II.] POOR MAN'S FRIEND. 27 



33. I have, my friends, cited, as yet, authorities only 

 on one side of this great subject, which it was my 

 wish to discuss in this one Number. I find that to be 

 impossible without leaving undone much more than 

 half my work. I am extremely anxious to cause this 

 matte/ to be well understood, not only by the work- 

 ing classes, but by the owners of the land and the 

 magistrates. I deem it to be of the greatest possible 

 importance; and, while writing on it, I address my- 

 self to you, because I most sincerely declare that I 

 have a greater respect for you than for any other 

 body of persons that I know any thing of. Tne next 

 Number will conclude the discussion of the subject. 

 The whole will lie in a very small compass. Six- 

 pence only will be the cost of it. It will creep about, 

 by degrees, over the whole of this kingdom. All the 

 authorities, all the arguments, will be brought into 

 this small compass; and I do natter myself that 

 many months will not pass over our heads, before all 

 but misers and madmen will be ashamed to talk of 

 abolishing the poor-rates and of supporting the 

 needy by grants and subscriptions. 



I am, 

 Your faithful friend and 



Most obedient servant, 



WM. COBBETT. 



NUMBER II. 



Bollitree Castle, Herefordshire, 22d Sept. 1826. 

 MY EXCELLENT FRIENDS, 



34. In the last Number, paragraph 33, I told you, 

 that I would, in the present Number, conclude the dis- 

 cussion of the great question of theft, or no theft, in 

 a case of taking another's goods without his consent, 

 or against his will, the taker being pressed by ex- 

 treme necessity. I laid before you, in the last Num- 

 ber, JUDGE HALE'S doctrine upon the subject; and I 

 16* 



