is “ silly generosily to an enemy, whose high had not been

for you, we should never have in " est triumphs inspired him only with a been in the situation from which by our : “ keener appetite for conquest, blood, and blood, we have now.obeépo rescued...Yes,

. rapine, Buopapárté must hate Austria there willo not be wanting peoplezi severin v " so deeply, that if he again masters her, Russia, to remark, that London was quite “ he will extinguish her and a very short safe,' while Moscow ? Was in Hames.ru "time may.place it in his power to revenge The Allieşg'itbis everlasting-warsinan says, A. “ himself for the humiliating coudition to should guard against their generous feel “ which she has now brought him."'-***ings." (Kind gentlemap) For, says We will take this article in its own jorder 3 theo by: peace France ;-wilt gain ja great for, looking upon the writer -as a mouth-ti army, and. -SEAMEN TO MAN 2,50:2 piece, it is of considerable importance. - SHIPS OF THE LINE. In six months s He is at loss to explain the motives.of Ause b. after peace she may have 50 ships of the i tria in causing her former Declaration to be s line well manned."'m Well! And what republished now; and says, “ surely'' her is that to the Allies.? - How does this man is demands and conditions cannot remain the know, that some of the Allies do not wishi same as they were in Augusts Perhaps they to see France with 50 ships of the line, well, do not remain the same preciselys but, dil manned? Howy does he know, that there: is probable, that they do not very, aridely is nothing they would more avoid canto differ; and, indeed, the republicatiqu ofs destroy the navy of France? - We are the declaration of August is a strong pre-always, as I said before, smelling after the s sumptive-proof that such is the fact. 199.-Ing. French ships. We shall be deceived about August Austria proposed the negociating of these French ships. It is very wonder

a Preliminary Continental peace, in case a ful fif any thing in the impudenge of these general peace could not be made. That is men can be wonderful), that our writers: to say, in case England would not agree to who are for eternal war, never seem to resuch a peace, as the maritime states were flect on our fleets ; on our conquests; an willing to agree to, Austria proposed the our aggrandizement. And, do shey really negociating of a peace on the landoli There believe? I should not wonder if their preis no other sense in the words and in-aksumption were to go that length, Do they i deed, it is not reasonable to suppose, i that really and in good earnest; can they sevis all the nations of Europea that 150 mil. ously believe, that the Allies mean to be lions of people are to live for years longer urged ou by us to cripple France (supposing in a state of warfare, their several homes them to have the power), and to destroy. alternately exposed to plunder and violence, her last ship, while we are to be quietly, and their blood continually exposed to be left in possession of all the colonies of the shed, merely on account of the commer- world, together, with the fleets of Holland, cial interests of this Island. We ape Portugal

, Spain, and Denmark, and Sitold by this eternal-war man, that Austriacily Stupid men! They are so commust now see, that her, truest interest | pletely blinded in one eye by our self

praises; by the endless braggings of our powers to the crippling of France. A stage, our press, and our speechifyings, very legitimate object, perhaps ; but, one, that they never see but one side of the I believe, in which he will not succeed. question, if it relate to any dispute between - It is rumoured, that 'disunion exists us and any foreign nation.-France, this amongst the Allies and, if so, it must be everlasting-wari man tells us, may, in six allowed, ifi lwe reflection the grand-capamonths, 'under the great military genius of city, which his” i Lordship! displayed in Buonaparté, be again in possession of uniting Ireland with England, that a more Vienna. t I thought he was sunk so very proper man could not have been sent to the low, the other day, as to be merely an ob- Quarters of the Allies. His Lordship' will, ject of contempt.: Well; but he is not, it I dare say, be well furnished with arguseems. But, if he be not; if it will take merits in favour of union upon this occahim so little time to assume bis old atti-sion ;- but, whether the same sort of argutude, is there not some risk in endeavour- ments, which he so copiously and so-suca ing to push him further now... Oh!i nò cessfully used to the members of the Irish there is no risk toʻus. Very true, and the parliament, will have a similar effect upon Court of Vienna knows that very well. 'the Allies is more than we can yet be able

After all, however, we are, it seems, to decided-- -Be xhís-ás it may, it is downto take such terms 'as we can gety rather' righe folly to suppose, that he is gone to than send off any material inember of the if the Continent' merely to prevent delays in alliances - But, we are afterwards told, communicating with our-Allies. That can that our maritime rights are not to becoine not be.. vi He must be gone upon some' wery a subject lof negociation at any Congress. important and very pressing business ; some Very likely not ; but, then, I am pretty unexpected cause must have produced his certain that peace will be made without journeye; his object must be of a nature to us; because wezi who will not suffer' the admit of not a moment's delay It'ap Allies to treat of any thing of ours; dannoti: pears to imè 'naturalistoisuppose, that the be; I should thitiks such fools, such im Court of Vienna, not wishingieither in pudent coxcombs, as to expecí, that the destroy or to huinble Napoleon, will by no Allies will suffer us to have any thing to fineans wish to weaken him on his maritime say as ito lany thing of theirs... No, 'no!! side, where he would be least formidable of If we mean tol beladmitted to a Congress to her. It may also be very nalural for her for a general peace; we must bring all our to say, that; if she has honourable tering of conquests and all out inaritime claims into peace, it may be advisable to leave him at :3 the general massimi!- The tone of impu- war with us. To prevent that, we inust ? dence which this writer takes towards the make application to her; and with what close, would excite indignation if it were face can we make that application, unless, not so very ridiculous." Let us," says we offer, at the same time, to bring in our he; ;66 take full advantage of our high sin conquests, and our claims on the seas, to o fuation, and 'not leave occasion, here be disposed of and settled at à general " after, for reproaching ourselves with silly peace? The powers of the Continentai “ generosity." toJust as if we had van have seen themselves, før many years, har. army on the Rhine 11 Just as if we had inade rassed on the one side by France' and on the any offer to treat, op had the power to pre other side by us, " They do wish, because vent peace for one day. The visit of they must wish, to see both nations reduced Lord Castlerecogh' to the Allies is a matter in point of power ; and, if they cannot er of great momentas vIt is said, that he is fect that reduction by treaty; the only going in order to prevent delay in communi- means they have left, is, to leave us - Be** cating with our Allies. But, what makes war, while they enjoy peace, which, by a the case so very urgent ? Ifa Congress is prudent line of conduct, they nyay now about to be held, we, of course, if we are enjoys in safety. From the Speech of! to be at it, shall have an Envoy there, with Napoleon and that of the Orator of Govern! full powers to treat and our Secretary of ment, it very clearly appears; thati riegos State for foreign affairs will be constantly ciations are about to be opened; and, [. wäiited at home. No a' it: cannot be to thinky that there can be no doubt, that we negociate, or to assist negociation, that he have had no hand in the matter. It does is gone (if gone at all); but, to explain not follow, that we shall be excluded; but, " the views of our government, as we are if we go into a Congress, we must go with told; and, in fact, to endeavour to hold fall our budget of conqüests arid maritimes the alliance together, andito unge on the claims. It is easy for ús, whorren hots

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Cobbett's Weekly Political Register, Volume 25