MORRIS BIRKBECK, ESQ. 



military discipline ; who had, by the Act of Parliament, been 

 promised a guinea each before they marched ; who had refused 

 to march because the guinea liad not been wholly paid them : some 

 of these young men, these mere boys, had, for this mutiny, as it 

 was called, been flogged at Ely in. Cambridgeshire, under a guard 

 of German bayonets and sabres. At this I expressed my indigna 

 tion in the strongest terms : and, for doing this, I was put for two 

 years into a jail along with men convicted of unnatural crimes, 

 robbery, and under charge of murder, and where ASTLET was, who 

 was under sentence of death. To this was added a fine of a thousand 

 pounds sterling : and, when the two years should expire, bonds for 

 the peace and good behaviour for seven years ! The seven years 

 are not yet expired. I will endeavour to be of &quot; good behaviour &quot; 

 for the short space that is to come ; and, I am sure, I have behaved 

 well for the past : for never were seven years of such efficient 

 exertion seen in the life of any individual. 



1047. The tyrants are hard pushed now. The Bank Notes 

 are their only ground to stand on ; and that ground will be moved 

 from under them in a little time. Strange changes since you left 

 England, short as the time has been ! I am fully of opinion, that 

 my four years which I gave the system at my coming away, will see 

 the end of it. There can be no more war carried on by them. I 

 see they have had Baring, of Loan-notoriety at the Holy Alliance- 

 Congress. He has been stipulating for a supply of paper-money. 

 They should have got my consent to let the paper-money remain ; 

 for, / can destroy it whenever I please. All sorts of projects are on 

 foot. &quot; Inimitable Notes &quot; : paying in specie by weight of metal. 

 Oh ! the wondrous fools ! A sudden blow-up ; or, a blow-up 

 somewhat slow, by ruin and starvation ; one of these must come : 

 unless they speedily reduce the interest of the Debt : and even that 

 v/ill not save the seat-dealers. 



1048. In the meanwhile let us enjoy ourselves here amongst this 

 kind and hospitable people ; but, let us never forget, that England 

 is our country, and that her freedom and renown ought to be as 

 dear to us as the blood in our veins. God bless you, and give you 

 health and happiness. 



WM. COBBETT. 



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