Post scriptum.-Long as this letter has grown, I find it necessary to append a postscript, if possible, a short one. Mr. Bowles denies that he has accused Pope of "a sordid money-getting passion;" but he adds "if I had ever done so, I should be glad to find any testi

while the virtues he omitted from his catalogue are essential to the justice due to a man.

Mr, Bowles appears, indeed, to be susceptible beyond the privilege of authorship. There is a plaintive dedication to Mr. Gifford, in which he is made responsible for all the articles of the Quarterly. Mr. Southey, it seems, "the most able and eloquent writer in that Review," approves of Mr. Bowles's publication. Now, it seems to me the more impartial, that, notwithstanding that the great writer of the Quarterly entertains opinions opposite to the able article on Spence, nevertheless that essay was permitted to appear. Is a review to be devoted to the opinions of any one man? Must it not vary according to circumstances, and according to the

mony that might show me he was not so." This testi- subjects to be criticised? I fear that writers must take mony he may find to his heart's content in Spence the sweets and bitters of the public journals as they and elsewhere. First, there is Martha Blount, who, occur, and an author of so long a standing as Mr. Bowles Mr. Bowles charitably says, "probably thought he did might have become accustomed to such incidents; he not save enough for her as legatee." Whatever she might be angry, but not astonished. I have been re

thought upon this point, her words are in Pope's favour. Then there is Alderman Barber-see Spence's Anecdotes. There is Pope's cold answer to Halifax, when he proposed a pension; his behaviour to Craggs and to Addison upon like occasions; and his own two lines"And, thanks to Homer, since I live and thrive, Indebted to no prince or peer alive-"

written when princes would have been proud to pension, and peers to promote him, and when the who'e army of dunces were in array against him, and would have been but too happy to deprive him of this boast of independence. But there is something a little more serious in Mr. Bowles's declaration, that he "would have spoken" of his "noble generosity to the outcast, Richard

viewed in the Quarterly almost as often as Mr. Bowles, and have had as pleasant things said, and some as unpleasant, as could well be pronounced. In the review of "The Fall of Jerusalem," it is stated that I have devoted "my powers, etc. to the worst parts of manicheism," which, being interpreted, means that I worship the devil. Now, I have neither written a reply, nor complained to Gifford. I believe that I observed in a letter to you, that I thought "that the critic might have praised Milman without finding it necessary to abuse me;" but did I not add at the same time, or soon after (apropos, of the note in the book of travels), that I would not, if it were even in my power, have a single line cancelled on my account in that nor in any other

Savage," and other instances of a compassionate and publication?-Of course, I reserve to myself the privigenerous heart, "had they occurred to his recollection when lege of response when necessary. Mr. Bowles seems in he wrote." What! is it come to this? Does Mr. Bowles a whimsical state about the article on Spence. You sit down to write a minute and laboured life and edition of a great poet? Does he anatomize his character, moral and poetical? Does he present us with his faults and with his foibles? Does he sneer at his feelings, and doubt of his sincerity? Does he unfold his vanity and duplicity? and then omit the good qualities which

know very well that I am not in your confidence, nor in that of the conductor of the journal. The moment I saw that article, I was morally certain that I knew the author "by his style." You will tell me that I do not know him: that is all as it should be; keep the secret, so shall I, though no one has ever entrusted it to me.

might, in part, have "covered this multitude of sins?" He is not the person whom Mr. Bowles denounces. Mr. and then plead that "they did not occur to his recollection?" Bowles's extreme sensibility reminds me of a circumIs this the frame of mind and of memory with which the stance which occurred on board of a frigate, in which illustrious dead are to be approached? If Mr. Bowles, I was a passenger and guest of the captain's for a conwho must have had access to all the means of refreshing siderable time. The surgeon on board, a very gentle his memory, did not recollect these facts, he is unfit for manly young man, and remarkably able in his profes. his task; but if he did recollect, and omit them, I know sion, wore a wig. Upon this ornament he was extremely not what he is fit for, but I know what would be fit tenacious. As naval jests are sometimes a little rough, for him. Is the plea of "not recollecting" such promi- his brother-officers made occasional allusions to this nent facts to be admitted? Mr. Bowles has been at a delicate appendage to the doctor's person. One day a public school, and, as I have been publicly educated young lieutenant, in the course of a facetious discusalso, I can sympathize with his predilection. When we were in the third form even, had we pleaded on the Monday morning, that we had not brought up the Satur

sion, said, "Suppose, now, doctor, I should take off your hat." "Sir," replied the doctor, "I shall talk no longer with you; you grow scurrilous." He would not

day's exercise because "we had forgotten it," what even admit so near an approach as to the hat which would have been the reply? And is an excuse, which protected it. In like manner, if any body approaches would not be pardoned to a school-boy, to pass current Mr. Bowles's laurels, even in his outside capacity of an in a matter which so nearly concerns the fame of the editor, "they grow scurrilous." You say that you are first poet of his age, if not of his country? If Mr. Bowles about to prepare an edition of Pope; you cannot do so readily forgets the virtues of others, why complain better for your own credit as a publisher, nor for the reso grievously that others have a better memory for his demption of Pope from Mr. Bowles, and of the public own faults? They are but the faults of an author; taste from rapid degeneracy.

Fragment.

June 17, 1816.

duct of my intended journey. It was my secret wisn In the year 17-, having for some time determined that he might be prevailed on to accompany me: it was on a journey through countries not hitherto much fre- also a probable hope, founded upon the shadowy restquented by travellers, I set out, accompanied by a friend lessness which I had observed in him, and to which the whom I shall designate by the name of Augustus Dar- animation which he appeared to feel on such subjects, vell. He was a few years my elder, and a man of con- and his apparent indifference to all by which he was

siderable fortune and ancient family-advantages which an extensive capacity prevented him alike from undervaluing or overrating. Some peculiar circumstances in his private history had rendered him to me an object of attention, of interest, and even of regard, which neither the reserve of his manners, nor occasional indications of an inquietude at times nearly approaching to alienation of mind, could extinguish.

I was yet young in life, which I had begun early; but my intimacy with him was of a recent date: we had been educated at the same schools and university; but his progress through these had preceded mine, and he had been deeply initiated into what is called the world, while I was yet in my noviciate. While thus engaged, I

more immediately surrounded, gave fresh strength. This wish I first hinted, and then expressed: his answer, though I had partly expected it, gave me all the pleasure of surprise-he consented; and, after the requisite arrangements, we commenced our voyages. After journeying through various countries of the south of Europe, our attention was turned towards the east, according to our original destination; and it was in my progress through those regions that the incident occurred upon which will turn what I may have to relate.

The constitution of Darvell, which must, from his appearance, have been in early life more than usually robust, had been for some time gradually giving way, without the intervention of any apparent disease: he

had heard much both of his past and present life; and, had neither cough nor hectic, yet he became daily although in these accounts there were many and irre- more enfeebled: his habits were temperate, and he

neither declined nor complained of fatigue, yet he was evidently wasting away: he became more and more silent and sleepless, and at length so seriously altered, that my alarm grew proportionate to what I conceived to be his danger.

concilable contradictions, I could still gather from the whole that he was a being of no common order, and one who, whatever pains he might take to avoid remark, would still be remarkable. I had cultivated his acquaintance subsequently, and endeavoured to obtain his friendship, but this last appeared to be unattainable; We had determined, on our arrival at Smyrna, on whatever affections he might have possessed seemed an excursion to the ruins of Ephesus and Sardis, from now, some to have been extinguished, and others to be which I endeavoured to dissuade him, in his present concentred: that his feelings were acute, I had suffi- state of indisposition-but in vain: there appeared to be cient opportunities of observing; for, although he could an oppression on his mind, and a solemnity in his manner, which ill corresponded with his eagerness to proceed

control, he could not altogether disguise them: still he had a power of giving to one passion the appearance of on what I regarded as a mere party of pleasure, little another in such a manner that it was difficult to define suited to a valetudinarian; but I opposed him no longer the nature of what was working within him; and the -and in a few days we set off together, accompanied expressions of his features would vary so rapidly, though slightly, that it was useless to trace them to their sources. It was evident that he was a prey to some cureless disquiet; but whether it arose from ambition, love, re

only by a serrugee and a single janizary.

We had passed half-way towards the remains of Ephesus, leaving behind us the more fertile environs of Smyrna, and were entering upon that wild and ten

morse, grief, from one or all of these, or merely from antless track through the marshes and defiles which a morbid temperament akin to disease, I could not dis- lead to the few huts yet lingering over the broken colcover: there were circumstances alleged which might umns of Diana-the roofless walls of expelled Christihave justified the application to each of these causes; anity, and the still more recent but complete desolation but, as I have before said, these were so contradictory of abandoned mosques-when the sudden and rapid illand contradicted, that none could be fixed upon with ness of my companion obliged us to halt at a Turkish accuracy. Where there is mystery, it is generally sup- cemetery, the turbaned tombstones of which were the posed that there must also be evil: I know not how this sole indication that human life had ever been a sojourner may be, but in him there certainly was the one, though in this wilderness. The only caravansera we had seen I could not ascertain the extent of the other and felt was left some hours behind us; not a vestige of a town loth, as far as regarded himself, to believe in its exist- or even cottage, was within sight or hope, and this "city ence. My advances were received with sufficient cold- of the dead" appeared to be the sole refuge for my unness; but I was young, and not easily discouraged, and fortunate friend, who seemed on the verge of becoming at length succeeded in obtaining, to a certain degree, the last of its inhabitants.

that commonplace intercourse and moderate confidence In this situation, I looked round for a place where he of common and every-day concerns, created and ce- might most conveniently repose: -contrary to the usual mented by similarity of pursuit and frequency of meet- aspect of Mahometan burial-grounds, the cypresses ing, which is called intimacy, or friendship, according to were in this few in number, and these thinly scattered the ideas of him who uses those words to express them. over its extent: the tombstones were mostly fallen, and Darvell had already travelled extensively, and to him worn with age: upon one of the most considerable ef I had applied for information with regard to the con- these, and beneath one of the most spreading trees obeyed. I said to Darvell, "How did you know this?" drive it away, but the attempt was useless; she made a -He replied, "From our situation; you must perceive few circles in the air, and returned exactly to the same that this place was once inhabited, and could not have spot. Darvell pointed to it, and smiled: he spoke-1 been so without springs: I have also been here before." know not whether to himself or to me-but the words "You have been here before!-How came you never

I took the oath: it appeared to relieve him. He re- of Suleiman's ataghan and my own sabre, we scooped moved a seal-ring from his finger, on which were some a shallow grave upon the spot which Darvell had indi Arabic characters, and presented it to me. He pro-cated: the earth easily gave way, having already received

Parliamentary Speeches.

suffering county, though a stranger not only to this chinery, in that state of our commerce which the counHouse in general, but to almost every individual whose try once boasted, might have been beneficial to the attention I presume to solicit, I must claim some por- master without being detrimental to the servant; yet, tion of your lordships' indulgence whilst I offer a few in the present situation of our manufactures, rotting in observations on a question in which I confess myself warehouses, without a prospect of exportation, with deeply interested.

To enter into any detail of the riots would be superfluous: the House is already aware that every outrage short of actual bloodshed has been perpetrated, and

the demand for work and workmen equally diminished; frames of this description tend materially to aggravate the distress and discontent of the disappointed sufferers. But the real cause of these distresses and consequent

that the proprietors of the frames obnoxious to the disturbances lies deeper. When we are told that these rioters, and all persons supposed to be connected men are leagued together not only for the destruction with them, have been liable to insult and violence. of their own comfort, but of their very means of subDuring the short time I recently passed in Nottingham- sistence, can we forget that it is the bitter policy, the shire, not twelve hours elapsed without some fresh act destructive warfare of the last eighteen years, which of violence; and on the day I left the county, I was in- has destroyed their comfort, your comfort, all men's formed that forty frames had been broken the preced- comfort? That policy which, originating with "great ing evening, as usual, without resistance and without statesmen now no more," has survived the dead to bedetection. come a curse on the living, unto the third and fourth Such was then the state of that county, and such I generation! These men never destroyed their looms have reason to believe it to be at this moment. But till they were become useless, worse than useless; till whilst these outrages must be admitted to exist to an they were become actual impediments to their exertions alarming extent, it cannot be denied that they have in obtaining their daily bread. Can you, then, wonder arisen from circumstances of the most unparalleled that in times like these, when bankruptcy, convicted distress. The perseverance of these miserable men in fraud, and imputed felony are found in a station not their proceedings, tends to prove that nothing but abso- far beneath that of your lordships, the lowest, though lute want could have driven a large, and once honest once most useful portion of the people, should forget and industrious, body of the people, into the commission their duty in their distresses, and become only less of excesses so hazardous to themselves, their families, guilty than one of their representatives? But while the and the community. At the time to which I allude, exalted offender can find means to baffle the law, new the town and county were burthened with large detach- capital punishments must be devised, new snares of ments of the military; the police was in motion, the death must be spread for the wretched mechanic, who magistrates assembled; yet all the movements, civil and is famished into guilt. These men were willing to dig, military, had led to-nothing. Not a single instance but the spade was in other hands: they were not had occurred of the apprehension of any real delinquent ashamed to beg, but there was none to relieve them: actually taken in the fact, against whom there existed their own means of subsistence were cut off, all other legal evidence sufficient for conviction. But the police, employments pre-occupied, and their excesses, however however useless, were by no means idle: several noto- to be deplored and condemned, can hardly be subject rious delinquents had been detected; men, liable to conviction, on the clearest evidence, of the capital crime of poverty; men who had been nefariously guilty of lawfully begetting several children, whom, thanks to this be proved upon inquiry, it were necessary that such the times! they were unable to maintain. Considerable material accessaries to the crime should be principals injury has been done to the proprietors of the improved in the punishment. But I did hope, that any measure frames. These machines were to them an advantage, proposed by his majesty's government, for your lordinasmuch as they superseded the necessity of employing ship's decision, would have had conciliation for its basis; a number of workmen, who were left in consequence or, if that were hopeless, that some previous inquiry, to starve. By the adoption of one species of frame in some deliberation would have been deemed requisite; particular, one man performed the work of many, and not that we should have been called at once withthe superfluous labourers were thrown out of employ-out examination, and without cause, to pass sentences ment. Yet it is to be observed, that the work thus by wholesale, and sign death-warrants blindfold. But executed was inferior in quality; not marketable at admitting that these men had no cause of complaint; home, and merely hurried over with a view to exporta- that the grievances of them and their employers were

tion. It was called, in the cant of the trade, by the name of "Spider work." The rejected workmen, in the blindness of their ignorance, instead of rejoicing at these improvements in arts so beneficial to mankind, conceived themselves to be sacrificed to improvements in mechanism. In the foolishness of their hearts they imagined, that the maintenance and well-doing of the Industrious poor were objects of greater consequence than the enrichment of a few individuals by any im

of surprise.

It has been stated that the persons in the temporary possession of frames connive at their destruction; if

alike groundless; that they deserved the worst; what inefficiency, what imbecility has been evinced in the method chosen to reduce them! Why were the military called out to be made a mockery of, if they were to be called out at all? As far as the difference of seasons would permit, they have merely parodied the summer campaign of Major Sturgeon; and, indeed, the whole proceedings, civil and military, seemed on the model of those of the Mayor and Corporation of Garratt.-Such

provement, in the implements of trade, which threw marchings and counter-marchings! from Nottingham the workmen out of employment, and rendered the to Bullwell, from Bullwell to Banford, from Banford to Jabourer unworthy of his hire. And it must be con- Mansfield! and when at length the detachments arrived tessed that although the adoption of the enlarged ma- at their destinations, in all "the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," they came just in time to such objects demand it. I have traversed the seat of witness the mischief which had been done, and ascertain war in the Peninsula, I have been in some of the most the escape of the perpetrators, to collect the "spolia oppressed provinces of Turkey, but never under the opima" in the fragments of broken frames, and return most despotic of infidel governments did I behold such to their quarters amidst the derision of old women, and squalid wretchedness as I have seen since my return the hootings of children. Now, though in a free country, in the very heart of a Christian country. And what it were to be wished that our military should never be too are your remedies? After months of inaction, and formidable, at least to ourselves, I cannot see the policy of months of action worse than inactivity, at length comes placing them in situations where they can only be made forth the grand specific, the never-failing nostrum of ridiculous. As the sword is the worst argument that can all state physicians, from the days of Draco to the be used, so should it be the last. In this instance it has present time. After feeling the pulse and shaking the been the first; but providentially as yet only in the head over the patient, prescribing the usual course of scabbard. The present measure will, indeed, pluck it warm water and bleeding, the warm water of your from the sheath; yet had proper meetings been held in maukish police, and the lancets of your military, these the earlier stages of these riots, had the grievances of convulsions must terminate in death, the sure consumthese men and their masters (for they also had their mation of the prescriptions of all political Sangrados. grievances) been fairly weighed and justly examined, I Setting aside the palpable injustice, and the certain do think that means might have been devised to restore inefficiency of the bill, are there not capital punishthese workmen to their avocations, and tranquillity to ments sufficient in your statutes? Is there not blood the county. At present the county suffers from the enough upon your penal code, that more must be poured double infliction of an idle military, and a starving forth to ascend to Heaven and testify against you? population. In what state of apathy have we been How will you carry the bill into effect? Can you complunged so long, that now for the first time the House mit a whole county to their own prison? Will you has been officially apprized of these disturbances! All erect a gibbet in every field, and hang up men like this has been transacting within 130 miles of London, scarecrows? or will you proceed (as you must, to and yet we, "good easy men, have deemed full sure bring this measure into effect) by decimation? place our greatness was a-ripening," and have sat down to the country under martial law? depopulate and lay enjoy our foreign triumphs in the midst of domestic waste all around you? and restore Sherwood Forest calamity. But all the cities you have taken, all the as an acceptable gift to the crown, in its former condiarmies which have retreated before your leaders, are tion of a royal chase and an asylum for outlaws? Are but paltry subjects of self-congratulation, if your land these the remedies for a starving and desperate popudivides against itself, and your dragoons and your exe- lace? Will the famished wretch who has braved your cutioners must be let loose against your fellow-citizens. bayonets, be appalled by your gibbets? When death -You call these men a mob, desperate, dangerous, is a relief, and the only relief it appears that you will and ignorant; and seem to think that the only way to afford him, will he be dragooned into tranquillity? quiet the "Bellua multorum capitum" is to lop off a Will that which could not be effected by your grenafew of its superfluous heads. But even a mob may diers be accomplished by your executioners? If you be better reduced to reason by a mixture of concilia- proceed by the forms of law, where is your evidence?

tion and firmness, than by additional irritation and redoubled penalties. Are we aware of our obligations to a mob? It is the mob that labour in your fields, and serve in your houses, that man your navy, and recruit your army, that have enabled you to defy all the

Those who have refused to impeach their accomplices, when transportation only was the punishment, will hardly be tempted to witness against them when death is the penalty. With all due deference to the noble lords opposite, I think a little investigation, some pre

world, and can also defy you when neglect and ca- vious inquiry, would induce even them to change their lamity have driven them to despair. You may call the purpose. That most favourite state measure, so marpeople a mob; but do not forget, that a mob too often vellously efficacious in many and recent instances, speaks the sentiments of the people. And here I temporizing, would not be without its advantages in must remark, with what alacrity you are accustomed this. When a proposal is made to emancipate or reto fly to the succour of your distressed allies, leaving lieve, you hesitate, you deliberate for years, you temthe distressed of your own country to the care of Provi- porize and tamper with the minds of men; but a deathdence, or the parish. When the Portuguese suffered bill must be passed off hand, without a thought of the under the retreat of the French, every arm was stretch- consequences. Sure I am, from what I have heard, ed out, every hand was opened, from the rich man's and from what I have seen, that to pass the Bill under largess to the widow's mite, all was bestowed to enable all the existing circumstances, without inquiry, without them to rebuild their villages and replenish their gran- deliberation, would only be to add injustice to irritation aries. And at this moment, when thousands of misguided and barbarity to neglect. The framers of such a Bik but most unfortunate fellow-countrymen are strug- must be content to inherit the honours of that Athe. gling with the extremes of hardships and hunger, as nian lawgiver whose edicts were said to be written not your charity began abroad, it should end at home. A in ink, but in blood. But suppose it past; supposo much less sum, a tithe of the bounty bestowed on Por- one of these men, as I have seen them, meagre with tugal, even if those men (which I cannot admit with- famine, sullen with despair, careless of a life which out inquiry) could not have been restored to their em- your lordships are perhaps about to value at someployments, would have rendered unnecessary the ten- thing less than the price of a stocking-frame-supder mercies of the bayonet and the gibbet. But pose this man surrounded by the children for whom doubtless our friends have too many foreign claims to he is unable to procure bread at the hazard of his exadmit a prospect of domestic relief; though never did istence, about to be torn for ever from a family which