INTRODUCTION ?O THE JOURNAL 



him : I spoke my opinion as to this point : and, in a very few 

 days, I had the full proof of the correctness of my opinion. I 

 was present when 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 paltry 

 Burdett had a hundred lives, the taking of them all away would 

 not atone for the pain he that day gave to Major Cartwright, not 

 to mention the pain given to others, and the injury done to the 

 cause. For my part, I was not much disappointed. I had no 

 opinion of Sir Francis Burdett s being sound. He seemed to me 

 too much attached to his own importance to do the people any 

 real service. He is an aristocrat : and that is enough for me. It 

 is folly to suppose, that such a man will ever be a real friend of the 

 rights of the people. I wish he were here a little while. He 

 would soon find his proper level ; and that would not, I think, 

 be very high. Mr. HUNT was very much against our confiding 

 in BURDETT ; and he was perfectly right. I most sincerely hope, 

 that my countrymen will finally destroy the tyrants who oppress 

 them ; but, I am very sure, that, before they succeed in it, they 

 must cure themselves of the folly of depending for assistance on 

 the nobles or the half-nobles. 



862. After witnessing this conduct in Burdett, I set off home, 

 and thought no more about effecting a Preform. The Acts that 

 soon followed were, by me, looked upon as matters of course. 

 The tyranny could go on no longer under disguise. It was com 

 pelled to shew its naked face ; but, it is now, in reality, not worse 

 than it was before. It now does no more than rob the people, 

 and that it did before. It kills more now out- right ; but, men 

 may as well be shot, or stabbed, or hanged, as starved to death. 



863. During the Spring and the early part of the Summer, of 

 1817, I made preparations for the departure of myself and family, 

 and when all was ready, I bid an everlasting adieu to Borough- 

 mongers, Sinecure placemen and placewomen, pensioned Lords 

 and Ladies, Standing Armies in time of peace, and (rejoice, oh I 

 my children !) to a hireling, tithe-devouring Priesthood. We 

 arrived safe and all in good health, and which health has never 

 been impaired by the climate. We are in a state of ease, safety, 

 plenty ; and how can we help being as happy as people can be ? 

 The more I see of my adopted country, the more gratitude do I 

 feel towards it for affording me and my numerous offspring 

 protection from the tyrants of my native country. There I 

 should have been in constant anxiety about rny family. Here 

 I am in none at all. Here I am in fear of no spies, no false witnesses . 

 no blood-money men. Here no fines, irons, or gallowses await me, 

 let me think or say what I will about the government. Here I 

 have to pay no people to be ready to shoot at me, or run me through 

 the body, or chop me down. Here no vile Priest can rob me and 

 mock me in the same breath. 



