256 iN'TRODtfcTION TO THE JoUBNAL. 



laws exist in Ireland, here good, peaceable, industrious 

 citizens. 1 saw no placemen and pensioners, riding 

 the people under foot. I saw no greedy Priesthood, 

 fattening on the fruits of labour in which thej had never 

 participated, and which fruits they seized in despite of 

 the people. I saAV a Debt, indeed, but then, it was so 

 insignificant a thing ; and, besides, it had been con- 

 tracted for the peoples use, and not for that of a set of 

 tyrants, who had used the money to the injury of 

 the people. In short, I saAv a state of things, precisely 

 the reverse of that in England, and very nearly what 

 it would be in England, if the Parliament were re- 

 formed. 



461. Therefore, in the xlutumn of 1816,1 returned 

 to England I'ully intending to return the next spring 

 with my family and whatever I possessed of the fruits 

 of my labours, and to make America my country and 

 the country of that family. Upon my return to Eng- 

 land, however, I found a great stir about Reform ; and, 

 having, in their full force, all those feelings, which 

 make our native country dear to us, I said, at once, 

 " my desire is, not to change countr}' or countryman, 

 " but to change slavery for freedom : give me freedom 

 " here, and here I'll remain." These are nearly the 

 very Avords that I uttered to Mr. Cobbett, when first 

 introduced to him, in December, 1816, by that excel- 

 lent man. Major CARTWRiGnr. Nor was I unwilling 

 to labour myself in the cause of Reform. 1 Avas one 

 of those very Delegates, of whom the Borough-tyrants 

 said so many falsehoods, and >vhom Sir Francis Buk- 

 DETT so shamefully abandoneil. In the meeting of 

 Delegates, I thought we Avent too far in reposing con- 

 fidence in him : I spoke my opinion as to this point : 

 and, in a very few days, I had the iiiU proof of the 

 correctness of my opinion. I Avas present Avhen Major 

 Cartwright opened a letter from Sir Francis, which 

 had come from Leicestershire. I thought the kind- 

 hearted old Major would have dropped upon the floor! 

 I shall never forget his looks as he read that letter. If 

 the paultry Burdett had a hundred liA^es, the taking of 

 them all away would not atone for the pain he that day 

 gave to Major CartAfn-ight, not to mention the pain 



